Homemade Lemonade Recipe & Truvia Review

May21st

Homemade lemonade is special. It helps create family memories that last generations. It’s touching to think of how many hours have been spent on our porch swing, or in our back yard visiting with family, and friends while enjoying my homemade lemonade.
Though the recipe sounds simple, it’s been crafted and handed down in my family like a treasure. It’s one I’m happy share, in hopes of bringing those same special memories to someone else.

4-5 lemons
1 cup of sugar
3 cups of water
Optional garnish, mint leaves or cherries.
Pour over ice.

I squeeze the juice out of four lemons, and slice the fifth.
Dump in one cup of sugar.
Mix it all into three cups of boiling water.
Let cool, pour all of it into a pitcher, and chill in the fridge for 24 hours. If I can keep everyone away from it that long. Then add garnish if you’d like.

I recently received a full size container of Truvia to review. I decided to try it in our homemade lemonade recipe as a replacement for sugar.

4-5 lemons
1 cup of Truvia
3 cups of water
Dropped in three cherries.
Poured it over ice.

I followed the above directions.

I thought it was delicious. Crisp and refreshing. A little sweeter than the original recipe. My husband thought the Truvia added a slight after taste. Being a diet soda drinker, I really didn’t notice or mind it. I plan to mix this again, and enjoy it over the summer. It’s a great way to cut down on my sugar in take.

I also used Truvia in place of sugar over fresh strawberries. This was a big hit with my entire family. To be honest, I don’t think anyone other than myself even knew.

About Truvia:
Truvia sweetener is a natural, zero-calorie sweetener made from the best tasting part of the stevia plant. Packets are available in 40-ct, 80-ct, and 120-ct boxes, and the Truvia spoonable jar makes it easy to spoon and sprinkle just the right amount into coffee, oatmeal, yogurt or more. The new Truvia Baking Blend, a blend of Truvia sweetener and sugar, is specially formulated for at-home baking and offers 75% fewer calories per serving than sugar.

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Truvia sweepstakes:
Truvia sweetener has launched the “Turning the Town Truvia” campaign in Dallas, Denver and Miami to promote natural, reduced-calorie sweetness.
Consumers can nominate a food service establishment via the Truvia page on Facebook and be entered for a chance to win a $5,000 grand prize. As result, Truvia sweetener may end up on the tabletop of their nominated bars, cafés or restaurants. A $50 Gift Card will also be given to one winner each week. Hurry! The contest is over on May 26th !!

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Holiday Meal Planning with Bob Evans Chef David Eisel

November17th

With the holiday season here, it’s time for families everywhere to start planning meal menus and begin to prepare for other aspects of holiday entertaining. Executive Chef David Eisel, renowned chef and brains behind the menu of Bob Evans Farms, graciously took time out of his busy schedule to participate in interviews with select bloggers. His focus during this time – making holiday meal planning fun and adding unique twists on traditional holiday recipes that are sure to be crowd pleasers.

You can view Chef Eisel answering my holiday meal time questions in the video below.

More About David Eisel: David Eisel has loved cooking his whole life, but decided to make it a career by going to culinary school at Columbus State Community College. He received his degree and his certification from the American Culinary Federation after three years of classes and an apprenticeship at Wedgewood Golf and Country Club, under Chef Tom Corbett C.E.C., where he continued to work as the banquet chef after graduation. He then worked for Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, specifically the privilege of working at both the Ocean Club and Mitchell’s Steakhouse in Downtown Columbus. He is currently the Executive Development Chef of Bob Evans Farms where he works to create recipes based on guests wants and needs and how they can continue to deliver on the promise of farm fresh goodness that brings families together.

Stay social and like Bob Evans on Facebook.

I would like to thank Chef David Eisel for taking the time to answer my questions, and for sharing such great tips and recipes. He is a true inspiration in the kitchen.

Disclosure: This interview opportunity is sponsored by Bob Evans Farms. Free product was received.

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Hot Artichoke Spinach Dip

September28th

This is my favorite dip recipe! Perfect for movie watching, entertaining or just enjoying the chillier fall weather.

Ingredients

  • 1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained
  • 1/3 cup grated Romano cheese
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

 

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. In a blender or food processor, place artichoke hearts, Romano cheese, Parmesan cheese and garlic . Pulse until chopped, but not ground. Set aside.
  3. In a medium bowl, mix together spinach, heavy cream, sour cream and mozzarella cheese. Stir in artichoke mixture. Spoon into prepared baking dish.
  4. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

I tend to overcook this a little, until the cheese on top is slightly brown with a little crisp. Yum!

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My Uncork A Movie Night With Friends #ytmovienight

September19th

Good times were had during my Uncork A Movie Night, A Snow White and The Huntsman viewing party! Of course thanks to The Popcorn Factory and Yellow Tail wine, there was no shortage of food, drinks or fun!

If you think the above photo looks good, you should have seen our dessert section. Filled with yummy treats (cookies, candy & gourmet caramel corn) supplied by The Popcorn Factory.

Our evening started out with cocktails and snacks. My favorite being the Poison Appletini made with Yellow Tail Merlot, dark rum, and spices! A delicious mix of sweet and spice! You can find it and several other cocktail recipes on the Discover Yellow Tail website. We were having such a good time that we didn’t settle in to watch the movie for a while.

But when we did, we were blown away! I mean, whats not to like about this movie? The story is a fun spin on a great classic, the acting is superb, and the visual effects – amazing! You can read my full review here.

When I get together with my friends for a “girls night in”, it’s always a good time! Big thanks to The Popcorn Factory, Yellow Tail wine, and Disney for contributing to our night.

Disclosure: Free products were received for the purpose of a social media campaign and writing this blog post. No type of monetary compensation was received. Opinions expressed are honest and my own. Photos used are my own and copyrighted.

Filed Under: Movies, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Around The House With My Xyboard #VZWSS

September18th

I’ve kept it no secret that my Motorola Xyboard plus Verizon’s Fast 4G service makes my life easier while on the go. Yet in all honesty I think I use my Xyboard just as much around the house, as out of the house.

In the kitchen! Like the majority of parents, that’s where most of my days start. Having the Xyboard on my kitchen counter lets me check the weather, the school calender and my email all while getting breakfast on the table. I’m not quit sure how I did this all before my Motorola Xyboard.

The Xyboad also makes following any recipe you can find online easy!

In the bedroom! If there is one thing I love to do when my day comes to an end – it’s to crawl into bed with a good book. Downloading books is easy on the Motorola Xyboad, and it’s crystal clear 10.1 screen makes it a pleasure to read on. I just love it!

We as parents also believe a family that snuggles together on a Sunday morning, stays together! Okay, well, at least is a much happier family on the weekends. Roxy included. Having the Xyboard with games and family apps allows us to share ideas and giggle even more while spending time together. Nothing like a mother/ daughter Angry Birds showdown while still in bed.

The laundry room! Yep, that’s right the laundry room! I’ve learned over the years that when there is laundry to be done, my kids are no-where to be found. I mean no where! So laundry time has become the perfect time to catch up on my Netflix instant queue without interruption. I can set a basket of unfolded laundry in the door way, and I’m good for at least two or three episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm or Hell on Wheels!

The family room! The Xyboard connected via a Micro-HDMI cable allows us to enjoy all of our apps, like Pandora, and Netflix on our flat screen. It’s also great for viewing photos.

On the porch! Now that the beautiful fall weather has returned here in Michigan, we are really enjoying our evenings together on our porch. It’s nice to be able to check my email or play a game with the kids without having to go in the house.

These are just a few examples of how I use the Motorola Xyboard plus Verizon’s Fast 4G LTE service in my day to day life. You can purchase your own Xyboard here or visit a local Verizon store for more details.


Disclosure: I am participating in the Verizon Wireless Midwest Savvy Savers program and have been provided with a wireless device and six months of service in exchange for my honest opinions about the product. Don’t forget you can follow my daily updates and mentions of the Xyboard on Twitter (#VZWSS) and Facebook

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Nino Salvaggio’s Pantry Essential Event & Giveaway #NinosPantry

May20th

This giveaway is now closed.

I, along with a fabulous group of local bloggers attended a Nino Salvaggio’s Pantry Essential Event. If you’re not familiar with Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace, they offer three convenient locations here in Michigan – Troy, Clinton Township and St. Clair Shores. Visiting one of their stores is like a gourmet feast for your senses. A beautiful store filled with the perfect ingredients, freshest produce, and for those of us who appreciate spending less time in the kitchen – amazing pre-made foods. You can even order online!

The event started with a scavenger hunt which was a fun way for us to explore the entire store. I have to admit, I was repeatedly impressed with the variety and quality of products that my list of clues led me to. Yet, I found my self in awe and distracted by making my own mental list of items to not leave without.

Once the event got going we were greeted by the talents that make Nino Salvaggio’s so special.

Recipes, wine, kitchen tips and tricks, I simply can not believe how much information was shared with-in 90 short minutes. I easily could have listened to Jennifer Laurie, and Chef Pete speak for hours without complaint. Not only did I leave feeling inspired by a list of notes to improve my everyday cooking experience, but the generous people at Nino Salvaggio’s made sure we each left with an incredible product filled swag bag!

We all spend a great deal of time in our kitchens, either by choice or my necessity, and Chef Pete has a lot of tips on making that time more pleasurable and efficient. Below is just a couple that he shared during our event.

Music - Music helps people to stay in a good mood. With today’s access to tunes and even wireless speaker technology singing and dancing your way through a casserole recipe has never been more easily done.

More is better – It’s a waste of time to continually be washing your only whisk, rubber spatula or ladle. Consider a crock with nothing but colorful utensils like a bouquet of flowers, they’ll brighten up your kitchen and your outlook on cooking.

Read plenty more from Chef Pete on his blog and for daily tips, and advise be sure to follow him on Twitter!

Now for the giveaway part!

Nino Salvaggio’s would like to send one Five Dollar Shake reader a $50 Nino Salvaggio gift card! Enter to win by simply leaving a comment below saying if you have ever visited a Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace.

Extra entries! Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

Visit Nino Salvaggio’s recipe page and leave a comment below saying which recipe you’d like to try.

Like Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace on Facebook.

Follow Five Dollar Shake on Twitter.

Disclosure: Michigan residents only. 18+ to win. One winner will be chosen and contacted by email on June 11, 2012. Winner will have 24 hours to respond before another winner will be chosen. Prizing will be handled by sponsor. I received a Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace gift card as payment for my time spent. The opinions express in this blog post are my own and honest.

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This Mom Has It Covered With SeaPak

April11th

Being a busy mom, I often have to have an impressive bag of tricks to help juggle daily activities and delicious meals to serve my family. My kids and husband respond to great taste, originality and sometimes even fun when it comes to dinner. With SeaPak and their all- new Family Size packages, this mom has it covered!

I recently pulled this (12 oz) package of SeaPak® Shrimp Scampi out of my freezer, and with only a few additional ingredients, was able to wow my family with a quick and delicious meal.

Savory Shrimp and Chicken Skillet Meal

Ingredients:
1 package (12 oz) SeaPak® Shrimp Scampi, frozen
3 cups whole grain pasta, uncooked
1 can cream of mushroom soup, low sodium
1?4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 1?2 cup frozen peas, thawed
6 oz cooked chicken breast strips, cut into bite-size pieces

Instructions:

COOK pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta, reserving 1/4 cup of pasta water. Return pasta to pot (but do not return to heat).
PREPARE shrimp according to package directions. After five minutes, incorporate the mushroom soup, shredded Parmesan, peas, chicken and 1/4 cup reserved pasta water.
BRING to a simmer, stirring vigorously until ingredients are well incorporated.
POUR shrimp and chicken mixture over pasta, toss and serve.

My family really enjoyed this easy-to-make meal!

Also, I have to note – the left overs, not there was much left uneaten, were amazing the next day! Made for the perfect lunch for this busy mom.

Be sure to visit SeaPak.com for all of their product information, recipes, and promotions. Also, don’t miss SeaPak’s Coast to Coast Adventure!

Stay social with SeaPak on Facebook!

Disclosure: Free product was received for the purpose of this blog post. Opinions expressed are honest and my own.

Filed Under: Recipes, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Pringles Brownies, Yeah Pringles !

February10th

Don’t overwhelm your sweetheart with cliché gifts this Valentine’s Day. Add a personal twist that shows you are willing to take the extra time to cater to that special someone. A homemade dessert is a thoughtful and inexpensive way to stand out among the $7.1 billion worth of candy that is sold in the U.S. each year.

Try this original recipe for Pringles Brownies, for a perfect mix of sweet and savory that will delight your sweetheart.

INGREDIENTS:

· 6 ounces baking chocolate, unsweetened
· 3/4 cup unsalted butter or margarine
· 2 cups sugar
· 3 eggs
· 1 tsp. vanilla
· 3/4 cup flour
· 1-6.41 ounce can of Original PRINGLES, regular or reduced fat
· 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
· Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F

2. Line 13×9-inch baking pan with foil, and spray foil with cooking spray.

3. In a glass bowl, microwave chocolate and butter on high for 2 minutes. Stir until chocolate melts.

4. In a stainless steel bowl, mix sugar, eggs, and vanilla until well mixed.

5. Pour in butter chocolate mixture and mix well.

6. Empty PRINGLES and flour into a food processor, and puree until very fine.

7. Empty flour mixture into chocolate mixture and mix well; add nuts to distribute.

8. Bake for 30 minutes, and cool

Recipe provided by Pringles.

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