Ad: Fuel Your Inner Superhero with a High Protein Breakfast

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for #CollectiveBias and its advertiser. #StartWithTyson

I live with a superhero.

Every morning my husband wakes up bright and early to rush off  to work, only lingering long enough in the kitchen for his coffee thermos to fill.  He doesn't stop to decide what to eat for breakfast, he usually just skips it. Flying out the door and off to face another long day of problem solving, disaster averting and feats of strength or endurance.  My husband is a farmer.

Being that super doesn't always leave time to sit down for breakfast. And I really don't wake up with the sun to make it for him, either. But all that work requires a high protein breakfast, a way to keep up his strength and energy for whatever Mother Nature throws at him.

 

Right now hay season is in full swing . The hay waits for no one. Too wet and it will mold, too dry and it might shatter. Just the right balance must be found and then it is go, go, go!

Because that go, go, go often leaves my husband working through meals and crashing from hunger, I decided to treat him to an easy healthy breakfast. A fast protein packed option he could grab quickly anytime of the day or night.

Heading over to my local Walmart I took a peek at what was available. I went straight for the frozen section because those items require very little prep or time. The Tyson Day Starts caught my eye because they contain 24% or more of the daily recommended protein intake.

I am a big fan of breakfast sandwiches. Of course, I want it all and have high expectations for ease of preparation as well as for it to taste like homemade. The eggs should taste like, well... eggs. And you know, I think I found a winner. 

I selected a box of the Sausage Egg Cheese Biscuits for my husband, his favorites, and the Southern Style Chicken Breast Fillet Biscuits for myself. Hey, I deserve quick breakfast ideas, too!

For my husband, his Day Starts went well with a cup of black coffee. I added in this citrus salad with pomegranate seeds. He is not against fruit in the morning, but won't reach for it unless it is ready to go and easy to eat. I don't see how anyone could pass up this simple, yet tasty, fruit salad.

Even my kids love citrus and I think it is a bright way to start the day. This little salad contains oranges, grapefruit and pink grapefruit segmented and tossed with pomegranate seeds. No need for a dressing. When they are segmented like this, my family just gobbles them up.

And my breakfast was very similar to my husband's, but I loved my Southern Style Chicken Breast Fillet Biscuit. It was a large piece of white meat chicken, juicy and flavorful, on a yummy biscuit.  Keeping my breakfast in one hand allowed me to easily feed the baby and myself at the same time.

A simple high protein breakfast like this,

...leaves my husband feeling a little more like this. Ready to tackle another long day of farming.

I know that we can't all be farmers, but we all have a little super hero inside each of us. Our super powers may all be different, but our strength for the day begins with a good breakfast.

Check your local Walmart for other Tyson Day Starts varieties like flatbreads and wrapped omelets. 

You can connect with Tyson on their Facebook page or Twitter to keep up with their newest products, promotions and special offers.

What is your superpower?

A Day for Play - FROZEN Fun and DIY Snow Globe

I enjoyed a FROZEN day of #FrozenFun shopping for Walmart toys as a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.

The end of 2013 and the end of my son's Christmas break was supposed to be spent at a friend's cabin skiing and playing in the snow. My children's dreams had been filled with building snowmen and making snow angels for weeks. My son has new skis he hasn't had a chance to use and my daughter received new pink ski goggles for Christmas Watching Disney's FROZEN in the theater just added to their excitement. But despite the weather in the rest of the country, Oregon has had very little snow t> And then we also got sick. 

To raise my poor kids' spirits I decided to declare our own FROZEN day at home. Why not? I was inspired by FROZEN the movie and all the great Walmart toys I had seen the previous week.

My children watched FROZEN long after their Christmas lists were made and my holiday shopping was finished, so there were many items my daughter already was eyeing for next year. But, why wait? What is a day of #FrozenFun without the stars?

Because I never take my family shopping on empty stomachs, we popped into our Walmart Subway to grab a quick lunch. The kids ordered the Subway Fresh Fit for Kids meal, that included a drink, apple slices and small sandwich. I Grabbed a big Veggie Delight salad and we all shared. It is always a treat to eat out and combining that with toy shopping made it the best day ever.

After lunch we came home to enjoy all the great FROZEN merchandise we found. We picked up an Anna Toddler Doll for a friend's birthday next week, my daughter picked out a dress-up dress and dolls, while my son chose the small action figure set that included his favorite characters, Sven and Olaf. I also grabbed a book of stickers to use for our craft project of the afternoon - FROZEN snow globes!

If there is one thing that can take my children's minds off a canceled trip, it is a fun craft project. All I had to say was there would be glitter and stickers involved. Enough said.

DIY FROZEN Snow Globes

I found some child-friendly snow globe containers at the craft store a few weeks ago. The bottom is flat, so the cap is on top and it is all plastic. It seemed like there would be less risk of messes or breakage. If you can't find something similar, you can also reuse empty baby food jars or other food jars. Just remove the label and any remaining adhesive.

 You Will Need:

• Snow Globe Container
• Baby Oil
• Clear Packing Tape
• Glitter
• FROZEN stickers

1. First check how much room you have in your snow globe. My containers were 3 1/2" high to the base of the neck. This is how high your stickers and tape can be.

2. The clear packing tape served as an inexpensive and fast way to seal my stickers away from moisture. Overlapping two pieces of tape, and keeping the total height under 3 1/2", I attached my stickers to the adhesive side. Feel free to create a fun scene.Carefully cover with another layer of tape, sandwiching the stickers in the middle. Trim the excess off the ends as needed.

3. Create a ring that will fit inside your container. This took a little trial and error for me to get the characters just where I wanted them.

4. Add your glitter. We chose a very FROZEN inspired bright blue glitter for our snow.

5. Fill the snow globe up completely with mineral oil. Any air left in your container will show up as air bubbles. Why mineral oil? There are other items you can use, too. Mineral oil will slow down the movement of the glitter so you can watch the snow fall. I found the store brand in Walmart was very inexpensive.

6. I put just a little water-safe adhesive inside the lid so little fingers can't unscrew the snow globe later and make a large mineral oil mess.

And there you have it... our easy DIY FROZEN Snow Globes!

Whether your child loves Anna and Elsa or Sven and Olaf, our little snow globes let you see different Disney FROZEN characters from all angles.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Yes, our day of FROZEN fun was a great success! From our shopping trip and lunch to home with our new toys and a craft project, I think I successfully brought the cold weather fun indoors. At least my kids didn't ask me about skiing all day.

My favorite part of our day of play was just spending time with my kids. I loved watching them recreate scenes from the movie and create some new ones of their own. Our day might have been Disney inspired, but the memories we created ourselves.

When is the last time you devoted a day to play? How would FROZEN inspire you?

Revving Up with M&Ms for Forza 5 and XBox One

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community. We are excited for the upcoming release of Forza 5 and XBox One. See how we play and snack with M&;M's. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and its client. #FueledByMM

Originally I purchased our Xbox 360 for family nights. Oregon Winters can be so wet and muddy I needed something to keep us active and entertained. The Kinect games were the perfect solution for a restless family of 5.

But with all the active games, dance games and kid's games, my husband wanted something for himself. He is a big fan of  the BBC's Top Gear TV show and so of course he loves the Forza Motorsport games. Design the perfect cars, race on closed circuit tracks - it is the best racing simulation game out there. The graphics are phenomenal and the car details and information is perfect for the car enthusiast lacking the cash to own his own ride. Yes, Forza 4 is the perfect racing fantasy for big kids.

This is the game my husband and his friends love to play.

Last Christmas we bought my husband Forza 4 and the racing controller. Despite the Kinect possibilities, my husband likes the hands-on feel of the controller.

Do you like his pink race car? My daughter designed it. It was her idea to stick the big white grasshopper on the back. I think my husband spends just as much time on his cars as he does actually racing. That is what makes this game so much fun. Oh, the possibilities.

When we have friends over the kids usually grab their favorite games, but the adults like a chance to play, too.

Of course playing Forza 4 is a great way to get excited about the upcoming release of not only Forza 5, but also Xbox One. Yes, it is on my list for this year. It will probably end up being our big family item we splurge on. I have heard nothing but great reviews on the system as well as the new racing upgrades. The graphics alone for the new game look amazing. I can't wait to try it out. Both will be released November 22nd and available at Walmart.

Now, if you are as crazy about Xbox and Forza Motorsports as we are, then there are a few great promotions you don't want to miss.

BUY, SNAP, REDEEM
Starting November 22nd, Go to Walmart and

• Buy the  Forza 5 game
• Buy participating M&M products (including M&Ms Peanut 42oz Stand Up Pouch, M&Ms Milk 42oz Stand Up Pouch, M&Ms Peanut Butter 38oz Stand Up Pouch, M&Ms Pretzel 30oz Stand Up Pouch, M&Ms Peanut 19.2oz Large Laydown Bag, M&Ms Milk 19.2oz Large Laydown Bag, M&Ms Peanut Butter 18.4oz Large Laydown Bag, M&Ms Pretzel 15.4oz Large Laydown Bag.)
• Snap a photo of the qualifying items on your receipt and text it to 811811
• Redeem - You will be texted back a reward code for a $10 eGift card to Walmart

Also, Microsoft will have a Pixel Art Instagram competition, 'Gaming is Better with M'. Create your own Pixel Art, inspired by your favorite video games or racing, using M&M's (R) candies and snap an Instagram Photo. Tag your image with #FueledByM AND #Contest and post the image on Instagram and Twitter. Don't upload your entry until the contest begins though to be eligible.

One lucky Pixel Artist will win a new Xbox One and Gaming is better with M pack including the Forza 5 Motorsport game and a 14 oz bag of M&Ms(R).  Contest runs Dec. 4th - Dec. 18th and winner will be chosen at random.  

My video game or racing inspired pixel art is a nod to my childhood. Did anyone else ever play Space Invaders? Long before the Xbox 360, I passed the time with an old school Atari and a handful of games including Space Invaders.

What will inspire your pixel art masterpiece?

M&M's remain one of my favorite stand-alone candies because a big bowl of brightly colored M&M's is always fun. Grab a few between turns on the game, or spend a few extra minutes and bake some up in a classic bar cookie. Everyone needs a little racing fuel, right?

M&M Cookie Bars
You Will Need:

• 2 1/4 c. flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 3/4 c. unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), melted
• 1 c. brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 c. sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 c. M&M's + 1/4 c. for spreading on top

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees, move the top rack in to the center of the oven. Spray a 9"x13" baking dish with nonstick spray, set aside. 

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and baking soda.

In a large bowl, mix the melted butter, and sugars together till smooth. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla and mix well. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Press the dough in the baking dish and smooth with a spatula. The dough will seem thin, but it will puff up nicely.

Bake for 27 - 30 minutes or until the top and sides of the bars turn golden brown. The center will still be soft, but not wet. Let the bars cool completely before cutting into bars.

So, ready to get racing? I am sure this will be one hot item under the tree this year.

Have you played Forza 4? 

Last Minute Ordinary to Family Size Extraordinary!

#ad - I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community. I stocked my freezer with Nestle party size entrees and seasonal ice cream to prepare for unexpected situations. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and its client. #PlanAhead

Bring on the holidays. This year I am determined to be ready.

My daughter and I have already started decorating the house while my son is at school. I love adding a little fun to our dinner table with Fall colored leaves, pumpkins, decorative corn and gourds. She loves helping me and it has created some fun mother/daughter moments to remember. I like making the house more inviting as we all look forward to the holidays.

Another part of my plan in preparing for the holidays is having food stashed in the freezer for life's unexpected moments. Ever have one of those?

For the past two years my kids have unexpectedly gotten sick around the holidays. Last year my daughter got sick right as we were packing up the car. With elderly Great Grandparents attending, we just couldn't expose them to our germs. Disappointed, we had to change gears and stay home. I was faced with having nothing ready for dinner. I don't even think there was much in the fridge to work with. All I had was the homemade cranberry sauce I was planning to take to the family meal.

I don't remember what we scrounged up, but I am sure it was pancakes or waffles, something easy.

This year I promised myself I would not be caught unprepared again.

This year whether we get sick again (I sure hope not!), have unexpected guests drop by, or my turkey gets devoured by the dog (any Christmas Story fans out there?), I have a back-up in our deep freeze.

Nestle frozen foods make several options for stocking my freezer. Our first choice is always Stouffer's Macaroni and Cheese. Don't let the simplicity fool you, it is easy to dress it up and please any dinner guest. Here are my suggestions:

Macaroni and cheese with smoked salmon? How about bacon and broccoli mixed in? I like to top our macaroni and cheese with breadcrumbs for crunch during the final 10 minutes of baking time and then I top mine with a little of everything and finish it off with a squeeze of sriracha sauce for heat.

Oh, so good! This family size entree is plenty for my family and any other hungry dinner guests I have. With a nice side salad or warm loaf of bread it will stretch even farther and feed a few more.

Another crowd-pleasing trick up my sleeve is Digiorno Rising Crust Pizza. I like to get it simple, either plain cheese or pepperoni so I can dress it up with additional toppings for adults, or leave it as is if I need to feed a bunch of kids. I like to add any veggies I have on hand like bell peppers, mushrooms or sun dried tomatoes.

Another favorite I have stashed away is Stouffer's Party Size lasagna. Served with a side of steamed vegetables or garlic bread, it warms us up on cold evenings.

So many choices, so many options for those last minute meals.

But, if you really want to be a hero this holiday season, stock up on a few seasonal treats like Dreyer's Slow Churned Light Ice Cream Limited Edition: Peppermint Wonderland. I wait all year for the seasonal flavors to come out. Another one I am looking forward to is Dreyer’s Slow Churned Light Ice Cream Limited Edition: A Very Merry Eggnog which should be on shelves today, November 1st.

Warm food and cold ice cream stocked up for whatever life throws my way, that is my secret for planning ahead this year.

Connect with Nestle on their Facebook page or @Nestle on Twitter.

How do you plan ahead for the holiday season?

Spooky Brain Brew and Spider Treats for your Halloween Celebrations

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community. Counting down to Halloween I was able to get in some Halloween baking and whipped up this spooky Halloween punch for my family. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and its client.  #SpookyCelebration

Halloween is my favorite occasion for baking and decorating. As a child I not only looked forward to dressing up each year, but I was also excited to sample all the Halloween baking and Halloween punch available at October parties. The chance to get creative and make my kids smile motivates me to find new treats and concoctions each year. Are you ready for your #SpookyCelebration this year?

This weekend we started off the month by spending a family day on the farm. I love to stretch our Halloween fun out over the whole month. My kids try to get out to the market every chance they can. They just love the hay maze and corn maze. My husband puts a lot of thought and pride into setting them up for the local kids, but it is also fun to enjoy with our family.

The kids had a blast. Set up in a spare greenhouse, the hay maze is fun regardless of the weather outside. My husband made it more difficult this year and it was fun to watch other families enjoying it as well.

I knew my family would be building up an appetite and working up a thirst on the farm, I had some spooky treat ideas up my sleeve. I found a brain mold last year and have been waiting for the perfect chance to try it out. Using plain gelatin, evaporated milk and Hawaiian Punch, I created a wiggly brain for everyone.

I just adore gelatin molds.

After spraying the mold with non-stick spray, I filled it and set it in the fridge to chill for about 4 hours. I couldn't wait to show off my creepy creation to the kids.

My son is a the age where "gross" is becoming cool. I must admit it is a pretty fun part of having little boys and fits in perfectly with Halloween fun. Give him bugs and gelatin brains and he's thrilled.

Hawaiian Punch Gelatin Brain

You Will Need:

• 5 packets of unflavored gelatin
• 5 c. Hawaiian Punch - Fruit Juicy Red
• 2 Tbsp. sugar
• 5 oz. evaporated milk
• 1 brain mold
• non-stick spray

Wash and dry the brain mold before using. Lightly spray with non-stick spray. Set aside.

Pour two cups of cold Hawaiian Punch into a medium bowl. Sprinkle the gelatin over the top and let it sit for 2 minutes.

Add 3 cups of hot juice and sugar until gelatin and sugar dissolve completely. Let the mixture come to room temperature and then whisk in the evaporated milk. Place the mold in a small baking dish so it won't tip. Pour mixture into the mold and refrigerate at least 4 hours.

Unmold gelatin onto a plate immediately before serving.

I also wanted something that would appeal more to my daughter. She loves decorated cupcakes, but when I saw these little toothpick legs I was thinking doughnut spiders. Paired with candy eyes and topped with all our favorite chopped Mars candy, I knew these would be a runaway hit.

I started with a simple vanilla bean baked doughnut. They do require a doughnut pan, but I love that they aren't fried or greasy. You could substitute with vanilla cupcakes as well. Topped with simple vanilla buttercream, I decorated each spider with M&Ms or chopped mini Mars candy bars. The perfect way to use up leftover candy, don't you think? I love both Milky Way and Snickers so had to use those. Then I added on on two candy eyes and put leg toothpicks on each side to look like a spider.

Baked Vanilla Bean Doughnut Spiders 

You Will Need:

• 1 c. pastry flour
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 3 Tbsp. buttermilk powder
• 2 large eggs
• 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil
• 2 Tbsp. milk
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla bean paste
• 1 buttercream recipe
• chopped Mars candy (Snickers, Milky Way, Twix or 3 Musketeers) or M&Ms for decorating
• candy eyes
• toothpick legs
• cupcake papers

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease the doughnut pan generously.

Whisk the dry ingredients together in a bowl. Beat the wet ingredients together in a different bowl and then add to the dry mixture all at once. Stir till combined then divide between the 6 doughnut pan wells.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until a toothpicks comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes, then use a spatula to help ease out any stuck doughnuts. Let them cool completely before frosting.

Set each doughnut on a slightly flattened cupcake paper. Frost the top of each with a favorite buttercream recipe. Top with candy and then put candy eyes on each one. Put toothpick legs on each side of the doughnut.

Gobble them up before they skitter away!

The last trick up my sleeve was a classic punch. Aren't they the best? This one is a throw-back to my childhood parties. Hawaiian Punch is a classic all on it's own, but for Halloween I dressed it up with a bit of 7-Up, pineapple juice and dry ice.

Be sure to use plastic containers, wear gloves and handle the dry ice with tongs. I placed a cup inside my punchbowl to hold the dry ice. Just keep it weighted down in the middle and pour the punch ingredients in the bowl. Once a little water is added to the dry ice, it will begin to fog over the top and create a spooky effect for the table.

Since both featured Hawaiian Punch - Fruit Juicy Red, I dubbed my punch, "Brain Brew" to go along with the gelatin brain.

Hawaiian Punch "Brain Brew"

You Will Need:

• 1 gallon Hawaiian Punch - Fruit Juicy Red
• 1 liter 7UP
• 1 quart pineapple juice
• dry ice
• water

Use a large plastic punch bowl. Place a cup or tall container in the middle of the bowl and while wearing gloves and using tongs, place a large piece of dry ice inside it. Pour the Hawaiian Punch, 7UP and pineapple juice around the cup and stir. When your party begins, pour a small amount of water into the cup with dry ice. It will start to fog over the punch bowl and spill over the sides. If the smoke starts to lessen, add more water or a new piece of dry ice. Be sure to dish up the punch with a plastic ladle and take care not to touch the dry ice.

Grab a coupon for Mars Halloween candy, you know that will come in handy this month. You can also find more spooky inspiration on the Bright Ideas site.


What spooky things do you make for Halloween?

Need Dinner Ideas? Check out Spaghetti Squash, Pasta Puttanesca Style

*Disclaimer - I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This week I experimented making quick dinner recipes with Land O’Lakes Sauté Express® Sauté Starter.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client. #SauteExpress 

The momentum of life just keeps going, doesn't it? Just trying to get through my to-do list each day wears me out. To save time and money we try to eat in most nights, but lately we have eaten out as a quick fix for hectic days. By the time we load up two kids and a baby, eat dinner, then get everyone unloaded at home its already bedtime. I would much rather fix something simple at home and have an evening free to spend with my family.

The last time I was at the market I noticed our local squash is in season. Even my kids love spaghetti squash, so I picked up a few for this week's meals. It is one of our favorite meatless Monday options, but is also one of my favorite quick dinner recipes for anytime.

If you have never fixed spaghetti squash, you are in for a real treat. When it is cut open it resembles any other squash. Just scrape out the seeds and pulp in the middle before baking. I like to halve my squash and then place it cut-side down in a baking dish with about a half inch of water. It keeps the squash moist and steams it nicely. Baked for about an hour at 350 degrees, the meat of the squash pulls away in big thick strands and resembles spaghetti.

Spaghetti squash can be tossed with marinara, pesto or Alfredo sauce for a simple meal, or dressed up as you would any other pasta. This time I was in the mood for my favorite garlicky dish - Pasta Puttanesca.

I like to bake a large spaghetti squash ahead of time and then refrigerate it to use as needed. One is more than enough to feed my family and I can incorporate it as a main dish or side dish for multiple meals.

Usually I saute my anchovies (don't worry, they just melt and impart flavor) and garlic in olive oil and butter, but this week I switched things up by trying out Land O’Lakes Sauté Express® Sauté Starter in Garlic & Herb. I had noticed it in my local Walmart, but hadn't had a chance to try it yet.

I started by melting one square and then sauteing the anchovies in that. It smelled amazing. I didn't just smell the garlic, but also the onion, vegetable base and parsley. It is a flavor combination that would normally take me 10 minutes to achieve by sweating down the vegetables and garlic.

This recipe is easy because I used my pre-baked squash and then toss it with the other ingredients to heat through. Besides the time it takes to bake the squash, this dish takes about 10 minutes to prepare. My kids are big fans of the olives.

Just before serving I toss in fresh, sliced tomatoes to warm and then top with fresh cracked black pepper and freshly grated Parmesan Cheese.

We like to serve our meal right out of the squash shell. It makes for a fun presentation and saves me from dirtying an extra serving bowl.

And there you go, frugal, easy and delicious. Using the Land O’Lakes Sauté Express® Sauté Starter gave my usual dish even deeper flavor. It was a hit at the table. You can grab a coupon here to try it for yourself.

Spaghetti Squash Pasta Puttanesca

You Will Need:

• 1/2 of a large spaghetti squash
• 2 Land O’Lakes Garlic & Herb Sauté Express® Sauté Starter squares
• 3 anchovies
• 1/4 black olives, sliced
• 2 Tbsp. capers, drained and rinsed
• 1/4 c. chicken stock
• salt & pepper to taste
• 4 Roma tomatoes, quartered and sliced
• 1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, diced
• freshly grated Parmesan cheese to top

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut the spaghetti squash in half. Scrape out the seeds and place the squash cut-side down in a baking dish with 1/2 of water. Bake for 45 minutes to an hour, or until the squash is fork tender.

In a large pan add the Land O’Lakes Garlic Herb Sauté Express® Sauté Starter squares and anchovies. One medium-low heat, melt the anchovies. Add the olives, capers, chicken stock and spaghetti squash. Heat on medium for 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the fresh tomatoes last and warm through. Serve topped with fresh parsley and fresh grated Parmesan cheese.

Connect with Land O' Lakes on Facebook and Twitter for product announcements and promotions.

What would you make with the Sauté Express® Sauté Starters?