Italian Chicken Roll-Ups

This post for Italian Chicken Roll-Ups has been sponsored by Foster Farms®. All opinions and experiences are mine alone. #FosterFarmsFresh

Thin-Sliced Foster Farms® Simply Raised Chicken Breasts filled with a zesty filling of roasted red pepper, mozzarella cheese and baby spinach, coated in Panko bread crumbs and baked, then topped with fresh basil. It doesn't get much better than this!

Chicken is one of my favorite things to prepare for weeknight dinners. So versatile, I could make chicken every night of the week, never make the same dish and never get bored. One of our favorite ways to enjoy chicken is stuffed with a little cheese and other fillings. Lately I have been on an Italian flavor kick, so these Italian Chicken Roll-Ups were born.

Things have been very busy on the farm; spring means there is always something to plant. I look forward to eating the food my husband so carefully grows on the family farm. Since we watch most of our food from greenhouse to table, you could say that I am very picky about what we eat.

Of course, we don't raise animals here on the farm, aside from the constant supply of eggs from my hens. To complement our desire to eat fresh and local, I like to stock my freezer with Foster Farms® Simply Raised Chicken. Available in Oregon, California and Washington, these fresh chicken products don't contain hormones, steroids or any antibiotics, ever. They are just simply raised, West Coast Grown, like I would... if I had the time!

And all of Foster Farms fresh chicken products are American Humane Certified™.

We have actually been eating and buying Foster Farms chicken for years. I love that it has been family owned since 1939. As a farming family I can respect the reputation they have kept for years of offering fresh and natural products.

And if you are looking for organic fresh chicken options, now the West Coast's leading poultry producer will have products for everyone under the Foster Farms Brand. Foster Farms Organic line is in select grocery stores and Costco!

Of course, good Italian Chicken Roll-Ups begin with good, fresh ingredients. Besides selecting fresh chicken, you will want a good quality mozzarella, fresh spinach, fresh basil and fire roasted red peppers.

Even with the Thin Sliced Chicken Breasts I pounded them out a little thinner. I like this size because it is a simple, but ample portion.

Generously season the chicken with salt and pepper, and then layer the spinach, roasted red pepper and torn mozzarella in the center. Roll up the chicken and secure with a few toothpicks.

I made up a simple egg wash and prepared a dredging station with my egg and also a dish with Panko bread crumbs. I just love the simple crunch Panko adds to a dish like this.

After dipping in egg and then rolling in the breadcrumbs, I placed the chicken in a lightly sprayed casserole dish and baked for 25 minutes at 400 degrees. I love that this dish isn't fried, but still has a satisfying crunch to it.

Don't forget to check the internal temperature of the chicken with a meat thermometer. It should be over 165 degrees when done.

I served this chicken simply with fresh diced basil and a little steamed Broccolini. Not too heavy for a weeknight, but not lite on flavor by any means.

Of course, it all begins with a good foundation of fresh, simply raised chicken.

Italian Chicken Roll-Ups

You Will Need:

• 4 Foster Foster Farms® Simply Raised Thin-Sliced Chicken Breasts
• 1 c. baby spinach
• 1/3 c. roasted red pepper, cut into strips
• 1/2 c. mozzarella cheese, torn to fit
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 c. Panko bread crumbs
• 2 tsp. Italian herb blend
• salt and pepper
• 1/4 c. basil chiffonade

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray a casserole dish with non-stick spray.

Pound out the chicken breasts between kitchen wrap to 1/4" thickness. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Down the center of each breast add a thin layer of spinach, roasted red pepper and torn pieces of mozzarella cheese. Bring the edges of the chicken breast together and secure with toothpicks.

Set up a dredging station by whisking the eggs in one dish and pouring Panko bread crumbs mixed with Italian herb blend in the other. Roll the breasts in egg, letting the excess drip off, and then cover in a layer of Panko bread crumbs. 

Bake for about 25 minutes in the oven. Test with a meat thermometer to make sure the meat has reached over 165 degrees.

Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Learn more about Foster Farms products, enjoy recipes and see what sets their products apart, check out the Foster Farms website for more information.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Foster Farms®.

#Ad - Nighttime Accidents Are Normal. Getting Help from #WhiteCloudSleepPants

Disclaimer - This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of White Cloud Sleep Pants. All thoughts and experiences are my own.

Mom Confession: Starting my day with a pile of wet bedding puts this Mom in a grumpy mood. Also, a child woken up in the middle of the night from a wet bed is also in a pretty grumpy mood in the morning.

I have an almost 4 and 5 1/2-year old. They are finally potty trained. *Whew!* But, that doesn't mean all our nights are dry. In fact, lately I have become a laundromat for all the nighttime "oops" and "I'm sorry"s. Though people openly talk about the trials and tribulations of potty training, no one really discusses what goes on afterwards.

Even the most competent child can experience bedwetting. As a Mom I was surprised to discover it is quite common, even in older children. I know, no one talks about it, do they? Bedwetting can affect a child's self esteem and they can be reluctant to discuss it with their parents. My son knows I dislike the added laundry, but I have tried to stress to him that it happens and we just need to take care of it and move on. It's just a developmental stage for him and his younger sister. They don't always wake up in time to make it down to the bathroom, but for some children it can also be caused by a medical condition. Whatever the reasons behind a bedwetting situation, it can be frustrating for everyone in the family.

My husband and I try to be proactive with our kids. They know that drinks are limited after dinnertime and either my husband or I wake them up to use the restroom when we come to bed. Luckily since I am pregnant, I wake up all through the night so it is easy to remind them to use the bathroom then.

Because the laundry was really stacking up and no one likes the wafting smell of pee-stained bedding first thing in the morning, we tried out the White Cloud Sleep Pants available exclusively from Walmart. These are cost-effective, gender neutral sleep pants designed for older children. We tried out  the S/M size, for kids between 45 and 65 lbs.

Thinner than a regular diaper, they are surprisingly absorbent. With stretchy sides, they go on like regular underwear and have a soft inner, hypoallergenic liner that is treated with vitamin E and aloe to be gentle on their skin. My children are very proud of wearing 'big kid' underwear so I didn't want to take a step backwards at night. My daughter liked that they didn't make noise when she wore them in the bed. I have previously tried other nighttime solutions that woke her up throughout the night because they crinkled so much.

The designs are bright and colorful, which is always important to attracting my kids to use something. Since I have two at the same stage I was grateful that I only needed one bag and didn't have to get each child's favorite character or theme.

These are a little large (long?) on my daughter. They fit my son better, but both of my kids are at the bottom of the weight range. Truth be known, they are also pretty low on the growth chart, so I wasn't surprised. They did fit well enough to provide the protection we needed though. I was very impressed with the price per pant. It really can't be beat!

I just want my kids to get a good night's sleep and not worry about whether they will wet the bed. There are so many other things to think about in childhood. This stage too, will pass. I am just glad that White Cloud Sleep Pants can also cause my mornings to be a little brighter and no longer overshadowed with added piles of laundry.

Did you know that over 5 million kids a year experience bedwetting and it is one of the most common experiences during childhood development?

White Cloud Sleep Pants have been developed to provide exceptional comfort and leakage protection while looking like underwear. White Cloud Sleep Pants offer thin, discrete absorbent protection for your child. They have soft, stretchy sides that fit like real underwear, plus leak guards to help protect against leaks. The soft inner liner is hypoallergenic and treated with vitamin E and aloe for skin protection.

Each bag contains two unisex graphic designs and at $7.75, White Cloud offers exceptional value.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of White Cloud Sleep Pants.

Check out Alphabet Photography - Creative Signs #Review

I love name art. I have always wanted something with our last name on it to display. Just to make it seem that much more inviting, you know?

I have seen everything from watercolors, collages, comic strips and rusted metalwork. Alphabet Photography was the first time I saw various letter photos being combined to make a name or word. The finished product is a beautiful and unique piece of art to hang in your home.

Not sure what I mean by alphabet art? Check out this YouTube video:



I have wanted my own family name sign for a while, so I was excited to try out Alphabet Photography for myself. It was so easy to create, it would make a unique Christmas gift for even the hardest to shop for person on your list this year.

Just log on to the site and create your word. Of course I used my name, but think of all the possibilities!

Type in your name, word, symbols, etc. The click submit.

The word is transformed into letter photographs. Now, just by clicking the letter you can choose from many other photos of the same letter. Give it a rustic look, a city-feel, or change it to fit the recipient's (or your family's) personality.

After selecting the photos to represent your word, you can choose the frame. I selected the Chocolate frame and it went with my interior colors, perfectly! It is a lovely frame and really complimented the photos.

My Alphabet Photography creation was well packed with bubble wrap to protect the glass and frame. It was already wrapped up and would be ready to gift as-is. I loved the raffia tied on the outside of the brown paper for that little added touch. I think it speaks volumes of the product within when the company takes the time to present their product this way.

Once I opened up my framed art, I was not disappointed. It is beautiful!

Well framed and ready for hanging, the Chocolate frame really brought out the varying tones in the black and white photos. The photos selected did a great job to celebrate our family on the farm, from the chain, fence and twine. Our family name photos really have personality and have brightened up my kitchen and entryway.

Overall I was very impressed from start to finish with Alphabet Photography. Ordering and designing my art was fast and easy, it was packaged well and arrived in a reasonable amount of time. This would make quite an impression on anyone this holiday season, whether you give one as a gift, or display it within your own home.

The perfect customized gift that includes photographs from all over the world, this is the original Alphabet Photography. Celebrity owners include: Prince Charles, Prince William and Kate, Tyra Banks, Ryan Seacrest, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, John Schneider, Nelly Furtado, and many more!

*Disclaimer - This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Alphabet Photography. The opinions and text are all mine.

Need Advice or Ideas for a Trip? Look to Gogobot.

Yes, with the dreary wet weather here in Oregon, I am ready to start planning our next family vacation. Due to my husband's work schedule we tend to take our big family trip in the Spring before things get busy around the farm.

Our yearly destination takes us up to the state of Washington for a water park, but this year I have decided to extend our usual trip to include a little jump up to Seattle.

Now, the last time I vacationed in Seattle I was 5.

Space Needle, Zoo... and...? Yeah, that is the extent of my memories of staying in Seattle. So I don't have a lot to go off of when planning a fun trip for my family.

Have you heard of Gogobot?

Not your typical "travel" site.

In fact, since I am a social person, this is the perfect site for me to do my trip research and planning. It is a social travel site started in 2010. Connect with your friends and other travelers to find the best spots to eat, stay and visit while in that city. You can even create your own poll to help you choose.

I know, there are tons of sites with rating systems and reviews, but this site is much more organic and interactive. It is like getting advice from all your friends on the perfect outfit, but in this case all things vacation related. I have friends in city and even some family nearby, so this is a great chance to see how their opinions all stack up. I might even have to create a poll for the best sushi spot.

So let's start with food. I know Seattle is just bursting with great places to find and food to try, so I selected 'Restaurants' from the top menu.

First I found the Umi Sake House which was recommended for sushi. I can scroll over the title and a box shows up on the map on the right. Very handy.  So, I could find a few more recommended sushi places and throw a poll together for my Seattle friends. I would love to see if they choose the Umi Sake House as their favorite sushi place also.

Then we need to find a place to stay. Yes, you can find information on Gogobot about hotels or vacation rentals. I will be traveling with 2 young children with special dietary needs, so I was especially interested in staying at the Pan Pacific Seattle. What caught my eye were the reviews on the great city views and a Whole Foods downstairs. Doesn't that sound perfect? A little walk from the Space Needle or downtown shopping, but I could pack our jogging stroller and get in an little workout as well.

Then I went over to 'Things to Do'. So many options! It is nice to find all the most recommended destinations all in one spot. As a Mom with small children the Seattle Aquarium caught my eye, and one Gogobot pro reviewer suggested seeing the aquarium, grabbing a bite to eat early and then checking out the new Ferris Wheel. Yes, I am sure my kids would love that!

The Pacific Science Center was another well reviewed attraction. My son loves science and the interactive exhibits would be the highlight of his trip.

Of course to really get into Gogobot, you should create a profile. It's easy, just sign up through Facebook, twitter or your email address. If you love to travel, like I do, you can put destinations in your site passport for your friends to see and enjoy. Travel, experience and tag with what you would tell your friends about the destination.

Gogobot allows you to tap into the knowledge of your friends when planning a trip anywhere. You can find like-minded travelers and inspiration for your next vacation, creating easy-to-use wishlists you can return to again and again.

And when you are not in vacation mode or planning a trip, you can discover hidden gems in your own neighborhood for entertaining guests or a weekend staycation.

The best part? Every page on Gogobot is personalized. You can see reviews from your friends and people you are following at the top, which allows you to weed out the noise and fraudulent reviews that become a problem on other review sites. Check out Gogobot today!

*Disclaimer - This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Gogobot. The opinions and text are all mine.

Fueling a Better Pregnancy & Brainstrong Prenatal

Even with two pregnancies under my belt, trying to eat the best diet possible for another growing person is my biggest concern. During my first pregnancy I didn't always make the best choices on food. I was working full time and often grabbed what was fast, convenient and could be stored in my desk.  Always hungry, I craved carbohydrates like potatoes, starchy foods and sweet treats. My weight just kept climbing and it was a tough pregnancy towards the end.

With my daughter, and second pregnancy, food was simpler, fresher and more balanced. My meat was balanced with other forms of protein like beans, nuts and soy. I felt better, gained less extra (unhealthy weight) and my blood pressure was better, too. The difference was all on my plate.

For me it was following the example my Grandpa gave me years before. He always encouraged us to eat a rainbow on our plates. Celebrating nature's orange, red, green and violet as a guide to eating well worked  for me.

This time around I feel like I can take  everything I learned from my past and eat to fuel a better pregnancy. 

A rainbow is made up of R-O-Y-G-B-I-V:

Red - like beets and tomatoes contain lycopene, great antioxidants. This time of year I am enjoying fresh tomatoes and watermelon straight off the vine, but during the colder months I will be eating it in homemade tomato sauces and soups.

Organge & Yellow - Carrots are the first that come to mind, but I also love cantaloupe. The orange and yellow coloring comes from beta carotene good for both skin and eyes.

Green - Love me some dark leafy greens! You can hold the iceberg lettuce, I have fallen head over heels in love with kale and spinach. I hold this group up high in importance because I usually have a slight iron deficiency during pregnancy. Iron rich foods are my friends. Many of these also contain folate or folic acid, so important for a baby's brain and spinal cord development.

Blue, Indigo, and Violet - There is more here than just the blueberries... though I love them so! Don't forget those plums (and cousins the prunes), black beans and dark grapes. These are all rich in flavonoids which are a great antioxidant for cell walls. Also the black beans pack in some iron and those prunes will help some of the less than fun issues associated with pregnancy.

Doesn't that all sound yummy... and pretty?

Well, in the even that I miss a color, or am still not getting everything I need to grow a strong and healthy baby, I can count on a good prenatal vitamin to fill in the gaps.

Brainstrong Prenatal contains the highest amount of folic acid and DHA on the market without a prescription. It is a complete prenatal multivitamin consisting of 2 pills, neither of which is abnormally large. Ever take one of those?  These are also from a vegetarian source and not fish, so rest assured there is no fear of potential contaminants.

So why is DHA so important? DHA helps with brain development in a developing fetus. A baby relys on the Mother to provide them with enough and many OB/GYNs urge expectant Moms to take a prenatal that contains DHA. Those tiny little budding brains take 70% of the energy supply during fetal development. Feed it right with the DHA they need.

During my first pregnancy I couldn't find a prenatal that included DHA and had to buy a different product to get that supplemented. I love that this time around one product is all I need. As for the cost? It is very reasonable and often less than most copays. We all want what is best for our growing baby, and this is a great way to assure you are doing everything you can to support a healthy pregnancy.

*Disclaimer - I received a sample of Brainstrong Prenatal and was compensated for this post, but all opinions expressed are my own. Your experiences may vary. Always consult your doctor if you have any medical questions.