Nominate a 'Champion Against Child Hunger'

Do these words sound like you or someone you know? Caring. Compassionate. Inspired. Then consider nominating yourself or them in the 'Champions Against Child Hunger Contest' as a way to recognize your/their efforts in helping those in need by entering (Submit a short essay and photo ) at the Champions Against Child Hunger Web site, http://www.championsagainstchildhunger.org/, through Jan. 22.

Who is supporting this contest?
ConAgra Foods Foundation and Sandra Lee, of Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade, in partnership with Share Our Strength®, are launching the Champions Against Child Hunger contest to recognize those who are doing great work to help end child hunger in communities across the country.

How is money raised for Share Our Strength?
For each submission, ConAgra Foods Foundation will donate $10 to Share Our Strength. Then, you’ll have a chance to vote on finalists to raise even more funds. And, the finalists and winner both receive grants for their hunger relief organization of choice.
o Each of the top five finalists will receive a cash prize of $500 as a reward for their advocacy and passion for ending child hunger, and a matching donation of $500 to Share Our Strength or their hunger relief organization of choice.
o The grand prize winner will receive a trip to New York City, a tour of The Food Network studios, and a cash prize of $1,500, as well as a donation of $5,000 to Share Our Strength or their hunger relief organization of choice.

How can I vote for the finalists and When will the winner be announced?
Five finalists will be selected from the pool of submissions and featured on http://www.championsagainstchildhunger.org/ beginning Feb. 22, 2010 where consumers can vote and select the grand prize winner. Voting will be open through March 19, 2010 and the grand prize winner will be announced on March 25, 2010.

Cutting a Pomegranate - A Science Experiment

As I have told you before, we love our pomegrante juice so when the kids asked me how the juice is made/comes from, I realized that I had not actually brought the actual fruit into the house. Gosh, amazing that all these years have passed without eating the seeds from the actual fruit.

I began to really think about how long it had been since I had opened one and ate the seeds. I think I was 12. As you will see in the video, the kids are excited as this like some sort of science experiment. They are looking forward to seeing what it looks like inside and see what Mom is doing. Try this with your own kids.

By the way, you will see in this video (as with others), my youngest is a bit of a challenge. However, 99% of the time, he gives it a try, but at his own pace. I can respect that.

Thanksgiving Leftover Ideas

Happy Thanksgiving!

I do not know about you, but I always think ahead about what I am going to do with the leftovers and make sure I include those grocery items in my shopping.

Consider these ideas in my video on Cozi today. What are your favorites?

EatingWell Wednesday - Tangerine or Orange Scented Green Bean

Shopping Sunday mornings alone is an event I look forward to each week. It is relatively quiet and without children, I can often have a clear head to brainstorm. Today I saw the pile of Tangerines at the produce end-cap and knew that Tangerine scented green beans were in our future.

Luckily, my children enjoy many citrus fruits, but I tell my friends to always try foods in a different way: raw, roasted, mixed in with favorites. Basically, think outside the box, I also like to show the family how you may not necessarily enjoy a food in one form, but find joy in another. This includes the rind of a tangerine.

Once I arrived home, I headed to EatingWell and followed their Orange Scented Green Bean recipe however, I used thawed organic frozen green beans (score on the sale!) and tangerine peel.

Tastemaker Challenge #2 - Potato Frittata

Have you all been following along the Tastemaker 2k10 Challenge? It has been such a blast! I just finished my the video for this month's Challenge: Nutrition on a budget.

I am presenting the recipe below however, I ask that when you view the video, PLEASE rate it by pressing in the STARS. You may need to log into/create your YouTube account and you can then rate the video and help me win.

I mean, how many people dance for you?



Potato Frittata
Easy Serves: 6

Ingredients:
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 large or 2 small clove garlic, chopped
3/4 pound baby potatoes , small cubes
1 cup (approx. 1/2 small) sweet onion, chopped onion
½ tsp ground thyme or 3 to 4 sprigs thyme, chopped
½ Red pepper, chopped
1 small or ½ large Zucchini, minced
½ tsp. Salt
A few dashes ground black pepper
7 eggs (5 eggs and 2 whites), beaten
1/2 cup 1% milk
1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions:
1. Peel and chop potatoes into small cubes and place in microwave safe bowl, cover with plastic and microwave on high to partially cook the potatoes, approx. 4 minutes.

2. Heat the olive oil in a large oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion and cook for 1 minute and then add the red peppers, zucchini and potatoes. Cook about 3-5 minutes until the potatoes are lightly browned.

3. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together the eggs, egg whites, thyme, parsley, milk, salt, and in a large bowl.

4. Pour the egg mixture in to the skillet and distribute it around and under the vegetables. Turn the heat to low and allow to cook for 5-7 minutes, gently shaking and rimming around edge to get egg underneath. Once most of the egg is set, sprinkle with the cheese and transfer it to the oven and allow to bake until the cheese is melted. Remove from the oven and serve directly from the skillet

If you want to brown the cheese a bit, you can turn the broiler on for a minute but do not take your eyes off of the frittata.

Please STAR the video if you haven't yet--thanks!

Stop & Shop Luncheon at UpStairs on The Square

My favorite local 'megamart' grocery store is Stop & Shop and I am a big fan (in particular their Nature's Promise line), so I was thrilled to be invited to their Holiday Luncheon.

Upon arrival, I was greeted by the lovely ladies of 360 PR and was invited to do some flower arrangements with some S&S employees . The next station was chocolate covered pretzel rods which I enjoy doing for baby showers in pinks and blue pastels. My favorite station was the Soup mix in a Jar. What a thoughtful gift idea.

During lunch, the lovely Andrea Astrachan then told us about some great programs including the new offerings for the thanksgiving spreads from the deli and my favorite three: the Holiday Rewards Program and the new magazine 'Small Victories' and the Adventure Guide.

Before I get to those, I want to talk about the restaurant: UpStairs on the Square. As soon as I walked in, I smiled. It was quite a funky and ecclectic place and had a super fun vibe. I was intrigued and excited to try the food.

The passed appetizers included chicken satay, cheese puffs and pizzas. I spent my time with the satay-yum.

We were then offered a Spinach Cannelloni or Grilled Spiced Chicken Salad. I thought the Manicotti was good but needed a bit more flavor. I can not speak for the salad as we had a choice of either. We then given a bread pudding dessert which I thought was fabulous however, I do not see these items on the regular menu. I am definitely planning on going back for a special meal soon.

Back to the programs:
Holiday Points: By simply doing your regular shopping. you gain 1 point for every $1 you spend. There is no limit to the number of Holiday Reward Coupons you can earn and the discount you earn is based on the number of points you accrue until December 10th and you can then redeem them through Christmas.
250 Points = 5% off

450 Points = 10% off

600 Points = 15% off

800 Points = 20% off Holiday Reward Coupon

Store Explorer Adventure Guide: A new program where school students go to a local Stop & Shop and go on a healthy store tour. They also get a 'goody' bag at the end that I am told is full of healthy items. I am waiting to hear what are in the bags (hoping it is filled with all the right things.)

Small Victories: A new mom-focused magazine filled with tips and coupons. Love the first one.

Disclosure: Flowers, Lunch, Soup Mix and Gift Card were all provided. I was not asked to post.

Pumpkin & Oatmeal Muffins

The story of Pumpkin Muffin Love: Daddy takes kids to the bakery. They return home and beg mom to make Pumpkin Muffins. Mom sets off on a mission. The results are below and include the boost of oatmeal.

Pumpkin-Oatmeal Muffins

Inspired by Whole Living

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 1/2 cups organic all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 tablespoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup oatmeal

3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 cups organic pumpkin puree
1 cup plain organic low-fat yogurt
3 large organic eggs
1 1/3 cup brown sugar plus 2 tablespoons more for sprinkling

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat muffin pans (~22-24 muffins) with baking spray.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and oatmeal; set aside.

3. In a large bowl, whisk oil, pumpkin puree, yogurt, eggs, and sugar to combine

4. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix just until moistened (do not over mix).

5. Spoon approx. 2 tablespoons of batter into each muffin tin and sprinkle with remaining sugar.

6. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Cool 5 minutes in pan.

Great topped with some cream cheese or pumpkin butter!

Garnet Hill Wish List

I figured Santa will be stopping by the mall on his way over and I figured he may pick a little something for me (before he gets to Williams-Sonoma) so I want to give him plenty of options.

They may call this print tea party but it screams coffee cup to me.

A journal to record what I am grateful for


A wrap to keep me warm when walking to the mailbox to send thank you cards

And a hat to compliment any jacket or the above mentioned wrap

Lovely shopping and picnic basket

For the Home:

A lovely pillow to make the couch or bed a bit more festive

To stay warm inside, a colorful throw

Hostess gift times two

For the wee ones:

Love this book

Art Kits

Much to do & much to bake, How can I be efficient for goodness sake? 30 Days of Cozi Challenge

Hello!

I was recently invited by Cozi.com to guest-blog on their Live Simply site. Cozi has over 2 million registered users, mostly families that use it to simply and get organized, so of course I was excited to take on the challenge!


Today's post is about 'Staying Healthy with To-Do Lists' so be sure to visit me there to read all about it and see how I do it in my Whrrl Story "Much to do & much to bake, How can I be efficient for goodness sake?"

EatingWell Wednesday - A Fantastic Sweet Potato Casserole

Recently, I have been asked about dessert options and with Thanksgiving coming, I wanted to think of a classic made a bit healthier. Naturally, I headed to EatingWell knowing that they would have a 'madeover' option.

Their sweet potato casserole incorporates, orange zest, vanilla and honey and I knew from the scent that it would be amazing.

For the topping, I used oatmeal in place of pecans. In addition, since I did not have OJ concentrate, I placed some OJ in the freezer and voila', my frozen concentrate was born.



By the way, this recipe is featured in Day 2 of a Year of Savoring the Thyme on Whrll.

Baked Rigatoni with Roasted Vegetables - Guest Post

Since I began this blog I have been fortunate to connect with some wonderful people and one of them is Niri of Mommy Niri. She is a genuine and caring person who happens to run an awesome blog with great content on parenting and some awesome giveaways as well.

She challenged me to create a Vegetarian main dish as a Thanksgiving Day option so Baked Rigatoni with Roasted Vegetables was born . How did I do?

Savor All The Thyme - A Year of Whrrl

Have you heard of Whrrl? I am happy to introduce you. I describe it to my friends as 'An online slide show'. I have had a blast whrrling stories the past number of weeks and have decided to do a story everyday for a year.

Topics will include recipes, kids, crafts, more recipes, how-to's, all kinds of food related topics, lifestyle and gosh, who knows but it will all be fun and hopefully entertaining and sometimes educational!

You will also see some hashtags that relate back to twitter and to some posts on this site.

Join in the fun!

Powered by Whrrl

Mr. Fizzy's Lunch Lab launched by PBS (and a Twitter party)

There is a new resource that addresses what kids and families can do to make smart food choices and learn the benefits of living healthy in a fun and humorous way and it launches today! I LOVE it and guess what? It is brought to you by the fantastic folks at PBS.

The FIZZY’S LUNCH LAB Website at PBSKIDSGO.org/lunchlab will feature animated shorts, fun recipes, interesting food facts, and exciting interactive games that guide children towards making smarter food choices.

From their press release:
“By creating fun, animated personalities, our hope is to keep families entertained, engaged, and interested in healthy living. When was the last time you received your recipe instructions from a bellowing measuring-cup drill-sergeant?”

“At PBS KIDS, we focus on guiding children to adopt healthy habits through our positive role models, great storytelling and engaging games. FIZZY’S LUNCH LAB is a perfect addition to our menu – it is interactive content that empowers children to make the right choices and advance their knowledge about healthy eating and exercise,”

Professor Fizzy and his friends work together to fight obesity while learning about the human body, and eating delicious food. The educational goal is to provide an informative overview of food and nutrition topics with an emphasis on fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Most researchers agree that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is the key to healthy nutrition, avoidance of obesity, and disease prevention.

Twitter party this Tuesday night!

The topic is: Healthy Eating & Cooking With Kids Who-hoot! (Can you tell I am happy?)

Join @pbsparents Tues 11/17—9-11 ET 4 healthy eating/cooking w/kids tips RSVP: http://bit.ly/3utRlf

The panelists are as follows (twitter names): @savorthethyme @fujimama @lunchlab @mommymomo @momspark @mommadethat @jylmomIF @pbsparents @pbssupersisters @tjstaab @evo_conference

Roasted Cauliflower, Red Pepper & Garlic Soup

Saturday was a windy, wet and dreary day thanks to Storm Ida so we were all craving soup. I was thinking of a roasted red pepper soup but when I saw the head of cauliflower an idea struck. In addition, the oven was already hot baking a chicken pot pie so in went the cauliflower and garlic.

Now, I must state that I roasted the peppers myself but it does take some work so if you want to save some time, use the jarred. Also, if you do not like the flavor of any of these foods roasted, than do not bother with the soup.

Ingredients:
1 head organic cauliflower (cut into florets)
3 large cloves of garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper
2 large roasted red peppers
4 cups organic vegetable stock
1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
½ cup 1% milk


Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees

2. In a large bowl, toss the cauliflower florets and garlic with the olive oil, salt and pepper and place in a single layer on the baking sheet.

3. Roast until golden brown, approx. 20 minutes, place in a bowl and allow to cool while you prepare the peppers.

4. Set oven to broil and place the peppers on a baking sheet and broil until they begin to char/blacken

5. Place the peppers into a paper bag, close and set aside.

6. Now chop the garlic and cauliflower up into smaller pieces and place into a pot with the stock, add the thyme and turn burner onto medium.

7. Remove the peppers from the bag and peel off the skin. Chop and mix with the cauliflower & garlic.

8. Bring to a boil, then cover with a lid, turn the burner down to low and allow to simmer for 15 minutes.

9. Place half the contents and ¼ milk into a blender (lid vented for steam) and puree. Pour into a bowl and repeat with the remaining and ¼ milk

I also wanted to share that Maria of Two Peas and Their Pod had just posted their Slow-Roasted Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper soup.

Tastemaker Challenge Box - Contents Revealed

Menu for the Virtual Book Club on MomTV featuring Author Eileen Goudge

Tonight I get to participate in a Virtual Book Club & Moms Night Out with NY Times best-selling author Eileen Goudge! When the One to One Network and Mom It Forward asked me if I wanted to participate I was exicted for three reasons:

1. Craving a 'girl's night' with my friend and that helps keep us all mentally healthy. I am doing this because we are having a book club event at my house

2. Love trying out new recipes & enjoying food with these friends (menu below)

3. I have put aside my nightly ritual of reading a great book

Wednesday, November 11th from 9-11 pm EST you'll get a chance to chat with and hear from author Eileen Goudge as we discuss Once in a Blue Moon.



Here's how you can join in:
First, 9-10 pm EST on MomTV.com's The Spin Cycle followed at 10-11pm EST is Girls Night Out on Twitter (#GNO & #OnceinaBlueMoon)

Eileen and Danielle http://twitter.com/extraordmommy will be joined by:
Myself : Jennifer Leal http://twitter.com/savorthethyme
Fiona Bryan http://twitter.com/banteringblonde
Stacie Connerty http://twitter.com/stacieinatlanta
Kelly Loubet http://twitter.com/childhood
Carissa Rogers http://twitter.com/carissarogers
and Jyl Johnson Pattee http://twitter.com/jylmomif

Eileen will be taking questions from each of the virtual book clubs as well as from any fans who are joing via chat.

NEXT, we are all hopping on Twitter and following the hashtag #OnceinaBlueMoon to 'Chat It Out' with @EileenGoudge.

Jyl Johnson Pattee from Mom It Forward http://twitter.com/jylmomif will be leading the discussion with @EileenGoudge and other special guests (@barbarajones, @extraordmommy, @stacieinatlanta, @childhood, @buckdaddy, @TheAppleofMyEye & @angievinez) to discuss not only Eileen's book "Once in a Blue Moon" and topics covered in the book but also things like writing, getting published and more.

Also, if you want to be entered to win this super cool Kindle, you can go here and see how to enter!

You can start by Tweeting this:
Join #OnceinaBlueMoon author @EileenGoudge Wed 11/11 @ Virtual Book Club 9 ET on @momTV & 10 ET on #gno http://bit.ly/3rfwoO PLS RT
_______________________________________________
The Menu: A little mis-matched but fun all the same

Fruit Kabobs with Greek Yogurt:

Pineapple, Mango, Melon and Strawberries with Greek Yougrt Dip

Corn & Vegetable Soup: I just made a published recipe but am going to adapt it and share

Vegetable Spring Rolls with Gyoza Dipping Sauce

Chocolate Ganache Cake with Raspberries

Organic Grass Fed NY Strip Steak & Organic Chicken Breast Salad featuring POM Juice

I feel it is a great opportunity when you are making your meal, recipe, snack, baked good, etc. to try to up the nutritional value. With that said, we love drinking POM in its’ raw state right out the bottle (try to grab it away from my son) so when POM wrote me asking if I would try using it in some recipes, I thought, ‘man, why haven’t I thought of that?’

Also, while attending Blogher, I was approached by a blogger who asked me if I have ever tried Greensbury Market Organic Steaks & Chicken. I had not and was willing to accept some product to give them a try. I was not asked to do anything but enjoy them and enjoy them we did.

So, time to put on my kitchen thinking cap and get to work. For the chicken, I made a Pomegrante dressing and the salad below.

Pomegranate Dressing:
1/3 cup POM pomegranate juice
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

¾ teaspoon Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste

Organic Grilled Chicken over Baby Spinach Salad
Organic Baby Spinach
Toasted Pine Nuts
Dried Sweetened Cranberries
Red Onion, slivers

Organic Chicken Breasts-marinated in dressing , grilled and sliced
Pomegranate dressing

I grilled the chicken when grilling the steak, prepared the salad (first 4 ingredients) and then topped with the chicken and dressing

Organic Grass Fed NY Strip Steak
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
½ shallot, chopped
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
3/4 teaspoon dry mustard
½ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Mix the ingredients well and toss with steak.


pre-grilling

I marinated the steaks for about 30 minutes and then grilled them to medium. I let them rest about 10 minutes and then we devoured them. Now, we do not eat NY strip often so I can not say whether these we much better than conventional steaks, but I will say, these melted in our mouths and tasted clean. Does that make sense to you? Granted, we can not afford to eat organic grass fed meat or chicken at every meal however, the food we consume is very important to use and quality over quantity reigns when possible.


post-grilling

Check out my Whrrl story featuring POM and, foodies will recognize the dreaded photo in slide#9

Earth's Best Most Memorable Feeding Contest - A New Entrant

The contest ends November 30th so be sure to enter and tell all your friends & family.

Contest Summary:
*Children 2 and under

*25 Winners will receive a FREE month of Earth’s Best food, diapers and wipes.

* The child could be the new face of Generation Pure

*Submit your 30-60 second video to Earth's Best

*Earth's Best will donate one product to the Feed the Children™ charity for each video loaded

Drop In & Decorate

Many of you may have noticed the cute 'Drop In & Decorate' button over on the left hand column of this blog and I thought this would be a great time to tell you more about it. I met food writer Lydia Walshin of The Perfect Pantry back in July at BlogHer and let me tell you, meeting her and the other food bloggers was definitely one the highlights of the conference for me (I have to share the details with you!). What you may not know is that she is the founder of Drop In & Decorate.


Drop In & Decorate is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization based in Rhode Island. The idea is simple: bake some cookies; gather a group of family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, your worship group or book group to decorate the cookies together; donate the cookies to a nonprofit agency serving basic human needs in your own community. It’s a simple idea but can make a big impact as we know that cookies make people smile and feel happy. I am organizing events with both a local school and the local Moms Club.



Also, do not think that you need to be a baker as Lydia will tell you that she is baking-challenged so anyone can do this. You can find a free guide with everything you need to know to host your own party.



In addition, to help host your own Drop In & Decorate® event, Pillsbury and Wilton would like to help: Pillsbury has donated 50 VIP coupons, worth $3.00 each, off any Pillsbury product -- including sugar cookie mix and icing -- to be distributed, first come, first served, while supply lasts, to anyone who plans to host a Drop In & Decorate event (max. 5 coupons per person). And we'll include a Comfort Grip cookie cutter, donated by Wilton, to people who plan to host cookies-for-donation events.

Please write to lydia@ninecooks.com for more info on how to get your free coupons, cookie cutters or any additional questions.

EOS Smooth Sphere

I must share this fabulous product that I have been using since late July. It is called EOS Smooth Sphere. This fabulous little ball of balm was in one of swag bags a Blogher and I waited a few days to try it. Why? Well, let me tell you.

I have always been a 'must wear lipstick out the door' gal. I could have messy hair and no makeup but always had lipstick with me and on my lips. That all changed 2 years ago when I suddenly had this horrible reaction with blistering, itching, oozing, pain and all sorts of nastiness on just some areas near outer rim of my upper lip. No, not herpes people. In fact, I spent a number of months going to Yale to see doctors.

These doctors tested me for just about everything with no answer but threw all kinds of steroidal creams at me. So far this year, I had given up trying any more brands and variations (stains, tinted balms etc) to find I react to all of them. At any rate, besides Vaseline and Eucerin balm, I have not been able to wear anything until EOS smooth sphere. I reluctantly tried it and waited to wake up in the middle of the night to a reaction but did not. I went days with no reaction so began using it and am thrilled. I also love it because of its hard 'shell' that does not get crushed in purse and get all over. I have not yet tried the melon or summer fruit so my experience has only been with the sweet mint.

In addition, it is organic and affordable. My friends will be finding these in their gift bags/stockings. Oh, I see they have a stick version as well. Yes, please!

We also received the shaving cream. Bliss.

Herb Stuffed Pork Loin

Just before drifting off to sleep Sunday night, I was flipping through some tasty magazines and found a recipe that got me salivating from Clean Eating. The recipe is 'Herb-Stuffed Pork Tenderloin' so I went about creating my on version.


12-16 oz pork tenderloin, trimmed
2 tsp olive oil
1 clove garlic
2 cups baby spinach leaves*
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
pepper to taste
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoons dried rosemary*
2 tablespoons curly parsley, chopped*
2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped*

1. Preheat over to 425 degrees. Trim the fat from the pork. Using a sharp knife, cut the meat lengthwise, butterflying the meat (but do not cut it all the way through). Spread the meat open, and pound between to pieces of plastic wrap to thin it out a bit.

2. Heat the oil over medium heat, and then add garlic, spinach, salt and pepper. Saute until spinach is wilted and then chop roughly. Spread over the inside of the pork.

3. Mix together vinegar, Dijon, rosemary, parsley and thyme. Spread the mixture over tenderloin along inner edge.

4. Fold tenderloin back together and either tie with kitchen twine or use skewers (that is all I had) to secure tenderloin closed.

5. Bake for 25-35 minutes (internal temp 160) depending on thickness. Remove twine/skewers, slice and enjoy.

*Indicated where different from original recipe

EatingWell Wednesday - Apple Cupcakes

There are times where you want or need to make a little dessert or 'treat' so why not take the opportunity to up the nutritional value? I found this tasty apple cupcake recipe on EatingWell. Now, I actually changed it a bit but I am certain in it's original state, it is fabulous as well.

Since I did not have dried apple or cake flour, I went off on my own. It also came out more like a muffin to me than what I think of as cupcake consistency so give both my version and EatingWell version and see which is your favorite.


photo pre-icing

Recipe:
I omitted the dried apples and used regular unbleached AP flour in lieu of cake flour. If you use this recipe, add 1.5 teaspoons cinnamon so there is more of a cinnamon presence. I found it to have a muffin consistency.

The icing is perfect as is.

HALO SleepSack Swaddle Giveaway

Naturally as new parents, we were overwhelmed with all the products you are told you do need, must have, must buy, do not bother with etc. but so many of my mommy friends swore that I would love and need the SleepSack™ . It an important product to have as it replaces a blanket in the crib and we all know how important that is in relation to SIDS. SIDS is the sudden death of an infant under one year of age which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation.

When MomSelect asked me if I wanted to give one away I accepted as we believe in the product and Halo is a company that creates products for healthy and safe sleep. Now the sleepsack was an invaluable product for us with the two babies but now it is even better as you have the swaddle option. We loved having our SleepSack as it made it so easy to change the babies and most importantly, we could zip up from the bottom up and never had to worry about pinching their faces and heck, we could even change them while they were drifting off to sleep. I love that the new design gives you the choice of swaddling as my first did not like being swaddled but my second one loved it (and swaddling him was the only thing that helped us to keep our sanity).

In addition, the design is great as the swaddle does not get too close to baby's face. Also the design allows for arms to be in or out, or you can even remove the swaddle feature to use as a regular SleepSack™ wearable blanket.


I am happy to say that we have a Lush Dots Velboa in 'Cream' in the newborn (6-12lbs) to giveaway. Here is what you need to do to qualify (winner choosen via Random.org on Sunday, Nov. 15th):

Watch my Tastemaker video on YouTube, give it 5 stars AND leave a comment on YouTube.

For TWO additional entries EACH (must do item above to qualify):
*Become a fan of the Savor the Thyme Facebook Page and leave comment on FB

**Follow me on Twitter @savorthethyme and tweet me that you are now a follower.

***Retweet and/or post the following message on Twitter and comment here, linking to your update/post:

GIVEAWAY! @savorthethyme Enter 2 win Halo Sleepsack http://alturl.com/9ek4 PLS RT

By the way, Please consider donating to the Libby's and Feeding America campaign!

Full Disclosure: MomSelect gave me two HALO SleepSack Swaddle's for this review/giveaway. I gifted one as a baby shower gift.

Stopped me in my tracks - Baby Gap

I was on my way to the grocery store (naturally) and had grabbed the mail from our mailbox on the way down the road. Since I was enjoying the tunes, I decided to go through the mail in the parking lot and as soon as I opened the magazine, the images below jumped at me.

I could not belive how darn cute! That must have been quite a photoshoot.

Feeding Babies 'Real Food' : eebee's Mix & Mash Adventures

I am all warm and fuzzy inside. Why? You know I love finding a show, publication or educational material that aids to teach parents and children about the importance of eating real & nutritious foods. So I was thrilled when I was sent a draft of the eebee's Mix & Mash book and DVD. The DVD is fantastic and here are the reasons why:

1. eebee: The little ones can watch eeBee having a blast in the kitchen with the 'mommies'. eeBee is engaging because he makes all kinds of noises and is animated. eeBee also helps to prepare the food and is excited to eat it . eBee does not look like a human baby but kids love puppets, as we all know from watching Sesame Street.

2. These folks are flexible: I personally appreciate it when a recipes suggest substitutions: What if baby does not like tofu? Use bananas instead.

3. The recipes: simple yet full of variety: tofu, curry, fruits and vegetables and they even delve into spices, such as curry.


4. Game Playing: The mommies and eeBee play peek a boo, crush Cheerios, and teach shapes with sweet potatoes. I share one of my 'fun' techniques in this post.

Now onto the real value of the book & DVD and some food for thought from the Every Baby Company:
“The growing awareness that “unhealthy food = kids” is changing attitudes and behaviors about how and what we feed our kids, and how and when we educate them about healthy choices.”

Also (and apply this to children, not just babies): “When you feed your baby you are doing a lot more than providing the nutrition to support her physical growth. You are also nurturing her social, emotional and intellectual growth.”

The websites description of the Mix & Mash Adventure Book & DVD:
*The first-ever cooking with your baby book
*Inspired by the playful idea that if you can mash it, smash it, oosh it, goosh it, shake it, coat it or stir it, your baby can participate in the process of preparing meals
*More than a collection of mealtime ideas
*6 nutritious, simple, hands-on recipes
*Written in playful rhyme
*Tasty, tactile, and interactive “cooking” activities and discoveries with real food
*Deliciously color-coded
*Oversize baby board book
*INCLUDES: “how-to” DVD co-produced with Parents TV!

I can see the baby loving to watch the DVD with mom while they try the recipes and yes, even chewing on the board book.

Full disclosure: The Every Baby Company wrote me asking if I would like a copy. Naturally, I am sure they wanted a review but they did not ask nor have they paid me. I am happy to say that I think this is great enough to share with you.

Dining at Michael Jordan Steak House with Five for Fighting

Exciting title isn't it? Well, it is a bit of false advertising but still a great post. I am going to share with you the meal we had prior to seeing the Five for Fighting concert at the Mohegan Sun Casino. First the yummy meal at Michael Jordan's Steak House.

My meal consisted of the: Roasted Beet Salad. Here is the description from the menu: Smoked Almonds, Herbed Goat Cheese, Frisee, Radicchio & Truffle-Honey Vinaigrette. Now, normally I am not a beet girl. However, this dish turned me around and inspired me to make this beet dish.



Grilled Corn off-the-cob with Smoked Chile Butter. This was a lively salad that contained carmelized Onions and fresh cilantro. I think I moaned at the first bite.



My husband opted for a Scallops Special: seared scallops with radicchio, arugula salad, crispy capicola over yellow heirloom tomatoes with a Parmesan aioli. Heaven.



And to end the meal, a surprise from the restaurant to celebrate our 8th Wedding Anniversary: The 23 Layer Chocolate Cake




Now onto the concert: When the One to One Network asked me if I wanted to go to the concert, I think my mouth dropped open. I love Five for Fighting. Better yet, this would be great for a hubby-wife date night. In order to have a healthy marriage, you need to make time for yourselves and as parents, couple time is often put aside isn't it? I admit that I am guilty as well and took this opportunity to remind myself (and my hubby) how important the couple time is and how much fun we have together. We are now back to our weekly date nights. That may mean something as simple as some popcorn and a TV movie but it is our time.

Now, onto the concert: The concert began with "What Kind of World Do You Want" followed by "The Riddle". I felt as if John Ondrasiks' voice was caressing my insides with his soulful voice and music. Next came "Chances" which I had seen performed on the Today Show the week before so I was looking forward to hearing it live. I do not think I have ever heard a singer's voice as authentic live as on the album.

He then performed 'Slice' (The title song from this, his fifth album) which is a nostalgic tune and pays homage to Don McLean’s oldie but goodie, “American Pie" and past times. It is funny as he mentioned 'James Taylor' as that is exactly who I had thought of during this concert. I was reminded of the conversations, if you will, that go on between each song. You learn about he singers thoughts and life during the time the song was conceived.

Next came "Freedom never cries", "Tuesday", which is an ode to 9/11, then the touching "I Just Love You". After those songs I dried my eyes and continued to smile.

Happy people during the intermission of a fantastic concert. To quote my husband "I have a new favorite singer"

He is sending out a dedication to me. Ok, not really but he spotted me a minute later and I am sure he was wishing he was not married. Just go along with me, will you?

If you can get to a Five for Fighting Concert, do so and bring someone you care about. I will share the final song "Hope" for you below-Fantastic!!!

Full Disclosure: The tickets were supplied for the concert.

Carrot & Butternut Squash Soup : Hope to Heal

I have three friends that need healing: one with pregnancy related nausea, one with a back injury and one that is feeling sickly. How can I help? Maybe with a warm bowl of soup an a hug.

I was lucky enough to find organic carrots and butternut squash and since one friend is vegetarian, I used organic vegetable broth as well.



Ingredients:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
2 stalks organic celery, chopped
1/4 teaspoon organic ginger powder
1 teasoon fresh thyme, chopped
4 large organic carrots or 1.5 cups, peeled and chopped
1/2 large organic butternut squash, peeled an chopped (2 cups)
4 cups organic vegetable chicken broth
1/8 teaspoon salt (I would taste prior to adding)
Freshly ground pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Heat oil in a soup pot/Dutch oven over medium heat. Stir in onion and celery and cook until the onion is softened and translucent, 8 to 12 minutes.

2. Stir in curry powder and thyme, then add carrots and squash. Stir well over medium heat for 2 minutes, then add broth. Bring the mixture to a low boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover tightly and simmer until the carrots and squash are tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

3. Using a large slotted spoon, transfer the soup solids to a food processor, adding about 1/2 cup of the broth and puree to desired smoothness. Pour the puree back into the pot and season. Serve hot with a dab of yogurt if you wish.

This would be perfect to freeze in quart batches.