Have you ever done something over-the-top to get your children to eat?  One of my favorites was when I convinced my son that eating broccoli was like eating a small tree.  He loved it so much, that to this day, he still proudly tells me that he is eating his “trees.”

This year, I’ll be working once again with Ragu to dialogue about dinner.  It’s important for me to converse with other moms because it’s one of the most challenging meals for us.  I often find myself cooking the same dishes over and over again and dinner is that meal where lack of time, hunger, impatience, and fatigue all converge.

This year, Ragu is launching a series of videos entitled Ragu Asks, which portray the over-the-top things parents do to get their children to eat well.  Here is my favorite one so far:

Ragu wants to hear your stories…What have you done to get your children to eat well?

Win It!  One of you will win a $50 American Express Gift Card.  Just share your story on their Facebook page, then come back to leave a comment letting me know you did so (I’ll verify entries when the giveaway closes).  Comments will close on March 24th, 2012 at 11:59 PM PST.

US Residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

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No compensation was received for this post. Giveaway supplied by Ragu.

So where do I turn for new recipe ideas and inspiration? Cookbooks!  In an age where technology dominates, I still have my precious collection of carefully selected cookbooks that I’ve picked up along the way, some of which were purchased during my travels.

One of the most recent additions to my cookbook collection is Simply Fresh, which features 100 recipes inspired by the famous Ruby Tuesday restaurant and written by cookbook author, wine writer, and co-owner/winemaker for Covenant Wines in Napa Valley.  Despite the fact that there really isn’t a Ruby Tuesday within driving distance, I am familiar with the restaurant because we’ve frequented one of their many Nashville locations on trips out to see my husband’s family.

With an impressive nationwide presence (over 900 restaurants are currently located in 44 states across the country), Ruby Tuesday seeks to offer it’s guests “uncompromising freshness and quality” in a casual dining environment.  Naturally, I would expect a cookbook, inspired by the restaurant, to offer the same types of recipes.

Simply Fresh, from cover to cover, is full of creative, inspired, easy-to-recreate recipes that I would expect to find at a very nice restaurant.  Photography, particularly when it comes to food, is very important to me because it helps me create a visual goal.   The food photography in this cookbook does not disappoint.  Interspersed throughout these amazing fresh, gourmet recipes are the author’s tips on hosting successful gatherings, pairing wine with food, and much more. Unlike many cookbooks, there is an entire drink section, ideal for the foodie/entertainer.

Even just from skimming through the cookbook for the very first time, I found numerous recipes I want to recreate for my family.  I’m already dreaming up ways to make allergen-friendly versions of some of the recipes I think my children would most enjoy.

Despite the fact that breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, I decided to venture out and try to recreate a meal that I could add to my repertoire of dinner ideas. My husband and I are total foodies and enjoy a variety of diverse, ethnic foods, so I settled on Morgan’s recipe for Chicken Curry with Coconut Rice.  You can see my notes and edits in parentheses and italicized.

Curry

2 teaspoons of ground coriander

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

3/4 teaspoon salt, plus additional for seasoning

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons water

1 whole chicken (about 4 pounds) cut into 10 to 12 pieces (skin removed) (we used 2 large chicken breasts)

2 tablespoons canola oil (we used sunflower oil)

1 medium onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon peeled and grated fresh ginger

2 medium tomatoes, diced

1 cup plain yogurt

2 teaspoons curry powder

Freshly ground black pepper

1.  In a small bowl, stir together the coriander, cumin, turmeric, cayenne pepper, ¼ teaspoon of the salt, and 2 tablespoons of the water to make a paste.

2.  Place the chicken pieces on a large platter, and spread the paste on the tops of the pieces. Let the chicken sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.

3.  In a large, heavy skillet or Dutch oven, heat the oil over high heat.

4.  When the oil begins to shimmer, place the chicken pieces, paste side down, in the hot oil and sear for 3 to 4 minutes, until golden brown on the underside.

5.  Turn the chicken pieces over and sear on the second side for 2 to 3 minutes, until golden. (If your pan is too small to accommodate all of the chicken pieces without crowding, do this in 2 batches.)

6.  Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside on a large serving plate.

7.  Decrease the heat to medium, add the onion, and sauté for about 3 minutes, or until translucent.

8.  Add the garlic and ginger and sate for about 30 seconds, or until fragrant.

9.  Add the tomatoes and stir to mix well.

10.  Add the yogurt, the remaining 1 cup water, and the remaining ½ teaspoon salt.

11.  Stir together all of the ingredients to mix thoroughly.

12.  Add the curry powder and stir to mix well.

13.  Return the chicken pieces to the skillet, making sure they are fully immersed in the sauce.

14.  Raise the heat to medium-high and bring to a gentle boil.  Decrease the heat to medium, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.

15.  Uncover and simmer for 10 minutes more to thicken the sauce. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and season with black pepper. (If the curry is ready before the rice has finished cooking, remove from the heat and cover to keep warm.)

Coconut Rice

1 (13-to 14-ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

2 cups long-grain white rice

3 cups water

¼ teaspoon salt

1 cinnamon stick

½ cup minced fresh cilantro

*While the curry is cooking, prepare the rice*

1.  In a small saucepan, heat the coconut milk over medium heat, stirring to liquefy, for about 2 minutes, or until all of the solids have melted. Do not allow to boil. Remove from the heat.

2.  In a 4-quart saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the rice and cook, stirring regularly to prevent burning, for about 5 minutes, or until the rice turns lightly golden.

3.  Add the water, the warm coconut milk, and the salt. Use a wooden spoon to incorporate any remaining coconut milk solids into the liquid.

4.  Add the cinnamon stick and bring the liquid to a boil. Decrease the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for about 15 minutes, or until the liquid is completely absorbed and the rice is tender.

5.  Remove the rice from the heat, discard the cinnamon stick, and fluff the grains with a fork.

Tips on plating:

1.  Place a large serving of rice in the middle of each dinner plate.

2.  Top the rice with the chicken and curry sauce.

3.  Garnish each serving wih a generous sprinkling of cilantro and serve at once.

This dish is phenomenal.  While it does take time to prepare (an hour from prep to completion), it is well worth it.  As I was prepping this dish, my kitchen was filled with the most incredible fragrance of South Asian spices.  Contrary to what you may think about curry, this particular dish is flavorful but not “spicy.” The combination of the curried chicken with the creamy coconut rice was delightful.

From flipping through the cookbook, I already hand-selected my meals for the coming week.  As you would expect, the book is divided into sections, according to food or meal type (i.e. Appetizers, Brunch, Pasta, Seafood, Dessert, etc.).  Simply Fresh is available in limited quantities online for $25.  And when you purchase the book, you’ll receive a $5 coupon off your next meal over $15 at Ruby Tuesday.

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias.

You can view my entire shopping experience here.

Recipe, courtesy Simply Fresh.

While Christmas dinner can be as elaborate as a Thanksgiving meal, many families want the convenience of picking up a few prepared items to ease the stress of prepping, cooking, and entertaining.  While I was shopping at our local Walmart this week, I spotted some of their holiday foods…fresh, festive, and fabulously affordable.  To tide our family over before the meal, I’ll be serving one of their party platters, which includes a variety of  meats, cheeses, and crackers ($18, serves 6-8), and a trio of their fresh Marketside dips with an assortment of breads, pita chips, and veggies.  I have already dipped into the Tzatziki dip and it’s delicious! Some of the other dips offered include Spinach Artichoke Dip and Roasted Red Pepper Dip ($4.98).  Additionally, we’re serving a Sam’s Choice brown sugar ham, which only needs to be heated since it’s cooked.  To finish our meal, I picked up a bundt cake and some of their mini petit fours ($3) to serve, since I am all about easy and practically effortless.

If you’re looking to compliment your family’s Christmas meal this season, consider some of the fresh, prepared foods available at Walmart (Just click on Walmart Weekly Store Ad and then click See Another Ad for their holiday food items).  You could actually create an entire meal from their food offerings, or opt to pick up a few sides, appetizers, or desserts to eliminate the work of creating these particular dishes.

Disclosure: I participate in the Walmart Moms program and am compensated for my time and honest opinions.

Images: Walmart, Hoosier Homemade.

In my 30+ years of life, I’ve eaten very few frozen meals, mostly due to the fact that they’re typically high in fat, calories, and sodium. On those occasions where I have chosen a frozen meal, it’s always been one of the “lighter” variety.

I recently opted to try Healthy Choice’s new Top Chef Inspired Meals, thanks to The Motherhood.  Because lunch is such a difficult meal for me, and one that I often find myself eating out for, I thought that perhaps I could see if these might be a healthy, affordable alternative.  I’ve purchased Healthy Choice meals in the past and actually like many of the items from the Healthy Choice line.

Cafe Steamers is a popular line from the brand, utilizing steaming technology to ensure that freshness and taste are maintained.  Unlike traditional frozen entrees, Cafe Steamers are made in such a way that the sauce is separated from the entree so the meal is steamed allowing for crisp vegetables, tender meats, and al dente pastas. Bravo’s Top Chef and Healthy Choice have teamed up to create the new line which integrates bold flavors like slow roasted garlic with fresh ingredients like asparagus and grilled eggplant.

The line includes a variety of chicken dishes, a steak dish, and a vegetarian dish.  Because the meals are so new, I was overnighted a chicken and a vegetarian dish to sample.  Unfortunately, I was only able to sample the Chicken Linguini with Red Pepper Alfredo because the vegetarian dish was not intact on arrival and I haven’t been able to get out to replace it with the coupon I was sent due to the busyness of the holiday.

As far as taste, I found that the veggies tasted fresh and the chicken was tender and moist.  The meal didn’t taste overly salted (although it does contain 21% of the recommended daily allowance for salt which is a bit high) and at 240 calories, I’m content with the nutrition aspect.

I’m actually very interested in trying the vegetarian dish since it’s common for me to skip protein altogether during lunch.  Their Grilled Vegetables Mediterranean with Rice combines grilled eggplant and vegetables with whole grain rice, barley and olive oil. It sounds like something I’d enjoy, particularly because it offers 30 grams of whole grain and 7 grams of fiber.

Healthy Choice’s Top Chef Cafe Steamers are currently available in the frozen section of your local grocery store and retail for $2.75 – $3.50.

This is a compensated post for Healthy Choice via The Motherhood.  Product samples were provided. All opinions expressed are solely that of the author.

As you likely know, I rarely eat beef or pork, opting for leaner meats and fish.  The hubby and my kids are quite the opposite, and actually enjoy a good steak.  Buying this type of meat is something that only happens on occasion and my husband strives to find lean, quality meats.

Over the summer, I was approached by Omaha Steaks, a family business known for their premium steaks, red meats, and gourmet foods.  To be honest, I saw the word “steak” and thought it wouldn’t be a good fit.  However, I soon learned that the company also offers poultry, seafood, appetizers, sides, and desserts.  One of the things you might not know about Omaha Steaks is that they offer complete meals, designed to make dinner a little less stressful. These meals are shipped frozen and each dish is individually packaged.  The meat must also be cooked (unlike traditional frozen meals).  Given the fact that I’m not one that consumes a ton of frozen foods, I was interested to see how this might compare to a fresh meal.

Their Chicken Cordon Bleu Dinner is just one of the many Gourmet Poultry Meals offered by Omaha Steaks.  The four-person meal includes 4 8 ounce breasts of Chicken Cordon Bleu, 4 generously stuffed Twice Baked Potatoes, and two trays of Green Beans with Red Peppers.  Preparation simply involves cooking each dish according to the directions on the package.  The chicken can take about 45 minutes and we used a meat thermometer to ensure it was cooked thoroughly.  We baked the potatoes in the oven and heated the vegetables on the stove.

The meal was flavorful and definitely scored points on presentation.  I liked the preparation of the green beans which were made with red peppers, onions, garlic, olive oil, butter and spices.  The baked potatoes were cheesy and rich and filled with sour cream, cheddar cheese, butter, bacon, and chives.  The chicken is stuffed with Swiss and American cheeses and Canadian Style Bacon.

While I found the meal to be easy to prepare, I have concerns about the number of processed ingredients, particularly in the chicken and the potatoes.  I can’t say that I am perfect when it comes meal choices, but as a whole, I strive to select wholesome, natural foods.  I opted to write this review because I actually think it might be preferable to simply order meat from Omaha Steaks which won’t contain any processed ingredients.

No compensation was received for this post.  Product samples were provided which helped facilitate this review.

Our two biggest expenses (apart from our mortgage) are gas and food. While I am definitely not opposed to using coupons and comparison shopping, I don’t have a lot of time to research, stack, and shop at multiple locations.  I always think it’s easier to buy most (if not all) of my items at one or two stores.

Through the 17th (hurry!), Kroger is once again hosting their Cart Buster Savings Event where you’ll save on a a variety of brands like General Mills, Unilever, and Kimberly Clark across 100 categories.  The best part about the savings event is that you don’t need to clip a single coupon.

Even if you don’t have a Kroger near you, be sure to check their website because the brand operates under a ton of different names including Ralphs (here in Southern California), King Scoopers, Dillons, Smith’s, and more.

Through the 16th, you can check out their “Deal of the Day” online.  The site is a great resource for exclusive offers.

For their weekly ad, or a complete list of participating products, just visit their website.

Win It! One of you will win a $25 gift card to Kroger (which can be used all all of their stores). Simply leave me a comment with the name of your favorite product that will be discounted during the Cart Buster event. Comments will close on August 18th, at 6 am PST.

US Residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one. Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

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Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

No compensation was received for this post. Gift cards for review and giveaway supplied by Kroger via MyBlogSpark.

The film is a true story and based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s inspirational best-selling memoir (which admittedly, I did not read).  After her divorce, the author, played by Julia Roberts, decides to take a year-long sabbatical from her job and sets out on a “quest to marvel at and travel the world while rediscovering and reconnecting with her true inner self.”  Gilbert experiences the “simple pleasure of nourishment by eating in Italy, the power of prayer in India, and the inner peace and balance of love in Bali.”

I re-visited the film over the weekend to view it in light of the role food plays.  Food stylist Susan Spungen spoke about the challenges of maintaining the fresh look of food in the sweltering Italian heat and how incredible it was to shop in Italy for food!

Susan Spungen was the founding food editor of Martha Stewart Living and her film work includes Julie and Julia, It’s Complicated, and Eat Pray Love.

Eat Pray Love is available on DVD for $28.95 and Blu-ray for $34.95.

No compensation was received for this post. I attended a luncheon and received a copy of the DVD.

“The Taste of Mexico Association was created by LA’s top native Mexican restauranteurs with the purpose of embodying, enhancing and promoting the authentic ingredients, flavors and traditions of Mexico’s cuisine.”  This Saturday’s tasting event will include regional Mexican dishes from LA’s top Mexican restaurants, traditional Mexican beverages, and live music and entertainment.

Over the last year, I’ve had the privilege of working with Avocados From Mexico, who is one of the sponsors of the event.  Because avocados are integral to Mexican cuisine, they will be featured at the guacamole bar.

Avocados from Mexico is the World’s largest producer and the number one provider of avocados in the US. I’ve eaten them on several occasions and can attest to their rich, creamy flavor.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit The Taste of Mexico Association.

No compensation was received for this post. Media tickets provided.

I absolutely adore that time in a baby’s life when they’re just learning to eat.  Every meal is setting the precedent for lifelong eating habits.

Last week I attended a media event in L.A. to learn about Gerber’s stage-based Start Healthy, Stay Healthy Nutrition System.  I am the mom that failed miserably at making her son’s baby food.  I am the mom that works all day, every day raising her children, taking care of the household, maintaining a website, and keeping up with her part-time job as a nurse. I would love to have the time and skills necessary to make my daughter’s baby food.  But since I already have a love-mostly hate relationship with the kitchen, I know for a fact that my daughter will grow up on organic baby food prepared by someone else (just as my happy, healthy toddler did).

You probably know that proper nutrition is important from infancy.  I would take that statement a step back to say that nutrition begins before a baby is born.  Proper nutrition before and during pregnancy is vital to the developing fetus.

The Start Healthy, Stay Healthy nutrition system begins during pregnancy and includes birth, the supported sitter (that’s my daughter!), the sitter, the crawler, the toddler, and the preschooler.  Each Gerber food includes an icon, which makes it easy for parents to identify the food that corresponds to their child’s developmental stage.

Gerber’s stage-based nutrition system bases feeding on developmental stage as opposed to age.  This is a new concept to me.  At the four month mark, I started my son on solids, just like the books said.  In retrospect, I didn’t pay as much attention to his developmental readiness.  I was “told” (via books) that he needed to start solids, so I did as the books said.  This time around, I waited.  I waited until my daughter could sit up supported (which she can).  I waited until she had some exposure to a spoon.  I waited until she watched us eat over and over again to observe her cues.  And I didn’t have a magic number in my head as to when she was supposed to eat.  In fact, month 4 came and went and I never even thought to feed her.  It wasn’t until just recently that I felt she was really ready.

Gerber’s science-based products were developed with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in mind.  For example, their cereals include DHA and probiotics to support brain and eye development, and the developing immune system.

I’m partial to their organic line of cereals, fruit/vegetable purees, and meals.  I believe that children should consume as many organic foods as possible to limit their exposure to chemicals, pesticides, etc. I appreciate that Gerber offers that option for parents who are concerned with these issues.

Gerber provides a wide variety of resources for parents. I sign up for their mailings which include booklets targeted towards your child’s age.  The booklets include information on feeding readiness, development, nutrition and more.  You can also sign up for their online Menu Planner, which will generate menus based on the food groups and nutrients recommended to foster your child’s growth and development.  The tool creates individualized menus and includes information about how much a child should get of different foods, and how much he/she should get in the form of nutrients (i.e. fat, calories).  For more information, just visit their website.

I’ll leave you with one last thought.  I have friends who regularly tell me how surprised they are that my son eats things like salmon and broccoli.  I introduced those foods early on and once we were done with most baby food, he ate what my husband and I ate (and still does).  How’s that for a healthy start?

Here are some adult recipes, inspired by Gerber’s products.

No compensation was received for this post.  I attended a media event, courtesy of the company and received product samples and information.

Fresh & Easy is launching a brand new line of fresh ready meals this week called EatWell.  EatWell was created out of the feedback Fresh & Easy received with regards to their meals.  People are very concerned about things like caloric, fat, and sodium intake, but they still want their food to taste good.  Each EatWell meal is nutritionally balanced and contains no more than 25% of the daily recommended amounts for calories, fat and saturated fat, and sodium.  Each meal has this information readily available on a front label, so that they’re easily identified. The company is initially launching the line with 17 products (soups, salads, sandwiches, sushi), but will continue to expand and launch additional products over the next several months.

Last week we had a tasting party, hosted by Fresh & Easy.  The chef served up dishes that I guarantee will be a hit, including my favorite…Teriyaki Salmon.  Given that there are only 17 meals, I was surprised at how diverse and ethnic they are.  You’ll find Singapore Noodles, Mojito Shrimp, Arroz Con Pollo, Tuna Nicoise Salad, and Spicy Tuna Sushi.  The meals are fresh and flavorful (I don’t miss the extra sodium or fat one bit!).  I like reading the labels and understanding each ingredient in the meal.  Fresh & Easy has committed to offering foods that are free from artificial flavors, colors, and trans fats.  And the word on the street is that Fresh & Easy will soon be eliminating high fructose corn syrup from their products (they’re about 99% there, according to one of the reps).

I would like to see Fresh & Easy offer family-sizes of these meals and more organic options.

EatWell meals are value-priced at under $5 and will be in stores this week!

I did not receive compensation for this post.  I attended a tasting and received a gift bag.