If you can believe it, I have yet to bake a holiday cookie this season!  Shh!  But the year is not over which means I still have time to get my bake on.  Sugar cookies are a staple during this time of year, and while in and of themselves perfectly delectable, they can always be enhanced! The recipe for basic sugar cookies is quite simple.  From a basic recipe, like the Domino Sugar’s 1001 Cookie Starter Mix, you can create everything from gingerbread to chocolate brownies and more.  I decided to take a peppermint twist on the classic sugar cookie:

First, make your dough:

1001 cookie starter mix

Make 10 cups

Ingredients

5 cups all-purpose flour
3 3/4 cups Domino Granulated Sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder
2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened

Spoon flour into measuring cup and level with spatula. Put in large bowl with at least 4 quart capacity.

Measure sugar, baking powder and salt into flour. Stir until thoroughly blended.

Add butter and use pastry blender or clean hands to work into dry ingredients until mixture resembles coarse meal.

*For best results, store covered in airtight container in refrigerator or freezer.

Pink!

Peppermint Sugar Cookies

4 cups Domino Sugar 1001 Cookie Starter Mix
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 cup crushed candy canes

In large bowl, mix together all ingredients using your hands or a stand mixer with a dough hook. Divide dough in half, and shape into 2 disks. Wrap each disk in plastic, and chill at least 3 hours in the refrigerator, or place in freezer for 1 hour until firm enough to roll.

Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.

Roll dough, half at a time on floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Arrange cutouts 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets.

Bake for 10-12 minutes. Do not brown. Cool on wire rack.

Makes 2 to 2 1/2 dozen.

These cookies are incredibly flavorful and festive looking.  I think they taste perfect as is, but you could cut them into shapes and decorate them with peppermint frosting if desired.

Right now, Domino Sugar is hosting a contest on their Facebook page where fans can enter their favorite cookie recipe for a chance to win prizes which include several baking gift baskets.  If you enter your recipe, you’ll recieve a Domino Sugar coupon and a code for 40% off Chicago Metallic bakeware. To enter your recipe and all of the pertinent details, just visit their Facebook page.

Win It! One of you will win a $50 Visa card to help you make your very own cookies using Domino Sugar’s 1001 Cookie Starter Mix.  Simply leave me a comment with the name of the cookie you’d like to create using their 5 ingredient starter mix. Comments will close on January 5th, 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.

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.

Like Domino Sugar on Facebook and leave a comment with your favorite recipe entry.

Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following (or something like it) “ I just entered a #giveaway to win a #visa GC from @dominosugar @rockinmama http://tinyurl.com/7t7h72j”

Rockin’ Mama Facebook fans automatically receive an extra entry

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

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 Domino Sugar.

Photo Credit: OC Mom Activities

Fresh & Easy hosted a holiday party aboard the Queen Mary a few weeks ago, and while I wasn’t able to attend, I did manage to pick up some awesome tips, recipes, and inspiration…perfect for a festive New Year’s Eve party. Chef Cyndi served and utilized a variety of the neighborhood market’s prepared foods for the appetizer spread.  One of her ideas, which is listed on the Fresh & Easy blog, is to take an appetizer and create a meal around it.  She used Fresh & Easy’s Turkey Cranberry Sausage and incorporated it into an appetizer skewer with sweet potatoes and cherry tomatoes.  She then built that into a meal to include the market’s Roasted Butternut Squash and Beet Salad and a slice of Harvest Loaf bread from Il Fornaio. Brilliant!  Utilizing some of the market’s fresh prepared foods to create a gourmet meal can save time and stress without compromising on flavor.

Fresh & Easy has an entire holiday guide, showcasing their prepared foods which includes everything from appetizers and desserts to hot drinks and wines.  You could easily pick and choose a few appetizers and desserts to compliment your meal, or cater the entire party from the market. What I’ve always appreciated about Fresh & Easy is their commitment to offering products free from high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, artificial flavors, or trans fats.

In addition to the fresh foods offered by the market, they have an expansive selection of holiday snacks and foods you can prepare at home.  I can’t wait to bake their pumpkin bread ($2.49) and pair it with either their Peppermint Hot Cocoa or Cinnamon Coffee (or both!).  Fresh & Easy is also known for offering a fantastic selection of award-winning wines at very competitive prices.

You can view Fresh & Easy’s Holiday Guide for a complete list of holiday food items.

No compensation was received for this post. Product samples provided.

Photo Credit: Fresh & Easy

Photo Credit: Hellmann's

Hellmann’s, known for their real mayonnaise, made from real ingredients, has an awesome recipe that incorporates your favorite leftovers into a flavorful dish.  I like the fact that the dish doesn’t require a lot of prep time (that was done the day before)  and is truly an entirely new dish.

Turkey Casserole

Ingredients
4 cups leftover prepared stuffing, divided
4 cups coarsely chopped leftover cooked turkey (about 1 lb.)
3/4 cup Hellmann’s or Best Foods Real Mayonnaise, divided (try the light version to cut calories and fat)
1/4 cup whole berry cranberry sauce (I like to make mine from scratch)
2 cups leftover mashed potatoes
1-1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (about 6 oz.)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375°. Spray 8-inch baking dish with no-stick cooking spray. Spoon in 2 cups stuffing, then top with turkey.

Combine 1/4 cup Hellmann’s or Best Foods Real Mayonnaise with cranberry sauce; evenly spread over turkey.

Combine remaining 1/2 cup Mayonnaise, potatoes and cheese in large bowl. Evenly spread on turkey, then top with remaining 2 cups stuffing.

Bake 40 minutes or until heated through. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. If desired, garnish with dried cranberries.

For additional recipe inspiration, just visit Hellmann’s!

Disclosure: This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Ambassador in Hellmann’s Real Foodies Program. For more great ideas, go to www.facebook.com/hellmanns.

Photo Credit: jade007

After a weekend of sharing, conversing, eating, and relaxing, it’s time for a post holiday clean-up.  While I strive to “clean” while I’m prepping and cooking, I reserve the “deep clean” for after the guests have left. This also gives me an opportunity to start the new year fresh by getting organized.  So what am I doing to get our home clean and ready for the new year? Here are some of my best tips for our post holiday clean-up:

1.  Don’t try to do it all in one day.  I have a routine where I focus on one area of the house each day. I set small, attainable goals and try to spread cleaning tasks out throughout the week.

2.  Pay attention to the germiest areas in your home.  Germs love the kitchen and the bathroom, filled with food, moisture and other environments conducive to their existence.  These are the areas where I use my disinfecting wipes to ensure that all germs have been eliminated from our home, particularly since we’re right in the midst of cold and flu season.

3.  Get everyone involved.  Whether it’s simply ensuring that my son understands the importance of cleaning up his toys each day or encouraging my husband to be a cleaner cook, involving each member of the family in the clean-up process can take the load off of one person.  When everyone pitches in, clean-up can be achieved quickly and efficiently.

4.  Keep it simple.  Cleaning doesn’t have to be elaborate, particularly if you maintain a regular regimen. One or two all-purpose cleaning products that can be used in multiple areas of the house on multiple surfaces will help save time and money.

5.  Be mindful of your carbon footprint. Think about those items you are throwing away and evaluate if they can be recycled or repurposed. *Tip* Check out Glad’s line of composting and recycling bags that help keep waste out of landfills.

How do you approach clean-up once you’re done celebrating?

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

Product samples provided by Clorox, Snuggle, All, Glad, Vanity Fair, Dixie, Pine-Sol, Angel Soft, and Brawny

This Mickey & Minnie Ornament Set is simple, elegant, and unique. Each ornament is designed to resemble a snow globe, minus the water. They can be hung or displayed on a mantle or table since the base is flat (as opposed to the traditional ornament which is completely round).

To compliment the ornament set, we’ve displayed the Mickey and Minnie Snow Globe, which features a miniature Mickey and Minnie inside along with a swirl of snow.

And since we definitely can’t forget about our littles, they’re snuggling up with Mickey, who’s all dressed up for the holidays.  The Disney Store offers both Mickey and Minnie, dressed in holiday attire with the year embroidered on the plush.

You can view the entire Share the Magic Collection on The Disney Store’s website.

No compensation was received for this post. Product samples provided.

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.

As much as I enjoy getting creative with my holiday meals, preparing and cooking for a large number of people can be time consuming, stressful, and costly. If you still haven’t decided what you’ll serve this Christmas, why not opt for a few semi-homemade dishes?

A few months ago, I was approached by Boston Market to create a few semi-homemade recipes.  If you’re feeling the stress of the holiday season…relax.  You can still whip up something amazing using a few ready-prepped staples without friends and family ever knowing you took a short cut.  Or, you can opt to cook the main dish (i.e. ham, turkey, etc.) and then pick up some gourmet prepared sides.

Here are two recipes I created using Boston Market’s Garlic Dill New Potato Wedges and Roasted Turkey Breast:

Warm Garlic Dill Potato Salad

1 Large Side Boston Market Garlic Dill New Potato Wedges (Cut in half)
1/2 Cup Onion Sauteed
2 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1/4 Cup Mayonnaise
1 teaspoon chopped parsley

Sautee onion until soft. Combine lemon juice with zest and mayo in a mixing bowl. Add potatoes, onion and parsley. Combine and serve. Salt and pepper to taste

Semi-Homemade Turkey Pot Pie

1 Family Portion Boston Market Roasted Turkey Breast (chop to 1/2″ pieces)
1 Thawed Package Mixed Peas and Carrots
1 Large Russett Potato cut in 1/2″ Cubes
1/2 Medium Brown Onion chopped
1 Stalk Celery chopped
1 Clove Garlic Finely Chopped
3 Cups Chicken Broth
4 Tablespoons Butter (Reserve 1 table spoon for the flour mixture)
3 Tablespoons All Purpose Flour
3/4 Cup Half & Half
2 Prepared or purchased pastry crusts for 9″ Pies
Salt and Pepper to Taste

1. Bring chicken broth to boil and boil potato cubes in broth until tender. Remove potatoes and set aside. Reserve at least 1 cup of broth.

2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a greased pie shell or round casserole dish, lay in the pastry shell and fold the excess back into the top of the dish.

3. In a large skillet over medium heat, sautee onion and celery in the 3 tablespoons of butter. Once they are soft, add garlic and 1/2 cup chicken broth. Simmer for 2-3 minutes. Add remaining butter and allow to melt. Slowly stir in the flour. When the mixture begins to thicken into a paste in the skillet, stir in half & half. Immediately add peas and carrots, potatoes and turkey, stirring gently to combine. Allow to simmer until the liquid is mostly absorbed.

4. Spoon the filling into the pastry shell until nearly over flowing. A little extra can be placed in the middle to create a rounded top. Lightly wet the edge of the bottom crust with water and center the second pastry shell on top. Evenly fold the excess crust back on top (for an extra thick crust) or cut away the excess. Cut several slits in the center of the crust for venting. Lightly indent the top around the edges with a fork for simple easy detail. Brush top of pie with an egg wash for a shiny, golden brown finish.

5. Change oven to 375 and place the uncovered pie on the center rack. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the crust has browned slightly. Cover with foil and return for another 15 minutes.

Turkey, in particular, can take a very long time to prepare and cook.  Eliminating those two steps can help ease the stress of preparing a holiday meal.  Alternatively, you can opt to serve turkey for dinner and then use the leftovers to create the above pot pie recipe.  For more tips on creating semi-homemade meals, you can read my article on Boston Market’s website.

Win It! Three of you will win $10 gift cards to Boston Market! Simply leave me a comment with the name of your favorite main dish or side.  Comments will close on January 6th 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.

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 the following (or something like it) “ I just entered a #giveaway to win a gift card from @BostonMarket @rockinmama http://tinyurl.com/7d4vj9l”

Rockin’ Mama Facebook fans automatically receive an extra entry

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

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

This was part of a compensated campaign with Boston Market. Giveaway supplied by Boston Market.

JCPenney Don’t Panic Last Minute Shopping Guide

I absolutely love jcpenney’s recommendations and took some of their suggestions into consideration for my own gift giving.  For months my son has been talking about the Pillow Pets he sees advertised on television and displayed in stores. These snuggly foldable stuffed animals/pillows are adored by children and my son will finally get one this season.

Many of my friends are moms themselves, and knowing that we don’t typically splurge on ourselves, I think the Sephora Makeup Studio Blockbuster is a great deal for the amount of makeup that’s included.  With almost 200 products, it’s valued at $440 and retails for just $49.50.

When in doubt, coffee usually makes a great gift.  This single serve Keurig Coffemaker is on sale right now for $149.99.  I love the concept of this machine which brews single servings of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. There are a ton of machines like this on the market, but this one offers the most diversity in terms of flavors.

For additional gift ideas, just visit jcpenney.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of jcpenney and received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

It’s the season of entertaining and holiday parties.  I’ve been shopping and prepping for our upcoming family dinner and I’m happy to say that we’re nearly done (minus the cooking part, of course).  What’s going to be particularly tricky about this year’s Christmas celebration is the fact that the hubby and I will be cooking the meal in someone else’s home!  Since I’m all about making things easy, I’m going to give Pyrex’s new products a try, since I can cook, serve, and store foods in them.  For someone like my husband, who already uses too many dishes to prepare foods, this is brilliant!  Less dishes equal more time to enjoy dinner and conversation with friends and family.

I LOVE cooking with glass and ceramic bakeware.  I don’t have to worry about potentially harmful chemicals leaching into my food (think Teflon), and clean-up is so much easier. The only thing you must be careful about with regards to cooking with glass bakeware is breakage due to a sudden temperature change applied to the glassware.  If you’re hesitant to cook with glass bakeware, Pyrex offers a few simple tips to ease your mind:

1.  Always preheat the oven.  Take the guesswork out of how long to cook and bake foods by following this simple tip.

2. Always place hot glass bakeware on a dry cloth pot holder or towel.  Avoid placing hot glass bakeware on top of the stove, counter, or sink, a metal trivet, or a damp towel.

3.  Never put glass bakeware directly on a burner or under a broiler.

4. Cover the bottom of the glass dish with liquid before cooking meat or vegetables.

If you follow the above tips, you’ll prevent breakage and burns, the two major concerns associated with glass bakeware.

For more information, or to view Pyrex’s entire line, visit their website.

Win It!  One of you will win a Pyrex Holiday Kit which includes the following:

• Pyrex Easy Grab 1.3QT Oval Baking Dish
• Pyrex No-Leak Lids Glass Storage Containers
• Reversible (Naughty or Nice) Apron
• Comfort Food Fix Cookbook

Simply leave me a comment with another product you like from the Pyrex website. Comments will close on January 7th, 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.

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 the following (or something like it) “ I just entered a #giveaway to win a #Pyrex holiday kit @rockinmama ”

Rockin’ Mama Facebook fans automatically receive an extra entry

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

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.  Products for review and giveaway supplied by Pyrex.

In the midst of the shopping rush and holiday parties, I’m reminded of and sensitive to the fact that this season isn’t always “magical” for those who may be struggling  financially, physically, or emotionally.  This is the time of year when charitable organizations reach out to the public for help in providing even the most disadvantaged with a memorable Christmas.

For the fourth year in a row, Macy’s Clothing Store has partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to collect letters for Santa.  Children and adults can visit their local Macy’s stores across the country to write letters at the Believe Stations and then drop them into the Santa Mail letterboxes. The letters are even stamped and addressed to Santa at The North Pole (adorable!).  Macy’s will donate $1 to the organization for each letter received (up to $1 million).  Over the past 3 years, Macy’s has collected more than 4 million letters to Santa.

This year’s campaign is inspired by the New York Sun’s “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” editorial from 1897. As such, visitors to the store can take a photo with Virginia and her friends from the animated holiday classic.  Additionally, if you have a smart phone (IOS and Android platforms), be sure to download the free Believe-o-Magic app, which gives users the ability take photos and interact with Virginia and her friends.  Once the photo is taken, you can upload it into a holiday card template to be shared via email or Facebook.

If you’d like to begin writing your letter to Santa, just visit Macy’s Believe website.  There are a variety of ways to decorate the letter and then print it off to drop in the Santa Mailbox at your local Macy’s Believe Station.

This year, for the very first time, both of my children were happy about visiting Santa.  For the past four years, at least one of my children have been afraid, which makes for interesting photos.  It was neat to see both of them together on Santa’s lap, whispering their hopes and wishes to him.

Win It! One of you will win your choice of the following: A Believe Snowglobe, a Believe Teddy Bear, or a Believe Star Ornament.  Simply leave me a comment with you or your child’s most memorable Santa moment.  Comments will close on December 24th 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.

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 the following (or something like it) “ I just entered a #giveaway to win a @Macys prize pack @rockinmama http://tinyurl.com/72n5g7c”

Rockin’ Mama Facebook fans automatically receive an extra entry

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

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. Giveaway item provided by Macy’s.

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