Applegate Pizza Party in a Box Giveaway

It's no secret I LOVE me some Applegate.

I mean I did a whole lunch series with them back at the beginning of school, I buy their Sunday Bacon in bulk at our BJ's, and I always have some form of their cheeses on hand 

{another not so secret, I LOVE cheese}.

When I heard they had come out with new mini pepperonis in turkey and pork options, I was stoked.

And my excitement continued when my Pizza Party in a Box arrived.

When I pulled all the goodies out and said to the kids its PIZZA night, they responded with 

"Can we have calzones?" 

Um, sure why not.  

Cause pepperonis aren't just for pizza right?!

A little bit of important info on these tasty bites that will make you feel good about feeding them to your clan:

-100% vegetarian grain-fed pork or turkey - no fillers

- No antibiotics

- Less fat and sodium than conventional brands

- Made from humanely raised pork and turkey

- No hormones

- Perfect on pizza, salads, a meat and cheese board, and just snackin’

We leaned towards the turkey, thats not to say the pork isn't delicious.  But I think since we have been using turkey pepperonis for so many years it was just a taste and texture we were more use to. 

And yes I have a "fancy" calzone maker.  It's really not necessary but the kids love to flip it and cut the excess dough off so we use it. 

And for a little extra veg option I also made zucchini boats. Simply half and cut the ends of, then scrap the seeds out.  Fill with sauce, add you pepperonis and cheese and bake with your calzones or pizza.  

All in all I think Applegate has another home run on their hands. 

And they want to send one lucky person their own Pizza in a Box to see for themselves!

Box includes:

·         Both varieties of new Applegate Naturals Mini Pepperoni and Provolone Cheese

·         King Arthur Flour Pizza Crust Mix (also available in Gluten Free!)

·         Small batch tomato sauce

·         Recipe for mini pizzas

·         Pizza cutter

·         Kitchen towel

·         Apron

Just leave a comment below.

Open to US residents only til midnight Feb 16th. 

Winner will pick randomly by random.org and announced Monday Feb 17th.

GOOD LUCK!

Quinoa Corn Cakes

We are quinoa addicts. 

Honestly, like the whole family.

I try to make it at least three times a week.

We even have a insider name for it, "the poop grain".

I mean lets keep it real, or in this case regular, anything with that much fiber is helping out if you know what I mean.

But I digress. 

What you will need:

- 2 cups cooked quinoa {and if it is your first time making it MAKE SURE TO RINSE IT OUT!}

- 3 tbsp all purpose flour

- 1 egg slightly beaten

- Juice from half a lemon

- 2 tsp pepper

- 1 tsp salt

- Corn from to ears

- Olive oil

For dressing:

- 1/4 cup sour cream or greek yogurt

- 2 tbsp of lemon juice

- Salt and pepper to taste

- Scallion

-Mix all ingredients except oil olive.  Set to the side for about 5 mins. Heat about 2 tbsp of olive oil over medium heat.  Form patties about 1/4 in thick, if your patties are too wet add a little more flour.  Then fry them about 5mins per side. Just keep an eye and adjust the temp as needed. I worked in batches and  used the oven to keep them warm.

For the dressing mix the sour cream, lemon and s&p. 

Spread on warm cake then sprinkle with scallion.

Makes about 9 cakes.

These turned out super yummy.

I hope to play around some more and come up with other varieties.

Enjoy!

And eat your quinoa on the "regular"!

Pro meal planning.

Meal planning it essential on many levels for me.

Lets break it down the top three, shall we.

{this weeks meals}

1. Save dolla dolla bills - Sundays is my normal shopping day. When its time to make my grocery list, I start with our meals for the week. Then I make my list. This ensures, that I will not over buy and can over lap ingredients if I can. And one trip a week is much cheaper then going several times a week for meals.

2. Get our health on - When meal planning its much easier to include fresh veggies and try healthier recipes. And avoid boxed processed foods, like Tuesday Turkey Sloppy Joes, those bad boys are from scratch. Plan on seeing them here Wednesday.

3. Keep my sanity - Like I said above, Sunday is our normal food shopping day. Which means ONE day a week I need to ask myself "what's it going to be for dinner?" and it also gives the family the opportunity to make requests. Every morning I take out anything that may need defrosting and thats it. No standing in front of the pantry at 4:30 pm frantically trying to figure out what to make.

Did I sell you on meal planning?!

Will some free pretty printables help seal the deal?!

Check these out.

In Honor Of Design

The Project Girl

Olli Bird

Ok now get to meal planner people, its for the better!

The witching hour...

Do you know this hour?

The one where without even glancing at the clock you can tell what time it is.

The dog sitting by the cabinet with her food, barking and whining at me.

You keep hearing the same thing OVER AND OVER again.

"Mommy I am hungry."

"Mommy when are we going to eat dinner."

"Mommy is dinner ready."

The baby is sitting on the floor crying with HUGE crocodile tears streaming down his face.

And you keep repeating to him from across the room "Mommy is making it, once second sweetie."

And which point the phone inevitably rings.

And 9 times out of 10 it is your husband.

"I am STARVING. What is for dinner?"

At which point you look over at the sink to realize you forgot to take something out for dinner.

Pizza again?!

Thats my life at 5:00 pm.

Side note: Blogger was acting funny at the beginning of the week.

So if you entered my Penny Lane Design Giveaway and DO NOT see your comments. Please reenter, sorry!

What's for Dinner Wednesday {Well really Easter brunch}.

Mimosa Ham

My step mommy has a super easy and oh so flavorful recipe for ham that we always have on Easter Sunday.

What you need:

- An already cooked smoked ham, not honey {size depending on your number of guests}

- A bottle of OJ, Simply Orange is the best

- One bottle of inexpensive champagne for the ham

- One bottle champagne, the good stuff for the cook {this ingredient is optional but recommended by my step mommy}

Preheat your oven at 325.

Place the ham in a baking pan.

Score the top of the ham.

Pour equal parts OJ and champagne over the ham, enough to cover the bottom quarter of the ham.

Cook for 3 hours, basting periodically.

Slice and serve with your favorite Easter sides.

{this is my bottle for the cook, yummo}