50 Gourmet Burger Recipes from Red Robin Kids

June 15th, 2010

When I found this resource from Red Robin, I knew I had to share is with you!  It is really good!  Included are of course some really fun burger recipes (developed by kids) along with cooking with kids tips, and even stranger safety information and activities to share with your children.  This is a free resource you don’t want to miss!  

50 Gourmet Burger Creations From Kids Across the Country

Enjoy!

Christine

Crock Pot – An Essential Kitchen Tool

April 19th, 2010

I hope you’re having a great week!  With the weather getting nice again, we are spending more time outside.  We have a big garden to plant, our kids LOVE playing outside & the older kids are playing soccer.  This means I have less time to devote in the kitchen.  It’s this time of year I particularly enjoy my slow cooker!  It doesn’t heat up the house, it is super quick to get something going in it, and it serves me a delicious meal in the evening without much effort at all!  It’s definitely one of my favorite kitchen tools!  As I was looking at some new recipes the other night, it occurred to me that my friend Susanne, "The Hillbilly Housewife" has a wonderful e-book crock-pot collection that I return to again and again.  I wanted to share this resource with you, but first I went and twisted her arm a bit (okay, we’re friends.. we do nice things for each other once in awhile..) and asked her if she could give my customers a discount.  She responded generously!  We’re talking a NICE discount!

Until midnight on April 23rd 2010 you can get Susanne’s entire crock-pot cooking collection for 50% OFF (yes, you read that right)

Here’s where you can grab your entire crock-pot cooking system for half of what you’d usually pay for it:

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/crock-pot

Susanne and I are holding this special sale as a way to say THANK YOU to all the people who read my newsletter and blog

Here’s where you can grab your copy and save 50%:

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/crock-pot

*******************************************

Try The Crockpot Cooking System for 50% And Get Four Free Bonuses

*******************************************

If the 50% discount isn’t enough to have you heading to the website, these FOUR free gifts will surely do the trick.

* Bonus 1: Homemade Breads and Rolls

Almost every crockpot meal I serve for dinner has a hot bead on the side. Here are Susanne’s favorite quick bread and breadmaker recipes that go perfect with just about any crockpot meal.

* Bonus 2: Pantry Cooking Guide

If you ever stand in front of our pantry at 5pm trying to come up with something for dinner, you need this ebook. Find out what you should have stocked in your pantry, then try one of the many yummy (and fast) recipes.

* Bonus 3: Cut Your Grocery Budget in Half

Just imagine how much you can save each month if you could cut your grocery budget in half. Susanne will show you how she did just that.

* Bonus 4: My Favorite Recipes

Susanne put together a short little printable report with her own favorites from the Hillbilly Housewife website. Print it and stick it in your household binder.

WHEW! That’s a lot of goodies… and you get it all FREE when you try the entire crockpot cooking collection for 50% off.

Go here right now and claim your copy before they’re all gone!

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/crock-pot

Talk soon,

Christine Steendahl
"The Menu Mom"

P.S. This special sale ends at midnight on April 23rd. If you’d like to get the revolutionary crockpot cooking system so many moms are raving about … and save 50%, then go here now:

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/crock-pot

What’s Happening in the Blog Frog

April 17th, 2010

Have you hopped over to the Blog Frog Community yet?  Here’s what is happening there this week:

Bridal Shower/BBQ Recipes & Ideas

Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes

Favorite Summer Salad Recipes

Meals to Take to Others

Your Most Desirable Recipe

How to Incorporate Your Kids Into the Kitchen

Traveling Meals – What To Take on a Trip

Of course you can also start your own topic as well.  We’d love to have you join us! 

Christine

Visit the NEW Community

April 6th, 2010

I am super excited to announce that we have a new Blog Frog Community!  This is your place to share recipes, questions, cooking tips, parenting advice, prayer requests – you name it!

I wavered on whether or not to create a community or not, as there are so many forums and blogs out there.  However, I have had many emails asking about where to share recipes, deals etc. and there just really wasn’t anywhere for us to do that.  That, and I also just love getting to know you guys!  You get to know me through the blog, but I want to get to know you!

The deal is… in order for this to work, I need you all to participate!  So please head on over now and join a discussion or create a new topic.  Then, come back often!  There is even an option to be emailed when people respond to your thread, or a daily e-mail update featuring new posts.  It’s a fun place!

I can’t wait to see you there!

Christine 
“The Menu Mom”

Crunchy Hot Mango Salsa

March 6th, 2010

Mix this up a couple hours before you want to use it so the flavors blend really well. Then, grab your favorite crusty bread or crackers, spread on some cream cheese, and top with a spoonful of this salsa. Use pineapple cream cheese for an even more flavorful combination.

1/2 cup mango, pitted, peeled and diced
1 green onion, sliced thin
1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced
2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
1/4 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped fine
2 tablespoons lime juice

Place the mango, green onion, pepper, cilantro, jalapeno and lime juice in a tightly sealed container. Shake gently to combine flavors and juice. Put in the refrigerator for at least 2 to 3 hours.

Hoisin Glazed Chicken Breasts

March 5th, 2010

If you haven’t used hoisin sauce before, you are in for a treat. This tangy, sweet, and spicy sauce turns any dish into a real treat. The added ginger and cilantro makes this chicken breast meal company-ready… or a very nice family dinner, too!

2 chicken breast halves, bone in, skin on
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Put the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Heat the oil until hot and add the chicken and cook 4 minutes. Turn and continue cooking 3 to 4 minutes or until chicken is nicely browned.

Cover baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the chicken skin side up on the sheet.
Place in preheated oven and bake 10 to 12 minutes.

Meanwhile, pour the the hoisin sauce in a mixing bowl. Add the vinegar, soy sauce, and ginger and whisk until all the ingredients are combined well.

After chicken breasts have cooked once, brush with the glaze. Return to the oven and continue baking 3 or 4 minutes, brush with glaze again, and cook for another 3 or 4 minutes until chicken is cooked through.

Sprinkle chicken with the cilantro before serving. Any remaining glaze can be used on the chicken after serving.

Garlic Honey-Lime Pork Chops

March 4th, 2010

This recipe is sort of a “taste of the Islands” style dish. The combination of lime and honey is very delicious and quite a change from the pork chops your family may have become accustomed to.

Also makes a great meal to serve company. Include a mixed green salad tossed with a dressing that echoes the same lime/honey/garlic flavors for a beautiful meal.

4 pork loin chops, boneless and about 3/4 inch thick
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons lime zest
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1 tablespoon cooking oil
4 lime wedges

Sprinkle the chops on both sides with the pepper.

Place the lime zest, lime juice and honey in a small mixing bowl. Whisk to combine together well and pour over the chops. Press the garlic firmly on the pork chops.

Pour the the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Heat the oil until hot but not smoking.

Place the pork chops into the hot oil. Cook 5 minutes. Turn and continue cooking 3 minutes or until nicely browned. Serve each a wedge of lime.

Lemon Crunchy Topped Broccoli

March 3rd, 2010

Rather than smothering broccoli in cheese to get the kids to eat it, another way is to use lemon and a crunchy, buttery tasting topping. Anything that brightens up the broccoli and gives it crunch will get the kids to come to the dinner table without complaining!

10 cups fresh broccoli, cut into florets
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 shallot, minced
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup bread crumbs
2 teaspoons lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon pepper, divided
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Fill a large saucepan half way with fresh water, and bring to boil. Add the broccoli and cook for just 3 minutes, then drain immediately. Set aside.

Place the butter in a skillet over low heat along with the shallot and garlic. Cook 1 to 2 minutes stirring occasionally. Add the bread crumbs and continue cooking 2 minutes or until the bread crumbs begin to brown. Remove from heat.

Scoop the mixture into a mixing bowl. Add to the bowl, the lemon peel and 1/8 teaspoon of pepper. Stir to combine well.

Pour olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add the steamed broccoli to the oil and cook 5 or 6 minutes until lightly browned and heated through. Sprinkle the other 1/8 teaspoon of pepper over the cooked broccoli and stir.

Pour in the lemon juice and sprinkle the top with the bread crumb mixture. Serve immediately while it’s hot.

Marjoram Broiled Salmon Steak

March 2nd, 2010

When salmon is available, we love to take advantage of this great, heart healthy food. Simple recipes often are the best way to treat salmon… the flavor of the salmon alone is usually enough to make a great meal!

2 salmon steaks
butter flavored cooking spray
1 teaspoon dried marjoram

Spray broiler rack with nonstick spray.
Place steaks on broiler rack. Spray salmon with butter flavored spray. Sprinkle with one-half teaspoon marjoram.

Broil steaks on first side for 6 to 8 minutes until lightly browned. Turn salmon over, spray, and sprinkle with remaining marjoram. Broil 6 to 8 minutes longer.

Easiest Lemony Chicken Breasts

March 1st, 2010

If you want a guaranteed delicious, easy, and quick chicken meal, this is it. You can’t get much easier than this baked chicken breast dish. Don’t skip the melted margarine or butter because it really adds a lot of moisture to the baked chicken breasts.

6 chicken breasts, boneless & skinless
1 teaspoon garlic salt
juice of 2 lemons
1/4 cup melted salt-free margarine or butter

Place chicken in shallow baking dish.

Mix together garlic salt and lemon juice and rub mixture on chicken.

Melt margarine or butter in a small saucepan and pour over chicken in baking dish.

Bake at 325 degrees 50 to 60 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.