Month In Review and a Winner

Well, here we are.  The last day of September.  So let's take a moment and review a few of the recipes and events from this month.

I tried to focus on a few slow cooker recipes, getting ready for Fall.  I really love Slow Cooker recipes and the simplicity that goes along with them.

I shared my recipe for Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup.  Of all the soups that I make in the Slow Cooker, this is my favorite.  This soup has a lot of depth to it, and yes, I serve it with avocado!

And one of the staples that should be made in a Slow Cooker is Chili.  There are several varieties.  I find that using several types of beans makes the chili rich in flavor and texture, so my Three Bean Slow Cooker Chili is one of my favorites.

And what is chili without a little Cornbread?  Just chili.  This Cornbread is sweet and moist and the perfect side for a warm bowl of chili or soup.

We had a birthday last month, and at the request of the birthday girl I made Cookies and Cream Cupcakes.  They turned out wonderfully light and rich.  

And we've come to the end of the Breyers® series.  To celebrate a wonderful summer full of ice cream, I made Chocolate Profiteroles, a choux pastry full of wonderful Breyers Chocolate Ice Cream and topped with Breyers Chocolate Syrup.

Thank you everyone who participated in the last in the Breyers® giveaway series.  It's been so much fun to give free ice cream to people.  And awesome ice cream for that matter!  If you haven't tried Breyers® Ice Cream, you should!  It's all natural and delicious!  I wish that I could give all my readers a sample of their ice cream.  This month's lucky winner of a Target $25 Gift Card and 3 coupons for free Breyers Ice Cream is.....

DOROTHY TEAL

Congratulations!  And again, thank you everyone, I'm really excited to have had so many readers participate.   And now onto October!

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Chocolate Profiteroles

Who doesn't love a fancy dessert?  Now, who doesn't love a fancy looking dessert that is not difficult to make?!  ME!  I know, just the sound of the word "Profiteroles" is intimidating.  It was to me for a long time.  Oh, by the way, Profiterole is just another word for Cream Puff.  The difference lies in the filling.  A traditional cream puff has a custard filling.  A Profiterole has ice cream.  That's the fun part - you can fill it with whatever flavor you want!  For me, it's chocolate.

Cream puffs are so simple to make.  Seriously.  4 ingredients.  In a pot.  There is one point I need to make though - make sure your butter and water are at a boil before you add the flour.   And because there are so few ingredients, if at first you don't succeed, it's easy to try again!  Do not be intimidated by it.  One more tip - if you aren't going to serve all the puffs at once, only cut up the ones you need.  Place the remainder in a ziploc bag and keep refrigerated until ready to use.  OR you can go ahead and slice them all up, place the ice cream in each one, and freeze the profiteroles that you will not serve immediately.

Profiteroles (Ice Cream Puffs)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, cut into chunks
1 cup water
1 cup flour
4 large eggs
Breyers® Chocolate Ice Cream
Powdered Sugar
Breyers® Chocolate Ice Cream Syrup

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Place butter and water in a medium saucepan.  Bring to a boil over medium heat.

2. Stir in flour, beating with a spoon until dough comes together and forms a ball.

3. Remove from heat.  Add eggs, all at once, beating until dough is smooth and once again forms a ball.

4. Drop by spoonfulls, about 1/4 cup each, onto a greased cookie sheet.  Bake for 30-40 minutes or until puffs are golden brown.  Remove to a cooling rack and allow to cool for at least an hour.

5. Slice tops off of each puff.  Place a scoop of chocolate ice cream on bottom half and replace top half of puff.  Drizzle chocolate syrup over each puff and sprinkle with powdered sugar.  Serve immediately.

Serves 10









And we've reached our last Breyers® Giveaway.  This giveaway lasts until Friday and the winner will be announced next Monday morning!


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"Johnny can read, can you?"

A couple of months ago, I was contacted by Breyers® and asked to be a blog ambassador for their brand.  It took me all of about 5 seconds to respond - YES!  There are several reasons why.  Here is one:


Would you believe it if I said I remember this commercial?  Oh boy.  There have been several adaptations of this commercial throughout the years.  But they are all sharing the same message - that Breyers uses all natural ingredients that you can actually read!

Don't believe me?  Watch this and see if K1 can read the label:


So why am I totally on board with being a blog ambassador for Breyers®?  Because I am totally fine with giving my kids ice cream that is made from milk, cream, and sugar.  And frankly, I love ice cream.  And Breyers has been a part of my childhood, teenage years, and adult years.  So I'll go now, and grab a spoonful of America's Favorite Vanilla Ice Cream.

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Winner, Winner!

I'd like to thank everyone for participating in the End of Summer Ice Cream Giveaway!  I'm so amazed by the response and excited to have a bunch of new followers around here!  I hope you'll stick around and grab some recipes along the way.

So, I give you the winner of the giveaway:

Congratulations, Ilene!  Please send me an email with your address and phone number so I can get all these awesome prizes sent off to you!

Again, thanks for entering!  There will be one last giveaway next month for free ice cream.  Stick around so you don't miss out!  Don't forget to check out the ice cream recipes sponsored by Breyers® over the Summer!

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Snickerdoodle Ice Cream Sandwiches

Okay, so we've covered that my mom loves Snickerdoodles.  A frequented cookie in my house when I was growing up.  Another of my mom's favorites is Butter Pecan Ice Cream.  There is something so wonderful about that rich, creamy ice cream with pieces of toasted pecans in it.  Maybe it was something she learned to love while we were living in Mississippi (pecans are popular in the South).

So for barbecue week, and teaming up once again with Breyers®, I thought it would be fitting to match the two in a wonderful Summer treat - Snickerdoodle Ice Cream Sandwiches.  When you combine the rich ice cream with the slight bitterness of the cookie, it takes away the strength of both and gives you a refreshing ice cream treat.  Plus, when you use Breyers®, you are getting an ice cream with natural ingredients, no high fructose corn syrup.  It's something that I love giving my family because I know what is in it!

Snickerdoodle Ice Cream Sandwiches

Ingredients:

Snickerdoodles
Breyers® Buttern Pecan Ice Cream

Directions:

1. Lay 4 pieces of wax paper on the counter.

2. Lay the Snickerdoodles, bottoms up, on top of the wax paper.

3. Place a scoop of ice cream on one half of each pair.  Place the other cookie on top of the ice cream and gently press down until the ice cream has come out to the edges of the cookie.

4. Wrap the wax paper around the sandwich and place in freezer for a minimum of 2 hours.

Serves 4

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End of Summer Ice Cream Giveaway

We've got less than two weeks here before school starts.  To squeeze in as much Summer as possible, I'm doing another ice cream giveaway!  Plus, next week is my mom's birthday.  To celebrate, I'm going to bring you a fun treat that is part of one her favorites and part yummy Breyers® ice cream.

So I'm offering a few prizes this time.  First up, a $25 gift card to Target®.  Next, a coupon from Breyers® for free ice cream!  Next, an awesome ice cream scoop from KitchenAid®.  And then the winner will be receiving a pack of ice cream toppings from Breyers® (which by the way are all high fructose corn syrup free!) to take summer out with a cool bang.

To enter, simply fill out the rafflecopter form below (make sure you leave a comment!).  The giveaway ends at midnight on August 19th (Happy Birthday, Mom!).  The winner will be announced on Tuesday, August 20th.  Good luck!


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National Ice Cream Day

It was National Ice Cream Day yesterday.  So of course we celebrated with a little Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae. This time though, we mixed it up a little bit with a different flavor of ice cream - Breyers® Waffle Cone with Chocolatey Chips.  Can you tell by the looks on the kiddos' faces that they can't quite get enough of it?  So my question today is, did you celebrate National Ice Cream Day?  If you did, what flavor did you go for?

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Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae

I'm back with another great idea for some Breyers® Ice Cream!  Hot Fudge Brownie Sundaes.  Did you just get a cavity?  I think I did.  Brownies are a staple in our house, in fact K1 asked for brownies for her birthday "cake" last year.  One of my sisters could probably go comatose eating brownies - I've seen her down a whole pan by herself!  Yes, they are probably the most popular dessert both in my home growing up and in my home now.

And what goes better with brownies than a nice big scoop of vanilla ice cream?  I suggest that there is NOTHING better.  I love a big brownie square, still slightly warm from the oven, and some ice cream melting all over the top.  Holy cow.  And then add some of Breyers® Hot Fudge Sauce (which by the way is free of High Fructose Corn Syrup - BONUS!) and you have chocolate heaven.  I think The Hubs calls it death by chocolate.  Probably.  Either way, this is a great family treat that is simple to make and popular all around.

Hot Fudge Brownie Sundaes

Ingredients:

1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
6 Tbs. baking cocoa
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
Breyers® French Vanilla Ice Cream
Breyers® Hot Fudge Sauce

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease bottom only of a 9x9" pan.

2. In a large bowl combine butter, sugar, baking cocoa, eggs, and vanilla. Stir well to combine (DO NOT USE A HAND MIXER!).

3. Add dry ingredients.  Stir until dry ingredients are combined, some lumps may remain.

4. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until sides begin to pull away from pan.  Remove from oven and allow to cool for 1 hour.

5. Slice into 9 pieces and put on a plate.  Add 1 scoop Breyers® French Vanilla Ice Cream.  Pour Breyers® Hot Fudge Sauce (warmed according to instructions on packet) over top and serve.

Serves 9

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And the winner is...

Thank you everyone for entering the giveaway!  There will be more opportunities over the summer to win more Breyers® ice cream!  So come back soon to enter again!

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Ice Cream Giveaway

Who wants ice cream?  "I do!  I do!"  Not sure if that was one of the kids, The Hubs, or myself.  Because we all LOVE ice cream.  And I'm betting that 99.99% of you love it as well.  Even if you aren't a crazy flavor person - like me, I really do not care for pistachio, ick - you still have vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.  The basic 3.  My Step-Mother-in-Law even has a saying for ice cream - "There's always room for ice cream, because it fills in the cracks!"  So true.

So guess what?  The folks over at Breyers® want to give one lucky reader a $25 Target® Gift Card to use towards some awesome ice cream.  All you have to do is answer one question - What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?  Leave a comment, then fill out the Rafflecopter form.  And the winner will be announced next Wednesday!  Good luck, and in the meantime, go eat some ice cream!


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Red White and Blue Ice Cream Cupcakes

It's Independence Day!  And I'm here to share with you a recipe that displays our patriotic colors, and some fantastic ice cream from Breyers®.  I love doing a good old fashioned barbecue for dinner on the fourth of July, but I do so love a little red white and blue splashed into my meal.  The easiest way to do that is in dessert.






When I was thinking about what I would make this year, ice cream kept coming to my mind.  With all this heat going around the West, who wouldn't?  It is so blessed hot that all I can do is eat frozen items.  And have you seen the lineup of flavors Breyers® has to offer?!  Oh.My.YUMMERDELICIOUS!  Yes, that is a word. In our dictionary at least.

Now, how to implement the other 2 colors.  Well, it was staring me in the face this entire year.  Cupcakes!  Half a batch blue, half a batch red.  Cut them in half and combine the two colors and some Breyers® Natural Vanilla Ice Cream. Mini ice cream cakes.  Single servings. Yay!  And we have patriotic bliss.  And I get my cake and ice cream at the same time.

Red White and Blue Ice Cream Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 box white cake mix
1 small box white chocolate instant pudding mix
1 Tbs. baking cocoa
4 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup canola oil
Red Gel Food Coloring
Royal Blue Gel Food Coloring
Breyers® Natural Vanilla Ice Cream
1 can whipped topping

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners.

2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, cocoa, eggs, buttermilk, and oil.  Mix on low speed until moistened, then increase to medium speed to combine ingredients until smooth.

3. Separate mixture into 2 parts in 2 separate bowls.  In one bowl, add red food coloring until desired colored is reached.  In other bowl, add blue food coloring until desired colored is reached.  Pour mixture into liners, one color at a time.

4. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until tops of cupcakes spring back when tapped lightly.  Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack to cool completely. Repeat with other color.

5. When cupcakes have cooled completely, remove from liners and slice in half.  Separate into bottoms and tops.  Allow ice cream to soften slightly.  Re-line muffin tin with cupcake liners.  Place a blue bottom half in liner.  Press a scoop of ice cream onto bottom half.  Top with a red top half.  Repeat with remaining cupcakes until pan is full.  Place in freezer for at least an hour.

6. When ready to serve, top with whipped topping.

Makes 24 cupcakes

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Friday Five and Meal Plan

It's Independence Day this week!  It is truly one of my favorite holidays.  And therefore, you are getting my five around that theme.  God Bless America!

1. Favorite Firework Display: Washington, D.C.

Growing up, my dad was in the military.  We were stationed at Andrews AFB for a year and so my parents took us into Washington, D.C. for the Fourth.  To this day, those are still the best fireworks I've ever experienced.  We basically sat at the foot of the Washington Monument and laid on our backs while we watched.  We had to spend the whole day there to save our seats, but it was so well worth it.  With the music in the background, I still remember it bringing a tear to my eye.

Source: http://www.gvpedia.com









2. Favorite Patriotic Song: America the Beautiful, performed by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

3. Favorite National Monument: Independence Hall

I have traveled all over the United States.  I have been to 48 out of the 50 states (anyone want to send me on an all expense paid trip to Alaska?).  I have seen it "from sea to shining sea."  And yet, to this day, my favorite National Monument is Independence Hall in Philadelphia.  I remember how small it actually is, how hot it was inside during the Summer.  I do not know how those men spent hours, days, weeks in that building, in the dead of Summer, wearing full suits and tights and wigs.  Honestly, it gives you a perspective as to just how desperately these men wanted freedom for us all.

Source: http://www.globalmountainsummit.org




4. Favorite American Food: Clam Chowder

As long as I can remember, this soup was made in my family. Clam Chowder has always been one of my favorite foods, like, EVER!  I requested it for my birthday, when my mom was here to help me when my babies were born, and every time I went to my Grandma Cook's house.  I love it in San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego.  And don't forget the Sourdough Bread when you serve it to me.  Mmmmm-kay?  You can find my recipe on my old blog, soon to be posted on here!

5. Favorite American Movie: The Patriot

I'm not necessarily a huge fan of Mel Gibson or Heath Ledger.  I like both actors, but their performance in The Patriot really touches me.  These were Americans.  It's what Americans should be.  Family.  Honor.  Country.  And fighting for what we know to be right.  Every year during Independence Day week, we watch this movie, along with a few others.  And if you want to see a good series, I recommend John Adams.  Really enlightening.

Source: http://www.imdb.com










So it's a big week for meals.  It's also going to be a VERY HOT week for meals here in Las Vegas.  We're talking record temperatures, ladies and gentlemen.  Ick.  It's even to the point where I don't want to be out grilling.  But it's the Fourth of July.  I'll just have to suck it up a bit.  :)

Saturday: Little Caesar's Pizza - do they deliver?  I wish.
Sunday: Hoagies (or what others might call a sub sandwich)
Monday: Fettucine Alfredo (Recipe to Follow) with Sauteed Chicken and Steamed Broccoli
Tuesday: Taco Salad
Wednesday: Grilled Turkey Breast (Recipe to Follow)
Thursday: Hamburgers (nothing fancy, just good old traditional American burgers)
Friday: Crock Pot Lasagna (Recipe to Follow)

I have a special treat for you next week, using Breyers Ice Cream!  Oh, it's going to be yummy, AND patriotic!  #breyers #partner

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You Scream, I Scream!

I have something very exciting to share with all of you.  I have teamed up with Breyers and their Delicious Moments campaign!  So I say, "You scream, I scream, we all scream for BREYER'S ICE CREAM!"

In the coming months, I'll be sharing with you some different ways that I use Breyers in various desserts.  Oh
yes, I have a few Delicious Moments of my own!  And to share those with you, I'll be hosting several giveaways where you can win Breyer's product of your own!  All I ask is that you share with us your delicious moment - doesn't Summer just love a carton of yummy, creamy ice cream?  I think so.  So get ready, we're in for a delicious Summer.

P.S. Go pick up a carton of their Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream.  It's a limited item and SO YUMMY!


This is a #sponsored post written by me on behalf of #breyers.  I am an #ambassador for their Delicious Moments Campaign.

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