Good Food Made Simple Frozen Food Products Make It Easy for My Family to #EatClean

This post was written as part of a paid Eat Clean, Eat Simple campaign for The Motherhood and their client Good Food Made Simple. All opinions expressed are my own.

Because our busy family rarely has any down time, easy and convenient solutions are something I am constantly on the lookout for to help streamline our household.  Like with many beneficial things I see other people doing, when it comes to clean eating, I've always thought to myself that I would do this if someone would come up with a way to make it quick and easy for me.  As our lives have become busier, we have turned to using prepared foods and order takeout for dinner more and more.

For the most part, I am not a label-reader, except when checking for how much sodium is in a product if my husband will be eating it.  According to the survey results recently published by Good Food Made Simple, 65% of Americans are just like me and do not read food labels prior to purchasing.  Many of those who do read labels some of the time admitted that they do not understand what a lot of the listed ingredients are.

What's the solution for a busy family like mine? . . .  To slowly compile a list of food brands that I trust to offer products that are free of artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, preservatives, as well as free of hydrogenated oils (a source of trans fat).  Eventually, I won't have to take the time to read that many labels if I have a good list of go-to brands.  This will be a gradual process, but the first name to be added to my list of trusted clean eating brands is Good Food Made Simple.

No matter how much any given food is better for them, all my family really cares about is the taste.   Before any brand makes it onto my clean eating list, I have to know that my husband and children will actually eat the products.  My family received an assortment of Good Food Made Simple products to try.  Among those, our favorites were the egg patties made with egg whites (they're large enough to use with jumbo English muffins), the breakfast burritos, and the mac & cheese.  I was particularly thrilled that our twins enjoyed the mac & cheese made with Cabot white cheddar.  They love mac & cheese, but are quite set in their ways, so there was a 50/50 chance they would snub this new variety.  Instead, they told me that this was the best macaroni and cheese they've ever eaten!

In addition to the products we tried, Good Food Made Simple also offers oatmeal, breakfast bowls, egg white burritos, and entree wraps and burritos.  Each product is available in different varieties, so you will never get bored.  To learn more about Good Food Made Simple frozen products, visit www.goodfoodmadesimple.com, where you can also find a helpful ingredient dictionary and where to buy Good Food Made Simple products locally.

Bring Good Moments to the Dinner Table with McCain Potatoes

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for McCain Foods. I received a sample to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item as a thank-you for participating. All opinions expressed are my own.

One of my biggest complaints about my life is how busy and hectic our household is.  We are pretty much always in a rush and that includes getting dinner on the table.  We have 3 children with 3 different levels of pickiness when it comes to food.  Our 9 year old son is most open to eating almost everything we serve him.  Our 6 year old daughter is open to trying everything at least once, but her list of foods she likes is definitely shorter than her big brother's.  Her twin brother is reluctant to try anything new and randomly moves foods from his 'likes' list to his 'does not like' list.  All of the above is true, even when it comes to the most kid-friendly food in the world . . . french fries.

Luckily for us, McCain potatoes makes it easy for us to please everybody.  Every member of the family has his or her own favorite.  It's so easy for us to make more than one variety of french fries.  The three types of fries we usually serve are McCain 5 Minute Fries, Seasoned Spirals, and Smiles.  Also, somehow our children seem much more willing to eat their veggies when they are served next to a generous serving of fries.  Bottom line is that, thanks to McCain Potato products, at least some of our family dinners can be less stressful and even fun, bringing good moments and memories to the dinner table!

Recently, we served the children a dinner consisting of 3 types of McCain french fries, freshly made hamburgers (with optional bacon, mushrooms, and Swiss or American cheese), and a tiny bit of spinach salad.  If you can believe it, our 6 year old son complained about having to eat his bacon cheeseburger.  He did end up eating it though!  Why? . . . because we also gave the children empty plates to use as canvases to make food art.  Yes, we told them they could play with their food as long as they were eating it too.  Well, they didn't dare eat all their fries first because that would end their play all too quickly, so they gobbled up their burgers and salad.

After I showed them a few things I could make using my food, the children enjoyed themselves thoroughly making their own creations while they ate.  Here are some examples of what they came up with . . .

Here's another one of mine (yes, I had fun playing with my food too!) . . .

McCain wants you to have plenty of chances to bring good moments to your dinner table!  Through November 4th, McCain will randomly draw one winner every week to receive a $500 grocery gift card.  Be sure to enter by visiting McCain on Facebook.  After you enter, remember to grab your coupon for $1 off any one bag of McCain Potato products.

“Load up on groceries your family loves, and bring naturally good moments to the dinner table every time you serve McCain Potatoes."

To learn about how McCain has reformulated its potato product lines to be more natural and free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives when possible, visit www.McCain.com.

Introducing the New Varieties of Red Baron Classic Crust, Fire Baked, and Deep Dish Singles Pizzas to My Family

Thank you to Red Baron for providing complimentary product samples for us to base this review upon. All opinions expressed are my own.

Red Baron pizzas have long been a favorite of my family and now they have dished out three new pizza varieties that are delicious and we had the opportunity to try them out. The new flavors are Classic Crust Hawaiian Style, Fire Baked Spicy Pepperoni (with jalapenos), and Deep Dish Singles, and all are as amazing as they sound.

Classic Crust Hawaiian Style comes topped with high quality pineapple chunks and Canadian bacon and has just the perfect amount of crispy and chewiness to make it perfect. It is sweet and salty and the flavors mingle perfectly together. My kids really loved this one, even though they were initially unsure of having pineapple on a pizza. They’ve already asked me to buy this pizza for them again. This Hawaiian-style pizza comes in regular sized and as deep dish singles.

The Fire Baked Spicy Pepperoni is my new favorite pizza. This one comes on a delicious fire baked crust and is topped with spicy pepperoni, jalapenos, and chipotle sauce. This mingling of spicy flavors is fantastic! It is pretty spicy so my kids wouldn’t eat it, but my husband and I really loved it. It’s such a unique pizza and one that we are sure to buy on pizza nights in the future.

Finally, the Deep Dish singles take both the classic and new flavors and put them in a mini size that’s a perfect serving for one. Each box comes with two personal pizzas in the same flavor and you can cook them in the microwave, so it’s very convenient for on-the-go. We couldn’t find the new flavors here, so we just tried out the regular pepperoni and it was really good. My kids loved that they each got their own pizza and I loved that it was easy to cook.

You can find Red Baron pizzas at most retailers nationwide. The Classic Crust and Fire Baked full-size pizzas retail for approximately $4.50 and the Deep Dish Singles for $3.50 for a box of two.  Visit www.RedBaron.com to view all the varieties of Red Baron pizzas.

Giveaway & Review: Dr. Oetker Frozen Pizza Ristorante Prize Pack [CLOSED]

I have not kept it a secret how picky our preschool-aged twins can be when it comes to food.  They will eat one type of the same food, but not another.  This is true with the most kid-friendly foods, like macaroni and cheese, chicken tenders, and even pizza.  So when we were invited to try Dr. Oetker's Pizza Ristorante, a new line of frozen pizzas in the U.S. that already sells in over 30 countries worldwide, we knew who would be the toughest critics.

Dr. Oetker's frozen pizza is available in 6 varieties . . . Pizza Mozzarella, Pizza Quatro Formaggi, Pizza Spinaci, Pizza Funghi, Pizza Vegetale, and Pizza Speciale.  We received the first two to try.  Let's see what my family thought about Dr. Oetker's pizza . . .

Both my husband and I thought the pizza and its ingredients looked surprisingly fresh for a frozen product.  We thought both the Mozzarella and the four cheese variety were delicious.  Most importantly, even though our 4 year old twins were hesitant to try this pizza because it looked different than what they were use to, when they did try it, they ate it all up without a fight.  I think the fresh ingredients and the thin crispy crust are what made this pizza a hit with my family.

I do want to point out that the suggested serving size is 1/3 of a pizza.  That may work if you were serving this pizza with other foods, such as a little pasta and some salad, but I personally would eat more than half of one pizza.  My husband would be able to eat a whole pizza by himself.  I can see 3 children sharing one pizza or a couple sharing one pizza along with a salad.

Dr. Oetker Pizza Ristorante products sell for approximately $4.99 and $5.99 each.  For the amount of convenience, quality, and taste these frozen pizzas offer, I think the price is right.  This brand of pizza is currently available in the Northeast regions of the U.S. at supermarkets, such as Roche Bros., Shaw's, Stop & Shop, Market Basket, and more.

Visit Oetker.us and TheMotherhood to find out more about this delicious pizza!

Thank you to Dr. Oetker for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon and for providing additional product for our contest prize.  This post is part of a paid campaign for TheMotherhood.com.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive a Dr. Oetker Prize Pack containing the following . . .

• a cooler bag
• a pizza cutter
• an apron
• an oven mitt
• Dr. Oetker Pizza Ristorante coupons

Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.
NOTE:  This product is currently only available in the Northeast.  Please check the store listings to be sure you will be able to redeem the coupons at a store near you.

How to Gain Entries:

Leave a comment telling me which variety of Dr. Oetker pizza you would like to try the most. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1)  For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.


2)  For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3)  For 1 extra entry each, if you are a Friend of mine on Facebook and/or if you have "liked" the 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires Facebook page, then leave a separate comment here telling me so with the link to your Facebook profile.

4)  Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

5)  Tweet about this giveaway, using the hashtag #DrOetkerRistorante AND linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

6)  Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

7)  Subscribe to A Blog of Goodies' feed (the sister site to 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)


Random Drawing:

This contest will be closed on Thursday, March 31st, 2011 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!

Tyson Any'tizers Made Girl's Night In Fun & Easy

Tyson is a long-trusted company that primarily makes chicken and chicken-related products. Tyson had offered to send me a Super Bowl Party package for the mega-popular football game, but due to bad weather conditions in my area, the package didn’t make it on time. Tyson graciously allowed me to keep the package, which included full-value coupons for Tyson products and a $50 gift card for supplies, and to use it for another event.  So I hosted a "Girl’s Night In" for some friends.

For the party, I made Tyson Any’tizers, which included Tequila Lime Flavored Chicken Wings, Popcorn Chicken, Buffalo Style Popcorn Chicken, and QuesaDippers Fajita Chicken and Cilantro Lime Salsa, as well as a fruit tray, a chocolate fondue fountain, and some mixed drinks, all purchased with my gift card from Tyson. The party was a hit and the Tyson foods were delicious. I really, really liked the QuesaDippers, but the chicken products were really good too. The Buffalo popcorn chicken was much better than I expected and the sauce wasn’t too spicy, in my opinion. My husband, who came along and devoured our leftovers later, loved the Tequila Lime Wings. As expected, Tyson delivered with great, high quality products that were delicious.

If you haven't already, you are invited to become a fan of Tyson Any’tizers on Facebook. You can purchase Tyson products at most major grocers.  To learn more, visit Tyson.com .

Thank you to Tyson for sending us complimentary product vouchers and a gift card to help facilitate this review.

Join Me on February 9th at 1pm EST to Chat About How to Have a Romantic Evening at Home

My husband and I have been married for over ten years and we are about to have our 16th Valentine's Day together.  As you may have guessed, the Valentine's Days with elaborate romantic plans are long gone, especially with having 3 young children.  My husband actually has to work on Valentine's Day this year and will get home right in time to put the children to bed.  So, what can we do to spend some quality time together for the last few hours of Valentine's Day?  Have any ideas?

Well, I thought maybe we could have a late dinner together.  I actually cannot remember the last time we ate dinner together alone at home.  It could very well have been at least 7 years ago.  One thing that is always more romantic is eating food that we both like and can share.  That is why Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pizza is the perfect sponsor for a live chat about Valentine's Day and quality Time with your loved one.  You are officially invited to join in on the text-based discussion!

What:  "Valentine's Day and Quality Time" Chat

Where:  TheMotherhood.com

When:  Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

Time:  1:00pm EST

Prizes:  4 Pizza-Themed Prize Packs (Including cooler bag, pizza cutter, apron, and product coupons) will be given out throughout the chat.

Hope to see you there!

This post is part of a paid campaign brought to you by TheMotherhood.com on behalf of Dr. Oetker.

Review: Healthy Choice Steaming Entrées

Since we have tried other frozen vegetables that are designed to be steamed right in the package in a microwave, my husband and I were very open to trying the new Healthy Choice Steaming Entrées. This was a huge step for my husband because I do not recall him ever eating anything that had the word "healthy" in the name. I do not think either of us could resists since the images on the packaging are so appetizing. My husband tried the "Sesame Glazed Chicken" and I tried the "Chicken Romano Fresca".

These frozen entrees could not be easier to prepare. You do not need to lift or puncture the film . . . only remove the cardboard sleeve and then pop the container into the microwave. I do want to point out that the cooking time varies between the different varieties.

The end result was a fresh tasty meal. Although the portion was perfect for me for lunch, I think my husband could have eaten twice as much.

(Click any image to enlarge)

To learn more about the 8 varieties of Healthy Choice Steaming Entrées, visit Healthy Choice on Facebook.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Healthy Choice and received samples of their new steaming entrées to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central also sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Review: New Banquet Microwaveable Fruit Pies

I have to admit that when I agreed to review these new Banquet Fruit Pies, my expectations were not that high. For one thing, I am skeptical about microwaveable pie crusts. Another thing is that Banquet is not a brand I associate with desserts. My husband was equally as skeptical since he is a fan of freshly baked homemade pies.

My husband was actually the first to taste his Cherry Berry Fruit Pie and he was shocked. He had to admit that it was actually pretty good . . . both the filling and the pie crust! The rest of the family had to agree. I did think that the crust was a little salty though, as if it is the same exact crust used in the Banquet Pot Pies.

I think these pies are perfect for casual family meals, but it would be tricky to create a nice presentation with them. We wanted the pie crust to be slightly crispy and browned, but when we microwaved the pies for the full time, the steam along with the juices escaped out the side. When we cooked the next pie for less time, then the crust did not brown enough for my taste. So I suggest that you vent the pie in the center before microwaving it. I think that would increase your chances of having a neat looking pie in the end.

My favorite of the 3 varieties (Apple, Cherry Berry, and Peach) was the Peach. My husband and 6 year old son raved about the Cherry Berry though. I think if you have a huge fan of jellies and jams in your house, then that one will be their favorite as well.

We easily found Banquet Fruit Pies in our grocer's freezer section. You can check for availability of these fruit pie varieties in your area by visiting ConagraFoods.com .


I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Banquet and received free coupons to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central also sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Photos From the MyBlogSpark Dinner at Myers + Chang in Boston

Last month, my husband and I had the pleasure of joining other local members of MyBlogSpark to dine at the exemplary Boston Asian cuisine restaurant Myers + Chang. Do not let this restaurant's diner-like setting fool you. The food is both inventive and outstanding.

We had the chance to chat with a few representatives of MyBlogSpark and General Mills. It was a very low key event . . . lots of eating with very little mingling.

Below are some photos from our dining experience . . .

Seated to the right is David Witt of General Mills

Mint Lime Rickey and Ginjo Gimlet

Mama Chang's Pork and Chive Dumplings

Crispy Spring Rolls

Dan Dan Noodles

Wok-Roasted Mussels

Orange Chicken

Coconut Cream Pie with Lime Whipped Cream

Surprise! You can tell by my photos that the Orange Chicken entree did not mesh with the rest of the food. We definitely noticed a difference, but we never would have guessed that MyBlogSpark snuck in a handful of the 8 varieties of frozen Chinese food entrees by Wanchai Ferry as one of our courses. For a frozen entree, the Orange Chicken was very good, but compared to the style of cuisine at Myers + Chang, it was very Americanized. The ingredients did not taste quite as fresh and the dish relied mostly on the sauce for flavoring.

Thank you to MyBlogSpark and General Mills for helping us discover a great local restaurant. I have to admit that I am a wimp when it comes to spicy food, so my husband had finish some of my food for me. The item I tried that was my all-time favorite was the Coconut Cream Pie. The almond cookie crust is genius!

Thank you to MyBlogSpark for providing us with a dinner, product samples, a gift card, and product information free of charge to base this article upon.