Pillsbury Artisan Pizza Crust- Fun for Family Dinner! + Giveaway! Ends 9/8

Our family loves to make homemade pizza for dinner. It's a great time to really bond with the kids, while allowing them to be creative in the kitchen. They pick their toppings and are proud of their finished products!

New Pillsbury Artisan Pizza Crust with Whole Grain is the perfect canvas for a culinary masterpiece, or should we say master-pizza! Just add your favorite ingredients and enjoy a hot, fresh meal in minutes. Whether your family loves pepperoni, veggies, or the works, the possibilities are endless with New Pillsbury Artisan Pizza Crust with Whole Grain.

With 16 grams of whole grain per serving, this is a pizza crust the whole family will love, and the best part is that it's available in the refrigerated section of your local grocery store. That means theirs no mixing, it's straight from the can to your baking sheet, and then into the oven!


Quick, convenient, and completely customizable new Pillsbury Artisan Pizza Crust with Whole Grain will help you add some pizzazz to your homemade pizza along with the health benefits of whole grain! To download a printable coupon for $1.25 off one package of New Pillsbury Artisan Pizza Crust with Whole Grain, visit http://bit.ly/PCwWG today!

Be sure to follow Pillsbury on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on new products, grab awesome coupons, and get new ideas for dinner with their delicious recipes. I found an amazingly yummy looking recipe for grilled pizza with mushrooms and pesto, and I really think I may try it for dinner tonight with the whole grain crust!

How would you like a chance to WIN an Artisan Pizza Gift Pack?!? Here's what you can win:

One random winner will receive a gift pack courtesy of Pillsbury through MyBlogSpark.

It includes:

• VIP coupon for New Pillsbury Artisan Pizza Crust with Whole Grain
• $10 gift card (for some toppings!)
• Baking sheet
• Oven mitt
• Pizza cutter

Enter by filling out the entry form below- please allow it a moment to load.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Disclosure: The product, gift pack, information, and additional sample have been provided by Pillsbury through MyBlogSpark. All opinions are strictly that of 4BabyAndMom.

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Budget Friendly Meal Ideas- Submit Yours!

The New Year is here, and around this time I sit and think about all of the meals that we typcially eat. I usually harass my friends and family to give me their favorite "staples" and get a few new ones every year, but now I'm opening the floor for you!

Do you have a great meal that is budget friendly, fills a family, and may even allow for leftovers? What about a "staple" meal- you know, the one that you have EVERY week?

Whether it's in the crockpot, on the grill, on the stove, or in the oven, we want to hear about it!

Email your recipes to 4BabyAndMom @ Gmail.com, and YOUR RECIPE may be featured. If you have any pictures, send them along too!!

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Low Calorie, High Fiber Pasta? Ronzoni Smart Taste Makes Healthy Eating Delicious

Some families really struggle to get their children to eat veggies. Thankfully, our kids love most vegetables and rarely put up a fight. I, on the other hand, HATE vegetables.. in fact I joke that I'm allergic to the word *vegetable*.

Recently our family had the opportunity to try the new Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta. This enriched white pasta is a great tasting, healthy meal solution for the entire family. It's packed with three times the fiber and calcium than traditional pasta, which many studies show are the two nutrients lacking the most in people's diets. Plus, Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta is lower in fat and calories, which means it's all around healthier for you and your family.

If you count points with Weight Watchers, new Smart Taste pasta from Ronzoni is only 3 points per 2 oz. serving- (which is at least one point less than other pasta brands)! Ronzoni Smart Taste comes in 5 varieties: Spaghetti, Elbows, Rotini, Thin Spaghetti, and Penne Rigati.

I was worried that the kids (or I) would notice a difference in texture like you do with most whole grain pastas, but as soon as I tasted the pasta to see if it was ready to be served I realized that the texture was almost identical to regular pasta. Smooth and delicious, nobody noticed that I had switched brands. I enjoyed the health benefits of this pasta so much, that the next two times I went grocery shopping, I picked up Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta instead of my regular type of pasta.

This "Super Mom" video cracked us up.. this reminds me of the struggles my parents had with me when I was little:

Don't go to extremes to get your kids to eat healthier foods, instead try the new Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta. If you've tried it already, I'd love to hear your opinions on it!



"I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Ronzoni Pasta and received a sample of Ronzoni Smart Taste Pasta to facilitate my review and a $20 thank-you gift certificate.All opinions expressed are solely that of 4BabyAndMom."

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Nancy's Appetizers Makes Entertaining Easy!

Being home for the holidays is something most people can relate to, and long for the most. Whether you're entertaining in your home, or sharing it at another family members house Nancy's Appetizers provides a simple, delicious, home-made tasting treats perfect for any party.

I try to get together with several of my girlfriends to have 'ladies night' on Fridays throughout the year. It's a time for us to have some adult interactions and catch up on things. Each of us bring a dish, an appetizer or snack, and we just enjoy our time together. Several times, I've brought Nancy's Deli Spirals as my contribution, and the ladies love it.

One of my biggest weaknesses is broccoli or spinach quiche, but only if may Aunt Kim or I make it.. unless it's Nancy's. This year for Thanksgiving, we celebrated with the 32 pack of Petite Quiches. It came with 16 swiss and bacon quiches, and 16 florentine quiches (spinach & swiss). For a packaged product, I was impressed with how well made they were, and how simply delicious it was. It really tased home-made.

Every other brand I've tried is just too dry, or doesn't taste right; every large quiche that others make have extra ingredients that just don't belong, or don't have enough of the *right* ingredients. Nancy's Appetizers Petite Quiches taste just like they were made from scratch, from my kitchen... or my Aunt Kim's!

Nancy's makes appetizers, entree sized quiches, and desserts. I am definitely planning on trying the Chocolate Petite Tarts this Christmas. They are a rich chocolate soufflé baked in a cocoa-accented buttery pastry, and they look absolutely mouth-watering.

WANT IT?
Learn more about Nancy's Frozen Appetizers and Desserts, read recipes, or find a store near you that carries Nancy's products online at www.Nancys.com



This giveaway is open to residents of the US and will end on December 19th, at 11:59pm EST. One winner will be chosen at random using Random.org. Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Nancy’s Appetizers and received 2 coupons to facilitate my review and a $20 thank-you gift certificate. All opinions are expressed are my own.

WINNER!

Please read the WINNERS POST for more information on how to claim your prize! Thank you all for participating in our giveaway. Happy Holidays!

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Get Cooking with Curious Chef- 27pc. Set Review + Giveaway!

I love to cook with my kids. They love to help stir, and mix, and whip. They enjoy helping with dinner, and baking sweet treats, and rarely ever turn down an opportunity to spend time in the kitchen with me.

I had never heard of Curious Chef before I had the opportunity to review the 27 piece Foundation Kit, but as soon as it arrived, the kids wanted to dive right into a project!


I promised them that as soon as I could get some pictures, we would use it- and we would use it a lot! That night, I threw everything into the dishwasher and the next morning as the kids unloaded all of the pint-sized utensils, their excitement built even more.

That night, we made peanut butter cookies, and since then have made just about every dinner from meatloaf to chicken cutlets and many snacks and desserts. The child sized utensils are perfect to scoop out dough and to spread frosting over cakes and cupcakes. The only issue I've had is that there's only one set, so I will have to get some extra utensils to end the arguing over who's going to stir, whisk or spread next!

Curious Chef makes party event kits to help make your child's next birthday, sleepover, or pizza party a most memorable occasion. I love their gift kits and kitchen starter kits, or the fact that you can just buy the pieces individually, if space or multiple children will be sharing the tools.

Make Curious Chef a part of your holiday tradition, and start sharing time in the kitchen with the kids! Happy Cooking!!

WANT IT?
Visit Curious Chef online to view their large selection of kitchen kits and utensils perfect for your little peanut.

This giveaway is open to residents of the US and will end on December 17th, at 11:59pm EST. One winner will be chosen at random using Random.org. Disclosure: The item reviewed was provided to me, at no cost, by the PR Company that represents Curious Chef. I did not accept monetary compensation for reviewing or writing about this experience, and all opinions expressed are my own.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER!

Please read the WINNERS POST for more information on how to claim your prize! Thank you all for participating in our giveaway. Happy Holidays!

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Simple Solutions for Your Guests this Holiday

What does Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce and Heinz Tomato Sauce have in common?

These two tasty ingredients are key to the recipe for Ultimate Party Meatballs, a great appetizer solution for this holiday party.

Thanks to Mom Central, our family had the opportunity to make Ultimate Party Meatballs for Thanksgiving. There are two ways of making this delicious concoction, on the stove top or in the crock pot. I chose to cook these in the crock pot, as my stove was cramped enough with all of the other holiday meal components. Plus, I love foods that cook themselves and require little to no effort during a large celebration like Thanksgiving.

The kids and the adults both enjoyed the smooth taste of the sauce, and the meatballs were a total hit! So, whether you're having friends over to watch the big game, or your extended family over to celebrate Hanukkah or Christmas, these Ultimate Meatballs are sure to become a family favorite!

Here's the recipe- Enjoy!


Ingredients

* 1 14-ounce can Ocean Spray® Jellied Cranberry Sauce
* 1 12-ounce bottle Heinz® Chili Sauce
* 1 2-pound bag frozen, pre-cooked, cocktail-size meatballs

Directions

Combine sauces in a large saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring until smooth. Add meatballs. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until meatballs are heated through, stirring occasionally.

Makes 30 appetizer servings.

Slow cooker Preparation: Place meatballs in a slow cooker. Combine sauces and pour over meatballs. Cover and cook 4 hours on HIGH.


Get entertaining tips and more great recipes like this online at UltimatePartyMeatballs.com.




“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Heinz and Ocean Spray and received the ingredients necessary to facilitate my review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

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Intensity Academy All Natural Gourmet Hot Sauces Review + Giveaway!

While at IzeaFest in October, I had the great pleasure of meeting several bloggers and business people from the Tampa Bay Area. While receiving introductions, I had the honor to meet the fabulous entrepreneur, award winner, and creator of Intensity Academy Gourmet Sauces, Michele Northrup.

Since then, I've seen Intensity Academy in the paper, all over Facebook, and on the news. Watch the saucy interview on FOX here:

In October, I was told that Intensity Academy's carrot-based hot sauces and tea infused delicious-ness had won 26 awards in only 24 months- including the #1 Ketchup in America! Those numbers continue to rise, and are at 40 in less than 36 months- and hot sauce lovers all over Florida have ignited in delight with Intensity Academy sauces. Fans have been petitioning for restaurants like Tijuana Flats to carry Intensity Academy hot sauces, and local Whole Foods stores have already stocked their shelves. Rumor has it that Intensity Academy may also be on Costco shelves this summer!

We love spicy food. Our kids eat Spanish, Puerto Rican and Mexican dishes without batting an eyelash. I love adding an extra kick to classic dishes, and using sauces as a dipping sauce to many favorites (from pork chops to meatballs).

Now that the weather is getting chillier- yes, the west coast of Florida gets chilly- I love to cook in my crock-pot. Several of my family's favorite crock pot recipes involve using BBQ or hot sauce. I was given a bottle of all natural, family friendly, Chai Chipotle 'Q from Michele herself in October, and thought that combining it with some boneless pork ribs in the crockpot would be perfect for a chilly evening meal.

I threw two medium racks into the crock pot with about a half of a bottle poured over the ribs and covered it on HIGH for about 5 hours. The result was a savory pulled-pork style, soft as butter, with a hint of spicy, spectacularness.

Seriously, even the kids realized it wasn't the normal BBQ sauce I use, but asked for seconds. If you don't normally do spicy food, don't worry, the Chai Chipotle 'Q sauce is a family friendly alternative as the smoothness from the Organic Tea balances the chipotle peppers to appease any palate.

Bri can't wait to try the Hot squared (and cubed!), as he loves the really hot stuff, and I cannot wait to get my hands on a bottle of the 'Chup, as I live on Ketchup! I am really hoping that Santa sticks some bottles in our stockings this year!

Want it?
Shop online, visit Whole Foods Stores in Florida, or request Intensity Academy Sauces by name from your local Whole Foods store. Plus, 4BabyAndMom readers can take advantage of a special sale- ANY 5 Bottles for only $20! Email michele at intensityacademy dot com with your order, but be sure to mention you read about Intensity Academy here, at 4BabyAndMom!

This giveaway is open to residents of the US and will end on December 15th, at 11:59pm EST. One winner will be chosen at random using Random.org. Disclosure: The featured product was provided to me, at no cost, by Intensity Academy. I did not accept monetary compensation for reviewing or writing about this experience, and all opinions expressed are my own. Special thanks to our new friend, Michele Northrup from Intensity Academy, for sponsoring this giveaway.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER!

Please read the WINNERS POST for more information on how to claim your prize! Thank you all for participating. Happy Holidays!

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Beansoup Aprons Gets You Cooking In Style This Holiday- Review + Giveaway!

"A family that cooks together, stays together."

Frankly, I have no idea who said this quote, but this is something that I heard during my entire childhood. From my grandmama's house to my own, it seemed to echo- especially during the holidays. I learned to love to cook by watching my mother and grand mother chop veggies like nothing I've ever seen.. and take ingredients to form a recipe to create these wonderful meals. They would let me help, but "the kitchen is no place for a child" would start shortly after prep was over, and the stove went on.

As an adult, I now love to cook and I love letting my children help.. with everything from chopping and mixing to stirring and flipping. They know which meals they can help with, and which I'm more cautious with, but they also know that when they get older they'll be able to help much more.

During the Holidays is when I start to cook the big stuff.. I cook everything under the sun, including my mother-in-law's Apple Crisp. It's our way of ringing in the holiday season. Brian hates when I cook or bake big projects. I tend to get something on me, somehow- it's inevitable. I cannot tell you how many shirts I've ruined because oil popped in a pan, or because I was tasting something, and it spilled through that hole in my mouth. Apple Crisp, (although one of the easiest recipes I make), seems to leave me covered in flour.

This year, I happened to learn about a great company called BEANSOUP APRONS. Beansoup Aprons create beautifully crafted kids aprons, and matching adult aprons- perfect for the family that cooks together! The fun, bold prints are wearable and washable, so you don't have to worry about anymore spills or mishaps. What's even better is that your little one is protected too, so they form great habits early. Reinforced with double stitching, the adjustable cotton kid-sized aprons at Beansoup are sure to delight your biggest helper.

Don't worry, if you're not a family that likes to cook together, perhaps you'd have more fun using the adorable cobbler aprons. From gardening, to art, and yes- even cooking, cobbler aprons have three pockets to make carrying all of your essential tools easy as pie.

The mother and child sets make a great gift idea this holiday season for Mom, or even for Grandma's House!

Want it?
Visit BEANSOUP APRONS and check out the variety of aprons and fabrics available. Take advantage of the limited time $5 Friday promotion on their website.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER!

Please read the WINNERS POST for more information on how to claim your prize!

This giveaway is open to residents of the US and will end on November 30th, at 11:59pm EST. One winner will be chosen at random using Random.org. Special thanks to our new friends at Beansoup Aprons for sponsoring this giveaway. This review is soley the opinion of 4BabyAndMom.com, and your personal opinion may differ.

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Starfrit Ceram-Eco Friendly Frying Pan Review

I am a kitchen gadget queen. I love to cook and bake, (and my waistline shows it!), but finding healthier, and safer alternatives to the gadgets or tools that I use is always a big plus for me.

I was recently asked to review the new Ceram-Eco Starfrit Alternative Fry Pan. I've tried other eco-friendly cookware before, but I was not impressed. This pan was unlike anything I've tried before, in fact, I would go out on a limb by saying this is the best pan I've ever used! I seriously love it. Love is not even a strong enough word- I promise. The non-stick ceramic coating is perfect for pancakes, french fries, chicken, and more.

Brian loves the fact that not only is this pan eco friendly, but it's oven safe- even the sturdy rubber handle- to 350*. His favorite meal to make is "breakfast pizza" which he usually attempts to flip onto a baking sheet half cooked. Even the thought sounds messy, and yes, it occasionally is.. but not anymore, because he can use this frying pan on the stove and in the oven.

I love the fact that it heats evenly, refuses to let anything stick to it, and is extremely versatile. I love that I can actually flip my pancakes (larger ones, of course!) and that I can just oil it, and it maintains the beautiful, shiny, new pan look. We've had our pan for about a month now, and it's a staple in our everyday cooking routine.

If you like to sautee, this pan might be difficult to use while keeping it on the burner. As long as you lift before you flip and sautee, you'll be fine. I highly reccommend this product, and know that if you give it a try you'll love it as much as I do. This has definitely been added to my list of favorite products for 2009!

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