Crisco Campaign Asks What's For Dinner?? Contest + Promotion Ends 12/31

I love the holidays! Aside from the fact that I get to spend time with family that I love, it's a time where we make a ton of ethnic food that we don't typically eat through the year. I remember going to my grandmothers for a whole spread of Spanish food, from arroz con pollo, to pasteles, to pastelillos, to pernil, my grandmother, mom and aunts would always put out a smorgasbord of stuff. As a child, I remember staring up at all of the yummy goodness, wishing and hoping I could make "that" one day.

Over the years, I've adopted and learned many of my grandmother's recipes, and I love sharing it with my family- especially my kids. When most people think of holiday food, the first thing that comes to mind is COOKIES! It's no surprise that when the cooler weather rolls in, moms all over the world start baking and using the oven. It's this time of the year that I can really stock up on all of my baking goods, including Crisco products.

I love checking out the recipes on Crisco and CriscoEnEspanol.com for great tasting appetizers, entrees and desserts.

I just wanted to share the recipe for Bocaditos de Tocineta y Queso, (Bacon and Cheese Bites), and yes, I know they're not a typical latino dish, but I had everything in the house to make these, and they were SO good!! They were really quick to make, and the ladies loved them!

INGREDIENTS:

• Oil stick Crisco ® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
• 1 / 2 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon water
• Mix 1 cup Hungry Jack ® Buttermilk Complete Pancake & Waffle Mix (Just Add Water)
• 1 / 2 cup (2 oz) Cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 / 4 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• Paprika

PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS:

HEAT oven to 400 ° F. Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray.

COMBINE sour cream and water in medium bowl. Add pancake mix, cheese and bacon bits. Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. With a spoon, form the snacks on the prepared cookie sheet.

BAKE 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Brush with melted butter, sprinkle with paprika. Serve warm

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This season, Crisco teams up with chef Michelle Bernstein to offer Latino home cooks delicious recipes and the chance to win prizes every day!

From Crisco:

ORRVILLE, Ohio (DATE, 2010) – Crisco®, one of America's leading producers of cooking oils, shortening and cooking sprays, has joined forces with popular Latina Chef and James Beard Award winner, Michelle Bernstein, to help Latino home cooks learn new recipes and answer the age-old question: What’s for Dinner? Home cooks can log onto www.criscoenespanol.com for Chef Bernstein’s latest Latin-inspired creations and the chance to win prizes – every day though December 31, 2010. Throughout the promotion, Crisco will award more than 1,000 entrants with prizes including $20 gift cards and one grand prize including a set of gourmet cookware.

“The kitchen is the heart of the Latino home, and meals make memories and bring people together,” said Chef Bernstein, who grew up surrounded by the aromas of her mother's Argentinean kitchen. “Home cooks can rely on the full line of Crisco cooking oils, shortening and cooking sprays to help them create dishes they can proudly serve their families.”

Home cooks eager for dinner ideas can log onto criscoenespanol.com to find a wealth of recipes with Latino flair. Chef Michele Bernstein is the owner of Michy’s and Sra. Martinez restaurants in Miami and author of “Cuisine a Latina.” Chef Bernstein frequently showcases her delectable creations on shows like The Today Show and The Martha Stewart Show and has appeared as a guest judge on Top Chef. Chef Bernstein is sharing some of her own unique recipes on criscoenespanol.com, including Empanadas with Sweet Corn Filling and Papa a la Huancaina, that will inspire home cooks.

“The question of ‘what’s for dinner?’ pops up in almost every household on a daily basis,” said Maribeth Badertscher, Vice President, Corporate Communications, The J.M. Smucker Company. “But Crisco is here to help home cooks – especially busy moms – with easy, creative and tasty recipes that are sure to wow the family.”

The promotion ends on December 31, 2010 and is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C., 18 years of age or older. Void where prohibited. Visit http://www.criscoenespanol.com/ for complete details and Official Rules. First time entrants who register for the contest will receive a link to an online coupon.

Go visit criscoenespanol.com for more details on the What's For Dinner giveaway and contest, to learn new, exciting recipes, and develop deep-rooted holiday traditions. Celebrate the season, and celebrate your family. The contest makes it even better! Don't forget to enter every day, and share it with your friends.
 



Special thanks to the PR company that represents Crisco for presenting me with this opportunity. We received a basket of Crisco products in exchange for facilitating this article.