Taste of Home’s 2010 Quick, Cheap and Easy Superbowl Recipes
February 2, 2010 - Written by Diana
Taste of Home put out a second edition of the Taste of Home Cookbook. The new cookbook from Taste of Home, the # 1 cooking magazine in the country, is stuffed full of quick game day chow that won’t break the bank! Using everyday ingredients the Taste of Home cookbook 2nd edition has quick and scrumptious treats that will tackle your guests’ hungry tummies. It takes less than a half an hour to whip up these mouth watering munchies such as Hot Bean Dip, Easy Meatballs, Barbeque Wings, Tomato Pizza Bread, and a yummy Five Minute Beer Dip to get the crowd going. Without emptying your wallet or being stuck in the kitchen you’ll have a feast for champions!
Hot Bean Dip Prep/Total Time: 15 Min Cost $.40 per serving
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef ¼ cup chopped onion 1 can (16 ounces) refried beans 1-1/4 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese ½ cup taco …
Put Zing in Your Turkey Day Leftovers with Salsa
November 20, 2009 - Written by DianaPace Picante sent me some great leftover ideas to go with your Thanksgiving dinner. Salsa is one of the best ways to liven up your leftovers. If you want to give them a little zing, try some of these recipes.
PACE® NATIONAL LEFTOVERS DAY RECIPES
Pace® Cheesy Turkey Bean Skillet
Prep: 5 minutes Cook: 10 minutes Makes: 4 servings
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cubed, cooked turkey
- 1 cup Pace® Mexican Four Cheese Salsa con Queso
- 1 can (about 15 ounces) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup coarsely crumbled blue corn tortilla chips
1. Heat the turkey, queso and beans in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to low. Cook for 5 minutes or until the turkey mixture is hot and bubbling. 2. Top the turkey mixture with the tortilla chips just before serving.
Tip: You can omit the crumbled tortilla chips and serve …
Superbowl Game Day Suggestions
January 29, 2009 - Written by DianaFrom Hormel:
Liven up the main event with quick, filling and flavorful appetizers:
- Cheesy Bacon Dip: Combine sour cream, HORMEL® Real Bacon Bits, shredded Cheddar cheese, softened cream cheese and chopped green onions. Bake until heated through. Serve with fresh vegetables or chips.
- Pepperoni Sizzle Sticks: Top refrigerated breadsticks with HORMEL® Pepperoni and shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake and serve with warm pizza sauce for dipping.
- Buffalo Chip Dip: Microwave cream cheese until soft. Stir in HORMEL® Premium Chunk Breast of Chicken, pepper sauce and ranch dressing. Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese. Microwave until hot and bubbly. Serve with crackers, chips, carrots and celery sticks.
From Pace:
- Black Bean and Vegetable Tacos- Vegetarian tacos. I’d use smaller shells and make it more of an appetizer.
- 5 Minute Cheesy Quesadillas – Really simple and easy. It would take more time, but you can throw in some chopped chicken, peppers and onions.
- Superbowl recipes – A whole page labeled Superbowl recipes.
…
Superbowl Snacks from Taste of Home Cookbook
January 23, 2009 - Written by Diana
Taste of home is everywhere. There’s the great Taste of Home magazine that comes out every month(as well as Healthy Cooking and Simple and Delicious) , the Taste of Home website with great recipes, Cooking School demonstrations to events around the US, and the cookbook. Taste of Home is geared toward the everyday home cook, using ingredients and tools the regular home cook has in the kitchen. This is a cookbook for me and you and my college girl daughter. I could totally give this book to my daughter and she could cook with it. My son, I’m lucky if he’ll read the macaroni and cheese box before he makes that, but if I can get him past that, yeah he could use this book too. My husband, well, he still thinks mixing cans of tuna and chicken together is a good thing. Not only are there recipes, you have dividers, plus a splash guard(I like that a lot), substitution suggestions, nutritional information, and more. In fact, on the first page is a invitation to enjoy a free year of Taste of Home Magazine with the purchase of the book. Yes, a year FREE of Taste of Home Magazine.
This Cookbook is so well laid out. It starts with the kitchen basics, then gives appetizers and beverages, soups and sandwiches, meats in their own separate sections, eggs, vegetables, fruit, salads and dressings, sauces and condiments, quick breads, yeast breads, pies, cakes, desserts, cookies and bars and candies. I like that the each of the different meat sections have a picture telling you where everything comes from. There’s a picture of a cow showing you where the different types of beef come from and where the most tender parts come from. The egg section has a page of beaten eggs and shows what a beaten egg is, and what soft peaks and stiff peaks look like(wait that almost sounds like food porn). The fruit section tells how to buy and store your fruit. Anyway, this is a really good book for the home cook and a beginner home cook could get some great use out of it.
Taste of Home also has a contest going on right now. America’s Best Loved Recipe Contest – The grand prize is 25,000.00 – ends March 1, 2009 .
I have some Taste of Home Superbowl recipes to help you prepare for your Steelers vs Cardinals game. These recipes are easy on the budget and simple to prepare, so you won’t be too tired out to join in on the fun.
Hot Bean Dip Prep/Total Time: 15 Min Cost $.40 per serving
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef ¼ cup chopped onion 1 can (16 ounces) refried beans 1-1/4 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese ½ cup taco sauce Tortilla chips
Directions: In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Reduce heat. Stir in the refried beans, Monterey Jack cheese and taco sauce; cook and stir until cheese is melted. Serve warm with tortilla chips. Yield: 3-1/2 cups
Holiday Gift Guide: Global Gardens Gourmet Club
November 22, 2008 - Written by Diana
Did you ever get to review something, or taste a food or look at pr materials and all you can think is WOW! That’s how I feel about the Global Gardens Gourmet Club. This would be such a great gift for a foodie, gourmet chef, or just someone who likes to experiment and try new things in their cooking. Deb, take note, this is what I want my husband to get me for Christmas. Send him this link. When you subscribe to the Global Gardens Gourmet Club you get a bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, an in-season Champagne Fruit Vinegar and two additional items. Every shipment is guaranteed to be worth 50.00 or more, but only costs 39.00 per shipment. There are 4 shipments during the year, February, May, August and November. Join the Olive Revolution!!
The Holiday 2008 shipment includes: California Estate Mission Varietal Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Fig Infused Balsamic Vinegar, Roasted Garlic Spread and Finishing Glaze.
The photo was from the late summer shipment that consisted of the California Estate Ascolano Varietal …
Focaccia Sticks Giveaway
November 21, 2008 - Written by Diana
Focaccia Sticks are new to the marketplace put out by New York Style, the same people who came up with Bagel Crisps. They take Focaccia slice it into strips, bake it again and then they are seasoned with herbs and spices. My favorite is the Rosemary and Sea Salt, which surprised me. I was sure my favorite would be the Quattro Formaggio. They were very good, but the Rosemary and Sea Salt were really good. My College Girl walked off with the Roasted Garlic and Herbs, but it didn’t last long. She loved them too.
Quattro Formaggio is a four cheese seasoning blend (WHEY, PARMESAN, CHEDDAR, ROMANO, BLUE CHEESE), the Rosemary and Sea Salt is slightly salty with a nice rosemary flavor. My daughter said the Roasted Garlic & Herb had a nice garlicy taste. I guess they all tasted how you would expect which isn’t a bad thing actually. The taste isn’t overpowering though, which is why it goes great with dips.
These would go great with Hummus (hear that Deb) , Pace’s 4 Cheese Queso or Buff’s Queso. Pear slices and goat cheese, or Fig Chevre(I saw that recently). It would be good with salads, or great to dip in tomato soup or dipped in melted brie. Lots and lots of choices.
New York Style has offered to send 1 bag of Focaccia Sticks to 3 winners.
The Rules:
- In the comment tell us which Focaccia sounds like it would be your favorite and what would you pair it with. Soups, cheeses, dips, etc. Be as specific as you can. Recipes aren’t necessary though, but maybe what kind of cheese or dip do you enjoy.
- US residents only
- Contest ends November 25th at midnight est.
- Wish Everyone a Happy Thanksgiving (Or just a nice day off – if you don’t celebrate)
Pillsbury Savorings Flaky Pastry Bites Giveaway – Savoring the Moment
November 18, 2008 - Written by Diana
I think this is the perfect time to talk about Pillsbury Savorings. When you go out to pick up the perfect easy party appetizers to go with your holiday dinner, or for a quick bite while you are sipping wine in the evening, or something small for the kids to pop in the toaster oven for a fast treat – this is what you want to look for. Pillsbury Savorings. They’re warm, flaky pastry dough wrapped around tasty fillings and come in three varieties; cheese and spinach, buffalo style chicken and mozzarella and pepperoni. They are easy to prepare (just 20 minutes in the oven or toaster oven ) and are the perfect accompaniment to a glass of wine, sparkling grape juice (or sparkling cranberry, MMMM).
National Men Make Dinner Day is November 6th – HUH?!
November 6, 2008 - Written by DianaHormel sent us some recipes and tips to use on National Men Make Dinner Day – a day made possible by men who never cook. I told Deb I would print it, but first I had to make a disclaimer. We don’t think this should be a day. Why on earth would we limit our husbands or significant others to one day a year, now really? It’s not the dark ages.
If they get home first from work, let them have at it. Deb’s husband is a gourmet grill master and great cook. My husband cooks dinner when he gets home first. Just so you know, we are teaching our next generation men to be comfortable in the kitchen too. Some nights my son prepares dinner and has it ready when we get home from work. Deb’s son takes cooking lessons. Empower your husband, give them full kitchen have at it rights and let them just throw things together. They’ll learn that breakfast links don’t work the same as sweet italian sausage with spaghetti. So, let’s abolish National Men Make Dinner Day altogether and make it National Husband Cleans Up Cat Puke Night or something else I could use more.
(Deb’s note: I like the idea of National Fix the Bathroom You Gutted Six Years Ago Day or Take the Fence Panels You Bought in April Out of the Garage and Do Something with Them Day.)
Holiday Cooking: Mama Lucia’s Meatballs Italian Style Meatballs
October 28, 2008 - Written by Diana
When I’m spending days making salsa, sometimes other cooking is neglected. My poor 6’2″ son and my husband would starve if I didn’t have frozen stuff waiting in the wings. Meatballs are one of my favorite staples. They’re quick, delicious, filling and hearty. This weekend when I was up to my elbows in salsa making I knew I had to do something fast and easy, in the microwave for our dinner that wouldn’t get in the way of my work. Well, I took some leftover penne pasta and sauce, threw in some Mama Lucia meatballs and cheese and microwaved it. It was the perfect meal since we really didn’t want to stop chopping. The next morning my son woke up starving, because he went to a party and was too late for the pizza that had been served. Before I could make the eggs, he grabbed a bowl of cold leftovers from our quickly thrown together meal and ate it cold (not my favorite way, but hey it worked for him). Then later he heated up another bowl for lunch. I’m serious they love the stuff.
For Thanksgiving or other big family meals, I take frozen meatballs and put it in a crockpot with onions and peppers, and sauce. People munch on it all night long. It’s such a treat and since we travel a couple of hours to visit family, it’s an easy set up. Mama Lucia’s meatballs are just perfect for any gathering.
Diana’s Famous Meatballs in a Crockpot
- 1 box of Mama Lucia’s Italian Style Meatballs
- 1/2 jar spaghetti sauce (more if you like it that way)
- 1 can tomato paste
- 1 can diced tomatoes with basil
- 1 sweet onion cut up into thin strips
- 2 green peppers cut up into thin strips
- Fresh Basil
- Mozzarella Cheese
Mrs. Renfro’s Salsa: A Flavor Explosion
October 12, 2008 - Written by Deb Ng 
At first bite of Mrs. Renfro’s Mango Habanero Salsa, one gets a tongue pleasing sesation of fruitiness, but give it a couple of seconds and the heat hits. The perfect blend of fruit and spice. It’s not too sweet and the heat isn’t so much that it takes away from the flavor of the salsa. To say I can sit down and eat a jar of this in one sitting is an understatement. I know some people ( *cough* Diana *cough*) aren’t fans of fruity salsa. When it’s done right however, it becomes a flavor explosion. Mrs. Renfro’s does it right.
It gets better though. Mrs. Renfro’s is one of those food companys using its power for good, not evil. They’re rocking the pink lids to raise awareness for breast cancer. A portion of pink lid sales are donated to the breast cancer cause. We so approve.
Right now I have a jar of Mrs. Renfro’s Raspberry Chipotle salsa hidden in the back of my refrigerator. I hope my husband doesn’t see it. I don’t want to share.
