Showing posts with label fall. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fall. Show all posts
CONGRATULATIONS TO MARY G. & KIMBERLY R.!

This weekend the temps finally dipped back into "normal" range for Michigan's fall.  We were rocking the 70's & low 80's for almost two weeks!  Love those Indian Summers.

But we knew it wouldn't last and was just a tease.  Our heat has kicked on and the sweaters have been pulled to the front of the closet.  The 40's, 50's and low 60's are back again.  Until their cousins the 10's, 20's and low 30's enter around December to pave the path for snow, snow and more snow.

You walk outside and it's like a blanket of cold wraps around you, stealing all warmth you once had.  Which makes this the perfect season for slow cookers, warm soups and comfort stews!  I love making the house smell yummy and warm it up all at the same time.

I put together a wonderful slow cooker recipe I found online, Sun-Dried Tomato Slow Cooker Sirloin Tip Pork Roast.  It turned out fantastic and was super simple to make!  I added the California Sun Dried Tomatoes Julienne Cut with Italian Basil from Bella Sun Luci



I was sent a package of several products they proudly make to review and share!  I've been making a few recipes here & there to get the full spectrum of what these little nuggets of gold offer!  The health benefits of sun dried tomatoes are amazing!  Sun Dried Tomatoes contain Lycopene a phytochemical and proven antioxidant that fights free radicals in the body.  Ounce per ounce sun dried tomatoes have 12 times the amount of Lycopene than a raw tomato!  Recent studies show that a tomato rich diet is associated with a reduced risk of certain conditions including; Prostate cancer, digestive disorders, breast, lung and cervical cancers, and heart disease.


Mooney Farms began in 1987 as a family owned kiwi farming operation. Products were sold at the farmer’s markets in Northern California by the family members. With the addition of sun dried tomatoes, their first sale to Price Club South San Francisco changed everything. The family’s Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil & Herbs sold out in a record 4 hours! Sun dried tomatoes had become mainstream and the Mooney Family had the winning recipe!

It took a while to figure out the best recipe for each item they sent but the challenge was fun and yummy.  One of my favorite products are the sun dried tomatoes in the oils.  I LOVE that I can use the oil they are packaged in to cook them as well.  The flavors are already in the oils, adding extra flavors to the meal. 


I tried the Tomato Halves with Italian Herbs in an omelet and instead of pouring the oil I use to cook in the pan, I just poured some of the oil already in the jar. I loved how the eggs took on the tasty Italian flavor the oil was packed with.  I also threw some of the California Sun Dried Tomatoes Julienne Cut with Zesty Peppers in a quiche I made, just softened them up a bit in a pan and tossed it in the with mix of other goodies.

I searched their site for some recipes ideas and tried the Mediterranean Green Beans as a side dish for a pork loin we grilled outside.  It was SO simple and so tasty!



Check out how easy this Sun Dried Tomato Cream Soup is to make. Spoiler alert! It's also very tasty!  Recipes like these prove how easy it is to add this treasure to your everyday meals.


Bella Sun Luci would like to share their amazing product with you & your family.  Perfect for the upcoming holiday season where I know I will be spending a lot of time in the kitchen making dishes for my family & friends. 

Buy:
Bring the amazing flavor of Bella Sun Luci Tomatoes into your home by purchasing any of their products on their website


Win:
Enter to win the same mix of products I was sent by entering below!  Drawing ends at 12:01 AM on Saturday November 5th. I’ll draw the winner, via random.org, on Saturday, November 5th. I will send an email to the winner & you will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen. Please be sure to read the rules!

Use the Rafflecopter form below. If you don't see it - click on the title of this post. Otherwise email me at tarah716[at]ymail.com for instructions on how to enter.



Here in Michigan we've already pulled out the sweaters and hats.  It seems Mother Nature wasted no time switching from summer to fall.  Last Friday our high was 95°, today our high is 72°.  Jason & I have debated about turning the heat on, usually we tough it out by layering, layering, layering until it's just time to turn on the money sucking heat.  (We NEED to get a new roof!  Our insulation is laughable)  But with Dayne here now, we have to think about him.

Our boiler needs to be serviced so until then, we're not flipping the switch just yet.  There will be fires in the wood burner stove and a space heater turned on to help nip the chill out of the air.  But the great thing about fall is pulling out the cozy clothing again, snuggling around a crackling fire, cider mills, hot cocoa, the smell of crisp air, the beauty of the changing leaves and our favorite TV shows returning!  Whoo hooo!



What better way to celebrate the return of your favorite friends then by some fun meals in theme!  Betty Crocker's team has paired up the genre of TV shows with some FANFare!  Here are a few I'm planning on trying with the shows I have programed in my DVR:

Glee Returns Tuesday, September 13th.  I'm SO excited, I'm a Gleek, I will admit it.  I watched The Glee Project this summer so I'm very excited to see the shows for the new characters.  I'm also very curious how they're dealing with the main cast graduating this year.

In honor of Glee, every Gleek knows about the Slushee.  So Betty Crocker whipped up the Slushee Cup Cakes, how fun do these look?


Go to the head of the class with this new twist on the traditional poke cake. Two cupcakes are “poked” and splashed with fruity slushee syrup, then topped with colorful flavored frosting and glittery sugar. You’ll give them an A!

One of my favorite comedy's returns on Thursday, September 22.  The Office!!  We'll hopefully find out who is replacing Michael!  Any guesses?  What better way to celebrate heading back to work than with Cocoa Crunch Donuts!  

Donuts are everyone’s favorite office food. These homemade donuts start with refrigerated biscuits, then add a sweet glaze and crunchy Cocoa Puffs cereal for a fun and chocolatey punch.

I introduced Jason to The Family Guy when we started dating, I was shocked that he had never seen the show.  It's now one of his all time favorites.  Lucky for us the hilarious antics start up this Sunday, September 11.  Maybe we'll whip up Betty Crocker's Silly Pink Rabbit Adult Malts


This colorful adult malt takes inspiration from the classic Pink Squirrel cocktail – but adds childhood favorites like ice cream and Trix cereal to evoke the flavors of childhood in a completely grown-up way.

I've been looking forward to catching NBC's new show Up All Night starting Wednesday, September 14 - the teasers have left me laughing.  Maybe because we're new parents too and can relate to the jokes.  Either way, I think the Cheesy Po-Ta-Chos would make for a great snack food while checking this new show out.  


Bring the family together over “Po-Ta-Chos” – a new twist on classic nachos! This dish is built on a base of potatoey goodness, topped with cheese, salsa and fresh veggies.

And of course, one of my favorite channels, the Food Network Channel.  The Great Food Truck Race, Sandwich King (Season 7 winner of  The Next Food Network Star - LOVE him), The Pioneer Woman (LOVE her & her blog), Restaurant: Impossible & Hungry Girl - they have all started up already for the season.  So why not join in on the food fun and make the Korean BBQ Kimchi Quesadillas.


This winning food truck-inspired dish loads up a Mexican quesadilla with the flavor of Korean barbecue. And what’s the secret ingredient? Kimchi!

What fall shows are you looking forward to?

Thank you to Betty Crocker & MyBlogSpark for pictures, recipes and ideas.