Monthly Archives: February 2012

Product Reviews

Freschetta Pizza Win Pizza for a Year!

Picture from Freschetta.com

The first time I really learned about the amazing Quality of Freschetta Pizza was at a conference last year.  There was a sampling night, were we got to taste many different types of Freschetta frozen pizza.  I think someone had to tell me that it was frozen Freschetta it tasted like pizza came out of a brick oven,  the scrupulous cheese and top quality ingredients.  I loved it.  The Freschetta pizza is my go too from then,  when I need a quick healthy meal for my family.  We all rally around the Freschetta pizza, a movie and make it a family night.   It make my life easier and the entire family is happy.

Frozen pizza shouldn’t simply taste better. It should be better. Freschetta®frozen pizzas are made with top-quality ingredients and taste-tested recipes, just to make sure your pizza will always deliver Fresch® flavor.

Well you need to  try it currently Freschetta  Face book page is have a wonderful promotion Rally around the Pizza like Freshettas facebook page and share you photos of your family to the Rally Mosaic  rally around the Pizza.  Each week they will select 100 winners — to each receive 5 Freschetta® Pizzas. On March 30, they will also select 10 winners – who will each receive Freschetta® Pizza for a year!

Have you tried  Freschetta?

Disclosure: I occasionally receive compensation in the form of products for posts. However, the opinions I share are solely my own

Parenting, Philadelphia, Photography, Wordless Wednesday

Philadelphia Flower Show & Photo Tips

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Grab your cameras the Philadelphia Flower Show is coming March 4-11th!  Philadelphia is host to the largest  international Flower Show,  this years Theme is “Hawaii: Islands of Aloha”.    This year is not to disappoint with a whole new layout making it easier to experience the Hawaii. Here are some photo tips to enjoy and take home the show.

Photo tips for the Flower show:

  • Bring your camera and avoid using your flash,  flash wash out the colors and tend to be harsh. If they come out dark try a different setting, play (take extra pictures) for a minute or 2 when you arrive.
  • Balance you elbow on your knee so you stay still and get the shot, if you need to use a long exposure it helps to steady the shot.
  • Always step in towards subject or the presentation,  avoid taking pictures from 2 far away,  they never come out the way you want, smaller compact cameras have a hard time with large spaces so  take one far away then take 10 steps closer and get the feeling of the space a more intimate shot.
  •  Shooting people avoid the full body shot, people tend to not like full length pictures and if taken to far away it just makes things worse.. step closer to your subject, head shots are great,  and let the color of the flowers blur out the background.
  • Be sure to get the kids smelling and experience the flowers they don’t have to be posed shots just moments of this once in lifetime experience.

Here is what you have to look forward to at the Philadelphia Flower Show,  because there is much to photograph, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society  has so much beauty in store for us this year.

Flowers meet Tech.:

  • Wave entrance (new this year)  is interactive with video stream ocean,  all around you. It is a completely new design mimic the waves, landscape of Hawaii
  • Largest water fall (new this year)  to date 25 feet surrounded by the tropics of flowers.
  • Wedding pavilion is also Hawaii themed,  they are bringing in a tons and tons of sand. Wednesday night  March 7th  will be a special time for brides and her parties to get a look and meet with some of the top floral wedding experts get ideas and learning for that special day.
  • Designer Showcase NEW where top floral designer complete to show who is the best (think project run way for flowers) and it goes on all day for the entire week.
  • Floral and Gardening Demonstrations: if you want your flowers to look top notch the learning at the  Philadelphia Flower Show demonstrations is a great way to start
  • Flower show app   new! allowing you to check in at various exhibits along the way, leaving notes for friends, maps of the show room floor, trivia and more.
  • Man Cave (New this yea) there will be a area design for men and all things manly: including tiger woods golf game, casino tables, sports.
  • Girls night out event:  Thurs March 8th Presented By Philadelphia style Magazine and the flower show.  With wine tasting, prizes, beauty and more.
  • Veggies Go Vertical display– where you can see tomatoes over head and 40ft wall of lettuce.  Plus through out the entire show there is lectures and demos on how to grow your own edible garden.
  • Special Guest  Bethany Frankel
  • Family Lounge with crafts, children’s activities and introducing the Lorax movie-  also on final  Sunday March 11 they will be having a garden demo so the family can get the gardening bud.

Special events for kids :

Sunday, March 4
10:30 am, 12 noon, 1:30 pm: Performances from Kelly and Chica from Sprout’s “Sunny Side Up Show” (45 minute sets)
2 pm: A reading of “The Lorax” by Lisa Nutter, wife of Mayor Michael Nutter
2 pm – 5 pm: Meet characters from Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax”

Saturday, March 10
10:30 am, 12 noon, 1:30 pm: Performances from Liz and Chica from Sprout’s “Sunny Side Up Show” (45 minute sets)

Sunday, March 11
10:30 am, 12 noon, 1:30 pm: Performances from Sean and Chica from Sprout’s “Sunny Side Up Show” (45 minute sets)
11 am: Girl Scouts presentation at The Gardener’s Studio
12 noon: Beekeeping demo led by Jim Bobb at The Gardener’s Studio
1 pm: Interactive lawn games demo at The Gardener’s Studio, led by Paul Tukey & Victoria Rowell
2 pm: A reading of “The Lorax” by Kathy O’Connell of WXPN’s Kids’ Corner
3:45 – 5:15 pm: Sprout Snack! Join Sprout’s Kelly from The Sunny Side Up Show, The Pajanimals, and the Berenstain Bears for an interactive afternoon snack. Characters will join you at your table for one-on-one time, photos, and autographs. Please note: The Sprout Snack requires a special ticket; click here to order.

No special tickets required for family events (except for Sprout Snack), but take advantage of the special Family Fun Pak!

Tickets can be purchased prior on line or the day of the show

Adults are $27

Students are $20

Kids are $15

The Philadelphia Flower Show does offer a family pack too for $70 (2 kids and 2 adults)

If you have not been to the Philadelphia Flower Show Before this is the year to go.  Also I can recommend staying overnight in Philadelphia because there is so much to do. Visit Philly.com has so much to offer in deals and packages so be sure to check it out and stay overnight!

 

Fitness Fridays, LIfe

Fitness Friday 3rd week of Febuary {linky}

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So this week has been hard,  like every week.  does it every get easy? I guess not.  I love me in all my glory,  but there are days I wish I could wear those boots. You know the ones the ones the healthy (thin) girls wear. You know who you are, oh how I covet those thin heeled boots. Unless you are not over 175 lb you don’t understand heels flex they move when you are larger.  Make you feel unstable like the heel could snap off any second. Having a heel break off is like bending over and having your pants split.. Not  Good.

The calves part of the boot,  they wont  fit unless you buy once labeled “big girl boot” .  I assure you no “big girl boot”  is are made out of that beautiful thick  ridding boot saddle grade leather, the word pleather comes to mind..  I will get there one step at a time ..That was my Rant and yes you.. I covet your boots.

My Cake Hardship; My sons birthday weekend:   I did good til the 2nd cake was left in my house.  The 1st cake I threw out and no I did not go in the garbage to get it ala a Seinfeld episode. The 2nd cake the homemade one.. I made the mistake of icing it.. yea I love icing, some how I had to use 2 cans (it was a 13x 9 cake) so I ate the bottom of the icing..

Then it the cake called me .. it said “Sherry you love cake homemade cake come stand  next to me and take a sliver”..

You know “the sliver” effect if you slice it small enough it wont matter.

Then comes the “even it up” piece ..

Then back “the sliver” a vicious vicious circle.

needless to say the cake goes in the trash tomorrow.

Fitness Movement:

Monday: walked around the block run 40 seconds

Tues: walked in city with Hillary-  forgot my photo  walk to car looking for it after I was almost to the event

Wed: walked run 40 seconds  (I ate too many peanuts)

Thurs walked run 40 second

Friday walked run 60 seconds

Weight loss

Zero

Starting 267  ending 269   +2 I blame the cake.

Thanks you to Julie Myers Pron at JustPrecious.com  for posing knowing I was coveting her boots.



 

LIfe, Photography, Wordless Wednesday

Whitney Houston Word Wednesday {linky}

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Watching Whitney Houston videos from her funeral, Kevin Costner’s Eulogy was lovely and human. I am so saddened by her loss. Saturday afternoon February 12th, I turned on the radio in the car Whitney Houston song was on. I was thinking, there is someone that I hope rises for the ashes to returns again, because her voice is gods glorious gift to the world. She is truly one of the most beautiful voices that ever lived. Finding out later that day Whitney Houston had passed.

As I write this I am listening to all “I will always love you” crying.

Personally, This is my favorite verse ‘from “I will always love you” mainly because before I met my husband I would pray, using her words and it continues to be … This is my hope for my husband and children:
I hope life treats you kind,
And I hope you have all you’ve dreamed of
And I wish to you joy and happiness
But above all this, I wish you love

As for my memories of Whitney Houston, As young girl, singing in the chorus I loved her. I knew would I never have Whitney Houston talent but she touched me. I wanted to sing with the passion she had. When I hear to her songs I think she did not scream her high notes they are just pure beauty and strength. I will introduce my daughter and explain why she is one of the great singer that ever lived.  Her memory and voice will live on in me.

Sorry for Whitney Houston’s family’s loss and may she find peace.


Cooking, Parenting

How to Make Bread in a Bag

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How to Make Bread in a Bag:  Every year for the last 4 years, I make bread for the church on fat Tuesday it is for the Ash Wednesdays meager meal with soup and bread.  Then on Ash Wednesday I go in and make the same bread with about 10 kids int he after school program. This Bread is made in a bag and is very easy to make.  It is a great set up ahead and have the kids make kind of project.  The recipe has been passed to me from a lovely women in my church MM Harris, she has spent many years teaching the children in our congregation.  She has been make this bread with the church for years. So this year MM and I will be making many loves at home and working with the kids to make the bread.

This is not a religious recipe, MM just loved it because it was fun to make with kids.  I cant recommend it enough to try making this bread with kids you know.  Super easy Bread.

How to Make Bread in a Bag

Bread in a Bag

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 package yeast
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 3 tablespoons nonfat dry milk
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup hot water(125-130 degrees)
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 1 gallon freezer bag with a zipper lock
  1. Combine 1 cup all purpose flour, undissolved yeast, sugar, dry milk, and salt in a freezer bag.  Squeeze air out of bag. bread in a bag  
  2. Shake and work bag with fingers  to blend ingredients.
  3. Add hot water and oil to dry ingredients.  Reseal bag, and work again with fingers. bread to make with kids
  4. Add whole wheat flour.  Reseal bag and mix thoroughly. bread to make with kids
  5. Gradually add enough remaining all purpose flour to make a stiff dough that pulls away from the bag. 
  6. On a floured surface, knead dough 2-4 minutes  until smooth and elastic. kid friendly bread
  7. Cover dough, let rest 10 minutes.
  8.  Roll dough to 12×7″ rectangle. bread in a bag
  9. Roll up from narrow end. easy bread
  10. Pinch ends and edges to seal. 
  11. Place in greased loaf pan, cover.
  12. Place shallow pan on counter filled with boiling water. 
  13. Place a baking sheet on top, place covered loaf pan on top of baking sheet.
  14. Let rise 20 minutes or until double in size. easy bread
  15. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes or until done.easy breadTip: When making these loaves I made 1 in a bag and I did use my mixer w/ dough hook for the other 2 the results are the same. So If you are making alot of loaves of Bread you can also use a mixer with a dough hook, when kid power kneading is unavailable

I love to make this bread anytime of year it is a great hearty bread  easy to make and lovely with butter or I like it warm with Honey.

This is MM she is the lovely lady who gave me this recipe.

easy bread

For a Printable version of the Bread in a Bag

Check out my Pintrest Bread board for others ideas for bread.

 

Parenting, Product Reviews

Toy Fair NYC 2012 Top Picks

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So this past week,  I went to the 2012 Toy Fair in NYC,  what a fun day . It was a great trip, I got to do a brief run through of some great toys.   Here are some of the cool item I saw over the course of the day:

In the morning I attending the Cepia NYC Toy Fair breakfast  with Mom Select breakfast with host Marie Bailey.

We got to see some great toys:

DageDar A skill rolling collectable RPG game.    My son loves the video game they also have webisodes on line to build the game for the kids. 

Xia Xia hermit crab pets without the mess in collectable cases

 

Zhu Zhu (be sure to watch out for my Zhu Giveaway coming up in the next week)

Also during the Breakfast we got to see Bridge Direct new Toys

Waverly and the Magic Seashells line the magic pearl make the action (deluxe$24.99)

Shoulder Buddies Fun little guy with the use of a magnet he can sit on your shoulder.

Inkoos-  You color on them then they wash them and start all over my daughter is going to love this. ($19)

Then we got to explore the 2012 Toy Fair NYC!

Also Tegu which are great wooden block with magnets made into them, wooden toys always a big hit. Made on this side of the world in Honduras  not in China.

USA Made toys for 2012 toy Fair

Handicap Puppets made in the USA by Dexter Educational toys

The owner of this USA made company has a book that was written by her granddaughter.

“The adventures of KatGirl”  My daughter loved this book it was about a girl who is in a wheelchair and her adventure at a new school’

Hand Trux  such a cool toy it is a shovel and toy great for kids int the backyard, beach, and  snow.  I got to interview the creators of this fun toy. So be sure to watch for my interview in the future.

Be sure to check out my Post on my visit to the Mellisa and Doug Booth

Fitness Fridays, LIfe

Fitness Friday 3rd week in feb #fitnessfriday

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Fitness Friday  my movement active goal towards living a healthier life.    So this week was hard to keep active,  I was traveling to NYC and it snowed an rained.  So I did not get out and get my movement on  as much as I would like to be active.

Eating Healthier:  Did how ever make a decision to eat less garbage. I did not have any chips or ice  cream this week .  Which is a huge step for me.   Also Jeff my husband and I decided to not eat after 9 oclock at night (his idea my problem). I pick up more fruit so when I am hungry I can choose and apple of pear.  I am not sure what it will do for my diabetes,  but it is better then chocolate and chips.  Small steps towards being healthy every thing counts.

Womens time: I figure it was a hard week any way you know it is a women thing so I figure any this is better than nothing.

Weekly Fitness Movement

  • Monday-  walk for 5 hours at the Toy Fair NYC  Sarah Peppel and I skip the cab and walk the several block to the Javits Center Walked all day with a huge amount of stuff
  • Tues- valentines day feet sore from the Toy fair..  walk with the kids and the dog ran for 40 seconds .. Impossible with the kids and dog (not to self avoid it)
  • Wed- Rained I stayed in bed and finished a book (but at least I was not eating}
  • Thurs- weather bad- the dog was not happy
  • Friday -walked around  run for 30 seconds

Weight

original weight 271

Starting weekly weight 267- ending 266

So Link up your Fitness Friday Post:



 

Parenting, Photography, Wordless Wednesday

My Beautiful Boy Wordfull Wednesday with Linky

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Dear My Son,

It has been almost 11 years since you entered my world my beautiful boy.  Oh how you have changed my being with your questions, and pondering that will make the world a better place. You have the talent to see people for who they really are and who they can be, that is a gift you have been given be sure to share it.  I love that you are fearless, your ability to speak to people and be heard is amazing.  You will accomplish many things in your life, I cant wait to watch as you grow.   Your heart is pure and good you believe that being good is the only way,  may that always be your your goal.

I love you always my Blondie Blue, Happy Birthday



Cooking, Parenting

Making Sushi with Kids Tasty Tuesday

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This past week my son asked to make Sushi.  It has been about 10 years but I took out my Sushi supply’s and bought the sushi rice  business.  Make sushi at home is a fun family activity and my kids love to cook.  It took about 2 hours to make this meal, so it is great for rainy afternoons. I did not use raw fish since sushi grade fish is best left to professional sushi chefs.

Supply:

  • 2 Sushi Mats (1 for an adult and kids)
  • wooden spatula
  • sharp knife

Ingredients

  • 2 cups sushi rice
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 3 tbs sugar
  • 2 cup water
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 package seaweed sheets (I like seasoned)
  • roasted sesame seeds

Fillings (all sliced in thin strips)

  • intimation crab
  • smoke salmon
  • avocado
  • cream cheese
  • cucumber
  • carrots (blanched)
  • onions (grilled)
  1. Rinse the rice make sure that the water runs clear and make sure their is no rock or debris left in the rice
  2. Place rice, water, sugar, rice vinegar, and salt in pot  Cook for 15 minutes then leave covered for 15 minutes.
  3. Allow rice to cool slightly
  4. Cover sushi bamboo mat used roller in plastic wrap
  5. Take the seaweed paper place on sushi mat using a wooden spoon spread the rice on 1/2 the paper long ways about 1/8 thick or less
  6. (note the rice is sticky keep a glass of water dipping the spoon in the water to release the starch)
  7. Decide if you want the seaweed on out side of the roll or inside ( like inside rice on out side if so flip the rice side down)
  8. Add the filling on the top of the seaweed (on the 1/2 that is not covered in rice)
  9. Use the mat  start rolling at the filling side using the mat to make a tight roll (tip, dip you finger in water and run along roll Like wetting an envelope)  the keep rolling till the roll is all rolled together.
  10. Sprinkle out side of roll with sesame seeds
  11. To cut dip knife in water and cut in 1″ pieces

Philly sushi roll: salmon cream cheese

California  sushi roll : crab, avocado and cucumber

veggie: carrot, grilled onion,cucumber

crab salad: make a crab salad with mayo in roll

Make you own combo.

Suggest side is a spring roll which the kids love making as well.

I love make Spring Rolls I was inspire by PartyBluePrint Blog  I adapted the recipe from thers omitting the basil.  I made the filling and my daughter rolled the wraps.  The kids loved playing with the rice paper.

I recommend buying sushi ingredients, sushi supplies, and rice paper at the same time at an Asian market much more reasonably priced.

Enjoy making it a  Sushi Family Night!

 

Travel

Red Gold a Company with Heart

This past week I went to Indianapolis to visit Red Gold Tomato’s Factory.  The trip was sponsored by Red Gold Tomatoes and 6 other blogger attend with me. The Red Gold is a company that cares about tomatoes and its family of employees, which is great to see in today’s world.

Red Gold was a class act for the moment we arrived.  The Red Gold personnel had a limo to take us from the airport to the hotel and entire weekend.  Check out the ride:

Next stop, local  Indiana restaurant Bongers for dinner,  the food was fantastic.  I really enjoyed the house specialty tomato soup.  The chef only uses Red Gold tomatoes, and refuses to share the recipe for his divine soup. Bongers even had a mural painted Red Gold Tomato logo on the wall of there building  for cool folk art feeling.

On Saturday we headed to the Red Gold Factory. We received plan tour and learn about the processing of the Red Gold tomato products.

Red Gold is a 4th generation Family own, Made in the USA business.  The Reichart family who is headed up by Brian and Selita Reichart, both are hands on with factory and its employees.  During the plant tour we saw of some of the best state of the art equipment I have ever seen.   You can tell during the tour, the employees and management work together as a team.  In fact Selita told me no major decisions are made unless the decision is made by a group of employee and management working  in collaboration.   Wow! such a nice thing to hear when so many American workers are unhappy. Good to know Red Gold is supporting the American worker and improving the market.

Another thing that I learned about Red Gold (Red Pack brand  for east coast) was about the physical tomatoes.  Red Gold has a very special tomatoes and the goal of every tomatoes is to be a Fresh Pack whole peeled Tomatoes.  Meaning, it must come out of the can perfect no bumps bruises and completely in tack. Whole tomatoes are the top tier of canned tomatoes.The growing season is only 65-70 days.  The time to plant is determine by the harvest time so the tomatoes are ripe and ready to process into canned tomatoes.  Not one of the Red Gold local farms are 100 miles from the processing plant,  the reason is to insure a fresh picked tomatoes.   Also the Red Gold Tomatoes are different . The specific hybrid tomatoes is firm and more dense then others canned tomatoes .  The reason is the tomatoes are heated, cooked and peel.  Which is a lot of stress so the tomatoes and needs to be firm when it is ripe.

Want to know what Red Gold Tomatoes are better check out my post on the Red Gold Tomato taste test I did.

Disclosure I did receive the trip and tasting via Red Gold tomatoes but the opinions in this post are of my own.