Category Archives: Cooking

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Samsung Appliances at Best Buy Make the Holidays Prepping Easy

October 15, 2017 superexhausted

The next two months are going to be busy as we all start prepping for the holidays. When you start planing to cook you favorite dishes, like my families top choice mac and cheese. What can make these holidays super easy? Samsung has a plan to help every domestic cooking holiday a success. The wonderful new appliances from Samsung at Best Buy can help to enhance your holiday prepping time for entertainment family and friends.

The Samsung refrigerator is a four-door family hub that features a shopping list. Through the wifi the refrigeration can share your grocery list, and you just peek inside your food fridge from anywhere you are connected. Just think sitting in your car, you can see with the kids of polished off luncheon meat or even finished all the milk. The Samsung Refrigerator can scan foods expiration date so you know when that yogurts going to go bad or the eggs might be questionable. No more does this milk smell bad or this taste funny ? Talk about making the holidays easy and saving on precious time during a crazy holiday schedule.

One of the other great features that is available in the Samsung’s products Oven Range with Wi-Fi connectivity. Remotely you can monitor your oven to make sure you have the perfect roast for the holidays. While you’re out running around picking up those last minute gifts, you can turn on your oven on your way home from the store so it’s perfectly preheated, cutting your cooking prep time down. Adjusting your temperature from your smart phone allows you to have complete flexibility in your kitchen.

For me this is a real time saver for me because I always try to remind the kids to turn on for me before I get home from work. In my case the kids always turn on the wrong oven or set the incorrect time, no more delays in dinner. This is a great feature on Samsung Microwave Combination wall oven with Flex Duo, giving me time to relax and less time in the kitchen.

I can’t decide which is my favorite of the new Samsung appliances at Best Buy the refrigerator or the range? I’ll just have to get both. Right now at Best Buy they are offering an unbelievable price on Samsung appliances. 10% off when you buy four or more kitchen appliances.Be sure to check Samsung appliances at Best Buy out and have a great holiday.

What are you planning to make this holiday ?

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free

Cooking

Meal Planning with teens Aug 2017

August 21, 2017 superexhausted

The summer is great .. my kids are done with camps. My son was unable to find a job.. which is no go and bad because he is my housekeeper this summer. Mom that is me shelled out $300+ for said teenager to become a life guard and get his license. He .. that is my son never got said leife gaurd gig.. hello life guarding is the easiest job.

Now he has to pay me back.. the lovely teen age boy is doing all the laundry, dished, house cleaning, and painting to pay me back. If he does nt he looses hos internet. He also helps with cooking along with his sister.

This past week they made my beef and gravy.. it was yummy

This weeks menu is one made for them;

Monday : Kielbasa and Perogies

Tuesday: Tomato sandwiches

Wednesday: Spaghetti and Meat sauce

Thursday: Beef brisket and corn

Friday: Lobster Boil (on sale at Shop-rite $5.77 lb)

Saturday: Homemade calzones

What are you making this week/

Be sure to stop back for more ideas.

Cooking

Meal Planning Monday Inexpensive meals ideas

April 2, 2017 superexhausted

Meal Planning Monday: inexpensive meals ideas. I have been away for a long time and my meal planning has suffered. It has been a trying time and I feel with the start of spring I can get back to what I enjoy. I need to make myself happy and I know I will be a better mom and wife for it. I am trying to get back to things I enjoy, blogging being part of my happiness. My little space in the world.

I had a great loss this winter.. actually the lost has been since last July resulting in my fathers passing this past February. I miss him and I will address it at another time. With him being so sick for so long my life was in an emotional limbo and truly super exhausting.

My 1st step back to sharing with my readers is my meal planning.

Meal Planning for a family of 4 ideas what to feed a family that are inexpensive yet homemade:

Sunday: Loaded potato skins

Monday: Shepard’s Pie

Tuesday: Baked chicken, asparagus, rice

Wednesday: Chili

Thursday: Special Meal for my mom

Friday: Pasta with sausage (Kids cooking)

This week I spent $101 on groceries and $20 at the produce store.

I am hopping you have a wonderful week and may life bring you joy.

Cheers.

Cooking, Philadelphia, Product Reviews, Travel

Bertucci’s Anniversary Menu

January 8, 2017 superexhausted

Bertucci’s Anniversary Menu: In the last month I was asked to join Bertucci’s for the 35th Anniversary Menu celebration at a local Bertuccci restaurant. It was a magical night of food and learning about the brand from the original and still current head Chef Rosario. We started out with the Antipasto, which was just made this olive and cheese loving girl, my heart sung for the Perorino Romano Cheese very lovely salty and aged. My husband kept saying “Did you try the cheese!”

A photo posted by Sherry Aikens (@sherryaikens1) on Dec 8, 2016 at 3:31pm PST

Bertucci’s Anniversary Menu: What to eat

Then all the Bertucci guests moved into the new stromboli which is coming soon to menu. Then my favorite the Pizza and the Nolio pizza is back!! I seriously was very happy, if you have not had Nolio pizza it is a must try. The Nolio Pizza is a Parma style prosciutto ans sweet caramelized onions lightly season cream, with Pecorino and mozzarella cheese. For me it is all about the caramelized onions so sweet and butter my mouth is water just thing about it. The Nolio left the menu for sometime. I learned that if a favorite menu items of your leaves the Bertucci’s menu you can always ask the Bertucci chef to make it for you according to Chef Rosario.

The restaurant originally founded in Somerville, MA, has become an east coast staple for hand-crafted artisanal pizza and Italian fare…and yes, those rolls have left an imprint in all our minds (and stomachs).

It was an additionally fun evening because Chef Rosario was sitting next to me, he was serving me the perfect bite of food and feeding me all night. He also called me “Bella”, in an Italian accent which could not hurt the charming feeling of the entire evening. I almost forgot my husband was next to me-OOPS. I would like to say I had pictures of Chef Rosario feeding me, but I was blushing too much to show, so you will have to check out my table-mate above being fed (see above). She was a sport posing for me.

Selfie with #ChefRosario thanks the food warms my heart and burst in my mouth #bertucciskitchen #foodporn #eatitalian #ChefRosario @bertuccis

A photo posted by Sherry Aikens (@sherryaikens1) on Dec 8, 2016 at 4:35pm PST

I also found some of my new unexpected favorites at Bertucci ‘s is the Butternut Squash Ravioli. I was expected the Lobster Ravioli to steel my heart but no the Butternut Squash won out for me. I am not sure it was the asiago-sage sauce or the roasted brick butternut but it was so rich and decadent it was a perfect pillow pasta bite amazing.

Butternut Squash Ravioli

Lobster Ravioli

My husband and I we able to experience many dishes with our fellow dinners, like Chicken Ana Maria chicken with sage mushrooms artichokes and the coming soon Possimamente: Grilled Chicken Marengo on Arugla Salad which is a wonderful option for those non eating carb humans. We finished the evening with a Cannoli- I would love to say I had a picture of the cannoli but it did not make it long enough.. it was scrumptious.

The Bertucci’s we visited was a newly renovated one in Plymouth Meeting Pa complete with an outside Patio, which will make it a great destination during warmer months, and a new dinning venue to try the Bertucci’s 35th Anniversary Menu .

I have to say because of everything I was able to experience at the 35th Anniversary Menu Experience, I could not wait to revisit Bertucci’s again. Over the holiday break my daughter and I went back we ordered some of my favorites on our Girls Day Out. Tip also if you go during lunch they give you a free salad, and those amazing soft yummy rolls.

If you have not been back in a while to Bertucci’s it is time to go, order some of your old favorites and try some of Chef Rosario’s new ones.

Disclosure: My husband and I were hosted by Bertucci’s in exchange for this post. My tastes buds are honest and true to how much I enjoyed the food at Bertucci’s 35th Anniversary Menu.

Cooking, LIfe

Menu Planning and Life

November 6, 2016 superexhausted

This week is a busy week. I have a lot going on at work and in my life. I have a bazaar at work, I am headed at the end of the week to a wedding in Dallas leaving my husband to do the running with the kids. Plus my daughter is preforming in a play on Sunday. I need to meal plan which I have not been doing any regularity lately causing me to be very disorganized.

My meal planing this week is all about easy because of how much I have to get done. Easy for my self and my husband is super important. also Tuesday night I have to make a pot of my Split pea soup for the Bazaar.

I really also want to tell you about what else I have been up to. I am still sewing and making superhero capes. Check out BABYPOP (for your custom capes starting at $17 for custom letter, color, and logo they make great Christmas gifts.

I even make capes for the family pets !

My mask are $4.50 each at my store Babypop

I have been reading more because the political environment makes me shut of the TV. I just finished Orphan Train and now I am reading Boys on the Boat. Both books are amazing. What are you reading .. any suggestion for my next book.

Meal Planing this week:

Sunday : Baked Fish and potatoes asparagus

Monday: Beef and noodles

Tuesday:Pork chops

Wednesday: Chili

Thursday: Perogies and kielbasa

Friday: Pizza

Saturday: Burgers and Tator Tots

Be sure to check out my posts :

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Cooking, sponsored posts

LG ProBake Double Oven for the Holidays

October 28, 2016 superexhausted

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free

ProBake Convection™ – Baked to Perfection on Every Rack, Every Time

The holidays are coming and I am feeling the need to bake. Thanksgiving being the food holiday my tired old oven is a real concerned . I would love to have the option of the ProBake Convection™ in my home. This oven bakes to perfection every time. Un like my current oven that anything on the bottom rack well lets say it is less than perfection. I love the ProBake Convection™ – Baked to Perfection on Every Rack, Every Time. The idea of my kitchen having a professionals style of cooking makes me giddy. Inspired by pro-style ranges, this LG range moved the heating element from the bottom of the oven to the back wall for optimal heat distribution. Enjoy consistent browning on top and bottom – with every cookie baked to perfection with LG’s ProBake Convection ranges.

ProBake Double Oven available at Best Buy for our Prep for the Holiday

The other major holiday concern is cleaning my oven. My current oven takes 5 hours and a temperature of over 500 degrees heating up the house and causing me to open up the windows. EasyClean® – LG’s ProBake Convection ranges feature LG’s EasyClean®: 3 Steps. 10 minutes. 1 spotless oven. In three easy steps and 10 quick minutes your oven can be sparkling clean, without strong chemical fumes or high heat with LG’s Easy Clean. I love the cleaning of the LG oven because I also wont be wasting heat by having my windows open int he cold weather. It helps with those heating bills that is a win win great food, easy clean, and saving money.

LG’s ProBake Convection ranges feature LG’s EasyClean®, get a clean oven in just 10 minute

Here is another way to save money with this oven and BestBuy. Kitchen Bundle Rebate through 10/29, where consumers receive a Visa Gift Card valued up to $400 with purchase of a 4 piece Kitchen Package & Receive 5x reward points with your Best Buy account on any ProBake Range purchase from 9/28 – 10/29. This can also be stacked with the kitchen bundle rebate mentioned above.

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Cooking, LIfe

Menu Planning with Teens

July 17, 2016 superexhausted

Meal Planning with teens : This week has been a long week I have been going back and forth to NYC because of family health concern. So meal planning has become important. Since I have been back at work my son has been making dinner on some nights. He has been great asking how he can help.

Monday : Chicken Pot Pie cupcakes

Tuesday Shrimp Enchiladas with Creamy Poblano Sauce from little spice jar

Wednesday : Tornadoes Hot Dog from TasteMade on Instagram

Thursday: Burger and fries one pot From Betty Crocker

Friday: Homemade Pizza

Having my son help with dinner is amazing, not only is he learning to follow recipes and instruction but he is learning a skill. So he wont only eat junk food his life he will learn cooking is fun. I know he will make about 2 of these meals, anything helps. I sent my husband the shopping list for the week since I am out of town he can shop for the ingredients.

I am linking up Organizing Junkie and Motivation Monday

What are you cooking with your kids or how do they help with dinner?

Be sure to check out last weeks post on getting your kids eat veggies.

Also love to save check out My top 10 Favorite Things to buy at Aldi and Save

Have a great Week!

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Cooking, Parenting, sponsored posts

13 Great Ideas to Getting kids eating Veggies #SeetheLite

July 8, 2016 superexhausted

13 Great Ideas to get your kids eating veggies #See the Lite with LiteHouse Dressings: Recently I was invited to dinner with Litehouse Foods to learn about the befits of using a fresh Litehouse dressing in your menu plan. The dinner was held at ELA in Philly, It is hosted by a local dietitian Dr Janet Brill with live cooking demo’s and recipes using Litehouse Food products. I really enjoyed the evening, our discussion on health ideas for kids was my favorite part of the evening so I have to share:

13 Great Ideas to getting kids eating veggies:

Have kids go to the store with you and identify the produce, let then touch and smell.
While at the store tell the child to pick something (choose by color) to try when they get home-then cook with them
Make food fun- great shapes use a cookie cutter or pairing knife to cut cool shapes – I like a cucumber cups, radish rose or carrots into a heart
Kale chips turning veggies into a crunch snack
Try fun size veggies lite the little pepper sweet, fingerling potatoes, or purple broccoli
Have kids cook with you.
Try roasting veggies it tends to soften strong flavor, or combined with a honey or maple flavors (works great with Brussels sprouts)
Come up with fun clever names Broccoli are “Trees” you eat like a Dinosaur or Eat “Alien Brains (Brussels sprouts) or “Spears”of asparagus
Lead by example if you eat veggies the children will too
Institute a 3 bite rule 1- try, 1 bite to taste, 1 to decide (this is a stable in our home)
Grow your own veggies and fruit- nothing is better then picking a grape or cherry tomato fresh of the vine
Try offering a dip for your kids to dip in like fresh Litehouse ranch
Teach them also that veggies can also create color like a beet, spinach, or a watermelon, or a potato stamp, corn art in the fall..Art projects with food the more they play with food the more likely they are to try them.

What are some of your tips to get the kids to eat Veggies?

It was a great evening. I loved learning about healthy eating and Litehouse Family owned bussiness. They Litehouse taught us tips and tricks like cutting down on your calorie intake by mixing Olive Oil with a salad Litehouse fresh dressing to use less dressing and also get the benefits of olive oil a good cholesterol in your diet. All great things to pass on to our children.

I love Litehouse the fresh dressing that needs to be refrigerated before and after opening , lets me know Litehouse is a great health dressing with less preservatives. If I am taking the time to cook with the freshest ingredients shouldn’t’ my dressing be as fresh as the other ingredients I am feeding my family?

Check out this Kale salad the Litehouse site has amazing fresh recipes for your entire family.

Thank you to Litehouse it was a fun evening Disclosure : I received dinner and gift-bag/gift card in exchange for this post.

To check out my post on cucumber cups :

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Cooking, Crafting, LIfe

How to Wash your Window Blinds

July 1, 2016 superexhausted 2 Comments

How to Wash your Window Blinds: We are in the process of redoing my daughter bed room. Which include repainting, re-carpeting, and all new to us furniture. The one thing that we did keep in her room was the white blinds. I need them to match all the freshly painted and new items. I do dust them or I tell her to dust them .. but they never look great. So a friend suggested washing them.

My blinds are 2″ wide composite blinds not wood. Our binds are not going get distorted by water.

Disclosure: If you have wood blinds I would proceed with caution (make sure it is a hot day so they dry quickly and will not warp. Because wood if it is wet too long will absorb water and warp. I am not responsible if you destroy your blinds.

If you have older blinds why not give washing them a try because they might come out fantastic like mine.

How to Wash your Window Blinds:

Dust blinds
Choose a hot day with the sun-shinning let the outdoors do the work -AKA summer project
Place sturdy patio chairs or a 2 ladder in the sun to place the blinds on
Fill a clean bucket with hot soapy water (dish washing detergent) and a large clean/new sponge
Take down blinds from window bring out side placing top over back of chair
Make sure blinds are full extended (you will need 2 people) one to hold one to lower the binds, so you can get to every blind while washing them- allows them to dry and dirt to not pool under them
With a hose spray down the blinds with water
Then wash each blind by hand with the soapy water & sponge
Rinse and repeat if necessary
Allow to dry in sun (towel dry first if you are worried about hard water spots)
Be sure to tilt the top of the Blind at an angle so the water can drain out as it drys
When blinds are complete dry rehang blinds..
Admire your work.

Have fun cleaning them I found it is the best way to make the blinds look new.

Check out my post on How to Fix Fitted sheets to stay in place DIY

Also check out My top 10 Favorite Things to buy at Aldi and Save

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Cooking

Menu Planning Monday

June 27, 2016 superexhausted

This past week I realized old habits come back easy. After several years of lean budgets which became a strong family bond of at home meals. Since I went back, my old going out to eat habit is back, So I need to get back to meal planing. when I come home with no meal plan it is easy to say lets go out. Which adds up to $$$ and a tough hit to our wallet. So I meal planed for this entire week. My key is for me to be excited about the yummy goodness of what I am making. Then I also like finding get deals on the ingredients, so I scoured the supermarket fliers to complied the shopping list. So I spent $58 on the meals below plus snacks. I am excited to be back planning.

With the heat I am also using my crock pot to avoid the heat in the kitchen and dinner is done when I get home.

Meal Planing Monday

Monday Crock pot Pierogies and Kielbasa from DailyDIYLife.com

Tuesday Crock pot Crispy Pork Carnitas Tacos from GiveMeSomeOven.com

Wednesday Crock pot Wild Rice soup from RachelCooks.com

Thursday: Hot Digs and Tator Tots

Friday : Homemade pizza Trader Joes Crust

Saturday Family day

Linking up with an Organizing Junkie

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Superexhausted

Category Archives: Cooking

Samsung Appliances at Best Buy Make the Holidays Prepping Easy

Meal Planning with teens Aug 2017

Meal Planning Monday Inexpensive meals ideas

Bertucci’s Anniversary Menu

Bertucci’s Anniversary Menu: What to eat

Menu Planning and Life

LG ProBake Double Oven for the Holidays

Menu Planning with Teens

Be sure to check out last weeks post on getting your kids eat veggies.

Also love to save check out My top 10 Favorite Things to buy at Aldi and Save

13 Great Ideas to Getting kids eating Veggies #SeetheLite

13 Great Ideas to getting kids eating veggies:

How to Wash your Window Blinds

How to Wash your Window Blinds:

Check out my post on How to Fix Fitted sheets to stay in place DIY

Also check out My top 10 Favorite Things to buy at Aldi and Save

Menu Planning Monday

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