Sponsored Post by Moms Meet- Blake's All Natural Foods Pot Pies and a GIVEAWAY!

**Disclaimer-I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetsSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

I am pleased to review Blake's All Natural Foods Pot Pies here on All Things Katy! today. 

Blake's All Natural Foods started with one family and a farm back in Concord, NH 1929. It started with Grandma's Pot Pie recipe and the fine art of a hungry family gathering together around the dinner table. Blake's All Natural Foods believes that while the times have changed, the notion of family time and quality food has not. Blake's All Natural Foods offers a whole line of organic, natural entrees such as Turkey and Beef Pot Pie. You can read more about Blake's All Natural Foods here.

Blake's All Natural Foods

We decided to try Blake's All Natural Foods Pot Pies on a busy weekday. We just popped the meals out of the freezer and into the oven while we went about unpacking from the day and getting ready for the next. Forty minutes later, we were ready to sit down and dig in! We sampled the Chicken Pot Pie, Shepard's Pie and Macaroni and Cheese because that was what was available to us, at our local grocer. To find Blake's All Natural Foods near you, please refer to the store locator on the Blake's All Natural Foods website.

First off, prep was a breeze- literally, remove contents from box, remove plastic cover and bake. No mixing, transferring or mess. Love that! Hubs, Lil' Miss and I all took turns sampling the Blake's All Natural Foods Chicken Pot Pie, Shepard's Pie and Macaroni and Cheese so that we could give a full report. 

Blake's All Natural Foods

The Chicken Pot Pie had a great, flaky crust. It cooked to the perfect golden brown and had the right amount of crunch when we dug in. Yet, it was soft enough for my (front) toothless six (almost seven!) year old daughter to eat comfortably. The veggies inside definitely tasted fresh and crisp- not over-cooked and mushy. The pot pie sauce was flavorful and light, but not overly salty or bland. My only complaint was that the Chicken Pot Pie lacked a lot of chicken chunks. Of the three pieces that we did get, the chicken was all white meat and not fatty. 

Blake's All Natural Foods

The Macaroni and Cheese had a nice, crunchy crust that added to the overall dish. The Macaroni and Cheese was cheesy and creamy without being fake. The noodles were firm and not mushy at all.

The Shepard's Pie included ground beef, corn and a mashed potato crust. The ground beef tasted fresh and not mealy, fatty or oily. The corn was sweet with just the right amount of crisp 'pop!' The mashed potato topping was light and definitely tasted homemade!

After sampling (and finishing!) our meals, we concluded that we all enjoyed the pot pie the best! It had the best overall flavor, texture and contents. Our second favorite was the Macaroni and Cheese. Overall, we had a very favorable opinion of the Blake's All Natural Foods line of foods and we will definitely be scoping out more Blake's All Natural Foods products next time we go grocery shopping!

Blake's All Natural Foods

As a mom, I love that  Blake's All Natural Foods is made with all-natural, organic ingredients. I appreciate that  Blake's All Natural Foods products are free from artificial colors, preservatives and hormone-free. I enjoy the fact that the family behind  Blake's All Natural Foods believes in fade-from-scratch, small batch cooking- it is evident in their meals!

Would you like to connect with Blake's All Natural Foods?

Website

Facebook 

Twitter

Pinterest 

Instagram 

Now for the fun part- a GIVEAWAY! Enter below to win a Blake's Natural T-shirt and tote:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway will end 11/30/16 and one winner will be chosen and contacted after that. Good luck!

Sentence of the Day- Road Food

This past weekend, we took a super, duper, really QUICK road trip to see my maternal grandmother in PA. It was a whole lot of driving for not a whole lot of time on the ground but it was so worth it and necessary.

It was a really LOOONG car ride but Katy was a trooper. On our way home, we stopped at Sheetz for gas/restrooms/lunch. As we were driving along the highway and munching on our respective lunches, Katy pipes up from the back seat...

Katy, "This is despicable!"
Me, "What is despicable?"
Katy, "I only got one measly onion on my sandwich!!!"

Hahahahaha.... there is so much about that conversation that makes me smile... Most of all, though, Katy makes me smile!!

Sentence of the Day- Definitions

Katy and I got to spend a rare (now-a-days) Mommy and Katy day. Lil' Miss was off school for MLK day and I took off work to be with her. We lunched at Ikea (as per our usual ways ;-).

Katy had eaten a good lunch and was onto eating her dessert. She offered me a bite. Not really much for the chocolate confection that she was offering, but grateful for her sincere and earnest intentions, I told that I'd, ".... take just a small little bite."

"Technically, Mom, that would be considered a nibble. Something smaller than a bite is a nibble- not a bite," Katy corrected me.

...and there you have it folks.... I live with an walking talking dictionary..... ha!

Wordless Wednesday- Lunch with Daddy!

Sentence of the Day-School Lunch

Katy bought her lunch for the first time at school, today. It was pizza day and she had been looking forward to going through the cafeteria line like a big kid ALL WEEK!! When I asked her how it was she replied very matter-of-factly, "Well, I won't be doing that again! The pizza was pretty yucky." Hahaha...!

She quickly followed up with, "Maybe I'll try the hamburgers, next time. Even though I know they don't serve onions."

That kid. She makes me smile. Even when she isn't trying.

Wordless Wednesday- "Ice Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For ICE CREAM!!"

Wordless Wednesday- Green Beans from the Garden!

Sponsored Post by Moms Meet- Lundberg Thin Stackers

**Disclaimer-I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetsSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

Lundberg Think Stackers

My five year old loves cheese and crackers! She would eat them for lunch and dinner, if I allowed it. We go through a lot of saltines in the Jones household! However, saltines don't really have much substance (or, nutritional value) and I always feel like I could and should be providing my family with better nutrition (than just the flour and salt that make up a saltine cracker). So, when I recently had the opportunity to review the Lundberg Thing Snackers Rice Cakes, I jumped at the opportunity.

First, here is a little more about the Lundberg Family Farms and their mission to produce and provide organic products; "Lundberg Family Farms® has been producing high-quality, natural, and organic products since 1937. They’re dedicated to growing their rice using sustainable methods and work hard to conserve water resources, build soil integrity, and support a healthier ecosystem. Lundberg Family Farms wants to deliver the purest food possible to all families, and they pride themselves on making great-tasting products that are better for you, your family, and the environment." It's hard to argue with a mission statement like that! That's definitely a product that I can get behind as a mother and consumer.

Lundberg Think Stackers

Now, let's specifically discuss Lundberg Thin Snackers Rice Cakes! Here are just the facts: 

• Fans of Lundberg Rice Cakes will love their new Thin Stackers®—a tasty, thinner cake featuring whole grain goodness packed into a light and crisp snack. 

• Thin Stackers are USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and made with whole grains. They are also vegan, kosher, and gluten free. 

 • Packaged in a box with two stay-fresh sleeves, Thin Stackers are convenient and portable for a quick snack on-the-go. 

• Every Lundberg Family Farm product is made with real ingredients that you can recognize and has an easy-to-read ingredient list. 

• Thin Stackers are available in four delicious varieties: 5 Grain, Red Rice & Quinoa, Lightly Salted, and Salt-Free. 

• A 6 oz. box retails for $3.49 and includes 24 Thin Stackers

Lundberg Think Stackers

Lil' Miss tried the Lundberg Thin Stackers Brown Rice, lightly salted rice cakes. She topped her rice cakes with cheese and pepperoni (don't worry, it was locally sourced, nitrate/nitrite free pepperoni!). Her first reaction was that the cakes were a bit plain and boring. However, once she topped them with her favorite toppings, she munched away happily. The size of the square cakes were easy for my daughter to manage and the shape lent itself nicely to slices of cheese.

While I don't think I would necessarily sit down and eat the Lundberg Thin Stackers Brown Rice plain, I do feel that they would be a great vehicle for your favorite toppings and spreads. Plus, with just two ingredients (just organic brown rice and sea salt- that's it! I always appreciate when I can easily identify and pronounce ingredients), minimal sodium and fat, and four whole cakes making up a 100 calorie serving, it's a much better/healthier alternative to carb-laden bread and sodium-rich saltine crackers. I would even consider taking Lundberg Thin Stackers as a work lunch.

Connect with Lundberg on the following social media platforms:

Online- www.lundberg.com 

Facebook- www.facebook.com/lundbergfamilyfarms 

Twitter- www.twitter.com/lundbergfarms 

Instagram- www.instagram.com/lundbergfarms

Now, how would you like to win some fun Lundberg products of your own? Just enter the "Meet the Lundbergs Photo Contest" by entering the "Meet the Lundbergs Facebook photo contest." For a chance to win a $500 Family Dinner Night Basket and to learn more about the Lundberg family and for contest details, visit http://bit.ly/1BNJe6D.

Sentence of the Day- Here, Piggy, Piggy....

This morning, I was going about my chores when I overheard Lil' Miss talking to her breakfast of bacon and fruit. She said, and I quote, "Sorry, Mrs. Piggy- you're just too delicious!!" (Promptly followed by the consumption of said delicious bacon.)

That girl- she cracks me up!!

Sentence of the Day-Produce

This morning, Katy and I took our annual trek to Patterson Farms to pick strawberries. We picked two gallons. Katy is getting really efficient at picking the reddest berries!!

When we got home, we baked some strawberry chocolate chip muffins (because, according to Lil' Miss, the muffins just HAD to include chocolate chips..!). As we were sampling the fruits of our labor, Katy informed me that, "...These muffins contain produce (because they have strawberries in them). So, they must be good for you. Mommy, do you know what 'produce' means?"

Hahaha.... I'm in trouble when the day comes and Lil' Miss stumps me with a word that I DON'T know...!

Sponsored Post by Moms Meet- Frozen Wild Blueberries #wildblueberryside

**Disclaimer-I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetsSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

Wild Blueberries Bundt Cake

I'm really excited to share my latest review of Wild Blueberries with the readers of All Things Katy! Most times, I am asked to review products and prepackaged things. However, this time I was asked to review frozen wild blueberries. Healthy, packed with antioxidants and a versatile flavor in foods- I mean, what's NOT to love about Wild Blueberries??!?!?!?

I was supplied with a small gift card (thank you!) and encouraged to create something wonderful using frozen Wild Blueberries. Before I get into the specifics of my recipe, though, let me share a little more information about Wild Blueberries:

"Founded in 1981, the Wild Blueberries Association of North America (WBANA) is a trade association of growers and processors of Wild Blueberries from Maine and Canada that is dedicated to bringing the Wild Blueberries health story and unique wild advantages to consumers and the trade worldwide. To demonstrate their dedication to furthering research that explores the health potential of Wild Blueberries, WBANA has hosted the Health Research Summit in Bar Harbor, Maine since 1997, which is a worldwide gathering of scientists and researchers whose work is leading the way in understanding the health benefits of Wild Blueberries."

Just the facts:

• Wild Blueberries are wildly different from the regular blueberries you normally find in the produce section. Don’t be fooled by their size—they pack more into their tiny blue bodies than any other blueberry on the planet!

• Wild Blueberries have a more intense flavor than regular blueberries. Wild Blueberry plants are more genetically diverse with thousands of interlocking plants spreading and interlocking naturally across fields over thousands of years. That diversity is what gives Wild Blueberries their complex and delicious flavor—an extraordinary mix of tart and sweet.

• Wild Blueberries have two times the antioxidant capacity of the larger cultivated blueberries. A growing body of research shows the potential health benefits of Wild Blueberries including gut health, diabetes, cancer, and brain health.

• 99% of the Wild Blueberry crop is frozen fresh at harvest, which locks in their nutrition and taste.

• Wild Blueberries are called “Wild” because they are not planted— they have occurred naturally in barrens and fields in Maine and Eastern Canada for 10,000 years.

• The retail price for a 15-ounce bag of frozen Wild Blueberries starts at $3.59. A 3-pound bag retails for about $10.

Okay, let's dig right into my recipe! While frozen Wild Blueberries can be tossed in smoothies, sprinkled on salads and pureed into dressings, marinades and other tasty treats- all of which we heartily support- I chose to come up with a Wild Blueberries bundt cake. Sweets aren't the norm in our family, so this was a special treat! (So much so, that I begged my hubby to take the rest of the cake into work because I was afraid I might eat the whole thing!! It was THAT good! Ha!!)

Wild Blueberries Bundt Cake Ingredients
(Using Frozen Wild Blueberries)

(Not pictured- eggs and cream cheese)

Lil' Miss loves to be my assistant in the kitchen!

Wild Blueberries Bundt Cake

Using Frozen Wild Blueberries

Cake Ingredients:

1 box Yellow Cake Mix

1/3 cup Oil

3 Eggs

1 (8 oz) block of Cream cheese (softened)

1 (3 1/2 oz) box Instant Vanilla Pudding (not prepared)

1 cup frozen Wild Blueberries

-Mix cake, oil, eggs, cream cheese and pudding on medium speed. Mixture will be very thick!

-Fold in frozen Wild Blueberries.

Lil' Miss carefully folded the frozen Wild Blueberries into our cake batter.

-Grease and flour bundt pan VERY,VERY well (no stuck cakes, here!)

-Pour batter into prepared bundt pan and level off top.

-Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until tester comes out clean.

Icing Ingredients:

1/2 cup frozen Wild Blueberries Juice (I just smooshed the blueberries with the back of a spoon in order to get enough liquid)

1 cup Powdered Sugar

Look at that beautiful purple, blueberry goodness! No fake dye here!

-While the cake is baking, mix the powdered sugar and Wild Blueberries juice together to create a smooth icing. Drizzle onto bundt cake while hot.

-Grab a napkin, dig in and enjoy that beautiful Wild Blueberries Bundt Cake! Yum, yum, YUMMY!!

"Caught ya!" Lil' Miss couldn't wait to dig right into the Wild Blueberries Bundt Cake!

In the end, Lil' Miss couldn't help herself and she helped herself to a big bowl of frozen Wild Blueberries, straight up! The perfect anytime snack!!

Berry Happy Girl!

Learn more online:

Website- wildblueberries.com

Facebook- facebook.com/wildblueberries

Twitter- twitter.com/wildblueberries

Pinterest- pinterest.com/wildblueberries

Instagram- instagram.com/wildblueberries

Sponsored Post by Moms Meet- Veri Soda

**Disclaimer-I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetsSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

Veri Soda

Recently, I had the opportunity to sample and review Veri Soda for Moms Meet. 

We're not super huge soda drinkers, but it is nice for an occasional treat. Plus, I will admit that I almost ALWAYS want Sprite when my throat is scratchy. When we (Hubs and I) taste-tested Veri Soda straight from the can, we were really, really pleasantly surprised! Veri Soda tasted good! It was sweet (but not too sweet). It didn't taste artificial, it didn't taste too much like plain seltzer water and it didn't have a funny after-taste (like so many low-calorie, better-for-you sodas do). Hubby tried orange and I tried lemon lime. Both were very good- refreshing, even! I like that Veri Soda is naturally sweetened and uses real juice in it's ingredients. Plus, with only 60 calories ad can and no caffeine, it's not terrible as an occasional indulgence every once in a while.

Lemon Lime Veri Soda

Here's a little more information about Veri Soda, from their website, "The team at Veri is committed to crafting the world’s finest organic, low-calorie, soft drinks. They spent years crafting a line of soda that is made with the best organic ingredients, and is low in calories but also tastes like the real deal- how soda used to taste back in the good old days. Veri Soda has no harsh sweetness or overpowering carbonation; just delicious refreshing taste, and with only 60 calories per can and no artificial ingredients, it is a soda the whole family can enjoy. Try Veri Cola, Orange, Ginger Ale, or Lemon Lime."

Just the facts

• Veri Soda uses only the best quality organic, non-GMO ingredients in their line of USDA NOP-certified organic soda.

• Veri is sweetened with organic fruit juice, organic cane sugar, and organic stevia to deliver a refreshing soft drink with only 60 calories per can. The drinks are lightly carbonated, allowing you to really taste the flavor. Plus, there’s no harsh sweetness or lingering after-taste like most zero-calorie sodas.

• Veri Sodas have a “low glycemic load,” meaning you won’t have a sugar spike (or the dreaded crash after!).

• All Veri Sodas are caffeine free.

• Veri Soda is available in four flavors: Veri Cola, Veri Lemon Lime, Veri Orange, and Veri Ginger Ale.

• Veri Soda is available at select stores nationwide, with a suggested retail price of $4.99 for a four-pack.

About the flavors

• Veri Cola delivers the subtle taste of cola with hints of cinnamon and real lemon juice.

• Veri Orange is made with 12% real orange juice from oranges grown in Mexico and Turkey.

• Veri Lemon Lime is created with real juice from organic lemons and limes to deliver a truly refreshing taste.

• Veri Ginger Ale harnesses the flavor of Asian ginger and finds the perfect balance of spice, sweetness, and light carbonation.

Veri Soda

As part of our review, we were asked to get "Veri Creative" and come up with a creative recipe that included Veri Soda. So, being in the South, I decided to do a tried and true Soda Pop Cake (otherwise known as Coca-Cola Cake). This was the perfect way to try out Veri Soda!

Here's the recipe that I used:

Veri Soda Cola Cake Ingredients 

(Not pictured, marshmallows. Oil is only shown because I used it to grease the pan.)

Veri Soda Cola Cake
Cake Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup self-rising flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 Cola flavored Veri Soda
1 1/2 T cocoa powder
3/4 cups mini marshmallows
1 egg
1/4 milk
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 vanilla extract

Cake Boss ;-P

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease and flour (I just use a bit of cocoa powder to flour, since it's a chocolate cake) a 9" diameter cake pan (or, square).
Mix together the flour and sugar.
In a saucepan, combine the Veri Soda, cocoa powder, marshmallows and butter. Bring to a boil, then remove from the heat and whisk in the flour mixture.

"Whisk it- whisk it good!"

In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, baking soda and vanilla.
Then, mix together with the Veri Soda mixture.
Pour into the prepared pan and bake for about 30 minutes.

While the cake is baking, make the frosting.
Frosting Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
3 T Veri Soda
1/2 T cocoa powder
1/2 lb. powdered sugar

To make the frosting, bring the butter, Veri Soda and cocoa powder to boil over medium heat. Stir in powdered sugar and mix well. Pour over the cake while both the cake and frosting are still warm. Let cool before cutting and serving.

Veri Soda Cola Cake

Lil' Miss got in on the baking action and was an eager helper. Of course, she was my official "taste tester" and she gave our Veri Soda Cola Cake a big thumbs up!

Veri Soda Cola Cake gets a big thumbs up from Lil' Miss!

Connect with Veri Soda:

Website- verisoda.com

Facebook- facebook.com/VeriSoda

Twitter- twitter.com/VeriSoda

Wordless Wednesday- A Girl and Her Chopsticks....and her Onions, too....!

Sponsored Post- #SayFreezewithKidfresh KidFresh and a GIVEAWAY!!

**Disclaimer-I received this product for free from the manufacturer. I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the manufacturer of the product.

KidFresh- Healthy Frozen Kid's Meals

Hello and Happy Frozen Foods Month!! That's right- who knew that frozen foods got their very own month?! I know that I certainly didn't! Anyway, I'm here to share a fun, healthy and kid-friendly product with you AND a giveaway!!

So, let's get started and let me introduce you to KidFresh- Healthy Frozen Kid's Meals. KidFresh- Healthy Frozen Kid's Meals started as an idea and evolved into a whole line of healthy frozen kid's meals. 

Founder, Matt Cohen has the following to say about the beginning and evolution of KidFresh- Healthy Frozen Kid's Meals, "Kids’ meals these days… a lot of them are downright scary and often loaded with all sorts of artificial ingredients. As a father myself, I decided that we needed more options for all-natural kids’ meals – the kind that are yummy and nutritious for children while convenient for parents."

"We did just that, in a real kitchen, with the help of a top chef and a pediatric nutritionist. We first started with our own concept store in New York City where we offered natural and organic kids foods, including our own, freshly prepared in our kitchen. We loved feeding moms and kids everyday and the Kidfresh store attracted a lot of media interest from all around the world, some of it presented here."

Rich of this innovative and unique experience, we decided to broaden our reach and offer our all natural kids meals in supermarkets throughout the country. The result is our new line of frozen Kidfresh meals: a twist on children’s favorite foods, rich in vegetables and without a single drop of anything artificial. Even our packaging meets the highest safety standards with no BPA, no Phthalates nor other potentially harmful chemicals. We use recycled paper, carbon-neutral printing and recyclable containers."

"While this is all well and good, the most important thing is that our meals taste great and children love them. It is our passion and we hope you’ll enjoy our meals!"

I was provided with six vouchers to try out KidFresh- Healthy Frozen Kid's Meals. I was able to easily locate KidFresh- Healthy Frozen Kid's Meals at our local Super Target and Harris Teeter grocery stores. Now, Lil' Miss is a carnivore, so I thought that I'd try out the KidFresh meat options, first. I chose the Super Duper Chicken Nuggets, the Mighty Meaty Chicken Meatballs and the Fun-tastic Fish Sticks.

Tonight's dinner was tortellini, so I thought that the Mighty Meaty Chicken meatballs would fit right into the menu. Lil' Miss was a willing sidekick in the kitchen. Since the meatballs are already fully cooked, I just had Lil' Miss pour the meatballs right into the sauce and cook.

KidFresh- Healthy Frozen Kid's Meals- Lil' Chef!

I'm luckier than most- my daughter is a fairly good eater (eater, yes, sleeper, no!). Anywho, I've been trying to make a concerted effort to include more fresh fruits and veggies into our daily diets. While Katy loves her meats, dairy and carbohydrates, she is not a big fan of vegetables. So, I do feel that is one area that we are lacking in. So, when I saw that KidFresh- Healthy Frozen Kid's Meals included vegetables, I was willing to give it a go!

Now, let's talk nutrition. I took a picture of the side of the Mighty Meaty Chicken Meatballs just so I could observe the ingredients better. As you can see, there are vegetables (carrots, onions) listed in the list of ingredients. Also, six meatballs make up a serving of 150 calories. That's pretty reasonable compared to the over 180 calories found in just three turkey meatballs of another brand of frozen meatballs. Not too shabby...!

KidFresh- Healthy Frozen Kid's Meals- Nutritional Information

Dinner was easy to prepare and the Mighty Meaty Chicken Meatballs took just minutes to warm through. When Katy sat down to eat, she was excited to try out the kid-marketed KidFresh Mightly Meaty Chicken Meatballs. And, I'm happy to report that she ate ALL of her dinner- salad, and meatballs included!! Yum!!

When I asked Lil' Miss what she liked about the meatballs, best, she told me, "All of it!!" Personally (because, I had to try them, too! ;-), I found the meatballs to be moist, flavorful and easy to chew. No funny bits of gristle or anything unidentifiable floating around.

Overall, I'd say that KidFresh- Healthy Frozen Kid's Meals were a success!! Tasty, healthy and completely finished!

KidFresh- Healthy Frozen Kid's Meals- A winner of a dinner!

Okay, now for the fun part- the GIVEAWAY!!! Would you like to try KidFresh- Healthy Frozen Kid's Meals with your family? KidFresh has graciously agreed to give one lucky winner of All Things Katy! 10 coupons for KidFresh meals! How cool is that?! Your kids will like the fun, kid-friendly meals and you will love the healthy, humanely-raised animals and socially responsible mindset of KidFresh. 

The giveaways will start at midnight on Tuesday, March 10 and end at midnight on Tuesday, March 24, 2015. Winner will be chosen at random using Rafflecopter. I do need an email in which to contact the winner. The winner will then need to provide me with name, email and mailing address.

Now, go ahead and enter, below!!! Happy, Healthy Frozen Food Month!!

• a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sponsored Post by Moms Meet- Harvestland Brand

**Disclaimer-I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetsSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

Harvestland

Today, I have the opportunity to share my personal experience with HARVESTLAND® brand all-natural chicken and turkey products. 

My four-almost-five year old daughter is a carnivore! She LOVES meat (and onions- but that's another blog post ;-P)!! Because of her love of all-things meat, I'm always on the look-out for better-for-you meats/meat products/etc. Harvestland brand chicken and turkey products help me do just that!

Harvestland

Just the facts

•All chickens are raised on family farms with very strict USDA Process Verified programs, which ensures that the chickens are fed all-vegetarian diets with no animal by-products, raised cage-free, and are never given any antibiotics, ever.

•Raised to the same standards as their chicken, HARVESTLAND® turkeys are fed an all-vegetarian diet with no antibiotics, steroids or hormones.*

• Pork is the latest addition to the HARVESTLAND® brand. Their hogs are raised on family farms in the Midwest and are also fed an all-vegetarian diet with no antibiotics, hormones or steroids.*

•Harvestland also offers USDA-certified organic chicken. These chickens are raised without antibiotics on free-range, organic farms and are fed an all-vegetarian diet of certified organic ingredients.

•The HARVESTLAND® product line includes fresh chicken, turkey, and pork products, as well as a variety of fully-cooked refrigerated, frozen, and deli meats. Prices vary based on the retailer.

My preparation was simple- just add bbq sauce and bake for 45mins. at 400 degrees. Harvestland brand chicken was moist and meaty. I found very little fat on the drumsticks that I purchased (using my Harvestland coupon). Lil' Miss enjoyed two whole drumsticks, all by herself! So, I'd say she enjoyed Harvestland chicken!

As a mother trying to feed my family more healthfully and consciously, I appreciate that Harvestland doesn't feed their flock antibiotics, steroids or hormones. Harvestland also offers organic products, too! I would love to try those! Our BJS does not carry the organic variety of Harvestland chicken and turkey products (yet!).

Overall, I was pleased with Harvestland brand chicken. Dinner completely finished- with no leftovers- so, I'd say that's a success!

Pinkies Out!

Harvestland

Would you like to connect with Harvestland Brand?

Website- www.harvestlandbrand.com/

Facebook- facebook.com/HarvestlandOrganic

Twitter- twitter.com/Harvestland

Pinterest- pinterest.com/harvestland

Instagram- instagram.com/harvestland

Finger Licking Good!

Harvestland

Disney Cruise Line, Very Merrytime Cruise- Gingerbread House

(Oops! I forgot to post this series of pictures from our recent Disney cruise!!)

Katy in front of the life-size Gingerbread House, on the Disney Magic.

A girl and her Gingerbread house creation (Lil' Miss decorated it all by herself!).

"Nom, nom, nom.... me love Gingerbread house!"

(Caught her red-handed, taking a big ol' bite out of the roof!)

Blogging for Books- Blue Ribbon Baking from a Redneck Kitchen

Blue Ribbon Baking from a Redneck Kitchen by Francine Bryson 

I'm a self-proclaimed cook-book collector and I love to bake! So, when I saw that Blue Ribbon Baking from a Redneck Kitchen by Francine Bryson was available for review, I knew I had to try it out! I love to leaf through the glossy pages of a good cookbook and admire the pretty confections and culinary displays of wonderment!

Blue Ribbon Baking from a Redneck Kitchen is written by National pie champion, mom, homemaker, and self-proclaimed redneck, Francine Bryson. Written in the tone of your friendly, "honey" calling cousin who is slightly irreverent and oblivious of certain PC terms,  Blue Ribbon Baking from a Redneck Kitchen is fun to read and easy to follow, The ingredient lists are simple and clear. The recipes will remind you of church suppers and family recipes passed down amongst the generations on smudged index cards.

While I hardly consider myself a "redneck" (and no, I'm not going for a commentary on political correctness- I'm just using the term from the title of the book), I'm not afraid to use real butter and cups of sugar in a good recipe. Blue Ribbon Baking from a Redneck Kitchen by Francine Bryson  had me laughing-out-loud at the humorous titles. Such as, "Slap-ya-mama Fudge Cookies" on page 62 or, "Keep-the-hubby-at-home Cake" on page 149 or, "Cake Balls for the Faint of Heart" on page 227. I mean, seriously, don't those titles just make you smirk at it's cheekiness?

Blue Ribbon Baking from a Redneck Kitchen by Francine is a fun, easy read. I love the pictures of the wonderful confections sprinkled throughout the book. I only wish that there were more pictures- maybe a picture for each recipe. There's nothing like a good, clear picture to make me want to make that particular recipe!

So, if your cholesterol allows it and you aren't afraid of a little butter and sugar, I would recommend picking up your own copy of the Blue Ribbon Baking from a Redneck Kitchen by Francine Bryson for your next baking frenzy!

***Disclaimer- "I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review."***