You Have To Indulge

I'm going to begin this post by addressing the fact that I know without a doubt this recipe is going to ruffle some feathers. There are those out there who are going to look at it and think I'm evil simply for serving it to my family. Why? Because there is not one ounce of nutrition in it. Please know ahead of time, I realize that. I know that. I take full responsibility for my actions. Please do not send hate mail. Please do not comment with the fat and caloric intake. I am fully aware of what I created here; and my defense is simply this...sometimes you have to indulge. 

Look, I know we live in a world where we are bombarded with fitness and nutrition 24 hours a day. And I am a huge supporter of both. Yes, please make sure your kids are active and getting the proper food every single day. Yes, we all need to watch the number of processed, pre-packaged, convenience foods we include in our diets. But like I've said before, and I'm going to say again, we live by the motto of "all things in moderation." We don't deny ourselves the things we love to eat. We just make sure we balance them with those that we know are best for our bodies. 

So yeah, on one particular evening when I was busy, tired and starving, I found a bag of frozen tater tots in my freezer and decided to ramp them a little bit. Give them a little extra flare. But you know why that was okay? Because the following night I made some healthy grilled chicken and a veggie salad on the side. It all balances out. 

These are something the kids are going to love. And if you are in "back to school" mode, you are going to love how easy they are for a weeknight meal. I also think they would be a fun appetizer for your next party...kind of like tater nachos! 

We are all trying to eat better, exercise more, take care of ourselves and do what all those smart doctors tell us we need to live longer, healthier lives. But once in a while, you just have to say to yourself "It's okay. I deserve this treat. I earned it"...and these are just the dish to use!

Loaded Tater Tots

1 (32 oz.) bag tater tots

2 TBS chopped chives

3/4 c. shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1/2 c. real bacon bits

Sour Cream

Cook tater tots according to package directions, adding about 5 minutes for extra crispy. Remove from oven. Transfer to a 9x13 pan. Top with cheese and bacon. Return to oven for 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with chives and top with sour cream.

 

Shared on The Country Cook Aug. 8, 2014

Potatoes at Very Good Recipes

Fun Backyard Activities with Fruit Shoot #fruitshoot #stunthunt

Does your child have a terrific imagination? Are they always finding new ways to play, create and entertain themselves with new fun, unique backyard activities? There is no doubt, some of our favorite summer days/evenings are those spent in the backyard finding ways to enjoy things we already have. 

For example, here he little man using his Slip n Slide. But on this day, he was pretending to be a baseball player sliding into home base! He had an entire 9 inning game, right there in the water. 

Well, now Fruit Shoot, one of our favorite fruity drinks, is celebrating all thing imaginative by having a video contest showing off your kids' tricks and stunts using a Fruit Shoot bottle and a ball! That's it. How fun! How easy!

If you haven't tried Fruit Shoot yet, let me introduce you!  It has a new no-spill cap, perfect for children of all ages, and contains no fructose corn syrup, making it a much better option than other flavored drinks. It is perfect for energetic, independent kids who desire fun on the go. It contains real fruit juice, natural flavors, no high-fructose corn syrup, and no added sugar. Fruit Shoot lets moms balance the hydration their kids need with the taste that they love, making hydration fun for kids and easy for moms. 

Now, what about this contest? "The Have a Ball Stunt Hunt" competition is a great demonstration of Fruit Shoot’s commitment to imaginative play and has a reward that is priceless. Here’s how it works:

1. Visit the contest homepage to upload a video of your kids showing off their best tricks, stunts, and super-cool abilities with a Fruit Shoot bottle and any ball. To qualify, please make sure your video is under 30 seconds. Check out the stunt video we have already souped-up for inspiration!

2. Share your video with friends and family and encourage them to vote for your video.

3. Every week, we’ll chose a winning video, give it the full-on Hollywood special effects treatment, and release it on our contest homepage for the world to see!

4. Entrants will receive a free bottle of Fruit Shoot when entering the contest. Entrants will also receive a Waboba ball anytime they buy 6 bottles of Fruit Shoot in-store.

You can also see all the details in this helpful video!

 And yes, I had to get in on the fun! Here is the video I entered of my little man!

I can't wait to see if our video gets chosen and gets "upgraded" with special Hollywood special effects! You know your kids would love this too, so grab a ball, grab some Fruit Shoot and get that smart phone ready to capture their imagination at work! Enter today!

Disclaimer: Thank you to Fruit Shoot for sponsoring today's post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Adulthood...It's Not All It's Cracked Up To Be

I think anyone over the age of 18 would SO agree with the statement above, at least once in a while. We've all been there. When responsibility rears its ugly head and we long for those care-free days when we wished we were older! Oh, how naive we were!

As many of you know, every summer we spend three weeks on the beach in New Smyrna Beach, FL at our family's condo. We enjoy the waves, the sand, the pool...basically we reconnect as a family and come back rested and rejuvenated. It's something we've done every year since little man was 2 1/2.

Well, this year was the first since that we weren't able to make the trip. Starting back in February my car started to have some issues. We got it fixed. Then in March, it had some more issues. You know how it is. One thing goes wrong, and the dominoes start to fall. Anyway, it ended up being a very large repair bill, and to sum it up, our vacation fund is currently sitting under the hood of my car.

Yes, we were very disappointed. Yes, it was especially hard to explain to the 9 year old why we weren't able to go. But my job as Mommy was to make sure he still had a fantastic summer vacation, and we found plenty of fun things to do right here at home.

One of the things we look forward to most in Florida is the fresh seafood we can enjoy, straight from the boats in the morning, to our table that night. And let's face it, it isn't quite that fresh here in the land-locked Hoosier state. So, when the kind folks at Red Gold sent me this recipe, I knew it would be a great substitution.

These tasty, full of flavor, simple to make burgers totally reminded us of something we'd find at one of the local seafood restaurants down in NSB. They are fresh, with just a hint of spice that will make your taste buds sit up and take notice. Perfect for summer grilling, they are a twist on your everyday burger.

Yes, adulthood isn't always what it's cracked up to be. There are times when the stress of every day life can really get you down. But at least we can find great food to sit down with and make memories with those we love the most to ease the pain.

Zesty Tuna Burgers From Red Gold

2 (6 oz.) cans all white albacore tuna, drained and flaked

1 c. panko breadcrumbs

2 eggs, beaten

1/4 c. finely chopped celery

1/4 c. finely chopped white onion

1 (14 oz.) can Red Gold petite diced tomatoes with lime and cilantro, well drained

1/4 tsp. Cajun seasoning

Salt and Pepper to taste

Sesame Buns

Lettuce

Cucumber Dill Sauce

1 c. Greek yogurt

3 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 c. diced cucumber

1/2 TBS olive oil

1 tsp. lemon juice

1 1/2 tsp. dill weed

Salt and Pepper to taste

For sauce, combine all ingredients in small bowl and mix well. Chill until ready to serve. 

Preheat grill to medium. In a large bowl combine all ingredients for burgers. Mix well. Divide into 4 equal portions. Form each portion into a patty, 3/4 inch thick. Spray grill well with nonstick spray. Cook burgers for 8-10 minutes, until golden brown, turning once. *NOTE* Be gentle! These will fall apart easily. I suggest using a thin metal spatula to turn, and make sure your grill is sprayed well. 

To assemble, spread sauce on bottom bun. Top with lettuce and then burger. If desired, spread more sauce on top bun. 

 

Shared on The Country Cook Aug. 8, 2014

Meal Plan Aug 2- 8

*New Recipe
Links to recipes on blog
^Recipes being "re-blogged"

Sunday
We're going to the in-laws for supper.

Monday
Grilled Steak
Corn on the Cob
Watermelon

Tuesday
Pasta with Crock Pot Bolognese^
Green Beans
Garlic Bread

Wednesday
Veggie Delight Sandwiches with Herb Mayo*
Tomato Soup

Thursday
Pizza Joe Sandwiches^
Cottage Cheese
Sliced Beets
Pickles

Friday
Vegetable Breakfast Hash*
Sausage Links

A Re-Do Courtesy of Earth Fare

I have been wanting to bring this recipe back to the blog for months now. And thanks to my good friends at Earth Fare, the time is finally here. See, I was wandering their aisles a few weeks back, trying to decide what my next post for them would be, when I stumbled upon the most gorgeous fresh Brussels Sprouts. I couldn't resist, and I knew it was time for this re-do to happen. 

If you think you don't like Brussels Sprouts, I'm here to change your mind. This recipe is going to change all that. How? Well, let's see. First off, these aren't your mama's sprouts that are frozen, and then boiled until they are basically dead with no color and/or flavor left. Secondly, we're adding bacon; and let's face it, you could add bacon to a piece of shoe leather and most people would eat it! 

I'm not kidding when I say if you think you hate Brussels Sprouts, I bet money you will love these. If you can't get your kids to even try them, these will change your life. They taste nothing like the sprouts of old. They get almost a nutty flavor from browning, are a little crisp on the outside and tender inside. Roasting in the chicken broth allows the flavor to become deep and taste like something that has cooked a lot longer. Then top them off with crispy bacon and you have a winner! 

Plus, if you have never cooked with fresh sprouts, I highly encourage you to. They are a totally different experience than frozen ones. They are right there in the produce section, maybe you've never seen them before. Look for them the next time you're grabbing celery, carrots or cucumbers! 

I'm so glad I was able to re-share this fantastic recipe with all of you. I'm grateful to Earth Fare for having such amazing produce I just couldn't resist bringing some home that day. If you think you don't like sprouts, think again!

Pan Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

1 lb. Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved

4 sliced thick cut bacon, diced

1 (14.5 oz.) can chicken broth

1-2 TBS canola oil

Salt and Pepper to taste

Cook bacon in a large skillet until crisp. Remove with slotted spoon onto paper lined plate to drain. Add oil to bacon drippings. (Adjust oil depending how much fat the bacon rendered) Heat back to medium-high. Add Brussels sprouts. Season with salt and pepper. Saute' for about 10 minutes until golden on all sides. Add chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for another 10-15 minutes until Brussels sprouts are fork tender. Remove with slotted spoon to serving dish. Sprinkle with crispy bacon. 

Shared on The Country Cook Aug. 8, 2014

Disclaimer: I was provided with a gift card from Earth Fare in exchange for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.