Handy Manny is a hot show among the pre-school crowd.  Probably because Handy Manny is just the kind of guy you'd like to be pals with.  He's friendly, his neighborhood is great, and he can fix anything (hence his name).  Do your little ones like to pretend they are repairing things right along with Manny when they watch?

Guess what?  Handy Manny has an all new show coming up: "Handy Manny Big Race" this Saturday, March 20th, at 7PM/6C on The Disney Channel.

Click to read more ...

I stumble across recipes on the internet all the time that I would love to make.  I get really excited about them and then they don't turn out.

For today's post though, I have a couple of easy recipes that are fun for St. Patrick's Day for you to make.  I will tell you how I "mixed" them up a bit too!

This is an easy delicious treat that really is all about the garnish to make it festive for St. Patrick's Day.  Duncan Hines Brownies are one of those things you can't stop stuffing your face with LOL!  They are kind of an addiction.

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I usually don't use a lot of canned food in my cooking, but I always have some on hand in my pantry.  Part of the reason is my mom never really used canned food, and that kind of passed along to me.  Twitter Moms and the Canned Food Alliance have paired up for a campaign and are promoting a video on YouTube called from Field to Table (you can watch it below on the widget), where I learned a lot about how food is canned.

I learned that:

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I am by no means a chef.

I enjoy cooking though and love to try out different recipes for my family.  One thing I've learned over the 16 years of having my own home is that there are certain things you don't skimp on, and cookware is one of them.

I have been looking at new cookware for a while now.  Most of the pieces I have are from different sets.  None of them match and they all perform differently (some cook too hot, others take forever to heat, warped bottoms etc.,).

Click to read more ...

 

I'm sure the people who check us out and help bag our groceries at the store think we have a half dozen kids in our family.  You would think so by seeing how much milk and dairy products are in our cart each week.  The three of us consume a lot of dairy.  3 gallons of milk per week, 14 cups of yogurt, a brick of cheese, and some shredded, and don't even get me started on the ice cream!

 

 

Did you know that nutrient-rich foods, like dairy deliver more bang for your buck than other options at the grocery store?  For example, an 8-ounce glass of milk delivers 9 essential nutrients, like calcium and protein, at about 25¢ per serving.  One tip is to avoid the expensive snack aisles and focus on easy nutrient-rich snacks that pay you back, like yogurt and string cheese.
 
Dairy Makes Sense sponsored by Midwest Dairy Association has wonderful recipes and tips, that will help save you money, and get those all important dairy servings into your family's bodies.

 

Click to read more ...

Even before I received the invitation to be a part of the Mom Central Ultimate Party Meatball Recipe Blog Tour, I was looking for an abundance of meatball recipes. 

 

You see a few weeks ago, I was wanting to make a recipe that required meatballs.  That was the week we were doing our once a month warehouse club run.  I had thought of just running to the grocery store to pick up a package of meatballs, but that would require an extra trip, so I got a warehouse sized bag.  Um...that's a lot of meatballs for three people to eat, LOL!!  Hence the looking for recipes to use meatballs with.

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Typically one always thinks of turkey for Thanksgiving, but just a month later we're celebrating Christmas and ham is always a great option so the bird doesn't need to get roasted again. There are so many different cuts of it, and the glazes you can use to enhance ham are as unique as they are plenty.  Trust me, it's as good as it looks too!

 

Take a look at your grocery store's coolers, and you'll find many different brands of ham, and Cook's is likely among them, and that's because Cook’s is the nation's leading brand of traditional and spiral sliced smoked bone-in ham, corned beef and smoked picnics.

Click to read more ...

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

 

 

 

 

***Special thanks to Jennifer Willingham of Simon and Schuster for sending me a review copy.***

 

 

 

Tammy Maltby is a writer, speaker, and media personality. For eight years, she was the co-host of the Emmy Award-winning television talk show, Aspiring Women. She serves on the board of the National Women’s Ministry Association, Christian Women in Media and Arts, and Women of Courage International. She and her family live in Colorado Springs, CO.

Click to read more ...

Are you looking for a way to cut calories?  Silk Hearth Health SoyMilk is a great way to cut your calorie intake and at the same time help to make your heart healthy too!

Silk Soymilk can be substituted for milk in many of the recipes you're planning on making this holiday season, and no one will be the wiser either ☺.

You can download a coupon here for 55¢ off a half gallon of any Silk product.  To read more about Silk Heart Health you can go to this post on my blog where I wrote about it last month.

Silk SoyMilk is giving 5 of my readers a coupon for a FREE 1/2 gallon of any Silk product and a pedometer.

To enter the giveaway visit Silk SoyMilk's recipe landing page and tell me one recipe you'd like to make.

For extra entries (the above must be done first to be eligible for extra entries):

1. Blog about this giveaway and link back to Three Different Directions.  (2 extra entries)
2. Follow me on twitter and tweet this giveaway (this can be done daily).
3. Subscribe to my blog.
4. Follow my blog publicly.

Open to US residents, ages 18+, ends December 6, 2009 at 11:59 pm cst. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Email must be in comment or available in profile. By entering this giveaway you are stating that you have read my **About Reviews and my Privacy/Rules statements and agree to them.

I received no compensation for posting this information or giveaway.

I struggle with menu planning.  Sometimes I go armed to the grocery store with a list and coupons in hand, all ready to cook for the week.  Yet other times, I wander the aisles aimlessly, wondering if this is the week my family loses 5 pounds, because I can't decide what's for dinner.  Can you identify?

I was introduced to this great website called relish! last month, which has helped me overcome the cooking blahs.

This very simple to use site, allows you to chooses 5 healthy, delicious meals each week (and one dessert ☺).  You can pick from kid friendly, vegetarian, and crockpot dishes to name a few, and then a grocery list is generated fro you listing all the ingredients you need.

The meals are all budget friendly and quick to prepare as well.

The service does come with a cost, but not an exorbitant one if you typically go the grocery store without a list.  $7.00 a month gets you complete access tot eh site, which could be less than what you spend on impulse or ready made food purchases just because you're not sure what's on the menu for the week.

They also have neat features like a monthly freezer menu, seasonal goodies and a soon to be released iPhone app.

One of the recipes I chose to make was the Meatball Soup and it indeed turned out fantastic.  Amber has asked me to make it again!

A subscription to relish! would be a great holiday gift for the busy mom or a teacher on your list.

If you live gluten free, check out relish!'s sister site Gfree!

To enter visit relish! and view their sample menu.  Leave a comment telling me one recipe you would like to try.

For extra entries (the above must be done first) you can:

• Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway - leave a link to your tweet in the comments you can do this once per day.
• Subscribe to my feed
• Put my button on your site
• Blog about this giveaway including a link to this post - leave the url.

Thisgiveaway will end on December 2, 2009 at 11:59 pm cst and open worldwide ages 18+.  The winner will be chosen by random.org and will bee-mailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the e-mail or analternate winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you arestating that you have read my **About Reviews and Privacy/Rules declaration and agree to them.

I received a complimentary subscription to relish! to thank me for writing this post.

A trip to the apple orchard and our bags are laden with delectable fruit, waiting to be used for yummy baking recipes...but wait...sigh...peeling and coring them is so much work, and I seriously do find it a chore to do so.

I was recently sent a Starfrit Apple Pro Peeler to use and review; and my family  is thankful.
It now officially takes me longer to do the dishes, than it does to prepare the apples for baking.

In just seconds the Apple Pro Peeler, peels your apple with such precision that only a minuscule amount of fruit gets removed with the peel.  Use the included corer/slicer and you might only have to cube the apples at that point for baking.

The see through design make it fun for kids to watch you use, or if they are a bit older use themselves (only under supervision, the blade and the prongs are very sharp), and it has some what of a retro look to it.

When you're done, the directions state to rinse the blade and prongs under running water, but I'd simply use a soapy sponge and then go over it with a wet cloth to remove any soap, again being very careful around the blades.  When I rinsed it under water I ended up getting water inside the housing.  It did dry out on its own, but to avoid that happening again, I've successuflly cleaned it just using a sponge.

The suctioned cup feet on the base make it slip resistant when using it, which is a nice feature.

The only thing I found awkward, is while taking the apple off the prongs when the peel has been removed, I have to hold the handle down with one hand, while grabbing the apple with the other.  Maybe that's the intended way to remove the apple or maybe I'm just a 94 pound weakling, but I find it a little tough to do, lol.

All in all though that is a minor inconvenience for the quickness that this system does peeling, coring and slicing the apples.

Here is a recipe I made, using the Apple Pro Peeler as my prepping tool.

Apple Cake with Caramel Sauce

2 1/2 cups apples, chopped
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
(mix together set aside)

1 cup flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
(Mix together set aside)

1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg, beaten
1/2 tsp vanilla
(Stir into apple mixture)

Mix the apples and the dry ingredients together.  Pour into a greased pie plate.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  Top with Ice Cream Caramel Sauce.

If you'd like to make the apple prep work in your kitchen faster, you can purchase the Starfrit Apple Peeler Pro for $16.99 - that includes the corer/slicer and 3 additional replacement blades.

To enter visit Starfrit USA and leave a comment with another item they sell that you would be interested in.

For extra entries (the above must be done first) you can:
 
1. Become a fan of Starfrit USA on Facebook
2. Become a fan of Three Different Directions on Facebook

This giveaway will end on November 8, 2009 at 11:59 pm cst and open to U.S. Residents ages 18+. The winner will be chosen by random.org and will be e-mailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the e-mail or an alternate winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you are stating that you have read my **About Reviews and Privacy/Rulesdeclaration and agree to them.

I received a complimentary Apple Peeler Pro from Starfrit USA prior to writing this post.

While they can be found in my Podunk grocery store, the selection was limited to two varieties so we started with the Maple & Brown Sugar Glazed Ham.


The other flavors you can get the Heat N' Eat Entrees in are:

• Beef Pot Roast in Gravy Roast
• Beef in Brown Gravy
• Seasoned Beef Meatloaf
• Beef Tips in Gravy
• Pork Roast in Gravy
• Chicken Breast Medallions in White Wine &
• Garlic Sauce Chicken Breast Medallions in Italian Herb Sauce
• Beef Brisket in Fire Roasted Onion Sauce
• Braised Beef Brisket with Mild Chili Sauce
• Pork Loin in Sweet & Tangy BBQ Sauce

If you have the time to do a little extra with them, these Heat N' Eat meats can turn basic meals into something special. Like.....

Smothered Brisket Pizza Recipe Courtesy of Robin Miller and Tyson Foods

Recipe serves 4 Preparation Time: 5‐10 minutes Cook Time: 13‐15 minutes

Ingredients

1 package (14 ounces) pre‐made pizza crust
½ cup prepared pizza sauce
1 package (17.6 ounces) Tyson® Braised Beef Brisket with Mild Chili Sauce
2 cups shredded part‐skim mozzarella cheese (8‐ounce bag)
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried oregano, optional

Preparation Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Unwrap pizza crust and place onto a large baking sheet. Top crust with pizza sauce and spread out to within ½‐inch of the edges. Set aside.
3. Empty contents of beef brisket into tray. Using two forks, shred brisket by pulling in opposite directions across the grain. Stir brisket into Mild Chili Sauce (in tray) until meat is coated and liquid is absorbed. Transfer brisket to pizza and spread out on top of sauce.
4. Top brisket with mozzarella cheese and then parmesan cheese. Sprinkle oregano over entire pizza, if using. Bake 13 to 15 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and crust is golden brown.

(Okay, you can stop drooling now and wipe up the mess so you can continue reading....)

Tyson also has a weekly "Perfect Pairs Sweeptakes" up at EmbraceDinner.com.

Complete a quick survey telling them what you think makes the “perfect pair” in your life. Provide your information to enter for a chance to win great prizes from Tyson. After submitting your information, you will receive a $1.00 off coupon for Tyson Heat N’ Eat Dinner Meats varieties.

Go back every week for a chance to win great prizes in the Perfect Pairs Sweepstakes! Limit of one entry per person per day until December 31, 2009.

WIN IT! Two winners will receive 2 coupons for a FREE Tyson Heat ‘N Eat Dinner Entree - value up to $6.99.

To enter visit the Mealtime Minute with Robin Miller page then leave a comment on this post telling me one recipe you’d like to try using Tyson Heat N' Eat Entrees.

For extra entries (the above must be done first) you can:
 
1. Become a fan of Three Different Directions on Facebook

This giveaway will end on November 3, 2009 at 11:59 pm cst and open to U.S. Residents ages 18+. The winner will be chosen by random.org and will be e-mailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the e-mail or an alternate winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you are stating that you have read my **About Reviews and Privacy/Rules declaration and agree to them.

I received free product coupons from Tyson to try their Heat N' Eat Entrees prior to writing this post.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Slow Cooker Cooking (2nd Edition) has all the ins and outs you need to make yummy meals in your slow cooker.

Not only does it have a bunch of delicious recipes -- it gives you the information to make virtually any recipe adaptable for a slow cooker.

You'll find hints and tips for veggies, fish , chicken, turkey, pork, beef and more.  The recipes range from comfort food to the exotic and all kinds in between.

It's an Idiot's Guide so believe me when I tell you that the recipes are comprehensive and you won't feel stumped on how to put your dish together.

What I found interesting were the tips and recipes for using the slow cooker to prepare only part of a dish.  I've always only used mine for main dish meals and I'm now challenged to expand my slow cooker repetoire.

Supper in our home has already been made from the Chicken Cacciatore, Turkey Meatloaf and Italian Ham Steaks recipes.

They all turned out amazing and due to the well written instructions were simple to make.

Here is the Chicken Cacciatore Recipe:

3 TB olive oil
1 large onion, peeled and diced
3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1/2 green bell pepper, seed and ribs removed, and finely chopped
4 (6-oz.) boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 TB fresh oregano or 2 tsp. dried
1 TB. fresh thyme or 1 tsp. dried
1 TB. fresh rosemary or 1 tsp. dried
1 bay leaf
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups cooked orzo or rice

1. Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium high heat.  Add onion, garlic, and green bell pepper.  Cook, stirring frequently, for 3 minutes or until onion is translucent.  Scrape mixture into the slow cooker.

2. Rinse chicken and pat dry with paper towels.  Arrange chicken on top of vegetables in the slow cooker.

3. Combine tomato sauce, wine, stock, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf in a small bowl.  Pour mixture over chicken.  Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or on high for 2 or 3 hours or until chicken is cooked through, tender, and no longer pink.  Remove and discard bay leaf, and season with salt and pepper.  Serve chicken with orzo or rice.

== Page 198 - The Complete Idiot's Guide to Slow Cooker Cooking Second Edition - © 2007 Ellen Brown - Alpha Publishers

I highly recommend this guide to anyone who would like to use their slow cooker to its full advantage, and prepare some outstanding meals as well.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Slow Cooker Cooking (Second Edition) is available at Penguin.com (USA) for $16.95.


I received a complimentary copy of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Slow Cooker Cooking (2nd Edition) from Penguin USA for the purpose of this review.

Eva Marie Everson and Linda Evans Shepherd authors of the book are experts when it comes to hosting and attending these shared meals. Veterans of countless potlucks over the years, the duo has gathered their favorite potluck-ready recipes—from salads to slow-cooker delights—plus their experienced insights about pulling off a potluck into one source: The Potluck Club Cookbook. Shepherd and Evans are also the authors of the popular fiction series The Potluck Club and The Potluck Catering Club—so their penchant for potlucks is obvious.

I have not personally read any of the fiction books written by these ladies, but I am always looking for new recipes to try and so when this book tour came along, I really wanted to participate.

There are sooo many good recipes in this, and the majority of them are super easy with accessible ingredients.

When my parents came to visit I made Texas Barbecued Chicken in a Crock-Pot. It got a thumbs up from both the adults and the child!

I also have made the Chicken in a Pot, which is as easy as can be and as close to comfort food as you're going to get!

And for dessert...Butterscotch Brownies....oh yum...

Another recipe, Mary's Slow Cooker Lasagna is on my list to try very soon.

If you are ever at a loss of what to bring to a potluck gathering, this book has over 100 recipes that will make you stand out among the crowd!

Here's a recipe from the book to whet your taste buds:

Linda’s Chicken Tortilla Casserole

2 ½ Tbsp. chopped onions
¼ cup butter
3 Tbsp. flour
1 ½ cups milk
¾ cup chicken broth
1 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. jalapeno peppers
1 ½ cups chopped canned tomatoes (stewed)
3 cups cubed chicken, cooked
½ cup shredded cheese
12 tortillas, cut into 1-inch strips

Sauté onions in butter, then add flour and cook until mixture is bubbly. Stir in milk and broth gradually. Stir in salt, peppers, and tomatoes.

In casserole dish, layer chicken, cheese, then strips of tortillas. Pour sauce over layers then sprinkle casserole with cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Serve hot.

Serves 6-8.

Linda: “You can’t go wrong with this tasty dish. It’s a potluck crowd favorite.” (Page 130)

The Potluck Club Cookbook: Easy Recipes to Enjoy with Family and Friends (Paperback) is
“Available September 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Kernel Season’s, the number one popcorn seasoning in the country, is a line of shake on toppings that allows people to add exciting flavors to one of America’s favorite, good for-you snack foods. With American’s consuming 17 billion quarts of popcorn last year, people of all ages are topping their oil-, air- and microwave-popped popcorn with Kernel Season’s bold flavors.

Kernel Season’s has only two calories per serving* with zero fat and zero carbohydrates, keeping America’s wholesome snack food low in calories. All Kernel Season’s flavors are certified kosher cRc. * Flavors with different calorie counts per serving are butter (3) & caramel (5).

Kernel Season’s are
• Made with premium cheeses and spices
• Not “salts” but natural blends
• Contains 56 percent less sodium than other popcorn seasonings
• Flavors: White Cheddar, Butter, Nacho Cheddar, Caramel, Ranch, Parmesan &Garlic, Apple Cinnamon, Barbeque, Cajun, Chocolate Marshmallow, Jalapeno, Kettle Corn, Salt, Sour Cream & Onion
• Suggested Retail Price: $2.99 per shaker

My family was able to try the popcorn and shake on seasonings and it's truly all yummy. ☺ I don't think I'll ever eat plain popcorn again. These seasonings are not just perfect for popcorn lovers but with the selection they have good for other uses as well. For instance I made Chicken Parmesan and added the Parmesan & Garlic seasoning to it. Amber used that same one on some white rice to jazz it up. She also used the White Cheddar on some hamburger helper lasagna, which was very good and her favorite use for it. ☺

The only seasoning we had trouble using was the Kettle Corn variety. It was so fine and even with using the Popcorn Spritzer Butter Flavor Spray, it did not stick to the popcorn, but rather stuck to the sides of the bowl. (Although it was tasty to lick that bowl out!)

We were pleased with these products, the popcorn is delicious, (much better than the current brand we use) popped well in our microwave, and the seasonings are wonderful too.
I have seen Kernel Season's at our local Wal-Mart and Bed, Bath & Beyond, it's available at retailers nationwide.

Please read **About Reviews at the bottom of the page.

Kernel Season's has generously sponsored a giveaway for my readers. One random commetnere will win a "Get the Party Popping" package which includes:

-A bag of stovetop popping corn

-Three bags of microwave popcorn

-Popcorn spritzer

-Six different seasoning flavors.

To enter visit Kernel Season's and tell me what your favorite variety of seasoning is.

The above must be done first to be eligible for extra entries.

Extra Entries: (leave a comment for each one completed)

1. Leave a comment with your favorite recipe using Kernel Season's.
2. Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, leave the link in the comments. (Can be done daily)
3. Blog about this giveaway leaving a link back to me and Kernel Season's.
4. Subscribe to my RSS feed via e-mail or reader.
5. Follow my blog publicly.
6. Add me to your blog roll.
7. Add my button to your site.

Open to US Residents ages 13+ (no PO Boxes). Giveaway ends July 5th, 2009 11:59 pm cst.