Holiday | She Scribes

Country Crock Holiday Giveaway (ends 12/9/12) #HolidayVeggieDish

November 27, 2012 By Kimberly

My family resides in a condo. I am not a fan of condo living. It might be great for some people but I don’t enjoy living on top of people, next to people and across from people – especially with paper thin walls dividing us. We can hear everything that goes on.

There is a perk to condo living and that is smelling all the delicious things the people in my building are whipping up for the holidays. You can tell when people are baking holiday treats because the hallway has a yummy cinnamon and spice scent. You can also smell the delicious meals people are making too. It makes me want to knock on their door and invite myself over for dinner.

During the holiday season our building is a non-stop array of delicious scents because everyone is cooking for family and friends.

With the holiday season in full bloom, Country Crock would love to help make your holiday preparation a little easier with some holiday veggie recipes (they can be enjoyed year round too!).

For me and my family no meal is complete without a vegetable or two. It doesn’t matter if it’s steamed, mashed, grilled or boiled… we must have veggies at every meal. I am grateful that my kids will eat things such as broccoli, spinach, chick peas and even lima beans (although my picky husband won’t even consider trying lima beans).

I personally don’t have a special veggie dish, but my mom did. She make the most delicious carrots and turnips I’ve ever tasted. She never gave me the recipe on how to make them, and she passed away almost 10 years ago next month, so I’ll never be able to re-create them. Since they were a lot of work she’d only prepare them during the holidays (and every now and then as a special treat).

If anyone has a recipe for carrots and turnips PLEASE let me know. I would love to make them for my family.

Country Crock has a lot of great veggie recipes on their site to help make it easier on you during the holidays. There is no need to worry what to serve at your holiday gathering. Simply stop by the Country Crock website and pick out a recipe or two.

I tried two of their recipes recently – Baked Spiced Squash and Easy Creamed Corn.

I have never cooked squash before and I wasn’t sure about peeling it (of if you had to) and de-seeding it. I sort of cheated and purchased pre-cut up pieces of squash. Instead of following the recipe to a “t” I sort of tweaked it a bit. I put the cut up pieces in a casserole dish along with the other ingredients in the recipe. I wasn’t sure how long to cook it for since I wasn’t going by the recipe. I ended up cooking them a bit too long so the squash was very soft and mushy. It kind of turned out like chunky mashed potatoes (although it was squash). Even though it didn’t look appetizing it DID taste great! I am definitely going to make it again, but next time I’ll follow the recipe step by step.

I also made their Easy Creamed Corn. That turned out really good. The only exception is that I had green onions but they went bad before I had a chance to use them in the recipe and I forgot to pick up more. I also may have used a wee bit too much flour because it wasn’t as creamy as it should have been. I used a tablespoon where I should have used a teaspoon. It’s OK though. My family enjoyed it. I will certainly make this side dish again too.

A few simple ingredients (Missing: Green Onion)

Mmm! Good! (The black specs are black pepper – I use black pepper a lot)

If you would like to check out these and other recipes from Country Crock visit www.CountryCrock.com. You can also follow the brand on Twitter (@CountryCrock) and on Facebook. I would also like to recommend that you check out the Crock Country Chronicle for more great recipes, tips and more – www.CountryCrock.com/CrockCountry.

Country Crock would also like to make sure that your kitchen is fully equipped for all the delicious veggie dishes you will be preparing. To help you whip up your family favorite veggie dishes, and some new ones, a lucky read will receive this special Country Crock Holiday Veggie Kit:

1 coupon for a FREE tub of Country Crock
Veggie preparation tips
Four Country Crock holiday recipesVegetable Chop & Measure
Calphalon® Contemporary Nonstick Bronze 12″ Frypan

Thank you Country Crock!

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on December 9, 2012 at 12:01 AM (EST). The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have three days to reply or a new winner will be chosen.

To enter please comment on this post and either tell me about an article or recipe you enjoyed on the Crock Country Chronicle – or – leave a recipe for your favorite veggie dish that uses Country Crock.

For extra entries you can use the Rafflecopter widget (below) but you must complete the initial entry requirement or the additional entries won’t qualify.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kimberly

*I received a free sample kit in order to try out recipes to review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in any way.

Filed Under: Food & Beverages, Giveaways, Holidays, Recipes Tagged With: Country Crock, Holiday, Vegetables

Easter is NOT for Bunnies!

March 22, 2012 By Kimberly

My family supports our local animal shelter as often as we can. We’ve adopted several animals from the shelter over the years (five out of six of our cats, a dog and even a hamster). Whenever possible we donate food, blankets, cleaning supplies and money. We make a point of visiting the shelter often (usually 1-2 times a month) just to talk with the animals, pet them and to shower them with the love and attention that they deserve. We do all of this because we want the animals to know that someone DOES love and care about them.

Our shelter is currently gearing up for “Kitten Month” (May) when there will be a massive onslaught of kittens. The “Cat House” (where the cats are housed at the shelter) is already at maximum capacity.

Do you know what type of animal shelters across the country see A LOT of in April and May, aside from kittens? You guessed it – Bunnies!

The reason why animals shelters across the country see a tremendous amount of rabbits brought into their care is because of Easter. Well meaning parents buy cute, fuzzy little bunnies for their children as Easter gifts without REALLY taking into consideration that bunnies are living, breathing creatures that require daily care and a long term commitment. A well cared for rabbit can live up to 15 years, about the same as a dog or cat.

If you are considering giving a child a bunny as an Easter gift, or know someone who is, PLEASE consider it carefully. If you really do want to commit to giving a bunny a loving, caring home then PLEASE ADOPT. There are bunnies waiting to be adopted at a shelter near you. Sadly there will be more available after the Easter holiday.

Did you know that there are “Bunny Mills” just like there are Puppy Mills? There are people out there who breed rabbits by the hundreds just in time for Easter. Many of these mills are not fit for any living creature. Most mills keep animals in small, unkempt cages, depriving them of proper nutrition, clean water and exercise. Often they are left to die when they become sick or too old to reproduce.

Some bunny mills ship out under aged bunnies before they are fully weaned. About 20% – 30% of these bunnies die on their way to the retailer and another 20% die before they are purchased. Almost 100% of the bunnies you see being offered for sale at Easter in pet shops are supplied by commercial operations that care more about profit than the health and well being of the animals.

Rabbits are the third most frequently surrendered animal at shelters, right after cats and dogs. Another sad statistic is that a staggering 95% of all bunnies purchased at Easter are dumped within their first year as pets and most of these adorable “Easter gifts” end up, if not homeless…DEAD! Rabbits are not easy to properly care for, contrary to what pet shops may tell impulse buyers. They are entirely unsuitable as companions for young children. It’s a sad fact that many of the rabbits purchased on a whim during Easter time die within months, victims of unintentional neglect and cruelty. Others are abandoned, forced to live in tiny outdoor hutches and subjected to extreme weather, dumped off at overburdened shelters, or abandoned outdoors, where they are unable to fend for themselves and starve or are killed by predators. Rabbits that are sold in stores are domesticated and there for not fit to survive out in the “wild”.

Each year, PETA receives scores of calls of concern about the use of live animals—mainly rabbits, but sometimes ducklings and chicks—as props in Easter photo sessions. Unsuspecting parents and kids might not realize it, but the animals used in these photo sessions are generally terrified and miserable.

Rabbits are sensitive animals who are easily stressed by unfamiliar surroundings. As “prey” animals, they often panic when handled; a frightened rabbit can bite and scratch, inflicting deep lacerations and puncture wounds. Rabbits are also delicately structured animals whose spines can snap just from being held improperly.

Using live rabbits in Easter promotions can sometimes encourage impressionable children to beg their parents to get rabbits as Easter gifts too.

Instead of live animals, a great option for kids is stuffed toy animals. They’re more cost-effective for the studio, and unlike with live rabbits, homes don’t need to be found for them after the Easter season. Using stuffed toys also eliminates the need for businesses to acquire a federal exhibitor’s license from the U.S. Department of Agriculture—a requirement that PETA finds is mostly ignored by businesses that use rabbits for Easter photo shoots. Fortunately, several large companies—including Lifetouch, JCPenney, and Sears—have policies against the use of live animals as props.

The Professional Photographers of America (PPA) association, the largest nonprofit association of its kind in the world, has taken a stand against the use of live rabbits for photo shoots. Instead, PPA recommends the “Make Mine Chocolate!” campaign, which offers studios a full range of support for using large chocolate Easter bunnies wrapped in colorful foil and publicizing the promotion. PPA notes that studios can garner additional publicity by holding a post-Easter drawing for the chocolate bunny.

If you are considering giving a rabbit as an Easter gift PLEASE think long and hard about the commitment to the living, breathing creature. If you honestly cannot give it many years of love and care then please consider other options (like a plush animal instead). If you do decide to give a bunny as a gift PLEASE visit your local animal shelter before you purchase from the pet store. Or you can visit www.PetFinder.org to find rabbits waiting for adoption at a shelter near you.

Kimberly

*I was not asked to post this information. I posted this because I love animals and because it breaks my heart to see so many animals in the animal shelters. Any opinions expressed are my own.

Filed Under: Ramblings Tagged With: Children, Gifts, Holiday, Pets

Happy Valentines Day!

February 14, 2012 By Kimberly

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Valentines Day.

We don’t have anything planned for today. My husband and I exchanged cards.

We can’t go out to dinner tonight because we have to head upstate for a wake. My cousin’s young husband passed away unexpectedly. He was only 31. They on got married four months ago.

I have to pick up my kids early from school this afternoon so that we can make the trip upstate to pay our condolances to my cousin. So no romantic dinner for us. It’s not even going to be a happy day.

I hope that you all have something special to do today. If you don’t have a special Valentine in your life, that is OK too. You can still have an awesome day.

If you have special plans, or your sweetie gave you a special surprise today, I’d love to hear about it.

♥ ♥

Kimberly

Filed Under: Ramblings Tagged With: Holiday

FREE Printable “Mirror Mirror” Valentines Day Cards

February 3, 2012 By Kimberly

Coming to theaters on March 30, 2012 is the movie Mirror Mirror, based upon the classic tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Mirror Mirror stars Julia Roberts, Lily Collins, Armie Hammer and Nathan Lane.

I wrote about the film yesterday, but in case you missed it here is the movie’s synopsis;

This spectacular reimagining of the classic fairy tale stars Oscar winner Julia Roberts as the Queen, Lily Collins (The Blind Side) as Snow White, Armie Hammer (The Social Network) as Prince Alcott, Sean Bean (“Game of Thrones”) as the King and Nathan Lane (The Birdcage) as the Queen’s hapless and bungling servant, Brighton. When an evil queen steals control of Snow White’s kingdom, the exiled princess enlists the help of seven resourceful rebels to win back her birthright. Mirror Mirror is a spirited adventure comedy filled with jealousy, romance and betrayal that will capture the imagination of audiences the world over.

Visionary director Tarsem Singh (Immortals) rewrites fairy tale history as a wicked enchantress (Roberts) schemes and scrambles for control of a spirited orphan’s (Collins) throne and the attention of a charming prince (Hammer). When Snow White’s beauty wins the heart of the prince that she desperately pursues, the Queen banishes her to the forest, where a ravening man-eating beast hungrily awaits.

Rescued by a band of diminutive highway robbers, Snow White grows into an indomitable young woman determined to take back her realm from the treacherous Queen. With the support of her subjects, she roars into action in an epic battle that blends spectacle, magic and contemporary humor in Singh’s signature, jaw-dropping visual style.

It looks like a fun family film.

Here is the movie’s trailer.

If you subscribe to She Scribes via e-mail you can view the trailer here, http://youtu.be/V9zsP6RAPDs

Oddly enough my husband said it looked like a funny movie too and he said he’s go and see it. It’s not a “manly” film but I think the humor will appeal to everyone. Plus it looks visually stunning.

In honor of the movie’s release, and the upcoming Valentine’s Day holiday, I have some Mirror Mirror theme Valentine’s Day cards you can print, cut out and give to family and friends.

If you have cardstock (you can find it at office supply stores like Staples and Office Max) I would recommend printing it on that since it’s stronger than regular paper.

CLICK HERE to print out the Valentine’s Day cards.

You can learn more about the movie at www.MirrorMirrorFlim.com. You can also “like” the movie on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/MirrorMirrorMovie.

Be on the lookout for a Mirror Mirror giveaway here on my site which will include a Fandango gift card you can use to go and see the movie.

Kimberly

*I was not compensated for this post. I posted this for the enjoyment of my site readers. Any opinions expressed are my own.

Filed Under: Entertainment Tagged With: Entertainment, Holiday, Movie

Affordable Valentines Treats & Gifts at Whole Food Market

January 28, 2012 By Kimberly

Have you consider what you are going to give the love of your life for Valentines Day? Valentines Day is a little over two weeks away. I haven’t even though about what to get my dear hubby yet. I’m hoping we can go out to the movies and maybe lunch or dinner out, without the kids. I have a Fandango gift card that I’ve been dying to use. I want to see the movie “Man on a Ledge” or “The Vow“. Hubby wants to see “Chronicle“.

I also try and pick up my husband a little treat or two for Valentines Day. He does the same for me.

If you happen to have a Whole Foods Market near by you can find some wonderful Valentines Day treats for that someone special in your life.

Whole Foods Market Dark and Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Crème Hearts – Nothing says “Be Mine” like a box of chocolates—and you know exactly what you’re getting in this luscious, little package. Bursting with a rich and decadent cream filling, these smooth and creamy Belgian chocolate hearts are filled with a mouth-watering hazelnut cream. You can save even more by skipping the wrapping paper. These chocolates are already bound in a cupid-sized box and bow, so you can just pick one up and go.

I had the opportunity to try these out and let me tell you they are by far one of the creamiest chocolates I have ever had. The Hazelnut Creme is so rich. I don’t know which I liked more, the chocolate or the Hazelnut filling.

I LOVE the way they have the chocolates arranged in the box, complete with a little bow.

Dark Chocolate comes wrapped in Silver foils and the Milk Chocolate come in Red foil.

These are so yummy that you should pick some up for yourself even if you don’t have a sweetheart to share them with this Valentines Day. One chocolate heart is more then enough to satisfy any chocolate craving.

Whole Trade Roses – No matter what they say, every girl loves roses. Delicate and fragrant, these beautiful blooms come in all shades to fit any relationship – from romantic red to friendly yellow. And by purchasing Whole Trade roses, you’re helping to ensure more money to the producers, better wages for workers and sustainable farming practices in Colombia and Ecuador, where the roses are grown. Prices vary by region. Check your local store for deals.

Whole Foods Market Organic Tanzanian Schoolhouse Project Milk and Dark Chocolate Bars – These Whole Trade, single origin chocolate bars are made entirely from cocoa purchased directly from farmers in the Kyela, Mbeya district of Tanzania and are Fair Trade. Your Valentine will love these milk and dark chocolate treats even more because a portion of the proceeds from ever bar supports education programs for school children in the district.

365 Everyday Value Organic Dark Chocolate Bar with Almonds – This Whole Trade bar is sure to deliver rich cacao flavor and texture with just a hint of bitterness (the good kind). The intense flavor of cacao is balancedeffortlessly with a wonderful organic vanilla extract from Madagascar and organic cane sugar from Brazil, both ethically sourced as well.

Medley of Whole Trade Drinking Chocolates from Allegro Coffee Company -- Your sweetie can drink up with clear conscious, because these Whole Trade products help to put more money into the pockets of producers and ensure sound environment practices.

- Indian Spice 54 – An exotic, aromatic blend of traditional chai spices and chocolate from the Dominican Republic. Cinnamon, sharply sweet ginger and cardamom balance subtle hints of orange blossom and jasmine for a supremely satisfying drinking experience.

- Peruvian 68 – Made with cocoa sourced from the edge of the Peruvian Amazon, this cocoa has an upfront sweetness and a hint of fruit and flower for a mild, light drinking chocolate with a pleasing finish.

- Mayan Spice 68 – Discover the legendary drinking chocolate of the Mayans and Aztecs, complete with its original blend of bold spices. The tantalizing blend of sweet chilies, allspice and black pepper creates a wonderfully warming, invigorating treat for you and your honey.

I have a package of the Mayan Spice 68 drinking chocolate. I am anxious to give it a try. Just my luck we ran out of milk. You need milk for the drinking chocolate, not water like instant hot chocolates. Thankfully we’re going food shopping tomorrow so I can finally give it a try. I’m curious to see what chocolate, black pepper, chilies and allspice taste like together. I’ll update my post as soon as I have a chance to try it out.

I find it interesting that the package gives you two different directions. One is for a “breakfast” drinking chocolate (I would assume that means a regular hot chocolate). The other is for a “dessert” drinking chocolate which is thicker and more chocolaty.

You can check out other drinking chocolates at www.AllegroCoffee.com/Drinking-Chocolate/Flavors.

Whole Foods Market Assorted Chocolates – A variety of 14 bite-sized indulgences sure to please any palate and all wrapped up in a heart-shaped box and bow.

It’s nice to know that quality and affordable Valentines Day gifts and treats can be found at your local neighborhood Whole Foods Market. No need to race around the mall looking for something special. Not unless you plan on getting your sweetie pie something non-food like diamond earrings.

To find a Whole Foods Market near you vist www.WholeFoodsMarket.com. You can even follow Whole Foods Market on Pinterest (www.Pinterest.com/WholeFoods)!

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/WholeFoods

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/WholeFoods

Kimberly

*I received free product samples in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expessed are my own and not influenced in any way.

Filed Under: Food & Beverages, Holidays, Reviews Tagged With: Food & Beverages, Gifts, Holiday, Website

Angie’s Kettle Corn Valentines Snack Packs (Giveaway)

January 23, 2012 By Kimberly

Do you realize that Valentines Day is just around the corner? Seriously, weren’t we JUST decorating our homes for Christmas? Sheesh! Time goes by so quickly. Actually our local grocery store had Valentines Day products on the shelves BEFORE New Years day. In fact they even have Easter products on the shelves too. Nothing like buying your Valentines Day cards next to Cadbury Eggs and marshmallow Peeps.

My kids don’t bring Valentines to school anymore. They haven’t in a few years. I miss those years. I still remember sitting with them at the table with their class lists helping them to fill them out. Now that I have a teen and an almost teen I have to worry about Valentines Day when it comes to them. I wonder if a teenage boy is going to give my teenage daughter a Valentines Day card – except at this age it means the real deal and no something fun. Sigh…

Over the years my kids have received cute Valentines Day cards, cards with sticks, cards with attached lollipops, homemade cards (my favorite!) and cards with small pieces of chocolates. Never have I see a Popcorn Valentines Day “card”.

Angie’s Kettle Corn has created a fun Valentines “Snack Pack”. Each special snack pack comes with individual packages of Angie’s amazing Kettle Corn and delightful Valentines Day stickers. Your child can fill out the “To” and “From” section of the stickers and then stick them on to the package of Kettle Corn. Then they can hand them out to their friends and classmates.

I love this idea! It’s unique compared to other Valentines Day treats.

Each Valentines Day snack pack comes with 20 individually packs of Kettle Corn and plenty of Valentines Day stickers.

Angie’s Kettle Corn has no trans fat, is certified glutten free and even has whole grains so you can feel good about giving this to your child’s friends and classmates. It’s a better option then a sugary lollipop or fatty piece of chocolate.

Have you ever tried Angie’s Kettle Corn before? Yumm! My husband introduced me to Kettle Corn. They sell it at the street fairs all the time. I had never heard of it before until I started to date my husband. He LOVES Kettle Corn. We can’t go to any street fair without picking up a bag.

Kettle Corn has a salty sweet taste to it. It’s like regular popcorn but there is a touch of sugar to it. It’s not too sweet at all. In fact Angie’s Kettle Corn is a lot better then the kind we get from the street fair.

To learn more about Angie’s Kettle Corn visit www.AngiesKettleCorn.com. You can purchase the products online or visit one of the many retailers across the country who sell Angie’s Kettle Corn. There is a store locator found here, http://www.angieskettlecorn.com/map.html.

Angie’s Kettle Corn has offered to give a lucky reader one of their 20-snack pack Valentines Day packages. Thank you Angie’s Kettle Corn!

To enter please tell me your favorite flavor of popcorn. Are you a movie theater butter fan, or do you like one of the many different flavored popcorn available (including Kettle Corn)?

For extra entries you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done. Extra entries are optional.

- Subscribe to She Scribes via RSS or E-mail. Both options are found on the right side bar.

- “Like” Angie’s Kettle Corn on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/AngiesKettleCorn.

- “Like” She Scribes on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/SheScribes.

- Follow Angie’s Kettle Corn on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/AngiesKettle.

- Follow She Scribes on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/She_Scribes and tweet about this review and/or giveaway. Please include @She_Scribes in the tweet so I can see it too. This is limited to three tweets per day.

- Share this review and/or giveaway with others on Facebook, Digg, Technorati and so forth. Be sure to tell me what you did and please provide a name and/or URL so I can verify.

- Leave a thoughtful comment on a non-giveaway post on She Scribes and tell me which post you commented on. There is a limit of one comment per post, but you can comment on as many posts as you want for an unlimited extra entry option.

- Post about this review and/or giveaway on your site and please link back to this post. Please provide the URL.

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on February 2, 2012 at 11:59 PM (EST). The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have three days to reply with a name and mailing address (no PO Box). Failure to do so will result in a new winner will be chosen in their place.

Other fun giveaways can be found on the right side bar under “Win It”.

Kimberly

*I received a free product sample in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own. Angie’s Kettle Corn will be providing the prize.