Holiday Morning Traditions & A Giveaway

This is sponsored content by BlogHer and Kelloggs.

It is safe to say we are traditionalists - to the extreme. Each year, Christmas morning proceeds in the same manner, without a single deviation to the routine. After breakfast, which always includes cinnamon rolls drizzled in a maple glaze, we move onto stockings, presents, and one very unusual family tradition, which I will tell you about a little later.

My husband and I are lucky to have families that actually like each other. Every since we married, 11 years ago, we have spent Christmas altogether. That's right - my family, his family, altogether. Since we all live in different cities (or countries, for that matter), we rotate between three cities - Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, and Victoria, Canada. It is fun, it is joyful, and it teaches our two boys to really appreciate the best part of Christmas - family and friends. We realize how lucky we are and we treasure each year that we are able to continue the tradition.

During the second Christmas that we spent together, the two grandmothers (my mum and my husband's mum) disappeared into the guest room for about 15 minutes. There was plenty of giggling from behind the closed door and we were instructed to have our cameras at the ready. Finally, the door opened to the sound of jingle bells ringing and out came the two cutest reindeer you ever will see, shaking their little red tails at us. Dressed in matching white fleece jumpsuits, antlers, and red noses, the grandmothers were the spitting images of that famous red-nosed reindeer. The performance was such a hit that it was declared an instant tradition. Now the kids are in on the act and, occasionally, an unsuspecting dog or two.



Since that first reindeer Christmas, the reindeer costume has gone through several changes. One year, we were surprised with cheerleading reindeer, another year the theme was "Christmas hits Hawaii" and included bikini tops (over the fleece jumpsuits), leis, and a rousing rendition of the hula. We always look forward to the next incarnation of Rudolph-in-drag.

For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, please answer the following question in the comments section:

"What is one of the holiday traditions that your family participates in (can be Halloween, Christmas, Easter, etc.)?"

Please, no duplicate comments.

For a second entry, you can:

Tweet about this post with a link to it (and put your tweet URL in a separate comment below)
Blog about this post with a link to it (and put your blog post URL in a separate comment below)

This giveaway is open to US Residents aged 18 and older
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail, so please be sure that you leave an email address.
You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

Please head to the BlogHer.com Kellogg exclusive offers page for 24 additional chances to win a $100 Visa gift card.

Sweepstakes ends 5pm EST on November 1, 2010.

For more information on Kellogg's, head to www.loveyourcereal.com.

Please see the official rules for this giveaway.

Mom’s Breakfast Club was started to help educate moms and families about kids’ cereal and share the scoop on their nutritional benefits and ingredients. To learn more about the program, visit www.loveyourcereal.com.
Read more!

Halloween Dress-Up & A Giveaway

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Pop-Tarts.

A couple of years ago, I decided to re-embrace my childhood. Halloween had become about the kids, as it should be - finding the perfect costumes, hosting Halloween parties, carving pumpkins, and toasting pumpkin seeds. I decided it would be even more fun for them if my husband and I surprised them on Halloween night with costumes of our own. Yes, it was a completely selfless act, done purely for the kids' entertainment. Right.

My boys were practicing their light saber skills in the family room, decked out in their Obi-Wan and Anakin costumes, when my husband and I appeared as Darth Vader and Queen Amidala. Yes indeed, we were ready for any Star Wars convention that might come to town. My parents were in town for the holiday and decided to get into the act in their clown and Mrs. Doubtfire costumes.



This year, the kids are turning to the dark side of Halloween. They decided it might be fun to be the ones doing the scaring, rather than the other way around. My youngest will be a ninja and my older son is going for the classic Dracula look. My husband and I are still deciding on our costumes, but Herman Munster and Elvira come to mind. I'm going to have to plaster the lot of us with reflectors and flashing lights so we can find each other on Halloween.

Whatever costumes we decide to wear, we will be certain to have plenty of treats on hand. Caramel apples and popcorn will adorn the table, alongside the mini chocolate bars and my kids' new favorite treat, Pop-Tarts® Choc-o-Lantern Chocolate Fudge toaster pastries. For their own health and welfare, I will have to take some of that candy of their hands and eat it myself. That is what dedicated parenting is all about - taking one for the team.

For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, please answer the following question in the comments section:

"How will you and your kids be dressing up on Halloween?"

Please, no duplicate comments.
You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
This giveaway is open to US Residents aged 18 and older
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail, so please be sure that you leave an email address.
You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

Please head to the BlogHer.com exclusive offers page for 9 additional chances to win a $100 Visa gift card.

This giveaway will run from 10/18 - 10/31/2010.

Please see the official rules for this giveaway.

Click here for more information on Pop-Tarts.
Read more!

Bowl of Goodness & A Giveaway

This is sponsored content by BlogHer and Kelloggs.

When the snow starts to fall, I yearn to fold myself into a blanket and wrap my hands around a hot bowl of soup. This is the time of year when I pull out the stockpot and start to make batch upon batch of soups and chilies. We have a large standing freezer in our garage and, each year, we fill it with family-sized portions of these comforting dishes to see us through the cold winter months. Broth-based soups tend to freeze the best, but that does not stop us from making fresh batches of chicken and corn chowder or creamy roasted mushroom soup.

Not only are most soups healthy and hearty, but they are relatively quick and easy to make. For broth soups, the formula is an easy one. Saute aromatics, such as onions, garlic, and shallots, in some olive oil. Add the protein (e.g., chicken) and other vegetables until almost cooked through. Then, pour in the broth and fresh herbs, and simmer until the flavors are blended, about 30 minutes. If you are adding pasta to the soup, do so in the last 10 minutes or so of cooking so that the noodles do not become overcooked and limp. It is easy to double, or even triple, soup recipes. Make extra portions so you can freeze and store them for easy, quick meals.

If you are looking for a quick breakfast meal, consider pulling that bowl out of the cupboard and filling it with high-fiber foods, such as oatmeal and cereal. Nothing can be easier or more satisfying in the morning than a bowlful of your favorite cereal, topped with fresh fruit and milk. Our personal favorites are Raisin Bran and Smart Start because they are high in fiber and nutrients, and low in sugar compared to many other cereals found on the supermarket shelves.

For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, please answer the following question in the comments section:

"What is your favorite meal in a bowl?"

Please, no duplicate comments.

For a second entry, you can:

Tweet about this post with a link to it (and put your tweet URL in a separate comment below)
Blog about this post with a link to it (and put your blog post URL in a separate comment below)

This giveaway is open to US Residents aged 18 and older
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail, so please be sure that you leave an email address.
You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

Please head to the BlogHer.com Kellogg exclusive offers page for 24 additional chances to win a $100 Visa gift card.

Sweepstakes ends 5pm EST on September 25, 2010.

For more information on Kellogg's, head to www.loveyourcereal.com.

Please see the official rules for this giveaway.

Mom’s Breakfast Club was started to help educate moms and families about kids’ cereal and share the scoop on their nutritional benefits and ingredients. To learn more about the program, visit www.loveyourcereal.com.
Read more!

Pop-Tarts Halloween Sour Cream Coffee Cake & A Giveaway

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Pop-Tarts.

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. When I was a kid, the excitement started with dreaming up a costume. It is the one time of year when you can turn into anything you want to be. The sweetest girl can dress up as an ugly, cackling witch or her favorite Disney princess. Little boys can turn into their sports heroes. Anything goes. And then comes the treats...oh, the treats! While I coveted the little candy bars that filled my plastic pumpkin, what I really looked forward to were homemade popcorn balls and caramel apples.

When the box of Pop-Tarts Limited Edition flavor, Choc-o-Lantern arrived on my doorstep, I started to think about what new Halloween treat I could make with them. My boys and I brainstormed some ideas, and finally came up with a Pop-Tarts coffee cake. My kids simply cannot let any good piece of cake go to waste. They enjoy everything about them - the moist texture, the icing, and the surprise layer of flavor inside. We decided to make a Bundt cake, drizzled with an orange glaze, in the hopes of making it look like the top of a pumpkin. The Pop-Tarts became the surprise filling and provided a welcome hit of chocolate amidst the tender coffee cake.



What the kids think? Well, I got two big thumb-ups and they requested that we make the cake every year at Halloween.

Pop-Tarts Halloween Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Basic coffee cake recipe adapted from Cooking Light

3 Choc-o-Lantern (Frosted Chocolate Fudge) Pop-Tarts

Cake:
2 cups granulated sugar
10 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup (4 oz.) block-style cream cheese
2 large egg white
1 large egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup sour cream
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tbsp plus 1 tsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
Orange gel icing color or food coloring

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup Bundt pan with cooking spray.

Cake:
Roughly chop the Pop-Tarts and set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large bowl, using a hand mixer), beat granulated sugar, softened butter, and cream cheese at medium until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add egg whites and whole egg, one a time, mixing after each addition.

In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer set to low, spoon in the flour mixture and sour cream, alternating, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix in pure vanilla extract.

Spoon half of the batter into the prepared Bundt pan. Sprinkle the chopped Pop-Tarts evenly over the batter. Spoon the remaining batter over the Pop-Tarts and spread evenly to cover the Pop-Tarts.

Bake until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Remove from oven and let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, sitting on a wire rack. Invert the pan onto the wire rack and cool cake completely.

Glaze:
In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract. Add orange food coloring or gel icing color.

Place cake on serving platter and evenly pour the glaze over the cake. Lightly sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve.

Serves 16.

Printable recipe



For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card from BlogHer, please answer the following question in the comments section:

"What treats do you and your kids like to make for Halloween?"

Please, no duplicate comments.
You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.

This giveaway is open to US Residents aged 18 and older
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail, so please be sure that you leave an email address.
You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

Please head to the BlogHer.com exclusive offers page for 9 additional chances to win a $100 Visa gift card.

This giveaway will run from 10/18 - 10/31/2010.

Please see the official rules for this giveaway.

Click here for more information on Pop-Tarts.
Read more!

The Go-To Breakfast & A Giveaway

This is sponsored content by BlogHer and Kelloggs.

For several years, we bought pre-made waffles at our local warehouse store as a breakfast treat for our kids. The kids enjoyed them so much that they became a regular breakfast item served during the week. In the back of my mind, I knew that these waffles were providing very little nutritional value for my boys, but I was in a lazy mode and told myself that it was okay because I served them healthy meals throughout the rest of the day. When I finally sat down to read the nutritional content, I was less than happy about the amount of sodium in each waffle, plus the fact that the first ingredient listed is “enriched flour” (i.e., all the goodness is taken out in processing and then a little bit is put back in). I researched frozen whole-wheat waffles, but soon realized that the price over the long term would be prohibitive.

Last year, we invested in a waffle maker. It is nothing fancy, but can spit out a batch of waffles like nobody’s business. We also pulled our pancake grill out of the basement and dusted it off. We tried several whole-wheat waffle and pancake recipes and soon found ones that have both great taste and texture. These basic recipes took on lives of their own and are morphed into many different versions, depending on the whim of the cook. We rotate between a variety of spices - cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves – and frozen fruits – blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries.

No matter what form the waffles and pancakes take on, the whole family enjoys them. We typically make double, or even triple, batches and freeze the extras. On a busy weeknight morning, we pop them in the toaster oven for a quick, healthy meal. We pile on fresh fruit and just a touch of syrup. Not only do our boys enjoy every bite, but we feel confident knowing they are starting the day with a meal that is high in fiber and vitamins.

For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, please answer the following question in the comments section:

"What is your go-to breakfast item, the one thing your family will always eat?"

Please, no duplicate comments.

For a second entry, you can:

Tweet about this post with a link to it (and put your tweet URL in a separate comment below)
Blog about this post with a link to it (and put your blog post URL in a separate comment below)

This giveaway is open to US Residents aged 18 and older
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail, so please be sure that you leave an email address.
You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

Please head to the BlogHer.com Kellogg exclusive offers page for 24 additional chances to win a $100 Visa gift card.

Sweepstakes ends 5pm EST on October 18, 2010.

For more information on Kellogg's, head to www.loveyourcereal.com.

Please see the official rules for this giveaway.

Mom’s Breakfast Club was started to help educate moms and families about kids’ cereal and share the scoop on their nutritional benefits and ingredients. To learn more about the program, visit www.loveyourcereal.com.
Read more!

Incredible Egg Tour & A Giveaway

(Congratulations to Donna - comment #19 - for winning the giveaway!)

Flimsy jumpsuits, hair nets, and booties are not really my thing. Well, that is if you discount those unfortunate days of high school dances in the 80s when DEVO fans liked to “whip it” all over the dance floor. However, I was happy to don the requisite garb last week as I traipsed through the hen houses at the Willamette Egg Farm in Oregon with a group of fellow food bloggers.

Unless you live in a cave on a remote mountaintop, you are aware that the egg industry has taken some heat over the past several months. Fear of salmonella poisoning resulted in one of the country’s largest egg recalls and prompted many families to dump cartons of eggs into the garbage. Fear of this type of poisoning is not unwarranted but, unfortunately, the media often takes a rather one-sided view in this type of situation.

When I was invited by the American Egg Board to learn about the process of bringing eggs to the table, from raising chicks to packaging eggs, I was intrigued. Here was an opportunity to witness sanitation conditions first hand and ask questions that are on many people’s minds.

Now, this trip was not all about chicken and eggs. We were treated to a tour of the vineyards at Domaine Margelle, owned and run by our gracious hosts, Steve and Marci Taylor. Dinner was cooked and served in the chateau by a local chef from Silverton, Oregon.





The next morning, wining and dining behind us, we got straight down to business. The bus drove us to the buildings owned by the Satrum family, who founded Willamette Egg Farms in 1934. They currently have approximately 2 million chickens and the operation, spread across a few locations, produces 1.6 million eggs per day. Now those are some prolific chickens.



The first building we visited housed the cage-free chickens in a large open space, outfitted with a variety of floor, roosting, and nesting areas. In addition, there were doorways to the outside pen through which the most adventurous chickens wandered for a change of scene.



Clearly fascinated by us, the chickens perched on our feet, pecking at our pant legs and investigating our cameras with their bright eyes and curious beaks. And what a noisy lot they were. One rather bold bird flew up and landed on Jennifer’s (see blogger list below) shoulder, from which she earned the name “Triple C” for her calm, cool, and collected demeanor throughout the experience.



In addition to the cage-free areas, we observed two other housing systems – aviary and conventional. In the aviary system, the birds are in cages for four hours in the morning, when they lay their eggs. The distinct advantage to this system is that the eggs are laid on a litter (manure)-free surface, which is in contrast to the eggs laid in a cage-free system. After the productive morning hours are over, the chickens have the chance to roam out of the cages.

The conventional system is a much more confined environment for the chickens. Six to eight chickens are housed in each cage. While the chickens are at a disadvantage in terms of roaming space, it was evident that this system is very sanitary. The air in these houses was much clearer than that in the cage-free areas.



When I asked Greg Satrum which housing system he prefers, putting all economic considerations aside, he referenced a system recently put into place in the European Union. It is a caged system that allows for roosting areas and increased square footage for each chicken. While this system is not yet approved for the United States, Greg hopes that it will become the standard in several years, assuming the necessary studies prove that it is in fact a viable system.

We spent the afternoon with Howard Helmer, the world’s fastest omelet maker (making an astonishing 427 omelets in 30 minutes gives him this title) and chef Jeffrey Saad, host of The Cooking Channel’s upcoming show, United Tastes of America (debuts November 16th) and runner-up on The Next Food Network Star.



Both men are enthusiastic and passionate about eggs and teaching others to cook them properly. Moving between our cooking stations, they offered tips, humor, and patience as we worked to improve our omelet-making, poaching, and scrambling skills.



Mary Donkersloot, RD, Los Angeles-based nutritionist, offered some interesting nutritional facts about eggs. Eggs, which store half of their protein in the yolk, offer heme protein, which is easier for the body to absorb than the iron found in spinach. They are also high in lutein, selenium, zinc, and zeaxanthin, which are key ingredients in preventing macular degeneration.

While I came away with some newly found egg preparation skills and many new friendships, the most important take-home message was regarding egg farming. Like any other section of the food industry, there are many egg farmers who are diligent about following the necessary sanitation and safety practices to insure the quality and safety of their product. These farmers should not be vilified because of a few of their farming brethren who do not take the necessary precautions. I, for one, will continue to serve eggs to my family on a regular basis. For a quick, healthy, and tasty meal, they simply cannot be beat.

Here are some of my favorite egg recipes:

Asparagus Frittata with Smoked Paprika, Thyme & Feta Cheese
Baked Eggs with Summer Vegetables & Capers
Caprese Frittata with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Fresh Mozzarella & Basil
Greek Baked Eggs with Leeks, Kalamata Olives & Goat Cheese
Potato-Crusted Quiche with Pancetta, Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Spinach

The giveaway:

The lucky winner will win these three items:

1 Simply Calphalon Enamel 8-inch Covered Omelet Pan
1 Cuisipro Silicone 8-Inch Egg Whisk
1 OXO Good Grips Silicone Flexible Omelet Turner

To enter, please respond to the following question in the comments section:

"What is your favorite egg dish?"

Please, no duplicate comments.
This giveaway is open to US Residents aged 18 and older
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail, so please be sure that you leave an email address.
You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

Entries will be accepted until Saturday, October 16, 2010, 9pm PST.

Bloggers who attended this event:

Amy of She Wears Many Hats
Susan of She’s Becoming Doughmesstic
Jennifer of Savor the Thyme
Michelle, standing in for Mandy of Gourmet Mom on the Go
Lynn of Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures
Kelsey of The Naptime Chef
Erin of Prudence Pennywise
Kristy of The Wicked Noodle

Disclosure: This trip and giveaway items were paid for by the American Egg Board.
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The Morning Rush & A Giveaway

This is sponsored content by BlogHer and Kelloggs.

I always say that if I accomplished as much during the remainder of the day as I do between the hours of 5:45 and 8:15 in the morning, I could rule the world. Mornings are notoriously busy around our house and I am certain that many other people can claim the same. My husband, the trooper that he is, typically crawls out of bed first so that he can fit his run in before I head out to meet my running partner. Starting the day with a vigorous run, and being outside in the cool air just as the sun starts to rise over the mountains and the birds begin their daily activities, keeps me sane. It is a time for gratitude, reflection, and some good old-fashioned chit-chat with my running buddy.

Then I step from the peaceful outdoors into a house full of crazy morning antics. I am certain this is where the term “calm before the storm” originated. Morning showers; kids getting dressed, making bed, and brushing their teeth; lunch boxes and backpacks being packed; pets being fed – these are just a few of the activities we attempt to jam into a period of time that seems to go by at warp speed.

While it may seem that there is an inane amount of craziness that takes place at our house, I can tell you that it is a lot better than it used to be. We now successfully get out the door each morning and still like each other by the end of it. How do we do it? One word: preparation.

The night before we organize as much as can. Lunches are made and stored in the fridge, lunch boxes are at the ready on the kitchen counter, breakfast dishes and utensils are set on the table, and cereal, bagel, and fruit choices are organized.

One of the keys to accomplishing everything quickly is choosing breakfast items that are quick and convenient. It takes less than two minutes to pour cereal into a bowl, top it with some slices of fresh fruit, and douse it in cold milk. With the quick preparation out of the way, we have the opportunity to sit down and enjoy a nutritious, filling meal together. To keep us satisfied longer, we choose high-fiber cereal such as Raisin Bran and Smart Start.


Morning tasks are wrapped up and we head off to enjoy the day and conquer the world.

For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, please answer the following question in the comments section:

"What types of food do you prepare in the morning to make this busy time simpler?"

Please, no duplicate comments.
You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
This giveaway is open to US Residents aged 18 and older
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail, so please be sure that you leave an email address.
You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

Please head to the BlogHer.com Kellogg exclusive offers page for 24 additional chances to win a $100 Visa gift card.

This giveaway will run from 9/28 - 10/4/2010.

For more information on Kellogg's, head to www.loveyourcereal.com.

Please see the official rules for this giveaway.

Mom’s Breakfast Club was started to help educate moms and families about kids’ cereal and share the scoop on their nutritional benefits and ingredients. To learn more about the program, visit www.loveyourcereal.com.
Read more!

Ragu, Feeding Kids on Busy Nights & A Giveaway

This is a sponsored review from BlogHer and Ragú.

As the school year gets into full swing, so do all of the extra activities that come with the season. There are some days when the kids have to power through their homework so that they can pull on their shin guards and cleats to get to soccer practice on time. My husband and I try our best not to over-schedule our kids because we believe that playing tag in the backyard and building with Legos are very worthy activities. We also make an effort to sit down to dinner together every night. It is our time to re-hash the day's events, tell silly stories, and reconnect as a family. That being said, there are days when putting a healthy, satisfying meal on the table is a challenge. Over the years, I have come up with a few tricks to help us avoid the fast food trap. It is our hope that, through healthy food and plenty of family time, we can raise confident, healthy, and happy children.

Convenience foods
As a food blogger, I tend to cook most of my meals from scratch, using the freshest ingredients I can find. However, on busy nights, I often rely on convenience foods so I can put a healthy meal on the table quickly. I always have canned beans, frozen potstickers, and jars of tomato sauce stocked and ready to go. When Ragu sent me some of their bottles of tomato sauce, I was very interested in sampling it. More on that later.

Freezer envy
One of the best purchases we ever made was a full-sized standing freezer, which is nestled into a corner of our garage. This allows us to take advantage of the great deals on chicken, fish, beef, and pork at the warehouse stores without worrying about the meat going bad before we have a chance to eat it. The night before or in the morning, I take something out of the freezer to defrost and it is ready to be cooked when dinnertime arrives.

Chopped vegetables
If I am prepping vegetables on a more leisurely night, I chop extra. Sliced red bell peppers, chopped carrots, and broccoli florets stay fresh when stored properly in the fridge. When the prep work is already done, the meal comes together a lot faster.


Make extras
During the cooler months, we eat significant amounts of chili, soup, and baked pasta dishes. It is very easy to double these recipes and freeze the extras for future meals.

The taste test
Ragu sent me two tomato sauces to try. Both were the Old World Style Traditional Pasta Sauce, but one was Ragu's old formula and the other was their new formulation of the same sauce. When I first opened the bottles, the first thing I noticed was that the new formula has a deeper, richer color. I took a spoonful of the old formula and, to be honest, I was not satisfied. In my opinion, the old formula had a slightly artificial taste. Next, I took a spoonful of the new formula. The deeper red color promised a richer taste and did not disappoint. Ragu states that there are 2 servings of vegetables in every half-cup of the sauce and I believe it. The fresh, slightly acidic taste of the tomatoes was prominent and the new formula had a thick, satisfying consistency.

Now, please remember that I write about and cook a lot of food as my part-time job, so I am rather picky. I will not lie and tell you that I would choose Ragu's sauce over one made from fresh tomatoes on my stovetop. However, when we have a busy night in front of us, I am looking for convenience and Ragu's sauce would fit the bill.

I visited Ragu's recipe page so that I could choose a recipe to make with the new formula sauce. I chose the lasagna recipe, which required two bottles of Ragu sauce, along with about 6 other ingredients. In other words, it was a quick and easy recipe to throw together. Now, it is not in my blood to follow any recipe to a tee, so I made a couple of simple changes. I substituted grated mozzarella cheese with fresh mozzarella, plus I added about 10 leaves of thinly sliced fresh basil. This was not the best lasagna I have had, but it was a satisfying meal for my family.

To be one of the first to taste Ragú® with two servings of veggies in every half-cup, visit Ragu at facebook.com/ragusauce.

For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, sponsored by BlogHer, please answer the following question in the comments section:

"What are your tips for feeding your kids on busy nights?"

For a second entry, you can:
· Tweet about this post with a link to it (and put your tweet URL in a separate comment below)
· Blog about this post with a link to it (and put your blog post URL in a separate comment below)
· Read the official rules for alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents aged 18 and older
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail, so please be sure that you leave an email address.
You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

Please visit BlogHer.com special offers page for 10 more chances to win a Visa gift card.

This giveaway will run from 10/4 - 11/15/2010.

Please see the official rules for this giveaway.

There is also a chance to win a Meal Makeover kit (sponsored by Ragu). See Ragu's Facebook fan page for details.
Read more!