Watch: Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail
Monday, December 29, 2008
This Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail is sure to stand out at your New Year's eve party. Watch.
What you'll need:
champagne
1 tbsp pomegranate juice
1 tsp Cassis (black currant-flavored liqueur)
Labels: champagn, cocktails, recipes
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 12:00 AM,
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Delicious Spirits: Midori Melon Ball Drop
Monday, December 22, 2008
The holidays are a wonderful time to treat yourself and your party guests to festive drinks. If you are a Midori connoisseur, here is a delightful holiday drink that will have your party guests taking mulitple trips to the bar.MIDORI Melon Ball Drop
2 oz. MIDORI Melon Liqueur
1 oz. SKYY Citrus Infusions
.5 oz. Elderflower Liqueur
Juice 1/2 Lemon
Sugar Rim
Shake and strain into a cocktail glass.
Garnish with a melon ball and a sugar rim.
Credit: MIDORI Melon Liqueur
For more cocktail recipes, log onto www.midoriusa.com or www.zenliqueur.com
SOURCE Suntory: www.midoriusa.com
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 12:00 AM,
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Watch: Aida's Spiced Fruit Chips
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Labels: chefs, desserts, food, recipes, shows
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 10:34 AM,
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Heather Johnston: Chef from SoGood.tv
Sunday, November 30, 2008
I love serendipitously running into talented, smart people on the Internet! Today I was pleasantly surprised to discover Heather Johnston of SoGood.tv on the homepage of YouTube! Heather is a chef, wine professional, mother, wife, indie filmmaker, and one heck of a food vlogger. I ended up watching every single one of her vlogs today; they are that good! Here's one of my favorites. Enjoy! -- Jennifer James, Editor
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 7:12 PM,
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Lender's Bagel Contest
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Calling all moms whose children love bagels! America's favorite, authentic bagel -- is calling out to all bagel connoisseurs! From now through December 15th, Lender's Bagels invites anyone ages 18 and up to enter the "Now That's A Bagel" contest by submitting his or her BEST bagel recipe using Lender's Bagels. Whether you toast them, fry them, stack them, or use the most unlikely ingredients, this contest encourages Lender's Bagels lovers to be creative and have fun!It's easy to enter. Anyone 18 years and older can submit his or her personal recipe for how to make a Lender's Bagel the best it can be. To enter, go to www.lendersbagels.com, click on the "Now That's a Bagel!" banner, and follow directions. Entries can also be mailed to, "Now That's A Bagel!" Contest, c/o BHG PR , 546 Valley Rd. , Upper Montclair , NJ 07043 , postmarked no later than 12/15/08. All online entries must be received no later than December 15, 2008. No purchase is required. See rules at www.lendersbagels.com and click on "Now That's A Bagel!" for details.
Labels: recipes
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 8:28 PM,
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Help Us! Chocolate Chip CheeseCake: We're Not Going to Get Through the Holidays
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Nod your head vigorously if you're dreading the weight you're sure to gain this holiday season?Oh... just us?
In all honesty, who can wholeheartedly resist all of the delectable holiday desserts
dripping in chocolate and made with bars and bars of butter? There's no need to fight it, right? You'll never win. So, here's the plan: Let's just accept defeat, eat, and worry about the collateral damage on January 1!Here's a recipe from Eagle Brand you'll surely want to devour!
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
Servings: Makes one (9-inch) cheesecake
Serving Size: 1/12 of a recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 60 minutes
Total Time: 70 minutes
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups finely crushed creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookies
2 to 3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 (14-ounce) can EAGLE BRAND (R) Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk)
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup (6 ounces) mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Combine cookie crumbs and butter; press firmly on bottom of 9-inch spring form pan or 13x9-inch baking pan.
2. In large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in EAGLE BRAND (R) until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well.
3. In small bowl, toss 1/2 cup chocolate chips with flour to coat; stir into cream cheese mixture. Pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips evenly over top. Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until set. Cool. Chill. Garnish as desired. Store leftovers covered in refrigerator.
TIP: For best distribution of chocolate chips throughout cheesecake, do not over soften or over beat cream cheese.
On the Net: www.eaglebrand.com
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 7:58 AM,
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Perfect Potatoes
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Did you know that potatoes contain essential vitamins and minerals, fiber, and antioxidants and are fat-, sodium- and cholesterol free? Well, they are. And potatoes still remain one of the most inexpensive foods around. At 25 cents for a medium potato, families can afford to include potatoes to their diets in a variety of ways. For a host of healthy potato recipes, visit www.momsdinnerhelper.com. In the meantime, start eating better on a budget today. Try the United States Potato Board's Pennywise Potato-Turkey Wraps. This self-contained dinner sandwich is full of vegetables and can be made for approximately $1.84 per serving. It was designed to include an ingredient from each of the sections of the USDA's Food Guide Pyramid and can be whipped up using ingredients that most people have on hand.
Pennywise Potato-Turkey Wraps
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
3/4 pound (12 ounces) potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon canola oil
3/4 pound (12 ounces) ground lean turkey
1 large carrot, shredded
1/3 cup sliced green onions with tops
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
2/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon dried Italian herb seasoning or basil
Salt and pepper, to taste
4 large (9 to 10-inch) whole wheat or high fiber tortillas
Light sour cream (optional)
Place potatoes in microwave-safe bowl; sprinkle with water. Cover, venting one corner. Microwave on HIGH 5 to 8 minutes just until potatoes are tender. (Time will depend on wattage of your oven.) Meanwhile, heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add and break up turkey; cook 5 minutes, tossing occasionally. Mix in carrot; cook 2 minutes. Add potatoes and onions; cook and toss 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium; mix in tomato sauce, cheese, and herbs. Cook, stirring occasionally, four to five minutes until mixture is hot and most of sauce is absorbed. Season with salt and pepper. On work surface, lay out tortillas. Place 3/4 cup hot turkey mixture on each; fold and roll up as for burritos. Cut in halves and place on serving plates. Accompany with sour cream, if desired
Makes four main-dish servings
Nutrition information per serving: 385 calories; 78 calories from fat; 9 g fat; 37 mg cholesterol; 723 mg sodium; 44 g carbohydrates; 5 g fiber; 33 g protein; 640 mg potassium; 1822 mg vitamin A (IU); 12 mg vitamin C.
SOURCE United States Potato Board
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 12:00 AM,
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Are You Destined for Grilling Greatness?
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Outdoor grilling has become a popular hobby for backyard chefs. Now Crisco wants to discover and reward the greatest griller around.The Crisco(R) Sprays Grilling Hall of Fame contest is inviting grillmasters to share their favorite recipe for a chance to be one of the first inductees into the new Hall of Fame and win a backyard makeover. Recipes can be submitted between October 17, 2008 and December 15, 2008, at www.GrillingHallofFame.com.
How Can You Enter?
- Share an original grilling recipe that incorporates a Crisco Cooking Spray (Original, Butter or Olive Oil)
- Provide an image of the recipe
- Include a brief essay, 250 words or less, explaining why they created the recipe and why they should be inducted into the Crisco Grilling Hall of Fame
Quick Tips from the Crisco(R) Grill
- Always spray cool grill rack with Crisco (R) No_Stick Cooking Spray before heating grill so that food will not stick. Remember to never spray a hot grill.
- Crisco No-Stick Cooking Spray makes clean up a breeze! Simply spray the cold grill (never spray a hot grill) for non-stick grilling all summer long!
- Use long handled tongs - not a meat fork - to turn meats on the grill. Forks can pierce the meat, releasing the juices (and flavor!) from your food.
- Check meats for doneness with an instant-read meat thermometer.
- Always let grilled meats rest 10-15 minutes before slicing or serving for the juiciest results.
On the Net: www.GrillingHallofFame.com
Labels: contests, food, grilling, recipes
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 12:41 AM,
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Halloween Cupcakes
Monday, October 27, 2008
We found the most delightful blog, All Things Cupcake, which is a blog about -- you guessed it -- cupcakes! Remember years ago in school when we used to devour sugary sweet cupcakes at our holiday celebrations? We hear parent
s don't like cupckaes in school much anymore these days to which we say, " Lighten up. It's just a freakin' cupcake. No kid we know has ever tipped the scales after eating one or two cupcakes."Now, where were we? Yes, cupcakes.
Halloween cupcakes are a delight to decorate because there is so much you can do with them, from topping them with candy like candy corn and Tootsie Rolls to decorating them with special, spooky toppers. All Things Cupcake linked to cupcake stencils on MarthaStewartCrafts.com which we think is an awesome find. Go there if you're making Halloween cupcakes at your house.
We found a video of how to make Halloween cupcakes from Food Network here and more Halloween ideas you can throw a stick at on FamilyFun.com.
Labels: desserts, holidays, recipes
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 12:00 AM,
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Wanted: Your Sweet Recipes
Friday, October 24, 2008
Who loves brownies? We do! A little too much actually, but that's besides the point. America has hailed the brownie as the country's favorite dessert according to an online Pillsbury survey. Pillsbury asked voters to choose between cake and brownies and brownies won out. So, to celebrate the delicious goodness of the brownie, Pillsbury is launching a contest to hear how you make your life sweeter with your favorite desserts. The sweetest entry will receive a kitchen makeover worth $5,000, and Pillsbury will also make a donation to Feeding America (TM) to help end hunger in this country.
Want to share your sweet recipes? Visit www.pillsburybaking.com/campaign
Labels: contests, desserts, recipes
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 12:58 PM,
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Halloween Party Punch
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Your Halloween party will be jumping this year with this delicious non-alcoholic punch for your little ghosts and goblins, princes and princesses. Mixologist Jonathan Pogash, the cocktail guru, has created the "Ghouls and Grapes" punch for Halloween. Your kids will love it.
2 parts Welch's Sparkling Red Grape Juice Cocktail
2 Parts Apple Cider
1 Part Orange Juice
Candy Corn garnish
Optional: sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg
Directions: pour all ingredients into a cauldron, or punch bowl (if no cauldron is available) along with ice. Add handfuls of candy corn (along with cinnamon
and nutmeg) and stir with your broomstick. Ladle out into cups making sure to get some candy corns into each cup. Trick and sip! For a fun option, add candy corns to ice cube trays and freeze. Use these cubes in the drink.
On the Net: www.welchs.com
Photo Credit: Welchs
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 1:00 AM,
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Fall Foods
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Fall is undoubtedly the most anticipated delightful season where we have festive family get-togethers and can indulge in some of the comfort foods we remember as children. Lot of spices and smells abound during this season. It's our favorite. We've found amazing gourmet fall foods from Crate and Barrell that taste wonderful and won't break the bank.Gourmet Cobbler Kit: When it's time to prep the turkey for Th
anksgiving dinner it's always nice to have all the spices you need in one place because if you buy the spices separately invariably you miss one, or two, or three.Crate and Barrel has a Gourbet Gobbler Kit ($14.95) for cooks like me who always wind up forgetting something in the hustle and bustle of buying the makings for Thanksgiving dinner. What's inside: Brine
contains salt, sugar, orange peel, spices, juniper berries, shallots and pink peppercorns; Rub contains salt, thyme, savory, sugar, onion, lemon pepper, peppercorns, garlic, rosemary, parsley flakes and marjoram; Brines up to a 20-pound turkey. Perfect Potatoes Seasoning ($4.95): Make a perfectly seasoned batch of potatoes with Crate and Barrell's Perfect Potatoes Seasoning. Contains leeks, shallots, and garlic. Yum!
Labels: food, holidays, recipes
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 1:12 PM,
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How to Maintain Your Omega 3-DHA Fatty Acids Fix
Monday, September 29, 2008
We have all heard how important it is to incorpoate Omega 3-DHA fatty acids into our diets. According to the American Heart Association Omega 3-DHA fatty acids help to reduce the risk of heart disease and slightly lowers high blood pressure.Crisco has introduced a new Canola Oil enhanced with Omega 3-DHA fatty acids. Crisco Puritan Canola Oil with Omega-3 DHA features a premium quality, sustainable vegetarian source of DHA. Since this plant-based form of DHA is not from fish it has no taste or aroma characteristics, making it ideal for salad dressings, marinades, stir-fries and more. In addition, Crisco Puritan Canola Oil with Omega-3 DHA is kosher, a cholesterol-free and sodium-free food, contains zero grams trans fat per serving, and 32mg of DHA per serving. (source)
The suggested retail price for the 16 oz size bottle is $3.99-$4.59 and recipes featuring Crisco Puritan Canola Oil with Omega-3 DHA are available online at www.crisco.com.
Labels: food, nutrition, recipes
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 12:00 AM,
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CHIPOTLE RANCH SALMON BURGERS
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
We've never had a salmon burger before, but it sure sounds delicious!SeaPak, the leading frozen shrimp company, introduced last week Salmon Burgers, perfectly seasoned Ahi Tuna Steaks, and savory Smoky Barbecue Salmon Fillets.
All three seafood items are made with all-natural, quality ingredients that contain no additives or preservatives. As an excellent source of lean protein and essential Omega-3 fatty acids.
CHIPOTLE RANCH SALMON BURGERS
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4 people
1 package (12.8 oz) SeaPak(R) Salmon Burgers
2 tbsp. chipotle pepper sauce
1/4 cups ranch dressing 4 slices red onion
4 ripe vine tomatoes
4 leaves green leaf lettuce
4 slices pepperjack cheese (optional)
4 hamburger buns
PREHEAT grill to medium-high heat.
COMBINE chipotle pepper sauce and ranch dressing, set aside.
GRILL salmon burgers according to package directions. Remove from grill.
PLATE by placing salmon burger on bun and topping with lettuce, onion, tomato and cheese. Spread chipotle-ranch sauce on inside, top half of hamburger bun. Serve immediately. (Try toasting burger buns on the grill just before burgers are finished cooking.)
Source + Photo Credit: SeaPak
Labels: nutrition, recipes, seafood
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 12:00 AM,
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Lawry's and B. Smith (Love her!) Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
Friday, September 5, 2008
Hispanic dishes are some of the most flavorful on earth. All of the herbs, spices, marinades, meats, beans, and vegetables... Oh! Our mouths are watering. Lawry's and B. Smith have joined together to celebrate National Hispanic-American Heritage Month through recipes, food and family."Mexican food, in particular, has become one of the most popular types of cuisine in America. Some longstanding, traditional dishes in America have roots in Mexican cuisine," said B. Smith, national spokesperson for the Lawry's "Cooking Up Culture" campaign, a yearlong celebration of the global influences on American cuisine. "Tacos, tamales and enchiladas, to name a few, are traditional Mexican dishes that can be found at any given time on American dinner tables. But, you don't have to limit yourself to those traditional favorites when cooking at home. It's easy to add the essence of Mexico to any meal. With marinades such as Lawry's Mexican Chile and Lime Marinade, the zesty flavors of Mexico can liven up your poultry, seafood, meat or vegetables by marinating no longer than 30 minutes," said Smith.
"Mexican cuisine is such a melting pot of flavors and delicious ingredients, that it's easy to be creative when preparing meals," added Smith. Get creative with your next family meal by trying these culturally-inspired recipes from Lawry's this Hispanic-American Heritage Month. Also, visit http://www.lawrys.com for different, delicious cultural recipes each month throughout the year.
GRILLED SKIRT STEAK TOSTADAS
6 servings
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Marinate Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
1/4 cup PLUS 1 Tbsp. Lawry's(R) Mexican Chile & Lime Marinade With Lime
Juice
3/4 lb. skirt steak, trimmed
4 Tbsp. mayonnaise, divided
1 bag (4 oz.) baby watercress or baby spinach (about 6 cups loosely
packed)
1 cup quartered grape or cherry tomatoes
3 large radishes, julienned (1/8- x 1/8- x 1-inch strips)
1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
1 can (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 tsp. Lawry's(R) Garlic Salt
6 (5-in.) corn tostadas*
1/2 cup shredded queso fresco or Monterrey Jack cheese (about 2 oz.)
In large resealable plastic bag, pour 1/4 cup Lawry's(R) Mexican Chile & Lime Marinade With Lime Juice over steak; turn to coat. Close bag and marinate in refrigerator 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, in small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons mayonnaise with remaining 1 tablespoon Marinade; set aside. In large bowl, combine watercress, tomatoes, radishes and onion; set aside.
Remove steak from Marinade, discarding Marinade. Grill steak, turning once, 8 minutes or to desired doneness; thinly slice and keep warm.
In medium microwave-safe bowl, coarsely mash black beans with remaining mayonnaise and Garlic Salt. Microwave at HIGH 30 seconds or until warm. Evenly spread bean mixture on tostadas, then top with steak. Toss watercress mixture with mayonnaise mixture, then mound on tostadas. Sprinkle with cheese.
On the Net: www.lawrys.com
Labels: recipes
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 8:26 AM,
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Nuts Do a Body Good
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
By now we've all heard about the immense benefits tree nuts have on our bodies from satisfying cravings without leading to weight gain (in moderation, of course) to reducing the risk of developing diabetes and heart disease.Epidemiologic studies show that consuming tree nuts (almonds, Brazils, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, macadamias and walnuts) five or more times per week is associated with a reduced risk of developing both diabetes and heart disease. In one analysis, individuals who ate the most nuts had about a 35 percent reduced risk of coronary heart disease. While the FDA qualified health claim for nuts and heart disease recommends 1.5 ounces of nuts per day, few people actually consume this amount on a daily basis. In the 2001-2004 What We Eat in America/NHANES survey, 34 percent of those surveyed consumed nuts but most only ate about 3/4 of an ounce -- roughly half of the recommended amount. And, approximately 60 percent of the nuts were consumed as snacks. (source)
For more detailed information on the nutritional content of nuts, research, purchasing and storage tips and recipes, please visit our website at
Recipe for Creamed Butternut, Pear and Nut Soup
This flavorful soup is perfect as the first course or as a meal in itself. Nuts add richness, texture and a wonderful flavor.
1 tablespoon olive oil or nut oil
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/2 cup tree nuts, roughly chopped (such as macadamias, almonds, cashews
or pecans)
1 leek, white part only, sliced
4 cups diced, peeled butternut squash
1 Bartlett or preferred pear, peeled and chopped
3 1/2 - 4 cups chicken broth
Freshly ground black pepper
Plain yogurt or Creme Fraiche, for garnish
Toasted nuts for garnish, optional
Heat oil in a heavy based pan; add the garlic, tree nuts and leek, and saute for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown. Add the squash and pear and cook, stirring, for 2-3 minutes. Pour the stock into the pan, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until squash is soft. Transfer mixture to a blender and process until smooth and creamy, season to taste. Spoon into large bowls with a dollop of plain yogurt or Creme Fraiche and a few toasted nuts tossed over for garnish.
Makes 4 servings
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 8:32 AM,
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