Sunday, March 28, 2010

BLOCKBUSTER Express kiosks-Rent 1 get 1 free!


How many times in your life has a DVD saved the day? From entertaining fidgety kids on long trips to curing the rainy day blues, I think we can all agree that renting a DVD can be a busy Mom's secret weapon.

As a busy Mom, I know that there isn't always time to even rent a DVD. Taking the whole family down to your local movie rental store can end up being an hour long ordeal.  By the time you get home you're too tired to even watch the movie and what seemed like a great idea ended up being quite a chore. Luckily, I've found the perfect solution!

Moms, here is your newest secret weapon: BLOCKBUSTER Express™ kiosks. They make renting DVDs fast, easy, and affordable! You can rent DVDs online for only $1 per night at
blockbusterexpress.com and you don't even need a membership to do it.
 
Through the rent online feature at blockbusterexpress.com, you can create a favorites list, browse available movies at your preferred kiosk, complete the rental of up to three movies at once online and then pick up the DVDs from the kiosk at your convenience. Now you can spend less time renting and more time enjoying your DVDs with your family.

Start planning your next movie night tonight! BLOCKBUSTER Express offered a special Rent One Get One Free coupon code for MomSelect members to use and share with all of our friends, family and followers. The coupon code is 555G13B.
When you rent a movie at the regular price using the code in the banner above*, you'll receive the first night's rental on the second movie FREE. This offer expires on 3/31 so make sure to take advantage of it soon and encourage your friends to do the same!
 
So what are you waiting for? Head on over to blockbusterexpress.com to check out their great new releases! From family friendly features like The Princess and The Frog and The Blind Side to date night picks like Twilight: New Moon and Did You Hear About the Morgans?, there's sure to be a title for even the pickiest movie watcher!

For all of the latest news on BLOCKBUSTER Express you can follow them on
Twitter and on Facebook 

*Code is valid thru 3/31/2010. When you rent a movie at the regular price, you'll receive the first night's rental on the second movie FREE. Extra night charges and taxes apply. Limit one per customer. May not be combined with any other offer. Rental terms and conditions apply. Not valid at Blockbuster store locations.

**This sweepstakes is sponsored solely by MomSelect, a subsidiary of BSM Media. Please direct any questions or concerns to Amy@bsmmedia.com.


-Courtesy of MomSelect & Blockbuster 

 

Worried Your Kids are going to be Inactive over Break?

Worried Your Kids are going to be Inactive over Break?

Wellspring Camps, the leading weight loss organization for young adults and families across the U.S. , knows how common it is for kids to run back to their televisions and junk food during their spring and summer vacation time from school.  But these unhealthy and inactive habits can cause health problems among kids, so how can you help prevent them from becoming couch potatoes during their breaks?

Wellspring has developed some helpful, fun tips to help keep your kids staying active, and eating right while they are home for break! 

  • Plan a fun activity: With the beautiful warm weather, the spring and summer seasons are the perfect time to engage in outdoor activities.  Whether it’s participating in a game of soccer, or going for an exciting hike in your local park, these activities will keep your kids from lounging around the house.

  • Keep junk food out of the house:  It is always important to limit your children’s junk food intake, but while they are home from school, their access to it becomes greater.  Try to resist purchasing any unhealthy snacks that may sit in your cabinets during their time off.  By not purchasing these items, your kids will have limited access to junk food!

  • Prepare a healthy snack or meal: Everyone knows it’s hard to feed children a healthy meal they will actually enjoy, but Wellspring has developed a plethora of delicious, healthy meals that every kid will enjoy!  Teriyaki chicken kabobs, chicken nuggets, and even French toast, can all be enjoyed with their improved recipes!  (Recipes below)  Visit http://www.wellspringcamps.com/delicious-lowfat-recipes.html for more recipes!
A healthy kid is a happy kid, and by following these simple tips, you can help keep your kids active and healthy during their spring and summer breaks!  For more information on staying healthy, or on Wellspring Camps, please visit www.Wellspringcamps.com.  

French Toast
Ingredients:
4 pieces of whole grain bread
4 Tbs. egg whites
2 tsp. skim milk
Dash of vanilla
Dash of nutmeg

Mix wet ingredients in a shallow bowl.  Lightly spray skillet and heat on stovetop at medium heat.  When skillet is ready, lay bread slices in bowl one at a time so that each side is coated with mixture and place on skillet.  Turn bread over after a few minutes (as soon as toast is browned) and heat second side until it is browned.  Serve with maple syrup and fat free vanilla yogurt.

Only 7 cal and 0g fat per slice, (add calories and fat for the bread you choose to use.)  


Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs
Ingredients:½ cup Teriyaki Marinade
1 lb Chicken, boneless, skinless
1 each Green Bell Pepper
1 each Red Bell Pepper
8 each Mushrooms
1 each Red Onion
8 each Cherry Tomatoes
Method:
1.        Soak 8 inch skewers in water
2.        Pour marinade into large bowl
3.        Cut chicken breasts into one ounce portions
4.        Cut bell peppers and onions into one square in pieces
5.        Place chicken and vegetables in the marinade. Marinate for 45 minutes
6.        Build kabobs by stringing chicken and vegetables onto the skewer
7.        Each skewer should contain 4 pieces of chicken
8.        Heat oven to 350 degrees
9.        Place kabobs on a cooking sheet, spray with PAM
10.     Bake for 20 minutes or until chicken is done
Yield: 4 kabobs, 1 each
Nutritional Information:
236 Kcalories
33 grams Protein
4.3 grams Fat

Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
12 ounces Chicken Breast, Boneless, Skinless
1 cup Cornflakes
1 tsp Paprika
½ tsp Italian herb seasoning
¼ tsp Garlic powder
¼ tsp Onion powder
½ tsp Salt
Method:
1.       Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces
2.      Place cornflakes in plastic bag and crush by using a rolling pin
3.      Add remaining ingredients to crushed cornflakes. Close bag and shake until blended
4.      Add a few chicken pieces at a time to crumb mixture. Shake to coat evenly
5.      Lightly spray a cooking sheet
6.      Heat oven to 400 degrees
7.      Place chicken pieces on cooking sheet so they are not touching
8.      Bake until golden brown, about 12-14 minutes
Yield: 4 servings (3.25 ounces)
Nutritional Information:
168 Kcalories
27 grams Protein
3.13 grams Fat

-Courtesy of Wellspring 

Giveaways 3/28


SAHM Reviews is giving away a Seagate FreeAgent DockStar (network adapter) and FreeAgent Go (portable storage device) to one lucky reader!  It’s a great product and valued at about $180!
==============================================
Name of blog:   SAHM Reviews

Prize:   Seagate FreeAgent DockStar and FreeAgent Go (approx value $180)

How to Enter:  Leave a comment.  Bonus and daily entries available.
 
Deadline:  April 6, 2010
Open to Us Only

Review/Giveaway Blog:  SAHM Reviews
TwitterSahmReviews

-Courtesy of SAHM Reviews 

Friday, March 26, 2010

"Real Food Project" from Hellmann's®, Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay and Actress Lori Loughlin


Celebrity chef Bobby Flay and actress/mom Lori Loughlin have teamed up with Hellmann's® and Best Foods® Mayonnaise to unveil the Real Food Project on Hellmanns.com, a comprehensive online resource offering tips and ideas on how to create real meals made with Real Food.
 
Because videos are great for multi-tasking moms, The Real Food Project features a series of entertaining how-to tutorials, hosted by Bobby Flay, to give us tools and techniques to prepare great-tasting, at-home meals for our families.  Just by visiting www.Hellmanns.com, you can access a wide range of recipes, including sandwiches, entrees and side dishes, all designed to please picky palates. There are even chances to win great prizes like a kitchen essentials bundle, Bobby Flay Grill It and Hellmann's® and Best Foods® products by playing the "Wheel of Real" instant win game and entering the Real Food Sweepstakes.

Visit www.Hellmanns.com for more info!

*Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a Hellmann's® prize package in exchange for this post.  No monetary exchange took place.

What are you waiting for? Head over to Hellmanns.com to stock up on tips and great tasting recipes.
 
-Courtesy of Hellmans/MomSelect



Koala Kuddles--Children's Consignment Sale


I know this is really last minute, but I thought my readers may be interested in an mom-based event occurring this weekend that Austin-based swaddle company Koala Kuddles (www.koalakuddles.com) will be participating in:
WHO: MamaCents and Koala Kuddles  
DATE: March 26th-March 28th
WHERE: Palmer Events Center in Austin, TX
WHAT: This weekend, Mom-preneur Diana Cregan, owner of Koala Kuddles, will be joining MamaCents in celebrating moms unite! Deals on gently used clothing, baby equipment and more will be featured at this fun-filled event. Koala Kuddles will have a table showcasing their ultra-soft, adorable swaddle blankets and meeting local moms.

About Koala Kuddles
Koala Kuddles is a family-owned business dedicated to creating ultrafine, multi-purpose swaddling blankets. Founded by stay-at-home-mom-turned entrepreneur Diana Cregan, Koala Kuddles was born in 2007, after Australian native Diana realized that American culture did not utilize muslin-made baby blankets. What started out as a small, in-house operation has turned into a flourishing, successful business, with Koala Kuddles products retailing in select stores in Kansas, Texas and Colorado and on their website www.koalakuddles.com.

-Courtesy of Koala Kuddles

Be sure to check out this awesome event happening in my town-Austin-this weekend!

 

Tonic Shop Winner!


And the winner of the Tonic Shop 'Threesome' of Hair Care Products Giveaway is... #43, stash mama. Congrats to the winner! I will be emailing you shortly. Thanks to everyone who participated in this giveaway!

stash mama said...

I tweeeeted!
http://twitter.com/stashmama/status/11019643061
corpesa14 at yahoo dot com

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:
43 
Timestamp: 2010-03-26 17:37:02 UTC

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Tag Mom This Mother's Day


Put whatever is dear to your mom's heart, well, close to her heart this Mother's Day.  Token Tags® are the most personal of charm necklaces with a hip and modern twist! 

Each Token Tag is tailored to what the customer holds dear: be it words of inspiration, a personal motto, a special date, a loved one’s name, etc. Since each piece is made-to-order by the designer, no two Token Tags are exactly alike! They make a thoughtful, chic and appreciated gift for any woman in your life. 


They’re created for all sorts of occasions and reasons, but popular requests include: in remembrance of a loved one, for a family member serving in the military, birthdays, an anniversary, a beloved pet, a personal value, a daily affirmation, and “mommy tags” which feature the names of your children.  


Design options include 18k gold and/or sterling silver, pendant-style token tags, circle-style token tags, assorted charms, and birthstone-embellished tags in gorgeous colors. The finished product is really striking!


Token Tags are owned by several celebs, including Trista Sutter who had a set made with her daughter's name (worn in US Weekly mag).  The tags range in price from $25 to $150, so they’re very reasonable. Place to order is www.tokentags.com 



-Courtesy of Token Tags
 

Active Wrap Review


Let’s face it when you're expecting, there are tons of things to buy for baby!  There’s the nursery to furnish, diapers, pacifiers and the list goes on and on.  It’s easy for expecting mommies to forget about themselves by getting caught up with their new arrival.  Moms-to-be need stuff too!  Here’s a list of three items every mom must have in her arsenal “before” and “after” baby. 

None of us likes swollen feet, ankles or legs.  Forget about how unattractive it is –it can actually be super painful and even dangerous.  An easy solution to reduce leg swelling is intermittent leg elevation.  The Lounge Doctor positions the legs in a unique manner which maximizes venous and lymphatic flow and reduces leg swelling.

Okay, now on to the aching lower back pain that never seems to go away.  Since you can’t pop an Ibuprofen like before, how about using something totally safe for mom and baby to help with those aches and pains?
 
The ActiveWrap offers easy to apply solutions with its thermal compression wraps.  These wraps support and treat muscle soreness –all completely safe for mom or baby. 

It’s here . . .the baby’s here.. . . it finally happened!  Whether you had a C-section, episiotomy or developed hemorrhoids the Handy Spray Personal Hygiene/Bidet will become your best friend.  It’s no secret that water is nature's most essential element and has been used for centuries in daily personal hygiene. Washing with water has long been accepted to be healthier and more comfortable than toilet paper. Studies have shown that regular usage of water may benefit those suffering from itching, irritation, and discomfort.


***

Company: ActiveWrap Inc.

Product Description:
ActiveWrap is the premier manufacturer of professional sports medicine products, specializing in thermal compression wraps and supports for the prevention and care of injuries and muscle soreness.

For complete care, ActiveWrap offers thermal compression wraps for the following: Foot Ankle Heat Ice Wrap, Back Heat Ice Wrap, Knee Leg Heat Ice Wrap, Wrist Heat Ice Wrap, Shoulder Heat Ice Wrap, and Elbow Heat Ice Wrap.


Interesting Tidbits:
ActiveWrap served as the Official Therapy Wrap to USA Gymnastics from 2002-2004 assisting the USA Olympic squad and gold medal athletes.

ActiveWrap was the 2007 Ion Sports Product of the Year!

Many top medical professionals and athletes use ActiveWrap including NFL legend and 3-time Superbowl winner Roger Craig.

ActiveWrap incorporates eco-friendly materials and sustainable packaging. In 2010, ActiveWrap will introduce several new supports made from eco-friendly neoprene and bamboo fabrics.


Website: www.activewrap.com
Sold At: www.activewrap.com or catalog
Retail Price: $10.95 - $69.95
Media Contact: Shawn Hickling
Email: sales@activewrap.com
Address: 5550 Cerritos Avenue, Suite F
City: Cypress
State: CA
Zip: 90630
Phone: 866-880-9777

-Courtesy of Active Wrap 


***

I had the unique opportunity to review Active Wrap thermal compression wraps. These sport wraps are perfect for runners, gymnasts, football players, cyclists, swimmers, tennis players, dancers and more! Active Wrap has provided professional quality therapy wraps since 1997. 'It's your body...take care of it.'

I received the Mid Back/Lumbar Wrap from Active Wrap. This wrap can be used for the low back or abdominals. These wraps support and treat muscle soreness and are all completely safe for mom and baby. There is an insert that you can take out, it is a slim rectangular gel pack that can be heated or cooled. 

Then place the wrap on your back for lower back pain, or on your abdominals for cramps or soreness from working out. 

I am pleased with the quality of Active Wrap, it even comes with its own carrying case. I can use the wrap after I do yoga to help with those sore muscles. My husband gets lower back pain, the Active Wrap would do wonders for him! But I'm thinking about passing the wrap on to my sister in law who is pregnant with twins (remember? ;) thats the 100th time I've mentioned it). 

These durable, quality Active Wraps are perfect for the athletic person in your life. Visit www.activewrap.com today!

*I received an Active Wrap to facilitate my candid and honest review. No other form of compensation was or will be given. All personal views are my own!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Lands' End Twitter Event- Travel Advice and More Than 25 Giveaways!


Join Lands' End and representatives from the Islands Of The Bahamas and iexplore.com for a Twitter Event to celebrate the Lands' End's Bahamas Adventure to Harbour Island promotion at The Hub www.landsend.com/thehub.  The site features engaging content focusing on travel through the summer as well as the chance to win a trip for four to the pink-sand beaches of Harbour Island.
 
Be a part of this exciting Twitter Event and tweet with representatives from Lands' End, the Islands Of The Bahamas and iexplore.com.  The event will feature more than 25 fun giveaways ranging from Lands' End luggage, beach towels, travel kits, beach bags and gift cards.

Lands' End Harbour Island Twitter Event
Date:              Wednesday, March 24, 2010 
Time:             7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. CST
Location:       #landsend
 
Join the fun and follow:
@LEprMichele, @LEprMolly, @LEprLibby, @VisitTheBahamas,
@iexplore and @iexplore_Amanda
 
Simply visit Lands' End's The Hub at www.landsend.com/thehub and enter to win.  Discover games, polls and a chance to win other exciting prizes.  
 
Don't forget to join us for the Twitter Event detailed above! 
  Good luck and enjoy the party!

*I am participating in the Lands' End Harbour Island blog promotion.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Spread Easter Cheer With Creative, Decadent Treats

This spring, say goodbye to frost and hello to frosting with delicious treats. Your whole family can help make and enjoy these versatile recipes that are perfect for Easter breakfasts, brunches or desserts. 

HOP INTO THE KITCHEN THIS SPRING AND SPREAD EASTER CHEER WITH CREATIVE, DECADENT TREATS

AS MUCH FUN AS DECORATING EGGS, BUT A LOT MORE DELICIOUS


This spring, say goodbye to frost and hello to frosting with delicious desserts. Transform your traditional Easter celebration into an even sweeter experience with creative treats the whole family will enjoy baking and indulging in together. Duncan Hines® helps you create delicious family moments with decadent recipes even the tiniest pair of hands in your family can help make. Baking at home with family creates unforgettable moments and fills the holidays with that priceless feeling of togetherness.

These versatile recipes are perfect for your Easter breakfasts, brunches, or desserts and enable you to entertain on a shoestring. Store-bought sweets can be expensive, and economic times call for easy and budget-friendly ideas. Below are some particularly indulgent recipes that are sure to bring Easter cheer to the table.

For more recipes, log onto www.duncanhines.com.  




“HELLO  CUPCAKE!™” EASTER EGGS
 
Created by the authors of the popular cupcake decorating book Hello Cupcake!™. This is a fun Easter project to make with the kids or with your baking friends. All it takes are easy-to-find ingredients, fun food dye colors and delicious frosting. Easter Egg Cupcakes aren't hard to make -- but they’re sure to impress as gifts, or to decorate your holiday table. 


Ingredients:

 
•    12 unfrosted Moist Deluxe Devil’s Food Cake Mix cupcakes baked in white paper liners
•    12 honey graham crackers
•    2 cans (16 ounces) Creamy Homestyle Classic Vanilla Frosting
•    Green, yellow, orange, blue, purple, and pink food coloring
•    2 tablespoons each mini and regular white, pink, green, and blue decorations


Baking Instructions:

 
1.    Tint 2 cups of the frosting light green. Spoon 1 1/2 cups of the light green frosting into a zippered plastic bag. Tint 1/2 cup each of vanilla frosting pink, light blue, light purple, orange, and yellow. Spoon 2 tablespoons each into zippered plastic bags. Press out the excess air in each of the bags, seal, and set aside.
2.    Using a serrated knife, trim the graham crackers into an egg shape 3 1/2 inches long and 2 1/2 inches wide. Snip a small corner (1/4 inch) from the bag with the 1 1/2 cups of green frosting and pipe a small dollop on top of each cupcake and place a graham cracker on top, pressing down to secure. The cracker will hang over the edge of the cupcake. Freeze the cupcakes for 10 to 15 minutes to set.
3.    Place the remaining 1/2 cup of each tinted frosting into a separate microwavable bowl. Working with one color at a time, microwave the frosting, stirring frequently, until it is the texture of lightly whipped cream, 20 to 30 seconds. Holding a chilled cupcake by the paper liner dip the graham cracker into the melted frosting to coat, turn right side up and let stand. Continue with all of the cupcakes and graham crackers making two eggs of each color.
4.    Snip very small corners (1/8 inch) from the bags with the 2 tablespoons of frosting. Pipe decorative dots, lines, and dashes on top of the frosting-coated crackers. Using the bag with the 1 1/2 cups of light green frosting, pipe dots of frosting around base of each egg always pulling the peak away from the egg (be sure to cover any exposed cupcake).
5.    While the frosting is still wet add candy decors to create decorative patterns.


CARROT CAKE CHEESECAKE

A scrumptious Carrot Cake Cheesecake with the added sweetness of pineapple frosting.

Ingredients:

 
Carrot Cake:

 
•    1 box Duncan Hines Decadent Carrot Cake
•    1 cup hot tap water (for soaking carrots and raisins)
•    2 eggs
•    1/4 cup vegetable oil
•    8 1/2 oz can crushed pineapple, packed in juice, drained well, reserve juice
•    1/2 cup coconut (optional)
•    1/2 cup chopped walnuts


Cheese Cake Filling:

 
•    2 (8oz) packages cream cheese
•    3/4 cup sugar
•    2 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
•    3 eggs
Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting:
•    2 oz cream cheese (softened)
•    1 tablespoon butter (softened)
•    2 cups powdered sugar
•    1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
•    2 T pineapple juice
 

Baking Instructions:
 

Carrot Cake:
 
1.    Soak carrots and raisins in 1 cup HOT tap water, allow to stand for 5 mins. Drain and squeeze out excess water from carrots and raisins.
2.    In mixing bowl add dry mix, 2 eggs, 1/4 cup oil. Add well drained carrots, raisins and pineapple. Add coconut and walnuts. Mix well by hand. Spread 2 cups of carrot cake on bottom of a greased 9-9 1/2" springform pan. Reserve remaining carrot cake.
Cheesecake:
3.    In large bowl beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Beat in eggs.
4.    Spread 1/2 of the cheesecake batter on top of the carrot cake. Spoon on remaining carrot cake and top with remaining cheese cake batter. Do not marble with knife.
5.    Bake in a 350° preheated oven for 50-60 mins or until cake is set and cooked through.
6.    Cool to room temperature. When cake is cooled frost with Pineapple Cream Cheese frosting. Or top with Duncan Hines Cream Cheese Frosting. Refrigerate for 3 hours and serve chilled.
7.    Beat Cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and pineapple juice until smooth. Beat in powder sugar until smooth. Frost top of cheesecake.


CAPTIVATING CATERPILLAR CUPCAKES

For some togetherness, get the kids to help create the candy creatures that sit atop these yummy Captivating Caterpillar Cupcakes, made with Duncan Hines Classic White Cake Mix.
 

Ingredients:
 
•    1 pkg Duncan Hines® Moist Deluxe® Classic White Cake Mix
•    3 large egg whites
•    1 1/3 cups water
•    2 tbsp vegetable oil
•    1/2 cup star decors
•    1 tub Duncan Hines® Creamy Home-Style Classic Vanilla Frosting
•    green food coloring
•    10 to 12 chocolate wafer cookies, crushed
•    1/2 cup candy-coated chocolate pieces
•    1/3 cup assorted jelly beans
•    assorted nonpareil decors


Baking Instructions:

 
1.    Preheat oven to 350 ºF. Grease muffin pans or line with paper baking cups.
2.    Combine cake mix, egg whites, water and oil in large bowl. Beat at low speed with electric mixer until moistened. Beat at medium speed 2 minutes. Fold in 1/3 cup star decors. Fill muffin cups about 2/3 full.
3.    Bake at 350 ºF. 18 to 23 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool in pans 5 minutes. Remove to cooling racks. Cool completely.
4.    Tint vanilla frosting with green food coloring. Frost one cupcake. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon chocolate cookie crumbs on frosting. Arrange 4 candy-coated chocolate pieces to form caterpillar body. Place jelly bean at one end to form head. Attach remaining star and nonpareil decors with dots of frosting to form eyes. Repeat with remaining cupcakes.

COCONUT CREAM CAKE

Hints of sweet, flakey coconut in both the Duncan Hines Classic White Cake and the Creamy Home-Style Classic Vanilla Frosting give this Coconut Cream Cake recipe a tropical flair.
 

Ingredients:
 

Cake:
 
•    1 pkg Duncan Hines® Moist Deluxe® Classic White Cake Mix
•    1 (3.4 oz) pkg coconut cream instant pudding and pie filling
•    4 large eggs
•    1 cup water
•    1/3 cup vegetable oil
•    1/3 cup flaked coconut


Frosting:

 
•    1 can Duncan Hines® Creamy Home-Style Classic Vanilla Frosting
•    1 1/3 cups flaked coconut


Baking Instructions:

 
1.    Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
2.    For cake, combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, water and oil in large bowl. Beat at low speed with electric mixer until moistened. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in 1/3 cup coconut. Divide into pans.
3.    Bake at 350°F for 32 to 37 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool following package directions.
4.    Fill and frost cake. Sprinkle with remaining coconut. Refrigerate until ready to serve.


CRUMBLE TOP CARROT CAKE MUFFINS
 
Crumble Top Carrot Raisin Muffins feature delicious Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Decadent Carrot Cake and raisin flavors combined with a sophisticated -- but easy -- crumble top.

Ingredients:

 
Muffin Batter:

 
•    1 box of Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Decadent Carrot Cake
•    2 Tablespoons of flour
•    1 teaspoon of baking powder
•    2 eggs
•    1 cup water (add the carrot/raisin pouch and allow to stand for 5 mins)
•    1/4 cup vegetable oil
•    1/2 cup drained crushed pineapple (see below for other options)


Crumble Top:

 
•    1/2 c flour
•    1/4 c brown sugar
•    3 T butter (softened)
•    1/2 c chopped pecans (optional)


Baking Instructions:

1.    Preheat Oven to 350 º F (180ºc)
2.    One 12 cup and one 6 cup muffin tin, greased or paper lined
For Muffin:
3.    Add carrot/ raisin pouch to the 1 cup of water and allow to stand for minimum of 5 minutes. In a mixing bowl, add the cake mix, flour, baking powder, eggs, oil, drained pineapple and the carrot/raisin/water mixture. Mix by hand until completely blended, approximately 50 strokes. Pour batter into greased or paper lined muffin tins 2/3rds full. Make crumble topping following directions below and sprinkle on top of each muffin. Bake muffins for 20-22 minutes or until tops springs back when lightly touched. Cool for 15 minutes in pans on wire rack, then remove from pan and cool completely on rack.
For crumble top:
4.    In a bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, butter and pecans (if desired) mixing until crumbly. Use as indicated above.


Variation:

 
5.    For a different flavor replace pineapple with white chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate chips.


For more information on Duncan Hines or additional recipes, log onto www.duncanhines.com.


-Courtesy of Duncan Hines 

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Early Rider


 
When the sun comes out and the weather warms up, there’s no better way to celebrate spring than with a cool ride.
So start off in the right direction because Early Rider’s trainer balance bike is the best way to safely teach your toddler to go from standing…to scooting…to gliding with confidence. 

Check out this fantastic video:  
http://www.earlyrider.com/home/video/ 


Why Early Rider:


Unlike most other balance bikes on the market, the Early Rider features "Fat Boy" rear tires for extra stability and comfort and the Early Rider comes in three sizes, for smaller and larger preschoolers and kindergartners. The Lite version, designed for kids as young as 20 months all the way up to 4 years old, is the lightest balance bike you can find, weighing in at just 7.2 lbs. The Classic, at 10.5 lbs, is designed for 2-to-5-year-olds. And the Evolution is slightly taller, making it suitable for the 3.5-to-6-year-old set.Your choices don't end at size. Made of sustainable birch, Early Riders come in your choice of pink, blue and natural. All feature cool embossed flames and a faux leather seat pad.

Prices range from $159.99 to $199.99


For more information visit www.earlyrider.com

-Courtesy of Early Rider 

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