Those of you who know me, know that I'm passionate about physical fitness. Not only do I make sure that exercise is a part of my life, but I strive to make sure my children get in their fair share of physical activity. That's why I'm so excited about the Family Dance-off Video Competition, sponsored by Primrose Schools. It combines two of my favorite things- exercising and quality time! Primrose Schools, the leader in educational child care, has launched a national campaign to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices by encouraging families across the country to boogie on down! Here's how you can compete in the Family Dance-off: 1. Record a 30-second home video of your family's best dance moves. The sillier, the better! 2. Visit www.FamilyDanceoff.com and upload your best take from now until March 19th, 2010. 3. View and vote daily for your favorite family dance video! If your video makes the cut, your family can have a chance to WIN these great prizes:
$5,000 grand prize
Wii Fit Bundle
FLIP Video camera
$30,000 donation to your local Children's Miracle Network hospital
Click on the video below to watch some great dancing moves in action!
Childhood obesity is a critical issue for young children in America. Dance is a fun, easy way to introduce physical activity into your family's routine while enjoying quality time together. The Family Dance-off supports Children's Miracle Network, a non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children's hospitals, which collectively treat 17 million children annually for every illness and injury imaginable.
Nature’s Peak: Be Valentine’s Day ready with these sophisticated yet easy appetizers from Nature’s Peakand “Daily Buzz” food correspondent and Relish Magazine executive chefJon Ashton. These quick, easy, and delicious recipes include:
oProsciutto Wrapped Chicken Skewers with Cranberry Harvest Dipping Sauce
oTurkey Sliders with Mango Ketchup
oCaribbean Pineapple Shrimp Skewers
oWhite Chocolate Scones with Citrus Country Strawberries
Caribbean Pineapple Shrimp Skewers
General Information
Makes
8 servings
Preparation Time
20 minutes
Cooking Time
6 minutes
Ingredients
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup lite soy sauce
1/4 cup Smucker's® Sweet Orange Marmalade
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 tsps. minced garlic
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. curry powder
1 tbsp. finely chopped cilantro
Cayenne pepper, to taste
Crisco® Olive Oil No-Stick Cooking Spray
8 12-inch wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
24 1-inch square pieces green pepper, (2-3 peppers)
24 peeled, deveined raw shrimp, tail on (21 to 24 count per pound)
Directions
STIR ketchup, soy sauce, orange marmalade, brown sugar, garlic, cinnamon, curry powder, cilantro and cayenne pepper to taste in medium bowl until blended. Reserve 1/2 cup for dipping sauce.
2.
HEAT oven broiler. Place oven rack 6-inches from heat. Coat broiler pan with no-stick cooking spray. Alternate pieces of red pepper, pineapple, green pepper and shrimp on a skewer, repeating 3 times. Place on prepared broiler pan.
3.
BROIL skewers 3 minutes. Baste with sauce, turn, baste second side. Broil an additional 3 minutes or until shrimp is cooked, basting with sauce one more time. Heat reserved dipping sauce in microwave until warm. Serve shrimp skewers with sauce.
Prosciutto Chicken Tenders with Sweet Cranberry Sauce
LAY prosciutto slices flat on cutting board. Sprinkle with sage. Place chicken tender at one end of each slice. Roll proscuitto around chicken. Heat oil in large skillet. Place chicken in skillet, seam-side down. Cook on medium heat about 9 to 10 minutes, turning frequently, until browned on all sides and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Cover and keep warm.
2.
COMBINE frozen cranberries and marmalade in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH 4 to 5 minutes or until cranberries are soft. Stir to break up cranberries by pressing against side of bowl. Stir in brown sugar and vinegar. Microwave 30 seconds to dissolve sugar.
3.
SLICE each chicken tender diagonally into 4 bite-size pieces. Insert toothpicks. Arrange on serving platter. Pour half of warm Sweet Cranberry Sauce over chicken. Serve with remaining sauce.
Turkey Sliders with Mango Ketchup
General Information
Makes
8 servings
Preparation Time
15 minutes
Cooking Time
45 minutes
Ingredients
1 lb. lean ground turkey
2/3 cup finely chopped red onion, plus thin slices for garnish
1/2 cup finely crumbled feta cheese, plus additional for garnish
MIX turkey, onion, feta cheese, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper in medium bowl. Form into 8 patties about 3/4-inch thick. Coat large skillet or grill pan with no-stick cooking spray. Heat on medium heat until hot. Cook or grill burgers about 10 to 12 minutes or until browned on the outside and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
2.
COMBINE mango, brown sugar, ketchup, lemon juice, vinegar and rosemary in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH 5 to 6 minutes of until mango is fork tender. Puree in blender container until smooth. Return to bowl. Microwave an additional 3 minutes or until thick.
3.
TOAST cut side of rolls until lightly browned. Tear leaf lettuce to fit bottoms of rolls. Top rolls with burgers, onion slices, additional feta cheese and Mango Ketchup. Top with toasted roll top. Serve remaining Mango Ketchup on the side.
White Chocolate Scones with Citrus Strawberries
General Information
Makes 6 scones with berries
Preparation Time 20 minutes
Cooking Time 13 minutes
Ingredients
1 (21 oz.) pkg. Nature's Peak Sliced Country Strawberries
Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
2 cups Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
1/4 cup Crisco® Butter Shortening
1/2 cup white baking chips
1 large egg
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup Smucker's® Sweet Orange Marmalade
1 1/2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed
Fresh mint leaves for garnish
Directions
1.
SPREAD strawberries in single layer on 15 x 10-inch pan to thaw about 45 minutes at room temperature. Heat oven to 400°F. Coat baking sheet with no-stick cooking spray.
2.
COMBINE flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in medium mixing bowl. Cut in shortening with pastry blender or two knives until crumbs form. Stir in baking chips. Whisk egg and milk in small bowl. Combine egg mixture with flour mixture until flour is absorbed. Place dough on lightly floured surface. Knead a few times until evenly moistened. Press into 7-inch circle about 3/4-inch thick. Cut into 6 triangles. Place on prepared baking sheet.
3.
BAKE 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire rack. Slice scones horizontally in half while still slightly warm. Stir marmalade with thawed strawberries. Spoon 1/4 cup whipped topping on bottom halves of scones. Top with 1/2 cup strawberries. Replace top of scones. Garnish with mint leaves if desired. Serve immediately.
-Courtesy of Nature's Peak
*Some of the directions have been cut off in publishing the post. I could make it smaller but you probably wouldn't be able to see it. If you want me to email you the recipes, feel free to email me at hellomary018 at yahoo dot com
The winner of $20 Value Surprise Hair Accessories and Coverings from HairCoverings.com will be randomly chosen from all verified and valid entries. The participant with the most number of entries will be the alternate winner and will win 125x125 Ads Space.
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Mom Central's Valentine's Day Gift Guide Blog Tour
The flurry of red, white, and pink cupid and heart cut-out decorations abound in stores and classrooms signals the rapid approach of Valentine's Day. If choosing a thoughtful gift to display your affection to your Valentine sends you into a panic, turn to Mom Central's second annual Valentine's Day Gift Guide for an array of gift suggestions for men, women, and kids. In addition to using it as a resource for gift ideas, you can enter to win giveaways each week for all of the featured products! Three of the exciting giveaways include:
Frederick's of Hollywood: Frederick's of Hollywood creates beautiful and sophisticated lingerie to help women feel sexy and confident in their own skin. Re-ignite the romance in your life and treat yourself- and your significant other- with special lingerie this Valentine's Day and beyond.
Perry Ellis Platinum Cologne: High-end fashion company Perry Ellis has launched their own line of men's fragrances, and Perry Ellis Platinum Label stands as the crown jewel of this catalog. This intricate blend of bamboo, mandarin, rosemary, violet, lavender, and cedar wood can be only be described as completely addictive and endlessly seductive.
Chocri Customizable Chocolate Bars: Take the quintessential Valentine's Day gift of chocolate one step further with Chocri Chocolates, and move beyond your typical candy experience with customizable chocolate bars. Start with a base of milk, dark, or white chocolate and choose up to 5 toppings from more than 90 different mix-ins to create a truly unique confection to your Valentine.
www.MomCentral.com
"I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central. Mom Central entered my name in a random drawing to win a gift to thank me for taking the time to participate."
Check out the Mom Central Valentine's Day Gift Guide:
Halo/Air Salt Rooms is the FIRST and ONLY spa in the US that offers health and beauty treatments through Salt Rooms. The Halo/Air Salt Rooms recently opened in the heart of Chelsea at a beautiful store front on 22nd between 6th & 7th avenue . This innovative and unique spa not only offers treatments to adults but children as well in their well furnished Children’s Room. I think your readers would be very interested in this new spa as it can appeal to both themselves and their children.
This treatment is extremely ideal for children as they are receiving the health benefits of the salt, without being dragged to the doctor. The children get to play in a “sandbox” full of toys, games and television while their parents are gaining the benefits as well. It is a natural and safe environment and is a huge appeal of the spa as the parents see their children enjoying themselves while seeking health benefits.
What is Salt Rooms you ask?
The Salt Rooms are entirely lined with salt as salt is blowing into the room as well, for a mist affect that you breathe in naturally. Salt Rooms and caves in Europe are incredibly popular and have been known to help people with breathing problems, like asthma because of the cleansing affect and antibacterial elements of salt. Halo/Air Salt Rooms has imitated these climates with unique features of the natural salt caves.
A brand new “Salt Room” wellness facility has just opened in Manhattan. Halo/Air Salt Rooms is located at 133 W. 22nd Street (between 6th Ave. and 7th Ave.) and all the rooms are made completely out of salt from the salt caves of Europe.
Twenty million years ago, an ocean covered what is now known as Eastern Europe. Once the sea dried up, salt was left 10 – 300 meters below ground. These became known as “salt caves” and the air in these environments were extremely clean since they were never exposed to the pollution above ground. The salt caves have a low humidity and salt particles are in the air at all times. This micro-climate is replicated exactly in Ron Rofe’s Halo/Air Salt Rooms.
Salt Rooms are already popular in other parts of the world but this is the first facility of its kind in the United States. The Halo/Air Salt Room treatment uses unique proprietary equipment and room design which creates a dry salt aerosol microclimate. The patented HaloGenerator creates humidity, filters the air, and grinds and atomizes the salt into air particles for the rooms. All of the salt used at Salt Rooms is mined from European salt caves 300 meters below ground.
The breathable salt particles in the Salt Rooms are able to penetrate into the bronchial tree in the form of finest crystals. This environment provides customers with a relaxing lung cleansing and deep skin treatment. The salt treatment (similar to a sauna) is safe for all ages, and the frequent treatments may help treat a variety of symptoms and ailments including allergies, stress, skin conditions, and respiratory issues.
Ron Rofe, owner and founder of Halo/Air Salt Rooms, was first introduced to Salt Rooms in Israel when his mother was diagnosed with a rare bacterial disease. Finding traditional medicines harsh on her body, Ron’s mother turned to Salt Rooms, which ultimately helped her respiratory system and alleviated some of her pain. Rofe saw potential for Salt Rooms and immediately bought exclusive rights to the HaloGenerator (created by Halo/Med) for the United States.
About Halo/Air Salt Rooms
Halo/Air Salt Rooms, located in Chelsea, is the first Salt Room facility in the United States. The Salt Rooms are made completely out of salt from the salt caves of Europe, and the patented HaloGenerator replicates the microclimate of salt caves. Opened in January 2010, the facility’s hours are Monday – Saturday from 9am – 10pm, and Sunday from 10am – 9pm. The adult session is 60-minute, and the children’s session is 30-minutes. A single session is $99.99/treatment, 5-pack is $89.99/treatment, and 10-pack is $79.99/treatment. The Halo/Air facility is equipped with two single rooms and two double rooms, with cable TV, radio, and dimming lights. The children’s room is equipped with a plasma TV, toys, games, and comfortable couches/chairs.
With the nation currently facing a hot breakfast shortage due to lack of frozen waffles and February being National Pancake Month, it's the perfect time to "leggo" and jump on the path to pancakes! Aunt Jemima Frozen Pancakes save the morning with hot delicious pancakes that can be ready in minutes.
Please see the release below for more information and creative recipes.
JUST IN TIME FOR NATIONAL PANCAKE MONTH
AUNT JEMIMA FROZEN BREAKAST SAVES THE MORNING WHILE NATION FACES WAFFLE SHORTAGE, CONSUMERS FLIP FOR PANCAKES!
February is National Pancake Month, giving pancake lovers across the country the perfect reason to start the day off right with a warm breakfast. With the nation currently facing a hot breakfast shortage due to lack of frozen waffles, Aunt Jemima® Frozen Pancakes offer families the perfect path to delicious pancakes.
“It’s time to l’eggo your Eggo,” says Eric Hintz, Category Manager of Aunt Jemima Frozen Pancakes. “Aunt Jemima Frozen Pancakes saves the morning with hot delicious pancakes in minutes.”
Aunt Jemima has a variety of Frozen Pancakes for every family member including Homestyle, Buttermilk, Low Fat Buttermilk, Whole Grain, Mini and the newest flavor in the frozen pancake family – Blueberry. Aunt Jemima Frozen Pancakes can be found in the freezer section of grocery stores across the country for a suggested retail price of $2.59.
Aunt Jemima Frozen Pancakes are ready in minutes out of the microwave or toaster, giving even the busiest of families a way to celebrate each day of National Pancake Month with homemade-tasting pancakes. For a creative way to celebrate National Pancake Month, host a pancake party and encourage your friends to bring their favorite toppings or try these creative, tasty recipes from Aunt Jemima Frozen Breakfast!
Instructions:
1. Toast pancakes until desired crispiness.
2. Add banana slices, walnuts and syrup.
3. Make sandwich.
GOAT CHEESE, SPINACH & SCRAMBLED EGG SANDWICH
Serves 2
Ingredients:
• 4 Eggs, beaten
• 6 Spinach Leaves, washed, dried and chopped
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 4 Aunt Jemima Frozen Pancakes
• 2 tablespoons, Goat Cheese
Instructions:
1. Pre-heat a medium skillet or frying pan.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, mix together eggs, spinach, salt and pepper.
3. Pour mixture into skillet and cook and stir until eggs are cooked through.
4. Place the frozen pancakes in the oven or microwave according to the instructions on box.
5. Spread the goat cheese on the four pancakes.
6. Top with egg mixture then top with remaining two pancakes making two sandwiches.
For more information on Aunt Jemima Frozen or additional recipes/photos log onto www.auntjemimafrozen.com.
And the winner of the Goby/$50 American Express Gift Card Giveaway is... Comment #101, Molomatic! Congrats to the winner, I will be emailing you shortly. Thanks to everyone who entered!
