Things I Love Thursday - Grapeseed Oils

Things I love Thursday..... oh boy, there are so many things I LOVE, but I'm going to share one of my favorite things right now ~ {Wildtree's Grapeseed Oil's}.

I LOVE Lemon flavored things. Cheesecake Factory's Lemon chicken is OH SO DELICIOUS, and I found a way to have something just as delicious at home. It's a lot less money, and it makes my taste buds SING!

A regular meal in my home is Lemon Rosemary Chicken and it is easily made using 2 of my favorite products. {Lemon Rosemary Blend} and {Zesty Lemon Grapeseed Oil}. I mix some of the blend w/some of the grapeseed oil, doubling the directions on the Lemon Rosemary Blend.

The first thing I do is take my veggies and roll them around in the mixture (asparagus are the best) and then I take my chicken and dip the chicken in the mixture. I then saute the chicken in Zesty Lemon Grapeseed oil and YUM!

These oils are very {healthy for you} and are infused with delicious flavors that flavor your food just right.

Do you want to share something that you love? Go over to {The Diaper Diaries} and share.... or read other people's :) Plus she has a pretty cool giveaway going on!

Works For Me Wednesday.... Summer Recipes!!

I love themed {Works For Me Wednesdays}.... because I have a basic guideline of what I'm supposed to be sharing, and I don't have to sit and wonder which one of my wondrous ideas I should be sharing.

Summer time makes me think of watermelon, playing outside with the radio, life in the 60's when kids stayed out ALL day long and just played played played and played.

Things now have changed, but one thing that doesn't change is the fact that salads are DELICIOUS in the summertime. My favorite salad is a recipe that every girl in my family makes... and now I can make it! It took me a while to get this cooking thing down, but this recipe is definitely an easy one, and one that even I when cooking challenged could make. The first time I ever made I took it to a potluck and everybody was raving over it. They were even eating it as a dip - which was weird, but hey... whatever works for them :)

Ingredients:

• Lettuce
• Tomatoes
• Avocados
  
• Olives
• Hamburger
  
• Chili w/ Beans - I use canned, because I don't know how to make my own yet
  
• Fritos
• Mayo and ketchup mixed together to form the thousand island dressing
• Shredded Colby-Jack Cheese
  

Fry up hamburger and then mix chili in w/it.

Crush Fritos

Combine all cold ingredients together

Pour hamburger/chili mixture over to melt cheese, stir and ENJOY!!

ANOTHER OPTION ~ YOU CAN FRY UP THE HAMBURGER MEAT & ADD THIS {TACO SEASONING}

EASY, DELICIOUS..... I HOPE YOU ENJOY

Things I love Thursday - Wildtree

Yeah, you had to know that a Wildtree post was coming sooner than later. Right now it's something that I just love. I probably will always love it, and here's why:

** This is a copy and paste from a previous post of mine This post just had all the good info **

I want to share with moms out there an amazing new food line that is ALL NATURAL! There's no preservatives, there's no MSG, there's no Dyes, fillers, no additives, made in a peanut free facility. Everything in these products are NATURAL! The company that is making this possible for us is called {Wildtree}.

I'm a work at home mom, and by the time dinner rolls around I'm cringing as I'm feeding my family junk. Sure, it's a home cooked meal, but half the stuff I used to make it contain horrible things that my family doesn't deserve to consume. However, I don't have the time to spend hours in the kitchen making things from scratch. It just isn't realistic for me.

In addition to all of the above reasons, I have a daughter with a heart condition, a son that has food aversions and reactions to certain dyes (red dye is not a good one if you have a child with ADD or ADHD.... actually any dye isn't) and a husband with high blood pressure.

Another point I really want to express here is about the Grapeseed Oil. I have always been a huge fan of Olive Oil. In my mind I was cooking with the best possible health option for my family.... nope, I was wrong. Grapeseed Oil is definitely the way to go. Wildtree offers a variet of {Grapeseed Oils} that are infused with DELICIOUS flavors. You can read all about the health benefits {HERE}.

Wildtree is opening up across the country! It's an all-natural, preservative-free direct sales company that is growing like crazy! It is direct sales/party plan, and it's the simplest party I've ever seen or done, with about 10 minutes of information and then tasting many of the wonderful samples! It's FUN and very social!

Basically there are 4 ways to be involved:

1. As a Representative - and we need you! There are just over 1000 representatives across the country at this point,
so you could be THE FIRST or one of the first in your neck of the woods!
It's $99 for the kit... and it's risk free if you eat!!

2. As a Host - just let me know when you want to earn tons of free
food products (you MUST try the grapseed oils, the Asian Ginger Plum Dressing,
and the Scampi blend first!). I can get a host packet in the mail and coach
you on how to have a GREAT party. Super easy!

3. As a Culinary Club Member - this is a wholesale buying opportunity
with specials made available monthly to you!
It's $25 for a Lifetime Membership and well worth every penny....
hey, you get 20% off of your purchases!

4. As a Customer! You will LOVE these fabulous products!
Plus, their products are taste guaranteed,
which means if you don't like something
they'll buy it back from you or you can trade it for something else!
You can't beat that..... no grocery store will give you that luxury.

See my website for placing your order or taking advantage of our representative opportunity. There is a short video to watch if you are interested in doing so!

Did you know that Whole Foods is the fastest growing chain in the U.S.? Have you noticed that many of the fast-food chains are taking the trans-fats our of their food?

Generations ago, most Americans ate natural, nutritious food they grew themselves or bought from small, local grocers.

Then large food companies were formed and sought to improve their bottom line by extending the shelf life of their products. Scientists added more and more chemicals to foods. Now we all realize that many of those additives are harmful and governments have begun to address the issue.

Smart consumers interested in the health of their families aren't waiting for government action. They are looking for better, healthier sources of foods. Look around you.... That's where Wildtree comes in! It was formed on the premise that food should not only be natural and delicious but also easy to prepare. (and QUICK!) So whether you're a gourmet cook, a wanna-be, or HATE it, Wildtree could be just what you need.

I look forward in hearing from you. My personal website for Wildtree is {www.amanda.mywildtree.com}, and all of my contact information is on the site if you have any questions. You can even sign up from there to become a rep!

I really love Wildtree. Our health is the most important thing, and I'm seeing the benefits, I've seen my husband's blood pressure drop, his weight drop, and we have not had to sacrifice taste!

Other people are talking about Things they love as well over at {Diaper Diaries}, so head over and see if someone loves something you just might want to love too!

If you want to be notified about special deals, new products, recipes that I (and other Wildtree users) have discovered be sure to follow me on {TWITTER}

Kitchen Tip Tuesday - All Natural... quick... tasty

Lately my blog has been centered around Wildtree. Yes, I'm a bit obsessed. I promise after this post I'm going to talk about life again! I promise.

It's Kitchen Tip Tuesday over at Tammy's Recipes and it's been a while since I participated, but thought this would be a great week to jump back in since I actually have a tip for the kitchen!

I recently found something that is working in my kitchen. I have been making the most delicious dinners these past few nights.... since Saturday to be exact, and every night my husband is shocked at the tastes that are tickling his taste buds. I think what shocks him the most is that what's entering his mouth is healthy, all natural.... there's absolutely no junk or crap about it. There's nothing in the ingredients that you can't pronounce, and I'm spending less time in the kitchen.

Shocking isn't it? So, what in the world would make all of this possible????

WILDTREE

I couldn't imagine ever going back after trying this food. I joined the company to become a rep just so I could sell this amazing food to others, announce this to the world, and be able to make enough money to get free food! Everybody eats, right? Why not eat healthy, save time and save money? Well, I've discovered that there's so many more possibilities than just selling the food to get free groceries.... you can go above and beyond that!

When looking through the Wildtree catalog you might look at a price at first and be like.... um, wow... no thanks. However, you get multiple meals out of the products... the Hearty Speghetti Blend only uses 1 tablespoon per 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes, the Slow Cooker Sauce can be used 3 times! It's cheaper, it's healthier and it's shocking at how quick it is to cook! It's also a great thing for food storage if you're into that... I am :) You never know when something's going to happen when you're going to have to rely on your food storage.

My husband keeps saying, how could anyone ever buy a jar of speghetti sauce ever again? Or alfredo sauce (those are both of our favorites!).

Wildtree also has a great compensation plan for their reps. The sky is the limit and this company is growing FAST! If you're interested in making extra income, whether it's $500 or $5,000 every month... this is definitely the company for you.

I've written a long, detailed spill on Wildtree HERE, and if you're interested in checking out some of the products you can do so at www.amanda.mywildtree.com

If it's not for you, although I couldn't imagine how it couldn't be, and you know someone who doesn't like to feed their family foods with ingredients that you can't pronounce, or MSG, or preservatives, or dyes..... let them in on this! Send them to my Wildtree website, or to my blog. Our nation is trying to be healthier and this is great way to get there!

Thanks for stopping by, I hope that if anything I got you thinking about checking the ingredients on the items in your cupboard, you might cringe.... especially if you go and look some of those words up.

Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole - Crockpot Style

This is now my husband's favorite meal.... and mine. The dangerous part of it is you just can't stop eating it.


-In crock put pour 2 cups of uncooked brown rice (you can use white)
-Mix together (I mix in my magic bullet) 1 cup of mayo, 1 1/2 cup of chicken broth, 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, 1 can of cream of mushroom soup - then pour mixture over rice
-Pour 3 cups of chicken broth over mixture and rice (this is in addition to the 1 1/2 cup used in the mixture)
-Place 2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breast in mixture and stir around
-Sprinkle Mrs. Dash Garlic Seasoning over the top - garlic salt if you're into that

Cook on low for 6 hours - halfway through place your broccoli in and pour Parmesan cheese over the top

When done, take out the chicken and shred, then place back in and mix and serve.

If you have a busy, busy day ahead of you....

Happy Tuesday everyone!!! It's Kitchen Tip Tuesday and I thought today I'd share a couple of quickies I do in the kitchen on days that I'm busy or just don't feel like putting much effort into dinner.

I know that a lot of people love crock pots, and I'm one of them!! There's a lot of great crock pot recipes out there that call for all these ingredients and sometimes, being a new cooker, it intimidates me.

So, here's a couple of things I do in my crock pot.....


I throw chicken breasts/thighs in the crockpot and pour over some Four Cheese & Roasted Garlic spaghetti sauce and a ton of Parmesan cheese and cook on high for 4 hours - or low for 6-8 hours. Serve over some fettuccine Alfredo and mmmmmmm mmmmmm!!!

Do you have a whole chicken laying around? Last night I threw a whole chicken in the crock pot and poured some Teriyaki marinade over it, made white rice and steamed some broccoli and mmmmm mmmmm!!!!

Sometimes I just throw whatever I have in there, cross my fingers and say a quick prayer, and so far it's turned out all good ;)

If you have any easy crock pot recipes that you'd like to share with me please do!! I heart the crock pot!

For other kitchen tips, which are probably a lot better than mine (I'm new in the kitchen! Give me a break here) head over to Tammy's Recipes!!

Zucchini Oatmeal Muffins

I'm participating this week!!! It's Kitchen Tip Tuesday.

Jayden's school put together a Family Favorite Recipes book. Sold each little booklet for $10.00 and probably made a killing. It's a really cute idea though, and the kids got to draw a picture on whatever page they submitted. They also threw in some Kid's craft ideas, household tips, Measurement charts and all kinds of cool little things. Here's a recipe that I found in the book ~I wonder if I can trick Jayden with these.....
You will need:

- 2 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups of sugar
- 1 cup of chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup of quick cooking oats
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp of salt
- 1 tsp of ground cinnamon
-4 Eggs
- 1 Med. zucchini shredded (about 3/4 cup)
- 3/4 cup of vegetable oil

What you do:

In a mixing bowl, combine first seven ingredients. Beat eggs and then combine the eggs with zucchini and oil. Pour over dry ingredients stirring only until moistened. Butter will be lumpy. Fill greased muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake at 400 Degrees for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool & Enjoy!!

For other Kitchen Tips make sure you head over to Tammy's Recipes to read other's tips.

TO ENTER IN THE BLOGGY GIVEAWAY CLICK HERE

Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites!!! Hope you enjoy and please go check out these girls' blogs!!

The microwave in my house gets dirty quick. And it's always kinda difficult to clean for some reason. I just read on Squibs and Crackers that you microwave a bowl for 5 minutes w/part vinegar in it and part lemon juice. After the 5 minutes is up it's an easy wipe off. I think I might go buy some lemon juice and try this out tomorrow.

I throw my heels of my bread away. I don't like them. I read on GreenStyleMom today how to make them into breadcrumbs! Whole wheat breadcrumbs at that. Put the bread in the broiler for a few seconds - just to dry out - then put in your blender or food processor then put in jar and use as bread crumbs! SCORE! So using this technique.

Do you LOVE baked potatoes? I do. I love potato anything. I learned from Beans & Rice that if you wash your potato, poke holes in them and then wrap in foil you can place them in your CROCKPOT (MY BEST FRIEND) and cook on high for 2 1/2-4 hours or low 6-8 hours and you will have perfect, moist potatoes.... how perfect is that?

Have a Cup of Jesus has a great idea!! Olive Oil for make up remover and skin moisturizer. Just might have to try this one too!

6 Year Old Unhealthy Eater

It's a backwards edition of Works For Me Wednesday and I get to ask for some advice on something. I've actually been thinking about what I'm going to ask for the past week and have had so many ideas come to mind, but I think I've decided to stick with some advice on my son. Jayden is 6 years old and we have the worst issue with foods. It's my fault and I'll start there. We lived a very busy life up until a year ago and there wasn't much time for home cooked meals and we've lived our lives in the fast lane and spent many nights eating fast food and basically CRAP. I am now a SAHM and have picked up cooking and we actually have home cooked meals almost every night. Jayden, however, does not eat what we eat. His list of foods is as follows:

Sandwiches (on wheat bread)
Chicken Nuggets
Corn Dogs
Top Ramen
Fish Sticks
Chicken
Tons of fruit (I'm lucky here)

However, he will not eat a veggie if his life depended on it. If I stick something in front of him at the table that he does not eat he actually will throw up. It's horrible. I know 110% that it is my fault, so I just wanted to cover that, but I want to nip this in the butt and have been trying for a while. I took him to the doctors and they're going to do some testing on him, but in the meantime how in the world am I going to get this kid of mine to start eating healthy? We just found out my husband has high blood pressure and now we're even going more healthy in our home and I really want my son to be on board with this. I don't want to make 2 meals at night, but I don't want him to throw up at my table. I'm kinda at my witt's end.

So, my question to you is, what can I do to get him more healthy. Do you have a recipe that you could share that he might like and has hidden veggies in them? HELP!!!

Also, if you wouldn't mind, if you know anything about how to lower blood pressure please CLICK HERE and comment on my post from yesterday about helping my husband to lower his blood pressure. Thank you so much!!!

To check out other's participating this week in backward's WFMW head over to Shannon's Blog

Help Me Lower My Husband's Blood Pressure

Gino (my husband) got diagnosed with high blood pressure. So for this Kitchen Tip Tuesday I'm going to reverse it and ask for any recipes that could help us. His doctor has decided that he is going to give Gino 4 weeks to lower it on his own or Gino's going on blood pressure medicine for the rest of his life. We went out and bought a ton of fruits & veggies and we've recently started using Mrs. Dash seasonings. I have the basic idea of what he needs to stay away and what he needs to eat, but I would love some recipes that we might be able to try in our home.

For other Kitchen Tip's head over to Tammy's Blog.

Oven Baked Chicken Parmesan

Last night I made dinner and I have to share it with everyone, because it was DELICIOUS! If you know me you know that I used to not cook. I was literally retarded in the kitchen and had no desire. I had a husband who cooked for me every night and didn't see the point in learning. Now that I stay at home I love cooking! I love to try new dishes and get so excited when I see the nod of approval from my husband as he savors every bite. So here's what I did last night.

Coat chicken breast in egg & breadcrumbs and bake covered for 30 minutes and uncovered for 10

For the sauce I used Classico (I'm not so good yet to make my own sauce) I mixed 1 jar of Four Cheese & 1 jar of Roasted Garlic and mixed a ton of Parmesan cheese in it. Heat that up on the stove.

Last night for the side dish I made Pasta Roni Fettuccine Alfredo noodles, but next time I will boil fettuccine noodles and make Classico's alfredo sauce.

When all is done put the Fettuccine Alfredo on your plate, then the chicken on top and then cover with the spaghetti sauce and top with Parmesan cheese. Something about mixing the 2 different sauces together just touches your taste buds in an exhilarating way.

I steamed some broccoli and dinner was a hit. We will definitely be making this again.

Dinosaur Bites - Fun Recipe to do w/kids

Jayden's school made a cookbook that all the students were able to participate in. I found one that is pretty cool and am sharing it with everyone for Kitchen Tip Tuesday

1/4 Cup Dirt (Cocoa)
1/2 Cup swamp water (Milk)
2 Cups crushed bones (sugar)
1/2 Cup fat (butter or margarine)
2 Cups dead grass (Oatmeal)
1/2 Cup squashed bugs (Peanut Butter)

Combine dirt, swamp water, crushed bones and fat in medium sauce pan. Boil for 3 minutes. Add squashed bugs and dead grass. Stir until melted and mixture starts to thicken. Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper. Stand on hind legs, eat one and ROARRRRRR!!!!!!

For other Kitchen Tips please visit Miss Tammy's Blog and I hope everyone has a fantastic Tuesday!!

Quick, Tasty, Easy Chicken

It's Kitchen Tip Tuesday and I'm letting the world in on our secret, yummy chicken we make a lot.

Ingredients:

Chicken - legs, thighs, breasts, basically whatever chicken you want to eat
Olive Oil
Garlic Salt - or not if you're doing no salt I just LOVE garlic salt
Soy Sauce
Mrs. Dash Extra Spicy (I promise it's not spicy - just tasty) Seasoning
Mrs. Dash Chicken Seasoning

Here's What You Do:

Line your pan w/Olive Oil - not thick, just enough to cover the bottom.
Put your chicken in the pan - then sprinkle all of your seasonings, soy sauce and olive oil (just a little of olive oil) over the top of the chicken. Cover and cook on medium. After it's cooked on the one side, flip over and once again sprinkle all of your seasonings, soy sauce and olive oil (just a little of olive oil) over that side of the chicken. Cover and continue to cook on med-low until done.

Okay, I know I suck at explaining recipes, but I hope you get the idea here. If you have any questions just let me know in my comments and I'll reply in my comments. There's flavor in every bite!

For other Kitchen Tip's visit Tammy's Blog

Enchilada Pie

It's Kitchen Tip Tuesday!! Today I thought I'd share my favorite recipe with you. This recipe is perfect if you're having a dinner party, because it feeds many and makes their mouths water.

14-16 White Corn Tortillas
1 1/2 Large cans of refried beans
1 Packet of Lowry's Enchilada Sauce (it comes in a white packet where the taco seasoning packets are)
1 6oz can of tomatoe paste (Enchilada Sauce requires this)
2 1/2lbs of hamburger
2lbs of Cheese (I use Colby-Jack)
Olive Oil (or whatever oil you use)

Preheat oven at 350

1. Cook enchilada sauce according to the directions on the back of the packet
2. Fry your tortillas by placing them in the oil flat and getting slightly hard (very important that they're still soft.
3. Take each tortilla and dip in enchilada sauce and after you dip lay it on the bottom of your casserole pan - what's left over after layering the bottom is for the top :)
4. Cover the tortillas with the beans
5. Cover the beans with cheese
6. Then comes the hamburger that you've cooked
7. Then dip the remaining tortillas and put on top of the meat and then cover with the rest of the cheese and pour the remaining sauce all over

Bake on 350 for 30-45 minutes and then serve ~ goes great w/a nice green salad w/red wine vinegar and oil.

For other Kitchen Tip's visit Tammy's Blog

Making Baby Food

I am really curious about making baby food. I wonder if it's worth it. Is it cheaper? I feed Ella Earth's Best. I do not want all the wonderful additives that Gerber so generously gives out. So, I guess the main thing is this...I honestly don't care about the price, but thought it might be cool to make the baby food. Which would be better for her? Earth's best is organic. Hmmmm... I think this is something I might start researching... if any of you wonderful blog friends out there have any ideas for me on this please let me know!! I'd love to hear horror and success stories. I have so much on my plate with work (I work at home) and my children I don't understand why I try to make my life more difficult in picking up little tasks like this. LOL ~ but then again I don't understand half the stuff I do to myself.

Strawberry Banana Bread

I have not yet made this....and I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to make it today, but I caught my oven on fire a couple of weeks ago and have been scared to use it ever since. Long story - but it all ended well :) I figured I'd share it with you all so that you can make it and let me know how it is. I will be making it soon - in fact I thought about going up to my Grandma's and making it. Well, here's the recipe - let me know how you like it!!!

3 Cups of Flower
1 1/2 T Ground Cinnamon
1 T Banking Soda
1/2 T Ground Nutmeg
1/2 T salf
4 Eggas beaten
2 C sugar
1 1/2 C mashed strawberries
1 C Mashed banana
1/2 C oil
3 t shredded orange peel

In a bowl combine the flour, spices and salt. In another bowl stir together the eggs strawberries, banana sugar, oil & orange peel

Pour into 2 greased loaf pans Bake at 350 for 60-70 minutes

**Makes 2 loaves

Best Appetizer

Are you planning on having everyone over for Christmas? The best appetizer out there that I always make when having company over or if going to someone's house is my famous chili cheese dip.

Mix 1 can of chili - I use this one

W/1 brick of cream cheease ~ I use this one

And you put the chili in a bowl and the brick of cream cheese on top of it. Put it in the microwave for 2 minutes take it out and stir then dip w/Fritos ~ most delicious thing you'll ever eat. If you try it make sure you come and leave me a comment letting me know how you liked it.... I'm gonna have to go and make it right now, because it sounds so good and totally works for me hehe!

For other ideas that work for others visit ROCKS IN MY DRIER