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April 30, 2009
Ragu Old World Style Pasta Sauce
I grew up on Ragu pasta sauce. Back then it was pretty basic. It was either marinara or meat sauce. We always had the meat sauce until my sister decided to turn into a vegetarian. I wasn't happy to give up that meat sauce, but I wouldn't have minded as much if it was modern day.
Ragu has put out some new flavors and you really need to try them. I tried Ragu's new Margherita and Sweet Tomato Basil sauce. Although I enjoyed both new flavors very much (as did my family), I have to say that the Margherita was by far the best one. All I did was heat it up and pour it on top of some whole wheat spaghetti. And it was fantastic.
The Margherita sauce has tomatoes, pizza seasonings and mozzarella cheese and it is reminscent of a boardwalk slice of pizza. The Sweet Tomato Basil sauce is not an overpowering herb sauce. It has just the right amount of basil and the tomato flavor is flawless as usual with Ragu. If you're looking for something a little different though, definitely try the margherita. It's the new favorite pasta sauce in this house.
If you're looking for a little more excitement than your basic spaghetti dinner though, Ragu has teamed up with Robin Miller of Food Network and Registered Dietician Sylvia Klinger to create great easy recipes like Chicken Margherita and Steak Pizzaiola with Mozzarella. Most recipes have a prep time of about 15 minutes and many recipes are on the table in under 30 minutes.
If you're interested in finding out more and downloading some recipes, then check out the Ragu web site and get cooking.
Thanks to Ragu and Mom Central for the Ragu coupons so that we could try both of the sauces!
BBM gives the new Ragu Old World Style pasta sauce flavors. . .
April 29, 2009
Goody Green Bags
This year, as Mother's Day approaches, there is more talk about "going green" and earth-friendly products than ever before. If you are still struggling with what to get the Mom in your life, I have an idea for you.
I happen to own many of the reusable grocery bags for when I go grocery shopping. But the grocery bags don't really make for a nice shopping bag when you're at the mall. This is where Goody Green Bags come into play. Goody Green Bags are convenient shopping bags, that fold up easily to the size of a wallet. It's not one of those bags that you can't ever get back together the right way either. Goody Green Bags fold up as easily as they unfold. You can see how nicely they fold up in the picture below.
The bags are deep but a bit more narrow than your typical grocery recycling bag. This is part of why the bags look much more stylish when carrying them around. There's also a small pocket on the exterior of the bag, great for smaller shopping purchases. The double strap and soft fabric is also very nice.
Speaking of the fabric, Goody Green Bags come in six different styles. My personal one is "Bad to the Bone" and the pattern is just plain cool.
You can purchase them for $8.95/each or $39.95 for a five pack of bags. You might as well get the five-pack because they're convenient for shopping, but they're also great for impromptu activity bags in the car and as a bag to carry to the park with some essentials.
Through May 15th, all orders over $25 receive free shipping too. You can order yours here.
I can't think of a thing I don't like about Goody Green Bags.
BBM gives Goody Green Bags. . .
April 24, 2009
Romano Macaroni Grill’s Restaurant Favorites
Do you want to cook like a restaurant chef, but you just don't have the time? Well, I have the solution for you. Actually, it's not me. It's Romano Macaroni Grill's restaurant favorites. When I agreed to review this product, I was skeptical. I was worried it was going to be Hamburger Helperish (not that there's anything wrong with that-we love hamburger helper here). I just thought it was going to be very simple, without the "wow!" factor. You know, a quick and easy meal when you can't think of anything better?
I was wrong.
We tried the Creamy Basil Parmesan Chicken and Pasta dinner. I had about 45 minutes before I had to take my daughter to ju-jutsu and I needed something fast. I was skeptical about the prep time being only 20 minutes, but the box doesn't lie. I had dinner on the table in 20 minutes flat.
I held my breath, waiting to see if the little people in the household would like it or not. I didn't need to wait long.
"This is awesome! It tastes like a restaurant" my eight-year old said, as she inhaled every last bite. My 3-year old soon joined the party without a complaint.
I have to say, the flavor is fantastic. It absolutely does taste like restaurant pasta. My friend TSDaughter makes a fantastic pesto that she shared with me last summer and it reminded me a lot of the flavor of her pasta too (Her pasta is amazing).
Preparation is really easy too. The package contains little packets of seasoning, creamy sauce, pasta and Parmesan cheese. Anyone can follow the instructions to make this meal in less than 30 minutes.
My only criticism of the meal package is that I thought the amount of pasta was a bit on the small side. We enjoy leftovers in this house and we didn't have any. A family of four can get away with using one package, but you should probably plan on having a side dish or salad along with it. If you have a family that likes to fill their plates with pasta, then you'll probably want to pick up two packages, or just add some extra linguine to the pot.
Here's the thing though. Three lucky winners will each receive a "What's for Dinner?" gift package. Gift packages include a sample of the Creamy Basil Parmesan Chicken Pasta dinner, a colander, serving spoon, and cheese grater as seen below.
To be entered to win, simply leave a comment below telling me what your biggest struggle is when it comes to putting dinner on the table. Three lucky winners will be announced next week! If you don't win, you can still go here and get a coupon to save $1 when you buy it in grocery stores.
My family and I absolutely loved this meal and we'll definitely be making it again in the near future. Now I have three other varieties to try. Can't wait!
BBM gives Romano Macaroni Grill's restaurant favorites. . .
April 20, 2009
Mojo Mom
Every new first-time mom quickly realizes that life all of a sudden isn't about her. She spends over nine months being coddled, pampered, questioned, showered with gifts and concern for her well-being. She is, after all, the vessel of life. But once the bouncing bundle of joy appears, it's "mommy who?" It is this realization, that for the next 18+ years of her life she is responsible for the well-being of another dependent being, that pushes new moms into a state of shock.
Amy Tiemann, in her new book, Mojo Mom, attempts to address this dramatic change in the life of a new mom. While we spend those nine months reading every possible pregnancy and parenting book, we rarely prepare for the changes in ourselves post-delivery. Tiemann, experiencing these changes herself, hopes to help other woman navigate these murky, lonely waters.
This is a handbook for new moms about new moms. In this book, you will find honesty and compassion, humor and moments of nostalgia. Tiemann discusses the fundamentals of "coming out of the cocoon" of those early months of motherhood, as well as securing your financial future as an independent person (so incredibly important for women and so often overlooked!). My particular favorite chapter was the one of letting go of the guilt. If you're a mom and you're reading this, I don't have to write another word!
If you know someone who is about to have a baby or who has a new baby already, this book would make a great gift. It reminds us that this whole motherhood is NOT easy and it is NOT natural. Having a little help from Tiemann's book will help make the transition a bit easier.
For it's mostly smooth writing style and honest approach to new motherhood, TKDDaughter gives Mojo Mom a :
April 7, 2009
Leslie Patricelli Children’s Books
There are few things a Mom likes more than a good children's book. Let's face it. There are some lousy ones out there. Some of our favorite ones in this house are the ones that are the most simple, like "Goodnight Gorilla." Leslie Patricelli's books are simple and fun, just like our favorite gorilla book.
The two books that we sampled were simple but delightful. The books Higher! Higher! and Baby Happy Baby Sad are enjoyable for any age.
Baby Happy Baby Sad takes you through the typical life of a typical baby. Pages that are exceptionally humorous are the ones that proclaim "Baby Happy" with a naked little baby running around, followed by "Baby Sad" where only baby's face is visible from inside a very restrictive snow suit. I had to laugh because I've always had kids who enjoyed lacking clothing at that age.
The images are simple but funny and this book in particular is one that older children might enjoy reading to their younger siblings. Also, little ones like my 3 year old adore books like this because they can actually "read" them.
Higher! Higher! is just hitting book shelves now and is sure to become a fast favorite. The main character in this book spends the entire time on a swing at the park where she demands to go "higher! higher!" At first, she's able to see the tops of buildings and then things get a little crazy! Before you know it she's giving a "high" five to an alien in outer space.
Patricelli is the author and illustrator of these enjoyable children's books and they would make a great healthy alternative to candy in this weekend's Easter baskets.
For the simplistic but enjoyable and humorous style of Patricelli and her books, BBM gives these books. . .
Both of these books can be purchased through The BBM Review store, here and here. Stay tuned because we have some cool giveaways coming soon!
Getting Rave Reviews
BlogHer Review
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