You know that when it comes to feeding my family I like to cook it from scratch.  I buy very little food that would be considered processed.  I don’t make my own cheese, crackers, and I still buy canned tomatoes and beans.  I like to cook beans from dried and I have canned tomatoes from the garden with my mom, and I KNOW HOW to make crackers from scratch but time isn’t always on my side.  I work away from home, and I like to make time to just play with my children.

That is not to say that I don’t try to choose wisely when I do purchase pre-made items.  I buy organic cheese, canned tomatoes, and beans when I can (when they are available).  I try to cook extra and freeze items or can them so I’ll have things on a busy night when I just don’t have time to start at square one – you know the nights I’m talking about – you’re late getting home from work, maybe the kids have ball practice or a game, there’s scouts or dance class and everyone has to be in a different place a a different time and the drive thru or the local pizza delivery is calling your name.

I recently had the opportunity to try a product from Wolfgang Puck that I am happy to add to my quick go-to meal line up.  Its their 100% all natural sauces.  Since I tried their soups a while back and thought they were fantastic I didn’t hesitate to try these.  I am a stickler when it comes to canned products because they usually are lack luster but Wolfgang Puck’s soups were so good they were a rival to homemade.  The sauces are no different.

They come in four flavors: Tomato Basil, Arrabbiata, Creamy Vodka, and Four Cheese.  Fabulous over pasta for a quick weeknight meal, or I really liked using the tomato basil for the sauce on my homemade pizza using my own pizza dough.  In fact we had it for dinner just this week!  If you are looking for a sauce that will taste like homemade this is the one you should try!  It was a sure fire winner at my house.

Disclosure: I received free product for review purposes. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

New Year’s Eve is creeping up on us and for many of us that means entertaining.  Some of you may be hosting the party while others will be bringing a dish to contribute.  This year we’ll actually be spending the evening with family…relaxing.  But, that doesn’t mean we won’t be eating our share of party food! (:

I love appetizers, and if it weren’t detrimental to my waist line I would eat appetizers for dinner a lot more often!  There are so many great recipes to choose from.  I have a lots of yummy go-to dishes.  This year I’ll be making some simple appetizers from scratch and I’ll be serving some prepared dishes as well!

Walmart has lots of great prepared dishes to choose from… Marketside pizza sandwich rings ($10), Hormel Cheese Ball Party Trays ($10.98), Shrimp Party Trays ($5-$7.98), Marketside Super Subs ($5.98), 16 oz. Marketside Dips ($4.98), Petit Fours ($3), and lots more!

We’ll be diving into Marketside’s Spinach Artichoke Dip and Asiago and Red Pepper Dip along with the Petit Fours and some cocktail weinies (Judah’s favorite!), and sub sandwiches. I can’t wait for a “snacky dinner.”  We don’t get to do it to often so I really look forward to it!

Disclosure: I am a Walmart Mom. This post is sponsored by Walmart. Walmart has provided me with product and compensation in exchange for my time and efforts in creating this post. My participation is voluntary. As always my opinion is my own.

I am a southern gal, born and raised and as much as I tried to fight it, my son at only 2 1/2 LOVES sweet tea.  Don’t get the wrong idea here, I knew one day I would share my sweet tea with him.  I was just hoping he’d be a little older before becoming addicted to the sweet nectar we call “tea.”  To us southerners it needs no other name – we don’t call it “sweet tea” its just tea.

During the day Judah asks for chocolate milk, “white” milk, and juice.  But, at night time, with dinner, I almost don’t have to ask what he would like to drink because 100% of the time he says tea.  Its probably because its what everyone else is having and to him it is just part of dinner.  I make mine with sugar and decaffeinated tea bags.  So, I guess it could be worse.  We stay clear from restaurant sweet tea – especially at fast food restaurants because it is usually made with high fructose corn syrup.  And, at least it doesn’t jack him up on caffeine.

So, when Tetley asked me if I was interested in sharing this idea of “teasplashing” I was intrigued.  The idea is to add a little fruit juice (instead of sugar) to a cup of decaffeinated black or green tea.  Its a healthy treat {especially heated} for the kids and adults will love it too!

A healthier alternative to hot cocoa and hot apple cider, these recipes combine either green or black decaffeinated Tetley Tea with 100% juices – apple, blueberry and pomegranate. Or modify with your kids’ favorite juices.

Both green and black tea provide powerful, immune system-boosting antioxidants, which can be especially helpful to kids fighting colds. And by adding 100% juice, they’ll get the vitamins and nutrients they need with a taste they’ll love. Best of all, “Teasplashing” is an affordable solution for moms, since both ingredients are grocery list regulars.

:: Green Apple Tea

1 Tetley Decaffeinated Green Tea bag
4 oz. of boiling water
4 oz. 100% apple juice
Place the tag bag in an 8 oz. cup. Add boiling water and allow tea to steep for 3 minutes. Remove tea bag and add juice. Makes one 8 oz. serving.

:: Black & Blue Pom Pom Tea

1 Tetley Decaffeinated Black Tea bag
4 oz. of boiling water
2 oz. Blueberry juice
2 oz. Pomegranate juice Place the tag bag in an 8 oz. cup. Add boiling water and allow tea to steep for 3 minutes. Remove tea bag and add juices. Makes one 8 oz. serving.

Disclosure: I received free product for review purposes. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

I’m sitting on my couch sabotaging my workout.  I’m eating the most delicious (and addictive) snack there is – popcorn.  Not just any popcorn… caramel corn AND cheese popcorn – mixed.  I know it sounds strange but if you’ve never tried it you MUST.  I was a skeptic and now I’m sitting here trying to tell myself to drop. the. popcorn.  My hand isn’t cooperating.  I can’t stop eating this snack straight from the heavens!  Ok, so are you dying to find out what kind of popcorn this is?  It is G.H. Cretors – the trailblazers of popcorn!

G.H. Cretors, with a history in popcorn dating back to 1885, when Great Grandpa Cretors invented the popcorn machine, just launched its new lines of popped corn.

These delectably savory snacks are ideal for simple, gourmet holiday entertaining. The five flavors include: Chicago Mix (cheese and caramel corn combined!), Just the Cheese Corn, Just the Carmel Corn, Kettle Corn and Caramel Nut Crunch. Each are made using a special, “mushroom” variety popping corn, contain only all-natural ingredients, are free of GMOs and certified Kosher.

There is no need to add any artificial colors or flavors to make it taste good. It does that all on its own.  Artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives just get in the way of the wonderful flavors of freshly popped popcorn.

G.H. Cretors has also chosen to use brown rice syrup (instead of corn syrup).  Besides the fact that brown rice syrup has a wonderful crisp sweetness, unlike refined sugars it has a low glycemic value. This means that it doesn’t cause a sudden spike in blood pressure or a sugar “high” after it is consumed.

You can search to find a store that carries G.H. Cretors here.  It is also available on Amazon.com and will be available straight from their own site soon!

Disclosure: I received free product for review purposes. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.