Hormel

Although Earth Day is the most celebrated, it is most certainly not the only holiday intended to honor Mother Nature.  A quick search online brought me to United Nation’s list of the 13 different “environmental” holidays. 

February 2: Wetlands Day
March 21: World Forestry Day
March 22: World Water Day
March 23: World Meteorological Day
April 18: World Heritage Day
April 22: Earth Day
May 22: International Day for Biological Diversity
June 5: World Environment Day
June 17: World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
July 11: World Population Day
September 16: International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer (World Ozone Day)
September 28: Green Consumer Day
October 1-7: World Wildlife Week

That’s an impressive list. I’ve heard of three and celebrate just one, Earth Day. You?
Schools, families and communities are finding ways to celebrate Earth Day each year and now more than ever, every day. It’s impressive the creativity that is shown by these groups. …

Show Team Spirit with Your Snack Foods on Game Day
I’m going green. I’m actually going green and grey. My alma mater, Loyola University Maryland, has made it to the big dance for the 2nd time in its basketball history. The 1st time was my freshman year in college. I’m beyond ecstatic and proud.
Showing my team spirit won’t just be wearing green and grey for the Loyola Greyhounds as they take on Ohio State. We’re going green on game day when we snack on a bowl full of guacamole, Wholly Guacamole of course! Alongside a big bag of tortilla chips, guacamole makes a perfect Go Hounds snack to have while watching the game!  I also have their great 100-calorie snack packs that makes portion control much easier! Guacamole is a yummy, chock full of nutrition …

The Super Bowl is approaching, and March Madness will be here before you know it.  Chips and dips will be covering our coffee tables as we feed the sports fanatics in our homes.  Using a large can of chopped chicken, such as the Hormel Chunk Chicken (a pantry staple in our home,) plus a few additional ingredients you can easy have a crowd pleaser, even if their favorite team is losing. Try adding it to a spinach artichoke dip or a Mexican Layer Dip. Delicious!

This spread is a sport fan favorite.  It was originally shared to me by my cousin, who had adapted it from another cousin.  Yes, it’s one of those that’s been around the block and keeps getting better! When I 1st had it at her home a few months ago, I was so excited to make it myself.  It was one of those dips that I want …

The Hormel Extended Blogger Family program has inspired me to share my New Year’s resolution progress!  I’m eager to hear about your’s!
We are half way through the 1st month of the year.  How are you doing on your New Year’s resolutions!? Be honest!  This is a fantastic time to reflect on your accomplishments and rework how you will meet the resolutions that may have been a bit more difficult to stick with.

I pat myself on the back for a job well done with:

Eating healthier!
Drinking more water!
Picking up the house more often!
Saying HI to more people!
Drinking green tea daily!

 
Still Need to Work On

Exercising 3xs a week!
Cleaning up my desk every few days! (You don’t even want to look at it now!)
Going to bed earlier! (Let’s just say I watched part of the end of Letterman last night!)
Getting up earlier! (Woops, forgot to set the alarm this morning! Thankful for …

Going beyond the standard chips & dips for an upcoming gathering such as New Year’s Eve is easier than you think!  Make a beautiful dish of olives, cheeses, roasted pepper slices, meat slices and gourmet crackers instead.  A festive platter, delicious finger foods and a handful of cocktail napkins and you’re all set!  It makes an attractive presentation, which is certainly yummy!
Secondly, if you’re transporting the appetizer to a party, you’ll just need to fill your bag with a jar or two of olives & peppers, a box of sliced meat, sliced cheese, a platter and a box of crackers and you’re set!  No more dip leaking out the side or something that needs to be heated up or requires extensive cleaning! Keep the chips and dip for the backyard parties and bring out the yummy meats, cheeses and olives instead!
Next time you’re at your grocery store take a look …

Last month our church provided a list outlining the specific food needs of typical migrant families in South Florida.  The church provides the food to a local mission who distributes the bags of food to the migrant families in need. When I saw the list in the back of the Sunday bulletin, including a basic photo of each item, I knew that it was something we could do.  I also knew that I would be teaching my daughter the importance of providing for others in need.

I kept the bulletin in my purse until my next trip to Publix.  Armed with my daughter, we went up and down the aisles with our cart and the list.  She would, very happily, put the items in the cart as we found them.  It really was exciting, especially to see her smile as she would say things like, “Wow, mom I’m …

Black beans and rice is one of the most served dishes in this house.  Whether its canned black beans or made from scratch, our tummies love it!
I am a 1st generation Cuban-American.  I was raised in a bilingual home with a ton of Cuban influence through food and tradition.  Our weeknight dinners were full of meals like bistec, picadillo and typically a serving of rice and black beans.

Fast forward a few decades and I am now responsible for the meals of my ½ Cuban-American home.  Tom is predominantly Italian with a little Irish thrown in!  In our home we enjoy Cuban, Italian and a few Irish meals!
There are a few “international” dishes that are certain to put smiles on all members of the family.  Black beans and rice is one.  It is one of the dishes, particularly the black beans, which my older daughter has always been fond of.
My favorite recipe can …

Buffalo Chicken Dip and Ways to Spookify your Dishes for Halloween
Tis the season for chips and dips!  Football season means easy foods to munch on as you’re watching the college game on Saturday or the Pro on Sunday!  I have some favorites, including the Mexi-Melt of Beans – my father-in-laws favorite!  Here’s another one that will have you wanting to lick the bowl!
Hormel Buffalo Chicken Dip
Ingredients

2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup ranch salad dressing
3/4 cup hot wing sauce
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
2 (12.5-ounce) cans Hormel® Chunk Breast of Chicken, drained
Crackers, tortilla chips and celery sticks

Directions

Heat oven to 400°F. In large bowl, combine cream cheese, dressing, hot wing sauce and shredded cheese until well blended. Gently stir in chicken.
Spoon mixture into 2-quart casserole. Bake 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Serve with crackers, tortilla chips and celery sticks for dipping.

Kicking it Up a Notch …

Ways to Make After School Snacks Healthier!
After school snacks can get junky and repetitive.  Just as fast as our morning goes, we’re awaiting our kids at the bus stop before half the laundry gets done.  Exhausted, yet wired, kids are ready for the afternoon.  Hours of soccer, ballet and gymnastics cram our days and my daughter is always STARVING from the moment she sets her book bag down!
Bags of chips, chocolate filled granola bars and sugary cookies are often what kids want.  As Smart Mamas we need to remember nutrition is still important, even after a long day at school.
Making Better Choices
Here’s a chart provided as part of my involvement with the Hormel Extended Family Blogger program to help Smart Mamas think of healthier snack options.

Instead of…
Try this…

Sugery-sweetened beverages
Soda

100% Fruit Juice
Fat-free or 1% milk
Low sodium vegetable juice
Water with sugar-free flavoring

 Full calorie chips & crackers

Unsalted sunflower seeds

Fresh local produce is something a Smart Mama LOVES!  I’m sure you all agree!  Whether you’re at a local farmer’s market, partake in a farm-share or have a great produce department at your grocery store, the freshness of good produce is something we all want for our families.

My near 5 year old has developed a recent fascination with red peppers.  I need to jump on this before the fascination turns to disgust like asparagus did last month.  (I’m sure I’m not the only mother dealing with a stubborn eater!)  This locally grown veggie is great at summertime.  It’s perfect for grilling, adding to kabobs and including in salads.

As we transition from summertime schedules to the school routine, I continue to look for recipes that are not only are healthy and easy to make, but they must be yummy too. During a recent trip to Publix Isabella had a blast …

My opportunity as a Hormel Extended Family Blogger is inspiring a little Iron Chef for Smarty Pants Mamas this week!  Let’s try using an ingredient that is often a pantry staple.  It’s used “as-is.”  It’s used in appetizers, entrees and more.  Think of ways you have or could use it.
So, this week I put before you…. Hormel® Chili with Beans!

Yummy! How can you use it?
Here’s my favorite way (compliments of my step-mother-in-law) of using it in a quick and easy appetizer!

It’s always a crowd pleaser and a staple anytime the guys are watching the game! Many variations can be found of this dip.  Maybe you have your own.
Mexi-Melt of Beans
Ingredients

1 can of Hormel® Chili with Beans (without beans if you prefer)
1 box of cream cheese
1 package of shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese

Directions
Pre-heat oven to 325, or have microwave ready.  In an oven-safe/microwave-safe medium …

Hitting the grill this summer?  We love to grill!  Burger, dogs, chicken, pork…you name it!
Now through August 5th you can enter The Elevate The Everyday™ Summer Dining Sweepstakes by Hormel Foods to win one of 3 great prizes!

13 winners will be selected and you could be the Grand Prize winner, enjoying a $500 value outdoor grill for your backyard dining this summer!  Other prizes include,
First Prize: Two Grills ($200 value each)
Second Prize: Ten Summer Grilling Coupon Prize Packs ($45 value each)
To enter, head over to http://www.Facebook.com/HFRecipes and LIKE the page.  Click the Summer Dining tab and complete the entry form!  You can access the official rules from there!
Stick around Facebook.com/HFRecipes for loads of summertime recipes and more!
Disclosure: I am currently a member of the Hormel Foods Extended Blogger Program and this post is part of my involvement in …

I love trying new recipes.  Most of you have learned that about me.  I especially like recipes that are not only yummy, but fairly easy to follow.
On a recent trip to Publix, my local supermarket, I used my SmartPhone, to find a recipe for pork that I found on sale.  (You also know I love to buy things on sale!)  Now, I do use my phone a lot when I shop.  I have several recipe apps that are great resources when I’m trying to figure out what on earth to make for dinner that week.  The app I used on this visit was a little more unique than the standard recipe databases.  This recipe collection, Hormel EZCook made my “what can I do with this pork” dilemma end in seconds.

This web-based application, accessed at http://m.hormelEZcook.com showed me a list of Hormel …