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	<title>The Domestic Buzz &#187; Food &amp; Drink Reviews</title>
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	<link>http://thedomesticbuzz.com</link>
	<description>Product Reviews, Giveaways, and Personal Anecdotes</description>
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		<title>Make a weeknight meal special with Bertolli</title>
		<link>http://thedomesticbuzz.com/make-a-weeknight-meal-special-with-bertolli/</link>
		<comments>http://thedomesticbuzz.com/make-a-weeknight-meal-special-with-bertolli/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:08:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mariana</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Food & Drink Reviews]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thedomesticbuzz.com/?p=15619</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Menu planning is not my forte. I mean, I try. I really do make an honest attempt. I scan my grocery store&#8217;s ad, looking for sales, think up a few meals based on those items, look through the fridge and pantry to see what we need, and make a list. And&#8230; that lasts for about [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style="margin:5px 0px 5px 0px" id="linksalpha_tag_1849198353" class="linksalpha-email-button" data-url="http://thedomesticbuzz.com/make-a-weeknight-meal-special-with-bertolli/" data-text="Make a weeknight meal special with Bertolli " data-desc="Menu planning is not my forte. I mean, I try. I really do make an honest attempt. I scan my grocery store's ad, looking for sales, think up a few meals based on those items, look through the fridge and pantry to see what we need, and make a list. And... that lasts for about a week before I find myself asking "What should I make for dinner?" a half-hour before dinnertime. Sigh.

Bertolli, the brand known for their variety of pasta sauces, frozen meals and olive oils, recently issued a challenge" data-image="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79/rwnh/2012%20Jan-Mar/Bertolli_Meal_Soup.gif" data-site="The Domestic Buzz"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.linksalpha.com/social/loader?script_type=buttons_counters&tag_id=linksalpha_tag_1849198353&link=http%3A%2F%2Fthedomesticbuzz.com%2Fmake-a-weeknight-meal-special-with-bertolli%2F&gplus=1&twitter=1&fblike=1&linkedin=0&gbuzz=0&tumblr=0&reddit=0&pinterest=1&digg=0&stumbleupon=0&gpluslang=en-US&twitterlang=en&fblikelang=en_US&gbuzzlang=en&fblikeverb=like&fblikefont=arial&fblikeref=linksalpha&gplusctr=1&twitterctr=1&linkedinctr=1&gbuzzctr=1&redditctr=1&pinterestctr=1&diggctr=1&stumbleuponctr=1&twittermention=TheDomesticBuzz&twitterrelated1=ohMariana&twitterrelated2=ohMariana&halign=center"></script><p>Menu planning is not my forte. I mean, <em>I try</em>. I really do make an honest attempt. I scan my grocery store&#8217;s ad, looking for sales, think up a few meals based on those items, look through the fridge and pantry to see what we need, and make a list. And&#8230; that lasts for about a week before I find myself asking &#8220;What should I make for dinner?&#8221; a half-hour before dinnertime. Sigh.</p>
<p><img class="alignright" src="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79/rwnh/2012%20Jan-Mar/Bertolli_Meal_Soup.gif" alt="" border="0" /><a href="http://www.villabertolli.com" target="_blank">Bertolli</a>, the brand known for their variety of pasta sauces, frozen meals and olive oils, recently issued a challenge to a group of bloggers &#8211; choose one of their great new soup options and create a special weeknight dinner for my family. Sounds easy enough, right? The catch &#8211; I only had one hour to do so.</p>
<p>Available in four varieties: Chicken Minestrone, Roasted Chicken &amp; Rotini Pasta, Tomato Florentine &amp; Tortellini with Chicken, and Tuscan-Style Beef with Vegetables, the hardest part of all this was probably picking out which soup we&#8217;d try first! I have a soft spot for tomato soup, so we went with that. Plus, the other 3 varieties are chock-full of veggies, which to most people would be a great thing, but I <em>know</em> my kids.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79/rwnh/2012%20Jan-Mar/Bertolli_Soup.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79/rwnh/2012%20Jan-Mar/TomatoFlorentine.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></p>
<p>I try to involve my girls in the cooking process as much as possible. I&#8217;d like to think they&#8217;re more likely to eat what they help prepare, but that&#8217;s not always the case. Sometimes they just want to have fun and make a big mess, and that&#8217;s okay, too. It&#8217;s the ultimate learning experience… fractions, chemistry, taking turns, food safety, not to mention the fact that cooking is a valuable life skill! I even give them each their own list when we go to the grocery store &#8211; 2-3 items that they&#8217;re in charge of finding, kind of like a scavenger hunt.</p>
<p>To keep the girls busy, I decided to have them make some ginger cookies. They scooped, measured, and stirred the ingredients while I sliced and diced ingredients for a salad nearby. I spooned the batter into a big plastic bag so they could pipe it onto parchment-lined cookie sheets in little lines. They thought this was cool (and strange), not knowing that there was a method to this madness. <img src='http://thedomesticbuzz.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif' alt=';)' class='wp-smiley' />  I gave them each a handful of dried cranberries and sliced almonds (which I happened to be sprinkling on the salad) so they could decorate their cookies. Listening to my 1st-grader teach her little sis about patterns made me so proud!</p>
<p><a title="Cookies by MrsMarianaP, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6829285195/"><img class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7161/6829285195_5856b70c88_z.jpg" alt="Cookies" width="530" height="382" /></a></p>
<p>I set the oven timer for 10 minutes. While the cookies were baking, it was time to make the soup! While I was going to make dinner for my husband and the girls, after that they were on their own! Bertolli Premium Meal Soups are meant to serve two adults, but in my case, it was just enough for one adult and two kids. Perfect. I chose this particular night to make this meal because I was on a tight schedule, since I was hosting a babysitting co-op meeting later that evening which I had to prepare for. The fact that I could potentially have a great meal on the table in less than 30 minutes with little to no planning? Priceless. Preparation consists of adding a cup of water, bringing the soup to a boil, and then back down to a simmer for 5 minutes, stirring every now and then. <em>The soup was ready before the cookies.</em></p>
<p>Tomato Florentine &amp; Tortellini with Chicken is composed of cheese-filled tortellini, white meat chicken, spinach and tomatoes in a rich tomato bisque with just a hint of basil. And let me tell you&#8230; it is DELICIOUS! I was the first one to have a taste. The flavors are just right; I didn&#8217;t need to add any extra seasonings. The texture is lovely; rich and creamy, but somehow delicate at the same time.</p>
<p><a title="Bertolli Meal Soup by MrsMarianaP, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6829282539/"><img class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7018/6829282539_35624d2067_z.jpg" alt="Bertolli Meal Soup" width="529" height="323" /></a></p>
<p>I had Maya and Maura set the table while the soup cooled a bit. They put their festive Valentine&#8217;s place mats out, all the silverware they could possibly need, and special (plastic) goblets. Daddy just got a big spoon. LOL. Where&#8217;s the love?</p>
<p><a title="Bertolli Meal Soup by MrsMarianaP, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6829283327/"><img class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7163/6829283327_93531ae4c3_z.jpg" alt="Bertolli Meal Soup" width="530" height="404" /></a></p>
<p>The verdict from my girls? <strong>Mmmmmmmm!</strong> I couldn&#8217;t even get a word out of them, not with them talking without their mouths full, anyway. I toasted some wheat bread and cut it into sticks so that they could dunk it in their soup. Kids love dipping things.</p>
<p><a title="Mmmmmmmm! by MrsMarianaP, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6829284541/"><img class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7026/6829284541_884066d677_z.jpg" alt="Yum!" width="530" height="380" /></a></p>
<p>My husband said that he would&#8217;ve sworn the soup was homemade if I hadn&#8217;t told him otherwise. Aww! That&#8217;s nice that he thinks that I can possibly cook that well. I was thinking it tasted more like a restaurant-quality meal, but I guess I just don&#8217;t have enough confidence in my cooking.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a title="Drinking by MrsMarianaP, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6829284097/"><img style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7010/6829284097_3690a8d0c0_z.jpg" alt="Drinking" width="275" height="167" /></a><a title="dunking by MrsMarianaP, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6829282999/"><img style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7009/6829282999_b1e5c43698_z.jpg" alt="dunking" width="257" height="167" /></a></p>
<p>This is when I kissed the girls goodnight, and slipped out quietly. Mommy confession: I lied and told them my meeting was a half hour earlier than it actually was, just so I could go for a quick run beforehand. I needed that &#8220;me&#8221; time desperately. I did leave a little treat for them in the freezer, going along with the same dipping theme. From what I was told the next day, they loved it.</p>
<p><a title="Dessert by MrsMarianaP, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6829284909/"><img class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7174/6829284909_3942330cd7_z.jpg" alt="Dessert" width="530" height="383" /></a></p>
<h2><strong>BUY IT!</strong></h2>
<p>These new hearty, fresh-tasting meal soups are available in the frozen aisle of grocery retailers nationwide, including Walmart and Target. To learn more about Bertolli Meal Soups, please visit:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Facebook:</strong> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Bertolli" target="_blank">facebook.com/Bertolli</a></li>
<li><strong>Twitter:</strong> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Bertolli" target="_blank">twitter.com/Bertolli</a></li>
<li><strong>Website:</strong> <a href="http://www.villabertolli.com" target="_blank">villabertolli.com</a></li>
</ul>
<p><a title="We heart Bertolli Meal Soup by MrsMarianaP, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6829283747/"><img class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6829283747_3fd8704981_z.jpg" alt="Bertolli Meal Soup" width="530" height="467" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><em>Disclosure: I was compensated by Bertolli to participate in the Weeknight Meal Special Challenge, but all opinions are my own (and my family&#8217;s!)</em></p>
<div style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0px" id="linksalpha_tag_1210197986" class="linksalpha-email-button" data-url="http://thedomesticbuzz.com/make-a-weeknight-meal-special-with-bertolli/" data-text="Make a weeknight meal special with Bertolli " data-desc="Menu planning is not my forte. I mean, I try. I really do make an honest attempt. I scan my grocery store's ad, looking for sales, think up a few meals based on those items, look through the fridge and pantry to see what we need, and make a list. And... that lasts for about a week before I find myself asking "What should I make for dinner?" a half-hour before dinnertime. Sigh.

Bertolli, the brand known for their variety of pasta sauces, frozen meals and olive oils, recently issued a challenge" data-image="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79/rwnh/2012%20Jan-Mar/Bertolli_Meal_Soup.gif" data-site="The Domestic Buzz"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.linksalpha.com/social/loader?script_type=buttons_counters&tag_id=linksalpha_tag_1210197986&link=http%3A%2F%2Fthedomesticbuzz.com%2Fmake-a-weeknight-meal-special-with-bertolli%2F&gplus=1&twitter=1&fbsend=1&linkedin=0&gbuzz=0&tumblr=0&reddit=0&pinterest=1&digg=0&stumbleupon=1&gpluslang=en-US&twitterlang=en&fbsendlang=en_US&gbuzzlang=en&twittermention=TheDomesticBuzz&twitterrelated1=ohMariana&twitterrelated2=ohMariana&halign=center"></script>]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>I Love Avocados! [Twitter Party]</title>
		<link>http://thedomesticbuzz.com/i-love-avocados-twitter-party/</link>
		<comments>http://thedomesticbuzz.com/i-love-avocados-twitter-party/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:55:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mariana</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food & Drink Reviews]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thedomesticbuzz.com/?p=15607</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Avocados. Mmmmm. Join us this afternoon for a Twitter Party to talk all about your love for avocados! Come slice, dip, spread, eat and tweet with us at #iloveavocados! Playful, fun and all about your love for avocados, hearts will be aflutter during the celebration of this delicious fruit. We&#8217;ll talk avocados, football, food, parties &#38; more! Plus, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style="margin:5px 0px 5px 0px" id="linksalpha_tag_1022156872" class="linksalpha-email-button" data-url="http://thedomesticbuzz.com/i-love-avocados-twitter-party/" data-text="I Love Avocados! [Twitter Party]" data-desc="Avocados. Mmmmm.
Join us this afternoon for a Twitter Party to talk all about your love for avocados! Come slice, dip, spread, eat and tweet with us at #iloveavocados! Playful, fun and all about your love for avocados, hearts will be aflutter during the celebration of this delicious fruit. We'll talk avocados, football, food, parties &amp; more! Plus, learn about Avocados from Mexico’s unique Facebook page featuring special widgets to share the avocado love with all your friends and family" data-image="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79/rwnh/2011%20Aug-Dec/Avocados.png" data-site="The Domestic Buzz"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.linksalpha.com/social/loader?script_type=buttons_counters&tag_id=linksalpha_tag_1022156872&link=http%3A%2F%2Fthedomesticbuzz.com%2Fi-love-avocados-twitter-party%2F&gplus=1&twitter=1&fblike=1&linkedin=0&gbuzz=0&tumblr=0&reddit=0&pinterest=1&digg=0&stumbleupon=0&gpluslang=en-US&twitterlang=en&fblikelang=en_US&gbuzzlang=en&fblikeverb=like&fblikefont=arial&fblikeref=linksalpha&gplusctr=1&twitterctr=1&linkedinctr=1&gbuzzctr=1&redditctr=1&pinterestctr=1&diggctr=1&stumbleuponctr=1&twittermention=TheDomesticBuzz&twitterrelated1=ohMariana&twitterrelated2=ohMariana&halign=center"></script><p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Avocados.</strong> Mmmmm.</em></p>
<p><img class="alignright" src="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79/rwnh/2011%20Aug-Dec/Avocados.png" alt="" border="0" />Join us this afternoon for a Twitter Party to talk all about your love for avocados! Come slice, dip, spread, eat and tweet with us at #iloveavocados! Playful, fun and all about your love for avocados, hearts will be aflutter during the celebration of this delicious fruit. We&#8217;ll talk avocados, football, food, parties &amp; more! Plus, learn about <a href="http://tinyurl.com/iloveavocados" target="_blank">Avocados from Mexico’s unique Facebook page</a> featuring special widgets to share the avocado love with all your friends and family.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>What:</strong> Avocados from Mexico #iloveavocados Twitter Party</li>
<li><strong>When: </strong>Tuesday, January 31, 2012 from 3:00-4:00PM EST</li>
<li><strong>Hashtag:</strong> #iloveavocados</li>
<li><strong>Moderators:</strong> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/MomCentral">@MomCentral</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/DadCentral">@DadCentral</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/MomCentralChat">@MomCentralChat</a> &amp; <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/StacyDeBroff">@StacyDeBroff</a></li>
<li><strong>Special Guest:</strong> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/GuacGrl">@guacgrl</a></li>
<li><strong>Prizes: </strong>Six people will win a $50 Amazon gift code &amp; an Avocados from Mexico prize pack during the hour-long party. We’ll also be giving away two $50 Amazon gift codes &amp; a prize pack for tweeting before the party.</li>
<li><strong>TweetGrid:</strong> <a href="http://bit.ly/xRDJSq">http://bit.ly/xRDJSq</a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Pre-tweet to Win!</strong></p>
<p>Anyone who<strong> </strong><a href="http://clicktotweet.com/KTyiU"><strong>tweets this</strong></a><strong> </strong>from now until the Avocados from Mexico #iloveavocados Twitter Party will be eligible to win one of two $50 Amazon gift codes and an Avocados from Mexico prize pack before the party starts.</p>
<p>For more information about the party, please <a href="http://www.momcentral.com/blogs/the-debroff-debrief/join-us-the-avocados-mexico-iloveavocados-twitter-party">click here</a>.</p>
<p><em>Disclosure: I&#8217;ll receive compensation for co-hosting the Twitter party.</em></p>
<div style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0px" id="linksalpha_tag_1399448598" class="linksalpha-email-button" data-url="http://thedomesticbuzz.com/i-love-avocados-twitter-party/" data-text="I Love Avocados! [Twitter Party]" data-desc="Avocados. Mmmmm.
Join us this afternoon for a Twitter Party to talk all about your love for avocados! Come slice, dip, spread, eat and tweet with us at #iloveavocados! Playful, fun and all about your love for avocados, hearts will be aflutter during the celebration of this delicious fruit. We'll talk avocados, football, food, parties &amp; more! Plus, learn about Avocados from Mexico’s unique Facebook page featuring special widgets to share the avocado love with all your friends and family" data-image="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79/rwnh/2011%20Aug-Dec/Avocados.png" data-site="The Domestic Buzz"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.linksalpha.com/social/loader?script_type=buttons_counters&tag_id=linksalpha_tag_1399448598&link=http%3A%2F%2Fthedomesticbuzz.com%2Fi-love-avocados-twitter-party%2F&gplus=1&twitter=1&fbsend=1&linkedin=0&gbuzz=0&tumblr=0&reddit=0&pinterest=1&digg=0&stumbleupon=1&gpluslang=en-US&twitterlang=en&fbsendlang=en_US&gbuzzlang=en&twittermention=TheDomesticBuzz&twitterrelated1=ohMariana&twitterrelated2=ohMariana&halign=center"></script>]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Game day chili with&#8230; Maseca!</title>
		<link>http://thedomesticbuzz.com/game-day-chili-with-maseca/</link>
		<comments>http://thedomesticbuzz.com/game-day-chili-with-maseca/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:15:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mariana</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food & Drink Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Latina Bloggers Connect]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maseca]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thedomesticbuzz.com/?p=15583</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are some pantry items that I always have on hand, and Maseca is one of them. Genuine Maseca Corn Flour by Andy Castro, on Flickr In the past I&#8217;ve written about tortillas, tamales, and corn cakes, but did you know Maseca is also great as a thickener in soups and stews? Move over cornstarch, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style="margin:5px 0px 5px 0px" id="linksalpha_tag_1218921144" class="linksalpha-email-button" data-url="http://thedomesticbuzz.com/game-day-chili-with-maseca/" data-text="Game day chili with... Maseca!" data-desc="There are some pantry items that I always have on hand, and Maseca is one of them.

Genuine Maseca Corn Flour by Andy Castro, on Flickr
In the past I've written about tortillas, tamales, and corn cakes, but did you know Maseca is also great as a thickener in soups and stews? Move over cornstarch, you may thicken a dish, but add no flavor. Maseca makes soups thick and rich, adding a lovely, subtle corn flavor and a little texture, too. The key is to add just a little at a time, whisking the so" data-image="http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1057/1119467910_60217d7ca2_z.jpg" data-site="The Domestic Buzz"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.linksalpha.com/social/loader?script_type=buttons_counters&tag_id=linksalpha_tag_1218921144&link=http%3A%2F%2Fthedomesticbuzz.com%2Fgame-day-chili-with-maseca%2F&gplus=1&twitter=1&fblike=1&linkedin=0&gbuzz=0&tumblr=0&reddit=0&pinterest=1&digg=0&stumbleupon=0&gpluslang=en-US&twitterlang=en&fblikelang=en_US&gbuzzlang=en&fblikeverb=like&fblikefont=arial&fblikeref=linksalpha&gplusctr=1&twitterctr=1&linkedinctr=1&gbuzzctr=1&redditctr=1&pinterestctr=1&diggctr=1&stumbleuponctr=1&twittermention=TheDomesticBuzz&twitterrelated1=ohMariana&twitterrelated2=ohMariana&halign=center"></script><p style="text-align: center;">There are some pantry items that I always have on hand, and <a href="http://bit.ly/Mas_Eng" target="_blank">Maseca</a> is one of them.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a title="Genuine Maseca Corn Flour by andy castro, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/andycastro/1119467910/"><img src="http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1057/1119467910_60217d7ca2_z.jpg" alt="Genuine Maseca Corn Flour" width="537" height="302" /></a><br />
<strong>Genuine Maseca Corn Flour by Andy Castro, on Flickr</strong></p>
<p>In the past I&#8217;ve written about tortillas, tamales, and corn cakes, but did you know Maseca is also great as a thickener in soups and stews? Move over cornstarch, you may thicken a dish, but add <em>no</em> flavor. Maseca makes soups thick and rich, adding a lovely, subtle corn flavor and a little texture, too. The key is to add just a little at a time, whisking the soup constantly until it&#8217;s reached your desired consistency. The most convenient way to do it is to mix the Maseca with a little warm water (or milk, if making a creamy soup) first until it&#8217;s dissolved, and then add it to the pot. Usually 2-3 tablespoons will do, but I don&#8217;t really measure. If that doesn&#8217;t end up being enough, to make it easy, I keep some in a big shaker next to the stove so I can sprinkle in a little more!</p>
<h2><strong>Game Day Chili</strong></h2>
<p>The Super Bowl is coming up, and while I&#8217;m not a big fan of football, I do like to treat my husband, his dad, and whomever else happens to show up to some good food. A big pot of chili with all the &#8220;fixins&#8221; really hits the spot on a cold February evening. Plus, I can easily make it ahead of time so I don&#8217;t spend the afternoon cooking. I might just make an extra batch and freeze it for next month&#8217;s Oscar party!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a title="Chili by jefferysclark, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coachjeff/4129322733/"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2739/4129322733_842f8315b3_z.jpg" alt="Chili" width="539" height="386" /></a><br />
<strong>Chili by Jeff Clark, on Flickr</strong></p>
<p>As far as a recipe goes, well, <em>anything</em> goes! My chili changes every time, depending on what I happen to have on hand. It&#8217;s a great way to use up leftover meat and veggies, and I always add a little Maseca to thicken it up. My basic ingredients include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Meat: ground beef, ground turkey, chopped steak</li>
<li>Onion, chopped</li>
<li>Garlic, minced</li>
<li>Bell peppers, seeded and chopped</li>
<li>Tomatoes, diced</li>
<li>Tomato sauce</li>
<li>Spices: chili powder, cumin, oregano, cayenne (if you like it extra spicy)</li>
<li>Kidney and/or pinto beans</li>
<li>Salt and pepper to taste</li>
<li>Maseca, for thickening</li>
<li>For toppings: cilantro, shredded cheese, diced onions, sour cream, sliced jalapeños, tostada chips</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Directions:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Heat oil over medium heat. Sauté onions and bell peppers until soft.</li>
<li>Add garlic and meat, and cook until browned. Drain off excess grease.</li>
<li>Add diced or canned tomatoes, a can of tomato sauce, and all the spices. Season with salt and pepper to taste.</li>
<li>Now you add the beans, if you&#8217;d like, bring to a boil, and let simmer for a while.</li>
<li>I add the Maseca mixture when the chili is almost ready, and bring it to a simmer for another 10-15 minutes.</li>
<li>Put together a toppings bar so everyone can help themselves!</li>
</ul>
<p>For more yummy game day recipe ideas, including things like nachos, taquitos, empanadas, and sopes, visit the <a href="http://bit.ly/Mas_Eng" target="_blank">My Chef</a> section of the Maseca website. There&#8217;s also a great new club that you can sign up for &#8211; Club Mi Maseca. For even <em>more</em> recipes, follow the <a href="http://pinterest.com/spanglishbaby/maseca-amigas-blogueras/" target="_blank">Maseca Amigas board</a> on Pinterest and on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23clubmimaseca" target="_blank">#clubmimaseca</a>. Be sure to read our articles on <a href="http://bit.ly/rpq1pU" target="_blank">mimaseca.com</a>, too (in both English and Spanish!)</p>
<p>Here are some more yummy recipes using Maseca, from a few of my friends:<br />
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=127240"></script></p>
<p><strong>YOUR TURN:</strong> Do you have a good chili recipe you&#8217;d like to share? I might just make it and feature it in a future post. Do you use Maseca or anything else to thicken it up?</p>
<p><em>Disclosure: I&#8217;m participating in a sponsored campaign with <a href="http://bit.ly/mimaseca" target="_blank">Maseca</a> and <a href="http://www.latinabloggersconnect.com" target="_blank">Latina Bloggers Connect</a>, but all opinions are my own.</em></p>
<div style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0px" id="linksalpha_tag_1506725793" class="linksalpha-email-button" data-url="http://thedomesticbuzz.com/game-day-chili-with-maseca/" data-text="Game day chili with... Maseca!" data-desc="There are some pantry items that I always have on hand, and Maseca is one of them.

Genuine Maseca Corn Flour by Andy Castro, on Flickr
In the past I've written about tortillas, tamales, and corn cakes, but did you know Maseca is also great as a thickener in soups and stews? Move over cornstarch, you may thicken a dish, but add no flavor. Maseca makes soups thick and rich, adding a lovely, subtle corn flavor and a little texture, too. The key is to add just a little at a time, whisking the so" data-image="http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1057/1119467910_60217d7ca2_z.jpg" data-site="The Domestic Buzz"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.linksalpha.com/social/loader?script_type=buttons_counters&tag_id=linksalpha_tag_1506725793&link=http%3A%2F%2Fthedomesticbuzz.com%2Fgame-day-chili-with-maseca%2F&gplus=1&twitter=1&fbsend=1&linkedin=0&gbuzz=0&tumblr=0&reddit=0&pinterest=1&digg=0&stumbleupon=1&gpluslang=en-US&twitterlang=en&fbsendlang=en_US&gbuzzlang=en&twittermention=TheDomesticBuzz&twitterrelated1=ohMariana&twitterrelated2=ohMariana&halign=center"></script>]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks [giveaway]</title>
		<link>http://thedomesticbuzz.com/ocean-spray-fruit-flavored-snacks-giveaway/</link>
		<comments>http://thedomesticbuzz.com/ocean-spray-fruit-flavored-snacks-giveaway/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:24:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mariana</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food & Drink Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Giveaways]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thedomesticbuzz.com/?p=15544</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As a mom, I&#8217;m always on the lookout for a snack my kids will love and that I can feel good about giving them. It&#8217;s fun to shake up snack time with something new, like these Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks. Available in two delicious varieties, Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks are: Made with real [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style="margin:5px 0px 5px 0px" id="linksalpha_tag_1071395804" class="linksalpha-email-button" data-url="http://thedomesticbuzz.com/ocean-spray-fruit-flavored-snacks-giveaway/" data-text="Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks [giveaway]" data-desc="As a mom, I'm always on the lookout for a snack my kids will love and that I can feel good about giving them. It's fun to shake up snack time with something new, like these Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks.



Available in two delicious varieties, Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks are:

	Made with real fruit juice* and natural colors** and flavors.
	80 calories, gluten free and contain 100% of the Daily Value of Vitamin C.

These were a big hit with my kids and their friends the mo" data-image="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79/rwnh/2012%20Jan-Mar/OceanSprayLogo.jpg" data-site="The Domestic Buzz"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.linksalpha.com/social/loader?script_type=buttons_counters&tag_id=linksalpha_tag_1071395804&link=http%3A%2F%2Fthedomesticbuzz.com%2Focean-spray-fruit-flavored-snacks-giveaway%2F&gplus=1&twitter=1&fblike=1&linkedin=0&gbuzz=0&tumblr=0&reddit=0&pinterest=1&digg=0&stumbleupon=0&gpluslang=en-US&twitterlang=en&fblikelang=en_US&gbuzzlang=en&fblikeverb=like&fblikefont=arial&fblikeref=linksalpha&gplusctr=1&twitterctr=1&linkedinctr=1&gbuzzctr=1&redditctr=1&pinterestctr=1&diggctr=1&stumbleuponctr=1&twittermention=TheDomesticBuzz&twitterrelated1=ohMariana&twitterrelated2=ohMariana&halign=center"></script><p><img class="alignright" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: 0px;" src="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79/rwnh/2012%20Jan-Mar/OceanSprayLogo.jpg" alt="" width="194" height="126" border="0" />As a mom, I&#8217;m always on the lookout for a snack my kids will love and that I can feel good about giving them. It&#8217;s fun to shake up snack time with something new, like these Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks.</p>
<p><a title="Ocean Spray fruit snacks by MrsMarianaP, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6717787443/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7162/6717787443_9858b04b0f_z.jpg" alt="Ocean Spray fruit snacks" width="576" height="387" /></a></p>
<p>Available in two delicious varieties, Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks are:</p>
<ul>
<li>Made with real fruit juice* and natural colors** and flavors.</li>
<li>80 calories, gluten free and contain 100% of the Daily Value of Vitamin C.</li>
</ul>
<p>These were a big hit with my kids and their friends the moment I pulled a pack out of the box! I like that each serving is small &#8211; only 8 or so gummy snacks per pack &#8211; yet satisfying enough for kids to not ask for another snack. I personally couldn&#8217;t distinguish between some of the flavors, but the snacks were definitely good. Not too chewy, and they sort of start to dissolve in your mouth while you chew. Seeing that each box comes with a bonus Box Top was a nice surprise, as Maya and I collect these for her school. Even better? The Double Box Top&#8217;s available year round.</p>
<p>For more information on this new product, please visit <a href="http://bit.ly/OceanSprayFS" target="_blank">Ocean Spray&#8217;s Website</a> or &#8216;like&#8217; <a href="http://on.fb.me/OceanSprayFBFS" target="_blank">Ocean Spray&#8217;s Facebook page</a>. <a href="http://www.myblogspark.com/uc/main/fc0d/ospe.php3?SES=e18330c09e9ea9e96ac5a86facc683ff" target="_blank">Download a printable coupon</a> for $1.10 off of purchase of (2) Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored snacks before heading to the store!</p>
<h6>*These Fruit Flavored Snacks are made with apple, pear, and cranberry juice concentrate. See package for a list of complete ingredients. They are not intended to replace fruit in the diet.<br />
**Colors from natural sources.</h6>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">________________________</h2>
<h2><strong>WIN IT!</strong></h2>
<p>4 readers of <em>The Domestic Buzz</em> will win the new Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks!</p>
<p><img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: 0px;" src="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79/rwnh/2012%20Jan-Mar/Ocean_Spray_prize_pack.jpg" alt="" width="579" height="290" border="0" /></p>
<p><strong>PRIZE</strong><br />
(4) winners will each receive a prize pack containing:</p>
<ul>
<li>6 boxes (3 of each variety) of Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks</li>
</ul>
<p>To enter to win, please leave a comment below telling me which of your favorite fruit flavors you would like to see Ocean Spray® Fruit Snacks come out with next.</p>
<p><strong><em>For extra entries:</em></strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Subscribe to my feed by <a title="my feed" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/RWNHReviews" target="_blank">reader</a> or <a title="my feed" href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=RWNHReviews" target="_blank">email</a> (or let me know if you already do). 1 entry</li>
<li>Tweet about this giveaway <strong>one time</strong> using the Tweet button below, or copy this:<em> </em><span style="color: #800000;"><em>#Giveaway! Enter to win the new Ocean Spray fruit flavored snacks from The Domestic Buzz! http://thedomesticbuzz.com/?p=15544 #TDB</em> </span>- 1 entry</li>
<li>Like <a href="http://facebook.com/TheDomesticBuzz" target="_blank">The Domestic Buzz on Facebook</a>. 1 entry</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Entry period ends Wednesday, January 25th, 2012. US entries only, one person per household. <strong>Leave a separate comment per entry</strong> and a valid email address. Winner, chosen at random, has 3 days to claim their prize.</em></p>
<p><em>Disclosure: Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks, information, and giveaway have been provided by Ocean Spray® through <a href="http://www.myblogspark.com" target="_blank">MyBlogSpark</a>.</em></p>
<div style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0px" id="linksalpha_tag_1576797576" class="linksalpha-email-button" data-url="http://thedomesticbuzz.com/ocean-spray-fruit-flavored-snacks-giveaway/" data-text="Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks [giveaway]" data-desc="As a mom, I'm always on the lookout for a snack my kids will love and that I can feel good about giving them. It's fun to shake up snack time with something new, like these Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks.



Available in two delicious varieties, Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks are:

	Made with real fruit juice* and natural colors** and flavors.
	80 calories, gluten free and contain 100% of the Daily Value of Vitamin C.

These were a big hit with my kids and their friends the mo" data-image="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79/rwnh/2012%20Jan-Mar/OceanSprayLogo.jpg" data-site="The Domestic Buzz"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.linksalpha.com/social/loader?script_type=buttons_counters&tag_id=linksalpha_tag_1576797576&link=http%3A%2F%2Fthedomesticbuzz.com%2Focean-spray-fruit-flavored-snacks-giveaway%2F&gplus=1&twitter=1&fbsend=1&linkedin=0&gbuzz=0&tumblr=0&reddit=0&pinterest=1&digg=0&stumbleupon=1&gpluslang=en-US&twitterlang=en&fbsendlang=en_US&gbuzzlang=en&twittermention=TheDomesticBuzz&twitterrelated1=ohMariana&twitterrelated2=ohMariana&halign=center"></script>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>65</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The new Dulce de Leche Cheerios</title>
		<link>http://thedomesticbuzz.com/the-new-dulce-de-leche-cheerios/</link>
		<comments>http://thedomesticbuzz.com/the-new-dulce-de-leche-cheerios/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:37:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mariana</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food & Drink Reviews]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thedomesticbuzz.com/?p=15515</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A few weeks ago we received a delicious package in the mail. A box of the new Dulce de Leche Cheerios! It just rolled out in stores this past week, so it was nice to get a special sneak peek (or in our case, sneak taste) before everyone else! With a hint of caramel flavor, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style="margin:5px 0px 5px 0px" id="linksalpha_tag_211824959" class="linksalpha-email-button" data-url="http://thedomesticbuzz.com/the-new-dulce-de-leche-cheerios/" data-text="The new Dulce de Leche Cheerios" data-desc="A few weeks ago we received a delicious package in the mail. A box of the new Dulce de Leche Cheerios! It just rolled out in stores this past week, so it was nice to get a special sneak peek (or in our case, sneak taste) before everyone else!

With a hint of caramel flavor, Dulce de Leche Cheerios has the same goodness you’ve come to know and love about Cheerios: it provides 39% of the recommended daily amount of whole grain* and only 6 grams of sugar per serving.

My girls were a little w" data-image="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7155/6687470517_c5a6744f80.jpg" data-site="The Domestic Buzz"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.linksalpha.com/social/loader?script_type=buttons_counters&tag_id=linksalpha_tag_211824959&link=http%3A%2F%2Fthedomesticbuzz.com%2Fthe-new-dulce-de-leche-cheerios%2F&gplus=1&twitter=1&fblike=1&linkedin=0&gbuzz=0&tumblr=0&reddit=0&pinterest=1&digg=0&stumbleupon=0&gpluslang=en-US&twitterlang=en&fblikelang=en_US&gbuzzlang=en&fblikeverb=like&fblikefont=arial&fblikeref=linksalpha&gplusctr=1&twitterctr=1&linkedinctr=1&gbuzzctr=1&redditctr=1&pinterestctr=1&diggctr=1&stumbleuponctr=1&twittermention=TheDomesticBuzz&twitterrelated1=ohMariana&twitterrelated2=ohMariana&halign=center"></script><p><a title="Dulce de Leche Cheerios by MrsMarianaP, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6687470517/"><img class="alignright" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7155/6687470517_c5a6744f80.jpg" alt="Dulce de Leche Cheerios" width="252" height="360" /></a>A few weeks ago we received a delicious package in the mail. A box of the new <a href="http://bit.ly/cheeriosdulce" target="_blank">Dulce de Leche Cheerios</a>! It just rolled out in stores this past week, so it was nice to get a special sneak peek (or in our case, sneak <em>taste</em>) before everyone else!</p>
<p>With a hint of caramel flavor, Dulce de Leche Cheerios has the same goodness you’ve come to know and love about Cheerios: it provides 39% of the recommended daily amount of whole grain* and only 6 grams of sugar per serving.</p>
<p>My girls were a little wary about trying a <em>new</em> version of their beloved Cheerios! Maura tasted a couple of O&#8217;s straight out of the box, before deciding that she wanted a bowlful. When she requested a second serving, I knew we were onto something. The caramel flavor is very light, but <em>nothing</em> like real dulce de leche. This doesn&#8217;t surprise me because dulce de leche &#8211; a thick, creamy, caramel-like milk-based spread &#8211; is super rich and high calorie. Not what you would want to pair with your morning cereal! The flavor is nice, though. I can see why Maura likes them so much. They&#8217;re not quite as sweet as Honey Nut Cheerios, and reminded me a little of the flavor of caramel corn. For the past couple of weeks, Maura&#8217;s opted for Dulce de Leche over Honey Nut almost every time. I&#8217;ve put in on my shopping list, as our box is almost empty. While Maura may love the new twist, Maya prefers Honey Nut Cheerios, and I don&#8217;t blame her. There&#8217;s something so comforting about a bowl of Cheerios, ya know?</p>
<p><a title="Dulce de Leche Cheerios by MrsMarianaP, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6687470937/"><img style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7162/6687470937_072c97a13b_z.jpg" alt="Dulce de Leche Cheerios" width="576" height="414" /></a></p>
<h2><img class="alignright" src="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79/rwnh/2012%20Jan-Mar/DulcedeLeche-Cheerios.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><strong>BUY IT</strong></h2>
<p>Dulce de Leche Cheerios is available now at grocery stores nationwide. For more information, please visit the <a href="http://bit.ly/cheeriosdulce" target="_blank">Cheerios website</a> and &#8216;like&#8217; <a href="http://on.fb.me/cheeriosfacebook" target="_blank">Cheerios on Facebook</a>.</p>
<p><strong>YOUR TURN:</strong> Have you tasted this yet? What do you enjoy most about the new Dulce de Leche Cheerios?</p>
<p>* According to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the daily recommended amount of whole grain for most people is at least 3 ounce equivalents, which is equal to 48 grams. Dulce de Leche Cheerios has 19 grams of whole grain per serving.</p>
<p><em>Disclosure: The new Dulce de Leche Cheerios information and product have been provided free of charge by Cheerios and General Mills, through <a href="http://www.myblogspark.com" target="_blank">MyBlogSpark</a>.</em></p>
<div style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0px" id="linksalpha_tag_257247985" class="linksalpha-email-button" data-url="http://thedomesticbuzz.com/the-new-dulce-de-leche-cheerios/" data-text="The new Dulce de Leche Cheerios" data-desc="A few weeks ago we received a delicious package in the mail. A box of the new Dulce de Leche Cheerios! It just rolled out in stores this past week, so it was nice to get a special sneak peek (or in our case, sneak taste) before everyone else!

With a hint of caramel flavor, Dulce de Leche Cheerios has the same goodness you’ve come to know and love about Cheerios: it provides 39% of the recommended daily amount of whole grain* and only 6 grams of sugar per serving.

My girls were a little w" data-image="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7155/6687470517_c5a6744f80.jpg" data-site="The Domestic Buzz"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.linksalpha.com/social/loader?script_type=buttons_counters&tag_id=linksalpha_tag_257247985&link=http%3A%2F%2Fthedomesticbuzz.com%2Fthe-new-dulce-de-leche-cheerios%2F&gplus=1&twitter=1&fbsend=1&linkedin=0&gbuzz=0&tumblr=0&reddit=0&pinterest=1&digg=0&stumbleupon=1&gpluslang=en-US&twitterlang=en&fbsendlang=en_US&gbuzzlang=en&twittermention=TheDomesticBuzz&twitterrelated1=ohMariana&twitterrelated2=ohMariana&halign=center"></script>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Budget-friendly meals [closed]</title>
		<link>http://thedomesticbuzz.com/budget-friendly-meals-giveaway/</link>
		<comments>http://thedomesticbuzz.com/budget-friendly-meals-giveaway/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:54:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mariana</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food & Drink Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Giveaways]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Recipes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thedomesticbuzz.com/?p=15436</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What is your go-to recipe when you don&#8217;t have much food in the house or money to spend on groceries? This question was recently posed in a group that I&#8217;m a part of on Facebook, and since many people&#8217;s budgets are tight around the holidays with all the expenses that go into buying gifts and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style="margin:5px 0px 5px 0px" id="linksalpha_tag_1609180851" class="linksalpha-email-button" data-url="http://thedomesticbuzz.com/budget-friendly-meals-giveaway/" data-text="Budget-friendly meals [closed]" data-desc="What is your go-to recipe when you don't have much food in the house or money to spend on groceries? This question was recently posed in a group that I'm a part of on Facebook, and since many people's budgets are tight around the holidays with all the expenses that go into buying gifts and traveling, I thought it to be timely.

Interestingly enough, many mentioned pasta… with meat sauce, marinara sauce, or just tossed with a little olive oil and garlic. I never thought of this as a budget me" data-image="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79/rwnh/2011%20Aug-Dec/tighten_belt.jpg" data-site="The Domestic Buzz"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.linksalpha.com/social/loader?script_type=buttons_counters&tag_id=linksalpha_tag_1609180851&link=http%3A%2F%2Fthedomesticbuzz.com%2Fbudget-friendly-meals-giveaway%2F&gplus=1&twitter=1&fblike=1&linkedin=0&gbuzz=0&tumblr=0&reddit=0&pinterest=1&digg=0&stumbleupon=0&gpluslang=en-US&twitterlang=en&fblikelang=en_US&gbuzzlang=en&fblikeverb=like&fblikefont=arial&fblikeref=linksalpha&gplusctr=1&twitterctr=1&linkedinctr=1&gbuzzctr=1&redditctr=1&pinterestctr=1&diggctr=1&stumbleuponctr=1&twittermention=TheDomesticBuzz&twitterrelated1=ohMariana&twitterrelated2=ohMariana&halign=center"></script><p><img class="alignright" src="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79/rwnh/2011%20Aug-Dec/tighten_belt.jpg" alt="" width="227" height="254" border="0" />What is your go-to recipe when you don&#8217;t have much food in the house or money to spend on groceries? This question was recently posed in a group that I&#8217;m a part of on Facebook, and since many people&#8217;s budgets are tight around the holidays with all the expenses that go into buying gifts and traveling, I thought it to be timely.</p>
<p>Interestingly enough, many mentioned pasta… with meat sauce, marinara sauce, or just tossed with a little olive oil and garlic. I never thought of this as a budget meal, but now that I think about it… it is. Doh. A box of pasta costs under $1, a jar of spaghetti sauce, $2.50, a pound of ground beef $3 or maybe a little less, and add a green veggie for a few cents more per serving. I can feed my family of four for $5-6, and maybe even have a little leftover! The fact that I&#8217;m done in less than 30 minutes? Priceless!</p>
<p>There are some cheap staples that I always have on hand &#8211; eggs, rice, pasta, ground beef, chicken, beans and lentils, potatoes, onions, canned tuna, jarred pasta sauce, a variety of frozen veggies, and tortillas &#8211; to make:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Pasta     •    Chili   •    Quesadillas   •    Lentil soup    •    Tuna casserole<br />
Fried rice    •    Sloppy Joes    •    Rice and beans<br />
Migas con huevo (scrambled eggs with torn pieces of tortilla)<br />
Roast chicken (leftovers can be used with pasta, fried rice, quesadillas, soups, etc…)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">______________________________________________</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">One of my faves: <strong>TORTILLA SOUP! </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>I don&#8217;t have a precise recipe; I just kind of take a look in the fridge and toss stuff in!</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">onion     •    garlic    •    bell pepper    •    chicken stock (I try to make my own)<br />
can stewed tomatoes (I often use leftover pasta sauce instead)     •    cooked chicken<br />
black beans    •    frozen corn     •    seasonings: cumin, chili powder, s&amp;p to taste<br />
tortillas     •    lime     •    a little shredded cheese and cilantro for garnish</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">1. In a large pot, I saute the onion in a little vegetable oil.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">2. Add the garlic and the bell pepper until it all softens.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6537959095/"><img class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7022/6537959095_3e45b0954f.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="359" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">3. Add the chicken stock and tomatoes; bring to a boil.<br />
I often use leftover pasta sauce in soups. Lots of flavor!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6537959511/"><img style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6537959511_29aca7fc74.jpg" alt="" width="247" height="190" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6537961381/"><img style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7032/6537961381_0fdd8ceafe.jpg" alt="" width="285" height="190" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6537962433/"><img class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/6537962433_78fd2dea8e.jpg" alt="Ragú" width="368" height="500" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">4. Lower heat to a simmer and add the shredded chicken,<br />
a can of black beans, and frozen vegetables, seasoning to taste.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6537960085/"><img style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7026/6537960085_73f7698cd2.jpg" alt="" width="273" height="182" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6537963435/"><img style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7173/6537963435_402366bbbf.jpg" alt="." width="273" height="182" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6537961803/"><img style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7011/6537961803_13dcd6a2ab.jpg" alt="." width="330" height="220" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6537960715/"><img style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7029/6537960715_c0ece0cdf5.jpg" alt="." width="216" height="220" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">5. Simmer for about 20 minutes or so.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">6. Cut the tortillas into strips, and put a few at the bottom of each bowl.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6537963905/"><img class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6537963905_0bd9fecba6.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="318" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">7. Ladle the soup into the bowls, and squeeze a tiny bit of lime on top.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">8. Garnish with a little shredded cheese and cilantro.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6537964433/"><img class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7152/6537964433_266aa8190f.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="317" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Ta-dah!</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">______________________________________________</p>
<p><strong>Giveaway has ended.</strong><br />
<img src="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79/rwnh/2012%20Jan-Mar/ragu.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>What is your favorite budget-friendly meal?</strong></em></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;">Leave a comment below for your chance to win a $150 American Express gift card!</p>
<p><em>For extra entries:</em></p>
<ul>
<li>Subscribe to my feed by <a>reader</a> or <a title="my feed" href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=RWNHReviews" target="_blank">email</a> (or let me know if you already do). 1 entry</li>
<li>Tweet about this giveaway <strong>up to once a day</strong> using the Tweet button, or copy:<em> </em><span style="color: #800000;"><em>Share ur fave budget-friendly recipe 4 a chance to win $150 Amex GC from @RaguSauce at The Domestic Buzz! http://bit.ly/sJ621z #momstheword</em> </span>- 1 entry per day</li>
<li>Like <a href="http://facebook.com/TheDomesticBuzz" target="_blank">The Domestic Buzz on Facebook</a>. 1 entry</li>
<li>Follow Ragú on Twitter<a href="http://twitter.com/#!/ragusauce" target="_blank"> @RaguSauce</a>. 1 entry</li>
<li>Like Ragú on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ragusauce" target="_blank">facebook.com/ragusauce</a>. 1 entry</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Entry period ends December 28th, 2011. US entries only, one person per household. <strong>Leave a separate comment per entry</strong> and a valid email address. Winner, chosen at random, has 3 days to claim their prize.</em></p>
<p><em>Disclosure: This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Ambassador in the Ragú® Mom’s the Word on Dinner Program.</em></p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79/rwnh/2011%204-7/RaguMoms.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Go join the conversation at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ragusauce" target="_blank">Ragu&#8217;s Facebook page</a>!</p>
<div style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0px" id="linksalpha_tag_438241871" class="linksalpha-email-button" data-url="http://thedomesticbuzz.com/budget-friendly-meals-giveaway/" data-text="Budget-friendly meals [closed]" data-desc="What is your go-to recipe when you don't have much food in the house or money to spend on groceries? This question was recently posed in a group that I'm a part of on Facebook, and since many people's budgets are tight around the holidays with all the expenses that go into buying gifts and traveling, I thought it to be timely.

Interestingly enough, many mentioned pasta… with meat sauce, marinara sauce, or just tossed with a little olive oil and garlic. I never thought of this as a budget me" data-image="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79/rwnh/2011%20Aug-Dec/tighten_belt.jpg" data-site="The Domestic Buzz"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.linksalpha.com/social/loader?script_type=buttons_counters&tag_id=linksalpha_tag_438241871&link=http%3A%2F%2Fthedomesticbuzz.com%2Fbudget-friendly-meals-giveaway%2F&gplus=1&twitter=1&fbsend=1&linkedin=0&gbuzz=0&tumblr=0&reddit=0&pinterest=1&digg=0&stumbleupon=1&gpluslang=en-US&twitterlang=en&fbsendlang=en_US&gbuzzlang=en&twittermention=TheDomesticBuzz&twitterrelated1=ohMariana&twitterrelated2=ohMariana&halign=center"></script>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>384</slash:comments>
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		<title>Marzetti Otria Greek Yogurt Veggie Dip</title>
		<link>http://thedomesticbuzz.com/marzetti-otria-greek-yogurt-veggie-dip/</link>
		<comments>http://thedomesticbuzz.com/marzetti-otria-greek-yogurt-veggie-dip/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 17 Dec 2011 03:32:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mariana</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food & Drink Reviews]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thedomesticbuzz.com/?p=15417</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Greek yogurt is one of my favorite things! I cook with it, mix it with fruit for breakfast, put it in smoothies, and use it as dip. It still has that tartness yogurt is known for, but it&#8217;s super rich and creamy. Somehow, it&#8217;s low in fat&#8230; I don&#8217;t know how they do it. If [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style="margin:5px 0px 5px 0px" id="linksalpha_tag_820361885" class="linksalpha-email-button" data-url="http://thedomesticbuzz.com/marzetti-otria-greek-yogurt-veggie-dip/" data-text="Marzetti Otria Greek Yogurt Veggie Dip" data-desc="

Greek yogurt is one of my favorite things! I cook with it, mix it with fruit for breakfast, put it in smoothies, and use it as dip. It still has that tartness yogurt is known for, but it's super rich and creamy. Somehow, it's low in fat... I don't know how they do it. If you can save me a step by giving me a prepared greek yogurt dip, well, that just makes me want to give you a big fat hug.

That's exactly what Marzetti's done with their new Otria Greek Yogurt Veggie Dips. I've loved their" data-image="http://gallery.mailchimp.com/ad0eab069c1a6535670768879/files/Marzetti_Otria_GreekYogurt_VeggieDip.jpg" data-site="The Domestic Buzz"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.linksalpha.com/social/loader?script_type=buttons_counters&tag_id=linksalpha_tag_820361885&link=http%3A%2F%2Fthedomesticbuzz.com%2Fmarzetti-otria-greek-yogurt-veggie-dip%2F&gplus=1&twitter=1&fblike=1&linkedin=0&gbuzz=0&tumblr=0&reddit=0&pinterest=1&digg=0&stumbleupon=0&gpluslang=en-US&twitterlang=en&fblikelang=en_US&gbuzzlang=en&fblikeverb=like&fblikefont=arial&fblikeref=linksalpha&gplusctr=1&twitterctr=1&linkedinctr=1&gbuzzctr=1&redditctr=1&pinterestctr=1&diggctr=1&stumbleuponctr=1&twittermention=TheDomesticBuzz&twitterrelated1=ohMariana&twitterrelated2=ohMariana&halign=center"></script><p><img src="http://gallery.mailchimp.com/ad0eab069c1a6535670768879/files/Marzetti_Otria_GreekYogurt_VeggieDip.jpg" alt="" width="556" height="518" /></p>
<p>Greek yogurt is one of my favorite things! I cook with it, mix it with fruit for breakfast, put it in smoothies, and use it as dip. It still has that tartness yogurt is known for, but it&#8217;s super rich and creamy. Somehow, it&#8217;s low in fat&#8230; I don&#8217;t know how they do it. If you can save me a step by giving me a prepared greek yogurt dip, well, that just makes me want to give you a big fat hug.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s exactly what Marzetti&#8217;s done with their new <a href="http://www.marzetti.com/products/marzetti/dips/otria-greek-yogurt-veggie-dips.htm" target="_blank">Otria Greek Yogurt Veggie Dips</a>. I&#8217;ve loved their dressings <em>forever</em>, so I was excited to dry their dips. It&#8217;s like dressing, but thicker! Now who gets the hug? <img src='http://thedomesticbuzz.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif' alt=';)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>I went to my usual grocery store hunting for this product, even though I didn&#8217;t recall seeing them there before. My store is not known for adopting new products right away so I was prepared to look elsewhere, but lo and behold, the dips were right next to the Marzetti dressings in the produce section.</p>
<p>Deciding which one to get was the hard part. Choosing from Chipotle Cheese, Salsa Cilantro, Garden Herb Ranch, Cucumber Dill Feta, and Spinach Artichoke is HARD! They all sound good! I love spinach artichoke dip (but hate making it) so that&#8217;s the first one I reached for.</p>
<p>While it doesn&#8217;t have the texture of a spinach dip, obviously, it&#8217;s good. I get tons of flavor without all the fat of a cheesy dip. I&#8217;ve eaten it with baby carrots, Triscuit crackers, on toast. In a box. With a fox. All joking aside, it&#8217;s a yummy way to incorporate more veggies into your diet. As delicious as the dip is with crackers, I must say there&#8217;s something really satisfying about the crunch of a carrot!</p>
<p>I looked at the nutrition information for these dips, as well as the list of ingredients, and I&#8217;m happy to see there&#8217;s nothing crazy. Greek yogurt is the main ingredient, as it should be! The one thing that stood out is fish oil &#8211; you get 200 mg of omega 3 fatty acids from both the canola and fish oils, per serving. I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve ever seen this in a dip before!</p>
<p>One thing I haven&#8217;t done is use it in a recipe. There&#8217;s this <a href="http://www.marzetti.com/marzetti-kitchens/detail.php?rid=925" target="_blank">Grilled Chicken Wrap</a> that looks promising. Using this dip instead of a mayo-based sauce is a great idea because it only has 60 calories in two tablespoons. About how much you&#8217;d put on a sandwich or wrap, right? This <a href="http://www.marzetti.com/marzetti-kitchens/detail.php?rid=903" target="_blank">Spinach Mushroom Omelette</a> sounds delicious, too, but I think the <a href="http://www.marzetti.com/marzetti-kitchens/detail.php?rid=927" target="_blank">Spinach Artichoke Pizza</a> takes the cake! A pizza crust topped with baby spinach, artichoke hearts, Kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese and Marzetti Otria Spinach Artichoke Greek Yogurt Veggie Dip. Oh my goodness, I&#8217;m getting hungry.</p>
<p>I often make a spinach dip for holiday parties, but I think I might try this next time and see how it goes over with my guests. As for me, my dip is practically gone, so I think I&#8217;ll pick up the Chipotle Cheese flavor the next time I go to the grocery store! Smoked chipotle and cayenne pepper with cotija cheese? Oh, yeah!</p>
<p><strong>YOUR TURN:</strong> Do you like greek yogurt? Do you think you&#8217;d like it in a veggie dip? Which flavor would you choose?</p>
<p><em>I was one of the bloggers selected by T. Marzetti Company and <a href="”http://www.clevergirlscollective.com”">Clever Girls Collective</a> to host a Marzetti Otria Greek Yogurt Veggie Dip review. They provided me with product to test and compensation for my time. However, my opinions are entirely my own.</em></p>
<div style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0px" id="linksalpha_tag_1887598154" class="linksalpha-email-button" data-url="http://thedomesticbuzz.com/marzetti-otria-greek-yogurt-veggie-dip/" data-text="Marzetti Otria Greek Yogurt Veggie Dip" data-desc="

Greek yogurt is one of my favorite things! I cook with it, mix it with fruit for breakfast, put it in smoothies, and use it as dip. It still has that tartness yogurt is known for, but it's super rich and creamy. Somehow, it's low in fat... I don't know how they do it. If you can save me a step by giving me a prepared greek yogurt dip, well, that just makes me want to give you a big fat hug.

That's exactly what Marzetti's done with their new Otria Greek Yogurt Veggie Dips. I've loved their" data-image="http://gallery.mailchimp.com/ad0eab069c1a6535670768879/files/Marzetti_Otria_GreekYogurt_VeggieDip.jpg" data-site="The Domestic Buzz"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.linksalpha.com/social/loader?script_type=buttons_counters&tag_id=linksalpha_tag_1887598154&link=http%3A%2F%2Fthedomesticbuzz.com%2Fmarzetti-otria-greek-yogurt-veggie-dip%2F&gplus=1&twitter=1&fbsend=1&linkedin=0&gbuzz=0&tumblr=0&reddit=0&pinterest=1&digg=0&stumbleupon=1&gpluslang=en-US&twitterlang=en&fbsendlang=en_US&gbuzzlang=en&twittermention=TheDomesticBuzz&twitterrelated1=ohMariana&twitterrelated2=ohMariana&halign=center"></script>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Sweet corn tamale cakes [recipe]</title>
		<link>http://thedomesticbuzz.com/sweet-corn-tamale-cakes-recipe/</link>
		<comments>http://thedomesticbuzz.com/sweet-corn-tamale-cakes-recipe/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:59:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mariana</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food & Drink Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Recipes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thedomesticbuzz.com/?p=15409</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I had planned on making tamales this week. Really, I had. I even bought the Maseca corn flour a while back. But my first cold of the season has me miserable. Add to that the fact that it&#8217;s that time of the month, and I&#8217;m a mess. Staring at this big sack of Maseca on [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style="margin:5px 0px 5px 0px" id="linksalpha_tag_954555373" class="linksalpha-email-button" data-url="http://thedomesticbuzz.com/sweet-corn-tamale-cakes-recipe/" data-text="Sweet corn tamale cakes [recipe]" data-desc="I had planned on making tamales this week. Really, I had. I even bought the Maseca corn flour a while back.

But my first cold of the season has me miserable. Add to that the fact that it's that time of the month, and I'm a mess. Staring at this big sack of Maseca on my counter, it hit me that I don't have a steamer. Or corn husks. And I really don't feel like going shopping right now! Maybe someone who reads this will get the hint… Santa, baby, I need a steamer!

I am making something wit" data-image="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6523347291_c03aedab2f_m.jpg" data-site="The Domestic Buzz"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.linksalpha.com/social/loader?script_type=buttons_counters&tag_id=linksalpha_tag_954555373&link=http%3A%2F%2Fthedomesticbuzz.com%2Fsweet-corn-tamale-cakes-recipe%2F&gplus=1&twitter=1&fblike=1&linkedin=0&gbuzz=0&tumblr=0&reddit=0&pinterest=1&digg=0&stumbleupon=0&gpluslang=en-US&twitterlang=en&fblikelang=en_US&gbuzzlang=en&fblikeverb=like&fblikefont=arial&fblikeref=linksalpha&gplusctr=1&twitterctr=1&linkedinctr=1&gbuzzctr=1&redditctr=1&pinterestctr=1&diggctr=1&stumbleuponctr=1&twittermention=TheDomesticBuzz&twitterrelated1=ohMariana&twitterrelated2=ohMariana&halign=center"></script><p><a title="Maseca para Tamales by MrsMarianaP, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6523347291/"><img class="alignright" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6523347291_c03aedab2f_m.jpg" alt="Maseca para Tamales" width="186" height="240" /></a>I had planned on making tamales this week. <em>Really</em>, I had. I even bought the Maseca corn flour a while back.</p>
<p>But my first cold of the season has me miserable. Add to that the fact that it&#8217;s <em>that</em> time of the month, and I&#8217;m a mess. Staring at this big sack of Maseca on my counter, it hit me that I don&#8217;t have a steamer. Or corn husks. And I really don&#8217;t feel like going shopping right now! Maybe someone who reads this will get the hint… <em>Santa, baby, I need a steamer!</em></p>
<p>I <strong>am</strong> making something with this Maseca for Tamales! I tell myself. It&#8217;s not going to sit on my kitchen counter one more day. I looked in my pantry and refrigerator, and decided to take a stab at making sweet corn tamale cakes, inspired by the delicious appetizer served at The Cheesecake Factory. Total comfort food. You probably have most of these ingredients yourself!</p>
<h2><strong>Sweet Corn Tamale Cakes</strong></h2>
<p>This recipe is loosely based off of one I found on Maseca&#8217;s website for <a href="http://mimaseca.com/en/recetas/detalle/corn-tamale-pudding/206" target="_blank">Corn Tamale Pudding</a>. I divided the recipe in half, am using frozen corn instead of fresh, and reduced the amount of milk, in addition to skipping the pudding part altogether. I also cooked the cakes in the oven instead of a steamer.</p>
<p><strong>Ingredients</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>4 cups frozen corn, thawed</li>
<li>1 cup milk</li>
<li>2 cups MASECA for Tamales</li>
<li>1¼ cups sugar</li>
<li>¾ cup melted butter</li>
<li>½ tablespoon baking powder</li>
<li>½ tablespoon salt</li>
<li>Sour cream, for serving</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Directions</strong><br />
1. Preheat oven to 400º F.<br />
2. In a blender or food processor, process the corn and milk.<br />
3. In a big bowl, combine the Maseca, sugar, baking powder, salt, and melted butter, and pour in the corn mixture. Beat with a hand mixer until all ingredients are combined. This is when I daydream of a stand mixer… um, Santa… can you bring me one of these, too? Thanks in advance.<br />
2. The dough should start to get a little stiff. Shape it into balls and form into little patties, 2-3 inches wide. I have to admit I skipped this part and just put dollops of it onto a baking pan, ala drop biscuits.<br />
4. Bake until the corn cakes start to turn golden, about 20-25 minutes.<br />
5. So… that&#8217;s it! The CCF version is served with a variety of sauces and toppings, but I like mine simple. Just a dollop of sour cream.</p>
<p><a title="corn tamale cake by MrsMarianaP, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6523341669/"><img style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7032/6523341669_2ecd5b43c9_z.jpg" alt="corn tamale cake" width="576" height="391" /></a></p>
<p>I served myself one while they were still warm. So good with the cool sour cream! <em>So good</em> that I served myself a second one, just so I could take the photo above. I found the cakes to be a teensy bit dry, so maybe I overcooked them or set the temperature too high. I never said I&#8217;m an expert baker. <img src='http://thedomesticbuzz.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif' alt=';)' class='wp-smiley' />  Of course, if I served these cakes with a bunch of sauces, like the restaurant version, I doubt I&#8217;d find them dry at all!</p>
<p><a title="yum! by MrsMarianaP, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6523341383/"><img style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7023/6523341383_57e5ebcb64_z.jpg" alt="yum!" width="576" height="385" /></a></p>
<p>If I were do it again, though, I&#8217;d make these more like traditional tamales, wrapped in corn husks and steamed. I think that would make them much more moist! That said, I think they stay together better when baked, so if you made them smaller (think the size of mini muffins) these little cakes would make great vessels for a multitude of toppings… bite-size hors d&#8217;oeuvres for holiday parties!</p>
<p>If you want to learn more about Maseca, the new <a href="http://bit.ly/Mas_Eng" target="_blank">English version of the Maseca website</a> is now live! Be sure to check it out for some great recipe ideas. You can also find Maseca on <a href="http://on.fb.me/masecafb" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/MiMasecaUSA" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, and follow the Maseca Blog Amigas&#8217; tweets at <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23clubmimaseca" target="_blank">#clubmimaseca</a>.</p>
<p><em>Disclosure: I&#8217;m participating in a sponsored campaign with <a href="http://bit.ly/mimaseca" target="_blank">Maseca</a> and <a href="http://www.latinabloggersconnect.com" target="_blank">Latina Bloggers Connect</a>, but all opinions are my own.</em></p>
<div style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0px" id="linksalpha_tag_1871774043" class="linksalpha-email-button" data-url="http://thedomesticbuzz.com/sweet-corn-tamale-cakes-recipe/" data-text="Sweet corn tamale cakes [recipe]" data-desc="I had planned on making tamales this week. Really, I had. I even bought the Maseca corn flour a while back.

But my first cold of the season has me miserable. Add to that the fact that it's that time of the month, and I'm a mess. Staring at this big sack of Maseca on my counter, it hit me that I don't have a steamer. Or corn husks. And I really don't feel like going shopping right now! Maybe someone who reads this will get the hint… Santa, baby, I need a steamer!

I am making something wit" data-image="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6523347291_c03aedab2f_m.jpg" data-site="The Domestic Buzz"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.linksalpha.com/social/loader?script_type=buttons_counters&tag_id=linksalpha_tag_1871774043&link=http%3A%2F%2Fthedomesticbuzz.com%2Fsweet-corn-tamale-cakes-recipe%2F&gplus=1&twitter=1&fbsend=1&linkedin=0&gbuzz=0&tumblr=0&reddit=0&pinterest=1&digg=0&stumbleupon=1&gpluslang=en-US&twitterlang=en&fbsendlang=en_US&gbuzzlang=en&twittermention=TheDomesticBuzz&twitterrelated1=ohMariana&twitterrelated2=ohMariana&halign=center"></script>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
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		<title>Ben and Jerry’s Vanilla ice cream [closed]</title>
		<link>http://thedomesticbuzz.com/ben-and-jerry%e2%80%99s-vanilla-ice-cream-giveaway/</link>
		<comments>http://thedomesticbuzz.com/ben-and-jerry%e2%80%99s-vanilla-ice-cream-giveaway/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Dec 2011 01:03:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mariana</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food & Drink Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Giveaways]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Holidays]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thedomesticbuzz.com/?p=15322</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Did you know that Vanilla was the first flavor of Ben &#38; Jerry’s ice cream? The brand may be known for their other more memorable flavors, but plain ol&#8217; Vanilla is what got Ben &#38; Jerry&#8217;s started. It&#8217;s received many awards and accolades over the years, and just happens to be my favorite, because it&#8217;s [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style="margin:5px 0px 5px 0px" id="linksalpha_tag_1484723433" class="linksalpha-email-button" data-url="http://thedomesticbuzz.com/ben-and-jerry%e2%80%99s-vanilla-ice-cream-giveaway/" data-text="Ben and Jerry’s Vanilla ice cream [closed]" data-desc="Did you know that Vanilla was the first flavor of Ben &amp; Jerry’s ice cream? The brand may be known for their other more memorable flavors, but plain ol' Vanilla is what got Ben &amp; Jerry's started. It's received many awards and accolades over the years, and just happens to be my favorite, because it's so yummy and goes well with everything!

Plus, Ben &amp; Jerry’s Vanilla Ice Cream is made with fresh milk from Vermont Family Farmers and Fair Trade vanilla beans. Fair Trade means that" data-image="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79/rwnh/2011%20Aug-Dec/BenJerrysVanilla.jpg" data-site="The Domestic Buzz"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.linksalpha.com/social/loader?script_type=buttons_counters&tag_id=linksalpha_tag_1484723433&link=http%3A%2F%2Fthedomesticbuzz.com%2Fben-and-jerry%25e2%2580%2599s-vanilla-ice-cream-giveaway%2F&gplus=1&twitter=1&fblike=1&linkedin=0&gbuzz=0&tumblr=0&reddit=0&pinterest=1&digg=0&stumbleupon=0&gpluslang=en-US&twitterlang=en&fblikelang=en_US&gbuzzlang=en&fblikeverb=like&fblikefont=arial&fblikeref=linksalpha&gplusctr=1&twitterctr=1&linkedinctr=1&gbuzzctr=1&redditctr=1&pinterestctr=1&diggctr=1&stumbleuponctr=1&twittermention=TheDomesticBuzz&twitterrelated1=ohMariana&twitterrelated2=ohMariana&halign=center"></script><p>Did you know that Vanilla was the first flavor of Ben &amp; Jerry’s ice cream? The brand may be known for their other more memorable flavors, but plain ol&#8217; Vanilla is what got <a title="Ben &amp; Jerry's website" href="http://www.benjerry.com/" target="_blank">Ben &amp; Jerry&#8217;s</a> started. It&#8217;s received many awards and accolades over the years, and just happens to be my favorite, because it&#8217;s so yummy and goes well with <em>everything!</em></p>
<p>Plus, Ben &amp; Jerry’s Vanilla Ice Cream is made with fresh milk from Vermont Family Farmers and Fair Trade vanilla beans. Fair Trade means that farmers in developing countries are paid a fair price for their harvest, which allows them to earn a better income. Good to know.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79/rwnh/2011%20Aug-Dec/BenJerrysVanilla.jpg" alt="Vanilla" border="0" /></p>
<p>Ben &amp; Jerry’s Vanilla Ice Cream is the perfect compliment to just about any dessert, but it&#8217;s perfect with a holiday pie! My neighbor baked a delicious pecan pie for us for Thanksgiving, and adding a scoop of Ben &amp; Jerry&#8217;s made it complete. The combination of the cold ice cream and the warm pie? Appropriate that the dessert plate has clouds on it, because it was <em>heavenly</em>. I also love this ice cream with apple pie, chocolate cake, strawberry shortcake… I could go on and on. For something a little more indulgent for the <em>adults&#8230; i</em>f you have just a little bit of vanilla ice cream left in the container &#8211; not enough for a full serving &#8211; let it melt and a little vanilla-infused vodka and chocolate liqueur to make a rich and creamy chocolate martini. Ben &amp; Jerry’s Vanilla Ice Cream is also wonderful by itself, of course!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6495506929/"><img class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7145/6495506929_c8d16fe12c_z.jpg" alt="" width="458" height="640" /></a></p>
<h2><del><strong>WIN IT</strong></del></h2>
<p><strong>Giveaway has ended.</strong><br />
<img src="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79/rwnh/2011%20Aug-Dec/j.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></p>
<p>What would <em>you</em> serve Ben &amp; Jerry’s Vanilla Ice Cream with? Leave a comment below to be entered to win a fantastic prize package like the one pictured below. It will include three coupons for free pints of Ben &amp; Jerry’s ice cream, a Ben &amp; Jerry’s apron, ice cream scoop, dessert plates and more. A prize valued at approximately $50.</p>
<p>All these products are available at <a href="http://commerce.workflowoneaccess.com/UI/Customer.aspx?autologonid=8ef6506b-c9ea-4c19-a163-6ca651e9fac6" target="_blank">Ben &amp; Jerry&#8217;s online gift shop</a>, by the way. I&#8217;ve gotten wonderful compliments on the apron &#8211; &#8220;Mommy, you look like a cow!&#8221; Just what I wanted to hear&#8230; bwahaha! <img src='http://thedomesticbuzz.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif' alt=';)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><img class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79/rwnh/2011%20Aug-Dec/BJVanillaPrizePack.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></p>
<p><em>For extra entries:</em></p>
<ul>
<li>Subscribe to my feed by <a title="my feed" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/RWNHReviews" target="_blank">reader</a> or <a title="my feed" href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=RWNHReviews" target="_blank">email</a> (or let me know if you already do). 1 entry</li>
<li>Tweet about this giveaway <strong>up to once a day</strong> using the Tweet button below, or copy this:<em> </em><span style="color: #800000;"><em>#Giveaway! Like ice cream? Win a Ben &amp; Jerry&#8217;s prize pack at The Domestic Buzz! http://thedomesticbuzz.com/?p=15322 #TDB</em> </span>- 1 entry per day</li>
<li>Like <a href="http://facebook.com/TheDomesticBuzz" target="_blank">The Domestic Buzz on Facebook</a>. 1 entry</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Entry period ends Sunday, December 18th, 2011. US entries only, one person per household. <strong>Leave a separate comment per entry</strong> and a valid email address. Winner, chosen at random, has 3 days to claim their prize.</em></p>
<p><em>Disclosure: I received a package similar to the one pictured above, as well as a few pints of Ben &amp; Jerry&#8217;s to facilitate this review, but all opinions are my own!</em></p>
<div style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0px" id="linksalpha_tag_1893251077" class="linksalpha-email-button" data-url="http://thedomesticbuzz.com/ben-and-jerry%e2%80%99s-vanilla-ice-cream-giveaway/" data-text="Ben and Jerry’s Vanilla ice cream [closed]" data-desc="Did you know that Vanilla was the first flavor of Ben &amp; Jerry’s ice cream? The brand may be known for their other more memorable flavors, but plain ol' Vanilla is what got Ben &amp; Jerry's started. It's received many awards and accolades over the years, and just happens to be my favorite, because it's so yummy and goes well with everything!

Plus, Ben &amp; Jerry’s Vanilla Ice Cream is made with fresh milk from Vermont Family Farmers and Fair Trade vanilla beans. Fair Trade means that" data-image="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79/rwnh/2011%20Aug-Dec/BenJerrysVanilla.jpg" data-site="The Domestic Buzz"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.linksalpha.com/social/loader?script_type=buttons_counters&tag_id=linksalpha_tag_1893251077&link=http%3A%2F%2Fthedomesticbuzz.com%2Fben-and-jerry%25e2%2580%2599s-vanilla-ice-cream-giveaway%2F&gplus=1&twitter=1&fbsend=1&linkedin=0&gbuzz=0&tumblr=0&reddit=0&pinterest=1&digg=0&stumbleupon=1&gpluslang=en-US&twitterlang=en&fbsendlang=en_US&gbuzzlang=en&twittermention=TheDomesticBuzz&twitterrelated1=ohMariana&twitterrelated2=ohMariana&halign=center"></script>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>289</slash:comments>
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		<title>New Slim-Fast shakes available! [review]</title>
		<link>http://thedomesticbuzz.com/new-slim-fast-shakes-available-review-2/</link>
		<comments>http://thedomesticbuzz.com/new-slim-fast-shakes-available-review-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:10:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mariana</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Diet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Food & Drink Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sponsored Post]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thedomesticbuzz.com/new-slim-fast-shakes-available-review-2/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Slim-Fast for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine. I&#8217;ve dieted off and on for years now, and often reach for Slim-Fast products when I want something easy, convenient, and low-calorie. They&#8217;ve just re-launched their rich, creamy shakes in a cool, portable bottle that is [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style="margin:5px 0px 5px 0px" id="linksalpha_tag_669091309" class="linksalpha-email-button" data-url="http://thedomesticbuzz.com/new-slim-fast-shakes-available-review-2/" data-text="New Slim-Fast shakes available! [review]" data-desc="This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Slim-Fast for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

	I've dieted off and on for years now, and often reach for Slim-Fast products when I want something easy, convenient, and low-calorie. They've just re-launched their rich, creamy shakes in a cool, portable bottle that is designed to go everywhere, from my purse to the cup holder in the car.

	 

	


	I picked up a 4-pack at the grocery store and had one for breakfast this morning." data-image="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6447017843_a94aa5efed.jpg" data-site="The Domestic Buzz"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.linksalpha.com/social/loader?script_type=buttons_counters&tag_id=linksalpha_tag_669091309&link=http%3A%2F%2Fthedomesticbuzz.com%2Fnew-slim-fast-shakes-available-review-2%2F&gplus=1&twitter=1&fblike=1&linkedin=0&gbuzz=0&tumblr=0&reddit=0&pinterest=1&digg=0&stumbleupon=0&gpluslang=en-US&twitterlang=en&fblikelang=en_US&gbuzzlang=en&fblikeverb=like&fblikefont=arial&fblikeref=linksalpha&gplusctr=1&twitterctr=1&linkedinctr=1&gbuzzctr=1&redditctr=1&pinterestctr=1&diggctr=1&stumbleuponctr=1&twittermention=TheDomesticBuzz&twitterrelated1=ohMariana&twitterrelated2=ohMariana&halign=center"></script><p>This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of <a href="http://app.socialspark.com/disclosure_clicks?oid=6779729" rel="nofollow">Slim-Fast</a> for <a href="http://izea.in/r1u7" rel="nofollow">SocialSpark</a>. All opinions are 100% mine.</p>
<p>
	<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; ">I&#8217;ve dieted off and on for years now, and often reach for Slim-Fast products when I want something easy, convenient, and low-calorie. They&#8217;ve just re-launched their rich, creamy shakes in a cool, portable bottle that is designed to go everywhere, from my purse to the cup holder in the car.</span></p>
<div>
	 </div>
<p style="text-align: center; ">
	<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridingwithnohands/6447017843/" title="Slim-Fast by MrsMarianaP, on Flickr"><img alt="Slim-Fast" class="aligncenter" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6447017843_a94aa5efed.jpg" style="border:1px solid black;" width="396" /></a></p>
<p></p>
<div>
	<font class="Apple-style-span" face="Helvetica" size="2">I picked up a 4-pack at the grocery store and had one for breakfast this morning. I put the bottle in the freezer for about 15 minutes before drinking it… it&#8217;s just as chocolatey as I remember it. It used to have a funny aftertaste that I&#8217;m assuming came from the cans they used to come in, but that is now gone. Losing weight shouldn’t mean sacrificing taste, right?&nbsp;</font></div>
<div>
	 </div>
<div>
	<font class="Apple-style-span" face="Helvetica" size="2">It&#8217;s always surprising how filling one of those little shakes can actually be. The shakes are supposed to provide up to four hours of hunger control, and I think I&#8217;m right around that point and not hungry yet. Available in Creamy Milk Chocolate, French Vanilla, Rich Chocolate Royale, Cappuccino Delight, and Strawberries N’ Cream, each shake offers 10 grams of protein, five grams of fiber and 24 essential vitamins and minerals.</font></div>
<div>
	 </div>
<div>
<div>
		<font class="Apple-style-span" face="Helvetica" size="2">The new shakes are part of the Slim-Fast 3•2•1 Plan, which is comprised of three snacks (such as Slim-Fast 100-calorie snack bars, fruit, nuts or veggies), two Slim-Fast Shakes or Meal Bars per day, and one balanced 500-calorie meal. It&#8217;s flexible enough that it should be easy to stay on plan, which is just what I need during this holiday season, full of temptations!</font></div>
<div>
		 </div>
</div>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 36.0px; text-indent: -36.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica">
	<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; "><strong>BUY IT!</strong></span></p>
<p>
	The new Slim-Fast shakes are available in the pharmacy sections of grocers and retailers nationwide, including Wal-Mart, Target, Safeway and Kroger, and online at Amazon.com and the Slim-Fast 3-2-1 Store on Facebook. For more information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://app.socialspark.com/clicks?lid=20027&amp;oid=6779729" rel="nofollow">Slim-Fast</a> and &#8220;like&#8221; <a href="http://app.socialspark.com/clicks?lid=20025&amp;oid=6779729" rel="nofollow">Slim-Fast</a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;Facebook.</p>
<p><a href="http://app.socialspark.com/disclosure_clicks?oid=6779729" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Visit Sponsor's Site" border="0" src="http://app.socialspark.com/views?oid=6779729" style="border:none;" /></a></p>
<div style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0px" id="linksalpha_tag_1721748671" class="linksalpha-email-button" data-url="http://thedomesticbuzz.com/new-slim-fast-shakes-available-review-2/" data-text="New Slim-Fast shakes available! [review]" data-desc="This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Slim-Fast for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

	I've dieted off and on for years now, and often reach for Slim-Fast products when I want something easy, convenient, and low-calorie. They've just re-launched their rich, creamy shakes in a cool, portable bottle that is designed to go everywhere, from my purse to the cup holder in the car.

	 

	


	I picked up a 4-pack at the grocery store and had one for breakfast this morning." data-image="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6447017843_a94aa5efed.jpg" data-site="The Domestic Buzz"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.linksalpha.com/social/loader?script_type=buttons_counters&tag_id=linksalpha_tag_1721748671&link=http%3A%2F%2Fthedomesticbuzz.com%2Fnew-slim-fast-shakes-available-review-2%2F&gplus=1&twitter=1&fbsend=1&linkedin=0&gbuzz=0&tumblr=0&reddit=0&pinterest=1&digg=0&stumbleupon=1&gpluslang=en-US&twitterlang=en&fbsendlang=en_US&gbuzzlang=en&twittermention=TheDomesticBuzz&twitterrelated1=ohMariana&twitterrelated2=ohMariana&halign=center"></script>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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