My daughters are notoriously picky eaters. And it’s not like the little one gets it from her big sister, as they’re complete opposites. Maura (4 years old) is all about pasta, tofu, potatoes, seafood… nothing green anywhere near her plate. Not even a tiny little pea. She loves sauces, though. Even spicy curries. Everything has to be well combined; each bite full of flavor. Maya, on the other hand, wrinkles her nose anytime I attempt to get her to try fish; she’s a carnivore through and through, but she does like her veggies… she’d eat broccoli every night if I let her! Nothing on her plate can touch, however, and she eats each food on her plate separately. First the veggies, then the protein, and lastly the rice or pasta. It’s so weird and incredibly annoying. I tell myself that they’ll grow out of all this soon enough, right? RIGHT?

When the girls help me out in the kitchen, they’re much more likely to eat whatever it is we make. A few nights ago we prepared Hellmann’s ‘Succulent Chicken Parmesan’ together. It was so easy and delicious! Here’s the recipe:

SUCCULENT CHICKEN PARMESAN

4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes       Cook Time: 23 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 cup Italian seasoned dry bread crumbs (I used regular bread crumbs and added my own spices!)
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1-1/4 lbs)
• 1/4 cup Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup Ragu® Old World Style® Pasta Sauce
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (about 2 oz)

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat oven to 425°.
• Combine bread crumbs with parmesan cheese in shallow dish; set aside.

• Add chicken and Hellmann’s Mayonnaise to large plastic bag; shake to evenly coat.

• Remove chicken, then lightly coat in crumb mixture.

• Arrange chicken on baking sheet.

• Bake 20 minutes.

• Evenly top chicken with pasta sauce, then mozzarella cheese. Bake an additional 3 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked and cheese is melted.

The chicken was juicy, with just enough cheese and sauce in each bite. I served it with broccoli and a little whole-wheat penne. The girls cleaned their plates. Well, except Maura, who pushed the broccoli around until I couldn’t take it anymore… but the chicken she loved!

Visit Hellmann’s for the original recipe.

Read my post about Hellmann’s Cranberry Orange Stuffing-Crusted Chicken, too!

Visit the Hellmann’s Facebook page through the end of April to participate in The Hellmann’s Chicken Change-Up, where you can enter for a chance to win daily prizes (like a $5000 grocery store gift card!) Participate by trying one of the featured chicken recipes, sharing recipe reviews and providing advice for managing dinnertime obstacles.

GIVEAWAY!

Hellmann’s is offering a fun prize to one lucky reader of The Domestic Buzz. Pictured below, the prize pack includes:

• Deceptively Delicious Cookbook
• Substituting Ingredients Cookbook
• Match & Munch Puzzle Sandwich Cutters
• Kid’s Bento Box
• Kid’s Chopsticks

To enter to win, please leave a comment telling me how you manage dinnertime obstacles (like picky eaters! Or no time to cook! Or a tight budget!)

For extra entries:

• Subscribe to my feed by reader or email. 1 entry
• Tweet about this giveaway one time using the Tweet button below, or copy this: #Giveaway! Win a ‘Picky Eaters’ prize pack from Hellmann’s! http://thedomesticbuzz.com/?p=16387 #ChickenChangeUp #TDB - 1 entry
• Like The Domestic Buzz on Facebook. 1 entry

Entry period ends Friday, April 27th, 2012. US entries only, one person per household. Leave a separate comment per entry and a valid email address. Winner, chosen at random, has 3 days to claim their prize.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. Hellmann’s product, recipes, and additional incentives were provided to me, but all opinions stated are my own.

Why ride an ordinary skateboard when you can ride the light? That’s just what Rockboard’s newest product – the Radiate Skateboard – allows you to do.

I saw it at Toy Fair last month and while I don’t skateboard myself, it definitely caught my eye. Rockboard, best-known for their 2012 TOTY (Toy of the Year) award-winning hybrid Rockboard Scooter (which I really want!), is committed to providing kids and teens with a fun, safe, and effective way to stay active during outdoor play, developing innovative and versatile products like this new skateboard. I’ve never seen anything like it!

FEATURES

• Manufactured with a hard rock maple deck and paired with low rolling resistance Abec-5 bearings that are connected to high-end casted pro aluminum trucks for ultimate durability.
• Integrated with 48 precision-positioned LED lights, skateboard projects an explosion of color.
• Utilizes a rechargeable battery that can be turned on and off with a switch.
• Available in ten different color combinations.
• Fully assembled and ready ride right out of the box.

How cool would it be to add lighting effects to already awesome tricks? Kids will be riding in style throughout the night with a glowing track of multi-colored lights illuminating their path! I love that the lights are fully rechargeable, with the included power adapter, and you get up to 7 hours of light with every charge.

Watch this video to see the skateboard in action:

BUY IT

The Radiate Skateboard is available at Amazon.com and Target.com for a suggested retail price of $99.99. For more information, visit www.rockboard.com and follow Rockboard on Facebook and Twitter.

WIN IT

To be entered to win a Rockboard Radiate skateboard, please leave a comment below telling me who’d give it to if you won. Your son/daughter? A friend? Or would you keep it for yourself? One winner will be chosen at the end of the month.

For extra entries:

• Subscribe to my feed by reader or email (or let me know if you already do). 1 entry
• Follow me (@ohMariana) and Rockboard (@RBscooter) and tweet about this giveaway up to once daily using the Tweet button below, or copy this: #Giveaway! Win a light-up Radiate skateboard from @RBscooter at The Domestic Buzz! http://thedomesticbuzz.com/?p=16022 #TDB - 1 entry per day
• Like The Domestic Buzz on Facebook. 1 entry

Rockboard is providing the giveaway prize. Entry period ends Saturday, March 31st, 2012. US entries only; one person per household. Leave a separate comment per entry and a valid email address. Winner, chosen at random, has 3 days to claim their prize.

Considering how often I write about food, it’s obvious that it’s important to us! I pride myself on feeding my family well and introducing them to new things on a daily basis. It’s not always easy to get my kids on board, however. If it were up to Maya, my 7-year-old, we’d eat white rice and french fries at every meal. Maura, on the other hand, is obsessed with tofu these days. Sometimes I do some crazy things to get the girls to eat…

• Become a ketchup artist. I draw things on their plates with it. Maura asks, “You drew that heart because you love me?” Of course! And she cleans her plate, practically licking every last bit of ketchup (and everything else) off of it.
• A healthy competition doesn’t hurt. “Hmm… I wonder who’s going to finish their broccoli first? Will either of you beat your daddy? No, probably not.” This works 99% of the time. But I’m sure they’ll catch on soon. Cut their food into little pieces first, so they don’t choke as their gobbling it all down!
• Revert back to babyhood. “Zoooooooooom, here comes an airplane! Open wide!” as I give them a mouthful of veggies. I get lots of giggles… and they fall for it!
• Make dinner different. I’ll let the girls eat with chopsticks, put everything on a skewer, or let them poke it themselves with toothpicks. The fun factor helps them forget that they’re eating healthy.
• Lay a guilt trip on them. “There are little kids out there somewhere who don’t have anything to eat and would LOVE this eggplant parmesan that I spent 2 hours preparing. You are so lucky to have a roof over your head and hot food on your plate.” This usually works, but I often end up feeling more guilty than they do!

Come to think of it, those techniques don’t seem that crazy. I’m sure some of you out there have better stories! One thing I don’t do is bribe the girls with dessert. While we do have a treat after dinner every now and then, I don’t think sweets should be given as a reward. But that’s a whole ‘nother story.

Ragú Asks

What crazy things do you do to get your kids to eat well? Let them dine dressed in a tutu and rain boots, or serve spaghetti in the bathtub? Ragú wants to know! They’re asking parents to share their stories on Facebook.com/Ragusauce. Some of the stories are hilarious! Just watch this video LOL:

GIVEAWAY

Enter to win a $50 American Express gift card by leaving a comment below. Tell me how you, as a parent, get your kids to eat well. Do you do anything weird or crazy? I won’t tell!

For extra entries:

• Subscribe to my feed by reader or email (or let me know if you already do). 1 entry
• Tweet about this giveaway up to once  a day using the Tweet button below, or copy this: #Giveaway! Share your crazy dinner stories 4 chance to win $50 Amex GC at #TDB! http://thedomesticbuzz.com/?p=16005 #MomstheWord- 1 entry per day
• Like The Domestic Buzz on Facebook. 1 entry

Entry period ends Saturday, March 31st, 2012. US entries only, one person per household. Leave a separate comment per entry and a valid email address. Winner, chosen at random, has 3 days to claim their prize.

Disclosure: This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Ambassador in the Ragú® Mom’s the Word on Dinner Program. Visit www.facebook.com/ragusauce to join the conversation.

It hasn’t even been four weeks since Valentine’s Day, yet it feels like a lifetime ago. I don’t recall what my husband and I did that day, honestly. Nothing memorable. It was just like any other day. We don’t need to do something special on February 14th, as we try to keep the romance alive all year long!

How, you ask? By not taking each other for granted. Writing little notes or sending text messages to each other. Doing things together. Lately this has involved exercising, which has been a wonderful way to spend quality time together every day (and makes the actual working out part much more enjoyable!) We also try to have one “date night” every week or two, although with two kids, this doesn’t always involve leaving the house. Sometimes staying in, sharing a yummy dinner, and watching a movie is just as fun – if not better – than going out, anyway!

The other night we tried out Dr. Oetker’s Ristorante brand of frozen pizza for the first time. I made the Ristorante Vegetale, a delicious thin crust pizza topped with tomatoes, a variety of peppers, onions, and cheese. I only had a small slice, since I’m on a diet, but my husband had a healthy portion, and very much enjoyed it. Served with a colorful salad, it was a light but filling dinner.

Later that week, when it was just the girls and I, I pulled out the Ristorante Mozzarella because I didn’t feel like cooking. My girls are notoriously picky but absolutely loved this one! Even the “green stuff,” as Maya called the pesto-like herbs scattered across the pizza.

Dr. Oetker, headquartered in Germany, is the market leader of frozen pizza in Europe. My first thought when I heard about this brand was… German… pizza? Um. Okay. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but after tasting two different varieties, I am impressed. There’s a distinctive flavor to most frozen pizzas that Dr. Oetker pizzas don’t have. The pizzas feature fresh, high-quality ingredients, and the crust is thin and crispy, just how we like it.

Including the two we sampled, there are six varieties of Dr. Oetker pizza:

• Ristorante Speciale: Topped with pepperoni, cooked ham, mozzarella and edam cheese, and spicy herbs.
• Quattro Formaggi: A delicious blend of mozzarella, edam, emmental and blue cheese, complemented by a basil seasoning.
• Ristorante Spinaci: Layered with sun-ripened tomatoes, savory leaf spinach, cheese and mozzarella, perfected by a hearty garlic sauce.
• Ristorante Mozzarella: The wonderful aroma of fresh cheese, combined with tomatoes, edam cheese and a delightful mixture of herbs.
• Ristorante Funghi: Enjoy this vegetable pizza with its many aromatic mushrooms, fruity tomatoes and fine mozzarella cheese.
• Ristorante Vegetale: Layered with generous helpings of tangy tomatoes, mouth-watering peppers, onions and chilies, on a crispy thin crust.

BUY IT

Priced from $4.99 to $5.99, Dr. Oetker’s Ristorante frozen pizza gives you Italian restaurant style pizza taste without paying restaurant style prices. Dr. Oetker Ristorante is currently available at grocery stores in several states, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Washington, D.C., Rhode Island, Baltimore, Maryland and New Hampshire. To learn more about Dr. Oetker, please visit www.oetker.us.

WIN IT

Leave a comment below telling me how you keep the romance alive after Valentine’s Day to be entered to win a Dr. Oetker’s Ristorante prize pack, which includes: a branded pizza cutter, freezer bag, free Dr. Oetker coupon, and a pizza Slice & Serve Board from Crate and Barrel. Remember, Dr. Oetker’s Ristorante frozen pizzas are currently only available in select markets so be sure you can find ‘em near you before entering the giveaway, so you can use the coupon.

For extra entries:

• Subscribe to my feed by feed reader or email. 1 entry
• Tweet about this giveaway one time using the Tweet button below, or copy this: #Giveaway! Win a Dr. Oetker pizza prize pack at The Domestic Buzz! http://thedomesticbuzz.com/?p=15930 #TDB - 1 entry
• Like The Domestic Buzz on Facebook. 1 entry

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. Dr. Oetker’s Ristorante product and additional incentives were provided to me. All opinions stated are my own. US entries only, one person per household. Leave a separate comment per entry and a valid email address. Winner, chosen at random on the morning of Friday, March 30th, has 3 days to claim their prize. 

Tomorrow is Dr. Seuss’s birthday! How will you be celebrating it? We’ll be watching The Cat-in-the-Hat-a-thon – a two-hour marathon of PBS KIDS’ popular series THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT! – which airs tomorrow on PBS KIDS. The show has ranked among the top ten programs for children ages 2 to 5 since it premiered back in September of 2010, and my kids love it! They also love celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday, so we’ll be baking a cake to enjoy during our Cat-in-the-Hat-a-thon. I may even dig out the party hats from last year’s celebration!

Voiced by award-winning actor Martin Short, Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat guides friends Sally and Nick – with a little help from the Fish, Thing 1 and Thing 2 – on fun-filled adventures where they make natural-science discoveries, from how bees make honey to why owls sleep during the day. During The Cat-in-the-Hat-a-thon, kids and parents can enjoy a block of episodes from this science-focused series, including two BRAND NEW episodes. Families can continue the celebration online and on their mobile devices as video clips from all four episodes featured will be available for free online at PBSKIDS.org/video and on the PBS KIDS Video App for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Watch this video for more details on this special event:

WIN IT!

I have two fun prize packs to give away to two readers of The Domestic Buzz! Each includes: (1) $25 gift card to the PBS KIDS Shop, a Dr. Seuss book, and a DVD from The Cat in the Hat series. A value of approximately $40.

To enter to win, please leave a comment below telling me what your favorite Dr. Seuss book is. There are so many good ones – I can’t decide!

For extra entries:

• Subscribe to my feed by feed reader or email (or let me know if you already do). 1 entry
• Tweet about this giveaway one time using the Tweet button below, or copy this: #Giveaway! Win a #CatInTheHat prize pack from PBS KIDS at The Domestic Buzz! http://thedomesticbuzz.com/?p=15845 #cithathon #TDB - 1 entry
• Like The Domestic Buzz on Facebook. 1 entry

Disclosure: While I’ve shared with you off and on during the last 4 years all that I love about PBS KIDS, I am now officially involved with them as a PBS KIDS VIP! No compensation is received for my involvement in the program, just special perks like PBS KIDS merchandise.

PBS KIDS organized this giveaway; Random House provided the books, and NCircle Entertainment supplied the DVDs included in the prize packs. Entry period ends on Thursday, March 8th, 2012 and is open to US entries only, one person per household. Leave a separate comment per entry and a valid email address. Winner, chosen at random, has 3 days to claim their prize. No purchase necessary; void where prohibited.

_____________________________________________________

Participate in the #CatInTheHat Twitter Party TONIGHT! (More chances to win prizes!)

Thursday, March 1 – 9-10:00pm ET (8 CT, 7 MT, & 6 PT)

In celebration of Dr. Seuss’ 108th birthday and THE CAT IN THE HAT-A-THON taking place on PBS KIDS tomorrow, tonight’s #GNO focuses on the theme of “exploration.”

• What: Girls’ Night Out (#gno) Twitter party (Click here to learn about #gno!)
• Topic: Exploration: http://momitforward.com/pbs-kids-thursday-gno-twitter-party-exploration
• Who: Brand Panelist – @PBSKIDS @KateKlimo @randomhousekids @PBSParents; Community Panelists – @thechattymomma @fruglxperiments @pluslily @fieldtripmom @thedomesticbuzz (-me!) @mimibakermn; Moderators – @jylmomIF @Dadventurous @troypattee @MomItForward
• TweetGrid: http://bit.ly/xyTpHQ
• Giveaway: Cat in the Hat Prize Packs: http://momitforward.com/pbs-kids-giveaway-win-cat-hat-prize-pack-5-winners
• Hashtag: #CatInTheHat #gno

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 moment I pulled a pack out of the box! I like that each serving is small – only 8 or so gummy snacks per pack – yet satisfying enough for kids to not ask for another snack. I personally couldn’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’s available year round.

For more information on this new product, please visit Ocean Spray’s Website or ‘like’ Ocean Spray’s Facebook page. Download a printable coupon for $1.10 off of purchase of (2) Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored snacks before heading to the store!

*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.
**Colors from natural sources.

________________________

WIN IT!

4 readers of The Domestic Buzz will win the new Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks!

PRIZE
(4) winners will each receive a prize pack containing:

• 6 boxes (3 of each variety) of Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks

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.

For extra entries:

• Subscribe to my feed by reader or email (or let me know if you already do). 1 entry
• Tweet about this giveaway one time using the Tweet button below, or copy this: #Giveaway! Enter to win the new Ocean Spray fruit flavored snacks from The Domestic Buzz! http://thedomesticbuzz.com/?p=15544 #TDB - 1 entry
• Like The Domestic Buzz on Facebook. 1 entry

Entry period ends Wednesday, January 25th, 2012. US entries only, one person per household. Leave a separate comment per entry and a valid email address. Winner, chosen at random, has 3 days to claim their prize.

Disclosure: Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks, information, and giveaway have been provided by Ocean Spray® through MyBlogSpark.

Last year, I tried to do everything online as far as keeping track of my family’s schedule and blog business goes. I synched my calendars with Google and switched important documents over to Google Docs. I even created a ridiculously detailed editorial calendar with the spreadsheet option. My intention was to be able to access all my stuff from anywhere… my iPad, my phone, my laptop, or any other computer I might be in contact with. In the end, it didn’t work out so well. I ended up neglecting my blog’s editorial calendar completely, forgetting to update it on a regular basis. Same with my family’s calendar. Post-Its on the fridge seemed to work just fine. What I thought was a genius idea last January, now seems really dumb. I mean, I basically use my laptop 95% of the time. At home. My iPad is for reading, playing games, and maybe returning an email or two, and my phone is for texting and making calls. Obviously. Why I thought I needed to access my calendar from every gadget I own – anywhere/anyplace – is beyond me!

This is why I’ve decided to go back to a paper planner this year. It’s so much easier to have something readily available on the kitchen counter that I can reach for at a moment’s notice. PlanAhead sent me one of their See It Bigger Planners for review recently, and I believe I have found the perfect planner for me.

It’s big. And I like that. There’s plenty of space for me to write things in. I’m going to be bad (very bad!) and combine my family and my blog’s calendars, so I’ll need the space that the monthly overviews and weeks at a glance provide. We’ll see how this pans out. We’re not super busy (yet) so I don’t see it being a problem. It’s all about using different color pens!

This planner is very well made. The cover is a thick, durable plastic, the tabs are laminated, and the pages don’t tear out easily. There are sections for personal information, contacts, events, notes, and even a password log.

The type is big. Big enough that I can read the text at a glance, even when the calendar isn’t in my hands, but next to me on the couch (my office!). I could see this being a great planner for grandma, or an elderly neighbor that maybe has vision trouble. However, it doesn’t scream “special large print edition,” so it would be a nice, considerate gift that I’m sure anyone would appreciate, no matter their age. The only thing I’d add to this planner is maybe a pocket inside the cover to store receipts, coupons, or notes that I write elsewhere. I’m all about pockets!

It’s nice to be able to flip through a paper planner and see all the blank pages, ready to be filled with ideas, dreams, and the many fabulous activities to come this year. I’ve already jotted down birthdays (thanks, Facebook!), my daughter’s days off from school, and a few other upcoming events, but I’ll also be scheduling my workouts, writing in my weekly weigh-ins, and using it as a journal of sorts for recipe ideas and thinking up blog posts. Something that I couldn’t do so well with an online calendar.

PlanAhead’s See It Bigger planner comes in blue, black, or a berry floral pattern. It’s available at retailers nationwide, including Wal-Mart, Target, Office Depot, and more, for about $9. Find a full list of locations here. If this planner seems too big, there’s also a pocket version of the See It Bigger style. For more information, please visit www.planaheadnow.com.

WIN IT!

If you’re making organization a priority this year, or you just need a new planner, then this giveaway is for you! Leave a comment below telling me how you keep your calendar organized for a chance to win a See It Bigger Planner from PlanAhead. Selection of color will be at sponsor’s sole discretion.

For extra entries:

• Subscribe to my feed by reader or email (or let me know if you already do). 1 entry
• Tweet about this giveaway one time using the Tweet button below, or copy this: #Giveaway! Make organization easy with a PlanAhead planner. Win one at The Domestic Buzz! http://thedomesticbuzz.com/?p=15472 #TDB - 1 entry
• Like The Domestic Buzz on Facebook. 1 entry

A See it Bigger planner was provided to me at no cost, for review purposes. Giveaway entry period ends Tuesday, January 10th, 2012. US entries only, one person per household. Leave a separate comment per entry and a valid email address. Winner, chosen at random, has 3 days to claim their prize.

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 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’m done in less than 30 minutes? Priceless!

There are some cheap staples that I always have on hand – eggs, rice, pasta, ground beef, chicken, beans and lentils, potatoes, onions, canned tuna, jarred pasta sauce, a variety of frozen veggies, and tortillas – to make:

Pasta     •    Chili   •    Quesadillas   •    Lentil soup    •    Tuna casserole
Fried rice    •    Sloppy Joes    •    Rice and beans
Migas con huevo (scrambled eggs with torn pieces of tortilla)
Roast chicken (leftovers can be used with pasta, fried rice, quesadillas, soups, etc…)

______________________________________________

One of my faves: TORTILLA SOUP! 

I don’t have a precise recipe; I just kind of take a look in the fridge and toss stuff in!

onion     •    garlic    •    bell pepper    •    chicken stock (I try to make my own)
can stewed tomatoes (I often use leftover pasta sauce instead)     •    cooked chicken
black beans    •    frozen corn     •    seasonings: cumin, chili powder, s&p to taste
tortillas     •    lime     •    a little shredded cheese and cilantro for garnish

1. In a large pot, I saute the onion in a little vegetable oil.

2. Add the garlic and the bell pepper until it all softens.

3. Add the chicken stock and tomatoes; bring to a boil.
I often use leftover pasta sauce in soups. Lots of flavor!

4. Lower heat to a simmer and add the shredded chicken,
a can of black beans, and frozen vegetables, seasoning to taste.

5. Simmer for about 20 minutes or so.

6. Cut the tortillas into strips, and put a few at the bottom of each bowl.

7. Ladle the soup into the bowls, and squeeze a tiny bit of lime on top.

8. Garnish with a little shredded cheese and cilantro.

Ta-dah!

______________________________________________

Giveaway has ended.

What is your favorite budget-friendly meal?

Leave a comment below for your chance to win a $150 American Express gift card!

For extra entries:

• Subscribe to my feed by reader or email (or let me know if you already do). 1 entry
• Tweet about this giveaway up to once a day using the Tweet button, or copy: 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 - 1 entry per day
• Like The Domestic Buzz on Facebook. 1 entry
• Follow Ragú on Twitter @RaguSauce. 1 entry
• Like Ragú on Facebook: facebook.com/ragusauce. 1 entry

Entry period ends December 28th, 2011. US entries only, one person per household. Leave a separate comment per entry and a valid email address. Winner, chosen at random, has 3 days to claim their prize.

Disclosure: This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Ambassador in the Ragú® Mom’s the Word on Dinner Program.

Go join the conversation at Ragu’s Facebook page!

Cookie exchanges during the holidays are a long-standing tradition in the U.S., but a fairly new concept to Latinos. Horneando juntas – baking together – is so fun, though! It’s such an easy way to catch up with friends, share your favorite recipes, and bring home a few new ones. The holidays are all about traditions and celebrating with your loved ones, and this is a great way to share culture, recipes and family customs.

At a traditional cookie exchange, participants bake a few dozen of their favorite cookie and then take them to a party where guests trade their batch, ending up with a variety of cookies from everyone else. If you don’t want to keep all the cookies – knowing how crazy we all eat during the holidays – set some aside for your local fire station, your child’s school, or deliver them to elderly neighbors. It’s such an easy thing to do, but means a lot to the recipient. If you have some time this month, invite a your family and friends over for an ‘horneando juntas!’

If you’re not sure where to start, the experts at La Cocina de HERSHEY’S (Hershey’s Kitchen) have some advice on how to host a successful and sweet ‘horneando juntas.’

Cookie Exchange Tips

• Invite guests. At least two weeks in advance to make sure they have time to prepare and RSVP with the recipe they plan to make.
• Be creative. When hosting or attending a cookie exchange, be creative with traditional cookie recipes and add your favorite flavors, like sprinkling coconut shavings on top of a chocolate chip cookie.
• Celebrate traditions. Encourage your Latino friends and family to bring traditional cookies from back home. Entice them to bake cookies with ingredients such as coconut, guayaba, dulce de leche, among other Latin flavors, that will remind your guests of their or their family’s country. Bringing a piece of home during the holidays is always comforting! And don’t forget to play festive music to start welcoming the holiday spirit.
• Set the rules. Remind each guest of the total number of people attending the horneando juntas, and ask each to bring at least half a dozen cookies for each person attending the exchange.
• Be prepared. Encourage them to arrive with an empty, sealable container to take home other guests’ cookies. This is what this horneando juntas is all about. Make sure to have extra plastic bags or containers on hand for guests to transport their cookies home. I always have some pretty ribbon and gift tags, in case participants want to gift the cookies to someone else.
• Involve the kids! Consider hosting your horneando juntas on a Saturday morning and have friends bring their kids. They’ll enjoy the cookies as much as you will!
• Be a good hostess. Offer a seasonal beverage, such as hot Hershey’s Cocoa or ponche de frutas to start welcoming the holiday season. Also, it is always good to have coffee, tea, milk and juice on hand.
• Make a little extra. Baking one item as a group during the cookie exchange adds an activity to enjoy together and fills the house with delicious warm cookie smell.
• Everyone loves a goody bag! To complement the array of cookies at your horneando juntas, ask that your guests provide their recipes in advance so that you may create recipe books to provide to your guests in commemoration of your party.

Not sure what to make for your intercambio de galletas? Try some of the great recipes from La Cocina de HERSHEY´S including:

• Florecitas de Chocolate KISSES, delicious cookies topped with HERSHEY’S KISSES
• Bolitas Mágicas KISSES, delicious cookies rolled in powdered sugar
• Polvorones de Limón y Coco, for those who prefer lemon and coconut fruit flavors
• Galletas de Chocolate HERSHEY’S y Menta, for a hint of mint
• Galletas de azúcar, a classic recipe
• Cuernitos de HERSHEY’S HUGS & KISSES

These florecitas look yummy, don’t they? I’ll be trying this recipe this weekend!

Florecitas de Chocolate KISSES

You’ll need:

• 42 to 45 HERSHEY’S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolates, unwrapped
• 1 pouch (17.5 oz.) Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix
• 1/4 cup HERSHEY’S® Cocoa or HERSHEY’S® SPECIAL DARK Cocoa
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
• 1 egg
• Granulated sugar

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove wrappers from chocolates. (Kids can help with the unwrapping!)
2. Stir together cookie mix and cocoa in large bowl until well blended and no lumps remain. Add butter and egg; stir until soft dough forms.
3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until set. Do not overbake. Immediately press chocolate piece into center of each cookie; cookie will crack around the edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Makes about 3-1/2 dozen cookies.

Need help getting started? Enjoy this coupon – save $1.00 off when you buy two (2) HERSHEY’S® KISSES® bags (7.5 oz or larger) and start planning your horneando juntas today! Visit Cocinahersheys.com for recipes, gift ideas and more.  Also, find HERSHEY´S Kitchens on Facebook.

WIN IT

Giveaway has ended.

Win supplies to host a cookie exchange of your own! The giveaway prize will contain:

• (1) bag of HERSHEY´S KISSES Chocolates
• (1) can of HERSHEY´S Cocoa
• (1) $10 Visa Gift Card for the purchase of additional recipe ingredients
• Apron
• Mixing Bowl

To enter to win this, please share in a comment:

• Your favorite cookie recipe,
• What you like to bake during this joyous time of the year,
• OR how you plan to add your own flair to an ‘horneando juntas’ cookie exchange.

For extra entries:

• Subscribe to my feed by reader or email (or let me know if you already do). 1 entry
• Tweet about this giveaway one time using the Tweet button below, or copy this: #Giveaway! Win a Hershey’s baking prize pack from #MyBlogSpark at The Domestic Buzz! http://thedomesticbuzz.com/?p=15370 #TDB - 1 entry
• Like The Domestic Buzz on Facebook. 1 entry

Giveaway entry period ends Wednesday, December 21st, 2011. US entries only, one person per household. Leave a separate comment per entry and a valid email address. Winner, chosen at random, has 3 days to claim their prize. Disclosure: The Hershey´s product, information, recipes, and prize pack have been provided by The Hershey Company through MyBlogSpark.

We used to set up our Chuggington tracks on our coffee table, but it’s made of glass, so I didn’t like doing so too often. Our alternative was the floor, which isn’t very comfortable. Sigh. What to do?

I honestly never considered buying a train table… I have two little girls, after all! But now that we have the Chuggington Let’s Ride the Rails Playtable, I can’t believe we didn’t get one sooner! It’s the first quality train table made specifically for the Chuggington brand.

SET UP
The Chuggington Playtable arrived in a big box. It’s heavy (50 pounds or so, I’m guessing), so the delivery guy was nice enough to bring it into the house for me.

I was impressed by how the table was packaged. Many parts had screws pre-installed, and no pieces touched each other so nothing was scratched in any way during transit.

As far as putting the table together, I was planning to do it myself, but my husband insisted he’d do it, mostly so I could fix him lunch. In the time it took me to heat up the previous night’s leftovers and toss a quick salad, he was done! But he is handy. I’m sure it would have taken me a little longer. That said, the the instructions are simple – only 4 steps – and the only tools you need are a wrench (included) and your own screwdriver. I suggest taking all the parts to the room where you plan for it to stay, since it is kind of big once it’s complete.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
This fun, kid-friendly table is so colorful, it’s become the centerpiece of our playroom. Both the board and table are decorated with fun and vibrant Chuggington graphics.

Just over 4 feet long and almost 3 feet wide, I could see this being a little too big to put in a child’s room (it certainly wouldn’t fit in my daughter’s bedroom), but it makes our playroom feel complete! We placed it in the middle of the room, so the girls have access to all four sides.

Maura and I immediately set up all her wooden tracks on it and played for a long time, just me and her. She loves playing independently, but sitting down and enjoying some Chuggington time with her is wonderful. This table makes it that much easier because it’s just the right height for little engineers to play! There is plenty of room around it so a group of kids can play together. This was hard to do when we had the tracks on the floor.

As far as safety, the corners of the table are protected by bright yellow bumpers. This is a great feature because it makes it so there are no sharp points anywhere. The table itself is very solid. Because of its weight, the girls can’t push it around, which I appreciate.

The top of the table is made out of two fairly thin boards; I’ve warned the girls that these aren’t made to hold their weight, so I’m trusting they’ll respect this rule and not sit or stand on it. There is a support in the middle, though, and I don’t think this takes away from the sturdiness of the table at all. It just makes it easier to set up and take down. You can see a slight groove where the boards meet, but it doesn’t take away from the beauty of the table.

Printed on the board is a train station, mountains, trees, a river and a lake, giving kids a little something to fuel their imagination. Maura was appalled that I set up the roundhouse on top of the lake, LOL! I like that the sides of the table are enclosed, so whatever is on it remains there. We used to have Chuggington stuff all around the house; now I’m hoping it’ll all stay in one place!

NEXT STEPS
I’m going to buy some nice baskets or bins to put under the playtable for all our trains, tracks, and other Chuggington accessories. The girls also like to use the table for tea parties, so it’ll be nice to be able to clear everything off of it, yet still keep everything organized and tidy.

BUY IT

Intended to go along with the Chuggington Wooden Railway, the Let’s Ride the Rails Playtable by Learning Curve retails for $249.99. Is that about average for a train table? It seems reasonable. You can visit the Learning Curve website for more information.

WIN IT

Giveaway has ended.

You may or may not have a Chuggington train set already… or maybe Santa is bringing one for Christmas. Either way, how would you like to win this train table for your kids? Leave a comment below telling me what your favorite Chuggington toy is, and I’ll pick a winner at random on Wednesday, January 4th. Visiting Learning Curve or Toys “R” Us for ideas.

Prize: (1) Chuggington Let’s Ride the Rails Playtable by Learning Curve. A value of $249.99. Trains and tracks must be purchased separately.

For extra entries:

• Subscribe to my feed by reader or email (or let me know if you already do). 1 entry
• Tweet about this giveaway up to once per day using the Tweet button below, or copy this: #Giveaway! Win a traintastic Chuggington train table at The Domestic Buzz! http://thedomesticbuzz.com/?p=15361 #TDB - 1 entry per day
• Like The Domestic Buzz on Facebook. 1 entry

A product sample was provided to facilitate my review, but all opinions are my own. Learning Curve also supplied the giveaway prize. Giveaway entry period ends Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012 at midnight. US entries only, one person per household. Leave a separate comment per entry and a valid email address. Winner, chosen at random, has 3 days to claim their prize. Find more of our Chuggington content here.

For more chances to win, enter my fellow Chuggington Conductors’ giveaways, too:

• Real Moms Real Views – All Aboard for Playtime Fun! – Ends December 21
• The Mommy Files – Chuggington Let’s Ride the Rails Play Table - Ends January 1
• MamaBuzz – Chuggington Let’s Ride the Rails Playtable – ends January 4