Post it Note Tuesday - Updates and Winners!

Welcome to another Post it Note Tuesday at Acting Balanced...

 









 







 

Both winners have been sent emails and have 48 hours to respond with their mailing addresses to claim their prize.  If they do not contact me by Thursday, I will draw new names...
Thanks to everyone who entered... check back tomorrow and Thursday for new reviews and give aways!


 

If you enjoyed POST IT NOTE Tuesdays here on Acting Balanced, you should pop over to:


MMMMonday - Hummus with a twist!

This is a new recipe from Chef Joe at WWRecipes and it's on my list of things to try this week... so I can't give you my review, but it looked so yummy in my email today that I just had to share it and I'm picking up the few ingredients that I don't have on hand when I go to the store today!

Orange Hummus

1 - 15 oz (420 g) can of garbanzo beans (chick peas, ceci), rinsed and drained
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup (60 ml) orange juice
2 tsp (10 ml) grated orange rind
1 tsp (15 ml) Dijon-style mustard
1/2 tsp (2 ml) curry powder
1/2 tsp (2 ml) ground ginger
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Pita bread for dipping

Combine all ingredients except for the pita bread in an electric food processor or blender and process until smooth. Serve with pita bread for dipping. Serves 6 to 8 as an appetizer.

Pinecone Research!

I'm also posting this on Couponning 101, but I thought I'd post it here too...

I do surveys for Pinecone Research - I get paid $3 for each new product survey I do, and it often leads to opportunities for my family to try new products or review new packaging options for existing products... I've tried shampoo, conditioner, bottled water and more over the past several months...  The best thing about it is that they pay within 24 hours through PayPal!

So why am I telling you this now?  They're looking for more households to be part of their group... one member of each household can sign up and often opinions will be solicited from other household members as well...

If you're interested, please click this link:
http://www.pineconeresearch.com/signup/RR595DS1.asp
  
If you have questions, you can email them to scott@pineconeresearch.com or click on the attached links to learn more about PineCone Research.
http://www.pineconeresearch.com//about.HTM
http://www.pineconeresearch.com//policy.htm

Post it note Tuesday- the houseguests edition!




They are giving out free scoops of Vanilla, Chocolate or Coffee Ice Cream from 4-8 today!






If you enjoyed reading my Post It Notes, check out more at Supah's Post It Note McLinky!

MMMmonday: Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

This recipe comes again from one of my favourite e-zines WWRecipes, and the wonderful man who puts it together, Chef Joe...

Chef Joe's Comments: Portobello mushrooms are so rich in flavor and texture that they
satisfy even the most devout meat lover. This recipe calls for
two mushrooms per serving, but you might consider serving just
one as a delightful brunch or luncheon dish.

Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

8-12 large Portobello mushrooms, at least
5 inches (12 cm) in diameter
2 Tbs (30 ml) olive oil
3-4 red bell peppers (capsicums), seeded and chopped
3-4 green bell peppers (capsicums), seeded and chopped
4-6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3-4 scallions (spring onions), green and white parts, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 Tbs (30 ml) chopped fresh parsley
1/2 tsp (2 ml) dried oregano
1/2 tsp (2 ml) dried thyme
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 cup (250 ml) shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup (125 ml) crumbled goat's cheese

Remove the mushroom stems and chop. Set the mushroom
caps aside. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over moderate
heat and saute the chopped stems, bell peppers, garlic, scallions,
and onion until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the herbs, salt,
and pepper and saute an additional 2 minutes. Spoon the mixture
into the mushroom caps and place on a lightly greased baking
sheet. Top with the cheeses and bake in a preheated 425F (220C)
oven for about 20 minutes, until the mushrooms are tender and
the cheeses have melted. Serves 4 to 6.

My tweaks: Since it's summer and the herbs are abundant here, I substituted fresh herbs for the dried at a 2 to 1 ratio, reduced the amount of salt and increased the amount of garlic slightly to taste... the last few times I've made it, I've had to eliminate the goat cheese because I'm pregnant and can't find a good pasteurized goat cheese, so I've experimented with the cheese a bit and used havarti, gouda and monteray Jack with good results...


I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!

I've been featured!

I'm a Supahstah today on Mother of Pearl It Is!


If you've just found me and my little slice of imbalance, welcome! 
Feel free to poke around and check out my blog!

If you're a regular reader, please check out my feature here

If you haven't entered my give aways, there are two currently running:

Liam Update

Well, he came through surgery with flying colours - the whole procedure, including recovery was less than an hour long!  We were home before 9am this morning.  He was quiet for a little while, so Daddy put on Cars and before the "big race" he was bouncing on the couch and doing laps around the lounge...

Thanks to everyone for all their good wishes!

h.

Post it Note Tuesday - Scattered and Scared...

 

so I'm a little worried...


 

I'm also worried about how he'll do afterwards... it's scary when he's non-verbal..



fortunately, I think it's minor... but it feels funny when I try to bend, stretch or sit...





If you liked my post its, you should check out the others at Supah's Page:

MMMmonday - Chilled Peach Cantaloupe Soup

I found this recipe in the Post and Courier (our local Charleston Newspaper)


From their website: This soup has virtually no fat and can be partially prepared ahead of time. You can cook the peaches a few days ahead, refrigerating them until you're ready to assemble the soup. It will take just a few minutes to finish the preparations. From "The New Enchanted Broccoli Forest," by Mollie Katzen

Ingredients

  • 6 medium-sized (about 3 inches in diameter) very ripe peaches
  • 6 tbsp.s fresh lemon juice (from about 3 lemons)
  • 1 medium-sized (about 5 inches in diameter) ripe cantaloupe, peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch chunks
  • Dash of fresh ground nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp. cinammon
  • Fresh blueberries (optional; for garnish)
  • A little yogurt or buttermilk (optional; for garnish)
  • 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1 tbsp. honey

Instructions

Peel, pit and slice the peaches. Place them in a medium-sized saucepan with the lemon juice, honey and spices. Heat to a boil, lower the heat to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.

Remove from heat, and let cool down a little.
After soup cools down some, use a blender or food processor to puree the peach mixture with the cantaloupe and the orange juice (you might have to do this in batches). Puree until very smooth. Transfer to a container with a cover and chill until very cold.
Serve plain or with a little yogurt or buttermilk, and/or some fresh blueberries on top.

My thoughts: this is a great summery dish - I added some fresh mint as a garnish and loved that too...

Although this was originally published as part of my MMMmonday series, I am also featuring it as a link on Lisa's Gluten-free link up on August 12/10 - if you are visiting from there, please feel free to stop by my main page today (Aug 12) to read more about me - this blog is not just food related and not entirely gluten free - since it is my 3 1/2 year old picky son who is on the GF diet - although I am more careful now about making gf choices or using gf alternatives in my recipes as needed....


Lisa's Gluten-Free Advice and Healthy Living

Happy Mother's Day from AB


Robyn made me a lovely card and breakfast, Liam podged me a beautiful flower pot in school and Wayne took me plant and mulch shopping and helped weed and plant today!!!  Now, I'm going to nap and let them take me out for dinner - hope you are spending your Mother;s Day doing what you want to do fellow mommies!

Product Review and Give Away - Cascade Complete and Walmart Gift Card

I was lucky enough to be chosen to be part of Cascade's:


They sent me a lovely Corning Ware dish, sevearl samples of the new


and I was set to the task of making a 'messy' dish of Blueberry Cobbler and leaving it out on the counter for 24 hours before washing it as part of my regular load of dishes...

Well I have to say that I've thought since I moved into this house that my dishwasher was lousy... I am forever pre-rinsing and often post-rinsing too... but the Cascade Complete All-in-one Action Pacs solved my pre-and post rinse issues!    Not only did it clean up my new Corning Ware baking dish that I made a Blueberry cobbler in, but the rest of my dishes are sparkling too!

Product Benefits:
Cascade Complete All-in-one ActionPacs give you the tools to get the job done right.  It breaks down, dissolves and rinses away tough food particles without the need to prewash.

  • no pre-washing
  • more tough food-cleaning ingredients* 
  • Rinse Aid Action
            *vs. Regular Cascade ActionPacs

You really need to take the 24 hour challenge and see for yourself that Cascade Complete All-in-one Action Pacs are for real!

On top of sending me the dish and Cascade Complete All-in-one ActionPacs to try, P & G has also sent a $25 Walmart Gift Card for one lucky reader!



All you need to do to win it is leave a comment about the review here on the blog and I will randomly draw one name on May 24th to win the gift card!

Don't forget to enter my other give away here (for the CoverMates food covers)

"Legal Disclaimer: This product review was based on using complimentary Cascade product provided by P&G.  Bloggers also received a Walmart Gift Card to share with their readers.  P&G does not represent or warrant the accuracy of any statements or product claims made here, nor does it endorse any opinions expressed within this blogsite."

Book Review - I Am Hutterite

Today I am reviewing I Am Hutterite: The Fascinating True Story of a Young Woman’s Journey to Reclaim Her Heritage by Mary-Ann Kirkby


I Am Hutterite: The Fascinating True Story of a Young Woman’s Journey to Reclaim Her Heritage
From the Publisher:

A fascinating journey into the heart and culture of a reclusive religious community.

I Am Hutterite takes readers into the hidden heart of the little-known Hutterite colony where author Mary-Ann Kirkby spent her childhood. When she was ten, her parents packed up their seven children and a handful of possessions and left the colony to start a new life. Overnight they were thrust into a world they didn't understand, a world that did not understand them.
With great humor, Kirkby describes how she adapted to popular culture, and with raw honesty she describes her family's deep sense of loss for their community. More than a history lesson, I Am Hutterite is a powerful tale of retracing steps and understanding how our beginnings often define us.


My Review: I read this book in one sitting because I couldn't put it down... knowing that it was a true story propelled me to read it, the author's gift for sharing of herself and her life kept me riveted.  I have always been fascinated by cultures that exist in modern times under different rules - I lived in Southwestern Ontario not far from several Mennonite communities and watched their ability to integrate into the modern world without embracing it and love to read stories about Amish and other societies, so when I got an opportunity to read I Am Hutterite: The Fascinating True Story of a Young Woman’s Journey to Reclaim Her Heritage I jumped at the chance and wasn't disappointed.

I love that she was able to find and integrate photographs of herself and her family to illustrate her life and her journey and that she was brave enough to share personal glimpses of herself and her best friend through original letters and recollections.  My only two criticisms are that I want a sequel delving more into how she is reclaiming her roots and integrating the Hutterite teachings into her modern world and that she didn't include more yummy recipes... this book talked quite a bit about the wonderful food that was eaten by the Hutterite collective and my mouth watered for days...

I highly recommend that you check out I Am Hutterite: The Fascinating True Story of a Young Woman’s Journey to Reclaim Her Heritage if you are interested in biographies of women, or even if you are just drawn to the subject like me.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255  : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


Post it Note Tuesday - Liam Updates

It's another PINT brought to you by Supah:




 





 

Wish my poor little guy didn't have to go through this...

hoping the tubes will help though :)

and Don't forget to enter my give away here

Great new journal...

I just found out about this great new product through Mom Select:


Cristina has published her first interactive journal, "The Changing Room: A Mother's Journal of Gratitude to Her Little Girl." This interactive journal by Cristina Carlino and YOU captures all those astonishing parenting moments before they fade into the swirl of everyday life. Throughout the book, Cristina shares her personal story and asks questions that inspire you to remember those first precious years of motherhood. This journal is a special place for your memories, drawings and letters. One day it will become a priceless keepsake for your daughter. (For more on The Changing Room, click onto this video link: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=107098785997769)

Changing Room
 
Cristina's friend, actress Mariska Hargitay is in love with the book, and she and Cristina have joined forces for her Joyful Heart Foundation, benefiting survivors of rape, incest and abuse. The neat thing is 100% of the net proceeds for The Changing Room will go to Joyful Heart.
 
Mariska says this about the book:
 
"This beautiful and rare journal is an expression of the exquisite and tender delight Cristina takes in motherhood. As if by magic, the journal opens doors into the most precious terrain where the miracles of childhood transform into memories large and small. What a gift to be led to this place of wonder, joy and gratitude. And we are so pleased that 100% of the net proceeds from this book are being donated to the Joyful Heart Foundation. Thank you, Cristina!"
 
To celebrate the season of mothers and the release of The Changing Room, Cristina is hosting a WISHES FOR MY LITTLE GIRL PHOTO CONTEST on her Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/cristinacarlino). Five winners will receive a free copy of The Changing Room.
 
To enter Cristina's Wish and Photo Contest, Wishes for My Little Girl, click onto Cristina's Facebook Fan Page, and post your favorite photo of the little girl in your life -- it can be your daughter, a niece, a neighbor, the daughter of a friend. All our little girls need our wishes. Tell us of a big wish you have for this little wondrous person.Winners will be determined by the number of "Likes" they receive from other Cristina Carlino Fans, so invite your friends to Cristina's fan page and vote! Hurry! Contest ends on Monday, May 10th.

MMMmonday - CoverMate Review, Giveaway and Recipe!

Let me start by saying that I was lucky enough to receive both a free product to try and one to give away to a lucky reader from CoverMate, Inc through Mamabuzz, and I love them!

CoverMate Food Covers
CoverMate, Inc. sent me a variety pack with four medium, four large and two extra large covers, and a bonus can cover!  My husband refers to them as shower caps, but they are great because they stretch to fit any shaped bowl or container and the extra larges even cover an entire large pizza or platter!

CoverMate Food Covers

Even better, they each have a little vent included, making them perfect for splatter proof cooking and reheating in the microwave!  They are dishwasher safe on the top shelf and come clean very easily when I use the new Cascade Action Packs that I will be reviewing later this week!



Price: Free Sample Pack with only $3.95 S&H; with the sample pack, you will also receive a $1.00 off coupon for their next purchase.

Or better yet!  Win your sample pack right here!  No shipping or handling!!!   

Mandatory Entry: Just leave me a comment and use a valid email address where I can reach you telling me why you'd like to try CoverMate

Bonus Entries (leave separate comments for each):
1 entry for following on Google Friends Connect (new or continuing)
1 entry for following on Networked Blogs (new or continuing)
1 entry for liking Acting Balanced on Facebook (new or continuing)
1 entry for following me on Twitter (new or continuing)
1 entry for each tweet/retweet about the give away (once per day)
3 entires for posting a recipe link in the comments section to a recipe that would be great with CoverMates!

Give Away will close on Monday, May 24th at 11:59pm and the winner will be emailed and announced during Post It Note Tuesday on May 25th

Now for a recipe I made using my CoverMates, taken from Allrecipes.com and modified for my family:

Acorn Squash with Apples
INGREDIENTS:
1 acorn squash
2 apples, cored and sliced (I used Granny Smith)
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon finely chopped walnuts (omitted by us due to nut allergies)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

1. To easily peel the acorn squash without losing a lot of vegetable, gently drop the squash in a large pot of boiling water, and boil for 15 minutes. Pour off the boiling water and fill with cold water and let sit 5 minutes to cool. When cool enough to handle, use a knife to slice off the peel on the ridges and use a teaspoon to dig out the peel in the valleys. Slice the squash in half and remove the seeds and stem. Then slice the halves into sections and finally cut into 1 inch chunks.

2. Place the squash chunks into a large microwave-safe bowl along with the apples. Dot with pieces of butter. Sprinkle the brown sugar, walnuts, salt and cinnamon over the top. Cover with CoverMate medium or large cover or ventilated saran wrap.

3. Cook in the microwave for 7 1/2 minutes on full power. Remove, uncover, and stir. Return to the microwave, and cook for another 7 1/2 minutes on full power, until tender. Serve hot.