Canadian Mom Blogger - Product Reviews, Travel and Parenting
In our search for the best weekday meals, my husband and I find ourselves craving new and different dishes that break us out of the routine of chicken, fish and beef. That’s why we’ve recently become big fans of an unsung hero of weekday dinners…ground pork!
Affordable, versatile and delicious, there are so many ways of using ground pork for dinner. And right now, this easy Instant Pot Ground Pork Casserole is a favourite.
A few weeks ago, my fiance and I were setting the table for dinner and he mentioned that one thing we’ve really mastered since moving in with one another is the family dinner. Without fail, the four of us manage to sit down to a home-cooked meal almost every night. And even on nights when Jeremy’s job takes him to work, the boys and I have a family dinner of our own.
Making meals that we enjoy as adults, but that are still kid-friendly, is a big help when it comes to making family dinner a priority. And since we’re a typical busy family, having quick and easy meals in our repertoire is a must. That’s why Canadian Beef is a frequent choice for our dinner table! Whether we’re cooking up succulent burgers, tender steak or spicy tacos, beef is the perfect fast and delicious choice for the whole family!
Looking for a great recipe for those busy weeknights? This easy Peanut Beef takes just twenty minutes to make and is a surefire crowd pleaser! Serve it over rice or vermicelli and tailor the vegetables to suit your family’s tastes for a meal that kids and adults will both enjoy! [Read more…]
My boys love Smucker’s jam, so keeping a good supply of it in our house is something that I consider essential. But while Zackary and Benjamin are content eating toast and jam day after day, I like to get a little more creative when I have Smucker’s in the house! That’s why I loved the idea of Smucker’s Pairings; easy combinations of Smucker’s jam and other food that let me think outside the box when using jam at home.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that Smucker’s jam is only suitable for breakfast, but I know that’s simply not true!
The first Smucker’s Pairings recipe I created was a scrumptious and easy appetizer: Prosciutto and Swiss Baguette Rounds. I simply sliced half of a multigrain baguette into rounds, spread each slice with Smucker’s Apricot Jam and topped the slices with prosciutto and Swiss cheese. Then I broiled the slices for about five minutes until the cheese was melted and bubbly. I served the rounds with some snacks when I had family over recently and they were the first item to disappear.
For the ninth year in a row, M&M Meat Shops is encouraging busy families to sit down together for dinner on September 19, 2013 for National Family Dinner Night! Sitting down for dinner is something that families tend to do less and less as our lives get busier, but it really is worth making time for! Family dinner isn’t just a chance to eat; it allows parents and children to reconnect, talk about their day and share triumphs and troubles to ensure a close bond that lasts long after the meal is done.
Of course, it can be hard to get that delicious family dinner ready sometimes, and that’s why M&M Meat Shops offers so many quick and convenient meal options perfect for an on-the-go family. This year, I was asked to create a National Family Dinner Night recipe using M&M products and I couldn’t wait to tackle the challenge!
The hardest thing about creating a recipe with M&M products is the fact that so many of the products available are delicious just as they are! Whether you’re looking for a tasty side dish like Grilled Vegetables or Parmesan and Garlic Potato Wedges, or a filling main course such as Lemon & Herb Chicken Tenderloins or Cod Andalusia, so many of the options need nothing more than to be heated up and served. Eventually I decided to create a pasta dish, since noodles are always a kid-friendly favourite. By adding M&M Meat Shops “New York” Striploin Steak, Garlic Shrimp and Sautéed Onions and Peppers, I was able to create a meal fancy enough for company that was still ready in a flash!
One of the things I love about summer is how much easier it is to entertain. We live in a fairly small house so hosting gatherings in the colder months can be tricky simply because we don’t have a lot of room for people to circulate. But our yard is huge, green and perfect for relaxing outside with family and friends. Even the party food is often as easy as lighting up the barbeque or pulling out a hearty cold salad made earlier in the day!
Recently I was browsing the Life Made Delicious website for new fresh ideas for summer entertaining and the Zesty Corn and Pasta Salad recipe reminded me of one of my own favourite summer pasta salad recipes: Mexican Toss Pasta Salad. This easy salad is hearty enough to act as a main dish on a warm summer day, but it’s also a fabulous party side dish or potluck contribution!
