Let Coca-Cola and Walmart Provide Effortless Meals for Your Family!

Ahh, September. The temperatures have cooled, a few impatient leaves are already beginning to change and my darling children are back in school.

As much as I love this season, every year fall shows me just how much more challenging it is to find quality time with my kids than summer. Between the rush of breakfast and packing lunches in the morning and activities, sports and homework after school, when does that leave to just hang out and enjoy each other?

For us, it is mainly during family dinnertime. No phones, no television, no bickering (hopefully), just time spent chatting about our day and eating a tasty meal. I'll admit, however, that the planning, prep, cooking and cleaning before and after dinner usually ends up taking far more time than I wish it did in an otherwise already-busy day. But what's the alternative?

It is the convenience and dependability found now that Coca-Cola and Walmart have come together to create Effortless Meals that families love!

With a variety of affordable meal options available – take ‘n bake pizza, flavorful sandwiches and ready-to-serve rotisserie chicken – these Effortless Meals result in less time working in the kitchen and more time connecting as a family (while still providing a delicious meal). Yes, please!

These Effortless Meals couldn't be much easier and I love that there are so many options available to suit everyone's tastes and preferences.

Simply visit your local Walmart Supercenter (you're doing that anyway, right?)...

...and it only takes a few steps in the door before you are popping one or more Effortless Meal options into your cart.

Rotisserie chicken fans in your household? Then you'll want to start with the 29 oz chicken, a 2 lb side of potato salad, macaroni salad or cole slaw and a 2-liter of your favorite Coca-Cola product!

Or maybe sandwiches are more of a hit? Then pick up a Sandwich Meal for each member of your family that includes one of six varieties of 6" sub sandwich, a bag of Kettle potato chips and a 16-oz Coca-Cola!

As for us, we're a pizza family. How can you go wrong with pizza? Especially when it is a fresh Marketside pizza, size extra large, that only requires me opening the package and tossing it into the oven and pairing it with our favorite Coca-Cola product!

Talk about an easy, convenient way to have dinner on the table in a snap so that you can spend more time with your family and less time cooking!

But along with the delicious taste, great value and time-saving aspects of these Effortless Meals, there's one more reason to pick one up today: My Coke Rewards!

If you aren't a My Coke Rewards member, then you've been missing out on all sorts of offers, sweepstakes, rewards and more that are easily acquired just by drinking Coca-Cola products and entering in the codes that are found under their caps or on their packaging.

If you are a My Coke Rewards member, however, then you'll love that picking up an Effortless Meal for your family can unlock bonus points to help you get just a little closer to your next prize!

As the fall season becomes even more hectic, make sure to spend quality time with your family whenever you can... and let Coca-Cola and Walmart make that more convenient with their variety of Effortless Meal options! Which meal would you like to bring home first?

Thanks to The Coca-Cola Company for providing compensation for this blog post. All opinions expressed in this post are my own and honest and not those of Coca-Cola.

Stand Aside Steak, A.1. Original Sauce has 1,000 Other Uses as Well! {Tofu & Veggie Stir Fry Recipe}

While this summer was filled with all sorts of fun and family time, I can't deny that the arrival of September provides me a large amount of relief. There's just something about the (slight) cooling of the heat and the kids returning to school that makes my inner schedule-loving self happy.

Along with the changing of the seasons and our lives returning back to "normal," this month also manages to bring about some changes to our menu planning as well. All of our usual standby recipes are still great, of course, but the sudden arrival of more time to myself during the day allows for a little more creativity and experimentation in the kitchen.

So, while I've been happily spending more time with my apron and a kitchen to myself, I've also broadened my family's meal selections a bit more lately thanks to the introduction of a new-to-us-but-not-everyone-else addition, A.1. Original Sauce.

Previously known as "Steak Sauce," A.1. has recently made the change to their label to help people everywhere realize that this condiment can be used on just about anything! While A.1. and steak will always be the best of friends, this bottle can also be on the table or ingredient list when the meal is chicken, seafood, veggies, potatoes, pasta and much more.

I have to admit that I am indeed one of the many people that had no idea that A.1. was quite so versatile. Use it in chili? Add it to meatloaf? Pour it in the slow cooker? Mix it in with salsa? Who knew?!

Therefore, with my sudden inspiration to change up my family's weekly menu a little bit, I took one look at Kraft's Stir-Fry Vegetables and knew that A.1. might be just the thing to give a new taste to one of our favorites, Tofu & Veggie Stir Fry.

You can choose any type of protein that you wish, of course, but with half of our household non-meat eaters, tofu is a staple in our meals.

However, as it doesn't have a great deal of flavor on its own, I opted to marinate my tofu in A.1. Sauce while I prepared the rest of the veggies in hopes that it would give it a little extra punch.

Then, after the tofu had a turn in my skillet, it was time for the vegetables to take a ride.

Easy, right?

Then I simply mixed the tofu back in, added a little soy sauce and fresh lemon juice and voilà!

Yum! This tofu & veggie stir fry turned out perfect as a side dish or, as I had let a pot of rice simmer while I was cooking, the two together easily became the main dish.

Ready for a bite? Click here for the full recipe: Tofu & Veggie Stir Fry!

No matter if you're whipping something up for a potluck, to serve to guests in your home or are just looking for a way to put a new twist on a familiar favorite, A.1. Original Sauce makes it easy (and tasty) to go beyond steak! What will you pair it with next?

For more delicious ways to incorporate A.1. into your next dish, check out the large number of recipes available at KraftRecipes.com to find a wide variety of ideas that are creative, mouthwatering and fun for your next meal.

This post is a part of a partnered campaign with Kraft Foods, however, all thoughts and opinions shared are honest and my own. 

Jamba At Home Introduces Red Fusion and Blue Fusion Fruit and Vegetable Smoothies {Giveaway - 5 winners!}

While we all have our favorite restaurants, I've long teased my husband about one of his that could more accurately be called an obsession. A place where, upon simply seeing or mentioning the name, he lights up with excitement.

What's more is that he has slowly but surely passed that passion on to our kids as well. It's really no wonder that the level of anticipation in the air triples if anyone even brings up a trip to Jamba Juice! Unfortunately, as there isn't a location all that near us, it isn't very often that their signature freshly-squeezed juices or delicious smoothies are a part of our day.

However, all was made good in the world when we discovered Jamba At Home, the healthy, all natural fruit and vegetable smoothies that are made right in your own blender. Yum + nutrition + convenience? Yes, please!

Therefore, it was a surprise to exactly no one that my household was thrilled to hear about the recent release of two new Jamba At Home fruit and vegetable smoothies: Red Fusion and Blue Fusion.

Joining the existing Green Fusion that was introduced to the At Home line last year, the new fusion smoothies take the guesswork out of making a great-tasting fruit and veggie smoothie blend that is equally suitable as breakfast on the go, a lunchtime snack or a post-workout replenishment.

Made with whole frozen fruit such as dark cherries, strawberries and blueberries and paired with vitamin-rich vegetables such as purple carrot, sweet potato and spinach, these tasty blends are gluten-free, dairy-free and contain no high fructose corn syrup.

Even better, each eight-ounce serving of Red Fusion or Blue Fusion provides 100% of the recommended dietary allowance of vitamin C, 40% of vitamin A and 25% of vitamins D, E, K, B1 and B6. Top it off with only 130 calories (or less) in that eight-ounce glass and what more could you ask for?

Ingredients in these new Fusion blends include:

• Red Fusion features a blend of red raspberry, strawberry, dark sweet cherry, purple carrot and sweet potato.

• Blue Fusion combines blueberry, banana, apple, blackberry, carrot, broccoli and spinach to create a flavorful experience.

Whether you are avid visitors to Jamba Juice stores or are just looking for a tasty way to boost your (and your family's) fruit and vegetable intake easily and conveniently, it's time to let Jamba At Home provide the healthy, nutritious, delicious smoothies everyone will love!

Red Fusion and Blue Fusion are arriving now in grocery, and mass merchandise stores nationwide with a suggested retail price range between $2.99 - $3.99 for each package (two servings per package). To find out more about these and the full line of amazing Jamba At Home options, visit AtHomeSmoothies.com and connect with them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Plus, thanks to their generosity, five people will soon see why these new fusion blends are offering an unparalleled combination of nutrition and convenience in the form of a blend-at-home smoothie kit, because...

FIVE lucky people will win a free product coupon for
Jamba At-Home smoothies!

Entry-Form

A big thank you to Jamba At Home for providing coupons for me as well as for five lucky giveaway winners. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Celebrate Grandparents' Day with GourmetGiftBaskets.com!

 

While it would be difficult to find someone who doesn't know that Christmas is on December 25th or that Halloween falls on October 31st, do you know what holiday is celebrated annually on the first Sunday after Labor Day?

It's Grandparents' Day! Passed in 1978 with a purpose to honor grandparents and all of the love, strength, information and guidance that they have to offer, this holiday increases in popularity year after year. Therefore, with Grandparents' Day 2014 right around the corner on September 7th, time is running out to pick up a gift to show the amazing grandparents in your life just how much they matter.

Fortunately, it is easy to declare your love with something beautiful, delicious and award-winning from the wide selection from GourmetGiftBaskets.com.

With gift and fruit baskets for every occasion, GourmetGiftBaskets.com has a handmade item filled with critically acclaimed gourmet foods that will suit everyone's tastes. These aren't the same prepackaged gift baskets that have been sitting in a warehouse somewhere that other companies use, instead GourmetGiftBaskets.com only uses the freshest fruits and the highest quality snacks or products that have each been individually chosen for each particular grouping.

Don't your grandparents or your children's grandparents deserve the very best? GourmetGiftBaskets.com has even put together their Top 5 Gifts For Grandies as a guide (and a gentle nudge) to send the grandparent in your life something nice:

1. Almond Strawberry Delight, $19.99
Could you get a more affordable, yet delectable gift for the grandparents you know? Not likely. In a beautiful matte finished box, gourmet roasted and salted almonds are paired with a medley of premium dried strawberries and other fruits for a tasty, relatively guilt-free snack. This would be a big hit with more health-conscious grandparents, too.

2. Baked Goods Sampler Basket, $29.99
While this is another very affordable gift, it also can really satisfy a sweet tooth and we all know many grandies still love their sweets.

Inside this beautiful basket, rich brownies (chocolate chunk and cheesecake) are artfully arranged with tempting cookies (white chocolate macadamia, oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip and peanut butter). There are also larger versions of this baked goods basket for grandparents that especially love gourmet goods or like to entertain.

3. Wine Party Picnic Ravenswood Duo, $99.99
For the wine-loving grandparents, this impressive arrangement makes the perfect gift. Inside a signature willow-branch basket, delighted grandparents will find two bottles of coveted Ravenswood wine paired with an assortment of mouthwatering accompaniments.

Complete with a zesty tomato bruschetta, crisp deli-style crackers, authentic German sausage and slow smoked cheese, this sophisticated gift is sure to make a great impression.

4. Ultimate Margarita Madness Bucket, $119.99
This is the perfect celebratory gift for grandies who really like to have a good time. Loaded with premium margarita mix and many different savory snacks like spicy salsas, delicious guacamole mix, zesty tortilla chips, crispy crackers and cheese with a jolt of hot pepper, this basket gives grandparents everything they need for a fiesta that can't be beat.

5. Red Wine And Dark Chocolate Suitcase with Torpedo Cigar, $179.99
GourmetGiftBaskets.com has many gifts that are quite indulgent and this is certainly one of them. Inside an elegant suitcase, a collection of sophisticated tastes begins with the remarkably well-balanced Torpedo Barber Cigar and two coveted red wines.

These flavors are then expertly paired with an assortment of irresistible gourmet treats, including chocolate-drenched fruits, double dipped peanuts, English toffee caramels and exquisitely crisp cookies. This is a gift few grandies will ever forget!

I love that GourmetGiftBaskets.com has such a large selection that it is easy to find something that fits your recipient as well as your budget. The excitement of receiving any of their great baskets is a real treat, proven around here when the Baked Goods Sampler Gift Basket showed up and brightened our day!

Yum, yum and yum!

There's always the risk that packaged food items may arrive a little stale or taste as though they were baked quite some time ago, but that's not the case (and never is) with GourmetGiftBaskets.com. These brownies were 100% rich chocolately goodness and each of the cookies tasted freshly made and right out of the oven. Mmmm!

Whether you choose to browse by price, occasion, theme, gourmet food or more, GourmetGiftBaskets.com has an option to meet your needs and your recipient's tastes. Instead of just giving the grandparents in your life a card (if you even remember to do that), one of these gift baskets is plenty versatile and thoroughly delectable enough that it would be enjoyed by all!

Be sure to browse the quality, selection and options available at GourmetGiftBaskets.com and connect with this family-owned company on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram as well.

Other than the Baked Goods Sampler Gift Basket and information that I received from GourmetGiftBaskets.com, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion of this product.