Chicken Enchiladas with Hood Sour Cream and Homemade Whole Wheat Tortillas

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Hood. 
I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.  

We live in New England, you know, the land where it snows about a foot every week.  Maybe that's a little exaggeration but a half foot wouldn't be any exaggeration at all.  I can't see over the snow at the end of my driveway, and it's been frigid here.  The kind of frigid where you plan outdoor play activities as soon as the thermometer hits 32 degrees because below-zero temperatures have become the norm!  I'm not complaining, but it's just really, really cold and snowy this winter!

With lots of snow to shovel and a three year old who can't get enough of snow play, we've been outside a lot this winter and there's nothing that's better to greet us when we get back in than some good old comfort food!  We do a lot of comfort food around here and our winter favorites often have one thing in common... creaminess!  And nothing represents creamy deliciousness better than Hood Sour Cream.  Whether we are adding it to our enchiladas, plopping some on top of our chili, tacos, and baked potatoes, whipping up a quick dip, or mixing it into our turkey or potato soup, it adds the perfect combination of creaminess, richness, and mouth watering tanginess that keeps us coming back for more.

Did you know that Hood has been in business for 160 years?  Talk about having some time to perfect a product!  And talk about a lot of years for a lot of people to try and determine that Hood Sour Cream is the very best sour cream out there.  Our family has been becoming much more health conscious in our recipe choices and eating habits and when I use Hood Sour Cream, my confidence in the choices of foods I'm providing my family increases.  Hood All Natural Sour Cream is just that... all natural, with no artificial ingredients or preservatives.

Here's what we had for dinner last night after shoveling...

Chicken Enchiladas with Hood Sour Cream and 

Homemade Whole Wheat Tortillas

Ingredients:

• 1 pound boneless chicken breasts or tenders
• 8 oz Hood Sour Cream, plus more for topping
• 1 can cream of chicken (or whatever) soup (or try this easy homemade recipe for a healthier alternative)
• 1/2 small can of chopped green chiles (use the whole can if you want them spicy)
• 8 oz bag of shredded mexican cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions, plus some extra for sprinkling (I used a "heaping" 1/4 cup from my freezer stash)
• 8-10 soft whole wheat tortillas (try this easy homemade recipe but you will need to adjust the shortening and water - I needed to add a bit more as I went because whole wheat flour is quite a bit tougher than white)
• 1 jar/can mild enchilada sauce

Directions:

• Boil chicken breasts until cooked through (no longer pink), and chop or shred
• Make your cream-of-whatever soup
• Make your tortillas
• Preheat oven to 375 and grease 9x12 casserole dish
• Mix shredded chicken, sour cream, cream soup, chiles, green onions, and half of cheese
• Fill and roll tortillas and place, fold side down, in casserole dish
• Pour enchilada sauce over top and sprinkle with cheese and green onions
• Bake for 25-30 minutes until bubbling
• Top with sour cream, serve, and enjoy!

These were the best enchiladas I ever made.  They tasted healthier and more delicious than ever.  They didn't leave that heavy, after-Mexican food, feeling in my stomach.  I knew what was in the ingredients I used, and I felt confident in them.  They were perfectly creamy, thanks to the Hood All Natural Sour Cream (which I ate spoonfuls of as I went...).

Hood offers three varieties of Sour Cream ~ All Natural, Light, and Fat Free ~ and you can read more about them on their website.  Also, you can connect with Hood through social media through the following links:

www.facebook.com/HPHood

www.twitter.com/HPHood

www.youtube.com/HoodDairy

If Hood hasn't yet become a staple in your kitchen, give it a try!  I'm confident you won't regret it!  

3 Ingredient Cereal Bars (with Kashi)

I am on a constant quest for good granola bar recipes.  I am a lunch packing fanatic... in other words, I hugely obsess over the lunches I pack for my husband and our daughter.  There always needs to be a snack-y thing and I prefer it be a granola bar type item but when I don't have any purchased or made, I tend to add cookies because I want there to be something homemade.  Of course cookies are yummy, but I'd rather pack something healthier and save those for a special treat later.  Anyway, today on my granola bar quest, I came across a super easy cereal bar recipe and whipped these guys up in no time at all!  They will do the trick and are certainly healthier (and even easier) than the cookies I packed all last week.

I will be snacking on these while I continue my hearty, healthy granola bar search.  Do you have a favorite granola bar recipe?  Please share!

Here's the recipe.  I originally found it on Healthy Food For Living.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups dry cereal (I used 3 Kashi cups ~ 2 Heart to Heart Honey Toasted Oat and 1 Go Lean)
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup honey (I used almost 1/2 cup and topped it off with maple syrup when I ran out)

Directions:

• Line 8x8 square pan with parchment paper
• Combine peanut butter and honey in a saucepan and heat on medium until it just starts to simmer, stirring constantly (about 2-3 minutes)
• Remove from heat and stir until well combined
• Add cereal and stir until evenly coated
• Pour mixture into pan, cover with parchment and press firmly
• Let sit for 1 hour
• Use sharp knife to cut into bars or squares

Enjoy!  (and please please please tell me your favorite granola bar recipe because I am in great need!)

Visit here to see how you can get some FREE Kashi cereal with your coupons this week!

Mickey Mouse Puzzles

I am knee deep in planning our Disney Side @Home Celebration and couldn't be more excited!  Stay tuned for some blog posts with sneak peeks into our party planning.  I hesitated to share in case our guests are reading, but you might want some ideas too!

I have a feeling our preschool guests will love these Mickey Mouse Puzzles!

Original inspiration was found here but here's what we did...

What you need:

• Tongue depressors
• Mickey cutout (change the % to print to the size you need)
• Permanent Makers
• Tape

What you do:

• Line up the tongue depressors and take the edge to keep them steady
• Trace the edge of the Mickey cutout
• Color

So easy!  So fun!

#DisneySide!

Ranch Oyster Crackers

My husband introduced me to this simple, inexpensive, but fantastic little snack.  He remembers long nights snacking on these while playing cards with his grandmother.  I introduced them to my grandmother many years ago and she became a lover of them as well!  Last night, I introduced them to our daughter... the love runs in the family!  I think you'll love them too!

Ingredients:

• One bag oyster crackers (we used a 9 oz last night and they were SUPER strong... 12 oz would be better)
• One packet dry ranch dressing mix (we use Hidden Valley)
• 1/4 cup oil (whatever you have on hand... I've used vegetable in the past but more recently olive oil and both are fine)

Directions:

• Toss the oyster crackers with the oil and dressing mix (a ziplock bag works great).  
• Spread evenly on a baking sheet and bake at 250 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Enjoy... but don't expect to eat only a handful!  These won't last you long!

National Mom's Nite Out™ 2014

Attention moms!!

Save the date!!

Thursday, May 8, 2014 is National Mom's Nite Out™  and this year is going to be bigger and better than every before!  BSM Media and Maria Bailey, the founder of National Mom's Nite Out™ have joined forces with AFFIRM films (a division of Sony pictures) and Provident Films to release a new movie, 'Moms' Night Out' and it's set to come out May 9!  So after Mom gets rejuvenated with the gals on Thursday night, she can take her family to the movies on Friday!

BSM Media describes 'Moms' Night Out' as a "fast-paced, family comedy about four moms scheduling a night out where everything can and will go wrong, yet it all turns out just fine in the end."  Sound familiar?  Hello, real life!  The movie features stars like Sarah Drew, Sean Astin, Patricia Heaton, Alex Kendrick, Robert Amaya, Andrea Logan White, Kevin Downes, and Trace Adkins!  

Check out the movie trailer below!

You can connect with National Mom's Nite Out™ at www.momsniteout.com, on their facebook page, or on twitter @MomsNiteOut #NMNO14.

Premama Plus *Review & Giveaway!*

I was provided with free product for this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Several months ago I had the opportunity to review Premama Essentials Prenatal Vitamin Mix.   MomSelect and Premama have again invited me to review their Premama Plus formula and have asked that I give one of my readers a free 30 day supply as well!

If you are in the market for prenatal vitamins, please read on!

Premama is a problem solver.  Their team has developed a prenatal vitamin mix that you simply stir into your favorite beverage and drink, totally eliminating huge horse pills!  Who wouldn't love an alternative option for easily taking in all the nutrients to make you a healthy mommy... while easing some prenatal discomforts along the way?  Premama Prenatal Vitamin Mixes are packed with all of the vitamins and nutrients suggested for mommies before, during, and after pregnancy to support healthy baby development.  It helps keeps you and baby healthy at the same time that it soothes symptoms like morning sickness and minimizes constipation.

A 30 day supply of Premama comes with 30 little packets of powder that you simply mix with your favorite non-carbonated cold beverage or soft food and enjoy!  Even oatmeal!  All of you pumping and nursing mommies who are trying to boost that milk supply by eating oatmeal can fill up on your vitamins at the same time!  Not only that, but drinking Premama forces you to increase your fluid intake!  This is a HUGE benefit to me because I absolutely know that I never drink enough.  I'm getting at least 12 more ounces in me for sure when I'm drinking the Premama mix.  You can get the powder in either a taste-free or a light citrus flavor alternative.  I am loving the sweet taste of the Premama Plus!  Besides the citrus flavoring, the Premama Plus is additionally fortified with Omega-3s, CoQ10, and Choline, on top of the B6, iron, folic acid, and B12 that is also found in the Essentials variety.

Premama comes in two varieties, Premama Essentials and Premama Plus and both are sold in 30 day supplies.  You can purchase them through the Premama website, amazon, or in a store near you!  It is now even sold in Whole Foods which I know is convenient to many of you!

If you're looking for some savings on the product, there is a great feature on the Premama website where if you refer a friend, you will both earn money toward the purchase price... and there is no limit to how much you can earn, so the more friends you refer, the better!  You can also ask your doctor to request a coupon code for additional savings, or subscribe for monthly automatic delivery.  If you'd like to try Premama first, there is an option to request a sample as well.  All of the details are on the website here.

MomSelect and Premama have provided me with the opportunity to offer a giveaway of a 30 day supply of Premama for one of my readers!  You can enter the giveaway below.  A winner will be announced one week from today on Wednesday, January 29.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to try this product and share it with you through both the review and the givewaway!  Thanks MomSelect and Premama!

If you'd like more ways to connect with Premama, check out their social media links below!

http://facebook.com/Premama
http://twitter.com/drinkpremama
http://pinterest.com/drinkpremama
http://instagram.com/premama

I was provided with free product for this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

This post contains my Premama referral link.

I'm hosting a Disney Side @Home Celebration!

I received free products in order to host the Disney Side @Home Celebration.  

The opinions expressed here are my own.

Back in December, I learned about Disney's marketing theme for 2014 ~ Show Your Disney Side!  You've probably seen commercials on TV by this time.  Everyone has a Disney Side... that magical side of excitement and fun!  Disney wants to see our Disney Sides whether we are at their theme parks or at home and they, along with MomSelect gave the public an opportunity to apply to host a Disney Side @Home Celebration.  I applied and told them about how we often show our Disney Side by blasting Doc McStuffins' music and singing and dancing our hearts out.  Well, I found out last week that out of thousands of applicants, our family was one of the ones chosen to host!  Yippee!

Today we received our box of goodies to help us prepare for our celebration and the excitement has totally escalated around here.  I have more of a Disney Side than I ever did before!  We are so excited to pick our date, send out our invitations, have some friends here, and celebrate some Disney Magic! 

Here's a peek at what came in our package...

The box!  I was sweating as we opened it... a mixture of excitement and the fireplace I think!

Inside the box was an amazing PURPLE suitcase, a special gift from American Tourister... the official luggage of Walt Disney World and Disneyland!  The suitcase was stuffed full of treats to help us plan our celebration!

Party supplies!

Craisins, bracelets, stickers, tattoos, face painting guides, and car stickers!

Cookie cutters, measuring cups from ABC's The Chew, cupcake liners!

Run Disney cheer cards, Muppets calendars, Disney vacation planning DVD,  luggage tag!

Adorable posters!

iPhone 5 case, TONS of balloons!

Game ideas!

hp Photo Card Packs!

And my favorite part... a healthy dose of Disney Side MAGIC!

We CANNOT wait for our Disney Side @Home Celebration and we are SO thankful to all of the amazing sponsors of this program including MomSelect, Disney, HP, and American Tourister for their unbelievable generosity!  We are so honored to participate! 

How do you show YOUR Disney Side?!

I received free products in order to host the Disney Side @Home Celebration.  

The opinions expressed here are my own.