The Bluebird Patch

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CampbellSavings #CollectiveBias It's hard to believe that July is almost over and Back-to-school is just a few weeks away, unless you have a kid in Marching Band like me, then you are already back! You see, marching band kids start school two weeks earlier. The practice 8 hours a day rain or shine. With the horrendous heat wave that's plaguing our region, I'm always concerned about my kid passing out due to the oppressing heat. He is required to bring lunch and a one gallon jug to school everyday, so making sure he stays hydrated and eats healthy is a must, but that's just half of the battle. When a marching band kid comes home they are basically crawling through the front door and they are hangry! Yes, hangry, a mix between angry and hungry to the point of starvation. So this savvy mom always have a quick, easy and kid friendly recipe that...

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Kroger. All opinions are mine alone. #RecetasParaMomentos #CollectiveBias Easy Spanish Chicken, Duck Sausage and Seafood Paella Hay una receta para cada momento especial con Kroger! .................................................................................... There’s a recipe for every moment we value with Kroger! A few weeks ago, my local Kroger had a “Taste of Spain” event and for the first time they were selling paella kits. I was so excited to see the “paelleras” displayed as soon as you entered the store, because for the longest time, I've been wanting to make Spain's most famous dish: that sumptuous combination of saffron rice, chicken and shellfish known as paella. I mean, coming from a Puerto Rican household were rice is part of our daily diet, I questioned how complicated could it really be? The reality is that making Spanish paella sounds easy, but it takes a bit of practice to m...

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SienteGlade #CollectiveBias Madeleines are a sweet buttery french pastry or “tea-cookie” that pairs spectacularly with your “cafecito” (coffee). These precious tender little cake-like cookies are baked until golden crisp, in special molds, that give them a delicate shell shape. They are thick in size, but light, soft, and smooth in texture similar to a sponge cake, and are loaded with a rich decadent buttery flavor. Madeleines are easy to make, and once you get the hang of it, you will be obsessed making them for parties or giving them away as gifts. They literally take 15 minutes to bake! INGREDIENTS 4 large eggs, lightly beaten in a 2-cup measure 1¼ cups sugar 1 cup all-purpose flour, plus 2 Tbs. for molds 1 cup of cake flour 2½ sticks unsalted butter, cut into 12 pieces 1 cup of raspberries A pinch of salt The ...

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Manwich for IZEA . All opinions are 100% mine. Mommin ain't easy, especially if you have teens at home. Yes, they are more independent at this stage but they still need you as much as when they were little. Monday is the “less-thrilling” day of the week at home mainly because it represents that the weekend is over and a full week of work awaits us. However, science says Monday is the day that statistically people tend to change something about themselves. On Monday's we are more likely to consider (or actually start) something new like trying a new recipe, tackle a new home project, or finally sign up for that gym membership you have been contemplating for weeks.  Manwich Monday is a great way for you to start your week, with a tasty, easy-to-make family meal around the dinner table! Manwich is a hearty sauce with a sweet and tangy taste and it also has the kid-stopping power, as your children will need ...

WIN TWO TICKETS TO  TASTE OF HOME COOKING SHOW Drop your whisks, grab your friends and join us for a night of fun at the 11th annual Taste of Home Cooking School show presented by the Gwinnett Daily Post, on Thursday, October 22 at the Infinite Energy Forum (formerly Gwinnett Center) in Duluth and win amazing prizes, see interesting displays, products, and demonstrations! Doors open at 4:00 p.m. with a vendor show followed by the cooking demonstration at 7:00 p.m. In addition to learning helpful cooking tips and techniques, everyone will receive a free gift bag filled with great products, coupons, and Taste of Home magazines! Taste of Home Cookbooks, including the latest editions, will be available at discount pricing - just in time for Holiday gifts! The evening will be filled with incredible prize giveaways, tastings, and lots of fun! Don’t miss it!

I hope you all had the chance to grab the special Hamburger Helper®​ Ibotta coupon we just posted a few days ago because today I am "flipping" the Hamburger Helper® Tuna Cheesy pasta into something completely different. I have seen so many recipes of stuffed peppers using Hamburger Helper®​, but I have never seen one where they substitute the protein for crabmeat. The funny part about this recipe is that I accidentally discovered it when I realized I forgot to buy the tuna for the recipe. Stuffed peppers with crabmeat stuffing is nothing new, so I thought, why not add crabmeat stuffing to our Hamburger Helper®? Just top it with a great gooey cheese and it should be perfect, and it was! The best part of this recipe is that is it so easy to do and it requires a limited amount of ingredients. Hamburger Helper ® Crabmeat Stuffed Peppers INGREDIENTS 1 box of Hamburger Helper®​ Tuna Cheesy Pasta 4 Bell Peppers in any color 8 oz of crabmeat stuffing 8 oz crabme...

When chocolate and coffee get together, delicious things happen. Today I wanted to share a quick and easy recipe for those cold winter nights when you are studying at home and need an extra boost of energy. Let's face it we all love going to Starbucks but there are days we are just too lazy to get out of the house, so why not make your own signature coffee at a fraction of the cost. The trick to a good chocolate chip mocha coffee is using the right ingredients. It's okay to cheat with a Keurig Café Mocha specialty pod but if you enjoy the smokey, bitter, rich flavor of coffee you need to use espresso. For the chocolate chip mocha coffee drink you will need: 6 oz  of brewed espresso (Bustelo coffee is great for this) 1 ½ tablespoon of Hershey's unsweetened cocoa powder 2 ounces of milk (condensed milk is amazing) Sugar (to taste) Whipped Cream 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Baking Chips Organic honey Directions: Add steam milk to y...

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Manwich for SocialSpark . All opinions are 100% mine.   Love chicken wings? Today we are sharing a fall-off-the-bone delicious sticky fingers chicken wings recipe that is perfect when you are craving that sweet, saucy smokey goodness from a BBQ joint. For the sauce we are making our own BBQ sauce using Manwich, a hearty sauce with a sweet and tangy taste. There is no meat in Manwich cans making it perfect for sandwiches, pastas and more. I think the combination of Manwich and chicken wings is something most people wouldn't normally pair together but trust me Manwich has  infinite  uses besides sloppy joes.   This recipe is an adaptation of the saucy chicken wings recipe from the Manwich recipe page. The key to this recipe is that in order to make the BBQ sauce you need to mix all the ingredients first and cook them over low heat.   For th...

   EGG-CELLENT EGGS! From chocolate to marshmallow to jelly to the real thing, nothing says Easter time (and springtime!) like eggs. But unlike their candy counterparts, real eggs are packed with high-quality protein, more than a dozen vitamins and minerals, and antioxidants. They’re also super budget-friendly—just 17 cents each—feeding a family of four for about $1.36. At Strong4Life, we’re egg-cited about real eggs, from their powerful proteins to their vital vitamins to their cheap cost. Eggs are great for breakfast, but they’re also egg-stra versatile. From lunch, to dinner, to snacks, these little protein powerhouses can make their way to your family’s menu and they’ll be scrambling for more!    Children’sHealthcare of Atlanta’s Strong4Life dietitians hatched the following ways for you to serve eggs to your own little chicks, so let’s get crackin’! Add leftover or Frozen Chopped Veggies to Omelets Our favorite mix-ins are...

I love all things lemony so when I decided to visit Dutch Monkey Doughnuts I knew exactly what I wanted to order. A lemon meringue donut. This doughnut has a tart-sweet lemon curd filling and toasted meringue on top to die for.    Dutch Monkey lemon donuts are the perfect little sweet bite. The simple yet powerful flavor combination really shines and satisfies the lemon-lover in all of us!  Dutch Monkey Doughnuts takes pride in offering doughnut that are made from scratch, individually fried, glazed, and decorated. The dough is made from fresh potatoes, buttermilk, flour, sugar, eggs, and live yeast. Their doughnuts have no preservatives, and are best eaten within 12 hours of when they are made.  Dutch Monkey Doughnuts have a partnership with a local men’s regeneration program, NoLonger Bound . They pick up any doughnuts we may have left at the end of the day. Visit their website to learn more about their greenhouse, professional print sho...

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Manwich for SocialSpark . All opinions are 100% mine.   There are days I wish I could just push a button so dinner can magically appear on my table. Since this is not possible I'm always looking for recipes that are easy and doesn’t take more than 20 minutes. Sliders is one of those things that are perfect for any occasion. I love serving them at parties and kids love them because of their size. I personally love sliders because it  helps me gain control  of my  portion sizes.   Manwich has 3 different canned sauce varieties original, Bold, and Thick & Chunky and a refrigerated pre-made sloppy joe mix that are great not just for sloppy joes but just about everything you can imagine.  There is NO meat in Manwich cans – Manwich is a tangy sauce perfect for sandwiches, pastas and more. You can even use it to make chilli, meatloaf, and chicken wings! It can also work well in...

If you love pancakes for breakfast as much and I do then you must try this recipe from our friend Carolyn O'Neil latest cookbook, " Eating well and living healthy in the land of biscuits and bacon ".  I was  partnered  with Carolyn as part of the "got milk" Milk Mustache campaign and we had the opportunity to sit down for lunch and talk about nutrition and common myths regarding milk  consumption . She signed our book and I was so excited to meet her that the next morning I made her "Pecan Pancakes" for breakfast. My kids absolutely loved them and even ask me to make them again the next day.  The pancakes because of the added pecans are loaded with vitamin E and heart healthy omega-3 fatty acid. Of course, a tall glass with 8oz of milk is a must. Pancakes and milk = happy breakfast! Slim Down South Cookbook  “Pecan Pancakes” INGREDIENTS 1 cup of all purpose flour ½ cup of finely chopped pecans (or walnuts) ...

We've been hearing great things about Revolution Doughnuts for quite some time and decided to give them a visit and see for ourselves what all the buzz was all about. Revolution Doughnuts officially opened its doors on National Doughnut Day, June 1, 2012. This donut joint, is a favorite local spot in Decatur to meet friends and eat all natural hand-forged doughnuts. The beauty about this place is that all their doughs, glazes & fillings are all natural, made from scratch, free of trans-fat, & made by people, not by machines. They use organic flour and high quality ingredients like Callebaut chocolate, fresh seasonal fruit, and pure vanilla. Revolution Doughnuts offer a variety of options for vegans and folks with sensitivities to gluten, eggs, or dairy. Revolution Doughnut is a small family-owned start-up baking company, formerly operating under the name "Little Red Hen Bakeshop.” They started baking in their home kitchen - then in borrowed commercial sp...

  Tin Drum is a family-friendly restaurant featuring Pan-Asian cuisine, including Thai, Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese made-to-order dishes. Tin Drum offers healthy yet delicious dining options, but also an energetic atmosphere for your little ones. Our family had the opportunity to visit the Tin Drum cafe at Atlantic Station, and I was pleasantly surprised with the extensive menu of healthy Asian food including vegetarian and gluten-free options. Tin Drum definitively puts the “streets of Asia in your bowl.”    Dine inside or outside on the umbrella covered open air patio and surround yourself with the hustle and bustle of Atlantic Station. Tin Drum cafes are designed to feel like a lively, bustling street-side cafe in Asia with edgy, urban and upbeat decor – a reflection of Steven Chan's childhood in Hong Kong. Steven Chan, Tin Drum's CEO grew up in Hong Kong and spent many afternoons admiring the vendors who made a living by ...

2013 Festival Fires up with Tastes and Tunes to Benefit Georgia Organics ATLANTA (September 4, 2013) – To kick off the city’s most anticipated food festival, Taste of Atlanta is serving up a fusion of incredible food and rockin’ music – block party style! On Friday, October 25 from 6:30 – 10:30 p.m. in Midtown at Tech Square , food lovers and music fans can join Chef Host Ron Eyester and other local celebrity chefs, as they serve up specialties inspired by their favorite bands, musicians and songs at Atlanta’s Taste Revival : Local Chefs, Smokin’ Jams . The all-inclusive evening will feature live Southern rock music from Parker Smith and the Bandwith, as well as cold beer, cocktails and the best bites in the city! Ron Eyester—owner and executive chef of Rosebud, The Family Dog and his latest concept, Timone’s Pizza—will host the event. Other participating top chefs and restaurants include: Ford Fry of JCT. Kitchen & Bar, No. 246, The Optimist and King + Duke, Gunshow...