CLOSED: Cars 2 races into theaters on June 24, 2011 (+ Gift Pack Giveaway)

* Click here to view the name(s) of the winner(s)*

Disney Pixar's hit movie Cars was big but everyone predicts the June 24, 2011 release of Cars 2 will be colossal!


The Buzz:

Star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new places in “Cars 2” when they head overseas to compete in the first ever World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage.


Mater finds himself torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and
towing the line in a top-secret mission orchestrated by master British super spy Finn McMissile (voice of Michael Caine) and the stunning rookie field spy Holley Shiftwell (voice of Emily Mortimer).


Mater’s action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world. The fast-paced fun includes a colorful new all-car cast, complete with menacing villains and international racing competitors.


You can be sure that this will be one rollicking ride down the fast track!



To get the family excited about this upcoming release, why don't you whip up a batch of Tow Mater cookie treats?


Recipe for Tow Mater Cookie Treats:

Ingredients

• Template for Tow Mater Cookies
• Sugar cookie dough
• Rolling pin
• Flour
• Wax paper
• Baking sheet
• Cooling rack
• Marshmallows
• Confectioner's sugar
• Kitchen knife
• Decorator's icing
• Tootsie Roll candies
• Green Dots candies
• Chocolate Chips
• Yellow hard candies
• Gummy Life Savers


Instructions:

1. Print the template and cut out the pieces.
2. Roll the cookie dough out to ¼-inch thickness on a flour-dusted sheet of wax paper. For each
cookie, use the template pieces as a pattern to cut a tow truck body, a front bumper, and a side
view mirror bar from the dough. Bake and cool the cookie pieces according to the recipe
directions.
3. For each tow truck, place a marshmallow on a piece of wax paper dusted with confectioner's
sugar and use a rolling pin to roll it as thin as possible. Then use the template pieces to cut out a
marshmallow windshield and two marshmallow teeth.
4. Likewise, roll flat the Tootsie Roll candies (if the candy is too stiff, you can microwave it for up to 5 seconds to soften it). Use the template pieces to cut out a candy mouth and windshield trim for each cookie.
5. To assemble each Tow Mater treat, first use dabs of decorator icing to stick the windshield and mouth pieces in place. Then top the windshield with the trim piece. For eyes, slice two circle
shapes from a green Dots candy. Then press a chocolate chip, tip down, into the center of each
circle. Use dabs of frosting to hold the eyes in place atop the windshield. Next, stick the teeth
atop the mouth. Add a yellow hard candy for a "shining" headlight and a Gummy Life Saver for a
broken headlight.
6. Use decorator's icing to attach a front bumper to each truck. Then stick the side view mirror bar to the back of the cookie so that the ends extend beyond the cab above the headlights. For
mirrors, slice another Tootsie Roll in half vertically and stick one halve to each end of the mirror
bar.

Vroom Vroom....and the countdown begins!


Win it:

One reader will have the opportunity to win a Cars 2 Gift Pack that will include these goodies....

- CARS 2 t-shirt in youth sizes of S, M, L, XL


- CARS 2 set of 3 bumper tickets

- CARS 2 temporary tattoo sheet (2 per winner)

- CARS 2 puzzle


Here's how you can win it:

1. Mandatory entry (without this, all other entries will be disqualified)-

Who are you excited to watch in Cars 2 ?


2. Love on the Sponsor-

- Like Cars 2 on Facebook

- Follow me on Twitter and tweet once daily...

RT @ebmommy Win a Cars 2 gift pack to celebrate the June 24, 2011 release in theaters!(6/25) http://bit.ly/l9l0yb #disney #pixar #giveaway


3. Seven additional entries: (1 entry each)-

- Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect

- "Like" me on Facebook.

- Follow me on Networked Blogs

- Follow my feed via RSS

- Subscribe via email to receive EBMR's blog updates

-Snag my Blog button

-Blog about this giveaway (leave a comment with a link to your blog post)


* Please ensure your Blogger Profile holds your email address. If it's set to private or your email address does not show, please add the same in your comments*


This giveaway is open to US Residents only, 18 years and above. 1 winner will be chosen with the random.org generator on June 25, 2011 at 10 pm Central time.




** EBMR Disclaimer: This review has not been monetarily compensated nor have I received a product to facilitate the same. The information provided is based on the input sent in by the sponsor **

Labels: Cars 2, Disney, More giveaways, recipes, Reviews / Giveaways

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 4:24 PM 159 Comments

"I Love My Mommy" Giveaway Feature #9- The 4 Ingredients Cookbook

Come visit our featured I Love My Mommy Feature Sponsor. Feel free to shop from their site/ store and follow them through the social media links provided below for early extra entries into the Main Giveaway.


The Buzz:

When two mothers wrote a cookbook to save themselves time and money, and hopefully get them OUT of the kitchen, they had no idea that it would to go on to become an international bestseller. Australian natives Kim McCosker and Rachael Bermingham have stunned the culinary world outselling Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson, and Gordon Ramsey with their cookbook, 4 INGREDIENTS, which has sold over two million copies to date.


Different from other cookbooks

This breakout bestseller in Australia and the UK has been such a huge success because people can relate to the 4 INGREDIENTS concept.

Why?
Because it helps people get great food on the table fast, without compromising on taste, and uses ingredients that are already mostly found in the kitchen cabinet or fridge.

This cookbook uses the following simple and highly effective guidelines:

• Reducing the number of ingredients required to make something taste delicious: Every one of the recipes in 4 INGREDIENTS is made with only 4 or less ingredients.
• Reducing the number of utensils required to make meals:The only measuring utensils required to make the recipes in 4 INGREDIENTS are 1 teaspoon, 1 tablespoon, and 1 cup.
• Reducing the amount of money spent on food each week: Food is one of the largest items in the weekly budget. By reducing the ingredients you will not have to buy as much.
• Creating more time to spend doing what you love to do: By simplifying recipes you often simplify the clean up which equates to saving time—something most of us could do with more of these days.

4 INGREDIENTS contains more than 400 recipes that range from breakfast, to lunch, to dinner, and everything in between. From Antipasto Tarts, to Carrot & Coriander soup, to Apricot Chicken, to Tandoori Lamb, and Orange & Almond Cake, each recipe is delicious and most importantly, simple!




E.B. Mommy's Report:

I love sweets so it was only natural that I attacked the Desserts section in the book first. Not only are the recipes easy peasy but the ones I've tried are delicious. My favorite is the "Easy Chocolate Fudge".

Try this out and then tell me why you wouldn't grab this cookbook for yourself!

Ingredients

1 can (14 ounces) condensed milk
7 tbsp cubed butter
7 ounces good quality dark chocolate finely chopped. (I replaced this with milk chocolate)
1 1/4th packed brown sugar (you can replace this with a cup of walnuts if you use milk chocolate)


Method

1. Line an 8 inch square pan with parchment paper
2. Place all the ingredients in a 3 quart microwaveable bowl
3. Microwave uncovered, on medium high, in 2 minute increments, stirring after each, for 8-10 minutes, or till bubbles appear over the whole surface of the mixture.
4. Pour immediately into the prepared pan.
5. Place in the fridge for 1 hr or till firm.
6. Cut the fudge into 20 pieces.

What I like about the cookbook is the fact that most of the ingredients are things that are found regularly in everyone's pantry, making this the "Go To" book when you're tearing your hair out wondering what you have to whip up for dinner or send to school in your child's lunch box!


Win it:

One reader will have the opportunity to win
The 4 Ingredients Cookbook (18 US$ value)
during the I Love My Mommy Giveaway
on Energizer Bunny's Mommy Reports.
(May 5-10, 2011)


** The I Love My Mommy Giveaway is now LIVE.
Click HERE to enter the same.**





** EBMR Disclaimer: I was sent the featured product for review purposes only. This review has not been monetarily compensated and is based on the views and opinions of my family and/or self. Please note that the opinions reflected in this post have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way.**

Labels: 2011 Mother's Day, 4 Ingredients, More giveaways, Mother's Day, recipes, Reviews / Giveaways

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 4:07 PM 0 Comments

A Yummy "Date and Walnut Squares" Recipe

.
I love dates and have tried everything under the sun to get Bunny girl to share my love for them....Uhm, let me correct myself....I thought I'd tried everything till I found this incredibly easy Date Nut Loaf recipe by Rae.

I made a few modifications to the recipe (didn't make the sauce either) and the results were fantastic.



Here's the modified recipe...


Date and Walnut Squares

1 cup dates, pitted and chopped
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter
a little more that 1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Grease and flour a 9x13 inch cake pan.
In a saucepan over medium heat, bring dates and water to a boil.
Stir in 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup sugar until melted.
Remove from heat and stir in baking soda. Let cool for 10 minutes.
Place date mixture into a large bowl.
Blend in flour, eggs and vanilla.
Stir in chopped walnuts.
Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack, cut into squares and then cool completely.


Bunny girl walloped three squares fresh out of the oven and even carried two to school in her little snack box.
The verdict...."Date and Walnut Squares are the best!"

Try it out and let me know what your kids (and Hubby) think!

Labels: date and walnut squares, Mommy Tips, recipes

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 11:06 AM 1 Comments

CLOSED: Family Taco Nights with Old El Paso (+ Gift Pack Giveaway)

* Click here to view the name(s) of the winner(s)*

It's not always easy to whip up a spread for the family during the week but here's a tip....start a "family taco night" tradition one night a week and you will have a sumptuous, quick, easy to make Mexican meal that will have family members smiling with tummies content!

Thanks to Old El Paso' s line of products that include chilies, dinner kits, taco sauce, taco shells, seasoning mixes, salsa and more, you can go Mexican without all the cooking sweat. You don't even have to whip up the same boring Tacos every week. You can find a variety of Old El Paso Taco recipes to experiment with, like this Chicken Ranch Taco Recipe


In 25 minutes, you will have a "Yummy for my Tummy" platter ready for the family!

If you want to have a few laughs around the table and make the evening even more memorable, hop over and print out El Tacodor,the world's only "family taco night" game challenge starter pack.


The pack includes game inspirations in categories that include wordplay, pantomime, trivia and to put it simply.... it's FUN! FUN! FUN!

So are you all set to schedule your family date night with El Paso Tacos and El Tacodor?

Oh and after you do have a blast, don't forget to upload your family fiesta photographs and videos onto the El Tacodor Family Spotlight.


Savings for you:

You can print out a 60 cents off two Old El Paso products coupon, before heading off to shop for those Taco supplies.


Win it:

One reader will have the opportunity to win an Old El Paso "family taco night" gift pack


that will include:

• An original Old El Paso Taco Seasoning
• A Cactus Chip & Dip serving dish
• A set of 3 Fiesta Chili Pepper serving dishes and
• A 10$ gift card to purchase your taco fixings.
  

Here's how you can win it:

1. Mandatory entry (without this, all other entries will be disqualified)-

Tell me which Old El Paso Taco recipe, when re-created, would be polished off in seconds by your family?


2. Love on the Sponsor-

- Follow me on Twitter and tweet once daily


3. Six additional entries: (1 entry each)-

- Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect

- "Like" me on Facebook.

- Follow my feed via RSS

- Subscribe via email to receive EBMR's blog updates

-Snag my Blog button

-Blog about this giveaway (leave a comment with a link to your blog post)


* Please ensure your Blogger Profile holds your email address. If it's set to private or your email address does not show, please add the same in your comments*


This giveaway is open to US Residents only, 18 years and above. 1 winner will be chosen with the random.org generator on December 25 2010 at 10 pm Central time.





** EBMR Disclaimer: I was sent an Old El Paso gift pack from Old El Paso, through My Blog Spark, for review purposes only. This review has not been monetarily compensated and is based on the views and opinions of my family and/or self. Please note that the opinions reflected in this post have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way. **

Labels: More giveaways, My Blog Spark, Old El Paso, recipes, Reviews / Giveaways, Tacos

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 6:36 PM 151 Comments

Cat's Awesome Banana Muffins Recipe

*
Thanks to Lesley I've now been introduced to Catherine Robertson's site - 'Cat Can Cook'.
The site is filled with finger lickin' recipes that are easy peasy to make.
If you don't know where to start you just have to try baking Cat's famous Awesome Banana Muffins.

(That's where I started yesterday and if my Banana Muffins taste delicious you know this recipe really does work!!)


Here's Cat's recipe...


Banana Muffins (Makes 12 muffins)

3 or 4 Large bananas, mashed (the more bananas the moister, so I use 4)

1/2 cup white sugar (original recipe calls for 1 cup, but I don’t like them too sweet)

1 slightly beaten egg

1/3 cup melted margarine or butter

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups flour

Mix the mashed banana, sugar, egg and margarine together. Set aside. In a separate bowl, mix together baking soda, baking powder, salt and flour. Mix wet and dry ingredients all together! Pour into greased muffin tins, and bake in 350 degrees F oven for approximately 20 minutes. Enjoy!

*These are much more flavorful the next day, and they freeze very nicely too!

*Also, if you like walnuts, you can throw a handful of those in there as well for some added flavour and texture, or try adding chocolate chips, or better yet, BOTH!

We made ours with walnuts and they're yummy! I can't wait to try out the Carrot Cake recipe over the weekend.

Thanks again Cat!

Labels: Banana Muffins, Cat Can Cook, Catherine Robertson, Mommy Tips, recipes

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 4:46 PM 5 Comments

Flavorful Low Sodium Family Meal Recipe- Lemon Pepper Chicken Wraps

Twitter Moms latest prompt reminds me that it is a misconception that flavorful food is food that's doused in salt and generously cooked in oil. You CAN whip up a healthy meal and still bring flavor to the table if you hold back on the salt and use salt free seasonings like the sponsor, Mrs Dash' seasoning blends.

Our salads come onto the table without a speck of salt. Sure the lettuce and tomatoes need flavoring but a great alternative to use is a nice generous 'squeeze' of lemon, a sprinkle of freshly ground pepper and voila, your salad is good to go!

Our family is also crazy about barbecued chicken and fried chicken. While these are delicious to gobble down, they aren't always low on sodium but recently I watched a cooking show that featured grilling chicken breasts marinated simply with lemon pepper seasoning and nothing more. I honestly didn't think this would taste all that great but guess what, it was much more flavorful than I thought it would be and we were able to eat ours the healthier way, using our George Foreman Lean Mean Fat Reducing Grilling Machine (One of the best appliances ever!)

Here's my modified version for Lemon Pepper Chicken Wraps

1. Take a pound of cleaned chicken breast and cut them into strips. Now make superficial slits with a knife on each strip. (This helps the seasoning blend into the chicken)
   
2. Get a bottle of Mrs Dash's Lemon Pepper Seasoning blend and rub it onto the strips generously and leave the same in the refrigerator for atleast half an hour or so. (If you leave it in longer, the seasoning will seep into the chicken well)
   
3. When you're ready, grab your George Foreman Lean Mean Fat Reducing Grilling Machine and preheat the same before throwing those lemon pepper chicken strips onto the grill.
4. You can leave your chicken strips on the grill for about 10-15 minutes (dependent on how 'grilled' you want your strips to be.
5. Next take a hot cooked wheat tortilla, place a chicken strip in the same and garnish with shredded lettuce .....Voila your healthy, flavorful, low sodium lemon pepper chicken wraps are ready to be devoured!

(* You can also grill your chicken strips in the oven if you don't have a 'Lean Mean' grilling machine. Also if you prefer your chicken spicy, replace the lemon pepper seasoning with the Mrs Dash' Extra Spicy Seasoning Blend)

Do you have a great low sodium family meal recipe you'd like to share? Hop on over to this link and add your recipe post for all to enjoy!





** EBMR Disclaimer: “I wrote this blog post while participating in the Mrs. Dash and TwitterMoms blogging program for a chance to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here "

Labels: lemon pepper chicken wraps, Mommy Tips, recipes, Twitter Moms

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 4:08 PM 0 Comments

CLOSED: Dinners On A Dime Cookbook (+Giveaway)

* Click here to view the name(s) of the winner(s)*

30 years ago, Vickie and Joann sat at their kitchen tables and put together a collection of their favorite homemade recipes and today, over 30 years later Gooseberry Patch is a household name with their family friendly, home-style cookbooks.

I was excited to receive their latest publication Dinners On A Dime, a 224 paged hard cover cookbook packed with recipes perfect for the budget conscious, frugal cook in you.


The cookbook is segmented into 7 categories

• Shoestring Suppers
• Hearty and Thrifty Soups
• Cent-sational Sides
• Slow Cooker Savings
• Budget Friendly Gatherings
• Penny Pinching Pantry Staples
• Cheap Sweets
  

The first recipe I tried was 'Kathryn's Bread Pudding' and decided I'd do it for dessert for my Mommy the day she flew into town. Now my Mom's bread pudding is delicious so when she had several helpings of this dessert I knew I'd scored big time plus Hubby (who is not a big dessert lover) scraped his dessert bowl clean!


Dinners On A Dime is not just packed with some great, easy to make, economical recipes but also some really practical, money saving kitchen gems of advice below most pages.

This book is a definite keeper!


Win it:

One reader will have the opportunity to win a Dinners on a Dime Cookbook.


Here's how you can win it:

1. Mandatory entry (without this, all other entries will be disqualified)-

Look through the Dinners on a Dime Cookbook Index and tell me one recipe you'd love to try.


2. Love on the Sponsor-

- Follow Gooseberry Patch on Twitter

- Fan/Like Gooseberry Patch on Facebook

- Sign up for Gooseberry Patch email updates

- Follow the Gooseberry Patch blog

- Check out the Free Goodies and tell me something that caught your interest.

- Follow me on Twitter and tweet once daily...

RT @ebmommy I'm trying to win a Dinners On A Dime Cookbook on EBMR's (6/19)http://bit.ly/9OzViN #giveaway #win #cookbook


3. Four additional entries: (1 entry each)-

-Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect, RSS feeds, email updates

- Fan me on Facebook.

-Snag my Blog button

-Blog about this giveaway (leave a comment with a link to your blog post)


* Please ensure your Blogger Profile holds your email address. If it's set to private or your email address does not show, please add the same in your comments*


This giveaway is open to US Residents only, 18 years and above. 1 winner will be chosen with the random.org generator on June 19 2010 at 10 pm Central time.





** EBMR Disclaimer: Gooseberry Patch sent me the featured product for review purposes only. This review has not been monetarily compensated and is based on the views and opinions of my family and/or self. Please note that the opinions reflected in this post have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way.**

Labels: Dinners on a Dime Cookbook, Gooseberry Patch, More giveaways, recipes, Reviews / Giveaways

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 7:25 PM 192 Comments