Yoplait Frozen Smoothie Gift Pack Giveaway

This giveaway has ended. I love smoothies! Always have, always will. When I was a kid my mom used to make an orange smoothie with a raw egg in it (until everyone realized that was bad) and my dad used to make "Orange Stuff" with orange juice, vanilla ice cream, powdered sugar and ice (yes, nice and sweet!) after he finished mowing the lawn on the weekends. Once smoothie shops became popular my favorite treat has been a toasted bagel and a nice fruity smoothie. (Is is just me or do smoothie shops always seem to be located next to bagel shops?)

Well, living in a small town now and on a small budget, smoothie shop smoothies are not exactly the best economical choice nor easy to find where I live. For quite a while now, I have taken to making my own smoothies at home (see my Fruit Smoothie recipe). I don't think anything will top homemade for me but you can often find yourself without all the ingredients you need to make your smoothie and this can be a tragedy when you've been craving that fruity, frosty snack.

A few months ago, Yoplait introduced their new line of frozen smoothies. Each package of Yoplait Frozen Smoothies contains one full serving of fruit (1/2 cup) and 110 to 120 calories per serving. Not only does Yoplait yogurt contain live and active cultures, but when prepared with skim milk and made according to package directions, Yoplait Frozen Smoothies are a good source of calcium. They come in four great flavors: Blueberry Pomegranate, Triple Berry, Strawberry Banana and Strawberry Mango Pineapple.

Each package of Yoplait Frozen Smoothies makes 2-8 oz. smoothies and all you need to do is add milk and mix in the blender. Great to have on hand when the cravings strike!

Save! - You can print a $1.00 off Yoplait Smoothies coupon when you like them on Facebook.

Win it! - Yoplait has offered to give one prize package that includes a free coupon to try Yoplait Frozen Smoothies, a drawstring backpack, a water bottle and a fitness journal.

Required Entry:

- Leave a comment telling me which Yoplait Smoothie flavor you would choose. (This has to be done for any additional entries to be valid.)

Additional Entries:

- Find a recipe from Recipes for Moms you plan to try with your family and leave a comment telling me which recipe.

- Grab my button and add it to your site. Please let me know where I can find it. (If you already have it, that counts too.)

- Blog, post info, tweet or otherwise publicize this giveaway and link back to this post. Again, let me know where I can find it. (1 entry allowed for each form of publicity)

- "Like" Recipes for Moms on Facebook. (If you already do, that counts.)

- Subscribe to Recipes for Moms by E-mail. Please make sure you activate your subscription by clicking the activate link in the initial e-mail. If you already subscribe, just leave a comment saying so.

Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and your e-mail address if it is not available on your profile. This giveaway is open to US residents only. The winner will be chosen using Random.org and the contest will end on Thursday, March 17th at midnight (Mountain Time). After I contact the winner, they will have 48 hours to get back to me or another winner will be chosen. Good luck! I reserve the right to delete entries that do not adhere to the entry rules.

*Disclosure: Yoplait provided me with the product, information, and prize pack through MyBlogSpark. All opinions are my own.

Pillsbury Flaky Cinnamon Rolls Giveaway

This giveaway has ended. I know the timing of this giveaway seems odd since I haven't gotten around to posting a recipe in over a month. But since I told MyBlogSpark that I wanted to participate and the deadline is quickly approaching, I thought I better squeeze it in. Okay, enough explanation.

As I've said before, my family and I are trying to do more food from scratch and less store-bought, pre-packaged foods. However, cinnamon rolls are one thing I have not gotten around to trying from scratch. I have to admit that when Pillsbury makes such an awesome cinnamon roll, I lose most of my motivation to make them myself. It was always a treat in my house growing up when my mom would buy a tube of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls. The smell is intoxicating!

Then last Christmas we started a new tradition in our family. It was the first Christmas that we would not be able to be home with our whole extended family so it would just be the four of us. Since we wanted to make a Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas dinner, I felt like a big Christmas morning breakfast just might put me over the edge. So I baked up a tube of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls, frosted them, scrambled a couple eggs and breakfast was on the table!

Pillsbury describes these little beauties as "A delicious Sunday morning treat for the whole family, the light, flaky dough, rich vanilla butter cream icing, and amazing Cinnabon Cinnamon make each roll mouthwatering. Just place and bake, and with an aroma that is almost impossible to resist, Flaky Cinnamon Rolls with Butter Cream Icing will quickly become your family´s favorite Sunday morning tradition."

Win It! One Recipes for Moms reader will win a Pillsbury Flaky Cinnamon Rolls prize pack that includes a scrapbooking kit, scrapbooking supplies like scrapbook scissors and glue as well as a coupon for the new Pillsbury Flaky Cinnamon Rolls.

This is a quick one day giveaway so enter early and don't miss out!!

Required Entry:

- Leave a comment telling me what your family's favorite sweet breakfast is. (This has to be done for any additional entries to be valid.)

Additional Entries:

- Find a recipe from Recipes for Moms you plan to try with your family and leave a comment telling me which recipe.

- Grab my button and add it to your site. Please let me know where I can find it. (If you already have it, that counts too.)

- Blog, post info, tweet or otherwise publicize this giveaway and link back to this post. Again, let me know where I can find it. (1 entry allowed for each form of publicity)

- "Like" Recipes for Moms on Facebook. (If you already do, that counts.)

- Subscribe to Recipes for Moms by E-mail. Please make sure you activate your subscription by clicking the activate link in the initial e-mail. If you already subscribe, just leave a comment saying so.

Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and your e-mail address if it is not available on your profile. This giveaway is open to US residents only. The winner will be chosen using Random.org and the contest will end on Thursday, December 30th at 10am (Mountain Time). After I contact the winner, they will have 24 hours to get back to me or another winner will be chosen. Good luck! I reserve the right to delete entries that do not adhere to the entry rules.

*Disclosure: Pillsbury provided me with the product, information, and prize packs through MyBlogSpark. All opinions are my own.

Michael Chiarello Cookbook & Progresso Panko Giveaway

This giveaway has ended. I discovered panko bread crumbs sometime last year when Progresso introduced their own panko. If you are not familiar with them, they are made from the soft, tender centers of the bread. The large, flaky crumb has a coarser texture than traditional bread crumbs, delivering a lighter, crunchier coating or topping. Well, Progresso recently introduced Lemon Pepper Panko, which joins the Plain and Italian flavors. Lemon Pepper is such a great flavor because it goes with fish or chicken and can even add a nice crunch to your veggies. Progresso also has some great panko tips on their website.

Chef Michael Chiarello uses panko as his go-to bread crumb for a crunch that won't quit. If you aren't familiar with Michael Chiarello, he is a chef known for his emphasis on creating delicious dishes with fresh, premium ingredients. To add to his credentials, he is an Emmy-award winning TV chef and cookbook author who is the tastemaker behind Bottega Napa Valley Restaurant, NapaStyle and Chiarello Family Vineyards, and appears on The Cooking Channel and Top Chef Masters on Bravo.

You can find some of Michael Chiarello's signature recipes on the Progresso website also. They include Oven Fried Chicken Tenders, Caramel Apple Crisp, Mashed Potato Gratin, Maple-Pecan Chicken and Home-Style Minestrone, just to name a few. You can find a $1.00 coupon off any flavor panko on the website as well (click on the "Save Money" button on the left side).

Buy it! Michael Chiarello's Bottega is available on Amazon.com for $26.40 with free shipping. (Cookbooks make great Christmas gifts!) Progresso Lemon Pepper Panko is available at most grocery stores near the traditional bread crumbs.

Win it! One Recipes for Moms reader will win an autographed copy of chef Chiarello´s new Michael Chiarello's Bottega: Bold Italian Flavors from the Heart of California's Wine Country ($40 ARV) and one package of Progresso Lemon Pepper Panko.

Required Entry:

- Leave a comment telling me what type of dish would you create with Progresso Lemon Pepper Panko? (This has to be done for any additional entries to be valid.) Your dish doesn't have to complex or detailed, just let me know the general idea.

Additional Entries:

- Find a recipe from Recipes for Moms you plan to try with your family and leave a comment telling me which recipe.

- Grab my button and add it to your site. Please let me know where I can find it. (If you already have it, that counts too.)

- Blog, post info, tweet or otherwise publicize this giveaway and link back to this post. Again, let me know where I can find it. (1 entry allowed for each form of publicity)

- "Like" Recipes for Moms on Facebook. (If you already do, that counts.)

- Subscribe to Recipes for Moms by E-mail. Please make sure you activate your subscription by clicking the activate link in the initial e-mail. If you already subscribe, just leave a comment saying so.

Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and your e-mail address if it is not available on your profile. This giveaway is open to US residents only. The winner will be chosen using Random.org and the contest will end on Monday, November 29nd at midnight (Mountain Time). After I contact the winner, they will have 48 hours to get back to me or another winner will be chosen. Good luck! I reserve the right to delete entries that do not adhere to the entry rules.

*Disclosure: General Mills provided me with information and the giveaway through MyBlogSpark. All opinions are my own.

If you're looking for another great deal on cookbooks for the holidays, check out my post about Taste of Home's $5 Cookbook sale. (Ends Nov. 18th)

Also, be sure to enter my giveaway for a great, simple vegan cookbook, "Radiant Health, Inner Wealth". (Ends Nov. 22nd)

"Radiant Health, Inner Wealth" Vegan Cookbook Giveaway

This giveaway is closed. I met cookbook author Tess Challis last spring at a local Green Living Expo. After talking with her for a few minutes and telling her about Recipes for Moms, she gave me a copy of her vegan cookbook Radiant Health, Inner Wealth to giveaway to one of my readers. Now neither myself nor my family are vegan or vegetarian so honestly I kind of let this cookbook sit in a corner for several months. However, since I think cookbooks make such great Christmas presents I pulled it out and started looking through it in order to get this giveaway going.

Honestly, I was very pleasantly surprised with what I found. Tess's cookbook has a wide variety of recipes and is perfect for anyone wanting to improve their eating habits, vegan or otherwise. In it you will find recipes, such as "Peanut Butter Cup Shake", "Southwest Spring Rolls", "Tasty Lowfat Tostadas", "Rosemary Herb Pizza Crust" and more! The chapters are as follows:

• Breakfasts
• Starters
• Sides
• Salads
• Sauces & Dressings
• Everyday Entrees
• Extravagant Entrees
• Raw Foods
• Bread
• Soups
• Desserts

The book also has a nice introduction about changing your eating habits and healthy eating as well as several pages of color photos. I have always thought of vegetarian and vegan cooking as using tons of ingredients I've never heard of and being difficult to prepare. Radiant Health, Inner Wealth changes that perception by using normal ingredients and even has a list of kid friendly meals. This cookbook is over 275 pages and has great reviews on Amazon.

Buy it! Radiant Health, Inner Wealth is available on Amazon.com or on Tess's website (bottom of page) which also gives you free shipping and the option to pay with Pay Pal.

Win it! One Recipes for Moms reader will win a copy of Tess Chalis' vegan cookbook Radiant Health, Inner Wealth.

Required Entry:

- Leave a comment about which chapter, listed above, you would use most often and why. (This has to be done for any additional entries to be valid.)

Additional Entries:

- Find a recipe from Recipes for Moms you plan to try with your family and leave a comment telling me which recipe.

- Grab my button and add it to your site. Please let me know where I can find it. (If you already have it, that counts too.)

- Blog, post info, tweet or otherwise publicize this giveaway and link back to this post. Again, let me know where I can find it. (1 entry allowed for each form of publicity)

- "Like" Recipes for Moms on Facebook. (If you already do, that counts.)

- Subscribe to Recipes for Moms by E-mail. Please make sure you activate your subscription by clicking the activate link in the initial e-mail. If you already subscribe, just leave a comment saying so.

Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and your e-mail address if it is not available on your profile. This giveaway is open to US residents only. The winner will be chosen using Random.org and the contest will end on Monday, November 22nd at midnight (Mountain Time). After I contact the winner, they will have 48 hours to get back to me or another winner will be chosen. Good luck! I reserve the right to delete entries that do not adhere to the entry rules.

*Disclosure: I was given a copy of Radiant Health, Inner Wealth to review and one to giveaway. The book will be shipped by me after the Thanksgiving weekend. All opinions are my own.

If you're looking for another great deal on cookbooks for the holidays, check out my post about Taste of Home's $5 Cookbook sale.

Yoplait Splitz Prize Pack Giveaway

This giveaway has now ended. My daughter loves yogurt and especially "kid yogurts" as she fondly calls them. Kid yogurts are any variety yogurt that is geared toward kids, usually coming in a bright package and without bits. Because to a 4-year-old there is nothing worse than "bits" in your yogurt. That being said, new Yoplait Splitz is not just a kid yogurt but received two big thumbs up from my daughter.

We tried the Strawberry Sundae flavor and she had it finished before I even knew she had started. Yoplait Splitz are also available in Strawberry Banana Split and Rainbow Sherbet. With no artificial flavors or sweeteners and no high fructose corn syrup, this 90 calorie dessert is the treat your family craves. I am a little curious about the coloring in the yogurt but it's not a dye with a number. For an even "cooler" experience, just pop a YoplaitSplitz in the freezer and in a few hours you can enjoy a cool, creamy cup of authentic frozen yogurt.

Visit MyBlogSpark to print a 75¢ off coupon for Yoplait Splitz.

Yoplait has provided a Splitz price pack for one Recipes for Moms reader. The prize pack includes a free coupon for Yoplait Splitz yogurt, an insulated carry tote and a roll up fleece picnic blanket. We have used the blanket several time this summer and the insulated tote is so nice I think I will use it as a Christmas present. (The free coupon is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, North Dakota and Tennessee.)

Required Entry:

- Comment on which new flavor of Yoplait Splitz you would like to try. (This has to be done for any additional entries to be valid.)

Additional Entries:

- Find a recipe from Recipes for Moms you plan to try with your family and leave a comment telling me which recipe.

- Grab my button and add it to your site. Please let me know where I can find it. (If you already have it, that counts too.)

- Blog, post info, tweet or otherwise publicize this giveaway and link back to this post. Again, let me know where I can find it. (1 entry allowed for each form of publicity)

- "Like" Recipes for Moms on Facebook. (If you already do, that counts.)

- Subscribe to Recipes for Moms by E-mail. Please make sure you activate your subscription by clicking the activate link in the initial e-mail. If you already subscribe, just leave a comment saying so.

Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and your e-mail address if it is not available on your profile. This giveaway is open to US residents only. The winner will be chosen using Random.org and the contest will end on Tuesday, October 26th at midnight (Mountain Time). After I contact the winner, they will have 48 hours to get back to me or another winner will be chosen. Good luck! I reserve the right to delete entries that do not adhere to the entry rules.

*Disclosure: I was given a Yoplait Splitz prize pack for the purpose of conducting this review. The information, prize pack and giveaway have all been provided by Yoplait through MyBlogSpark. All opinions are my own.

Good Earth Dinner Giveaway

Lately I have been trying to make more of an effort to reduce to processed foods my family consumes. I have especially been trying to avoid products that have an ingredients list a mile long with words you can't even figure out how to pronounce. So when I heard that General Mills was coming out with a dry dinner kit that was made with 100% whole grain, no trans fat, no artificial flavors, no artificial preservatives and no MSG I definitely wanted to give it a try.

It is called Good Earth and it is available in Mediterranean Chicken with angel hair pasta, Spicy Citrus Glazed Shrimp with angel hair pasta, Herb Crusted Chicken with mushroom risotto and Tuscan Chicken with penne pasta. We tried the Mediterranean Chicken with angel hair pasta and I have to say I was impressed.

As with most dry dinner kits, you have to provide the meat yourself in this case boneless, skinless chicken breasts. The directions were easy to follow and I loved that the angel hair was 100% whole grain. Other than my daughter picking out the small bits of tomatoes, the whole family enjoyed this meal. There were a few hard to understand words in the ingredients list but far less, in my opinion, than you'll find in many other dry dinner kits. As I've said before it is always nice to have stand-by meals.

One Recipes for Moms reader will win a Good Earth gift pack that includes a Good Earth Mediterranean Chicken dry dinner kit, two sets of bamboo flatware, two bamboo dishes, a bamboo utility board and a 100% recyclable grocery tote.

Required Entry:

- Comment on which new flavor of Good Earth dry dinner kits you would like to try. (This has to be done for any additional entries to be valid.)

Additional Entries:

- Find a recipe from Recipes for Moms you plan to try with your family and leave a comment telling me which recipe.

- Grab my button and add it to your site. Please let me know where I can find it. (If you already have it, that counts too.)

- Blog, post info, tweet or otherwise publicize this giveaway and link back to this post. Again, let me know where I can find it. (1 entry allowed for each form of publicity)

- "Like" Recipes for Moms on Facebook. (If you already do, that counts.)

- Subscribe to Recipes for Moms by E-mail. Please make sure you activate your subscription by clicking the activate link in the initial e-mail. If you already subscribe, just leave a comment saying so.

Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and your e-mail address if it is not available on your profile. This giveaway is open to US residents only. The winner will be chosen using Random.org and the contest will end on Thursday, July 29th at midnight (Mountain Time). After I contact the winner, they will have 48 hours to get back to me or another winner will be chosen. Good luck! I reserve the right to delete entries that do not adhere to the entry rules.

*Disclosure: I was given a Good Earth prize pack for the purpose of conducting this review. The information, prize pack and giveaway have all been provided by Good Earth through MyBlogSpark. All opinions are my own.

$100 Grocery Card Giveaway from Cellfire

Even though my mother used coupons when I was a kid and passed her frugality on to me, my younger brother somehow missed the coupons memo. As a bachelor in his late 20's he hates coupons. I say they're free money! I don't know that he took my advice but I did tell him about Cellfire awhile back because not only are Cellfire clipless coupons great for those of us frugal minded moms but also great for traditional coupon-hating 20-somethings.

If you're not familiar with Cellfire, read my previous Cellfire post for all the details. Basically they are coupons that you load to your grocery store loyalty card which automatically come off at checkout. The easiest thing to do is to load any that you think you might possibly use and then they'll be there even if you forget about them. Here are the items that have coupons available this month:

Morton’s Season Salt
Fruit Loops
Apple Jacks
Frosted Flakes
Corn Pops
Hamburger Helper
Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters
Betty Crocker Supreme Brownie Mix
Fiber One Chewy Bars
Bisquick
Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks
Trix
Lucky Charms
Chex Mix
Yoplait Fiber One Multipacks
Yoplait Cups
Yoplait Delight Multipacks
Nature Valley Granola Bars
Wheaties Fuel cereal

The Morton's Season Salt would probably be one of my first choices. We just discovered Grilled Potato "Chips" and seasoned salt is a key ingredient. It's just such a versatile item to keep in your spice rack.

Well, Cellfire has some new things they're introducing this month. One was the Cellfire Cinderella coupon which was available for a short time at the beginning of the month. Once loaded it gave you an automatic $1.00 off your next grocery trip. They have promised to make more Cinderella coupons available in differing amounts, just watch for the announcements. Along with a large selection of coupons Recipes for Moms readers have the opportunity to enter to win a $100 gift card to the grocery store of their choice provided by Cellfire.

Required Entry:

- Look over the above list of available Cellfire coupons and let me know which one you would be most likely to use. (This has to be done for any additional entries to be valid.)

Additional Entries:

- Go to Cellfire and load as many coupons as you would like onto your grocery card. Leave a comment with how many you loaded. (1 entry regardless of how many are loaded)

- Read the Stand-By Meal Planning post. Leave a comment there then come back here and leave a comment telling me you did so. (Clear as mud, right?)

- Read the Best Recipes with Brownie Mix post. Leave a comment or link up there then come back here and leave a comment telling me you did so.

- Find a recipe from Recipes for Moms you plan to try with your family and leave a comment telling me which recipe.

- Grab my button and add it to your site. Please let me know where I can find it. (If you already have it, that counts too.)

- Blog, post info, tweet or otherwise publicize this giveaway and link back to this post. Again, let me know where I can find it. (1 entry allowed for each form of publicity)

- "Like" Recipes for Moms on Facebook. (If you already do, that counts.)

- Subscribe to Recipes for Moms by E-mail. Please make sure you activate your subscription by clicking the activate link in the initial e-mail. If you already subscribe, just leave a comment saying so.

Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and your e-mail address if it is not available on your profile. This giveaway is open to US residents only. The winner will be chosen using Random.org and the contest will end on Friday, June 25th at midnight (Mountain Time). After I contact the winner, they will have 48 hours to get back to me or another winner will be chosen. Good luck! I reserve the right to delete entries that do not adhere to the entry rules.

*Disclosure: This giveaway is sponsored by Cellfire who will provide the $100 grocery gift card. I have the opportunity to receive $25 grocery gift card based off the number of Cellfire coupons loaded through my posts. All opinions are my own.

Candies in Bloom Candy Bouquet Giveaway

This giveaway has ended. Have you ever searched for just the right gift for a certain occasion only to come up empty-handed? I know I have and that is why I love food gifts for any and all occasions. Candies in Bloom is a small family owned business based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They make three different sizes of candy bouquets and which can be customized with a wide variety of treats, colors, balloons, cards, etc. Basically, anything you can think of that fits the situation or person, is possible. Anyone looking for a Mother's Day or end-of-the-year teacher gift? Your answer is right here!

One of the best things about Candies in Bloom is their focus on customer satisfaction. They base their business on direct customer service. I'll let them explain: "What is direct customer service? Well, it’s something that’s rapidly disappearing in business today. We understand everyone’s time is limited and some may want a quick “point, click and buy” when shopping online, but we feel that the best way to produce the perfect product for them is to establish and maintain a high level of person-to-person interaction. Meaning that when someone contacts Candies in Bloom, they will always speak with a real person who will happily assist them, their messages and e-mail inquiries will be promptly returned, local deliveries are received within hours of the initial order and bouquets to be shipped are sent no later than the next morning." Where else do you find that anymore?

The great thing is about a candy bouquet is it's appearance doesn't hardly change! Unlike flowers or a fruit arrangement, even after the candy has long since been enjoyed, it remains a colorful and fun reminder of someone's thoughtfulness. And, as with all of their bouquets, you have alternatives to standard candy. Like sugar-free and Gluten-free candies, and non-candy snacks such as crackers, nuts, cookies, and various "100 calorie" treat options. So it can even be a great gift for a friend or co-worker on a diet! Check out their Gallery of Bouquets to see what they can do.

Now on to the giveaway! Candies in Bloom will be giving one Recipes for Moms reader a Small Candy Bouquet (ARV $20) with their choice of candies. It stands about 12" tall and 8" in diameter at the widest point and comes in a cute, reusable tin pail. There are 13 small and 2 large candy items included. So, if you pace yourself, you can get 2 weeks of delicious yumminess before it's gone!

Required Entry:

- Look over the Candies in Bloom Calendar of Holidays and leave a comment about what holiday you would be most likely to send a candy bouquet and who it would be for. (This has to be done for any additional entries to be valid.) *Please be honest, this will really help Candies in Bloom!*

Additional Entries:

- Find a recipe from Recipes for Moms you plan to try with your family and leave a comment telling me which recipe.

- Check out the Candies in Bloom candy list and let me know what your favorite candy is on the list.

- Grab my button and add it to your site. Please let me know where I can find it. (If you already have it, that counts too.)

- Blog, post info, tweet or otherwise publicize this giveaway and link back to this post. Again, let me know where I can find it. (1 entry allowed for each form of publicity)

- Become a fan of Recipes for Moms on Facebook. (If you are already a fan, that counts.) So I guess now Facebook changed it and you "Like" instead of becoming a "Fan".

- Subscribe to Recipes for Moms by E-mail. Please make sure you activate your subscription by clicking the activate link in the initial e-mail. If you already subscribe, just leave a comment saying so.

Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and your e-mail address if it is not available on your profile. This giveaway is open to continental US residents only. The winner will be chosen using Random.org and the contest will end on Friday, May 7th at midnight (Mountain Time). After I contact the winner, they will have 48 hours to get back to me or another winner will be chosen. Good luck! I reserve the right to delete entries that do not adhere to the entry rules.

*Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation for this review. Candies in Bloom will provide the winner with one candy bouquet.

SKOY Cloth Giveaway

This giveaway has ended. For the longest time our family always used a sponge for the dishes and endless paper towels for spills, cleaning and messy hands. Then we started using SKOY cloths and our paper towel mindset changed completely.

I was introduced to SKOY cloths a little over a year ago when they donated a bunch of cloths to my MOPS group. My MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group then had a baking/breakfast contest. I made my Cheese Egg Supreme and it was voted Best Egg Dish. Wahoo! As my prize, I won four SKOY cloths. I went home, introduced them to my husband who I think was a bit skeptical at first. Fast forward to now and I am still using the last two cloths in my kitchen and my husband uses them everyday too. Yes, they last that long! Our method is to have two out at once. One is for spills, wiping the counter and table, etc. The other is for the kids' hands and faces after meals. It is so much better than having to use paper towels all the time.

Here are some of the specifics about SKOY cloths: "It is a European made product and 100% biodegradable because it is made from a natural cotton and wood-based cellulose pulp. SKOY cloth is a chlorine-free product using water-based colors and inks. After an independent composting test, SKOY cloth broke down completely within 5 weeks. The SKOY cloth has an absorption factor of 15x its own weight and is equivalent to using 15 rolls of paper towels in an average home."

Now you might be wondering how you keep this little super cloth clean and unstinky. Simple, it is dishwasher, washer/dryer and microwave safe. I usually choose the microwave option and stick in it when damp for 1-2 minutes. This also softens dried up, stuck on bits inside your microwave so once the cloth has cooled use it to wipe down the inside.

I could go on and on about these cloths but the SKOY website does an excellent job of answering any questions you might have. Plus every bunch of SKOY cloths comes with a small instruction sheet. SKOY cloths are available online through the SKOY site as well as at Amazon.com. They cost $6.99 for a 4-pack through either place.

Now it's time for you to win some SKOY cloths! SKOY has generously offered to provide 2 winners each with a 4-pack of cloths. From my experience, this should last you for several months.

Required Entry:

- Visit the SKOY website and tell me something you learned about SKOY cloths or the company. (This has to be done for any additional entries to be valid.)

Additional Entries:

- Find a recipe from Recipes for Moms you plan to try with your family and leave a comment telling me which recipe.

- Grab my button and add it to your site. Please let me know where I can find it. (If you already have it, that counts too.)

- Blog, post info, tweet or otherwise publicize this giveaway and link back to this post. Again, let me know where I can find it. (1 entry allowed for each form of publicity)

- Become a fan of SKOY on Facebook.

- Become a fan of Recipes for Moms on Facebook. (If you are already a fan, that counts.) So I guess now Facebook changed it and you "Like" instead of becoming a "Fan".

- Subscribe to Recipes for Moms by E-mail. Please make sure you activate your subscription by clicking the activate link in the initial e-mail. If you already subscribe, just leave a comment saying so.

Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and your e-mail address if it is not available on your profile. This giveaway is open to US residents only. The winner will be chosen using Random.org and the contest will end on Friday, April 30th at midnight (Mountain Time). After I contact the winner, they will have 48 hours to get back to me or another winner will be chosen. Good luck! I reserve the right to delete entries that do not adhere to the entry rules.

*Disclosure: I was provided with a 4-pack of SKOY cloths. All opinions are my own.

Sandwich Thins Winners

Congratulations to JC, Melissa, Donna & denise with yahoo e-mail who are the winners of the Oroweat/Arnolds Sandwich Thins Prize Pack thanks to House Party. They will each be sent an e-mail to let them know they have won. If they do not respond within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen. Thank you to everyone who entered! I am in the process of working on some new giveaways for my Recipes for Moms readers and I've got a lot of great recipes coming up as well.

General Mills Cereal Winners

I'm sorry this is so overdue! The winners of the free coupon for a box of General Mills cereal are cdzuiba and erma. They have both been sent an e-mail and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Thank you all who entered! Don't forget to enter the Sandwich Thins Prize Pack Giveaway which ends Sunday, March 7th.

Sandwich Thins Prize Pack Giveaway

This giveaway has ended. Sandwiches are pretty big at my house because they are quick, easy, healthy and can be made a variety of different ways. So I was excited when I was chosen by House Party to be a party host for the Sandwich Revolution House Party to promote the new Oroweat Sandwich Thins (or Arnold Sandwich Thins, in some areas). Then reality set in...we just moved and I have no friends! It was too late to decline to host the party so my lack of friends will be your gain.

We tried the 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Thins variety. I enjoyed the flavor although the thinness of the sandwich might take a little getting used to. However, this size was great for my little guy because it wasn't such a mouthful. He actually ate a sandwich and kept it together. If you are trying to watch your calories, these would be a great way to enjoy a sandwich without blowing your diet. We also plan to make mini pizzas out of them soon. I'll update you with how they turn out. You can use the store locator to find out where Sandwich Thins are near you and what varieties they have available.

Here is some information about these new additions to the everyday sandwich line-up. Sandwich Thins are available in five varieties: Multi-Grain, 100% Whole Wheat, Honey Wheat Whole Grain White and Seedless Rye. They are made with whole grains, made without high fructose corn syrup, are cholesterol-free and have 5 grams of fiber with only 100 calories and 1 gram of fat. Looks like a winner to me! I found several great ideas of ways to serve the Sandwich Thins. You can find several recipes on their website, such as Turkey Club and Chicken & Apple Panini. These would also be great to make kid pizzas or a quick tart dessert.

Since I have a whole box of Sandwich Thins goodies that were supposed to be used for my House Party, I have made up four Sandwich Thins prize packs to giveaway to Recipes for Moms readers. This prize pack will include:
- One free coupon for any Oroweat or Arnold Sandwich Thins product (up to $4.00)
- One $1.00 off coupon for any Oroweat or Arnold Sandwich Thins product
- One Sandwich Thins grocery list pad
- One Sandwich Thins reusable grocery bag
- 3 Sandwich Thins recipe cards, five blank recipe cards & a nutrition guide

Required Entry:

- Leave a comment with your favorite type of sandwich. (This has to be done for any additional entries to be valid.)

Additional Entries:

- Find a recipe from Recipes for Moms you plan to try with your family and leave a comment telling me which recipe.

- Grab my button and add it to your site. Please let me know where I can find it. (If you already have it, that counts too.)

- Blog, post info, tweet or otherwise publicize this giveaway and link back to this post. Again, let me know where I can find it. (1 entry allowed for each form of publicity)

- Become a fan of Recipes for Moms on Facebook. (If you are already a fan, that counts.)

- Subscribe to Recipes for Moms by E-mail. Please make sure you activate your subscription by clicking the activate link in the initial e-mail. If you already subscribe, just leave a comment saying so.

Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and your e-mail address if it is not available on your profile. This giveaway is open to US residents only. The winner will be chosen using Random.org and the contest will end on Sunday, March 7th at midnight (MST). After I contact the winner, they will have 48 hours to get back to me or another winner will be chosen. Good luck! I reserve the right to delete entries that do not adhere to the entry rules.

*Disclosure: I was provided with a House Party Sandwich Thins pack to host a house party. House Party gave me permission to use this as a blog giveaway. The prizes will be mailed directly from me. All opinions are my own.

Dinner Solution Winner

Congratulations to Katie-O who has won the Premium version of the Dinner Solution meal planning software. She will receive an e-mail from me. She will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway and don't forget to enter the General Mills cereal giveaway ending on Wednesday.

General Mills Cereal Giveaway

This giveaway has ended. General Mills has announced a commitment to further reduce sugar in cereals advertised to kids under 12 to single digit grams of sugar per serving. The company has already been reducing sugar in cereals while increasing key nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, and providing whole grain.

Did you know that ready-to-eat cereal eaters consume less fat, less cholesterol and more fiber than non-cereal eaters? Cereals also deliver important vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients, making cereal a top source of key nutrients in children's diets.

Other cereal benefits:

* Ready-to-eat cereals, including presweetened cereals, account for only 5% of sugar in children´s diets.

* Ready-to-eat cereal is the No. 1 source of whole grains in a child´s diet today.

* More frequent cereal eaters tend to have healthier body weights and lower Body Mass Index measures.

Studies also demonstrate the benefits of eating breakfast. A 1998 study showed that children who eat breakfast tend to perform better at school. Compared to children who skip breakfast, children who eat breakfast score higher on tests, are less likely to miss class or be tardy, have fewer reported discipline problems, and make fewer trips to the office. For more information about kids and cereals, please visit Cereal Health and Wellness.

While I do tend to avoid purchasing the typical "sugar cereals" for my family, I know that many parents do buy these cereals regularly. In my opinion, any effort to reduce the sugar in a child's diet is a step in the right direction. Here are a few additional ideas to continue to reduce your child's intake of sugar:

* Try mixing a "sugar cereal" with a similar "non-sugar cereal". For example, mix regular Cheerios with Banana Nut Cheerios or mix Corn or Rice Chex with Honey Nut Chex. If your kids are young, they won't realize the difference. If your kids are older, use it as a lesson in healthy eating.

* Use "sugar cereals" as a special treat or dessert. As I said I don't usually buy sugar cereals but I did receive some Trix and Cookie Crisp for free. After dinner I would give both my kids a small bowl of dry cereal as a treat. When using it in this capacity my kids are probably getting less sugar and more nutrients than if they had cookies or ice cream.

I was provided with some free cereal coupons from General Mills and MyBlogSpark. I am going to share a coupon for a free box of General Mills cereal (up to $6.00) with 2 Recipes for Moms readers. If you need a coupon now, this coupon is good for $1.00 off Trix, Cocoa Puffs, Cinnamon Toast Crunch or Lucky Charms. Also, check my coupons post - there are almost always cereal coupons available somewhere on the web.

Required Entry:

- Leave a comment with your favorite breakfast cereal. (This has to be done for any additional entries to be valid.)

Additional Entries:

- Find a recipe from Recipes for Moms you plan to try with your family and leave a comment telling me which recipe.

- Grab my button and add it to your site. Please let me know where I can find it. (If you already have it, that counts too.)

- Blog, post info, tweet or otherwise publicize this giveaway and link back to this post. Again, let me know where I can find it. (1 entry allowed for each form of publicity)

- Become a fan of Recipes for Moms on Facebook. (If you are already a fan, that counts.)

- Subscribe to Recipes for Moms by E-mail. Please make sure you activate your subscription by clicking the activate link in the initial e-mail. If you already subscribe, just leave a comment saying so.

Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and your e-mail address if it is not available on your profile. This giveaway is open to US residents only. The winner will be chosen using Random.org and the contest will end on Wednesday, February 24th at midnight (MST). After I contact the winner, they will have 48 hours to get back to me or another winner will be chosen. Good luck! I reserve the right to delete entries that do not adhere to the entry rules.

*Disclosure: I was provided with 4 free cereal coupons and information from General Mills and MyBlogSpark. I used 2 coupons for my family and chose to give 2 away to my readers. The coupons will be mailed directly from me. All opinions are my own.

Safeway Gift Card Winner

Congratulations to Ardy22 who is the winner of the $50 Safeway Gift Card! He will receive and e-mail from me and have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Don't forget to enter the Dinner Solution Software giveaway to make your meal planning a cinch!

Dinner Solution Software Giveaway

This giveaway has ended. Do you struggle with the whole idea of meal planning? From picking the recipes, to making the grocery list, to deciding which night to fix which meal? Well, struggle no more! Thanks to Karin & Kristi, sisters from California, there is now a simple software program that will help you will all these issues. They call it The Dinner Solution!

Most moms know that one of the easiest ways to save money and save time is to plan your meals. Meal planning is now super easy with The Dinner Solution software program. This is not a menu service, it’s an actual software program that you install and use on your computer…. a complete control center for your meal planning! (available for Windows only)

Using the calendar feature, you can plan out your meals in minutes, then instantly print a complete grocery list. The grocery list is sorted by category and also by store name. The program comes pre-loaded with some easy recipes, and you can also add your own recipes (like ones from Recipes for Moms). Another cool feature is the ability to organize freezer meals: You can print freezer labels, assembly instructions, a freezer inventory list and more. It’s like having one of those “dinner assembly” centers in your own home. In addition, you can plan leftovers or take-out into your weekly menu.

I think this software is such a great idea. Check out their Menu Planning page to see a step-by-step explanation of how the system works. Who couldn't use a system to make meal planning more streamlined? If you still have more questions about the Dinner Solution, visit their FAQ's page. They also have a e-newsletter available (scroll to the bottom of the page).

Now that you are ready to menu plan with ease - here is how you can get your hands on this great tool. First it is available to download in two versions. The Basic version is $39.95 and contains recipes, list planning and calendars. The Premium version is $59.95 and contains all the basic features plus the tools for freezer/make-ahead cooking. These are one-time prices and the software is yours on your computer. Right now, Recipes for Moms readers can get a 15% off discount by using the coupon code RFM15 when you make your purchase.

And the best part...one Recipes for Moms reader will win the Premium version of the Dinner Solution software. Please remember that this is only available for Windows.

Required Entry:

- Leave a comment telling me why you need this program. (This has to be done for any additional entries to be valid.)

Additional Entries:

- Visit The Dinner Solution website and leave a comment about your favorite feature of The Dinner Solution.

- Find a recipe from Recipes for Moms you plan to try with your family and leave a comment telling me which recipe.

- Grab my button and add it to your site. Please let me know where I can find it. (If you already have it, that counts too.)

- Blog, post info, tweet or otherwise publicize this giveaway and link back to this post. Again, let me know where I can find it. (1 entry allowed for each form of publicity)

- Become a fan of Recipes for Moms on Facebook. (If you are already a fan, that counts.)

- Subscribe to Recipes for Moms by E-mail. Please make sure you activate your subscription by clicking the activate link in the initial e-mail. If you already subscribe, just leave a comment saying so.

Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and your e-mail address if it is not available on your profile. This giveaway is open to anyone with a Windows operating system. The winner will be chosen using Random.org and the contest will end on Sunday, February 21st at midnight (MST). After I contact the winner, you will have 48 hours to get back to me or another winner will be chosen. Good luck! I reserve the right to delete entries that do not adhere to the entry rules.

*Disclosure: No compensation was given for this review and giveaway. The opinions are my own.

Make-Ahead Meals Cookbook Winner

Congratulations to Kristin who is the winner of the new cookbook Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms. She has been e-mailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Thanks to the 204 entries! Keep your eyes open for more giveaways coming in the next few days and don't forget to enter to win the $50 Safeway Gift Card. That contest ends on Saturday.

Crescent Creations Winner

I apologize for not being quite as timely as I should on picking winners for my giveaways. But better late than never, right? So without further ado, the winner of the Pillsbury Crescent Creations Prize Pack is Tracysweetangl. The winner has been e-mailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Thanks to all who entered. Look for more giveaways coming this week!

$50 Safeway Gift Card Giveaway

This giveaway has ended. I'm not sure why I seem to be the target (in a good way) for so many yogurt giveaways/reviews but I'm not complaining. Maybe the giveaway people can see into my fridge and know that it is never without a few cartons of yogurt of varying brands and flavors. So this time my family had the opportunity to test the new Fiber One nonfat yogurt from Yoplait. Our favorite is probably the Key Lime Pie. My 4-year-old daughter gives it a 10 because she loves lime and it doesn't have "bits" in it. I also like these yogurts that come in a multi-pack of 4 because they are perfect for a small adult snack or a right-sized kid snack.

Fiber One is the only leading nonfat yogurt with 50 calories and 5 grams of fiber (20 percent of the Recommended Daily Value). It is also a good source of calcium and vitamins A and D, making this a guilt-free and all-around great choice for dieters and those watching their weights. Each cup includes the creamy, delicious taste you expect from Yoplait, and you don't have to feel guilty about enjoying it. Fiber One is available in a variety of flavors including, Strawberry, Peach, Vanilla and Key Lime Pie. It has also been given the Hungry Girl "seal of approval". It is usually pretty easy to find a coupon for Fiber One yogurt so check my coupons post to see what is available.

Now here is the best part, Fiber One yogurt are on sale at Safeway stores (Dominick´s, Tom Thumb, Randalls, Vons, Genuardi´s) until Tuesday, February 9th. And...I have one $50 gift card to the Safeway family of stores to giveaway to one Recipes for Moms reader!

Required Entry:

- Leave a comment on which flavor of Fiber One yogurt you would like to try. (This has to be done for any additional entries to be valid.)

Additional Entries:

- Find a recipe from Recipes for Moms you plan to try with your family and leave a comment telling me which recipe.

- Grab my button and add it to your site. Please let me know where I can find it. (If you already have it, that counts too.)

- Blog, post info, tweet or otherwise publicize this giveaway and link back to this post. Again, let me know where I can find it. (1 entry allowed for each form of publicity)

- Become a fan of Recipes for Moms on Facebook. (If you are already a fan, that counts.)

- Subscribe to Recipes for Moms by E-mail. Please make sure you activate your subscription by clicking the activate link in the initial e-mail. If you already subscribe, just leave a comment saying so.

Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and your e-mail address if it is not available on your profile. This giveaway is open to US residents only. The winner will be chosen using Random.org and the contest will end on Saturday, February 13th at midnight (MST). After I contact the winner, you will have 48 hours to get back to me or another winner will be chosen. Good luck! I reserve the right to delete entries that do not adhere to the entry rules.

*Disclosure: I was provided with one free coupon for Fiber One yogurt and one $50 gift card for myself from Safeway and Fiber One through MyBlogSpark. The opinions are my own.

Make-Ahead Meals For Busy Moms Cookbook Giveaway

This giveaway has ended. I love new cookbooks! I really love when that cookbook fits with the Recipes for Moms theme of quick, easy and uses mostly ingredients you keep in your pantry. So I was very excited when Jane Doiron contacted me about reviewing and giving away her new cookbook, Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms.

Here is some information about the cookbook from her website: "Jane Doiron helps you, a very busy mom like herself, to put a fabulous dinner on the table every night for friends, or just for the family, with a minimum of fuss and a maximum of flavor.

Jane's goal was to seek out main dish, family-favorite recipes that could be make ahead meals without sacrificing the food’s taste and texture by freezing. After years of home-testing recipes, Jane has compiled this must-have cookbook with specific make-ahead directions. In addition, Jane includes her best recipes for clever side dishes, flavorful appetizers and luscious desserts. Imagine opening your freezer to pick out a family-favorite appetizer, main dish, or dessert, and all you have to do is thaw and heat it!

Make-ahead meals are a healthy and economical alternative to take-out and preservative filled, pre-packaged foods. With make ahead meal planning, you are making fewer trips to the grocery store, and saving money otherwise spent on unhealthy, take-out and fast foods. It’s simple. Give yourself a break during the hectic weeknights with Jane’s make-ahead meal recipes. Spend the time that you save outside of the kitchen doing something that you enjoy."

I like this cookbook because it is what I would call simple make-ahead. This is not once-a-month cooking or mass freezer cooking. Not that I am opposed to those methods but I haven't yet found the time they require. Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms just helps you when you need to plan ahead so you won't be scrambling at the last minute. We tried Overnight Pancakes and Shepherd's Pie and they were both a hit with all members of my family.

Buy it! Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms can be purchased at Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com.

Win it! One Recipes for Moms reader will win a copy of Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms courtesy of Jane.

Required Entry:

- Visit the Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms website and let me know one recipe you would like to try, excluding the two I mentioned above. (This has to be done for any additional entries to be valid.)

Additional Entries:

- Find a recipe from Recipes for Moms you plan to try with your family and leave a comment telling me which recipe.

- Grab my button and add it to your site. Please let me know where I can find it. (If you already have it, that counts too.)

- Grab the Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms button and add it to your site. Look for it on the right hand bar.

- Blog, post info, tweet or otherwise publicize this giveaway and link back to this post. Again, let me know where I can find it. (1 entry allowed for each form of publicity)

- Become a fan of Recipes for Moms on Facebook. (If you are already a fan, that counts.)

- Become a follower of the Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms blog.

- Subscribe to Recipes for Moms by E-mail. Please make sure you activate your subscription by clicking the activate link in the initial e-mail. If you already subscribe, just leave a comment saying so.

- Sign up for the Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms newsletter.

Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and your e-mail address if it is not available on your profile. This giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents. The winner will be chosen using Random.org and the contest will end on Thursday, February 11th at midnight (MST). After I contact the winner, you will have 48 hours to get back to me or another winner will be chosen. Good luck! I reserve the right to delete entries that do not adhere to the entry rules.

*Disclosure: I was provided with one copy of Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms to review and keep for myself. I did not receive any other compensation and the opinions expressed are my own.