Happy Thanksgiving!! ^_^

In most parts of our country, Thanksgiving (that the US celebrates every fourth Thursday of November) is not a known event. Needless to say, we don't celebrate it. But with the advent of online shopping, we became more aware of this event because of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. The former happens the next day after Thanksgiving and the latter, on the Monday after Thanksgiving weekend. Both, of course, have retailers offer massive discounts and deals to consumers and signal the start of the holiday shopping season ^_^

This year, I decided that we'll celebrate Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for and I wanna glorify the Lord's uber-goodness with my cooking =) But no, we won't be having a turkey, (it's too big for the 3 of us!) just roasted chicken and some stuffing plus other dishes to go with it. For this Thanksgiving post, I'm sharing recipes from RecipeSecrets.net and a video on how to properly carve a turkey (or chicken in our case). Now, let's get on with the cooking!!

Southwestern Cornbread Stuffing

Ingredients
4 chorizo sausages
2 cups yellow corn meal
2 tsp baking powder
1 tps baking soda
2 cups buttermilk
4 lrg eggs
1/4 cup melted unsalted butter
2 cups canned cream style corn
2 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese
2 cans (4 oz. size) diced peeled green chilies
2 sml onions, grated
1/2 cup minced fresh coriander

Procedure
1. Heat the oven to 350 F. Cook chorizos in small heavy skillet until brown on all sides, then cut into 1/4 inch slices.
2. Mix corn meal, salt, baking powder and baking soda in medium bowl. Stir chorizo chunks and remaining ingredients together in a large mixing bowl until thoroughly blended. Add the corn meal mixture and mix well. Divide batter between two well-seasoned 10" cast-iron skillets (or bake in 2 batches).
3. Bake the cornbread until brown on top and a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Let cool completely on wire rack then crumble coarsely for stuffing.

Blueberry Cheesecake Pie (not really a traditional Thanksgiving dessert but hubby adores this so much!)

Crust
1 2/3 cups graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons butter

1. Mix the crumbs, sugar, cinnamon, and butter in a nine inch pie pan or spring form pan. Mix until the crumbs have absorbed the butter and the mixture is uniform.
2. Press the crumbs across the bottom of the pan and up the sides.
3. Bake for ten minutes at 350 degrees.
Note: This is a crumb crust that will tend to burn during baking. To reduce the chances of burning, use a ceramic pan or a bright silver pan. A ceramic pan will tend to insulate the crust and a silver pan reflects heat.

Filling
2 8-ounce packets of cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 21-ounce can of blueberry pie filling

1. In a bowl, beat the cream cheese until soft. Add the sugar and beat until smooth.
2. Add the eggs one at a time and the extract. Continue beating until smooth.
3. Pour into the pie shell and bake at 325 deg until the center of pie no longer jiggles.
4. Cool on a wire rack. Spoon the prepared pie filling over the cheese filling.

healthy chimichangas!

Mexican food always get the bad rap of being unhealthy -- it's too oily, high in cholesterol, etc, etc. But I love Mexican cuisine and I just couldn't bear not eating my favorite empanadas, tortillas, chimichangas and burritos for "health" reasons! Thank god I stumbled on a copycat recipe of Chi−Chi’s famous healthy Baked Chicken Chimichangas. Nomnomnom! =) You can use ground pork or beef for this recipe but that would defeat the purpose of eating healthy so try to use chicken or turkey or any white meat. Me, I use leftover chicken -- no skin of course!

photo credit: Janet is Hungry

Baked Chicken Chimichangas

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups chicken, cooked, shredded
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
16 ounces salsa
1/2 teaspoon cumin
pinch of salt
6 − 10 inch flour tortillas
1 cup refried beans
Olive oil (for basting)
Sour Cream
Guacamole

Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
2. In a large saucepan, saute onion and garlic in oil until tender. Stir in chili powder, salsa, and cumin. Stir in shredded chicken. Let cool.
3. Grease rimmed 15 x 10 x 1 baking pan.
4. Working with one tortilla at a time, spoon a heaping tablespoon of beans down center of each tortilla. Top with a scant 1/2 cup of the chicken mixture.
5. Fold up the bottom, top and sides of tortilla; secure with wooden toothpicks if necessary.
6. Place chimichangas in greased baking pan, seam side down. Brush all sides with the oil.
7. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and crisp, turning every 5 minutes.
8. Serve with sour cream and guacamole. This recipe has 8-10 servings.

who loves garlic???

I DO! And I love onions too! In fact, I love eating spices and stuff that makes your breathe smell foul after, hehe! :p Today's recipe is Garlic Sauce -- perfect as bread or pizza dip! I also added some tips from SecretRecipes.net in using garlic to flavor your cooking. Enjoy!

GARLIC SAUCE

Ingredients:
1/4 - 1/2 stick margarine or butter
1/2 Tablespoon Garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Method:
Melt butter in the microwave (about 30 seconds).
Put in salt and garlic powder (to taste).
Microwave for 5 seconds longer.

GARLIC COOKING TIPS

- ONE finely minced or pressed raw garlic clove releases MORE flavor than a dozen cooked whole cloves. So always chop your garlic!

- If you want a sweet, almost nutty flavor (perfect for pastries & ice cream) from garlic with no pungency whatsoever, cook the cloves whole. Don't mince!

- When sauteing garlic, be very careful not to burn it. The flavor will be intensely bitter and you'll have to start over.

Obama Family Chili Recipe

This recipe would not be possible if it weren't for Good Morning America! =) So, to their website updaters, thank you for putting this up. I hope you don't mind me sharing this to my readers.. We just adore chili!! ^_^

Obama Family Chili Recipe

Ingredients:
1 large onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
Several cloves of garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground turkey or beef
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground oregano
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon ground basil
1 tablespoon chili powder
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Several tomatoes, depending on size, chopped
1 can red kidney beans

Procedure:
Saute onions, green pepper and garlic in olive oil until soft.
Add ground meat and brown.
Combine spices together into a mixture, then add to ground meat.
Add red wine vinegar.
Add tomatoes and let simmer, until tomatoes cook down.
Add kidney beans and cook for a few more minutes.
Serve over white or brown rice. Garnish with grated cheddar cheese,onions and sour cream.

Chili Cooking Tips
1. If your chili is too thick, use chicken or beef broth to dilute it. Don't use water!
2. If your chili is too thin, try adding tomato paste in small amounts to thicken it to your desire. If the tomato paste doesn't work, try a small amount of cornstarch or flour. Some people say a tablespoon or two of instant mashed potatoes work to thicken a chili.

tips for soft, chewy cookies

Last time, I shared Mrs. Fields Oatmeal Cookies recipe and it seems that a lot of you were wondering how to make it softer and more melt in your mouth. Well, here are the tips to help you make chewy cookies (and maintain it that way) that we all love!

- VERY IMPORTANT: Do not over mix the dough or use too much flour.

- Bake cookies the minimum amount of time, even though the center may look slightly underbaked. Let cookies stand on baking sheet for one to three minutes to continue to bake, then remove to cooling rack.

- Store soft cookies in an airtight container.

- Do not store soft chewy cookies with crisp type cookies.

- Use shiny aluminum cookie sheets, not dark colored ones.

Source: RecipeSecrets.net ^_^

Mrs. Fields Oatmeal Cookies!! =)

I'm so happy to have finally found the recipe to Mrs. Fields' oatmeal cookies!! ^_^ I can't get enough of these stuff and I can't wait to bake these cookies when I have the chance! This recipe will make 48 cookies. Enjoy and happy cooking!






Mrs. Fields Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups Flour
1 cup Quick oats (not instant)
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Soda
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Cloves
2 teaspoons Grated lemon zest
1 cup Dark brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup Butter
1 large Egg
1/2 cup Honey
1 cup Raisins

Topping:
1/2 cup Quick oats

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
-In a medium bowl combine the flour, oats, salt, soda, cinnamon, cloves and lemon zest. Mix well and set aside.
-Cream the sugar and butter together in a large bowl using an electric mixer.
-Add the egg and honey and beat at medium speed until smooth.
-Add the flour mixture and raisins, and blend at low speed until just combined. The dough will be quite soft.
-Drop by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased baking sheets, 1 1/2 inches apart. If you wish, sprinkle the cookies with oats.
-Bake the cookies for 23-25 minutes or until the bottoms are golden. ENJOY eating!! ^_^

healthy quiche!

I have one yummy recipe for you today that uses whey protein to help you build strong, lean muscles and facilitate weight loss =)

“Low Carb” Quiche
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Makes: 6 servings

Ingredients:
1 cup Ham, cooked and cubed
4 slices Bacon, cooked and chopped
1 – 10 oz package Spinach, frozen, thawed and drained
1 – 4oz can Mushrooms, drained
¼ cup Onion, chopped
½ cup Swiss Cheese, shredded
½ cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded
¼ cup Whey Protein Isolate
1/8 tsp Pepper
½ cup Heavy Whipping Cream
¼ cup Water
4 Eggs, large

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 400°F
2. Grease 9-inch pie plate with nonstick spray.
3. Sprinkle ham, bacon, spinach, mushrooms, onions and cheeses in bottom of pie plate.
4. Stir together whey protein isolate and pepper in mixing bowl. Add cream, water and eggs. Mix until well blended. Pour over ingredients in pie plate.
5. Bake quiche for 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Cool 5 minutes before serving.

And voila! A lovely, delicious quiche that’s uber-healthy! BTW, you can buy whey protein in health food stores anywhere.

free foodstuff & win grocery coupons

With the economic recession and people losing jobs left and right, we have to be creative in stretching our budget.. And we have to grab as much freebies as we can as they are offered. Anyway, here are some stuff that will get you free food. Easy peasy! ^_^

CLICK HERE to get four 1/2 pound bags of best gourmet coffee! $38.00 value for only $7.95 with FREE S&H! 

CLICK HERE to submit your zip code to win a Complimentary $250 Grocery Gift Card. (US only)

CLICK HERE for a FREE trial to flush out excess pounds and detoxify your body with pure Acai berry.

summer cookout tips!

Of course we all know that summer won't be complete without the barbecue cookout -- yum-my! I won't be sharing recipes today, instead I'll be giving tips to ensure that your summer cookout will be a success. Read on and let's get ready to chow!!

1. Choose the menu with care. Aside from the usual hotdogs and burgers, serve another crowd pleaser: chicken wings!! =)

2. Preheat a gas grill for 10 minutes before cooking. For charcoal grills, wait 20-30 minutes for the charcoal to turn to a light gray.

3. Use long-handled tongs or a spatula to turn food. Do not pierce the food while cooking. Piercing lets all the juices out = dried out meats! Not good!

it's officially summer! ^_^

And to welcome the hottest season of the globe, here's a "Jamba Juice Banana Berry Smoothie" recipe for you! Perfect to cool you and your homies after some fun under the sun ^_^ The smoothie is very easy to make (it only has one step, LOL) and will definitely quench anybody's thirst! And it's very healthy too so go and make some!

Ingredients:

1 scoop fat-free vanilla frozen yogurt

1 scoop of raspberry sherbet

3/4 cup strawberry nectar

1 cup frozen blueberries

1/2 cup apple juice

1 cup of ice

1 banana

Method:

Combine all ingredients in a blend and blend until smooth. Makes 1 24-ounce smoothie. EASY!

Source: The Secret Recipe Forum

Your Lunch is on the House from Italianni's!

YEAH!! FREEBIES!! ^_^ I just received an email from Yehey! Dispatch today announcing Italianni's latest promo. And yep, there's a FREE meal to be had! If you buy one of their "Small Price for a Big Lunch" meals and get a second one of same or lesser value, it's for FREE! So whoever said "There's no such thing as a free lunch." haven't been to Italianni's! LOL! =) This promo is valid until May 31, 2009 so hurry -- you only have 45 days to enjoy it! 

eat vegetables! some are aphrodisiacs ;-)

I know Valentines Say is over and there's no use for aphrodisiacs anymore. But hey, who said you can't be libidinous on other days? LOL! And eating healthy veggies at that! So, without further ado, here are the surprising vegetables "slash" aphrodisiacs:

Asparagus boosts histamine production, helping both sexes to achieve orgasm. The spears are also rich in folic acid and vitamin B6, which can boost arousal and orgasm.

Celery contains the male hormone androsterone that stimulates sexual arousal. The Romans were hip to celery’s sensual side: They dedicated it to Pluto, the god of sex.

Chilies contain capsaicin, a chemical that can induce the release of endorphins to create a temporary euphoria. Capsaicin also increases circulation and sensation in the genital area.

Licorice is potent in taste and smell. Black licorice was also shown to increase blood flow to the genitals, leading to improved erection in men. 

Tex Mex Salmon!

Love Mexican food but is now trying to eat healthy? Good news! Today we have a recipe guaranteed to squash your Mexican food cravings but won't make your cholesterol and fat blood levels soar ;-) Presenting to you -- Tex Mex Salmon! Yup, salmon as in fish. That's what make this "Mexican" recipe healthy. Plus the fact we won't be frying anything in oil or lard. But, don't push it and eat as much as you can -- that's still unhealthy! :p Anyway, happy cooking and always, always eat moderately!

Ingredients (6 servings)

1 7 oz. package of Ortega taco chips/shells

2 lbs. salmon fillets in pieces (you can actually use any fish you want)

1/2 cup olive oil (or any healthy oil you want)

Taco sauce (optional)

Instructions

Heat taco shells/chips according to package directions.

In food processor or blender, finely crush shells. Blend in Taco seasoning.

Dip fish in olive oil. Coat with crumbs.

Arrange in shallow baking dish.

Bake in preheated 425 degrees F oven for half hour or until fish flakes easily when macerated with a fork.

Serve with Taco sauce (optional).

eat healthy - GRILL FOOD!

And the best food to grill? Vegetables! Now that's doubly healthy eh? =) A word of warning though, GRILL LIGHTLY -- don't char the food being grilled. If ever charred, remove the blackened portion (don't eat!) coz that's carcinogenic =( Also, use OLIVE OIL and other healthy oils to toss your veggies. Anyway here are tips for grilling vegetables. Stay healthy and always, always eat moderately!

GREEN BEANS OR HARICOTS VERTS

Trim the ends and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill over direct high heat 3 to 5 minutes.

SWEET POTATOES

Peel and slice into 1/2" thick wedges before tossing with olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill over direct medium heat, turning often 15 to 20 minutes.

SUMMER SQUASH

Bias slice into 1/2" thick planks, then toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill over direct high heat 5 to 7 minutes.

WHOLE BABY ZUCCHINI

Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper then grill over direct high heat 7 to 10 minutes.

ASPARAGUS

Trim off woody ends then toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill over direct high heat 3 to 5 minutes.

CORN ON THE COB

Shuck ears, trim ends and halve crosswise. Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill over direst high heat 10 to 15 minutes turning often.

GRILLED BAKED POTATOES

Wash and dry russet potatoes (8-10 oz. each) then rub with olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill over indirect heat for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

tips in using chicken

We all know that when improperly handled and cooked, chicken dishes can give us a bad case of food poisoning. Often the culprit is Salmonella, which is also prevalent in improperly cooked dairy products and eggs. To prevent food poisoning from chicken, simply follow the tips below PRIOR to cooking. Learn it, don't forget it, always SAFE FOOD first!

- Refrigerate raw chicken promptly. Never leave it on countertop at room temperature.

- Freeze uncooked chicken if it is not to be used within 2 days.

- If properly packaged, frozen chicken will maintain top quality in a home freezer for up to 1 year.

- Thaw chicken in the refrigerator -- not on the countertop -- or in cold water. It takes about 24 hours to thaw a 4-pound chicken in the refrigerator. Cut-up parts, 3 to 9 hours.

- Always wash hands, countertops, cutting boards, knives and other utensils used in preparing raw chicken with soapy water before they come in contact with other raw or cooked foods.

- When shopping, buy groceries last. Never leave chicken in a hot car. Refrigerate immediately on reaching home.

make pancakes with a twist! =)

Bob Evans Stuffed Caramel Banana Pecan Cream Pancakes

Pancakes with pecans and sliced fresh bananas, covered in a warm, caramel sauce.

Ingredients:
prepared pancake batter for 2 pancakes

2 cups prepared vanilla pudding
2 cups cream cheese, room temperature
2 tablespoons honey roasted pecans
1 banana sliced into 1/2-inch thick slices
1 tablespoon powdered sugar whipped topping

Caramel sauce

Make Vanilla Cream Cheese mixture:

Mix vanilla pudding with cream cheese until well blended and creamy (no lumps). Cover and refrigerate immediately. This mixture will store (covered) in the refrigerator up to 5 days.

Procedure: (serves 1)

Prepare pancake batter and preheat griddle. Ladle batter onto hot griddle and sprinkle evenly with pecans and banana slices. When they bubble and edges are dry, flip to cook second side.

When done, place pancake on plate, top with 4 tablespoons Vanilla Cream Cheese mixture and top with second pancake. Ladle with caramel sauce and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Garnish with whipped topping.

Tips:

- Be sure to let the pecans and bananas show for a nice presentation.

- For a more intense flavor, use a banana-flavored pudding in lace of vanilla.

- For a completely different variation, add chocolate chips and serve with chocolate or fudge topping.

Source: "America's Secret Recipes" by Ron Douglas

Aphrodisiacs for Valentines Day ;-)

Valentines Day is fast approaching and if you haven't had any plans yet, why not have an aphrodisiac picnic somewhere dark? Hehe! Here's some yummy foods that will put love and romance in the air.. ;-)

Avocado: The Aztecs called the avocado tree Ahuacuatl, which translated means "testicle tree." The ancients thought the fruit hanging in pairs on the tree resembled the male's testicles. This is a delicious fruit with a sensuous texture.

Chocolate: "Love," someone said, "is like swallowing hot chocolate before it has cooled off. It takes you by surprise at first, but keeps you warm for a long time." The Aztecs referred to chocolate "nourishment of the gods." Chocolate contains chemicals thought to effect neurotransmitters in the brain and a related substance to caffeine called theobromine. It was actually banned from some monasteries centuries ago.

Honey: Many medicines in Egyptian times were based on honey including cures for sterility and impotence. Medieval seducers plied their partners with Mead, a fermented drink made from honey. Lovers on their "honeymoon" drank mead and it was thought to "sweeten" the marriage.

 

Durian: It smells like hell but tastes like heaven. In Indonesia, the Javanese impose a strict set of rules on what may or may not be consumed with it or shortly thereafter. A saying "Durian jatuh sarung naik" ("The durians fall and the sarungs come up) refers to this belief. The warnings against the supposed lecherous quality of this fruit soon spread to the West, the Swedenborgian philosopher Herman Vetterling commented on so-called "erotic properties" of the durian in the early 20th century.

Garlic: The "heat" in garlic is said to stir sexual desires. Make sure you and your partner share it together. Garlic has been used for centuries to cure everything from the common cold to heart ailments. This is a good time for moderation.

Oyster: Oysters were documented as an aphrodisiac food by the Romans in the second century A.D as mentioned in a satire by Juvenal. He described the wanton ways of women after ingesting wine and eating "giant oysters." An additional theory is that the oyster resembles the "female" genitals. In reality, oysters are a very nutritious and high in protein. Raw oysters are very high in zinc which raises sperm and testosterone production.

More of the aphrodisiacs HERE --> it's my source article actually. Hehe! What I listed above are just my fave aphrodisiacs =) For Valentines gift ideas and gift tips, click HERE. Good luck! =)

earn $$$ from TWITTER!

The reason why I finally joined Twitter are here: http://twurl.nl/1f4xx8 and http://twurl.nl/u7i4oj ^_^

And yes, it's all about the money baby! Hehe!

Follow me on Twitter ( http://twitter.com/cutieissa ) to stay updated on ways to earn $$$ online =)

win bazillion of EC credits and some $$$!

To win the smashing stuff, all you have to do is blog about this contest and link back toMira's Blog. Make sure you copy all the prizes and sponsors as seen below. Mira is doing this contest as she celebrates one great year of blogging. Twelve lucky bloggers will win so there's a good chance it might be YOU! =) You can read all about the contest HERE.

1st PRIZE
$25 - c/o Random Thoughts
Customized Blog Layout (blogger platform) c/o My Web-Blog Designs
1 Swarovsky Bracelet c/o Yen's Handmades [Click here to see the ITEM]
$20 + 2000 EC credits c/o Windmill on the Hill
$10 + 500 EC credits c/o My Life's Journey to Success
$10 + 500 EC credits c/o Things I Did Not Know Before
$10 + 500 EC credits c/o Unique Ideas For Your Beach Weddings
2000 - EC credits + 1 month 125x125 ad space c/o Night Clicks
1000 - EC credits + 1 month 125x125 ad space c/o NetFreeSource
3000 - EC credits c/o Random Thoughts
1 month 125x125 ad space c/o Dashing Beauty
1 month 125x125 ad space c/o Tales of a Pinay Single Mommy
1 Photo Pop Art Make-over c/o Sweety Tots

2nd PRIZE
$20 - c/o Mira's Web Journal
2500 - EC credits c/o Mira's Web Journal
2000 - EC credits c/o A Moment to Exhale
20GB Web Hosting c/o http://angelic-melody.net + 500EC credits
1000 - EC credits + 1 month 125x125 ad space c/o My Countryhome
1000 - EC credits + 1 month 125x125 ad space c/o Live Love Pink
1000 - EC credits + 1 month 125x125 ad space c/o Samantha's Own
1 month 125x125 ad space c/o 1716 South
1 month 125x125 ad space c/o Garage Sale
1 Photo Pop Art Make-over c/o Sweety Tots

3rd PRIZE
$15 - c/o A Moment to Exhale
3000 - EC credits c/o Big Boys Have Toys Too
2000 - EC credits c/o A Taste of Both Worlds
1000 - EC credits + 1 month 125x125 ad space c/o Kharlota dot Com
1000 - EC credits + 1 month 125x125 ad space c/o A Girl for All Status
1000 - EC credits + 1 month 125x125 ad space c/o A Fil-Am Journey
1 year text link ad c/o http://glamorous-heart.info
1 month 125x125 ad space c/o Symphony of Love
1 month 125x125 ad space c/o Sweepstakes Girl
1 Photo Pop Art Make-over c/o Sweet...Pretty...Naughty

4th PRIZE
$10 - c/o My Barefoot Journey
2000 - EC credits c/o Mommy's Little Corner
2000 - EC credits c/o My Online Paradise
2000 - EC credits c/o Kinda Life of Mine
1000 - EC credits + 1 month 125x125 ad space c/o Just About Anything
1 month text link ad Thomas Travel Tales
1 month text link ad Great Finds and Deals

5th PRIZE
2000 - EC credits c/o Wife of a Warrior
3000 - EC credits c/o Life's Sweets and Spices
1000 - EC credits + 1 month 125x125 ad space c/o Simply Irresistible
1000 - EC credits + 1 month 125x125 ad space c/o My Sweet Haven
1 month text link ad Work At Home Jobs
1 month text link ad Erlinda‘s Wandering Thoughts

6th PRIZE 
2000 - EC credit c/o The Solitairy Love
1500 - EC credit c/o My Barefoot Journey
1000 - EC credits c/o My Kitchen Table
1000 - EC credits + 1 month 125x125 ad space c/o Kalidadis
1000 - EC credits + 1 month 125x125 ad space c/o Cooking is Fun
1 month text link ad CompTechGadgets.com
1 month text link ad Healthy Living and Lifestyle

7th PRIZE
1000 - EC credits + 1 month 125x125 ad space c/o Simplement Belles
1000 - EC credits + 1 month 125x125 ad space c/o Moi et mon univers!
1000 - EC credit c/o Scrappy Mommy
1000 - EC credits c/o Dashing Smiles
1000 - EC credits c/o Everything Plus the Kitchen Sink
1000 - EC credits c/o One at a Time
1 month text link ad Thomas Web Links
1 month text link ad Bohol Paradise

8th PRIZE
1000 EC + 1 month 125x125 ad space from My Daily Sunset
1000 - EC credits c/o My Kitchen
1000 - EC credits c/o My Life and Family Journey
1000 - EC credits c/o My Whole New World
1000 - EC credits c/o Definitely Maybe
500 - EC credits c/o I Thought So
1 month text link ad Batuananons

9th PRIZE
1000 EC + 1 month 125x125 ad space from Lovely Pink
1000 - EC credits c/o Small Side Bits
1000 - EC credits c/o In His Steps
1000 - EC credits c/o Moments of My Life
1000 - EC credits c/o My Crossroads
1 month text link ad Filipino Online Community

10th PRIZE
1000 EC + 1 month 125x125 ad space from Hobby and Such by Carlota
1000 - EC credits c/o My Life's Adventure
1000 - EC credits c/o Wonderful Things In Life
1000 - EC credits c/o The Joy of Life Forever
500 - EC credits c/o Life's Journey
1 month text link ad from Nita's Random Thoughts

11th PRIZE
1000 - EC credits c/o Medan Daily
1000 - EC credits c/o Wiehanne Lounge
1000 - EC credits c/o Simply WP
1000 - EC credits c/o Everything Under the Sun
1 month text link ad from Nita's Corner

12th PRIZE
1500 - EC credits c/o A Moment to Exhale
1000 - EC credits c/o My Barefoot Journey
1000 - EC credits c/o EastCoastLife

the perfect Superbowl XLIII snack! =)

If you ask my husband what's my favorite food, he'd say anything potato. And he's right! I love potato foods -- from the usual fries and potato salad to gourmet baked potatos and Shakey's Mojos =)  For this this week, here's a TGI Friday's potato snack recipe (serves 2-4) -- the perfect companion as you watch Superbowl XLIII this Sunday. Happy cooking!

TGI Friday's Baked Potato Skins

5 baked potato skins, cut in half (empty of most of the potato)
1 tablespoon melted butter
seasoning salt
1 green onion, diced
1/2 cup crispy fried bacon, diced (about 5 strips)
3/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1/3 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon snipped fresh chives

Procedure:
1. Heat oven to 375F.
2. Brush potato shells with melted butter and sprinkle seasoning salt to taste.
3. Bake for 15-20 minutes until crisp but not dry and hard.
4. Remove and sprinkle with cheese, bacon and onion, place back in oven until cheese is melted.
5.  Serve with sour cream and chives. You can also Ranch dressing or honey mustard.