Celebrating Dads with Life Made Delicious #LMDconnector {giveaway}

It's hot outside, let's go ahead and make the most of our short, but sweet Canadian summers! For most Canadians, food is a big part of enjoying our fair weather It's our turn to enjoy our local bounty. But, don't turn on your stove and heat up the house - cook outdoors instead!
As you know my husband is a barbeque enthusiast. In the summer of 2009, we were walking the strip at Sauble Beach, Ontario, after enjoying a fun family day at the beach. We stumbled upon a little barbeque joint and decided to stop there for an early supper, and from that day forward my hubby found a great love and fun hobby. Barbequing! He has spent countless hours on barbeque forums and getting to know others who love to grill, as well as learning their tricks and tips. We enjoy his labour of love immensely!

As Father's Day approaches, I will offer to take him out for a special meal. Though, I know he will turn down the offer. He would much rather stay home and make his own food. One of his favourites is pulled pork. He has prepared it and shared it at potlucks, and even made it for his beavers (for supper) at their camp out, and everyone licks their lips in appreciation.

The perfect Father's Day meal ~ Pulled Pork

First, (if you haven't yet) get to know your local butcher. I am not talking the butcher at your grocery store, go to an abattoir and make them your best friend. Starting with the right cut of meat will make your meal. Once you have your pork shoulder you need to prep your meat, the night before you want to slow cook it. My hubby uses a concoction, which he calls glitter. Glitter is a mix of paprika, salt, pepper, sugar, cayenne, and dry mustard. With the help of his assistant (me) we coat the pork really well the night before and place it in the fridge overnight. The next morning he fires up his charcoal grill and leaves it to cook the day away. Be sure to take it off the grill and let it rest for at least 45 minutes before shredding it. Wrap it in a towel and place it in your cooler. Serve with your favourite fresh rolls, and you have the makings of a perfect summer barbeque.


A great barbeque should be followed with an equally fantastic dessert. As you know, I am a Life Made Delicious connector, and as such, I am enjoying using the Life Made Delicious site as a resource for all kinds of meal ideas. You can too! Visit Life Made Delicious to find easy recipes to aid in your busy schedule. Life Made Delicious has the BBQ recipes you need for your next cookout from start to finish. I found some great starters, as well as desserts for our pulled pork meal.

(I think these brownie and fruit kabobs would be the perfect end to any barbeque meal.)

Let's celebrate summer with a Life Made Delicious giveaway!

One lucky reader will win an amazing Barbeque gift pack valued at $100.00, exclusive to Life Made Delicious connectors and their blog followers!

Someone will win the following ~

• Barbeque Utensil Set
• Paper Plates
• Colourful Napkins
• Some of your favourite General Mills Products

Old El Paso, Cheerios (including new Chocolate Cheerios), Fiber 1, Betty Crocker
and Nature Valley

Mandatory Entry

1. Check out Life Made Delicious, and the easy recipes - share a summer time recipe from the site which inspires you!

2. Must be a blog follower (to follow find the follower widget and click to join)

Please ensure your mandatory entry is complete if you wish to qualify for additional entries


Additional Entries

Get the Life Made Delicious easy recipes newsletter in your inbox (top of the site)

Follow @LifeMadeDelish on twitter

Join Life Made Delicious on facebook

Follow me on facebook network blogs (lower left column)

Follow me (@ccmouse) on twitter

Post my blog button, let me know where to find it

Subscribe to my blog updates, leave the address you signed up with

Enter any other current giveaway @CMCM - one entry for each giveaway entered

Spread the word - blog/tweet/share on facebook this giveaway
*tweet daily for extra entry

This giveaway is open to Canada
This giveaway is open for entries from June 8 - July 7, 2011
Please ensure your email is visible
Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond
This blog bears no responsibility for the delivery of this prize
Please be aware that you can enter on multiple blogs, but, only win once

Disclosure: I am part of the Life Made Delicious Blogger program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own

Letting the sun shine in {#LMDconnector}

In the May issue of the Life Made Delicious email, which dropped into your inbox earlier this month, you would of found it to be chocked full of bright and sunny easy recipes! The email contained ten exciting recipes to brighten up your day. Let me share that May contained a lot of dull and rainy days here in Ontario - I heard on the news last week that we lost 57 hours of sunlight in May 2011. Finding some exciting bright recipes is exactly what we are in need of right about now.

Reading through the newsletter I felt inspired to brighten up my dinner plate with some wonderful food colour. I used to love stuffed peppers, yet, I haven't had or made them in years. One of the recipes is for Grilled Black Bean and Rice Stuffed Peppers. I always made mine with green peppers, yet, if you go ahead and mix it up with different coloured peppers your plate is already popping!

While I am waiting for Ontario peppers to come into my farmer's market, I thought I would have a little fun with one of my favourite desserts - angel food cake. I always have a Betty Crocker mix in my cupboard for quick, easy and delicious desserts. (It is very important to have an angel food mix in the cupboard with local berry season coming soon.) I noticed Rainbow Angel Cake in the newsletter and I was impressed. Using my neon food colouring and my kitchen helpers (Jillian and Matthew) we set out to make a Rainbow Angel Cake.


I think it turned out fantastic and it was so easy. We didn't top it with any icing or glaze, because my hubby isn't a real fan of icing, but he is a fan of angel food cake! I didn't want to exclude him from enjoying our Rainbow Angel Cake, by putting any on. This dessert would be a sure crowd pleaser at a neighbourhood barbeque or potluck.

Be sure to be on the email list from Life Made Delicious to receive easy recipes to your inbox once a month, just like these! Remember, I am a Life Made Delicious connector and I am passionate about sharing all the goodness you will find at the site. Trying a few of these vibrant recipes will for sure let the sun shine in and brighten your day!








Disclosure: I am part of the Life Made Delicious Blogger program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Meet the Life Made Delicious Bloggers.... (#LMDconnector)

As a Life Made Delicious connector I have the privilege of sharing exciting happenings at General Mills, Life Made Delicious website. I find myself checking in at the website several times a week - to find easy recipes for meal time, special offers, and now exclusive bloggers writing specifically for the site!

Always excited to find new recipe ideas, as well as meet fellow Canadian moms and bloggers, I was eager to head over to Life Made Delicious Blogs and get to know the bloggers!

Meet Kim, Amanda, Deanna, Jennifer, and Angella - these are real ladies living life to the best of their ability, and sharing their tried and true recipes with the Life Made Delicious community. Right away I found a couple of recipes I really would like to try and introduce to my family. One was a delicious looking Brie and Asparagus Tart. I know that local asparagus will be coming soon, and when it does we always get our fill. This year, I am going to be sure to try this recipe - it looks fabulous, and I can almost taste it by looking at the photo.


You can even follow the bloggers back to their personal sites (which I did) to find out more about them and their blogging style. I am really excited to welcome the bloggers to the site and look forward to hearing more from them!





Disclosure: I am part of the Life Made Delicious Blogger program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own

Chocolate and Cheerios fans unite!!

Chocolate Cheerios are coming to a store shelf near you on June 3!

As with all Cheerios products it all begins with whole grain
New Chocolate Cheerios are naturally flavoured with real cocoa

Chocolate Cheerios are a source of fiber and low in fat

I've had the pleasure of previewing these delicious little o's before hitting store shelves. I've never been a fan of serving chocolate breakfast cereals, but oh my! These are so tasty and addicting, I will definitely be buying more of these when they become available. The chocolate flavour isn't overpowering or sickly sweet. I would say that General Mills has hit this one on the head and achieved great things!

I have always taught my children that it is mean to tease, and I don't want you to think I am taunting you with my rave of Chocolate Cheerios. I am excited to let my readers know that they need to bookmark May 1... this coming Sunday! On Sunday visit WebSaver.ca and you can get a coupon to entitle you to a FREE box of Chocolate Cheerios to redeem on June 21. I love the excitement that is building, and I just know you will enjoy redeeming your coupon for your box of Chocolate Cheerios.

I just hope that local stores are well stocked and ready for the masses on June 21 as chocolate and cheerios fans unite!

Disclosure: I am part of the Life Made Delicious Blogger program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Let Them Eat Cake!

Are you a Royal Watcher? If you are, you will be in high gear right about now getting ready for the big Royal Wedding coming up at the end of the month. What are your plans to celebrate the big event?

For me, it is all about the cake!

Like any milestone event, my focal point is on cake. Just last week, I received an email update from Life Made Delicious and it highlighted some lovely looking wedding cakes that can be easily made at home!



Since I have a sweet spot for delicious cakes, I love that you (and me) can make one of these professional looking cakes right at home. Simply by following step by step instructions at Life Made Delicious, these cakes are easy recipes.

Take a look at the Heavenly Strawberry Cake, which begins with an easy to bake Betty Crocker white cake mix. These beautiful cakes are fit for a prince or princess, or a spring bride and groom this wedding season.

I am pretty sure getting up to watch the royal wedding in the wee hours of the morning is not the right thing for my body. My children don't really understand that Mommy needs to sleep in (because I was up in the night watching tv), but I will be sure to celebrate the royal nuptials my own way. Definitely with a specially made cake!




Disclosure: I am part of the Life Made Delicious Blogger program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

What's for Breakfast?

The key to a good morning is organization. In the evenings one of the last things I do before calling it quits for the night is set out the kids clothing for the next day, as well as, having the backpacks ready to go at the door.

Confession time - I am not a well-balanced breakfast eater, I never have been. Often times a cup (or two) of coffee is the extent of my breakfast. Yet, with kids heading out the door for school I really want them to have a filling and nutritious breakfast to start their day of learning. We have all heard how important breakfast is, and the time has come for this mom to find some easy recipes to help start the day in a positive way.

For inspiration I turn once again, to General Mills Canada ~ Life Made Delicious, but, this time I am searching for breakfast recipes.

Now, here is something I would enjoy! My kids love fresh berries, and yogurt, so why not put them together to make a delicious breakfast treat?

Nature Valley Yogurt Breakfast Parfait

Yet, there is nothing wrong with sticking to the familiar. Cereal for breakfast is tried and true, and not to be overlooked. I love stocking up on our favourite cereals when they come on sale, and a coupon makes the deal even sweeter. Find a coupon for everyone's favourite - Cheerios at Life Made Delicious!

Life Made Delicious even has some great tips to help get out the door on time. I love the idea of setting out the cereal boxes and bowls before going to bed. It just takes mere seconds to do this in the evening, yet, in the morning it will save a lot of confusion.

This spring, I am going to get it in gear and do my best to enjoy breakfast each and every day with my children. I think we will all benefit from it!






Disclosure: I am part of the Life Made Delicious Connector program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own

What's for Dinner Tonight?

I admit it! My repertoire of dinner ideas can become mundane and boring, and sometimes I see my family forcing the food into their mouths. When I heard I could participate as a connector at Life Made Delicious, I was excited at the possibilities!

If you haven't previously checked out Life Made Delicious, you are missing out on a great Canadian resource! One of my favourite aspects is the recipe section, which is full of recipes for kids. I have been having a great time checking out new and easy recipes, ones I can make with ingredients I have on hand.

Tuesdays in my home are the busiest night of the week. My oldest daughter goes to a three hour choir practice, which starts at 5:30, so I always find supper to be very rushed, there has even been nights Emily doesn't get to eat until after she gets back home after 8:30. (which I really don't like)

Yesterday, I went to my freezer and found I had lots of ground beef, so I searched for a recipe using ground beef and I came up with Big Batch Cheeseburger Bake. This recipe uses one of my all time favourite products - Bisquick, so I knew I would like it. But, the question was would the kids?

The recipe calls for mixed veggies, which we generally don't have. But, we always have frozen corn and peas, so I opted to make a mix of peas and corn.


I began by browning the ground beef and then started to add the other ingredients, which besides the frozen veggies, was milk and a can of soup.


While waiting for the mixture to heat through, I prepared my bisquick batter, and shredded my cheese. Then I simply assembled. The bisquick went on as a base on a large jelly roll pan. Then, the meat/veggie mixture, and finally I topped with shredded cheese.

Preparation time was about 20 minutes and cooking time was 35, plus a few extra minutes under the broiler to brown it up.


I cut it up with my pizza cutter and it lifted perfectly with a spatula. I served it with a mixed salad and supper was on the table. At first the kids turned up their noses, but, I always insist they must have a least one mouthful. Next thing I knew things fell silent and plates were emptied. My oldest daughter even asked for some in her lunch for school the next day.

Big Batch Cheeseburger Bake = WIN!

Now, what's for breakfast tomorrow morning?





Disclosure: I am part of the Life Made Delicious Connector program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own