Summer Dessert Recipe: Strawberry Lemonade Pie and a No Kid Hungry Campaign

Summer Dessert Recipe: Strawberry Lemonade Pie and a No Kid Hungry Campaign

April 17, 2013 by · 6 Comments

This Summer Dessert Recipe and No Kid Hungry post is sponsored by ACH Foods and Mom Central Consulting but all opinions expressed are my own. 

I have a serious weakness for sweets and almost every dinner is followed by some sort of dessert.  My mom always used to say that ice cream made the perfect dessert because no matter how full you were, it just melted to fill in all the cracks.  There is no such thing as being too full for dessert in my house!  I try to tailor the desserts I make to what is on sale or in the pantry whenever I can.  Right now, strawberries are in season in Florida and here in Georgia I am finding them at a really great price in the grocery store.  This strawberry lemonade pie makes a great summer dessert recipe.  It really called out to me because it uses a seasonal ingredients but also because the combination of sweet and tart flavors sounded really appealing.

summer dessert recipe

Easy Summer Dessert Recipe

With spring in full force, many schools and clubs are starting to look towards bake sales to help raise money for their expenses.  If you have ever helped organize a bake sale, I’m sure you realize how appealing the sound of a home baked dessert is to a lot of people.  Do you have a signature item you always bring for a bake sale? Fleischmann’s Yeast and Karo Syrup are two trusted products that have helped people create beautiful homemade breads and delicious desserts for more than 100 years and right now they are sponsoring the Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign. What can you do to help?  To help Fleischmann’s Yeast and Karo Syrup donate $200,000 to the No Kid Hungry campaign you can create a “Virtual Bake Sale” on the Fleischmann’s Yeast and Karo Facebook pages. To participate you must “like” Fleischmann’s Yeast’s Facebook Page.virtual bake sale

What is a virtual bake sale?  It is a very simple concept and no oven is needed!  Just select your favorite mouth-watering virtual bake sale recipes from their online list … then send them to your friends to “like.”  A Free, easy, and fun way to raise awareness of a good cause!  By creating a virtual bake sale and sharing with your friends between now and May 12th, you could win a weekly prize pack or our grand prize – a KitchenAid® mixer! I bet a KitchenAid mixer would come in handy the next time you make your favorite summer dessert recipe!

no kid hungry

Whether you are creating a baked good for a bake sale or just making a new summer dessert recipe for your family to enjoy, Karo and Fleischmann’s yeast are both trusted brands that have been around for a long time.  Karo syrup is the only leading national brand of corn syrup that contains 0 grams of high fructose corn syrup.  I hope you enjoy the strawberry lemonade pie recipe and would love for you to head over to the Fleischmann’s Yeast’s Facebook Page to help raise money and awareness for their No Kid Hungry campaign!

 

This Strawberry Lemonade pie recipe was incredibly easy to make and it was a big hit with my family! 

strawberry lemonade pie summer dessert recipe

Strawberry Lemonade Pie

5.0 from 2 reviews

Strawberry Lemonade Pie
 
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Recipe type: dessert
Serves: 6 to 8

Ingredients
  • 1 (9-inch) unbaked pie crust
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 4 eggs
  • ½ cup Karo® Light Corn Syrup
  • ⅓ cup lemon juice
  • ¼ teaspoon Spice Islands® 100% Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 2 tablespoons Karo® Light Corn Syrup
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon freshly shredded lemon peel
  • 3 cups thinly sliced strawberries
  • Sweetened whipped cream and thinly sliced lemon, optional

Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
  2. Fit pie crust into a 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom and trim the edge OR a 9-inch pie pan and flute the edge. Line the crust with a double sheet of foil. Bake 10 minutes. Remove foil and cool slightly.
  3. Stir together sugar and flour in a medium bowl. Add eggs, ½ cup corn syrup, ⅓ cup lemon juice and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Pour into partially baked pie shell.
  4. Bake about 30 minutes until top of filling is golden brown. Cool. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
  5. Combine remaining 2 tablespoons corn syrup, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and lemon peel. Cover and set aside. Just before serving arrange sliced berries on top of baked filling and drizzle with lemon mixture. Top each serving with whipped cream and a lemon slice, if desired.
  6. *If using tart pan remove rim from pan before serving.

 Disclaimer: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for ACH Food Companies Inc. I received a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.

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Super Bowl Snacks: Spicy Sausage, Herb, and Cheese Snack Bread with Fleischmann’s Yeast

Super Bowl Snacks: Spicy Sausage, Herb, and Cheese Snack Bread with Fleischmann’s Yeast

January 31, 2013 by · Leave a Comment

The Super Bowl is coming up fast and to be honest, I don’t care all that much about what teams are playing!  WHAT?  Yes, it is true, I am not a huge football fan.  I AM, however, a huge fan of Super Bowl snacks!  To me, Super Bowl parties are all about the food, the commercials and spending time with friends.  I love to serve finger foods, snacks, appetizers and nibbles during the big game that are full of flavor.  Bold and spicy foods are a huge hit with my family so I usually add a bit of heat to just about all of our recipes.  I don’t really like buying a lot of premade foods because I am never really sure what sort of stuff manufacturers put in them.  If you are considering what type of Super Bowl snacks to serve your guests, I really recommend you whip out a cookbook and get creative in the kitchen rather than buying stuff premade.

While I am pretty capable in the kitchen, one thing I have always had trouble with was breads.  I can do quick breads and muffins but if something calls for yeast and rising I start to panic!  I was recently given the opportunity to try out  Fleischmann’s RapidRise Yeast and while I was a little bit nervous, I forged on ahead determined to create this bread recipe.  I chose this particular recipe because it looked very hearty and filling.  I have a husband and teenager who probably eat more than most football players so I need something that will fill them up!  It also look relatively easy and not horribly intimidating, which is a big plus!   Fleischmann’s yeast is known for it’s quality and reliability and for giving at-home bakers confidence in their from-scratch recipes.  They have some great info on the Fleischmann’s Yeast’s baking website if you are just as nervous as I am about making home made bread!

While the original recipe used bacon, I decided to try it out with spicy sausage to give it a little bit more of a kick.  I also sprinkled some dried jalapenos on top from our garden….my family does love a little bit of heat in their food!  Served with a zesty marinara sauce, these were  delicious  and would make  great Super Bowl snacks!

 

Super Bowl Snacks

Adapted from Bread World

super bowl snacks

 Spicy Sausage, Herb, and Cheese Snack Bread

Spicy Sausage, Herb, and Cheese Snack Bread
 
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Recipe type: bread
Serves: 16

Ingredients
  • 4-1/2 cups King Arthur® Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
  • 2 envelopes Fleischmann’s® RapidRise Yeast
  • 2 teaspoons Spice Islands® Italian Herb Seasoning (I also added dried jalapenos for an extra kick!)
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1-1/4 cups water
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 8 ounces (2 cups) shredded cheese blend (cheddar jack, cheddar mozzarella, etc…), divided
  • 10 slices cooked bacon, coarsely chopped (I used 1½ cup cooked crumbled sausage)

Instructions
  1. Combine 1-1/2 cups flour, undissolved yeast, Italian herb seasoning, salt and garlic in a large mixer bowl. Heat water and oil until very warm (120° to 130°F); gradually add to flour mixture. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. Add eggs and 1 cup flour; beat 2 minutes at high speed. Stir in 1 cup cheese and remaining flour to make a stiff batter. Spread batter on greased 15 x 10-inch jelly roll pan or rimmed baking sheet with at least 1-inch sides. Sprinkle with remaining cheese; top with bacon. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until puffy, about 30 minutes.
  2. Bake at 375ºF for 25 to 30 minutes or until done. Cover loosely with foil during last 5 to 10 minutes of baking if cheese begins to overbrown. Remove from pan; cool on wire rack. Serve as strips or squares, or slice and use for sandwiches.
  3. Topping Variation:
  4. Replace bacon with 1-1/2 ounces thinly sliced salami.

Enter the Big Game promotion for Fleischmann’s Pizza Crust yeast! It will take place from 1/21 – 2/3 (the two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl). The promotion asks fans to submit their favorite pizza topping for the chance to win free product.  If fans also submit their favorite “Big Game” pizza recipe, they will be entered to win a grand prize including a pizza stone, pizza cutter, and other great prizes.

Enter HERE

super bowl contest

Disclaimer: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for ACH. I received a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.

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Darden Restaurants Gift Cards can Help You Make Memories at Mealtime!

Darden Restaurants Gift Cards can Help You Make Memories at Mealtime!

December 21, 2012 by · 1 Comment

Sitting down for dinner together as a family is one of those things I insist on, even when we have a hectic schedule.  Some days that means we eat dinner at 4:30 and other days we may not eat til 7  but we do our best to eat together.  My children and husband know by now that there are no televisions, books, electronics or phone calls allowed during dinner.  We talk about our day at school or work and take time to reconnect.  Yes, there are days when the children argue with each other or a neighbor knocks on the door right when we sit down to eat but I try not to let our chaotic lives interfere with dinner.  Holidays are one of my favorite times for family meals because we get to have company over and there is actually an excuse for me to cook way too much food!  On Thanksgiving we have my husband’s college roommate visit and ‘Uncle Mark’ is one of my kids favorite people of all time.  They love how much fun he is to have around and how much he laughs.  Eating with friends makes mealtime about so much more than food!  Darden Restaurants like Red Lobster, Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse are great choices for fun, relaxed, family meals when you don’t have the time or energy to cook yourself.

Darden Restaurants Gift Cards

I have always tried to teach my children what I consider the proper way to eat…I want them to understand meal time etiquette when we visit a restaurant.  If there are 2 forks, they know to start with the outside one for their salad.  They do not put elbows on tables or slurp soup.  Okay, they don’t do it OFTEN…I am still trying!  One year, Uncle Mark came down for Thanksgiving and enjoyed a wonderful meal of Turkey and all the fixin’s.  After finishing his mashed potatoes and gravy he used his roll to get up the very last bits of gravy….and my children were in awe that anyone was smart enough to come up with such a solution!  They were little at the time but still talk about that Thanksgiving dinner with amusement now that they are teens. I just hope they don’t decide to try that at a restaurant one day!

Darden Restaurants Gift Cards

Darden Restaurants: Olive Garden

 

Family meals are special, whether you cook a big meal from scratch at home, do a pot luck with friends or head to a nearby restaurant.  During the holidays, giving friends and family a gift card to their favorite restaurant makes gift giving easy and encourages families to spend meal time together…even if it is at a restaurant and not in the kitchen.  My family loves Olive Garden because of their delicious salad and bread sticks.  I can always guarantee that the kids will find something they enjoy from their selection of pastas!   It is important to make time to get together for family meals during the holiday season and restaurant meals are nice since there is not cleanup involved!  I must admit, cleaning up after a big family gathering is NOT fun!  

Darden Gift Card

If you are considering what to get your friends and family for Christmas still, think about getting them a gift card to the Darden family of restaurants.  There are a number of different restaurants in the Darden family but for a limited time this holiday season, customers can receive a $5 bonus coupon for every $25 gift card purchased at Olive Garden, Red Lobster or LongHorn Steakhouse restaurants.

Click HERE to visit the Darden Gift Card Marketplace!

Disclaimer: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Darden. I received a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.

Filed Under: Family Life, mom central ·
Help Your Kids Learn the Value of Giving this Christmas

Help Your Kids Learn the Value of Giving this Christmas

December 20, 2012 by · 3 Comments

The Boys and Girls Club of America is a blessing to many families during the year, but especially during the holidays.  There are so many families that struggle with finances and emotional support during the holidays and BGCA does it’s part to help those in need.  They offer education and career programs, leadership training, art programs, sports and many other activities to help strengthen and support children who are struggling. We do a lot of giving during the holidays….presents to children, cookies to the neighbors and even our spare change to the bell ringers in front of the grocery store.  Do your children know what it means to GIVE?  I was thrilled to see the Boys & Girls Clubs of America giving back in my own neck of the woods!  Employees kicked off this holiday season by helping Club families in the Atlanta area through their annual Adopt-a-Family Campaign. BGCA employees donated more than $1,200 to help five Club families in need.  I live in a city that has a very big discrepancy between the haves and the have nots so I was really pleased to see what the BGCA is doing here in Atlanta.

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA LOGO

 

Every year when open enrollment rolls around my husband and I choose several charities to donate to through his employer’s payroll deduction program.  That makes me feel good that we are helping charitable organizations but this isn’t something my children can see or participate in.  If I want them to learn that giving should be a part of their life every day, they need something a little bit more hands on than a payroll deduction.  There are a lot of ways to teach your child the importance of giving and helping others but the best way is to let them see YOU being a good role model.  Here are a few suggestions from the BGCA to help your child learn the importance of giving this holiday season.  You can check out their website to find out how to give your kids the gift of giving this holiday.

1.  Talk about the issues that are important to you:  Let your children know what issues you feel are important to support.  Do you want to save the whales or protect the rainforest?  Are you moved by children who don’t have enough to eat.  This helps teach your children about compassion and concern for the world around them.

2.  Read books together:  Young children may be able to understand the message better if it is in storybook form.  Find one that has lots of colorful pictures for very young children.

3.  Volunteer together:  This is one of the most important ways to teach your child about giving back.  Let them help others in whatever way they can.  Even small children can present a homemade card to nursing home residents or carry a tray of cookies to the nurses at a local children’s hospital.

4.  Let them have fun while making a difference:  Kids love to bake cookies and do art projects so turn those activities into a service project!  One year my son’s Boy Scout Troup brought a Christmas tree to a fire station and decorated it with homemade ornaments.  There are a lot of ways to get kids to participate in charitable projects that can be lots of fun!

5.  Make philanthropy a family value.  The holidays are a natural fit for giving, but causes can use your support in other seasons, too. Look for opportunities throughout the year to reinforce the idea that helping others is important. Boys & Girls Club teens who are passionate about community service said it was critical to hear this message repeatedly from the adults in their lives

This year marks the 2nd annual Boys and Girls Club of America’s Give the Gift of a Great Future Holiday Campaign. The Boys & Girls Clubs of America is teaching kids that  giving back is extremely important. This holiday season, try some of their tips that I listed above to help your kids learn the value of giving, too.   How can you and your child get involved with giving this holiday?   Why not play the BGCA free Giving Game to easily donate a gift to a Club this season.  You can also head over and vote in the Kids Give Back photo contest.

As parents, we want to give our kids everything, especially during the holidays. But does the true meaning of the season get lost in all of the chaos? 

Check out the BGCA website and learn how you can give your child the gift of giving.

Disclaimer: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Boys and Girls Clubs of America. I received a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.

 

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eBay: Ecofriendly gift giving for everyone on your shopping list!

eBay: Ecofriendly gift giving for everyone on your shopping list!

November 26, 2012 by · 6 Comments

Well, I cannot procrastinate any longer…Christmas is almost here and I need to start buying gifts for all the people on my gift list.  It is always hard to find that perfect gift for everyone.  I get tired of buying gift cards and the same mass produced items that you see in all of the big box stores.  Sometimes, I want something unique…something that says ‘I was thinking of YOU’ when the recipient opens the present.  eBay is a great place to do your holiday shopping when you are looking to find unique gifts and don’t want to run around from store to store searching for them.  Did you know you can also buy NEW items on eBay and not just secondhand items?  I have spent some time browsing through eBay while doing my online shopping and they have a great selection of eco-friendly items for my family and friends this holiday. If you are trying to encourage your family and friends to live greener or love to buy eco-friendly gifts during the holidays, eBay is a great resource!

eBay Logo

 

During my eBay browsing, I came across a ton of NEW products that would make great gift ideas for my family.  And *I* like them because they are greener than a lot of other items on the market today.   Here are a few gift ideas that may fit your own friends and family.

Eco Friendly Gifts On eBay

1.  Mom:  CONCORD Eco Friendly Healthy Ceramic 3 PC Nonstick Fry Pan Skillet Cookware Set

2: Dad: Weber 12 inch Bamboo Grill Brush

3. Sister: NEW LILY BLOOM FLOWERS  eReader case made from recycled water bottles

4. Grandmother:  Eccolo Eco-Friendly Bamboo Photo Frames

5. Husband:  Eco-friendly men’s shoes

6. Son:  Water Powered Clock

7. Daughter:  Sprout Watch

8. Nephews:  Reclaimed Wood Toy Blocks

9. Niece:  Disney-Solar Power X-MAS TinkerBell Figurine

10. Teachers:  ORGANIC Aromatherapy Beeswax Candle

 

Shopping green on eBay is really pretty easy.  You could buy second hand items for a smaller carbon footprint but also just searching for key terms like organic, natural, bamboo, eco-friendly, etc is an easy way to shop.  Just by shopping online and not driving store to store is saving on gasoline usage which is a big consideration when trying to go green.

When shopping on eBay, make sure you keep an eye on the seller feedback rating to ensure a hassle free eBay experience.  If you have questions about a particular product, make sure you ask the seller before purchasing.  Otherwise, you might be disappointed when your purchase arrives and it isn’t what you thought it would be.  If you would like to help others in their own decision making process, leave some seller feedback once your transaction is complete.

If you are interested in saving time and money, you should really consider shopping on eBay this holiday season. Check out the eBay gift guide for some great gift ideas if you need a little bit of inspiration.  You can also download the eBay mobile app and shop while you are waiting in the carpool lane at school or watching your son’s soccer practice!

 

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of eBay. I received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

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