Fillable Pan = Ding Dong Cake!

I'm not a big fan of prepared "snack cakes" really, but I LOVE a good Ding Dong on occasion.  So, when I was asked by Taste of  Home to do a Volunteer Field Editor's review of the Baker's Advantage Fillables 2-Piece Non-Stick Round Cake Pan, I knew exactly what I was going to make first...a Ding Dong cake!

 

The directions were easy to follow and the pan worked better than I expected.  Although it was a little tricky to clean (because of the indents) the first time, I learned to soak it a few minutes and then cleanup was easy, breezy.

 

I made a chocolate cake, filled it with whipped vanilla frosting, and then topped it with a chocolate ganache.  Voila...a Ding Dong cake!

The fam loved it!






 Everyone should own a pan like this...Click HERE to get a pan of your own - there are different shapes to choose from, too.  The possibilities are almost endless.  You could fill the cake with M&Ms, jams, & etc.  You can even use the bottom, non-indented pan to make tarts.  How fun is that! 

Eat, pray, love,

Brigette

Simple & Delicious Cookbook Binder...meets Thursday night!

It's been a super busy week...work has been jammed packed with meetings, an employee resigning, demanding clients, & the list goes on & on.  The Littles have had a busy schedule as well with our caseworker's monthly home visit (we have 2 foster daughters), Little #2 turning 3, newly turned 3 year old's well-being checkup, etc.  And, the hubs starts his new position on Friday.

So there I sat on Thursday night with no dinner plans...to the Taste of Home Simple & Delicious Cookbook Binder I go!

I pull out the list of possibilities I made when I first got the cookbook and immediately find the one...Quick Chicken & Wild Rice Soup...the word "Quick" sealed the deal.  And a bonus...I can do it in my Tupperware microwave pressure cooker (this bad boy is a whole other post...if you've never heard of it, go check it out...it's worth every single dime) - making Quick even Quicker. The recipe calls for a stove top prep., but I've learned soups do fabulous in the pressure cooker so I know it will be fine. Not to mention, the chicken can be frozen and still come out cooked perfectly after only 30 mins...which mine was, because of lack of planning...again.

So everybody went into the pool (even the rice - uncooked), the lid went on, and 30 mins. later...fabulous, yummy Quick Chicken & Wild Rice Soup!  It was definitely simple & very delicious.  The flavors all melded together and became a lightly creamy and rich tasting soup.  Very satisfying and filling.  This one will for sure be added to my, What the heck's for dinner tonight? list. It is a 5-star winner in my book!  (The only adjustment I made was adding corn.  We're a love some corn in our chicken soup kind of family.)

Just another reason - or should I say, another recipe - as to why everyone needs this new cookbook.

Until next time...

Eat, pray, love,

Brigette

PS:  Links to buy this amazing cookbook...Simple & Delicious Cookbook Binder...can be found in the previous post.

Simple & Delicous Cookbook Binder...OMGoodness!

I'm back...and hopefully back for good...it's been a lonnnng time, but I was given a great opportunity from Taste of Home and had to get back in the saddle again...so, here goes..blog on...

It all started a couple of weeks ago when  I received this amazing new cookbook from Taste of Home (TOH) in the mail.  It's called Simple & Delicious Cookbook, and it's a binder chucked full (1,314 recipes full!) of yummy and easy recipes.  My first thought was...oops...I must ordered it and totally forgot.  Then, upon checking Facebook, I found out that I had received a message from the Volunteer Food Editor's (VFE) illustrious mentor & leader, Susan, informing me that I had been chosen to review said cookbook.  My next thought was...Score!

Once I got the Littles to bed that night, I began perusing the cookbook making a list of possible recipes to try and review.  I only made it half way through the book and already had chosen 2 pages of options.  Boy is my family going to eat good this next month.  :)

Not only are there a ton of fabulous recipes, the binder is organized by categories with a summary of recipe names and pics on the back of each tabbed title page.  How easy is that?!  You decide what type of recipe you'd like to make, go to that category and choose away.  Not only have they packed this awesome cookbook with tons of recipes, they have included several pictures of the completed recipes.  Buyer beware...you will drool on this cookbook...however, the pages clean up nicely...smart move TOH, smart move!

But wait...there's more...not only do you get 1,314 recipes with the purchase of this fabtabulous cookbook, you also get a card in the front the of the book that once completed and returned to TOH you get a FULL year's subscription to Taste of Home magazine.  You heard me right...a FULL year of TOH...why would you not get this cookbook?!  I know, MIND.BLOWN.

For the next couple of weeks I will be posting reviews of my top recipe picks.  For my first review I chose to make the Avocado Bean Dip from page 47.  How could you go wrong with a hummus-guacamole-ish dip, right?  And it did not disappoint.

It was fast, easy and tastes amazing.  This will definitely be a go-to dip for parties, get togethers and just plain old Wednesdays. And as a bonus...it's actually pretty good for you.  Beans, avocado, lime, spices...eat it with tortilla chips or fresh veggies and you have a great snack packed full of healthy fats and lots of protein. The kids (& the hubs) won't even know it's good for them.

My first recipe will definitely be getting 5-stars from me and will become a part of my dip line-up for years to come.

 I know what you must be thinking by now..."How do I get my own copy of this amazing cookbook that I'm sure to not be able to live without AND my FULL year of TOH magazine?"

It's simple...follow one of these links...You're welcome!  ;)

 Simple & Delicious Cookbook Binder - tasteofhome.com

OR

Simple & Delicious Cookbook Binder - amazon.com

Well, that's about it for this post.  I'll be back soon with another incredible recipe to share.  Have a great day!

Eat, pray, love,

Brigette

Taste of Home...Field Editor!

I'm a happy camper...I found out that I have been selected to remain a Field Editor for Taste of Home magazine.  At the beginning of the year, they decided to wipe the slate clean and put all of us (1000+ the USA, Canada & Europe) at point zero and have us all re-apply for the position.

They included more strict guidelines and made it a little more challenging this time around.  They also cut the number allowed in 1/2, so they would now have around 500 total.  Well...I'm very happy to say I made the cut, and I so look forward to representing in my new and expanded capacity! Ok, enough tooting my own horn. ;)

Eat, pray, love,

Brigette

Taste of Home Card Swap!

Hi from chickluvs2cook!

(Not my cookies - but I loved the pic.)

I have so enjoyed getting all of your Christmas cards these past few days...the recipes are awesome, too! I can hardly wait to start trying out some of them.  This is my third year to participate in this card swap, and I have been waiting anxiously for it to start.

If you have found your way here you have probably received my Christmas postcard. I send postcards because I think they are fun and an easy way to mail Christmas wishes to a lot of people (they also can be saved and used as a recipe card.).  All I have to do then is direct the receiver to my blog and they can get all of my info here. So, here goes...

I live in Yorkville, IL, which is a suburb of Chicago and in what they consider the Fox Valley area. I am married to an incredible man named Mike and we have a 2.5 years old puppy named Kiki that we adopted from a shelter. We don't have kids of our own, but love spending time with our nieces and nephews. They range in age from 6 yrs. old to 24 yrs. old ~ 5 boys and 2 girls. We travel a lot to see them b/c they live in IL, IN and AR (at least the younger ones - the older ones actually come to us).

I am the General Manager of an environmental consulting firm located in Geneva, IL and enjoy my job (most of the time). But I really love my "part-time" jobs...selling lia sophia jewelry (www.liasophia.com/brigette) and Wildtree products (www.mywildtree/brigette)! I have so much fun meeting new people, while helping them accessorize their busy lives and feed their families the Wildtree way...simple.healthy.natural.

As for hobbies, the main one is cooking...everything and anything about cooking. I collect cookbooks, watch the FoodNetwork every chance I get, and love to try and develop new recipes. I have even won a couple of local contests and  aspire to winning a big one one day. I have been cooking since I was little and would help my grandmother in the kitchen. She taught me so much in our 16 years together.  (If you like great community cookbooks, you need to check out the one I helped compile and publish for a local women's club that I am the President of here in Yorkville - www.yorkvillejwc.com).    =)


Something that my husband and I like to do together is cake decorating...and if you knew my husband, you'd be even more surprised - he is 6'3" and football player big, but can decorate a cake like you wouldn't believe.  We have taken the 3 main Wilton classes together and had a blast.  We even have a little side business for that, too (www.frosted-sweets-treats.com).  He was recently laid-off from his corporate job of 14 years and is going to be working for a new bakery that is opening up in our area as a baker/decorator a few hours a week until he finds gainful employment again (which will be hopefully soon and he'll only be able to work at the bakery on the weekends).

My other hobby (like I need one more thing to do) is photography. I take pictures of everything...I'm kind of the family historian shall we say. I find it so amazing to capture a moment in time and have it to look back on whenever I want to remember or relive the memory. 

Well, that is about it for me. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Eat, pray, love,

Brigette (TOH BB - chickluvs2cook)

Cookies Across America - Dec. 10th!

Cookies Across America

Making a difference through baking and sharing cookies.

Join Taste of Home on December 10 to "bake a difference." Cookie lovers unite! Whether it's baking and sharing cookies with the needy or donating cookie ingredients to a food bank, you can make a difference in your community this Christmas. Get Involved Host a Cookie Exchange Party More About Cookies Across America Gingerbread Boy Cookies As a Field Editor for Taste of Home, I will be participating on the 10th by baking cookies for the volunteers of Operation Santa that will be sorting toys for the children in need in Kendall Co., IL...I'd love to hear how all of you are also planning to participate. Eat, pray, love, Brigette