Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

Life Made Delicious

On Being a Spectator and Rediscovering Nature

By

It’s occurred to me that the older I get, the more content I am to simply be a spectator.

Don’t get me wrong: I never pictured myself as the soccer mom or camping enthusiast. Truth is, I’m kind of allergic to anything that isn’t labelled 4-star (it’s a real illness, I checked – it’s call “snobism”). However, I’ve noticed more and more, on the rare times we are outdoors as a family, I tend to hold back. I’d rather watch the action unfold than be part of it myself. And, having two energetic, boisterous boys… that means I’m often on the outside looking in.

This is not a post declaring that I’ve changed my ways.

Because I haven’t. Although we’ve had so much fun crossing items off our Rediscover Nature Summer Bucket List, I can’t say that I immersed myself in the activities much beyond being present for them. However, something did occur to me on #RediscoverNature Day; the realization that my boys HATE being a spectator. Being on the sidelines is a punishment; they always want to be part of the game, in the middle of the action. Whatever the activity, they need to be involved. And when it’s time for a time out, it’s not always pretty.

I captioned this photo, “He hates being a spectator.” It was taken during a hike in our local park on September 20th – #RediscoverNature Day.
DSC_1161When will it happen? When will they decide that they’d rather be tethered to their electronic devices than playing a game of freeze tag in the park? I’m not naive; I know the day will soon come. But it’s my duty to cultivate my boys’ love for the outdoors, and ensure they remain part of the action for as long as possible. Because statistically speaking, less than 10% of kids today are spending time in nature. …

Read More

Explore the Beauty of the Outdoors: Rediscover Nature Day

By

Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

This morning, I did something I swore I would never do: I checked the long-term forecast.

I know, I know – it’s not exactly a high crime to peek at the anticipated probability of precipitation. However, I’ve learned that I often schedule my life around the weather (“We can’t go to the park, it might rain!” or “I wish I could make it, but the humidity is too high next Tuesday”), so I’ve cautioned myself to ignore what the meteorologist is forecasting and simply GET OUTSIDE.

It’s been working for me. Earlier this summer, you’ll remember that I published a bucket list of family-oriented outdoor activities. Near the top of the list: a visit to Niagara Falls, as the boys are at an age where they can appreciate this wonder of the world, and I couldn’t think of a better connection to nature than feeling the cool mist of the falls on a hot summer day. We had so much fun, and can’t wait to return next year!
DSC_1171In fact, we crossed four other items off our Rediscover Nature Summer Bucket List, including picnicking by the lake, glamping in our backyard, riding our bikes in my childhood neighbourhood and spending a weekend in cottage country. We just missed fruit picking, but there’s always the opportunity to visit apple orchards in Fall! …

Read More

Takeout? Pfft. It’s Taco Night!

By

I get it, I really do.

Takeout is easy. It’s a quick and painless solution for a weeknight meal, when patience is low and hunger is high. And for the most part, dialing-a-dinner allows you to partake in a variety of cuisines – ones you may not normally have the know-how to cook at home.

Tick tock tick tock.

The thing is, dinnertime is inevitable. There’s just this informal social custom that you have to feed your family every night (rolls eyes). Also inevitable? Those nights when you know you *could* whip up something fantastic, but dammit, you just don’t want to. And the second your will starts to waver, you begin your path to the dark side… which often ends with, “Would you like fries with that?”

NOT TONIGHT.

Because with Old El Paso Restaurante, you can have fun, vibrant, restaurant-style tacos right in the comfort of your own home! This exciting new product is available in three delicious flavours –Baja Fish, Steak Carne Asada and Chicken Tinga (pictured below). Restaurante products are packed with authentic taste – the perfect way to fix your craving for Mexican cuisine.
Chicken TingaBut most importantly – the tacos are EASY to make! Honestly, in and out in under 30 minutes…. which is about as long as it takes for your delivery order to make it to your door. The Restaurante dinner kits, complete with soft tortillas, sauces and spices, take the guesswork out of dinner. All you need on hand is your desired protein and a few veggies… and OLÉ! A food fiesta like no other. …

Read More

A New Snack for the Lunch Box! #NVLunchbox

By

Every weekday morning, for the next nine months, during the hours of 7:00 – 8:00am… I will have only one purpose in life… to pack a healthy, delicious and peanut-free lunch box for both my boys.

Sounds simple enough? I suppose it is… except sometimes, peanut-free snack items let me down. Sure, I have my pick of cookies, bars, treats and more… but often, those snacks offer little more than a sugar rush and don’t always have a high nutritional value. Surely there has to be a better way to snack?

Introducing NEW Nature Valley Lunch Box bars. These peanut-free granola bars offer an amazing bundle of better-for-you benefits for the entire family. With 20% of your daily value of fibre, no artificial colours or flavours and 8g of whole grains, kids and adults alike will look forward to snacking on these scrumptious lunch box heroes!

NVLunchbox Graphic v2Join us at the #NVLunchbox Twitter Party where we’ll dish on the new Nature Valley Lunch Box bars and more.  To thank you for participating, you know we’ll have some fabulous prizes up for grabs! RSVP for a chance to win – and see you on Monday night! …

Read More

BBQ This: Grilled Picnic Taco Nachos

By

I’ve heard of a lot of non-traditional foods being grilled on an open flame, but nachos? 

Turns out, you can slap them down on the ol’ BBQ too.

I originally posted this recipe, courtesy of Life Made Delicious, last year – and have since made barbecued nachos a handful of times. However, remembering that the long weekend is around the corner, I decided to bump it up for Canada Day enjoyment. It’s a super-easy recipe for vegetarian nachos that go from grill to picnic table in just minutes. Simply assemble the ingredients in a foil pan, cover – and 10 minutes later, you’ve got munching perfection. A great way to keep the party outdoors, especially on those lazy summer evenings.

GRILLED PICNIC TACO NACHOS

5 cups tortilla chips
1 can black beans, drained
1 can Old El Paso Chopped Green Chilies, drained
2 tsp Old El Paso Taco Seasoning Mix (from 35 g package)
2 plum tomatoes, chopped
2 cups finely shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese

Heat gas or charcoal grill. Spray 12×18-inch foil pan with nonstick cooking spray. Spread tortilla chips in pan.

In medium bowl, mix beans, chiles and taco seasoning mix; spoon evenly over tortilla chips. Top with tomatoes and onions. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover pan with foil. Place foil pan on grill over medium heat. Cover grill; cook 8 to 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Carefully remove foil. Serves 4.

QUICK VARIATIONS

Make it HOT: Replace chopped green chilies with one fresh jalapeno, chopped fine with seeds removed.

Make it a MEAL: Brown ground beef or chicken in a skillet until fully cooked, drain fat, and add to nachos before sprinkling cheese.

Make it POP: Sprinkle sliced green onions on melted cheese just before serving.

Could it Be? The Homemade “Lena Burger”?

By

Alas, nope. I am SO sad right now. Satisfied, but sad.

Here’s the scoop: this past weekend, my husband joyfully announced that he had found a recipe online that claimed to be a dupe of Harvey’s hamburgers. Mmm… Harvey’s. Flavourful, juicy beef… charbroiled to perfection on an open-flame grill… yes, it’s a beautiful thing.

Gleefully, he sent me a link to the site – a Canadian food blog, holla! – Kalofagas.ca.

(In Greek, Kalofagas means “Gourmet”.)

Since the photo posted by Chef Peter Minakis (see right) immediately had us wanting to reach through the computer and take a bite, I happily conceded that this recipe was indeed a must-try. And since the good Lord had bestowed a sunny, beautiful day for my birthday last week, I decided to celebrate by passing the mealtime responsibilities to my resident grillmaster.

Of course, I did help with the prep-work; thanks to a very simple recipe incorporating easy-to-find, staple ingredients, the burgers were ready for the flame in about 5 minutes (though we did rest them for an hour in the fridge, as suggested). Visit Kalofagas.ca for the complete recipe and grilling instructions.

The verdict? While the final product was a tasty, über flavourful and incredibly moist burger, it just was not a homemade “Lena Burger”. Close… but no Harvey’s.

(That being said, the recipe is a keeper for us. It’s a guaranteed trip to flavourtown and the recipe can be followed by anyone. Try it; you’ll like it.)…

Read More

Post-Holiday Reality Check: Life Made Delicious

By

Okay, Easter is over.

And you ate chocolate.
And more chocolate.
More…. and more…. chocolate.

So now it’s time for a reality check: An all-chocolate diet does not a supermodel make. Looking for some inspiration to kick-start a healthier way of life? I’ve selected these recipes from Life Made Delicious, my favourite source for easy recipes:

Grilled Margarita Chicken and Fruit Salad
Chicken gets a lime juice and tequila-coated toss in this flavour-packed salad. Olé!

I love mixing salad greens and fruit, especially when I can sneak in some goat cheese or toasted, spicy pecans. Substitute baby spinach for lettuce and you’ve got a splendid, nutrient-packed meal!

Mediterranean Couscous Salad
Quick-cooking couscous lends to the 20-minute prep time of this Greek-style salad.

I will seriously eat anything Greek – especially salad. The mixture briny Kalamata olives, salt feta and fresh cucumber is always a winning combination in my books. Control the amount of fat by scaling back on the cheese.

Grilled Fajita Salad
No need to turn on the oven to enjoy this colourful and oh-so-delicious summertime salad.

Guaranteed to be filling – and delicious – I love Mexican-inspired flavours with beef. To add some creamy texture, consider thinly sliced avocado tossed in a simple olive oil and lime juice dressing.

Salsa Turkey Meatballs
Salsa and ground turkey makes this new twist on the traditional meatball both healthy and tasty.

Who says you have to stick to salad? Pair these meatballs with whole wheat pasta or brown rice, and you’re in flavourtown! A bonus: kids will have fun helping to prepare this dish.

For these recipes, and more delicious ways to eat right, visit Life Made Delicious.

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.

How Does Your Diet Stack Up? (% Daily Value)

By

Humour me for a moment.

Reach over and grab a food item – one that has the nutritional information printed on the package. Now tell me – what do you look at first?

The calories? Fat? Serving Size? Sugar?

What interests you most – or, by force of habit, what are you drawn to?

I’m a calories kind of girl – I’m always trying to keep snacks below 200 calories, and meals under 400 calories. Everything else usually sorts itself out; if the fat is too high for my liking, I’ll cut the portion size down by 30%; if the sugar is up there, I’ll skip my after-dinner square of chocolate; and, if the carbs are astronomical, I’ll simply put the food back and choose something else.

But riddle me this: how many of y’all actually pay attention to the % Daily Value of a food? They’re the figures on the far right, always displayed as a percentage. Are you familiar with how to interpret these numbers?

Essentially, the % Daily Value is a quick and easy way for you to know if a packaged food contains a little or a lot of a nutrient. As a rule of thumb, remember the following numbers:

This applies to all nutrients. Hence, if there’s less than 5% – you can pretty much surmise that you’re getting nothing (which I suppose is a good thing when it comes to saturated or trans-fats). And over 15%? Yup, that’s a whole lotta good stuff – especially fibre, iron or calcium, three ingredients that Canadians never seem to get enough of.

Bonus: You can use the % DV to compare two different food products and make a better choice for you; plus, the Daily Values used in nutrition labelling are not developed for any specific gender and age category. For example, an active man will not have the same daily nutrition needs as a six year old girl. However, both of them can still use the % DV to see if a food product has a little or a lot of the nutrients that are important to them.

Curious to find out more? Visit www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/dailyvalue.

So, how do some of your favourite foods stand up to the % Daily Value? I’m extremely happy to report that my beloved Cheerios give me 45% of my daily iron, 50% of folic acid and 0% saturated fat. Holla!

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.

Life Made Delicious: Saved By the Dip

By

While I’m normally down for a good ol’ Oscar fest, this past weekend I was under the weather and overly cranky. In fact, given the option of just lying in bed all day with the shades drawn, I would have gladly secluded myself in my bedroom sanctuary. Alas, kids. And laundry. And life. And so, it was just Brad, Angelina, her right leg and me – among others – on Sunday night.

Halfway through the red carpet, my husband suggested that we put together a little Oscar appetizer to munch on throughout the 2-hour fashion parade and 3.5 hour awards ceremony. (Now that I think of it, that’s a LOT of television!) Thank goodness I’ve always got the ingredients for my favourite 7-layer Mexican Dip on hand. I’ve served the dip at almost every party I’ve thrown over the last 10 years, and why not? It’s easy to make, delicious, and there are never leftovers to worry about. NEVER.

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
1 cup chili sauce
2 cups salsa
1 green bell pepper, finely diced
1 bunch chopped green onions
1 (6 ounce) can sliced black olives, drained
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Grab a 13×9 inch glass dish. Mix the cream cheese and sour cream together until smooth, and spread a layer at the bottom of the dish (1). Follow up with a thin layer of chili sauce on top – I prefer “A Taste of Thai Chili Sauce” (2). Next, spread on the salsa (3), green peppers (4), green onions (5) and black olives (6). Finish by sprinkling the cheddar cheese on top (7). The dip should be refrigerated for about 30 minutes before serving. It serves about 8-10… or 6 ravenous party guests. Oh, and serve with tortilla chips, of course.

I found a similar recipe for Tex-Mex Layered Dip from Life Made Delicious, and while I would have tried it on Sunday, I didn’t have Old El Paso Refried Beans or guacamole on hand. Next time! And, if you’re looking for more party food ideas, do check out the site –  I’ve saved some pretty yummy-looking appetizers that I’d love to try!

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.

Last Minute V-Day Treats from Life Made Delicious

By

I don’t have a romantic bone in my body.

(Wait, that’s not strictly true. I bawl like a baby every time I watch A Walk to Remember.)

Let’s just say that I’m less about the “stuff” and more about “substance”. For example, I would scream if my husband ever spent $97 on Valentine’s Day roses, but at the same time, I expect to spend the day with him and cuddle together at scheduled intervals. So maybe I am romantic – I’m just not commercially romantic. Or maybe I’m just cheap.

Regardless, I’m a huge fan of homemade treats for Valentine’s Day. Breakfast in bed; hand-drawn cards, heart-shaped cookies, and of course, a large supply of cinnamon hearts. This year (just like every year) I’ve left Valentine’s Day until the last minute, so I’ll be baking up a storm tomorrow to show my love for my husband (and cake).

Since we already indulged in pie last week, I’m thinking these Valentine Parfait Cupcakes are just the ticket. And because the special day is celebrated by our two little guys as well, I love that the cupcakes are a kid-friendly option!

1 box Betty Crocker SuperMoist Devil’s Food cake mix
Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box
1 tub Betty Crocker* Whipped fluffy white frosting
1 cup (250 mL) semisweet or milk chocolate chips
2 tsp (10 mL) shortening
Valentine’s decorating sprinkles or candies

Heat oven to 350ºF (325ºF for dark or nonstick pans).

Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups. Bake cake batter as directed on cake mix box, using water, oil and eggs.

Divide batter evenly among muffin cups (about 2/3 full). Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centre come out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Spoon frosting into decorating bag fitted with large round tip. Pipe dollop of frosting on top of each cupcake. In small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and shortening uncovered on High 1 minute, stirring once halfway through heating. Drizzle melted chocolate over frosted cupcakes; sprinkle with hearts.

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.

Life Made Delicious: Super/Supper Bowl

By

With Super Bowl 2012 just around the corner, there’s no shortage of recipe ideas for game day. From chips and dips, cocktails and coolers, and of course… NACHOS!… it’s quite simple to put on an enviable spread.

When I first found this Big Batch Chili-In-The-Oven recipe from Life Made Delicious, I had fully intended to go double duty – chili in a bowl for dinner, leftover chili on nachos for Super Bowl Sunday. I had high hopes for the recipe as it currently has 34 thumbs up, and I figured a few dozen people can’t be wrong.

Do you want the good news or bad news first?

Okay bad news. The bad news is that even though I pretty much followed the recipe to the letter, the texture of the chili is completely unsuitable for nachos. There is just SO much rice in the dish, I’d venture to say this is more like Cuban Dirty Rice than chili. There is just rice, rice and more rice everywhere. Yikes!

Good news. Whatever the heck this dish is, it is BEYOND FREAKIN’ DELICIOUS. We can’t get enough! I absolutely adore all the vibrant, pungent flavours that come through; smoky cumin, tangy tomato, fresh cilantro. And, the earthiness of the ground beef and beans. It’s like Chili 2.0: The Wrath of Rice. I will make this dish again, but I’ll either severely cut down on the white stuff or omit it altogether….

Read More

Life Made Delicious: Stocking the Perfect Pantry

By

“There’s nothing to eat.”

The four most annoying words uttered by husbands and children… and sometimes mom (though we always say it in our heads and never out loud, right?). There’s NOTHING. to. eat.

And so those words are usually followed by the rustling of takeout menus and the husband asking “what do you feel like tonight?” And those actions are usually followed by a bill for $25.98 and the realization that if you do this just twice per week you’ve lost over $200 per month on absolutely nothing tangible. Yikes.

Good thing I learned how to stock the perfect pantry a long time ago. If you’re a decent cook, and have a few versatile ingredients on hand, you can always nip the takeout craving in the bud – and make a healthy, delicious, home cooked meal before the delivery man arrives.

In addition to easy recipes, Life Made Delicious offers a plethora of valuable tips, including a list of what you need for last minute meals. Here’s what they suggest:

In Your Pantry

Bread (buns, loaves, pitas and Old El Paso tortillas)
Bread crumbs (for stuffing and breading fish)
Pasta
Rice
Cereal
Canned beans
Canned meats (chicken, salmon, tuna)
Canned tomatoes
Pasta sauce (Alfredo and spaghetti)
Tomato paste
Canned broth (beef, chicken and vegetables)
Soup (canned or dry)
Peanut butter
Pickles and olives
Ketchup, mustard and mayo
Salsa and chips
Soy and marinating sauces
Hamburger Helper
Vegetable oil (canola and olive)
Vinegar…

Read More

Not So Tricky Homemade Halloween Treats!

By

Every year I tell myself that I’m going to find the time to make a super cool Halloween-themed treat.

(At least I consistently tell myself that I’ll do it. However, even more consistent is the fact that I never do.)

Well, that WILL change this year, because thanks to these spooktacular easy recipes from Life Made Delicious, I really think that I’ve finally found the right inspiration… and all the ingredients in my pantry.

These are just a few of my faves:

CHOCOLATE MUMMY COOKIES
CREEPY CRAWLERS
CHOCOLATE GREMLINS
CHEESY CRESCENT GHOSTS
See the entire list of Top 10 recipes here.

I’m actually quite looking forward to making the Cheesy Crescent Ghosts, because with two little guys who’ll be sure to be buzzing from all the excitement, they can actually double as dinner :) I’m also loving the tip posted on the site: “Cook 1 clove garlic, finely chopped, in 1 tablespoon butter, and brush over dough before topping with cheese.” YUM.

And, don’t forget to check the Life Made Delicious blog for more easy recipes – including spooky snacks!

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.

How Do You Make Life Delicious?

By

As a Life Made Delicious Connector (#LMDConnector), I’ve been sharing easy recipes, tips and offers to help make your life a little more delicious. After all, would you rather “live to eat” or “eat to live”? Place me firmly in the former camp, sister.

But other than whipping up a tasty new treat (we tried the Asian Soup Bowl With Chicken two nights ago – quite yum!) what are some of the other ways you work at making your life delicious? Do you make time for yourself, spend more time with your family, or perhaps simply enjoy the finer things in life? Or are you on the flip side – constantly trying to inject that “wow” factor into your day?…

Read More

New Betty Crocker Cookbook! (Giveaway!)

By

This lady needs no introduction. It’s Betty, b*tch!

One of the most iconic and trusted names in the food industry – and your kitchen – Betty has been helping North American families to dish it up for over 90 years. In fact, leafing through a well-loved Betty Crocker Cookbook is one of the first memories I have; no doubt igniting a life-long love of cuisine.

Do you remember selecting your first recipe to try? Skimming down the list of ingredients; figuring out measurements, and saying a quick prayer that it’d turn out alright? I do. And Betty was right there with me. In fact, Betty Crocker has released over two hundred cookbook titles (!!!) and sold millions of books throughout the world.

Chances are, you’ve had your own “Betty Moment” too….

Read More

Life Made Delicious Tutorial!

By

It’s no secret that I’m a Life Made Delicious Connector – or, in other words, a brand ambassador for healthy and delicious food. But I just realized that maybe y’all aren’t completely familiar with how awesome the site is, so I thought I’d provide the necessary deets to get you started!

1) Easy Recipes – It kind of speaks for itself, doesn’t it? If you are short on time but would rather bypass take-out for a nutritious, homemade meal, click on over and search through thousands of recipes and quick & easy ideas. The recipes are even broken down into Most Popular, Top-Rated, Today’s Tasty Recipe and more! Or, if you have an ingredient/occasion in mind but need further inspiration, you can also search by Main Ingredient, Meal Type, Occasion, Special Diet or Brands. It really is SO easy to find the perfect recipe!

2) Videos – Are you a show & tell kind of person? Take advantage of numerous videos to help you master different cooking techniques that’ll make your life easier and more delicious. Also, be sure to check out the recipe videos for drool-worth meals you’ll want to make tonight!

3) Blog Made Delicious – Since food bloggers are our friends, get real advice and fresh recipe ideas that have already been tested in their kitchens – and approved by their kids! (I’m a big fan of Jennifer, the Domestic Goddess, but they’re all awesome!)

4) Tips & Ideas – Everything from how to plan the perfect Pirate P-aaar-ty to breathing life into leftovers. Some fabulous tricks that every mom should know! My Faves: Bake the boredom away, Don’t lose sleep over your kid’s sleepover, Packed lunches that pack a punch, Put down the phone; pick up a recipe.

5) Offers – Hello! Saving money is always in style! This week, save 50¢ on Bisquick Shake ‘n Pour.

6) Product Pantry – Get to know the family of General Mills products. Explore the brands, find out what’s new and check out the featured recipes that will have to rushing to your pantry.

Et voila! The perfect website to make life delicious.

“When you register for the Life Made Delicious website and email program, you open the door to exclusive recipes, offers and perks from your favourite General Mills brands.”

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.

LMD: Banana-Strawberry Muffins

By

In my family, late summer has always been about strawberries. As in, “cram as many sweet Ontario strawberries into your mouths as possible before they go away and we have to settle for the imported stuff.”

So we have been indulging. Lucky for me, the boys are both fruit fanatics and love a good berry. I like to throw them in smoothies, on cereal and with ice cream – who can resist a ripe, sweet and juicy little treat?

On the subject of fruit, this weekend I found myself faced with an all-too-familiar dilemma involving the dreaded overripe banana – two, to be exact. Bake something or toss? Since I hate wasting food – even spotted, smushy food – I decided to hunt up an easy recipe that would allow me to use up the bananas.

I quickly popped over to Life Made Delicious and found a recipe for Banana-Strawberry Muffins. Hooray! I could add bananas and incorporate my favourite fruit – a win-win!

Hold on. I also noticed that for every person who would “make it again and again“, more than half would “rather starve“. What gives? I suspected it had something to do with the addition of FIBRE 1 Original cereal, finely crushed. BUT, since I did have the cereal on hand, and am all about upping a food’s nutritional value, I decided to make the recipe as is and crossed my fingers that they would turn out all right.

The recipe is very straightforward:

INGREDIENTS

2/3 cup (150 mL) sugar
1/2 cup (125 mL) canola oil
2 eggs
2/3 cup (150 mL) mashed ripe bananas
1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla
1 cup (250 mL) flour
1 cup (250 mL) FIBRE 1 Original cereal, finely crushed
1 tsp (5 mL) baking soda
1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
1 cup (250 mL) finely chopped fresh strawberries

DIRECTIONS 

Heat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease or spray bottoms of 12 regular size muffin cups with non-stick cooking spray, or place a paper-baking cup in each.

In medium bowl, combine sugar, oil and eggs. Stir in bananas and vanilla. Stir in remaining ingredients except strawberries until just moistened. Stir in strawberries. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.

Bake 16 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes. Remove from pan and serve warm or cool.

THE VERDICT

We really like them! I don’t think I’d make them again and again, but the sweet strawberries and banana meshed nicely with the wholesome-tasting cereal base. The grownups liked them better than the kiddies – surprise surprise – and darling husband will definitely have one in his lunch box tomorrow!

BANANA-STRAWBERRY MUFFINS

For more easy recipes – including many delicious ideas for incorporating sweet summer strawberries – visit Life Made Delicious today!

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.

LMD: Hot Summer Trends!

By

Permit me to state the obvious: this summer has been HOT. In fact, we gave up BBQ’ing (gasp! I know!) a few weeks ago, because hubby couldn’t stand to be beside a 400-degree fire pit in 120-degree summer heat.

Alas, now that it looks like most of the stifling humidity is behind us, I decided to search for a few delicious summer recipes that I could share with friends and family. Of course I went straight to Life Made Delicious, and they didn’t disappoint! I found recipes for 10 summer trends that had me drooling at first glance.

Here are a few of my faves:

Banana Fudgy Pops: Who can resist the sweet combination of chocolate and banana? And popsicles just happen to be my sons’ favourite summer treat! These flavourful frozen goodies are made with soy milk – perfect for tackling dairy intolerance and for an extra punch of protein. A bonus: the prep time is only 15 minutes!

Green Garden Fries: At this very moment, I have asparagus and zucchini in my fridge just begging to be consumed. Separately, I was uninspired to eat my greens. But thankfully I came across this recipe for crispy green “fries” made from fresh garden veggies. Oven fried and served with a lemony Greek yogurt dipping sauce, they are the perfect summer side dish!

Mini S’mores Hand Pies: While the name of this recipe leaves much to be desired, I can’t deny that I am loving the combination of crunchy graham crackers, melty chocolate and ooey-gooey marshmallows. There’s even cream cheese listed as an ingredient – how can you go wrong? I have fond memories of stacking S’mores as a child; this seems to be a less messy, yummy alternative!

Click here to see the Top 10 Summer Recipes and trends.

I plan on making the Green Garden Fries this weekend, so I’ll be back with an update on their degree of yumminess! Until then!

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.

LMD: Beach Towel Giveaway!

By

Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

I’ve decided to take a break from my Summer Beauty & Fashion Event to let y’all know about a neat little freebie that I think you’ll love – and give you a chance to win, too!

Now who doesn’t love seeing those little promotional tabs on cereal boxes? I sure do! And since our house is packed with cereal fans, I always check to see if I can get extra bang for my buck. Well, for a limited time, here’s a neat little promo that has summer written all over it!

Our good friends at Life Made Delicious would like to offer you a FREE limited edition beach towel, featuring iconic characters and patterns, when you purchase a specially marked box of participating General Mills cereals. Then, simply look for the code printed on the inside of your cereal box (looks like XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXX) and enter the code at www.lifemadedelicious.ca/freetowel.

You can have fun choosing the design that tickles your fancy, or you have the option of donating your towel to a deserving child through the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation (LOVE that!).

Here are the featured designs:

I don’t know about you, but I can always use some Lucky Charms!


As a Life Made Delicious Connector, I have the awesome privilege of offering a sweet prize to one lucky reader. The General Mills giveaway pack is valued at approximately $50 and includes three (3), 60” x 30” limited edition General Mills beach towels!

To enter, find your favourite easy summer recipe at Life Made Delicious and leave a comment here, telling us what it is.

You can also qualify for extra entries! Remember, you must leave a separate comment for each. You can:

(1) Follow my blog, Listen to Lena!
(2) “Like” Listen to Lena! on Facebook
(3) NEW Follow Listen to Lena! on Twitter
(4) “Like” Life Made Delicious on Facebook
(5) Follow Life Made Delicious on Twitter
(6) Tweet daily: Please use this General Mills Giveaway Tweet.

I’ll draw for a winner on August 7th. Good luck everybody!

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.

Life Made Delicious BBQ Prize Pack Winner!

By

Thank you to everyone who entered the LMD Celebrate Summer Giveaway. If you’re looking for new, mouth watering, and above all, easy recipes to try this season, look no further than Life Made Delicious!

(Pictured right are Fresh Strawberry Tarts… YUM!)

Up for grabs is a “Celebrate Summer Giveaway” pack, valued at approximately $100.

It includes:
Barbecue Utensil Set
Paper Plates & Colourful Napkins
General Mills goodies: Old El Paso, Cheerios (incl. Chocolate Cheerios), Fibre 1, Betty Crocker and Nature Valley

And the winner is #658 Erie! Congratulations!

Please send me an e-mail with your mailing address, including phone number, so I can have the prize sent to you right away. Thanks again to everyone who participated, and to Life Made Delicious!