Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

Life Made Delicious

Chex Gluten Free Now in Canada!

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I’m one of those lucky moms who doesn’t have to worry about food allergies. Peanuts, shrimp, strawberries, wheat – throw ’em at this family and we’ll eat. But lately, I’ve started realizing that arrogance is ignorance, as more and more individuals are developing intolerance to foods later in life.

For example, did you know that Celiac Disease, a condition that damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents it from absorbing parts of food that are important for staying healthy, can develop at any point in life, from infancy to late adulthood? As I munch on my beloved piece of whole wheat toast this morning, I shudder to think I’m not exempt from the wrath of gluten.

Furthermore, 1 in every 133 Canadians suffers from Celiac Disease, and a recent survey disclosed that 71% of Canadians are looking for more gluten free options on grocery store shelves. Does this sound like you?

Chex to the rescue! Now in Canada, Chex offers two delicious options; Honey Nut Chex and Rice Chex Gluten Free Cereal. I’m already planning to make a fabulous, sweet and spicy Chex mix at our next get together, incorporating Rice Chex, roasted soybeans, corn tortilla chips and spices. And I’ll be quite the hero when I announce the snack is gluten, dairy and peanut free!

If you’re looking for easy recipes that are also gluten free, don’t forget to check out Life Made Delicious – you can also sign up for their GLUTEN FREE newsletter, and have recipes, coupons and more delivered right to your inbox.

Because I’m lucky to be a Life Made Delicious Connector, we received a Chex kit full of goodies (including the cereals to enjoy, of course). Now to be perfectly honest, my family enjoys Chex Gluten Free most simply dry out of the box. It’s absolutely delicious!!! For me, grabbing a handful of Honey Nut Chex is the perfect healthy snack, and Ryder has developed a night time routine:

After his evening bath, he tries to eek out a few extra minutes before bedtime by declaring that he’s hungry. Last week, I decided to entertain his ploy and brought him downstairs, putting a box of Rice Chex Gluten Free before him and instructing him to “eat”. Well, the cereal has now become Ryder’s preferred before-bed snack, and it’s become a tradition for me to sit with him while his hair dries and he snacks on the healthy goodness. Here he is last night, enjoying his “Chetz”…

(Can you tell that his mommy reads box labels? He always makes a show of scanning the box before digging in.) Since Rice Chex Gluten Free is low in sugar and high in iron, I don’t have a problem with him popping a few before retiring for the night.

Next on deck for me: these Favourite Chicken Nuggets (Gluten Free). They look absolutely scrumptious!

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.

Celebrating Canada Day with LMD!

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I always tend to think of Canada Day as the “mid-point” of summer, even though school kids, eager to pack away their books for two months, would beg to differ. (School’s Out!)

And now, it looks like Canada Day is already upon us! This year, I wanted to pay homage to our great country by baking up a truly Canadian treat – Butter Tarts. It’s just one of the easy recipes I found at Life Made Delicious, of course!

My trusted Wikipedia has the following to say about Butter Tarts:

A butter tart is a type of small pastry tart highly regarded in Canadian cuisine and considered one of Canada’s quintessential desserts. Although primarily eaten and associated with the English speaking provinces of Canada, the history of the tart recipe has been traced back to the arrival of the filles à marier in Quebec during the 1600s, where the imported brides used maple syrup, butter and dried fruit to make a possible precursor to modern examples of the butter tart or the Quebec Tarte au sucre.

Translation: A whole lotta yummy.

Now I actually prefer the tarts sans pecans, and purists would agree that a simple combination of butter, raisins and maple (or golden) syrup usually does the trick. So as soon as the boys went down this evening, I whipped up a batch of Mom’s Best Butter Tarts. Normally I’d copy and paste the recipe, but since there are several detailed steps, please use the recipe link to check it out. FYI – I opted to bake the tarts in individual foil liners rather than use a muffin tin.

What I can tell you is that less than an hour later, I am seriously wondering how 12 of these sweet, delicious tarts will make it until Friday’s celebration. Yes, they’re sweet. And no, they won’t make it on anyone’s list of diet foods. But they’re one of Canada’s quintessential desserts, dammit! And thank goodness I have enough ingredients on hand to do it all over again!

For more easy recipes – including Canada Day-themed goodies such as Maple Cake, Maple Pecan Pie and more, be sure to 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.

Chocolate Cheerios! (YES! CHOCOLATE!)

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EDIT: Redeem Your Coupon TODAY Peeps!

It’s no surprise that Cheerios + Chocolate is a winning combination. In fact, Ryder – who regularly shuns every breakfast cereal imaginable in favour of his beloved O’s – literally fell off his chair when I placed a bowl of the chocolatey goodness in front of him.

(In case you’re wondering, one of the perks of being a Life Made Delicious Connector is advanced enjoyment of General Mills treats – therefore we’ve been enjoying Chocolate Cheerios chez Lena for the last few weeks!)

Just a few reasons your mouth should be watering:

– Naturally flavoured with real cocoa, whole grains, and only 9g of sugar per serving
– Is a source of fibre and is low in fat
– Tastes Delicious!!! (of course)

Want to try them for yourself? Of course you do! For a limited time, try Chocolate Cheerios for FREE through WebSaver.ca. You’ll have to sign up for a free account and choose at least three (3) coupons (won’t be difficult, I’m sure!)

Then, for ONE DAY ONLY – June 21st, 2011 – everyone will be able to redeem their coupon for a free box of Chocolate Cheerios.

And, don’t forget to check out Life Made Delicious for easy recipes your whole family will love.

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: Celebrate Summer Giveaway!

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Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

Mmm… Barbecue Season. I hope y’all enjoyed my recent Life Made Delicious post – those Grilled Chipotle Burgers with Guacamole have quickly become one of my new favourite BBQ recipes!

This is actually the first year that my husband has started to to leave his comfort zone (read: burgers and ‘dogs) with barbecuing. We’ve been trying out the smoker, using cedarwood planks to infuse flavour, choosing new cuts of meat and have even tried grilling fruit. We’re getting creative, peeps!

Life Made Delicious, your source for easy recipes, has just released a list of 10 Creative New Uses for Your Barbecue. At the top of the list? The trendiest way to barbecue… with Grilled Chicken on a Can, of course!

I don’t think we’re at that level yet… seems a teeny bit intimidating to me! Has anyone tried BBQ’ing with a beer can? What were the results?

Rounding out the Top 10 recipes are Grilled Summer Cobbler, Apricot Glazed BBQ Chicken Thighs and more. If you do make a recipe from Life Made Delicious, don’t forget to give it a “Thumbs Up” or “Thumbs Down” – the ratings are very useful to others who are considering the dish for their families. And, don’t you just love the quirky rating scale? The Grilled Summer Cobbler’s Thumbs Down – “0 people would serve it to their ex”. Ha!

Be sure to visit Life Made Delicious for more creative, easy recipes your family will love!


One lucky Listen to Lena! reader will win a “Celebrate Summer Giveaway” pack, valued at approximately $100!

It includes:
Barbecue Utensil Set
Paper Plates & Colourful Napkins
General Mills goodies from:
  Old El Paso
  Cheerios (including Chocolate Cheerios!)
  Fibre 1
  Betty Crocker
  Nature Valley

To enter, simply visit Life Made Delicious and find a favourite summer recipe that you’ve tried, or would like to try. Then, 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 Life Made Delicious Giveaway Tweet.

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

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.

BBQ’ing with Life Made Delicious!

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Ah, one of my favourite times of year – BBQ season. It’s a time when hubby puts on his “Head Chef” hat, and I’m more than happy to oblige. You can find him flipping, grilling and smoking up a storm – hmm, why am I not as happy while slaving over a hot stove? One of life’s little mysteries, I’m sure.

My new favourite site for easy recipes – Life Made Delicious – recently sent out a list of “Top 10 Vibrant BBQ Recipes“. Eager to try out something colourful and new, I immediately picked out the featured recipe – Grilled Halibut Vera Cruz Packs.

Unfortunately, it’s harder than it seems to find quality halibut steaks in Mississauga, and as a trip to our favourite fish monger in Bloor West Village was not in the cards, I decided to go hunting for another option.

Not featured in their top 10 list, but a colourful option just the same, is their Grilled Chipotle Burgers with Guacamole. I was happy to see I had all the ingredients on hand, including a can of Old El Paso Chopped Green Chillies which had been hanging out in my pantry for some time now. Don’t you just love discovering those hidden gems?

INGREDIENTS

Burgers
2 1/2 lb (1.25 kg) lean ground beef
1/4 tsp (1 mL) red pepper sauce
1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt, if desired
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 can Old El Paso Chopped Green Chilies
3 tbsp (45 mL) chopped canned chipotle chilies in adobo sauce, undrained
8 slices Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, if desired
8 burger buns, split
2 medium tomatoes, sliced
Guacamole
2 large avocados, pitted, peeled and cubed
1 tbsp (15 mL) lime juice

The recipe posted above serves 8 but I scaled it back to just 4 servings. I opted to pass on the guacamole and just top the burger with avocado slices instead – an option listed in the original recipe. Also, we are a family of burgers sans tomato, so unfortunately that colourful element was missing… but the burgers were delicious, nonetheless.

DIRECTIONS

Heat gas or charcoal grill. In large bowl, mix beef, green chiles and chipotle chiles. Shape into 8 patties, about 3/4 inch thick. In medium bowl, mash guacamole ingredients, using pastry blender or fork.

Place patties on grill over medium heat. cover grill; cook 13 to 15 minutes, turning once, until meat thermometer inserted in center of patties reads 160ºF (71ºC). Top each patty with cheese slice; cook just until cheese is melted. To toast buns, place cut sides down on grill during last 1 to 2 minutes of cook time.

Layer buns with tomato slices, burgers and guacamole.

I only used about half the can of green chillies, but I will make this recipe again using close to a whole can. We just loved the spicy, tangy flavour! I also added a dash of salt, as it was an optional ingredient, and do recommend adding it to the burgers. I was a little worried that I didn’t have to add egg and breadcrumbs as a bunding agent, but the patties held together very well. All in all, the combination of flavourful beef, cheese and buttery avocado made this BBQ recipe a hit!

Click here for more easy recipes from 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.

Life Made Delicious!

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I have the awesome privilege of being a Life Made Delicious Connector – through Mom Central, I’m part of a wonderful team of bloggers who have the opportunity to review General Mills products, trade recipes and meal ideas, participate in foodie-themed discussion, and, of course, share some of our cooking successes with you!

Now I know you’ve heard of LifeMadeDelicious.ca, THE spot for easy recipes and more, but for those who have yet to discover this awesome site, register today for FREE, and you can start living the delicious life!

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. You’ll also get tips and tools to help you save time inside and outside of the kitchen. Join now and you can:

– Store all your favourite recipes in your Recipe Box to find them quickly and easily
– Find out about the latest promotions and coupons from General Mills brands
– Get ideas for easy entertaining, dinnertime dilemmas and family activities

I LOVE their Top 10 Recipe Collections – quite frankly the easiest way to uncover the BEST of Life Made Delicious in just a few clicks.

Now I know a lot of mamas are constantly searching for easy, healthy and satisfying recipes for kids. Life Made Delicious makes it a snap to find meals you can cook with your children; meals the whole family will enjoy; and kid friendly (and parent approved!) desserts!

I’m loving:

Cereal Fun Cookies – A yummy snack mix made of kid-friendly ingredients.
Fruity Cereal Bars – Great-tasting, chewy bars made with your choice of dried fruit.
Fruit Pizza – Pizza gets a fruity twist in this easier-than-pie recipe. Just heat and eat!

This morning, I treated Ryder to a sweet breakfast wrap! I found a recipe for Peanut Butter and Banana Wraps on the website, but I gave it my own spin; instead of adding honey, I caramelized the bananas – and I substituted dark chocolate shavings for chocolate chips.

Ryder got in on the action and helped put it together, which dramatically increased his desire to eat it, ha! I had Old El Paso Smart Fiesta Whole Grain Tortillas on hand; these tortillas are a great source of fibre and, as the name suggests, are made with whole grains. (You can grab a coupon to save $1 on Smart Fiesta products by visiting SmartFiesta.ca)

You’ll need:

1 large Old El Paso Smart Fiesta Whole Grain Tortilla
1 small, ripe banana
2 tsp creamy peanut butter
cooking spray
dark chocolate shavings, if desired

Spray a non-stick pan with cooking spray on medium heat (Canola oil only; no olive oil sprays or your bananas will taste like olives! If you’re not watching fat/calories you can alternatively melt a tablespoon of butter.)

Cut banana in fours as shown below (cute kid in background optional).

Fry the banana until just caramelized, flipping once or twice. Be gentle so that the pieces don’t break apart. Browning the banana brings out its natural sugar and almost triples the sweetness.

While the banana is browning, have your helper spread 2 tsp of peanut butter on the large tortilla. Ryder uses the back of a spoon – and takes a taste or two when I’m not looking.

Once the banana is browned, place the pieces in the middle of the tortilla (caution – they’ll be HOT!) and fold the tortilla over twice. If you prefer, you can roll the tortilla into a tight cigar.
I like to finish the wrap by shaving dark chocolate lightly over the top. The breakfast wrap is ooey, gooey and full of delicious sweet flavour. Plus, it’s HEALTHY! Whole grains from the tortilla, protein from the peanut butter and potassium from the banana (not to mention anti-oxidants from the dark chocolate) – and I’d say you’ve got a winner!

Be sure to check out more DE-LISH recipes for kids from Life Made Delicious!

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.