M and M Meat Shops

*The following giveaway is open to Canadian residents only*

When I was young, March Break meant two things: more sleep and more television.

My parents never bothered to plan getaways or kid-friendly activities; instead, the best my brother and I could hope for was to be left alone until Friday, when we heard the dreaded, “You were supposed to organize your room while you were off this week and it’s still a pigsty!” Ah, memories.

We weren’t alone; upon returning to class, there was usually one or two lucky individuals who sported a tan – the rest, sadly, had little to report (other than statistics of how late they slept and how much TV they watched).

Yet in recent years, the combination of yuppie parents, increased disposable income, availability of all-inclusive packages, children’s expressed preferences and competition from other parents has initiated a theoretical mass exodus every second week in March.

Or so I thought. While March Break is definitely one of the busiest times of the year for family travel, a recent survey indicated that over 70% of families still opt to stay home, or close to home.

So what are kids doing? Well, they’re still sleeping and watching TV, but thankfully, parents have become more involved in planning family-oriented day trips, fun activities and inspired meals. And if you’re staying in this March Break, look no further than M&M Meat Shops to provide delicious, quick meals that’ll keep you out of the kitchen and focussed on family fun!

Here’s my sample menu for a yummy week off:

MONDAY

How about kick-starting March Break with a Monday afternoon matinée? Grab your kids’ favourite DVD, some toffee-flavoured popcorn and a bowl of M & M’s scrumptious Peanut Butter Chocolate Persuasion Ice Cream. It has just the right combination of salty and sweet; with a vanilla ice cream base, it’s loaded with chocolate-covered peanut butter mini-cups and finished with a swirl of peanut butter ripple. Um, yes please.

If you’re watching a flick’s extended version, consider popping some Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough into the oven – you’ll have warm, freshly baked cookies to complement the cold, sweet ice cream. YUM! The week will definitely be off to an amazing start!

TUESDAY

Out to explore the city? Make a quick and easy breakfast they’ll love while giving you a pass on dish duty. Try this kid pleaser: M&M’s Bacon “Griddle Stacker”. With grilled eggs, crisp bacon and a slice of real Cheddar cheese – wrapped in a flaky croissant – you’ll have breakfast on the table in just 2 minutes. Alternatively, try the hearty Breakfast Wrap, a zesty omelette wrapped in a soft tortilla shell which offers the same convenience and mess-free cleanup!

Need a lighter option? Toss a handful of Sliced Strawberries, 1/2 cup of Natural Vanilla Frozen Yogurt and a splash of milk into a blender, and you’ve got a delicious breakfast smoothie! And just like that, you’re out the door!

WEDNESDAY
Ah, play date Wednesday. Good news: you’ll go down in history as the BEST mommy hostess when you serve:

Four Cheese Bite Size Pizzas – The perfect kid-friendly snack! Delectable miniature pizzas topped with a tangy tomato sauce and a blend of four cheeses – mozzarella, brick, cheddar and Parmesan. My two year old does not really have a taste for pizza, but LOVES these little bite-sized goodies. One pack of 30 should get you through an afternoon!

Chicken Strips – These strips were made for dippin’. Made with all-white chicken breast meat and breaded with Panko-style crumbs (my fave!), all you need is a selection of yummy sauces (I like M&M’s Honey Garlic and Thai Sweet & Spicy Sauce).

Stuffed Jalapeño Peppers – They’re not spicy, they’re “zesty”! And guess what – kids love them! Jalapeño pepper halves are stuffed with processed cheddar cheese and sauce, then battered, breaded and par-fried. Ready in just 10 minutes – keep some on hand for the adults, too!

THURSDAY

Make it a “Take-Out Thursday”… without dialing for dinner! M&M Meat Shops has everything you need to enjoy yummy Chinese fare at home. Start with their Cantonese Style Egg Rolls; filled with a mixture of cabbage, beef, celery, pork, onions and Chinese spices, they’re awesome as an appetizer (or late night snack).

Then, move on to Chicken Stir Fry and Vegetable Fried Rice – you’ll satisfy your family’s cravings and up to 3 servings of vegetables – now that’s what I call double duty!

If you’d rather get in on the action, try woking up M&M’s Classic Stir Fry Vegetables and layering them over Hutong Noodles – irresistible Asian-style lo mein noodles which are seasoned with a traditional Asian sauce.

For dessert? Gourmet Pineapple Skewers, of course.

FRIDAY

It’s game night! Whether the game is basketball or Jenga, M&M’s Louisiana Style Chicken Wings are my very favourite snack to serve. The wings are crispy and spicy – the way wings are meant to be. We’ve always got a box in the freezer chez Lena.

Also try a game day staple – Beer Battered Shrimp, or one of M&M’s signature HotDipz (I vote for Spinach, Artichoke & Cheese).

And there you have it! A yummy March Break menu chock full of easy and delicious meal ideas. Are you inspired to rip up those plane tickets and have a stay-cation instead?

As Canada’s largest retail chain of specialty frozen foods with locations coast to coast, there’s an M&M Meat Shops near you! Click here to find your local store.

M&M Meat Shops has generously offered one Listen to Lena! reader the chance to win a $50 Gift Card! To enter, plan your March Break menu by visiting M&M online – then leave a comment here with five (5) items that you’d treat your family to.

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) “Like” M&M Meat Shops on Facebook
(4) Tweet about this giveaway (here’s a tiny URL for you: http://tinyurl.com/4tbul7z)
(5) You may tweet about this giveaway daily

I’ll draw for a winner on March 13th. Special thanks to M&M, and good luck everyone!

*The following giveaway is open to Canadian residents only.*

Yes, it’s true – I’m an M&M Meat Shops junkie. And I’m not alone – Canadians LOVE the convenience of selecting from over 375 mouth watering goodies, specially fast frozen for optimal freshness and flavour. And, the majority of their dishes are ready to thaw-and-serve or heat-and-serve to make meal prep easier for you!

Every time I visit M&M Meat Shops I come home with something new (in addition to my tried and true faves). At the last visit, I was tempted to try the Lemon Pepper Sole, which turned out to be absolutely scrumptious! We paired it with M&M’s Bean & Carrot Medley and (at Ryder’s insistence) Seasoned Potato Wedges. Couldn’t have been easier, and although it was made from frozen, the meal tasted as fresh as if made from scratch.

Now I love to cook, and must admit that I enjoy my time spent in the kitchen engaging in culinary adventures. But the truth is, with 2 little guys competing for my attention and my hubby’s erratic schedule, sometimes life demands a quick and tasty meal. And for that, I’m happy to turn to M&M Meat Shops.

For appetizers, I love serving their Torpedo Shrimp (A crispy delight, these hand-peeled, tail-on shrimp are delicately seasoned and rolled in crispy wrappers that pack a tasty crunch). Paired with a spicy Thai Dipping Sauce, I can never keep up with the demand! There’s usually a fresh batch coming out of the oven just as guests begin to growl for more :) I also give two thumbs up to the Classic French Mini Quiche, Louisiana Style Chicken Wings and Oriental Party Pak.

Now I’m quite certain my butcher does not read my blog, which is a good thing – because he’d come after me with a cleaver if he knew where I purchase my filet mignon. That’s right, Antonio, I buy it from M&M Meat Shops! And it’s freakin’ AWESOME! For just $5 per portion, it always cooks up juicy and flavourful. In the winter, we pan-fry the filets with a truffle oil and balsamic reduction, and in the summer, it’s all about the BBQ. My mouth waters just thinking about it.

For dessert, life is too short to not indulge in their TOO TALL Coffee Double Cream Cake (An outrageously delicious tiramisu-inspired dessert created with shortcake, mascarpone mousse, whipped cream and dark chocolate). I like it for dessert paired with a steaming mug of coffee… but I like it even more at 11:00pm when the kids are in bed, the dishes are done, and Jersey Shore is queued up on the PVR! That’s two guilty pleasures, ha ha!

M&M Meat Shops also supports the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC). In 1989, M&M Founder Mac Voisin started the first chain-wide Charity BBQ Day to raise funds for CCFC. Since its inception, Charity BBQ Day has helped to raise more than $16 million for research into Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. (This charity is near and dear to my heart, as my father suffers from ulcerative colitis. Crossing my fingers that we’ll see a cure in his lifetime.)

If you love M&M Meat Shops as much as I do, be sure to pop in soon – they’ve got some yummy goodies waiting for you!

Here’s something that will make your trip even better – I’ve got a $100 M&M Meat Shops Gift Card to give away!

To enter, simply leave a comment recommending your favourite product(s) – let’s swap some meal ideas! If you’ve never shopped at M&M, take a look and let us know what looks scrumptious to you!

You can also qualify for extra entries! Remember, you must leave a separate comment to claim your extra entry. You can:

(1) Follow my blog, Listen to Lena!
(2) “Like” M&M Meat Shops on Facebook
(3) Tweet about this giveaway (Here’s a tiny URL for you: http://tinyurl.com/33j7vlh)
(4) You may Tweet daily.

I’ll draw for a winner on October 31st. Good luck everybody!