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Maple Leaf Foods

Easy, Natural and Versatile Dinners… #MadeLikeHomemade!

October 5, 2017 By Lena 144 Comments

Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

Last night, I made:

1. The most delicious enchiladas, like, ever…
2. Featuring savoury slow roasted turkey…
3. In less than 30 minutes…
4. And the entire family gobbled them up.

Think it’s an impossible task? Break out your grocery list app, honey, because I’m going to show you exactly how to do it – and I’m going to blow your mind, too. Here’s what you need to do.
1. Make your own enchilada sauce. First, it’s almost impossible to find it in mainstream grocery stores, and second, it only takes seven minutes from start to finish. Plus, if you love Mexican-inspired dishes, I promise you’ll already have all the ingredients on hand. …

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: #madelikehomemade, Maple Leaf Foods, Slow Roasted Shredded Turkey

Start Enjoying The Great Indoors!

February 20, 2016 By Lena

Ah, Canadian winter. (Cold, Canadian winter.) As the snow falls lightly to the ground and the landscape turns into a picturesque…

Oh, stuff it. If you need me, I’ll be indoors.

Celebrate #TheGreatIndoors with @Schneiders, @MapleLeafFoods and @MapleLeafPrime and have a chance to TWEET LIVE with Kevin Pillar (@KPILLAR4) of the Toronto Blue Jays! Join our Twitter Party on Tuesday, February 23rd at 8:00PM EST. There is no RSVP; simply join the conversation, tag your tweets with #TheGreatOutdoors and tweet to win.
KP Twitter Party (2)Psst… See that little shopping bag with oh, “$5,000 in Prizes” noted? Heck yeah! We know Maple Leaf Foods Twitter Parties are all about delicious food, helpful tips and recipe inspiration – okay, we know they’re about prizes too! And this time, many attendees will walk away with awesome swag.

Would you rather take the game inside, too? Don’t worry, Appehtite has you covered. Introducing the The Great Indoors Playbook; here, you’ll find fun indoor versions of your favourite outdoor activities, plus delicious recipes that you can snack on while you play. …

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Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: #TheGreatIndoors, Kevin Pillar, Maple Leaf Foods, Schneiders

Dig In! It’s the Appehtite Back-to-School Recipe Challenge!

August 28, 2015 By Lena

Ah, school lunches. Experts predict that by the time a mom sees her kids through high school, she will have prepared, on average, 10,350 school lunches. Let’s just take a moment to absorb that number (and perhaps have a little cry). Okay, so we can’t get out of making lunches, but we can make it more fun! Ladies and Gentlemen: It’s the contest that keeps giving back. Introducing the Appehtite Back-to-School Recipe Challenge!

Why it’s Awesome: You could win $5,000 in groceries for a year!
25117_Banner4_engThe Ask: Your appehtask is to create a delicious back to school dish every kid will want to dig into. All recipes must include a participating product from Maple Leaf, Maple Leaf Prime, Schneiders, Hygrade, Sunrise, and/or Larsen. To be entered into the contest, you must:

– Create a fully developed recipe, complete with ingredients and directions
– Provide a brief description of your recipe
– Include a quality recipe photo with your post
– The recipe must be an original creation, made by the Entrant
– The photograph submitted must be an original photograph taken by the Entrant
– No third party logos, trade-marks or other material

How to Enter: All the details right here.

Why it keeps giving back: In addition to having a chance to win a cool $5K in groceries, you’ll also find a ton of inspiring back-to-school food ideas! Like An Apple a Day Ham Sandwich Lunch or Soup and Turkey Grilled Cheese Lunch. In fact, you could build an entire week’s meal plan on some of the recipes featured in this fun challenge. And if your little one is in JK this year, that means you’ve only got 10,343 lunches left to worry about. (I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist.)

Enter the challenge today! Good luck all, and have a happy back-to-school!

Filed Under: Food Tagged With: Appehtite, back to school, Maple Leaf Foods

Hello Summer! #LetsDoPicnic with Maple Leaf Foods!

July 24, 2015 By Lena

What happens when you have an incredible, summer food-themed Twitter Party with all your favourite brands? You do it all over again, of course!

Join @MapleLeafFoods, @PepsiCanada, @LaysCanada, @TostitosCanada and @WonderBreadCA for the #LetsDoPicnic Twitter Party on Wednesday, July 29th at 8pm EDT!
#LetsDoPicnic Twitter Party Image (2)Now I know what you’re thinking: The last party was insanely good! How can you top it? Well, let’s start by upping the prize value – with over $1500 in prizes available to be won! – and you know we’ll be serving up scrumptious picnic food suggestions you won’t want to miss.

RSVP below for a chance to win and we’ll see you on Wednesday night. …

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Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: #LetsDoPicnic, Maple Leaf Foods, Twitter Party

On the Go? We’re Serving Up #DinnerIn15!

July 19, 2014 By Lena

It’s 6:00pm, on any given night. Tick tock tick tock. Really, dinner should be on the table. Instead, you:

– sort through takeout menus for a dial-a-dinner
– rummage through the freezer for food packaged in a cardboard box
– climb a kitchen chair to peruse the (dusty) top shelf of the pantry
– jump in a car hell-bent for the nearest drive-thru

Sounds familiar? Yeah, it happens to me too. And 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?”

But what if you could create a delicious, wholesome meal in just 15 minutes? Put that takeout menu away, sister! It’s time for #DinnerIn15!

From the gastronomic geniuses at Maple Leaf Foods, they’re created inspired ways to assemble a hearty meal in 15 minutes or less, starring their scrumptious ham products. Think Reuben Ham Skillet Dinner. Tropical Ham and Cheese Pizza. Hamexican Tostadas. YES, I said Hamexican!!!

Want to learn more? Join the @MapleLeafFoods #DinnerIn15 Twitter Party on Wednesday, July 30th at 8pm EST. We’ll be sharing our best recipes to get in you in (and out) of the kitchen in 15 minutes or less!

#DinnerIn15In addition to joining a fabulous conversation, we’re also serving up a chance to win a one-on-one online cooking class with Chef Bob Villeneuve, including a complete food hamper with all the goodies you’ll need to make a variety of 15-minute meals. Wowzers!

(We’ll also have tons of free product coupons up for grabs – this IS a Maple Leaf Foods Twitter Party, after all!)

Finally, we’ll announce the $1,000 winner of Appehtite’s Dinner in 15 Challenge LIVE at the Twitter Party. If you haven’t entered yet, what are you waiting for? Simply create a meal that can be made in 15 minutes or less using Maple Leaf or Schneiders ham, and submit your recipe to Appehtite.ca.

Sounds like we’ll have an awesome night! For your chance to win, RSVP below. Looking forward to partying with you! …

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Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: #DinnerIn15, easy meal ideas, Maple Leaf Foods, Twitter Party

We’re Celebrating #HotDogDay with a Twitter Party!

July 15, 2014 By Lena

Wednesday, July 23rd is officially Hot Dog Day in Canada! Yes, apparently every dog has its day.

When I was a wee one, “Hot Dog Day” meant a school lunch consisting of a boiled hot dog, a small bag of chips and overly sweet lemonade. Oh, how I adored Hot Dog Day! It allowed me the chance to have lunch at school with my friends, and savour three delicious foods at the same time. I can distinctly remember eating my hot dog s-l-o-w-l-y to relish every bite; popping the end in my mouth with a self-satisfied grin. At the time, ketchup was my topping of choice – but I’ve since evolved to include more inspired toppings such as smoked cheddar, salsa and even coleslaw.

(Extremely frustrating? I live with three boys who prefer NO condiments on their hot dogs. None! Zilch! Nada! Isn’t that like food blasphemy? Or are Maple Leaf Hot Dogs so good that no adornments are needed? Regardless, I’m still on team #ketchupmustardrelish.)

Now who doesn’t enjoy a good hot dog? Whether at a birthday party, ball park or in your own backyard, they’re one of the best handheld foods that the whole family loves. And today, the choices are endless! Maple Leaf Natural Selections, Angus Beef, Less Salt and more – there’s a hot dog to suit every taste and lifestyle. Pair them up with fresh Dempsters Hot Dog Buns, and you’re in flavourtown!

Hot Dog DayOf course, the best way to celebrate #HotDogDay is with a Twitter Party! Join @MapleLeafFoods as we pay tribute to the mighty hot dog. We’re starting the celebration one day early with a #HotDogDay Twitter Party on Tuesday, July 22nd from 8-9pm ET. There’ll be lots of yummy conversation and amazing prizes as always!

For your chance to win, RSVP below. Looking forward to partying with you! …

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Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: #HotDogDay, Maple Leaf Foods, Twitter Party

Change. Your Life. With Bacon. This Bacon.

June 7, 2014 By Lena

Yes folks, it’s that time again. It’s time to #ChangeYourLifeWithBacon.

Remember the iconic commercials from a year ago? Lucky mom! With the help of Ready Crisp Bacon from Maple Leaf Foods, she had her family at her beck and call. Light bulbs were changed, dishes were washed, tables were set. In short, Bacon = Power.

Well, the family is back! This year, the power of bacon is taken to a whole new level with a science fair project:


Now if you’ve watched the video and are looking for a little “Baconspiration” (I am trademarking that word, BTW) be sure to visit Appehtite, where you’ll find a wealth of recipes where bacon is the star attraction. Roasted Potato Leek Soup With Bacon, Bacon Mac and Cheese or Bacon Quiche anyone? You can find all these recipes – and more – at Canada’s Kitchen.

Still wanting more? We aim to please! Join us for a YUM-MAZING #ChangeYourLifeWithBacon Twitter Party with @MapleLeafFoods on Wednesday, June 11th at 8:00pm ET!

TwitterParty-1Now, you want to talk about prizes? Okay, let’s talk about prizes. How about FIVE winners of Bacon for a YEAR (52 coupons)! And if that wasn’t enough to make you drop everything, we’ll also be giving away #BonusBacon to any partiers who catch our eye with tweets, whether they be funny, creative or show ultimate Bacon Love. And, we *may* have yet another special surprise up our sleeves, but you’ll just have to join us to find out!

RSVP now for a chance to win, and we’ll see you on Wednesday night! …

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Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: #ChangeYourLifeWithBacon, Appehtite, Maple Leaf Foods, Twitter Party

Change Your Life with Bacon #Giveaway

August 1, 2013 By Lena

In an interview with a fashion industry web site, Kate Moss said, “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.” Said the rest of the world: Bacon! – Seth Myers

Bacon has long been a favourite in households across Canada; the smoky aroma of sizzling bacon is a welcome addition to any – and every – morning. But our love for bacon is more than just skillet deep; asked to choose between bacon and sex, a whopping 43% of Canadians chose bacon. Men are particularly enamoured with it; according to the same survey (commissioned by Maple Leaf Foods), almost 18% said they simply can’t survive without bacon. Seriously. (Source: Angus Reid)

(Yes, that’s my kid, ready to pounce on a bacon cupcake. We like to start ’em out early!)

What is it about bacon that is so darn life changing? Is it the saltiness of the meat? Or the irresistible combination of crispy and chewy? Why is bacon considered to be a staple for Canadians, ranking up there with maple syrup, double doubles and doughnuts?

Regardless, bacon has played an important role in our culture and lives, bringing us together through the good times (the new Canadian Bacon Cookhouse in Halifax) and bad (the worldwide bacon shortage forecasted in 2012).


If you missed our epic Twitter Party on July 9th, fear not! Here’s your chance to re-create your entire world – one that revolves around bacon, that is. Now, you too can Change Your Life with Bacon!

One lucky Canadian reader will win a Maple Leaf Foods Bacon Prize Pack valued at $100+.

You’ll receive $50 in Free Product Coupons (that’s a LOT of bacon!), a branded t-shirt, a chore chart for your family and an OPI nail polish to treat yourself to a manicure while your family tolls away.

(My husband has since confiscated my Bacon t-shirt for himself. Why? Because he finds the combination of taking out two cute little boys AND wearing a Bacon t-shirt to be a “chick magnet”. I say: Hey husband, whatever works for you! While you’re taking the boys out to play, I’m relaxing in my hammock. #lifechanger)

To enter, simply fill the form below with your qualifying entries. Good luck everybody!…

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Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: #ChangeYourLifeWithBacon, bacon, giveaway, Maple Leaf Foods

We’re Celebrating #HotDogDay with a Twitter Party!

July 19, 2013 By Lena

Tuesday, July 23rd is officially Hot Dog Day in Canada! Yes, apparently every dog has its day.

When I was a wee one, “Hot Dog Day” meant a school lunch consisting of a boiled hot dog, a small bag of chips and overly sweet lemonade. Oh, how I adored Hot Dog Day! It allowed me the chance to have lunch at school with my friends, and savour three delicious foods at the same time. I can distinctly remember eating my hot dog s-l-o-w-l-y to relish every bite; popping the last bit in my mouth with a self-satisfied grin. At the time, ketchup was my topping of choice – but I’ve since evolved to include more inspired toppings such as smoked cheddar, salsa and even coleslaw.

Who doesn’t enjoy a good hot dog? Whether at a birthday party, ball park or in your own backyard, they’re one of the best handheld foods that the whole family loves. And today, the choices are endless! Maple Leaf Natural Selections, Angus Beef, Less Salt, NEW Chicken Wieners and more – there’s a hot dog to suit every taste and lifestyle. Pair them up with fresh Dempsters Hot Dog Buns, and you’re in flavourtown!

Of course, the best way to celebrate #HotDogDay is with a Twitter Party!

Join @MapleLeafFoods and @Dempsters as we pay tribute to the mighty hot dog. We’re starting the party early with a #HotDogDay Twitter Party on Monday, July 22 from 9-10pm ET. There’ll be lots of yummy conversation and amazing prizes as always!

For your chance to win, RSVP below. Looking forward to partying with you!…

Read More

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: #HotDogDay Twitter Party, Dempsters, Maple Leaf Foods

Change Your Life with Bacon.

July 5, 2013 By Lena

In an interview with a fashion industry web site, Kate Moss said, “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.” Said the rest of the world: Bacon! – Seth Myers

Bacon has long been a favourite in households across Canada; the smoky aroma of sizzling bacon is a welcome addition to any – and every – morning. But our love for bacon is more than just skillet deep; asked to choose between bacon and sex, a whopping 43% of Canadians chose bacon. Men are particularly enamoured with bacon; according to the same survey (commissioned by Maple Leaf Foods), almost 18% said they simply can’t survive without it. Seriously. (Source: Angus Reid)

What is it about bacon that is so darn life changing? Is it the saltiness of the meat? Or the irresistible combination of crispy and chewy? Why is bacon considered to be a staple for Canadians, ranking up there with maple syrup, double doubles and doughnuts? Regardless, bacon has played an important role in our culture and lives, bringing us together through the good times (the new Canadian Bacon Cookhouse in Halifax) and bad (the worldwide bacon shortage forecasted in 2012)….

Read More

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: #ChangeYourLifeWithBacon, bacon, Maple Leaf Foods, Twitter Party

It’s an #MLFBlogger Twitter Party!

October 16, 2012 By Lena

Over the course of my blogging tenure, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many incredible brands. From beauty to baby gear; technology to toys… I’ve developed meaningful relationships with companies I adore.

Leading the way? Maple Leaf Foods.

There’s just something so intrinsically rewarding about partnering with a company that recognizes the social imprint of bloggers – and places value on their collective influence. You already know that I have a keen relationship with Maple Leaf Foods – they were my official sponsor for BlogHer’12, and we’ve twartied together a time or two – but did you know that my family is addicted to their products? Not one day goes by that we don’t enjoy Maple Leaf Natural Selections deli meats; a chewy, dense Dempsters bagel; or (my favourite) Olivieri Three Cheese Tortellini with their to-die-for rosé sauce. There’s just always a delicious meal waiting for us thanks to their amazing suite of brands.

So really, it’s a win-win situation.

Tomorrow night, they’re doing something a little different. Remember when I said that they place value on the influence of bloggers? Well, they’re proving it – in a very BIG way – by giving away a $1000 sponsorship to ANY blogging conference the winner chooses.

Of course, the Twitter Party is open to all! There will be a ton of amazing prizes (including the Free Product Coupons we all love) and we’ll be hosting both bloggers and readers alike. So come tweet with us! It promises to be an EPIC party. And for one blogger… your 2013 is about to change… #Squee!

RSVP below for your chance to win, and see you tomorrow!…

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Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: #MLFBlogger, Maple Leaf Foods, Twitter Party

BlogHer: Three Totally Cool Things

June 20, 2012 By Lena

I'm going to BlogHer '12Kids, it’s that time of year again!

Ah, blogger conference season. When we bloggers make the very pained decision to leave our families behind while we come together for personal and professional development.

And, sometimes we attend a party or two (or twelve), toss back Cake Vodka shots and find ourselves crashing and burning in someone else’s hotel room. In a different hotel. And they’re not even attending the conference.

Yes, it’s time to don a fancy dress and flip flops (I learned the hard way last year – you MUST bring your flip flops!) and party among your peers. These are the women who support you, cheer you on and share battle scars – and sometimes, they happen to live on the other side of the country. To BlogHer’12, and the mass gathering of online friends: I’m so excited!!!

Now with the conference a mere six (6) weeks away, I thought of a few totally cool things that I just had to share. It makes the conference personal and special to me – so without further ado:

1. In my former life, I was a Customer Satisfaction Specialist for Honeywell. A large part of my role was to analyze satisfaction scores and create training modules/best practices to improve overall engagement, morale, and subsequently raise the level of service. Now not to toot my own horn (warning: I’m about to toot my own horn) – I developed a program that raised the satisfaction score from 6.2 to 8.5 in just six months. And it didn’t go unnoticed; MarketTools CustomerSat, our partner who provided the survey data, asked me to come and speak at their conference in San Jose, to share with other business leaders the success of my training program.

Now at the conference, in conversation with one of the MarketTools directors, she told me about her daughter, who had recently started a media company called “BlogHer.” I nodded politely, but I barely knew what a blog was – never mind this network based on a bunch of women who ranted online. She asked if I had ever considered starting an online journal – LAUGH! I had too much on my plate to find free time to blog.

The next year, when I once again attended the conference, the director and I had a great conversation about the success that her daughter had achieved and the immense popularity of blogs written by women. I offered heartfelt congratulations and was absolutely touched by the pride in her voice.

And years later, when I met Elise Camahort Page, Co-Founder of BlogHer in person – I had this very awesome introductory line:

“Hi Elisa, my name is Lena. I actually know your mother. Please give her my love.”

(Somehow, I think I stood out from everyone else’s intro that day. BOO-YAH!)

2. Last year, BlogHer’11 was in San Diego, which was both thrilling (I’d never been) and terrifying (I only had about two weeks notice to wrap my head around the fact that I was going). One of the articles that helped me immensely was Jen Taylor’s “What Should You Bring to a Conference?” post in her blog, Little Miss Mocha. It served as a soothing reality check, and I encourage all conference attendees to read it at at least once.

3. This year, BlogHer’12 is in New York City. And even though I’ve been to NYC more times than I’ve been to Burlington, I’ve never visited New York with a gaggle of bloggers. To say I’m excited is an understatement. Making it even more spectacular?

I’m going thanks to the good folks at Maple Leaf Foods! 

LOVE this partnership – as you all know, my family is a huge fan of Maple Leaf Foods and their umbrella of brands, especially Dempsters, Olivieri, Tenderflake, and more. In fact, at any given time, you can see my boys munching on a slice of Natural Selections Salami (sooo garlicky but sooo good!)

I look forward the official countdown to BlogHer’12 and over the next few months, you’ll definitely see me paying delicious homage to my sponsor. The good news? There will always be something in it for you too – whether it be tasty recipes, fabulous giveaways or the chance to grab free coupons!

New York City, here we come!

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: blogger conferences, BlogHer'12, Maple Leaf Foods, New York City

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Lena Almeida

Toronto Blogger, Social Media Strategist for Listen to Lena Inc. Television & Radio Personality, Columnist and Speaker. Family Travel Expert. Star Wars Fanatic. Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion. Read More…

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