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VH Steamers

Cheat Your Way To An Easy Dinner with VH

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All in favour of cheating? Say “Aye”.

Often, I take pride in placing an award winning, made-from-scratch, piping hot meal on the table. Nothing gives me more pleasure than showing off my culinary prowess; especially when my efforts are so well received by my doting family.

And other times, I like to slap a frozen pizza on the table and walk away.

Somewhere in the middle of this love/hate relationship with making dinner is what I like to call “The VH Zone“.

VH Sauces offer a quick, easy and tasty solution for bringing a little culture into your cuisine. From zesty Orange Ginger to Spicy Thai Chili Sauce, you can create a healthy and delicious stir fry on the fly – perfect for those weekday nights when you’re craving take-out but want a more nutritious (and wallet-friendly) option.

And, they help me cheat.

Cheaters General Tao Chicken

6 frozen chicken fingers, baked and chopped into bite-size pieces
2 green onions, sliced thinly
1/2 green pepper, diced
1 egg, beaten, scrambled until just cooked and set aside
1 bottle VH General Tao Stir Fry Sauce
one large bunch cappellini pasta

So, you know how most General Tao meals include crispy, deep fried chicken? I figured out I could replicate the taste with frozen, breaded chicken fingers that have been baked in my toaster oven. They offer the same crispy, seasoned coating with none of the deep fried mess. Plus, I can bake the chicken fingers while I’m prepping my ingredients, so the entire meal is ready in less than 30 minutes….

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Celebrate Chinese New Year with VH #Giveaway

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Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only. 

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Today, millions of people around the world will celebrate Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays; in China, it is known as “Spring Festival.” This year, Year of the Dragon, we’re celebrating the only mythological and “free spirit” of the Chinese Zodiac. Intense!

If you’re looking to celebrate tonight – or any night – and would like a little help in the kitchen, VH Sauces offer a quick, easy and tasty solution for bringing a little culture into your cuisine. Tonight, why not try out Hoisin Meatballs with Pineapple or Spring Rolls with Hoisin Dip for some Chinese New Year inspired meals. VH Sauces helps my family create healthy, delicious meals on the fly – perfect for those weekday nights when I’m craving take-out but want a more nutritious (and wallet-friendly) option. Plus, I love that the boys are introduced to different tastes and textures – they love almost every Asian cuisine I make, especially if it’s liberally doused in delicious VH Sauce!

To celebrate Chinese New Year tonight, we’re doing a little “East Meets West” with Honey Garlic Chicken Wings! I simply marinate the wings in the cooking sauce for 2 hours, and then bake them at 400 degrees Celcius until done. I’ll also reduce extra cooking sauce on the stove until it’s thick and sticky, and then baste the wings when they come out of the oven. YUM!

Of course, if you’re on the go and don’t have time to deal with pots, pans and dishes, do try VH Steamers. They’re Asian-inspired meals ready in less than 5 minutes and steamed to perfection! Available in Kung Pao Chicken, Shanghai Ginger Beef (my fave!), Honey Sesame Chicken, Chicken Teriyaki, Thai Chicken and Shrimp (think I’d love this too – a must try!) and Zesty Orange Chicken, they’re quick and tasty, perfect for lunch at the office or busy school nights.

Click here to visit VH Sauces and Steamers.

WIN IT!!!

One lucky Listen to Lena reader will win a Chinese New Year gift pack valued at $60! To enter, simply leave a comment on this post telling us what is your favourite VH Sauce/Steamer flavour.

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

(1) Add Listen to Lena on Google Plus
(2) “Like” Listen to Lena on Facebook
(3) Follow Listen to Lena on Twitter
(4) “Like” VH on Facebook
(5) Tweet daily about this giveaway; Please use this VH Giveaway Tweet.

I’ll draw for a winner on February 10th. Good luck everybody!

I am participating in the VH Chinese New Year Celebration program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of VH.  I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Celebrating Moon Festival with VH Sauces

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Happy Moon Festival!

Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, is one of the most celebrated holidays in the Chinese calendar. Moon Festival falls on September 12th this year (today!) and on this date, families across the world will gather with brightly-lit Chinese lanterns to share delicious Chinese cuisine with one another.

If you’re looking to celebrate tonight – or any night – and would like a little help in the kitchen, VH Sauces offer a quick, easy and tasty solution for bringing a little culture into your cuisine. From zesty Orange Ginger to the NEW Spicy Thai Chili Sauce, you can create a healthy and delicious stir fry on the fly – perfect for those weekday nights when you’re craving take-out but want a more nutritious (and wallet-friendly) option.

To celebrate Moon Festival this evening, I once again threw together my 5-minute standby:

Lena’s Quick Un-Pad Thai
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes

250g capellini pasta
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup medium cooked shrimp, deveined
3/4 cup VH Thai Market Pad Thai Sauce
1 tsp sesame seed oil
2-3 leaves fresh basil, chiffonade cut
Original PAM Cooking Spray

In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook capellini according to manufacturer’s directions (normally only about 3-4 minutes).

Meanwhile, spray a wok or large pan with PAM cooking spray; set on medium heat. Add minced garlic and fry barely 30 seconds; add shrimp, VH Market Pad Thai Sauce and sesame oil; stir for 1 minute until heated through. Toss with drained pasta, remove to serving bowl and sprinkle with fresh basil.

Ta-da! A delicious, Asian-inspired meal that you can create in minutes with a few staple ingredients on hand – including the VH Sauce, of course! All my boys gobble it up, and even though it’s not strictly authentic, the flavours are nonetheless perfectly balanced.

If you’re on the go and don’t have time to deal with pots, pans and dishes, do try VH Steamers. They’re Asian-inspired meals ready in less than 5 minutes and steamed to perfection! Available in Kung Pao Chicken, Shanghai Ginger Beef (my fave!), Honey Sesame Chicken, Chicken Teriyaki, Thai Chicken and Shrimp (think I’d love this too – a must try!) and Zesty Orange Chicken, they’re quick and tasty, perfect for lunch at the office or busy school nights.

What makes them unique? VH Steamers feature a DuoTray SteamCooker – a fancy title which essentially translates to the meal cooking naturally in it’s own juices, which helps lock in flavour and preserve the texture of the food. I cannot lie: my husband is addicted to these convenient little wonders, and I must admit that they are leaps and bounds better than your average frozen entrée. They’re a staple in our home!

Click here to visit VH Sauces and Steamers.


You can make your own Asian-inspired meal thanks to a $50 Grocery Gift Card! To enter, simply leave a comment on this post telling us how you introduce culture into your cuisine.

I am participating in the VH Moon Festival program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of VH. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Reno-Giveaway #8: ConAgra Foods

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Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

Sigh, it’s my last Reno-cation giveaway! I’ve had such an awesome time showcasing my new abode – and the companies that made it possible. Here’s another sponsor who made my life SO MUCH easier amidst the chaos: ConAgra Foods.

Now I know you’ve enjoyed goodies from one (or more) of their awesome brands – Chef Boyardee, Healthy Choice, Hunt’s, Orville Redenbacher’s, PAM, POGO, Snack Pack and VH – at any given time, my pantry is stocked with these products!

We’ve already agreed that cooking was not my priority during the renovations, so when the good folks at ConAgra Foods asked if I needed a little help in the kitchen, I responded with a resounding “YES!”

I was very lucky to have received  a sampling of their most delicious foods to help create quick and simple meals, and of course, facilitate late night snacks! (Thank you Orville – your New Flavour Shakers White Cheddar Popcorn is simply delicious!)

I’m sure you’ve heard me say Ryder is addicted to popcorn, so his eyes literally lit up when the Smart Pop made it’s way to the pantry. (Did you know that Smart Pop has only 130 calories per 7 cups, 0 trans fat and 20% of your daily value for fibre, per 1/2 bag? Yup, it’s pretty much the perfect snack.)

If you didn’t catch my review on Healthy Choice Gourmet Steamers, shame on you! You’ve likely missed out on tons of quick, delicious and healthy meals!

With Healthy Choice Gourmet Steamers, you can enjoy unbelievably fresh tasting, healthy meals cooked to perfection in your microwave. The secret? High-quality ingredients and a unique DuoTray SteamCooker which circulates steam throughout the meal during cooking.

And if you’re looking for equally delicious, Asian-inspired meals, then you simply must try VH Steamers. I must admit, they’re my fave. Using a similar cooking technology as the Healthy Choice Gourmet Steamers, flavour is locked in – which is especially awesome when the flavour is Shanghai Ginger Beef :)

(The husband has declared VH Steamers his new “emergency food”! They are stacked in my freezer at any given time.)

Wondering what I did with all the other goodies I received? I prepared the EASIEST MEAL EVER – which loosely consists of me throwing together a few items while masquerading as a master chef. Write this down:

Lena’s Quick Un-Pad Thai
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes

250g capellini pasta
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup medium cooked shrimp, deveined
3/4 cup VH Thai Market Pad Thai Sauce
2-3 leaves fresh basil, chiffonade cut
Original PAM Cooking Spray

In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook capellini according to manufacturer’s directions (normally only about 3-4 minutes).

Meanwhile, spray a wok or large pan with PAM cooking spray; set on medium heat. Add minced garlic and fry barely 30 seconds; add shrimp and VH Market Pad Thai Sauce and stir for 1 minute until heated through. Toss with drained pasta, remove to serving bowl and sprinkle with fresh basil.

Ta-da! A delicious, Asian-inspired meal that you can create in minutes if you’ve got a few staple ingredients on hand – including the VH Sauce, of course! All my boys gobble it up, and even though it’s not strictly authentic, the flavours are nonetheless perfectly balanced.


You find all the ConAgra brands at your local supermarket!


One lucky Listen to Lena! reader will win Five (5) Healthy Choice Gourmet Steamers Free Product Coupons and Five (5) VH Steamers Free Product Coupons! (Total Value $50)

To enter, simply visit Healthy Choice Gourmet Steamers and VH Sauces online and choose your two favourite flavours from each of the steamers. Then, leave a comment here telling us what they are.

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” Healthy Choice Canada on Facebook
(5) “Like” Life Unjarred on Facebook
(6) Tweet daily: Please use this ConAgra Foods Giveaway Tweet.

I’ll draw for a winner on June 30th. Good luck everybody!