Grocery Mama

$25,000 Make That Sandwich contest

I love Food Contests, yep I watch them on food network all the time. Even though I've yet to win, I keep entering. It's fun and I get to come up with new recipes in the process.

Here is the latest from Mezzetta:

$25,000 Make That Sandwich contest (www.mezzetta.com), and that its deadline is fast approaching (Labor Day).  The winner receives a culinary trip to Napa in addition to the $25k, and two runner ups win $1,000 – not bad for a sandwich recipe!  The sponsor of the contest is GL Mezzetta, a family-owned specialty food producer, best known for their peppers and olives.  I have to say that my lunches have been a lot more flavorful (and healthy) since we started working with them.

 

This was the winner of last year’s sandwich: http://www.makethatsandwich.com/winners/hot_sandwich.php, and although tasty, I am sure you and your readers can give it a run for the money.  You can enter your favorite sandwich recipe(s) in three categories: cold sandwich, hot sandwich, and vegetarian.

Here is last year's winner, yum!

Spanish-Style Grilled Cheese Sandwich
with Smoky Paprika Roasted Pepper & Tomato Topping (Hot Sandwich)

 

Recipe Category: Hot
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients:

8 (1/2-inch-thick) slices peasant bread or other artisan bread
3 cups shredded Manchego cheese
3 ounces thinly sliced Serrano ham or prosciutto

Smoky Paprika Roasted Pepper & Tomato Topping:
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
3 to 4 tablespoons MEZZETTA Extra Virgin Olive Oil - divided
1 tablespoons MEZZETTA Crushed Garlic
1 cup MEZZETTA Roasted Red Pepper Strips
1 cup MEZZETTA Sun-Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil
3 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley or cilantro

Directions:

For Topping: Whisk together vinegar, paprika, 1 tablespoon MEZZETTA Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and MEZZETTA Crushed Garlic in bowl. Add MEZZETTA Roasted Red Pepper Strips, MEZZETTA Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and parsley (or cilantro); tossing to coat.

For Sandwiches: Sprinkle 4 slices of bread with half the cheese. Top with Smoky Paprika Roasted Pepper & Tomato Topping and ham. Apply the remaining cheese as another layer. Top with a second piece of bread and press together.

Brush sandwiches with remaining MEZZETTA Extra Virgin Olive Oil and heat in a panini press or skillet until lightly browned on both sides and cheese has melted. Serve hot.

Makes 4 sandwiches

Make Your Own Ice Pops

 

It's hot out! And nothing is more refreshing then some ice pops on a hot day!

Here is a list of some great home made icee treats:

Ice Pops

Strawberry Lemonade Ice pops 

Yogurt Pops 

What kind of refreshing treats do you make? 

Make Your Own Ice Pops

 

It's hot out! And nothing is more refreshing then some ice pops on a hot day!

Here is a list of some great home made icee treats:

Ice Pops

Strawberry Lemonade Ice pops 

Yogurt Pops 

What kind of refreshing treats do you make? 

FISHING FOR FRUGAL RECIPES: WINNER CATCHES $5,000

Calling all creative and cost-conscious cooks!  Regal Springs Tilapia, the world’s largest producer of the mild-tasting, popular fish, is searching for the best family-friendly tilapia meal for no more than $15.  Six finalists will receive cash prizes.  The grand prize winner receives $5,000 and may appear on the company’s website and promotional materials.  The contest begins May 1 and ends August 1, 2009.

Anyone in the 50 contiguous United States and District of Columbia who is over 18 and enjoys cooking fish can enter the contest. Recipes must be original and meals must include a tilapia entrée, salad and vegetable or fruit to feed a family of four for no more than $15.  The judges may consist of professional chefs, restaurateurs and managers in the food service industry.  Winners will be notified by email and announced on the website by Sept. 1.  Judges will base their decisions on the following criteria: creativity, ingredients, thoroughness of instructions, and other such criteria as may be determined by Regal Springs Tilapia. For complete Contest requirements, Official Rules and to enter the Contest, log on to www.regalsprings.com.

Recycled Craft Idea - Eggshell Flowers

 

Thi Picture and craft idea is taken from Skip To My Lou.

I was on the search for fun craft ideas with recyled materials and came across these wonderful flowers from egg cartons.

I thought they would make a welcome decoration to your Easter table!

Recycled Crafts - Egg Cartons Catipillars

As part of our Earth Day fun all month, I'm looking for cool crafty ideas that I can make with items found in the home.

I found this cute catipillar on Our Crafts n Things. I didn't have any tissue paper so we just colored them in wth markers. I had egg cartons for sure. I printed out pictures of the kiddos and let my son cut them out. We used hot glue to put them all together.

   

My two youngest made them and we had a great time! Now they are on the window sill to welcome spring!

I hope you have fun making crafts with your kids from what we already have!!!

Happy National Pancake Day!

 

February 24th is National Pancake day! IHOP is celebrating with free pancakes in thier efforts to raise money for Childrens Miracle Network! Details here.

So go in and enjoy a free short stack and please give to a worthy cause!

Cute Craft idea from Preschool

 

Cute craft idea

My son had his Valentines day party today at preschool and they made a really cute and simple craft.

Supplies:

2 sticks of gum

strand of licorice (the thin kind)

heart sticker

red heart wings (2)

place the sticks of gum (still in wrappers) together. Cut two pieces from the licorice strand for antenna. Place them inbetween the gum and hold together with a rubber band. Put a little glue on top of the gum and attach the two heart wings. Place heart sticker on top of the wings.

Valentines Fun

 

It's Valentine season, and one of the fun things I like to do is to make valentines with my kids for their class.

If you need some great ideas, you can always check out FamilyFun!

This is the Rock Candy MP3 idea that my daughter wants to make.

Here's a Plane idea.

Here are some other ideas I found around the blogosphere:

Easy Ideas from Creative Homemaker

Family Fun ideas from Moms in a Blog

Felt Valentine Idea

and of course check out the Crafty Crow!

Do you have any Valentines Ideas!!! Send them over, I'd be happy to post them!

Super Bowl Fare

Tomorrow is the Super Bowl! (Go Pitt!).

Anyway, here are some ideas for some goodies to make.

 

Pistachio's are easy to put into a bowl and they are on sale at every grocery store this week!

I am making a BBQ Chicken Pizza. Using my No Fail Pizza Dough, I just add BBQ for the sauce. Then some cooked leftover chicken. I put shredded chedder/ and some montery jack cheese on the top with some green chilies. I just throw it in the oven at 350 for 25 minutes.

Here are some other great ideas I found aroung the blogasphere:

Erin at $5 dinners has some fantastic options including hummus.

Make your own salsa.

White Chicken Chili and Potato skins - yum

Frugal Ideas

Any other ideas?