Chicken and Gnocchi Soup

We LOVE the Chicken and Gnocchi soup at Olive Garden.  A lot.  So of course I had to find a similar recipe...this one is pretty darn close, but with a lot more veggies.  I normally use a bunch or bag of spinach or kale.  And I eyeball the rest of the veggies.  You can adjust this recipe by adding more veggies and broth.  The taste stays the same.  I'm also going to include a recipe for Ricotta Gnocchi/dumplings.  These are yummy in the soup and really tender.  They even tend to break up a little in the soup making it richer.

Chicken & Gnocchi Soup

1 cup chicken breast, cooked and diced
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups cream (half and half, heavy cream or whole milk)
1/2 cup celery, finely diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup carrots, finely shredded
1/2 cup onion, finely diced
1 cup fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon parsley
freshly grated Parmesan
1 lb gnocchi

Poach chicken breasts in broth in microwave till cooked through.  Cool and then coarsely chop or shred.

Saute onion, celery, garlic, spinach and carrots in olive oil till onion is nearly translucent.  Stir frequently.

Add chicken, chicken broth and spices.  Bring to a boil.

Slowly add gnocchi to boiling broth.

Turn down heat and simmer for 10 minutes.  If you want a thicker soup add a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with a little water) add to soup before adding cream.  Add the cream.  Allow mix to come to boil slowly.  Serve immediately.

This is a batch with spinach.  We prefer kale not only because it is healthier than spinach but for the texture that it adds to the soup.

Ricotta Gnocchi/Dumplings

1 lb fresh ricotta cheese
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon chives, minced
2/3 cup flour, plus extra for rolling

Mix together ricotta and beaten egg.  Add Parmesan, salt and pepper and chives.  Then slowly add flour to obtain the right consistency.  Let rest for 5 minutes.  Sprinkle work surface with flour.  Scoop out a tennis ball size of dough and start rolling into a long cylinder about 3/4 inches thick.  Once the cylinder is even and completely rolled out, cut into 1 inch dumplings.

Place on a floured sheet till ready to cook.  Bring water to simmer, not boil and add gnocchi.

Science Diet Grain Free Ideal Balance for Cats

 

Bzzagent recently asked me if Seven would like to try some Science Diet Grain Free Ideal Balance for cats.  Of course he said yes, well he meowed a bit.  I figured it would be something he'd like because Miss Rosie already gets the Grain Free Ideal Balance for dogs and he always tries to get the bags open to help himself.

Well it came the other day and he immediately tried to open the bag himself.  So I opened it up for him and gave him a few preview pieces.  Seven ate them right away.  So it's a big hit with him.  I'm glad he likes it because its good for him too.  It's got great ingredients like fresh chicken, fruits and veggies and also free of corn, artificial colors and preservatives.  And since he's an older cat, the grain free formula is great for him because its easier to digest.

You can go to hillspet.com/idealbalance to compare your cat's current food to Ideal Balance.  You can also download a rebate to try it out for free!!  How cool is that?

You can pick it up at your local Petsmart or Petco.  

*bzzagent sent me this product for Seven to try out and review.  All opinions are my own.*

Simple Skincare

SheSpeaks sent me this new Simple skincare to try out.  I got the Simple Hydrating Light Moisturizer.  Simple skincare is from the UK.  It's made for sensitive skin which I have.  Simple has no dyes, artificial perfumes or harsh irritants along with added vitamins. 

I can definitely say it works.  Before this I'd been using Burt's Bee's Sensitive skin line and while that worked I still had irritation from using it.  The moisturizer from Simple has cleared that all up.  Pretty much from the first time I put it on.  I've never had such great results with a product.  If you've got sensitive skin, I highly recommend checking out this product line.  As I use up my other products, I'll be changing them out of the Simple.


*SheSpeaks sent me this product for review.  All opinions are my own.*

$1.99 lb Corned Beef @ Mariano's

Late yesterday we ran over to pick up a few odds and ends at Mariano's in Arlington Heights.  Back by the Alcohol section of the store, there was a butcher case with cuts of corned beef for $1.99 lb.  We picked up a couple of pieces and I have to say it looked a lot better than what we've seen at Jewel, Dominick's and Meijers.

So if you've yet to pick up your corned beef for tonight you should head over and get one there.

Ides of March

Everyone knows the Ides of March as the day Julius Caesar was killed in 44 B.C.  But what makes March 15th an ides?  Ides is actually the singular form of the word.  Ides according to the Roman Calendar, were the day of the full moon each month.  Most months that meant an ides was actually the 13th day, but its the 15th of March, May, July and October.  It also marked the first day of spring for the Roman calendar.

The Ides of March was also special to the Romans in that it was the day of the year that the new Consuls (two leaders of Rome) took office.  The Consuls would rule jointly for about a year.  This is how they kept each other in check.  This makes Julius Caesar's assassination being on the Ides of March even more auspicious.  It definitely showed that the Roman elite didn't want him as a ruler.  

The Ides of March is special to me not for these reasons but because its my birthday.  I've always known that the 15th is called the Ides of March.  Even from a very young age, but not because of Julius Caesar, just that it's special because of me.  

Wholesome Wednesday: Rich Yellow Cake

This is the first recipe in our new Wholesome Wednesday series.  We’re going to be bringing you some old recipes from the turn of the century through the 1940’s.  Modernizing the recipes as needed.  This recipe for Rich Yellow cake didn’t need any changing at all.  It’s a delightfully rich and flavorful yellow cake.  We made some cupcakes with it.  And I can guarantee it didn’t take much longer to throw together than it would to use a cake mix.  But the flavor and texture are so much better. 

Rich Yellow Cake

1/3 cup shortening

1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature

1 ½ cup sugar

3 eggs

2 ¼ cup flour

2 ½ teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

1 ½ teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream together shortening, softened butter and sugar till fluffy.  Add eggs.  Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl.  Add alternately with milk and vanilla.  Mix till just incorporated. 

Recipe makes:

(2) 9-inch round cake pans, grease well bake @ 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

24 cupcakes, line tins with cupcake papers bake @ 350 for 20-22 minutes.

9x13 inch pan, grease well bake @350 for 30-40 minutes.

Too Far Under By Lynn Osterkamp

I thought this would be a typical murder mystery.  There would be a logical flow from a mundane evidence flow.  Only I was pleasantly surprised to see this author challenging the genre.  Osterkamp provides us with a sleuth that can interact with the dead.  Perhaps not for some readers who prefer a crime noir set-up.  However, it’s a perfect way to ensure that our sleuth can solve the case.  What better way than to be able to talk to the victim of the crime? This is the second book in the Cleo and Tyler Series. I have not read the first book.

The mystery is only a part of the novel.  Certainly, it’s the major plot point to find out what happened since the first chapter is the murder.  Quite a clean and quick one too since our victim doesn’t see the murderer.  We are left wondering what has happened and we have little development until about seventy pages into the book. 

However, our main character, Cleo Sims has a fairly interesting life with an unusual sidekick.  Her narrative sucks you in and you begin to worry about her relationship problems and her family as well.  There is some suspense, but it’s not exactly sitting on the edge of your seat.  This book is what I would deem a summer beach read.  It’s good, but you can put it down and walk away.  The suspense is enough to keep it interesting, but I didn’t find myself staying up all night to finish it.  Her sidekick is a ghost named Tyler.  Like all the other ghosts they interact with in the book, his information is not always directly helpful.

Cleo is not the typical sleuth.  She seems partly unwilling to be involved in a murder investigation.  Cleo Sims is a warm-hearted grief counselor who solves crime as an aid to her clients seeking therapy.  She is more concerned with the living and their needs.  She helps people contact the dead, but she isn’t doing it herself.  The plot is more concerned with the living and the consequences of the victim’s death rather than laying blame. 

I recommend this to someone who likes drama more than mysteries.  If you prefer mysteries that are solved with lab equipment and physical evidence or police procedurals then you probably won’t like this book.  Too Far Under is concerned much more with the character development rather than the crime.  It’s readable, but it’s not in my favorites list.  I prefer Sherlock Holmes and Bones who utilize science and detailed clues to solve a case.  

Lynn Osterkamp has written both fiction and non-fiction.  The setting is where she lives in Boulder, Colorado.  She provides wonderful imagery of her hometown.  It made her characters seem more real since I know that the places are real.  

You can learn more at www.lynnosterkamp.com

I was given this book to review.  On a slightly related note, I received this book in a digital format.  It took me longer to read than usual mostly because I prefer a physical book to an e-book.  

Mariano's Fresh Market Match-ups March 8 - March 21, 2012

Here are the best deals March 8 - March 21, 2012

Double Daze

Every Wednesday you can save 100% more on manufacturers’ coupons.  The manufacturer gives you a deal, and we double it.  Redeem up to 5 manufacturers' coupons worth up to $1 each and spend a minimum $25 in a single transaction, and we make those 5 coupons worth $10. That’s 100% more savings.

Mariano's Fresh Market Coupon Policy

Best Deals

·         Kashi Cereal 7.5-17.5 oz. $2.69 Print $2 here must spend points

o   Final Price $.69

·         Kashi TLC Granola Bars 6.7-8.4 oz. $2.69 Print $2 here must spend points

o   Final Price $.69

·         International Delight Iced Coffee 64 oz. $2.49 Print $1 here, Print $1 here

o   Final Price as low as $.49 during Double Daze

·         Garnier Fructis Shampoo or Conditioner 13 oz. $2.75 2/5 RP, ¾ RP

o   Final Price as low as $.75 during Double Daze

·         Irish Spring 2.7-3 oz. Deodorant, 15-18 oz. Body Wash or 8 pk. Bar Soap $3 3/11 SS

o   Final Price as low as $1 during Double Daze

·         Old Spice, Gillette or Ivory Body Wash 16-24 oz. $3 ¾ PG

o   Final Price as low as $1 during Double Daze

Produce

·         Large Navel Oranges 2/$1

·         Organic Large Navel Oranges 2/$1

·         Red or Green Seedless Grapes $1.29 lb

·         Green Beans $.99 lb

·         Celery $.79 each

·         Red or Green D’Anjou Pears $.79 lb

·         Red or Green Leaf Lettuce $.99 lb

·         Kale $.99 lb

·         Jumbo Hass Avocados $1.19 each

·         Ripe or Green Bananas $.39 lb

·         Organic Bananas $.69 lb

·         Del Monte MAG Melon $2.48 each

·         Mangoes $.89 each

·         Green Cabbage $.29 lb

·         Carrots 1 lb. $.58 each

·         Red Potatoes 5 lb. $1.78 each

·         Roundy’s Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice Half Gallon $3.33

Meats

·         Roundy’s Angus Corned Beef Brisket $3.29 lb.

·         Mariano’s Fresh Bratwurst Regular or Beer $3.99 lb

·         USDA Choice Strauss Lamb Loin Chops $7.99 lb

·         Perdue Fresh Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts $1.88 lb

·         Fresh East Coast Flounder Fillets $8.99 lb

·         Fresh Live Bluepoint Oysters 1 dozen $9.99

Deli

·         Old Fashioned Corned Beef By The Barrel Mar 12-17^th While Supplies Last $2.99 lb

·         Vienna Corned Beef While Supplies Last $4.99 lb

·         Dietz & Watson Black Forest Ham $5.99 lb

·         Dietz & Watson  London Broil Beef $7.99 lb

·         Eckrich Hard Salami $3.99 lb

·         Roundy’s Deli Turkey Breast Oven Roasted, Honey or Mesquite $4.99 lb

·         Wisconsin Muenster Cheese $3.99 lb

·         Lorraine Swiss Cheese $5.99 lb

·         Creamy Coleslaw $1.49 lb

·         Steakhouse Potato Salad $2.99 lb

·         Athenos Hummus 14 oz. B1G1

Cheese

·         Pinna Imported Pecorino Romano Cheese $4.99 lb

·         Saint Andre75% Triple Cream Cheese $14.99 lb

·         Domestic Moody Blue Cheese $10.99 lb

·         Athenos Traditional Feta 12 oz. $4.99 Print $.75 here

o   Final Price as low as $2.49 during Double Daze

·         Widmer Cheddar Cheese Aged 6 years $14.99 lb

·         34° Crispbread 4-5 oz. $3.99

Natural & Organic

·         Kashi TLC Granola Bars 6.7-8.4 oz. $2.69 Print $2 here must spend points

o   Final Price $.69

·         Roundy’s Organic Soups 14.5 oz. $1.69

·         Soy, Rice or Coconut Dream 32 oz. $2.79 Print $.50 here

o   Final Price as low as $1.79 during Double Daze

·         Organic Valley Yogurt 32 oz. $2.99 Print $.50 here

o   Final Price as low as $1.99 during Double Daze

·         Roundy’s Frozen Organic Strawberries 10 oz. $1.69

·         Kashi Cereal 7.5-17.5 oz. $2.69 Print $2 here must spend points

o   Final Price $.69

Grocery

·         Racconto Extra Virgin Olive Oil 34 oz. $4.99

·         Kraft Miracle Whip or Mayo 22-30 oz. $2.88 limit 2

·         Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts 8.56-23 oz. or 12 ct $2.69 ¾ RP

o   Final Price as low as $2 wyb 3 during Double Daze

·         Kellogg’s Eggo Syrup 8.56-23 oz. $2.69

·         Chicken of the Sea Chunk Light Tuna or Sardines 3.75-5 oz. $.79

·         Mission Tostadas or Flour or Yellow Corn Tortillas 14-27.5 oz. $1.59 2/5 SS

o   Final price $.84

·         Campbell’s Chicken Noodle or Tomato Soup 10.75 oz. $.69 Print $1/5 here

o   Final price as low as $1.45 for 5 cans during Double Daze

·         Arnold’s Dutch Country or Italian Bread 20-24 oz. $1.89

·         General Mills Granola Bars 5-10 ct. $2.49 2/5 SS, 2/26 SS Print $.75/2 here

o   Final price $1.99

·         Racconto Pasta 12-16 oz. $.99

·         Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent 100 oz. $11.99 3/11 SS

o   Final Price as low as $9.99 during Double Daze

·         Charmin 18 ct. Double Roll $10.99 $1 March Ebony

o   Final Price as low as $8.99 during Double Daze

Dairy

·         International Delight Iced Coffee 64 oz. $2.49 Print $1 here, Print $1 here

o   Final Price as low as $.49 during Double Daze

·         Coffee-mate Creamer 32 oz. $2.49 Print $.55 here

o   Final Price as low as $1.39 during Double Daze

·         Dannon Yogurt 6 oz. $.49 1/29 SS

·         Roundy’s Sweet Cream Butter Quarters Salted or Unsalted 16 oz. $2.49

·         Roundy’s Organic Eggs 6 ct. $1.49

·         Roundy’s Orange Juice 64 oz. $2.39

·         Yoplait Greek Yogurt 6 oz. $.89 1/22 SS, 2/5 SS

o   Final Price $.64

·         Shedd’s Spread Country Crock 45 oz. $2.99 Print $1 here

o   Final Price as low as $.99 during Double Daze

·         Kraft Grated Parmesan Cheese 8 oz. $2.99 2/12 SS

o   Final Price as low as $1.89 during Double Daze

·         Roundy’s Sour Cream 16 oz. $.99

·         Clear Value Milk 1 Gallon $1.99

Frozen

·         Eggo Waffles or Pancakes 8-12 ct. $1.59 Print $1/3 here

o   Final Price as low as $.92 wyb 3 during Double Daze

·         Roundy’s Organic Frozen Blueberries 10 oz. $2.39

·         Skinny Cow Ice Cream Novelties 15.9-24 oz. $3.59 Print $1 here

o   Final Price as low as $1.59 during Double Daze

·         Pepperidge Farm Layer Cake 17-19.6 oz. $2.29 2/5 SS

o   Final Price as low as $1.29 during Double Daze

·         Udi’s Gluten Free Bagels 14 oz. $3.99 Print $1 here, also blinkies @ Jewel

o   Final Price as low as $1.99 during Double Daze

·         Roundy’s Breakfast Sandwiches 15.6-18.4 oz. $2.79

·         Talenti Gelato 16 oz. B1G1

Misc.

·         Nature’s Bounty, Disney, Marvel, Ester-C Vitamins or Supplements B1G1 1/22 RP, 2/5 RP, 2/12 RP Print various coupons here

·         Garnier Fructis Shampoo or Conditioner 13 oz. $2.75 2/5 RP, ¾ RP

o   Final Price as low as $.75 during Double Daze

·         Irish Spring 2.7-3 oz. Deodorant, 15-18 oz. Body Wash or 8 pk. Bar Soap $3 3/11 SS

o   Final Price as low as $1 during Double Daze

·         Old Spice, Gillette or Ivory Body Wash 16-24 oz. $3 ¾ PG

o   Final Price as low as $1 during Double Daze

·         Ivory Bar Soap 10 pk. $4 ¾ PG

o   Final Price $3.65

·         Zest Bar Soap 8 pk. $4 Print $1/3 here

o   Final Price $3.67

·         Vicks, Nature Fusion, Sinex or Vaporub .5 oz., 8-12 oz. or 24 ct. $5.99 ¾ PG

o   Final Price $3.99

·         Claritin or Claritin for Children 10 ct. or 4 oz. $8.99 ¾ SS

o   Final Price $6.99

·         Huggies Soft Pack Wipes 56-72 oz. $2 2/12 SS exp 3/10

o   Final Price as low as $1 during Double Daze

·         Aveeno Lotion 12 oz. $6 Print $1 here

o   Final Price as low as $4 during Double Daze

·         Buy any $15 worth of the following KAO products using your Mariano’s Card and get a $5 OYNO cat:

o   Jergens or Curel Lotion 7.5-21 oz. $5 ¾ SS, Print $3/2 here

§  Final price $3.50 wyb 2

o   John Frieda Shampoo, Conditioner or Styling Products 1.69-12 oz. 25% off ¾ SS, 2/12 SS,

o   Biore Skincare Products 4.5-6.77 oz. 2/$12 ¾ SS

§  Final price $3 each wyb 2

Hugo Naturals Handcrafted Soap Energizing Grapefruit

I was picked last month as a Hugo Naturals Ambassador!  :)  Exciting, right?  They sent me three of their all natural products to try and review.  This the third and final one I'm going to share with you.  :)

Hugo Naturals Handcrafted Soap Energizing Grapefruit smells like juicy grapefruits.  It's a wonderfully moisturizing soap.  Left my hands feeling like I'd just used lotion.  I will say my mom appreciated the grapefruit smell more than I did.  Grapefruit being one of my least fave smells.  But the soap itself was luxuriant and lathered well. 

If you've read my blog before you know that I love anything natural or organic.  I especially love that Hugo Naturals products are always gluten and soy free along with being vegan.  As I've got a soy allergy, its truly great to find a line of body products that are soy free.  Never fun to get a migraine because you've tried something new and not read the label properly.

*Hugo Naturals sent me this product for review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Hugo Naturals Brown Sugar Body Polish Rejuvenating Kumquat

I was picked last month as a Hugo Naturals Ambassador!  :)  Exciting, right?  They sent me three of their all natural products to try and review.  This the second one I'm going to share with you.  :)

 

Hugo Naturals Brown Sugar Body Polish Rejuvenating Kumquat smells like brown sugar and oranges to me.  I've never actually smelled a kumquat or had one before, so I'm not sure what they're supposed to smell like.  I can tell you that this is a very luscious, emollient-rich sugar scrub.  Here's a pic of it with the lid off.

See how thick and rich it is?  I actually had to use a metal spoon to stir it the first time I used it.  It's a very, very thick paste.  It rubs on really easily in the shower.  And rinses off with no problem.  It leaves your skin extremely moisturized.  I've actually never used a scrub quite this rich.  I know, I keep using the word over and over but its just so rich! :)  My skin felt so good after using this.  It's definitely something I'd recommend using.  

If you've read my blog before you know that I love anything natural or organic.  I especially love that Hugo Naturals products are always gluten and soy free along with being vegan.  As I've got a soy allergy, its truly great to find a line of body products that are soy free.  Never fun to get a migraine because you've tried something new and not read the label properly.

*Hugo Naturals sent me this product for review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

WeTopia

I know that I got sucked into playing games on Facebook.  It was any easy way to procrastinate only it was not in the least bit productive.

Luckily, now it can be.  There is a new game called WeTopia.  WeTopia is a similar platform to most social games.  You get friends to help you build things in the game and unlock content as you level up.  Only, this game is centered around giving Joy.

Your time is spent building your own town and when you collect from your buildings you gather Joy.  This Joy is then sent by your own choosing to various projects.  So, far the options are within the United States and Haiti.  They are also planning to help charitable projects in Africa.  So, you can choose whether you want to help build schools or give medical care.

The game itself is adorable.  You build Joygrounds which essentially allow your town to grow bigger.  Only most parts of the game aren't static.  The children actually play on the swings and walk around your town.  The stores are easily identifiable as having giant representations of their products on the top (the bakery has a cupcake, the fish market has a giant fish, etc).

I suggest that you check it out if you are already a user and game player of Facebook.  I know that playing a game is not the best way to give to charity, however, if you're going to be online, like me, then you might as well spend your time giving back.  I know I'll get sucked into playing games with my friends so I am choosing to use the one that is doing good.

As they say WeTopia allows you to "Play for Good".  So, why not do good while you play?  You're not going to miss Farmville when you can farm elsewhere.  You can contribute to the growing number of hot meals and fresh water given to children.  At the time of me writing this post the stats listed are:

Hot meals                           246,885
Liters of Fresh water          1,353,299
Pairs of Shoes                      2,149
Bricks                                   767
Coats                                  2,192

If you would like to know more then visit: www.wetopia.com

Hugo Naturals All Over Lotion Comforting Vanilla & Sweet Orange

I was picked last month as a Hugo Naturals Ambassador!  :)  Exciting, right?  They sent me three of their all natural products to try and review.  This the first one I'm going to share with you.  :)

Hugo Naturals All Over Lotion in Comforting Vanilla and Sweet Orange smells like orange butter cream frosting.  Super duper yummy.  As anything butter cream is a fave scent of mine this was wonderful.  You can use it all over, even on your face.  It's super rich and thick.  A little goes a long way.  The lotion soaks in quickly and leaves you feeling moisturized without feeling greasy at all.

If you've read my blog before you know that I love anything natural or organic.  I especially love that Hugo Naturals products are always gluten and soy free along with being vegan.  As I've got a soy allergy, its truly great to find a line of body products that are soy free.  Never fun to get a migraine because you've tried something new and not read the label properly.

*Hugo Naturals sent me this product for review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.*