New England Bloggers Carnival: You Know You’re From New England When … (and a Giveaway too!)

From the Mountains to the Ocean

Come join the blog hop where you’ll meet some wonderful bloggers from New England.  You’ll find groups of Work-at-Home Moms, Baby Boomers, SAHM, Grams, Review, Giveaway, Crafting and Jewelry designers, Coupon & Frugal writers who are as diverse as the states comprised of the 6 original Colonies known as “New England.”

Welcome!

You Know You’re From New England When:

• You’ve worn shorts and a parka at the same time

• You’ve been to Cape Cod

• You consider 65 degree ocean water “warm”

• You have switched from “heat” to “A/C” in the same day and back again

• There are 25 Dunkin’ Donuts within 20 minutes of your house

• You have ever missed school due to “Mud”

• You get mad when people assume New York is part of New England

• Sox-Yankees games are a life and death matter

It’s all true …

I’d like to thank Thoughts from an Evil Overload for hosting this blog hop. When I first came across Elizabeth’s blog I was over-joyed to realize that there were so many diverse bloggers in New England!

I have a special GIVEAWAY here just for Visiting My Blog today, so be sure to read to the end!

Today I’ll be introducing you to other New England bloggers – we’re such friendly folk! Make sure to visit the Linky!

On my journey visiting the extensive list, my eye was immediately drawn to The Cape Cod Rambling Rose.

Over the years our family has spent a tremendous amount of time on the Cape, and it’s probably one of my most favorite places to visit.  We even considered for awhile buying a second home in the Eastham – Wellfleet area.

Louise, the author of Cape Cod Rambling Rose,  considers herself a “washashore,” but her husband’s family has been on the Cape since 1623! When she isn’t busy tending to her 4 young school-age children, Louise shares her daily routine on the Cape through beautiful photographic images. She also enjoys volunteering, beach walks and offering magnificent beach~inspired jewelry, vintage embellished journals and albums, as well as romantic homegoods for her Etsy shop, Cape Cod Cupboard. When you visit her, please be sure to let her know that Cindi sent you from the New England Bloggers Blog Hop!

Visit at: Cape Cod Rambling Rose

I’m Cindi, a Baby-Boomer wife, mom of 2 grown daughters, 2 grandchildren & hail from New England.

Now do you want to know more about me? Read my 101 Random Things About Me post where I spill all the sordid details on the Baby Boomer Grandmom behind this blog!

You’ll see from my Featured Content Gallery on my home page that I’m a big cheerleader for our neck of the woods on the East Coast – in my Meme section I like to feature scenic photography shots from some of my family road trips.

I’ve posted so many, but these are among my favorites:

• Salt Marsh at the mouth of the Connecticut River

• Fall Splender on Main Street

• Connecticut Scarecrows at Halloween

• Shade Tobacco Farm Barns

• Family Fun at Local County Fairs

Be sure to visit and don’t miss my posts on  leaf-peeping season in Ogunquit, Maine and Vermont Mountains in winter, if only for the photography!

I offer Product Reviews from the perspective of a “Baby Boomer Grandmom Who’s Been Around the Block.” Don’t forget to check the tabs up above, and my sidebar where I have my favorite Best of 2009 articles, along with Blogging Tips, Social Media posts and Work-At-Home posts – all in one easy-to-find spot!

I’m also the author of Frugal New England Kitchen, for old-fashioned comfort food recipes, coupons, kitchen tips, reviews and giveaways.

At Great Finds and Giveaways, which I just launched last week, you can enter for a chance to win a Keurig B60 Special Edition System Brewing System!  Who can’t use a good cuppa Joe on a cold New England winter’s night?

You’ll also be able to add and promote your Giveaway Linky to my Master List!

Subscribe to my newsletter or in a reader if you like what you see!

You can connect with me at:

Twitter: @Moomettes
Facebook: Moomette’s Magnificents

Visit my New England lenses:

Where to Shop for New England Comfort Food

Old-Fashion New England Yankee Recipes and Cooking

I’m so happy you stopped by ~ Whether you’re a regular reader or visiting for the first time, introduce yourself and be sure to leave me a comment so I’ll return the visit & get to know you! Leave your Twitter name in the fill-in box and I’ll be sure to give you a shout-out for visiting!

One last Goodie before you go!

Moomette’s Magnificents is hosting my own Giveaway Contest for more party fun! For a chance to win, there will be one (1) winner of a Simple Pleasures Coconut & Sugar Cane travel set.

You’ll be getting:

1) Hand Lotion-2 fl.oz.
2) Shower Gel-2 fl.oz.
3) Body Mist-2 fl.oz.
4) Body Lotion-2 fl.oz.

All 4 of these products come in it’s own mesh zippered bag. Fits perfectly into any small space in your suitcase and they’re all just the right size for travel or a weekend getaway!

Please include a way of contacting you. Should you be the contest winner, this information is necessary in order to send your prize.

Main Rule: (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)
a) Sign up for my free Newsletter Updates to my blog through my e-mail Feedblitz link (on the top of my right column or let me know if you already are, in a separate comment) AND

b) Leave a comment on a non-giveaway post on my blog! (please leave the title of the post in a separate comment)

*Open to USA and Canada Only

For Additional Entries, check out my Contest Entry Rules.

This contest will run until July 1, 2010  at 11:00 pm. EDT

Thanks for visiting and please stop by again and Visit my New England friends on this Blog Hop!!

Thanks for visiting! Comments are always appreciated!

Cookbook of Memories: Muffins & Mayhem by Suzanne Beecher a Review & Giveaway

A Ticket Back Home

Recipes for a Happy (If Disorderly) Life

I was recently offered the opportunity to read Suzanne Beecher’s Muffins and Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy – if Disorderly – Life (Touchstone).  This delightful book makes it debut this June 2010.

If you’re a regular reader, you know that I always wanted to be a librarian.  One of my favorite things to do is visit independently owned bookstores and poke through the stacks.  My favorite place to get to several times a year is The Book Barn, in Niantic, CT.

Over the years I’ve had to clean out several homes of family relatives – and was always drawn to the handwritten recipes tucked away in cardboard boxes and such.  I’m finding that I take comfort in trying to relive memories of favorite childhood recipes by trying to replicate comfort food for myself. For that reason, the chapter “I Miss My Mother” perhaps affected me the most.

The author has owned a restaurant, founded and published a business magazine, established a non-profit program to feed the homeless, and home-schooled her youngest son.  This busy lady also writes a daily column for DearReader.com.

Muffins and Mayhem was inspired by a reader who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and was wondering how to leave a legacy to her children.  Suzanne suggested a recipe box filled with memories and family stories.  Helping this reader turned out to be a gift to Suzanne as well, and she decided to share the stories and recipes that help keep her grounded in today’s unpredictable world.

Put this thought-provoking book on your summer reading list!

Then bake up some of Suzanne’s blueberry muffins, pour a tall glass of iced tea or sweet tea and take some time to savor the days when all food was slow food and people came together to enrich the quality of eachother’s lives.

Suzanne has also launched a site in conjunction with the release of this new book.  Visitors can create their very own Cookbook of Memories and also sign up to receive a free, personalized and autographed bookplate from the author.

Available on: Amazon

• Hardcover: 233 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439112878
• ISBN-13: 978-1439112878
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches

For More Information Visit: Muffins and Mayhem

Moomette’s Magnificents is hosting a Giveaway Contest! For a chance to win, there will be one (1) winner of a copy of Muffins and Mayhem, along with an apron!

Please include a way of contacting you. Should you be the contest winner, this information may be shared with the contest sponsor in order to send your prize.

Main Rule:   (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)
a) Sign up for my free Newsletter Updates to my blog through my e-mail Feedblitz link (on the top of my right column or let me know if you already are, in a separate comment) AND

b) Visit Muffins and Mayhem and leave a comment about another fact that wasn’t mentioned in this post.

~ One Extra Entry: Become a Moomette’s Magnificents Facebook Fan and leave a comment on our wall with your thoughts on this giveaway.

~ One Extra Entry: Click the “Like” button on this post and leave your name in a separate comment

~ One Extra Entry: Follow and Rank Moomette’s Magnificents on Networked Blogs (right sidebar) and leave your name in a separate comment.

~ One Extra Entry: Follow my blog publicly on Google Friend Connect (sidebar)

~One Extra Entry: Tweet this giveaway and post the link in your comment- (may do this daily) 1 extra/day (50 Followers minimum to qualify for extra entry)

copy and paste to tweet

I just entered to #Win Muffins & Mayhem book w/Apron for summer reading @Moomettes http://clicky.me/gzv

This contest will run until June 17, 2010 at 11:00 pm. EDT

For Additional Entries & info check out my Contest Entry Rules.

Welcome to the 5 Minutes for Mom Ultimate Blog Party and Giveaway

The kickoff the of the 5 Minutes for Mom Ultimate Blog Party has started!  This terrific blog carnival runs from today, April 9 -16, 2010 and is a great opportunity to meet new bloggers and also for exposure for your blogs!

If you’re not familiar with how a Blog Party works, you can read about it in my post HERE.

Come join the party, meet some new Work-at-Home Moms, Baby Boomer Grams, SAHMs, Craft Bloggers, Coupon & Frugal bloggers  & also have a chance to Win some great swag as well.   Make sure to check out my Giveaway Prize on 5M4M, and also the Giveaway I have here just for Visiting My Blog today!

Welcome!

I’m Cindi, a Baby-Boomer wife, mom of 2 grown daughters, 2 grandchildren & hail from New England.

Want to know more about me? Read my 101 Random Things About Me post where I spill all the sordid details on the Baby Boomer Grandmom behind this blog!

I offer Product Reviews from the perspective of a “Baby Boomer Grandmom Who’s Been Around the Block.” Don’t forget to check the tabs up above, and my sidebar where I have my favorite Best of 2009 articles, along with Blogging Tips, Social Media posts and Work-At-Home posts – all in one easy-to-find spot!

Subscribe to my newsletter or in a reader if you like what you see!

You can connect with me at:

Twitter: @Moomettes
Facebook: Moomette’s Magnificents

I’ve joined the party and will be donating a Magnificent new cookbook – How to Roast a Lamb: New Greek Classic Cooking (Hachette Publishing) by Michael Psilakis (who’s been referred to as the “Greek-American Mario Batali.“

There are so many cool prizes to be won at this year’s Ultimate Blog Party, but my top three picks would be:

• A $100 gift eCertificate to Restaurant.com

• Provided by: Ernest Parenting

• Full-Size Authentic Scentsy Warmer and 3 wax scents!

• Provided by: Mrs. Marine

• $100 gift certificate to Kay Jewelers

• Provided by:An Unpink Life

And if my top three picks are already chosen, I’d love any of the following (in order of preference): US#1, US#3, US#19, or USC#15, USC#39, USC#95, USC#97, or any prizes that would be appropriate for a 4 year old girl and 2 year old boy (my grandkids!) or moi, for a change!

I’m so happy you stopped by ~ Whether you’re a regular reader or visiting for the first time, introduce yourself and be sure  to leave me a comment so I’ll return the visit & get to know you! Leave your Twitter name in the fill-in box and I’ll be sure to give you a shout-out for visiting!

Want to have more fun?  Click the banner button at the bottom of this post for a Random Article!

What’s a party without food? As promised, I said I’d have the buffet and libations set out and waiting for you!

Layered Spinach Salad

 

This is one of my favorites from when I belonged to the Junior Woman’s Club, where I was a board member Recording Secretary.  As a fundraiser, we put together a cookbook, and this recipe was very popular.  It’s a great healthy salad that’s quick and easy to prepare. Make it ahead of time, and let set-up in the refrigerator overnight.  The flavors just meld together and it’s always a big hit  at all those summer picnics, pool parties and Memorial Day gatherings!

Ingredients:

1 lb     spinach, stemmed and torn
1/2 lb  bacon, crumbled
6        hard cooked eggs, crumbled
1   iceburg lettuce head, torn
1        box frozen peas, thawed but uncooked
dash   salt, pepper and sugar
1 Bermuda onion (medium), sliced thin

Dressing Mix:
2 c.   mayonnaise
1 c.  sour cream
1      Good Seasons Italian Dressing envelope

Preparation:

Layer in this order: spinach salt pepper bacon eggs iceburg lettuce peas sugar salt pepper onion

Frosting:
mayonnaise sour cream dressing mix. Garnish with
strips of swiss cheese. (optional)

Cover and refrigerate OVERNIGHT.  This is a must.  This looks so pretty served in a glass bowl.

For more great recipes visit me at the Frugal New England Kitchen.

One last Goodie before you go!

 

Moomette’s Magnificents is hosting my own  Giveaway Contest for more party fun!   For a chance to win, there will be one (1) winner of a children’s cookbook – Bean Appetit: Hip and Healthy Ways to Have Fun with Food

Please include a way of contacting you. Should you be the contest winner, this information is necessary in order to send your prize.

Main Rule: (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)
a) Sign up for my free Newsletter Updates to my blog through my e-mail Feedblitz link (on the top of my right column or let me know if you already are, in a separate comment) AND

b) Leave a comment on a non-giveaway post on my blog! (please leave the title of the post in a separate comment)

*Open to USA and Canada Only

For Additional Entries, check out my Contest Entry Rules.

This contest will run until April 16, 2010 at 11:00 pm. EDT

Thanks for visiting and please stop by again!

St. Patrick’s Day Shamrocks: Wordless Wednesday

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone!  Will be enjoying corned beef and cabbage for dinner with the family at night, along with my homemade famous Irish Soda Bread!

There’s a dear little plant that grows in our isle,

‘Twas St. Patrick himself, sure, that sets it;

And the sun of his labor with pleasure did smile,

And with dew from his eye often wet it.

It grows through the bog, through the brake, through the mireland,

And they call it the dear little Shamrock of Ireland.

Don’t forget to sign the Linky!

Country Bobs All Purpose Sauce Giveaway

Check out my recent Review and Contest

Moomettesgram’s Favorite Recipes is hosting a Giveaway Contest! For a chance to win, there will be two (2) winners of two (2) bottles of Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce!

Enter HERE at Moomettesgram’s Favorite Recipes ,  Mar 2010

Organic Batter Blaster: Making Breakfast Easy With Kids

Keep Cooking Simple

Cooking Teaches Kids Life Skills

Many families never plan menus. They go to the grocery store with no idea in mind or what it is they want to buy. Is it any wonder that there’s often nothing in the house to eat?

Menu planning isn’t a difficult task. It seems to take a lot of valuable time, but in the end it actually saves time in unnecessary trips to the store, and the nightly indecision of what the kids are going to have for breakfast in the morning.

When my kids were little, their favorite breakfast before heading out to school was chocolate chip pancakes and waffles.  I didn’t mind making them when I worked part-time.  I worked out of the home 3 days per week until they got older; so it was easy for me to do.

But on those days when I did have to rush out the door, I felt guilty about not making their favorite breakfast food, as preparation time is required.

I like to try something new occasionally, and my husband, who likes to poke through grocery stores,  brought home Organic Batter Blaster Pancake Mix!

On the days that I have to babysit ‘Lil Moomette and her brother, I can easily make pancakes for the grandkids and know that they’re starting off the day with a good breakfast! We pressed a few chocolate chips into the batter as it was cooking in the pan, and presto! It tasted just as good as if made from scratch!

Kids love to help when it comes to cooking. Getting them involved early is a good way for them to learn responsibility and a skill they can use in life.

Cooking with kids can also be a time of bonding for child and parent. Kids can help in various ways; age appropriate tasks are best. Your younger children can just point and blast the pancake mix into the pan!

Showing kids simple things they can do will make them feel important. It’s a way of having fun with your children, and the fun thing about cooking with your kids is that they’re learning a new skill, they just don’t realize it!

Cooking with your kids and as a family is a great way to connect with your children. Keeping them involved in activities such as finding new recipes and cooking lets them know you think they’re special.

Organic Batter Blaster has been featured on the Food Network and CBS, and is available in BJ’s and local grocery stores.

For More Information Visit: Batter Blaster

Note:  This is not a compensated post.

Pillsbury Sweet Rolls and Gift Pack Giveaway

Sweet Sunday Mornings

Check out my Pillsbury Giveaway:

Moomettesgram’s Favorite Recipes  is hosting a Giveaway Contest! For a chance to win, there will be one (1) winner of a gift pack which includes includes a VIP coupon for Pillsbury Orange Sweet Rolls as well as a photo album to help keep your family’s sweet Sunday morning memories close at close at hand.

Enter at Moomettesgram’s Favorite Recipes HERE Pillsbury contest, Mar 2010.

Bean Appetit: Childrens Cookbook Review and Giveaway

Hip and Healthy Ways to Have Fun with Food

Bring Kookiness to the Kitchen

As any grandmom knows, kids learn through emulation – watching and imitating the actions of others.  That’s why it’s a good thing to always strive to be a good example.

For me, I learned to cook by watching my mom and aunts who passed down many of the traditional Polish recipes that I learned to love as a child.  I’ve since passed down those traditions to my own girls.

Recently I had the opportunity to review a new cookbook – Bean Appetit:  Hip and Healthy Ways to Have Fun with Food (Andrews McMeel Publishing) which was recently featured on Martha Stewart Radio.

The authors, Shannon Payette Seip and Kelly Parthen are co-owners of  Bean Sprouts Café and Cooking School.  They offer cooking classes for toddlers and grade school children.  The school lets the kids have fun with food while exploring new ingredients.  The authors are also currently developing a kids’ cooking show.

Bean Sprouts, a hip and healthy kids’ cafe, opened to much anticipation near Madison, WI in 2007. Bean Sprouts has drawn great media attention for providing a place for families that is both healthy and fun. Under the guidance of a child nutritionist, Bean Sprouts built its menu with the help and enthusiasm of Gale Gand–renowned chef, author, and Food Network star, who believes in Bean Sprouts’ mission.

One of my favorite chapters in the book was the breakfast chapter.  The meal that both of my grandkids, ‘Lil Moomette and Slugger, enjoy best is breakfast.  Soon they’ll be spending their first overnight with my husband and I, so I paid particular attention to finding recipes that would start their day off right!

Pancakes is a favorite of both grandkids, and “Stick Stacks” incorporates yummy fruit and skewers in an eye-appealing manner.

A great rule of thumb when it comes to cooking with children is keep it simple silly. Foremost, most children have relatively short attention spans. While they want to learn and help mommy out, they also don’t want to have enough time to get bored with the details. Use simple recipes when cooking with children and your chances for success will be much greater than with overly complicated or ingredient intense recipes.

The book is full of whimsical presentations, as well as food-themed games, crafts and activities.

Bean Appetit would like you to help them taste-test some recipes.  You can test online recipes for Bean-GO (a healthy twist on Bingo that gets kids to try to new tastes) found in the book. Feedback Form

Visit on Facebook

Moomette’s Magnificents  is hosting a Giveaway Contest! For a chance to win, there will be one (1) winner of the book, Bean Appetit.

Please include a way of contacting you. Should you be the contest winner, this information may be shared with the contest sponsor in order to send your prize.

Main Rule:   (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)
a) Sign up for my free Newsletter Updates to my blog through my e-mail Feedblitz link (on the top of my right column or let me know if you already are, in a separate comment) AND

b) Visit Bean Sprouts and leave a comment about what you like best about their site and why you’d like to win this book.

This contest will run until March 15, 2010 at 11:00 pm. EST

For Additional Entries, check out my Contest Entry Rules.

Culinary Arts Career Opportunities

Career Opportunities

Turn Your WAHM Talents Into a Full-Time Business

I have yet to see the new movie that came out about Julia Child, “Julie and Julia” – but it’s on my list of top things to do.

I’ve posted here in the past that in hindsight, I should have gone to culinary school since the Culinary Institute of America used to be located almost in my backyard.

Cooking has always intrigued me, and those with specific talents can turn their passion into a catering work-at-home business and in turn expand their work-at-home business into a full-time restaurant business!  Some of my favorite places to eat are locally owned, mom and pop restaurants.

Many believe that food preparation or cooking is an art. Restaurants and catering services anchor their success on the expertise and skills of their kitchen crew. As the cliche goes, “a man’s heart is through his stomach.” Restaurants and the food industry keep their customers loyal though unique and delectable recipes using both innovative and traditional ingredients.

The Culinary Arts have become an academic pursuit as well. Large food manufacturers look to culinary artists to create ready-to-eat, name brand food products that feature the same quality as those of homemade and restaurant-prepared food. Several culinary arts schools offer graduate studies in Hotel and Restaurant Management for students.  Many schools here in New England offer such opportunities.

There’s also more traditional, classical institutions that cater to students who are employed in luxury hotels, cruise ships, resorts and restaurants or those employed as personal chefs to the rich and famous.

When we were visiting Hilton Head, many of the students of such schools were doing their Internships in the resorts down there for the summer.

Famed chefs open up their own schools to train protégés.  A few culinary arts schools cater to hobbyists. The King Arthur Flour Company in Vermont is one that offers courses.  Good schools provide intensive, hands-on training in everything as well as the real environment simulation to prepare their students well.

Culinary art’s courses quite frequently touch on cooking science or the standard ingredients that go into most food products, food decoration and preservation.  The courses also segregate trainings into stocks, sauces, soups, meat, fish and poultry cookery, breads and pastries, etc. Several schools also offer courses on exotic and traditional cooking. Students are also trained on food service safety and sanitation, commercial kitchen parts, management and finance.

As it is with other specialized professions, culinary arts graduates may often have to start at the bottom when they do find a position. But extremely talented students need not wait too long to establish their own reputation and following.

Chocolate A Love Story Cookbook Giveaway

Need A Chocolate Fix?

Moomettesgram’s Favorite Recipes is hosting a Giveaway Contest! For a chance to win, there will be one (1) winner of the book, Chocolate – A Love Story by Max Brenner.

You should read the whole article and enter at Moomettesgram’s Favorite Recipes Feb 2010

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