Cookbook Review - Best of the Best from the Deep South Cookbook

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Giveaway is closed! Click here for the winner announcement.

Most of y'all who are here reading this are regular readers of My New 30 and know I have a food blog, Deep South Dish, that was, in fact, born out of this blog.

When I received an offer to review this cookbook, Best of the Best from the Deep South, I knew right away that it was going to be a cookbook that both I, and my readers, would love. Well, I was right! If you love the kinds of southern dishes that I feature at Deep South Dish, then you are going to fall in love with this cookbook and want to add it to your collection. If I were to write and publish a cookbook, this would be it!

If you've been reading here awhile, you already know how I feel about the "Best of" series of cookbooks because I've given them away here before. I own several of them - mostly from the southern states - and I am never disappointed in any of them. Each state cookbook - and yes, there is a cookbook covering every state - contains about 400 recipes, all contributed by well loved cookbooks from across that particular state - usually at least 80 different cookbook sources! And every cookbook presents you with not only great recipes, but also photographs, and little tidbits, facts and pieces of trivia about that state that makes them even more interesting and fun to own.

Just when I didn't think that they could top this, Gwen McKee and Barbara Moseley, the southern ladies behind this beloved series of best selling state cookbooks, now introduce the first volume in their new regional series with Best of the Best from the Deep South. This regional series will soon include cookbooks from the East Coast, Plains, the Southeast, Midwest and Pacific Rim regions. I can't wait!

Want to know how to make the best Alabama fried chicken? Or Mississippi catfish, hush puppies and coleslaw? How about Louisiana's great gumbo?  It's all here - all of the special flavors that come out of The Deep South in the foods that you love.  Some examples of the recipes that you'll find in this great collection include:

Red-Neck Spaghetti Sauce
Chicketti
Creole Shrimp Spaghetti
Steamed Redfish with Creole Sauce
Hot Pepper Jelly Salad
Chunky Baked Potato Soup with Cheese and Bacon
Red Beans and Rice
Chicken Sauce Piquante
Barbecued Brisket
Crispy Fried Okra
Broccoli Casserole
Glazed Sweet Potatoes
Oven Beef Stew
Fried Fritters
Frenchies
Tiny Pecan Muffins
Lazy Peach Cobbler
Potato Chip Shortbread Cookies
Praline Ice Cream Sauce  
Southern Tea Cakes
Fig Cake
Bananas Foster Bread Pudding

... and so much more! 

Have a peek at this fantastic Sour Cream Coffee Cake I adapted from a recipe in the cookbook this weekend!  With layers of pecans, cinnamon and brown sugar on the bottom, top and in the center of this cake, it is just delicious.  I know that's only one recipe you'll fall in love with because this cookbook is filled with the kinds of recipes you find right on my own blog.

Thankfully, the publisher has offered me the opportunity to share a copy with one of you!  I truly only wish that I had 100 copies to give away, but I can tell you one thing for sure. This cookbook is definitely going on my gift list for upcoming bridal showers and definitely for Christmas gifts and I know it will be well received.

One copy of the Best of the Best from the Deep South Cookbook.

Leave one comment here about what your most favorite southern recipe is and how it came to be  your favorite.  Share some memories!  One thing ... you must leave an email contact, or have an email linked on your Blogger profile, for your entry to count!

Earn bonus entries by any one or more of these ways:


1) Post about this giveaway on your own blog or a social bulletin board, linking back to this post. Come back here and leave a separate comment with a link to where you posted.


2) Copy and paste the tweet below to your Twitter followers about this giveaway and link to this post. Come back here and leave a separate comment letting me know you tweeted.

Cookbook giveaway 'Best of the Best from the Deep South,' from @DeepSouthDish: http://tinyurl.com/ykpmhwc

3) Become a fan of Deep South Dish on Facebook and post an entry on your personal Facebook Page introducing your friends to the Deep South Dish  Facebook Fan page at http://www.facebook.com/SouthernRecipes. Come back here and leave a separate comment letting me know what you posted.


4) To keep up with the latest updates on Deep South Dish, follow Deep South Dish on the Google Friend Connect Gadget on Blogger, subscribe through an RSS Feed or on Email, follow us on our  Facebook Fan Page or on Twitter.  Come back here and leave a separate comment and let me know how you follow our updates!




That's it!  Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only please and will close on Sunday, January 31, 2010 at 10:00 p.m. CST.  Good luck!

Disclosure: Quail Ridge Press provided me with a free copy of this cookbook to review as well as a copy to offer to one of my readers.

We're Goin' to the SUPER BOWL!!!

Wow! What a game. I thought I was gonna need anxiety meds and oxygen before that game ended. 

Congratulations to our beloved New Orleans Saints. It's been a long time coming and YOU DID IT!!! 

WOOOOOHOOOOO.... 

GEAUX SAINTS!!!! WHO DAT!!!

Special K Low-Fat Granola and Fruit Crisps Bars Review

The fine folks at Special K® have launched two brand new products that will work toward helping you to stay on track with your goals for the New Year.

With Special K® Low-Fat Granola, you'll enjoy the great taste and hearty crunch of whole-grain granola clusters sweetened with just a touch of honey. Toss some of this in a yogurt and fruit parfait made with store bought or homemade Greek yogurt and you've got a great high protein, low calorie meal replacement to help get you through the day.

And for a great snack, the new Special K® Fruit Crisps bars are fantastic!

They are slightly reminiscent of a toaster pastry to me, except that right out of the package, they have this amazingly wonderful, super-crispy crunch to them. I am all about crunch when it comes to a snack and these bars satisfy that desire! They provide a perfect trio of slightly sweet crisps, sandwiched with a real fruit filling and topped with a lightly sweetened drizzle on top. Total yum.

This made a great pre-workout snack for me today, and with one serving made up of two crispy bars per pouch, and only 100 calories per pouch, Special K® Fruit Crisps are the perfect crispy snack to help keep you on track.

Click on the links to learn more about the new Special K® Blueberry Fruit Crisps Bars and Low-Fat Granola.

By the way, go here and register and you can get a coupon for a free box of Special K® cereal value up to $4.49 when you purchase one box of Special K® cereal. The Free box of cereal is limited to Special K™ Low Fat Granola 19.5 oz or Special K® Original 12 oz. Coupon expires 1/31-10.

~~~~~
Disclosure: As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program, I received Special K® Low-Fat Granola and Special K Fruit Crisps bars.

Men Are From Mars ... The Grocery Store Edition

Wife notices the time and calls Husband on his cell phone: Rings, rings, rings ... goes to voicemail. Wife hangs up frustrated. {Why do I always get his voicemail?}

Husband calls Wife back, finally.

Wife: Hey, On your way home would you please swing by the deli and pick up a pound and a half of smoked turkey breast?

Hubs: Turkey breast. Okay, got it.

Wife:  Make sure it's smoked turkey breast, okay? The regular goes slimy too fast and you know I don't do slimy.

Hubs:  Okay. Smoked turkey breast.  How much?

Wife:  A pound and a half.

Hubs: Okay. Pound and a half of smoked turkey breast.

Wife: And this time please ask the girl at the deli to cut it thinner. It was way too thick last time.

Hubs: I told her to cut it on 1-1/2 like you said.

Wife:  But, did you ask to see a slice before she cut it all up?

Hubs:  {crickets}

Wife:  Hello?

Hubs: No.

Wife: Well this time ask her to hold a piece up so that you see it. BEFORE she cuts it all up.

Hubs: Ok.

Wife: And don't just say OK when she holds it up please.  Actually look at it. If it's too thick, just tell her it's too thick. Okay? You will not hurt her feelings.  I promise.

Hubs: Ok.

Wife: But please don't let her shred it up either. I hate that.

Hubs. Ok.

Wife: Why is it we have this conversation every time you go to the deli?

Hubs. Dunno.

Wife: Okay. Well, you got it? A pound and a half of smoked turkey breast, not sliced too thick, but not shredded either. Okay?

Hubs: Okay. How much?

Wife: A. Pound. And. A. Half.

Hubs:  Okay. Got it. A pound of ham.

Wife: Arrrggghhhhhh..... NO! Turkey. Breast. SMOKED. Turkey Breast. A POUND AND A HALF.

Hubs: Okay, okay, geez, you don't have to yell. I got it. See ya in a minute. Bye.

Wife hangs up. Exhausted.

Can you tell who has control issues? And why?

Superfood - Broccoli

Now, gotta say that the egg thing is working well for me so far on appetite control, because I do find that not only is my hunger at bay much better when I do have a breakfast of eggs, but also, that issue I have with late night hunger and snacking doesn't occur either when I eat eggs for breakfast. I tend to do the majority of my blog work late at night, or the wee hours of the mornings really, and those days that I haven't had eggs for breakfast, I am finding that I have an issue with late night hunger and that is not a good thing.

Another thing I used to practice, but fell away from, was to eat broccoli every day. Today I am going to change that and get back to having at least a serving of broccoli every single day.

Broccoli, a member of the cabbage family, is one of the great super foods.  Besides modulating the immune response system of the body, making it a powerful anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and antioxidant cancer fighter, a medium sized stalk of broccoli has more than 100% of the daily requirement of Vitamin K (0.8mg for men, 0.6mg for women) and almost 200% of the recommended daily dose of Vitamin C (40mg for men and women) - both very essential nutrients for bone building. It is also high in Vitamin A.  Broccoli is also high in sulforaphane, used by your liver to convert toxins into nontoxic waste for elimination. The consumption of broccoli has also been shown to be beneficial in the prevention of heart disease.

The thermic effect of foods refers to the energy it takes our bodies to process them - to eat, digest, transport through the body, metabolize and even to store.  Some foods have a higher thermic effect than others, meaning that they produce excess energy or heat, thus turning up your metabolism and burning more fat.  When you're over 40, or like me, over 50, that's a definite plus, since our metabolisms have slowed naturally with aging.

But, some foods are also catabolic, meaning that they actually burn up more calories than they contain, and broccoli is one of them. Generally speaking, you can eat a larger quantity of these types of foods, since through natural body processes they actually burn up more calories than they contain. I'll have an upcoming post with more on this topic soon ... for today, we're talking broccoli.

A single serving of broccoli, about 1/2 cup cooked - the size of a light bulb - is only about 25 calories, has 0 grams of fat, 5 grams of carbohydrate and 2.2 gram of fiber. The importance of fiber is a subject we've discussed here before!

According to an article in Fitness Magazine, microwaving preserves up to 90 percent of the Vitamin C in broccoli that can be lost in the cooking process.  Steaming or boiling preserves a little less at about 66 percent. Personally, I usually steam mine in my rice cooker, though I use the microwave on occasion, and let's face it ... so do a lot of other folks! I might note there that there is some question as to whether microwaving affects other vitamins - that's for another post I suppose!

You really don't need an expensive steamer or even microwave steaming bags to do broccoli in the microwave.  Simply place two sheets of paper towel on a plate. Put your serving of broccoli on one sheet and cover the broccoli with the other sheet, tucking all of the ends under and wrapping the broccoli completely. Sprinkle the top of the paper towel lightly with water so that it is wet, but not dripping. Microwave on high for about 3 to 5 minutes, depending on your microwave and desired tenderness.

So... two dietary pluses for me in the new year - eggs for breakfast most days and at least one cup of broccoli every single day (remember it's thermic, so we can eat more).

Eat your broccoli - it's a superfood!

Sources: Fitness magazine, Crack the Fat Loss Code,Fat Flush, CalorieKing, Wikipedia

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

The statements made here have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure or prevent any disease. This notice is required by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Disclosure Policy.

Eggs Can Help You Lose Weight!

Did you know that making a regular breakfast of eggs could help you lose weight?

Yep, it's true. According to new studies presented at Experimental Biology 2009, an annual meeting of scientists, having an egg breakfast has been shown to help to reduce calorie consumption the rest of the day.

In a study conducted at the University of Connecticut, a group of adults were both given breakfasts containing equal amounts of calories, but while one part of the group was given a bagel breakfast, the others were given an egg based breakfast. The group eating the egg-based breakfast felt less hungry several hours later, ate a smaller lunch and generally consumed about 400 calories less over the course of the day than those eating the bagel breakfast.

Personally, while I love to eat oatmeal for breakfast, especially during the colder months, I have always been a fan of eggs and I do find that I am less hungry when I have eggs for breakfast. When I eat eggs at lunch, I find myself pushing away from the dinner table with leftovers on the plate, because I am more full faster. A lower hunger level and the consumption of less calories overall, is a great bonus for those of us wanting to lose weight, and making a breakfast of eggs just might help to accelerate that weight loss!

This study supports previous research published in the International Journal of Obesity, which found that eating eggs for breakfast as part of a reduced-calorie diet helped overweight dieters lose 65 percent more weight and feel more energetic than dieters who ate a bagel breakfast of equal calories and volume. The study also found no significant difference in blood levels of LDL- and HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides between the individuals who ate the egg breakfast and those who ate the bagel breakfast.

And get some eggs into those pre-teen and teens too. Researchers at the University of Kansas Medical Center, assessed the impact of a protein-rich breakfast on appetite and overall calorie consumption among teens who traditionally skip breakfast. While each test breakfast contained 500 total calories, the researchers examined variables including the protein form (solid food or beverage) and the amount of protein versus carbohydrate in the breakfast. Their findings showed that teens consumed fewer calories at lunch when they ate a protein-rich breakfast of solid foods compared with a protein-rich beverage breakfast, and that post-meal hunger was significantly reduced when the teens ate the protein-rich breakfast of solid foods.

Eggs are all natural and a nutrient powerhouse, containing 13 essential vitamins and minerals and antioxidants. They are also an excellent source of choline, an essential nutrient for fetus and infant brain development, but one that may also assist in brain function in adults, possibly protecting us from age-related memory loss. And, eggs are packed with protein.  A large, whole egg is around 75 calories, has 6 grams of protein, 3 grams of fat and less than 1 gram of carbohydrates, making it a protein-rich food. Proteins are what fuel our bodies, and keep us going, sort of like gasoline to a car. It is essential to grow, maintain and repair all of our body tissues and supports our muscle and bone structure. And protein helps you burn fat too!

Not all proteins are created equal however. Each type of protein is assigned a biovalue based on their protein utilization (BV/PU). Pork has a 60% biovalue, dairy is at 80%, beef, chicken and fish are in the 90% range, and eggs top the chart as being the number 1 source of protein found in nature! Eggs are rated at a 100% biovalue, meaning when you eat eggs, 100% of the protein can be used by the body in supporting those building blocks.

And that old adage about limiting the consumption of eggs? Scratch it. Science has proven that the cholesterol found in foods, such as eggs, has little to no effect on blood cholesterol. They are totally different animals. There is a place in a healthy diet for eggs, and there really is no need to strictly limit the number of eggs you consume, well, within reason anyway.

Additionally, research presented showed no increased risk of death from coronary heart disease with increased egg consumption, a reduced risk of mortality among men who consumed 1 to 6 eggs a week compared to less than 1 egg a week, and, a significant reduction in risk of stroke among women who consumed 1 to 6 eggs a week and 1 or more eggs a day.

Of course if you are trying to lose weight, you'll want pair that up by reducing or limiting the butter and oil you use when preparing them, or by substituting non-stick sprays. You can also combine a whole egg with 2-3 egg whites to get the nutrition, with less fat. Marry those eggs with whole grain bread or toast and add a glass of unsweetened orange juice, to best utilize the iron content of the eggs.

So have some eggs for breakfast. They really are nature's perfect food. And... you might just drop a few extra pounds in the process.

Think you don’t have time for eggs in the morning? Think again!

Easy Microwave Scrambled Eggs

Add one or two eggs to a microwave safe bowl. Add a tablespoon of milk, half and half, or water and some salt and pepper and beat. Microwave on high for 1 minute, stop and stir, microwave for another 30 seconds or until eggs puff up and liquid is absorbed. Let stand for about a minute and turn out onto a plate w/a slice of whole grain toast and some fruit or yogurt. Microwave times will depend on your microwave, so adjust times as needed.

Zippy Microwave Omelet

Add two or three eggs to a microwave safe bowl. Add a tablespoon of milk, half and half, or water and some salt and pepper. Stir in leftover ham, turkey, bacon, or other meat and any veggies you have & like – potatoes, broccoli, onion, mushrooms, etc. Microwave on high for 1 minute, stop and stir, microwave for another 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until eggs puff up and liquid is absorbed. Let stand for about a minute and turn out onto a plate w/a slice of whole grain toast and some fruit or yogurt. Microwave times will depend on your microwave, so adjust times as needed.


The statements made here have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure or prevent any disease. This notice is required by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Disclosure Policy.

All content, including but not limited to, recipe and health information provided in Deep South Dish/My New 30, is for educational purposes only. Such content is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. Such content does not cover all possible side effects of any new or different health program. Consult your medical professional for guidance before changing or undertaking a new diet or exercise program. Advance consultation with your physician is particularly important if you are under eighteen (18) years old, pregnant, nursing, or have health problems. All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for health, nutrition or medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regime.

Funeral Foods and Funerals in the South

The Cajun and I attended a funeral yesterday - his grandmother passed away early Sunday morning. She was 95 and had been bedridden for about the last year. Though she had been very alert the past few weeks, she had also sort of been what we call 'between two worlds' lately, so we knew it would not be long. She passed away peacefully in her sleep.

Attending the funeral mass, traveling in the funeral procession and then of course, the family gathering afterward reminded me of our southern traditions relating to funerals, and I told my husband "I need to blog about this."  Being a southern girl who has never lived outside of the south, I can't say for a fact, but I'm pretty sure, that there are certain things about Christian funerals that are fairly unique to us southerners.

Of course there's the whole wake, or viewing thing. This is often held the same time as the funeral service, and sometimes in the church, but the event can often be spread out over two days and involve both. Sometimes the wake is held the evening before the funeral at the funeral home, with the funeral service the following day. Sometimes it is all done at the church.  Either way, the "viewing" involves having an open casket, where people can visit the deceased one last time and offer a prayer for their soul. The family gathers and there is a small service, and if the deceased is of the Catholic faith, sometimes there is the reciting of the rosary.  If the funeral goes into two days, the following day, there is a small funeral service, and then a procession to the gravesite. And, if services are held in a church and the deceased is Catholic, there is almost always a Mass.

We have a large Catholic population down here of course, so the chances of you attending a southern Catholic funeral mass is pretty high if you attend a funeral down here. Course that isn't unique to the south at all, it just reminded me of how prevalent the Catholic faith is here. Personally, I am a "non-practicing Catholic," though most other Catholics would tell you there is no such thing. Once a Catholic, always a Catholic, they say. But for a number of reasons that I won't go into here, my church {sigh} has essentially rejected me - the primary reason being that The Cajun and I - both Catholics - chose not to marry in the Catholic church in this remarriage. In short, I consider myself to simply be a Christian these days, but it is funny how old habits and that connection to the Catholic Church tend to stick with you.  Though I do not take communion, I still find myself reciting the responses and prayers of the Mass. It's just an ingrained part of anyone raised Catholic I guess and I'm betting that all of that standing, sitting, kneeling and chanting must really freak out those of other faiths the first time they experience it at a funeral mass! 

One of the most prominent things that is traditional in the south is what happens during the funeral procession of vehicles to the gravesite. The Cajun's grandma had a large family - many came from New Iberia and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which was her home until she met her fisherman husband and ended up here in Biloxi, Mississippi, raising a very large family in some very hard times. My father in law is no stranger to hard work and he is truly a traditional southern daddy, that's for sure! There were and still are, of course, strong ties to Louisiana for my husband, his father and the rest of the family, which is why my hubby is deemed "The Cajun" in much of my writing.

All that family and the funeral procession was a good mile or more long as we traveled from Saint Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Biloxi Cemetery, taking up what seemed nearly the full length of the brand new Ocean Springs bridge.  I have to give kudos to both the Ocean Springs and Biloxi police departments for their excellent escort service. They did a fantastic job of diverting traffic and keeping the funeral procession together all the way to the  Biloxi Cemetary. There were at least 5 police cruisers escorting us the entire trip.

The thing that I think is unique about our processions down here though is what happens with other drivers.

If you are traveling our roads in one direction and you see a funeral procession traveling on the other side of the road in the opposite direction - yes, even on a divided 4-lane highway - chances are you will see the traffic on your side - opposite of the direction the funeral procession is traveling - pull off of the road and come to a stop. Not the traffic in front of the procession, but the traffic on the other side of the road!

Because you see, when a funeral passes down south, we pull our cars off to the far edge of the road, or off of the road, turn on our headlights, put our cars in park, and pay our respects by waiting for the funeral procession to pass. A prayer or two is usually offered for both the departed and their family. The police officers who stop to block the intersections to allow the procession to remain together, step out of their cruisers, remove their hats and hold them over their hearts as the cars pass - for everyone, no matter who you were.

Honestly, no matter how many funeral processions I have been in, just seeing this still brings tears to my eyes every time, because it reminds me of how connected we are in the south to one another, even those who we do not personally know.

The other thing that we do in the south has everything to do with food ... of course! And yes, it crosses all faiths.

Besides the food that is always immediately delivered to the house, once the funeral service is over, and the procession has carried the deceased to their final resting place, all of the friends and family gather, either returning to the church hall or else to a private residence, and the party begins. Done pot luck style and never in a restaurant, everybody brings their favorite dishes and all of the family and friends gather, eat, chat and catch up with one another and reminisce about the departed.  Don't be at all surprised if somebody breaks out some music and the dancing and general merriment commence - a celebration of life and the passing of a loved one into eternity in their next life is reason for celebration down south.

Click here to see a few of our traditional southern funeral foods.

~

Cookbook Review & Giveway - The Supermarket Vegan by Donna Klein

Note: The giveaway is closed! Congratulations to Mary who said... I would love to have this. I would love to add more vegan meals to our diet.  Please check your email Mary to claim your win!

Being a meat loving southern cook, you might find it odd that I chose to review a vegan cookbook, but really, despite all of the rumors, we actually do eat vegetables down here too!

Seriously though, I always find myself having a natural craving for more vegetables in the new year, probably, I figure, because of all the imbalance that occurs between Thanksgiving and Christmas - not that there's anything wrong with that! I love all the goodies and treats that are classic holiday foods, but I'm the first to admit, well, there's probably not a whole lot of balance there. Heavy on carbs and sugars and not a lot of vegetables. So we buckle down our belts come January 1 and resolve to eat a little bit better, which no matter where you live is a good thing.

The problem with eating vegetarian dishes - or eating pure vegan - is that for most of us who don't have experience with it, well, we are at a loss.  Or like me, maybe you're totally clueless. So, you grab a cookbook from the bookstore, get home and begin to dig into it, only to discover that before you can make anything, you'll have to make a run to the health food store or to a specialty market to pick up all kinds of odd ingredients that you've never even heard of before!

The newly released Supermarket Vegan to the rescue! A quick flip through this cookbook's 225 recipes and you'll see that they all use common and simple ingredients that are found on just about any regular supermarket shelf - and possibly even pantry staples already in your own house. And these recipes are not time consuming or complicated either.

Let's see... recipes that use common ingredients and no specialty items, convenient, easy to prepare dishes, variety, flavor. It's the perfect way to balance out your diet with more meat free meals. Sounds like a plan.

The author, Donna Klein, not only makes eating vegan uncomplicated, but delicious too, with recipes from appetizers to desserts and everything in between. Here are a few of the recipes you'll find:

• Spicy Red Bean Dip

• Greek Style Spinach Puffs

• Butternut Squash and Roasted Red Pepper Soup

• Three Bean Barley Chili

• Tuscan-Style Chickpea and Spinach Salad with Artichokes and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

• Artichoke Garlic Bread

• Baked Beans and Macaroni Casserole with Crunchy Fried Onions

• Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burgers with Black Bean Guacamole Sauce

• Quick Pasta Puttanesca

• Orange-Maple Mashed Sweet Potatoes

• Cajun Style Rice and Corn with Kidney Beans 

• Raspberry Pinwheels with Lemon Sorbet

• Pumpkin Strudel

• Apple-Pumpkin Gratin

• Blackberry Crisp

                and many others!

If you've had a family member recently declare to be meat-free, or if you are just looking to put a few meat-free meals into your menu rotation, be sure to check out THE SUPERMARKET VEGAN: Meat-Free, Egg-Free, Dairy-Free Recipes for Real People in the Real World by Donna Klein.

One lucky reader will receive a FREE copy of the Supermarket Vegan cookbook!

Your comment is your entry, but please leave me a way to contact you to qualify. Simply tell me why you'd love to win a copy of this cookbook and that's it!

Spread the word about this giveaway on your Facebook page, on Twitter, or in a blog post at your blog. Come back here, leave a separate post with the link to let me know! That's it!  Here's some sample text you can use on Facebook or Twitter: 

Comment for a chance to win a FREE copy of 'Supermarket Vegan' cookbook http://tinyurl.com/yzxvsxo

Giveaway closes on  Wednesday, January 13th, 2009, at 12:00 noon CST.  Good luck!!

General Mills Reduces Sugar in Children's Cereals

The Giveaway is CLOSED!  Congrats to Shelly and Grace - please check your email and respond! Thanks for participating.

We've all heard many times that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially for young children, but mornings trying to get the family organized and together and out the door on time can be a nightmare, and often that breakfast happens on the run.  A quick pass through the fast food drive-through can easily cost nearly 600 calories for a breakfast sandwich alone or a pancake and sausage breakfast, and that's not counting a drink.  And that 20-ounce non-fat caramel cappuccino you thought would be a good option to pull you through to that mid-morning yogurt, just cost you about the same amount of calories as a glazed doughnut - yikes!

Thank goodness in this hurry up world there are packaged cereals to help us get both our children, and often us fed and out of the door quickly.  The problem? Cereals have been notoriously high in sugar.  Recently, General Mills announced a commitment to further reduce sugar in cereals advertised to kids under 12 to single digit grams of sugar per serving. The company has already been reducing sugar in cereals while increasing key nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, and providing whole grain.

Did you know that ready-to-eat cereal eaters also tend to consume less fat, less cholesterol and more fiber than non-cereal eaters? Cereals also deliver important vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients, making cereal a top source of key nutrients in children´s diets.

Other cereal benefits:

✓ Ready-to-eat cereals, including presweetened cereals, account for only 5% of sugar in children´s diets.

✓ Ready-to-eat cereal is the No. 1 source of whole grains in a child´s diet today.

✓ More frequent cereal eaters tend to have healthier body weights and lower Body Mass Index measures.

Studies also demonstrate the benefits of eating breakfast. A 1998 study showed that children who eat breakfast tend to perform better at school. Compared to children who skip breakfast, children who eat breakfast score higher on tests, are less likely to miss class or be tardy, have fewer reported discipline problems, and make fewer trips to the office.

For more information about kids and cereals, please visit Cereal Health and Wellness.

Giveaway is CLOSED!  Good luck!!

I have 2 VIP coupons available to giveaway to 2 lucky readers. Each coupon is good for any one FREE General Mills cereal, up to $6.00 in value! (does not apply to multipacks)

Your comment below is your entry, but you must leave a contact email in your comment to qualify! Simple. Easy. Giveaway closes at noon on Sunday, January 10, 2009 and 2 winners will be chosen at random from the list of comments.


Open to Everybody:


Don't want to wait? Right now if you visit here you will find a $1 off coupon for one of four General Mills cereals so that you can help your family come together at the breakfast table every morning and feel better knowing that the cereal you are eating is a good option.

Disclosure:  General Mills through MyBlogSpark provided me with this information as well as free cereal coupons to evaluate their cereals hoping that I might share my opinions about the importance of breakfast with my readers.

Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night concludes the official Twelve Days of Christmas and was traditionally the time that we removed the Christmas decorations growing up. My mom said that it was unlucky to remove the decorations before then or to leave them up after, and I still abide by this practice personally - old habits die hard. It also marks the coming of the Epiphany, meaning literally appearance, a Christian feast day and the day that we celebrate the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus as his manifestation to the world as the Son of God, or the revelation of God made man in the person of Jesus.

While Twelfth Night is defined most often as being on January 6th, it is actually the evening before Twelfth Day marking Epiphany, meaning Twelfth Night. The end of all of the Christmas festivities actually occurs on the evening of January 5th at sunset. Twelfth Night comes before Twelfth Day.

Twelfth Night also marks the beginning of Carnival, and the countdown to Mardi Gras Day - declaring the official Mardi Gras season to have begun. Mardi Gras season is actually much longer in New Orleans as the weeks leading up to Mardi Gras Day are filled with a multitude of parades. If you live in New Orleans as I did, you better know what parades take place when and know your parade routes if you needed to get anywhere! While we don't start quite that early here along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, no matter how you look at it, it's always a party down south and where ever there's a party, you know you know there's good food to go right along with it. Keep your eyes peeled for some yummy Mardi Gras foods over at Deep South Dish.

Most folks associate Mardi Gras in the U.S. with the wild debauchery that occurs in New Orleans where women routinely expose their breasts to get the more so-called prized beads...though I have never understood this practice.

Well, in truth, Mardi Gras is celebrated all over the Coastal South - though in a much more family friendly manner outside of New Orleans. Mardi Gras parades actually originated with our neighbors to the east in Mobile, Alabama, who celebrated their first Mardi Gras parade in 1703, well before New Orleans held their first parade, though some in New Orleans dispute this as being representative of carnival and still claim the title.

For us, here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the Carnival Season starts later, somewhere near the end of January, and will end on Fat Tuesday (which is what the word Mardi Gras actually means), the Tuesday before Lent, which is Mardi Gras Day down here. Carnival is sort of thought of as the last opportunity for merrymaking and indulgence in food and drink, and a time to throw caution to the wind (within reason) before the period of abstinence for the upcoming 40 days of Lent before Easter. Mardi Gras is marked by several weeks of pageants, elaborate masked balls, spectacular costumes, and weeks of parades featuring floats and people dancing and partying in the streets. And yes, like it is in New Orleans and in Mobile, Mardi Gras is a very big deal on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Though Hurricane Katrina put a damper in things and I've lost count, there are about 22 parades across the Mississippi Coast within the carnival period, some small, some large. Traditionally, Ocean Springs kicks off the first parade on the first Saturday in February. Biloxi and Gulfport both host big parade events on Mardi Gras Day. Each parade is hosted by a different carnival association, carnival krewe, or other group, many of whom also hold large masked balls complete with a king, queen and full royal court, boasting very elaborate costumes and much pageantry.



In Biloxi, the queen is named Queen Ixolib (which is Biloxi backwards if you missed that) and the king is King D'Iberville, named after the French explorer, Pierre Le Moyne, Sieu d'Iberville, who established a settlement at old Biloxi (now Ocean Springs) in 1699 when looking for the Mississippi Sound.

Colorful floats - often designed and built by Blaine Kern of New Orleans, and truck floats, generally sponsored by local businesses, are loaded down with masked and costumed party revelers who throw loads of beads, plastic cups, doubloons, candy, stuffed animals, panties (yes, panties but not their panties) and other trinkets called "throws" out to people who are lined up all along the parade routes. If you happen to know somebody on a float and they happen to spot you along the parade route, it is tradition that you will definitely get bombed with bags and bags of beads and other trinkets, which will bring much delight to those around you!


It is traditional to kick off Mardi Gras season with a king cake. How does a Mardi Gras King Cake with Pecan Praline Filling sound to you?

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

{Let the good times roll!}

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Use Greek Yogurt to Lower Fat

The probiotics found in yogurt help boost immunity making it a great winter food, but did you know that yogurt is a great add in to your diet when trying to reduce fat and calories? Of course, like it's partner, regular low fat yogurt, it's good on all on it's own as a snack or even a meal replacement because yogurt can help to keep you away from that snack machine at work when the mid-afternoon hungries roll around. Some varieties on the market now even provide digestive helpers that help with regularity and some provide extra boosts of much needed fiber. But did you know that yogurt has a great place in cooking and even baking?  Low fat or fat free strained yogurt, known as Greek yogurt, is thick and creamy, despite the lack of fat, making it perfect to use in recipes calling for fats.

✓ Low fat Greek yogurt can also often be used where you would normally use sour cream or mayonnaise in a creamy dishes, dips, with pastas, in casseroles, salad dressings, and even as a topping with Mexican dishes or on a baked potato.

✓ Low fat regular or Greek yogurt can often reduce or replace butter, oil, and shortening when baking.

✓ Low fat Greek yogurt can be used as a substitute in many desserts to provide that same rich creaminess fats provide.

✓ Unlike regular yogurt, low fat Greek yogurt doesn't separate, so it holds up to heat making it perfect for making stovetop sauces and adding creaminess to soups, replacing whole milk, heavy cream or half and half in a recipe.

✓ Low fat yogurt or Greek yogurt can be used as a binder instead of eggs to reduce fat when breading foods, like with oven fried fish or chicken.

✓ Low fat Greek yogurt can often be a great stand-in for many recipes that use cream cheese as an ingredient.

Basic Guidelines to Substitute Yogurt to Reduce Fat

☞ Substitute part of the water or milk called for in a recipe by replacing 1/4 of the amount called for with yogurt.

☞ Substitute mayonnaise or sour cream with yogurt cup for cup. If a recipe calls for 1 cup of mayonnaise or sour cream, use 1 cup of yogurt.

☞ Substitute yogurt when a recipe calls for oil, by replacing half of the oil with 3/4s the amount of yogurt. Instead of 1 cup of oil, using 1/2 cup of oil and 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons of yogurt.

☞ Substitute half the butter in a recipe with one-half the amount of yogurt. If a recipe calls for 1 cup butter, use 1/4 cup of yogurt with 1/2 cup butter.

Experiment! Next time you need to use butter, cream, milk, oil, sour cream, mayonnaise, half and half, whole milk, or cream cheese, consider whether it could be replaced with Greek yogurt and save yourself some calories and fat! So good and so healthy - because it's natural, it's loaded with protein from being concentrated and it has lots of calcium.

The one problem with Greek yogurt however is it's cost. Did you know that you can make your own Greek yogurt at home for a mere fraction of the cost? It's true - I do it all the time! Click right here to find out how.

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Men Are From Mars ... The Sick Bed Edition

Happy New Year Y'all!  Those of you who read my mindless banter regularly know that I was sick most all of this week, with the flu.  Or if it wasn't the flu, it was the worse cold in history. I thought I would share with you what my (not so) wonderful husband, The Cajun, did for me, while I was sick.

I dedicate this column to my dear friend, Penniwig, who I somehow know will totally understand it. :)

✗ He made sure that I had absolutely nothing (everything) to worry about so that I could (not) get my rest and recover.

✗ He (forgot all about taking) took care of the puppy, (not) keeping him right on his schedule (forgetting) when it was time for him to get up and go to bed, and (not) taking him out regularly, so that he did not have any accidents in the house, which of course if the puppy would have (I got to) he would have cleaned right up.

✗ He made sure all of the animals were (not) fed when they were supposed to be.

✗ He (totally forgot) remembered to keep up with the kitten so that he would not get into the potpourri bowl and spread potpourri all over the entire family room from one end to the other.

✗ He (forgot to take) took out the garbage so that it didn't smell(ed) up the house (something awful).

✗ He (did not empty) emptied the dishwasher, (didn't even think to) put everything away, and even filled it back up and ran it (filled it back up? Are you kidding me?)

✗ He (never) remembered to check and empty the cat box, which was really lovely.

✗ In fact, I never had to get up once (if I had not gotten up) to tend to animals (it would have been a disaster around here).

✗ He actually (never once) vacuumed the carpet knowing that with all of these animals it has to be done daily.

✗ He (never once) considered making the chicken noodle soup I wanted but not confident he would make it right, he (never gave a thought about) thought that cleaning the kitchen (so it) would make it much easier for me to get my soup started when I did get up.

✗ He was (never once) at my beck and call at all times and was rarely (always) gone in case I needed anything.

✗ He (never once) offered to rub my back constantly.

✗ He could not think of enough things (a single thing on his own) to do to make sure I was comfortable and healing quickly.

✗ He didn't barge(d) into the bathroom (and scared the crap out of me) when I was trying to just relax and soak in the tub with my essential oils and my peace and quiet.

✗ (If) I didn't (actually) have to worry about (everything) a thing around here, (I might have been able to focus on nothing) but getting plenty of rest, drinking lots of juice and fluids and just focusing on getting better.

I am happy to report that I am on the mend, and actually feel WONDERFUL today, yay!!


As for you honey, I love you, I really do, (but) you are so (not) the nurturing type.

Happy New Year!