Friday Deals, Freebies, and Samples!

Check out Walmart for free samples of the NEW Huggies Pure and Natural Diapers.

Clean up that Filthy House is offering up a free 2-pack of Mr. Clean® Magic Eraser® Extra Power to help build awareness about their site.

Wonder if the Mr. Clean Magic Power Eraser really works? Check out what tjkatie has to say:

Add comment April 10th, 2009

Up to $2.50 in Gain laundry detergent coupons!

As we all know, laundry is one of those expensive necessities in your home. ExpoTV has partnered up with Gain to bring you some savings on some great smelling laundry detergent!

Sign up to receive your Gain laundry detergent coupon on any size or scent of Gain laundry detergent.

Save $1.50 on any size or scent of Gain detergent with the purchase of either fabric softener or dryer sheets AND $1 off any size or scent of Gain detergent.

Get the coupon here:

2 comments February 12th, 2009

Superbowl Recipes from the Biggest Loser

The Biggest Loser is a weight loss competition featured on NBC and this week Chef Curtis Stone showed the contestants some healthy versions on some
popular Super Bowl snacks.

Chicken Breasts with Soy and Honey (serves 6)

Ingredients¼ cup Dijon mustard
¼ cup honey
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
Juice of 3 oranges used 1 ½ cups
used 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breast
2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds

Method

Mix the dijon , honey, garlic, and ginger in a resealable storage bag to blend.
Add the chicken, seal the bag, and toss to coat with the sauce. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour but preferably overnight.
In a small sauce pot reduce orange juice slowly over low heat until it hits a thin syrup like consistency.
Remove from heat and reserve.
Position your oven rack 8 to 10 inches from the heating source and preheat the broiler. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with heavy-duty foil.
Transfer the chicken and marinade to the baking sheet and broil for 25 minutes, turning occasionally and watching closely, or until the chicken is cooked through and the marinade glazes the chicken.
Remove from oven, drizzle with orange syrup and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Serve on bed of arugula leaves.

7 Layer Dip (serves 6)

Ingredients

1/3 pound dried baby lima beans, soaked in water for 24 hours
16 oz homemade vegetable stock (see recipe) no recipe included for this
used canned low sodium veg broth;;
2 large red beets, stems removed
1 teaspoon safflower oil, divided
3 small whole wheat tortillas, cut into thin triangular strips
3 cups cauliflower florets
3 cups nonfat milk
10 shrimp, peeled and deveined used medium
½ cup fat free yogurt
1 tablespoon chopped chives
1 oz fresh Alaskan King Crab Leg, out of the shell (may substitute with 1 oz fresh cooked shrimp or lobster)
10 to 12 leaves of watercress used 12

Method

Preheat oven to 400F.
Place beets in foil and drizzle with half the oil and 1 teaspoon of water.
Close the foil around the beets and bake on a tray in the oven for 1 hour or until a knife inserts into the center of each beet without resistance.
Cool in the refrigerator.
Cook tortilla strips in oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until strips have colored slightly and are crispy.
Remove from oven and cool at room temp.
After the beets go into the oven, drain off soaking liquid from beans and rinse with cold water.
In a medium pot, bring vegetable stock and beans to the simmer over medium high heat.
Once simmering, reduce heat to low and cook gently for 1 to 1 ½ hours or until beans are soft and cooked through.
Once cooked, drain off liquid and move beans to a blender.
Reserve cooking liquid.
With the lid open slightly to release steam, begin pureeing the beans on the lowest speed.
Slowly drizzle in enough of the cooking liquid to make a smooth puree, about 4 to 6 tablespoons.
If puree is still too thick, add more cooking liquid, 1 tablespoon at a time until puree is smooth.
Remove from blender and leave covered at room temp.
While beans are cooking, bring cauliflower and milk up to the simmer in a medium pot over medium high heat.
Once cauliflower has softened, about 10 to 15 minutes, remove from heat and drain.
Reserve milk.
In a blender, puree cauliflower on lowest speed, keeping lid open slightly to allow seam to escape.
Slowly drizzle in 3 to 5 tablespoons of the milk and puree cauliflower until smooth.
Strain cauliflower puree through a fine mesh sieve and leave covered at room temp.
Heat a large nonstick sauté pan over high heat.
Sauté shrimp in remaining ½ teaspoon of oil for 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until shrimp is just barely cooked through and pink in color.
Remove from heat and allow to rest at room temp.
Chop all but 2 shrimp into a fine dice.
Peel skin from cooled beets and cut into a small dice.
Mix yogurt and chives in a small mixing bowl until well incorporated.
In a small glass bowl or ramekin, begin layering the dip.
Start out at the bottom with an even layer of the bean puree.To that, add the crab, followed by the yogurt, the beets, cauliflower puree, and the chopped shrimp.
Place the watercress leaves in the center of the shrimp layer.
Cross the tails of the 2 remaining shrimp and place on the watercress leaves.
Serve with whole wheat tortilla chips.

Chef Curtis Stone also suggested pounding a chicken breast, adding spices and grilling it over a bed of lettuce for a quick, easy and healthy meal for every day. I would suggest doing this on George Foreman grill. It’s quick and super easy to use. Check out reviews of the George Foreman The Champ Foreman Grill:

Add comment January 30th, 2009

Holiday Breakfast recipes

I came across a recipe for French Toast Casserole and knew I had to share because it sounded so delicious. It seems like a perfect easy meal that the family can really enjoy before you have to get in the kitchen and get into the intense holiday dishes.

Since the holidays are a time to splurge, here is my favorite version of the recipe from the Food Network’s Paula Dean

Ingredients

* 1 loaf French bread (13 to 16 ounces)
* 8 large eggs
* 2 cups half-and-half
* 1 cup milk
* 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* Dash salt
* Praline Topping, recipe follows
* Maple syrup

Directions

Slice French bread into 20 slices, 1-inch each. (Use any extra bread for garlic toast or bread crumbs). Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch flat baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat with a rotary beater or whisk until blended but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden. Serve with maple syrup.
Praline Topping:

* 1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter
* 1 cup packed light brown sugar
* 1 cup chopped pecans
* 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and blend well. Makes enough for Baked French Toast Casserole.

Or if you would like a simpler version (for those of us not so talented in the kitchen):

French Toast Casserole

Butter for greasing the pan
1 loaf Challah bread in 1-inch slices, any kind will do
2 cups whole milk (3 if letting sit overnight)
3 eggs
2 tbsp sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tsp vanilla (optional)
3 tbsp liquer of your choice (optional)
1/4 cup raisins or almonds (optional)
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 - 2 tbsp butter

1. Generously grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter.

2. Arrange bread in two tightly-packed layers in the pan. Cut one slice into smaller pieces to fill in gaps. If you are using any fillings of fruit or nuts, this is the time to get them between the layers or sprinkled atop.

3. Whisk milk, eggs, sugar, salt, vanilla or liqueur and pour over the bread. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and dot with butter. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate. The bread will absorb all of the milk custard while you sleep.

4. Bake at 425 for 30 minutes, or until puffed and golden.

5. Cut into generous squares and serve with maple syrup.

For more recipes check out the Expo Holiday Survival Guide for some great holiday recipes. Like this recipe for Pineapple Cream cheese balls by Jana4:

Add comment December 23rd, 2008

The Roomba

One great gift idea is the Roomba. Not only does it clean your floors but the novelty of a vacuum that you don’t have to actually push around yourself is still a welcome gift to most anyone.

Woot! is offering the iRobot Roomba 418 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner Bundle:

The bundle costs only $149.99 and includes the Roomba 415 Vacuum and the Roomba 4900 Self-Charging Drive-On Home Base, made specifically for Woot. It also comes with a cleaning tool, fast charger, rechargeable battery, filter, two virtual walls, and two brush sets. The Roomba usually runs at $199.99 but I would suggest taking advantage of this as soon as possible if interested because it goes fast!

If you are hesitant about the purchase check our reviews of the Roomba over at Expo like this review of the iRobot Roomba Silver by Boonagee2

Add comment December 9th, 2008

Green Cleaning Products and Alternative Ideas

Most of the cleaning products that we all use are petroleum-based and could have some harmful health and environmental implications. Parents should especially be concerned with the cleaning products they use around their children. With all the great new green cleaning products coming out there are plenty of natural products that can keep your house clean without being toxic.

For reviews of various Green cleaning products head over to the Eco Living Expo where you can find out how well products like Clorox Green

and

Method All-Purpose Cleaner really work.

Other Green tips for cleaning your home:
1. Baking soda not only removes those strange smells coming from your fridge, it’s also a great odor-eliminator for your carpet. Just sprinkle on a little baking soda to soak up some of those odors and then vacuum it up.