When deciding what’s for dinner in our home it is usually a family affair.  However, there are certain foods my husband and I grew up with that have become staples in our families menu. Queso Dip made with VELVEETA® and Ro*Tel® is  one of those foods.  

Whenever we want to get our kids to eat certain foods such as broccoli or potatoes we always have VELVEETA® and Ro*Tel® on hand.  There is nothing better than smothering a baked potato in cheesy goodness.  

Next time you serve potatoes try these:

Queso Potatoes

INGREDIENTS

• 4 medium baking potatoes (8 oz each)
• 1 can (10 oz each) Ro*Tel® Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, undrained
• 1 pkg (16 oz each) VELVETTA® Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product, cut into cubes

DIRECTIONS

1. Pierce each potato in several places with fork or sharp knife. Microwave on HIGH 18 minutes or until tender.
2. Meanwhile, combine undrained tomatoes and cheese in 1-1/2-quart sauce pan. Heat on medium until cheese is completely melted, stirring after 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir mixture until well blended.
3. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise. Spoon half of sauce over potatoes. Reserve remaining sauce to use as a dip.

How do you involve your family in deciding what’s for dinner?

VELVEETA® and RO*TEL® are hosting an amazing sweepstakes to encourage simple, easy weeknight family meals and entertainment ideas. Winners will be picked each week, and the more points you collect the more chances you have of winning! Grand prize winner will receive $15,000! 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of VELVEETA/RO*TEL. The opinions and text are all mine.

Do you like entering recipe contests?  Do you have a holiday recipe you would like to share with others?  If so, this is the post for you to read!  SheSpeaks has teamed up with Macy’s and their Recipe Share Contest! Share your favorite holiday recipe for a chance to win $1000 and have it featured on Food Republic.

Mark Your Calendar:

The Macy’s Recipe Share Contest is running until November 30th, 2011, so be sure to enter ASAP!

How to Enter:

1. Head to www.facebook.com/macys
2. Click the Recipe Share tab
3. Submit your recipe
4. Share the contest via Facebook and Twitter

Don’t forget that you can submit and vote on recipes starting November 1st. You’ll have until November 30th when the contest ends to show off your best holiday recipes so get cooking!

This is the recipe I plan on sharing this holiday season: Pumpkin Pie Crunch (with photos)
Ingredients:

• 1 lg. can of pure plain pumpkin
• 1 lg. can of evaporated milk
• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 t. salt
• 4 t. pumpkin pie spice
• 3 eggs
• 1 box of yellow cake mix
• pecans
• 2 sticks of melted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease 13 x 9 cake pan.  In medium sized mixing bowl empty pumpkin and add evaporated milk, sugar, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and eggs. Mix well. Pour mixture into well greased baking dish. Sprinkle and spread dry cake mix on top of pumpkin mixture. Add chopped pecans and drizzle melted butter evenly over the top. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until nicely browned. Cover with whip cream and serve!

About Macy’s:

Established in 1858, Macy’s is the Great American Department Store – an iconic retail brand with over 800 stores across the country and online at macys.com. Macy’s offers an incredible selection and the best brands, tailored to each and every customer, while providing an experience that transcends ordinary shopping.

A big part of Macy’s unique heritage includes our special events?the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Fourth of July Fireworks, flower shows, fashion extravaganzas, celebrity appearances and holiday traditions that range from the arrival of Santa Claus to tree lightings and festive window displays. But beyond our signature events, Macy’s delivers magical moments every day through our shopping environment, service and merchandise – a great deal of which is sold exclusively through our stores. It’s all part of the excitement we’ve been creating for 151 years, and it’s all part of the magic of Macy’s!

Disclosure:  This post is part of the SheSpeaks campaign sponsored by Macy’s and I was paid for sharing.  What I shared and my opinions are my own.

With Halloween right around the corner I thought I would ask for some help from my readers.  Every year we throw a Halloween Party and this year I want to add some new things to the agenda.  It’s important for us to enjoy this fun holiday together with family and friends.  It’s the one time of the year where we all can be whoever we want to be.  We already changed our decor and went with a more ghoulish spooky theme instead of the usual whimsical theme, but now we need ideas for activities for the teenagers.   Fanta is supply us with an awesome Halloween Prize Package that should be really easy to utilize, especially the pumpkin carving tools and and lite.  Every year we host a pumpkin carving competition, but what other things can we add?

Another Halloween staple is our Halloween Punch.

Halloween Punch:

Ingredients

• (2) 2-liter Fanta Orange 
• (1) 1/2 gallon of orange sherbet

Directions

• Pour Fanta into a punch bowl and add orange sherbet.

This is quick, easy and a family favorite.  You can be as creative as you wish by freezing FANTA in rubber gloves over night to add to the punch (remove rubber glove next day for a “hand” in the punch bowl effect).  You can also add gummy worms on the outside of the bowl and decorate it.  There are tons of different things you can do to make it personal to your party.

So, what are your favorite Halloween party tips, tricks, and memories?

By answering you will be entered to win one of 15 Halloween Prize Packages (each a $100 value) from Fanta!  Just leave a comment and share…

What to know what you could win?

• $25 Amex Card
• Glow in the Dark Spider Webs
• Inflatable Cooler
• Purple and Orange Lights
• Color Changing Pumpkin Light
• Purple Spider Pint Glass
• Pumpkin Carving Kit
• Blacklight Bulb
• Door Mat Talker

As promised in my post earlier this week about #CostcoPork savings in celebration of National Pork Month, here is my recipe for my famous Garlic Infused Herb Crusted Pork Loin.

Garlic Infused Herb Crusted Pork Loin

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Serves: 8 to 10

Ingredients:

• 2½ pound boneless Pork Loin (currently save $2.50 at Costco in celebration of National Pork Month)
• 8 cloves garlic
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1.5 t. rosemary
• 1.5 t. oregano
• 1.5 t. garlic salt
• 1.5 t. black pepper
• 1.5 t. onion powder
• 1.5 t. sage
• 1.5 t. thyme
• 1.5 t. parsley

Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

In a small bowl, combine rosemary leaves, garlic salt, onion powder, sage, thyme, parsley, oregano and pepper muddle together. Slice holes into the roast on all sides, top, and bottom and plug with coarsely chopped garlic cloves.  Spread olive oil on all sides of roast.  Place roast, fat side up, in shallow roasting pan large enough to hold roast with three inches room around all sides. Roast 15 minutes.

Reduce oven to 300 degrees F. and continue roasting  until internal temperature of roast reaches 145 degrees F..

Remove roast from oven and let rest 10 minutes. Slice roast and arrange on platter.

To learn more about this recipe and contest, please read my Celebrate National Pork Month post from earlier this week.  I would love your support and a tweet out of my recipe.

SheSpeaks has teamed up with the Aetna Healthy Food Fight to help spread the message of healthy living and eating in America.

#SSFoodFight Twitter Party Recipe Swap (RSVP)

When: September 15 @ 8pm EST
TweetGrid Dashboard: http://bit.ly/oy4lU9
Follow: #SSFoodFight and @shespeaksup

Will you be joining us tonight for the #SSFoodFight Twitter Party/Recipe Swap tonight?  If you know me you know I love to cook and featuring/sharing recipes is always fun.  Aetna is sponsoring tonight’s party featuring healthy foods in conjunction with their Healthy Food Fight Contest.

HERE’S HOW THE CONTEST WORKS

Submit your Healthy Entree Recipe.

1. Start with one of your own great healthy recipes.
2. Select the region in which you want to compete.
3. Register for the contest, and enter your recipe into our Healthy Recipe Analyzer to determine if it meets the nutritional requirements to be included in the voting for the semi-final cook-off. If your recipe receives a score of C+ or higher, it will be officially entered.
4. Then spread the word to get your friends and fans to come vote
   for your recipe when voting begins. Up to 48 people with the
   highest-rated recipes will qualify to compete in person.

By the way, the three top qualifiers from each region will travel to their Semi-Final recipe cook-offs, via Travel Certificates donated by American Airlines®* and accommodations donated by Hotels & Resorts.

Twitter Party

Party Sponsors: @AetnaFoodFight and @Circulon

SheStars: @lifewithoutpink, @LisaSamples, @centsiblelife,@zipporahs, @savorthethyme

Prizes: We’re giving away over $1,000 in prizes!

• Multiple Contempo 5-Qt Dutch Ovens from Circulon® gourmet cookware donated by Meyer Corporation, U.S.
• Secret door prize – valued at over $200!
• Plus, we’ll be talking about how you can enter the Healthy Food Fight Contest for a chance to win $10,000, flights and a chance to cook for Bobby Flay!

Party Topics:
We’ll be talking about healthy foods and recipes and sharing tips on living well. Get ready to learn more about The Aetna Healthy Food Fight and the chance to win prizes like cookware sets from Circulon®!

Do you have a personal recipe that’s delicious and health-conscious? Submit it on HealthyFoodFight.com! The top 3 qualifiers in each region win an all-expense paid trip to the semi-final cook-offs…. to cook for celebrity chef, Bobby Flay.

RSVP & Win:
Enter to win our door prize by commenting on this post with your Twitter ID (Ex. @shespeaksup)

Optional Entries
Tweet one of the following phrases and leave a comment on this blog with each completed optional entry.

Click to tweet this:
I’ll be @ the #SSFoodFight Twitter Party w/ @shespeaksup – 9/15 @ 8PM ET! Let’s talk healthy cooking & prizes! RSVP: http://bit.ly/PMTWT

Click to tweet this:
Join @shespeaksup on 9/15 @ 8PM ET 4 #SSFoodFight Twitter Party! We’re talking healthy cooking & prizes via Circulon! http://bit.ly/PMTWT

We’re giving away over $1,000 in prizes – don’t miss out! Remember, you have to RSVP for a chance at our amazing door prize!

Door prize winner must have RSVP-ed via comment and be participating in the discussion to win. Open to all United States and Canada residents. One prize per winner. No purchase necessary.

About Aetna:

Aetna is one of the nation’s leading providers of health care, dental, pharmacy, group life, disability insurance and employee benefits. At Aetna, we believe we can help create a better health care system. This belief drives our daily decisions as one of the nation’s leading health care benefits companies. We work hard to provide our members with information and resources to help them make informed decisions about their health. For more information on Aetna and the Healthy Food Fight please head to http://bit.ly/mVbfOe.

Disclosure:  This potst is sponsored by Aetna and SheSpeaks.  I will be at the party tonight as a co-host and hope to see you there!

I just got this via email from Driscolls and I just had to share it with you!

Strawberry  Halloween Ghost Graveyard Cake

Prep time: 30 minutes

Bake time: 25 minutes

Yield 12 servings

Serving Size: 1 slice

Strawberry Ghosts and Tombstones

• 1 container (1 pound) Driscoll’s strawberries, divided
• 3 Milano cookies
• 1 cup white candy melts
• 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
• 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted
• Assorted Halloween sprinkles,like Jumbo Ghost Sprinkles
• 6 cream filled chocolate cookies, Oreo’s

Graveyard Cake

• 1 container (6 ounces) Driscoll’s blueberries
• ¾ cup water
• 1 package (18.25 ounce) devil food cake mix
• 1/3 cup oil
• 3 large eggs

Raspberry Strawberry Filling

• 1 container (6 ounce) Driscoll’s raspberries
• 1 ½ cup coarsely chopped Driscoll’s strawberries, divided
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

Chocolate Ganache Whipped Frosting

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 12 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
• Garnish
• 1 container (6 ounces) Driscoll Blueberries
• 1 container (6 ounces)Driscoll Raspberries

Strawberry Ghosts and Tombstones

Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Combine candy melts and shortening in large microwave safe bowl. Microwave on 50% power for 30 seconds. Stir thoroughly. Continue to microwave and stir at 30 seconds intervals until smooth and completely melted.

Dip strawberries into candy melt to coat completely, let excess drip off. Carefully place stem side down onto prepared cookie sheet. Let stand at room temperature or store in refrigerator 30 minutes or until coating is firm

Using melted chocolate place dots of chocolate as glue and arrange ghost sprinkles for eyes. Pipe on eyebrows and mouth, let stand until firm.

Arrange cookies on tray. Spoon melted chocolate into a pastry bag fitted with Wilton tip # 3. Pipe saying onto each cookie.

Let stand at room temperature until coating is firm.  In food processor blend cookies until fine crumbs, set aside.

 Graveyard Cake

Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease and flour 2 (9-inch) square baking pans. Combine in food processor 1 cup blueberries and water. Puree 1 minute or until smooth

Blend cake mix, blueberry mixture, oil and eggs in large bowl on low speed just until moistened. Scrape sides of bowl.

Beat at medium speed 2 minutes. Stir in remaining blueberries. Divide batter evenly into prepared pans.

Bake 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.

Raspberry Strawberry Filling

Combine raspberries and 1 cup coarsely chopped strawberries in food processor. Puree 1 minute or until smooth.

Press through a sieve to remove seeds. Whisk sugar, cornstarch and berry puree in small saucepan until blended.

Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly and boil 1 minute.

Remove from heat stir in ½ cup chopped strawberries; set aside. Cool completely.

Chocolate Ganache Whipped Frosting

Bring heavy cream to a boil over medium- high heat in medium saucepan. Whisk in chocolate. Whisking constantly until the chocolate is completely melted.

Pour chocolate into a bowl, cover surface with plastic wrap, chill 2 hours.

Beat on low to medium speed 30 seconds or just until ganache is thickened and begins to hold a shape. Do not overbeat.

 To Assemble:

Place one cake layer on serving plate. Spread raspberry strawberry filling to ½ inch from edge. Top with second cake layer.

Frost sides and top with ganache whipped frosting. Arrange blueberries around top edge of cake and raspberries around bottom edge of cake.

Sprinkle center top with cookie crumbs. Arrange strawberry ghosts and press cookies into cake, for tombstones.

Yields

Raspberry Strawberry filling= 1 ¼ cup

Whipped Ganache yield 2 ½ cups

Healthy Tips:

Prepare cake with eggbeaters

It’s true, I was reading the catch phrase for Barilla’s  Piccolini Rich in Fiber – White: “Mini Pasta. Big on Fiber.” and realized it had 3x more fiber than regular pasta so I decided to see if James would notice a difference.  First off, if you cook with your kids you know they like things that are different and the Piccolini Mini Rotini Rich in Fiber – White is different because it is smaller, like James.  We decided to make Piccolini Rich in Fiber Rotini with Carrots and Peas, a recipe straight from their website.  Preparing to cook with smaller kids is always a challenge.  It never fails that James’ wants to do all the things I rather him not do – such as stir hot boiling pasta on a stove.  Luckily I was able to talk him out of that by offering him a more prestigious task such as rinsing the pasta and stirring in the ingredients.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 box Barilla Piccolini Mini Rotini Rich in Fiber – White
• 4 T. Olive Oil
• 2 medium carrots thinly sliced
• 2 medium leeks
• 1 c. peas (we used fresh peas from the garden)
• 4 leaves of fresh basil, chopped
• Salt & Pepper to taste.
• 1/2 c. grated Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese*

Piccolini Rich in Fiber – White
·        Contains 3x more fiber than regular pasta
·        Provides 30% of daily whole grains (per 100g serving)
·        Looks and tastes like regular pasta

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Barilla, but our opinions are our own.

Although I wasn’t raised in The South I’ve been living here for over 10 years and there is one thing I enjoy just as much as any other naturally born Southerner and that’s FRIED CHICKEN!  Fried chicken is as Southern as barbecue – so what could possibly be more Southern than barbecue fried chicken?  Nothing!  When you try the Tangy Carolina BBQ Southern Fried Chicken it will be like coming home.  Made from Lay’s Regional Flavors chips, here is my submission into the Tastes from Home with Frito-Lay! regionally inspired recipe contest.  This invitation-only recipe contest is their way of celebrating cuisines from all over the country whether the recipe features Tangy Carolina BBQ, Cajun Herb & Spice, or Creamy Garden Ranch flavored potato chips these are gonna be delicious.

• All of the Lay’s Regional Flavored potato chips are made with all natural ingredients, and are cooked in healthier oils so they contain 0 grams of trans fats per serving!
• There’s also less sodium in them than you might think – a 1-oz serving of our Lay’s Regional Flavored potato chips contains less salt than a plain bagel!

Lays has a new line of potato chips that were inspired by popular American regional cuisine and include:

Northeastern U.S. – Lay’s Honey Mustard
Midwestern U.S. – Lay’s Creamy Garden Ranch
Northwestern U.S. – Lay’s Balsamic Sweet Onion
Southwestern U.S. – Lay’s Chipotle Ranch
Southeastern U.S. – Lay’s Cajun Herb & Spice

Tangy Carolina BBQ Southern Fried Chicken

Ingredients

• 6 cups Frito Lay’s Tangy Carolina BBQ Chips
• 2 cups Flour
• 2 cups Buttermilk
• 1 whole Cut-up Chicken (bone in or out)
• 1.5 T. Seasoned Salt
• 1.5 T. Cayenne Pepper
• 1.5 T. Ground Chipolte Chile
• Oil to fry in

Add flour to mixing bowl.

Add Lay’s Tangy Carolina BBQ chips and crush.

Add Cayenne Pepper.

Add Seasoned Salt.

Add Ground Chipotle Chile.

Chicken should have been soaking in buttermilk overnight.

Coat chicken in crumbs covering well and place on wax paper.

Fry in oil at 375 degrees until juices run clear and chicken is cooked thoroughly.

Be sure to check temperature to ensure doneness.

ENJOY!

Disclosure:  This recipe submission is part of a contest sponsored by Frito-Lay!  This post is sponsored by Frito-Lay and prize is being supplied by sponsor.  Opinions and recipe are my own.

*Required utensils include but are not limited to mixing bowl, metal scoop or tongs, deep fryer or pan to deep fry in.  Cooking time varies depends on what chicken you use.  Serves 4.