This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Club House. All opinions are 100% mine.

My husband absolutely loves gravy.  In his mind, any meal can be salvaged with a liberal slathering of the salty, brown, fatty sauce.  It definitely comes from his childhood – gravy is a comfort food.  But, as a vegetarian from the time I was 12 to the time I was in my mid-twenties, making gravy isn’t something I learned to do very well.  To be honest, drippings kind of freak me out – they can be chunky, and greasy and…yup, it’s the vegetarian past coming back to haunt me!

Sure, I can pull it off, but it’s not…super-good.  Does making gravy stress you out?  It does for lots of women – particularly around big holiday/family meals.  My mom always thinks something is wrong with her gravy (too salty, too thin, too thick etc.), even when it’s great!

Club House gravy has gravy mixes that you can add your own roast drippings to for a tasty gravy.  You can find some easy to learn tips in their gravy tips video.  When you sign up at their newsletter sign-up and contest entry form, you’re automatically entered to win a Club House Gravy Gift Pack that will give you the tools you need to make gravy any time – even if you don’t have the greatest drippings on the block!

Isn’t that a headline that every woman loves to read?  The combination of chocolate and pregnancy is certainly enough to get my attention!    Not that we really need an excuse to eat more chocolate, right?  Truly though, current research is showing the benefits of eating potent dark chocolate – it’s full of minerals and antioxidants – I know it’s bitter, but it does give a hit of that theobromine goodness.

The latest news about chocolate comes from Elizabeth Triche of Yale University and her colleagues. The researchers studied 2,291 pregnant women who gave birth between 1996 and 2000. They asked the moms-to-be how much chocolate they ate in their first and second trimesters and tested blood from their umbilical cords for theobromine, a telltale component of chocolate. Women who ate the most chocolate were about 70 percent less likely to develop preeclampsia than those who eat the least, the researchers report in this month’s issue of the journal Epidemiology.

Chocolate = Good, Preeclampsia = BAD.

Enough said.

So my dear pregnant friends, share this information with your husband when he next raises an eyebrow at your chocolate nibbling ways.

If you’re looking for some particularly sumptuous chocolaty treats, you can find some yummy dark chocolate for pregnancy at Intentional Chocolate, but you’ll have to wade through some new-agey sentiments to get there – please ignore those, chocolate will do it’s job just fine without being infused by ’spiritual energy’, thanks very much.

CONTEST CLOSED

Thanks to all who entered!  Our winner is laurhd who is also interested in trying Tropical traditions Red Palm Oil!  Congratulations!

Our family has been enjoying healthy and delicious virgin coconut oil in our home for years.  As public awareness continues to increase about the dangers of trans-fatty acids and consumers search out healthier fats that aren’t polyunsaturated, brands of coconut oil have been popping up like toadstools after the rain!

Despite the bombardment of brands (which quite honestly makes our family confused when we’re shopping at the natural foods store), Tropical Traditions was there first (you can watch this youtube clip to learn more).  They are the first brand of coconut oil our family used, they remain the most affordable, the most reliable, the most consistent, and the most delicious! They’re also believers!  You can read founder Brian Shilhavy’s testimony here.

We’ve tried the other brands, and no matter what fancy terminology they use for their processes I haven’t found any that beat Tropical Tradition’s traditional hand-processing of coconuts into oil.  Their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is the creme-de-la-creme of coconut oils, perfect for eating raw, blending in smoothies, sauces, and all sorts of recipes – personally I love the delicate flavor it adds to our gluten-free chocolate cake!  If you’re not sure how to use it, there are many free coconut recipes available in their online collection, and it doesn’t hurt that they also seem passionate about providing gluten-free recipes either!  Our family also uses it as a sumptuous skin lotion – quick tip, rub it into cradle cap to soften, then brush gently with a surgical nail brush to remove, fast, gentle and effective!  It’s also great for dry skin of any type.

The ultimate source for all things coconut oil-related if you’re just getting started is Tropical Tradition’s book - Virgin Coconut Oil by Brian and Marianita Shilhavy, with over 70,000 copies in print, it contains testimonies, health benefits, and over 85 recipes to help you reap the benefits of coconut oil in your daily life.  You can receive a FREE copy of this title with your first order if you are a new customer by entering my sponsor ID – 2597923 - in the ‘Referred by a Friend’ field in the “How did you hear of us?” box during your first online purchase.  This book will be sent right out to you for free, a $15 value!

In the meantime, I do have a contest for my US/Canadian readers to win 1 – 32 oz. jar of Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Oil!

CONTEST DETAILS:

Thanks to Tropical Traditions I have 1 – 32 oz. jar of Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil to give away to one blessed winner in the U.S. or Canada!  To enter, visit Tropical Traditions online and let me know one item other than the Gold Label Oil that you’d like to try.

For additional entries:

1.  Subscribe to Tropical Traditions email newsletter to stay updated on sales, new products, and more (they have SUPER sales!)

2. Subscribe to this blog for updates – see the left hand sidebar. Leave an additional comment letting me know you’ve subscribed (or if you already subscribe).

3. Write a post on your blog promoting and linking to this contest. Leave an additional comment with a link to your post.

4. Add the Quiverfull Family button (see the code box in the right hand sidebar under BUTTON UP!) to your blog’s sidebar, or let me know if you already have the button displayed. Leave an additional comment with a link to your post.

5. Digg, Stumble, Tweet, Facebook or otherwise share this post on a social networking site. Leave an additional comment indicating how you shared this post.

6. Follow me on Twitter or let me know if you are an existing follower.

Each additional step taken counts for 1 additional entry. A total of 7 entries are available if you complete all of these steps. Please leave a separate comment for each entry!

The contest will close at 12 a.m. MST on Wednesday, December 02nd, 2009. One (1) winner will be randomly drawn for the 32 oz. jar of Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil on Thursday, December 03rd, 2009 and notified by email. Please fill your email address in the comment form when you are completing your comment so that I can contact you. The winners must respond with a mailing address within 72 hours of my email, or a new winner will be chosen. This contest is open to those living in the US/Canada.

I look forward to seeing God bless a reader with this fabulous oil!

Dear Friends,

I have just read and signed the online petition:

“Bring Gluten Free Betty Crocker mix to Canada!”

hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, the free online petition
service, at:

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/4894165/

I personally agree with what this petition says, and I think you might
agree, too. If you can spare a moment, please take a look, and consider
signing yourself.

Best wishes,

Jennifer Bogart

I’m passionate about Natural Pork, ever since my first taste of it I’ve been a firm believer in the benefits of raising pigs the ‘old-fashioned’ way – you know, out in the open air, on grass, without the stinky fumes that come with a confinement barn?  The meat is so much more subtle (no stinky smell when frying!) when it’s been raised in the open air.  Some people think pigs are still raised the way this video depicts, sadly – this isn’t the case!

We’ve been able to raise and butcher several hogs ourselves, and the meat has been without compare.  If you try some natural pork, raised like a pig should be, I don’t think you’ll be able to go back!  We haven’t been able to!

CONTEST CLOSED!

Thanks to everyone who entered!  Our winner for the complete Betty Crocker prize pack is Barbara Wright, who is looking forward to trying the brownie mix!  And our winner for the two coupons for free mixes is April, who wants to dig into some chocolate chip cookies!

Congratulations ladies!  These are such good mixes!  Please check again for more contests in the near future!

So many people in my family eat gluten-free.  My mother, two of my sisters, my grandfather, and my six-year-old daughter.  Oh what bliss it was to try out Betty Crocker’s new gluten-free baking mixes!  I’m always the first to admit that I’m not a domestic genius (is that you laughing mom?) and trying to figure out the foreign world of gluten-free baking can be intimidating at the best of times!

Betty Crocker makes it SO easy to whip up a scrumptious cake, batch of cookies, pan of brownies in no time – and the results are always delicious, the texture moist – never crumbly.  We tried the yellow cake mix here at home, and even though my timer didn’t go off, and the cake baked a bit too long, it was still one of the very best gluten-free cakes we’d ever had.  Well, after that I had to share with my family!  True, we did eat the cookies all by ourselves, but the brownies and chocolate cake mix came with us to the city to share all around.

Now, I have to tell you that my mother and younger sister are excellent bakers.  They make scrumptious gluten-free cakes and Ioften enlist their efforts for my daughter’s birthday.  Even they were blown away by the quality of Betty Crocker’s new offerings.  Trust me – we aren’t a mix-oriented family, but if you’re eating gluten-free you can’t miss out on these.  They are terrific, I have no complaints whatsoever.  Great natural flavour, easy to make, fabulous end results.

Ah wait, I do have a complaint, and so does the rest of my family!  Betty Crocker’s new GF mixes aren’t available in Canada!  Though they’re made in an entirely gluten-free facility here in Canada, the product isn’t available here on the shelf.  Please Betty Crocker, please send your baking mix goodness here to Canada!  My entire family told me to share our plea with you….PLEASE!

Ahem.  If you live in the United States, count yourselves blessed!  We might have to make a special trip down south just to pick up some boxes of mix!

Even better, if you live in the U.S. you can enter my contest for a Betty Crocker “Sweet Moments” prize pack that includes all four (4) samples of the dessert mixes, two (2) Free coupons for any of the varieties, a grocery tote bag, magnetic grocery list and pen to make shopping easier!  This is the same sample package that I received from MyBlogSpark to review – thanks very much!

One blessed winner will receive the prize pack, and another will receive two coupons for a free box of gluten-free baking mix of their choice!

AND, even more exciting!  If you live in the U.S. you can call 1-800-446-1898 to request a free coupon for one of the new gluten free mixes and to also receive information about General Mills´ growing set of gluten free products.  These mixes must certainly be the best new baking product of 2009 hands-down.

So, how can you win?

CONTEST DETAILS:

To enter visit Betty Crocker Gluten Free Baking Mixes and let me know which mix you’d most like to try!  If you have any favourite recipes for gluten free baked treats, feel free to share them here as well!

For additional entries:

1. Subscribe to this blog for updates – see the left hand sidebar. Leave an additional comment letting me know you’ve subscribed (or if you already subscribe).

2. Write a post on your blog promoting and linking to this contest. Leave an additional comment with a link to your post.

3. Add the Quiverfull Family button (see the code box in the right hand sidebar under BUTTON UP!) to your blog’s sidebar, or let me know if you already have the button displayed. Leave an additional comment with a link to your post.

4. Digg, Stumble, Tweet, Facebook or otherwise share this post on a social networking site. Leave an additional comment indicating how you shared this post.

5. Follow me on Twitter or let me know if you are an existing follower.

Each additional step taken counts for 1 additional entry. A total of 6 entries are available if you complete all of these steps. Please leave a separate comment for each entry!

The contest will close at 12 a.m. MST on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009. One winner will be randomly drawn for the Betty Crocker Prize Pack on Thursday, September 24th, 2009 and notified by email. Please fill your email address in the comment form when you are completing your comment so that I can contact you. The winners must respond with a mailing address within 72 hours of my email, or new winners will be chosen. This contest is open to those living in the US.

I look forward to seeing God bless a reader with these wonderful mixes! Thanks for entering.

When Dei Fratelli asked me if I’d like to try some of their gluten-free tomato products I said – yes!  I cook a lot with tomatoes – after all, what can’t you make with some ground beef and tomatoes?  More importantly, there’s is a fourth generation family owned company that includes only fresh and natural, vine-riped ingredients in their tasty sauces, canned tomatoes, salsas, and more.

The Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce (both gluten and corn free) was so delicious that I was, ahem, eating it out of the pot while I was preparing it for my family.  A light, tasty blend of flavours with basil (yummy!), by the time it made it onto the pasta it thinned down in intensity and needed a bit more salt, but it was still quite savory (try it out of the pot!!)  Quite a few pasta sauces include corn syrup, which my oldest child is allergic to, so this was a convenient way to have a quick pasta meal for us without needing to make sauce from scratch.

Dei Fratelli also makes canned tomatoes – diced, whole, seasoned, stewed, salt-free – you name it!  Their top-selling diced tomato is the Seasoned Diced Tomato, and oh it is good!  It does have corn starch included in the ingredients, but the fresh blend of tomatoes, peppers, onion, garlic and celery was superb!  It is incredibly good, subtly spicy and can easily be added to many meat dishes, soups, omlettes – many applications!

The large can of all-purpose Italian Sauce also includes corn starch as an ingredient, and is a great base for any Italian-style.  This would be delicious on manicotti, tomato soup, a base for pasta sauce, and ahem – on toast.  The thing that continously impresses me about Dei Fratelli is the fresh, never tinny flavour of their products.  Because there are no preservatives they taste as good as homemade – never any funny flavours to impinge upon the olive oil, onion, basil and garlic that mingle together in this sauce.

My favourite though, is the Original Medium Salsa.  I love salsa, and Dei Fratelli’s is so good!  It’schunky, zesty, and filled with vine-ripened tomatoes, zesty peppers, onions, and garlic, yet is mild enough for anyone in the family to enjoy – even children.  I found that the heat ratings are fairly low – the medium was quite mild, so if you like a hot salsa, go up one notch from what you usually buy.  It’s good enough to eat on it’s own – and is corn free!

So, there you have it, I’ve openly admitted that I eat yummy tomato sauces with nothing else to go along with  them – ahem.  If you want to  get a bit of something more filling with your Dei Fratelli (the brothers), you can check out their frugal recipe suggestions at their website.  Their claim to fame is without a doubt the fresh, clean taste of each product and the careful blending of subtle flavours.  Look for their cans and jars in your local grocery store, you won’t be disappointed!

Some women are gifted homemakers.  They naturally have a passion for homemaking, love to bake, live eat and breathe the domestic arts.  Sadly, I’m not one of those women – though there are days I wish I was!  Sisters, if you’re with me on this, you might be interested in some of the simplest baking mixes on the market.

Dr. Oetker’s Shaker’s are baking mixes that come in a plastic bottle. Just pour in milk or water, shake and you’ve got batter. Pour it into your cups, pop it in the oven and you are ready to go!  Surprise company – no problem!  Sudden birthday invitation – you’re set!  Asked t night before a church event to bring a treat?  You’re on!  The applications for these little jewels are endless, the convenience alone is well worth keeping a few on the shelf.

Not only can you do chocolate and vanilla cupcakes, but pancakes, chocolate chip pancakes, and a great selection of muffin mixes are also available.  Banana bran, chocolate chip, blueberry – yummy!  Now you don’t need to worry about rounding everything up, just add liquid, shake and go!  They also have a fairly healthy ingredient list and provide fiber and have no trans fats. It just gets better and better!  Have any of you ladies tried these mixes?

If you visit their website you can also enter every day for your chance to WIN a $1200 Visa Card for your next family fun weekend or 1 of 10 Dr. Oetker Shaker fun packs.

Welcome to the July 28, 2008 edition of the Carnival of Home Preserving 3rd Edition! I’m honoured to be hosting this new and highly useful carnival this week! We just have a small garden this year, and since our season is so much later than most, we don’t have any produce that needs preserving yet! Thankfully though – there are ladies and gents are busy canning, freezing and drying already, and sharing their insights with us for our reading pleasure! Enjoy .

Don’t forget to join Laura (the carnivals instigator) at Laura William’s Musings next week for another edition of the Carnival of Home Preserving! You can submit your articles to the carnival for inclusion next week here.

Dehydrating

Tomato Lady presents Oven-Dried Tomatoes posted at Little House in the Suburbs.

Mike Smythers presents Lump Charcoal posted at Meat Smoking.

Canning

Joseph presents ginger-melon preserves posted at choke, artichoke.

Angela Billings presents Squash Pickles posted at Homemaking Blog.

:: Suzanne :: presents Tomato Salsa posted at :: Adventures in Daily Living ::.

Kendra presents Up to our eyeballs in nectarines posted at A Sonoma Garden.

Marlene Dotterer presents Canning Day posted at Meals by Marlene.

Michelle presents Canning Rhubarb in Syrup posted at Life in Tee Harbor, Alaska.

Dana Wright presents Tomato Relish posted at Garden Green.

Gwen Mangelson presents My week so far posted at Paper Expressions.

Laura Williams presents Frugal Hints and Tips for Home Preserving posted at Laura Williams’ Musings.

Jane presents God Gave Plums….. posted at Seeds to Sew.

Marsha presents Love My Peaches posted at Hot Water Bath.

Kate presents Our Red House: Rocket (Arugula) and Pecan Pesto posted at Our Red House.

Freezing

Barb presents Bags of Mixed Vegetables, Frozen posted at My Daily Round.

Patsy presents It’s Cantaloupe and Watermelon Season posted at Likewise, Ye Older Women.

There’s a whole lot of Titus 2 goodness here for those of us who are just learning to preserve the harvest, so dig in and enjoy!

This is the recipe that I have improvised for use in my Zojirushi bread machine.

Ingredients:

2 cups of flour (if gluten free or corn free, substitute gluten freen flour mix)
1 tsp. baking powder (make sure you find a corn free/gluten free kind at your health food store)
3/4 cup sugar
4 tbsp. oil (I normally use coconut oil, but you can use butter or any vegetable oil on hand
2 eggs
2 1/2 bananas (pre-mashed)
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Directions:

If you have a Zojirushi, add the ingredients into the baking pan, use the “cake” cycle, and it will do the rest!

If you have a programmable bread machine you can try this program:

Mix for 24 minutes
Bake for 80 minutes
Cool for 16 minutes

Of course every bread machine and altitude is different!  Let me know how this works for you – my kids love it, and we think the gluten free option is very tasty too.  This makes more of a pound style, cake-like banana bread.  Happy baking!