We proudly welcome

Tyler Chase
November 16th
6:42 AM
7 pounds 11 ounces
21 1/4 inches

It was a FAST and not-so-easy labor and delivery.  But we are all healthy and recovering well.  If you are interested, you can read the full birth story here.

***UPDATED: This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to the winner Deanna (#217!)

How would you like to have THIS…

…delivered WARM to your doorstep?!?  Just in time for your holiday meal…or your holiday party…or just for dinner!

The Bob Evans Holiday Farmhouse Feast is the perfect solution for a cookless, low-stress holiday season.

The Farmhouse Feast comes complete with Bob Evans’ signature slow-roasted boneless turkey breast or sliced, boneless ham, bread and celery dressing, mashed potatoes with gravy, buttered sweet corn, green beans with ham, cranberry orange relish, rolls, a loaf of pumpkin bread and a pumpkin pie with whipped topping. The turkey and ham are both pre-cooked.

Bob Evans will also be offering the Farmhouse Feast anytime during December for your holiday entertaining or your Christmas meal.  If you are interested in ordering, you can learn more on their website.  The website contains ordering information, heating instructions (as some reheating will be necessary), and a FAQ page.

So here’s how you can get this meal delivered to your doorstep…just enter as normal below. The winner will then get to choose the date they would like their meal delivered. Anytime between now and New Year’s!

Giveaway Details

1. Contest ends Sunday, November 15th at 5 pm EST. Winner will be announced back here on this post, and notified via email with further instructions.

2. Entry #1: Leave a comment just saying you want this magnificant feast delivered to your doorstep.

3. Entry #2: Leave a SEPARATE comment telling me in what way you promoted this contest (i.e., posting it in a forum, posting about it on your blog, Tweet about it, emailing all your friends, and/or subscribe to my feed by email or in a reader).

4. Entry #3: Share your favorite Thanksgiving side dish…feel free to leave a link!

5. Winner will be selected by Random.org.

**NOTE: If you receive the email newsletter and wish to enter this giveaway, click on the title of this giveaway to get to the site and leave a comment on the site with your name and email address to be entered!

*Disclosure: I will be receiving this meal WARM on my doorstep next week.

**UPDATE: Giveaway now closed!  Winner is Jennie!!!  Congrats

Stretching my food and my dollar are ESSENTIAL in my kitchen!

So when challenged to come up with 2 holiday recipes using 1 can of Carnation Evaporated Milk, I was all for it!!!

(And keep on reading…cause there’s a SUPER COOL giveaway below!)

Ginger Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients
2 Tbsp butter ($.20)
1 cup chopped onion ($.15)
2 cups homemade chicken broth or 1 15 ounce can chicken broth (free – $1)
1 cup water
1 Tbsp brown sugar ($.05)
1 tsp ground ginger ($.05)
1/2 tsp each salt and pepper
1 15 ounce can pure pumpkin, or 2 cups pureed pumpkin ($1.50)
1 cup Carnation Evaporated Milk ($.75)

Directions
1. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Add in the chopped onion and saute for 3 to 4 minutes, or until begin to turn opaque. Add the chicken broth, water, brown sugar, ginger and salt and pepper. Stir ingredients together.
2. Whisk in the canned or fresh pureed pumpkin and the Carnation Evaporated milk. Cook over medium heat, or at a rolling bubble, for 15 minutes.
3. Pour soup into blender or food processor and blend for 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until soup is pureed.
4. Return the soup to the saucepan and keep warm over low heat until ready to serve.
5. Garnish each serving bowl with a dash of cinnamon and/or ground ginger.

Cost $2.70

Since I didn’t use the entire can for this soup, I thought I’d use the remaining to whip up some muffins for breakfast the following morning! Or you could freeze them to eat another morning! They thaw beautifully!

Cheesy Sausage Muffins

Ingredients
1 cup flour ($.20)
1 tsp baking powder ($.05)
1 tsp sugar ($.03)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup canola oil ($.20)
2 eggs ($.20)
1/2 cup Carnation Evaporated milk ($.25)
1/4 cup water
1/2 lb. cooked all-natural sausage ($1)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese ($.75)

Directions
1. Grease 12 muffin tins and preheat oven to 375.
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Add the oil and 2 eggs, then pour in the rest of the Carnation Evaporated milk and 1/4 cup water. Whisk together.

2. Stir in the cooked sausage and shredded cheese.
3. Fill the greased muffin tins 2/3 full with batter.

4. Bake muffins in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, or until cooked through.
5. Let cool on cooling rack before serving. Eat up or freeze for another morning!

Cost $2.68

Now you’ve got breakfast ready for the next morning!

Giveaway

It’s so easy in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season to fall back on old favorites because you’re in a rush and have no time to look for new recipes to experiment with…so to help you come up with some new ideas and try out some new dishes for your family feasts, Carnation has created a Holiday Recipe Guide that is sure to stir up some creativity in your kitchen.  I know it did in mine!!!

You can request the Holiday Recipe Guide to be sent by mail or you can download a .pdf version from the website.

Not used Carnation Evaporated Milk before when cooking or baking?  Simply substitute it cup for cup in recipes that call for regular drinking milk.  Pretty simple!

Are you up for some experimenting with Carnation Evaporated Milk this holiday season???

I’m offering a $100 Visa Gift Card to 1 lucky winner to do just that!  Winner will also receive a copy of the Holiday Recipe Guide booklet, as well as several free item coupons for Carnation Evaporated Milk.

Entry Details

1. Contest ends Thursday, November 12th at 10 pm EST. Winners will be announced back here on this post, and notified via email with further instructions.

2. Entry #1: Leave a comment just saying you want to win.

3. Entry #2: Leave a SEPARATE comment telling me in what way you promoted this contest (i.e., posting it in a forum, posting about it on your blog, Tweet about it, emailing all your friends, and/or subscribe to my feed by email or in a reader).

4. Entry #3: Leave another SEPARATE comment telling me which of the recipes from the Holiday Recipe Guide you’d like to try this holiday season!

5. Winner will be selected by Random.org.

**NOTE: If you receive the email newsletter and wish to enter this giveaway, click on the title of this giveaway to get to the site and leave a comment on the site with your name and email address to be entered!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Nestle Carnation Evaporated Milk. I did receive compensation for the ingredients purchased to make this meal, as well as for my time in preparing the recipes.  You can read the full disclosure policy for $5 Dinners here.

I really enjoyed reading through all your ideas and ways you involve your kiddos in the kitchen, how you enjoy snuggling with your little ones, and ways to create a healthy environment with your kiddos.

Mod Mum Sling

If you are interested in purchasing a Mod Mum Sling, use the coupon code TENOFF to get $10 off your purchase, including sale items!  Great idea for holiday gift.  Coupon code expires 12/30/09.

#339 – Denise 

Curious Chef Cooking Sets

#208 – Joanna

Land of Nod Breakfast in Bed Set

# 483 – Jennifer L.

Happy Baby Book

#185 – Amy

Congrats to all the winners!  Be on the lookout for an email from me!

UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed!

The new book HappyBaby: The Organic Guide to Baby’s First 24 months is filled with eco-friendly parenting tips, green cleaning tips, lots and lots of homemade organic baby food how tos and recipes, and countless other tips and tricks for providing your baby with the safest, greenest, and healthiest first 2 years of life!

I needed a breast-feeding “refresher” and the book contains a thorough section on breastfeeding from start to finish. And for those who are unable to breast feed for whatever reason, the book offers advice and encouragement for selecting the best and healthiest formula for your baby. The bulk of the remainder of the book offers feeding advice for starting solid foods and building a healthy foundation for the rest of baby’s life. I’m looking forward to using the recipes when I make baby food for little guy #3!

Also, the book contains coupons for Seventh Generation diapers, free offer for Happy Baby food product, as well as coupons for a variety of other green and organic baby products!  Gotta love a book that comes with coupons!

Giveaway Details

1. Contest ends Tuesday, November 3rd at 10 pm EST. Winners will be announced back here on this post, and notified via email with further instructions.

2. Entry #1: Leave a comment just saying you want to win.

3. Entry #2: Leave a SEPARATE comment telling me in what way you promoted this contest (i.e., posting it in a forum, posting about it on your blog, Tweet about it, emailing all your friends, and/or subscribe to my feed by email or in a reader).

4. Entry #3: Share ANY tip or trick that you found helpful in creating the safest, healthiest and greenest environment for your little ones.

5. Winner will be selected by Random.org.

**NOTE: If you receive the email newsletter and wish to enter this giveaway, click on the title of this giveaway to get to the site and leave a comment on the site with your name and email address to be entered!

*Disclosure: I did receive a copy of the book in conjunction with this giveaway.  Opinions given are my own.

UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed!

So. This is a food blog.  Why in the world am I doing a baby sling giveaway?  I hope the answer is obvious!  The only way that I will survive the next few months is by slinging Baby T. (Yes, he has a name.  And no, we’re not sharing it. Yet!)

When the gals at ModMum offered to do a giveaway, I was thrilled!  Because I want someone else to enjoy the wonders and bonds of baby wearing!

That being said.  I’m giving away 1 ModMum Baby Sling to 1 lucky reader!  Entry details below…

P.S. You don’t have to be pregnant to enter.  This would be a fantastic gift to any expectant mom in your life!

Giveaway Details

1. Contest ends Tuesday, November 3rd at 10 pm EST. Winners will be announced back here on this post, and notified via email with further instructions.

2. Entry #1: Leave a comment just saying you want to win.

3. Entry #2: Leave a SEPARATE comment telling me in what way you promoted this contest (i.e., posting it in a forum, posting about it on your blog, Tweet about it, emailing all your friends, and/or subscribe to my feed by email or in a reader).

4. Entry #3: What have you loved about baby wearing?  Or what do you look forward to about baby wearing?

5. Winner will be selected by Random.org.

**NOTE: If you receive the email newsletter and wish to enter this giveaway, click on the title of this giveaway to get to the site and leave a comment on the site with your name and email address to be entered!

*Disclosure: I did not receive a sling or any other compensation for this giveaway.

UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed!

Isn’t he adorable?!?  Chef Chase.

He absolutely LOVES to make cookies. And pancakes. And waffles. And soup.  Even chicken.  I adore watching him “shake” in the salt or use the whisk to mix up his “panpape batter”.  The creativity and possibilities are endless!

These Curious Chef products are perfect for little hands.  Easy to hold.  Easy to manipulate.  And easy to keep track of and organized (with their distinct design and colors!).  They have been a fantastic addition to our playroom kitchen and real kitchen too!

This week I’m giving away the 27 piece Build-A-Kitchen Set and the 6 piece Cookie Set  to 1 lucky winner. Entry details below!

Giveaway Details

1. Contest ends Tuesday, November 3rd at 10 pm EST. Winners will be announced back here on this post, and notified via email with further instructions.

2. Entry #1: Leave a comment just saying you want to win.

3. Entry #2: Leave a SEPARATE comment telling me in what way you promoted this contest (i.e., posting it in a forum, posting about it on your blog, Tweet about it, emailing all your friends, and/or subscribe to my feed by email or in a reader).

4. Entry #3: What are/were your kiddos-nieces-nephews-grandkiddos favorite “pretend kitchen play” games?

5. Winner will be selected by Random.org.

**NOTE: If you receive the email newsletter and wish to enter this giveaway, click on the title of this giveaway to get to the site and leave a comment on the site with your name and email address to be entered!

*Disclosure: I did receive a set of both products featured in this giveaway.  I did not receive any other compensation.  The opinions given are my own.

Update: This giveaway is now closed!

Wouldn’t it be nice to wake up, snuggle with your little one for a bit, and then request a breakfast in bed???? 

With this adorable breakfast in bed play set from Land of Nod, you can do just that!  And maybe even catch another 2 or 3 minutes of sleep while little feet patter off to prepare your breakfast!

This week I’m giving away 1 Breakfast in Bed Play Set from Land of Nod.  Entry details below!

Giveaway Details

1. Contest ends Tuesday, November 3rd at 10 pm EST. Winners will be announced back here on this post, and notified via email with further instructions.

2. Entry #1: Leave a comment just saying you want to win.

3. Entry #2: Leave a SEPARATE comment telling me in what way you promoted this contest (i.e., posting it in a forum, posting about it on your blog, Tweet about it, emailing all your friends, and/or subscribe to my feed by email or in a reader).

4. Entry #3: Leave another SEPARATE comment answering the following question: What tips do you have for getting your kiddos to help out and participate in meal time?  For meal prep?  For dinner table prep?  For clean-up?

5. Winner will be selected by Random.org.

**NOTE: If you receive the email newsletter and wish to enter this giveaway, click on the title of this giveaway to get to the site and leave a comment on the site with your name and email address to be entered!

*Disclosure: I did not receive any products or compensation associated with this giveaway.

UPDATED: Giveaway is now closed! 

Winners are

#400 – Merideth

#70 – Whitney

Congrats!  I’ve sent you an email!!!

Several weeks ago, the boys and I (far right) enjoyed a lovely breakfast at the newest Bob Evans store near our home with several other bloggers from our area.  Notice the 30 meals for $5.99 or less sign! Great restaurant prices in my book!

Whenever we are on a road trip, we always stop for a meal at Bob Evans.  It’s become a Chase family tradition!  We like eating there because it is reasonably priced, and is “allergy friendly”…meaning I can always find something on their diverse menu that the boys can eat!

While at the breakfast, we took a tour of the new restaurants they will be building in the future.  The exterior design will look more like a farmhouse than a restaurant.  When walking into the store, you’ll be greeted by a “kid friendly” waiting area and then their upgraded “eat-in kitchen,” complete with dining bar, tables for two, and even flatscreens to catch up on the latest news and sports.  They realized that many of their customers were coming in pairs or in alone, so they wanted to create a warm and welcoming space where couples or lone diners would feel “at home” while eating their meal.  The interior “feels” more farmhouse-like, as to make you feel like you’re there on the actual farm eating dinner with Bob and his family!

Also, during the tour, there was a LOVELY young lady who played with the boys, helped them enjoy their breakfast, colored with them, painted their faces and made sure they were taken care of.  As a mom, I found this so thoughtful and really appreciated that I could listen and focus on the tour, and not worry about what the kids were up to.

After our tour, we got to sample the latest dishes from the Fall menu, including their newest Boburritos, Pot Roast Stroganoff, and these here Apple Pie Fries!  A little taste of caramel-y apple heaven!

The Bob Evans Newsletter – Sign up here for the Bob Evans e-newsletter and you’ll receive a $2 off $10 or more purchase.  You’ll also be eligble for other money saving offers, birthday treats, recipes and more!  You can also print coupons for the Bob Evans products that are sold in grocery stores.

Bob Evans has graciously offered to giveaway a $50 Gift Card to Bob Evans AND a $25 Gift Card to Mimi’s Cafe, their “sister” restaurant.  There will be 2 winners in this giveaway.  One will receive the Bob Evans gift card and the other will receive the Mimi’s Cafe gift card!

NOTE: If you are interested in attending the Bob Evans Festival in Rio Grande, OH, THIS weekend, I have 4 admission tickets.  I will gladly mail them to the 7th person to email (5dollardinners at gmail dot com) requesting the tickets.  (I’m not including these in the main giveaway because it is more of a “regional” giveaway!)

Also, I’m adding another entry to this giveaway!  I’ve got a Facebook $5 Dinners Group page, but thought a $5 Dinners Fan Page was in order to keep you all up to date on the latest happenings, especially with the cookbook’s release!  Details below…

Giveaway Details

1. Contest ends Wednesday, October 7th at 5 pm EST. Winners will be announced back here on this post, and notified via email with further instructions. 

2. Entry #1: Join the $5 Dinners Fan Page!!!  (Don’t forget to leave a comment so you’ll get your entry into the giveaway!)

3. Entry #2: Leave a comment just saying you want to win.

4. Entry #3: Leave a SEPARATE comment telling me in what way you promoted this contest (i.e., posting it in a forum, posting about it on your blog, Tweet about it, emailing all your friends, and/or subscribe to my feed by email or in a reader).

5. Entry #4: Tell me what your favorite “hot” breakfast is…leave a recipe if you’re so inclined!  We love scrambled eggs, toast and fruit!

6. Winners will be selected by Random.org.

**NOTE: If you receive the email newsletter and wish to enter this giveaway, click on the title of this giveaway to get to the site and leave a comment on the site with your name and email address to be entered!

Photos from Once A Month Mom

*Disclosure: I did receive a free breakfast with the boys, as well as gift cards for our family.  For complete details on the $5 Dinners disclosure policy, click here.

Congrats to #119 Joann L!  She is the winner of this fabulous Deep Covered Baker!

CLOSED!!  This giveaway has now closed.  Winners will be announced shortly…
 

This week I’m giving away a Pampered Chef Deep Covered Baker to 1 lucky reader.

Lemme share this quick story with you (and nope…not being paid to share it!)  A few weeks ago, I was doing a photoshoot for the cookbook and we were running a little behind schedule.  I didn’t want the photographer to have to wait an hour while the chicken baked in the oven.  I remembered that I had just received this deep covered baker in the mail and, having skimmed through the recipes, knew that it would cook the meal twice as fast if I threw it in the microwave.

So, I loaded all the ingredients into the deep covered baker and popped it into the microwave for 24 minutes.  Voila!

Done in half the time (that particular recipe normally bakes 50-60 minutes in the oven!).  And not only that, but my kitchen didn’t get HOT because I made it in the microwave!

I will be sharing another recipe for tonight’s dinner that I cooked in the deep covered baker…in the microwave!

Chicken Penne al Fresco coming right up!

But while you wait for dinner, go on ahead and enter to win one of these for yourself

Giveaway Details

1. Contest ends Wednesday, September 16th at 5 pm EST. Winner will be announced back here on this post, and notified via email with further instructions.

2. Entry #1: Leave a comment just saying you want to win.

3. Entry #2: Leave a SEPARATE comment telling me in what way you promoted this contest (i.e., posting it in a forum, posting about it on your blog, Tweet about it, emailing all your friends, and/or subscribe to my feed by email or in a reader).

4. Entry #3: In yet ANOTHER comment, share the name (and recipe if you are so inclined) of your favorite casserole or cooler weather/fall dish.

5. Winner will be selected by Random.org.

**NOTE: If you receive the email newsletter and wish to enter this giveaway, click on the title of this giveaway to get to the site and leave a comment on the site with your name and email address to be entered!

*Disclosure: I did receive a deep covered baker from Pampered Chef. The opinions in this post are mine and I was not paid or compensated to share them