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Roasted Maple Dijon Brussel Sprouts

josie milano — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:18:44 +0000

This recipe is an oldie but goody in my house. If you think you don’t like Brussel Sprouts I strongly urge you to try this recipe. I started making this recipe about a year ago when I was trying to get my family to expand their vegetable taste buds. Brussel Sprouts have always been the dreaded vegetable in many homes throughout the years but I always tell my children if they don’t like the taste of something try it in a new way and they may be surprised.

Baking vegetables brings out the natural sweetness in them and with summer right around the corner these would be perfect to put a vegetable pan right on the grill and you have a simple side dish. The secret, however, is in the sauce! Start by trimming the ends off fresh Brussel Sprouts and tossing with Olive Oil and Sea Salt. Bake at 375 degrees for approx. 30 minutes or until brown and tender

While sprouts are roasting, mix 1/4 cup. Pure Maple Syrup, pinch of Sea Salt, 2 TBSP. Olive Oil, and 2 squirts of Dijon Mustard – I know I’m so accurate but what’s the fun in that? Eyeball and adjust to your taste!

Pour the mixture over the warm sprouts and toss. Serve immediately and enjoy : )

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Gluten Free Banana Muffins

josie milano — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:00:01 +0000

I don’t have any medical issues with Gluten but after having a bad episode of Lyme Disease about 2 month ago which left me paralyzed in my right leg for a few weeks I decided to drastically change my diet to an anti-inflammatory diet. I started following the Paleo Diet and immediately noticed a HUGE improvement in my joints and overall feeling. I try to create dishes that my family and I can both eat, my husband and kids are not on the Paleo bandwagon entirely but they have yet to notice the difference when I cook a dish that is entirely Paleo. These banana muffins are perfect for people who are doing a low carb diet or have an allergy to gluten. Almond Flour which is low in carbs and a good source of protein is used in this recipe to replace traditional All Purpose Flour, it lends a moist texture and rich buttery flavor.

Ingredients

2 cups Almond Flour
1 TBSP. Cinnamon
1 tea. Baking Soda
2 eggs
2 ripe bananas-mashed
1/4 cup Maple Syrup
1/2 cup water
1 tea. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin tin with foil wrappers (these work best for non sticking). Mix Almond Flour, Cinnamon and Baking Soda in a large bowl and set aside.

Beat eggs in a separate bowl and add mashed bananas, Maple Syrup, Vanilla and water. Add mixture to dry ingredients and stir till all is moistened. Pour mixture in muffin tin- I used an ice cream scoop to keep it equally proportioned. Bake for 20-25 mins and top is brown. This recipe made 12 muffins but can be made in loaf pan (bake for aprox. 45 minutes)

Serve warm with fruit and enjoy!

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Disney On Ice: Worlds Of Fantasy At The GIANT Center

josie milano — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 01:45:21 +0000

Get ready to open your eyes and discover the worlds of your favorite characters all over again! Disney brings an exciting show to the ice featuring Car’s, The Little Mermaid, Tinkerbell and the whole gang from Toys. My family and I had the privilege to attend opening night at the GIANT Center on April 10, 2013. My daughter is six and is no stranger to Disney On Ice, however this was my three year old son’s first time taking in a show. I really feel this show was geared towards boys and girls by bringing together the balance of characters from several movies. The show opens with Mickey and the gang welcoming everyone and preparing us for an exciting show.

Until their car breaks down…

But lucky for them they break down near Radiator Springs and are assisted by some friendly locals!

The crowd was cheering so loud it was amazing! The cars looked just as they do in the movie and were actual Car’s on ice! It was really neat and probably the highlight of the show for me, and the look on my son’s face brought tears to my eyes. His joy and excitement to see his favorite characters in person was priceless. To top it off, Lightening McQueen took to the ice to help bring Mickey and Minnie’s car back for a tuneup!

Next up was Ariel and the always adorable Flounder, the music and skating was upbeat and flawless. The kids (and Parents!) enjoyed watching every minute of their story of love and courage.

Tinkerbell and friends took to the ice and quickly became my daughter’s favorite story. The story line was fun and watching Tinkerbell and her fairy friends come together and help Pixie Hallow was an exciting lead into intermission. The costumes,lights and music kept the children wanting more.

The end of show brought out the youth in everyone as Toys came to life. The story, props and set were flawless!

Disney has done it again with Worlds Of Fantasy, the show was a fast paced and high energy evening for boys,girls and adults of all ages!

Worlds Of Fantasy will be in Hershey, PA from April 9th-April 14,2013. Check out Ticketmaster for dates and times in your area!

Disclaimer: In exchange for attending and reporting my experience I was provided complimentary tickets, however all opinions and pictures are my own.

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Disney On Ice: Rockin’ Ever After at the GIANT Center

josie milano — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 12:42:08 +0000

Get ready to put your dancing shoes on! Disney has done it again with a brand new show featuring all our favorite past and current characters. On November 1, 2012 my daughter, myself and friends had the privilege of spending the evening with Mickey and the gang.

This year the all-star lineup features Sebastian, Flounder,The Little Mermaid herself as well as the charming servants from Beauty and the Beast. Rapunzel and Merida from Brave make their debut appearances this year. I can still remember being a little girl and how special my evenings were when I would go with my sister to see a Disney on Ice show, the night was always magical. My daughter is 6 years old and this was her first show. Her eyes lit up from the moment she stepped into the arena.

Mickey and friends kept the show moving nicely, there was never a dull moment! Each set was beautifully constructed and the lights shined brightly off the costumes. Oh and parents keep an ear out, you’ll be sure to recognize the songs! It won’t be long before you’re moving to the music as well.

The skating was of course flawless. What amazed me was the strength and fluid-like presentation (no pun intended!) that Ariel provided to the audience.

Rapunzel and Merida took to the ice next. I have not seen either movie but I will now! Rapunzel had a sweet yet assertive demeanor and Merida was strong willed and determined. Disney did a great job bringing the new characters’ stories to life.

Finally, no show would be complete without one of my personal favorite love stories, Beauty and the Beast.

Disney once again didn’t disappoint. The show was fast pased and high energy. I would recommend for all ages! The kids (and parents!) will enjoy seeing their favorite characters come to life and of course dancing to the music. My daughter and her friend will never forget this special night, the best part was meeting the man himself!

Rockin’ Ever After will be in Hershey, Pa from Nov.1-Nov. 4, 2012. Check out Ticketmaster for dates and times in your area!

Disclaimer: In exchange for attending and reporting my experience I was provided complimentary tickets, however all opinions and pictures are my own. I do thank TodaysMama.com and The Taylor Brand Group for a wonderful evening filled with excitement and memories!

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BOOnana Pops

josie milano — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 19:00:12 +0000

There’s something about crisp weather and the sight of black and orange that sends my sweet tooth into a frenzy. Halloween is by far my favorite holiday but with a 6 yr. old daughter and toddler son I have to set a good example (well, at least while they’re awake) and keep the sugary treats to a minimum.

I found this super easy and festive treat from SuperHealthyKids.com that I had to make right away. The recipe called for 4 ingredients and hardly any time to put together. I started by halving a banana and inserting a Popsicle stick into each half. I was going for a bigger ghost pop instead of the mini ones the girls from Super Healthy Kids made. Next, freeze the bananas till firm-took about 30 minutes- this made dipping the pops easier in my opinion. I dipped the frozen pops in Organic Vanilla yogurt and rolled each in Coconut, I was going for a finer texture so I did blend the coconut before rolling. Top with two chocolate chip eyes and a booing mouth and you have a healthy after school treat! My kids went crazy for these and have already been asking me to make more, I can feel better about letting them indulge in candy Halloween night knowing I gave them something healthy and still fun throughout the month!

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Secrets to Designing Spectacular Reception Tents

Party Belle — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 17:59:04 +0000

Wedding season is in full swing and tent receptions are all the rage! Decorating a big blank white tent can be daunting to even the most creative of brides. Below you’ll find ways the professionals like Party Belles create an intimate affair, whether your wedding is for 50 or 500.

For smaller tents:

Envision the room in three horizontal planes: the sky, the eye and the earth. Prioritize what is the most important to you but do not neglect the other two! Think if you were having your reception in a ballroom, overhead the ‘sky’ is the chandeliers, the ‘eye’ is wall sconces and wall paper and the earth is the flooring or even the tabletops.

One of our most popular decoration packages consists of fabric draping for the sky, twinkle lights running around the tent perimeter for the eye, and the use of an abundance of decorative votives on the tables for earth, to create a magical transition from day to evening.

For larger tents:

To make large tents appear intimate, create the feel of ‘rooms’ within the tent. By designing personalized décor to the different areas of your reception, you are fooling the mind into forgetting that you’re swimming in an ocean of space. Not only that, creating rooms breaks up the monotony of the entire tent looking the same, leaving the guests with no motivation to mingle about the entire tent. Some fun rooms to create are: the bar (all the better to give the guests different surroundings if they are waiting for drinks), the dance floor, the head table area, a photograph area and the cake/dessert area.

Our next post will go into the specifics of each of them and give you ideas on how to differentiate by décor the rooms of your tent

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Secret Green Cupcakes

josie milano — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:13:13 +0000

I’m always on the hunt to sneak healthy ingredients into my recipes, after all I do have a 5 yr. old, a picky 2 yr. old and a pickier husband. Last St. Patricks Day I found an extremely easy recipe from Roni’s Weigh using a boxed cake mix and Spinach. Yup, you heard me SPINACH. The results were so good, the kids devoured them (even knowing what was in them!) and the color was very festive : )

Start by pureeing AT LEAST 4 cups of baby Spinach and 1 cup of Unsweetened Applesauce- My Magic Bullet worked great for this. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a 24 cup muffin tin. Dump the Spinach puree with 1 box of Yellow Cake Mix in a bowl and mix for 2 minutes, the color is amazing!! spoon the batter into the muffin tin, I use an ice cream scooper to make my life easier. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool and enjoy your festive green cupcakes! After cooled and before serving I topped mine with Fat Free Reddi Whip and green sprinkles.

I hope you enjoy St. Patricks day with lots of green and lots of good health!

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Disney On Ice: Mickey & Minnie’s Magical Journey

kimsnelbaker — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:02:28 +0000

Get ready folks! Mickey, Minnie and some of their friends are going to be stopping by the Giant Center in Hershey starting April 11-15th. Tickets are on sale now!

You can enjoy four Disney adventures in one show when Disney On Ice presents Mickey& Minnie’s Magical Journey. Mickey and friends have their bags packed for a journey that transports the audience straight from their seats into the magical worlds of best friends. You will see Lilo & Stitch, Simba & Nala, Ariel & Sebasian and Peter Pan & Tinker Bell.

Tickest for the Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minne’s Magical Journey are available at Ticketmaster, The Giant Center Box Office and Disney On Ice. Ticket prices are $55.00 for rinkside, $47.00 for VIP and $25.00-$12.00. Show times are Wednesday 7PM, Thursday 7PM, Friday 7PM, Saturday 11AM, 3 PM & 7 PM, Sunday 1Pm & 5PM.

To learn more about Disney on Ice visit Disney On Ice or find them on Facebook and YouTube.

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Winter Wonderland Granola

josie milano — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:00:20 +0000

Christmas is little more than 2 weeks away and the little gifts can be easily forgotten, but who doesn’t love a homemade granola!? My daughter takes ballet and I love to give her ballet instructors a small token of gratitude at Christmas. The best way to show someone you care for or appreciate them is to make a gift. It shows you took the time and made it from the heart.

Now, don’t get me wrong… I love fudge,truffles and cookies, but sometimes we need a little break from all the sweets. My favorite snack or treat is Granola and I add different spices and ingriedients to go with any Holiday. Since I was making this for Ballet instructors I decided to stick with a Nutcracker theme.

I started by preheating my oven to 250 degrees and in a large bowl adding 3 cups of Old Fashioned Oats along with 2 TBSP of Cinnamon, 1 TBSP of Pumpkin Spice, and 1/4 c. + 2 TBSP. of Brown Sugar.

In a small bowl combine 1/4 c. Canola Oil, 1/4 c. + 2 TBSP of Pure Maple Syrup and 1 tsp Salt.

Add the wet to the dry and mix till all combined, at this point I added a 6 oz. container of chopped Pecans.

Pour onto a large sheet pan and cook for 1 hour and 15 mins., be sure to stir every 15 mins for even coloring!

When the granola is COMPLETELY cool add a cup of dried cranberries and a cup a White Chocolate Chips.

Now fair warning, this is HIGHLY addictive so make an extra batch : )

More Homemade Granola on TodaysMama:

Carrot Cake Granola

Seven Wives Inn Granola (Peanut Butter!)

The Great Granola Recipe (Super Healthy)

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Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

josie milano — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:00:07 +0000

Thanksgiving is less than a week away and being the procrastinator that I am, I’m still hunting down new recipes to try out this year. I love all things pumpkin, but I like to add a twist every year to my Thanksgiving table and instead of making the traditional pie I’ll be making Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars. The recipe was put together on a whim and had a fantastic outcome, think of a rich cheesecake falling in love with a pumpkin and making a beautiful love child…yes, I love my food that much that I create a love story in my head : ) Anyway, on to the recipe!

Start by lining an 8″ x 8″ pan with tin foil and leave an overhang (this will make it easy to remove the bars). Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Crush your choice of cookies in a food processor , Graham crackers are a usual base but to add spice and depth I used about 25 Ginger Snap cookies! (I used my Magic Bullet) till crumbly and add 2 tablespoons of sugar and 4 tablespoons of melted butter. Press the mixture in the bottom of pan and bake till fragrant and slightly firm (my oven was super quick and this step only took 8 mins.) Take out the crust and let it cool slightly while mixing:

2 packages of cream cheese (8 oz. each)

1 cup of pumpkin

1 cup of sugar

3 large eggs

3 tablespoons of all purpose flour

1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

pinch of salt

I made sure everything was at room temperature and blended everything with a hand mixer, the recipe called for mixing everything in a food processor but I really hate cleaning that thing and I’m inpatient. This worked great and because everything was at room temperature, I had no problems with getting a smooth filling.

Pour the mixture into the pan and bake till the cheesecake is set but jiggles slightly when gently shaken, approx. 40-50 mins. Again, my oven was apparently on steroids yesterday and this took about 38 mins. Keep checking. Yours might take more or less time.

Remove from oven and cool in pan, cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or more. These made 16 bars, I served them with a dollop of whipped cream and My Oh My was my belly happy. I believe all things are good in moderation and around this time of year I allow myself to indulge in the things I will ENJOY what I am eating. I made these into bars because they are rich and a little goes a long way, again all in portion control : )

More Recipes on TodaysMama:

Sage and Sausage Stuffing Recipe

Pumpkin Bars

Corn Salad

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