Homemade Fudge Made With Eagle Brand Condensed Milk

Gail Borden introduced Eagle Brand in 1856 to fight food poisoning and other illnesses related to lack of refrigeration and preservation techniques. The Civil War helped Eagle Brand become a household name. The military needed milk that would keep well, and Borden’s products filled that need. Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk was credited with significantly lowering the infant mortality rate in North America. Gail Borden’s discovery provided milk that would remain safe and wholesome, at the time an important contribution to the nourishment of infants and children.

Anyone who does a lot of baking knows and uses Eagle Brand.  Their sweetened condensed milk is a steeple in this house.  Elsie the cow is one of my all time favorite characters, and she hasn't aged a bit in her 78 years!!

Eagle Brand sent me some condensed milk, and other products to make a fun recipe, and I just had to make my Moms fudge!!

My Mom makes this every year as a Christmas treat for us.  For years and years, she would not share her recipe.  Finally she let it slip!!

To make her peanut butter and chocolate fudge you need-

1- 12 oz bag of peanut butter chips
1/4 cup margarine or butter
1- 14 oz can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/2 cup chopped peanuts
1- 6 oz bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a heavy saucepan, melt peanut butter chips, 2 tablespoons butter, and 1 cup of sweetened condensed milk.  

Remove from heat; stir in peanuts.  Spread onto a wax paper lined 8" pan.  In a small saucepan, melt chocolate chips, 2 tablespoons butter, and remaining milk.  

Spread chocolate mixture on top of peanut butter mixture and chill for 2 hours.

This fudge is creamy and delicious.  If you love peanut butter, then you will love this!!  

Thank you Eagle Brand for helping us make this yummy treat!!  Make sure you follow them on Facebook and Instagram to learn more about new promotions and recipes.

This post is written by Sarah Coulsey . She is a Wife, and Mother of two boys living in New England. This post may contain affiliate links.

Christmas Dinner Wouldn't Be Complete With Out Cranberries!!

Cape Cod Select and Edgewood Bogs (the sole supplier for Cape Cod Select) are owned & operated by the Rhodes Family.  Edgewood Bogs LLC is a 4th generation independent cranberry grower with over 800 acres of producing bog and associated support land in Southeastern Massachusetts, the heart of "Cranberry Country", and the same place cranberry farming began in the early 1800’s.

In case you didn't know, I am from Massachusetts.  We are known for a couple of things; Boston, fish, maple products, tea and of course cranberries!!  

Some of Ben's family lives near Carver, and when ever we go out to visit them, we are always amazed at all of the cranberry bogs.  

With Christmas literally days away, we have already started to prepare for our dinner.  This is my favorite time of year because I get to eat, eat and eat!!  We are having braised beef, turnips, green bean casserole, new potatoes, and of course Cranberry Sauce!!!  Last year, Ben and I made our first ever homemade cranberry sauce, and it was delicious!!  We did it again this year.

I used a very simple recipe.  It called for cranberries, orange juice and sugar.

12 ounces cranberries 
1 cup white sugar 
1 cup orange juice 

In a medium sized saucepan over medium heat, dissolve the sugar in the orange juice. Stir in the cranberries and cook until the cranberries start to pop (about 10 minutes). Remove from heat and place sauce in a bowl. Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools.

I found that I had to cook it about 30 minutes to get it to be less chunky.  My Husband prefers smooth.  I also blended the mix in our Vitamix to remove the last remaining lumps.  

Besides Cranberry Sauce, The Cranberry Marketing Committee’s Guide to Entertaining with Fresh Cranberries provides hosts and party-goers with innovative recipes and ideas for decorating with fresh cranberries. With so many forms of cranberries – fresh, frozen, dried, juice or sauce – the options are endless!

Take a look at the guide and see for yourself all the terrific recipes you can make for your Christmas and New Year's dinners!!

This post is written by Sarah Coulsey . She is a Wife, and Mother of two boys living in New England. This post may contain affiliate links.

Who's Hungry?? Fair Foods Cookbook Review #Fairs #FairFood

**All opinions expressed are 100% my own.  I was not compensated for this post.  I was given items for review purposes.**

Fair Foods is an illustrated cookbook featuring the recipes of the most popular and offbeat food served at state and county fairs across the USA.

Packed with 120 original recipes created by award-winning chef, best-selling author, and renowned educator George Geary, Fair Foods includes such state and county fair classics as Texas Maple Bacon Donuts, The World’s Gooiest Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting, Aztec Hot Chocolate, Witch’s Brew, Caramel Kettle Corn, Fried Sweet Potato Sticks, Ten-Pound Cheesebuns, Cheesecake on a Stick, Chocolate-Encased Bacon, Fried Coca-Cola, Fried Guacamole, Fried Oreo Cookies, BBQ Turkey Legs, Bacon-Wrapped Chicken and Waffles, Blue Ribbon Chili, Pork Chop on a Stick, and Spicy Peanut Butter and Jelly Burgers.

Each page in Fair Foods is lavishly illustrated with both vintage and contemporary photographs of America’s most beloved fair foods, as well as fun and lively images of rides and attractions and nostalgic ephemera. Fair Foods is not only mouth wateringly addictive, it also captures the joy and spirit of America’s greatest state and county fairs.

It's that time of year.  Fairs are happening all over the USA.  Right now, we have a large one going on called The Big E.  It is a fair for all of New England.  We go every year to visit the state buildings.  Each state in New England has their own building, and can showcase the greatness of their state.  Maine is a particular favorite of ours because they make the best baked potatoes!!

Along with the state buildings, we eat, and eat, and eat!!  What's better then yummy but probably bad for you foods??  Now you can make your own fair foods at home, and eat the good stuff all year long.

I love maple.  I love donuts.  Put the two together, and yum!!  In the cookbook is a recipe for Maple Bacon Donuts.  I vetoed the bacon, and made my own "donuts."  Without a donut pan, I made doffins!!  They were a little more cake like then donut, but they were really yummy!!

There are many other recipes to choose from.  The best voted foods from all over.  The one thing the book doesn't share, is where the foods are most popular.  I would love if they had given some history as to where those items are from and how they started.

All in all, there are many recipes we will be trying in this house!!

You can purchase your own cookbook through Amazon below!!

This post is written by Sarah Coulsey . She is a Wife, and Mother of two boys living in New England. This post may contain affiliate links.

Grillbot Review- Great Fathers Day Gift!! #Grillbot

**All opinions expressed are 100% my own.  I was not compensate for this post.  I was given product for review purposes.**

The grillbot, is the world's first automatic grill cleaning robot! Launched January 13, 2014, Grillbot is here to make your life easier.

Our mission is to enrich your life, by simplifying it. We believe by taking the grunt work out of cleaning your grill, it will leave you with more time to enjoy your friends, family, and the party! Simply place the grillbot on your grill, press a button and you're done! The grillbot does all the grill cleaning for you. No more scrubbing! A grillbot is the easy-to-use and fun to watch — a fully-automated device that makes grill cleaning possible with just the push of a button.

I am a technology junkie.  Whenever something new and interesting comes out, I can't wait to give it a try.  When I heard about the Grillbot, and how it makes grill cleaning easier, I was very excited.  Personally I hate cleaning the grill after cooking, and usually leave that one up to Hubs!!

The Grillbot is an extremely easy piece of technology to use.  All it requires is a push of a button!!  The Grillbot comes with three timed settings; 10, 20 and 30 minutes.  Push once for 10 minutes, twice for 20 minutes, and three times for 30 minutes.  Make sure you close the lid on your grill, and then off she goes.  

Check out this fun video of the Grillbot in action I shot while looking through an opening on my grill.


Here is a picture of what my grill looked like before using the Grillbot.

Here is the after picture.

I used the Grillbot for 30 minutes.  I think it did a pretty good job!!  My grill is older, and well used.  The Grillbot made a huge difference.

The one downside to the Grillbot that I have found is that there is no safety shut off.  I opened the grill lid at one point and picked up the Grillbot while it was still running.  It did not shut off.  That makes me a little nervous when you have small children.  I would make sure that you use the Grillbot when children are not around.

Other then that, I think the Grillbot is a great investment for any avid griller.  It would make a perfect Fathers Day gift as well!!  

You can purchase your own Grillbot through their website here, or at these online stores; Amazon, Home Depot, Lowes and Best Buy. 

This post is written by Sarah Coulsey . She is a Wife, and Mother of two boys living in New England. This post may contain affiliate links.

Trudeau Makes Cooking Easier. Products Review

**All opinions expressed are 100% my own.  I was not compensated for this post.  I was given products for review purposes.**

Trudeau is a leading edge North American marketer and designer of innovative quality products. We are dedicated to creating a unique experience in preparing and serving foods and beverages, at home and on-the-go.

Trudeau Corporation was established in Montreal, Canada, in 1889, as an importer and distributor of high-end specialty goods from around the world, under the name Genin Trudeau. Trudeau Corporation soon developed an extensive distribution network along with a reputation for high-quality products and expert servicing.

In recent years, the company has invested in innovation, design and manufacturers products under the Trudeau brand, as well as several private-label brands for well-known U.S. retailers.

Being a Mom, not to mention a Work at Home Mom, I am in the kitchen a lot.  If I am not feeding the two boys, I am feeding the Husband, Dog or doing a recipe post.  You can almost always find something cooking on the stove, or baking in the oven.

Last year I baked a boat load of cookies, cupcakes and brownies for my Sisters Jack and Jill.  Sadly, I only had two cupcake pans.  Needless to say, it took me for ever to make all the goodies!!

Trudeau has a wide variety of products to help with all of your baking needs.  I was sent the following items to try and I love them!!  Of course I received them after I did all of that baking!!  Also sadly some of the items they no longer carry.

12 Count Muffin Pan

•Integrated steel STRUCTURE for secure handling
•Silicone offers non-stick properties and flexibility for easy release
•Cooks evenly for perfect results every time
•Innovative two-color finish
•Freezer, microwave and oven safe
•Heat resistant up to 428°F-220°C
•Dishwasher safe


Strawberry Huller and Strawberry Tea Infuser

Travel Tea Tumbler

Each and every product is awesome.  The cupcake and cake pans are silicone with a steel frame.  It makes them very easy to use.  Butter them, and once the items are cooked, you can just pop them out!!

The Strawberry Huller is also pretty cool.  It makes removing the greens really easy, and I have found that it makes the strawberries perfect for filling with cream cheese or whipped cream!!

Of course my all time favorite item is the Tea Infuser Bottle.  I use it for my morning tea on the go.  It is so easy to use, and keeps my tea warm for a long time!!

Trudeau has a large variety of other products you need to check out, including their Loaf Pan, Herb Mincer, and their Vegetable Steamer.  Those are three items on my next shopping list!!

Don't forget to follow Trudeau's on Facebook and Twitter to learn about new products and promotions!!



 
This post is written by Sarah Coulsey . She is a Wife, and Mother of two boys living in New England. This post may contain affiliate links.

Curious Chef Kids Cooking Products Review

**All opinions expressed are 100% my own.  I was not compensated for this post.  I was given product for review purposes.**

What makes Curious Chef® different from competitive products?

Most competitor products are toy-like in design that target pretend activities rather than real cooking. Curious Chef products are real utensils and cooking tools that are uniquely designed for young children. Each product is a result of years of testing and research to ensure they are functional and practical while remaining safe for kids.

My boys are getting older :(  and now some of the toys I still think are fun, are not for them.  I love sitting down and playing with fake food.  It is a much easier cleanup then the real stuff!!  Doug used to sit down and play with me for hours.  Now I am lucky if he doesn't throw the fake food at me!!

With them both being too cool to play with the fake stuff, Ben Sr and I have started showing them how to cook for real.  We have shown them simple recipes and let them help.  I am still a little nervous about letting them near the stove, but I like that they show interest in learning the recipes and what all the measurements mean.  

Curious Chef products show kids how much fun cooking can be, and gives them the tools to do it as kids.  Each product is designed with kids hands in mind.  Nothing is too big for them to use, and everything is kid friendly.

I was sent their new Ice Cream Set Gift Bundle, and their 16 Piece Cookie Cutter Collection to try with my kids.  

Throw a kid-hosted ice cream party with the fun and colorful Curious Chef Ice Cream Set Gift Bundle featuring four large ice cream bowls, four small silicone pinch bowls, and a kid-sized ice cream scoop. The ice cream scoop's ergonomically designed handle with grip buttons make this kitchen gadget easy for small hands to firmly grasp and use.

Put everyone's toppings in their own pinch bowl color coded to their larger ice cream bowl to ensure everyone gets their favorites and to stop fighting. The kids will love being able to dump their own toppings onto their ice cream. Each bowl comes in red, blue, green, and orange.

Gift Box Dimensions: 12" x 6" x 6"
Gift bundle comes packaged in a white gift box with crinkle paper inside, ready for your wrapping paper
Silicone heat safe up to 450°F
Dishwasher safe and BPA free
Appropriate for children ages 4+

The Ice Cream scooper was just the right size for Doug to hold and get the ice cream out of the container.  They also both loved how the set came with the little toppings cups.  This way they each had their own and could add as much or as little toppings as they wanted!! 

The Curious Chef 16 Piece Cookie Cutter Collection features vibrantly colored cutters in a wide variety of seasonal shapes including: snowman; angel; star; pine tree; gingerbread man; duck; rabbit; flower; clover; butterfly; heart; bear; cat; pumpkin; leaf; and ghost. The collection comes with a handy mesh bag to hold all your new fun cookie cutters, keeping them together in one convenient location.

Each Curious Chef cookie cutter features a colorful soft grip to help kids easily identify the "cutting" and "non cutting" sides to protect their hands. The grips on these over-sized cookie cutters make it easy for children to hold onto and use the cooking cutters.

Gift Box Dimension: 12" L x 3.5" W x 12"H
Dishwasher safe and BPA Free
Appropriate for children ages 4+
 
These cookie cutters were made to make baking easier for the kids.  With a nice grip-able top, and being larger then regular standard cookie cutters, these are perfect for all sizes of little hands.  Doug and Ben found them much easier to use, and we now have a surplus of Cat, Rabbit and Christmas Tree Cookies!!

If you have little helpers in your home, check out Curious Chef's wide variety of products for kids of all cooking levels.  You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter for new product information and helpful tips on how to cook with your kids!!  



This post is written by Sarah Coulsey . She is a Wife, and Mother of two boys living in New England. This post may contain affiliate links.

S.O.S Pads Can Be Used For More Then Just Pots And Pans!!

**All opinions expressed are 100% my own.  I was not compensated for this post.  I was given product for review purposes.**

S.O.S® Brand History

In 1917, a Wear-Ever Aluminum cooking utensil salesman by the name of Irwin Cox was looking for a way his customers could keep their new pans shining bright. His invention: a pre-soaped steel wool pad. The idea was born in the basement of Cox’s home by dipping steel wool balls into a hand-grade liquid soap and then allowing the pads to air dry. Cox’s wife called the pads S.O.S, which stood for “Save Our Saucepans.” The S.O.S® pads were so popular that Cox found himself with a hot new product line. A U.S. patent was issued for the concept in 1918 and the following year an investor group was formed in California to manufacture and sell the product. Almost 100 years later, S.O.S® remains the number one problem-solver for America’s greasiest, grimiest, grungiest jobs.

I think pretty much everyone knows what an S.O.S pad is, and more likely then not has used them multiple times to clean their pots and pans of that caked on food that just won't come off.  But did you know that S.O.S pads can be used for so much more??

S.O.S pads are a steeple in this house.  We use them for pans, cleaning our stove burners, our gas grill, even our lawn chairs.

Here is a list of some of the ways we use S.O.S Pads!!

Pots and Pans- This one is obvious.  It was what the S.O.S pads were originally invented for.  They can be used on a variety of pan types.  Always test on a small area first before scrubbing too hard just to be safe!!

Kitchen Stoves- We have a gas stove with a white porcelain top.  We use the S.O.S on the burners, and all foods come right off.  We do use them on the porcelain as well, but much more gently as to avoid scratches.

Kitchen Sink- Our stainless steel sink gets hard water stains on it, and S.O.S pads clean them right off with minimal scrubbing!!

Oven- I have the original self cleaning oven (you know the one you clean yourself!!)  Scrubbing is made much easier with the S.O.S pads.

Coffee Pot- S.O.S pads easily remove coffee stains.  I give them a good scrubbing, and then run them through the dish washer.

Dish Washer- Have you ever looked at the bottom of your dishwasher (inside and out?)  It can get really gross.  S.O.S pads work very well on dirty water stains, and the ick that accumulates.

Toilets- The one chore that I hate more then anything.  It's just eww!!  I use the S.O.S pads around the bottom seal.  They work really well.

Lawn Chairs- I have white plastic lawn chairs that become dirty, stained, and covered in pollen every year.  I use the S.O.S pads to make them look like new each spring.

Grill- This is all my Husbands responsibility.  He messes it, he cleans it!!  S.O.S pads do wonders to get burnt and stuck on food, and tin foil right off.  

Hub Caps- Regular soap and water never get all that dirt and oil off.  S.O.S pads work wonders!!

Clorox recommends using the S.O.S pads on grills as well.  Check out this video to see the best way to use them.





Do you have other uses for S.O.S pads not listed here??  I would love to hear them!!



This post is written by Sarah Coulsey. She is a Wife, and Mother of two boys living in New England. This post may contain affiliate links.

Battle Of The Spouses Dinner Challenge.

My Husband and I watch a ton of cooking shows. We enjoy seeing all the new and creative recipes, and enjoy attempting them ourselves.

A couple night ago, we both went shopping with a $20 budget to plan a meal for the other person.  The rules were simple.  We each were given a Filet Mignon steak to cook (same size) and scallops (same amount.)  After that, it was fair game.  Make what you want.

Here is what I made for Ben.

I made garlic butter green beans, brown sugar/honey baby carrots, garlic dill red skin mashed potatoes, white wine sauteed scallops and paprika and peppercorn rubbed filet with Asiago Cheese Alfredo sauce.

Here is what Ben made.

He made a butter poached filet, with a red wine reduced sauce over an arugula salad, fresh strawberries, cauliflower and sauteed scallops. 

If you could try or make one, which would you pick??

Personally we loved them both!!!



 
This post is written by Sarah Coulsey. She is a Wife, and Mother of two boys living in New England. This post may contain affiliate links.

Sarah Is The Next Master Chef!! @ChefMingTsai

OK, so I am not going to be a Master Chef, but I can pretend can't I!!!

After receiving a copy of Chef Ming Tsai's cookbook, I decided to test my culinary skills.

The first recipe I tried was the Spicy Shrimp and Avocado Salad.

I didn't get any pictures of it but it wasn't bad. Granted I changed the recipe a little. I can't eat spicy, so we made this mild. It was good.

The second dish I tried was much easier for me. Sweet and Sour Mango Pork. Just the title has me drooling!!!


Very simple to make, and very, very yummy to my tummy!!



If you are looking for easy and quick, but delicious meals for your family, give Chef Tsai's cookbook One Pot Meals a shot.



**All opinions expressed are 100% my own. I was not compensated for this post. I purchased the book myself**