I love bacon. I don’t eat it every meal or anything but I do love to incorporate it occasionally. With Superbowl right around the corner there are so many meals, appetizers and snacks you can make for your party that use bacon. Petite Jean Bacon is what you will find us cooking with when we have it on hand. It’s our first choice for bacon. My husband loves their peppered bacon and I am a fan of their hickory smoked bacon.

This year Petite Jean Meats became the official bacon of the Dallas Cowboys. So to celebrate they are giving away a gift pack of bacon to one of my readers. Right in time for those superbowl parties where Bacon Jalapeño poppers would be a hit or possibly Swiss and Bacon Dip

WIN IT:

One reader will win a Dallas Cowboys Bacon Lover gift. That includes: 2-24 oz. Dallas Cowboys Hickory Smoked Bacon & 2-22 oz. Dallas Cowboys Hickory Smoked Peppered Bacon.

So what are you waiting for, enter to win this prize pack perfect for breakfast, BLT’s or that superbowl party you are planning! Enter using the rafflecopter entry form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

One of the things I always associate with the holidays is Hickory Farms. Every year no matter where I have lived, the local mall, has a new kiosk set up featuring the yummy goodies from Hickory Farms. Sure it’s something you can get year round but for our family it’s a bit like a fun tradition at Christmas time. We get a box of Hickory Farm goodies and munch on them.

This year I was blessed to be part of Mom Central’s blog tour and was able to get one of the yummy baskets a bit earlier than usual. We received the Home for The Holiday Basket and it included:

• 2 Signature Beef Summer Sausage 10 oz.
• Italian Recipe Beef Summer Sausage 10 oz.
• Farmhouse Cheddar 8 oz.
• Cheddar Havarti Blend 7 oz.
• Parmesan Herb Blend 4 oz.
• Olive Oil & Rosemary Crackers 1.5oz.
• Sesame, Caraway & Sea Salt Crackers 1.5 oz.
• Sweet Hot Mustard 2.5 oz.
• Honey & Pineapple Mustard 2.5 oz.

DELICIOUS ? Yes it was. I sure did say was, the items in that basket were gone within 3 days. I absolutely loved the signature beef sausage, cheddar havarti blend, parmesan herb blend, olive oil & rosemary crackers and both of the mustards. I ate, and begrudgingly shared, until I was finished. I, personally wasn’t a fan of the the Italian style sausage it was a bit off to me. Funny that is coming from an Italian who loves Italian sausage.

Hickory Farms is a great company that has been around since 1951 making yummy gift baskets for any occasion. I love the fact that they give back through the Share Our Strength program to helping to end child hood hunger. I always think about those out there who may not have what we have and I love to work with companies who are doing their part to help. This year they are doing that by giving back with every Party Planner basket that is sold.

If you want to give the gift of Hickory Farms this Christmas don’t forget to remember their $3-3 Day shipping. Day 1, pick your item and order by 3 p.m (EST). If you want specify the date. Day 2, Hickory Farms fulfills your order. Day 3, you (or someone) has a yummy package arrive! This is great for those of you us, who wait a bit too close to Christmas to order. Please note that this applies to the 48 contiguous states.

When thinking of a great gift item this holiday season, consider giving Hickory Farms. It arrives looking pretty and it’s one of those gifts you can’t wait to dig into!

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Hickory Farms and received a product sample to facilitate my review.

Soccer is a big sport in our home. This was the first season in a few years I didn’t have all 3 playing, though I am sure that will change next time. 3 nights a week practice and 1 game a week pretty much mean we live soccer for a few months each year.

I have to say I love it though, I couldn’t ask for much more. I think it’s so important to have kids involved in extra curricular activities. It keeps them active, involved and more often than not out of trouble. I love being the mom on the sideline rooting for my child and the team they play on. This season you could hear me yelling “Go Assassins and Go Thunderbolts” as loud as a Saints fan was when they won the superbowl. What can I say, each game is like a superbowl to this mom.

One of the things that come with being at the soccer field for hours and hours is the “need” my kids think they have to get something sweet from the concession stand. I’ve learned to help curb that craving and save a little money in the process by packing up WhoNu?™ cookies for games and practices. Soccer days are the days my kids know they can get a little treat, so rather than fork out $50 for a little package of cookies I can take along baggies of WhoNu?™ cookies and let them get the same treat while getting a little more nutrition than leading brands.

Yes, yes before I get jumped on about speaking nutrition and cookie in the same sentence I know cookies do not equal a plate full of veggies. Now, that we’ve got that out of the way, I think it’s okay to treat a child to a cookie now and then, so if I am going to why not go ahead and do it with a cookie that has a little more nutrition added to it. I love that they taste as good as leading brands (to us, I hope you have the same experience).

WIN IT:
One (1) lucky reader will win a WhoNu?™ cookies Smart Snack Party Pack. In it includes a $100 Visa Gift Card for a team party, two boxes of EACH of the 4 WhoNu? flavors, and a $200 donation for a local team of your choice!

REQUIRED ENTRY:
To enter simply tell me which of the WhoNu cookie flavors you are excited to try, here are the four:

Extra (optional) Entries:

1 Entry Each (leave a separate comment for each extra entry) :

• Subscribe to my blog through the orange heart icon.
• Subscribe to my blog through email.
• Follow @ToniPatton on twitter (leave  your twitter name)
• Like A Daily Dose on Facebook. (leave your facebook name)
• Follow @whonucookies on twitter.
• Like WhoNu on facebook.

Tweet this tweet up to twice daily (be sure to leave each link in a comment): Enter to win an @whoNuCookies prize pack & $100 Visa GC Giveaway http://wp.me/p1OuwY-24w #giveaway #adailydoseoftoni

Giveaway will close on 11/30/11 at NOON CST.

I am participating in a paid campaign with WhoNu Cookies.  I did receive the same prize pack I am giving away from company or representing PR firm  Compensation nor product reception has any influence on the opinion you read in the post.  Opinions are always mine and 100% honest.  For more on my review, giveaway, winner, and disclosure policies please see my disclosure and giveaway rules.

Yogurt is one of the staple in our house. As I mentioned here, we sometimes need quick on the go snacks and yogurt is definitely one of those in our home. My kids have their favorites and I have mine. I am a greek yogurt kind of girl so when Mom Central reached out about reviewing some of the new Activia Selects and I saw they had a greek yogurt I was in!

A little about the Activia brand (according to their site):

Activia helps regulate your digestive system* as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle But how does it do it, and why is its exclusive culture, Bifidus Regularis, so important? After you eat, food passes through the digestive tract and is gradually broken down into smaller parts, like sugars, fats and proteins. These nutrients are absorbed by your body and are part of what helps you lead an active and healthy lifestyle. This is where Activia, with Bifidus Regularis (Bifidobacterium lactis DN-173 010), can help! Clinical studies show that Bifidus Regularis survives passage through the digestive system and arrives in the gut, which is where Activia provides its benefit Activia with Bifidus Regularis helps regulate the digestive system.

* Please Note above results are when consumed daily for two weeks as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.*

Back to the taste test. Usually when I think of nutritious my brain sends an automatic response I think this is not going to be yummy, probably not bad but not yummy. I picked up the blueberry greek style and headed home to let my taste buds do the talking. It didn’t last long. I took a few bites and thought this is definitely something yummy that I could eat daily. After my few bites my daughter decided the rest was hers and finished it off like a champ.

I picked blueberry because it’s always the flavor I like in yogurt but I would love to see them bring out a honey flavor. Greek honey is my absolute favorite in other brands. So Activia Selects Greek Style definitely gets two thumbs up from both me and my daughter. I think I am going to try the Activia Selects Parfait next, I am a sucker for adding stuff to my yogurt.

One last little bit before I go about how Dannon (the maker of Activia) is giving back. They have something called the Cups of Hope going on and are giving back. Helping to raise Breast Cancer awareness by doing the following:

• In support of Dannon’s ongoing commitment to health and wellness, the company is going pink in support of national breast cancer awareness month. Dannon will donate at least 10 cents for each under-the-lid code entered at www.cupsofhope.com before 12/31/11 – up to $1.5 million – to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.® (NBCF). Dannon is committed to a $500,000 guaranteed donation to NCBF, including retailer-specific programs.
• Each specially marked package of Dannon yogurt contains an under-the-lid code. Participating in Give Hope With Every Cup is as easy as entering the code from the lid at www.cupsofhope.com.
• NBCF is committed to spreading knowledge and fostering hope in the fight against breast cancer. With support from Dannon, NBCF will fund free mammograms for women who could otherwise not afford them and will support research programs in leading facilities across the country.
• Consumers can now purchase at grocery stores across the country specially marked Activia®, Light & Fit®, Dannon® Oikos® and Dannon® Brand products.

Busy is an understatement in our household. We are constantly on the go. With soccer practice, dance practice, youth group, church and whatever else happens to fall in our laps, there are days we may not have time for that sit down snack. We need something easy to take with us, something on the go and healthy. Also tasty, tasty is important for my kids. Healthy is important to me. In my kids mind those two things don’t go hand in hand.

Boost Kid Essentials helped us get past that road block with a decently healthy and pretty tasty snack that’s easy to take when we are on the go. It’s no secret I have always been a fan of Nestle products and Boost Kid Essentials is no different.  I have picky eaters so sometimes getting them to eat their necessary nutrients each day is a task in and of itself.  With Boost Kid Essentials that helps a little in the form of something tasty.

About Boost Kid Essentials

Not only is BOOST® Kid Essentials Nutritionally Complete Drink loved by kids for its taste, it also contains complete nutrition! It’s gluten-free, lactose-free and great for growing kids — even kids who are picky eaters. Available in vanilla and chocolate, BOOST Kid Essentials Drink tastes great and has 24 essential vitamins and minerals.

I’d say that’s a pretty good fill in snack when you don’t have time to cut up fruit, veggies or make some grilled chicken (bet you thought I was going to say cheese huh). My kids tore right into the chocolate. I may or may not have had one myself. They loved the chocolate flavor and I have to agree it was pretty yummy. We weren’t as keen on the vanilla, it tasted a little medicine like to us and left a bit of an aftertaste, so we will be sticking to the chocolate ones. All good things come in chocolate right?!

We ended up picking up another pack and made a yummy smoothie with it. This is the recipe I used….

For those who do like the vanilla I am sure you can come up with a great concoction as well.  For ideas head over and check out the recipes Boost Kid Essentials has on their website.

THE GOOD
The chocolate flavor is so good. The size of the drink are not too big for my youngest and still filling enough for my oldest. It’s great for on the go or at home.

WHAT I’D CHANGE
As I mentioned I am not keen on the vanilla alone, I didn’t try it in a recipe so I can’t say if that would sway my opinion. It had a bit of that “fake sugar” after taste and I am not a fan of that.

FINAL THOUGHTS
I love that Boost Kid Essentials has so many nutrients and is great for a quick snack on the go. Or even to give a few extra nutrients when we have that never ending battle of “I don’t want to eat the vegetables”

You can find Boost Kid Essentials at stores such as Walmart, Walgreens, Target, Publix, or even order on amazon. Don’t forget to check out their facebook page for more information and get your $3.00 off coupon.

*I was provided a Boost Kid Essentials pack to assist in my review.  As well as a gift card to get ingredients to make a recipe with Boost Kid Essentials.  Reception of product does not influence my views and my thoughts are always mine and 100% honest.  For more on my review policies check out my disclosure.

One of my kids favorite snacks is Danimals. Between their crush cups, smoothies and coolision this is a snack my kids enjoy year round. The usual favorite has to be the crush cup, something about kids being able to “crush” the cup while eating is entertaining not to mention they taste yummy. I personally love the smoothies they are great for on the go when you need a quick snack. I love that Danimals has vitamins my kids need and are free from high fructose corn syrup along with no artificial colors or flavors (according to their box and site). Pretty healthy and yummy a mom’s dream!

This post isn’t soley to talk about my family’s love for the edible part of Danimals but rather to share how they are going to give back in a big way. If you have school kids you know a fun (and important if you ask me) part of their day is recess. My kids love recess and to me it’s a time where they can stretch, take a brain break and refresh themselves.

Rally for Recess is an initiative Danimals is doing to help not one, but five schools get a “dream playground”. That is sure to make recess a little LOT more fun! Through 2/8/2012 you can enter the code found on Danimals products at Rally For Recess and the points go to your school. The top school in each of the 5 categories will win a new playground worth $20,000! I’d say recess is going to get more fun after that. In fact I may just volunteer to be recess watcher and join in on the fun!  So head over, sign up and start entering those codes, though if you don’t feel like it you can pass them along this way, my kids will love you for it LOL.  Well, what are you waiting for, help make recess a little more fun for some schools!

“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Danimals and received a gift card to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.  For more information please see my disclosure page.”

I am a woman, wife, mom, daughter, sister…you get my drift. With all of those “titles” I am lucky to have come some sweet moments I will treasure forever. Whether it’s hearing “Mom I love you”, having a date with my husband, escaping to a moment of serenity in the bath with a good book, my life is filled with sweet moments. Sweet moments end up as treasured memories.

I love food so often times, sweet moments at home come with something good to eat or drink. Coffee, Hot cocoa, soup, dessert. Thanks to Pillsbury® I now have a new goodie to eat (and maybe share if I feel like being nice) during those moments of reflection, relaxation and memory making. You may be wondering what exactly I am talking about right? I am talking about Pillsbury® Sweet Moments®, a new little bite size yumminess that will bring out something a little sweeter in that next sweet moment…literally.

These ready-to-eat, bite size brownies are layered with delicious fillings, covered in a cocoa-kissed shell and topped off with a cocoa drizzle.

• Sweet Moments are now available in two delicious new flavors, each with a combination of rich, luxurious brownie and velvety cheesecake: Caramel Brownie Cheesecake and Raspberry Brownie Cheesecake
• Find these and additional flavors like Cocoa Fudge Escape and Cocoa Caramel Obsession in your local grocer’s refrigerator aisle.

Ready-to-eat Pillsbury® Sweet Moments® give you the indulgence you crave in a bite-size brownie that is chilled to perfection. So go on – indulge in your Sweet Moment today.  You won’t regret it.  We were provided two coupons to try Pillsbury® Sweet Moments®. We grabbed up Cocoa Caramel Obsession & Cocoa Fudge Escape and they fit the descriptions perfectly. Smooth tasting and perfect for when you want something sweet but don’t want to over due it. They definitely made my moments a little sweeter.

WIN IT:
 One lucky reader will win a “Sweet Moments” prize pack that includes:
2 VIP coupons for the free purchase of any Pillsbury® Sweet Moments® variety
Leather journal (perfect for recording those sweet moments in)
Fleece blanket
Coffee mug

REQUIRED ENTRY:
Leave a comment telling me a sweet moment you recall in your life. *MUST BE DONE TO ENTER*

Extra (optional) Entries:

1 Entry Each (leave a separate comment for each extra entry) :

• Subscribe to my blog through the orange heart icon (in sidebar)
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• Follow @ToniPatton on twitter (leave  your twitter name)
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• Follow me on Google Friend Connect (bottom of page)
• Like this post on facebook (using the button on top of post)
• Share this giveaway on facebook (using button on top of post).
• Follow @Pillsbury on twitter
• Like Pillsbury on facebook.

Unlimited Entries:

• Tweet the following tweet  as many times as you would like every day (leave tweet url in your comment, must be a different url for each entry): Enter to win a Pillsbury Sweet Moments Prize Pack from @tonipatton http://bit.ly/rdIrRW #myblogspark
• Leave a comment on as many NON-GIVEAWAY posts as you want.  1 entry for each, you can do this unlimited times, make sure to leave a separate comment for each one you do.

Giveaway will close on 9/19/11 at NOON CST.

For more on my review, giveaway, winner, and disclosure policies please see my disclosure and my giveaway details page.

*Disclosure: Pillsbury^® Sweet Moments^®, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.  No other form of compensation received.  Opinions are not influenced by reception of product and are always honest and my own.

Introducing….

Starbuck’s Bistro Boxes. Joy in a box if you ask me.

As a mom who is busy, busy and has a limited amount of time to run errands (and eat lunch) I am looking for something quick and easy somedays.  In comes Starbuck’s Bistro Boxes.  With 8 different “styles” to choose between (see above photo) I bet there is something that will appease you.  As I ventured in and saw these boxes I was ready to jump in and try them.  I went ahead and went with the Salumi & Cheese Box.  Included in it was proscuitto, peppered & dry salami, asiago cheese, rustic crackers, olives and dark chocolate.  Every single one of those things had my Italian genes screaming to pick them so I did.

It did not disappoint me.  I loved everything about this bistro box and it only made me more excited to try the other “flavors”.  These are perfect for when you are going to be running errands all day, when you only have a short time between school and sports practices, anytime you need a quick snack that tastes good.  With 7 other flavors to choose from you are sure to find something to tempt your taste buds.  Head over to your local Starbuck’s today and try for yourself one of their new bistro boxes.

*I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Starbucks Bistro Boxes and received a gift card to facilitate my review and thank me for taking the time to participate.

When they arrived along with my new Wolfgang Puck “Everything” Pan, the first thing I did was tear open the packages and taste them alone. I like to know the flavors I am cooking with so I always do a little spice taste test when I am using something new. It gives me an idea of what dish I want to go with.

I could tell right away they were going to bring a new kind of flavor to dishes I had been cooking for years.  With three seasonings to choose from (Rosemary & Garlic, Hearty Tuscan Herbs, and Cracked Black Pepper & Toasted Onion) there was going to be a new level of yummy in my house.  I have to say stand alone the Hearty Tuscan Herb was my favorite.

However for my first dish I decided to go with the Cracked Black Pepper & Toasted Onion using the recipe on the back for pork chops.

• 6 bone-in pork chops
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 pouch seasoning

BEST FOOD IDEA EVER!!!!

Ha, bet that got your attention, okay so I am not pregnant but I swear this new food has me craving it like I am.

I have fallen in love with this greek yogurt!  The Athenos bowls where the yogurt and “topping” are separate and then you mix them.  OMGOODNESS!  Where in the world have I been that I haven’t tried greek yogurt yet.

I have to say this is all my good friend N’s fault, she kept telling me how amazing this stuff was and I never did try it until one day Publix was having a sale on them so I thought “Ehhhh why not?!” so I picked up 3 flavors.  The blueberry, strawberry and honey in Athenos brand.  I tried the blueberry and was like “It’s okay, not bad but I am not jumping up out of my chair”.

Then I bring out the honey flavor….

DING DING DING!!! We have a winner folks.  My taste buds were having an ecstasy filled moment.  After I ate that first bowl I felt like I was a pregnant woman who needs that craving satisfied right then, unfortunately I can’t blame the pregnancy here because there isn’t one.  Ah well, I shall cave to the cravings and stock up on this mouth satisfying treat.

Did I mention it’s not horrible in the health department either and it is a good filler.  I am one who eats the 5/6 small times a day so this is perfect size for a few of those meals.  Now I am off to sit in my recliner and savor a few moment of quiet and honey! BTW have I mentioned YOU NEED TO TRY THIS STUFF!  Amazing I tell ya, just amazing!

Disclosure:  I was not asked to post this and bought the Athenos yogurt with my own money.  I am sharing my own opinions on my taste experience and if your’s is not the same, well then get your taste buds checked because this stuff is awesome.  Just Sayin’