Help Them Chef-Up Healthy Meals

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Not every kid is cut out to be the next Top Chef. Some fledgling cooks need a little motherly advice in the form of easy-to-follow and achievable recipes in order to chef-up fast, fresh, healthy and delicious dishes.

The Mama Says, “No More Frozen Pizza!” recipe collection features delicious, nutritious and budget-friendly recipes for main dishes, sides and salads. Each recipe includes a photo of the completed dish, clear instructions and an ingredient list that combines pantry staples with fresh ingredients to create wholesome meals.

There’s no reason to give the twenty-something in your life another music gift card when you can help them feed their hunger or wow their friends with a streamlined cookbook targeted to their needs.

The Mama Says “No More Frozen Pizza!” Recipe Collection is available at target.com and amazon.com.

View at Picasa It only looks like a pizza box! Inside are nutritious, delicious and affordable recipes designed for busy, new cooks – from Mama Says.

Order today for holiday delivery.

• Bonus Feature: From the Mama Says website, users can download suggested list of Pantry and Kitchen Essentials along with grocery lists for the recipes!
• The easy-to-follow directions and photos of the completed dishes inspire them to turn fresh (and affordable) ingredients into healthy meals.
• Designed to encourage young adults and busy professionals to put down the take-out menu and pick up a spatula.

Help the new cook in your life say “no” to processed food and “yes” to cooking quick and nutritious meals.

Healthy Cooking Made Easy

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It only looks like a pizza box…

Valentine’s Day is 2 weeks away. It’s time to mail your cards and make plans to shower those you love with special thoughts and deeds. Mama Says, inspire your Valentine to cook for themselves.

Great Gift Idea: healthy recipes delivered to their door….rather than flowers, candy or pizza!

The Mama Says, “No More Frozen Pizza!” recipe collection contains recipes for main courses, sides, and salads. The durable, laminated cards can withstand even the newest chef’s mishaps and require few ingredients (most are pantry staples). Each recipe card features a photo of the completed dish and easy-to-follow instructions. Order today for delivery by Valentine’s Day.

Wishing you a fabulous 2010 – gather your friends and family around the table to share a home cooked meal. - Mama Says

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Portobello mushrooms were on special at the market this week, which inspired this budget-friendly and satisfying pasta for a meatless main course.  Serve with a hearty green salad for a quick and delicious week night dinner.

Penne with Portobello Mushrooms

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 12 ounces fresh (small) Portobello mushrooms
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 large garlic cloves, chopped
• Salt and pepper
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 cup dry white wine (or combination of wine and chicken stock)

12 ounces penne

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation

1. Wipe mushrooms with a dry paper towel to clean them. Don’t wash them! Trim off the bottom of the stem along with any bad parts, and slice the mushroom with the caps 1/4-inch thick (bite-sized pieces). Set aside.
2. In a small stockpot or medium saucepan, heat the olive oil and butter. Add the chopped onions; sauté until soft, about 5 minutes, add garlic and stir for one minute.  Add the mushrooms and thyme sprigs, salt and pepper and cook over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until the vegetables are soft. Add wine and broth if using, bring to a boil, reduce the heat medium, simmer until liquids are reduced by half and vegetables are tender, about 25 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, cook, pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid. Place pasta in a serving bowl and top with mushroom mixture. Add ½ of the grated Parmesan cheese. Toss. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with using, remaining Parmesan cheese as a garnish.

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  Note from the cook: I used whole wheat penne pasta and served the mushroom mixture on top of the pasta. Per my usual preference, I cooked with Evolution Wine from Sokol Blosser (a nod to my former home in Oregon).

Mama Says Reminder: Valentine’s Day is 16 days away. It’s time to mail your cards and notes. The Mama Says, “No More Frozen Pizza!” recipe collection contains recipes for main courses, sides, and salads. The durable, laminated cards can withstand even the newest chef’s mishaps and require few ingredients (most are pantry staples). Each recipe card features a photo of the completed dish and easy-to-follow instructions. Give the gift of a healthy lifestyle to someone you care about! Order today.

The beginning of a new year brings all kinds of lists – best, favorite, silliest, resolutions, etc etc etc!   Here’s a really great and interesting list – WE Magazine’s 101 Women Bloggers to Watch in 2010.

WE Magazine is produced for the Women’s Ecommerce Association, and has a list of outstanding and accomplished editors and contributors.

If you scroll down the list….there you go…..Join Us In the Kitchen is ranked in the top 101 blogs!  Thanks to all of our Mama Says readers, commentors and guest bloggers for helping  get us there! We’re looking forward to more conversations in the kitchen, and lots more new friends.

What could be better than a perfect pair?

In June 2009, Daily Candy and Target.com created a co-branded online store, a new source for the month’s TOP 10 MUST HAVE items.

“The Red Hot Shop”

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And guess who’s one of the TOP 10 PICKS featured in January?

The Mama Says “No More Frozen Pizza!” cookbox – a must have for helping you keep your New Year’s resolutions to eat healthy, save money, and just plain have fun in the kitchen!

Live healthier in 2010 by getting away from processed foods and cooking-in more often. The Mama Says recipe collection can help you or someone you care about make quick, easy and nutritious dishes. It’s all about healthy comfort food – like “Mom” made.

View at Picasa It only looks like a pizza box! Inside are nutritious, delicious and affordable recipes designed for busy, new cooks – from Mama Says.

Check out all  the “hot items” at The Red Hot Shop at Target.com!!