Categories
Everything Else Food

T Marzetti’s Simply Dressed


You can tell form the photo above that these are simply gorgeous dressings. Each one is made with all natural, fresh ingredients~ like you can look at the ingredients section & you can actually read & know what they are! There are no MSGs, trans fats, preservatives or artificial flavors. For my celiac friends, all these dressings are gluten free.

I really had a hard time choosing which one I wanted to try. I walked into the store hungry {always my down fall} & was happily overwhelmed by all the lovely Simply Dressed choices. I couldn’t narrow it down between the Strawberry Poppyseed & the Pomegrante. All the Simply Dressed were on sale last week at my local grocery store & I had the free coupon {thanks Marzetti}, so I brought both home with me.

According to my how-to-grow-big-healthy triplets book, I’m supposed to eat at least five servings of veggies now. I have a hard time getting there. Fruit though, I love! So I thought with both of these dressing options, I could fruit & veggie up salads. I’m trying to incorporate more salads at lunch, as sides with dinner or evening snacks. Because really, doesn’t a good salad dressing make you want salad more than a boring one?!

Sunday night, I took basic bag salad, added fresh mushrooms, sliced red pepper, strawberries, candied pecans & croutons & topped it with the Strawberry Poppyseed dressing. If I’d had some feta or Parmesan cheese to toss in the salad, it would have been divine, but it was a pretty amazing salad as is.

Love a super cold dressing on top of a pretty salad.

The dressing flavor is the perfect mix of tangy & sweet. Not too heavy. Not too light. Perfectly complimented the strawberries in my salad & the poppy seeds so yummy. The dressing showed up perfectly in my bowl without being overwhelming or MIA.

Of course this pregnant chick chose the dressings that stood out most to me but kinda sorta not my husband’s favorites. I think he’d have rather I’d brought home the Ranch or Blue Cheese. I think he’d have liked the Greek Feta or Caesar too. Next grocery store run I’ll try one of those as these Simply Dressed really are my new favorites.

I think the Champagne dressing would be a great way to spice up a sandwich wrap. I’d love to try the Feta one for dipping carrots. I think the Ginger one would make a great chicken marinade. What other ideas or ways do you incorporate salad dressings or Simply Dressed dressings in your meal plans?

You can read more about the other choices as well as pick up some recipe ideas on the Marzetti Simply Dressed site. You can find them in the refrigerated produce section of your local store.

I was one of the bloggers selected by T. Marzetti Company and Clever Girls Collective to host a Marzetti Simply Dressed review. They provided me with product to test myself and compensation for my time. However, my opinions are entirely my own.

Categories
Food Photography

42nd Week in Photos

Forty-two weeks into my project 365. This is not the most exciting week in photos as I’d returned home, unpacked & repacked for a long weekend away celebrating the wedding of my brother & new sister-in-law yesterday. There will be many wedding photo posts to come this week. For now, here’s my low-key last week.

Day 288: Saturday night after I got  my hair trimmed & highlighted, I was reminded by my friend Kelly of our friends Mike & Sarah’s homewarming party that night. I threw together the turkey cranberry pinwheels, Kelly made those amazing spinach artichoke squares, & away we went {Jason worked so I was again their third wheel}. Thanks to wine left-over from their June wedding, the drinks were flowing & their beautiful house was nicely broken in!

Party time!

Day 289: Sunday, while husband was again working, I went to church, a walk/jog around a local lake, met friends for fro-yo, shopped for dinner at The Meat House, did laundry & cooked chicken for me & steak tips for husband. What I didn’t do? Take a single photo.

Day 290: I returned home Monday night exhausted from my first day back in 10 days to find Moe hiding out under the desk on the computer chair he has commandeered. Love that not-so-little guy.

Moekitty: I'm hiding. You can't see me.

Day 291: After a dinner of stuffed chicken breasts {also from The Meat House}, I took photo of these recent reads. Looks for new books posts on them soon.

current reads

Day 292: All packed & ready to go Wednesday. I don’t think Moe knew he was going to be home alone for four days.

Not planned but loving the polkda'd bags.

Day 293: Thursday began the wedding weekend festivities. How cool was the view from the presidental suite which served as Thursday’s cocktail party location & the bridal suite for the weekend?!

Brother & Seneca starting the celebration

Day 294: Friday was busy & deserves a post of it’s own {coming later this week I hope}. But here’s a preview of the fun with my last photos of the night of some of our favorite family friends Katie & Matt {with their new friend}.

This is why Katie & Matt are awesome!

How was your week?

Categories
Family/Travel Food

Family Football Day

Last Saturday was NCSU’s Varsity Club football game. Since my dad played football {he was an offensive guard ’73-’77}, he’s invited back with a couple of free tickets to the game. My parents came down & we invited Kelly’s parents & some other friends as well to have a big tailgate party before we watched State beat Central Mich.

The 1o of us split up into two cars. I was in the SUV that parked where we were tailgating, so while the others walked over, Brett, the dads, Kelly’s brother & I got the tailgate all set up.

A few rounds of cornhole was played with Kelly & whoever was on her team winning time & again.

Quality Tailgate if I do say so myself

We decided to break out the grill for hamburgers, hot dogs & bean burgers for me. Jessica & Michael brought their much beloved veggie dip {the hidden valley packet & sour cream} as well as veggies. I made those pumpkin surprise cupcakes, a pasta salad, & also brought chips & salsa. Sarah & Mike joined us & brought hummus & pita bread as well as some delicious toffee chip cookies. We had quite the spread of food as well as enough beer to go around {& around}.

I ended up with an extra ticket I wasn’t able to sell {husband working yet another Sat}, but Mom & I did make it in to see American Idol winner Scotty sing the national anthem & see the plane flyover.

Hometown kid Scotty sings, kick off, & Touchdown!

Mom & Dad’s free tickets were way up high on the sunny side of the stadium. After sweating through the first quarter, we moved over to my normal section where people were wrapped up in coats {NC in Oct is crazy}.

We walked out at halftime to Mike & Sarah’s kickass parking spot for a little snack & another quick drink {or two}. After chatting & a few group photos, we headed back in to see the rest of the game.

Trophies are from bowl games my Dad played.

Go Pack!

Categories
Food

April’s Peach Cobbler

Third food post in a week! Y’all are in luck because this is another good one. I’m calling this April’s Peach Cobbler since April made it today for the office where I’ve been this week. I begged demanded asked nicely for this recipe as I was still shoving my last bite in my mouth. It’s another three ingredient recipe that will definitely be an easy crowd pleaser. I even snuck into the office kitchen as it was cooling to take a photo to share!

Sweet Peach

Ingredients

2 cans peach pie filling
1 box butter yellow cake mix {I think she used Duncan Hines}
1 stick butter, melted

Spread cans of filling across the bottom of a 9×13 pan. Top with cake mix. Top with melted butter. Bake on 350 for about an hour. Enjoy with family & friends {or nom on the deliciousness all yourself}.

Close up side view. Are you hungry yet?!

April also told me these fun tips to mix it up. She will sometimes do 1 can of peach pie filling & one can of apple pie filling &/or add craisins in the mix. She also said if you don’t like the top to have some crunchy pieces, add more butter. I liked the mix of crunchy & soft how it was today.

Categories
Food

Sweet Carrots

Even though there were twelve of us tailgating Saturday, we still ended up with some leftovers, especially veggies. Jessica had brought a great veggie tray from Costco & I ended up with the extra cauliflower, broccoli & carrots. Mom came up with the idea of husband & I’s Sunday dinner being baked fish & the leftover veggies. I steamed the cauliflower & broccoli together in the microwave for 4 minutes then topped with shredded cheddar & Parmesan cheese. The panko breaded tilapia came frozen in a box but was delicious.

As for the carrots, I was a little stumped. Thank goodness for Mom again & her recipe knowledge. Over the phone Sunday night she gave me this recipe from an unknown source. I’m posting so I’ll remember to make it again!

Ingredients

approximately 1 pound baby carrots, boiled with enough water to cover & a little salt for about 20 minutes
1 tbsp butter
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 to 1 tbsp honey
1/2 to 1 tbsp brown sugar

After the carrots are cooked & the water drained off, add in the butter, nutmeg, honey & brown sugar. Stir & enjoy! Mom says you can use a little more of the honey & brown sugar or even half OJ & half water to boil if you’re feeling adventurous.