Views From the Ville

Slow Cooker Minestrone Recipe

Dec 312013

I am a member of the Mom It Forward Blogger Network and this slow cooker minestrone recipe is sponsored by Cans Get You Cooking.

Does your pantry kind of look like a “cantry”? Ours definitely does. If you open our cupboard doors you’ll find them fully stocked with cans of vegetables, fruit, broth, stock, beans and more.

Growing up we always had canned and jarred foods on hand. The winters were unpredictable and a full “cantry” meant that even in the middle of a blizzard you could have a flavorful meal made with ingredients picked at the peak of ripeness, locking in their fresh taste. Even on a beautiful, sunny day canned foods are a great shortcut to getting dinner on the table.

Slow Cooker Minestrone Recipe - this minestrone is easy, and made even easier by cooking in the slow cooker! Filled with beans, veggies, and ground beef it's warm and filling.

One of our favorite meals to make using canned ingredients in a slow cooker minestrone I’ve been making for a few years now. It’s on a short list of recipes that my husband specifically requests over and over. I’m always happy to oblige because in addition to tasting amazing, it’s so easy to put together! Continue reading »

15 Kid Friendly Recipes: Appetizers and Treats for New Year’s Eve

For the Kids, New Year's Eve, party ideas 1 Response »

Dec 302013

Does your New Year’s Eve party involves kiddos? We thought about trying a Noon Year’s party – where you count down to noon instead of midnight for Bubbles tomorrow instead of staying up for the ball drop tonight, but then we laughed. Bubbles is getting better, but she still doesn’t ever go to bed much before midnight.

15 Kid Friendly Recipes for NYE #NYE #Appetizers #Desserts

Here is a list of 15 kid friendly recipes for appetizers and other tasty treats to make your spread a smash hit. Most of them are bite-sized or have a fun theme – some even work great as party favors. And they all look delicious!

DIY S’Mores Kits – Views From the ‘Ville (pictured above)
Crunchy Chicken-Stuffed Waffle Pops – Snappy Gourmet
Mini Corn Dog Muffins – Kraft Recipes
Homemade Mozzarella Sticks – Chew Out Loud
Mini Chicken Chimichangas – Views from the ‘Ville (pictured above)
Pizza on a Stick – Artisan Bread in 5
Pigs in a Blanket – Save a Lot
“Sparkly” Celebration Popcorn – Laura Kelly’s Inklings
Mini Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Bites – Play. Party. Pin.
Party Popcorn – Bombshell Bling
Banana Nutella Smoothies – Views From the ‘Ville
Individual Dessert Pizzas – Home Cooking Memories (pictured above)
Gumdrop Cupcake-Tinis – Growing Up Gabel (pictured above)
New Year’s Eve Cakeballs – Formula Mom
Confetti Cake – Spoonful

What are your favorite kid friendly recipes for parties?

Liven Up Your Winter Nights with Monopoly Empire and Transformers!

Family Fun, For the Kids 21 Responses »

Dec 292013

I received Monopoly Empire and Transformers products in order to facilitate my review. All thoughts and words are my own.

I have long loved the board game Monopoly. There were some serious marathons of the game in my house growing up, too. My father has more patience than any person I’ve ever met and he would sit for hours upon hours and play with me, long after others had given up.

Monopoly Empire

Monopoly Empire Board Game from Hasbro

While the classic version will probably always be my favorite, we definitely are having fun with one of the newest iterations, Monopoly Empire. In Monopoly Empire everything – the properties, the pieces, the cards – get a little shake-up with modern twists. You won’t see a battleship or Board Walk, but you will see a Coca-Cola bottle and Samsung. Continue reading »

Start the Year More Relaxed with Bed of Nails

health 32 Responses »

Dec 272013

I received Bed of Nails products in order to facilitate my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

With the start of the year on the horizon, many people are turning their thoughts to making resolutions. One goal I often hear, especially from women, is to try and figure out how to find a few moments of “me” time. Five or 10 minutes here and there to decompress, destress, and relax.

Bed of Nails Mat - Pink

Something to consider to enhance your “me” time in 2014 are products from Bed of Nails. These aren’t what you might think of when you think of relaxing. The Bed of Nails mat and pillow are actually covered in thousands of tiny little plastic “nails” designed to stimulate the acupressure points in your body. Continue reading »

New Kidoodle TV Offers Safe, Streaming Shows for Kids

Entertainment, For the Kids, For Toddlers 11 Responses »

Dec 232013

I participated in a Blogger Activation on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Kidoodle TV. I received a promotional item and a free trial as a thank you for participating.

We’re pretty selective about the television shows that Bubbles gets to watch. The shows don’t necessarily have to be educational – watching something purely for it’s entertainment value is okay now and then. But I also don’t want it to be something that’s going to teach her habits or concepts that are too old for her.

For example, in the mornings there are a couple of her favorite shows that run back-to-back. Following those two shows, however, is another show that we don’t prefer for her to watch. We usually watch with her, but occasionally we need to step away for a phone call or the laundry, and once in awhile we come back to find that her shows have ended and she’s watching the other show.

Kidoodle TV

Kidoodle TV Account Setup #MC

Now with Kidoodle TV we don’t have to worry about any of those “oopsies” or catching part of something we’d rather not. You can create a Kidoodle TV account in just a couple of minutes. Simply enter your child’s name and customize their screen with an avatar and background color. Continue reading »

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