Celebrate National Rice Month By Entering to WIN $500 Worth of FREE Groceries

by Janis Brett Elspas

MommyBlogExpert.blogspot.com

Do your kids love or loathe rice? Don't forget to LEAVE a COMMENT below this post as well as to read on to enter for your chance to win $500 worth of Groceries!

Whether it's white or brown, flavored or plain -- Asian, Southwestern, or Persian style -- I love cooking with rice for my family.  Luckily, my kids enjoy it just as much as I like making it for them, since we eat it 1-2 times every week on average.  One of my teenage daughters has served rice at our table as well with a wonderful Costa Rican banana and meat dish she makes.  You can even make fun edible shapes with rice as we have done for dinner to make it more kid-friendly for those little ones of your own who might not be so enthusiastic.

Rice is an ideal and versatile food if you think about it, acceptable to vegans, vegetarians, and meat-eaters alike.  Not only that, but because it doesn't need refrigeration in its dry grain, uncooked state, it is a food that's easy to store for months at a time so it's on hand whenever you need it. That's not even to mention how healthy, good tasting and economical at just 10 cents a serving it is.  When you are preparing a variety of meals for your family, like I do, that is all very important for sure.

So, when the USA Rice Federation (USARF) approached me to help them spread the word that September is National Rice Month (NRM), I naturally said yes.  Moms like you can get in on the fun, too, as USARF is running its Bowl Us Over contest all month.  All you have to do is submit your most original ideas for creating great tasting and healthy rice bowls to enter for your chance to win up to $500 worth of groceries or an Aroma (r) Rice Cooker.

Details: USA Rice Federation's Bowl Us Over Contest runs from September 1 until September 31, 2010.  First place winner will receive a prize of $500, second place is $250, third place is $150; seven runners-up will each receive an Aroma (r) Rice Cooker.  Enter the contest now here.

BEFORE entering the giveaway, BE SURE to COMMENT BELOW THIS POST and tell if your kids love or loathe rice. Looking forward to everyone's responses to this.

FTC Disclosure:  I wrote this blog post independently without influence from the USA Rice Federation and have received an Aroma (r) Rice Cooker.  Other than that, MommyBlogExpert did not receive any other compensation for this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

DealPop's Consumer Social Media Buying Service Expands Into Los Angeles Market This Week and Soon, Nationwide

by Janis Brett Elspas

MommyBlogExpert.blogspot.com

For some time now DealPop, which competes with similar deal saving social buying sites such as GroupOn and LivingSocial, has been operating quietly, but quite successfully in their own backyard in the Seattle market.

One More Reason Why I Love L.A.
The picture at left is of my son's arrival home from Emerald Bay Summer Boy Scout Camp on Catalina Island off the coast of California. I took this pic of the Catalina Express boat as it passed under the Vincent Thomas Bridge on its way into the dock in San Pedro, just south of Los Angeles proper.

The inside scoop is that WhitePages, the largest online directory, just announced this week the DealPop Los Angeles launch of its social buying service where you can save up to 70% off on eating, drinking, shopping, and other fun stuff in L.A. Soon after, they expect to expand still further to the San Francisco Bay Area and then nationwide.  Follow MommyBlogExpert on Twitter and subscribe to this blog to be the first to know when DealPop makes its next big move.

I just signed up for DealPop so I don't miss any of the deals I'm told that are coming up soon for date nights with my husband and special "mom time" opportunities for me, like spa, yoga, and more.  The best news is that DealPop Los Angeles will have fun things for not only for us moms and dads, but also great savings on activities for kids and families in the area where I live.  I wouldn't miss their deal alerts for anything.  It's free to subscribe, so you might want to subscribe for free just like I have to get on their list.   They also have a point system where you can earn points for using Twitter, Facebook, and/or email to spread the word about current DealPop offerings when those you refer make a purchase from them.

WIN A FREE iPad From DealPop

To celebrate the Los Angeles launch, DealPop is running a sweepstakes offering a free iPad to the first member to compile 1000 DealPop points. To be considered, all people have to do is invite 20 friends who then make a purchase.  Read more about the iPad GIVEAWAY on DealPop's new blog.

DealPop L.A. really has some great deals for example, today they announced you can get $15 of Seventeenth Street Bakery (Santa Monica) products for just $7.  Deals coming up for the rest of this week and next are listed below.  You can find out more about how DealPop works here.

This Week:
Friday, September 10 - Umami Burger in Fred Segal, Santa Monica - $5 for any burger (usually averaging about $11)

Next Week:

• Monday, September 13 - Yogi's Anonymous - $7 for a $14 class
• Wednesday, September 15 - Westside Adventure Camp - $15 for $50 in services
• Friday, September 17 - Naomi Tango Studio - $7 for $15 worth of Tango group classes (valid for one class)

FTC Disclosure:  I wrote this blog post independently without influence from DealPop and have received a $50 credit for their social buying service.  Other than that, MommyBlogExpert did not receive any other compensation for this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Connecting With Your Teen in the Kitchen by Preparing a Gourmet Meat & Banana Dish Together

by Janis Brett Elspas

MommyBlogExpert.blogspot.com

Since Sunday my triplet 13 year-olds and I have been shopping and cooking up a storm for the upcoming Jewish New Year, also known as Rosh Hashanah, which starts this Wednesday evening.  

We're expecting lots of guests over the three-day holiday, since the two-day Yom Tov (Jewish Holiday) is followed immediately by Shabbat (the Sabbath) this year.  So it's a good thing both my daughters love spending time in the kitchen creating with food.  I hope that this reassures those of you with boys and girls 12 and up that Yes, it is possible to communicate with teenagers.  All you have to do is find a common language like cooking together.

This morning, the older of my daughters prepared one of her favorite main courses called Costa Rican Ground Beef Patties with Grilled Bananas.  I acted as official photographer, as well as her prep cook, doing some of the more tedious tasks such as chopping onions, washing dishes, and cleaning counters, while she took center stage as chef.  

Apples are traditionally associated with both fall and Rosh Hashanah, so don't you think she looks festive in the colorful sturdy vinyl full apron she's wearing that we received from Davida Aprons?  

Watch for future posts of me and my girls wearing the other cheery apple finery Davida sent us.  This company, BTW, is well-known in the secular and Jewish worlds for their wonderful aprons and other themed items. In the meanwhile, check out the Davida Aprons site to learn more about why they are say they are the #1 manufacturers of Jewish Fun wear and Kitchen Kitsch that has been carried by stores such as Bloomingdale's.

I hope you'll try out the delicious recipe below which both kids and adults will enjoy any time of year.  Depending on their age (and abilities) you can have can have your own child do some or all of the easy steps involved in making this gourmet dish, too.  Even an elementary school kid will enjoy helping to mix the meat mixture together, for example.  The most important thing is to allow kids to do as much as they are able to.  Have fun, enjoy each other.  In the end, you will both feel so proud.

Costa Rican Ground Beef Patties

with Grilled Bananas

4 Servings

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef or turkey

1/4 c. matzo meal or bread crumbs

1 onion finely chopped

1 t. dry red pepper flakes

salt & pepper to taste

2 ripe bananas

6 T. melted margarine
You'll also need a little olive oil for frying the meat

Directions:

1. Mix in bowl all ingredients, except bananas and melted margarine

2. Firmly but gently shape meat mixture into small balls about 1 inch in diameter

3. Set rack in oven about 6 inches under heat and preheat broiler (you'll use this later for grilling the bananas later)

4. Heat a small amount of olive oil in a frying pan and then add the patties, cooking over medium high heat until meat is cooked through and browned nicely

5. While meat is frying, cut bananas first in half crosswise, then slice lengthwise (you'll end up with 4 pieces per banana) and place all bananas slices cut side up in baking plan and drizzle with melted margarine.

6. Carefully set prepared banana pan under the hot broiler for about 5 minutes until carmelized and browned, then remove from oven

7. Place meat patties onto serving dish first, then top with the grilled bananas

8. Serve hot with traditional Costa Rican side dishes such as rice and beans, either mixing the two together as one, or serving separate spoonfuls of each
9. Last, but most certainly foremost -- enjoy this for a nice sit-down dinner with your family 

What fun things do you do with your kids in the kitchen? Please feel free to post and share not only your ideas and recipes, but also your fondest memories of cooking with your children, too.

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert's family received three apron apple-themed aprons from Davida Apron, including the one pictured to facilitate the test and review described but did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post.   See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.