Holiday Cake Boss Episode

Y'all know I like cooking, so is it any surprise that I love TLC's Cake Boss? I know a lot of you are fans as well. You are sure to want to tune in tonight, as it is a special holiday episode. Check out some of the wonderful cakes they create for the holidays and enjoy the colorful characters as well!




A Cake Boss Marathon is coming! TLC is letting us fans decide which episodes will be aired in their upcoming Cake Boss marathon. So, click over to www.tlc.com/cakeboss and vote for your favorites to air on Monday 12/28.

So, curl up with a cup of cocoa and enjoy the show!

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Adopt A Creature This Holiday Season

This holiday season, consider giving a gift that gives back. Oceana gives you the opportunity to adopt a creature. Your donation goes to help Oceana's work to protect these wonderful creatures and their habitats. This is a great gift, as it helps Oceana continue their important work and will surely delight the animal lover in your life. This is a gift I chose to share with my children, both of whom are very environmentally aware. They loved the fact that the gift was helping animals. And they really enjoyed making some shark sugar cookies as well.

When you adopt, you receive an adoption certificate as well as a cookie cutter or plush sea creature. There are several levels of adoption to choose from.

• $35: 1 cookie cutter, 1 personalized adoption certificate in cardboard frame, 1 sugar cookie recipe
• $50: 1 stuffed animal, 1 personalized adoption certificate in cardboard frame
• $75: 1 cookie cutter, 1 Oceana oven mitt + 1 personalized adoption certificate in wood frame, 1 sugar cookie recipe
• $75: 1 stuffed animal, 1 personalized adoption certificate in wood frame
• $100: 6 cookie cutters, 2 Oceana oven mitts, 1 personalized adoption certificate in wood frame, 1 sugar cookie recipe
• $150: 4 stuffed animals, 1 personalized adoption certificate in wood frame
• $200: 1 plush turtle, 1 turtle cookie cutter, 1 personalized adoption certificate in wood frame, 1 sugar cookie recipe, 1 Oceana oven mitt, 1 sea turtle fact card and note from Casey + complimentary gift wrapping
  

Oceana, founded in 2001, is the largest international organization focused solely on ocean conservation. Our offices in North America, South America and Europe work together on a limited number of strategic, directed campaigns to achieve measurable outcomes that will help return our oceans to former levels of abundance. We believe in the importance of science in identifying problems and solutions. Our scientists work closely with our teams of economists, lawyers and advocates to achieve tangible results for the oceans.

So, consider adopting a creature as a gift this year. It is sure to be a hit with both the animal lovers and the foodies ion your life!

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Natioanl Pie Day - Healthy Pie Recipes

Thanks to the culinary staff at Wellspring Academies for sharing these yummy, better for you pie recipes. They are a nice alternative to the traditional pies we all eat during the holiday season.

Pumpkin Pudding Pie

Ingredients:

1 30 oz. can of Libby’s Easy Pumpkin Pie Mix
½ cup of egg beaters or egg whites
1 cup evaporated skim milk
2 9-inch pie pans

Directions:

Mix pumpkin pie mix, evaporated milk, and egg substitute in large bowl
Pour into pie shells.
Bake in preheated 425 degree oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake another 50-60 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 2 hours or refrigerate. Serve plain or with fat free Cool Whip (15 calories for 2 tablespoons).

Yield: 12 3.5 oz Servings
Nutritional Information:
97 Calories
.4 Fat grams
3.2 Protein grams
20 Carbohydrate grams

Sweet Potato Pie

Ingredients:

1 large sweet potato

3 cups cubed butternut squash

2/3 cup egg beaters

1/3 cup nonfat vanilla soymilk

1/3 cup sugar free maple syrup

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp pumpkin pie spice

¼ cup granulated Splenda

2 tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp butter extract

½ tsp molasses

½ tsp salt

1 cup mini marshmallows

Pam spray



Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.

2. Wash and peel the sweet potato and the butternut squash.

3. Dice each into 1/4” cubes, and remove the seeds from the squash.

4. Microwave in a small bowl for 6-10 minutes, then let sit in microwave for an additional 5 minutes.

5. Place squash and sweet potato in a food processor and process until mostly smooth.

6. Add all remaining ingredients except marshmallows and Pam to the food processor and process again until combined.

7. Lightly spray a medium baking dish with Pam.

8. Pour mixture into pan and evenly spread out.

9. Bake for 30-50 minutes, or until very soft.

10. Sprinkle marshmallows on top, then bake 3-5 more minutes, or until marshmallows are beginning to brown.

11. Allow to cool slightly, and then serve!



Yield: 8 servings
Approximate Nutritional Information:
84 calories/0g fat per serving

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Salsa Verde Chicken Wraps Recipe

This is my favorite of all the National Leftovers Day recipes from Pace. The salsa verde is soooo tasty!

Salsa Verde Chicken Wraps

Prep: 15 minutes
Makes: 4 servings

1 cup Pace® Salsa Verde
2 cups diced cooked chicken or turkey
1 large red pepper, diced (about 1 cup)
1 large avocado, diced (about 1 cup)
1 / 2 cup sour cream
4 flour tortillas (10-inch), warmed
2 cups shredded lettuce

1. Stir 1/2 cup salsa, chicken, pepper and avocado in a large bowl. Stir the remaining salsa and sour cream in a small bowl.

2. Spread 1 / 4 cup sour cream mixture onto each tortilla to within 1/2 inch of the edge. Top each with 1 cup chicken mixture and 1/2 cup lettuce. Fold the sides of the tortillas over the filling and then fold up the ends to enclose the filling. Cut each wrap in half before serving.

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Mucho Queso Pizza Recipe

Pace® Mucho Queso Pizza

Prep: 15 minutes
Bake: 15 minutes
Makes: 4 servings

1 cup Pace® Mexican Four Cheese Salsa con Queso
1 prepared pizza crust (10-inch)
1 / 2 cup shredded cooked chicken or turkey
1 / 2 cup sliced sun-dried tomatoes
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves

1. Heat the oven to 400°F.

2. Spread the salsa con queso onto the pizza crust to within 1/2-inch of the edge. Top with the chicken, tomatoes, cheese and basil.

3. Bake for 15 minutes or until the salsa con queso is hot and bubbling.

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Picante Turkey Rolls Recipe

Since Pace sent me this recipe, it has become a family favorite. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Picante Turkey Rolls

Prep: 10 minutes
Makes: 4 servings

4 flour tortillas (10-inch), warmed
1 / 4 cup cream cheese, softened
1 / 2 pound thinly sliced deli turkey breast or cooked turkey
1 / 2 cup Pace® Picante Sauce
1 large avocado, peeled, pitted and chopped (about 1 cup)

1. Spread 1 tablespoon cream cheese on each tortilla to within 1/2 inch of the edge. Top each with about 4 turkey slices, 2 tablespoons picante sauce and 1/4 cup avocado.

2. Roll up the tortillas tightly, leaving the ends open. Cut each roll in half. Serve with additional picante sauce for dipping.

To make appetizer rounds: Cut each rolled tortilla into 1/2-inch slices and arrange on a serving platter. Serve with additional picante sauce for dipping.

Nutritional Values per Serving : Calories 446, Total Fat 19g, Saturated Fat
5g, Cholesterol 54mg, Sodium 743mg, Total Carbohydrate 44g, Dietary Fiber
7g, Protein 24g, Vitamin A 6%DV, Vitamin C 8%DV, Calcium 12%DV, Iron 21%
DV

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Monterey Chicken Tortilla Casserole Recipe

The third National Leftovers Day recipe from the folks at Pace!

Monterey Chicken Tortilla Casserole

Prep: 15 minutes
Bake: 40 minutes
Makes: 4 servings (about 1 cup each)

1 cup coarsely crumbled tortilla chips
2 cups cubed cooked chicken or turkey
1 can (about 15 ounces) cream-style corn
3 / 4 cup Pace® Picante Sauce
1 / 2 cup sliced pitted ripe olives
2 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese (about 1/2 cup)
Chopped green or red pepper
Tortilla chips

1. Layer the crumbled chips, chicken, corn and picante sauce in a 1-quart
casserole. Top with the olives and cheese.

2. Bake at 350°F. for 40 minutes or until the mixture is hot and bubbling. Top
with the pepper. Serve with the chips.

Nutritional Values per Serving : Calories 337, Total Fat 14g, Saturated Fat
5g, Cholesterol 77mg, Sodium 944mg, Total Carbohydrate 28g, Dietary Fiber
4g, Protein 26g, Vitamin A 10%DV, Vitamin C 8%DV, Calcium 14%DV, Iron 12%
DV

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