Review: Progresso Recipe Starters

On those nights when you are running out of time to make dinner or running out of fresh ingredients, it’s nice to have something on hand that is quick and easy to make.  Progresso Recipe Starters are canned cooking sauces that you can use to quickly and easily get a meal on the table for your family.

We received a package with one of each of Progresso’s Recipe Starter flavors (Creamy Parmesan Basil, Creamy Portabella Mushroom, Creamy Roasted Garlic, Creamy Three Cheese, & Fire Roasted Tomato) through My Blog Spark along with a little booklet of recipe ideas.  The Fire Roasted Tomato sounded really delicious to me, but after looking through the recipes, I decided to use the Creamy Roasted Garlic to make their featured recipe, Creamy Lemon Chicken.

I had everything on hand for this recipe:  flour, chicken, parsley, lemons, salt, pepper & rice…along with the Creamy Roasted Garlic sauce.  It came together really quickly and I was glad that Progresso included the details of tenderizing the chicken (I almost always either pound the chicken breasts or butterfly them when I sauté them) and adding garnishes.  I have to admit, though, that the canned sauce smelled like canned soup…I don’t know what it is, but it has that distinct smell…is that just me?  So I was a little bit worried the dish would taste like canned soup, but it didn’t!

It actually had a good lemon and mild garlic flavor and the chicken was really good.  Most of us liked it, and sweet Diner even had seconds!  If you want to try Progresso’s Recipe Starters, I highly recommend checking out their recipe collection.  There are a lot of recipes on there and there will surely be one to tempt your tastebuds.

Creamy Lemon Chicken from Progresso
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 can (18 oz) Progresso™ Recipe Starters™ Creamy Roasted Garlic cooking sauce
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Chopped fresh parsley, if desired
Grated lemon peel, if desired
Hot cooked rice, if desired

1. Between pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper, place each chicken breast smooth side down; gently pound with flat side of meat mallet or rolling pin until about 1/2 inch thick. In small shallow dish, mix flour with salt and pepper; dip each chicken breast into flour mixture, coating all sides.
2. In 10-inch skillet, heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Cook chicken breasts in oil 6 to 8 minutes, turning once, or until brown. In small bowl, mix cooking sauce and lemon juice.
3. Pour sauce mixture over chicken. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 5 to 10 minutes or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (at least 165°F). Sprinkle with parsley and lemon peel. Serve with rice.

Average Fork Rating:  3.2
Mr. Diner:  4
Mrs. Diner:  3
Amazing Diner:  2
Sweet Diner:  4
Little Diner:  3

Disclosure:  The information, products and Progresso™ Recipe Starters™ gift pack was provided by Progresso through MyBlogSpark.

Eat In Recipe: Greek Cinnamon Stewed Chicken

I think I’ve had this recipe on my “to try” list for three years.  It always sounded good…in a warm, comforting way, but a bit different.  Last year, we fell in love with Cat Cora’s Kouzzina restaurant at Disney World, and I made it a point to try her Greek Cinnamon Stewed Chicken recipe…finally.

It’s not a quick meal, but it’s not labor-intensive or an all-day thing either.  Just takes awhile to simmer slowly on the stove.  The flavors are rich, warm flavors that are melded together into an intense sauce served over tender chicken.  The opinions were mixed on this dish; I liked it, but I think the flavors may have been to rich for some…and there are those who just aren’t big fans of bones in their chicken, but this could be made with boneless thighs with the time adjusted a bit, I’m sure.  I served it over orzo, but I know my family would have preferred rice.

Greek Cinnamon Stewed Chicken
(Adapted from Cat Cora’s recipe featured on Oprah.com)
2 1/2 to 3 lbs. bone-in chicken pieces (legs, breast and thighs)
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
5 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 large yellow onion, peeled and coarsely chopped
2 cups water
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
1 Tbsp. dried Italian herb seasoning
1 cup orzo, cooked according to package directions
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1. Preboil the 2 cups of water with sea salt.
2. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Mix the cinnamon, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Rub the seasoning on all sides of the chicken.
3. Heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet over high heat. If you don't have a skillet large enough, brown them in two batches using 1/2 the oil for each batch.
4. Add the chicken to the oil and brown for about 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Remove the pieces when they are well browned on all sides.
5. Lower the heat to medium-high, and add the onions and 3 cloves of minced garlic. Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the onions have softened. Add about 1/2 cup of the water and scrape the bottom of the pan with a spatula or spoon to deglaze the pan, loosening any particles stuck on the bottom.
6. When the water has evaporated, add the remaining 1 1/2 cups of water, tomato paste, Italian seasoning and remaining 2 minced garlic cloves.
7. Return the chicken to the pan. Cover the pot and simmer over medium-high heat for about 30 to 40 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and thoroughly cooked. If the sauce becomes too thick, it can be thinned with a little more water. Season the finished sauce with kosher salt and pepper to taste. Serve over orzo or rice, cooked according to package directions, and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.

Serves 4.

Average Fork Rating:  3.2
Mr. Diner:  3
Mrs. Diner:  4
Amazing Diner: 2
Sweet Diner:  4
Little Diner:  3

Eat Out Bay Area Review: Pier Market

For as long as I can remember, seafood (especially lobster & crab) has been my favorite group of food.  My lucky palate was introduced to these sweet delicacies at a young age and I’ve never looked back.  Now living in Utah, there aren’t quite as many opportunities to indulge in great, fresh seafood as there are when I’m in an area like San Francisco. 

San Francisco’s Pier 39 is filled with many tourist-filled restaurants, including several seafood spots.  My family has dined at several different ones, but we turned (once again) to my favorite dining app, Urbanspoon, to see which were the favorites.  We settled on trying Pier Market, a waterfront restaurant that also has a fish market on the exterior where you can order fresh fish and some of their clam chowder and other foods to go.

Pier Market is a family-run restaurant that has been serving fresh seafood for over 25 years. It was started by the Simmons family, who also created Pier 39 and Chevy’s Fresh Mex restaurant (which I love).  Pier Market was recently named “Best Seafood in San Francisco” by KRON 4 TV’s Best of the Bay.
We decided to get a table and have a sit-down meal inside.  We were seated quickly and placed our orders.  While we were waiting for our food, the complimentary Boudin sourdough bread arrived with it’s crunchy crust and definite sourdough flavor.  Add a smear of butter, and life is good.  We didn’t have much time to munch on it before our food arrived; it was very fast. 

I was in the mood for a cup of clam chowder ($4.75) and half a Dungeness crab ($13.95, served steamed or chilled…I picked steamed).  The chowder was fantastic filled with chunks of tender clams and very creamy, one of the best I’ve had in recent memory.  If you get a map from the Pier 39 visitor’s center, there’s a coupon in there for a free cup of clam chowder with purchase of an entree!
The crab was good and I ate every bit of meat I could shell from that thing and dipped it in drawn butter…that’s heaven in my world. 

Mr. Diner ordered Fish & Chips, served with fries & cole slaw ($13.95).  (Sorry for the lack of picture.)  He said they were very good, although he’s not a cole slaw fan, so I got to eat that.  The cole slaw had a very strong cabbage flavor…too strong.  I’ve never had cole slaw like it and don’t recommend it. 
My parents were with us and both ordered the Clam Chowder in a Sourdough Bowl & Salad Combo ($12.95), a good choice since both the sourdough and chowder were really good here.  (Sorry for the blurry picture.)

The kids ordered typical kids fare, hot dogs & chicken tenders, and were satisfied, although I would say they missed out by choosing those over fresh fish! 

If you’re looking for a seafood spot at Pier 39, give Pier Market a try.  For a leisurely experience and full menu, go for the table service restaurant.  If you’re in the mood for something more casual, grab something from their market counter…the prices are cheaper.  Whatever you do, get the chowder!

Pier Market
Pier 39 Concourse #103
San Francisco, CA 94133
415-989-7437

Entree Price:  $$
Average Fork Rating:  3.4
Mr. Diner:  4
Mrs. Diner:  4
Amazing Diner:  3
Sweet Diner:  3
Little Diner:  3

Eat Out Bay Area Review: Sozo Sushi

Nigiri & Sashimi are the only foods I can think of that Mr. Diner has actually taken the first adventurous step before I have.  I have always loved rolled sushi, but was a little wimpy when thinking of the raw stuff.  A few years ago, Mr. Diner told me he tried either Nigiri or Sashimi (can’t remember which) during lunch with co-workers.  My mouth dropped open.  I couldn’t believe it.  And…he liked it!!!  I was really excited and sought for an opportunity to go out for sushi with him.  Since then, we’ve had sushi together lots of times.  He doesn’t go for the rolls very often, preferring thinly sliced, fresh fish in its rare form. 

My parents have raved about Sozo Sushi for awhile now.  It’s become their go-to sushi spot in my Bay Area hometown of Pleasanton, California (♥).  We were excited to give it a try while we were out there visiting.  Sozo Sushi is a little spot tucked away in a grocery store strip mall.  The interior is clean and the service is friendly. 

 
Since we had a larger group, we ordered an array of tasty foods to try.  The adults and Amazing Diner stuck with the sushi menu, plus some tempura, miso soup, & edamame, while Sweet & Little Diner both ordered kids meals, served in bento boxes.  And being their privileged mommy, I sampled bites of theirs, too…just to provide an adequate review, of course.  ;-) 
 

  Tempura Appetizer ($5.99) – The vegetables and shrimp were very tasty, although the batter was a little too crunchy for my taste.
 

Top to Bottom: 
Vera Cruz Roll ($12.99) -  Features shrimp tempura & unagi (freshwater eel), topped with creamy & spicy scallops with crushed macadamia nuts.  The nuts definitely added a unique feature to this roll & it was definitely spicy, too, but so large that it was a bit hard to eat.

Forrest Gump Roll ($11.99) – Features shrimp tempura and topped with cooked shrimp, green & red tobiko (flying fish roe), and Sozo’s spicy cream sauce.  The roll was my second favorite with a dominant shrimp flavor and slight sweetness.

Marilyn Monroll ($9.99) – Features shrimp tempura, crab, & avocado topped with scallops in a creamy sauce.  One of my Dad’s favorites. 

 Raiders Roll ($8.99) – Features crab & avocado topped with salmon & thinly sliced fresh lemon.  This was Amazing Diner’s selection and my favorite roll of the night…very fresh with the lemon slices and a really nice salmon flavor.

Mr. Diner says he ordered Snapper ($3.99) & White Tuna ($4.99) Nigiri, but I think they gave him Snapper & Salmon instead, don’t you?  Either way, it seemed quite fresh and very flavorful. 

The Kids Meals were Beef Teriyaki & Chicken Teriyaki ($7.99 each), both served with Rice, Gyoza, & Salad (with that wonderful sweet ginger dressing frequently found at Japanese restaurants…I’m a fan).  The beef was extremely tender and the chicken had a great charbroiled flavor, both coated with a tasty teriyaki sauce.

I can see why my parents like to frequent Sozo Sushi.  The food is great with fresh ingredients.  I’d definitely go back…and I’d order the Raiders Roll for sure (even though I’m a 49ers fan). 

Sozo Sushi also offers take out, including online ordering!

Sozo Sushi
2835 Hopyard Rd.
Pleasanton, CA 94566
925-484-5588

Entree Price:  $$
Average Fork Rating:  4.2
Mr. Diner:  4
Mrs. Diner:  4
Amazing Diner:  5
Sweet Diner:  5
Little Diner:  3

Eat In Recipe: Birthday Pancakes

Do you have any special birthday traditions?  I love traditions, so when I saw this Cake Batter Pancake recipe, I thought it would be a fun tradition to start:  serve up these fun pancakes the morning of each birthday with a candle on top!  Sounds fun, huh?

Sweet Diner had the first birthday since I noticed the recipe, so she was the recipient of the first batch of these sweet breakfast treats.  Everyone was excited to try them, but we discovered that a few alterations needed to be made (adapted recipe with alterations below).

1. The colored sprinkles we used lost their color in the batter as we mixed them up, resulting in little color in the cooked pancakes.  We tried sprinkling them onto the poured pancakes, but then they were only visible from one side.  Moral:  Be careful about the sprinkles you pick…and add a lot of them!
2. The sugary glaze in the original recipe was too thick, resulting in almost a frosting.  We added more milk till it was more of a syrup consistency…much better.  Moral:  If you’re going to serve the sugary glaze, make it thin like a syrup.
3. We still thought the sugar glaze was too sugary even in a syrup consistency.  We finally opted for regular maple syrup and liked them much better.  Moral:  Don’t bother making the special glaze; use what you already had on hand…maple syrup!

Ultimately, everyone thought the pancakes were really fun and loves adding extra sprinkles & a candle on top, but when I asked who wanted special Cake Batter Pancakes for their birthday, not one person raised their hand.  Hmmm…I think we’ll be searching for another birthday breakfast tradition.  Got a good one that you do?   Let me know what it is!

Cake Batter Pancakes
(adapted from How Sweet It Is)
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup yellow cake mix
1 tablespoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-2 cups milk
3-4 tablespoons assorted sprinkles (or to taste)

1. Combine flour, cake mix, baking powder, sugar and salt in a bowl and mix. Add 1 cup of milk, egg and vanilla extract and stir until smooth.  Start with 1 cup of milk and add more if needed to bring it to a normal pancake batter consistency.
2. Preheat a skillet on medium heat.  Right before you are ready to pour your first pancake, fold desired amount of sprinkles into batter. Pour batter in 1/4 cup measurements onto skillet and let cook until bubbles form on top, about 2-3 minutes. Flip and cook for 1 minute more. Serve with your favorite syrup (we preferred maple).

Notes:  Try to choose sprinkles that are large or that you think may not loose their color or dissolve in the batter.

Average Fork Rating:  2.6
Mr. Diner:  3
Mrs. Diner:  2
Amazing Diner:  2
Sweet Diner:  3
Little Diner: 3

Eat Out Review: Five Star BBQ Company

For at least a year I have been commenting to Mr. Diner every time we drive past this little BBQ spot on Geneva Road,  “Oh!  I want to try that place!” or “We’ve got to go there sometime.  I’ve heard great things about it.”  But it took our fabulous friends Cynthia & Paul to introduce us to the local barbecue joint Five Star BBQ Company.  Since then, we’ve been back and taken our kids…and we all love it!

Five Star is a little counter service place that is located out of the mainstream restaurant areas of Utah County in a white & black old house along the more industrial Geneva Road.  Inside you’ll find red & white checked plastic tablecloths with a roll of paper towels and a pail of condiments at each table…nope, this place isn’t fancy.  Just step up to the counter and place your order, which is prepared right in front of you while you wait.  Then pay and find a place to sit. 

The menu is pretty simple, but with plenty of options.  Choose a meat (or two…or the sampler) that you like and have it served up on a plate or as a sandwich with a side or two and a slice of garlic toast or cornbread.  All the meats have a really great smoky flavor, but for the most part are left without sauces so you can add all the sauce you want at your table. 

Five Star’s Original BBQ Sauce is available at every table, but there’s also a mini fridge with so many more sauce options…Kinda Hot, Hot, Dark Chili, Mustard, Sweet, Ketchup, Fry Sauce, Ranch, JT’s Alabama (a creamy mild horseradish-herb sauce), & more.  We’ve sampled most of them and they’re good. 

I love the meats at Five Star (the smoked chicken & smoked pork are my favorite so far), but what I crave long after I’ve left are the sides…especially my favorite Cream Corn!!!  I know it’s not good for me, but I’ve just got to have it!  They have a lot of side options including Smoked Beans (also really good), fries, coleslaw, Brunswick Stew, herb mashed potatoes, and many more. 

  Once in awhile, you’ll find a special like this fantastic sandwich that was loaded with meat mixes with their special BBQ sauce and served with one side for about $5 (I added an extra side).  It was a large, tasty sandwich.  I added the coleslaw to it for an extra sweet crunchiness…superb.  Oh, and the buns are soft, fluffy, and fabulous, too.

The ribs are St. Louis-style ribs which they rub with their own seasonings and smoke.  Often when you order the ribs, you have to wait a few minutes until they’re just right to be served.  The flavor is really great, but we prefer Baby Back Ribs.  These tend to be a bit chewy, but with a fair amount of meat.

Kids meals are a bargain at $3.55 for a meat, sandwich, or 2 ribs plus a side, half slice of garlic toast, and a drink (or choose a plate of 2 sides without any meat).  The child’s portion isn’t large, so older (or really hungry) children might want to sneak off your plate when they’re done…if you let them!

Five Star is a fantastic casual barbecue place that we think is good for the whole family.  We’ll definitely be stopping by again and think you should, too…especially for the price!  Next time you want a fast food meal, pay just a few bucks more for a fantastic BBQ sandwich from Five Star.  Then come back and thank me.  They offer catering and take-out services, too.

Entree Price:  $
Average Fork Rating:  4.6
Mr. Diner:  5
Mrs. Diner:  4
Amazing Diner:  5
Sweet Diner:  5
Little Diner:  4

Giveaway: Cupcake Class from The Icing on the Cake

Decorating a cake can sometimes take a little extra attention and care, but decorating cupcakes is just pure fun!  Lindsey over at LinzLinzLinz organized a fantastically fun cupcake night for some of us bloggers over at the Provo Bakery (which has fabulous donuts, by the way).  In fact, she regularly teaches these cupcake classes that provide extra tips and inspire creativity in decorating.

 
Each of us brought our own aprons, bowls, and decorator tips & bags to the class, but all the other supplies and ingredients were provided.

Lindsey passed on her love of filled and chocolate ganache-topped cupcakes to the whole class.  The Provo Bakery sells premade ganache & buttercream so you can just focus on the decorating. 

I loved making little chocolate shapes for the top of the cupcakes (looks fancy, huh?) and her tip for swirled frosting.  (Oh, and I wish I had a commercial fridge or freezer to super cool everything in lightning speed!)  The ladies in our group were so creative and fun!  I was really inspired by Lindsey’s enthusiasm and the amazing talent in this great group of women.  Oh, and the cupcakes were divine!!!

Lindsey’s classes are perfect for anyone & would be great for a girls’ night, date night, mother-daughter activity, or just a chance to get out of the house.  Her next class will be held Thursday, October 18…just in time for Halloween!  Classes cost $26 per person and are held at the Provo Bakery (190 E 100 N, Provo, UT).  Classes are not always regularly scheduled, but Lindsey is always open to requests.  Her Just contact her at BeTheIcingOnTheCake@gmail.com.  You can also find out more over at her cake decorating blog, The Icing on the Cake, and on her Facebook page.

Lindsey is giving away a spot in her cupcake classes to two of our readers.  The winner will arrange their attendance with Lindsey, based on availability and class schedule. 

To Enter:  See the Rafflecopter form to enter.

Giveaway Closes: 12:01 am EST on Monday, Sept. 24, 2012. Classes are in Provo, Utah, so winner must be able to attend.  Winners will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to respond.  Good luck!

A discounted cupcake class and two free classes were provided for this giveaway post.  All opinions are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Eat Out Review: Ike’s Creamery

School’s in full swing around here, but the temperatures still feel like summer.  Who’s in the mood for a cold scoop of fantastic, creamy ice cream?  Me!  Me!  Me! 

Ike’s Creamery in the Provo Riverwoods’ Beach Resort is the only place in Utah to get Blue Bell Ice Cream, rich & creamy & all the way from Texas.  We’ve stopped in a couple times (including our fun blogger event last fall). 

We’ve tried Strawberry (yum…lots of strawberry flavor with lots of real strawberries),

 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (huge chunks of cookie dough & chips of chocolate…Sweet Diner’s fave),

and Pecan Pralines & Cream (my favorite yet…and I think the best Pralines & Cream I’ve ever had)!  As you can see, we just can’t wait for pictures…our scoops are half eaten, but they sure were good!

A Single Scoop is $2.29; a Kids’ Scoop is $1.69.  Add a waffle cone for only 75 cents…or go for the most expensive thing on the menu:  a Banana Split for $5.99!  I’ve gotta get someone to share that with me one of these days. 

Entree Price:  $
Average Fork Rating:  4.2
Mr. Diner:  4
Mrs. Diner: 4
Amazing Diner:  4
Sweet Diner:  5
Little Diner:  4

Restaurant Deals & Coupons–Updated 5/16

Photo courtesy of Tax Credits.

Our dining deals list is separated it into three categories:  Deal Vouchers, National & Local Utah deals and each list is sorted alphabetically.  Come by anytime and click on “Dining Deals” in our header to take you to this list.  If you have a birthday coming up soon, check out our list of birthday deals!

This list is frequently updated and reposted once a month so you can get a reminder of the great current deals through your subscription.  Please shoot us an email (ratetheplateutah@gmail.com) if you know of a great discount that is missing from our list. 

Deal Websites

• Amazon Locals: Local deals including restaurants
• City Deals (Utah): A large variety of discounted local restaurant certificates, in addition to other categories. 
• Deal Dragon (Utah): Discounted local restaurant certificates and printable free coupons. The majority of offers are in Utah County.
• Deal Pickle – Limited number of dining certificates available to local restaurants
• Entertainment Book – Various national & local coupons for dining & entertainment. Requires purchase of Entertainment Book.
• Groupon: There is usually at least one discounted restaurant offer.
• HubZub (Utah): Daily deals including restaurants. 
• Kostizi (Utah) – Discounted local restaurant certificates.
• KSL Daily Deal (Utah):  Discounted local restaurant certificates.
• Living Social: Buy discounted vouchers for dining & entertainment, frequently at 50% off.
• Restaurant.com: Purchase discounted certificates for local Restaurants. Be sure to read the terms of the certificate. Most require a minimum purchase and some may be redeemed only on weekdays.
• ValPak – Enter your zip code to fine local printable restaurant coupons.

National 

• New!  7-Eleven – Medium Slurpees for 49 cents over Memorial Day Weekend, no coupon necessary (5/24/2013 – 5/27/2013 only).  Call to verify participation.
• Blimpie – Buy 1 6” Sub & a 22 oz. drink, Get 1 6” Sub Free – Must like them on Facebook to get the coupon.
• New!  Buca di Beppo – Save $10 off a purchase of $20 or more (expires 5/27/2013).
• Buca di Beppo – Free Buca-Taster Bowl of Ravioli or Baked Ziti with purchase of any pasta or entrée (expires 6/16/2013)  Look under the Restaurant category & use zip code 90210 if you can’t find it.
• Burger King – Small Frozen Coke or Frozen Cherry for 75 cents, no coupon necessary (expires 5/23/2013).
• Burger King – Buy 1 Chicken Sandwich, Get 1 Free, no coupon necessary, limited time only.  Choose Original, Philly, or Italian.
• Carl’s Jr. – Get a free Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich with purchase of a Memphis BBQ Burger Combo, limited time only.
• Del Taco – Free item every Wednesday in May with any purchase between 3-9pm.  May 22 & 29 – Free item from the New Tastes Menu.  Call to verify participation.
• Del Taco – Free Chipotle Beef Burrito with purchase of a drink.  While you’re there, you can also print a coupon for a free Egg & Cheese Burrito with purchase of a drink – must like on Facebook to get access to the coupons.
• Denny’s – Get 2 free slices of bacon when you share the offer on Facebook and enter your information.
• Honey Baked Ham – Various Coupons.
• Jack-in-the-Box – Buy 1 Chipotle Chicken Club Sandwich, Get 1 Free (expires 5/20/2013)  Look under the Restaurant category & use zip code 90210 if you can’t find it.
• Jack-in-the-Box – Buy 1 Regular Smoothie, Get 1 Free (expires 5/20/2013) Look under the Restaurant category & use zip code 90210 if you can’t find it.
• Maggie Moo’s - Half off any Single Serve Item, Valid Monday-Friday, Noon – 2 pm only – Must like on Facebook to get coupon.
• McDonald’s – Egg White Delight McMuffin for only $1 (expires 6/20/2013) – Must enter your name to print the coupon.
• McDonald’s – Free Premium McWrap with the purchase of a Medium Fries & Medium Drink (expires 6/1/2013).
• Mimi’s Café – Weekday Breakfast for $6.99, valid Monday through Friday until 11 am.  Includes 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, & 2 pieces of bacon or sausage, limited time only.
• Mimi’s Cafe – 3-course Mimi’s Bistro Meals for only $9.99, no coupon needed (limited time, call to verify participation)
• Olive Garden – Buy 1 of 5 select entrées, Take another one home – both for $12.95 (limited time only).
• New!  Outback Steakhouse – Save $8 off two dinner entrees or $5 off two weekend lunch entrees (expires 5/21/2013).
• Papa John’s – Get 2 one-topping large pizzas for only $11.99 when you use the code CD1199.
• Papa John’s – Get 50% off any regular-priced pizza when you use the code PEPSI50 to order online, participation may vary.
• Quizno’s – Get a free Small Sub when you buy another one and a drink – must like them on Facebook to get the coupon.
• Red Lobster – Dinner for 2 for $25 including two entrees and an appetizer or dessert to share, no coupon necessary (expires 5/26/2013).
• Rumbi Island Grill – Kids eat free on Mondays and Tuesdays after 4 pm with purchase of an adult meal, no coupon required.  Call to verify participation.
• Sbarro – Get a free slice of pizza when you enter your information at Great Eats, limited time offer.
• Smashburger - Play the Burger Smasher Game and you will be rewarded with a printable coupon a free side with purchase of an entrée.
• Sonic – 50% off shakes after 8 pm all summer.
• Taco Time – Free 22 oz. Drink & Small Mexi-Fry with purchase of a Sweet Pork Burrito. Look under the Restaurant category & use zip code 84601 if you can’t find it.
• Taco Time – Buy 1 Crisp Burrito Get 1 Free, limited time offer.  Enter zip code 84057 if you don’t see it.
• TGI Friday’s – Get a free appetizer when you download their mobile app (coupon is in the Happenings section of the app).  Find the app in the app store or here:  iPhone, Android.

Utah

• Burger King (Salt Lake & Wasatch Front participating locations only)– Download the Burger King app from the app store & load it with $10 to get a $10 bonus.  You can then spend the $20 total at Burger King.  You can see the list of participating locations here, but it looks like most are participating
• Iggy’s Sports Grill – Get a Free Chocolate Sundae with the purchase of 2 Entrees (limited time only).
• Gastronomy Frequent Diner’s Program – Members receive a $25 certificate for every 350 points earned at Gastronomy restaurants (Market Street Grill, Market Street Oyster Bar, Market Street Broiler, Market Street Fresh Fish Markets, and The New Yorker). Membership is $15 but you’ll receive a $20 certificate just for signing up!
• Maui Bowl (Provo) – Check in on Facebook or Instagram & get a free topping on any bowl. 
• Red Robin Dinner & a Movie Deal - Pay $33.99 for a $20 Red Robin Gift Card, a FREE Cheese Stick Appetizer ($5.95 value) and 2 Movie Ticket vouchers. It’s like getting the 2 movie tickets for $4 each. Pick these up at the participating Red Robin restaurants (Layton Hills, The District, or Provo Towne Center).
• Tortilla Bar (Orem) – Get $2 to spend at Tortilla Bar with LevelUp, must be claimed with Facebook.  LevelUp is a way to pay with your smartphone and earn rewards. 
• Wendy’s – $1 off 1/2 lb. Baconator, limited time only at participating Utah locations – must enter your information to get the coupon.
• Yogurtland (Orem) – Get 3 ounces free when you check in on Facebook or Twitter.

Review: Nectresse Sweetener and PB & Chocolate Quesadilla Recipe

This post brought to you by NECTRESSE™Sweetener. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am not a fan of artificial sweeteners, in fact, I tend to stick with good, old-fashioned sugar most of the time.  I love when a new good-for-you natural product comes on the market...and I love it even more when a company gives me the chance to try it out & share it with you!  Have you seen the new pretty orange packaging in the baking aisle?  NECTRESSE™Sweetener is a new natural sweetener that has just started making its way into the grocery stores alongside sugar and other sweeteners. 

Did you know that Nectresse is the only 100% natural, zero calorie sweetener made from fruit?  It's made from monk fruit, which is a small green melon grown in Asia (you can see photos of it in the video below).

Lisa Ling (I love watching her amazing journalism!) also loves the product and gave it a whole-hearted endorsement.  Check it out below...if you like it, you can even share it with your friends.

I was treated to a box of Nectresse packets.  As soon as I got them, Amazing Diner and I tore one open to check it out.  The grains are about the same size and texture as white sugar crystals.  We gave it a try and it was very sweet, actually sweeter than sugar.  In fact, one quarter teaspoon of Nectresse is equal to the sweetness of one teaspoon of sugar!  I used this ratio in substituting Nectresse in my recipes, using one-fourth the amount of Nectresse as I would have used of sugar.  Everything I tried turned out great!

I even created a special Nectresse recipe to share with you:  Peanut Butter & Chocolate Quesadillas! 

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Quesadillas
1 packet (1/2 teaspoon) Nectresse
1 pinch cinnamon
2 flour tortillas
10 mini marshmallows
chocolate peanut butter spread, to taste
butter, to taste

1. Preheat a nonstick skillet over medium heat.
2. In a small bowl, mix the Nectresse & cinnamon until evenly combined.
3. Spread one side of one flour tortilla with chocolate peanut butter.  Top with mini marshmallows, evenly distributed.  Place remaining tortillas on top..
4. Butter top of one tortilla and sprinkle half of cinnamon-Nectresse mixture on top of butter as evenly as possible.
5. Put the quesadilla in the skillet, buttered side down.  Butter the other side of the quesailla and sprinkle the remaining cinnamon-Nectresse mixture on it while it is face up.  Cook for about 2 minutes or until toasted, then flip.  Cook for an additional 2 minutes or until it is toasted and the marshmallow is melted.  Remove from pan, allow to cook for 1-2 minutes before slicing into wedges.  Serve.

Notes:  If you don't have a chocolate peanut butter spread, you can subsitute regular peanut butter and add some chocolate chips, evenly spread along with the marshmallows.

I loved this delicious dessert quesadilla!  It had a fabulous peanut-butter chocolate flavor and the marshmallows really melded it together.  I would love to tell you what the rest of my family thought, but by the time any of them came into the kitchen, the whole thing had mysteriously disappeared.  Any guesses where it went?  Um, yep...I'm guilty!  I ate the whole thing myself.  But you can bet it won't be the last Peanut Butter & Chocolate Quesadilla I make, and next time I might share.

Want to try Nectresse yourself?  Use this link to get a  FREE sample of NECTRESSE™Sweetener.  There is also a $2 off coupon available for printing so you can buy your own box ($3.99 for 40 servings) or canister ($6.99 for 140 servings) of Nectresse.  I can find it just about everywhere in my area...even Wal-Mart!