Food at Universal Studios Hollywood #California #universalstudioshollywood

Butterbeer!!

It was a delicious meal and nice to have some salad among all the sweet and salty treats we had in the park. The stew was sooooo good! We sat right next to an old style fireplace with a black cauldron. So Harry Potter! My son of course being the kid he is ordered Chicken Nuggets, good grief lol!

Menu at Three Broomsticks. The inside of this place is beautiful and very Hogwarts style. I highly recommend eating here!!!

We had to eat at Krusty Burger being the Simpsons fans we are. My husband ate there two days in a row! I recommend getting a few patties on your burger to make it more filling. We sat upstairs inside the restaurant since Moe's Tavern was full. There was cool art and Simpsons memorabilia all over the place.

No words for how delicious this Krusty Burger tasted!

Homer Simpson style and size Donuts! It was amazing! You seriously have to buy this! It lasted a few nights as a dessert in our hotel room. We of course had to say "DOH!" as we ate it!

Summer BBQ with Jarlsberg Cheese and Contest

*I received complimentary items to facilitate my review, all opinions are 100% my own.

This year my family and I have made a Summer To Do List. One of our activities is BBQ at the lake. We picked National Hamburger Day to kick off our start to our list. We went to our local grocery store to look for a cheese we have not tried, Jarlsberg. They are having an Extraordinary Grilling Contest and we were happy to help spread the word by having our own BBQ day using their products.

I love cheese added to food and eaten by itself as a snack. I like a variety of types from blue cheese, swiss cheese, goat cheese and many more. I like the cheese to have a distinct flavor and add a unique quality to the everyday foods I make. For our hamburgers I selected Jarlsberg lite pre-sliced cheese for ease of use outdoors and fewer calories. The cheese added a sweet nutty flavor to our hamburgers and the way the BBQ sauce was squishing out the little cheese holes was perfection. There were no leftovers at this BBQ!

 Jarlsberg® Cheese Extraordinary Grilling Contest.  Jarlsberg® Cheese is giving away a professional grill week starting May 23, 2015  and running through August 31, 2015.

Since summer is the perfect time to enjoy a great burger on the grill, Jarlsberg® Cheese is celebrating the no-fuss season with the season’s perfect contest. Topping your favorite burger, chicken or grilled vegetables with a variety of flavors from Jarlsberg® Cheese has never been easier.  Jarlsberg® Cheese,  Jarlsberg® LiteCheese and Jarlsberg® Smoked Cheese add flavor to any grilled recipe and is available nation-wide.

What better way to enjoy the summer grill season than to win a free, professional grill, in the Jarlsberg®Cheese Extraordinary Grill Contest? Every week, Jarlsberg® Cheese will give away a professional grill to one winner. Entering is easy. Simply enter to win by filling out the Jarlsberg® Cheese Extraordinary Grilling Contest form on the Facebook/Jarlsberg USA site. You may enter one time every week, from May 23, 2015 through August 31, 2015. Each week one winner will be randomly selected, and be notified by email.

Jarlsberg^® Cheese is available nationwide in the deli grocery retailers and club stores. There is a Jarlsberg^®Cheese for every palate:

·         Jarlsberg® Cheese, is a mild, semi-soft skim cheese made from cow’s milk. Jarlsberg®  Cheese is famous for its characteristic mild, mellow and nutty flavor. 

·        Jarlsberg® Cheese Lite has the same great taste as regular Jarlsberg® Cheese  with 50% less fat and 30% fewer calories, than regular Swiss cheese.  

·    Jarlsberg® Hickory Smoked Cheese has a piquant smoky taste, and like most smoked foods has a darker, browner surface.  Jarlsberg® Hickory Smoked Cheese is cold smoked over smoldering, hickory chip embers, this Hickory smoked flavor will enhance your cold or hot foods, with its deep, smoky charms.

If you are looking for Recipe Ideas for your own Summer Adventures you can check out Jarlsberg Blog and Twitter.  Below is a recipe from Jarlsberg Cheese website that would be a delicious addition to any outdoor grilling adventure. 

Jarlsberg® Grilled Fig Pizza

Ingredients:

2 cups Shredded Jarlsberg® Cheese

 1 pound of dough (buy at your local pizzeria)

1 can crushed tomatoes

Olive oil spray

Toppings as desired

Figs – fresh and as many as you desire

Salt, pepper and basil to taste

1.    Before you light the grill, spray olive oil over grill, being sure to cover well. Once grill is hot,        gently lay the dough, stretched out already, on the grill.

2.     Cook for 3 minutes or until crust starts to brown slightly, then flip.

3.    In a separate bowl, mix crushed tomatoes, adding in salt, pepper and fresh basil to taste.

4.    Lay tomato mixture and Jarlsberg® Cheese on top of crust, and scatter some fresh, sliced figs.

5.    Cover for 4-5 minutes, until cheese is melted.

Use a large spatula to remove pizza from grill.

Pretzel Sensations Gourmet Toffee Pretzels Giveaway

I know it's hard to believe, but the holidays are coming upon us again. This makes me start thinking about all the treats and sweets my family and I love to give and get.

Pretzel Sensations Gourmet Toffee Pretzels are delicious truffle-inspired pretzels dipped in luscious Belgian chocolate and hand rolled in English Toffee.

1 Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

When it comes to cooking, the easier the better for us sometimes, some days are long and filled with a million things to do. On those nights we like to make things in the slow cooker, start it in the morning and when you are done with your day come back to it already cooked and ready to go. So easy! And this recipe does not get any easier, there is only one ingredient you add to your chicken in the slow cooker...

The first weekend of the summer...

Fresh Lemon Chiffon Cake

The beginning of summer in our family means the summer birthdays are upon us! Patricia, Laura and I all celebrate our birthday's during these summer months.

We are starting the first weekend of the summer with our mom Patricia's birthday. It will be small, intimate and lovely gathering with food and family.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend too!

Happy National Donut Day!!

 How are you celebrating National Donut Day today? 

Me, I am trying to steer clear of them. Donuts are so yummy but not on the diet today ;)

Read here about how Patricia at Popcorn and Pearls could not even look at a donut for years!

Enjoy!

Little Caesars DEEP!DEEP! Pizza Review and Giveaway

Pizza is a go to food for many families. Kids love it, parents like it and its an easy dinner with minimal clean up. Since I am working so much we find getting Little Caesars Pizza on a night where no one wants to cook and we crave a great pizza is a good choice. My husband was telling me about what he heard was a Detroit style pizza where a deep dish style pizza has crispy sides and you put red sauce on top of the pizza. I told him I think that is exactly what the New DEEP!DEEP! Little Caesars pizza is. 

We headed to our favorite local Little Caesars to try the New DEEP!DEEP! pizza. We also ordered some bread sticks with dipping sauce.

Little Caesars new DEEP!DEEP! Dish pizza featuring 8 caramelized corner slices that delivers a crispy, crunch in every bite!  That's a large, DEEP!DEEP! Dish pizza, HOT-N-READY everyday between and only $8 at Little Caesars! Stop by your local Little Caesars today and try the new DEEP!DEEP! Dish pizza! It's a traditional Detroit-style deep dish with more of the stuff you love: crispy corner crust, more cheese and more pepperoni! HOT-N-READY from 4 pm to 8pm and only $8 (+ tax at part. locations). Value! Value!

We LOVE the DEEP!DEEP! pizza! I was surprised at the flavor. Its so soft and fluffy on the inside and has a crispy crust. We even put a little red sauce on top of the pizza giving it a wonderful flavor.

Next time you are craving Pizza or just need a quick dinner to grab Little Caesars is a great option. We even grab a $5 HOT-N-READY Pizza on the way to the park a few times a month for a casual fun picnic. 

When I asked my son for a bite to share he gave me the dont even think about it look lol 

Little Caesars Pizza is hosting a Sweepstakes!

ENTER!ENTER! For the chance to win FREE DEEP!DEEP! Dish pizza for a year.

DEEP!DEEP!-Stakes!

Frugal Family Tree is also hosting a GIVEAWAY for a $20 Little Caesars Gift Card so you can try the delicious new DEEP!DEEP! Pizza

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 *Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts May 16 2013 and ends on May 30 2013 at 12:01 am EST. Winner will be emailed and has 72 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize. I was sent a product to review for this post.

Easter Egg Rice Krispies Treats!!

Easter Egg Rice Krispie Treats!!

The ingredients: All of the standard rice krispies treat ingredients (on the back of the marshmallow package) plus food coloring and plastic Easter eggs.

 Four bowls with the different food coloring added. We chose all the colors red, yellow, blue and green for ours.

Divided the krispie mix between the bowls, stirred them to get the food coloring mixed in really well.

Once they cooled off I let the boys help me fill the eggs. Not pictured was the olive oil spray I used to coat the inside of the Easter eggs so the gooey cereal wouldn't stick to the insides. It worked really well!

My boys hard at work :)

So simple, so fun and a great way to get the boys involved in making this special Easter treat!!

Wordless Wednesday - Blue Moon Burgers in Seattle

 

If you are ever in the Seattle area I recommend Blue Moon Burgers. 

Check out that Onion Ring!!

Happy Heart Day!!!

 

As requested by my two year old we had heart shaped grilled cheese, strawberries and pink milk for breakfast today. Why not make grilled cheese for breakfast? It's a holiday after all, anything goes!

 Happy Valentines Day to everyone!!

My "Mom" Cookies.......Yes I Hide Them lol

I am in Cookie LOVE! I have always enjoyed Pepperidge Farm Cookies. They are to me a Mom cookie. The ones you savor, hide in the back of the cupboard and after the kids are in bed you sit down and enjoy, or wait is that just what I do lol. My Mom would have a little bag of this brand in the house and they were special cookies to get one. I liked that, they seemed more cool than a chips a hoy or an oreo. Now as a Mom myself I so get why these are a special Mom cookie. I recently spotted this limited edition cookie Caramel Apple Pie. YUM! I so recommend buying these if you are a soft cookie fan and stick them far in the back of the cupboard lol. :)

Classico National Pasta Day Oct. 17th & Giveaway

As a Mom I love making pasts dishes for my family. Its simple to make a with so many varieties of sauce and noodles the varieties are endless. When I learned that October 17th is National Pasta Day I thought how fun would it be to celebrate with a delicious Pasta dinner using Classico pasta sauce.

 My son was just as excited as I was to use some great new cooking tools we received to celebrate National Pasta Day. I like to have my son "help" by watching me cook and stirring non heated items. He loves to be my little helper.

 I was really looking forward to tasting the New Classico Creamy Spinach & Parmesan. I LOVE spinach and mixing it with Parmesan in a pasta sauce, brilliant! I loved this flavor. I have been buying the Basil flavored sauces and the creamy alfredo and now I will be adding this one to my list of ones to buy. I need to try more of them. With all the varieties of Classico sauces I can add different meats and noodles to make many great dishes. As the winter approaches I look forward to a big bowl of warm and delicious pasta for dinner.

Pasta with Classico sauce, freash french bread, a glass of wine and family makes for a perfect way to celebrate National Pasta Day!

I was not sure if my son would like this variety of sauce but he LOVED it! He gobbled it up like crazy and told me it was good. I have found the variety he likes! I am happy that it happens to be the one that has spinach in it. I know he will be asking for leftovers for lunch of this!

A little bit of Parmesan grated on top and its perfect!! You never need a reason to eat a great pasta dish but National Pasta Day is a great reason to try a new flavor like the Classico Creamy Spinach and Parmesan variety.

What will you do to celebrate Classico National Pasta Day? We are hosting a giveaway of free product coupons of Classico coupons to encourage you to try new flavors of Classico.

Enter to Win in the Rafflecopter giveaway below:


a Rafflecopter giveaway  


*In the spirit of full-disclosure, I’ve partnered with Classico and received product, coupons, premium items and reader giveaway coupons as part of my participation. However, no payment was given or expected for posting about the program, and as always, all opinions given here are fully my own.

Sacramento: Leatherby's Family Creamery Celebrates 30 Years

On a hot day ice cream is awesome! Its tasty and will cool you off. Recently a local family owned ice cream restaurant Leatherby's celebrated its 30 year Anniversary and the celebration of their 3rd store in the Sacramento Valley area. They hosted a party for ice cream lovers at all 3 stores. We visit one from time to time and decide to go to the Anniversary celebration.

My son got his face painted for free. He wanted a doggie. He sat so still I was impressed.

They had the whole area decorated for a fun party. I loved this ice cream cone with a cherry on top balloon display. I tried to get my son to pose by it but he started to get a bit ninja on it so we had to skip that idea. :)

I love the ice cream parlor feel to Leatherby's. The tiles floors, iron seats and huge ice cream portions. The cute couple sitting behind us made me smile. They looked happy, like they were not only enjoying ice cream but perhaps a fond memory of Leatherby's. My husband and I visited the Arden location one when we lived near that area and had a few dates there. The ice cream is delicious and the brownies were WOW good.

I love that this company is family owned. The servers were all super nice. My son was very distracted by the coin operated toy claw machines feet from us so it was hard to get him to want to be in the moment of ice cream eating. The employees gave him a hat, a free hot dog and sent over the balloon artist that made him a balloon dog. They each worked for a moment by that darn toy claw machine was all he wanted. Next time I will make sure we tell them the other side if the restaurant to avoid the temptation of the claw machine.



Here is a little bit of history about Leatherby's Family Creamery:

“Daddy Dave” Leatherby Sr. and his wife, Sally, opened the first Leatherby’s Family Creamery on Arden Way in 1982 and people from all over Northern California have flocked to the restaurant ever since for our sizable sundaes, great food, and exceptional family atmosphere. Dave and Sally’s son, Alan, is the general manager and part owner of the family creameries. Dave Jr. got the Elk Grove store off the ground in spring 2012. And with 10 children, 30 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and counting, guests are bound to find any number of Leatherby offspring at work in our three restaurants on any given day, whether behind the scenes or serving customers. If they’re not at work, there’s a good chance they’re eating alongside the rest of the crowd in the original creamery on Arden Way.



Leatherby's takes pride in the fact that they make all their ice cream on site, using time-tested family recipes and the highest quality ingredients. They even grow our walnuts and pecans on the family farm north of Sacramento! Their ice cream has been named “Best in Northern California” by the local media each year for nearly 30 years. To top it off, Leatherby’s hand-made ice cream, sauces and toppings are available for purchase from at all three locations to take home in regular and bulk sizes.

If you are a local to Sacramento, Citrus Heights/Roseville, Elk Grove or just love ice cream you can follow Leatherby's on Facebook and Twitter. 

Oh My Squash!

This is the first year we have grown crook neck squash and zucchini squash. It has been so much fun going outside each morning with my son to check on the plants. We have grown huge zucchini and bright yellow crook neck squash. On my birthday we picked a few to have for dinner later in the week. I find growing plants to be so rewarding. I want to plant all sorts of things! Our watermelons are getting big, pumpkins coming in and cantaloupe beginning to grow too.

My son was saying wow cool when I handed him the first zucchini we have grown for him to take inside to show his Dad. My first thought was oh my I need to make fried zucchini rings with that! :)

Now I just need some great recipes for all the squash we will have in a few weeks. 

Do you have any recipes to share?