Shrimp Jambalaya {Family Recipe}

I first shared this recipe in my early days of blogging and when I when I couldn't locate my printed copy of it, I searched for it on my blog.  When I saw the photos, I knew it was time to do a re-take and share this one again... I can't believe I first shared it back in 2008!

Now that Our Boys are older and their tastes have grown a bit, I did a little bit of tweaking to the original recipe.

This is one of those recipes that you'll want to have in your back pocket for a night when you want to get dinner on the table in about 30 minutes.  Using frozen, cooked shrimp could also speed things along if you have it on hand.

Revisiting a Favorite Cookie {Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies}

It's been a crazy last few weeks!  Once we returned from our fabulous Florida vacation, we were thrown right into the hectic pace of spring baseball season! Needless to say, the amount of cooking new recipes could be described as "not happening".  I've been relying on some tried-and-true favorites to make sure we don't need to hit the drive-through during this busy time.

As the season winds down (our boys play-off games start right after Memorial Day), I've been able to find an afternoon here and there for them to have friends come over and hang out.  In case you didn't know, at around 9-10 years old we aren't allowed to call them play dates anymore.  It's just not cool... but, it's apparently still ok for mom to coordinate them and make them happen.  They are growing up, but they still want me to take care of a good number of things for them.

Smashburger ~ AND a Giveaway (now closed!)

The winning comment is #5 as selected by random.org!

Katie - please email your mailing information to me at pkfamilyfriendsandfood (at) gmail (dot) com within 48 hours so that we can send your gift card to you!  


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It's been a little bit since my last post, but I'm back today to share some fabulous food from Smashburger and a Giveaway!

If you haven't been to a Smashburger yet, let me fill you in on what you are missing.  It's not just your average "burger joint", it's designed as a fast-casual restaurant.  Upon walking in, you'll notice a fun decor and you'll be greeted by someone ready to take your order.  If you aren't sure about anything on the menu, they are more than happy to give you more information on any items they serve.

You can self serve your drinks (free refills!) and find a table or booth where you'll wait for your order to be delivered to your table.  A nice touch in comparison to other burger places we've been to around the area.  They don't disappear once the food has been dropped off for your enjoyment... they stop by to make sure that you are happy with everything and to ask if you need anything else.  Definitely a full-service place!

The hard part is actually choosing what to order!  They have such a variety of burgers that you'll find yourself wanting a taste of each one!  I was lucky enough to be invited to a tasting at my local Smashburger, and I'm so glad that I had this opportunity because I found a new favorite while I was there.

I've had their Classic Smashburger a number of times, but could never decide which of the other burgers to try each time.  The New Jersey Burger was bursting with flavor, just like our wonderful state!  Gotta love the addition of bacon and fried onions on this burger.

Review: Joe's Crab Shack in West Kissimmee, FL

During our recent vacation to Florida, we were staying just outside of Orlando in the Kissimmee area.  Luckily the area is so close to Orlando that there are an abundance of dining options.

Once we arrived in Florida, we had the afternoon to relax and poke around some of the local shops.  As we were trying to figure out where to eat for dinner, it only took My Oldest moments to decide on what restaurant he wanted to try once he heard the name - Joe's Crab Shack.

My Oldest loves to dig in and break open crabs and enjoy every last bite.  So, even though we've got a location not that far from us in New Jersey, we've never been there.  It's so easy for us to get fresh seafood and make our own when we are at home.  So, visiting Joe's Crab Shack on vacation was a first for us!

We ended up eating at this location twice during our trip.  The first time as an early dinner and they weren't too busy yet.  We had a fantastic server, Consuelo, who even suggested that we go check out the Main Street in Celebration for ice cream afterward.  An adorable little town that I hope to go back and visit the next time we visit that area.

I started off with their Peach-Strawberry Sangria... and enjoyed it quite a lot!  I don't always order these type of drinks when we go out simply because they aren't always worth it.  I'm going to have to recreate it at home to share with friends this summer.

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth with Werther's Sugar Free Candy

I've made it no secret around here that I have a major sweet tooth.  You may or may not have noticed that the number of sweet treats I've been sharing has declined the last month or two... well, the reason for that is that with diabetes in my family and my latest blood results, I've got to start watching what I eat and make some changes before my next appointment for blood work in the fall.

With that kind of thing looming and a penchant for everything sweet (among other things that I need to cut back on to ensure that I keep sugar levels where they really should be), I'd say I'm more motivated to look for alternatives to satisfy my need for a little something sweet.

When the opportunity arose to try Werther's Original Sugar Free Candy I was all over that.  They only have 8 calories per candy and only 3 grams of carbs.

Not only do they have low calories and low carbs on their side, but they are satisfying sweet treats!

I received samples of the Original flavor, Caramel Coffee, Caramel Apple and Cinnamon Caramel.  There wasn't a bad flavor in the bunch!

Just like their original candies, Werther has brought a sugar free candy that has all the same characteristics of what we all loved about them in the first place.  Creamy, caramel flavor that fills that need for something sweet.

While I enjoyed the Original flavor a lot, I found that the Caramel Coffee and the Caramel Cinnamon had the most satisfying effect.  You know how sometimes you want something to make you feel like you've had a treat - these flavors really do the trick.

I like to savor the candies until every last bit of flavor is gone.  With other candy (that I need to avoid!), I never felt as satisfied and would go back again and again... and end up eating so much more than I should.  With these candies, one little bit goes a long way and is so low in calories and carbs that I don't need to feel guilty about enjoying one after dinner.

Celebrating Grilled Cheese Month with Land O’Lakes

Growing up, I loved a nice golden grilled cheese… very traditional; yellow American cheese between two slices of soft, white bread.  A bit of butter on each slice so that it would be toasted up golden before cutting in half to be savored for a simple lunch.

Now that I’m a bit older and my tastes have broadened, I like to make it more interesting. 

When Kitchen PLAY  asked if I’d like to join in with Land O Lakes to celebrate Grilled Cheese Month, I was all over that!  Ideas were swirling around my head and once I had some of the Land O Lakes ® Deli American Cheese, I settled on what MY grilled cheese sandwich would have in it.

Land O Lakes® Deli American Cheese melts smoothly and is available at the deli counter so that you can have it sliced just the way you like it!  Those are just a couple of reasons moms love it and it’s the number one seller in America. 

Not only do they offer white or yellow Deli American Cheese, but there is also a Land O Lakes® 4 Cheese Italian Blend that has Asiago, Parmesan and Romano cheeses paired with the white American cheese.  I’m going to be requesting that my deli counter add this as an option… so many ways this cheese blend can be used!  I’m already envisioning a pepperoni pizza grilled cheese sandwich!

For my grilled cheese, I chose to use thinly sliced plum tomatoes, Dijon mustard and Land O Lakes® Deli American Cheese – thinly sliced.  I now avoid soft, white bread (and boy, do I miss it sometimes!) so, I used my favorite whole grain bread instead.  Rather than use a regular skillet, I opted to pull out my Griddler and use the grill pan plates… with just a light spread of butter on each slice, it browned up nicely with just a slight crunch when I bit into it.

The cheese melted beautifully into the Dijon mustard and the sweet tomatoes contrasted so nicely with those flavors.  It would pair perfectly with a steaming, hot bowl of tomato soup or perhaps a nice potato soup instead.

You’d think it doesn’t get better than this, right?  Oh, but it does!  I love when companies like Land O’Lakes, who have been around for over 90 years and producing a quality product, decides to give back!  And, you can help them do it!

Pin a Meal.  Give a Meal. To help Land O Lakes give back, all you have to do is go to their website, www.landolakes.com, and pin recipes that look delicious!  For every recipe pinned or re-pinned, they will donate $1 to Feeding America!!  That one pin will feed one hungry family 8 meals!  Then, every time the recipe gets re-pinned it’s, another 8 meals!  Let’s help giving go viral! 

Do you have a Pinterest account?  If not… I don’t know how you have resisted!  It’s such an easy way to save recipes and various other ideas you want to keep track of all in one place!  You can find me on Pinterest at famfriendsfood, come one… you know you want to help a hungry family get the help they need!

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Land O Lakes as part of the Kitchen PLAY sidecar series.  All opinions given are my own.

Please note that all photos and content belong to Patsy Kreitman, unless otherwise noted. If you want to use something please ask first.

Legoland - Florida

When planning our recent family vacation to Florida, we knew one destination was definitely on the list... Legoland!

With a 9 year old who loves to build the various sets that are available... especially anything related to Star Wars, getting to go to an amusement park dedicated to his favorite past time was a no-brainer.

Located about 45 minutes from Orlando in the town of Winter Haven, it was an easy drive to get there. But, based on the lack of crowds there, it would seem it's a bit far off the beaten path for many who may be visiting Orlando for DisneyWorld or Universal.  As I've mentioned to a few friends already, it's a shame because this park is such a gem for families with kids up to about age 12.

Soyfoods Month!

April is SoyFoods month!  So it’s the perfect time to learn about the place for soy in a healthy diet and easy ways to incorporate it into everyday meals.  Packed with protein and fiber, soyfoods are a tasty way to reduce calories, saturated fat and maintain your weight.  Many soy products like veggie burgers cook and thaw faster than traditional meat sources so that means more time and convenience—who couldn’t use more of both?

The Soyfoods Association of North America (SANA) provides information about the health benefits and nutritional advantages of soy. SANA offers fun recipes and convenient ways to incorporate soy into meals for everyone – from athletes to families. SANA is dedicated to spreading the word about soy, especially during National Soyfoods Month in April!

Soyfoods aren’t just for vegetarians anymore. In fact, dishes made with soy are quick, tasty, and often healthier than traditional protein sources.

Since April is National Soyfoods Month it’s the perfect time to tell your readers about the benefits and ease of cooking with soy!


Here are just a few ways that soy can help make your life easier and healthier:

Take this mixed berry smoothie up a notch with creamy and delicious WESTSOY Soymilk made from whole organic soybeans: Berry Smoothie WESTSOY Soymilk

On those busy weeknights, add some Wildwood tofu to the standard stir-fry for more protein or this spinach fettuccini to your favorite pasta sauce. Wildwood Tofu

Packed with protein and fiber, soyfoods are a great way to reduce calories, cholesterol and saturated fat. They also serve as a great source of iron, calcium, vitamin B-12, magnesium and zinc.
Including soyfoods into your diet is easy and convenient.

Soymilk adds a healthy twist to any smoothie and these scalloped potatoes: Soy Milk Scalloped Potatoes

Edamame makes a great energy-boosting snack and puts in an interesting twist on this hummus: Edamame Hummus

Easy recipes to get cooking with soy ingredients: Easy recipes to get cooking with soy


Note:  This sponsorship is brought to you by the Soyfoods Association who we have partnered with for this promotion.  All information in this post was provided by the nice people at the Soyfoods Association.

Home Sweet Home!

Where oh where have I been?  Well, here are some photos to show you the fun-filled vacation we took last week!  I'll be posting about the places and restaurants we ate at very soon... but, wanted to share a few photos from our vacation in Florida!

We decided to drive to Florida, so having just arrived home today... it's time for some relaxation before the work and school week begin for us tomorrow!

I promise new posts this week to share not only bits of our trip but a few other things that I've had scheduled for a bit!  Stay tuned!

These pictures are all from my phone... I have  TON to edit from the 2 cameras that we took with us...

A day at Magic Kingdom!  Thank goodness we bought those mister fans... they came in handy during our week in Florida!

Beautiful sunset view from the pool at the hotel we were staying at... 

Smile for dad!  The start of a day at Epcot.

Gotta love giant checkers set up for playing at Cracker Barrel.

It was the Garden and Flower show at Epcot during our visit.

Legoland!  More to come on this fun amusement park!

Another breakfast at Cracker Barrel meant figuring out if Our Boys could beat their scores on this old fashioned game full of frustration!

Please note that all photos and content belong to Patsy Kreitman, unless otherwise noted. If you want to use something please ask first.

Healthy Lunchbox {recipe: Almond-Dill Chicken Salad}

I'm on a constant search for quick and easy lunchbox ideas.  Sometimes I struggle with ideas for My Boys lunches, but other times... it's actually mine that gets lost in the shuffle.  If I forget to send their lunches in, I'll get a phone call from the school and they'll serve them a hot lunch (that they already told me they weren't interested in, which is why they didn't order it) and then, I have to send in the money to pay for it.  That is assuming that they have enough 'extra' lunches that day since they don't actually have a kitchen at our elementary school... needless to say, forgetting to pack their lunches is simply not.an.option.

When it's the morning crunch to get things done before I head off to work and leave My Husband in charge of getting them on to the bus... I often run out of time to pack some healthy food for my own lunch.  I've gotten better in the last couple of weeks, and that's due to planning.  Planning is so very important to ensuring I don't forget about my own lunch... which will then cause me to have to buy something... and our cafeteria at work can leave little to be desired no matter how hard the current chef tries... it's just not that good, and I don't trust the items they list as their "lighter side" when I see them sitting in a sauce.  I think their idea of "lighter" and mine differ quite a bit.

So, the ideal option is for me to pack up my little bag with good-for-me foods.  I've been taking several servings of fruit daily which is helping me curb my chocolate cravings.  Late afternoons are a real struggle, but I'm managing when I bring in something satisfying like a little bit of peanut butter to spread on banana slices.

Lunch is frequently leftovers, but sometimes I underestimate how much everyone will eat at dinner and when they love something I won't have anything left for my lunch the next day.  This Almond-Dill Chicken Salad is ideal for these situations.

The original recipe was from the The Good Carb Cookbook.  I've had this cookbook for quite awhile and have tried a few recipes from it.  It got pushed aside for the many other cookbooks I've collected since then, but recently came back out when I was trying to plan some healthy meals.  I am not a fan of the "no carb" craze, because I don't feel all carbs are "bad".  It's about choosing the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to carbs... high fiber and avoiding added sugars.

I adjusted the recipe a bit to suit my tastes and to accommodate what I had on hand when I decided to make it.  It's a great recipe to throw together and you'll be able to get at least 2, maybe even 3 lunches out of it.

Almond-Dill Chicken Salad

Recipe by Patsy K (inspired by The Good Carb Cookbook)

Ingredients

• 1 - 8 ounce can chicken (or 1 cup cooked, diced chicken)
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 2 tablespoons sliced scallions
• 1/4 cup reduced fat mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons reduced fat sour cream
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill

Cooking Directions

1. If using canned chicken, add to a bowl and use a fork to break it up so that it's not large pieces (should resemble shredded chicken when finished).
2. Add the almonds, scallions, mayonnaise, sour cream and dill to the chicken and combine completely. If it is too dry, add a little more mayonnaise.
3. Chill until ready to serve in whole wheat pitas or on whole wheat bread.

Note:  The link for the cookbook will take you to the Amazon site where you can get more information on the book, and order if you'd like.  I receive a small referral fee if you choose to purchase via this link.

 Please note that all photos and content belong to Patsy Kreitman, unless otherwise noted. If you want to use something please ask first. Tweet

Florida Tomato Committee ~ Broiled Polenta Bruschetta

I recently had the pleasure of receiving a plentiful package of Florida tomatoes courtesy of the Florida Tomato Committee.  I was tasked with coming up with a new recipe to be featured on their site and boy, did I have some fun playing around with all of the gorgeous tomatoes they sent to me!

I tried several different ideas before getting some inspiration from a pizza night we had at home.  Suddenly, I occurred to me to make mini pizzas, but I wanted it to be more unusual than your typical pizza.

I opted to use a sliceable polenta and before I knew it, I had thrown together a beautiful bruschetta to top it off.  To say these were a huge success is an understatement since not a crumb was left on the plate when I served them!  Both of My Boys devoured them in no time at all!

I do hope you hop on over to the Florida Tomato Committee's website and check out my recipe for Broiled Polenta Bruschetta!

Note:  I received product and compensation to create this recipe, but all opinions are my own.

Please note that all photos and content belong to Patsy Kreitman, unless otherwise noted. If you want to use something please ask first.

Passover Mushroom Stuffing {recipe}

Every year during Passover I peruse recipes and plan to make a few new ones.  Sometimes they are worth sharing here, other times they are ok enough to enjoy but not always blog-worthy.  This time, I'm sharing a side dish that may make the cut for our Seder next year.

This Passover Mushroom Stuffing recipe was adapted from a recipe I received from a cousin who lives in Florida... we don't get to see her often or share holidays together, but she's always willing to share a recipe when I ask.

Family Recipe ~ Charoset for Passover

We are in the midst of Passover this week, and as promised I plan to share a few new recipes so that I can have them all in one place.

Today, it's all about the Charoset (or Charoses - depending on how you grew up pronouncing it).  This sweet combination of apples, nuts and wine is an important part of the Seder plate and the story that we retell each year.  It symbolizes the mortar used by the Hebrew slaves in Egypt to make bricks.

Thatcher McGhee's in Denville, NJ (Restaurant Review)

Every once in awhile we find a restaurant that is worth going back to a second time.  That second trip is not always within the same week, but this time... it was.

We happened upon Thatcher McGhee's on our way home from doing some shopping one night last week.  We figured we'd see what was happening in Denville since we hadn't been over that way for dinner in quite awhile.

It seems kind of nondescript on the outside for an Irish Pub, but don't let that disuade you from entering.  It's very quaint with interesting decorations.  The bar area is quite large and on our second visit, was really busy on a Friday night.

The dining rooms appear to be like rooms in a house.  Small-ish rooms with a homey feel to them.  The lighting is subdued, but well-lit enough that you can easily read the menu.

The menu is varied enough that anyone coming for a good meal should be able to leave satisfied.

We started with cheesy fries and their sampler for appetizers... and, they were devoured by everyone at the table.  The potato skins were well done and had bits of bacon mixed in with the melted cheese.

The Buffalo wings were spicy, but in a good way from what I heard from those who tried them (I'm not a fan of Buffalo wings, so I wasn't going there).

Traditional chicken strips and mozzarella sticks rounded out the sampler.

The cheesy fries were not only cheesy, but also had bacon bits mixed in them.

The kids menu had a few options, and My Youngest chose the mozzarella sticks and french fries.  It was a really good sized portion, which we weren't sure was going to be the case... so, Our Oldest ordered a burger off of the regular menu.  That burger was HUGE!  He has quite an appetite these days, so a little more than half was finished before he decided he was full.

The first trip, I ordered their Chicken Pot Pie - which happens to be topped with puff pastry... can you say total comfort food?


It was so creamy and perfect under all that puff pastry... I must say that the height of the pastry made it a bit difficult to dig into the creamy main dish, but it was well worth it.

I had described it so well to My Husband and My Mom-in-law that they both ordered it on our second trip.  They totally agreed that this was the kind of dish you'll be craving on a cold, rainy (or snowy) day to warm you from the inside out.

Very well done... just thinking about it now, I'm wishing I could have a taste of it again!




Whenever I go to an Irish Pub, I tend to always go for the fish and chips.  I can't resist fish that is deep fried... and this is what I ordered on our second visit.

The fish was nice and crisp on the outside and perfectly flakey on the inside.  They serve it with a healthy amount of french fries and a few onion rings (which My Youngest grabbed as soon as he saw them).

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere and the food at Thatcher McGhee's.  I'm sure we'll be back again.

A bonus is that they happen to be located across the street from an amazing local ice cream shop - Denville Dairy - which, was dessert, of course!

Thatcher McGhee's

53 Broadway

Denville, NJ  07834

973-586-3377

Ps... I'm on Instagram and often share photos there as well!  You can find me at FAMFRIENDSFOOD on Instagram if you'd like to get a sneak peek into what I'll be sharing here!


 Please note that all photos and content belong to Patsy Kreitman, unless otherwise noted. If you want to use something please ask first. Tweet

Passover Favorites from FamFriendsFood

Passover is in just a few more days!  Are you ready?  Have you planned your Seder meal yet?  I've been planning our meals for the coming week for a little while, but since we tend to enjoy some dishes every year I don't have to start over... it's just making sure I purchase everything ahead of time!

Check out some of our favorite dishes to enjoy either at Seder or during the week of Passover:

Every year, I make sure I have a few extra boxes of Matzah so that we can enjoy Matzahbrei - we prefer ours savory.

Our Seder has become a traditional meal (for us) that always includes Spinach Pie - the first recipe My Husband's aunt gave to me after we got engaged.  It's now a favorite of Our Oldest as well.

I shared another favorite side dish we enjoy, Carrot Soufflé,  last fall... and, it wouldn't be the same if we didn't have a couple of dishes of this on the table... especially, since there are a few people who are always looking to take some of the leftovers home with them!

No Passover is complete without Matzah Buttercrunch... a decadent way to enjoy matzah!

Beyond Seder, there are several more days of tasty eating to enjoy!  I'll be making Chopped Herring so that we can top our matzah with it for breakfast or a quick snack later in the day.

These are just some of our favorite recipes to enjoy during Passover.  I hope to share more of them this year so that I can have them all in one place.

Enjoy!


 Please note that all photos and content belong to Patsy Kreitman, unless otherwise noted. If you want to use something please ask first. Tweet