Friends Food & Fun: Essentials to #MakeSummerGreat via @WalmartCanada & @Listen2Lena

One way to #MakeSummerGreat is to start it off 

with an invitation to Lena's for a BBQ!

Close your eyes and visualize a beautiful sunny day, a specially-designed menu prepared by chefs, where my only job is to enjoy catching up with friends and feasting on the culinary delights.

Sounds good doesn't it? And then visualize being able to easily recreate those same culinary delights when you host your own get-together. These budget-friendly menu ideas definitely meet the criteria for my make summer fun essentials list, and are perfect to get you out of the kitchen and into the fun.

My Make Summer Great Essentials List only has 3 items on it:
1) Friends and Family: In my opinion a great mix of guests with diverse and interesting personalities, ages and life experiences is sure to keep any get-together fun and memorable.
2) Great Food and Beverages: Nothing brings people together better than sharing a delicious selection of foods and beverages.
3) Fun: The fun factor is a must every step along the way; in the guest list, the food and the presentation. Get creative and make sharing a meal and time together an adventure. Think out side the box ... so to speak. For example, find ways to take plain burgers out of the box and transform them into something special. FYI it really is easier than you may think to make summer great!

Lena brought her A game with all 3 essentials to make her summer BBQ great.
1) It goes without saying the company was fabulous and fun! 2) With some help from Walmart Canada and Great Value products Lena shared some favourite ideas for what I like to call "almost from scratch". Let Walmart make the basics and then bring it to a whole new level with personalized touches. Which brings us to 3) the Fun Factor. The food presentation was delightful making it an experience and adventure rather than just a meal.

Below are some of the experiences and adventures Lena shared with us:
Signature Beverages: Nothing says fun like signature beverages. (you can even give them fun themed names like Cathy's Kaleidoscope of Flavours Punch) At Lena's we had the pleasure of experiencing: A sparkling Watermelon Limeade and a Berry-Mint Iced Tea.

Appetizers: or as I like to say "appe-teasers", since they give everyone a hint of the delicious things to come. Lena started with Rainbow Fruit Kebobs and Creamy Lemon Dip. I love the fun factor the mini mason jars added. Then we moved onto veggies and chips served with a to die for Creamy Taco Dip.

Burger Bonanza: Lena brought burgers from boring to breathtaking with an assortment of topping options and sauce options, including a Secret Burger Sauce! (Psst ... click the link for the secret sauce recipe, but keep it on the down-low ... it's a secret) 

Dessert: It was a display of eye candy ... literally a selection of candy sure to please everyone. Nothing says fun like an ice cream sundae bar! Lena served ours in Marshmallow Cereal Bowls. And, I think we can all agree my ice cream sundae artistic abilities are truly outstanding!

Are you hungry yet? I bet you're ready to plan and "experience" of your own. I hope these entertainment and menu ideas help inspire you to #MakeSummerGreat.
I would like to thank Lena the hostess with the most-est, Anne and Walmart Canada for a lovely afternoon. They thought of everything, including sunscreen. 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about ways to #MakeSummerGreat.

This post is sponsored by Walmart Canada, as part of the Great Value #MakeSummerGreat program. In exchange for this review, I have received special perks in the form of product and/or compensation. All opinions on this blog are my own.

A #Streamteam #BakingBootCamp Is Not for the Faint of Tart @Netflix_CA

Netflix Baking BootCamp: Not For The Faint of Tart! 

 

Netflix Canada gathered a handful of  Ottawa Streamteamers and their offspring at the Urban Element for a sweet "mixer" infused with flavour and fun.

And so the baking begins...

So impressed with Chef's skills the crowd is left speechless... 

Urban Element's Chefs, and Jenny and Sabena from Netflix. 

Key ingredients to the perfect Baking BootCamp. Note the laser sharp focus on their faces.

Many thanks to my baking partners in crime Alyssa's kids. As you can see they weren't shy about getting their hands dirty. (Too bad they're not fun. tee hee)

Is it just me or does that cupcake look like it was made by Salvador Dali?

Just in case you want to host 

your own Netflix Baking BootCamp 

the link to the recipes is below.   

RECIPES:

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Croods Dragons Popples and sweet treats. 

Note: I was compensated for this post in cookies and cupcakes (yum). As a member of the Netflix Streamteam I receive Netflix and a streaming device free of charge for the purpose of my Netflix reviews and post. All opinions are my own.

Busy night? Serve up #DinnerIn15 @MapleLeafPrime Chicken Tex Mex Soup!

I need a fast meal to feed my two teens, Hubby and myself, and I need it now! 

Tick Tock goes the voice in my head ... Tick Tock ... Change that Tick Tock to Tex Mex, cause soup's on!
What is easier or more satisfying than a hearty almost made from scratch soup and toast fingers to dip!

Tex Mex Chicken Soup #DinnerIn15

Serves 4 

Ingredients:

• A package of chicken noodle soup mix
• 1 1/2 cups of Maple Leaf Prime Oven Roasted Chicken Strips  (chopped into 1 inch pieces)
• 1 cup of cooked rice
• 1 1/2 cups of drained mixed beans
• 1 1/2 cups - 2 cups of prepared salsa
• 1/2 cup of frozen corn (optional)
• dollop of sour cream to top soup with
• 4 toasted slices of Villaggio Bread  cut into fingers, or tortilla chips to dip into your soup

Directions: 

1. Bring 1 litre of water to a boil. 
2. Whisk in soup mixture.
3. Once soup mixture is fully incorporated, add the rice, salsa, beans, frozen corn, and Maple Leaf Prime chicken. 
4. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes or until the ingredients are heated through.
5. Divide the soup into 4 bowls.
6. Add a dollop of sour cream in top of each bowl of soup.
7. Service with toast fingers and tortilla chips to dip.

For an Italian style variation to this recipe substitute salsa with drained diced tomatoes, and top with Parmesan cheese. 

Visit Maple Leaf Prime's website for information on all of their products and great recipes, or follow Maple Leaf Prime on Facebook or Maple Leaf Prime on Twitter. You can find more delicious almost from scratch and from scratch recipes at Appehtite - Dinner In 15 .

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Dinner In 15.

Note: I was compensated to review Maple Leaf Prime Chicken Strips. The recipe I chose, and my opinions are my own based on personal experience with this product and brand. 

TIPS AND IDEAS FROM THE KITCHEN OF CATHY: MEDITERRANEAN WRAP

Today I am sharing with you my version of the oh so popular Mediterranean Wrap. A quick, easy to make, healthy, and budget conscious meal or snack your family will love!

INGREDIENTS:

• Large Wraps
• Hummus
• Feta Cheese
• Italian Style Salad Dressing 
• French's Fried Onions
• Shredded Lettuce
• Diced Tomatoes
• Cubed Cucumber
• Olives (optional)

This wrap couldn't be any easier!

In a bowl mix together the lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, feta cheese, and salad dressing (go light on the salad dressing so wrap isn't soggy) Spoon hummus onto the wrap. Add the mixed ingredients. Top with fried onions. 

It's a wrap! Mediterranean Wrap that is. 

This is a favourite evening snack and lunch option for my teens! 

Please let me know how you liked it in the comments section. I would love your feedback.

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Mediterranean Wraps.

Note: I have not been compensated in any way for this post, and all opinions are my own.

Fast and Easy 3 Ingredient Tartar Sauce #Recipe #foodhack

Fastest and Easiest Tartar Sauce Ever!

As easy as 1, 2, 3 ingredients!

TIP: A mason jar is perfect to make 
and store your Tartar Sauce in.

This is to taste, but I like these proportions:

1 part Mayonnaise 

2 parts Sweet Green Relish

a squeeze of lemon juice or a 1/2 tsp of the liquid from your jar of pickles.

VOILA! DONE!



Now just add your favourite fish.

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Tartar Sauce.