Food

Smashburger- Things I Love Thursday

October 26, 2011 By Diaper Diaries 15 Comments

Smashburger as a company is ubersmart about social media. I have been hearing about them for years solely through blogs, Twitter and Facebook. I honestly don’t know a single person in real life who I have known to talk about them. Yet for several years I have been dying to try a Smashburger.

So imagine my excitement when I rounded the corner to the main road near my house and saw a Smashburger was about to open. I literally squealed to my husband. THEN, my friend Melody let our local group of bloggers know that we were invited to a media event there the day before it opened. Needless to say, I was the first person to RSVP.

And oh. my. word. I was not disappointed. First of all if you get asked to go to a media restaurant event, I am just going to say go. I don’t care what it is for go. Because they will give you a chance to try so many things on the menu (of course you should wear your stretchy pants).

The burgers completely live up to their reputation. I got a simple burger with ketchup, mustard, mayo and pickles and it was still one of my favorite burgers. The fried pickles were so delicious. The shakes are made with Haagen Dazs ice cream so I don’t even need to say more about those.

So lets just talk about the fries. The fries deserve their own paragraph. I tried both the sweet potato and regular fries. They are called Smashfries and I figure if the company is going to put their name on them they better be spectacular. And they were. Oh my word they were. They are seasoned with rosemary, olive oil and garlic. And I don’t know what the magical simple combo does to French fries but me likey.

But what honestly impressed me most is that while part of the restaurant was filled with “media” the other half was filled with friends and families of the employees. I loved that the company valued its employees like that.

I am a little nervous that the new restaurant is so close to home. But I am also a lot grateful they don’t have a drive thru. However I feel as though I need to take my family back there. It would be wrong to not share all that goodness with others.

Have you ever had Smashburger?

Disclosure: I was provided with some free Smashburger, but I was not told to blog about it. I actually had no intention of blogging about it, but then I ate it and fell in love. Hence, Things I Love Thursday……

Filed Under: Food, Things I Love Thursdays

Brinner Roast: Pig With a Side of Pig (plus a GIVEAWAY!!)

October 13, 2011 By Diaper Diaries

As I mentioned earlier this week, The Motherhood has partnered with Costco and the National Pork Board to promote National Pork Month. I was assigned with the task of creating a pork recipe with Kirkland Signature Boneless Sirloin Tip Roast. And there is like a contest against other pork recipe creating bloggers. Don’t think I haven’t taken to talking smack on Twitter.

I don’t post recipes much for two reasons. One, I can’t take a decent food picture to save my life. And two, I don’t really create recipes. I follow recipes like nobody’s business. And if I do say so myself, I am an awesome cook. But although I am getting better, I pretty much believe recipes are made to be followed exactly. Creativity in the kitchen isn’t my strong suit.

But thankfully I married a man who never met a recipe he didn’t alter drastically. He is also one of those people who can open up our fridge, spot 3 seemingly unrelated ingredients and make something awesome. Well except when he attempts baking. Despite SEVERAL disasters he still does not believe me when I tell him baking requires a recipe.

So when I told him that we had this challenge and that I would look for some recipes for inspiration, he was appalled. WE WOULD NOT BE CONSULTING ANY RECIPES. He would come up with something all by himself. ALL BY HIMSELF!!!

I would be annoyed but MAN what he came up with was amazing.

First we need to get on the same page with terminology. One of our favorite things to have for dinner is breakfast food. This is know as brinner. Mmmmm…….brinner. So if you like brinner then you will love a roast that tastes like you are eating breakfast. You’ll see that he invented a dry rub that transforms the roast with flavors like that of breakfast sausage, and it’s paired with a sweet chutney that has apples, syrup, and bacon in it. BACON. It’s pig with a side of pig!

Brinner Roast with Apple Maple Chutney
3 T. ground roasted fennel seeds
1 T. salt
1 t. black pepper
1 t. dried rubbed sage
Boneless Sirloin Tip Roast
12 redskin potatoes
3 strips of bacon
4 apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped
½ t. cinnamon
4 T. maple syrup
Mix together the first four ingredients. Apply rub evenly to outside of pork roasts. Brown roasts in pan on all sides.
Wash and halve the potatoes. Place in the bottom of the crockpot. Place roast on top of the potatoes.
Cook on low for 8 hours.
30 minutes prior to dinner, cook bacon and chop it into small pieces. Simmer apples and bacon in approx. 3 T of bacon fat until apples begin to break down. Add cinnamon and maple syrup and simmer on very low heat for five minutes.
Slice pork and serve with chutney.

We served it to some guests and they loved it. I couldn’t get enough. This will DEFINITELY be made again. Brinner!!

Now would you like to win a $25 Costco gift card?

Simply leave a comment with your favorite way to serve pork. The winner will be drawn on Thurs. Oct. 20th. Good luck!!

Disclosure: This post was compensated by The Motherhood, Costco and the National Pork Board. But the recipe is mine all mine. Okay…..my hubby’s.

Filed Under: Food

When Loves Collide

October 10, 2011 By Diaper Diaries 3 Comments

My family has had a long love affair with Costco. I remember when I first discovered them back when I lived in Chicago. I felt like when I walked through the door angels began singing. It was awesome.

Then I had kids and the magic of Costco grew. I could buy all sorts of things in bulk. We could almost get a meal by walking around the all the free samples (and I was always suckered into buying something they were sampling). And then for our real meal we could all eat for next to nothing in the food court. Plus they are always playing some sort of kid’s movie in the TV section that can entertain my kids for hours. It is like Disney World in there.

It is honestly one of the only shopping places that I enjoy taking all my kids to. We make it an “experience.”

So when Costco and the National Pork Board partner together to celebrate National Pork Month it only makes sense that we celebrate with them. Each week at Costco, during the month of October, a different cut of pork is highlighted and on sale. This week the sale is on Kirkland Signature Boneless Sirloin Tip Roast making it under $1.75 a pound. That is not to shabby for the old food budget. Especially because I seem to always end up spending way more than I planned at Costco (not cause of the prices mind you, it is those darn samples- I am powerless).

Later this week the hubby and I (ok mostly the hubby) will be creating a great recipe with our pork in the crockpot and posting it for you to enjoy. I may also have a little Costco giveaway up my sleeve.

If you want to take advantage of this week’s savings feel free to head over to Costco’s “In the Warehouse” for preparing tips on how to prepare their feature cuts. Or check out PorkBeInspired.com for some great recipe inspiration.

Can’t wait for this big reveal!

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by The Motherhood, Costco, and The National Pork Board for sponsoring my efforts during National Pork Month!