MagicallyDelicious

This isn’t my normal kind of treat, but as part of the AllRecipes AllStar program, we get monthly activities to do and this was one of them.  Fiber One sent us some cereal and our job was to make the haystacks and create an original recipe of our own.

I will admit, honestly, I’m not a fan of the cereal on its own.  It’s just my food issues I’m sure, but the texture doesn’t make me smile, and my stomach really doesn’t enjoy it.  So, this challenge was more of a challenge than normal.

That said, the haystacks are a pleasant surprise.  I can say the texture still isn’t tops on my list even with the the chocolate coating, but even I think these aren’t bad.  The peanut butter and chocolate add just enough sweet, and if I just have one or two of them, my stomach doesn’t turn them into pain and anger.

And if you’re watching your weight or your Weight Watchers points, they won’t add much to your totals, and they’re pretty filling from the fiber.

So, would I happily reach for them instead of a cupcake?  Probably not.  But they’re a nice replacement for something sweet when I’m watching my calories, and they’re super easy to make.

Click to get the recipe.

What’s better than buttercream and chocolate cake?  A decadent Nutella filling.

These Valentine’s Day cuties are a basic cake mix cupcake taken over the top with the best buttercream frosting I’ve ever made, or tasted.  And they’re filled with Nutella.

It’s a simple way to say I heart you to that special someone this February 14.

Enjoying comfort foods is about more than eating a hearty meal. During the winter months we are often running at a frantic pace, rarely experiencing the sun shining on our faces, through dark, crisp, and snowy streets. By the time we arrive home from work or errands we are chilled to the bone and have another to-do list of tasks needing to be accomplished at home.

Today, our expert contributor and food blogger, Edgard Sammourd reminds us of what comfort food is really all about. And also provides us with a delicious tip the next time we sit around the fire as a family.

One of my most memorable times in winter are snowy evenings where it’s blazing cold outside, and a warm wood-burning fireplace brings the family together. Those are precious bonding times away from iPads, smart phones, TVs and facebook.

We set our fire place ablaze, throw a few heads of potatoes on the charcoal along with some chestnuts wrapped in aluminum foil, and gather around the fire trying to absorb enough warmth while waiting for the food to cook. We let the potatoes cook thoroughly until the outside skin turns into charcoal. Once done, we split the potatoes open with a knife, sprinkle just a tiny bit of salt, and we use a spoon to scoop the soft potato meats.

A big thank you to Edgard Sammour from Mama’s Lebanese Kitchen, for the nice reminder of how important and refreshing quality time with your family can be and for the great potato tip!

You don’t have to spend hours fighting with cutout cookies to get together some cute Valentine’s sweets for your favorite honey.

Use drop sugar cookies, and decorate with two different colors of icing for a look that says you care enough to make the very best.  Add special messages for your sweetheart, or leave the design open enough to share with a number of sweeties – we don’t judge.

Click for the recipe

It’s good to be the life of the party, and the cocktail is at the heart of it. That’s why the World Bartending Championship is looking for new and unique cocktail recipes from their fans and guests. The T.G.I. Friday’s® WBC Cocktail Recipe contest will help celebrate the 21st birthday of the World Bartender Championship and what better way to celebrate being 21 with some amazing new drink recipes? So, whether it’s a twist on a classic favorite or your grandfather’s uncle’s secret family recipe, they want to see what you’ve got.

Click for details and enter by 2/26/12

Parents with children (ages 5-12) are invited to submit home videos that show the family together in the kitchen introducing a rice-based dish they prepared and discussing their experience cooking together. Consumers will have an opportunity to vote for their favorites and one grand prize winner will receive $20,000 cash, an appearance on “The Rachael Ray Show” and a $50,000 cafeteria makeover for the child’s school.

Videos can be submitted to www.BensBeginnersContest.com until Feb. 26, 2012, where official contest rules, kid-friendly recipes and helpful hints can also be found.

“Our goal is to demonstrate and celebrate that cooking with your kids leads to a better relationship with food and with each other,” said Tim Snyder, vice president of marketing, Mars Food US, the parent company of the Uncle Ben’s® Brand. “As a company, Mars Food strongly supports healthy eating and family togetherness. We are thrilled to be launching a campaign that will help parents establish healthy beginnings in their children’s lives.”

Take some pictures of your favorite homegating recipe this Superbowl Sunday and you could win a Char-broil Grill2Go, XZipit® by La-Z-Boy® – AND – The Ultimate Wholly Guacamole® HOMEGATING® Party Pack, which includes a year supply of Pepperidge Farm® Natural Baked Cracker Chips, Blue Diamond® Almonds and Wholly Guacamole.

Enter your recipe and photo by February 4, 2012 for a chance to win. Happy livingroom tailgating!  For details and to enter, click here.

Enter to win Cuisinart’s recipe contest for a chance to win their “wake up those taste buds” kitchen collection!

• Upload your recipe.
• Cuisinart website visitors will rate the entered recipe from one to five stars.
• Check your recipe’s progress through Your Recipe Box Page.
• The next three finalists will be selected on October 31, 2011.
• Our Cuisinart chefs will create the recipes and choose a winner.
• The winner receives a “Wake-up Those Taste Buds” Kitchen Collection!

Click here to submit your recipe for a chance to win.

Contests run every few months.  Here are the current entry periods:

Are you a creative cupcake baker?  Enter to win the cupcake crown and $2500, a Kitchenaid mixer, or a $100 bakeware prize pack from PfaltzGraff.  Creativity and photo prowess wins the prize in this cupcake contest, so get your cutest or most unique entry in by January 29.

Click to see all the details and capture the cupcake crown!

Serve up your best slice of perfect pie for a chance to win $500 in the Taste of Home Country Woman’s magazine Perfect Pies contest.

Each of the winners in the Country Woman “Perfect Pies” contest receives a wonderful prize:

• GRAND PRIZE: $500; Pie Contest in a Box by Gina Hyams, containing everything you need to host a pie contest of your own.
• 2nd Prize: $300; Pie Contest in a Box by Gina Hyams
• 3rd Prize: $200; Pie Contest in a Box by Gina Hyams
• Runners-Up: A free year of Country Woman for themselves or a friend.

Get baking – contest entry deadline is February 1, 2012.  Click here to enter and for more details.