#EverydayDairy Summer Recipes To Delight the Whole Family

***I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias®  and Neptune Retail® #cbias #SocialFabric All images and photos are original content copyrighted to Momma Told Me Blog, 2013.
Momma Told Me: Life's richer with a little dairy.

I'm addicted to dairy, and so is Jay; even if he shouldn't have it in large quantities, that doesn't stop the constant craving for something melty, milky, or creamy. Which is precisely why we buy Lactose Tolerance tablets in bulk, but that's a tale for a different post. The point here is that we love dairy so much, like a moth to the flame, it doesn't tend to stick around in our house very long. Even worse, I've not only resorted to stockpiling great sales on Sargento shredded cheese and other Everyday Dairy staples, but I've come to learn how to hide my own stash of sliced snacking cheese from grubby little dairy thieves (aka Jay and Sabrina). I could tell you I happily munch on mozzarella strings to reduce my risk of Type 2 Diabetes, or make a warm Gouda Cheddar Ham Melt to get my daily requirement of Calcium, but these would just be enabling excuses for the underlying problem. That's right, I have a problem. It's not normal for a family to consume dairy in the alarming quantities we do!

From an early age I craved dairy, though I can't recall a time Momma ever bought milk higher than 2%. I always found it odd, even when Pop began watching his cholesterol, how the only dairy product she would skimp on was the actual dairy itself! Naturally, I've adopted these habits within my own family. We keep Soy and 1% milk on hand at all times, only buying heavy cream and whole milk for cooking or homemade cheese projects. But our cheese, which we love so very much, is always completely in tact, in all it's dairy glory. You name it and we likely have it on hand, from Philadelphia Cream Cheese to Kraft Snack Slices and Kraft with Touch of Philadelphia Shreds, even fresh made Alfredo Sauce and bricks of Velveeta. We're not cheese snobs, but we usually have a few 'premium' cheeses on hand too, like fresh shaved Parmesan and Havarti. Dairy never goes to waste in our household, but I'm still left scrambling to stock up when the sales come around.

This week a month long sale kicked off at our local Vons (and Safeway affiliate stores nationwide; Randall's, Tom thumb, Pavillions, etc). Featuring revolving bundles of the hottest dairy brands and products, each week special items will be advertised as part of a Buy $15, Save $5 promotion. This means you can enjoy the exclusive Safeway sale prices and stack the savings by shaving an additional $5 off your purchase total, instantly, when you purchase $15 or more of the participating dairy items. I'm not ashamed to tell you we have 8 bags of Kraft Shredded Cheese in our freezer at this very moment, a personal stockpile triumph for me. Just don't ask me how many shelves are dedicated to our cheese and mil products right now! Naturally, with a dairy obsessed family like ours, I do have to get a little creative incorporating all these rich dairy products into healthy #EverydayDairy meals and snacks. The key is to use your favorite dairy products to enhance the dish or snack, not serve as the main ingredient.

The past week we've been indulging in some of my personal favorite, and simple, dairy based recipes; beginning with a light and fluffy breakfast of Gluten Free Whole Grain Waffles and Whipped Orange Creme. You'll find my printable recipe for the Gluten Free Waffle batter is made entirely in the blender or food processor for a contained baking experience that is great for on-the-go mornings. The Philadelphia Cream Cheese base in this Orange Creme leaves the texture silky, yet thick enough to dollop or whip much like that classic pie topping found in the freezer aisle.

Whipped Orange Creme

***Click for printable recipe.

Ingredients:

*8oz Philadelphia Light Cream Cheese Brick (Not Fat Free)

* 6 TSP Granulated Sugar

* Juice of 1 Fresh Navel Orange

* Zest of 1 Navel Orange

* 2 TSP Vanilla Extract

* 1 C Heavy Cream

Directions:

1.) With the cream cheese still in the wrapper manipulate it until it becomes pliable.

2.) Place the cream cheese in a large bowl with sugar, orange zest, orange juice, and vanilla.Whip until smooth and sugar is dissolved entirely. (You should not be able to feel sugar granules when you rub the mixture between 2 fingers.)

3.) Add heavy cream and continue to whip until mixture resembles thick, softly whipped, cream cheese.

4.) Chill a minimum of 30 minutes prior to serving.

Sometime last year on Pinterest I pinned a meal concept I was sure I'd never attempt, but knew my family would love. I say this because, well, I am odd about ground or processed meat, even if I am the one grinding it directly. It's a textural thing, really; I simply don't care much for sausage or 'patty' products. That being said, the concept of Baked Chicken Parmesan Minis was too much to pass up, and this has quickly become one of our family's favorite quick make meals for busy nights. Not only can these little mini 'meatloaves' be make in bulk in advance, but the little contained portions are great for snacking at lunch, or adding to a side of fresh steamed veggies for dinner. It's as simple as combing your favorite chicken Parmesan ingredients in a bowl, mashing by hand, then plopping the mixture into muffin tins to bake for 25 minutes. The result is one that won me over, and fills the house with an aroma to rival the finest Italian eatery.

Baked Chicken Parmesan Minis

**Click for printable recipe.

Ingredients:

* 1.5lbs Raw Ground Chicken Breast, Turkey Substitute okay

* 1 Large Egg, AND 1 Large Egg White
* 3/4 Cup Ground Italian Bread Crumbs
*3/4 TSP Dried Basil

*3/4 TSP Dried Oregano
*2 Garlic Cloves, minced
*1 Small Onion, minced
*3/4 TSP Salt
*1/3 TSP Black Pepper
*1C Touch of Philadelphia Kraft Shredded Cheese
*3/4 C Pasta Sauce (We use Chunky Mushroom)

*3/4 C 2% Kraft Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

**Optional: Kraft Shaved Parmesan to Garnish

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350F

1.)  Lightly coat muffin tin with cooking spray and set aside.
2.) In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, egg, egg whites, breadcrumbs, basil, oregano, garlic, onion, salt, pepper and Kraft Parmesan and Mozzarella shredded cheeses and lightly mix together. Do not over handle.
3.)  Form the meat mixture evenly into the 12 cups of your prepared muffin tin. Spread the pasta sauce evenly over the tops of each muffin. 

4.) Bake for 20 MINS and remove from the oven. Top each muffin with about a tablespoon of shredded cheese/Shaved Parmesan and then return to the oven for 2-3 MINS until the cheese is melted. Garnish if desired.

To round out our week of dairy indulgence I had Sabrina help me make some Orange Strawberry Creamsicle Pops. A while back we invested in a set of 6 generic popsicle molds for about $7 on Amazon to help get us through the hot Summer months with healthy frozen treats. Given my druthers I'd reach for a Drumstick to munch on every afternoon, but these creamy little popsicles have just enough dairy, thanks to Activia Vanilla Yogurt, to keep from getting icey and satisfy my cravings. As it turns out, it's also a great way ton incorporate all of the excess frozen strawberries we stockpile from our trips to the local Pick-Your-Own Farm. And, when we happen to have some fresh fruit on hand we slice them up thin and slide them down the sides of the molds for a little extra 'surprise' when eating. I've had plenty of trials and tribulations in home-made frozen pops, so let me impart my gem of wisdom onto you; when adding dairy into a frozen base, rely on frozen ingredients to keep the mixture from separating!

Orange Strawberry Creamsicle Pops

**Click for printable recipe.

Ingredients:

Yields 6 frozen pops

* Half a Can (6oz) of Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate

* 1 (4 Pack) of Dannon Activia Vanilla Yogurt

* 2 TSP Vanilla Extract

* 1/2 C Frozen Strawberries

* 1/4 C Pulp Free Orange Juice (Simple Orange Pineapple preferred)

Directions:

1.) Combine all ingredients in blender and mix until evenly smooth.

2.) Pour into designated Popsicle molds, leaving 1/4" for any desired fruit slices.

3.) Freeze Solid (about 2 hours)

Whether we're  whipping up a nutritious Italian inspired dinner, or cooling of poolside with homemade popsicles, great quality dairy from our favorite brands is a Summertime staple. Buying delicious cheese and dairy products can be expensive for the ordinary family budget, but shoppers can take advantage of great savings and stock up on Kraft favorites all month long, thanks to promotional specials at their local Safeway chain. Visit our Google + album to see a sneak peek at some of the great savings in store this week, then head to your local Safeway location to create memorable dairy rich meals the whole family will love.

What Daughter Says: We're a dairy addicted family, and proud!

How Everyday #BreakfastSavings Create Big Memories

Momma Told Me: Shop smart, eat well.

Growing up my favorite time of the year was Summer. However, it is not for the reasons you might think; I had ample time to play with friends as neighbors just units away in the condominium complex, no, Summertime was all about spending time with my mom. Cheesy, I know, but she was one cool mother. Her continuous craft projects and adventures kept us busy from sundown to sun up; and my childhood marks the only period in my life where I'd actually spring out of bed, anxious to greet the day. One of our traditions I was especially found of were our Wednesday morning grocery shopping marathons. We'd spend the entire day before combing the mailer ads and matching coupons to sales. We were partners in crime against MSRP and the big wigs of grocery conglomerates! While dad worked long hours as a service technician, we'd often find ourselves out the door before even him, or the sun rose.

While Momma was the very definition of an Extreme Couponer (and taught me everything she knows), her favorite grocery house was always Vons and it's Safeway affiliates. My local Vons location is a store I have visited since I was old enough to sit in the cart seat, and still bring my family to today. Grocery shopping is still very much a family activity for us, and once a week we sit down to organize our coupons and browse the week's Safeway ad for it's specials. Another tradition I've tried to make a part of my own family life is to celebrate the week's work with a fresh and healthy breakfast. These are especially important in fueling us for those early morning grocery runs! As it turns out, this week's Vons circular has a main banner promoting one of their more popular promotions, the Buy 4 Save $4 event, which features some wonderful name brands to create an everyday breakfast on a budget. Does it get any better than pairing a great deal with a great meal? So this week we packed up our coupons, and reusable canvas bags, and head out to take advantage of great #BreakfastSavings.

Of course both the other half and I have Vons Club Membership cards, I've had mine since I turned 18; but we're also members of the new Just For U digital discount program. Every week we can log into our accounts online and add digital coupons directly to our store membership cards. This means we can stack coupons on top of already great weekly deals, like Buy 4 Save $4, and really cut our bill in half (or better)! Nowadays it seems so many mass merchandiser chains are trying to turn themselves into grocery stores, adding a fresh produce and bakery department. However, I still prefer the personal shopping experience of buying my groceries at a local that specializes in fresh and packaged foods. I can still take advantage of the convenient in house pharmacy to fill my prescriptions while I shop, but also enjoy benefits of a full bakery, catering department, service deli, and even Starbucks. Everyone in our family has a favorite department they must check out, and the other half always makes a point to stop by the Market Select section of our service deli for the day's fresh cooked ribs, wings, and even whole chickens!

This week there were some excellent #BreakfastSavings on our family's everyday favorites like International Delight coffee creamer and Silk Soymilk (an everyday low price at $2.79). There were many wonderful cereal brands in the Buy 4 Save $4 promotion (which covers 35 products in total), including 8 flavors of Frosted Mini-Wheats. We picked up a box of Sabrina's favorite flavor, the Touch of Fruit Raspberry, which have real raspberry fruit filling wrapped inside while grain wheat, with a hint of sugar frosting. She's never had Original Silk with her cereal before but was quick to let us know that "this milk is really good!" I was pleased to know, even though she'd opted to eat cereal for breakfast, she was getting a balanced meal with nutrient enriched soy milk. Catch some more behind the scene shots of our shopping trip and meal in our Google+ album.

The adults, Jeremy and I, each got to pick out our favorite at home coffee beverages, Seattle's Best Ground Coffee and NESCAFE Memento Mocha, as both were part of the Rise and Shine Buy 4 Save $4 Savings Event! I was surprised to find so many major brand coffee varieties, including instant sticks, ground packages, and even K-Cups included in the savings promotion. No matter how you prepare your morning brew, there's a great deal to be found, and these deals can be expanded even further when you use some savvy shopping and add coupons! Using my Silk Soymilk as creamer, I paired my fresh brewed cup of coffee with a Marie Calender's Breakfast Bake of Sausage, Potatoes and Cheese. All that was needed for this simple, and affordable meal was a freshly toasted slice of bread and half an orange. PS. There are some great savings to be had in the Frozen Foods Stock Up sale going on this week as well. I received $5 off my next order when I purchased $20 in participating items. Not only do we have fresh breakfast essentials, but I stocked up on school morning favorites like Pillsbury Toaster Strudel too!

I'm thankful my family loves to share in treasured traditions of grocery shopping together, and that we can all gather round the table for an affordable everyday breakfast, thanks to smart savings like the Vons Buy 4 Save $4 promotion. Clipping coupons can be overwhelming and time consuming for many parents and business professionals, easy and quick savings promotions like this can truly pass on the savings without the time. And for those of us who can tackle couponing, it just enhances the value and extends our family's budget, so we can indulge again elsewhere. Be sure to keep an eye out at your local Safeway affiliate for the Buy 4 Save $4 event tags on participating items throughout the store. There are many great Kellog's brands participating in the event, and I'd love it if you could support the brand's Share Breakfast initiative here. Just one social media action will feed a kid in need! Don't waste time though, these promotions will only be valid for a limited time!

Does your family have any treasured breakfast traditions? Do you shop together or solo?

What Daughter Says: Sometimes a simple and nutritious breakfast is all it takes to bring the family together.

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias®  and Safeway #cbias #SocialFabric.