Pampered Chef - Old & New Favorites

I'm not a big Pampered Chef fan, usually relying on my local kitchen store for new gadgets and utensils. But recently a friend hosted a Pampered Chef party for charity and I was in need of a night out, and so I went to my first Pampered Chef party in about 10 years. I was reminded of a Old Favorite - Small Micro Steamer - and came home with a New Favorite - Mix N' Chop.

I have had the Small Micro Steamer for at least 10 years. It perfectly holds a one pound package of frozen vegetables, and with just a few minutes in the microwave, you can quickly drain and serve. I have easily gotten my $8 worth. My New Favorite is the Mix N' Chop which sells for $10. This clever gadget is perfect for breaking up ground beef as you brown it. It quickly and easily breaks down the meat to small pieces with minimal effort. So nice when you are making tacos, chili, or spaghetti sauce!

The Middle

The Middle - Laugh-out-loud funny and family friendly! Don't miss this show on Wednesday nights on ABC. The Middle stars Patrician Heaton as the mom, Frankie, of a "middle" class family living in Indiana, or "the middle" of the country. But the actor who steals the show is the youngest son, "Brick", who is a funny little kid with an even funnier habit of repeating the last word in a sentence in a quiet whisper (whisper). Other family members are a hard-working Dad who spends his days as supervisor of a gravel quarry, a teen-age son who likes to sit around in his boxers and thinks his parents are so un-cool, and a junior high age daughter "Sue" who tries out for all sorts of extracurricular activities with enthusiasm but unfortunately gets cut from every single one. Frankie is just trying to do her best, like a lot of us moms, holding it all together, fund raising for the athletic boosters, working part-time, and singing in the church choir while still trying to get the family all together around the dinner table even if it is just for fast food.

Safety on the Streets

The Wrist ID Elite by Road ID - This is one of those products that you think is a great idea, but often don't get around to ordering. I want to encourage you, if you are a runner, walker, biker or hiker or related to a runner, walker, biker or hiker, take the time to order one of these today. As their advertisements say: If you can't speak for yourself, the Road ID will speak for you. The bracelet is made from a rubberized band with a watch-style buckle and laser engraved stainless steel identification plate and is available in classic black or eight other colors. The band is fully adjustable and water proof. You can customize the engraving with information that is important to you. Road ID also offers other styles including a shoe tag. You can check out the colors and other styles as well as order directly from the website: www.roadid.com

I gave an orange Wrist ID Elite to my husband for Christmas and I now rest much easier when he leaves for his morning run at 5am!