Toast to the Red Carpet - LIVE!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
Toast to the Red Carpet – LIVE, presented by I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! is inviting you to an online red carpet viewing party.  They will be streaming the event live to their Facebook page on February 26, 2012 from 3 pm - 4:30 pm PST.

 

Join in for an exclusive roundtable of Hollywood stars and special guests giving us the low down on what is happening on the red carpet LIVE.

Don't you just love watching all the stars walk down the red carpet! 

 I love to see their stunning dresses, beautiful hairstyles and checking out their dates for the event.

The awards ceremony is also a great excuse to have a party at your house!

You can find some awesome recipes on their Facebook page too.

I'm thinking the Brie and Spicy Apple Chutney on Baguette sounds delish!

I can't wait to try the recipe!

I'll be snacking on some Chili Parmesan Popcorn and Peanuts during the show.

Here's the recipe so we can snack together :)

Chili Parmesan Popcorn and Peanuts

 18 cups popped popcorn

1/4 cup I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Spread

2 T chili powder

1 tsp. kosher salt

3/4 cup dry roasted peanuts

2 T grated Parmesan Cheese

Put popcorn in large bowl.  In small bowl, combine melted I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Spread, chili powder and salt; drizzle over popcorn and toss until evenly coated.  Add peanuts and cheese; toss.

Enjoy!

Now for a giveaway!

I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! is offering one of my sweet readers a free tub of their product!

All you have to do is leave a comment below telling me why you are going to watch  the Toast to the Red Carpet - LIVE and interact online during the Toast to the Red Carpet -  LIVE online show on the I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Facebook page.  A winner will be chosen on February 26th.  All comments must be submitted before 11:50 pm EST on the 26th.  The giveaway item is provided by I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! per FTC guidelines.

Hope you enjoy the show!

Chobani Review and Homemade Fro Yo

Look what arrived at my front door this week!

I love good mail days!
And I love Chobani yogurt!

Have you tried it yet?
If not, you should.
It is the BEST greek yogurt EVER!!

Not only does Chobani taste great, but it is made with only natural ingredients, has no preservatives, no artificial flavors AND it has twice the protein of regular yogurt.

I love it because it is a great source of calcium, it is VERY filling and tastes so, so good. 
For those of you counting Weight Watcher points with me - a 6 oz. container is 4 points +.

I decided to make an extra special treat this weekend.
Fro Yo :)

Here is what you need.

Frozen Vanilla Yogurt

3 cups Chobani Greek Yogurt (plain or vanilla)
1/2 C Agave or 3/4 C sugar
1 T vanilla extract (less or none if you are using vanilla yogurt)

Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl and place in the fridge for 1 hour.
Freeze according to your ice cream makers instructions.
I have a Cuisinart, so I just turned on the mixer, poured in the ingredients and let it do it's thing.
In about 25 minutes I had frozen yogurt!

I'm storing mine in a Ziploc freezer container.
But it probably won't last too long :)

Happy Sunday!

Note - Chobani sent me the box of assorted yogurts to review.  All opinions are my own.

Linking To:
Made By You Mondays

Skinny Hot Chocolate

Hi there!
Sorry I haven't been posting as much lately, but I've been trying to be good and not make too many sweets.
I've been tracking weight watcher points and my friend Bekka and I started the Couch to 5K plan.
We are on week two - yay us!

Swim suit season is just around the corner, so we have to stay focused!

I would love to hear any tips or advice you might have about either plan, so please comment or send me an email.  We need all the help we can get :)

I've been pretty good about staying within my WW points plus, but I need something sweet after dinner.
And it has to be chocolate. 

It has been really cold aroud here the past few days, so this Skinny Hot Chocolate hit the spot tonight!

I've been trying to give up as many artificial sweeteners as I can, besides my beloved Diet Coke, so I been using stevia.  It's a little pricey, but healthier for sure.  I tried it in this recipe and really like it.

I can't wait to hear your WW and/or running tips!
Happy Monday!

Skinny Hot Chocolate
recipe from Prevention RD

1 1/4 cup almond milk
1 1/2 T unsweetened cocoa
pinch of sea salt
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. stevia or other sweetener of your choice

Whisk together the milk, cocoa powder, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Cook until milk starts to steam.  Turn off heat and whisk in the vanilla extract and stevia.
Serve hot.

Yield - 1 serving, 4 ww points plus

Reese's Pieces Cupcakes

It's Super Bowl Sunday and my nephew's have requested something sweet for the party my brother and sister-in-law are hosting, so I made Reese's Pieces Cupcakes. 

You can't go wrong with the combination of chocolate and peanut butter!

I went the easy route today and doctored up a box mix.  Don't hate :)

Reese's Pieces Cupcakes

Cupcakes:
Duncan Hines Devil's Food cake mix
4 eggs
1/2 cup canola oil
1 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line two cupcake pans with baking cups.
I use brown baking cups from Simply Caked.
Blend cake mix, eggs, oil and buttermilk at low speed for about 30 seconds.
Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes.
Fill baking cups 2/3 full.  Bake 18-20 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Cool on wire rack.
Makes 24 cupcakes.

Peanut Butter Frosting:

1 cup creamy peanut butter
8 T unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 cups powdered sugar
3 T milk or cream

Cream together peanut butter and butter in a stand mixer.
Beat on medium-low speed to combine.  Add the remaining ingredients and combine again.
Beat on high for 2-3 minutes until frosting is light and fluffy.
Add more milk if desired to get your desired spreading or piping consistency.
Frost cooled cupcakes.  I use a Wilton 1 M tip.

Garnish:
Place Hershey's Hot Fudge Sauce in a small glass bowl for about 20 seconds.
Pour into a Wilton Squeze bottle and let it cool for about 5 minutes.
Drizzle chocolate sauce over cupcakes and garnish with Reese's Pieces candy.

Enjoy!

Linking to:
Tuesday Talent Show
Tasty Tuesday
Sugar and Spice
The 36th Avenue
What I Love Wednesday
Serenity Now
30 Handmade Days

Cheesecake Shooters

Looking for a cute little dessert for Valentine's Day?

Cheesecake Shooters are small, but oh so yummy!!

Make some for your special Valentine :)

Cheesecake Shooters
Recipe from Souffle Bombay

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
16 oz. sour cream
1 small box vanilla instant pudding
1/2 cup sugar, plus 1 TBS
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 can of cherry or strawberry pie filling
1 pack (not box) of plain graham crackers
3 T melted butter

In your mixing bowl combine the cream cheese and sour cream until blended. Pour in the pudding mix, sugar and vanilla and mix on medium for 3 minutes more. Place in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.

Crush the graham crackers in your food processor until just crumbs. Add in the butter and 1 T sugar and pulse until combined. Place in a small bowl and set aside.

In your blender or food processor blend/pulse the cherry pie filling until it become syrup (no chunks left). You can make your own syrup from strawberries, blueberries, etc. instead of the pie filling if you have the time. Set aside.

In the shooter cups, wine glasses or whatever you may be using, first spoon enough graham cracker mixture to cover the bottom. Spoon or pipe in some cheesecake, then spoon enough syrup in to cover the cheesecake. Repeat with a second layer of cheesecake. Place a few drops of syrup on top and swirl around for a spiral design by using a wooden toothpick or skewer.  I garnished mine with mini Nilla wafers.

Keep cold until ready to serve.

*Congrats to Jenny for winning my Progesso Soup and The Biggest Loser Workout DVD!! Thanks to all that entered!

Linking To:
Made By You Monday
Sunday Showcase Party
New Nostalgia
Tuesday Talent Show
Fireflies and Jellybeans
Seven Thirty Three

My Favorite Side Dish

When I get home from work I want a healthy meal that is easy to prepare and doesn't take long because I am usually starving!  Grilled chicken and oven baked Salmon are my go-to entrees, but my favorite side dish is a yummy sweet potato! 

Sometimes I bake them whole, sometimes I make oven roasted sweet potato fries, but most of the time I just slice them, toss them in olive oil, sprinkle on a little sea salt and fresh ground pepper and bake them in the oven for about 20 minutes.  So, so good and good for you too!! 

How do you like your sweet potato???

Don't forget to enter my Progresso Soup giveaway for the opportunity to win some soup and The Biggest Loser Workout DVD!

Roasted Sweet Potato Medalions

2 large Sweet Potatoes
1 T olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
Slice sweet potatoes about 1/4 inch thick and toss with olive oil.  Place them on the cookie sheet.
Sprinkle with sea salt and fresh ground pepper and place them in the oven for about 20-25 minutes.
**I usually turn them over after 10-12 minutes so they cook evenly.

Serves 3

Progresso Souper You Contest, Coupon and a Giveaway

Did you know Target has swim suits in now!?!?
I don't know about you, but I could definitely lose 10 lbs. before I even step foot in that section of the store!

Progresso soup can help you stay on track with your diet plan.  They offer 40 different delicious soups with 100 calories or less per serving.  Progresso soups are packed with hearty ingredients like beans, rice, meat and pasta so you don't get bored eating the same old thing. 

Give them a try. You can download a printable coupon for $1.25 off the purchase of four cans of Progresso Soup - just click HERE for the link.

This year Progresso is having another Souper You contest and they are giving away fabulous makeovers in Hollywood, CA.   They will provide three lucky winners with a complete makeover, $1000 fashion retail card, $1000 cash, and tickets to see the biggest Loser finale this spring.  To enter, simply visit http://www.souperyou.com/  no later than February 22nd to submit a photo and brief essay about why you deserve to win.  Good luck!

One of my readers will win 2 Coupons for Progresso Soup and a copy of “The Biggest Loser” Workout DVD. 

Lucky you!!

Here's how to enter:

(You must leave a comment below for each entry)

Follow me on Google Friend Connect (on my sidebar) and leave a comment telling me which Progresso Soup you want try first.  (Mandatory entry)

Extra Entries(leave a separate comment for each):

Like Progresso on Facebook and leave me a comment below that you did.

Like Me and My Pink Mixer on Facebook and leave a comment below that you did.

Follow Me and My Pink Mixer on Twitter and tweet the following:

"I just entered a giveaway for Progresso Soup and The Biggest Loser Workout DVD @mypinkmixerblog #myblogspark"

Contest ends at midnight on January 26th.  Open to US addresses only please.

Contest is now closed.

The Progresso^® Souper You^® prize pack, information, coupon, and giveaway have been provided by Progresso through MyBlogSpark.