Julie's Journal

Here’s another great recipe from the General Mills Table Talk event that we cooked in the Betty Crocker Kitchen. These were so yummy with the cole slaw, and really close to the authentic ones we get in the Mexican restaurants.

Maria (SavingQueen), Elizabeth (Busy Mom), Lindsay (Suburban Turmoil), and Gina (The Clan McLeod)

Easy Fish Tacos
Prep Time: 10 Min
Start to Finish: 50 Min

Ingredients

• 1 package (10 to 12 oz) breaded or battered fish fillets (6 fillets)
• 1 box (4.6 oz) Old El Paso® taco shells (12 shells)
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
• 1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso® taco seasoning mix (any variety)
• 6 cups coleslaw mix (from 16-oz bag)
• Old El Paso® taco sauce, if desired

1. Bake fish fillets as directed on package. Cut each fillet into bite-size pieces.
2. Heat taco shells in oven as directed on box.
3. In medium bowl, mix mayonnaise and seasoning mix; stir in coleslaw mix. Let stand 5 minutes. Fill shells with fish pieces and coleslaw mixture; top with taco sauce.

Nutrition Information:
6 servings (2 tacos each)
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): No change.
1 Serving (2 Tacos): Calories 300 (Calories from Fat 160)
Total Fat 17g (Saturated Fat 3g, Trans Fat 3g)
Cholesterol 15mg; Sodium 1000mg
Total Carbohydrate 30g (Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 6g)
Protein 7g
% Daily Value: Vitamin A 20%; Vitamin C 45%; Calcium 8%; Iron 4%
Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1/2 Other Carbohydrate, 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Medium-Fat Meat, 3 Fat
Carbohydrate Choices: 2

Here’s another great recipe from the General Mills Table Talk event that we cooked in the Betty Crocker Kitchen. These were so yummy dipped in ranch dressing!

Toni (A Daily Dose of Toni), Amanda (Mommy Mandy), Melanie (Little Patch of Sunshine), Jennifer (J. Leigh Designz) (just visiting the group), and Nicole (Being Frugal Is Fabulous)

Oven-Fried Chicken Tenders
Prep Time: 10 Min
Start to Finish: 30 Min

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 cup Progresso® plain or Italian style panko crispy bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 package (about 1 1/4 lb) chicken breast tenders
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• Favorite dipping sauce, if desired

1. Heat oven to 425°F. Line cookie sheet with foil; spray with cooking spray.
2. In shallow dish, place flour. In another shallow dish, beat egg and water. In third shallow dish, mix bread crumbs and cheese. Coat chicken with flour; dip into egg mixture, then coat with bread crumb mixture. Place on cookie sheet. Drizzle with melted butter.
3. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until chicken is no longer pink in center and coating is golden brown. Serve with dipping sauce.

Nutrition Information:
1 Serving: Calories 330 (Calories from Fat 160)
Total Fat 18g (Saturated Fat 7g, Trans Fat 0g)
Cholesterol 105mg
Sodium 670mg
Total Carbohydrate 23g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 0g)
Protein 18g
% Daily Value: Vitamin A 6%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 15%; Iron 8%
Exchanges: 1 1/2 Starch, 2 Lean Meat, 2 Fat
Carbohydrate Choices: 1 1/2

Since I live in Las Vegas I know it’s hard to believe that I have never been to a Cirque du Soleil show. It’s not that I don’t want to go, I just haven’t made the time to go, if that makes any sense. I’ve seen tons of their videos and stuff on the television though, and they look absolutely amazing! I really need to make an effort to go one day, and if Banana Shpeel ever comes to Las Vegas, I would definitely make the time to see it!

Banana Shpeel is a roller-coaster mix of styles that blends comedy with tap, hip hop, eccentric dance and slapstick, all linked by a hilarious narrative that ignites a succession of wacky adventures. This is not circus, or a musical or a variety show, or even vaudeville. It is Banana Shpeel! Emmett and the Banana Man seem to be almost like Abbot and Costello, which will make for a hilarious show I’m sure.

Propelled by crazy humor and intense choreography, Banana Shpeel plunges us into the world of Shmelky, a cruel and irritable producer who dangles fame and fortune in front of Emmett, an innocent and romantic actor who has come to audition for him. Emmett soon finds himself trapped in a flamboyant, anarchic world where Shmelky sows terror and reigns supreme. Emmett falls in love with the beautiful Katie and meets a bunch of absurd characters, including the strange Banana Man. But who is this mysterious Banana Man and how can Emmett escape the clutches of Shmelky and his henchmen?

If you’re lucky enough to live in Chicago you can catch this show which opens on November 19, 2009, and New York City on February 04, 2010.

Buy Banana Shpeel tickets

One of the highlights of my trip to the General Mills Table Talk event was having the opportunity to cook in the Betty Crocker Kitchen. We were divided into 6 groups with each group making a different recipe. This is the group that made the Double-Layer Tacos. They were so yummy, and the girls said they were really quick and easy to make.

Stephanie (Katy Couponers), Kristin (Our Ordinary Life), Liz (Lizzy Dears Life), Brandie (Free Sample Freak)

Double-Layer Tacos
Prep Time: 40 Min
Start to Finish: 40 Min

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso® taco seasoning mix
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 package (4.6 oz) Old El Paso® taco shells
• 10 Old El Paso® flour tortillas for soft tacos & fajitas (6 inch; from two 8.2-oz packages)
• 1 can (16 oz) Old El Paso® refried beans, heated
• 3/4 cup Old El Paso® salsa (any variety)
• 1 1/2 cups shredded lettuce
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (4 oz)

1. In 10-inch skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until brown; drain. Stir in taco seasoning mix and water. Cook over medium heat 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Heat taco shells and flour tortillas as directed on packages.
3. Spread 2 tablespoons heated refried beans on each flour tortilla. Place hard taco shell on center of flour tortilla and gently fold tortilla sides up to match taco shell sides.
4. Spoon 2 tablespoons beef mixture into each double-layer taco shell. Top with salsa, lettuce and cheese. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Information:
1 Taco: Calories 270 (Calories from Fat 110); Total Fat 12g (Saturated Fat 4.5g, Trans Fat 1g); Cholesterol 30mg; Sodium 870mg; Total Carbohydrate 29g (Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 1g); Protein 13g
% Daily Value: Vitamin A 4%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 15%; Iron 15%
Exchanges: 1 1/2 Starch, 1/2 Other Carbohydrate, 1 Medium-Fat Meat, 1 Fat
Carbohydrate Choices: 2

I’ve got another great giveaway for you guys from the Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes restaurants. Here in Nevada, we have Sweet Tomatoes and it’s a really good place to get all-you-care-to-eat/fixed-price fresh soups and salads, and of course the bread (my favorite part)! I took my mom there last time she was in town and she enjoyed it. When I lived in Southern California we ate at Souplantation all the time when the boys were little. At the time they didn’t charge the little guys, so I just fed them off my plate.

Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes gave me 8 dinner passes, 2 in which I am keeping for myself (a gift for hosting this giveaway), and 6 that I am giving away here on my blog. They come in pairs, so there will be 3 winners for this giveaway! But first check out these two big events coming up from Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes restaurants.

crEATe Recipe Contest

On October 1, Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes restaurants announced the crEATe Recipe Contest. Throughout the month of October, guests can submit their recipes for mouth-watering combination’s made entirely from Souplantation or Sweet Tomatoes menu items through the Souplantation web site, Facebook page, or by e-mail. Ten finalists will be chosen in November and all guests will be invited to vote for their favorite finalist in December. The winning recipe and chef will be announced in January and will win a year’s worth of free passes and the chance to be featured in an upcoming ad.

Pajama-Rama Event

On October 18th in celebration of National Pajama Month! Children are invited to roll out of bed and head straight to a restaurant location for the 3rd Annual Pajama-Rama and have a free breakfast from 9am to noon with the purchase of an adult meal. Breakfast items include Belgian waffles, French toast, egg scramble foccacia, cinnamon chip biscuits, potatoes O’Brien, make-your-own breakfast burritos and much more!

How To Enter the Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes Dinner Passes Giveaway – 3 WINNERS – 2 PASSES EACH
Each one of the following is worth one entry into the giveaway – make sure to leave comments so I can include each thing you do!

1. Visit the Souplantation web site and tell me in my comments what your favorite item is from the menu.
3. Blog about my giveaway and link back to my post.
4. Follow @Souplantation on Twitter.
5. Become a fan of Souplantation on Facebook.
6. Sign up for the Souplantation’s Club Veg newsletter.
7. Follow @JustJulie on Twitter.
8. Tweet: Enter to win Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes Dinner Passes from @JustJulie http://tinyurl.com/y9ybfay #giveaway

Contest ends Friday October 16, 2009 at 12:00 noon PST. I will choose three random winners from all the entries and notify you by email. You will have 48 hours to respond. Thank you to Family Review Network and Souplantation for hosting this giveaway.