Nuthin' Better Than a Bloggy Carnival!

CanCan at Mom Most Traveled is sponsoring a Give It Away Now Bloggy Giveaway Carnival this week. So, I talked to Uncle Lynn, and he said that we should put a POPrs Prize on the line. Here's how it's gonna work.

This Week's Winner will score an Entire Box of POPrs, that Fun and Good-for-You Seasoning that's been making Headlines these days in a Big Way! Pop'rs come in eight different flavors, and really encourage one & all to Eat Their Veggies! Click Here and Here to see the Press Coverage for yourself!

This POPrs Giveaway closes Friday at 11:59 EST and is open to everyone in the United States and Canada. Please make sure you leave a way for me to contact you if you're the lucky winner.

Here's all you have to do to be that winner this week: Leave me a comment on this post! That's it! One entry per person, please. The Winner of the POPrs Give It Away Now Carnival Prize will be announced Right Here on Saturday, May 9.

So, get Clicking and Get Commenting...a Big Box o' POPrs Fun is On. The. Line!

Bleacher Booty?

Veggie Mom and Eat Your Veggies! are on the road this weekend in Iowa for the Midwest Conference Swimming Championships at Grinnell College.

Larry U. is making a great showing this year, but the parentals of team members are suffering from paralysis of the derrière...also known as Bleacher Booty. Yes, College Girl and The Wild One are working hard, but Mom wonders if there are any benefits to precariously perching up to seven hours a day on crowded carpeted blocks, hovering over a chlorinated sauna.

Ah, the woes of a Swimming Mom. But we're having oodles of fun, too. Plus, it's great to see My Girls!

The team eats pasta twice a day to keep fueled for the competition. So do the parents, but they're not doing much but sitting around. Hmmmmm...probably need to get back in the pool myself when I get home!

This Week's Pop'rs Giveaway Carnival is Underway!

We have a Winner! This Giveaway is Closed.

Uncle Lynn is participating this week in the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival. It's a warm-up, of sorts, for our Great New Pop'rs Valentine's Day Giveaway, which starts next Sunday, February 8.

This Week's Grand Prize Winner will score an Entire Box of Pop'rs, that Fun and Good-for-You Seasoning that's been making Headlines these days in a Big Way! Pop'rs come in eight different flavors, and really encourage one & all to Eat Their Veggies! Click Here and Here to see the Press Coverage for yourself!

Here's all you have to do to be a winner this week: Leave me a comment on this post!

That's it! The Winner of the Pop'rs Carnival Prize will be announced Right Here on Friday, January 30, at Eat Your Veggies! when we solve the Mystery of the Beach Trilogy.

So, get Clicking and Get Commenting...a Big Box o' Pop'rs Fun is On. The. Line!

The Best of 2008

When I started Eat Your Veggies! back in June, I really had no idea what to expect. As the days, weeks and months have rolled on by, I think I've grown as a person, as a friend, and most certainly as a blogger. Every day brings new challenges~and new surprises as well. Who would have thought that Little Ol' Veggie Mom and The Great Big Blogger would become so tight, so fast? Hey, we're practically BFF!

Today I celebrate my 195th post of 2008. That's 195 straight days of posting at this humble site. A pretty impressive accomplishment, I'd say!

To Usher out the Old and Welcome in the New, I'd like to play off my Bloggy Buddy Vicki, and her Best Posts of the Week. For those of you In the Know, BPOTW is a wonderful showcase for your weekly Cyber Home Runs. Vicki's also hosting a Best Posts of the Year this week~you should Check. It. Out!

The following are what Aunt Julie and Uncle Lynn, my fabulous SIL and BIL, consider Veggie Mom's Best Posts of the Year. Yes, we've only been in the Blogosphere for six months, but we've got to start somewhere, don't we? And please, let us know which ones you like, or what you'd like to see more of. Hey~We consider Eat Your Veggies! to be your blog, too!

10. Would You Like Geraniums with Your Coffee? Who knew that used coffee grounds would perk up droopy plants? ~June 28

9. Happy Birthday, U.S. of A.! I've always loved this pic of The Wild One, getting a ride on Daddy's Back at the 1991 Desert Storm parade. A True Hallmark Moment! ~July 4

8. More Than a Patchwork of Memories. I started showcasing Aunt Julie's talents with this post of the "kweelt" she stitched for College Boy. For more of Julie Eliz's Handiwork, please Click Here, Here, and Here, too! ~July 9

7. Beat Those Back-to-School Blues with a Giveaway! Yes, this a post featuring one of Uncle Lynn's fabulous Pop'rs Giveaways. We did eight of 'em this year, can you believe it? This post also showcases a sweet snap of the tight-knit group of Pop'rs Cousins! ~August 22

6. Welcome to Wisconsin! This was our Day in the Sun with Blog Around the World, featuring my Hubz and Guest Blogger, Moker. ~August 26

5. Empty Nesters. This is the poignant post I submitted to Vicki for Best Posts of the Year. The title, I think, speaks for itself! ~September 12

4. Aunt Julie Hosts *Recipe Week*! This is the first post in the debut of Julie Eliz's two *Recipe Weeks* this year. To take a gander at her November offering, Click Here. ~September 15

3. Welcome, SITStas! Don't Let This Photo Get Your Goat! We were the SITS Featured Blogger in early October. Remember the Goats on the Roof? ~October 6

2. Fx4: Please Welcome Rowdy to the Pop'rs Family! This is but one of more than a dozen times that I participated in Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta. Rowdy, of course, is The Pop'rs Family's new dog. While no puppy could ever replace Trouble Elizabeth, who passed away in October, Rowdy's certainly added a "new dimension" to everyone's lives! ~November 7

1. Fx4: Bad Puppy! Another Candid Carrie offering. As everyone who owns a puppy knows, with the cute little ball of fluff comes a certain amount of exasperation, as well! Enjoy Julie Eliz's tale of Traveling with a Puppy! ~December 26

Ten seems like a nice, round number, so I'll cut it off here. Of course, I didn't mention Shark Boy and his adventures, or College Boy and the story that will steal your heart away. Nor did I touch on Soccer Boy and his run for glory, or Big Bear, and how he rescued my two in a Bonifide Wisconsin Blizzard. Then there are Vanna White's escapades, College Girl's tempting Toll House techniques, and The Wild One's mugging for The Green Bay Packers. And then, well, there are The Hapless Packers. But I need to stop. Happy New Year, Everyone!

Aunt Julie's *Recipe Week*, Day #7: Saturday Sweets and a Giveaway!

OK, you fans with a Super Sweet Tooth...Aunt Julie has really outdone herself today! Aunt Julie's *Recipe Week* is coming to a close, so thought we'd lay a Sweet Suprise on ya. But first, some light housekeeping to take care of.

I promised you, when this all started, that you'd get a chance to share this week. Well, Here. It. Is! We plan to start Another Great New Popr's Giveaway today, and thought we'd do things a tad differently this time.

Here's what ya gotta do. Starting today, please E-mail Veggie Mom your favorite recipes. They don't have to be Holiday Treats, but the More the Merrier! The Great New Pop'rs Thanksgiving Extravagana Giveaway Starts Today, and as part of that, we would like to run as many Readers' Recipes between Sunday, November 16 and Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday, November 26, as we can. Here's how the Giveaway will work:

• For every one of your recipes that I publish here at Eat Your Veggies! (and I promise to run 'em all!), I'll give you 2 entries in the Great New Pop'rs Thanksgiving Extravaganza.
• Then, starting tomorrow, for every comment you leave right here on Eat Your Veggies!, you'll get one additional entry!
• The Great New Pop'rs Thanksgiving Extravaganza closes at 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, November 26. That's Thanksgiving Eve.
• What do you win? Uncle Lynn will pick 5 Grand Prize Winners! That means 5 Lucky Readers will win a complete box of Pop'rs each. That's All 8 Flavors! Remember, Pop'rs are that Oh, so Good for You seasoning that ecourages folks both Near and Dear to Eat Their Veggies! Isn't Life just Grand?
• Uncle Lynn, my fanTAbulous BIL also known as Mr. Pops, will announce our Giveaway Grand Prize Winners Thanksgiving morning. So, you'll get to have your Pop'rs and eat your Turkey, too! Or something like that, anyway!

OK, I also promised you a Sweet Surprise from Aunt Julie, the Best SIL a gal ever had! So here it is...and I hope to hear from Oodles and Oodles of you, starting today! And keep your eyes peeled, starting tomorrow, for some Really Delish Readers' Recipes!

Aunt Julie's Triple-Layer Brownies

Layer #1

1 square unsweetened chocolate

1/4 cup butter

1 egg

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/4 cup flour

3/4 cup nuts

Melt chocolate with and butter in small saucepan over low heat. Cool. Beat egg, sugar & vanilla at high speed 'til light. Stir in chocolate, flour & nuts.
Pour into 9X9 pan. Bake 350* 15 min. Cool.

Layer #2

1/4 cup soft butter

2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

6 tbsp. whipping cream

Combine the ingredients for Layer #2. Mix well. Pour over Layer #1.

Layer #3

Melt 1 square unsweetened chocolate with 3 tbsp. butter over low heat. Pour over Layer #2. Let set at room temperature, 5 minutes before cutting. Enjoy, you Chocoholics, you!

Welcome, SITStas! Don't Let This Photo Get Your Goat!

Don't have to tell ya, Bloggy Friends, that I almost fell outta my chair when Heather asked if little ol' Veggie Mom would like to be the Featured Blogger today. Would I? As we say in the Upper Midwest, You Betcha!

Aunt Julie, natch, snapped this photo of Uncle Lynn and the boys, marveling at the goats on the roof at Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant & Butik in Sister Bay. This is a classic Door County, Wisconsin shot. BTW, a "butik" is pronounced sorta like "boutique," and, I'm told, means "gift shop" in Swedish. Stop by sometime for Swedish Meatballs or Swedish Pancakes--both delish!

For now, come on in, and make yourself comfy; we've cooked up some of our best dishes from Aunt Julie's Recipe Week, just for you! We were a tad sad, ya know, 'cause our Beloved Green Bay Packers got nipped by those nasty Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, but you SITStas have cheered us right up. Brett the Jet was idle yesterday; we'll have to catch up with him next weekend.

So, settle in and have a look around; and please do let us know what ya think! We're So Glad You're Here. And, don't forget to Eat Your Veggies!

Congratulations to Our Pop'rs Giveaway Grand Prize Winner!

Congrats to the Lovely Dawn, who holds forth at Dawn's Place. Selected by Uncle Lynn in a Random Drawing, Dawn is the Grand Prize Winner of our Great New Pop'rs Giveaway. And what does she win? Why, a Complete Box Full O' Pop'rs, which come in Eight Fab Flavors!

Dawn and her family get to try Pop’rs, that tasty and fun seasoning that really encourages everyone to Eat Their Veggies! Pop’rs add great flavor, and fun, to just about any kind of food, from applesauce to broccoli--all the way through the alphabet, to yogurt and beyond.

So, Dawn Darlin', e-mail your Ole Bloggy Buddy Veggie Mom with your info, and we can get Uncle Lynn crackin' on sending that Box O' Pop'rs your way!

And now, Gentle Readers, another Tribute to the Season:

Autumn Song

Now's the time when children's noses

All become as red as roses

And the colour of their faces

Makes me think of orchard places

Where the juicy apples grow,

And tomatoes in a row.

And to-day the hardened sinner

Never could be late for dinner,

But will jump up to the table

Just as soon as he is able,

Ask for three times hot roast mutton--

Oh! the shocking little glutton.

Come then, find your ball and racket,

Pop into your winter jacket,

With the lovely bear-skin lining.

While the sun is brightly shining,

Let us run and play together

And just love the autumn weather.

~Katherine Mansfield~

It's Friday! And THAT Means...

...it's time for Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Fiesta Finish, and that the Pop'rs Polls close tonight at 11:59 p.m. EST in our Great New Pop'rs Giveaway! If you haven't entered yet, or you want to enter again, click here. Or here. Or here. Or even here! Enter as many times as you'd like, and help Veggie Mom celebrate her 100th Bloggy Post!

Today's Friday Foto is one Aunt Julie, my Gifted and Talented SIL, snapped the last time she and Soccer Boy went tubing on Lake Winnebago. I love the composition. And the contrasts. And the colors. Heck, I love the Whole. Darn. Thing!

We've got a Big Blowout planned for tomorrow. Saturday is my 100th Post, and we'll kick off the celebration by answering your Bloggy Questions. It's a 2-day Pop'rs Extravaganza, so stay tuned!

On Monday, I'll start announcing Giveaway Winners. We'll have one winner each day next week, culminating in the Grand Prize Winner a week from tomorrow. Big Doin's around Eat Your Veggies! I'm. So. Psyched!

Who, ME? Plus a Recipe Alert!

We. Have. A. Winner! Actually, we have TWO Winners!

Congrats to Marla at Pak Adventures, and Karla at Zander & Me. They're the Grand Prize Winners by Random Drawing of Uncle Lynn's Great New Pop'rs Giveaway! Hey, gals--get in touch with me ASAP so we can discuss delivery of your delightful prize!

What do Marla and Karla win? Why, a complete set of Pop'rs, of course--all eight flavors! So many of our Bloggy Friends have tried Pop'rs, on foods ranging from broccoli to yogurt, and everything in between. We can't wait to hear what Marla and Karla have to say about these delicious, fun and good-for-you seasonings!

Thanks to all of the Fine Folks who entered Uncle Lynn's recent Pop'rs Giveaway, and to all our Bloggy Friends for their love and support. And stay tuned, kids...we've got many more delicious recipes, artsie crafts, funny family tales and General Nonsense to share with you in the weeks to come. Plus, Uncle Lynn's already told me that he has a Great October Giveaway in mind!

So, until then, remember to Eat. Your. Veggies!

Recipe Alert! I'ma gonna spend this rainy weekend looking for new recipes to add to my repertoire. Have you heard of Recipezaar? You can hit their site for delish dishes, you can share recipes, you can view their Chef of the Day, and you sign up to receive their weekly newsletter! I recently took a look at their suggestions for Dorm Room Dinners--think I'll give College Boy a few pointers! Aunt Julie should think about sharing some of her creations, shouldn't she?

Help Julie Elizabeth Plan a Rehearsal Dinner-And Win Some Pop'rs in the Bargain!

Those of you who visited yesterday know that Aunt Julie, The Pop'r Queen, has Big Bear and Little Red's Rehearsal Dinner to plan! She wants you, Dear Readers, to be part of the fun, and will give away a Free Box of Pop'rs (all eight flavors!) for your trouble.

Here's the deal: Aunt Julie is desperate for ideas, and she knows you've got 'em! If you saw her comment yesterday, she's even considering putting Pop'rs in the chocolate fountain at the Rehearsal Dinner! So here's what you gotta do to win.

Please send Aunt Julie a Rehearsal Dinner Idea today; just leave it in the comment box of this post, and she'll give you two entry credits for your trouble! Then, every time you comment on a daily post the rest of this week (through Monday, July 28), Auntie J. will give you two more credits. That means, Faithful Readers, that you could rack up 14 Great Pop'rs Giveaway Credits just for offering your opinion!

And it gets even better, folks: Link to Eat Your Veggies! and our Great Pop'rs Giveaway in a post on your own personal blog, and Aunt Julie will give you five more (count 'em) giveaway credits. And one final incentive: If you post the photo of the cute little guy and his mom shaking Pop'rs on their broccoli--with a link to the contest, of course--the extremely generous Aunt J. will give you an additional six credits! Why six? Because that will give you a Grand Total of 25 Great Pop'rs Giveaway Credits, if you choose to play, all the way!

Those of you who are new to Eat Your Veggies! should know that Pop'rs, which are available in eight flavors--Cinnamon, Color Burst, Chocolate, Strawberry, Raspberry, Butter, Taco and Buffalo—come in handy-dandy shakers so you can sprinkle these tasty and nutritious seasonings on everything from applesauce to broccoli to green beans to yogurt. And remember--not only are Pop’rs fun to eat, but they enhance your taste sensation and are infused with healthy vitamins--a great way to get you and your family to Eat Your Veggies!

We’re picking one Grand Prize Winner by random drawing. The Great Pop’rs Giveaway is open to everyone. The contest runs from Tuesday, July 22 (that's today!), through Monday, July 28 at 8 p.m. EST. So, Dear Readers, don't delay--play today!

Share the Comment Love-We'll Share the Pop'rs!

Lots of folks are staying close to home this summer, because of the price of gas and all. I know my family's taking shorter trips to save on gas and money! The photo above--which looks like a Florida Vacation Postcard to me--was snapped the other day by Aunt Julie, practically in her backyard. Who knew that pelicans flew anywhere near Northeastern Wisconsin, even in the summertime?

To lighten your mood a little, Uncle Lynn, the Pop'r King, thinks we need Another Giveaway. Here's the deal.

Let me know, in a comment on this post, where you like to vacation with your family. Whether it's the back porch at home or the back lot at Universal Studios, location doesn't matter. We'll collect all the comments and pick two Grand Prize Winners by random drawing.

What will you win? Why, a complete box of Pop'rs, of course! That's eight flavors--Cinnamon, Color Burst, Chocolate, Strawberry, Raspberry, Butter, Taco and Buffalo--that you can sprinkle on everything from applesauce to broccoli to green beans to yogurt. And remember--not only are Pop'rs fun to eat, but they enhance your taste sensation and are infused with healthy vitamins--a great way to get you and your family to Eat Your Veggies!

We're picking Two Grand Prize Winners, folks, so please share that Good Ol' Comment Love--and perhaps a link back to our blog from your blog--and You. Could. Be. A. Winner! The Giveaway starts today and runs until 6 p.m. EST, next Monday, July 14. What a great way to spend a summer afternoon!

Eat Your Veggies! And, Watch for Our Next Giveaway!

Caitlyn, the toddler featured in this clip from YouTube, seems pretty resistant to the idea of eating veggies. Of course, she's too young to know about serious concerns like eating healthy. But her Dad should get clued in: Caitlyn might not like veggies the way he prepares them, but if he put some Pop'rs on them, all that head-shaking would disappear quickly, along with Caitlyn's food!

Stay tuned, Dear Readers, for our Upcoming Giveaway. Uncle Lynn, the Pop'r King, has given me permission to launch our next contest on Tuesday, July 8, and it's a fun one. Stay tuned!

Tasty "Therapy"

As you regular visitors know, Aunt Julie--The Pop'r Queen--bakes quite a bit. She regards this kind of nesting as a "tasty therapy," which helps to brighten her day, along with those of Uncle Lynn (you all know him as The Pop'r King) and the rest of her brood.

Last week, Aunt Julie dropped a delightful Blueberry Pie recipe on us. Today, she reached into her Secret Recipe Box and pulled out an index card for Strawberry Rhubarb Pie. Uncle Lynn's on his way home from Talking Pop'rs at the International Food Technology get-together in New Orleans. Anyone who Snaps, Crackles or Pops in the food industry was at the IFT Fest, including The Popr King, promoting his home-grown company with the able assistance of two of his sons, who help run the family business.

This yummy pie combines a fruit and a vegetable that are both in season. Won't Uncle Lynn and the boys be pleased when they get home? Aunt Julie's happy to share, so enjoy!

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
2 cups cut up strawberries (Julie uses more!)
2 cups cut up rhubarb (Julie uses more!)
1 1/3 to 1 ½ cups sugar
1/3 cup flour

Heat over to 425 degrees. Prepare pastry. (Auntie J's secret? "Unrolling a Pillsbury crust, and thanking God that I don’t have to make my own!") Mix sugar and flour, and then gently mix these ingredients with the strawberries and rhubarb, to coat them. Obviously, if you'd like more than 2 cups of each fruit/veggie, you should go for it--Aunt Julie does! Turn the mixture into a pastry-lined pie plate. Sprinkle with any remaining sugar/flour mixture. Cover with top crust. Cut slits and sprinkle with sugar. Seal the edges well. Cover the top of the pie foil, 'til the last 15 minutes of baking. Bake 40-50 minutes. Best served warm, with plenty of vanilla ice cream!

Congratulations!

Uncle Lynn, the Pop'r King, is pleased to announce the winners in our first-ever Pop'rs Giveaway! Each winner will receive two free flavors of Pop'rs.

• Megan, at Reed's Home for Our Savior, says her 2-year-old "won't touch anything green, and even turns down most fruits." We hope Pop'rs will help him Eat His Veggies!


• Cindi reports that her family could use more convincing to eat broccoli, cauliflower and peas. We're going to be sending some Buffalo and Taco Pop'rs her way, without delay!


• Elizabeth, who blogs at blueviolet, says her daughter "hates carrots and celery, and I can't figure out why." We hope Pop'rs will solve your conundrum, Elizabeth!


• Angie, aka John Deere Mom, informs us that her kids don't like most cooked veggies, but they do love BUTTER. We'll send some Pop'rs your way, Angie, and see if that does the trick!


• Sean, over at DC Sports Plus and one of two men to enter our contest (we're an equal opportunity blog, ya know!), tells us that his sisters hate most veggies, but if he snuck some chocolate-flavored Pop'rs into their meals, they might be agreeable. If not, Sean plans to keep the Pop'rs all for himself!


• Speaking of being KooKooForCocoaPuffs, Lynette laments that "If I could get my youngest to eat anything other than chocolate or sugar-coated stuff, I'd be living large, I tell you!!" We're sending Pop'rs to the Rescue!


• Deanna, proprietor of Deanna's Corner, says Her Hubby absolutely shuns green beans. Do we have a Pop'rs Surprise for him!


• Brandy, who definitely is Not Your Average Soccer Mom, blogged poetically about Pop'rs' ability to "spice up your food." She predicts that your kids will eat broccoli, for goodness sakes, if Pop'rs are involved. We're gonna put her family to the test!


• Sherri, over at Kaysville Momma, boasts of her "Random Ramblings" on her blog, but nothing was random about her Pop'rs Post. Hope Pop'rs help out in the veggies department, Sherri!


• Jena, who manages A Scrap in Time, tells us that her 5-year-old will only eat fruits, and that she'll Eat Her Veggies when she "gets older." As soon as the Pop'rs arrive, we expect Little Miss will be growing up mighty fast!

Thanks to all of you who entered our giveaway. We'll be running another Pop'rs Contest next week, so Stay Tuned!