Like many people, my new years resolution is to eat healthier and exercise more.  I was delighted when I had the opportunity to sample the new line of Chef’s Pick dishes from the Lean Cuisine Culinary Collection.  In the past I have sampled other boxed frozen meals just be disappointed by the lack of flavor and many times left me hungry for something else afterwards.

When I was browsing the Lean Cuisine Chef’s Pick options at my supermarket, they had so many great sounding dishes that it was hard to decide what to try first.  I opted for the orange chicken and the ranchero braised beef.

First, I sampled the orange chicken; tender chicken pieces in a sweet and spicy Asian-style sauce with a side of white rice mixed with roasted almonds, bell peppers and edamame.  The chicken had the perfect balance of sweet and spicy to create a pleasantly vibrant flavor.  The rice had a great texture and all the ingredients tasted fresh.  Overall I felt the portion size was perfect and the flavors tasted just as good as home made.

I love the flavor of slow braised beef, so I was excited to try the ranchero braised beef.  This dish combines braised beef in a spicy red chile sauce with a side of chipotle mashed sweet potatoes.  The beef was fork-tender and the rich chile sauce had a nice kick to it.  The mashed sweet potatoes were nice and creamy with a subtle chipotle flavor.  It was the perfect balance to the spicy beef.

Both of these dishes were very satisfying and would be a filling lunch or dinner option for me. With only 310 calories in the orange chicken and 240 calories in the braised beef, having these meals twice a day would be a sure way to keep my calorie consumption under control. I look forward to trying some of the other Lean Cuisine Chef’s Pick dishes very soon.  The chile lime chicken and spinach artichoke ravioli are next on my list.  I’d like to see some Chef’s Pick dessert options in the future.

I have partnered with Lean Cuisine through DailyBuzz Food to help promote their new line of Chef’s Pick products. I have been compensated for my time commitment to work with this product. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments. Thank you Lean Cuisine!

My girlfriend Katie and I love to go to Mohegan Sun whenever we get a chance to break away for a day or two.  What is not to love about this place?  It really is a great escape that features everything you need under one roof.  We love to get brunch at Todd English’s Tuscany and Bobby Flay’s Bar Americain is a favorite dinner choice.  Katie is in love with the garlic go-go bread at Michael Jordan’s 23 sportcafe, so we always make a stop there.  Besides the great selection of restaurants, its fun to play some casino games and always nice to relax in their spacious guest rooms.

Mohegan Sun recently celebrated their 15th anniversary with an all-star clebrity bash.  Besides an incredible performance by Jennifer Lopez and the countless other celebrities that appeared, they featured some world class chefs.  Todd English, Bobby Flay and Buddy Valastro, “The Cake Boss” were on hand to sign autographs.  Buddy Valastro made an amazing cake that was a replica of the Mohegan Sun building.

Check out these photos and this recap video to see all the stars and that amazing cake:

And now for the giveaway…

I’ve been given the opportunity to give away an autographed copy of Todd English’s cookbook, Cooking in Everyday English.

Each of the book’s 150 recipes is a new flavor discovery, illustrated with luscious four-color photography. The food covers the gamut from appetizers to soups and salads, vegetables, starch, birds and eggs, meat, fish and shellfish, kids and family dinners, and desserts.

How can I enter?

To enter, please follow the instructions in the Box below:

It is that simple!

One winner will be randomly selected on November 7, 2011 and will be notified by EMAIL, so make sure you use a valid email address when commenting.

GOOD LUCK!

In the new year you can also expect more great recipes, instructional cooking videos, honest product reviews and exciting contests and giveaways.

Please take a moment to connect with me on Facebook and Twitter.

It is super easy to enter into this giveaway. Just visit the contest page.

One lucky winner will receive a 10-inch Non-Stick Teflon Skillet.

The winner will be selected at random on Monday, September 6, 2010.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER NOW

To order: http://www.zipsauce.com/order-online/
Coupon code: zip530

Tom

I really enjoyed the snickers commercial. Here it is again, if you missed it:

Snickers Commercial

I invite you all to read the interview here:

http://www.halfhourmeals.com/food-for-thought/featured-community-member-cheftomcooks/