Giveaway: Sargento Makes it Easy to be Cheese-y

Note: Sargento cheese products and coupons were supplied by the company for review and post.

I don't know about you but I seriously think that cheese should be it's own food group, not just part of the dairy group.  Everyone in my family loves cheese- there are usually varieties from American slices (for grilled cheese) to Tallegio to Maytag in our fridge at any given time. But with the post-holiday weigh-ins and New Year's resolutions, the time for double and triple cream is past (or at least in moderation),  the search for healthy and nutritious snack that won't tip the scales.  And with so many people trying to increase their protein intake, cheese seems like a natural... but how to deal with the fat?  Well it should come as no surprise that when Sargento- the persnickety cheese people decided to make a line of reduced fat cheeses, they did not reduce the quality and taste. 

Now I know, if you are like me you may have tasted reduced fat cheeses that were bland and rubbery.  I was skeptical too when they offered to send me some samples of their reduced fat snack sticks in Colby-Jack and Cheddar. But I have been taking these cheese sticks to work for the last few days to have as a snack with fruit or whole-grain crackers, and these snack-sized morsels have all the taste and texture with reduced fat (and consequently, less guilt!)

How does this Cuban Pressed Sandwich look as a quick dinner?

Don't believe me?  Well thanks to Sargento, you can try for yourself. I have several coupons for free Sargento cheese that I will give to  comments selected randomly - to win, Like Sargento cheese on Facebook, then leave mke a comment telling me you have done so, and I will select comments at random on February 1!!  in the meantime, check out the Sargento cheese site for great recipes using  their regular and reduced fat cheeses! And they have a special set of recipes for those of you looking for ideas for Super Sunday that you have got to check out- you can please the persnickety fans in your house, while keeping them healthy enough for a round of touch football during halftime!

Making Good on New Year's Resolutions

My husband and I at The Crab Shack in Newport News

Did you think I was gone?  That I abandoned the internet?  That I stopped cooking for my family and succumbed to daily fast and processed foods? Or that I abandoned Play with Food and the concept that started me writing in the first place?  Well, none of these is true. I am not sure myself what happened but after Project Food Blog, preparing for my son's wedding and hosting the rehearsal dinner, and general pressures of work and home,  I was in a bit of a blog funk.  I needed to take a break, get away, and rediscover the fun and passion that made me start this blog in the first place.

So I took some time, focused on my family and my jobs, all the while still cooking and experimenting, trying to create food and fun that would lure family and friends away from the hustle and bustle of modern life, electronics and cyberspace to spend time and break bread together.

I think this was Take 75- Clearly I am not top model material

With the beginning of the year, like many of you I made, not resolutions, but commitments to myself for the coming year.  I want to be kinder to my body- eat better, take vitamins and supplements as prescribed regularly, exercise more, relax more.  I want to reach out more- to family and friends, and to others in need to my community. And I want to rekindle my love for food, blogging and connect with others who enjoy sharing food experiences with others.

Family- Toughest critics you'll ever love!!

What does this mean for Play with Food? That I will be posting- perhaps shorter pieces, but on a more regular basis. That you will see me visiting your blogs, commenting and trying your recipes and getting inspiration from you.  I will be using my Play with Food Facebook page to share quick tips, advice and impressions. I am going to improve my photography and use more video on my blog to change it up, make it more interesting and fun - and not just for you, but for me!

So I hope that my old friends will return to my cyber-kitchen table and that new friends will discover that cooking is not a chore, but a creative outlet and one that can nourish not only your body, but your soul.  Happy New Year, and don't be a stranger!