A new edition of the 4 Ingredients cookbook by Kim McCosker and Rachael Bermingham that was so popular in Australia and the U.K. is now available in the States.  This book contains over 400 recipes that utilize just four ingredients or less each.  That means most of these recipes will take less time to prepare and will cost you less money.  Having looked through the entire book in order to select recipes to try out for my family, I found that there are both recipes that are simple that you would serve to your family and there are some that are simple, but would likely impress your guests.  I have chosen one of the latter to share with you today . . .

Step 1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2.  Place bacon on 2 sheets of paper towels on a microwave-safe plate.  Cover with another sheet of paper towel and microwave on HIGH for approximately 3 to 4 minutes so that bacon is cooked, but not crispy.

Step 3.  Cut cooked bacon width-wise into 1/4" slices.

Step 4.  Mix bread crumbs and shredded cheese together in a small mixing bowl.  Then mix in the cut bacon.

Step 5.  Clean mushrooms and remove stems.

Step 6.  Place mushrooms underside up on a non-stick baking sheet.

Step 7.  Spoon bread crumb mixture into the mushroom caps, making tightly packed heaps.

Step 8.  Bake for 15 minutes or until cheese has completely melted and the tops of the stuffing have browned.


This recipe serves 6 to 8 people as a side dish.  It would be great paired with a meat or fish entree.


Other recipes we have tried . . .




The Fundido with Chorizo dip was too spicy for everyone aside from my husband.  Next time, we will try using a milder sausage.  The Cinnamon Wedges were super-easy to make and was a huge hit with the whole family, especially our children.

This cookbook was easy to use as it was divided into categories and then the recipes were alphabetized within each category.  There is even a special section for kid-friendly recipes.  The only thing I would change is to add photos for at least some of the recipes.

Here are some recipes from 4 Ingredients I look forward to trying in the future . . .

• Chili & Sugar-Baked Bacon (page 6)
• Honey & Orange Shrimp (page 25)
• Oven-Baked Tomatoes (page 101)
• Pesto-Stuffed Steaks (page 117)
• Apricot Turnovers (page 188)
• Snickers Slice (page 228)
• Grape Melon Drink (page 241)
• Strawberry Punch (page 244)

Being huge fans of Playmobil toys, our children were more than excited to receive the Playmobil Treasure Temple Play Set.  This toy's theme is unlike any they have owned before and, as far as Playmobil sets go, this one has more features and fun accessories than any others they have ever played with.  This set does not give the child a choice, but to be immersed in the pretend play scenario he or she develops with his or her imagination.  Even as an adult, I half expected to see Indiana Jones running through with a gigantic boulder chasing after him.

As always, my 7 year old son helped me to assemble this Playmobil set.  He is actually becoming quite experienced at building these play sets and will soon be able to do it without any help from me at all.


If your child likes creepy crawly things, then this is the right set to buy.  It comes with tarantulas, mega-long snakes, and scorpions.

My children's favorite parts of the Playmobil Treasure Temple are the trap door that is triggered by a button and the booby trap, in which small boulders tumble down from above.


Some other cool features are the hidden crystals in 3 different colors, a map that appears when rubbed, and a skull and bones that glow in the dark.


Another great thing about this play set is that it offers at least one interesting feature on each of its four sides, that way our three children are not forced to fight for play space on one side of the toy.  I also like that this set comes with 5 figures, so there is enough for each of my children to have at least one figure in-hand.


The Playmobil Treasure Temple with Guards retails for $69.99 and can be purchased at most retailers of Playmobil toys, such as Toys "R" Us, Amazon.com, and the Playmobil Online Shop.


Thank you to Playmobil for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.

Things Remembered is a unique store that offers one-of-a-kind gifts for any occasion. With Mother’s Day around the corner, they were nice enough to send me a wonderful Mother’s Day gift. I received the Mother Water Globe to give to my mom. This intricately made, stunning water globe features a handcrafted design of silver plate and plays Beethoven’s Fur Elise when wound. The silver composing the base is absolutely gorgeous and very well done. It looks very expensive, but is completely affordable. The inside decorations are very classic and beautiful, as well, and the music just adds a touch of flair to the whole ensemble. It is even custom engraved, so you can add a special message to the mother in your life.

You can buy the Mother Water Globe and many other amazing Mother’s Day gifts on ThingsRemembered.com and at your local Things Remembered store location. The water globe usually retails for $50 but is currently on promotion for $34.99.  All Things Remembered product pages show the estimated delivery date for the various shipping options, so you can be sure to get your gift delivered on time.

Thank you to Things Remembered for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon and for providing an additional product for our contest prize.

I had worked in the planning side of logistics for nearly 10 years. One word that is synonymous with logistics is efficiency, and for good reason. Logistics is quite literally the efficient management of moving stuff around.

But one theme that’s hardly ever talked about when discussing logistics is safety and driver performance, until now. Inthinc is a logistics company that has developed the only comprehensive driving safety system that focuses on the single greatest variable in vehicle operation—the driver.

Driver safety not only saves us all money, it also keeps the roads safer. Kudos to Inthinc for finally making the driver as an important part of logistics as the goods themselves.

From the time of their births, I have always selected my children's clothing based on comfort before style.  Luckily, it is not difficult to have both.  My preference for comfortable clothing for my children did not end when they got older.  This BambooDreams Gumdrop Tunic & Short Set from YalaDesigns.com is everything I look for in an outfit for my daughter and then some.

This adorable outfit is made from 5% Spandex and 95% Viscose from Bamboo that is "organically grown in sustainably managed forests."  This fabric is incredibly soft and the Spandex offers a lot of give.  My daughter is wearing a 4T, which is her true size.  Both the top and pull-on bottoms fit her perfectly, but I think they will still fit her when she starts to move into a 5T.

Now that we have covered the comfort aspect, let us examine the style.  There are several details about this outfit that makes it boutique-quality.  Both the hem of the tunic and the shorts have a subtle pleated ruffle trim, which adds an extra touch of girliness to this outfit.  The kimono-style tunic boasts an empire waist with gentle pleats on both the front and back, making the tunic drape beautifully.

My daughter says her favorite part of this outfit is the striped pant.  My favorite part, aside from the comfort and style, is that this outfit can be machine washed and dried.  In fact, both pieces washed beautifully without any fading, running colors, shrinking, or even wrinkling.

The Gumdrop Tunic & Short Set retails for $49 and is available in the Raspberry/Peach and the Jade/Beach Glass color combinations.  This outfit is offered in size 12-18mos up to 4T.  To view more boutique fashions for women, men, infants, and toddlers, visit YalaDesigns.com and Yala on Facebook, where you can also learn more about Yala's Green shipping practices.


Thank you to Yala for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.

We have two great giveaways to draw the winners for today . . . one for a Fellowes paper shredder and the other for a Kolobags laptop case or backpack.  Let's see who the lucky readers are!!

Having received my very first Vera Bradley bag four years ago for Mother's Day, I have always felt there was a special connection between the Vera Bradley brand and that special holiday.  Since then, because I enjoy receiving these beautiful handbags and accessories so much, I have made it a habit of giving Vera Bradley gifts for Mother's Day, birthdays, and Christmas.

Whether you are a casual or serious Vera Bradley collector, you probably try to stay on top of which prints are new for the season and which are being retired.  One of my favorite prints for Summer 2011 is Vera Bradley's Watercolor.  Right in tune with the trends this season of feminine florals and soft washed out colors, this print is one of the prettiest ever offered by Vera Bradley.

If you are trying to come up with the perfect Mother's Day gift this year, Vera Bradley offers great gift ideas to fit any budget.  One year, I picked up a Porcelain Mug with Cover for my children to give to their grandmother for just $12.00 and my mother was delighted.

Here are some more great gift ideas for mom . . .

The Get Carried Away Tote makes the perfect overnight bag or a diaper bag for families with multiple little ones.  A generous 18-1/4" x 15-1/2" x 7-1/2", this bag has four exterior pockets . . . one on each side and one on each end.  The interior walls each have 3 pockets plus two water-resistant vinyl lined pockets on each end.  Like a jacket, the top zipper can be left open or zipped up to protect the bag's contents.  This bag is roomy enough to fit everything you need to get away for a night or two and then some.  If mom is planning a vacation later this year or simply loves to travel in general, then this would be a thoughtful and functional gift.  This bag retails for $88 in the current prints and is available for 25% off in the retired prints.


The Travel Wallet by Vera Bradley is not just for travelling.  It is only about an inch in thickness, but has enough organizational pockets inside to hold your cash, cards, tickets, passport, driver's license, and more.


I love that this wallet has a hidden magnetic closure and looks like a slimline clutch.  If it had a wrist strap, it would be perfect for me to use every day.  This wallet is a new Vera Bradley item and is currently only available in the Spring/Summer 2011 prints for $42.00.


One item that I know would be an appreciated gift is a Vera Bradley Umbrella.  Not only do these umbrellas look like works of art when opened, they are functional as well.  Each measures 11" while closed and comes with a coordinating protective sleeve.


The reason why I love this umbrella so much is that there is one button to press to make the umbrella open and then close again.  No more pinched fingers!  My husband did not believe me when I told him about this function and made me demonstrate it for him.  It makes this umbrella well-worth the price of $32.00.  Currently this umbrella is available in a limited number of prints, but does include many of the new prints for this season.


As you can see, we are not lacking in rain around here.  I will be putting this umbrella to good use.  Now I just need to figure out how to manage a weekend getaway with my husband . . .


Visit your local Vera Bradley store, VeraBradley.com, and Vera Bradley on Facebook to learn more about the newest bags and accessories for Spring and Summer.


Thank you to Vera Bradley for providing complimentary product samples for us to base this review upon.

If you have not noticed, whenever I am without a silly story to share for Silly Monkey Stories, I end up sharing photos of my oldest son.  He is very expressive with his face.  Whenever I take a series of photos for a special occasion, it is always fun to look through them to see his facial expressions.  It's also interesting to see how they have changed as he gets older.

If you ask me, that last one makes him look a little psychotic.   He was actually overcome with excitement.  I guess that's what getting Hot Wheels in his Easter basket does for him.

If you have a Silly Monkey Story to share, sign Mr. Linky below with the link to your blog post (not the link to your main blog page). Please do not forget to visit the other participants and leave them comments to let them know you stopped by!