Disclosure:  I received product for review.  All opinions are honest and are my own.  

If you have been following my blog for a while, you know that we love Kidorable.  I have reviewed raincoats, rain boots and a much loved hooded towel and given away many more great Kidorable accessories.  

Kidorable accessories are well made and beautifully designed.  They will inspire imaginative play and they will last.  We have been able to hand our Kidorable products down from big brothers to little brothers and they are still in great condition.  

My youngest was excited to receive his very own Kidorable raincoat.  He chose the Fireman style.  

Kidorable raincoats now come with a cute matching hanger.  He loves the frog on the hanger.  

The inside of each raincoat is lined with coordinating fabric for comfortable wear. 

We haven't had any rain lately, but my little guy stayed dry while making snow angels.  (The hood looks thick in this picture, because he has his coat on underneath the raincoat so you see his coat hood too.)

Such a cute raincoat!  I love how the hood looks like a little fireman's hat.  I love the design details.  This raincoat could double as an adorable Halloween costume. 

Kidorable has some great offers coming soon.  Save 20% on any green items at Kidorable from March 1st through St. Patrick's Day!

Choose from Dinosaurs, Dragon Knights, Fairies and Frogs—no coupon required.

And, from the first day of spring (March 20) through March 31, get 20% off all Kidorable Backpacks.

Need a new umbrella for Spring?  Enter to win a Kidorable umbrella of your choice!  

Disclosure:  I received product for review.  All opinions are honest and are my own. 

I have been making a lot of chocolate cakes lately, but that has given me more time to work on getting it just right.  I think I have it.  A perfectly moist, rich chocolate cake.  ​

I made one for a cub scouts banquet a couple of weeks ago and doubled the icing ingredients except I forgot to double the powdered sugar.  The icing was slowly making its way down the sides of the cake like slow moving lava.  I put the whole cake in the freezer while we ate dinner hoping the lava flow would stop and I could salvage the cake.  It did stop and the cake was devoured.  I think we brought home two slices.  Lesson learned:  Make sure to double all of the ingredients when doubling a recipe and people will eat it anyway.  It is chocolate after all.  

I made a cake last week for my son's school staff.  Parents are asked to bring things in once a month for staff birthday celebrations.  I would have loved that when I was teaching.  It was always exciting to find treats in the teacher's lounge and it did make me feel appreciated when the PTA did something for the school staff.  

When my husband saw that I had made yet another cake that would be exiting our house, he said, "I wish you would make a cake for us and not just for other people."  I thought about it and realized that he was right, although I know he ate a big slice of cake at the cub scout banquet so he wasn't completely deprived of all things delicious and chocolate.  

So alas here we are...a great big chocolate cake for our family.  The boys have been loving this.  One morning I even let them have cake at breakfast.  

A little goes a long way.  Enjoy this rich chocolate cake with a tall glass of cold milk. 

Cake Ingredients:

2 3/4 cups flour
1 cup cocoa powder
2 1/2 cups sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 cups buttermilk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  

2.  Grease and flour two 9" cake pans , one 9 X 13 pan, or line cupcake cups with paper liners.

3.  Place all ingredients in mixer.  Start on a low speed to blend ingredients then increase speed to medium high and mix for about 3 minutes.  Scrape down sides of bowl as needed.  

4.  Pour batter into prepared pans and bake.  To test cake doneness, stick the center with a toothpick and when it comes out clean the cake is done.  

Two 9" rounds = 40-45 minutes
9 X 13 pan = 50-55 minutes
Cupcakes = 20-25 minutes 


Chocolate Frosting Ingredients:

1 12-ounce package semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips*
1 cup half-and-half 
1 1/2 cup butter (3 sticks) 
5 cups sifted confectioners' sugar (powdered sugar)

1. Combine the chocolate chips, half-and-half and butter in a heavy saucepan.

2. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate chips melt. Remove from heat.

3. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar, stirring well.

4. Put icing in mixing bowl and refrigerate until cold and firm (overnight or for several hours).  Then mix with electric mixer until light and fluffy.  

*Use semi-sweet chocolate chips to make a dark chocolate frosting and milk chocolate chips to make a milk chocolate frosting.  

Linking up at Friendship Friday, Create with Joy, Lou Lou Girls, Do Tell Tuesday, Share the Wealth

Pork Schnitzel is one of our favorite meals that I have been making for years.  In fact, this recipe has been on my blog for over three years.  

I have been making efforts to improve my food photography and I use my blog as my own personal recipe collection (meaning, a lot of these recipes are in our regular menu rotation), so as I can update recipes and photos, I will. 
​

For anyone else interested in food photography, I have to recommend Tasty Food Photography.  See the button in the side bar.  You can order a copy using my link.  I will add it to the end of this post too.  Full disclosure, it is an affiliate link so if you purchase, thanks for supporting Home Ec @ Home.  If you are looking to improve your food photography this is a great place to start.  I quickly devoured this ebook, staying up a little later than I should have on more than one occasion, but it was worth the tired eyes.  There is so much practical information that is easy to use.  Compare this old Pork Schnitzel picture from three years ago (left) to this new one (right).  ​

I don't claim to be a food photography expert, but I see improvement.

Now back to the pork schnitzel.  We like to serve it with homemade applesauce and red cabbage with apples.  I buy red cabbage with apples in the international section of my grocery store.  All you have to do is heat it up and enjoy.  

We love red cabbage with apples.  I buy this in the international section of the grocery store.  Aldi has it too and it is delicious.  
​

​Instructions:  

• 4 thin boneless pork chops*
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 Tbsp milk
• 1 cup Japanese style Panko bread crumbs
• olive oil or canola oil

1.  Use a meat hammer to pound the pork cutlets to 1/4-1/8 inch thickness. ​

2.  Set out 3 shallow bowls.  One with a mixture of the flour, seasoned salt, and pepper.  The second with the egg and milk whisked together.  The third with a mixture of the panko bread crumbs and paprika.

3.  Drizzle a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet and heat at medium heat.  Dredge the cutlets first in the seasoned flour, then dip the cutlets in the egg mixture, and then into the mixture of bread crumbs.

4.  Working in batches, sauté the cutlets for 3-4 minutes on each side. Salt and pepper to taste.  When you flip the cutlets, drizzle more olive oil in the skillet as needed.  Remove the cutlets from the skillet and cover with foil or place in a warm oven to keep warm while you cook the remaining cutlets.  

*You may be able to find tenderized pork cutlets from a good meat department.  I buy them at our local University meat lab.  

Linking up at Create with Joy, Friendship Friday

I found some great clearance deals this morning in Target.  All black star merchandise in the dollar bins was 70% off.  So for 30 cents each, I bought Easter basket toys, Christmas stocking stuffers, and some crafting supplies.  

Valentine merchandise was 70% off.  I paid 75 cents each for boxes of Valentine cards.  I always buy them on clearance for the next year.  I bought a large bag of Skittles and Starburst for $1.49.  Hershey's miniatures for $1.49.  Brookside chocolates for $1.19 each and I used a $1 off two coupon so I paid $1.38 for two boxes.  Hershey's kisses are now 95 cents a bag.  M & M's are 95 cents a bag and I used a $1 off two M & M's coupon so I paid 45 cents for each bag of M & M's.  Some of this candy will probably make it's way into Easter baskets too, anything that isn't too Valentiny.  

I bought three boxes of mini pretzel bags because they were only $1.49 each.  I gave one to a friend and will take one to my son's elementary school next week since his teacher always needs snacks for the class.  

As a Mom/Food blogger, I don't usually write about stuff like this, but I thought I should use my blog for good and spread the word.  

Tomorrow the next 40 Days for Life Campaign kicks off in 252 cities across 19 countries.  

For more info:  40 Days for Life.  If you are unable to join the campaign in person, consider joining them in prayer.  

I am so excited to be featured in Meg Makes today in the food section of The News Gazette.  Check it out and see my featured recipes.   

I saw a great video posted on one of my favorite blogs, Clover Lane, recently and thought I would share it with you.  Watch it and see what actual kids say they want most.  It is about children in Spain, but is subtitled in English.  

We live in such a busy, fast paced world that it is sometimes hard to slow down and just live and enjoy each moment with our children.  Remember the old saying about parenting that the days are long, but the years go fast.  Something to think about.  Our children want our presence, not presents.  Although they want things too, nothing can replace precious time spent together.  What do they really want? Our attention, time, and love.  

In 25 years will our children remember all the stuff they received?  Maybe, maybe not.  But more than likely they will remember playing catch in the backyard, baking cookies, and reading stories each night before bed.  

Linking up at Friendship Friday

Disclosure:  I received products for review, but all opinions are honest and are my own.  

Before trying the new Purex Power Shot, I wasn't really sure what to expect.  I thought it might be just another laundry fad.  Now after using this product for several weeks, I can honestly say I love it.  I do a lot of laundry.  Just ask my Mom, she's been visiting and generously folding load after load.  I am super busy running the household and taking care of the kids so anything to speed up the laundry process is a huge blessing.  

I love the new Power Shot no-spill detergent bottle.  It is so easy and fast.  Sometimes I only have a couple of minutes to get a load in the washer and this new bottle has actually saved me time. 

When you flip the bottle the amount of detergent that you need for one load fills into a chamber in the top.  Simply pour the detergent into your washing machine and it stops pouring once the chamber has emptied.  There is no measuring or even thinking about it.  You just pour and go.  It is genius. 

In addition to my giveaway below, there is a Purex Sweepstakes you can enter.  Enter to win a new washer and dryer or Purex Power Shot detergent!  

Want to win two coupons for free Purex Power Shot detergent?  Enter below.  

Disclosure:  I received products for review, but all opinions are honest and are my own.  

Disclosure:  This post is sponsored by Global Influence.  However, all opinions are honest and are my own.  

Ever get dressed for the day and arrive at work only to realize that there is  antiperspirant smeared all over your shirt?  I have.  Not the best impression for a teacher to make, is it?  The last thing I want to worry about when I get dressed is getting antiperspirant on my clothes.  

I received Degree Motion Sense Dry Spray antiperspirant for review.  I have been using it for a couple of weeks and here are my results.

• It really does feel dry right after applying it. 
• I have not see any antiperspirant smears on any of my clothes and I tested it with dark colored tops. 
• Long lasting protection.  I feel dry for up to two days after applying it.  
• The fresh energy scent is pretty strong.  It doesn't bother me and fades with time, but my husband (who is more sensitive to smells) would prefer an unscented version.  

So give it a try.  Ditch the ick of slick, visible residue and try one of these new dry sprays. 

Disclosure:  This post is sponsored by Global Influence.  However, all opinions are honest and are my own.