Musing Mommies Podcast Episode 38 Monday December 8th, 2009

Q-tips won’t do it, your fingernail can’t reach it and toothpicks just don’t do the trick.  How the heck are you going to clean out those darn sippy cup straws???

Well the Musing Mommies have the answer! (of course!)  This week the MuMos meet and greet with Austin native, Jennifer Reyes, creator, inventor and mompreneur.  Jennifer invented the Sippy Straw Cleaner, and she sits down with the Musing Mommies Kim and Dawn to talk about her fabulous product.

Stick around for information about the Musing Mommies December giveaway and hear all about Kim and Dawn’s adventure at The Book Signing.

This is a show you don’t want to miss!

Until next time,
Kim and Dawn

LINK: Sippy Straw Cleaner|The Pioneer Woman|New Moon|Because We Said So|Womentorz|

Listen to this episode

Download this episode (right click and save)

Hey there MuMos!

It’s time for another giveaway and Kim and Dawn have a great one for December.  As you all know, The Musing Mommies camped out last week at a local book store to participate in The Pioneer Woman Cooks book signing!  Kim and Dawn got their own personal copies of the book signed by the whole PW family, and they also got one copy signed for YOU!

Because we love you!

This signed copy is even more special, because not only did P-Dub sign it, but also Marlboro Man AND PW’s sister Betsy!! What a bonus! Betsy hasn’t been to many of the signings, so to have her autograph in the book as well makes it extra special!

So here’s the low down.  To get the PW Cooks book for yourself or as a wonderful gift for someone in your family, you have to enter our giveaway contest.

Of course, the MuMos are going to make it easy-peasy!

For this giveaway, there are 3 ways to enter.

1) Leave a review of the Musing Mommies Podcast on iTunes.  You have to have an account, but iTunes accounts are free and leaving a review is easy.  The more reviews the Musing Mommies have, the higher the show ranks and the easier it is to find.  We need reviews!!  If you leave a review on iTunes, please let us know by leaving a comment in this post for your entry for the giveaway.

2) Blog about the Musing Mommies Podcast and our Giveaway.  Say a little bit about what you think of the show, mention the giveaway, link back to this post and then leave us a comment in this post for your entry with a link to your blog so we can see what you wrote.

3) Bonus Entry: Read the blog post Dawn wrote about our last show, Podcast Episode 37 {That’s Right, It’s Christmas Time!} and come back here and leave us a comment in this post with the number of Holiday Songs Dawn referenced in the post.  For this entry you not only have to leave a comment, but you also have to have the correct number of songs listed.  Entries with the incorrect number of songs referenced will be deleted just before our random drawing so as not to skew the results.

That’s it! 3 ways to enter and only a little bit of work.  But, for an autographed copy of The Pioneer Woman Cooks – it is worth it!

So get cracking!  This contest ends and no entries will be accepted after 8pm CST on Monday, December 14th.  A winner will be chosen by random drawing using random.org.  Winner will be announced on the show, on Facebook and will be notified via email.  Giveaway is open to US residents only, 18 years of age and older.

Kim and Dawn of the Musing Mommies; they bring you the good stuff!

Good luck!
~Kim and Dawn

Welcome girls, it’s a chilly day so let your mug of delish warm you up. It’s been a busy week, hasn’t it?  Thanksgiving travels, back to school, back to lessons and practice, and The Pioneer Woman!

Dawn and I talked all about our Thanksgiving travels in our last podcast but let me tell you just a bit.  We traveled many miles, ate lots of food, conversed with many a family member and got home in time to go see NEW MOON together.  I was so happy to be able to see the movie, again, with my co-host.  I was dying to talk with her about it and now I can, finally!

So last night Dawn and I went to The Pioneer Woman’s book signing at the BookPeople store in Austin.  It was cold, there were may people but it was really a treat to get to meet her and her family.  She really seems to be as sweet as she can be.

All ages from tiny babies to "elderly"

I've never seen her so excited!

Dawn has the full account of our “night out with PW” on her blog: Fry Moments. Go read about it, it’s a great read and there are some fun pics there too.

I wish you all a safe, happy, healthy and WARM week!

~Kim

Spaghetti with Artichoke Hearts and Tomatoes ala The Pioneer Woman!

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 medium onion, finely diced
1 14.5 ounce can artichoke hearts (quartered or whole), drained
1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes with juice
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup chicken broth, more as needed
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
salt & pepper to taste
1 pound thin spaghetti
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped chives or other herbs

Cook spaghetti till al dente. Drain and set aside.
Melt olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Add artichoke hearts and tomatoes. Stir and cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Stir in cream and chicken broth. Add salt and pepper to taste (do not undersalt!) Cook over low heat until heated through, then turn off heat.
Place drained pasta in a large bowl. Sprinkle with 1 cup Parmesan. Pour sauce over the top. Add chopped chives. Toss lightly to combine and coat; add a tiny bit of reserved pasta water if sauce seems too thick.

This was taken from The Pioneer Woman’s website HERE there are great step by  step instructions there WITH awesome pictures.

I thought this dish was a VERY tasty easy and crowd pleasing one.  The kids ate it up and I even had it for lunch the next day and it was still just as good maybe even better

*I used half and half instead of Heavy Cream.  It didn’t get as thick as the pictures on her site did.

I give this recipe 5 out of 5 stars!!!

~Kim