I have a jam-packed INDIANAPOLIS themed show this week on Around the Kitchen Sink Radio filled with my favorite sights, sounds and tastes of Downtown.  I post often about where my family and I like to paint the town red, hit up our favorite spots and chow down.  Recently, a trail opened up where you can park that car and stroll on your own 2 feet! We will be talking all about it at 11 pm EST on Toginet.com

Many times over the last few years you have heard me talk about my love of Cara and U-Relish Farms.  I discovered these fantastic slow cooker 'mixes' at the Indianapolis City Market and instantly fell in love.  Cara Dafforn has a love of naturally prepared meals and provides these from her garden and blends each meal herself.  My personal favorite is the Coconut Rice Pudding and next would be the Three Bean Chili.  She gives suggestions on the label for add ins, easy instructions and the few liquid ingredients you will need.  Not only are these meals economical, they are as good or better than me slaving over the stove making a hot pot of soup.  I add her ingredients to a slow cooker, add my liquid or add-in's and come back in a few hours to a completely finished meal! Cara will be sharing her story on the show this week and I am SO excited :)

After 12 years of planning, six years of construction, and $63 million from federal transportation funding and private donations, the eight-mile Cultural Trail, Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick, connects the five downtown cultural districts, greenway trails and bicycle lanes, creating regional connectivity beyond downtown Indianapolis.  It also connects to the sixth cultural district, Broad Ripple, through the Monon Trail at 10^th Street.

 Built for nearly every form of transportation except cars, the Cultural Trail connects users to the front door or within one block of every major arts, culture, heritage, sports and entertainment venue in downtown Indianapolis.  Visit their SITE for more information!

Visit Indy's Morgan Greenlee will be telling me all about this new and innovative trail and everything there is to do and see while you #GetDownOnIt ! You can even stroll to the Indianapolis City Market to use your U-Relish Farms gift certificate when you win!

@IndyCM

@CaraDafforn at U-Relish Farms

@VisitIndy

@INCulturaltrail

Enter here:

To win the $15 gift certificate from U-Relish Farms that is redeemable at their Indianapolis City Market location leave a comment on THIS blog post below sharing what YOUR choices would be! Look at the graphic above for their list of offerings :) You get a bonus entry if you leave a separate comment below telling me who from the above list you are following!

Enter from NOW-Sunday May 19 at 9 pm.  I will randomly draw a winner at that time and notify said winner via email.

I was not compensated for this promotion.

Do YOU have a recipe that you think could possibly be the next big thing? A family favorite that you think could be a money maker? If so then tonight's show is for you! Linda Gilkerson of Indy's Kitchen will be sharing an exciting opportunity for Indiana home cooks!

Listen Here 

 Adult and teen cooks are invited to enter the Hottest Kitchen Entrepreneur Challenge, a regional contest to find the next great food entrepreneur. 
The Challenge is sponsored by Indy’s Kitchen, an Indianapolis food business incubator, and by Reliable Water Services, a statewide provider of commercial water heaters, boilers and water softeners. In addition to the adult category, Indiana teens ages 14-18 are invited to 
enter for a chance to kick-start their culinary dream career.  Adult and teen aspiring chefs and home cooks throughout Indiana can enter online at www.hotwater247.net by submitting a short application and uploading a photo of their recipe or product concept. Great prizes include
$2,500 in seed money, consultation time with food industry experts, professional cookware and more.  Deadline is May 15th. 

I have shared my weight loss success story a few times on ATKSRadio and how the 30 Day Shred series played a huge role in that success.  I have a clip from Jillian Michaels recent press tour that I think you all will be interested in.

Lastly, it is almost Cinco de Mayo. Weigh in on this holiday. Do you celebrate it? Make tasty treats? I will be sharing a few of my best recipes. You can also find them here.

As always you can listen LIVE at 11 pm est on toginet.com and after on itunes and through my pocast player on basilmomma.com.

 Red Gold Tomatoes has done it again! Not only do they have a bright and shiny new website but it is chocked full of recipes for every occasion and season!

Linda Wallace AKA The Red Gold Lady will be joining me this week on Around the Kitchen Sink Radio on 4/25.  You can listen LIVE at 11 pm est on toginet.com and after on Itunes. Did you know you can also download my shows each week for FREE on the podcast player on my homepage?

Linda is sharing a few of her favorite spring recipes with us just in time for all of our family gatherings and outdoor dining. The first is a Delightful Fruit Salad that I have actually enjoyed at the Red Gold Elwood Corporate office made by Linda herself! Several of my blogging friends and I had the pleasure of touring their Elwood facilities last February.

Next up, just in time for summer as well as Cinco de Mayo celebrations is a fresh and festive Guacamole Salad!

How do YOU use Red Gold, Redpack or Tuttoroso tomatoes in YOUR spring recipes?

This weeks show focuses on simple changes we can make to embrace Earth Day in our own home. Simple changes that do not take much time, energy or planning.  These tips will take the excuses out of why we haven't started reducing our food waste, shopping smarter or repurposing when we can.  I know for years I thought it would take too much time to purposefully take steps to protect the world in which we live but I was wrong.  Using more efficient light bulbs, keeping my thermostat set at a constant setting, cutting down on food waste and using no more than what I need in life was easier than I thought it would be.

Companies like Earthbound Farm Organics are doing everything they can to reduce packaging and providing consumers with clean, sustainable products that we can trust.  I love the conbvenience oif reaching into the crisper and getting a handful of arugula for a meal that I didn't have to wash, trim or worry about.  My favorite lettuce blend is Zen Blend from EBF.

This is not a paid endorsement-I just love the convenience and peace of mind their brand affords me in the kitchen!

Sharing 4 tips on greener shopping is Lori Taylor AKA The Produce Mom, a friend of ATKS Radio.  Lori shares tips on making greener shopping a reality in any busy home. Read her latest post about this HERE.

@ProduceMom on Twitter              The Produce Mom on Facebook

Katy Mann, creator of IndywithKids.com, will join me in the 3rd segment sharing tips on how to get your family in the Earth Day spirit with a great activity in Indianapolis on April 27th at White River State Park. Read her latest post about this event HERE

@IndywithKids on Twitter              Indy with Kids on Facebook

Since the air is getting warmer and the days are getting longer, there is NO better way to turn off and unplug than a great cocktail shared with friends.  Sit outside, get fresh air and try one of these easy cocktails! 

Blood Orange Cocktail

8 Beer Cocktails

About this time of year I am longing for cool evenings sitting on the dock sipping a crisp, cold white wine after dinner is cleaned up and the boys are in bed.  That is peace to me.

Some people call easy drinking palatable wines 'patio wines'  whether it is a light red or a clean and crisp dry white.  I think as long as you like it then you should enjoy it anytime.

Several years back we were lucky enough to meet the owners of Mallow Run Winery when it opened a mile away from my house in the scenic countryside of Johnson County, Indiana.  If you follow me on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter you may see that I go there so often that I practically have my own parking spot.

This Indiana winery has opened to a huge success due in part to their great wines as well as their entertainment, friendly staff and food events.  It is a winery you can visit with the whole family, as we do in the warmer months.  Pack some chairs, a blanket and some snacks and plan on having a relaxing afternoon.  We have gone many times when there is live music and our kids toss the football near the creekside or bring their books and read in the shade while we listen to the music and enjoy a glass of wine.  This is my ideal Sunday afternoon!

Mallow Run is the product of years of hard work by John Richardson and his son, Bill, and Bill’s wife, Laura. John grew up on the farm, moved away to teach school for 35 years, and then retired back on the farm with the intent of growing grapes to supply other Indiana wineries. Bill, who grew up dreaming of living on the farm, settled into the original Mallow/Richardson home after graduating from Purdue with a degree in agriculture. Bill met Laura while playing in the Carmel Symphony and with a shared love for music, wine, and the farm, they married in 2005. 

The first grapes were planted in 2000, with more to follow in subsequent years. The vineyards now cover 8 acres of the family’s 600-acre farm. On the remainder, more than 50,000 bushels of corn and soybeans are still raised each year. With expanding vineyards taking root, an aging barn with great potential, and the desire to share their love of fine wines, the decision was quickly made to open their own winery right there on the farm

On September 3rd, 2005, the dream was realized and the tasting room opened to the public.

I am excited to welcome Sarah Shadaday of Mallow Run Winery to the show on Thursday April 11, 2013. Tune in at 11 pm est OR after through not only my page but also my itunes page.  As always ATKSRadio is free to download.

My favorite wines would have to be a dry traminette (the wine of Indiana), Chardonnay and Pinot Gris.

What is yours?

Mallow Run has events every weekend ranging from performances by the Carmel Symphony to Jenn Devoe to Food truck nights and BBQ feasts! There is always something for everyone!

See their complete list of upcoming events HERE

I love good food and what I love even more is sharing my love of good food with you all.  Over the last year I have had many a seasoned foodie on Around the Kitchen Sink and tonight is no exception.

Christie Vanover the genius behind the food+more site Zestuous.com is returning to ATKSRadio tonight at 11 pm EST on Toginet.com and with her she is bringing an arsenal of recipes, tips and fun :)

Zestuous.com is a feast for the eyes as well as the palate.  When you ask Christie what the origin of Zestuous is she says

"For me, when I think of zest, I think of fire, spice, flavor and excitement. The –uous ending makes me think of words like sensuous, sumptuous and voluptuous.

Zestuous is simply a harmony of bold flavor with subtle elegance that tickles your senses. When I cook, I like to create foods that make people say wow. The only way I know how to do that is by creating a combination of Zestuous flavors and simple sophistication."

Visit her today and stroll around. I guarantee you will find something that you will drool over like a few of these:

Lemon Cream Cheese Pound Cake

I have often wondered what it takes to get a new product or small business off of the ground.  Where do you start? How do you overcome your fears?

So when I come across someone who is doing just that I simply have to share!  A few months ago I heard my friend Lori AKA The Produce Mom talking about her love of Patti's Popcorn and I was intrigued.  I too have a love of a well made popcorn (DUH-I live in Indiana), like TPM, so I knew I had to have her on the show.

Alma (known by friends as Patti) started Patti's Popcorn in her kitchen with a small 4oz popper.  She shared her new tasty treats with friends and co workers at El Popocatepetl (El Popo for short) Tortillas in Chicago.  They fell in love and suggested that she grow this into a business and has been working hard and doing it ever since!

I love her story of hard work, tirelessly long hours and determination to see her dream come to fruition, and I just know you will too.

Listen LIVE at 11 pm est on Toginet.com or after on Itunes and on my site at Basilmomma.com.

Find Patti's website here

On Facebook here

And on Twitter at @pattispopcorn

pattispopcorn@gmail.com

I wanted to celebrate Valentines Day on Around the Kitchen Sink by having on a blogger that I absolutely adore! Join me at 11 pm EST on toginet.com when I am joined by Cris Goode of GOODEnessGracious.com.

Read all about Cris' Crock Pot Week HERE

Cris has been busy these last several weeks sharing many of her favorite lightened up slow cooker recipes.  You have GOT to check out her site for inspiration-especially on those busy work nights when you just don't have the energy to cook.  I have those at least a few times a week!

Cris will also be talking about a project very dear to her heart that she is working on with husband Mikey Goode.

Read all about how the Goode's have committed another year-to change! I am motivated after following all that they have accomplished!

Listen to Around the Kitchen Sink every Thursday at 11 pm EST on Toginet.com and after on Itunes HERE

Food Network host Ben Vaughn joins the show again to share about his his radio gig on Routes Radio (Blog Talk Radio). I was actually on HIS show on February 7th with Simon Majumdar, Iron Chef Judge and author. Find his show HERE

Routes Radio with Ben Vaughn

Ben Vaughn has an infectious personality and passion for conversation. The combination of guest callers, and Ben's adventurous spirit are a delicious revelation.

@BenVaughn on Twitter

Sandy Fowler host of Heart Filled Holidays on Toginet.com will also be joining us and sharing some of her tips on easy Valentines Day gifts that everyone will love! Tune into her show every Monday at noon EST HERE

Whether you're longing for joy in your life or looking for ways to decrease stress in your holidays and in your life or even new traditions and interesting gift ideas you'll find it here!

Join Sandy Fowler, a mom who has gone from stressed to blessed in her own life, as she shares ideas, thoughts and insights for bringing more joy and meaning into your life. Listen in as she chats with the experts, finding out the tips and tricks you can use in everything you do to plan and enjoy your holidays and every day.

Sandy Fowler is passionate about helping women de-stress their lives. She teaches, blogs, speaks and hosts a radio show all focused on weeding out stress and creating more joy. Using holidays and special celebrations as a springboard Sandy helps women create happiness in their lives every day . She's a wife, mom and business owner whose greatest joy, next to loving her family, is seeing the women she works with find the joy they've been looking for.

This weeks Around the Kitchen Sink is a zesty episode! Just in time for the SUPERbowl, I am joined by Erin Edds and KC Cranfill the creators of Hoosier Momma Culinary Cocktail Mixers!

The ladies will be sharing a few of their favorite cocktail recipes using their mixers AND a great way to integrate their bloody mary mix into foods YOU love!

You can find them on their website HERE,  facebook HERE and Twitter at @HoosierMommaLLC

Did I mention that the LA Times and Midwest Living  LOVES then and they are THE signature Bloody Mary being served at this years Superbowl tailgate party?

Hear about my Gooseberry Patch giveaway, what I have been making from their new Slow Cooking All Year Round cookbook and my fun segments on Fox59 this week!

JoAnn and Vickie, the creators of the popular line of cookbooks and tutorials Gooseberry Patch, return to Around the Kitchen Sink Radio on January 24, 2013!  Listen LIVE at 11 pm est on Toginet.com and after on ITunes.

I am excited to have Linda Wallace AKA the Red Gold Lady back on the show-just in time to talk about Superbowl snacks!  Last year I was lucky enought to get to attend several Superbowl festivities with Linda and the whole Red Gold Family and MAN did we eat well!  Linda shared several of her favorite recipes featuring RG tomatoes as the star of the show.  Form pinwheels to a fruit salad-Linda showed me many more ways to use these happy tomatoes!

You can visit their Facebook page for updates, recipes and video's Linda has made in her test kitchen.  Their newly updated website can be found HERE as well!

Linda is sharing this fun recipe, Lady Bugs on a Log,  with us on #KitchenSinkRadio.  She is full of ideas on how you can feed your crowd and feed them well.  Tune in at 11 pm est on Toginet.com and after on Itunes!

I will also be sharing about the NEW Gooseberry Patch Cookbook that I just reviewed. It is chock full of fast weeknight recipes for the whole family. It is aptly named Weeknight Dinners for a reason!  Better yet I am giving one away right NOW!!

 Join Sage Fruit and The Produce Mom on Around the Kitchen Sink Radio on January 10, 2012 at 11 pm EST on toginet.com !

The Season 14 premiere of NBC’s Biggest Loser was this week!!   This year, Sage Fruit has teamed up with the health and lifestyle brand Biggest Loser as the exclusive supplier of apples, pears and cherries. Together, they hope to spread the message of healthy eating and healthy living. Be sure to check out your local supermarket, and pick up your Biggest Loser apples and pears today!

I have seen them out for a few weeks now so I grabbed a bag for my snack drawer at work!

 Talk about the perfect snack....

The Produce Mom has teamed up with this powerhouse fruit company to launch the "New Year...New You" campaign- read more about that HERE

Visit The Produce Mom HERE

If you follow me on Twitter, Instagram or on Facebook , then you may have heard me talk about my love affair for Frittle Candy.  From the moment I first placed a tiny square of coconut frittle in my mouth I have been hooked.  What is Frittle you ask?  Check out her website-Get the low down on this candy which has become an Indiana favorite!

Even better than the candy is the personality of the owner and creator Carrie Abbott.  She is vibrant, creative and one of the hardest workingwomen I have met in a long time.  

Carrie Abbott is a candy maker and business owner in Indianapolis, IN. Her company is called Frittle Candy. She's married and has two daughters.

Listen LIVE on Thursday January 3 at 11 pm est on Toginet.com  and on Itunes 

I am excited to share with you all the my foodie friend Carrie Farias of Carries Experimental Kitchen will be joining us on Around the Kitchen Sink this week! Need a little inspiration? Check out Carrie's newly published cookbook!   Look around your kitchen. What do you see? Some frozen chicken? A bunch of basil? Maybe your favorite cheese?

Carrie has a recipe for that.

Are you always dreading your family’s inevitable question, What’s for dinner?

Carrie has a recipe for that.

Or maybe you love Chicken Marsala but hate waiting for a table at your favorite restaurant.

Carrie has a recipe for that too.

From the ingredients that you already have, you can make a delicious meal that will impress your friends without spending hours in the kitchen (or hurting your wallet!) 

Carrie Palladino Farias has always loved being in the kitchen, and in her collection of recipes, you’ll get a chance to take your regular repertoire of daily meals to the next level. She includes ingredients that are already in your pantry, so any busy parent or entertainer can whip up a fabulous meal without digging through the obscure aisles of the grocery store.

Carrie Palladino Farias holds a bachelor’s degree in hotel restaurant management from Johnson and Wales University. She resides in northern New Jersey with her husband, Don; two daughters, Rachael and Gabrielle; and two dogs, Casey and Tebow.

Website: http://www.carriesexperimentalkitchen.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CarriesExperimentalKitchen

Twitter: www.twitter.com/CarriesExpKtchn   Pinterest: CarriesExpKtchn   Publisher website: http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781620247655

I am excited to be joined again by Linda Wallace AKA The Red Gold Lady on Around the Kitchen Sink Radio  on Thursday December 5, 1012 at 11 pm est!

A few of the things we will chat about:

Tuttorosso Ultimate Daily Giveaway ends on Dec 22, enter HERE

Have you ever seen the BMO Harris Bank commercial on TV  showing how the company has progressed through time? If not see it HERE scroll down to commercials.

We will also talk about holidays and some quick and easy recipes to serve during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

I will also be giving a recap of the Cake Boss LIVE show I attended in Indianapolis at the Murat Theater/Old National Center

Here is a great recipe from Linda that you can throw together for a family get together or pitch in!

See Recipe HERE

This week on Around the Kitchen Sink  I am joined by Lori Taylor AKA The Produce Mom! Lori will be sharing the release of her new program with Indianapolis Fruit called Find Your Favorite and she has enlisted the help of several local celebrities in the sports world! Who better to share how eating well and staying active does a body good!

I will be sharing my Thanksgiving foods wrap up as well as information about a fun conference I am going to this week!

I'm pretty excited! So stay tuned- we are LIVE at 11 pm est on toginet.com

You can download the show on Itunes and on my podcast player on the homepage :)

Simply Gourmet is where family, friends and food gather. I fell in love with Sherron Watson's site Simply Gourmet  the first time I laid eyes on her beautiful photography! Her recipes are perfect for my families tastes and her beautiful personality really comes through in each post!

Listen to Sherron and I on Around the Kitchen Sink on Thursday November 15 at 11 pm est on toginet.com!

I asked Sherron to share a bit about her site with us~

Join me in my little white kitchen in the beautiful state of Maryland, just outside of Washington DC. I know that preparing meals for family and friends takes time and energy, let Simply Gourmet help you find the perfect recipe.

4 years ago I found out I had Celica disease which required that I stop eating wheat in any form. It took me a while to figure out how to use the new flours but when it clicked, it was easy.

In the last four years my family has changed how we eat. We eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruit, use organic meats and products, enjoy fish, use whole ingredients and do not eat wheat. This has proven to keep us healthy and in shape. We have all lost weight along the way.

I love to cook, I love to teach and I love to entertain, Simply Gourmet is where I share my ideas, recipes and stories while staying wheat free and using the best ingredients I can find!

I am not sure who that guy in the blue shirt is but I DO know these two ladies! Ally Philips of Ally's Kitchen and Christie Vanover  of Zestuous are fresh from the World Food Championships in Las Vegas and they are going to be on #KitchenSinkRadio on Thursday November 8th at 11 pm est on toginet.com!!

The World Food Championships is the highest stakes food competition in the world. This four-day feature showcases the best of the best squaring off to crown champions in multiple food categories. Then the category champions meet at the Final Table to determine the World Food Champion.

As the sport of competition food has grown into a multi-million dollar industry, it can no longer be denied. Recipe challenges, barbecue festivals, chili cook-offs and the thousands of other food competitions that take place annually have grabbed the attention and imagination of millions of fans and enthusiasts. The World Food Championships will settle the score.

My guest this week is Brenda Gay owner of newly launched Salsa Me Krazy! Read the end of the post for exciting giveaway information!!

Introducing Salsa Me Krazy, Salsa Soo Good You'll Go “Krazy” For It!

Salsa Me Krazy is a family recipe using all natural ingredients with no

preservatives and is low in sodium. Our salsa is made with diced tomatoes

and a combination of jalapeño and habanero peppers. Spices marry with one

another and infuse a taste that is slightly sweet, yet savory.

There are 3 heats to choose from, mild, medium and hot.

You can find us at www.salsamekrazy.com.

Thats www.salsamekrazy with a “k”.

So pick a heat, grab a chip and let your tastebuds decide.

Find Salsa Me Krazy on Twitter and Facebook 

I will be giving away a jar of your choice to ANYONE who calls in to chat with us LIVE ON AIR!! Call 877-864-4869 from 11 pm -12 EST and YOU may be a winner!

But wait...there's more!  I will be randomly picking ONE person who leaves a comment below to win a jar as well!  This runs from NOW until Friday Nov 2 at 9 am EST.  Just leave a comment below :)  Visit my Facebook page on Friday for more exciting ways to win this new salsa!  You will have 2 more chances to win that day!

You may remember a few months ago when I was going on and on about a new DIY face masque that I had made from the new book by Peggy Kotsopoulos...? Well, I am pretty excited that I will be having Peggy on my show THIS week! Listen to our show HERE

Peggy will be sharing how she got started, a few tips from her book and info about her book in the works!  I am always looking for ways to stop the hands of time a bit, save some money on my skincare routine and learn a bit about how what I eat affects me on the inside AND outside and Peggy has it all covered in her book Must Have Been Something I Ate which is available almost anywhere.  Click on the title to see it on Amazon.

Her Facebook page, her Twitter feed

As always, you can listen to my show every week LIVE on Toginet.com/AroundtheKitchenSink at 11 pm est!

I will be live tweeting during the show to answer any questions you may have  at @Basilmomma 

Continue the conversation! Share your best DIY beauty secrets with me HERE on my Facebook page and I will talk about it on the show.

I will also be giving an update on my food pantry post and how well we did! You will be so surprised!

I am excited to share with you all that this week's show has special guest Lark Harrington of Larks Country Heart! I have been a guest blogger on Lark's site in the past. I shared one of my favorite cakes with her-Lemon Basil Pound Cake!

Call in to talk to Lark and I LIVE at  at 877-864-4869 from 11-12 est!

Lark will be sharing a few of her favorite recipes with us on this weeks show! Click on any picture to be directed to her site :)

I met lark 'virtually' in 2009 on the Tasty Kitchen website where we both have profiles and we just clicked!  LArk has been along with me through many of my trials and has been a great friend across the miles!

Read a little bit about Lark here:

I am a wife of 15 Years. Mother of 1 beautiful 13 yr. old daughter.
I live in a small country town in southern Nevada.

I currently Volunteer at our local middle/high school to
teach cooking class to the students 2 times a week.
I am a substitute librarian.

I love to run marathons, read, craft and travel,
enter cooking/baking contest's.

I try to "Pay it Forward" as often as possible.
I believe strongly in helping to "Find a Cure".

I started my Lark's Country Heart Blog in 2009, with the intent of organizing my
own recipes I had created over the years. It then the turned into a way to keep myself busy
after being laid off of work. I create 3 new recipes each week to share on
the Larks Country Heart Blog.

I have always wanted to have my recipes published into a series of cookbooks
so what started off as just organizing/typing up my recipes, has now turned into a goal of being
published.

Biggest Cooking accomplishment:
Having my Pecan Cream Cheese Custard Pie~
Win the Dessert to Impress category in the Real Women Of Philadelphia Contest.
And having My recipe published in their Season Two Cookbook.

Favorite Saying:
"Oh My flipping Heck" :)

Biggest Pet Peeve:
Dusting!....UGH!

How did you loose 100+ lbs.?
I started with the Weight Watchers program and went to meetings for a full year.
Then did it on my own using all I had learned, along with walking every day.
It took 4 years to loose 100 lbs. (slow & steady)

How many Marathons have you ran?
As of Oct 2012~
I have finished 2 full marathons (26.2 Miles)
and 13 half marathons (13.1 Miles)
*With plans for 2 more half marathons plus the
Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure (60 Miles) ~ this will be my 3rd yr.
To finish out the 2012 year :)

Join me on Thursday October 4th at 11 pm EST when I am joined by guest Melissa d'Arabian!

In Melissa d’Arabian’s debut cookbook, Ten Dollar Dinners: 140 Recipes and Tips to Elevate Simple, Fresh Meals Any Night of the Week (Clarkson Potter/Publishers; $24.99), the Food Network star provides approachable recipes, smart saving strategies, and practical tips for satisfying meals – all within a larger context of eating well, being a responsible consumer, and spending with purpose. A wife and mother of four young daughters, and winner of The Next Food Network Star, Melissa makes good on her unwavering $10 promise of dinner for four. This ultimate guide to affordable and impressive home cooking will appeal to all readers – even those not on a budget – and leave them pleasantly surprised at just how elegant, plentiful, nutritious and downright delicious budget cooking can be.

Drawing on personal life experiences – growing up on a tight budget, earning her MBA and working in corporate America, and managing her own family’s resources as a stay-at-home and then working parent – Melissa easily relates to home cooks and encourages them to think about cooking in a different way. In Ten Dollar Dinners, Melissa proves that fresh ingredients and sophisticated flavor profiles have a place at the budget-cooking table.

In addition to its 11 chapters filled with fresh recipes and mouthwatering photographs, Ten Dollar Dinners features handy tools and information like guidelines for a robust pantry and clever mix-and-match cost-coding system for countless menu options. Whether trying a clear-the-pantry week, keeping flavor enhancers like bacon or fresh ginger in the freezer, stretching expensive ingredients alongside inexpensive ones, or finding creative uses for leftovers, Melissa provides more than 100 simple yet effective tips for shopping, cooking and ingredient management.

A pro at conjuring flavor and style from common supermarket ingredients, Melissa’s company-worthy recipes are easy enough for a weeknight family meal but also elegant enough for weekend entertaining.

 I have 3 posts to share in this weeks Blogger Bites from around the blogosphere:

I am so happy to announce that Linda Wallace AKA The Red Gold Lady will be a guest on Around the Kitchen Sink Radio on Thursday September 27 at 11 pm est! You can listen to our show LIVE at www.toginet.com

I met Linda and the rest of the Red Gold family back in February when I was selected to be one of the bloggers to attend the Taste of the NFL with Red Gold.  I was able to tour their ketchup facility and meet their production staff.  I was impressed with their dedication and work ethic.  I immediately liked Linda, she was a true Foodie, like myself!  She develops recipes for Red Gold as well as serves as their home economist.  I was lucky enough to get to see Linda in action at the Indiana State Fair this year!

Linda was kind enough to share one of her prized recipes for chili and, on the show she will share how YOU can be involved in the Red Gold Chili Cook-off in Elwood, Indiana !  Linda will also be filling us all in on the details for the 5K run as well!

HEARTY RED GOLD CHILI

1    pound ground round

1    large onion, diced

1    green bell pepper, diced

1½  teaspoon salt

1    teaspoon black pepper

2    tablespoons chili powder

1    teaspoon cocoa

1    (15 ounce) can chili hot beans

1    (14.5 ounce) can RED GOLD® DICED TOMATOES CHILI READY

1    (14.5 ounce) can RED GOLD® PETITE DICED TOMATOES with GREEN CHILIES or PETITE DICED TOMATOES with LIME JUCICE & CILANTRO

1    (14.5 ounce) can RED GOLD® DICED TOMATOES

1    (15 ounce) can RED GOLD® CRUSHED TOMATOES

 Brown ground beef, onion and green bell pepper in a large skillet.  Transfer to colander and rinse with hot water to remove fat.  Transfer meat mixture to large kettle and add salt, pepper, chili powder and cocoa; mix well.

 Add chili hot beans, RED GOLD® DICED TOMATOES CHILI READY, RED GOLD® PETITE DICED TOMATOES with GREEN CHILIES, RED GOLD® DICED TOMATOES and RED GOLD® CRUSHED TOMATOES.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat to simmer and cook for 20 to 25 minutes.

Join me on Thursday September 20 at 11 pm est on www.toginet.com when I have on Angie Mozilo of Mom of Many Hats Radio! We are talking about finding balance in our day to day lives, family peace and family favorite recipes!

A little bit about Angie...

Angie is a mom, wife, daughter, sister, life-long learner, a communicator, and a cheerleader for you. She empowers people to harness the passion, purpose and power that makes them shine! She challenges them to DARE TO DAZZLE!Angie Mozilo is a Phoenix based Speaker, Blogger, DARE TO DAZZLE! workshop creator and writer. She is the author of AZ Mom of Many Hats Blog, a site that speaks to the parent that juggles it all. She is also the Founder and Creator of I AM Woman Enough! , a site devoted to empowering women to love who they are where they are, and inspiring them to dazzle. She can be found on various internet radio shows and podcasts on Itunes as the host of Mom of Many Hats Radio.

I  will be sharing my recipes for a fall salad and stir fried soba noodles that my family loved and I used a local favorite-Oliver Winery Pinot Grigio!

The Ladies of Gooseberry Patch Cookbooks have joined me again Around my Kitchen Sink to talk about the upcoming Country Living Magazine Fair in Columbus, Ohio on September 14-16, 2012! Join, Vickie, JoAnn and I as we share our experiences at the fair and a few of our favorite recipes too!

Join me on Thursday September 6 at 11 pm est on www.toginet.com!

This week on #KitchenSinkRadio I am excited to have my friend and fellow food blogger, Brandie Skibinski of www.thecountrycook.net on the show! I have been following Brandie for a while now and her posts never fail to impress! I think one of the first posts of hers that I remember seeing was for Strawberry Bread.

Brandie publishes TheCountryCook.net, a website dedicated to classic American recipes and quick and easy family favorites. Brandie, also a momma and a wife, lives in the beautiful mountains of Virginia.

She understands the challenges of today's busy families and shares many recipes that are quick and easy to prepare so families have more time to enjoy each other (and a tasty meal) together at the supper table. 

 I instantly fell in love with her site...and this bread! Since then I have made many more of her recipes and what I love about them is they are easy to follow and my family loves them.  A win-win!

Listen LIVE on August 16th at 11 pm est!

Join me tonight, Thursday August 9th, at 11 pm est when I have the sister act of Vintage Vera on the show! Phyllis and Vera transformed their memories of growing up in North Carolina into a cookbook-Vintage Vera. Their mother left them a notebook full of family recollections, memories and treasured recipes.

I have been cooking from it ALL week and I have reconnected with a few of MY old family favorites thanks to Vera Guthrie and Phyllis Salmons!

Find Vintage Vera on Facebook

After flipping through this cookbook I found several recipes that were similar to some of my old family favorites that I had long forgotten.  One was cucumber salad another was broccoli salad.  This one was a particular favorite of mine when I was younger. I am the odd duck that actually craves broccoli!

Broccoli Salad

1 1/2 C low-fat mayonnaise of your choosing

2 TB + 2 tsp sugar

3 TB vinegar (I used red wine)

6-8 C broccoli florets

6 slices of bacon, cooked drained and crumbled (I used turkey bacon)

1 small red onion, chopped (this was good with shallots too)

3/4 C Craisins

1/2 C unsalted shelled sunflower seeds

pinch of salt/pepper to taste

Mix mayo, sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper in a large bowl.  Add the remaining ingredients and toss to mix. This is not a 'saucy salad' which is why my kids loved it so much.

 Crunchy, salty and sweet...what more could you ask for?  

I am excited to have The Produce Mom back on the show this Thursday August 2, 2012 at 11 PM EST to talk about the effect of the drought in the Indiana Area as well as it's ripple effects in the marketplace.

The Produce Mom is a friend of ATKS Radio and I love to get her picks as to what is in season and what is 'ripe' for the picking!

I will also be chatting around the kitchen sink with Lark Harrington of Lark's Country Heart and she will be sharing a few of her favorite time saving tips!

I want to thank my sponsors for tonight's show: Simply Gourmet ,Zestuous, Mission Giveaway,  Prime Parents Club and Monkey Do Project

Listen to ATKS Radio here live every Thursday night at 11 PM EST 

You can also subscribe through Itunes as well :)

I am SO excited to have Katie Burkhart of The Hill Country Cook on Around the Kitchen Sink this week!

I have been following her for some time now and she is so much fun to read!

She is not only a fab food writer and blogger but she is also a columnist at her local paper...like me!

We have something else in common, she is also a teacher and we work with kids who need just a bit of extra help and support. This is a very rewarding career and one that has helped make us what we are today :)

So you KNOW she can get real creative in the kitchen, we all need an outlet!

Check out her amazing Chocolate Cake!

I want to thank my fantastic sponsors of #KitchenSinkRadio

Listen HERE

Friends of ATKS #KitchenSinkRadio

I am SO excited to share the microphone with Christie of Zestuous on Thursday July 12 at 11 PM EST!!!

I had her on for my Memorial Day show and due to popular demand she is joining me again and I couldn't be happier :)

Zestuous is one of the most original food sites that I visit. I love her take on small bites and her photography is fantastic. She really knows her stuff!  Visit her site today and be inspired!

Please join Christie and I at 11 PM EST LIVE on toginet.com. If you can't listen then, you can click the podcast in the player below.  You can also find Around the Kitchen Sink on ITunes as well.

Tweet us at @Basilmomma and @Zestuous and we will read your questions or comments on the air too!  #KitchenSinkRadio

Have a future topic you want to hear on ATKS, a question, a concern or....a suggestion? Please leave me a comment below OR email me at heatherltallman@gmail.com. I really do (yes, really) love feedback. If you are on ITunes, I would love for you to visit my page there and leave a show comment.  It really helps keep me on the 'New and Noteworthy' list.  I have been on there for 4 weeks straight and I don't want to fall back now!

Thank you for listening and supporting the show. If you are interested in being on, you have a product or book you would like reviewed on the show or you would like to advertise through banner ads or commercials  then please contact me for package pricing!

You know how sometimes you stumble upon a website and the writer seems to be reading your mind? You would give anything to just have a 5 minute conversation with this person.  Finally, you have met someone who gets it!

Well, that was what I was thinking when I first found Jill Smokler's site: Confessions of a Scary Mommy AKA Scary Mommy.

Her humor, her thoughts....she was finally saying what we all wanted to say out loud or wished we could at least.  I don't want to give it away, I want you to check her out for yourself.  Better yet-listen to my show on Thursday July 5th at 11 PM EST on toginet.com.

 I am prerecording our show on July 5th to rebroadcast later that evening. I want YOU to share with ME what you secret Mommy confession is. Come on, you know you have one! I do and I will share mine on the air! Call 877-864-4869 OR 903-881-5716 from 11-12 am EST on Thursday July 5th to share with me! BONUS: IF you get on the air I will send you your own copy of Jill's new book!! 

Find Jill here as well as on her site HERE

ITunes

YouTube

Pinterest

Facebook

Twitter

Please take a minute to visit my sponsors:

This week on Around the Kitchen Sink I have Cris Goode of Goodeness Gracious on the show! I was SO excited to have fellow Hoosier blogger and friend Cris on to talk about how she got started, where she is going and the love and food that comes out of her kitchen.

Please take a minute to visit my sponsors for today's show Zestuous.com and TheProduceMom.com

In 1984, next door neighbors Vickie and JoAnn were looking for ways to do what they loved, stay at home with their small children and earn a living at the same time.  Looking to what they loved to do, cook, the two of them put together what is now one of the largest cookbook and food communities around.  I am sure you can see why these ladies are a real inspiration to me and other home cooks around the world.

Goosebarry Patch  is a name synonymous with good, hearty and family- friendly food.  Their recipes and collections are a go-to for any home cook and because they know Gooseberry Patch is a name they know and can trust.

I could go on and on about all of the great features over on the Gooseberry Patch online store and blog , but check it out for yourself!  From cooking for one, diabetic recipes, healthy weeknight dinners to crock pot favorites they have you covered.  Not only that, but you can join in weekly in their recipe roundups and link up one of your own!

I am excited to tell you all that I will have the ladies of Gooseberry Patch on MY show on Thursday June 21 at 11 PM EST!!!  I am So grateful to Vickie and JoAnn for agreeing to come on.  I will be taking calls to speak on the air with the Gooseberry Patch Ladies!  Share with us your quick  story of your greatest kitchen FLOP!

I have many so I know you all do too!  IF you get on the air we will send you a copy of the latest Gooseberry Patch cookbook 101 Cozy Casseroles that we are giving away to 3 lucky callers, to enjoy and to make sure you keep the flops to a minimum in the future ;)

Here are FREE sample recipes to the 3 NEW Gooseberry Patch cookbooks that are coming out soon:

The Christmas Table- http://bit.ly/GBPChristmasTblRecipes

The Harvest Table- http://bit.ly/GBPHarvTblRecipes

101 Cozy Casserole Recipes- http://bit.ly/GBP101CozyCassRecipes

Please join us and be a part of the conversation

Around the Kitchen Sink!

This week on Around the Kitchen Sink Radio I will be sharing a few of my husbands favorite grilling recipes and a bit about Father's Day!

I will also be sharing a quick and easy pulled chicken barbecue sandwich and about our recent trip to Firehouse BBQ and Blues in Richmond, Indiana.

I will be taking calls as usual from 11pm-12am EST at 877-864-4869 and would love to hear from you!

I will also have Scott Thomas of Grillin Fools to tell us about his site and his love of the grill!

Tonight on Around the Kitchen Sink I am

sharing my tips for quick summer lunches by

sharing a few of my kids' quick and easy

favorites!

Tonight's show comes at just the right time for a lot of us.  It's swimsuit season and I for one dread the annual trip into the fitting room, or as I like to call it: Room of Shame.  I know we have all been there. It's not just about vanity, it's about guilt.  Guilt for what we are eating, for how little time we have to spend taking care of ourselves, guilt for making excuses.  Tonight I am bringing a few friends on to help us (me) with that!

Lori would like to introduce herself and her team:

Lori Taylor, The Produce Mom
www.theproducemom.com
www.facebook.com/theproducemom
www.twitter.com/producemom
Official blog of Indianapolis Fruit Company, wife & mother of 2 boys.  Alarm goes off at 4:30am & I exercise before work.  It sucks.  I'm still struggling with weight loss goals b/c I spend too much time with food.  Even wholesome foods like produce can be difficult to keep healthy because so many of us are accustomed to cooking with oils, creams, salt, etc.  I also have another vice that many foodies can empathize with... alcohol.  I enjoy pairing spirits, wines & beers with my foods for a full dining experience.  Another obstacle.... sleep.  I can never get enough!  My work life is total chaos.  And I have 2 kids under the age of 4, so it's a true test of my time management skills & there simply isn't enough time.

Heather Briggeman, owner The Body Sanctuary
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Body-Sanctuary/138573986189673
Heather is certified in Pilates, Yoga & TRX.  She owns & operates a thriving fitness center in Greenwood Indiana.  Class sizes are kept at a minimum to respect Heather's dedication & passion for providing her clients with a personal weight loss & wellness program.  Heather offers a wide array of classes - everything from high-intensity Boot Camp to geriatric Pilates.  She really shines with making all ability levels feel welcome & encourages people to set realistic goals for themselves.  It's a true honor to call her my personal trainer.

Maggie Stephon, consulting nutritionist of The Produce Mom
Maggie is a recent graduate of Purdue University & will soon be a dietician.  She is the consulting nutritionist for The Produce Mom.  Maggie's primary role with The Produce Mom is to offer suggestions for healthy product substitutions & helps me with my struggles to keep wholesome foods healthy while I cook.  Maggie is a voice of knowledge and authority on nutrition.  She is a big part of my success & again, I'm honored to work with her.

As always I want to thank my sponsor for tonight's show

Live with ME Thursday May 24th at 11 PM EST

I am excited to share with you all that on Around the Kitchen Sink this week I will have Christie of www.Zestuous.com on for the whole show!  We will be chatting about the life of a well traveled Army wife, her experiences with food from all over the world and how we all can take part in supporting our service members and their families.  I think this is very timely with Memorial Day coming up!

A Little Bit About Christie of Zestuous....In her own words

I have two passions in life ~ telling the stories of our service members and cooking. During the day, I manage public affairs and internal media operations for the Army at Fort Hood, the Army’s largest military installation.

At night and on weekends, I’m forever in the kitchen. It’s where I turn to relieve the stresses of everyday life. I love to cook and bake, and I especially love to experiment. Someday I would love to attend both the Cuisine and Pâtisserie programs at Le Cordon Bleu. Until that time, I have fun doing things my own way as a home cook.

As usual we will be taking your calls during the show at 877-864-4869. We would LOVE to hear from YOU!!

Here is a preview of what Christie will be sharing with us!

Chocolate Dipped Cheesecake Filled Strawberries

French Baguettes

It's that time again! Time to preview what I have in store this week on Around the Kitchen Sink Radio!

I have a jam-packed show this week and 2 very special guests.  This is American Craft Beer Week, so who better to have on than the owner of SunKing Brewery in Indianapolis

I am also excited to get a chance to chat with Tamre Mullins of Girls Pint Out.

Tamre Mullins is the founder of Girls Pint Out, a nationwide sisterhood of beer drinkers. Her love of beer began in 1999 studying abroad in Germany with a hefeweizen and she never looked back. The idea stemmed from attending local beer events and seeing a lack of women or attending "because my boyfriend brought me." The concept of Girls Pint Out is to provide educational events to give women the opportunity to learn about beer in an environment that is welcoming, undiscriminating, and promotes learning. Girls Pint Out is not a drinking club. Social events are mixed in to try out new establishments, hang out with the guys (who get quite jealous of girls only events!) and meet new people.  Through monthly events and online collaboration, women involved with Girls Pint Out have the opportunity and resources to become active the in the beer community. 

I will also be sharing a few of my favorite recipes involving some of my favorite Indiana brews.

Flank steak marinated in Bad Elmer's Porter

Flank steak with SunKing Osiris marinade

Beer Braised Pork Chops with Pears

Sunlight Cream Ale bread pudding

Please show some love to my wonderful sponsors!

Do you have a special memory of your mother? Do you have a funny story to tell? A kitchen mishap, a recipe gone wrong, a special 'food' that only MOM can make?

Well, if so then YOU are just what I need! I need some of you to call in to share your stories on Around the Kitchen Sink Radio on Thursday May 10 at 11 PM EST.

The number to call in is: 877-864-4869. I would LOVE to see the phone lines light up with your calls!

I will also be sharing the recipe to one of my husbands favorites from his childhood: Rhubarb Buckle Bars!

You can find this recipe here

See this recipe and many more at www.basilmomma.com 

Join Heather Tallman this week when she shares her own families Cinco de Mayo feast! First, she will be speaking with Jeff Dobbins, owner of No Name Salsa in Greenwood, Indiana.  Jeff will be sharing how he, and wife Rebecca, started this salsa company and about their huge following in Central Indiana!

I hope you bring your appetite because Heather is sharing a few of her recipes that are quick, easy and festive.

First up is a zesty Cilantro Rice, followed by 2 of her favorite salsa recipes: Roasted Tomato and Salsa Verde, A Creamy Avocado Sauce and to round out her favorites she has a family-friendly Strawberry Margarita Fizz and a Peach Mojito !

Please call Heather at 10 PM Central to share your favorite salsa recipe, most memorable 'Mexican' dish ar share your own Cinco de Mayo traditions at 877-864-4869 OR 903-881-5716

Join Heather for her debut of Around the Kitchen Sink on Thursday April 26th at 10 pm CST.

Her all star line up for this debut include:

Jon Acuff used to be a serial quitter.He had eight jobs in eight years, constantly hoping the next one would be different.

From writing advertising for The Home Depot to branding for companies like Bose and Staples, he's no stranger to the cubicle. In 2010, Jon closed the gap between his day job and his dream job when he joined the Dave Ramsey team to become a full-time author. He has contributed to CNN.com, speaks nationally on a variety of subjects, and is the author of three books: Quitter; Gazelles, Baby Steps And 37 Other Things Dave Ramsey Taught Me About Debt; and Stuff Christians Like.

BellaSole Foldaway flats was inspired by the many nights I had no option but to go barefoot after punishing my feet in those hot stilettos that my outfit just couldn't do without. But I was not alone. I saw many girls suffering the same fate night after night out on the town. If you are a fashionista like myself, beauty and style always triumph over comfort. Shoes really do complete an outfit. But the price of beautiful shoes more than likely comes at the expense of your sore feet.

Don't compromise beauty for comfort. With that in mind, I set out to design a foldable shoe that was not only compact in size, but also durable and stylish. And always with fashion in mind, BellaSole Foldaways offer the hottest colors that will go with any outfit with some added flare (check out our animal print inner sole!) Our convenient zipper pouch doubles as a wristlet, with a detachable strap. In addition to your Foldaway flats, you can also store your id, credit card, petty cash and lip gloss! Everything you need for a night out, all in a sleek package.

Share your story with Heather and BellaSole creator Tina and recieve 2 PAIR of BellaSole shoes! Listeners will also be given a code for 50% off a pair of their own!!

www.mybellasole.com

Heather will also share her the recipe for her famous 'Welcome' cake in honor of her first show!

Flourless chocolate cake on http://www.basilmomma.com/2011/01/chocolate-makes-girls-happy.html

Please take a second to show some love to my sponsors, who are lovingly advertising on my first show. They believed in me enough to take a chance, and I am truly appreciative!

Chaos is Bliss is written by Ann-Marie Rohe.

About Ann-Marie: After a career in advertising and marketing, Ann-Marie is now a SAHM of three fun-loving children. Always a deal seeker, she slowly took her basic couponing skills to the next level and began sharing tips with her friends. She started Chaos Is Bliss in 2010, where she blogs about money-saving deals to help families save not only on groceries, but all around the house.

www.ChaosisBliss.com

Jacqueline Wilson founded PrimeParentsClub.com in 2011. In just one short year
it has become the go-to resource for prime parents ages 35 and up. She is also the founder and executive director of Monkey Do Project.com to assist people in the most distressed areas of Appalachia, blogger at WritRams.com, and author of "The Real Truth About How Blogs Make Money" .

Tiffany Manley has written a new EBook about homeschooling, due out in May!
In her book titled "So, You Think You Wanna Home School" Tiffany will be sharing her simple, easy steps to get you started as well as many resources to make the start as easy as possible. Join her at www.starthomeschoolingnow.com.