We have an ongoing fight in my house about the dishwasher. I think that everything should be rinsed well before it is put into the dishwasher. My husband thinks that the purpose of the dishwasher is to wash the dishes and we should not have to rinse them. We found our compromise in Cascade Complete All-in-1 Action Pacs.

I was skeptical at first when I got my package in the  mail from My Blog Spark. According to Cascade’s “24 Hour Challenge,” I could bake a blueberry cobbler and let the baking dish set out for 24 hours. Then, without ever rinsing it, I could put it in the dishwasher with a Cascade Complete and it would come out completely clean.

My family isn’t into blueberry cobbler, so I made a casserole. Normally I would let the dish sit in the sink for a few hours and rinse it out before I put it in the dishwasher. I would then use my special “casserole scrubbing” function on my dishwasher to aim the water right at the dish. Even then, it might not get perfectly clean. Most of the time, I never even bother putting the casserole dishes in the dishwasher because of that. This time, I did what the challenge said. No rinsing, no scrubbing. No special pot scrubber function. Just Cascade Complete and a normal wash.

How excited was I when it came out clean?? No stuck on food at all. I had always used the regular Cascade gel pacs before, but I am now a believer in the All-in-1 pacs. Will I stop rinsing my dishes? It’s not likely. I still don’t like them to sit in the dishwasher for a day or more with gross food on them. But I won’t be so worried about scrubbing them down. And I will be more likely to put the casserole dishes into the dishwasher rather than scrubbing them by hand.

Have you tried Cascade Complete All-in-1 ActionPacs? What has your experience been? Tell me below plus get entered to win a Walmart Gift Card!

Want to win a $25 Walmart Gift Card so that you can try Cascade Complete yourself?

To Enter:

1) Leave a comment below telling us what you most hate to wash off your dirty dishes (one entry).

2) Twitter about the contest and leave a comment below with your Tweet (one entry).

3) Sign up for our newsletter on the right and leave a comment below (e-mail will be verified) (one entry).

4) Blog about this contest and leave your link to the post below (two entries).

Drawing will take place May 18 at noon Eastern. Must be a US Resident, age 18 or older to enter. Winner will be notified via e-mail and have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

**Legal Disclaimer: This product review was based on using complimentary Cascade product provided by P&G. Bloggers also received a Walmart gift card to share with their readers. P&G does not represent or warrant the accuracy of any of the statements or product claims made here, nor does it endorse any opinions expressed within this blogsite.

I love to cook in my crockpot (I think we’re supposed to call them “slow cookers” now). The hard part is that not a lot of crockpot meals fit my Weight Watchers points. One of my favorite cookbooks, however, is nothing but healthy and low fat recipes that you can make in your crockpot. It’s called Fix-It and Forget-It Lightly. They have a whole line of slow cooker cookbooks, but this is the one with the great low fat recipes.

What I do is go through and pick out a handful of recipes and run them through the Weight Watchers point counter. Then I write the point totals into the book so that the next time I cook, I don’t have to look them up again. I also write in any alterations that I have made.

Tonight we are having Taco Soup. It’s a lot like chili except a little more soup-like in consistency and includes a ranch dressing packet, which gives it an extra kick. It’s 5 points a serving and everyone in my family loves it. We also make the Chicken Soft Tacos regularly as well as the Chicken and Dumplings. The key is just testing things out and then leaving notes in your margins so you know what to go back to later. With hundreds of recipes, you will be cooking new healthy and light recipes in your crockpot for your family for months to come!

You can pick up Fix-It and Forget-It Lightly at Amazon or most book sellers.

While I have to admit that the thought of wearing an apron all the time makes me think about June Cleaver, I also have to admit that on occasion, an apron is a necessity. For example, when I am working with flour, I tend to get it everywhere. Given that I wear a lot of black and navy blue, I am a mess by the time I get done baking. There are also some things that I make that I need to wipe my hands a lot and it is easier to have a fresh apron on than to constantly keep reaching for a towel. When my girls are in the kitchen with me, I often give them aprons because they are bound to spill something on themselves. The dye from sugar cookie icing is the worst! I’m always worried that something will stain their clothes when they are helping me.

Flirty Aprons has some great alternatives to old-fashioned aprons. They have aprons for both adults and kids (including just a couple for dad). My personal favorite is the “Sassy Black.” Who wouldn’t wear something called “Sassy Black”??

They also have a nice variety of flowers and fruits…and cupcakes! Even better, they have some coupons available. For a limited time, use coupon code FA-4110B to save 40% on Mother’s Day aprons! (ends 5/12/2010) Flirty Aprons would make a cute gift for Mother’s Day or even Valentine’s Day. Pair it with a cookbook, a box of chocolates, or both!

I just saw a commercial for Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil and did a double take. In a time when other companies are making boxes smaller and charging you the same price, Reynolds is actually including 5 extra feet of foil in marked packages. With the holidays coming and all of the foil that I use, it is perfect timing!

I also found some other interesting information when I visited the Reynolds website. They have developed a new space saving box that is more durable and houses the foil better. Did you know that all Reynolds foil is made in Louisville, Kentucky and Richmond, Virginia? The aluminum itself is made in Hot Springs, Arkansas. A true Made in the USA product!

I will be the first to admit that every now and again when I need a lot of foil I buy the generic version. But I think this year I want to give my business back to Reynolds and support a company that is doing its best to do right by its customers. You can see the Reynolds 5 Feet Free commercial on their website.

I’m reposting this recipe because summer is here and the Low Country Boil is one of our favorite things to do as a family. We originally had this at the Edmunds’ Family Low Country Boil at the Disney Vacation Club in Hilton Head a couple of years ago. These are not the exact recipes that we had at Disney, but they are really similar and delicious. We have started a new 4th of July tradition as a result of the Low Country Boil! We initially tried to cook it in a big outdoor pot, but it took too long. So we switched to a turkey fryer and it worked much better. (Click here to find Turkey Fryers at Amazon.com)

Low Country Shrimp Boil Recipe from Chef Rick

Ingredients:

1/2 lb. Keilbasa per person
1/2 lb. Raw shrimp in shell per person
3 Red bliss potatoes per person
1 Ear of corn per person
2 Lemons
Cayenne pepper
Cloves
Garlic
Bay leaves
Old Bay Seasoning
Black pepper
TabascoOptional:
2 Small onions per person
1 Carrot cut into 4ths per person
1-2 crabs per person

Boil water in a large kettle on stove or outdoor cooker. Season water with salt and your choice of above flavorings along with the juice of two lemons or 2 tablespoons of vinegar. Add potatoes and cook for 10 minutes. Add carrots, sausage and onions. Bring back to a boil. When potatoes and carrots are almost tender, add corn and crabs. Bring to a boil, then add shrimp. Cook a few minutes until shrimp are just done – they will be pink in color. Drain and pour into a basket or onto platters. Have cocktail sauce and Dijon mustard at hand. This is a crowd pleaser!

Low Country Boil Recipe from Group Recipes

Ingredients: 

Directions:

We have been on vacation for the last week and that meant lots of fast food and processed foods. I’m ready to get back into the grind and start making family meals again. I set out to find some quick and easy recipes to add to my collection. I like to plan all of my meals at the beginning of the week and go grocery shopping one time for everything. This helps keep my grocery costs down plus lessens the chance that we will eat out because I can’t find anything to fix.

A big hit at our house is Lasagna. If you find the right Lasagna Recipe, you can even make some minor modifications to it like using low fat cheeses. Or make the pan the night before and put it in the fridge. Then pop it in the oven to bake about an hour before dinner time. We always serve our lasagna with salad and a loaf of multigrain bread. That ensures we get some extra fiber with the meal.

Although cooking for the family does take a little time, you will be so satisfied when you sit down to the meal. And with a dinner like lasagna, you are almost sure to have some leftovers–a perfect lunch the next day!