We Have A Winner! (And Another, And Another…)

Thanks to everyone who played entered the contest this week. I hope you enjoyed the season premiere of “Come On Over!” and I know you are all anxiously awaiting the results of the drawing so here they are!

“Come On Over!” children’s t-shirt: Dan H.

“Come On Over!” adult t-shirt : Elaine L.

“Come On Over!” CD: Andrea C.

“Come On Over!” DVD: Colette M.

Family four pack admission to the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum: Jill K.

Each prize includes a cute “Come On Over!”goodie bag as well!
 

Congrats to the winners! You will be hearing from me soon via email to make arrangements.  Thanks to everyone who played; keep watching the show and reading Big Binder!

 “Come On Over!” © 2007 Enthusiastic Productions, LLC-founded by the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum and artist Joel Tanis (In JEST Ideas, LLC).

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What's The Word?

Albertus Xavier Hedgeworth III (a.k.a. Hedge from “Come On Over!”) teaches kids all about learning language.  He makes a ‘Good Word List’, and advises kids to look words up in the dictionary that they don’t know.

Hedge is the subject of today’s trivia contest.  You can find the answer on the “Come On Over!” Website. How many brothers and sisters does Hedge have?

Send me an email at bigbinderblog@gmail.com with your answer to enter. If you need to review the contest rules, click here to read Monday’s post.

Today is the last day of the contest.  Don’t forget to watch the show tomorrow morning at 7:30 AM on WOTV4. Winners will be announced tomorrow after the season premiere of “Come On Over!” right here on Big Binder.

Good luck! Thanks for playing!

 “Come On Over!” © 2007 Enthusiastic Productions, LLC-founded by the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum and artist Joel Tanis (In JEST Ideas, LLC).

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Best Friends Forever

Have you seen Joel’s Backyard Studio at the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum?  In the show “Come On Over!”, Joel spends lots of time in his backyard with his best friend, Brandy.

Today’s trivia question is:

What does Brandy’s Dad eat with everything? Go over to the “Come On Over!” Website; find the answer, and send it to me in an email at bigbinderblog@gmail.com.  If you need the rules, take a look at Monday’s post. 

Are you referring your best friends? Remember that for every person you refer, you get an extra entry to win prizes.

Good luck!

 “Come On Over!” © 2007 Enthusiastic Productions, LLC-founded by the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum and artist Joel Tanis (In JEST Ideas, LLC).

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The Contest Continues!

You probably already know that the band Jars of Clay‘s Dan Haseltine wrote the children’s book “The One, the Only Magnificent Me”. You probably don’t know that in the upcoming season of “Come On Over!” an episode is devoted to “Making Music.”  Not only is Jars of Clay featured; they even wrote an original song for it!

There is also a ‘house band’ on the show “Come On Over!”.  Head over to the Website, get the name of the band, and then email me at bigbinderblog@gmail.com with the answer to enter today’s contest.  If you need to see the rules for the contest, click on this link to Monday’s post with the rules.

Good luck!

 “Come On Over!” © 2007 Enthusiastic Productions, LLC-founded by the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum and artist Joel Tanis (In JEST Ideas, LLC).

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5 Reasons I Love This Show

Why do I love “Come On Over!”? Let me count thy ways… 

  1. It encourages kids to use their imagination, be creative, and have fun.
  2. It teaches them to explore the world and solve problems through play.
  3. It’s as local as berries in the spring and apples in the fall; yet Fred Willard is the show’s “Silliness Director”.
  4. The first episode was entitled, “Let’s Wrap Something In Tin Foil”.  What’s not to love about that?!
  5. The humor is appealing to kids and adults.  This season will have an episode called, “Laughter is the Best Medicine.”
  6. This brings us to today’s contest.  Someone on the show loves to tell knock knock jokes; who is it? Find out on the “Come On Over!” Website, then email me at bigbinderblog@gmail.com with the answer!

    If you need to see the contest rules, check out yesterday’s post.   Good luck!

     “Come On Over!” © 2007 Enthusiastic Productions, LLC-founded by the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum and artist Joel Tanis (In JEST Ideas, LLC).

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"Come On Over!"

I’m sure as parents of young kids you are all familiar with the locally produced show, “Come On Over!”.  This is such a great show; it originally launched in October 2006 and is already the winner of 6 Michigan Emmy ® Awards.  

Lucky us! After hard work filming episodes late this summer, “Come On Over!” returns this Saturday, October 20 at 7:30 AM on WOTV4 with a special premiere episode Wednesday, October 17th at 7:00PM.

To celebrate, Big Binder is having a week long contest with great giveaways generously provided by Enthusiastic Productions, LLC and the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum.  The prizes are:

  • “Come On Over!” children’s t-shirt
  • “Come On Over!” adult t-shirt
  • “Come On Over!” CD
  • “Come On Over!” DVD
  • Family four pack admission to the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum.

Each prize includes a cute “Come On Over!”goodie bag as well!

Today I’ll make it easy. To enter, simply take a peek at the “Come On Over!” Website and get familiar.  While you’re there, you can sign up for “Team Fun“.  Send me an email at bigbinderblog@gmail.com asking to be entered in today’s contest. That’s it! It will get more difficult. Tomorrow will begin the trivia contest, so get ready, get set, “Come On Over!”.

Contest  Rules:

  • This is a “Prize A Day” giveaway.  All entries must be made before 10:00PM EST Friday. 
  • One prize per household.
  • These are great prizes! You may increase your chances of winning by referring a friend.  When they enter, have them list you as a referral source using your blog name OR email address(for example, ‘Please enter me in today’s contest.  I was referred by MyMommy@email.com.  For each friend that submits an entry and lists you as a referral source, you will receive an additional entry.
  • Winners will be announced Saturday, October 20 on Big Binder immediately after the show.  Good luck!

 “Come On Over!” © 2007 Enthusiastic Productions, LLC-founded by the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum and artist Joel Tanis (In JEST Ideas, LLC).

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Menu Plan Monday

Here it is! Again a ‘freezer challenge’ week.  I also have a bag of potatoes I need to use up so there are lots of potato recipes. I have a pizza coupon handy just in case some of these creations don’t work out…

MONDAY

Sloppy Joes Sloppy Joes

  • 1 lb ground pork

  • 1 can sloppy joe mix

  • hamburger buns

You know what to do :)

Famous Potatoes

6 Idaho potatoes (2 1/2 lb.)
1/2 c. butter, melted
3/4 c. water
1 pkg. dry onion soup mix

Cut unpeeled potatoes into 1/4-inch slices. Mix together butter and water. Add onion soup mix; layer potatoes and liquid into a 2 quart casserole. Bake covered at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Served with jello made with canned fruit.

TUESDAY

Autumn Pork Chops 

Crockpot Pork Chops Supreme

  • 1 large onion, sliced

  • 4 to 6 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced

  • 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup

  • 4 to 6 pork chops, boneless or bone-in
    salt and pepper to taste 

Lightly spray slow cooker with butter or garlic flavored non-stick cooking spray. Put onions and potatoes in bottom of slow cooker. Top with pork chops, salt and pepper, pour soup over chops. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, until tender.

This recipe is is from About Southern Food.

Serve with green beans.

WEDNESDAY

Italian Chicken Lentil Soup

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs (I have chicken tenders – hopefully this will work out)

  • 1 medium onion — chopped (1/2 cup)

  • 1 medium zucchini — chopped (2 cups)

  • 4 medium carrots — sliced (2 cups)

  • 8 ounces dried lentils — sorted & rinsed (1 cup)

  • 4 1/2 cups chicken broth

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

  • 3 ounces sliced mushrooms — (1 cup)

  • 1 can diced tomatoes — (28 ounces) undrained

  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil — OR 1 tablespoon dried basil leaves

  • Shredded Parmesan cheese — if desired

Remove fat from chicken. Mix remaining ingredients except mushrooms, tomatoes, basil and cheese in 3 1/2- to 6 quart slow cooker. Add chicken.

Cover and cook on low heat setting 5 to 6 hours or until lentils are tender and chicken is no longer pink when centers of thickest pieces are cut.

Remove chicken from slow cooker. Use 2 forks to pull chicken into shreds. Return chicken to slow cooker. Stir in mushrooms and tomatoes. Cover and cook on low heat setting about 15 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with basil. Serve with cheese. 6 servings.

This recipe is from Just Slow Cooking.

THURSDAY

Wild Boar 

My dad gave us a piece of smoked, wild boar.  I don’t really know what to do with it, so am just going to treat it like a smoked country ham and fry it in my cast iron skillet, and serve it with biscuits and honey. 

FRIDAY

Halibut With Remoulade Sauce 

Halibut with Remoulade Sauce

My Dad also brought back some Halibut he caught in Alaska so I will be using that in this recipe. 

Remoulade Sauce:

  • 2/3 cup real mayonnaise

  • 2 to 3 green onions with 3 to 4 inches of green, finely chopped

  • 2 tablespoons finely minced fresh parsley

  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill

  • 1 clove garlic, finely minced, optional

  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

  • 3 tablespoons Creole mustard or similar whole grain mustard

  • 1 tablespoons bold and spicy mustard

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/8 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper

  • A few dashes of Tabasco or hot sauce, to taste

  • A few dashes of Worcestershire sauce.

Arrange the halibut in a lightly oiled baking dish.
Combine the remaining ingredients in a small bowl, blending well. Spread sauce over each fillet. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until fish is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.

This recipe is from About Southern Food.

Serve with peas.

Baked potatoes

Served with cheese, butter, bacon and chives as toppings.

For more Menu Plan Monday head over to I’m an Organizing Junkie!

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Yes – ANOTHER Contest!

I am so excited… in addition to having fun with your kids next week (be it 80 or 40 degrees outside…) you will get to have fun with Big Binder too. 

 Yes my readers, it is time for another contest! I am really excited about this and I know you are all going to love playing along. 

It is my anniversary weekend and my husband and I are going on a hot air balloon ride and the next day we are going on a wine tasting.  I will be back on Monday with a great contest.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Things to do next week:

20 SATURDAY: Celebration of the Book. 10AM-8PM.  Main library.

20  SATURDAY: Zoo Goes Boo! 10am-3pm. John Ball Park Zoo.

20 SATURDAY: Panopolous Salons, “Clip For the Cure” 8am-3pm.  $15 haircuts, and they are taking donations for breast cancer research.  OK this isn’t a kid event, but I still want to tell you about it :)

20 SATURDAY: Howl N’ Boo. 4PM-6PM. Grand Rapids Humane Society.

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Winter Bazaar

Winter Bazaar

Scribbit, a blog about motherhood – in Alaska – is hosting the “Winter Bazaar” on Wednesdays.  It started last week, but I am jumping in today. This month’s  theme is Halloween. 

I particularly appreciate this; as I am just not a Halloween person.  I have no idea why. My parents made elaborate costumes for us – including a homemade penguin costume complete with a paper maîche head and entire body ‘suit’ with a zipper up the front. Amazing.

I am getting some ideas from other bloggers about ways I can be more festive this Halloween season. For now, I offer a recipe I got from the Public Museum of Grand Rapids during the “Grossology” exhibit.  It’s called ”Worms In The Mud“.

Wiggle Worm Dirt Pudding 

Ingredients:

  • Instant chocolate pudding mix
  • Gummy worms
  • Chocolate graham crackers

Directions:

  1. Follow directions on the box of pudding mix.  Make sure there are no lumps.
  2. Put it in the refrigerator to set.
  3. When pudding is set, crumble up some graham crackers and mix them into the pudding. 
  4. Next, stir in some gummy worms, making sure they are covered in pudding.
  5. Divide pudding into four dishes, crumble some more graham crackers and lay a couple of worms on the top of each portion.

For more ideas, head over to Scribbit.

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Tasty Tuesday – Quickly

The kids got flu shots this morning and needed a little treat for good behavior, so we swung by Wealthy Street Bakery for Tasty Tuesday.  We weren’t there long.

Both of them were a little squirrely from the shots and the addition of a baked good to their system was probably not just what the Doctor ordered.

Nor was it to the liking of the other patrons, who were busy WiFi-ing on their laptops and conducting Important Meetings at other tables.  I had no idea this would be like taking children into a corporate boardroom, so we got ‘to go’ boxes and took off. 

A.P. had a really good cinnamon roll, and Maybelle chose a cookie that was about as big as her head.  I had biscotti and a coffee, and everything was very fresh and tasty.  I love a bakery that has a ‘schedule’ for its bread as it appeals to my sense of organization.

We’ll try it again, maybe in the afternoon when they start serving pizza. I have my eye on that chicken pesto pizza.  Maybe the suits will be gone by then :)

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