Friday, March 12, 2010

1 The Princess and the Frog: Tiana’s Cookbook


Disney’s THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG Blu-ray & DVD release on March 16th! So if you plan to buy this movie for your little Princess or Prince, be prepared, and make a day of it! Here is a recipe from Tiana!

Tiana’s Famous Beignets
Makes 14 to 16
(pages 6-7 in The Princess and the Frog: Tiana’s Cookbook)


Reprinted from the book DISNEY’S THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG TIANA’S COOKBOOK RECIPES FOR KIDS. Copyright © 2009 Disney Enterprises, Inc. Published by Disney Press, an imprint of Disney Book Group.

INGREDIENTS: 3 cups flour 1/3 cup sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1 cup buttermilk 1/3 cup water 1 egg, beaten 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Vegetable oil, for frying Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting DIRECTIONS: 1. In a medium bowl, combine 23/4 cups of the flour with the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg. Whisk everything together. 2. In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, water, egg, and vanilla extract. Stir in the flour mixture from Step 1. 3. Use some of the remaining flour to dust your work surface. Place the dough on it and pat it into a large 1/2 -inch-thick square. Dust the top with more flour if it gets sticky. Next, slice the dough into 21/2 -inch squares. 4. Now it’s time to fry the beignets—be sure to ask an adult to help you! Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil in a heavy saucepan on the stovetop until the temperature reaches 325° on a deep-fat thermometer. Check the temperature every so often while cooking. If it gets too hot, temporarily turn the heat down, or off. 5. Carefully drop 3 dough squares at a time into the hot oil. Fry them for 3 minutes, turn them over, and continue frying for 3 more minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the beignets to a wire rack set atop paper towels to drain. Dust the beignets with confectioners’ sugar, and enjoy!

TIANA’S FAIRY TALE INGREDIENTS

These important ingredients are part of every good story. Write your very own FAIRY TALE. Remember – every fairy tale starts with “Once upon a time…”

A MAGICAL KINGDOM

Every princess resides in a special world or kingdom. This can be an enchanted forest or a bustling city like New Orleans, where jazz music flows in the streets and the food is always tasty!
Describe what is special about the KINGDOM in your story:


REMEMBER – your everyday world can be a magical kingdom as well!

A PRINCESS OR PRINCE

Every fairy tale has a princess or prince who is the main character of the story. THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG is the story of how Tiana met her prince Naveen, and what they learned along the way.
Who is the PRINCESS or PRINCE in your story?


REMEMBER – your main character is the hero of your story!

A SPECIAL DREAM

There is a special want, goal or dream that every princess is working to accomplish. Tiana’s dream is to open her own restaurant.
What is your main character’s SPECIAL DREAM?


REMEMBER – this can be a simple wish or a big dream, but it is always special!

A DIFFICULT CHALLENGE

Every princess has some obstacle or challenge that they must overcome before they can fulfill their fairy tale dreams. Tiana’s biggest obstacle to fulfilling her dreams is to transform back into a human and to open her restaurant.
What is your hero’s greatest CHALLENGE?


REMEMBER – it might take a long time to overcome some challenges, but keep at it!

FRIENDS & HELPERS

Whether it’s a helpful group of mice, enchanted dishes or a magical fairy godmother, it’s important to have friends who can help you with your challenges and dreams. Tiana has her bayou friends- Ray, Louis and Charlotte- who all help to achieve her dream.
Who are the FRIENDS & HELPERS in your story?


REMEMBER – in order to have good friends & helpers, your main character must be a good friend and helper to others.

A FAIRY GODMOTHER

Tiana has Mama Odie as her Bayou Fairy Godmother. These special characters have a magical way of helping our main character learn and grow as they go through challenges and obstacles.
Who is your FAIRY GODMOTHER or GODFATHER?


REMEMBER – this can be a wise teacher, parent or special mentor who helps your main character along the way.

A LITTLE MAGIC
Every fairy tale has a little magic added to it for good measure. Tiana’s transformation from a frog to a princess took a little magic and some hard work as well!
What hard work will your characters have to do to make LITTLE MAGIC happen?


REMEMBER – Magical transformations are possible, but they take time and involve a lot of hard work as well!


Thank you to Disney and Click Communications for this information. I was in no way compensated for this post.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

1 Curious George 2 : Follow That Monkey DVD

CURIOUS GEORGE 2: FOLLOW THAT MONKEY is an all-new feature-length animated film that premiered on DVD on March 2, 2010 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

Not only is this Curious little monkey as timelessly as cute as ever, he, along with his many friends teach a great lesson! I loved watching this with my daughter. She was very involved in watching and I enjoyed listening to her pretend play when the movie had finished.

Universal City, California (January 12, 2010) – Buckle up for an unforgettable experience when Curious George and his friends embark on a hilarious madcap cross country adventure in Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey, an all-new feature-length animated film available only on DVD on March 2, 2010 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Filled with the delightful antics, gentle humor and heartfelt emotion that have captivated the hearts of families around the world, Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey includes a menagerie of entertaining bonus features: Two never-before-seen shows from the all-new TV season on PBS that does not air until Fall 2010, a brand new interactive game, an exclusive music video and more. Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey is priced at $19.95 SRP.

As an added savings value to consumers for a limited time, a $5 grocery cash check card mail-in offer will be included in DVD copies of Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey and the purchase of the DVD includes an instant $3 savings towards any Curious George catalog, TV or DVD title purchased in tandem.

In this sidesplittingly funny and heartwarming sequel to the hit 2006 animated feature, George sets out on a coast-to-coast journey to reunite Kayla, a homesick elephant, with her family. Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey features all-star voice talent including Tim Curry (“The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius,” Home Alone 2: Lost in New York), Jamie Kennedy (Kickin’ It Old School, Malibu's Most Wanted), Matt Lauer (“Today Show”), Frank Welker (“Curious George” TV series, “Futurama,”) and comedy legend Jerry Lewis, plus music from legendary songwriter Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.

BONUS FEATURES

  • Two Never Before Seen Bonus Shows from the all-new TV season! See the premiere episode 6 months before it airs!
  • Curious George’s Cross Country Caper Game – It’s more fun than a barrel of you-know-what when George and Kayla go on the run with security specialist Marcus Wolfe hot on their trail! Exciting puzzles lead the way from New York to California so Kayla can visit her brother and sister. But be careful—a wrong answer could bring the Wolfe right to their door!
  • Hold On, Here We Go – Exclusive Music Video
  • Coloring Pages and Wallpapers

Children and parents everywhere have delighted in Curious George’s adventures for nearly seven decades. Created by Margret and H.A. Rey in 1941, Curious George has provided the inspiration for a flourishing line of educational and entertaining properties that includes “Curious George and the Golden Meatball,” an original live musical stage show currently touring the U.S., as well as the popular and critically acclaimed PBS children’s program, a line of original books, interactive games and toys, and an interactive attraction at the Universal Hollywood theme park.

SYNOPSIS

The world’s most beloved and inquisitive monkey is back in Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey, the fun-filled sequel to the hit animated movie. Join Curious George and The Man with the Yellow Hat as they set out on a madcap cross-country adventure to reunite Kayla, a homesick elephant, with her family. This unlikely trio faces all types of comic calamities and colorful characters and in the end, learn that with family, friends and determination, you can achieve anything. Featuring the voices of Tim Curry, Matt Lauer, Jamie Kennedy and Jerry Lewis, Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey, “proves that family, friends – and curiosity – are number one.” (Francine Brokaw, Los Angeles Family Magazine)

For additional information visit www.curiousgeorge.com
http://www.curiousgeorge.com> or www.facebook.com/curiousgeorgehttp://www.facebook.com/curiousgeorge>

I was given a copy of this DVD from Click Communications for review. The opinions stated in this post are my own, and I was in no way compensated for them or this review.


1 Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! and Michele Kwan Go for Gold



It has been Wow!Wow! Wubbzy! in our house for a couple weeks now! The new DVD,
Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! and Michelle Kwan Go for Gold, was released just in time for the Olympics! The DVD is packed with 7 different episodes! In the main feature Wubbzy and Michele Kwan teach kids good sportsmanship, and how to play nice as a team! This is a must have. My daughter is a big fan of Wubbzy, and so am I. Wubbzy is a lesson filled episode each time, and I love watching my daughter learn from those lessons!

"Wubbzy, the cute and quirky bendy-tailed star of the Emmy® Award-winning Nick Jr. TV series Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!, is pumped up and ready to go for gold in the newest installment of the best-selling DVD series from Anchor Bay Entertainment! Starring Michelle Kwan as Michelle Kwanzleberry and Tiki Barber as Touchdown Tiki, “Go for Gold” shoots for the stars with a high-energy, fun-filled collection of athletic-themed episodes that will get kids and families laughing, singing, and moving along.

Wubbzy and his pals start getting geared up to compete in the big event, the Wuzzleburg Wacky Dash, and Michelle advises them to prepare, practice, and have fun! While Wubbzy, Widget, and Walden all devise shortcuts they hope will help them reach the finish line the fastest, Daizy helps her friends – and young viewers – learn that slow and steady wins the race!

The new 82-minute DVD features special coloring and activity pages and music videos to get kids moving."


I was given a copy of this DVD by the manufacturer and/or it's PR company. The reviews and opinions expressed in this post are my own. I, in no way was compensated for this review.