MasterChef Junior Giveaway

It's hard to find shows to watch with the kids right now. At 10 and 7, their tastes and ours don't mesh very often. So we were excited to hit on something that we could all agree on: MasterChef Junior. Bob and I have been watching various Gordon Ramsey shows for years, particularly relishing the uncensored British series, which made it hard for us to imagine he could tone down his famously pottymouthed persona for such young competitors.

MasterChef Junior gives the best junior home cooks in America the chance to showcase their culinary abilities and passion for food through a series of delicious challenges. Each episode, host and award-winning chef Gordon Ramsay is joined by restaurateur Joe Bastianich and acclaimed chef Graham Elliot on the MasterChef Junior judging panel.

The season premiered on Tuesday, January 6th with 19 contestants showing off their kitchen skills. These kids made their own pasta, then created sauces for them. From scratch. For real. And with enviable precision and spectacular plating. We were duly impressed. The kids are all amazing and Gordon is remarkably sweet with them. The whole show makes you want to get into the kitchen as a family and practice chiffonades, or something.



MasterChef Junior Season 3 airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on FOX. To celebrate the season, they've put together ‘warm winter’ kits containing everything you need to bundle up with family and whip up a steaming cup of decadent hot chocolate to settle in for a night in front of the TV watching America’s most talented young chefs. In addition to a selection of ingredients to make your own gourmet hot chocolate, the kit will also include recipes for delicious as well as a blank recipe card so you can jot down your own family favorite or let the show inspire a new masterpiece.

They've graciously provided me with a kit for our family, as well as a kit to give away to one of my readers– US only, please. The kit contains MasterChef Junior mugs, hot chocolates on a stick, various toppings and recipe cards. (FYI the hot chocolates on a stick are awesome stirred into coffee…)

Enter for a chance to win using the form below:

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In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received samples to facilitate this review, but no compensation was provided. All opinions are, as usual, strictly my own.

Parenting Advice 101 from The Americans

We binge-watched the first season of FX's The Americans last week. Its '80s throwback nostalgia (Everyone looks like people from when you were little! Walkmans and feathered hair!) combined with a hearty dose of Cold War sleeper cell intrigue is pretty irresistible. 

At its heart, The Americans is a family soap opera– two undercover KGB agents form a picture perfect American family in the DC suburbs. They have marital issues, annoying kids, problems at work. And an incredible array of disguises. The wigs are super amazing.

The first season of The Americans is now available on Blu-ray and DVD, just in time for you to catch up before season 2 arrives on February 26th! 

This trailer will give you an idea of what you're missing. Starts off with some NSFW language, if that sort of thing bothers you. Actually, if a little swearing or sex bothers you, this might not be the show for you. I, for one, can't wait!

“The Americans” Season 1
Secrets can be deadly in this suspenseful thriller about undercover Russian spies in 1980s Washington. Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell) seem to be a typical suburban couple, but they’re actually lethal KGB agents plotting to bring down America. As the Cold War escalates, Philip and Elizabeth must take extreme measures to continue their mission and keep their true identities hidden. But when an FBI agent moves in across the street, they become ensnared in a pulse-pounding game of cat and mouse.

A Late Quartet - Available Now on Blu-Ray and DVD

The critically acclaimed A Late Quartet starring Christopher Walken, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener and Mark Ivanir is now available on Blu-ray and DVD. The piece of sheet music below is an interactive rendering of Beethoven's Opus 131, the piece featured in the film. Each of the seven movements are represented by music and a clip that relates from the film as the music piece reflects what's happening in the characters' lives.



Click here to listen to the official A Late Quartet page on RDIO, which features playlists from writer/director Yaron Zilberman and co-star/acclaimed musician Nina Lee.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I am posting this because I think the movie looks good. No compensation was provided for this post. If you click on the link and buy something, I might earn a few pennies. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.