Heaps of Giveaways - Linky! 10/31

It's Heaps of Giveaways! Link your giveaways here and enter heaps of others! Take a chance on heaps of great stuff to win from these great blogs! Come link up or enter every Sunday. Don't forget to enter my current giveaways here at One 2 Try. Have fun.


To participate:
Simply enter your Blog Name – Prize – Expiration Date in the “Your Name” box and your Blog Giveaway URL in the “Your URL” box. Please be sure to link directly to the giveaway. Thanks everyone.

Apple iPad - Now available at Verizon Wireless

Beginning today 10/28, Verizon Wireless customers can purchase the Apple® iPad™ at any of the more than 2,000 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores nationwide.

Verizon Wireless will offer three bundles, all featuring an iPad Wi-Fi model and a Verizon MiFi™ 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot, for a suggested retail price of $629.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 16 GB + MiFi, $729.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 32 GB + MiFi, and $829.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 64 GB + MiFi. Verizon Wireless is offering a monthly access plan to customers who purchase an iPad with a MiFi beginning at 1 GB of data for just $20 monthly access. In addition, Verizon Wireless will also offer all three iPad Wi-Fi models on a stand-alone basis.

iPad customers can use the Verizon MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot and Verizon Wireless’ 3G network to browse the Web, read and send e-mail, enjoy and share photos, watch HD videos, listen to music, play games, read e-books, and much more, all using iPad’s revolutionary Multi-Touch™ user interface on the go, wherever they are in Verizon Wireless’ nationwide 3G coverage area.

The MiFi 2200 is small enough to fit in a pocket and allows customers to create a personal Wi-Fi cloud capable of sharing the high-speed Internet connectivity of the Verizon Wireless 3G Mobile Broadband network with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices.

For additional information on Apple’s iPad together with Verizon Wireless’ MiFi 2200, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/splash/ipad.jsp, go to a Verizon Wireless Communications Store or call 1-800-2 JOIN IN.

As for me, an iPad is on my wish list.

Disclosure: No monetary compensation was offered or accepted for this post. Just passing on the information provided.

Cookbook Corner: 300 Best Casserole Recipes - Giveaway (ends 11/6)

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With the cooler weather it makes it easier to use the oven for cooking. I am sure many of you are great casserole cooks. I love making casseroles. Here is a wonderful new cookbook filled with amazing casserole recipes. 300 Best Casserole Recipes by Tiffany Collins.



I have a few family favorite casseroles I make. I wish I could be more adventurous in my casseroles but in my family, I have picky eaters. They are hard to please with certain ingredients in casseroles. My guys simply want meat and potatoes. I, on the other hand, love rich creamy casseroles. Browsing through 300 Best Casseroles Recipes - I found quite a few recipes to please my guys and myself. On the dedacent side, I would love to make the Spicy Shrimp and Grits casserole or the South of the Border Pork Chop Casserole. For the guys, I like the idea of Beef Burgundy or Italian Beef Pie. Now those they would eat.

A few other tempting recipes:

Black Bean Enchilada Casserole
Bacon and Leek quiche
Stuffed Spareribs
Paella with sausage
Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese

King Ranch CasseroleLeftover beef brisket is sensational in this traditional casserole. Many recipes call for ground beef, but the brisket makes this casserole hearty and flavorful.

Makes 8 to 10 Servings
Equipment: 13- by 9-inch (33 by 23 cm) baking dish, greased
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup chopped onion
2⁄3 cup chopped red bell pepper
2⁄3 cup chopped green bell pepper
2⁄3 cup chopped yellow bell pepper
2 tbsp chopped jalapeño pepper
1 tsp salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp chili powder
1 can (12 oz/375 g) evaporated milk
1 can (10 oz/300 g) diced tomatoes and green chiles
1 can (103⁄4 oz/305 g) condensed beef broth
5 cups shredded cooked beef brisket
12 6-inch corn tortillas, 12 cut into quarters
3 cups shredded sharp (old) Cheddar

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C)
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Sauté garlic, onion, red, green and yellow peppers and jalapeño for 7 to 9 minutes or until tender.
Stir in salt, pepper, cumin, garlic powder and chili powder. Add evaporated milk, tomatoes and green chilies and broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in beef.
Place half the tortillas along bottom of prepared baking dish. Top with half the beef mixture and half the cheese. Repeat layers, ending with cheese.
Cover with foil and bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 5 minutes.

Tips: Substitute whole milk for the evaporated milk in a pinch, but the casserole will not be as a rich.
Serve with black bean and corn salsa and a guacamole salad. Don’t forget the frozen margaritas!

Excerpted from 300 BEST CASSEROLE RECIPES by Tiffany Collins. © 2010 Robert Rose Inc. www.robertrose.ca Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.

There are many different categories in 300 Best Casserole Recipes plus amazing tips for the basics of casserole making. You will find breakfast casseroles, vegetable, seafood, chicken casserole recipes. For those meat eaters there are pork and beef casserole recipes. Included are healthier casseroles and recipes that kids will like, plus my favorite section, desserts. Mmmm. There is a casserole for everyone. Casseroles are true comfort food. With 300 Best Casserole Recipes you can make new family favorites.

You can purchase 300 Best Casserole Recipes at Amazon, Barnes and Noble or check with your local bookseller.



ISBN-10: 0778802469
ISBN-EAN: 9780778802464
Price (USD): $24.95
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 376

***Giveaway Closed***
Here is your chance to win. I would love ONE lucky reader to have this copy of 300 Best Casserole Recipes. Make something delicious!

Mandatory Entry (First entry)
--Tell me in a comment your favorite casserole.
--Include your email address (if not public in a profile) so I can contact you if you win.

Additional optional entries: Eligible after completing mandatory entry above: You can do any or all of the following for one entry each. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done.

--Subscribe to my blog and verify the subscription. Current subscribers are eligible too.

--Follow my blog (see the right side bar to sign up) Already a follower, just leave a comment saying that you are a follower.

--Follow One 2 Try on Twitter. Current followers are eligible too, just leave a comment saying that you are a twitter follower.

--Tweet about this giveaway and leave a link to your tweet (Can tweet once daily).

--Like One 2 Try on Facebook.

--FOR 5 EXTRA ENTRIES - Write a blog post about this giveaway, with a link to my blog. Come back and leave the link to your blog post. Post FIVE separate comments that you've blogged about this.

Giveaway ends on November 6th, 2010 at 11:59 PM Pacific time. Open to Continental US addresses only. No PO Boxes. Must be 18 years of age and over. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by email. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. To be fair to everyone, comments not meeting requirements will be deleted. Rules.

Disclosure: I received a gratis copy for this review and giveaway. No monetary compensation was offered or accepted for this post. The opinions above are my own. Others experience may vary.

Halloween Tricks and Treats from Allrecipes.com

Boooooo. Those goblins and ghosts are coming this weekend. Need some ideas on what to make? Turn to Allrecipes.com.

Visit the Halloween Headquarters for easy party treats, morbid munchies, ghastly goodies and strange brews sure to please the ghoul in everyone.

Allrecipes.com has printable Halloween cookbook available plus a Haunted Gingerbread House Template.

Yum - Bat Wing Soup anyone? Black Magic Cake?

Have a Fangtastic Halloween!

Disclosure: No monetary compensation was offered or accepted for this post. Just passing on the information provided.

Cookbook Corner: Baked Explorations - Review

I have a new cookbook title to share with you. Baked Explorations: Classic American Desserts Reinvented by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito.


Matt and Renato had a dream to own a bakery. Taking the idea they made the leap from the world of advertising to open Baked in Brooklyn, NY. At Baked, the menu features American desserts going beyond just cupcakes. Baked is now a well known, nationally recognized award winning bakery. The baking talents of Matt and Renato appeared in their first cookbook - Baked published in 2008. Baked Explorations is their second book.

Baked Explorations is a beautifully composed cookbook. The classic feel is apparent in the theme. The many full color photos are enticing, and will have you drooling. The chapters include Breakfast, Tarts and Pies, Cookies and Bars, Cakes and Confections and Pastry. Each turn of the page brought another mmmmmmm. As I was exploring all the fabulous recipes, I must say I was a little intimidated by some of the ingredients. Some of the recipes do contain ingredients I would not have in my kitchen all the time, but surprisingly most of the recipes can be made in the average kitchen.



What I enjoyed about Baked Explorations is the wonderful warm stories about each recipe. Matt and Renato share their memory of that particular recipe. It adds a personal touch. On to the recipes!

A sampling of the recipes inside Baked Explorations:

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
New York-Style Crumb Cake
Double Chocolate Loaf with Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Spread
Almond Joy Tart
Whiskey Pear Tart
Heartland Turtle Bars
Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
and many more mouthwatering recipes.

Here is a recipe you can try:

sweet & salty brownie
yield: 12 large brownies or 24 small brownies

Ingredients
for the filling
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
½ cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon fleur de sel
1/4 cup sour cream

for the brownie
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons dark unsweetened cocoa powder (like Valrhona)
11 ounces quality dark chocolate (60 to 72%), coarsely chopped
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into
1-inch cubes
1 ½ cups sugar
½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
5 large eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

for the assembly
1 ½ teaspoons fleur de sel
1 teaspoon coarse sugar

make the caramel
In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar and corn syrup with . cup water, stirring them together carefully so you don't splash the sides of the pan. Cook over high heat until an instant-read thermometer reads 350 degrees F, or until the mixture is dark amber in color (keep a close eye on the caramel at all times, as it goes from golden brown to black and burnt very quickly), 6 to 8 minutes. Remove for the heat, and slowly add the cream (careful, it will bubble up) and then the fleur de sel. Whisk in the sour cream. Set aside to cool.

make the brownie
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Butter the sides and bottom of a glass or light-colored metal 9-by-13-inch pan. Line the bottom with a sheet of parchment paper, and butter the parchment.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and cocoa powder.

Place the chocolate and butter in the bowl of the double boiler set over a pan of simmering water, and stir occasionally until the chocolate and butter are completely melted and combined. Turn off the heat, but keep the bowl over the water of the double boiler, and add both sugars. Whisk until completely combined and remove the bowl from the pan. The mixture should be at room temperature.

Add three eggs to the chocolate mixture and whisk until just combined. Add the remaining eggs and whisk until just combined. Add the vanilla and stir until combined. Do not overbeat the batter at this stage, or your brownies will be cakey.

Sprinkle the flour mixture over the chocolate. Using a spatula, fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until there is just a trace amount of the flour mixture visible.

assemble the sweet & salty brownie
Pour half of the brownie mixture into the pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Drizzle about 3⁄4 cup of the caramel sauce over the brownie layer in a zigzag pattern, taking care to make sure the caramel does not come in contact with the edges of the pan or it will burn. Use your offset spatula to spread the caramel evenly across the brownie layer. In heaping spoonfuls, scoop the rest of the brownie batter over the caramel layer. Smooth the brownie batter gently to cover the caramel layer.

Bake the brownies for 30 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the baking time, and check to make sure the brownies are completely done by sticking a toothpick into the center of the pan. The brownies are done when the toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.

Remove the brownies from the oven and sprinkle with the fleur de sel and coarse sugar.

Cool the brownies completely before cutting and serving.

The brownies can be stored, tightly wrapped at room temperature, for up to 4 days.

Recipe courtesy of Baked Explorations and Abrams Books.

As soon as I get my hands on the fleur de sel, I will be making these scrumptious brownies. I have a bunch of recipes bookmarked for my fall baking.

I really enjoyed Baked Explorations from cover to cover. It truly is a collection of great American classic desserts. A wonderful representation of flavors. For more information about Baked visit the website.

Stay Connected with Baked
Facebook
Twitter

You can purchase Baked Explorations: Classic American Desserts Reinvented from Abrams Books, Amazon or check with your local bookseller. Books make great gifts!



Authors: By Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito; photographs by Tina Rupp
Imprint: Stewart, Tabori & Chang
ISBN: 1-58479-850-5
EAN: 9781584798507

Many thanks to Abrams Books for providing the review copy.

Disclosure: I received a gratis copy for this review. No monetary compensation was offered or accepted for this post. The opinions above are my own. Others experience may vary.

Lucky Winners to Announce!

215 Timestamp: 2010-10-25 13:40:33 UTC

Purina Cat Chow
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
46 Timestamp: 2010-10-25 13:45:28 UTC

46. Betty C

Congrats to all the winners! Check your emails for your notification I have just sent. A friendly reminder to all - please make sure your email is public in your profile or placed in your entry comments. It makes me sad when I choose someone and they forgot the email. Thanks everyone for participating.

Heaps of Giveaways - Linky! 10/24

It's Heaps of Giveaways! Link your giveaways here and enter heaps of others! Take a chance on heaps of great stuff to win from these great blogs! Come link up or enter every Sunday. Don't forget to enter my current giveaways here at One 2 Try. Have fun.

To participate:
Simply enter your Blog Name – Prize – Expiration Date in the “Your Name” box and your Blog Giveaway URL in the “Your URL” box. Please be sure to link directly to the giveaway. Thanks everyone.

Pretty Pretty Please - Part two!

I am shamelessly asking again for the final push big favor from all my readers. I need comments on my Bake for the Cure recipes posts to help me win a contest. I could be pretty close so every comment counts. Pretty please leave a comment on each post for me. All it takes is a simple comment like Yum! How easy is that!

Here are the first 4 recipe posts (many of you have already commented):
Cherry Streusel Coffeecake
Jumbo Chocolate Crackle Cookies
Chocolate Scotcheroos
Bourbon Corn Pudding

Here are the last 4 recipes recently posted. I really need your comments.

S'mores Bars - Enter the Giveaway Too! Extended until Sunday!
One Dish Raspberry Cheesecake
Pineapple Squares
Pink Ladies Sugar Cookies

If you have already commented, thank you so very much! I really appreciate it. Thanks in advance everyone for helping me, most of all enjoy the recipes!

If I could send you all a piece of whatever I am baking, I would!

Bake it Forward: You can participate! - (ends 11/1)

The process is simple:
* Register your Bake it Forward tin
* Fill up the tin with your homemade goodies and send it along to someone who needs a smile.
* Your recipient will register the tin so you can track where your tin has been. Once they are finished with your scrumptious goodies, it is their turn to fill the tin and pass it along, and so on.

Share a moment of sweetness with someone. Join the worldwide movement of caring. Bake it Forward!

I love this idea! I am proud to be a part of Imperial Sugar's Bake it Forward. I have a special place in my heart for Imperial Sugar from a lovely visit I had a while back. I had the opportunity to meet the wonderful people of Imperial Sugar. I spent a day with Chef Eddy making amazing pastries. Everyone at Imperial Sugar lives up to its sweet reputation.

Bake it Forward is an easy way to spread good feelings. I am participating by sending filled to the brim with home baked goods tins, to four good friends. I chose these friends because they are so busy all the time. Having a cookie with a good cup of coffee, let's them stop for a brief moment and smile. It let's them know I am thinking of them. I hope the smile I gave them inspires them to make a batch of cookies for someone else. It will be interesting to watch the travels of the tins. I wonder how far they will go!

Glencara Irish Jewelry - Giveaway (ends 11/5)

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Mighty Leaf Tea - Giveaway (ends 11/1)

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Bombay Chai: Black Tea with the spices of pepper, orange, cinnamon, cardamom and clove. The spice blend is very similar to the usual pumpkin spices.

Rainforest Mate: Herbal tea infused with spices and fruit for an energizing tea.

Vanilla Bean: Black tea with rich Madagascar vanilla.

Chocolate Mint Truffle: Caffeine-free rooibos tea blended with chocolate cacao nibs, and mint.

Matcha Green tea: Powdered green tea, high in antioxidants. Used in Japanese tea ceremonies as well as recipes.

I loved tasting all these fine flavors of Mighty Leaf Tea. Each tea had its own unique qualities. My favorite of the teas is the Chocolate Mint Truffle. The cocoa is light and the mint brings a refreshing zing to the tea. For a bolder smooth tea, I am in love with the Vanilla Bean. This tea delights the senses in aroma and taste. The blend is naturally sweet from the vanilla. I found it extremely pleasing. If you like a spice tea, the Bombay Chai is amazingly good. As for the Matcha, I am not quite sure how to brew it so I am saving it for use in a recipe.

Try making your own Tea drink in place of those high calorie coffee lattes. Here is a recipe to get you started.

BOMBAY CHAI TEA LATTE
Ingredients
• 1 Bombay Chai Tea Pouch
• 10 oz. Purified Water
• 2 oz. or 4 tbspmilk
• 1 tsp. Sugar or to taste

Preparation
Boil purified water. Pour hot water over Tea Pouch and let it steep for five minutes. When steeping is complete, remove Tea Pouch from cup and discard. Pour milk, sugar and tea into a large bowl and blend with hand mixer until it becomes frothy (or if you have an espresso machine use your frother). Pour beverage into a mug and enjoy.

You can use this simple recipe for most of the tea flavors. How about adding a dollop of whipped cream to a Chocolate Mint drink? Yum.

To Purchase: Mighty Leaf Tea is a fabulous place to shop for many varieties of tea, gifts and teaware. You will find it easy to browse by caffeine levels, ingredients, mood, region and much more. Look for Mighty Leaf Tea in your local grocery stores or order directly online.

Stay Connected with Mighty Leaf Tea
Facebook - They are having a Facebook Sweepstakes too! Be sure to enter!
Twitter


***Giveaway Closed***
Here is your chance to win! Mighty Leaf Tea is providing to ONE lucky reader a fabulous Tea package including:
o 1 box Bombay Chai
o 1 box Rainforest Mate
o 1 Box Chocolate Mint Truffle
o 1 Box Matcha Green Tea
o 1 Tea Top Brew Mug

Mandatory Entry (First entry)
--Visit Mighty Leaf Tea and tell me in a comment which tea you would love to try.
--Include your email address (if not public in a profile) so I can contact you if you win.

Additional optional entries: Eligible after completing mandatory entry above: You can do any or all of the following for one entry each. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done.

--Subscribe to my blog and verify the subscription. Current subscribers are eligible too.

--Follow my blog (see the right side bar to sign up) Already a follower, just leave a comment saying that you are a follower.

--Follow Mighty Leaf Tea on Twitter.

--Follow One 2 Try on Twitter. Current followers are eligible too, just leave a comment saying that you are a twitter follower.

--Tweet this giveaway message and leave a link to your tweet (Can tweet once daily).
Giveaway: Win a fabulous Tea Assortment and travel mug from Mighty Leaf Tea. Enter @one2try http://bit.ly/91RDcn ends 11/1

--Like Mighty Leaf Tea on Facebook.

--Like One 2 Try on Facebook.

--FOR 5 EXTRA ENTRIES - Write a blog post about this giveaway, with a link to my blog. Come back and leave the link to your blog post. Post FIVE separate comments that you've blogged about this.

Giveaway ends on November 1st, 2010 at 11:59 PM Pacific time. Open to Continental US addresses only. No PO Boxes. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by email. Please respond in 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. To be fair to everyone, comments not meeting requirements will be deleted. Rules.

Many thanks to Mighty Leaf Tea for providing the review samples and giveaway product.

Disclosure: I received gratis samples for this review. No monetary compensation was offered or accepted for this post. The opinions above are my own. Others experience may vary.

Your Best Body Now - Book Giveaway (ends 10/31)

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A Younger Sexier You. Now that statement draws me right in on the cover of the newest book from Tosca Reno, the bestselling author of The Eat-Clean Diet. Your Best Body Now wants you to look and feel fabulous at any age.



SPRING ROLL INGREDIENTS

2 packages rice-paper spring roll wrappers (20 wrappers)
1 cup grated carrot
¼ cup bean sprouts
1 cucumber, julienned
1 red bell pepper, stem and seeds removed, julienned
4 green onions finely chopped, use only the green part

DIRECTIONS

1. Soak one rice-paper wrapper in a large bowl of hot water until softened.
2. Place a pinch each of carrots, sprouts, cucumber, bell pepper and green onion on the wrapper toward the bottom third of the rice paper.
3. Fold ends in and roll tightly to enclose filling.
4. Repeat with remaining wrappers. Chill before serving.

DIPPING SAUCE INGREDIENTS

1 clove garlic
2 medium carrots, chopped
2 tablespoons coarsely grated peeled fresh ginger
¼ cup rice wine vinegar (nor seasoned)
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
¼ teaspoon toasted sesame oil
Pinch each of coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 tablespoons water
DIRECTIONS

1. Combine garlic, carrot, ginger, vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt and both types of pepper in a food processor and blend until smooth.
2. With machine running, add vegetable oil and then water through the feed tube in a slow, steady stream.
3. Chill and serve sauce with spring rolls.

TIP: Rice paper is tricky to work with, but remember if it rips you can often enclose the tear. Keep trying! The dipping sauce is fabulous with almost anything. I like to use it as a refreshing alternative to hummus.

NUTRITION INFORMATION PER SERVING: Calories: 202, Calories from Fat: 81, Protein: 3 g, Carbs: 29 g, Dietary Fiber: 3 g, Sugars 3 g, Fat: 9 g, Sodium: 470 mg.

The above is an excerpt from the book Your Best Body Now: Look and Feel Fabulous at Any Age the Eat-Clean Way by Tosca Reno with Stacy Baker. Copyright © 2010 Tosca Reno with Stacy Baker, authors of Your Best Body Now: Look and Feel Fabulous at Any Age the Eat-Clean Way.

You can order Your Best Body Now at Amazon or check with your local bookseller.



You can find more information about Tosca Reno on her website and visit the Eat-Clean Diet.

Stay Connected with Tosca
Twitter
Facebook

***Giveaway Closed***
Ready to get started? Here is your chance to win! ONE lucky reader will win a copy of Your Best Body Now and a BPA-free water bottle!

Mandatory Entry (First entry)
--Tell me in a comment what motivates you to get in shape.
--Include your email address (if not public in a profile) so I can contact you if you win.

Additional optional entries: Eligible after completing mandatory entry above: You can do any or all of the following for one entry each. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done.

--Subscribe to my blog and verify the subscription. Current subscribers are eligible too.

--Follow my blog (see the right side bar to sign up) Already a follower, just leave a comment saying that you are a follower.

--Follow Tosca on Twitter

--Follow One 2 Try on Twitter. Current followers are eligible too, just leave a comment saying that you are a twitter follower.

--Tweet this giveaway message and leave a link to your tweet (Can tweet once daily).
Giveaway: Win a copy of Your Best Body Now by Tosca Reno and a water bottle. Enter @one2try http://bit.ly/cRcF3k ends 10/31.

--Like Tosca on Facebook

--Like One 2 Try on Facebook.

Giveaway ends on October 31st, 2010 at 11:59 PM Pacific time. Open to Continental US addresses only. No PO Boxes. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by email. Please respond in 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. To be fair to everyone, comments not meeting requirements will be deleted. Rules.

Many thanks to FSB Associates for providing the review copy and giveaway product.

Disclosure: I received a gratis copy for this review. No monetary compensation was offered or accepted for this post. The opinions above are my own. Others experience may vary.

Celebrate with Hershey's - Halloween

Many thanks to Hershey's for providing the review samples.

Disclosure: I received gratis samples for this review. No monetary compensation was offered or accepted for this post. The opinions above are my own. Others experience may vary.

Cat Nap for the Cause - Quicky Giveaway (ends 10/23)

Who doesn't need a cat nap every now and then. Join the Cat Nap and we will all be "napping" on 10/23. Everyone that registers is eligible to win a Celebrity inspired Cat Nap Blanket.

It has been shown that the special bond between cat owners and their cats created a calming feeling and a beloved source of comfort. As a two cat owner, one of my favorite sounds is my cat purring. Having a cat share your lap, when you are not feeling your best, can be a warming moment of peace. I think cats can sense when you need a purr session.

Take a quick moment to sign up on Facebook. Click on the Cat Nap tab to register. I will be napping with my two cats!

Look for the special pink ribbon packages of Purina Cat Chow in your local stores.

***Giveaway Closed***
Here is your chance to win! ONE lucky reader will win a coupon for a FREE 16 oz. package of Purina Cat Chow.

To Enter:
--Visit Purina Cat Chow on Facebook to sign up for the Cat Nap. Let me know in a comment you registered.
--Not on Facebook? Tell me in a comment if you have a cat and its name.
--Include your email address (if not public in a profile) so I can contact you if you win.

That's it! Simple. Sign up for the Cat Nap. It only takes a moment. Remember we are donating for the Cure!

Giveaway ends on October 23rd, 2010 at 11:59 PM Pacific time. Open to Continental US addresses only. No PO Boxes. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by email. Please respond in 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. To be fair to everyone, comments not meeting requirements will be deleted. Rules.

Many thanks to Purina Cat Chow for providing the information and giveaway product.

Disclosure: No monetary compensation was offered or accepted for this post. The opinions above are my own. Others experience may vary.

Bake for the Cure - Pink Ladies Ultimate Sugar Cookies Recipe YUM!

This is the last of my Bake for the Cure recipe postings. I have had an absolute ball making these recipes to share with you. I am by no means a professional baker, just someone who loves to bake good things at home. Baking to me has always been calming. Sharing my baked goods with friends and family makes me feel warm inside.


Baking has a way of making loved ones feel special. The idea of sharing something delicious has sparked ACH Foods to support Susan G. Komen with Bake for the Cure.

Over $1 million has been donated by ACH Brands such as Karo, Argo, Durkee, Kingsford, Spice Islands and Fleischmann's Yeast. The FREE Bake for the Cure Community features recipes, awareness and support, while making good things to warm the heart.

What I have discovered in my weeks of Baking for the Cure:

* I love to bake
* Recipes are fun to find
* Some recipes can flop, but then you start over.
* I like the aroma in the kitchen

* Most importantly - I really need a new oven! My old oven is an experience in itself. I can never gauge the temperature correctly because the oven knob has lost all its degree settings. My hubby took a permanent marker to write the settings for me. It is a pure guessing game. He did buy me an oven thermometer to place inside which is what I use. The knob is just a guideline. Yep a new oven is what I need! It is on my wish list.

For my final Bake for the Cure recipe - I wanted to have a little fun. I took my favorite sugar cookie recipe and made Pink Ladies Sugar Cookies.



Ultimate Sugar Cookies

1 and 1/4 cups sugar
1 cup butter flavor shortening
2 eggs
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 Tablespoon vanilla
3 cups all purpose flour (plus 4 tablespoons for rolling, divided)
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Decorations - your choice

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine sugar and shortening in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, syrup and vanilla. Beat until well blended and fluffy.

Combine 3 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add gradually to creamed mixture at low speed. Mix until blended.

Divide dough into 4 quarters - wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes using a floured cookie cutter. Transfer to ungreased baking sheet. Place 2 inches apart. Sprinkle with colored sugar if desired or leave plain for frosting when cooled.

Bake one sheet at a time at 375 degrees for 5 to 9 minutes depending on cookie size. Do not overbake. Cool 2 minutes on sheet then remove cookies to foil sheets laid on counter for cooling. Frost if desired.
Makes 3 to 4 dozen cookies depending on size.


I have used this recipe year round. It makes delicious cookies for any holiday.

Thank you very much ACH Brands for the opportunity to participate in Bake for the Cure. You have inspired me to share my baking with others. I have had so much fun.

Pretty please....help me win a contest. Please leave a comment on this and my other Bake for the Cure recipe posts. I really appreciate the help.


Want to make something scrumptious for your loved ones? Try these recipes in your home. If you like the recipe, share it with your friends. Let me know in a comment if you liked it as much as I did. Get Baking!

Disclosure: I received gratis ingredients and a gift card was provided  for the purchase of baking supplies for this post. The opinions above are my own. Others experience may vary. My posts are eligible to win a contest.