The Cheap Gourmet

The Cheap Gourmet November Winner and December Giveaway

The Cheap Gourmet is pleased to announce Roxanne of NewSmyrnaBeachMom.com as the winner of the November Giveaway. Roxanne has won the Holiday Greeting Card Gift Pack from DogCaptionsCards.com. Congratulations Roxanne! Please check your email account for information about how to receive your gift and thank you for being a loyal fan of The Cheap Gourmet Blog!

Next, I'm excited to announce our December giveaway. This month, Real Simple magazine, a division of Time, Inc. Lifestyle Group is generously offering a one-year subscription to their amazing magazine.

I received a complimentary copy of the December issue and let me tell you, this magazine is packed with holiday gift ideas, health and beauty tips, fashion and party accessories, holiday decorating ideas, quick-and-easy recipes, and tons of money-saving coupons from a wide range of popular stores and manufacturers.

 Here are just a few items you'll find in the December issue of Real Simple magazine:

* 50 Gifts Under $50, plus stocking stuffers under $15 and inspired ideas for homemade presents

* 10 Sweet (and quick) Holiday Cookie Recipes

* No-nonsense Strategies for Better Winter Skin

*Easy Make-Ahead Hors d'Oeuvres

*How to Make Your Favorite Clothes Last Longer

* How to Save on Seasonal Decorations and Avoid Holiday–Air-travel Charges

*Party Accessories: 17 Dazzling Finds for $90 or under

* Happy Wrapping: 21 Inventive Ideas to Festoon your Presents

In sticking with the theme of Real Simple, the only eligibility requirements for The Cheap Gourmet December Giveaway is to leave a comment on any blog post. This giveaway is open to residents within the continental U.S. One winner will be selected at random on January 1, 2010. This prize is provided directly through the sponsor.

I encourage you to grab a copy of the December issue of Real Simple magazine. Not only will you find great gift ideas and deals, you will discover a plethora of unique vendors offerings exceptionally unique gifts. Real Simple is an fabulous gift idea; particularly for those on your list who are hard to buy for.

Learn more about Real Simple magazine by visiting their website at www.RealSimple.com. Take advantage of the Special 2-for-1 Holiday Offer. Buy one subscription and receive a second subscription for free!

Please support our sponsor whose generosity allows The Cheap Gourmet to provide exciting and exclusive giveaways to our readers.

Good Luck in December Giveaway and have a wonderful, love-filled holiday season!

The Cheap Gourmet: Final Two Days to Enter the November Giveaway

It's hard to believe November is almost over. Seems like only yesterday it was Halloween, now we're rapidly moving toward December. As mentioned earlier, The Cheap Gourmet is giving away a fabulous Holiday Greeting Card Gift pack consisting of 10 "Merry Christmas", 5 "Thank You" and 10 "Happy New Year" cards. The monetary value of this giveaway is $25, but this is a gift that keeps on giving.

The winner of Dog Captions Greeting Cards will receive 25 greeting cards practically guaranteed to enrich the lives of all who receive them. Better yet, a small donation will be made to the Fredericksburg, Virginia no-kill animal rescue shelter to enrich the lives of homeless animals.

In order to be entered into the Dog Captions Greeting Cards Giveaway simply leave a comment on any blog post at The Cheap Gourmet.

If you're short on time, leave a comment on this post and tell me WHAT YOU LIKE OR DON'T LIKE about The Cheap Gourmet blog.

One lucky winner will be chosen at random on Monday, November 30th, so leave your comments today and you could be the winner tomorrow!

The Cheap Gourmet has lined up some spectacular and EXCLUSIVE giveaway prizes for 2010. Details will be revealed on December 1st. If you haven't already done so, subscribe to our mailing list to be notified when new blog posts are published. (Enter a valid email address in the subscription box on the upper right sidebar).

I look forward to receiving your comments and suggestions and wish you the best of luck for winning our November giveaway. In the meantime, if you're looking for unique greeting cards and gift ideas for pet lovers, visit DogCaptionCards.com. Your purchase can save the life of a neglected, abused or abandoned dog or cat.

Alouette Cheese Gourmet Fall Giveaway Winner and November Giveaway Announcement

I am pleased to announce the confirmed Alouette Cheese Gourmet Fall Giveaway Winner. Although it took three tries, Viveca Stone-Berry has claimed her prize and Alouette is in the process of sending her gorgeous cheeseboard, free gourmet cheeses, and all the other goodies that came with the giveaway.

The Alouette Cheese "Slow Down and Savor Life" contest was the first major giveaway offered through The Cheap Gourmet blog. As with all new things, I underwent a learning curve. I must admit I was surprised the first two winners did not claim their prize.

If you have suggestions on how I can improve future giveaways to ensure recipients are easily notified, feel free to leave a comment. I hope to attract more major food and cooking brands to offer prizes to The Cheap Gourmet readers and want to make the process as easy as possible for participants. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

A Strange Twist…

Oddly enough, I know Viveca Stone-Berry quite well. Her name was chosen at random through the contest service provider. Apparently, it was meant for her to win the Alouette Cheese giveaway because she has in turn given you the chance to win a great holiday gift.

Viveca is the co-founder of DogCaptionCards.com; an organization that sells greeting cards graced with photographs of the lives of dogs (and a few cats!). Beneath is a catchy caption that captures the essence of each photograph. Words cannot express how adorable these cards are!

Dog Caption Cards is launching new greeting card packs, which have yet to be released to the general public. These include the "Merry Christmas Card Pack", “Happy New Sniffs – Happy New Year Pack” and the "Thank You" bundle. Readers of The Cheap Gourmet will be the first to have access to the new line of greeting cards. How exciting is that!

The Cheap Gourmet November Contest Details

The contest is simple. Leave a comment or suggestion on any blog post and include your email address. I moderate every comment and will remove your email address prior to publishing. On Monday, November 30th the winner will be selected at random. The winner will be published on the The Cheap Gourmet blog and contacted via email.

The winner must confirm their prize within 3 days or a new winner will be selected. Once confirmed, Dog Caption Cards will mail your prize.

The Prize:

The prize is Dog Caption Cards "Merry Christmas – Happy New Year Pack" consisting of 25 greeting cards that will take you from Christmas to New Year's.

Valued at $25, Dog Caption Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Card Pack includes: 10 Christmas cards, 5 Thank You cards, and 10 New Year's cards.

Your friends will be delighted to receive these adorable cards and you'll be proud to send them. Each 5 x 7 card is blank inside allowing you to include a personal message of joy and good cheer. Insert gift certificates, gift cards, photographs, airline tickets or money!

A Worthy Cause – Save an Animal's Life

Not only are these holiday greeting cards unique, they support a very worthy cause.

Dog Caption Cards donates 25-percent of every sale to dog and cat animal rescue organizations. Viveca is passionate about her pups and purrs. Not only is she a pet owner, she also fosters dogs until appropriate owners can be found and volunteers at a local no-kill shelter.

I encourage you to visit DogCaptionCards.com and buy some greeting cards. If you are involved in animal rescue fundraising or would like the opportunity to earn extra cash, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on “affiliate fundraising tab” to enroll as an affiliate.

Viveca's affiliate program is simple. Affiliates earn 25-percent commission for every sale referred through their unique affiliate code. Details can be found at DogCaptionCards.com.

Thank you for visiting The Cheap Gourmet. If you haven't already done so, subscribe to our mailing list to be instantly notified via email when new blog posts are published.

I look forward to receiving your comments and suggestions and wish you the best of luck in The Cheap Gourmet's November Giveaway!

 

ANNOUNCEMENT: Winner of Alouette Gourmet Fall Cheese Giveaway

Drumroll please.... The winner of the Alouette Cheese: "Let's Slow Down and Savor Life Wine and Cheese Giveaway is.... Samantha Lim.

Samantha's suggestion to slow down and savor life is "When taking the bus home, get off a few stops earlier and enjoy the walk".

I couldn't agree more with Samantha's suggestion. It's amazing the wonderful things you can see, smell and hear when taking a leisurely stroll. Not to mention, walking is great exercise that increases endorphin production and makes you feel good!

Congratulations Samantha. Please check your email for instructions to confirm your mailing address. Once you have confirmed your address, I will submit to Corrinne, the marketing director of Alouette. Your prize package will be sent directly from Alouette.

May your gift help you create many slow down and savor life moments for years to come! Congratulations!

To those who entered, but did not win, don't worry. The Cheap Gourmet will continue to offer a variety of contests and prizes throughout the year.

In case you missed the previous post, I have created a wonderful Wine and Cheese menu planner complete with recipes for finger foods, fruit and veggie trays, dips and desserts. The menu is in PDF format and requires Adobe Reader to view.

Download Gourmet Wine and Cheese Party Menu

Alouette Cheese Gourmet Fall Cheese Party Giveaway

It's not too late to enter the Alouette Cheese Gourmet Fall Cheese Party Giveaway. But, you better hurry because the winner will be selected at midnight on Halloween night, October 31st. My dear friend, Maeme, was gracious enough to open her home and host The Cheap Gourmet's wine and cheese party. It was a huge success and tons of fun. Here's Maeme enjoying one of Alouette's spreadable cheeses.

Kim, shown below, brought two bottles of Chocolate Wine, which was a big hit. After all, who doesn't love chocolate? The chocolate wine is definitely more of an after-dinner dessert wine. A small glass or two is the perfect accompaniment with a piece of dark chocolate and a slice of brie cheese. Thanks for the chocolate wine Kim. It was delightful!

We indulged in a bounty of finger foods, salads, veggie tray, fruit platter, nuts, candies, crackers, breads and cheeses. As you can see, everyone loved the luscious Alouette cheeses and were extremely impressed by the gorgeous cheeseboard that's part of the Gourmet Fall Cheese Party giveaway.

Delane loved Alouette's spreadable spinach and artichoke dip.

Bonnie's favorites included the spreadable Sundried Tomato and Basil and and Creme de Brie.

I have compiled a Wine and Cheese menu which includes several of the dishes served at The Cheap Gourmet's Wine and Cheese party. I hope you enjoy the recipes and wish you the best of luck in the drawing. 

Click here to download The Cheap Gourmet Wine and Cheese Party Menu

The winner of Alouette's Slow Down and Savor Life Gourmet Cheese giveaway will be announced on the blog on Monday, November 2nd, 2009. The winner will be notified via email to confirm the mailing address for their prize. If the winner does not respond within three days, a new winner will be selected at random. Be sure to check the blog and your email to see if you win!

Alouette Cheese: Let's Slow Down and Savour Life Wine and Cheese Giveaway Fall 2009

I am thrilled to announce this month's contest. Readers of The Cheap Gourmet blog will have a chance to win a bountiful prize from Alouette; an industry leader in cheese making. Alouette is sponsoring the "Let's Slow Down and Savour Life Wine and Cheese Giveaway." One lucky winner will receive a Gourmet Fall Cheese Tasting Party Giveaway valued at $150.

Entering Alouette Cheese, "Let's Slow Down and Savour Life Wine and Cheese Giveaway" is simple. All that is required is to post a comment via the entry form below sharing what you do to slow down and savour life.

I'll begin...My tip for slowing down and savouring life is to reserve a minimum of one night per month to share good food and conversation with your best friends. Keep it simple by serving an assortment of cheeses, cheese spreads, crackers, breads and fruits. And, don't forget the wine or sparkling cider!

ALOUETTE GOURMET FALL CHEESE TASTING PARTY GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

The Cheap Gourmet is hosting Alouette's "Let's Slow Down and Savour Life Wine and Cheese Giveaway". Readers will receive ONE entry by submitting their favorite tip for slowing down and savouring life in the box provided via the entry form.

The Gourmet Fall Cheese Tasting Party Giveaway begins October 5th and ends at 11:55pm Eastern Standard Time on October 31, 2009. The winner will be selected at random through the contest hosting site of Contest Machine. Contest is open to legal US citizens aged 18 and older. See contest entry form for additional terms and conditions.

The winner will be contacted via the email address provided in their entry on November 1, 2009. The winner will have three days to claim their prize. Otherwise, their entry will be disqualified and a new winner will be selected.

Upon verification of their prize, the winner must provide their mailing address to Alouette Cheese. The Gourmet Fall Cheese Tasting Party Giveaway prize will be awarded directly through Alouette.

Individuals who submit more than one entry will automatically be disqualified.


PRIZE DETAILS:

The winner of Alouette Cheese "Let's Slow Down and Savour Life Wine and Cheese Giveway will receive the following items:

• Mariposa Gourmet Two-Toned White Teak and Bamboo Wooden Cheese Board with Wine and Cheese Accessories
• Stainless Steel Cheese Name Picks with marker
• Customized Cheese Rating Cards with Pens (party of 10)
• Alouette recipe cards for entertaining
• Alouette coupons for Baby Brie, Spreadable and Crumbles
• Slow Down and Savour Tips

Submit your slow down and savour tip via the entry form below. Watch your inbox on November 1st to see if you are a winner. Additionally, the winners name will be posted on The Cheap Gourmet blog. Good Luck!

The Alouette logo emblazoned on the two-toned wooden cheese board.

The Alouette cheese board provides two fold-away compartments which store cheese and wine accessories. Cheese accessories include a fork, cheese spreader and cheese cutter. Wine accessories include a cork screw, wine ring and stopper.

Compartment doors slide underneath the elegant wooden cheese board for easy storage.

Discover a whole new world of cheeses at www.alouettecheese.com.

The First Official Cheap Gourmet Contest

On September 11, 2009, we launched the First Official Cheap Gourmet Contest. All that is required is to vote for your favorite food and enter your email address by filling out the form below. One lucky winner will receive an adorable "Barker's Dozen" Greeting Card gift pack containing 13 happy-yappy cards with envelopes packaged in a reusable vinyl tote.

Each 5x7 greeting card is graced by a photograph of dogs in action - running, playing, swimming, sleeping. Beneath the photo is an appropriate caption guaranteed to bring love and happiness to the recipient. Cards are blank inside so you can write a personal note, include your favorite Cheap Gourmet recipe, or photos of yourself, family or beloved pets.

There is no "catch" to The Cheap Gourmet Contest. Your email address will only be used to notify you when  you win the contest. One lucky winner winner will be chosen at random at midnight on October 2, 2009 and notified by email on or before October 5th. The "Barker's Dozen" Gift Pack will be mailed directly to your home or office at no charge to you.

With each sale of Dog Caption Cards, 25-percent of the proceeds are donated to animal rescue organizations. If you would like to offer support to our furry friends or interested in selling the cards to raise funds for your local animal shelter, visit www.HappyDogCards.com. (You can also earn 25-percent of each sale by joining the affiliate program!)

In the meantime, simply select your favorite food and enter your email for a chance to win. Only ONE ENTRY per email or ISP address.

P.S. Stop back often as we will be hosting another contest next month. We will be offering an amazing Cheese and Wine party gift set valued at $150. Stay tuned - you're going to love all the future Cheap Gourmet Contests!

How to Make a Cupcake Cake for any Occasion

How to Make a Cupcake Cake for any Occasion

Last weekend my husband and I attended a birthday celebration for friends who were both turning 60. Being such a milestone birthday, friends and family organized a semi-surprise party and planned a feast for royalty.

In July, I ordered mini cupcake pans from Easy Bakeware, which I had not had a chance to try out. Several years ago, another friend of mine taught me how to make cupcake cakes. The guest list included several children and I thought mini cupcakes would be a great way to keep them away from the "grown-up" cake until it was ready to be served.

I was preparing several dishes for the party and needed to save a little time, so I purchased boxed cake mixes and canned icing. Overall, I baked about 225 mini cupcakes. Although I only had two 12-cupcake mini muffin pans, the Easy Bakeware made the process a breeze!

I used mini muffin paper baking tins and filled each about 2/3rd's full of batter. Baking time per batch was 13 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. I used three types of cake batter - French Vanilla, Dark Chocolate and Butter Chocolate. The Butter Chocolate was by far my favorite; although all of them were quite tasty and addicting!

Next, I cut a cardboard moving box into a 24"x18" rectangle and covered it with foil. I had purchased decorative letters and colored sprinkles at the store. For the cupcakes used for the mini cupcake cake, I spread the icing evenly using a small icing knife, then placed one letter on each mini cupcake.

 

As  you can see, I used white frosting for the cupcakes with letters. It reads: "Happy 60th Birthday Maeme and Carl". I alternated flavors on each row. The first, third and fifth row are French Vanilla cupcakes, while the second and fourth rows are chocolate cupcakes.

Using some of the extra mini cupcakes, I created little islands on the sides to fill in the extra space. I purchased paper palm trees attached to a toothpick. These palm trees gave me fits because they had this teeny-tiny square adhesive covered in paper. The paper had to be removed and the palm trees stretched out and attached to the other side. Considering it was 4am when I was finishing up this cake, not all the palm trees came out uniformly. As they say, it's the thought that counts!

 

I used the butter chocolate mini cupcakes to create the islands and used a piping bag to swirl the icing. I placed 3 to 4 "island" cupcakes together and then placed one on top of the stack to create the illusion of an island. I then used white icing to pipe around the edges of the cardboard and topped with colored sprinkles. 

This was my first attempt at making a cupcake cake and while it isn't perfect, it was certainly a huge hit at the party. I placed the remaining cupcakes on dessert trays and when we departed the party, I noticed only 3 were left. The cupcake cake was completely devoured.

Not only was the cupcake cake a lot of fun to make, it didn't take much time and the guests absolutely loved it. Homemade gifts are always a great way to make people feel special. Even though I used boxed cake mixes, I could not have been more pleased with the final product.

If you are wondering how I transported the cake, I simply covered it loosely with foil. The palm trees helped keep the foil off the icing. I drive a Toyota Rav4, so the cardboard platform fit perfectly in the tailgate area. We drove extra careful to make certain we didn't need to make any sudden stops or take corners on two wheels ;-)

The possibilities of cupcake cakes are endless. Grocery stores, dollar stores, and party stores carry a wide range of novelty items that can be used to create all kinds of theme cakes. If you don't own a pasty bag and piping tips, you can place icing inside a sandwich bag and snip one corner off. Piping the icing on the cupcakes is considerably more efficient than using an icing spreader.

After using the EasyBakeware muffin pan, I can honestly say that I will be converting ALL my bakeware to this brand. The pans are made from silicone (I think!) and are super easy to clean. The muffins popped out easily and there was little mess to clean up.

EasyBakeware is currently offering FREE bakeware. You can receive any piece of bakeware for free, but will have to pay the shipping cost of $7.95. I've seen this type of bakeware in stores and the average retail price is $19.95 to $24.95 per piece!

If you're like me and love to bake, I highly recommend giving EasyBakeware a try. Click on the banner below and take advantage of the free offer before it's too late.

Easy Bakeware: Order Your Free Bakeware Today!

Easy Bakeware is an online kitchen retailer with corporate headquarters located in West Hartford, CT. Easy Bakeware offers a full line of bakeware, cookware, entertaining necessities such as trays, platters and barware, coffeemakers and grinders, wine racks, kitchen carts and a wide range of tools including mixing bowls, strainers, colanders, cutting boards, cookbooks and BBQ tools.

Easy Bakeware is currently offering customers the opportunity to obtain any bakeware pan for free. You can try any of their silicon baking pans or burnless bakeware for the cost of shipping. Yesterday, I ordered the silicon mini muffin pan and the cost of shipping was $7.95. I don't know if you've ever priced silicon bakeware, but it is usually pretty expensive. The retail cost of the mini muffin pan is $19.95, so in actuality I received a 40-percent discount.

During the EasyBakeware campaign, you can order as many items as you like. Upon checkout, the MOST EXPENSIVE item you purchase will be deducted and you receive it for free! However, there is no obligation to purchase additional items. Simply click on the banner, choose your free gift and pay for shipping.

If you aren't familiar with silicon bakeware, all I can say is it is a must-have item. There is no need to grease the pan or use muffin tins. Simply pour the batter into the mold, bake, let cool, flip the pan over and poof - everything just slides right out!

This is an exceptional offer and one I hope you will take advantage of. Personally, I couldn't live without my silicon bakeware. It has saved me hours of frustration and scrubbing those little muffin tin holes. Don't you just hate that? There's nothing worse than having to scrape little pieces of burnt on muffins out of tiny little holes!

I don't know how long EasyBakeware will be extending this offer. If you want to try silicon or burnless bakeware, click on one of the banners and place your order. EasyBakeware is deemed an Equifax SecureSite, so you can submit your order worry-free!

When you receive your bakeware, please stop back by and let me know what you purchased and how you like it. I'd bet money that you will wonder how on earth you ever lived without this amazing product!

Don't delay! Go grab your free EasyBakeware pan and start baking!

Receive Brand Name Samples, Coupons and Free Stuff!

Would you like to receive brand name samples, printable coupons and free stuff? Would you like to be the first to know about sweepstakes and giveaways? Would you like to become part of an exciting online community where you can interact with members and find out what they think of a product or offer your opinion? If so, you are going to love MySavings.

MySavings is one of the largest online communities for free brand name samples, coupons and free stuff. After spending about an hour at MySavings, I entered dozens of sweepstakes, downloaded rebates and coupons for coffee, cheese, yogurt, Betty Crocker Brownie Mixes and Frosting, General Foods International Coffee (love that stuff!), Science Diet dog food and many more. After totaling up my coupons, I can save over $70. That's a lot of moohlah for an hour of my time!

I ordered a boatload of free samples. I'm probably going to need to bake some brownies for my postal carrier because she is going to be in overload once my samples start rolling in :-)

I ordered free makeup from L'Oreal, tea from Mighty Leaf, Hellman's Light Mayonnaise, Dunkin' Donuts coffee, Wholesome Sweetener's Organic and Raw Honey, Tide Total Care laundry detergent, and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

MySavings also includes an entire section dedicated to surveys and product testing. I joined the Mills Advisory Panel, Minute Riceipe Club, Health Survey Panel, Covergirl Consumer Advisory Panel, Kraft First Taste, Allure Experts beauty products, In-Home Product Testing, SheSpeaks, General Mills Psst Panel, and BzzAgent.

Last, but not least, MySavings community forum offers interaction with thousands of consumers just like you. With nearly 30,000 members you're certain to pick up some great advice and locate additional deals.

I can't say enough good things about MySavings. If you want to save a boatload of money, receive free samples, become a product tester and try out new stuff, and interact with a great group of people, signup for MySavings today.

It's 100-percent free and if you aren't happy with it, simply unsubscribe. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Click on the banner below and you will be on your way to obtaining some of the best bargains on the planet!

Save Money and Time: Top Ten Places to Slash Your Food Bill

#1 Coupons- You can have access to over $100 in free printable coupons from name brand consumer products. Simply download the Coupons.com toolbar to your computer. Then type in your zip code and receive coupons from over 300 familiar companies such as General Mill, Nature's Bounty, Neutrogena, L'Oreal, Johnson and Johnson and more.

I personally saved $17.60 with clipped coupons. I saved an additional $12.32 by using the coupons when the items were on sale. Grand Total Savings was $29.92 in one week. If I can reach this goal every week, I can save approximately $1560 per year. Give Coupons.com a try. If you don't like it, you can always uninstall the toolbar from your computer.

Save on Groceries - Download the CouponBar and never miss another offer!

#2 Mr. Rebates - Do you enjoy receiving checks in the mail? If so, Mr. Rebates is right up your alley. Once you sign-up for a FREE account, you receive an instant $5.00 credit to your account. There is no fee to join, nor any hidden fees. Rebates, coupons and special offers are updated daily, so you never know what you might find at Mr. Rebates. I've found rebates and product discounts of up to 80-percent, so it is definitely worth taking a few minutes each day to check for updates.

Learn more by visiting Mr. Rebates - Cash-Back Shopping at over 1000 Stores!

#3 Mex Grocer- If you love authentic Mexican food, you're going to love MexGrocer.com. You'll find exceptional deals on baked goods, beverages, canned foods, rice, beans, pasta, desserts, mexican candy, snacks, cokies, chili peppers, hot sauces, salsas, moles, spices, herbs, tamales, tortillas, cookbooks, cooking utensils and natural health remedies.

Receive a 10-percent discount using COUPON CODE: MEXITEN

MexGrocer.com- Online grocery shopping store for Authentic Mexican food, cooking recipes and culture.

#4 Herb Trader- If you've been to the healthfood store recently, you are probably aware of how expensive organic foods and natural personal and household products have become. Herb Trader offers more than 8000 products, including 200 of your favorite natural and organic brands, at up to 20-percent off suggested retail pricing. You can obtain just about everything you need to take care of your home, health and food, as well as nutritional supplies, food and accessories for your dogs or cats.

Tom's of Maine, Kiss My Face, Yogi Tea and many more top brands - all at discount prices - Herbtrader.

#5 The Healthy Pantry - This unique website offers a variety of alternatives for healthy eating. All ingredients in The Healthy Pantry products are carefully selected for their nutrition, taste, and convenience. Everything is organic or natural and based on simple whole foods without preservatives or additives.

The Healthy Pantry offers proteins, pastas, grains, gluten-free foods, vegetables, fruits, oils, spices, herbs, sweeteners, supplements, flours, soup stocks and nuts. Additionally, individuals who join The Healthy Pantry Preferred Program receive wholesale pricing (25% savings), personal pantry makeover, unlimited recipes makeovers, private online recipe swap, online cooking classes, free samples and referral bonuses with a $50 per month purchase.

You owe it to yourself to take a look at what The Healthy Pantry has to offer. With the New Year just around the corner, now is a great time to make a resolution to eat healthier in '09.

Visit The Healthy Pantry today!

 

#6 Recipe Secrets- Save hundreds of dollars by learning how to prepare your favorite restaurant dishes at home. Recipe Secrets provides soups, salads, appetizers, entrees and drinks from The Cheesecake Factory, PF Chang's, Red Lobster, The Olive Garden, Hard Rock Cafe and KFC, to name a but a few.

Currently, Recipe Secrets is offering SEVEN free bonus cookbooks on CD including: Secret Sauces Exposed, Good Ole' Comfort Foods, The Grill Master's Guide to Grilling, Special Occasion Cookbook, Diabetic Delights, Kid Approved Cookbook and a Lifetime Access to Recipe Secrets Archives.

Save $20 when you order today AND receive over $140 in bonus cookbooks.

Learn more at Recipe Secrets

#7 ShindigZ- With the holidays rapidly approaching, ShindigZ offers everything you need to host a "Talk of the Town" Party. From themes to holidays, ShindigZ provides party supplies, theme kits, photo stand-ins, wall graphics, banners, entrances and arches, table settings, center pieces, balloons, party apparel and decorations.

Save up to 90-percent on clearance party items like tableware, party favors, photo frames and holiday decorations at ShindigZ.com.

#8 No Name Java- Let's face it...coffee is not a cheap commodity. Many healthfood stores and grocers charge exorbitant prices for Organic and Fair Trade Coffees. No Name Java keeps things simple, yet sophisticated and affordable.

Coffees include single origin, specialty coffee blends, Fair Trade and Organic, gourmet flavored, decaffeinated, and green coffee beans which must be roasted at home. Believe me when I say there is nothing better than the smell and flavor of fresh roasted coffee beans.

No Name Java is currently offering FREE SHIPPING on orders of $50 or more. Coffee makes a fabulous holiday gift or buy in bulk to ensure you have enough on hand for guests. Better yet, roast your own beans and create personalized labels for friends and family.

Learn more about these delightful coffees at NoNameJava.com.

#9 Peapod- Peapod is an online food delivery service available to residents of Chicagoland, Milwaukee, SE WI, CT, MA, RI, NY, NJ, Washington DC, MD, VA. If you dislike grocery shopping as much as I do, you will love Peapod.com.

You can order produce, meats, deli items, seafood, dairy products, frozen foods, beverages, cereals, soups, breakfast foods, baking goods, condiments, sauces, spices, seasonings, laundry, paper and cleaning supplies, health and beauty supplies, pet foods and more.

Receive $10 off your first order by entering Promotional Code CJN10 on the home page or at checkout.*

Limit ONE coupon per household.

#10 Coffee For Less -Buying in bulk can save big $$ in the long run. Coffee For Less offers 12-ounce to five pound bags of ground or whole bean coffee. Many products are geared toward the consumer who purchases in bulk or for offices, restaurants, bakeries and coffee shops.

Coffee For Less also sells a variety of tea, hot cocoa, K-cups, coffee machines, espresso machines, creamers and sweeteners, flavored syrups, bottled water, water coolers, cold drinks, energy drinks and paper products. Spend some time browsing around and you're certain to find great bargains!

Receive a 5% Discount using COUPON CODE 'CFL' upon checkout.

Free Shipping On Orders Over $25

Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day, Tuesday, April 29th

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Stores are offering free ice cream between the hours of noon and 8:00 pm on Tuesday, April 29th. Reason being is Ben and Jerry need your help to make a political statement. Ben and Jerry's label their ice cream as free of recombinant bovine growth hormones or rBGH/rBST. In other words, they don't add dangerous chemicals to their ice cream and they are proud of it.

However, Monsanto, the giant chemical company who manufactures rBST and other deadly chemicals are trying to ban the labeling of milk as hormone-free. Monsanto claims these labels are unfair because they imply hormone-free milk is safer than milk laden with the chemicals they manufacture. I don't know about you, but I'd prefer to eat pure ice cream and dairy products over products loaded with chemicals and hormones.

If you believe that you should have the right to know what chemicals are added to your ice cream and want to protect your consumer rights, it's time to join the crusade. Doing so, will earn you a free cone and let your voice be heard!

All you have to do to get your hormone-free cone from Ben and Jerry's is visit Citizens for Health website to download and sign the Ben & Jerry's thank you letter. Then take the letter to the nearest scoop shop to claim your free cone and your right to hormone-free ice cream.

Learn more about the dangers of rBGH and rBST at the following sites:

What are Monsanto and the FDA Hiding Regarding Controversial Cow Hormone?

rBGH, Monsanto and Corporate Agriculture Information about Intellectual Property Rights

rBGH Milk and the Cancer Connection

FREE Barilla Celebrity Italian Table Cookbook Program

Barilla, manufacturer of exquisite pasta and pasta sauces, is currently promoting "The Celebrity Italian Table Cookbook Program." For each person who downloads the 32-page PDF Cookbook, Barilla is donating $1.00 to America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest charitable hunger-relief organization.

The Celebrity Italian Table Cookbook features recipes from five celebrities: Marisa Tomei, Stanley Tucci, Debra Messing, Natalie Portman and Chris Daughtry.

Leading Italian Chef, Mario Batali recreated the recipes and developed special menus for each. Infamous party planner, David Tutera offers creative and stunning table designs which correspond to each special menu, making each experience unique and special.

This downloadable PDF cookbook is a feast for the eyes and includes beautiful photographs of each dish, along with table settings, decorations and party tips.

Themes include: Romantic Dinner, Celebratory Feast, Girlfriends' Gathering, Family Night, Dinner Party and Babbo (Mario Batali's New York Restaurant).

Recipes include:

Eggplant Involtini with Ricotta and Scallions
Rigatoni with Basil and Gorgonzola
Mozzarella Sandwiches
Penne in Creamy Tomato Sauce
Sicilian Chickpea Fritters
Penne in Spicy Sauce with Capers and Olives
Spaghetti with Italian Tuna Sauce
Farfalle with Pancetta, Rucola and Truffle Paste
Steamed Cockles in a Habanero Chive Broth
Fettuccine with Pumpkin and Bread Crumbs
Mixed Fried Vegetables
Autumn Vegetables with Goat Cheese and Pumpkinseed Oil
Cherry Jam Tart
Chocolate Hazelnut Fritters
Orange Tart Capri-Style
Chocolate Cake from Abruzzo-Parozzo
Lemon Tart
Saffron Panna Cotta

As you can see, this FREE Celebrity Cookbook is packed with authentic Italian dishes which are certain to please your friends and family. AND, you'll be helping a good cause just by downloading the cookbook. Talk about a great deal!

To grab your copy of "The Celebrity Italian Table Cookbook" go to www.BarillaUSA.com. Don't delay! This offer will end soon and you don't want to miss your opportunity to grab a copy of this amazing cookbook for FREE!

Win $1000 Worth of Free Steaks

Omaha Steaks is currently running a contest to win $1000 worth of free steaks. All you have to do is provide your email address and you will automatically be entered in the drawing. If you haven't shopped with Omaha Steaks before, you're going to be in for a real treat!

Omaha Steaks offer a vast array of steaks, seafood, poultry, veal, pork and lamb. Choose from incredible pasta dishes including lasagna, ravioli and fettuccine alfredo. Make dinnertime easy and delicious with frozen prepared meals including family style meals, premium beef meals, gourmet chicken meals, great start breakfasts and more.

The Ultimate Sampler normally retails for $201.00, but it's currently on sale for $59.99. That's a savings of $141.01. Additionally, Omaha Steaks is offering 4 free gifts with the purchase of the Ultimate Sampler, including: 6 Omaha Steak Burgers, 6-piece Cutlery Set, Cutting Board and a very handy Document Bag.

Omaha Steaks also has you covered on side dishes, appetizers, sauces and seasonings, and the most delectable desserts you have ever tasted!

As if that weren't enough, Omaha Steaks offers a nice selection of monthly or quarterly Gift Plans, along with cookbooks, wines and even pet treats.

Stop by Omaha Steaks website and enter your name in the $1000 Free Steaks drawing. While you're there poke around and see all that they offer. Their monthly Gift Plans are perfect for the person on your holiday gift list that is hard to buy for or already has everything.

If you're planning to entertain guests during the holidays, try the Ultimate Sampler which includes:

4 (5 oz.) Filet Mignons,
4 (5 oz.) Top Sirloins,
4 (4 oz.) Boneless Pork Chops,
8 (3 oz.) Gourmet Franks,
4 (4 oz.) Omaha Steaks Burgers,
10 portions of Potatoes au Gratin

Announcing: The Pumpkin Patch Recipe Collection

It's here!! The fabulous "Pumpkin Patch Recipe Collection" is now available as a free download! This 20-page PDF report includes recipes for:

• Baked Pumpkin with Rice Pilaf
• Pumpkin Chili
• Pumpkin and Romano Dumplings
• Perfect Pumpkin Stew
• Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
• Pumpkin Bread with Cranberries and Almonds
• Pumpkin Dip
• No-Bake Pumpkin Cream Pie
• Pumpkin Seed Brittle
• Pumpkin Smoothies
• Homemade Whipped Cream (including Pumpkin Whipped Cream, of course!) and...
• A Pictorial Guide to Types of Pumpkins

The Pumpkin Patch Recipe Collection is a PDF file that requires the use of Adobe Reader. If you do not have Adobe Reader installed on your computer you can download it for free at www.Adobe.com.

Click here to download
The Pumpkin Patch Recipe Collection

Halloween Fun FREEBIE!!

It's hard to believe Halloween is less than two weeks away. How times flies! If you love Halloween, you're going to love the free "Halloween Fun - Recipes and Party Games" ebook. This delightful ebook is filled with family activities, Halloween party games and tips and tons of yummy recipes.

Game Ideas include:

"Pick Their Brains"
"Pin the Wart on the Witch"
"Halloween Graveyard Hunt"
"Mummy Wrap" and more.

Recipes include:

"Skeleton Bones"
"Ghostly Eyeballs"
"Halloween Napoleons" - to die for! (no pun intended)
"Marshmallow Haystacks"
"Yummy Witchy Fingers"
"Hot Witch's Cider"
"Ghoulish Brain Dip" and more.

For massive amounts of Halloween Fun, download this awesome e-book. Pass it along to your friends, family, co-workers, daycare center and anyone else you loves good old fashioned Trick or Trick F-U-N.

Enjoy!!

Download HALLOWEEN FUN

P.S. This book requires Adobe Reader to view. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can download it for free at www.Adobe.com.
 

Play "Just Catch This" with Sam Zien of "Just Cook This" Online Game

In September, "Just Cook This" with Sam Zien debuted on The Discovery Channel. I'm still on the fence with this show. I like it, yet I don't like it. There's something about it that keeps my attention, but when a commercial comes on I really want to switch to another channel. I always stay tuned because the recipes look good and I want to see how he makes them. But, the format is B-O-R-I-N-G!

Watching Just Cook This reminds me of watching Julia Childs. The woman bored me to tears, but I learned many cooking techniques from her. Sam Zien bores me to tears too, (sorry Sam!) but I've learned a lot from watching his show. He always has unique shortcuts and when it comes to cooking, I want to discover all the shortcuts possible!

Anyhoo, Discovery Channel just launched the "Just Catch This" game. Sam shows the ingredients of three recipes and you have to "catch" the correct ingredients as they fall from the top of the screen. The first recipe is for Mexican Bruschetta and ingredients include tomato, garlic and cilantro. The game starts off slow and it's easy to catch ingredients.

The further you progress in the game, more ingredients fall at a faster pace. By the time you get to the third recipe, it's total chaos. As far as I can tell, you don't win anything. But, you can invite your friends to play and have a little friendly competition.

"Just Catch This" is entertaining and good clean fun. If you need a break from reality, go check it out:

CLICK HERE TO PLAY "JUST CATCH THIS"

P.S. My total scores were 692 and 1884. Not so good :-(

Meatless Mondays

Are you looking for ways to trim fat from your diet? Are you bored with the same ole' side dishes or burnt out on your summer salads? Would you like to learn more about vegetarian cooking or find delicious, yet healthy, recipes? If so, I have a resource for you!

MeatlessMonday.com is a website filled with scrumptious goodies for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. According to their website, "Meatless Monday is a national health campaign to help Americans prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer - four of the leading causes of death in America."

Considering all four of the above run rampant in my family, I want to do everything I can to remain healthy. How about you?

At MeatlessMonday.com you can subscribe to their weekly newsletter, Eater's Digest, which is packed with nutrition tips, advice and mouth-watering recipes. Yes, healthy really can be mouth-watering! You'll also find a Nutrition Library that offers a Health and Nutrition Dictionary, Healthy Eating Plans, How to Read Food Labels, and much more.

MeatlessMonday.com boasts an entire section dedicated to chili, where you will find Chili recipes, a guide to Red Hot Chile Peppers, Chili Origins and History, and more. It's quite interesting!

You'll also find unique recipe e-Cards you can send to your friends and family, learn how to start a community Meatless Monday campaign in your area, download nutrition guides for children, get tips for becoming a Grilling Gourmet, and learn how to eat healthy on the road.

Click the link to learn more about MeatlessMonday.com. I hope you enjoy your visit!

Bon Appetit!

Win a Samsung Dream Kitchen Sweepstakes

Samsung is hosting a Dream Kitchen sweepstakes in conjunction with Disney/Pixnar's new movie, Ratatouille.

Grand prize is a 5 day/4night trip for four to Paris with hotel accommodations at the Hotel Royal St. Honore.

First prize includes a set stainless steel kitchen appliances including:

Samsung French Door refrigerator
Convection Range
Microwave Oven
Dishwasher

Personally, I'm hoping to win the Samsung Dream Kitchen, although a trip to Paris would be pretty incredible.

Don't delay! The contest ends August 31st, 2007.

UPDATE: THIS CONTEST HAS EXPIRED.

Click Here for more Cheap Gourmet Cooking Contests and Sweepstakes

Free Sample True Lemon Crystallized Lemon Substitute

For the first time ever, fresh squeezed lemon and lime taste is as simple as a tear of a packet or a shake of a bottle thanks to True Lemon and True Lime, the original crystallized lemon and lime substitutes, in packets and shakers.

Both lemons and limes exude vitamin C; the antioxidant that helps fight heart disease, inflammation, and cancer. Lemons and limes also contain phytochemicals, including terpenes and limonenes, that are believed to play a role in preventing some cancers.

You can perk up nearly any dish by adding a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice and a few herbs. True Lemon® or True Lime™ has:

    * 0 calories, 0g carbohydrates, 0 fat;
    * No artificial or natural sweeteners;
    * No preservatives or sodium; and
    * 25% of an adult’s daily Vitamin C requirements.

At the time of this posting, TrueLemon is offering free product samples. To learn more about this convenient, all-natural product visit True Lemon.