I was so excited to hear that this book was coming out in paperback as I had gotten a copy early in my blog history and found it very interesting. For those of you who don't know, Herve This is widely regarded as the father of molecular gastronomy and a scientist who seeks to understand food.
You can read my blog post about this book here, but if you would like to have your own copy, leave me a comment regarding a kitchen mystery you would like to have solved, and I will select a winner at random and the book (and the mysteries) will be yours!!
One of the fun things about being a food blogger is that you are often asked to try new products, and so I was thrilled when I was contacted by Popsicle brand to try new products targeted for those of us who are trying to pare down after holiday excesses. It is a well-known fact that often the best-intentioned diet is broken by the feeling of constant deprivation. Popsicle's new Sugar Free Tropical Bars and Fudgesicle Low Fat Triple Chocolate Bars were intended to address one of the toughest problems faced by parents and dieters alike-what can you eat for a treat when you are watching your sugar and fat? Popsicle has been around since I was a kid and they have gathered some data on eating habits that is very interesting, and it confirms what many of us as parents know - we are often sneaking these treats we buy for our children, and so choosing wisely is not only important for their health but for ours.
So when they offered me a sample of one of these new products and some coupons for free products for my readers, I jumped at the chance! Given my choice, and my strong penchant for chocolate, I chose the low-fat Triple Chocolate, and within a day or two, a package with dry ice and the complementary bars were at my house (as you can imagine, the dry ice was as exciting for the kids as the popsicles were!) The Triple Chocolate includes a white chocolate bar as well as more traditional milk and dark chocolate versions. Since the bars had been shipped in dry ice, I set them in the freezer to wait a day as recommended by the shipping instructions. Finally one night after dinner, I thought I would finally try each of the three flavors and write a review, but when I pulled open the freezer, I could see the box was open, but I was shocked when I saw the inside of the box (Share my dismay, right!) It turns out my husband and kids had been reviewing the bars for several days, and I think you can see, the Triple Chocolate Fudgesicles got rave reviews! After a severe dressing down, my husband brought back a new box for me to actually get a chance. I have to say that my favorite was the white chocolate -it was so rich and creamy that you would never guess it was missing the fat. For those of you who have to watch your sugar, Fudgesicle also has a No Sugar Added variety that is perfect for children or adults who want the flavor without the sugar
So here is the fun for you- Popsicle will be providing 10 coupons for free products so you can find Play with Food readers can find their own favorite frozen treat . Leave a comment with your best Popsicle-related memory, and I will pick ten readers at random on Valentine's Day.
Here is mine to start- I remember as a child the classic twin pops and how we used to push them on the edge of the counter top to break them in two, and how great those popsicles were on a hot summer day (before air-conditioning!) What a simple time! Now it's your turn!
The winner of the $50 gift certificate from Omaha Steaks is Matt. Thanks to all who left a comment during such a busy time of year. Congratulations to Matt, and I hope to be featuring more giveaways in the months to come!
P.S. Matt, you need to email me so that I can get the gift certificate to you!
This is the time of year when thoughts go to Christmas cookies, and glistening hams and roasted turkeys or maybe even a goose the shade of one of the Real Housewives of Orange County. But here is something designed to help you escape the monotony of leftovers during the holidays- a $50 giveaway from Omaha Steaks. If you are not familiar with Omaha Steaks, they are a large company specializing in the processing and delivery of prime steaks, meats and other gourmet foods. Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska (imagine that) Omaha Steaks has many retail outlets as well as shipping their high-quality meats all over the world. Their mail-order business has soared with the interest in food as a gift, perfect for those people that you have no idea what to buy for. Like many I have heard of the company, they have been around since 1917, so when they contacted me to see if I would be interested in hosting a giveaway for a $50 gift certificate, I jumped at the chance. As a bonus they sent me a box of filet mignons, so that I could write about their product.
Good meat needs very little in the way of seasoning, the meat should be the star, yet there are ways to complement a good steak, bringing out its flavor. When my filets from Omaha came packed with dry ice, we were looking forward to a great dinner. My steaks benefitted from my recent Julie and Julia experience- I learned that to sear meat you must dry the surface first. I used only some fresh ground pepper and kosher salt and then seared the steaks and cooked them until rare (for me) and medium rare (for my husband). I decided to make tow complementary condiments for my beautiful steaks - one, sauteed mushrooms with port wine and the other, avocado butter. Both of these added a different dimension to the delicious, tender beef. Mixed Mushrooms with Port - Slice 2 cups assorted mushrooms into fairly uniform pieces (I used hen and chicks and button mushrooms). Melt 2tbsp butter, and saute the mushrooms until just tender, then add a tablespoon each of soy sauce and worcestershire sauce, and then 1-2 tablespoons of port wine. Stir until liquid is reduced by about half. Serve with steak. Avocado Butter - Mash 1/2 a ripe avocado with 1/2 cup softened butter (since my husband is a diabetic, I use Smart Balance, and it works just as well). Form into a roll in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm. Cut slices and serve with your steak- this is amazing- adding a richness that complements the beef perfectly.
So you want to win some steaks of your own to complement with these or other condiments? From now until December 31, do the following to win a $50 gift certificate from Omaha Steaks to create your own memorable meal: 1) Leave me a comment telling me your favorite complement to a great steak 2)Sign up to follow Omaha Steaks on Twitter @Omaha_steaks and ReTweet the contest details using the hashtag #OmahaHoliday.
The winner will be selected at random, and can start the new year with some fabulous beef!
Jeanne of Simple Math Bakery will be warming her soles with her choice of ugg bots courtesy of Whooga Boots!!! Thanks to all of you who left a comment. And if you didn't win and have a blog, you can still enter the giveaway at Whooga Boots by displaying their badge on your own blog.And a special thanks to our friends across the pond at Whooga Boots.
Stay tuned because another giveaway is coming that will answer the age old question....Where's the beef!!
I have been very fortunate as a blogger to have companies contact me and provide me with samples and new products to try. It is fun to get a surprise package with a new type of vodka or a new pizza crust, or other new food or kitchen tool and have the opportunity to try it and share that with my readers. But this time, I have an even bigger thrill. Whoogaboots, a site that sells the popular (and extremely comfortable) ugg boots contacted me to let me know that their site was offering a giveaway for bloggers and offered to supply a pair of Ugg Boots as a giveaway for Play with Food readers. And you will even get them in time for Christmas!
Whoogaboots is a UK company that specializes in supplying high quality ugg boots. It features styles and colors you have seen on your favorite celebrities, and prides itself on excellent customer service and fast shipping. Their ThermoFleece technology makes their boots particularly warm, while still allowing feet to breathe. And you actually have two chances to win- you can enter on their site, and leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite Whooga Boots are and a week from now I will pick a random winner from those who have left comments...so comment away and enjoy a gift from WhoogaBoots and Play with Food!!
