contests

a trip to raisin country.

11/02/2012 | 6 Comments | Topics: contests, farm tours., frolics., just talk

I recently had the pleasure of attending a raisin-inspired trip with a handful of [very cool] food bloggers. We flew into Fresno, CA—where 99% of raisins are grown/dried. If you eat raisins: you have the weather, history and dedicated ranchers of Fresno to thank. Taking photos is one of my favorite components of food and farm trips; check out my raisin albums on flickr and facebook… [more].

It isn’t hard

American Lamb Pro-Am: what to do with a leg of lamb?

08/20/2012 | 7 Comments | Topics: contests, diy food, entree, food., recipes

VOTE NOW (until Aug 31) for my Cherry Chutney & Goat Cheese Stuffed Lamb with Lamb Jus!!! … [more]
Lamb is just as approachable as beef, pork or chicken. You can grill it, skewer it, roast it and enjoy fistfuls of ribs. It loves to be dressed up in Moroccan, Thai, Greek and Mediterranean flavors (to name but a few). When I think of lamb I think gyros and mint jelly, rosemary

McCormick for Mom

05/15/2012 | 2 Comments | Topics: contests, just talk, reviews

McCormick… [more] is a brand I have known since I was a little girl, I would find their little jars while rummaging through my mom’s spice drawer. Today McCormick is still a drawer-filler and dinner-maker. And thanks to modern technology, McCormick Gourmet is doubling their efforts to reach their customers in an effort to ‘help with dinner.’

I am fascinated that many iconic brands are reinventing themselves, embracing social media, videos/contests/celebrities

foodbuzz 24×24 beyond the eggs: culling and cooking your urban hens

02/26/2012 | 14 Comments | Topics: contests, entree, farm., food., just talk, soups, urban livestock

This was a special dinner, an occasion for pulling out all the stops. Joshua McNichols—a childhood friend of mine AND co-author of The Urban Farm Handbook… [more]—and his wife Emily came to dinner. My teenage sons joined us for this formal dinner in. It was a meal bordering sacred: the six of us were eating a ‘gourmet’ feast to honor Joshua and Emily’s recently culled chickens.

Joshua and I butchered

girl scout lemon cookie & shrimp ravioli (in a lemon cream sauce)

02/11/2012 | 4 Comments | Topics: contests, just talk

Yes you heard me right. Girl Scout cookies… [more] tucked into a savory shrimp ravioli. Make no mistake: this is not commonplace in our home. When I think cookies, I assume snack or dessert. Holiday treats even. Girl Scouts are about to sell their cookies in Washington State, and in an effort to bring awareness to ‘GIRL SCOUT COOKIES FOR SALE MARCH 2-18′, they reached out to a number of bloggers

Las Vegas Food & Wine All-Star Event: Best Bites & Sips #giveaway

11/28/2011 | 8 Comments | Topics: contests, frolics., just talk, las vegas

About a month ago, I gushed my way through a few posts about the Food & Wine All-Star Tasting Event and my weekend at Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas (Read about my Day 1, 2 and 3 or the low-down on Jean Georges Steakhouse). I cannot help but write one more post, to swoon a bit more over the best bites and sips… [more] of my foodie-filled

Giveaway: Valentine Cookie Kit

02/09/2011 | 32 Comments | Topics: contests, just talk

We have a winner! (I used the number generator random.org to pick the winner). I am keeping it hush-hush until tomorrow morning—to give the winner time to respond. If I receive no response by 8am FRI PST, then I will need to quickly ping a runner-up (all in the name of getting this beautiful kit to someone in time for their promised baking regimen!). Stay tuned.

Hello friends!
Just in… [more]

POM-centric party plus POM swag bags!

11/15/2010 | 15 Comments | Topics: contests, food focus, food., just talk, menus

I was chosen by POM to participate in their ‘pomegranate challenge.’ I adore a good challenge, and party themes? How did you know? Its the perfect thing for me to obsess over: weaving together decor, cocktails, a full-blown menu with multiple desserts, SWAG bags for guests and homemade pomegranate preserves (jelly AND molasses)… you should have seen all the cookbooks I blew threw—and new recipes I created, the menu scratches… [more]

pomtastic pomerific pomegranates.

11/13/2010 | 7 Comments | Topics: contests, food focus, food., just talk

… don’t get me started.
The puns are endless! I was selected to participate in an all-pomegranate event hosted by POM Wonderful (Thank you Poms!). So for over a week my brain has been swimming in red juice… no not blood. Pomegranate juice, seeds, jelly, sauces, molasses, syrup, cocktails, putting pomegranate seeds into pork-stuffing, topping baked brie… I never knew there were so many pomerific… [more] ideas to use pomegranate juice.

Pom-tinis & Dropping pombs.

11/12/2010 | 5 Comments | Topics: contests, food., just talk, libations, recipes

I am thinking of putting on a cooking class on holiday cocktails. What do you think?
It is not-too-distant in my future to host cooking classes. No worries. Before I start promoting classes, I will ask for emails so you can all sign up for a newsletter. THEN you will know what classes are happening when. But for now: a paltry substitute with personality reaching only from my fingertips to… [more]