Betty Crocker Molasses Cookie Mix Review & Prize Pack Giveaway!

Love molasses cookies, but could do without the preparation and mess? Betty Crocker® to the rescue! This fall, Betty Crocker® is introducing a molasses cookie mix, making this year-round favorite easy to bake in less than 20 minutes.

I've been a baking enthusiast since I was a little girl, and molasses cookies are a big favorite of mine.  I always bake cookies from scratch, so I was skeptical about trying Betty Crocker's new Molasses Cookie Mix.  The preparation was pretty simple - just combine the package of cookie mix, a stick of butter, an egg, and a tablespoon of water in a bowl, and mix until combined (I used my Kitchenaid mixer). You can drop spoonfuls of dough onto cookie sheets, or roll them in sugar (I used raw sugar for a great crunch) then bake. 

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how good the cookies tasted.  They were so good, in fact, that I had to give them to my youngest daughter so I wouldn't eat way too many of them!  She took them to her older sister's house for a football viewing party, where they were gobbled up in no time.  When they asked me for the recipe, they were shocked to find out that a) their mother had baked cookies from a mix, and b) those yummy cookies came from a mix?

Look for Betty Crocker® Molasses Cookie mix in the baking aisle of grocery stores this fall.  You can print a coupon for $.0.75 off by visiting http://bit.ly/cookiescoupon.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Thanks to Betty Crocker® and MyBlogSpark™ I'm giving away a Betty Crocker® Molasses Cookie mix prize pack (pictured above) which includes a Betty Crocker apron, non-stick baking pan, and mixing spoon.

 

 

MAIN ENTRY

Tell me in a comment, what's your favorite Betty Crocker® product, OR what's your favorite thing about fall? (Please be original. Duplicate comments will be disqualified.)

EXTRA ENTRIES

"Like" Betty Crocker® on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/molassesbcfb and leave a comment with your Facebook name.

Follow Betty Crocker® on Twitter: http://bit.ly/molassessbctwitter and leave a comment with your Twitter ID.

PLEASE make sure your email is linked to, or included in your comment. Entries will be accepted until September 30th at 11:59pm EST.  The winner will be drawn by random.org and validated per rules. Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. age 18+.  The winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to reply before an alternate winner is chosen.  Good Luck!

Disclaimer/Disclosure: The sponsor provided the prize pack as described above in exchange for my blog post, as well as a prize pack for the winner.  The opinions expressed are my own.  I received no monetary compensation.

~CLOSED~ Talenti gelato e sorbetto Giveaway

Talenti Gelato e Sorbetto is sponsoring a “Talenti’s Cutest Moments” photo contest on their Facebook page, which began on Tuesday, July 26th and will go on for 6 weeks, until September 2nd. All of the contest details can be found here.  Every submission will receive a coupon for $0.55!

Talenti is asking its Facebook fans to post photos of themselves or their kids enjoying Talenti’s delicious gelato or sorbetto.  The photos can be cute, messy, funny…anything!   Each week, the photo with the most votes will be selected as the week’s winner and will be the Talenti profile photo for the day!  Each of these weekly winners will also be entered as finalists for the grand prize (a four-pack of Talenti each month for one whole year. YUM!).  The grand prize winner will be announced on September 12th.

Key Dates to Remember:

 

July 25-September 2  - Photo submissions and weekly selection of semi-finalists

September 5-11  - Final Voting on six semi-finalists

September 12  - Winner announced! 

 

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Thanks to Jessica and Talenti, I have a coupon for a FREE Pint of Talenti gelato e sorbetto to give away! 

MAIN ENTRY

~Go to the Talenti gelato e sorbetto website here, take a look around, then tell me something that you learned about them. Please be original! Duplicate comments will be deleted.

EXTRA ENTRIES (Total of 3 extra entries.)

~ Follow me - amylou61 on twitter and tweet the following: " #Win a Free Pint of @TalentiGelato at Peace & Quiet: http://t.co/tCNUu47 "

~Like Talenti gelato e sorbetto on Facebook. Tell me your Facebook name in your comment.

~Follow TalentiGelato on twitter and tweet about the photo contest.  Leave your tweet link in a comment.  Copy/Paste this tweet:  " Submit your Cutest Gelato Moment photo for a chance to win 52 pints of Talenti gelato or Vote for your favorite! http://ow.ly/60Iph "

PLEASE make sure your email is linked to, or included in your comment. Entries will be accepted until August 25th at 11:59pm EST.  The winner will be drawn by random.org and validated per rules. Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only 18+. The winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to reply before an alternate winner is chosen. Good Luck!


Disclaimer/Disclosure:  I received a free product coupon for my own use and one to be used as a prize for the winner of the giveaway in exchange for this blog post.  I received no monetary compensation.

~CLOSED~ Walmart Box Tops for Education and a Giveaway!

Summer is going by so quickly, and you know what that means - It's almost time to start getting the kids ready to go back to school!  One of the best places to find everything on your list, and save money too, is  Walmart .   

Right now Walmart is featuring over 70 Box Tops for Education products, from brands such as Nature Valley, Cheerios, and Yoplait, that each have 4 Box Tops!  

To learn more about the Box Tops for Education program, and how you can help contribute to your school, visit www.boxtops4education.com/.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Thanks to MyBlogSpark™, Walmart, and General Mills, I have a $25 Walmart Gift Card to give away to one of you!

MAIN ENTRY

~ Visit Walmart.com, and check out their "School Essentials at A+ Prices" (yellow box, halfway down the page), and tell me what item(s) you plan to buy for your kids.

EXTRA ENTRIES

~ Follow my blog Publicly on Google Friend Connect and tell me your user name

~ Follow me - amylou61 AND Walmart on twitter and tweet about this giveaway. (You may do this 1x per day.)  Comment with the tweet link. Please copy/paste this tweet:   $25 Walmart Gift Card Giveaway at Peace & Quiet http://t.co/YHJ9SFg

~ List this giveaway on a Giveaway Linky and leave me a direct link to it.  (You may do this 1x per day)

PLEASE make sure your email is linked to, or included in your comment. Entries will be accepted until July 31st at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be drawn by random.org and validated per rules. Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only 18+. The winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to reply before an alternate winner is chosen. Good Luck!

Disclaimer/Disclosure: The information and $25 gift card to Walmart has been provided by Walmart and General Mills through MyBlogSpark. I received a $25 gift card to Walmart for my participation, and one will be provided to the winner by the sponsors.

Skin MD Natural™ Review & Giveaway

A shielding lotion does the real work to prevent dry skin in two ways.

First, it assists the inner layers of skin to absorb moisture. The humectant (an ingredient that attracts moisture) used in Skin MD Natural is unique to it and has been laboratory tested to be 6 times more effective than any other you will find in common creams.

Second, a shielding lotion enhances the power of the top layer of the skin to resist environmental irritants while protecting the inner natural moisture.

This can be a big benefit for those who cook, wash dishes and garden because Skin MD Natural helps skin retain its natural moisture and oils in the face of all those irritating soaps and chemicals.

The manufacturer's website http://www.skinmdnatural.com/ has hundreds of dermatologist and user reviews including many addressing severe dry skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis. People with sensitive skin -- and those of us who like to live as naturally as possible -- will appreciate that Skin MD Natural is hypoallergenic, free of fragrances, parabens and colorants. It is made with more than 90% natural ingredients and 100% food-grade ingredients that are on the FDA's "most safe" list.

I've tried many body lotions, hand creams, body butters, etc., in an effort to rid myself of dry, itchy skin. Most of the products I've tried have been a disappointment.  Some left my skin feeling greasy, others seemed to disappear after only a short while.  SO...when I was contacted by Katya about reviewing Skin MD Natural™ shielding lotion, I was skeptical, but willing to give it a try. 

The first thing I noticed when I looked at the label on the bottle was that the lotion can be used not only on the body and hands, but also on the face!  I checked the fine print on the back of the bottle, and it said that the lotion is non-comedogenic (this means it won't block pores).  Now, I was intrigued.  What I could use just 1 lotion to moisturize my body and face?  My tiny bathroom would be less cluttered, my "beauty routine" would be simpler, and I'd save time. 

I began by using Skin MD Natural™ shielding lotion on my problem areas - the dry patches of skin, especially on my hands and fingers, that tend to flake and sometimes even crack and bleed.   I liked that the lotion only took a minute or so to soak into my hands, leaving no greasy residue.  I was able to use the keyboard and mouse without any slipperiness or smudges.  The fragrance was very mild and hardly even noticeable.  After a few uses, my skin felt and appeared softer and moister than before.  I think my hands looked younger, too!   If you want softer skin, I recommend you try Skin MD Natural™ shielding lotion.

A few more facts from the Skin MD Natural™ site:

Why Skin MD is "Natural"?

Currently the FDA has no regulations concerning the labeling of beauty or skin care products as natural. Products containing toxic, even potentially carcinogenic, ingredients can label and market themselves as natural. Skin MD Natural is over 93% "natural" and the ingredients that are not "natural" are of food or medical grade quality and on the FDA's most safe list.

Our lotions are made to be free of parabens, petrochemicals, dyes, and other irritating ingredients. They are also vegan, cruelty free, and eco-friendly. We don't participate in animal testing or use any animal products in our lotions and Skin MD Natural is formulated in the United States in a facility that uses 100% solar power.

Eco Friendly, Cruelty Free and Vegan Skin Care

Skin MD Natural and Skin MD Natural + SPF 15 are manufactured in the United States using 100% solar power, free of animal products and animal testing.

You can purchase Skin MD Natural™ products online at http://www.skinmdnatural.com/, or check out their store locator.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Thanks to Katya and Skin MD Natural™, One winner will receive a 4 oz bottle of Skin MD Natural™ Shielding Lotion!

MAIN ENTRY

Go to http://www.skinmdnatural.com/ and tell me something you learned, that isn't already mentioned in this post.  Please don't copy other people's answers, as duplicates will be deleted.

EXTRA ENTRIES

(Make sure you add a separate comment for each Extra Entry!)

~Follow my blog on Google PUBLICLY (see my sidebar) and comment with your User Name.

~Follow @Skinmdnatural and me @amylou61 on twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You may do this 1x per day.  Comment with the tweet link.  Your tweets MUST be PUBLIC.  Copy this tweet:

" SkinMD Natural Lotion #Giveaway at Peace & Quiet http://tinyurl.com/4yhao8z "

PLEASE make sure your email is linked to, or included in your comment.  Entries will be accepted until May 4th at 11:59pm EST.  The winner will be drawn by random.org and validated per rules. Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. & Canada age 18+. The winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to reply before an alternate winner is chosen. Good Luck!

Disclaimer/Disclosure: The sponsor provided the product as described above in exchange for my review, and will provide the prize to the winner.  I received no monetary compensation.

~CLOSED~CSN Stores Giveaway!

I love shopping at CSN Stores!  I know I've said this before (see my previous post), but I REALLY do!)  My favorite way to shop is from the comfort of my own home, and CSN Stores allows me to do just that.  They have so many things that I'd like to buy for my home, my family, and even our dog. 

My favorite CSN Store is Kitchen and Dining.  I love to cook and bake, and am a kitchen gadget-o-holic.  I'm always looking for a new baking pan, or a kitchen tool that I've seen a chef use on one of the many cooking shows I watch.   Here are a few items on my CSN Stores Wish List:

I've always wanted to learn to make fresh pasta.

I make bundt cakes at Christmastime, and these mini molds would be great for giving small cakes as gifts.

These storage containers would help me organize my messy kitchen cabinets. 

Check out this awesome deal!  By enrolling in CSN Rewards, you are eligible to earn CSN Dollars just by shopping at CSN Stores. Every purchase you make will earn you 3% towards a future purchase. In other words: the more you shop, the more free stuff you get! I signed up a couple of months ago, and have already earned $15 "CSN DOLLARS". 

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Thanks to Sean and CSN Stores, I have a $40 CSN Stores Gift Code to give away to one of you! (Does not cover shipping costs, however many items ship free.)

MAIN ENTRY

Go to CSN Stores and tell me what item you might choose if you win. Comment with the specific name of the item or a link to it.  Please don't copy, as duplicate answers will be deleted.

EXTRA ENTRIES
(Make sure you add a separate comment for each Extra Entry!)

~Follow my blog on Google PUBLICLY (see my sidebar) and comment with your User Name.

~Follow CSNStores and me - amylou61 on twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You may do this 1x per day. Comment with the tweet link. Please copy/paste this tweet:

"CSN Stores Giveaway at Peace & Quiet! http://tinyurl.com/6gx3289"

PLEASE make sure your email is linked to, or included in your comment.  Entries will be accepted until March 26th at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be drawn by random.org and validated per rules. Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. & Canada age 18+. The winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to reply before an alternate winner is chosen. Good Luck!

Disclaimer/Disclosure: The sponsor is providing the prize as described above in exchange for my review. I received no monetary compensation.



~CLOSED~"Make Chex Party Mix" Giveaway!

Cheers to a season filled with delicious, homemade holiday treats! Kroger® and Chex® Cereal have joined forces to help you whip up recipes for your holiday entertaining that are easy on your time as well as your budget!

Whether you like your Chex® Mix salty or sweet, there are dozens of recipes to choose from here!  Try Chex® Caramel Corn,  Cheesy Ranch Chex® Mix, or our family's favorite - Chex® Muddy Buddies® .  Kroger is featuring a special sale price on Chex® products through December 25th, so you can make a big batch of your favorite Chex® Mix and share it with your friends and family at holiday get-togethers.  Or wrap up some Chex® Mix in a festive bag or container for a homemade gift everyone will love to get!

Thanks to MyBlogSpark™, Kroger, and Chex®, I received a Chex Holiday Recipes gift pack that included two samples of Chex cereal and a $25 gift card valid at the Kroger Family of Stores, AND I have another gift pack to giveaway to one of you!

MAIN ENTRY

Tell me which Chex® Mix recipe you'd most like to try.

EXTRA ENTRIES

~Follow my blog on Google PUBLICLY (see my sidebar) and comment with your User Name.

~Follow OriginalChexMix and me (amylou61) on twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You may do this 1x per day. Comment with the tweet link. Please copy/paste this tweet:
Win Chex and a Kroger Gift Card at Peace & Quiet: http://tinyurl.com/2cpayc9

PLEASE make sure your email is linked to, or included in your comment. Entries will be accepted until January 3rd at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be drawn by random.org and validated per rules. Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only 18+.  The winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to reply before an alternate winner is chosen. Good Luck!

Disclaimer/Disclosure: I received the package described above from the sponsor in exchange for my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  The sponsor will provide the prize as described above to the winner. The review above is my honest opinion, and was not influenced by the sponsor in any way.

   

~CLOSED~ CSN Stores Giveaway!

"CSN Stores LLC is a fast-growing, privately-held company offering customers the best online shopping available for home and office goods. A $200 million company, CSN is made up of more than 200 online niche shops offering a huge selection of products ranging from barstools and bedroom sets to grills, greenhouses and gaming equipment."

CSN Stores is a great place to shop for SO many things.  This drop leaf table would be cute for a breakfast nook.

I've been wanting a new dishwasher for some time now.  Maybe Santa will get me this one...I can dream...

A new bed for our dog, Louis may be under the tree this year.  We've had to tape up the holes he's torn in his bean bag chair, to the point where there's more tape than anything else!  This one from CSN Stores looks cozy.

Check this out! I just signed up for CSN Rewards. "By enrolling in CSN Rewards, you are eligible to earn CSN Dollars just by shopping at CSN Stores. Every purchase you make with us will earn you 3% towards a future purchase. In other words: the more you shop, the more free stuff you get!"

What a great deal! 

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Thanks to Sean and CSN Stores, I'm giving away a $45 CSN Stores Gift Code! 

MAIN ENTRY

Go to CSN Stores and tell me what item you might choose if you win.  Comment with the specific name of the item.  Please don't copy, as Duplicate Answers will be deleted.

EXTRA ENTRIES

~Follow my blog on Google PUBLICLY (see my sidebar) and comment with your User Name. 

~Follow CSN Stores and me (amylou61) on twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You may do this 1x per day. Comment with the tweet link.  Please copy/paste this tweet:

CSN Stores Giveaway at Peace & Quiet! http://tinyurl.com/3xd7x9b

~Tell me what you want Santa to leave under your Christmas tree this year. I'm hoping for some "sparkly" earrings to wear when my daughter gets married in February!

PLEASE make sure your email is linked to, or included in your comment.  Entries will be accepted until December 30th at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be drawn by random.org and validated per rules. Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. & Canada age 18+. The winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to reply before an  alternate winner is chosen. Good Luck!

Disclaimer/Disclosure: The sponsor is providing the prize as described above in exchange for my review.  I received no monetary compensation. 



~CLOSED~Winter Songs: A Windham Hill Christmas

Winter’s Songs: A Windham Hill Christmas

I am a Christmas music fanatic, and I like to start listening to it long before the holidays, so when the opportunity to review this CD came along, I happily obliged.  After all, it gave me an excuse to play Christmas music in October!  Winter Songs: A Windham Hill Christmas is a collection of 10 instrumental holiday songs, performed by various artists.  It's the sort of music that would be great for playing in the background at a holiday party.  

I played the CD while I was doing a few things around the house this weekend.   The music was very pleasant, festive, and it got me thinking about how soon it would be time for Christmas shopping, decorating the house, and baking yummy treats.   I especially liked some of the more unique tunes such as "Circle of Joy", "The Dove's Return", and "Salve Regina".   I think this would be great for listening to at the office, as it's soothing, and not distracting.   I'll be loading it on my music player, so I can listen to it while taking a walk around our neighborhood.   In my opinion, Winter Songs: A Windham Hill Christmas is a great CD to add to your holiday music collection. 

Click here to listen to the streaming tracks.

Track Listing:

1. Joy to the World

2. Angels We Have Heard On High

3. Circle Of Joy
4. Patapan
5. Greensleeves
6. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
7. The Compleat Nutcracker Sweet
8. December Morning
9. The Dove's Return
10. Salve Regina


Winter Songs: A Windham Hill Christmas is available for purchase at Amazon.com and other retailers.

Thank you Elisa and Sony Music for the opportunity to review this CD!

GIVEAWAY TIME!

I have a copy of Winter Songs: A Windham Hill Christmas to give away to one of you!

MAIN ENTRY

Tell me what is your favorite Christmas CD?  Include the Name of the CD AND the Artist.

EXTRA ENTRIES (Total of 3 Entries if you do both below)

~Follow my blog PUBLICLY on Google Friends. (See my sidebar)

~Follow me amylou61 on Twitter and Tweet this Giveaway.  Leave the Tweet link in a comment. Copy this tweet:  
#WIN a copy of the CD - Winter's Songs: A Windham Hill Christmas at Peace and Quiet: http://tinyurl.com/22q54hy

PLEASE make sure your email is linked to, or included in your comment. Entries will be accepted until November 9th at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be drawn by random.org and validated per rules. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only age 18+. The winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to reply before an alternate winner is chosen. Good Luck!

Disclaimer/Disclosure: I received the CD described above from the sponsor. I received no monetary compensation. The review above is my honest opinion, and was not influenced by the sponsor in any way.

~CLOSED~Pillsbury Sweet Moments Giveaway

Pillsbury introduces two new ways to enjoy life´s little luxuries with Sweet Moments Bite-Size and Molten Lava Brownies! Pillsbury Sweet Moments, now available in the refrigerated baked goods section of your local grocery store, are perfect for indulging any time of the day. The Bite-Size Brownies, which are layered with either rich caramel or fudge and chocolaty coating, are just the right size to grab and go for a quick pick-me-up. They´re ready to eat, so are ready right when the craving strikes - no preparation necessary! And, at 60 calories per brownie, they´re just enough to satisfy your sweet tooth.

And to reward yourself for a busy day well spent, try a Sweet Moments Molten Lava Brownie, which are served in single-serve bowls and are also available in rich caramel and fudge varieties. Each are covered in decadent chocolate or creamy caramel and topped with a chocolatey drizzle. After only 15 seconds in the microwave, the brownie bowls are warm and ready to enjoy. When chocolate bliss is this easy, how could you resist pausing for a Sweet Moment at the end of your day?

I recently received a package from My Blog Spark and Pillsbury, with a coupon for a free package of Pillsbury Sweet Moments, a bath puff, and chocolate-scented spa products.  I headed to the store with my coupon, so I could try the product, post my opinion here, and have a giveaway for all of you!   It was difficult  choosing which Sweet Moments to try, as they're all chocolate, and just about anything chocolate sounds good to me.  I finally decided on the Chocolate Caramel Bite-Size Brownies.  

There were 12 pieces in the package, 4 servings of 3 pieces each.  I thought that sounded like small-ish servings, but it turned out to be plenty, even for my chocolate sweet tooth.  Each piece was coated in a chocolate shell, and sort of reminded me of a petit four.  Inside the chocolate shell was a mini brownie with a layer of gooey caramel in the middle.   They tasted sweet, chocolatey, and rich, and made an indulgent treat with my afternoon coffee. 

Sweet Moments are a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth or chocolate craving, and you can't get much easier than grabbing a package from the fridge.  The Molten Lava Brownie Bowls take a short 15 seconds in the microwave, for a warm, gooey dessert.  I'll be trying those soon!

Sweet Moments has a suggested retail price of $3.19 for a two-pack of Molten Lava Brownies or a 12-pack of Bite-Size Brownies.  You can read about all of the varieties/flavors of Sweet Moments and print a coupon for $1.50 off at Pillsbury.com here.

GIVEAWAY!
Thanks to My Blog Spark and Pillsbury, one of you will win the prize pack pictured above, including a coupon for a free package of Sweet Moments, chocolate scented spa products, and a bath puff.

MAIN ENTRY **CLOSED**
Head over to the Pillsbury website and comment with which of the Sweet Moments products you'd most like to try. 

EXTRA ENTRIES (TOTAL of 4 Entries if you do all 3 below)

~ Follow my blog PUBLICLY on Google Friends. (See my sidebar)

~Follow me amylou61 and Pillsbury Treats on Twitter and Tweet this Giveaway.  Leave the Tweet link in a comment.  Please copy this tweet:  " #Win a Pillsbury Sweet Moments Prize Pack at Peace & Quiet: http://tinyurl.com/25tvsc3 #mbsspark "

~Like or Follow Pillsbury on Facebook. Leave your Facebook ID in your comment.

PLEASE make sure your email is linked to, or included in your comment. Entries will be accepted until September 28th at 11:59pm EST.  The winner will be drawn by random.org and validated per rules. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only age 18+.  The winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to reply before an alternate winner is chosen. Good Luck!

Disclaimer/Disclosure: I received the product, prize pack, and information from Pillsbury through MyBlogSpark.  The prize described above will be provided to the giveaway winner by the sponsor. I received no monetary compensation. The review above is my honest opinion, and was not influenced by the sponsor in any way.

~CLOSED~ SeaPak & Farm Rich Giveaway

About Farm Rich® Snacks and Appetizers

Farm Rich® products have been setting the standard for delicious, easy-to-prepare food the whole family loves.

Farm Rich® foods taste like nothing else because they're made like nothing else – with 100% real ingredients like real cheese, high-quality meats and fresh vegetables.

About SeaPak

Since 1948, SeaPak® has provided a wide variety of great-tasting, easy-to-prepare shrimp and seafood products of the highest quality to seafood lovers everywhere.

Whether you prefer delicious, perfectly-seasoned seafood right from the package or you like to customize a recipe with your own special touches, SeaPak has a shrimp or seafood variety for you.

The SeaPak Shrimp Company. Making Great Shrimp Easy ®


My Review

I like trying new food products, especially when I have the opportunity to blog about them and offer a giveaway to my readers!  I've tried a few products from Farm Rich® and SeaPak®, but until recently I had no idea just how many varieties of snacks and seafood they make.  I checked out the Farm Rich® Products list on their website and found French Toast Sticks, Cheese Sticks, Mozzarella Bites, Meatballs, and much more.  SeaPak®'s products list includes Butterfly Shrimp, Shrimp Scampi, Maryland Style Crab Cakes,  Smoky Barbecue Salmon Fillets, and Seasoned Ahi Tuna Steaks, just to name a few.

I headed to the grocery store, and was hoping to find Maryland Style Crab Cakes, but alas, they didn't have them.  I did find SeaPak® Oven Crispy Butterfly Shrimp and Farm Rich® Mozzarella Bites.  When I got home I was on my own for lunch so I decided to treat myself, and popped both in the toaster oven
(I L-O-V-E my toaster oven! but that's another story...)  My lunch was ready in no time, and I was all set to enjoy it!

I was pleasantly surprised at how crispy and tasty the Butterfly Shrimp was.  The shrimp flavor was mild and pleasant, and the texture was perfect.  I dipped it in cocktail sauce and it was even better!  It was hard to believe this crunchy yummy shrimp had come from a frozen package! 

Some of the Mozzarella Bites had some cheese oozing out the sides when I took them out of the oven.  I warmed up some spaghetti sauce for dipping (I think a packet of marinara sauce would be great to include in the package.)  They tasted a bit too plain by themselves, but were better when dipped in the sauce.  All in all, I'd say they were just okay.   All in all, I had a pretty tasty lunch.

The Farm Rich® and SeaPak® websites have lots of yummy sounding recipes on their websites to help you plan easy, quick meals, snacks, and party fare.   The SeaPak® site also has The Sea Pak Blog, nutritional information, and much more. You'll find printable coupons, a birthday club, and other promotions at the Farm Rich® site.  They've filled both sites with lots of useful and interesting information, and links to where you can buy their products.  


Giveaway time!

Now you have the chance to win some yummy Farm Rich® and SeaPak® products!   The winner will receive 4 coupons for free products - 2 Farm Rich® and 2 SeaPak®.

MAIN ENTRY **CLOSED**
Head over to Farm Rich® and SeaPak®, then come back and comment about something you learned, a product or recipe you'd like to try (OTHER THAN what is already mentioned in this post.)
Duplicate comments will be deleted, so be original!
Both websites have pages and pages of content to choose from. 

EXTRA ENTRIES

~ Follow my blog PUBLICLY on Google Friends. (See my sidebar)

~ Follow me amylou61 and on Twitter and Tweet this Giveaway. Leave the Tweet link in a comment. You may copy this tweet:    " Win free SeaPak and Farm Rich products at Peace & Quiet: http://tinyurl.com/37eao8k "

PLEASE make sure your email is linked to, or included in your comment. Entries will be accepted until September 23rd at 11:59pm EST.  The winner will be drawn by random.org and validated per rules. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, aged 18+. The winners will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to reply before an alternate winner is chosen. Good Luck!


Disclaimer/Disclosure: I received free coupons for the 2 products reviewed above in exchange for my review.  The prize described above will be provided to the giveaway winner by the sponsor.  I received no monetary compensation.  This is my honest opinion, and was not influenced by the sponsor in any way.

Winners!

The winners of The Vineyard Cookbook, as chosen by Random Number Generator are #4 and #63.  The winners have been contacted.  Thanks to all who entered! 

~CLOSED~Giveaway: The Vineyard Cookbook

THE VINEYARD COOKBOOK: Seasonal Recipes & Wine Pairings Inspired by

America's Vineyards by Barbara Scott-Goodman (www.welcomebooks.com), photo:

© Colin Cooke (except for p.25 - photo: © Kirk Irwin)

The Vineyard Cookbook

by Barbara Scott-Goodman

Some of America’s most distinctive vineyards pair recipes and wine in an invaluable new book, The Vineyard Cookbook: Seasonal Recipes & Wine Pairings Inspired by America’s Vineyards

The Vineyard Cookbook contains:

• More than 60 recipes including Swiss Chard Frittata, Risotto with Broccoli Rabe & Parmesan, Pan Seared Duck with Red Wine & Oranges, Ginger-Soy Chicken Wings, Peach & Raspberry Cobbler and Blueberry and Peach Cake

• 12 multi-course menus organized by season: Enjoy a festive spring meal, a casual beachside picnic, an
   intimate autumn dinner, or a festive holiday open house

• Simple profiles on different types of wines and general guidelines for pairing

• The Vineyard Cookbook will transport the way you entertain!

• 160 pages, 8” x 8 3/4”, 100 color photographs, HC, $24.95

• Do visit www.welcomebooks.com/vineyardcookbook

“OK, so let’s be honest. . . most books on cuisine and wine are not much fun to read but The Vineyard Cookbook is — it has exciting, workable recipes and wine recommendations that are bound to make for some kick-butt entertaining.” 

— Steve Girard, Owner, Benton-Lane Winery (Oregon)

“The Vineyard Cookbook is perfect for the wine and food lover who enjoys crafting special dining experiences. The menus are easily executed and luscious, the choice of wine pairings varied, and the beautiful photography makes it all so appealing.”

— Margaret Duckhorn, Founder, Duckhorn Wine Company (California)

THE VINEYARD COOKBOOK: Seasonal Recipes & Wine Pairings Inspired by

America's Vineyards by Barbara Scott-Goodman (www.welcomebooks.com), photo:

© Colin Cooke (except for p.25 - photo: © Kirk Irwin)

My Review

I've never been very knowledgeable about wine.  I know of a few that I like, but as far as which type to serve with a particular dish, I'm pretty clueless.  One of the features I found to be very helpful in The Vineyard Cookbook is the list of suggested wines next to each recipe.  Also, scattered throughout the book are descriptions and a bit of background information for many varieties of wines - Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Reisling, etc.  After reading through the book, I feel as though I've taken a "mini-course" on wines!

I enjoyed reading about wineries from all over the US, and their most popular wines, along with pictures of their locations with some beautiful scenic views.  There are 32 in all, and their wines are the ones that are recommended for serving with the recipes.  I looked up some of the vineyards on the internet, and there were many very reasonably priced wines offered.  No need to buy expensive imports!

The Vineyard Cookbook is divided into seasons, with menus for entire meals and the recipes for each dish.  This would be the perfect cookbook for entertaining, with recipes for each course included, and a list of wines to serve with the meal.  How simple is that?  Here's one example of a spring menu: 

Lemon-Fennel Olives

~

Spicy Roasted Party Nuts

~

Smoked Salmon Salad with Dill Vinaigrette

~

Pork Loin with Orange-Marmalade Glaze

~

Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Red Onions

~

Ginger-Orange Snap Peas

~

Ricotta Cheesecake

Imagine the reaction your guests or your family would have to a meal like this!  The recipes are laid out in detail, with easy to follow instructions, and don't require hard-to-find ingredients or fancy skills to prepare.  My 22 year old daughter looked through the book, and asked to borrow it so she can try some of the recipes.  

Here's one of my favorite recipes from The Vineyard Cookbook:

 

THE VINEYARD COOKBOOK: Seasonal Recipes & Wine Pairings Inspired by

America's Vineyards by Barbara Scott-Goodman (www.welcomebooks.com), photo:

© Colin Cooke (except for p.25 - photo: © Kirk Irwin)

BUY IT

To buy a copy of The Vineyard Cookbook, visit Welcome Books

WIN IT!

Thanks to Carol at Welcome Books, I'm giving away 2 copies of The Vineyard Cookbook!

MAIN ENTRY

You Must do this FIRST: go to >>Welcome Books, take a look around, then come back and tell me the name of another of their books you'd like to read.

EXTRA ENTRIES

~ Follow me amylou61 and Welcome Books on Twitter and Tweet this Giveaway.  Leave the Tweet link in a comment. (Your tweets must be PUBLIC!)

You may copy this tweet:
Win a copy of The Vineyard Cookbook at Peace & Quiet! http://tinyurl.com/25r7a8v

~ Follow my blog PUBLICLY on Google Friends. (See my sidebar)


PLEASE make sure your email is linked to, or included in your comment. Entries will be accepted until August 26th at 11:59pm EST.  The winners will be drawn by random.org and validated per rules. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, aged 18+. The winners will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to reply before an alternate winner is chosen. Good Luck!


Disclaimer/Disclosure: I received a copy of the book described above in exchange for my review. The prizes described above will be provided to the giveaway winners by the sponsor. I received no monetary compensation. This is my honest opinion, and was not influenced by the sponsor in any way.