Showing posts with label Give Aways. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Give Aways. Show all posts

Tuesday

Bertolli, Mario's Cookware & All Clad ~ A Fabulous Give Away !!!




Woo Hoo ~ I believe this may be my favorite give away yet!


The folks at Bertolli recently sent me a wonderful gift box of goodies to help introduce their newest product ~


And the GOOD NEWS is that our WINNER will receive a gift box just like the one I received!!








New Product!!

 Premium Quality Meal Soups for two, you'll find them in the freezer section.











Smart looking, roomy insulated zippered tote bag, perfect for keeping frozen food (or hot food) in good condition on your way home from the store.  I'll use it for picnics and tailgate parties, too.








Bertolli's Tomato Florentine ~ is the first of the soups that I tried. 


Delicious, full flavored, and hearty.  This was definitely a very generous serving for two; it actually provided 3 meal soups at my house.


You probably know I usually cook from scratch, but I would not hesitate to serve these soups to the most finicky eaters, these soups taste every bit as good as homemade. Nice bite-sized white meat chicken, spinach, tomatoes (both of which held their texture), and the tortellini was firm, not flaccid or over cooked, all in a substantial tomato bisque base.  And we noted that this was not overly salty as some prepared soups tend to be.







If your name is drawn here is what you will receive:


1.) Along with the gift cards for 2 packages of Bertolli Soup


2.) *  The winner also will get a Crate & Barrel Mario Batali Porcelain Enamel - Cast Iron 3 quart Soup Pot (made by Dansk, $89. value). 


3.) The winner will also receive an All-Clad Stainless Steel Soup Ladle ($24. value) 


4.) The high quality Bertolli insulated zippered tote.


* I must tell you, being the cookware nut that I am ~ Mario's line of porcelain enamel cast iron cookware is every bit as beautiful and durable as that produced by Le Creuset and Staub (I have shelves and shelves of their pieces), and Mario's cookware definitely holds it's own. 








All-Clad Stainless Steel Soup Ladle








We very much enjoyed the soup, and I can happily recommend it.
The other variety I chose was the Chicken and Rotini Pasta, can't wait to try that one (it will be on the menu later this week.)


For garnish, after heating it and serving it in our bowls,  I plucked some of the last of the basil from the garden then grated a little Romano cheese over ~ and there you have a bowl of soup that very well may rival your own homemade, with none of the work. I love that!


Here is what the soup looks like before it's heated, all of the components have been individually quick frozen so they don't lose their proper texture, and the broth and seasoning are frozen into neat little rectangular shapes so they melt uniformly and quickly.







So easy to prepare! All you do is put the contents  of the pouch in a pot, add one cup water, then bring to a simmer until everything is bubbling and hot. Immediately your kitchen will be filled with an irresistible aroma, and your delicious soup meal is ready to enjoy.













Serve with some delicious bread and/or a crisp salad and you're all set to enjoy a flavorful, healthy and delicious meal.

Click image to visit the Bertolli website


There are four meal soup varieties to choose from:


Chicken and Rotini Pasta
Roasted white meat chicken, pasta, zucchini, yellow squash, carrots and celery in a savory chicken broth


Tomato Florentine 
Cheese-filled tortellini, white meat chicken, spinach and tomatoes in a rich tomato bisque with a hint of basil


Chicken Minestrone 
Roasted white meat chicken, beans, zucchini, yellow squash, carrots, tomatoes and pasta in a hearty vegetable broth


Tuscan Beef & Vegetables
Tender beef, mushrooms, yellow squash, zucchini, carrots and celery with bow-tie pasta in a savory broth








Grilled baguette slices, brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with herbs.










Did I mention how much I love Mario Batali's line of cook and bakeware? :)






Here's how to enter the drawing: 
(You have up to 4 chances to win!)


1.)  Leave a message here and let me know which of the 4 soups sounds most appealing to you.


2.)  Double your chance of winning by being a follower here on my blog (Google Friend), and mention it in your comment.


3.) Another chance to win ~ 


If you are a follower of mine on facebook, please "Share" my give away/drawing (which you'll find on my facebook wall) with your facebook friends. (Share it on your fb wall.) And let me know that you did in your comment here.


4.) And a BONUS chance ~
Mention & link to this page on your OWN blog, and you'll have yet another chance to win.


~*~*~*~*~*~


Details ~ 


Hurry and enter as it's a quick a 10 day contest.


Entries will be accepted until October 28th @ 9PM (Pacific time)


I'm sorry but the contest is limited to the USA, but Alaska & Hawaii ARE included this time.


* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~


Winner will be announced Sunday October 30th.






Thanks for stopping by, and the best of luck to all who enter!!


Full disclosure: This contest is being run independently, and all gifts are provided by Bertolli.


This is my entry for:
Tablescape Thursday
Foodie Friday


Friday

Congratulations! We have a winner ~ Girard's Giveaway



Congratulations, Rett of  The Gazebo House  is our lucky winner of the Girard's Dressing Give Away!!!

Rett, if you'll email me your mailing address I'll forward it along so the company can get you your gift box right away.

Thank you everybody for entering the contest ~ 

We'll have more give aways coming up in the near future, so please stay tuned.


Have an enjoyable weekend everyone.

xo ~ Mari




Vinegar Glossed Chicken & a GIVE AWAY! (NOW CLOSED ~Winner Announced April 3, 2011)



Vinegar Glossed Chicken and a GIVE AWAY!


 NOTE: Contest CLOSED.
Winner was announced on April 3, 2011.

It is prepared stove top, in a skillet or saute pan, as can be found here in a pan set (clickable link.)



~*~*~*~*~


This recipe, (originally from " Mad Hungry: Feeding Men and Boys" by Lucinda Scala Quinn)

it is one my friend

Linda @ How to Cook A Wolf posted about not long ago.

Both Linda and I had previously used (different) recipes for Vinegar Chicken ~ and we both agree this one is our favorite so far.






Even if you do not like the sharp taste of vinegar (which I DO, but Mr. OUaP does not), I think you may like the flavors in this recipe ~ cooking the vinegar with the chicken curbs and subdues the sharpness. The ingredients and method leave the chicken moist, tender and succulent.

He LOVED it.


And as Linda says "this sauce should be illegal." I agree.

Next time, I will probably not cut the chicken pieces up ~ I found it not necessary unless the pieces are exceptionally large. Otherwise, we give this recipe thumbs up and will definitely enjoy it again. I served it with buttery polenta and Brussels Sprouts... almost any veggie you like, simply prepared would go well with this chicken dish.

If you would like a copy of the recipe, you can find it on Linda's Blog HERE.

Thank you for sharing, Linda.


~*~*~*~*~*~


Details of the GIVE AWAY...

A $50.00 Gift certificate to the winner to spend any way you like at any of the Wayfair stores.

TO ENTER:

1. Be (or sign up to become) a follower of this blog.

NOTE: Even if you have already signed up to follow, would you please check your own blogger "following list"? You may have been DELETED! Blogger mistakenly DROPPED over 800 of my followers. So please sign up again if your name is missing from the followers list. Thank you SO much.

2. Click the "pan set" link above, and look around the site.

3. Leave a comment here on my blog to let me know which item there most appeals to you ~

BONUS ~ Double your chances to win!
If you follow my blog on face book, please mention it in your comment, to have your name entered in the drawing TWICE.


And that's all there is to it!

If you win, you'll get a $50. gift certificate to spend in ANY of the Wayfair stores.


Contest closes March 31, 2011, 9PM, Pacific time.
Winner will be announced April 3, 2011.



Best of luck to all who enter.














http://www.wayfair.co.uk/Cookware-C223743.html

Monday

Give Away ~ Tate's Bake Shop Cookies and Cookbook !


Recently the people at Tate's Bake Shop, the highly regarded bakery in Southampton, NY, offered to send me a generous sampling of their cookies, plus a copy of "Tate's Bake Shop Cookbook*" by founder Kathleen King for review.

*Click link above to peek inside the book.


 

I have heard fabulous things about Tate's Bake Shop, and I learned that Ina Garten offered everything Tate's Bake Shop produced at her exclusive specialty food shop "The Barefoot Contessa", an impressive testimonial as to the quality of Tate's products if you ask me.

The cookbook includes 125 mouthwatering recipes; cookies, cakes, pies, muffins and scones, breads, plus healthy alternative recipes.


How could I turn this fabulous opportunity down?

The best part is that a follower of this blog will be randomly chosen to receive a duplicate gift box, just like the one I received from Tate's Bake Shop ~

Three boxes of cookies and the cookbook!




When the cookies arrived I was impressed with the smart, attractive packaging. Not a broken cookie in the bunch, as soon as you open the inner cellophane package be prepared for the heavenly, freshly baked aroma of homemade cookies.





Okay, so  after diligent taste testing(s)... my opinion of the cookies?  Deliciously addictive. These are the real deal, people. 

Pure butter and wholesome ingredients, nothing artificial.

  And just as the package states: "Crispy and buttery, rich but not overwhelming, they simply melt in your mouth ... and just one is never enough."  I completely agree with that description.



The irresistible aroma overcame me and I couldn't resist tasting one as I was setting up the display. Delicious!! 



I am not surprised that Tate's Bake Shop has consistently received glowing reviews from such publications as The Boston Globe, The New York Times,  Everyday by Rachael Ray, among others.
 
THE GIVE AWAY DETAILS


A chance to win:

 3 boxes of Tate's Bake Shop Cookies, attractively packaged and suitable for gift giving. (But you're probably going to want to keep them for yourself!)


AND
A copy of Kathleen King's "Tate's Bake Shop Cookbook"


Rules for entry ~

1.) Must be a follower of this blog, Once Upon a Plate (see side bar to sign up)

2.) For your first entry leave a comment on this post and name your favorite cookie.

Increase your chances to win:

3.) Sign up to "LikeTate's Bake Shop on facebook  (click to link), and come back here and leave a second comment on this post to let me know you did.


Fine Print:


Give Away open to residents of the continental United States only

Winner will be announced Sunday, December 12, 2010.


Good luck to all who enter!



~*~*~*~


The first recipe I made from Tate's Bake Shop Cookbook?




Cranberry Crumb Cake
Details and the recipe later this week.


~*~*~*~


~   Bonus Offer from Tate's  ~

Visit Tate's Bake Shop website to order Tate's fabulous baked-goods online, and take 15% off your order by
entering the discount code "cookie" at checkout.

(15% discount offer expires December 31, 2010.)


Disclosure: Tate’s Bake Shop provided me with the cookies and the cookbook to review











Tuesday

Couscous with Toasted Pine Nuts ~ Plus Give Away! October 2010 ~ Winner Chosen!



Any Barefoot Contessa fans here?






Ina Garten's (The Barefoot Contessa)  new cookbook, "Barefoot Contessa ~ How Easy is That?" is due to be released one week from today (on Tuesday October 26th).  

I'm looking forward to receiving my copy from amazon.com and I would love to give one lucky entrant a chance to win a  copy, delivered to the winner directly from amazon.com


If you click here to go to amazon and scroll down, you can find a sample of two recipes (perfect for Fall) from the book:
 "Herb Roasted Turkey Breast" and "Easy Cranberry & Apple Cake".  And if you visit the Barefoot Contessa website you can find a few more preview recipes from the book.

This is one of them ~ Couscous with Toasted Pine Nuts:

I think almost everyone is familiar with couscous, but if not ~ it is a very fine, tiny dried pasta (not a grain) which is ready in minutes.  Here's what it looks like before adding boiling water or stock:





This is quite similar to the Couscous with Toasted Pine Nuts recipe which I have made for a long time, and it is soo easy.  Just saute some chopped onion in oil or butter over medium heat until the onion is tender and translucent but not browned.
Add stock, or water and salt to the cooked onions, bring to a boil, stir in the couscous. Immediately remove from heat and cover the pan. 








Allow to sit, off heat, for 5 to 10 minutes until stock is absorbed and couscous is tender. Fluff with a fork and stir in some toasted pine nuts and chopped fresh parsley; serve hot.





I usually add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to my couscous after cooking, and just because it is still basil season here,  I added some chopped fresh basil to the parsley this time, and sprinkled with a few shards of fresh Parmesan Reggiano cheese.

Very good and so easy to prepare.  It's great with grill or roasted meats, fish or chicken.



Details for the Give Away....


1.) The drawing is open to all of "Once Upon a Plate" Google friends followers (see side bar) world wide. Please join now if you're not a follower. :)

2.) To double your chances, be a follower on my facebook page. (See right column, first entry)


3.) State your status (follower, face book follower, or both in your comment)



Entries will be accepted until 9PM Pacific Time,  October 31st, 2010

Winner will be announced November 1st.

Good luck to all who enter!!

* * * * * *


If you would like a printable copy of the Couscous with Toasted Pine Nuts recipe, you can find it on my recipe blog by clicking HERE

Thank you for stopping by! xo ~m.

P.S.  . . .




Not feeling so LUCKY?

You can learn more about the book, or pre-order it by clicking the image below. 


                                                                 


Comments Closed ~ Winner Chosen.  Thank you for participating everyone!





Sunday

Into the Heart of Italy ~ Winner is Announced!

Photo: Bertolli website



We have a WINNER for Bertolli's


Congratulations to KAIT of ...Cooking with Kait..!!

Kait, please email me your mailing address so we can get your gifts off to you right away. I hope you enjoy them!





Thank you everyone for entering~
And a big thank you to the folks at Bertolli for hosting this give away.






Friday

Into the Heart of Italy ~ Give Away & A Chance to Win a Culinary Vacation in Italy!




Exciting News!

Recently I was approached by representatives for Bertolli to participate in a give away in conjunction with segment 5 of their 6 part series "Into the Heart of Italy" discovering "Secrets of the Cantina". The adventure features Rocco DiSpirito, Marisa Tomei and Dan Cortese. (Video link below)




The folks at Bertolli have allowed me to host the most generous give-away to date on my blog, and when you click the link above you can also enter to win a chance to win a culinary vacation in Italy!




THE GIVE AWAY



Bertolli sent me a VERY generous gift box filled with wonderful gifts, and requested that I host a food and wine paring party (featuring Bertolli Frozen meals for two) matched with complementary wines then blog about it. I was delighted to participate!



It was so much fun, and the GOOD news is that the lucky winner of "Into the Heart of Italy" Give-Away will receive identical gifts as those that I received, valued at $175.00!:


Here is what the winner will receive:




VIP coupons for four Bertolli Frozen Meals for two that will transport you to Italy in just 10 minutes. [Those equals 8 FREE servings of Bertolli's delicious and easy to prepare entrees!]
PLUS the following:


Two, CB2 (Crate & Barrel 2) "Verona" Pasta Serving Bowls
Four, Crate & Barrel "Rotate" Plates
Crate & Barrel Marble Wine Chiller
Crate & Barrel Wine Decanter
Bertolli Wine Pairing Guide
$50 of gift cards; you can use them to purchase wines complimentary to your meals if you wish.



I incorporated the surprise gifts into the food and wine paring we hosted for 4, and you can see them throughout pictures of our party table.
Following my pictures you'll find details of how to enter the give away.


The winner will receive an envelope like this one, containing the
Bertolli Wine Parings chart, as well as Fifty dollars in American Express Gift Cards.



~*~*~*~*~
Here is how I used my gifts:
It was a beautiful afternoon, which compelled me to set the table out on the lawn so we could enjoy the outdoors.


This was such an easy way to host a party, and I would have no hesitation serving the complete meals for two as party entrees again.
One of the Bertolli entrees I served was Chicken Florentine & Farfalle. (Bowtie shaped pasta and white chicken meat with spinach in a delicious Parmesan cheese sauce), and to my surprise all of this delicious flavor it is prepared in a skillet and ready in just 10 minutes.





To round out the meal I made a simple salad and served bread sticks to nibble on.


Using the wine pairing chart, I chose Pinot Grigio ; a crisp and clean tasting medium-bodied white. Perfect pairing for the chicken dish.


The other pasta dish I served was Italian Sausage Stuffed Shells (with four cheeses in the filling), served in a flavorful tomato-basil sauce. It is from Bertolli's Oven-Baked selection, and grated Parmesan cheese is included to sprinkle over the shells after they have baked. Just arrange the shells and sauce in an oven safe dish, cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes (or 30 minutes in a convection oven), uncover and sprinkle the cheese over and allow it to melt.


The time-saving entrees allowed me more time to take photos, and visit with our guests!
I love the square plates and how they automatically arrange themselves in a spiral shape when stacked. (These are the "Rotate" plates from Crate & Barrel, four are included in the give-away.)



The beautiful marble wine chiller on the left is also one of the gifts.

I can also picture using this as a vase; imagine a big bouquet of white hydrangeas with deep green foliage as a centerpiece ~ striking!







I chose a classic Chianti to complement the flavorful Sausage-4 cheese Shells in Tomato-Basil Sauce. Chianti is Italy's famous Tuscan red wine, full flavored but just mildly acidic. Bella!


Wine pours beautifully from the elegant Crate & Barrel glass wine decanter, another of the gifts the winner will receive.
Serving from a decanter is also a very civilized way to serve (even inexpensive) wine!








I served our salad in the big serving bowls from CB2.


Our winner will receive 2 of these, they make great pasta serving bowls, too.


I served tomatoes and ciliegine (small fresh-mozzarella balls) on skewers atop the spring greens. This method makes for easy serving (and eating) at a casual buffet; each person can grab a skewer, then serve themselves the dressed greens.







I garnished the Sausage & Cheese Stuffed shells with a little fresh oregano, snipped from the herb garden. I also offered additional freshly grated Parmesan (but it wasn't necessary, because everything you need to serve comes in the Bertolli entree pouch.)






Store-bought Italian Grissini (very thin bread sticks). You could make your own, but this kind of party is designed to be easy on the cook!





I honestly couldn't believe how simple this little party was to throw together at the last minute. The food was delicious and I can't say I would have enjoyed the gathering more if I had spent a few hours in the kitchen. A big thank you is in order to the folks at Bertolli!



I believe there are at least 21 Bertolli entree choices; pasta and vegetables combined with meat, chicken, or shrimp ~ so there are plenty of choices to please everyone.


If you follow my blog, you know I'm very much dedicated to serving fresh, homemade, "from scratch" foods, but I must say that the Bertolli frozen entrees I tried have truly impressed me with their high, restaurant quality and ease of preparation.





The Bertolli entrees could easily pass for homemade.












I hope I've helped whet your appetite...
To enter the Give Away:
1.) Watch the following video.
2.) After watching the video leave a comment here describing your favorite part.


3.) If you are a Google-friend follower of my blog (side bar), mention it and your name will be entered twice.






"In this episode, celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito and actors Marisa Tomei and Dan Cortese explore Italian wine cellars, learn how to taste wine, visit Montepulciano and prepare Chicken Marsala. But you don’t need to search a wine cellar to enjoy the authentic taste of a slow-simmered wine sauce in your Chicken Marsala. With Bertolli Frozen meals you’re just minutes away from a luscious Italian experience in the comfort of your own home."



All entries for the giveaway must be located in the US.



Entries will be accepted up until May 22nd, 9PM, Pacific time.
Winner will be chosen randomly and announced Sunday, May 23rd.


Good LUCK to all who enter!!






A Sampling of my food . . .

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