Java Cupcake giveaway

Java Cupcake is having a huge giveaway!!
http://javacupcake.com/2010/01/blogerversary-giveaway/
hurry ends tonight at 10:00pm
lots of fabulous prizes--oh and check out all their delicious treats---Mmmm they have a Green Velvet cupcake with Bailey's Irish Cream frosting!! I'm drooling!!!

Ode to "The Joy of Cooking"

I know it's almost a cliche but the most important food book in my life is "The Joy of Cooking" by Marion Rombauer Becker, Irma S. Rombauer, and Ethan Becker. I'm actually on my second copy I now work off of the 75th anniversary edition---but I constantly go back to the---wait it's actually my 3rd copy--my first was a paperback ---that fell apart after many years--the second was a lovely white hard back copy that is now filthy and covered in years of spills and notes--that I constantly refer to. My first copy I started using in college --when I had only a hot plate to cook on and no experience cooking. I have made many recipes over the years, but I also use it for a guide--I may not want to make this recipe but I like the way they prepared the chicken for the recipe--or I want to try this sauce on vegetables instead of fish etc. It is one of the most inspirational cookbooks I've ever read---in that reading one recipe makes you think of better ways to prepare your own recipes. I highly recommend it! For all cooks!!!


For all you foodies there is a blog out there in the blogosphere called the gastronomers bookshelfhttp://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com they have a giveaway going in which to enter you are asked to mention your most important food book--the prize is a copy of "Momofuku" if interested the giveaway is located here http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/5314_book-giveaway-momofuku

If you love Philosophy!

I am a huge fan of the Philosophy line of skin care products!! Lucky for you I found a blog that is giving away a great Philosophy skin care kit called "On a Clear Day Acne Skin Kit"
the giveaway is located here:

http://katiegene.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-100-followers-giveaway.html

The Giveaway ends March 1st to head on over to katiegene's and follow the instructions to enter

win an adorable candy heart bracelet

I found a great giveaway over at:
http://www.saucysprinkles.com/2010/01/valentine-bracelet-giveaway.html

The bracelet is adorable--it's candy conversation hearts lacquered with a little glitter and added to a charm bracelet --leave a comment on her blog and re-post about the giveaway on facebook or your blog for a chance to win.

Every year my husband buys me Godiva chocolate for Christmas, birthday, and Valentine's Day--I love Godiva---I really really love the milk chocolate Godiva --so my Dear Husband--would go into the Godiva store and have them make up a box for me (this is before they had milk chocolate only boxes). Well we are from the Los Angeles area and our old Godiva store had a huge counter of individual pieces to choose from--so to have them make a box up of all milk chocolate wasn't such a big deal. Now we live in Oregon where our local Godiva isn't so big so 3 years ago at Christmas my DH went into our local Godiva and asked them to make a box --all milk chocolate--well the top layer was fine--but the bottom layer was all just pre -wrapped squares---that no one would choose for a box--and they were dark, extra dark etc. I wrote Godiva and they sent their apology along with a box of chocolates. So one day we came home to find a box on our porch of Godiva chocolate. Whenever I'm blue, or had a bad day --as we are walking up to the porch I say "remember that time when I came home and found a box of Godiva chocolate waiting for me on the porch!!"

Well today I came home and found a box on my porch from Godiva!!!! I had entered a contest over the holidays and won a bag each of their new gem chocolates---I was thrilled--of course my Dear Husband's response was --"Oh good --I guess that means we don't have to go to the Chocolate convention this weekend!" ----silly man ---of course we still get to go to the chocoolate convention this weekend!!!

Great Valentine's Day giveaway

Lots of lovely items in a great Valentine's Day giveaway over at :
http://whitelinenlavenderfield.blogspot.com/

Here are a few of the items---the complete list is as follows:
The winner will recieve:
~yummy pink cameo
~handmade chiffon flower
~vial of pink tinsel glitter

~gorgeous hand punched lattice lace hearts

~creamy bulky yarn

~vintage buttons

~creamy vintage French lace

~pink and cream ribbons

~handstamped muslin

Head over to see more pictures and to enter
http://whitelinenlavenderfield.blogspot.com/

chocomize

Mmmmm chocolate bars your way!!!

check out chocomize.com
and according to their facebook page :

Just type "facebook" into the coupon section of our checkout to get a FIVE DOLLAR gift certificate free! Check us out at www.Chocomize.com

You choose what type of chocolate :dark, milk, or white
then you can Choose from over 80 types of fruits, nuts, herbs and candies to create the perfect chocolate bar just for you! Our Belgian Chocolate bars are handmade to order with only the finest ingredients!

They look amazing!! Lots of fun items to choose from every kind of nut, dried fruit, or candy you can think of --even gold -----and reasonable prices!!!!

found another blog giving away chocolate

If you love chocolate head on over to :
http://www.handmadeinpa.net/2010/01/artisan-chocolate-giveaway/

She has a contest going to win a box of chocolates from Derry Church Artisan chocolates
http://derrychurchartisanchocolates.com

They all look so yummy!!!

another recipe and a link to a giveaway

This is one of my all time favorite recipes ----they are easy and quick and they make the house smell magical for days!!!! Smell beats any candle or room spray!!!

Big soft ginger cookies

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup margarine, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1/4 cup molasses
2 tablespoons white sugar
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the water and molasses. Gradually stir the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture. Shape dough into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten slightly.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.


Now at the blog her christian home ---they have a giveaway going on to win a $25 gift certificate to "spice cubed" spices come in a cute little metal tin that you can use a magnetic strip to stick right to your fridge!!! here's the link:
http://herchristianhome.com/win-some-free-spice-25-gift-certificate-giveaway/

blog contests

Some great blog contests to enter:
The coffee Shop is giving away a $20 Starbucks card enter by 1-16-2009
http://love4coffee.blogspot.com/2010/01/changes-and-first-giveaway.html

Hope everyone is having a Happy New Year!!!
If you're taking advantage of the January (after Christmas) sales --lots of great deals out there!
Saturday at Godiva my DH got me a box of all milk chocolate (my favorite) on sale Mmmm
At Macy's I got a pet bed---it's huge and fabulous---it's so soft --I love it and it has a removable cover that you can throw in the washer --(it's huge and it's for my little kitty---hee hee)
It's made by Soft Touch and it is so soft I just love it --it was on sale for $14.99!
Bath & Body works --had lots of items 75% off ---wish they had a price check machine in their store!