Recipes, Reviews, News and More - From Val's Kitchen

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE - The Popcorn Factory - With Giveaway

valmg — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:51:05 +0000

My whole family loves popcorn. I think it’s one of those foods that most people like. How can you not?! It’s not only a great snack, it’s also a great gift.

The Popcorn Factory is a leading gourmet popcorn and edible gifts company offering yummy popcorn treats including Popcorn Tins, Samplers, Towers, Baskets, Popcorn Balls and Personalized Gifts. The Popcorn Factory has a rich history which goes back to the inventor of the famous popcorn machines, now popular in movie theaters today. Over the past 30 years, The Popcorn Factory has been recognized for its rich history and contributions to the community. For the second year in a row, The Popcorn Factory donated 4,000 bags of fresh popped caramel corn to entice residents in nearby suburbs to donate to Lambs Farm, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering adults with developmental disabilities to lead personally fulfilling lives, during Popcorn Days. In 2006, The Popcorn Factory, a subsidiary of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLWS), was recognized by Guinness World Records for building the World’s Largest Popcorn Ball, which weighed in at almost two and half tons with a circumference of eight feet. The record-setting, edible popcorn ball made headlines not only when it was created, but also when it traveled and was destroyed in a festive event held in Denver, Colorado. In recent years, The Popcorn Factory also has been featured on The Food Network, the TODAY Show, YouTube and iVillage.com.

I had heard about The Popcorn Factory but never actually tried their popcorn until recently. We received a 2 gallon Falling Leaves tin of cheese, caramel and buttered popcorn. It was gone in about a week. TJ loved the caramel and thought it reminded him of Cracker Jacks. He liked it so much he ate almost half of the caramel section of the can on the first night! I did not expect to like the cheese popcorn as much as I did, it was definitely my favorite. It was fresh and flavorful. A 2 gallon tin of popcorn sells for $24.99 - $39.99, depending on the variety you choose. I’m including The Popcorn Factory in the 2009 Holiday Gift Guide because they have a nice variety of products, the snacks are tasty and there’s a reasonable price range.

The Popcorn Factory is celebrating 30 years of delicious, fun gifts that delight families, friends, children and business customers. In honor of its 30th anniversary and National Popcorn Month, The Popcorn Factory has launched a “30 Gift Giveaway” sweepstakes. The sweepstakes, which runs now through November 23, 2009, will provide one lucky grand prize winner with 30 gifts for their friends and family (up to a $6,000 value) just in time for the holiday season.

“Our loyal customers have been instrumental in our success during the past 30 years. In addition to their loyalty, many customers have contributed ideas for some of the great gifts we have developed.” said Cheryl Zatz, Vice President of Marketing at The Popcorn Factory. “We want to recognize our customers during this milestone celebration year,” she said.

For more information on the “30 Gift Giveaway” sweepstakes, please visit http://popcorn.celebrations.com/?page_id=565 .

WIN IT!

One winner will receive a 2 gallon tin of cheese, caramel and buttered popcorn from the Popcorn Factory.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

Visit The Popcorn Factory and then leave a comment on this post telling me one product you’d like to try.

BONUS ENTRIES - LOTS OF THEM!

1 - Subscribe to my newsletter. (at top of sidebar)
1 - Subscribe to my RSS feed. (at top of page)
1 - Follow me on Twitter AND leave your Twitter name here. (at top of page)
1 - Tweet this giveaway.
1 - Friend me on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/valmg
1 - Fave this blog at Technorati AND leave your Technorati name here.
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog. (in sidebar)
1 - Visit HereAndThere.US (my Mom) and leave a comment on any post (except a giveaway post) there. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned on my Mom’s blog. (That’s two comments you need to leave for this bonus entry, one there and one here.) Unlimited entries for this method of entry.

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. No PO boxes. This contest will end on Sunday 11/15/09 at 11:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone!

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The Beverly Hills Kitchen Meal Suggestion Contest

valmg — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:23:13 +0000

The Beverly Hills Kitchen is a new line of chef-prepared gourmet food that combines restaurant-quality cuisine with the ease and intimacy of at-home dining.

The first entrée in the line is classic comfort dish Beef Bourguignon, which includes five 8oz. portions of prime tender meat, simmered for four hours in a full-bodied red wine sauce with carrots, mushrooms, tomatoes, garlic, shallots, basil and Dijon mustard. The amazing thing about this entrée is that it’s ready in just 10 minutes!

Entrées coming to the market in the next few months include: Lobster Thermidor, New Orleans Style Bread Pudding, Salmon Pot Pie, Low Country Shrimp & Grits and Sirloin and Potato Pie.

The folks at The Beverly Hills Kitchen would like some help developing new meals in the product line so they’re having a contest.

To enter, answer to this question - what’s the number one meal you wish you could make in just 10 minutes? Email your answer to thebeverlyhillskitchen@gmail.com.

The best (and most realistic!) meal will be selected to be a future entrée in The Beverly Hills Kitchen line. Four people will be selected at random to receive a $50 QVC gift card. We’ll send notice of the winning meal in December.

Four Foods On Friday 94

valmg — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:46:57 +0000

Hi all!

Here’s this week’s questions.

1. How do you make mashed potatoes?
2. What do you wash pots and pans with?
3. Name something red in your refrigerator right now.
4. Do you prefer to use boullion cubes or the boullion powder mix?

My answers are:

1. For holidays I make them from scratch. I’ll have to share instructions.
2. If I can’t put them in the dishwasher I soak them and then use this scrubbing dish wand thingey.
3. Apples.
4. This depends on if I’m cooking or making broth.

If you play please don’t forget to drop your name and link into Mr Linky so the other players know where to find you. Thanks!

COFFEE-MATE Cup Of Confidence Campaign With Giveaway

valmg — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:35:09 +0000

We don’t use sugar in our coffee at home, we like to use flavored creamers. We stock up when they’re on sale. We like to have a variety of them in the refrigerator so we can change flavors depending on our mood. Check out this great campaign from COFFEE-MATE, who’s also put up the giveaway at the end.

COFFEE-MATE and Dress for Success are working together on a new initiative geared toward providing encouragement to women seeking jobs while also supplying some helpful money-saving tips to people like you!

Nestlé COFFEE-MATE is donating $50,000 to Dress for Success. But with a little help from you, the $150,000 goal can be reached, as it is the smallest steps you can take that will make a big difference! Sometimes a simple word of encouragement can make all the difference in your child’s life. And a word of encouragement can also mean giving a person the confidence she needs to land a job and change her life. By visiting www.coffee-mate.com/cup, you can send a Cup of Confidence note to help inspire a Dress for Success client. COFFEE-MATE will then donate fifty cents to Dress for Success for every cup (or note) sent. Your note will be given to a woman who participates in the Dress for Success program for inspiration on how to thrive in work and in life. You can also help donate an additional $.50 for sharing the program on your social media pages such as Facebook by posting the badge found at www.coffee-mate.com/cup!

By visiting the “chat for change section” on www.coffee-mate.com/cup, you’ll not only receive tips on small steps you can take but also steps to help others succeed and prosper. So what are you waiting for? Send a Cup of Confidence note, calculate your own savings, and make every cup count today!

This pogram ends on 12/31/09 or when a total donation amount of $150,000 is reached, whichever occurs first. Limit one Cup of Confidence note per person, per email address; w/maximum of $1.00 donation ($.50 for Cup of Confidence note and $.50 for social media sharing.

WIN IT!

TWO winners will each receive a coupon for CoffeeMate.

(This is a great campaign - I’m giving away 3 more coupons on Mom Knows It All.)

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

Visit the Make Every Cup Count site and send a Cup Of Confidence. Return here and leave a comment on this post telling me what flavor the cup you sent was. (Mine was Cinnamon Vanilla Creme.)

BONUS ENTRIES - LOTS OF THEM!

1 - Subscribe to my newsletter. (at top of sidebar)
1 - Subscribe to my RSS feed. (at top of page)
1 - Follow me on Twitter (@valmg) AND leave your Twitter name here. (at top of page)
1 - Tweet this giveaway.
1 - Friend me on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/valmg
1 - Fave this blog at Technorati AND leave your Technorati name here.
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog. (in sidebar)
1 - Visit HereAndThere.US (my Mom) and leave a comment on any post (except a giveaway post) there. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned on my Mom’s blog. (That’s two comments you need to leave for this bonus entry, one there and one here.) Unlimited entries for this method of entry.

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. No PO boxes. This contest will end on Saturday 11/14/09 at 5:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone!

Dean’s Dip Dipstakes Sweepstakes And Giveaway

valmg — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:56:54 +0000

Behind every great snack food is a great dip. And now that the football (and holiday!) season is upon us, we must take the time to appreciate our dips. What tailgating party or snack food lineup is complete without it?

Just like the Jets and the Giants, there are longstanding rivalries in amongst dips as well. Are you a Honey Mustard loyalist, Guacamole diehard or an Onion Dip fanatic? Vote for your favorite dip and help us settle this once and for all! Everyone who votes will also be eligible for weekly prizes like free dip, a BBQ grill set or a home entertainment system.

Super easy to play - it’s all on Facebook: http://youcastcorp.com/c/77/go/index.php?r=1

Not familiar with Dean’s Dip? I can help you out. The folks at Dean’s have given me two coupons to give to the winners of this giveaway.

WIN IT!

TWO winners will each receive a coupon for Dean’s Dip.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

Visit Dean’s Dip online and then leave a comment on this post telling me one flavor of dip that you’d like to try.

BONUS ENTRIES - LOTS OF THEM!

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. No PO boxes. This contest will end on Friday 11/13/09 at 5:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone!