Posts by admin:
- Go to Allison’s Gourmet and pick out your favorite item and then return here and comment on this post which of Allison’s sweets is your favorite.
- Copy and paste the following Tweet into your Twitter message field: @singerinkitchen has a @AllisonsGourmet Chocolate *giveaway* perfect for Valentine’s Day! http://bit.ly/hdZaDB #vegan #win
- Twitter: follow @Singerinkitchen
- Twitter: follow @AllisonsGourmet
- Post this comment on your FB page: Opera Singer in the Kitchen has a $25 Giftcard giveaway for gourmet chocolatefrom Allison’s Gourmet Chocolate at http://bit.ly/hdZaDB
- Like the Opera Singer in the Kitchen Facebook page.
- Like the Allison’s Gourmet Facebook page
CSN Gift Card Winner & Allison’s Gourmet Chocolate Winner
February 7th, 2011Thank you all for entering the last 2 contests! There were alot of entries. Random.org did their job this morning and chose two winners for each contest.
The Allison’s Gourmet Chocolate $25 Gift Card goes to:
The Vegan Kitchen said…
I have never gotten try anything from Allison’s but the Walnut Fudge and Chocolate Orange Fudge both look really tasty.
The $40 CSN Gift Card goes to:
Fanny said…
I would get the black budge task chair
Be on the look out for more giveaways coming soon! There is always a chance to win. Thanks alot for stopping by!
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Super Bowl Appetizers {normal dips not included}
February 4th, 2011I figured I would get with the game and include several of my favorite appetizers for those interested in DIFFERENT options for game day.
Like it or not, food plays a huge part in a party especially when sports are involved. We have an invitation to go to one of the grad student’s home where we will be able to enjoy the game on a 52′ plasma. Despite the fact that there will not be a favorite team playing at least we will be able to watch it in HD!
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| From An Opera Singer in the Kitchen |
One of the appetizers I decided to take was a winning recipe from last year. I have made this recipe several times already and it can be made vegan or non-vegan. I entered it for the PACE Picante Sauce contest on Foodbuzz and won a nice wad of cash for it. Does it mean the appetizer is a winner? Of course!
It is chips and dip in cupcake form where the chip layer is the phyllo that bakes to a crispiness, and it is filled with a layer of refried beans, cream cheese mixed with Pace Picante, and topped with cheese. I add chicken before the cheese because Ryan requests it but it is delicious without chicken too!
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Another favorite of mine are these cute mini empanadas made with whole wheat white flour and filled with 2 different types of filling. You can make your own filling, so be creative! It comes with a Pace Picante guacamole for dipping.
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| From An Opera Singer in the Kitchen |
How about some delicious and healthy dips? I know some of you want to have them available or pretend to have something healthy out there, but these do go a long way. They are tasty and flavorful. The Wild Mushroom Pâté with Crudités is super easy to make and can be made with any type of mushrooms not just wild mushrooms. It can be serves with crackers and veggies too!
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| From An Opera Singer in the Kitchen |
How about a Cheeze Ball? This not a traditional cheese ball with nuts covered the mold but the cheese ball IS made from nuts. The beauty of cashews soaked for hours can create an amazing and delicious cheeze ball that will have people guessing.
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| Hickory Cheeze-Stuffed Prunes with Tempeh Bacon |
How about some other hot bites? I shared these stuffed prunes filled with Wayfare’s hickory Smoked Cheeze and crumbled tempeh bacon that prepared for New Year’s. These are different but definitely great if you like sweet and salty combinations.
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| Jumbo Jalapeño Poppers |
My last one would be the newest appetizer creation. My Jumbo Jalapeño Poppers are sure to keep you on your feet. There is nothing like having a bit of spice to get those endorphins going!
Whether you try any of these or not, party food is fun to create. Make a different something to impress your friends and family, especially if you can fool them into believing it is all vegan goodness!
Have a great Super Bowl Sunday!
REMINDER: Sunday is the last day to enter to $40 CSN Gift Card Giveaway AND the $25 Allison’s Gourmet Gift Card. ENter NOW!
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Allison’s Gourmet Chocolate Giveaway {$25 Giftcard}
February 2nd, 2011It is that time of the month where the hubbies, boyfriends or special someones plan on getting the perfect box of chocolate or candy for their Valentine. Whether you want to admit it or not, the day is fast approaching and planning is crucial.
If you are looking for a place that makes fine chocolates, sweets and baked goods, Allison’s Gourmet is the place to go. This company has been in operation since 1997 and focuses on providing vegan desserts that are organic and use the finest of fair-trade ingredients.
Here are a few samples of the delicious desserts featured on the website:
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| Cherry Almond Bark |
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| Vegan truffles |
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| Baker’s Choice Sampler |
You do not have to be vegan to enjoy these great products. You just have to know that you will be tasting some of the best desserts. Allison’s Gourmet has featured in Vegetarian Times and on VegNews.
Thanks to Allison who has so generously allowed me to feature a giveaway, a $25 Gift card will be given to one lucky reader, who in turn will be able to use it towards any of the gourmet goodies.
Giveaway Rules and Entry Details
You must leave a SEPARATE COMMENT per entry in order for it to be counted. Please don’t leave all your entries in one comment form because it will be counted as only one entry. More entries translates into more chances to win. And there’s many ways to enter.
Here’s a list of how you can enter to win:
Winner will be selected randomly using the site random.org to select the winning entry.
This contest closes on Sunday, February 6, 2011 at Midnight, 12:00am EST
I will send the winner an e-mail and the gift card code will be emailed by Allison’s Gourmet. This giveaway is open to residents of the USA only.
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Recipe Challenge: Electric Mixology by Marx Foods {**Electric Green**}
February 1st, 2011
I know it is probably too early to be talking about cocktails but hey, it is 5 o’clock somewhere, right?
Szechuan Buttons was the secret ingredient which I had never heard of before, but buttons in a drink? Well, as I read more about the ingredient, I found out they were aso known as Buzz buttons or electric buttons because once a few of the flower petal hit the tongue a tingling occurs on the tongue and in the upper palate.
Remember the famous Pop Rocks that came in different fun colors and made the weirdest but exciting sensation in your mouth? Well, these flowers do the same thing and I feel are heightened by whatever one is ingesting.
Ryan and I both tasted the buttons FIRST before adding them to anything. Yes, when was the last time I ate a whole flower? Well, it tasted grassy for sure but we waited a few seconds and Ryan’s eyes lit up and then mine did and we were astonished that these little flowers could give off such a strong sensation. We smiled and laughed and thought how cool it was so on I went to create a cocktail.
I actually already knew what ingredients I wanted to use but I was not quite sure if that was the flavor that needed to accompany the effect of the Buzz button. After having tasted the button I decided I was going with my gut feeling.
I created a cocktail that represents MSU in color and the electricity of the flavors goes perfect with winter and static. I also thought that bringing in citrusy and minty flavors would bring a semblance if summer.
I ground up a Szechuan button in a mortal and pestal with 2 Tablespoons of sugar. This was going to rim each of the glasses. Here is entry #1 for the button’s effect to take place.
I then made a granita from Meyer lemons, limes, and lots of mint. I blended it well in my Vitamix and froze it overnight. The next day, I poured some Pimms #1, extra-dry gin, and 3-4 Tablespoons of the lemon-lime granita and served it. Ryan and I really really liked this. I thank Ryan for inspiring me with such a great title for the drink! Thanks honey! To us it was the perfect cocoction.
Electric Green
Makes 4 cocktails
Lemon-lime granita
10 limes
5 Meyer lemons
¾ cup mint leaves, packed
¾ cup agave nectar
1 1/2 cups water
Juice the limes and lemon in a bowl and add to a blender. Add the mint, water and agave nectar and blend mixture well in a blender until smooth. Freeze overnight.
Additional ingredients for each glass
2.5 ounces Pimms #1
1 ounce extra dry gin
3 Szechuan Buttons, crushed in a mortar & pestle
Mint leaves for garnish
4 Cocktail or Martini glasses
Sugar-Rimmed Glasses
1 Szechuan Buttons
2 Tablespoons
Crush button into sugar with pestle until finely ground. Place sugar on a plate ready to rim the glasses.
Assembly
Remove the granita from the freezer to sit out for a bit.
Dampen the edge of each cocktail glass with water one at a time and place the glass upside down on the plate with sugar and Szechuan button until the mixture is evenly rimmed on the glass. Repeat with the other 3 glasses.
Crush another 3 Szechuan buttons in the mortar and pestle and divide the buttons between the 4 glasses.
Add the Pimm #1 and gin to each glass.
Scrape out 4 Tablespoons of granite and add it to each glass. Use a stirrer to mix ingredients.
Garnish with mint. Drink.
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$40 CSN Giftcard Giveaway
January 31st, 2011Happy Cold Day! Is everyone prepared mentally for the so-called blizzard coming in by Wednesday? Supposedly we are to get hit with 1 FOOT of snow. Yikes. I am totally not looking forward to that, but I will be stocking up with water and other things in case anything happens. Am I wrong? I like taking precautions.
I wanted to start the week with a little giveaway. Actually, it is a great giveaway because a little money goes a long way!
CSN Stores has been kind enough to give a $40 giftcard to anyone in order to buy anything from any of their stores. CSN has over 200 stores and so many products to choose from.
I have purchased the following items and have enjoyed them very often as a satisfied customer.
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Presto- Stainless Steel Deep Fryer |
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Paderno World Cuisine – Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer |
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Zojirushi – Mr. Bento Stainless Lunch Jar – 41.6 oz.
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What can you get with your $40 giftcard?
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Circulon – 80637 – Elite 11″ Square Griddle |
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Nordicware – International Specialties Scottish Scone – Cornbread Pan |
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Farberware – Large Two Tone Bamboo Cutting Board Set |
How good of deal is that?? Here is how to enter:
Mandatory entry: What is something you need or would want from any of the CSN stores?
Extra entries:(leave a comment for each)
2. Follow Opera Singer in the Kitchen by subscribing or through Google Friend Connect
3. Follow through Twitter @singerinkitchen
4. Like on Facebook
5. Follow CSN stores on Facebook
6. Follow CSN stores on Twitter
7. Post giveaway on your blog (leave a link)
8. Post giveaway on your Facebook page (leave a link)
9. Tweet message: ” Enter to win $40 CSn giftcard and you could buy a deep-fryer or bamboo cutting board http://bit.ly/f3kjyJ #win #giveaway“
Contest will run until Sunday, February 6th, 2011 and I will announce the winner on January 7th, 2011.
Terms and Conditions:
1. Gift Certificate Can only be used by residents of the U.S. or Canada
2. Code expires after first use.
3. Entire promotional amount must be used on first purchase.
4. If the total cost of basket exceeds the amount of money from the promotional code, you are responsible for the difference
5. Gift certificate code will be applied to all items in your basket
6. Codes CANNOT be used towards international fees. If you live in CANADA, please let me know.
7. Gift Certificate “Code” will be used during the last step of checkout under “Promotional Codes”
8. Expires March 1, 2011
9. This promotional code cannot be combined with any other promotional code or CSN Rewards Dollars
