Twix or Treat!

In case you already didn't know, we're a little crazy about Halloween...and, I'm even more crazy about my costume this year!... Since we want you to be the coolest house on the block this Halloween, we're giving one Gourmet Mom on the Go reader:
Your own TWIX Halloween costume
AND
70 FULL SIZE Twix bars to hand out for Trick-or-Treat! TO ENTER:
Time's up! We have a winner!

The Hulls who said...
"I like twix on facebook! :)"
I dropped you an email, Please send me your contact info by this afternoon so we can get your package to you by Halloween!

Just for fun, Twix did an online Treat Survey and here were my favorite facts...
• Fruit-flavored non-chocolate Halloween treats get no respect: Only 3 percent of all adults surveyed listed fruit-flavored non-chocolate treats as their Halloween favorite. The winning treat combination? Chocolate with peanuts or peanut butter topped the list at 39 percent, followed by a chocolate and caramel combination as a close second (30 percent). Phew, good thing TWIX bars come in classic TWIX® Caramel and TWIX® Peanut Butter.

• Men seek the crunch; the ladies prefer something they can chew on: When it comes to treats, women prefer chewy treats more than men do (42 percent to 33 percent), while more men than women seek out treats with a crunch (33 percent to 23 percent).

• Taking candy from a baby: One quarter of all adults surveyed (26 percent) admit to taking candy from their child’s Halloween stash or a friend’s or co-worker’s candy dish and denying it.

I hope you're all having fun gearing up for Halloween!
Disclosure: Twix provided the information and products for this giveaway. I was not compensated for this post and all opinions, as always, are my own.

Thanks Giving Away!

Happy Thanksgiving!

If you have time today, could you vote for my Sunflower Sandwich Snackers on facebook? We're trying to win $5,000 to donate for families in need & you can vote every day until Nov. 29th!
Check out some of our favorite fun Thanksgiving ideas here. These doughnut turkeys are my favorite, I'll be whipping up a batch for my little gobblers.

In the meantime, I'd like to say that I'm thankful for YOU! So, as a little thanks, I'm having a Thanks Giving-Away Week Bonanza! Here are a bunch of fun giveaways of my favorite things that I'm hosting just for you, all in one place!
Now, I'm not Oprah so there will be no huge trips to Australia, but these things are still some of my favs and I'm excited to share them with you.

Just click on the images or links below be directed to each giveaway page. So, while you're waiting for that turkey and those pies to bake, click around and have some fun--hopefully you'll win something for the Holidays!

Click here to win a Mozaik prize pack with service for 8, serving utensils, platter, & bowl
(my very favorite way to entertain for the Holidays!)

Click here to win a $25 Kroger Gift Card & Chex Party Pack!
(You can buy a lot of Chex Mix Supplies!)
Click Here to win this hot Holiday gift, Cranium Scribblish!
(my fam's favorite new game!)
Click here to win a $25 Safeway Gift Card and a Fiber One Gift Pack
(LOVE Safeway & LOVE Fiber One!)

Click Here to win an autographed copy of Michael Chiarello's new book
and new Progresso Lemon Pepper Panko
(one of my latest fav chefs!)

Finally, Click Here to win a set of amazing Seventh Generation Products
(my favorite laundry detergent, I have a child w/ sensitive skin!)

Havin' Fun & Giveaways!

I'm in Minnesota for a few days at the General Mills headquarters to meet some of the fantastic team at Tablespoon, work on some recipes, and to learn (hopefully!) how to actually use my camera.:) I'll have plenty to share when I get back but in the meantime, I have TWO fun giveaways for you!

Go here & leave a comment to win our Egg-celent Prize Pack! Ends 11/9

Go here & leave a comment to win a Lawry's Complete Meal Ideas Prize Pack! Ends 11/8
I'll be back later in the week with some yummy Orange Creme Cupcakes! Hope you all had a great Halloween!

Spread a Little Joy Giveaway

Have you seen the new Philly displays in your grocery store? With the amount of cream cheese I purchase, I was so excited to hear that about the free cookbook!

In case you haven't heard the news, to kick-off the launch of their new cookbook, Philly is conducting an in-store promotion through November where shoppers can receive 1 free PHILADELPHIA “Spread a Little Joy” cookbook with the purchase of any four Philly products.

Cookbooks will be available on an in-store display case and consumers simply present the cookbook to the cashier when they purchase the Philly products. It’s as easy as that!

To celebrate the fun, we're giving THREE Gourmet Mom readers a "Spread the Joy" prize pack that includes:

-A “Spread a Little Joy” PHILADEPLPHIA Cookbook
-One PHILADELPHIA apron
-Two PHILADELPHIA product coupons
-A PHILADELPHIA spatula set

TO ENTER:
Time's up, we have a winner!
shaina who said...
"your mini rootbeer floats and pomogranite dessert bring me joy! Thanks for such amazing recipes!"

Note: no, we weren't giving extra entries for loving my recipes, but I really appreciate the compliment, shaina.:)
Disclosure: I was one of ten bloggers selected by PHILADELPHIA to host a Cookbook promotion giveaway. My opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments. Kraft Foods is providing the prizes for this giveaway. This giveaway is not administered or sponsored by Kraft Foods or its affiliates, but solely by GourmetMom.

Jennie Garth & Pillsbury Pies!

I had a really fun surprise this morning--I was asked if I'd like to interview Jennie Garth via Skype about cooking, baking, family and how we moms can keep it all together.

I must admit that I didn't know what to expect from her since she is incredibly busy and has three girls at home. Well, let me tell you that even though this woman is a celebrity, she makes sure she is home and mentally present for her kids every day after school. They also spend lots of time together in the kitchen. Jennie, I'm so glad you made the choice to make your family your top priority and I love that you don't let business interfere with your family time.

Jennie, you said that creamy pies are your favorite,
so I thought I'd repost our very favorite, cute-as-a-button
Apple Surprise Mini Pies
(using Pillsbury Pie Crusts!)
The surprise is that there's a cheesecake layer beneath the apples! But, since they're mini-sized & baked in little jars, the calories don't count.:)

Click here for the full recipe. Jennie had some great tips for baking with your family. She said premade crusts, like Pillsbury Rerigerated Pie Crusts are a favorite because they're easy--she likes to K.I.S.S. (Keep it Simple, Stupid!). They have blackberry bushes in their yard and she also freezes seasonal produce so you can make a fabulous filling.

In fact, her oldest daughter likes to go in the kitchen herself and whip up Blackberry Pies! Then, apparently, she hides them so no one else gets any (smart girl!).

Another fun tip that she's done for years with her girls is to let them make "mini cinnamon rolls" with the leftover pie crust pieces. I've let the kids sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on them but never thought of actually letting the kids roll them up and cutting them in slices to make adorable little rolls. LOVE IT! We'll be doing that next time we whip up a pie!

Finally, when you're entertaining or anytime, don't try to overachieve. Have fun cooking and being with your family and try not to get too complicated. Wise words, indeed! Thanks for the great chat today, Jennie, we'll enjoy using your tips as we head into the Baking Season! We're giving one GourmetMom reader a "Love the Pie!" Prize pack!
Go here to leave a comment and enter.
Happy Baking!

Disclosure: I was given the chance to interview Jennie through Pillsbury and MyBlogSpark. I was not compensated in any for this post. All opinions, as always, are my own.

Taco Night!

Our family loooves having Taco Night!
How do you like to serve up your tacos, guac, or salsa? I really want to know! So much, in fact, that we're giving one of you $100 just for sharing your ideas!
Here's the details:
To enter, simply write a post on your blog, facebook page, or other website telling your favorite recipe or way to serve tacos, guac, or salsa.
Each recipe must contain Avocados from Mexico as an ingredient.
Then, come back here and leave a comment with a link to your idea.
That's it! How easy is that?

I'm sure all your ideas are awesome, so we will pick one random entry on October 31 to win a $100 iCard. I can't wait to hear all your ideas so we can try them out!

While you're getting on your thinking caps, how about trying out these Lobster Tacos? YUM!
If you'd like to tweet about Taco Night, the official hashtag is #taconight
You can also get Taco Night Giveaway updates from Avocados from Mexico’s Facebook page or from @Guacgrl on Twitter!

Click here to view complete rules.
a. All entries must be original recipes for salsa, guacamole or tacos and feature Avocados from Mexico as an ingredient
b. The entries must be submitted between 12:00 AM October 4, 2010 and 11:59:59 October 29, 2010. Late submissions will not be considered.
c. Participation is free and recipes will not be judged. Limit one (1) entry per person, per blog site. Recipe submission is not a requirement for entry.
d. All entries must be entered in the comments section of this post with a link to the recipe on the entrant’s blog, Facebook page or web site or a posting in the body of the comment posted to blog.
e. A winner will be randomly selected using www.random.org.
f. The randomly selected winner will receive a prize of a $100.00 iCard

Disclosure: I am running this Taco Night Giveaway at the request of Avocados from Mexico, for which I will receive a $100 iCard in appreciation.

Masterbuilt Smoker Giveaway

Since we're new in town, I'm planning on throwing a Labor Day Bash and getting to know some of our neighbors. Do you think they'll be enticed by the smell of smoking meat? I hope so! This new toy arrived today!What?! You want to smoke some food for Labor Day, too? Well guess what? I'm excited to tell you that we're giving one away! (If you have a man, this could get you some major brownie points! If you don't have a man, smoke up a turkey or ham and they'll come runnin'! ;))
Check out this demo video and try not to drool on your keyboard...

The folks at Masterbuilt were nice enough to provide an Electric Digital Smoker for a Gourmet Mom-on-the-Go reader!
Details:
Masterbuilt Electric Digital Smoker
• 30" and priced at $299
• Viewing window and internal light
• Push-button digital time temperature & time control panel
• Thermostat controlled temperature
• Chrome-coated smoking racks
• Convenient side wood-chip loader
• Removable drip pan and rear-mounted grease pan

Not only does Masterbuilt have great products, they have a fantastic recipes for you to use! What a great cooking resource!

To Enter:
Go to the Masterbuilt Recipe Page and leave a comment here telling me what you'd like to try! So easy!

Time's up! We have a winner!
Amy, please contact me within 48 hours to claim your prize. Otherwise we'll pick a new winner to have some Labor Day smokin' fun. :)
I've had several people ask where they can buy one (Christmas is coming:)), you can get a list of your local retailers here.

Disclosure: I was given the product to review and one to give away. I was not compensated for this post. All opinions, as always are my own.

Sam's Gift Card Giveaway!

It's that time again! For the next two months, we'll be featuring lots of fun things for school lunches as well as classroom snacks. I've got some fun ideas coming!
While I'm on vacation, I have a little something fun for you to help get ready for school!

As your family starts to think about the new school year, you may be wondering how you can collect the most Box Tops to help support participating schools in your area.
We love Box Tops! When Big C was in Kindergarten, they'd have fun class contests to collect them and the whole school got involved. It's such a great and easy way to earn money for your school! I keep a quart ziploc bag in my silverware drawer so I can throw in Box Tops as I come across them.
Guess what?! At the Sam's Club Back-to-School event from Aug. 11-Aug. 31, you can get a head start on your collection and find 6 Box Tops on participating General Mills products!!

In addition, Sam´s Club is giving you the opportunity to earn even more Box Tops when you upgrade to a "Plus Membership." From Aug. 6 - Aug. 13, or while supplies last, visit the Member Services Desk of your local Sam´s Club and upon payment for your Plus Membership, you will receive a certificate for 150 Bonus Box Tops! For more information on how you can take advantage of the Back-to-School event at Sam´s Club, visit http://www.samsclub.com/ today!

To celebrate, Sam's Club is giving one Gourmet Mom-on-the-Go reader a $25 Sams Club Gift Card so you can go buy some of your favorite Box Tops products!

Time's up!
We have a winner!
Hansen Family who said...
"Our family loves the fiber one bars. Also honeynut cheerios!!! "
Please contact me within 3 days to claim your prize! Congrats!

Disclosure: I was given the information, gift card, and Sams Plus Membership from Sam's Club and General Mills through MyBlogSpark. All opinions, as always are my own. I was not compensated monetarily for this post.

Panini Beach Party & Giveaway

Last week, we had an amazing Panini Beach Party at our house! You can see more of the action and guests here.
The highlight of the evening was definitely the Panini-Making Cookoff with Kraft's new Deli Deluxe slices...the winner got their own panini grill to take home! I tried all three flavors (it was a hard job:)) and LOVED them all! I wasn't sure how keen I would be on the Jalapeno American, but it was fantastic! I grilled it with a little roasted turkey and onion jam and it was to die for.
This party was so easy to put together! I am totally doing this again! The guests each made their own panini sandwiches, so the main course was done!
For sides & desserts, we served:
"Fruit Kebabs in Sand" from Little Nummies
Beach Cupcakes (the girls made them all--SO EASY!)
Potato and Pasta Salad in Sand Pails...
and an Italian Soda Bar (a huge fav w/ everyone!) The party was so easy that I got to focus on having fun with our guests. I loved every minute! A huge thanks to Kraft and Deli Deluxe for making this possible!

We had so much fun, we want to share it with you!
So, we are giving FOUR Gourmet Mom-on-the-Go readers a Deli Deluxe Ultimate Panini Party Pack which includes:
-Your own Panini Grill so you can paaaarty!
-Deli Deluxe Aprons
-Four sandwich holders
-3 coupons for Kraft Deli Deluxe Slices
(Approx. retail value: $125)

To Enter:
Go to Kraft's Sandwich Center, check out all the deliciousness, and come back here to leave comment telling me what sandwich recipe you'd like to try. Easy cheesey!

Time's up!
Our winners, chosen by random.org are:
jcbridge, eddiem11, troopersgirl64, and sweetandsavory
Congrats! I've sent y'all emails and your prize packs are on the way!

Disclosure: I was one of five bloggers selected by Deli Deluxe to host a “Ultimate Summer Sandwich” party and giveaway. I have been compensated for the materials needed for my “Ultimate Summer Sandwich” party. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments. Kraft Foods is providing the prizes for this giveaway at no cost to me. This giveaway is not administered or sponsored by Kraft Foods or its affiliates, but solely by Gourmet Mom-on-the-Go.

Cookoff Results & Suddenly Salad Giveaway

My friend Alli needs your help!
She's trying to win a $25,000 grant from Pepsi to help her with her children's nonprofit, Project Goodness.

Anything to help out kids gets my vote, please go here and vote for her every day!

We've heard back from all the judges and the results from our
Finger Lickin' Grillin' Cookoff
are here! Thanks to all who entered!

Also, you can download the 10 finalists' recipes here. They are amazing and great to add to your summer grilling lineup!

• Speaking of summer grilling and get-togethers, we had the chance to try Betty Crocker's Suddenly Salad® mixes this week. Rather than bringing the usual potato salad or coleslaw, add excitement to your party plate by spicing up traditional summer salads with Betty Crocker´s Suddenly Salad® mixes!

We used the Greek Salad variety and added kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, fresh chopped tomatoes, diced zucchini and topped it with a sprinkle of feta cheese. DELICIOUS! I loved that you can whip up this salad in the time it takes to boil pasta.

For great recipe ideas and to learn about the different varieties of Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad mixes, visit http://www.suddenlysalad.com/. There, you´ll find great recipes, including one for Greek Tossed Pasta Salad, using Suddenly Salad Caesar pasta salad mix, and Garden Ranch Pasta Salad, using Suddenly Salad ranch & bacon pasta salad mix.

We want you to see for yourself how versatile and quick these salad mixes are! We're giving away a "Suddenly Delicious" prize pack that includes:
-a sample of the newest variety, Suddenly Salad Greek
-a storage container
-a serving bowl
-an insulated tote

TO ENTER:
-Leave a comment here telling me what you'd like to mix-in with your Suddenly Salad Mix.

-For an extra entry, follow me on Google Friend Connect, Facebook, or Twitter (leave a comment)

We'll pick one random winner on 6-17. Open to US Residents.

Disclosure: This product, gift pack, information, and giveaway were all provided by Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark. I was not compensated for this post. All opinions expressed, as always, are my own.

Skillet Fajitas & Giveaway

How about a quick dinner while you're planning your Memorial Day Weekend? Last week we whipped up some Skillet Fajitas with Tyson's Frozen Grilled & Ready Chicken.

Tyson is introducing some NEW Frozen Grilled & Ready products that are fully cooked and 98% fat free! We were given the chance to try them out and I loved them!

Want to try them for free?

We have 10 VIP Coupons for Tyson's Frozen Grilled & Ready Chicken and will give them to one lucky reader. That's a lot of easy meals!!:)

Time's up! We have a winner! Linda, please contact me within 3 days and we'll get your prize out to you!

Skillet Fajitas

Ingredients:
1 bag (22 oz) Tyson Frozen Grilled & Ready Chicken Breast Strips
1 red bell pepper, cut into strips
1 medium onion, cut into strips
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 tsp. fajita seasoning

1 can fat-free refried beans
whole wheat tortillas
shredded lettuce, cheese, salsa, and your favorite fajita toppings

Directions:
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add peppers and onions and cook until onions start to turn clear. Add chicken and fajita seasoning and cook for 4-5 minutes until chicken is warm and onions are caramelized. Serve with tortillas and your favorite fajita toppings. Enjoy!

Disclosure: I was given a gift card to purchase the Tyson product and ingredients to make a quick and easy dinner. Tyson also provided the free coupons to use as I saw fit. I was not compensated in any way for this post and as always, all opinions expressed are my own.

Purse Giveaway to CELEBRATE!

I had such an amazing time in Los Angeles with Jenny from Picky Palate on Bertolli's "Into the Heart of L.A. trip", I can't wait to get a few posts together to share with you. Also, don't forget to send me your grilling recipes for a chance to win a new grill!

In the meantime, I have great news & someting for you!
I just found out that I am a finalist in The Real Women of Philadelphia Cookoff! Savannah, here I come! I can't wait to meet Paula Deen!!
I really wanted to share my excitement with you, so I decided to give you something I bought in L.A....I couldn't resist this purse!

Isn't it adorable??! (Jenny bought a black one). So, to say thanks for being a part of our kitchen adventures, I'm giving it away to one of you!
The first person (who wasn't in L.A. with me!:)) to leave a comment with the correct answer(s) below will win the purse! Also, I had so many sweet emails about this necklace that I'll pick one random comment to win a baking charm necklace!
To Enter:
Leave a comment letting me know the names of these three people (pics below) I met in L.A.

First person with the correct answer wins the purse! On May 20, I'll pick one comment, any comment, to win the necklace. Purse giveaway open to U.S. Residents, necklace giveaway open to anyone worldwide!

Here are your clues:

Person #1: Famous chef, the star of our Bertolli Event

Person #2: Famous chef known for amazing vegan creations, has been on Oprah.
Person #3: Not a chef, but definitely famous! Her brother passed away last year.

Total Indulgence Toffee

I've said it before, I'll say it again...I'm a Toffee junkie.Most of you also know that I've never been able to make it well and I've mentioned before my favorite toffee company, English Toffee Anytime.

Besides a great product, I have to say that they have THE BEST customer service of any company I know. Personal, professional, quick, and they truly want you to enjoy their product and service. If you need a nice gift for someone, order online or give them a call. They will do the job right!
Are you hungry yet?
English Toffee Anytime has come up with a new product...all three flavors of their toffee in a 1 lb. box...
TOTAL INDULGENCE!

And, they're celebrating by giving some away to Gourmet-Mom-on-the-Go readers!

This giveaway is now closed.
We have winners!

Grand Prize Winner of a 1 lb. box of his/her choice is :
kngmckellar who said...
“I totally induge in any kind of milk chocolate.”

Second prize, a ½ lb. box of his/her choice is:
Amanda who said...
“English Toffee Anytime offers a FREE (besides shipping) sample of all three toffees so you can decide the perfect one! That is awesome!”

Our five 3rd place prizes for a sampler are:
Angie who said...
“I love Spring Oreos. Something about that blue filling just makes me smile! Ü”

Leslie who said...
“I indulge in: being lazy!” LesliePrice79@gmail.com

Jackee who said...
“I indulge in one piece of cake on my birthday, so good! I try to pass cake up the rest of the year.”

JulieMoe who said...
“I tweeted. http://twitter.com/JulieMeagan/status/4789216375”

Betty C who said...
“I totally indulge in real whipped cream with my strawberries.”


Also, just for Gourmet-Mom-on-the-Go readers, you can get your own 1 lb. box of toffee for $13.95 (that's $10 off)!!
Offer is good for the duration of the contest and you can pre-order for the holidays! I'm going to order some Christmas gifts early! Details below:

During the duration of the contest, English Toffee Anytime is promoting, the 'Friend of Gourmet Mom on the Go' upgrade. You may order any of the half pound products and your order will be upgraded to one pound at no additional charge. The upgrade works by placing an order for one-half pound of toffee and during the checkout process, clicking on the box indicating that the order is a gift and that the buyer wants to add a gift message. Entering the message of 'Friend of Gourmet Mom on the Go' will tell us to upgrade the order from one-half pound to one pound. Limit 5 boxes per person.

There is one kink in the upgrade offer. There is no half pound version of the Total Indulgence product so placing an order and leaving a message requires a little additional effort. To get the upgrade pricing on that product the purchase should be made by calling the toll-free phone number and identifying themselves as a 'Friend of Gourmet Mom on the Go'. A bit inconvenient but worth the effort.