Quick and Easy Gingerbread Cookies Recipe

This is what I like to call a "cheater" recipe because it utilizes a boxed mix but it does save you a lot of time and effort. This is a great cheater recipe for those of you who are too busy to spend hours upon hours in your kitchen baking.

Quick and Easy Gingerbread Cookies Recipe

1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 box (any brand) Gingerbread Mix

In a large mixing bowl add the milk and vegetable oil to the ingredients from the boxed gingerbread mix. Stir the batter well, it will be thick! Cover the bowl and place into the refrigerator for 2 hours. Remove bowl and roll out the gingerbread dough onto a lightly floured surface and cut out your cookies using a 2" round cookie cutter. (you can also just drop them onto a lightly greased cookie sheet by using a tablespoon and making drop cookies).

Bake your cookies in a preheated 350 degree oven for approximately 10 minutes. Remove and let them cool on a wire rack. The recipe will make about 34 cookies.

Holiday Sangria Cocktail Recipe from Voga Italia

Oh...I love a good Sangria from time to time and this recipe from Voga Italia looks delicious! I will have to try making a few for New Year's Eve this year!

Holiday Sangria Cocktail Recipe

•2 (750-milliliter) bottles VOGA Merlot
•1 cup pomegranate juice
•1/3 cup Triple Sec (orange-flavored liqueur)
•1 orange (cut into sections)
•1 apple (cut into sections)
•1 cup of cherries
•1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
•1/4 cup sugar
•2 whole cloves
•1 cinnamon stick

Combine all ingredients in a pitcher, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Garnish with cherries or cinnamon sticks.

Get Ready for Gift Card Weekend! Win $10 Gift Cards from Subway!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Gift Card Weekend for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you heard of Gift Card Weekend? It is a once-a-year event where participating retail stores and online retailers give featured offers for gift cards purchased during the Holiday season and redeemed from January 6 - January 8, 2012. I know I always get a lot of gift cards given to me during the holiday season so I am personally really looking forward to this event! yeah!

In anticipation of this fabulous event, you can enter to win some amazing gift cards yourself! "Gilbert the Gift Card Machine" is giving away more than 100 gift cards a week leading up to Gift Card Weekend! All you have to do to be entered is like Gift Card Weekend on Facebook and share it with friends. For every friend that you influence to come over and like the page and enter too, you get an extra entry! How easy is that? Super easy I tell you and I love super easy giveaways like this!

And the $10 Subway gift card I mentioned? You can look for those to be given away daily to Facebook fans from December 23rd - 31st. There are tons of giveaways all month long! So check the page and your emails several times a day to see if you have won. I know I will be checking my email often too!

Remember to redeem your gift cards from your Holiday Gift Giving on Jan 6-8th on the Gift Card Weekend Site and join the fabulous sponsors for extra bonuses and fun!. Here are a few that are participating...

-JCPenny
-Regal Cinema
-Subway
-Sephora
-Applebee's
-Bass Pro Shops
-Adidas
-Buca di Beppo
-Lowe's
-Spa Finder
-Marriot
-Giant Eagle

Wow, what fantastic sponsors they have this year! I know I will be entering and playing along and I hope you will take a few minutes out of your busy day to enter too! So what are you waiting for? Head on over there right now to enter today!

Ho-Ho-Ho ~ Happy Holidays Everyone!

Homemade Toasted Coconut Fudge Recipe

If you enjoy fudge but would like to try something other than the classic vanilla fudge recipe then I think you will enjoy this toasted coconut fudge recipe that I got from my mother a few years ago. I do recommend that you use a candy thermometer to ensure your fudge making success. You can toast your coconut flakes in your home oven for 1-2 minutes at 350 degrees.

Homemade Toasted Coconut Fudge Recipe

2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup milk
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup toasted coconut flakes (shredded coconut)

In a large saucepan combine together the sugar, cream, milk, corn syrup and salt. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly until the mixture boils. You want to continue stirring and boiling it until a candy thermometer reaches 234 degrees F. Remove from the heat. Cool fudge in the saucepan until it reaches 110 degrees F and then stir in the vanilla extract. Beat with an electric mixer until the fudge starts to thicken and then pour into a greased 8" by 8" glass baking dish. Sprinkle the toasted coconut flakes on top. As it cools it will harden even more. After 2 hours...your fudge is ready for eating!

Oven Roasted Chicken with Fresh Thyme and Honey Butter Recipe by Dan Lorig

With the holidays less than a week away, it’s time to start planning the menu for your holiday gathering! This year, try something healthy and sweet for your friends and family – Festive Holiday Recipes Sweetened with Honey.

Honeydrop Beverages, the all natural line of teas and juices sweetened with a tablespoon of pure honey, together with Dan Lorig, Honeydrop COO, former Teaching Kitchen Manager of The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone and Certified Chef de Cuisine, have created two honey-centric recipes perfect for all of your holiday celebrations.

Why honey? Honey is not only a delicious way to sweeten dishes while avoiding refined sugars, it contains natural antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that are proven to sooth sore throats and coughs, boost energy and relive tired muscles. Honey is also known to relax the digestive tract – perfect for overindulgent holiday eating!

The below recipe from Honeydrop and Dan Lorig will be the perfect additions to your holiday meal. You can check out Honeydrop Beverages over on Facebook too!

Oven Roasted Chicken with Fresh Thyme and Honey Butter Recipe

Ingredients:

One Small Chicken 2.5-3.5 lbs

Fresh Thyme and Honey Butter:

4 oz soft (room temperature) butter
1.5 Tbsp Honey
2 -3 Sprigs of Fresh thyme, picked from stem and chopped
1 Tbsp Fresh Parsley, chopped
1 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
Zest of 1 lemon (optional)
2 tsp Salt
1 tsp cracked pepper

Method:

Rinse the chicken and pat dry, inside and out, with paper towels. Remove any loose fat and be sure inner cavity is completely dry.

For the butter mix all of the ingredients in a small mixing bowl or food processor. The butter should be soft, not melted. Also, avoid any bits of stem from the thyme, use only the leaves. Set aside once complete.

With the cavity of the chicken facing you slide a finger under the skin. Starting with the breasts, gently create a pocket under the skin, taking care not to tear the skin. Next, separate the skin from the thighs with the tip of your finger.

With the cavity still facing you, use your fingers to spread the thyme honey butter under the skin in the pocket you have just created. Push the butter into the thighs and liberally across the breast; be gentle throughout this process.

Season the outside of the chicken and the inner cavity with salt and pepper. Tuck the wing tips behind themselves. Cover loosely with a paper towel and refrigerate.

To Roast the Chicken:

Preheat the oven to 475°

In a shallow roasting pan, place the chicken breast side up in the center of the oven. After about 30 minutes, baste the chicken with any pan dripping that have accumulated in the bottom of the roasting pan and turn the chicken over. Reduce the temperature to 450°. Roast for another 10 -20 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken, then turn the bird over again and roast another 5-10 minutes. Overall cooking time should be 45-60 minutes. The skin should be crispy, golden brown and any juices running from the bird should be clear.

Carefully remove the chicken from the oven and allow it to rest 5 minutes. Lift the chicken from the pan and place on the center of a plate pour any pan dripping back over the chicken.

Serve while hot with oven roast potatoes and green beans for a delicious meal.

ABOUT HONEYDROP BEVERAGES

Honeydrop Beverages is a healthy line of teas and juices powered by honey. Each bottle of Honeydrop is made with a spoonful of pure honey, is void of all refined or artificial sweeteners and contains only 70 to 90 calories. In 2011, Honeydrop announced its “Buy a Bottle – Save a Bee” initiative where a percentage of the profits from each bottle sold are donated to local beekeepers throughout the country to help battle Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), an epidemic threatening the global bee population.

The VOGA Sparkler Cocktail Drink Recipe

If you love the taste of raspberry or fruity cocktail drinks you will certainly appreciate this cocktail drink recipe from our great friends over at Voga Italia! Check out their web site to learn more about them & their fabulous products!

The VOGA Sparkler Cocktail Drink Recipe

2 oz. VOGA Sparkling
.5 oz. vodka
.5 oz. Raspberry Liqueur
.5 oz. Soho Lychee Liqueur

Combine vodka, raspberry liqueur and soho lychee liqueur in the bottom of a champagne flute. Top with VOGA Sparkling Pinot Grigio.

Delicious Magic Meringue Cake Vintage Recipe

Another great vintage recipe from the late 1960's that was given to me years ago by my great aunt who had a massive collection of vintage recipes that I have been trying to preserve by posting many of them here on my SNB Foodie Blog. This one makes a very delicious moist meringue cake which is perfect to serve at tea parties or for family desserts.

Magic Meringue Cake Recipe

1/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
shredded coconut

In a large mixing bowl cream together the shortening with the sugar. Stir in the egg yolks, beat well with an electric mixer. In another bowl sift together the flour, baking powder and salt; add alternately with the milk to the creamed mixture. Add the vanilla extract. Pour the batter into a greased baking pan and sprinkle the shredded coconut on top. Then spread the meringue mixture (see below) on top of that. Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 30-35 minutes or until done.

Meringue Mixture Recipe

2 large egg whites
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 cup currant jelly

In a medium sized bowl beat the egg whites until stiff and then stir in the granulated sugar. Fold in the currant jelly and spread on the cake above before placing the cake into the oven.

Product Review | Unique Pyramid Shaped Fruit Holder

Today I am reviewing an item that is pretty to look at but also very functional and if you are a fresh fruit eater like myself...I think you will love this product! The product is made by a company called Design + Home and once you check out their store you will see some really cool products like fruit holders, wine bottle holders and butter bell crocks. I love how classy their products look!

My Review: The Pyramid Fruit Holder arrives to your door and guess what? It is completely assembled so all I had to do was take it out of the box! You can hang up the fruit holder as there is a hanging loop at the top or you can sit it on your countertop. For now, mine is on my countertop but I am going to have hubby hang it under one of my large kitchen cabinets so I can save on countertop space. Regardless, it looks pretty either way.

It is made out of chrome plated heavy-duty wire so it is built to last a very long time and I love the chrome as that goes with any kitchen-style. If you wanted to...you could fill it up with fruit and use it as a table centerpiece too. This nifty holder will hold up to 18 pieces of fruit! I have mine filled with red apples, green apples and oranges and doesn't it look pretty? I love this thing and it is so much better than putting fruit in a fruit bowl. Everyone who sees my new fruit holder has asked me about it and I have told them all to go check out Design + Home.

You can purchase one of these Pyramid Shaped Fruit Holders from them for only $30.00 and I think that is a super affordable price! It would make a fabulous gift for someone too so why not pick up a few of them while you are over there.

I love my new fruit holder and I think you all would love it too so I highly recommend this product and this company to all of you! Thank you Design + Home for sponsoring this product review here on the Shakin and Bakin Foodie Blog.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Miracle on Bourbon St. Cocktail Recipe by Voga Italia

The great folks over at Voga Italia are sharing another great cocktail recipe today with all of my Shakin and Baking Foodie Blog readers and with the holidays almost here...what a perfect drink to go along with your holiday meals or make & serve at your holiday parties.

Miracle on Bourbon St. Cocktail Beverage Recipe

1 cube of sugar
4 dashes of angostura aromatic bitters
1/2 shot of bourbon whisky
Top up with VOGA Premium Sparkling Pinot Grigio

Coat the sugar cube with bitters and drop in to the glass. Pour bourbon whisky into chilled glass and top with VOGA Premium Sparkling Pinot Grigio.

Skimming at Lucky Supermarkets Highlights Importance of Shopping Safety

After more than 500 California customers of Lucky Supermarkets called last week to complain they'd been victims of fraud, parent company Save Mart issued a warning. High-tech thieves had altered self-checkout machines at nearly two dozen San Francisco Bay Area stores with data-skimming devices that wirelessly captured customers' credit and debit card statistics.

ABC News aired a report Friday with advice on avoiding such in-store thefts, but consumers also need to consider security when shopping online. As Christmas shipping deadlines approach, more of us will cruise the Internet to find last-minute deals. Here are five tips to avoid falling prey to online thieves.

1. Use One-time Use Credit Cards
Companies like Citibank, Discover and Bank of America can issue card numbers for one-time use so thieves can't piggy back on your purchase. According to an article in TIME Techland, these cards typically have a 12-month lifespan and are not available from all banks and card companies, but still represent one of the best methods to avoid online fraud.

2. Only Use Credit Cards
Debit card holders often have a very small window during which they can contest charges, whereas credit card carriers have between 30 and 90 days. Federal law dictates that cardholders are responsible for $50 of fraudulent charges to their credit cards before reporting the theft, whereas debit cardholders are liable for up to $500 if they fail to report the theft within two days. Bottom line: save debit cards for in-store purchases.

3. Shop With Gift Cards
Discount gift cards from websites like GiftCardGranny.com both save you money off a card's face value while ensuring online thieves can't dig deeper into your pocket. You don't have to wait around until you receive one as a gift, either - there's no law against purchasing gift cards for your own use, especially when you can take advantage of instant savings.

4. Review Statements Regularly
Check your credit card and bank statements regularly while charges are fresh in your mind. Paper statements are almost passé these days, so bring a printout of any suspicious activity to show your bank. You'll likely need to include it within the paperwork required to contest the charges, anyway.

5. Secure Your Network
Turn off "Share Files," printer access, and "Allow Remote Log-in" on your computer. Use a firewall and make sure it's updated. And make sure a url's "http" address changes to "https" when you start the checkout process. Read this Lifehacker.com blogpost for how-to details.

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Andrea Woroch is a consumer and money-saving expert who has been featured among top news outlets such as Good Morning America, NBC's Today, MSNBC, New York Times, Kiplinger Personal Finance, CNNMoney and many more. She is available for in-studio, satellite or skype interviews and to write guest posts or articles.For all media inquiries, please contact Andrea Woroch at 970-672-6085 or email andrea@kinoliinc.com.

Frozen Creamy Dreamy Pumpkin Pie Dessert Recipe

Today I am sharing with you a fabulous recipe that I got from my nurse friend Jordan who works at one of our local hospitals here in Pennsylvania. This is her own recipe and trust me, it is delicious! This girl can cook! The approximate prep time is 20 minutes. A nice deccadent dessert to go along with your Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday meals!

Frozen Creamy Dreamy Pumpkin Pie Dessert Recipe

Emerald Glazed Pecans (used for topping)
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
8 oz. Honey Nut Flavored Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
15 oz. can pumpkin puree
1 tub Cinnamon Cool Whip + 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 Graham Cracker Pie Crust
1 Jar Caramel Sauce (for garnish)

Directions: With an electric mixer combine the brown sugar, canned pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice and softened cream cheese until smooth. Fold in the Cool Whip and ground cinnamon. Sprinkle 1/2 of the package of glazed pecans over the graham cracker crust and then cover the crust with the pie filling that you just prepared. Drizzle the caramel sauce over top (however much you would like) and place the remaining 1/2 bag of glazed pecans on top.

Store pie in the refrigerator or freeze. If freezing, remove it from freezer 40 minutes before serving.

Baileys Peppermint Cream Cocktail Beverage Recipe

There is a lot of holiday parties to attend and to host this holiday season so today I thought I would share with you a recipe that was given to me that is super delicious! Of course...you have to be 21 years of age or older to consume alcohol so please drink responsibly this holiday season!

Baileys Peppermint Cream Cocktail Beverage Recipe

2 ounces Baileys with a Hint of Mint Chocolate
4 ounces Hot Chocolate
Fresh Whipped Cream
Candy Cane
Mint Leaf

Preparation:
1. Crush candy cane with the back of a spoon.
2. Combine hot chocolate and Baileys by pouring into a coffee mug.
3. Top with a dollop of whipped cream and sprinkle crushed candy cane on top.
4. Garnish with mint leaf.

Losing Weight with SlimFast 3-2-1 Plan

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Slim-Fast for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

After being in the hospital this month and gaining some weight from that, I am determined to get it off. My hubby could also lose a few pounds, so I have been researching new weight loss ideas because I was thinking that if I lost some weight now before the holidays, maybe I wouldn't indulge so much during the holiday and make it worse. I have successfully dieted during the holidays before and it was nice to be in control!

One of the systems I was looking at is Slim-Fast and their new 3-2-1 plan. I have used their product off and on through my life and it has been getting better and better tasting as they improve the formula. I got to try some the other day and I must say it is tasting pretty good. A nice change from the old formula.

The 3-2-1 plan is 3 snacks, 2 meal replacements and 1 balanced meal per day. I was thinking that by incorporating a shake for breakfast and a shake in the afternoon would really help me reduce some weight. They have 5 great flavors now and some snack items which look pretty good. The flavors are:

• Creamy Milk Chocolate
• French Vanilla
• Rich Chocolate Royale
• Cappuccino Delight
• Strawberries N’ Cream

The snack bars are 100 calorie each and if you don't want the shakes, you can get the new SlimFast meal replacement bars. These would be great to toss in your purse so you always have something healthy. What I like is that it is affordable. I cannot afford plans that cost a hundred dollars a week or so. You can find SlimFast products at major retailers like Target, Wal-Mart. Safeway, Kroger and online at Amazon.

Stop by the Slim-Fast Facebook.page and see all of the new items and see what has changed with SlimFast today. You may want to be joining me on my new weight loss quest before the holiday feasting begins and then really hit it after the New Year starts. That is what I am doing!

Otahuna Lodge Exec Chef Jimmy McIntyre’s Tips for a Stress Free Dinner Party

Follow Chef Jimmy’s tips for a stress free dinner party and guests are guaranteed to be raving.

Prepare in advance. Complete as much as possible in advance of guests’ arrival. This helps to eliminate last minute mistakes and allows the host to spend more time with guests.

Always offer hors d’oeuvres. Upon guests’ arrival, make sure to offer canapés, as well as a drink. This helps to dispel guests from becoming irritable and hungry.

Keep it simple! A simple dish done well is always impressive, less stressful and less likely to fail. A soup course is fast and easy. If there won’t be more than four courses, serve bread.

Make it fun. “Pot Luck” dinners are the least stressful. Every couple is asked to bring a course – the host normally prepares the main dish. Request that guests stick to one theme. A subterranean themed party is easy since it refers to anything that is from under the ground (i.e. potatoes, yam, rabbit, truffle, etc.)

Add an extra course. To make the menu seem longer, add a simple component such as a cheese or sorbet course. This will ensure that guests are satiated at the conclusion of the meal.

Consider everyone. A non-alcoholic punch is refreshing and is a perfect option for those who don’t drink alcohol, as well as for those who are driving.

About Otahuna Lodge

Otahuna Lodge evokes a romantic British Colonial sensibility through its historic Queen Anne architecture and intimate size. The 30-acre estate provides guests with the quintessential New Zealand lodge experience featuring exceptional amenities, personalized service and uniquely memorable surroundings. Translated from the Maori language, Otahuna is a “little hill among the hills.” The seven-suite Lodge sits on a hill between the rocky outcrops of the Banks Peninsula , providing commanding views of the Southern Alps and the Canterbury Plains.

Originally built in 1895, Otahuna Lodge served as the primary residence of politician Sir Heaton Rhodes for over 60 years. The property holds a Category 1 Listing from New Zealand ’s National Historic Places Trust and is acclaimed as the best example of Queen Anne architecture in Australasia. Americans Hall Cannon and Miles Refo purchased Otahuna in August 2006. The Lodge opened in 2007 following an extensive renovation. Otahuna Lodge is a Relais & Châteaux property and a Virtuoso member.

Delicious Pumpkin Smoothie Recipe | Great for Fall and Winter!

I love smoothies and I drink them all year round...however, I do get tired of drinking the same old flavors over and over so as the seasons change I like to change up the flavors of the Smoothies I am drinking. If you love smoothies and love pumpkins then this smoothie recipe is for you! It is delicious & easy to make!

Pumpkin Smoothie Recipe

3/4 cup canned Pumpkin
3 scoops vanilla ice cream
1/2 cup crushed ice
1/3 cup milk
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
sprinkle of ground cloves
sprinkle of ground allspice

Place pumpkin, ice cream, ice, milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, cloves and allspice in blender; cover. Blend until smooth. Add additional milk if needed for ease of blending. Add additional maple syrup, if desired.

Gourmet Buffalo Bleu Cheese Dip by Robert Rothschild Farm | Review and Giveaway

Today I would like to introduce you the company called Robert Rothschild Farm. This company began as a family found business in Urbana, Ohio over thirty years ago and they are known for making delicious gourmet food products like dips, preserves, mustards, sauces, salsas, sweet toppings, delicious mustards and gourmet condiments.

You can purchase their gourmet products directly from their web site store and in retail establishments across the nation. You can find entertaining ideas and delicious easy to prepare recipes directly on their web site.

My Review: Today I am reviewing the Buffalo Bleu Cheese Dip from Robert Rothschild Farm for all of you. This gourmet dip comes packaged in a 11.2 oz. sized jar and is really easy to use. This dip is the perfect blend of delicious buffalo sauce with sharp Bleu cheese combined together to make a delectable creamy dip and it is Gluten Free!

You can serve this Buffalo Bleu Cheese Dip with your favorite Buffalo Wings as a dipping sauce or serve it with chips, tortilla chips, freshly cut veggie sticks or even use it as a dip with bread dippers. We used our sample jar of Bleu Cheese Dip as a dipping sauce with buffalo wings and even had a little left over for dipping some fresh vegetable sticks in the following day and it was absolutely delicious! It tasted fresh and better than homemade and I didn't have to slave in my kitchen to make it! Love that! For only $9.49 a jar you should purchase a few of them and keep them on hand for your family! Totally affordable!

Giveaway: Two lucky winners are each going to receive one jar of this delicious Buffalo Bleu Cheese Dip from Robert Rothschild Farm! It will come beautifully gift boxed along with 2 tasty recipe cards!

CLOSED

Giveaway Details: This giveaway is open to residents of the USA ONLY who are age 18 and over. Please read the Terms of Service and Disclaimer Policy before entering. You must be a PUBLIC FOLLOWER of this Blog to have your entries count in my giveaways. (Follow via Google Friend Connect) All non-blog followers will have their entries disqualified after the giveaway closes. This giveaway will close on December 14th, 2011 at midnight EST time.

Mandatory Entry: Please visit the Robert Rothschild Farms web site and take a look around. Come back here and tell me another product you would love to try besides the item I reviewed.

Bonus Entries: You may complete these after fulfilling the mandatory entry above. Please leave a separate comment for each one that you complete.

Earns 2 Entries: Follow Robert Rothschild Farm over on Facebook.
Earns 2 Entries: Visit their site & take a look at their recipe section and come back and tell me which recipe you would like to try out some day in your own home.
Earns 2 Entries: Fan/Like Shelly over on Facebook.
Earns 2 Entries: Follow Shelly over on Twitter.
Earns 5 Entries: Place my foodie blog button on your blog or web site. Please leave link so I can visit you!
Earns 2 Entries: Enter another giveaway here on this blog or on our sister Two Classy Chics Blog. (leave a separate comment for each)
Earns 5 Entries: Write up your own post about this giveaway along with live links, post it on your blog (leave link).
Earns 1 Entry Daily: You can copy and paste the following Tweet over on Twitter once per day. (leave status link)

Copy & Paste Tweet:

Win a Jar of Gourmet Buffalo Bleu Cheese Dip by Rothchild Farms on the SNB Blog http://bit.ly/tHu6HB Ends 12/14 @Ravish30

I would like to thank Robert Rothschild for participating in a product review here on the Shakin 'N Bakin Foodie Blog and for sponsoring a giveaway for my readers. We appreciate your generosity and we love your products!

Disclaimer: Shelly Hill has personally reviewed the product listed above. Shelly has not received any monetary compensation for her review. Shelly did receive a free product to try out so she could evaluate and use it for her review. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ. The Shakin N Bakin Blog is not responsible for delivery/shipping of giveaway items won from this blog nor are we responsible for mis-use or injury caused by items won from this Blog. Content on this blog is copyrighted, all rights reserved. We reserve the right to legally pursue anyone who violates our rights and/or steals our copyrighted material.

Winners | Robert Rothschild Blue Cheese Dijon Mustard Giveaway

Good Afternoon Everyone! I first want to apologize for getting the winners posted late. I was in the hospital and my helper dropped the ball on getting this giveaway closed out for me. Without further wait...here are our 2 winners (chosen at random) for the Robert Rothschild Farm Blue Cheese Dijon Mustard Giveaway.

Winner #1: Jackie said...
I'd like to try the recipe for Bacon & Blue Cheese Quiche #2
jackievillano at gmail dot com
November 14, 2011 6:33 AM

Winner #2: baazinga9 said...
The recipe I would like to try is the Buffalo Chicken Dip
baazinga9 at yahoo dot com
November 20, 2011 8:50 PM

Both winners have been emailed and will have 48 hours to claim their prizes before new winners are chosen. Thanks everyone! New giveaways being posted later this week!

Party Appetizer - Cheese and Olives on Rye Bread Recipe

If you are looking for a simple appetizer to make and serve at your next party or family get-togther then you need to try out this yummy recipe! You will only need 4 ingredients plus the Rye bread.

Cheese & Olives on Rye Bread Recipe

1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
1 cup ripe olives, chopped
1 cup dried beef, chopped
1 cup low-fat mayonnaise
Rye Party Bread

Mix together the grated cheddar cheese, chopped olives, dried beef and mayonnaise. Refrigerate until ready. Spread this mixture onto slices of Rye Bread and place under your broiler until bubbly and hot (about 3 minutes). You will want to serve them immediately.

A Great Idea for Expanding My Pantry

I got a great idea the other day. I need to expand my pantry so badly since I love to cook so much. You know what cooks need to keep out kitchens flowing correctly. Specialty pots and pans, baking items, mixers, food processors, specialty food items and the list goes on. I have paired my goods down to what I use the most, but I still run out of room.

So I am looking at setting up an expanded pantry in my garage with some gorgeous Garage Cabinets that we can set up to house the big roasters and stockpots and excess food items. These Garage Storage Cabinets can be set up in any way we choose and they come in many different sizes.

I was looking online at these cabinet configurations and saw some beautiful Steel Storage Cabinets that would look wonderful in my garage. I can use this for organizing all types of items in my garage as well. I think two large cabinets would be great for holding my pantry items and I can even store additional food for emergencies a lot better. I have been lax on that part due to space!

I am going to have my hubby do some measuring this week so we can start configuring out how we want the garage to look. I cannot wait to get my Arrow Spacemaker Storage Cabinets in so I can start freeing up some space in my kitchen!


Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was compensated by the advertiser to write this post. I was provided with the subject matter to write about but our thoughts, opinions and words are 100% mine. All information contained on this blog is copyright 2011, All Rights Reserved.

Mrs. Cubbison's Multi-Grain Stuffing Mix Product Review

Today's foodie product review is being brought to us by the folks over at Tomoson.com and it is being sponsored by Mrs. Cubbinson's and features their Multi-Grain Stuffing Mix with Cranberries and their Crispy Onions food products.

First up...the Mrs. Cubbinson's Multi-Grain Stuffing Mix with Cranberries. This stuffing mix can be made quickly and easily by following the preparation instructions printed right on the package. Since my hubby was doing the cooking he prepared the stuffing via the stove-top method which only took a few minutes from start to finish. He then served this stuffing to our family during our Thanksgiving meal and waited to hear their thoughts on it. We had mixed reviews with this one. About 1/2 of our guests that the stuff was bland in taste and texture and didn't care for it much at all. The other 1/2 of our guests liked it and would purchase it for their holiday and family meals. So overall...mixed reviews here in the Hill household.
The Crispy Onions were used as a topping on my mother's famous Green Bean Casserole. Since I dislike her casserole I didn't try any of it. However...everyone who had dinner at our home did try her casserole and everyone gave the casserole along with the Crispy Onions a big two thumbs up! As you can see...our guests much preferred this product over the first one that we tried.

You can find a lot of great looking recipes over on the Mrs. Cubbinson's web site and make sure you check out all of their tasty, easy to make food products that they have to offer while you are over there visiting their web site. We would also like to invite you to check out their fabulous Thanksgiving Tips too!

We would like to thank Tomoson and Mrs. Cubbinson's for the opportunity to try out and sample their products and we look forward to trying out a few more in the near future.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Holiday Cocktail Recipes from the Mixologists of William Grant & Sons

With the holidays quickly approaching, I wanted to share some spirited cocktail recipes with you from the mixologists of William Grant & Sons. Sure to make any celebration unforgettable, these delicious recipes are a great option for your readers as they plan their holiday festivities.

What better way to celebrate the season with friends and family that with a delightful punch? Easy to prepare and even easier to enjoy, the Hendrick’s Hot Gin Punch is sure to be a warming welcome for any guest. Craving a decadent holiday treat? Made with chocolate and whipped cream, Milagro’s Oaxaca Chakas is the perfect little indulgence.

With homemade cinnamon ginger syrup, Sailor Jerry spiced rum and fresh lime, the Horis’ Juice is a refreshing cure for the winter blues and will be remembered long after the last gift is opened.
Horis’ Juice Cocktail Recipe

2 part Sailor Jerry Rum
.25 part fresh lemon juice
.25 part fresh lime juice
.5 part homemade cinnamon ginger syrup (1:1:1) ratio
4 part hot black tea
dash of walnut bitters

Boil tea. Add rum, juices, syrup into empty mixing glass. Slowly add tea. Stir. Add dash of bitters. Stir and sip at desired warm temperature

Elk’s Toddy Cocktail Recipe

1 part Hudson Manhattan Rye
1 part Port
.5 part simple syrup
.25 part fresh lemon
2 parts hot water

Combine all ingredients in a warm mug - Stir and finish with a spritzed orange peel and delicate dusting of fresh nutmeg

Oaxaca Chakas Cocktail Recipe

2 parts Milagro SBR Anejo
.75 parts Agave nectar
1 parts Heavy whipping cream
2 parts Milk
1 scoop Oaxacan chocolate powder
1 scoop freshly whipped cream (Optional)

Mix all ingredients in a pot and heat until boiling. Serve in a coffee cup and top with freshly whipped cream. Boil tea. Add rum, juices, syrup into empty mixing glass. Slowly add tea. Stir. Add dash of bitters. Stir and sip at desired warm temperature

Disclosure: You must be age 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages in the United States. Please drink responsibibly!

Delicious Chile Con Carne Recipe

This is another great recipe from Robert Rothschild Farm that I get to share with all of you today! This recipe is their Chile Con Carne recipe and you will need their bottle of Anna Mae's Smoky Sweet Sauce to make it.

Chile Con Carne Recipe

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef (we use lean ground beef)
1 cup onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 cans kidney beans, unstrained (15 1/2 oz. cans)
1 bottle Robert Rothschild Farm Anna Mae's Smoky Sweet Sauce
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 (16 oz) can diced tomatoes

in a large pan, brown the ground beef until done. Stir in the chopped onions & chopped garlic. Pour off excess grease. Add remaining ingredients and stir well. Heat to a boiling, reduce heat, cover and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally. Serve over rice with a tossed salad.