CONGRATULATIONS DIANE!!!

Your hubby will be happy to learn that he is now off the hook!  I’ll be in touch soon to get your mailing address, so that Keurig can sent you your very own Platinum Home Brewing System.

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway.  I wish I had a Keurig brewer to give each and every one of you!  But, don’t fret.  I’ll have a few more fun giveaways up my sleeve in the near future.

In case anyone is wondering how the winner was selected, let me assure you the process was all very high tech and scientific.  Let me introduce you to my brilliant and capable assistant: 

This is Bella.  From an early age, Bella has displayed an intense curiosity and thirst for  learning.  She is very cerebral!

Bella is much more interested in current events than playing with her bully stick.

Bella was up for the challenge of helping me select our Keurig giveaway winner.  Can’t you tell how interested she was?

Well, maybe not at first.  But once she realized that there were hundreds of little slips of paper for her to chew up choose from in that basket, she was definitely “in”.

Hmmm.  Any cookies in there?

To make it a little easier for Bella to “nose around”, I dumped all of the entries out on the floor. Look at how methodical she is!  See how intently she’s sniffing out just the right one?

Round and round and round she goes.  Where she’ll stop, nobody knows…

Decisions!  Decisions!

Mmmm.  Tasty!

Ding, ding, ding! I think we have a winner!

I couldn’t live without my coffee!  Seriously, I don’t just drink it for the caffeine kick, although that is a plus.  I really enjoy the taste of coffee.  And, I love waking up in morning to the wonderful aroma of fresh coffee brewing.  What I don’t love so much is that bitter, burned taste it gets after it’s been sitting in the pot for too long. Yuck!   At our house, whoever gets up first is responsible for making the coffee. Unfortunately, that means that by the time the rest of us are ready for a cup, it is often already past its prime.

About a year ago, I found a solution to this problem:  the Keurig home brewing system.  With this machine, you brew one cup of coffee at a time – when you want it.  It is fresh and hot every time.  The coffee comes in these little sealed, plastic containers called “K-cups”.  You just fill the tank with water, pop in a K-cup, push the brew button and voilà – coffee in about a minute!  There are a gazillion different kinds of coffee blends available in K-cups, so you can still have whatever kind of coffee you like.  Plus, they even have tea, hot chocolate and iced beverage K-cups.  How cool is that?  Not only that, but the machine comes with a teeny, tiny coffee filter, so don’t even have to use a K-cup.  You  can use any coffee you happen to have on hand.   Sweet!

So, here’s the best part. The nice folks from Keurig reached out to me a while ago and offered to send me one of their machines to try out. Since I already have one, I asked if they would be willing to send one to a lucky SGCC reader instead. They said yes, and so I’m thrilled to be able to offer one of YOU a Keurig Platinum Brewer of your very own!  And trust me, you do want one of these.  

All you have to do to be eligible for a shot to win is to do one or more of the following:

• Leave a comment telling me what your favorite coffee recipe is.  It can either be a coffee drink, or food using coffee in some form.
• Tweet about the giveaway on Twitter, with a link to this post, and leave a another comment here telling me you did so.  Make sure you @mention me in your tweet, so that I will see it.
• Share the link to this post on Facebook or Google+ or both, and leave a comment here.
• And last, but not least, I will give two extra chances to win to each new person who “Likes” my Sticky, Gooey, Creamy, Chewy fan page on Facebook.  That’s right – TWO EXTRA CHANCES!    But, make sure you also leave a comment here letting me know you’re a new fan.

You have until midnight EDT on Saturday, July 30, 2011 to leave your comments.  Next Sunday, July 31, I will randomly select and announce the lucky winner.

On your mark…Get set…GO!!!

Of course, I couldn’t leave you without sharing one of my favorite ways to enjoy coffee this time of year. When the temperature rises, I like my coffee iced, or better yet, frozen. So, I made these easy, peasy Vietnamese Coffee Popsicles to help you beat the heat.

To make your own popsicles, the first thing you have to do is brew some super strong coffee. I use a dark French roast. There are several varieties available in K-cups that would be perfect for this. You’ll need two cups of brewed coffee, or about three K-cups worth. Mix the coffee with some whole milk and sweetened condensed milk, and chill. Then, freeze the coffee mixture in popsicle molds until frozen solid. That’s it! It doesn’t get any simpler than that, people.

So, if you’ve been feeling as hot and bothered as I have lately, cool off with some frosty and refreshing Vietnamese Coffee Popsicles.

And, don’t forget to enter for a chance to win this fab Keurig Platinum Brewing System!

Enjoy!

First of all, I want to tell you how sorry I am that I’ve taken so long to announce my POM Giveaway winners!  I really and truly intended to post this several days ago.  I’ve been pushing up against a deadline on a very special freelance writing gig and all of my time and energy this week has been devoted to that.  I really can’t tell you about it yet, but it is something that I’m very excited about!  I promise to fill you in on all of the details as soon as I find out whether my article makes the cut.

Anyway, thanks to all of you who left so many great comments about your favorite ways to use pomegranates.  I was so impressed by all of your creative ideas!  But, I’m going to cut right to the chase and announce the three winners of a case of POM Wonderful pomegranate juice and a copy of Nigella Christmas.

Okay, here it is – the moment you’ve all been waiting for…

And the winners are:

Diane{createdbydiane.blogspot.com}, Sherry and Amy S.!!!

Congrats to all three of you!  I know you’re going to have a great time using your goodies!

Please make sure that you email me with your mailing addresses so that I can get your prizes out to you.

Did I mention that how totally inspired by all of your ideas for using pomegranates?  It’s true.  In fact, I was so inspired that I decided to create another tasty pomegranate dish for you.  This time I made a Jewels of the Earth Quinoa Salad.

Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-WAH) is a grain-like crop grown primarily for its edible seeds.  Though not technically a grain, quinoa can substitute for nearly any grain in cooking.  Actually the seed of a leafy plant, quinoa is related to spinach, beets and Swiss chard. It has a lovely, nutty, flavor and a slightly chewy texture. Quinoa is an excellent source of protein, iron, potassium, B vitamins and other vitamins and minerals, including zinc, copper, and manganese, and magnesium, folic acid and vitamin E.  It is also high in dietary fiber and gluten free.  Most quinoa is grown in the Andes in South America, although some is now being cultivated in the Colorado Rockies as well. I am able to find quinoa at my local supermarket in the natural foods aisle.

Quinoa is cooked similarly to rice or other grains.  You need to rinse it first in a strainer or colander to remove any powdery residue.  Then, it is simmered in a bath of water or broth until tender.

I call my salad “Jewels of the Earth” because I add lots of brightly-colored vegetables, fruits and herbs to it that are first diced into small pieces.  When mixed into the quinoa, all those little bits look like tiny gems.  The vegetables, fruits and herbs are harvested from the earth – hence the name.  Even the quinoa kind of reminds me of tiny, little pearls.   (I hear you all groaning out there.  Just go with me on this one.  Okay?)

This salad is oh, so easy to make too.   I like to sauté my onions and carrots in some butter and olive oil first, and cook them with the quinoa.  I think it just brings out their sweetness a little.

Here’s how I do it…

The rest of the jewels are added after the quinoa has been cooked and cooled.  Here is a picture of all the different “jewels” I added to my salad.  Of course, you can mix it up and add anything you like.  Notice how pretty the pomegranate arils look?  I call them the rubies of this salad.  They are so delicious in it.  You should definitely always add them.

You can serve any kind of dressing with this salad, but I would recommend some kind of a vinaigrette.  A creamy dressing would just ruin the whole effect.  I usually use a good quality bottled Italian or Greek salad dressing, but this time I went all out and made a nice lemon vinaigrette.

This is really pretty, delicious and healthy salad.  It’s a perfect dish to serve on a holiday buffet as well. Just look how festive it looks!

It’s no secret that I have a soft spot in my heart for POM Wonderful.  Not only does the company produce some excellent, high quality products using sustainable business practices,  but the people behind the brand seem innovative, caring and very supportive of the food blogging community.  Their recent POM Wonderful Blogger Harvest Tour is a shining example of that.  Although, due to circumstances beyond my control (United Airlines Sucks), I didn’t actually get to attend the tour, Jeff and Andrea from POM Wonderful did everything they could to make me feel very much included in the festivities, including sending me a big package full of POM goodies afterward.

The pomegranate is an unusual, yet versatile fruit with many delicious and creative uses.  Its health benefits have been touted far and wide. Pomegranate juice is loaded with antioxidants – about three times more than are found in green tea or red wine. Antioxidants help to guard the body against the substances that can cause premature aging, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and lots of other diseases or health conditions.  If that isn’t reason enough to indulge, there are scads of “wonderful” recipes using pomegranates and their juice.   The arils (seeds) are perfect for tossing in salads, stirring into yogurt, sprinkling over cereal or garnishing cocktails.  Pomegranate juice is ideal for glazes, cocktails and marinades.

Here are a few recipes from the SGCC archives that were inspired by pomegranates:

Just look at this fabulous Pomegranate Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream!

Or, maybe you’d prefer this tender, moist and juicy POMegranate Glazed Pork Tenderloin.

Don’t they both look delicious?

In case you didn’t know, November happens to be National Pomegranate Month.  November also officially kicks off the “Holiday Season”.  What better way to highlight the unique qualities of the pomegranate than with a little healthy holiday competition?   The fine folks at POM Wonderful have offered to send a case of their terrific, 100% pure pomegranate juice to three of you lucky readers.  To sweeten the proverbial pot, I’m also going to pair that with three copies of Nigella Lawson’s fabulous new holiday cookbook, Nigella Christmas: Food Family Friends Festivities.

Let me tell you people, you really want one of these.  This is one gorgeous book!  And, it includes everything you could possibly wish for to make your holidays merry and bright. (Everything except the snow, that is.  You’re on your own for that one!) Nigella’s book has recipes and suggestions for everything from from party canapés, cocktails and manageable mass catering to scrumptious Christmas cakes, cookies and puddings. There are also chapters on no-fuss brunch dishes, quick and easy homemade edible gifts and edible tree-decorations.  The book also includes quite a few recipes using pomegranates!

So, how do you score one of these nifty giveaways?  I’m glad you asked.  All you have to do to be eligible to win is leave a comment below telling me about your favorite holiday recipe using pomegranates or pomegranate juice.  If you don’t already have a recipe in mind, then tell me what kind of recipe you’d like to create using pomegranates or pomegranate juice.  Please only comment once, though. Duplicate comments will not be considered.  However, if you’d like an extra chance to win, I’ve got you covered.

• If you tweet this post on Twitter or share the link on Facebook, leave another comment letting me know, with the link, and you’ll get one extra chance to win.  You can do this twice, for a maximum of two (2) extra chances.

• If you have a blog and actually write a post about your recipe, leave a comment, including the link to your post,  and you will get FIVE (5) extra chances.  Of course, you should also put a link back to this post in yours.

The deadline to submit your comments is Saturday, November 28th, 2009, at 11:59 p.m. EST. I’ll pick the winning comments using the handy, dandy Random Number Generator and post the results here on Sunday, November 29th.  I’m purposely setting the deadline for after Thanksgiving to give you time in case you want to make your recipe for the holiday and post about it.

Good luck!!!

I know you’re probably wondering about the results of my razor clam contest. Yes, it’s been a long time coming, but I’m finally ready to announce the recipe I selected as the fate for my precious razor clams. There are two reasons why it took so long, the first being that I didn’t want to announce the winner until I had actually had made the recipe to show you. That required setting up a big enough block of time for me to prepare the dish, photograph it, process the photos and write the post. You know the drill. It seemed like every time I planned to do this, something came up and got in my way!

The second reason is that I received so many fantastic recipes and ideas that it was really, really, really hard for me to choose just one. In fact, I didn’t. Since I had a a total of five pounds of razor clams in my freezer, (my sous chefs and) I decided to choose not one, but THREE winning recipes! Even so, it was still a very difficult choice, making me wish that I had bought a lot more of those clams.

As I stated in my earlier post, my criteria for selecting a winning recipe was originality, availability of ingredients and ease of preparation. I also stated that my clams were already cleaned and shelled. So, while many of you submitted great recipes calling for unshelled clams, I couldn’t use them. All three of the recipes we chose met this criteria and yet, were very different. I’ve made one already, and can’t wait to try the other two!

So, without further ado, here are the three winners of one of these:

Are you ready?

Really, really ready?

Okay. Here we go!

Drumroll, please…..

Sailcat

“While not the lowest calorie preparation, razor clams benefit from a hot oil bath to a greater degree than any other food this humble cook has had the pleasure to encounter.

Dip clams into rice flour coating evenly. (Regular flour may be used but rice flour is best). Flour may be seasoned with any dry seasonings you like (pepper, garlic, herbs etc.)

Dip floured fish into lightly beaten eggs.

Roll egg coated fish into Panko bread crumbs (the best) and shake off excess so breading isn’t too thick)

After rolling in Panko crumbs and before you fry in oil, always put battered items in the freezer for at least 20 minutes. This is a secret for a restaurant quality fish fry! I have frozen breaded razor clams for up to a week before frying. When the Panko gets frozen to the egg wash, it sticks like cement and the crumbs never fall off and the results are beautiful.

Cook in peanut (first choice) or other vegetable oil which has been heated to 375 degrees. Cook for one minute or less. Razors will toughen if overcooked. You want the clams to be done right as the bread crumbs start to turn golden.

Enjoy one of the most succulent seafood entrees on the planet!”

This is the first recipe I used, and the one highlighted in these pictures.

********************

Toni

“When I read your dilemma, I immediately called my friend Darren who used to live on a boat in Seattle. He came back with this recipe for razor clam fritters, which he said he used to make all the time and people couldn’t stop eating them and RAVING!

In a food processor:

1 medium sweet onion
1 large leek – whites only
1 scallion
2 cloves garlic, slightly minced
1 C fennel bulb, cubed

Pulse till coarsely chopped. Put the mixture in a large bowl and add:

Kernels off 1 ear fresh corn
1/4C corn meal
1/2C AP flour

Toss to coat everything with flour and corn meal.

Finely dice 3 C clams
Add 2 large eggs plus 1 egg white
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 head flat leafed parsley, chopped
2 TBS fennel leaves, minced
1 C whole milk
1 generous C grated parmegiano-reggiano
2C Panko bread crumbs
zest of 1 lemon

Combine all ingredients. You should have a mixture which can be shaped into balls and then flattened.

Heat a heavy skillet. Spray with oil. Add the fritters and fry on both sides – slowly on side 1, then turning up the heat and frying until crispy on both sides.

Serve with tartar sauce – either home made or store bought. Either way, the play of the corn against the lemon zest is a knockout, and anyone who turns their nose up at a tartar sauce out of a jar will probably not count among your best friends anyway!”

********************

Lisa @ The Cutting Edge of Ordinary

“I have had this recipe bookmarked for a bit. It calls for a pound of those suckers!

http://www.cookthink.com/recipe/11120/Portuguese_Razor_Clam_Rigatoni

Sounds delicious!”

Congratulations, you three! I loved the recipes you submitted, and intend to recreate each of them! Please email me at stickygooeycreamychewyATgmailDOTcom, with your snail mail addresses so that I can get your prizes out to you.

Thanks also to everyone else who submitted a recipe or preparation idea for my razor clams. I wish I could send you all a prize!

]]> http://stickygooeycreamychewy.com/2009/07/02/finally-the-winners-of-my-razor-clams-recipe-contest/feed/ 14 http://stickygooeycreamychewy.com/2009/06/14/share-a-winning-recipe-for-these-and-win-a-prize/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=share-a-winning-recipe-for-these-and-win-a-prize http://stickygooeycreamychewy.com/2009/06/14/share-a-winning-recipe-for-these-and-win-a-prize/#comments Sun, 14 Jun 2009 19:57:00 +0000 Susan http://stickygooeycreamychewy.com/?p=266
RAZOR CLAMS!
I have three pounds of clean, shelled razor clams from Seattle sitting in my freezer and I’m itching to use them. The only problem is that I have no idea what to do with them! Though, I’ve seen and heard about razor clams …]]>

RAZOR CLAMS!

I have three pounds of clean, shelled razor clams from Seattle sitting in my freezer and I’m itching to use them. The only problem is that I have no idea what to do with them! Though, I’ve seen and heard about razor clams on the blogs, I’ve never been up close and personal with them before, much less cooked with them. Also, as far as I know, I’ve never actually eaten razor clams either. So, I turn to you, dear readers, for help.

What should I make with my razor clams?

After a little research, I’ve discovered that Pacific razor clams (Siliqua patula), is a species of large edible marine bivalve mollusk in the family Cultellidae, found along the beaches of the Pacific West Coast from eastern Alaska down to California. They are considered highly desirable among clam aficionados, and are greedily collected by both commercial and recreational harvesters. Thousands of people flock to the beach when the razor clam season opens each year in hopes of scoring these marvelous mollusks!

(Photo courtesy of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)

I’ve read that razor clams are exceptionally meaty and can be prepared a variety of different ways, from deep fried to chowders to pasta. I just can’t decide what to do! Who knows when I’ll ever have the opportunity to find razor clams again. I want to make something absolutely fabulous with them!

Here’s where you come in. Leave me your ideas and recipe suggestions for preparing my razor clams in the comments by midnight EDT on Friday, June 19. You can either type your recipe there, or leave me a link. My trusted sous chefs and I will evaluate each entry and choose our favorite based on originality, availability of ingredients and ease of preparation.

(Trusted Sous Chefs)

The winning entry will win one of these:

It’s an accutec, razor-sharp, double-sided, acid-etched bladed Cuisipro Fine Rasp Grater. It is the perfect kitchen tool for grating citrus zest, Parmesan cheese, garlic, nutmeg and cinnamon. If you don’t have one – you NEED one! If you do have one – it makes a great gift!

So, what are you waiting for?

GO FIND ME A GREAT RECIPE FOR THOSE RAZOR CLAMS!!!

Thank you very much!

]]> http://stickygooeycreamychewy.com/2009/06/14/share-a-winning-recipe-for-these-and-win-a-prize/feed/ 34 http://stickygooeycreamychewy.com/2009/01/15/flavor-of-the-month-toasted-coconut-sesame-brittle-ice-cream/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=flavor-of-the-month-toasted-coconut-sesame-brittle-ice-cream http://stickygooeycreamychewy.com/2009/01/15/flavor-of-the-month-toasted-coconut-sesame-brittle-ice-cream/#comments Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:33:00 +0000 Susan http://stickygooeycreamychewy.com/?p=216  
Greetings and welcome to the first installment of Flavor of the Month, a new feature here at SGCC! A few weeks ago, in my New Years post, I asked you all for suggestions and ideas on how to improve this blog. I wanted to know what …]]>

Greetings and welcome to the first installment of Flavor of the Month, a new feature here at SGCC! A few weeks ago, in my New Years post, I asked you all for suggestions and ideas on how to improve this blog. I wanted to know what you all wanted to see here. I was touched to read so many comments saying that you loved SGCC just as it is and not to change a thing. I actually got a little verkempt! However, change leads to growth, and I really do want to grow, both in my writing and in my cooking.

Several of you gave me some excellent suggestions for tweaks I could make – some relating to technical issues and some to content. I intend to take each into consideration, so keep your eyes peeled over the next several months.

There was one comment that really stood out to me, and this is the one I chose as the winner of The Flavor Bible. The comment was submitted by Brilynn from Jumbo Empanadas. I chose Brilynn’s comment because she hit on two points that had already been lurking in the back of my mind.

Brilynn said “…as far as ideas for SGCC, I like your Dinner and a Movie Theme, you could perhaps turn it into a blogging event? Or maybe you should just make more ice cream… that drunken cherry ice cream is fabulous. You should have an ice cream at least once a month.”

Bingo!

I’d been thinking about the best way to implement my Dinner and a Movie idea for months, and had considered trying to make a blogging event out of it. I’m still working on the details, and as soon as I’m ready to unveil it, you’ll be the first to know.

I had also been thinking about incorporating more ice cream recipes into SGCC. Since I live in Florida, my family and I are lucky enough to be able to enjoy ice cream year round. And trust me, we do! Doing a monthly ice cream feature was a perfect idea! So, on the 15th of every month I’ll reveal my Flavor of the Month.

This month’s Flavor of the Month is Toasted Coconut Sesame Brittle Ice Cream. It’s a riff on one of my favorite Haagen Dazs flavors of the same name. Freshly toasted coconut and buttery sesame brittle are mixed into a smooth and rich coconut ice cream base. It’s crunchy and creamy and chewy all at the same time. It’s also utterly sublime!

My inspiration for the coconut ice cream base came from the cookbook, Delicious Days by popular blogger, Nicky Stich, by way of the supreme ice cream master himself, David Lebovitz. It is a Philadelphia-style ice base, made without eggs. Instead, heavy cream is simmered with coconut milk and palm sugar. After chilling, the base is churned into luscious mounds of silky coconut bliss.

The recipe for my sesame brittle came from Gale Gand. I have to admit, I was a little apprehensive about making it. We all know my track record with caramelizing sugar! But, I reeeeeeallllllly wanted to use sesame brittle and couldn’t think of anywhere close by to buy some. So, I sucked it up and made it myself. And, it turned out great! The first time!!!

Now, I have to stop and take a moment here to wax poetic about this brittle. It. Was. Amazing. Seriously! I couldn’t stop eating it! I’m not even a huge fan of sesame anything, but this brittle just blew me away. I’m telling you, people, even if you decide to never try this ice cream, do yourself a favor and make the brittle. It is THAT good!

By the way, I just realized that this is also my 200th post! Woo hoo! I didn’t realize that I was such a chatterbox!

Enjoy!

Here we are – time to announce the Sweety Pies Cookbook Giveaway winner. Have you all been waiting with bated breath? Have you been unable to concentrate and focus on anything else these past few days? Have you been dreaming about pies, pies and more pies? Well, I won’t keep you in suspense any longer.

With a record 130 comments to sift through, I decided to turn to the trusty Random Number Generator to help me out. So, without further ado, the giveaway winner is…….(Drumroll please!)

Lucy from Teen Baker!!!

Congratulations, Lucy! I hope you enjoy the book and make lots and lots of delicious pies! Please email me at stickygooeycreamychewy [AT] gmail [DOT] com as soon as you can with your mailing address so I can get your prize out to you ASAP.

Thanks to everyone who played along. I really enjoyed reading about your favorite Holiday songs. I even discovered some new ones I didn’t know before. I also want to thank everyone for all of the prayers and good wishes you sent for my Uncle Sal. Miraculously, he is still hanging on. I wish I had 130 cookbooks to give away to each one of you!

For those of you who are looking for a Tuesdays with Dorie post, I apologize, but I just haven’t had time to make that happen today. ‘Tis the season, and all that. I will try to get it up soon. In the meantime, be sure to check out the TWD blogroll for lots of fabulous Buttery Jam Cookies.

HO! HO! HO!

Before I get to the good stuff, I want to take a moment to thank all of you who sent my family so many prayers, kind words and good wishes this week. I am truly touched by the vast generosity of spirit possessed by all of you. I cannot express how much it meant to me. The food blog community, both bloggers and readers alike, are the most wonderful and caring group of people I’ve ever known. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Uncle Sal is still hanging on, but things are not looking good. He has had surgery to set most of his broken bones and the doctors are keeping him in an induced coma so that he doesn’t move around while they are mending. The good news is that he can move his arms and legs.

He also had one surgery for the burns on his hands because he was losing so much blood and fluid and his vital signs were getting too weak. It didn’t go too well and they were supposed to do another surgery yesterday to do some skin grafts, but he was too unstable for them to proceed with that. He has apparently also developed an infection in his blood, which weakens him even further.

I don’t know how this will end. I know that Uncle Sal is in good and very capable hands and that all the rest of us can do is continue to pray. I will keep you posted.

Now, on to some brighter news. My good friends from Pillsbury contacted me a few weeks ago to let me know how pleased they were with the posts I wrote in October about their new products. In fact, they very graciously sent me this lovely gift basket filled with some pie baking essentials. The package includes two 9-inch glass pie pans, a pie server, pie-top cut-outs and a CD-ROM with photos and recipes of Pillsbury pie favorites! And, the CD-ROM allows you to easily upload the photos and recipes to your blog.

Since it’s been a while since there’s been a good giveaway on this blog, I’ve decided to gift this goodie basket to one of you. To sweeten the deal a little, (and in case you need a few good pie recipes), I am also throwing in a copy of Patty Pinner’s “Sweety Pies: An Uncommon Collection Of Womanish Observations, With Pie”. More than just a cookbook, it is a collection of warm and cozy memoirs all wrapped up in between luscious recipes and scrumptious photos of – you guessed it – pies!

According to Pinner, “What a woman cooks is a window into her personality – what she thinks, how she behaves, how she feels about herself and the people she cooks for.”

Each recipe in Sweety Pies tells the story of the woman behind it. It speaks to the importance of family, friends and community. Oh yeah, and you get some great pie too! It is a lovely book that would be a welcome addition to anyone’s cookbook collection.

All you have to do to be eligible to win this great giveaway is leave a comment on this post between now and midnight EST on Monday, December 15. I know that’s not a whole lot of time, but I want the lucky winner to have this gift in time to whip up some Holiday pies! I’m also adding a little twist. Most of you know that I am also a musician. So, to be eligible, in your comment you must state your favorite song of the season. It can be a Christmas carol, Hanukkah song, a song about peace…..whatever your fave is. At midnight, I’ll have one of my trusty elves pick a name out of Santa’s hat.

Now, in case all of this talk about pie has made you a little hungry, here is a pie from Sweety Pies for you that I whipped up. She calls it My Grandmother’s Handmade Apple Pie. It is a traditional apple pie that is easy to put together and delicious to eat. I did add a cup of dried cranberries to my apple filling, because I like the bit of tartness they bring. Also, as a nod to Pillsbury, I used their Refrigerated Pie Crust. It is a real timesaver and always turns out nice and flaky. It’s a great alternative when you don’t want to make your own.

If you’d like to try making this pie and you don’t have access to the book, you can find the recipe here.

Enjoy, and don’t forget to leave your comments!

]]> http://stickygooeycreamychewy.com/2008/12/12/a-thank-you-a-holiday-giveaway-and-a-pie/feed/ 134 http://stickygooeycreamychewy.com/2008/09/17/welcome-to-sgccs-first-annual-blogiversary-bash/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=welcome-to-sgccs-first-annual-blogiversary-bash http://stickygooeycreamychewy.com/2008/09/17/welcome-to-sgccs-first-annual-blogiversary-bash/#comments Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:45:00 +0000 Susan http://stickygooeycreamychewy.com/?p=176
Well, it’s hard to believe, but it’s true. Sticky, Gooey, Creamy, Chewy is one year old today! Never did I imagine when I started this little blog a year ago what an important and fulfilling part of my life it would become. I have learned …]]>

Well, it’s hard to believe, but it’s true. Sticky, Gooey, Creamy, Chewy is one year old today! Never did I imagine when I started this little blog a year ago what an important and fulfilling part of my life it would become. I have learned so much, not only about cooking and baking, but about the wonderful nature of people. Through this journey, I have met so many kind, caring, creative and passionate souls, all who have enriched my life in various ways. This food blogging community of ours is a truly unique and one hell of a special group!

My heartfelt thanks go out to all of you who have kept me company here in my little slice of the blogoshere. It’s been a pleasure having you. If you’re visiting for the first time – welcome! I hope you return often.

I have to say that I was truly touched by the number of you that RSVP’ d for my party. I never expected so many of you to attend, and with such spectacular food and drinks! Thank you all so much! (I also never expected how much work it would be to put this post together!) With your help, we have the mother lode of all buffets here. So have a drink (or several), grab a fork and a plate, and let’s get this party started!!!

I’ve divide the buffet line into three categories – Libations (drinks), Savories and Sweets. I tried to be as organized about this as possible, but we all know I’m not perfect. If I’ve missed anyone, please let me know and I’ll correct it right away. Oh, and please don’t judge me on my formatting skills. This post was a b*tch to put together!

Enjoy!

Libations

Rachel (aka the Short (dis)Order Cook) from The Essential Rhubarb Pie knows how to get a party started! Her Peach-Hyssop Sparkler is made with peach liqueur and bubbly Proseco, mixed with a simple syrup infused with apricot hyssop flowers from her garden. I’d never heard of apricot hyssop before this, and now I’m determined to find some of my own!

Colleen from Kitchen Diary sent over this cooling and very refreshing Limoncello Sunset all the way from South Africa. Limoncello Sunset is made up with crushed ice, a splash of Angostura Bitters and a double tot of Limoncello Liqueur. The glass is filled with Soda Water and accessorized with a twist of lemon peel and a sprig of mint.

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The lovely Chicago-based Marie from Proud Italian Cook calls her Mezzanotte “Pure Decadence”. I agree! This amazing coffee cocktail, made with dark chocolate, espresso, vodka, and coffee liqueur, is like having your espresso and dessert all in one! Very efficient! Mezzanotte means midnight in Italian, and Marie figures that this special drink will help keep us partying well into the wee hours.

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One of my newer blogging buddies, Lisa from Magic Sprinkles (Is that not the coolest name?) calls Atlanta, Georgia home. I’m so happy to have her here today, especially since she brought these smooth, sweet and creamy Chocolatinis with her. This girl knows how to party! Toss back one of these chic “tinis” made with vodka, chocolate liqueur and cream, and you’ll feel just like Carrie Bradshaw!

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Sandy from Eat Real is one of the bloggers I initially got to know through Twitter. She’s smart, witty and insightful. From New York’s mid-Hudson Valley, she writes about lots of delicious and healthy foods and drinks, like this cool and refreshing Kiwi Green Tea Fizz. It all starts with a mouthwatering homemade kiwifruit sorbet, to which green tea liqueur and fizzy ginger ale are added. Then, grab a straw and a comfy chair and you’re set!

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Nicole from Art and Aioli hails from Orange, California. She’s brought this lovely bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa to go with her fab Buratta Plate below. Wine and cheese? Wait til you see it. Classic!

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Savories

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Lori from Luscious and her “Darling Chef”, Marc brought this beautiful Gravlax. Just look at that stunning color! Lori, who is in NYC, says that you can get this great party food started a few days ahead and let it sit in the fridge. Slice it thinly, and either platter it with slices of bread and a pot of mustard, or make little hors d’oeuvres for your guests. So easy, fresh and tasty!

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Libby from The Allergic Kid is a neighbor from Tampa Bay, Florida. Her blog is a source for recipes and tips for cooking and living with specific food allergies. Libby brought this Zesty Tomato Salsa. She says the fresh cilantro and lime juice are simply addictive, and the salsa also makes a nice topping for chicken or fish. Ole!

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Lisa from The Cutting Edge of Ordinary, in Rhode Island, submitted one of her most requested dishes, these Antipasto Squares. With an assortment of cheeses and cured meats baked inside flaky crescent pastry, these would be tops on my list too!

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Susan from Food Blogga sent over this beautiful Grilled Eggplant with Roasted Red Pepper Tapenade. Susan comes from California by way of Rhode Island, hence the name of her blog. I can always count on Susan to come up with healthy, yet tasty dishes using fresh and often quite unique ingredients.

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Nina from My Easy Cooking sent over these lovely and elegant little Salmon Starters. They’re made with baby creamer potatoes, filled with a cream cheese filling and topped with smoked salmon and caviar. (Shhh! Don’t tell anyone, but I stashed a few of these away back in the kitchen for later!)

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Lauren from I’ll Eat You brought these Duxelles hors d’ouvres. This is a simple little hors d’ouvre whipped up with puff pastry and filled with a mushroom duxelles. They look fancy schmancy complicated, but Lauren swears they are not!

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My good friend Val from More Than Burnt Toast in Canada is one of the most prolific bloggers I know! (Either that, or she’s just a party animal!) Today, Val has brought over these gorgeous Golden Bruschetta with Heirloom Tomatoes, Fresh Mozzarella and Pesto. They are pure summer on a plate!

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Lisa from My Own Sweet Thyme offers up these sweet little Cheesy Choux Puffs. Look at that adorable G-clef! Lisa hails from the Pacific Northwest and does amazing things with choux pastry! Visit her blog to find all sorts of tricks and tips.

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In her blog profile, Grace from A Southern Grace calls herself a Southern girl currently sticking out like a sore thumb in upstate New York. When I read that, I knew I was in for a treat! I was. Grace is full of Southern charm and New York wit!Shee sent over this dreamy looking Black Bean Dip. Careful! No double dipping, please!

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Laura from The Spiced Life submitted another delicious dish using black beans. Her Southwestern Black Bean Soup was made with her mother’s homegrown black beans and lots of bacon. How cool is that? Laura says that this soup isn’t super healthy, but it sure is tasty. I heartily agree!

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Deeba from Passionate about Baking brought these light, tender and silky Chicken Reshmi Kebabs all the way from North India. Deeba says that these kebabs, a North Indian specialty, are made with minced chicken but are equally as good with minced beef or lamb. She attributes their moist, succulent texture to a marinade, featuring thick, rich yogurt. I think they look marvelous and I can’t wait to dig in!

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These zesty Tangy Tomato Twisties came all the way from South Africa, again, courtesy of Colleen from Kitchen Diary. They’re made with sundried tomato paste, basil pesto, Bushman’s HotAzHell Chilli Sauce and some very strong mature cheddar cheese sandwiched between layers of tender and flaky butter puff pastry. Amazing! Check out the Limoncello Sunset that Colleen also sent over to wash them down to wash them down with.

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Theresa (The Food Hunter) from The Food Hunter’s Guide to Cuisine brought some beautiful Neapolitan Crostini to my buffet table. They’re a quick and easy appetizer and are just the perfect thing for a party! Theresa hails from Arizona, by way of Philadelphia and is a girl after my own heart. These tasty crostini are covered with a creamy ricotta spread and then topped with anchovies. Anchovies! I love anchovies!

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Tanya from Take the Cannoli blogs from Illinois. She says that while this luscious Roasted Red Pepper Dip is a snap to make, it packs a big flavor punch. With roasted peppers, garlic and cream cheese, how could it not?

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When I first laid eyes on Nuria’s Chipirones en su tinta, my salivary glands went onto overdrive and I haven’t stopped drooling since! Chipirones are small squids and these are prepared Basque-style in a sauce with their own ink, tomatoes, garlic, peppers and onion. Nuria and her delightful blog, Spanish Recipes, are based in sunny Barcelona, Spain.

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Ning from Heart and Hearth sent over these lovely Seafood Canapés from her home base in Manila, Philippines. These little beauties are made with a tomato, green onion and anchovy mixture which is spread on toast points and topped with tender, sweet baby shrimp. Ahem…have I mentioned how much I love anchovies?

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This Balkan Eggplant Casserole sent over by Alanna from A Veggie Venture is just the thing for a party buffet. Lightly sauteed eggplant slices are baked in a creamy, cheesy and subtly spicy sauce. It is a wonderful vegetarian offering that can be served either hot from the oven or at room temperature. Alanna dishes up her tempting veggie fare in St. Louis, Missouri.

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My good friend Cakelaw from Laws of the Kitchen has brought these terrific Salmon Tartlets all the way from Australia. To make these little gems, pre-baked puff pastry discs are topped by a tangy cream cheese spread, a strip of smoked salmon and a sprig of dill. Cakelaw says they are dead easy to make, yet look and taste impressive. I know that I’m impressed!

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Manggy from No Special Effects is one of my favorite people in the whole world! Talented in so many ways, he is truly a Renaissance man. As busy as he is, he found the time to send over this outrageous Spaghetti Tetrazzini for my Blogiversary Bash by way of the Philippines. It is an uber rich pasta dish baked in a creamy sauce brimming with cheese, chicken, mushrooms and……bacon! This one is not for the faint of heart! As a matter of fact, I think I’m swooning right now!

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Joanne from Frutto della Passione is living my dream life in Milan, Italy. What a wonderful place and what a warm and kind woman! She has sent over the kind of party food that I grew up with – adorable Mini Pizzas and Calzones. She even made her own dough! These babies have it all. Mushrooms, onions, ham, tomatoes and fresh mozzarella! Buonissimo!

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The first time I visited Nicisme’s blog, Cherrapeno, was was after I found myself drooling over one of her stunning photos on Tastespotting. Since then, I have spent quite a bit of time enjoying this UK blogger’s tantalizing fare. Today, Nic has sent over these Balsamic Tomato Bruschetta with Grilled Blue Cheese. Grilled Blue Cheese, people! Need I say more?

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Michelle from Culinography has brought over this Better than Boursin Cheese Spread. It’s a dreamy, cream cheese based concoction loaded with garlic and herbs. Michelle says she makes it because she is too frugal to pay Boursin’s high price. I say it’s because this Arkansas girl is too smart! Either way, this spread looks way too tempting!

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Nicole from Art and Aioli has come to the party with a most thoughtful offering. She’s brought a gift of Buratta, her new favorite cheese along with tomatoes and basil from her garden, served with olives, organic ciabbata bread and a dish with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Nicole describes this Rolls Royce of Italian cheeses as “sheer heaven”, and so do I! This is going to go so well with that great Cabernet!

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Heather from Diary of a Frantic Foodie whipped up this Italian-style Scalloped Tomatoes and Eggplant. She says this is just the kind of dish she likes to serve to keep things interesting at her book club meetings up in Arlington, Virginia. Not only does this casserole contain tomatoes, eggplant and a host of zesty Italian herbs, but it’s baked with a topping of tangy goat cheese and pine nuts too. Delicioso!

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One of the best things about being a food blogger is discovering all kinds of new foods that you’ve never known about before, like these Bierocks sent over by the sweet and charming Kristen from Dine & Dish in Kansas City. Biercocks are a German food, commonly seen at Oktoberfest events. They’re kind of like a German calzone, with a soft, chewy dough encasing a garlicy meat and cabbage filling. Kristen calls them a little pockets full of goodness with something unexpected in every bite!

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Lien from Notitie van Lien sent these intriguing Polpettine al Limone aka Lemon Meatballs over all the way from The Netherlands. Grated lemon zest and ground pine nuts give these meatballs their unique flavor. Lien serves them with just a squeeze of fresh lemon. I can’t wait to try them!

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Sweets

Lucy from Teen Baker brought these tasty Lemon & Sultana Cookies. How did she know that I love all things lemon? I am so impressed by Lucy. Did you know that she is only 13 years old? This little Londoner has quite a baking career ahead of her!

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Nanc from NancTWoP, in Gotham City, brought these Cinnamon “Toasty Fingers” Lightly sweet and crispy, they fit neatly on the saucer. Plus they’re ridiculously easy to make, using items you always have on hand. They look totally addictive to me! I met Nanc back during Top Chef season. She blogs about her favorite TV show and did a great job with her Top Chef recaps. I’m so happy to have her at the party!

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Lisa at What We Eat sent these delectable Pina Colada Cupcakes all the way from Dublin, Ireland. Don’t they look adorable all dressed up with their cute umbrellas? Lisa says that these are her favorite thing to bring to a party. I’m so glad she brought them to mine!

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Esi from Dishing up Delights says that she’d been dreaming of these Figs with Ricotta and Pistachios for days before she made them. I can see why. Just look at them! Those juicy, ripe figs with creamy cheese and glistening honey are making me long for a bite! Esi is from L.A. and remembers the fresh fig trees in her backyard while growing up. Me too.

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Another Florida neighbor, Judy from No Fear Entertaining sent over this fresh and delicious Fruit Pizza. Can you believe that this elegant looking dish started with sugar cookie mix and a tub of cream cheese frosting? Now, that is some creative cooking!

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Nathan from House of Annie brought something really unique. His Bubbies Mochi Ice Cream looks totally fun and festive! Traditional mochi is a Japanese confection made from sweet glutinous rice paste, filled with sweet azuki bean paste. Ice cream replaces the red bean filling in these. Love these!

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Hilary, another Chicago gal, from Chew on That brought these delectable fresh baked Chocolate Chip Cookies. She happened to use my favorite recipe for them too. They are a chocolate lover’s dream.

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The lovely Ivy from Kopiaste…To Greek Hospitality brought over this gorgeous cake called Revani all the way from Greece. It is made with flour or semolina that is bathed in syrup, and topped with whipping cream and coconut and decorated it with pineapple and sour cherries. She calls it a sticky, gooey, creamy, chewy dessert. I call it heavenly!

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Anita from Dessert First brought this equisite Black Sesame Panna Cotta with Five-Spice Peanut Brittle. Black sesame is a classic Chinese flavor, especially in desserts, and is perfect in this creamy, barely set panna cotta. The crunchy, buttery, spicy-sweet brittle makes a lovely complement to it.

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Holly from PheMOMenon brought some yummy looking Almond Glazed Sugar Cookies from her home base in Utah. These are the cookies for you if you’re into instant gratification. Holly says there is no chilling, no rolling and no waiting involved. I think they look indescribably delicious (and there isn’t an elf in sight)!

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Stef from Cupcake Project asks “What’s a party without cupcakes?” I agree and am thrilled that she sent over these tasty Oatmeal Raisin Cupcakes topped with adorable maple bacon lollipops for my Bash! She says they’re just like oatmeal raisin cookies, but moister and with less oatmeal texture. I say WOW!

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Gabi from The Feast Within has brought over the most divinely decadent looking cheesecake ever! This Polka Dot Cheesecake is made with both a plain and a chocolate cheesecake batter. The chocolate batter is actually piped into the cake to form these wonderful “polka dots”. The finished cake is then topped with a sinful bitersweet chocolate ganache. Be still my heart!

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These elegant glasses are filled with rich and creamy Chocolate Mousse topped with Caramelized Strawberry and Orange Sauce. This luxurious dessert was created by the FFichiban, Cupcake and D from Here Comes the Food out of Sydney, Australia. They had me at chocolate mousse, but that delicate fruity sauce sealed the deal! Doesn’t it look dreamy?

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Claire from Cooking is Medicine is a doctor from Jackson, MS. Despite her busy schedule, she found time to bake her signature Claire’s Coffee Cookies. These cookies are loaded with chocolate chips, oats, nuts and rich coffee flavor. How efficient is Claire? She can have her coffee and cookies together in one bite!

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Look at the fudgy goodness of these amazing Espresso Brownies made by Mansi from Fun & Food Cafe! Who could resist these sinfully delicious brownies filled with the richness of cocoa, a shot of espresso and a hint of Kahlua liqueur? I know I couldn’t! Mansi sent her delectable treats from sunny California. I wish I lived closer so I could have them all the time!

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Kelly from Sass & Veracity sure knows to make the summertime last! Of course, being in California, she has access to some of the best fruits available. This Blueberry Peach Galette is a gorgeous showcase for two of the season’s most popular bounty. For her galette, Kelly makes a dough using yogurt and cornmeal, which is filled with fresh, ripe peaches and blueberries kissed with honey and thyme. To. Die. For.

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Those wild and crazy kids, Denise and Lenny from Chez Us also had peaches on their minds. They came up with this oozey, gooey Peach, Vanilla Bean, French Thyme Galette, even though they’ve both been down with nasty colds all week. I’m touched that they went to all that trouble for little old me!

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Maria and Josh from Two Peas and Their Pod are getting in the Fall spirit with their Applesauce Spice Bars. I’m sure the weather is quite a bit cooler up there Salt Lake City, Utah! These tasty treats are chock full of apples, raisins, brown sugar and spices, all smothered in a gooey vanilla/brown sugar glaze. You better grab one fast. They won’t last long!

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The Happy Cook from My Kitchen Treasures has certainly made me happy with the Mango Panna Cotta she sent over all the way from Belgium! Panna Cotta is one of my favorite things and this one is rich, creamy and fruity all at the same time. Plus, could those glasses any cuter?

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Helen, everyone’s favorite Tartelette, has brought these stunning little Pine Nut Tartelettes to the party. She is a lovely lady and one of the most talented and creative bloggers I know. Everything that comes out of her kitchen is perfection and these sublime little jewels are no exception! From the South of France to South Carolina, Helen bridges the gap with her tartelettes intended to be a riff on pecan pie, swapping out pecans and corn syrup for pine nuts and acacia honey. C’est Magnifique!

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Dear, sweet Patricia blogs from her Technicolor Kitchen in Sao Paolo, Brazil. She has sent over this fabulous Lemon Meringue Cake for us all to enjoy! The cake has a sticky, gooey, and chewy meringue base, similar to a pavlova, and is filled with a glorious lemon cream filling. To top it off, she has sprinkled on white chocolate shavings. It is everything I could wish for!

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Veron over at Veronica’s Test Kitchen has sent over another delectable lemon dessert, Lemon Bars on Brown Butter Shortbread. Based in Richmond, Virginia, she is also among those of us trying to squeeze the last drop out of Summer! Tart and sweetly delicious, these bars feature a cool, lemony filling nestled on a rich, buttery crust. Lemon bars have always held a special place in my heart, an I’ll be first in line for these!

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Lynne from And Then I Do the Dishes sent over a batch of her delicious Ground Cherry and Vanilla Compote. She’s serving her compote up on lightly toasted French bread topped with a smooth, nutty Gruyere cheese from beautiful from Quebec, Canada. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and savory!

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I believe no party would be complete without a good old-fashioned apple pie. Fortunately, Andrea from Andrea’s Recipes felt the same way and brought this French Apple Pie! She makes it, in her Northern Virginia kitchen, with thinly sliced Granny Smith apples spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon. Then, she tops it with a buttery, brown sugar crumb topping. It doesn’t get much better than this!

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One of my daily treats is visiting Lori, The Recipe Girl – especially when she has one of her wonderful desserts on the menu! Imagine my delight when I saw these sinfully good Devil’s Food Cupcakes she sent over. That rich, gooey chocolate frosting topped with those festive sprinkles is making me weak in the knees, I tell you!

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One of the very first food blogs I ever read was Jumbo Empanadas written by Brilynn from Canada. Before that, I didn’t really even know what a blog was, but I was hooked! I have to say that Brilynn was part of the inspiration that prompted me to create SGCC. I’m very honored to have her as a guest at my BB! I knew she would bring something fabulous and she did not disappoint. Brilynn says that her Cinnamon Palmiers, (or Elephant Ears!) are ridiculously easy to make, look fantastic, make your house smell like Cinnabons and will have people begging for more. Whew! She really means it when she says “Go big or go home”!

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One of my daily reads I never miss is Cathy’s blog, Noble Pig out of Northen California. Sometimes, I laugh. Sometimes I cry. I’m always entertained. Cathy sent over this amazingly delicious Banana Cake with Cream Cheese-Sour Cream Frosting. She guarantees this one takes banana baked goods to a whole new level of yumminess. I’ll take that bet. I’ve been dreaming about this cake ever since I first saw it on Cathy’s site!

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And now, for my party gifts!

You’ve all been such patient and gracious guests, but I know you’re all dying to know who one my special Blogiversary giveaways. Take a look at this little video I made (with my Flip Video, natch!) and all will become clear! Now, be forewarned that this is my very first attempt at filmaking, so be kind. Also, any snarky comments about my tiara will be promptly deleted! Um…..and please don’t look at my hair too closely. I shot this after a very long day!

Sooooooo, to recap, the list of winners is as follows:

Nuria from Spanish Recipes wins Working the Plate!

Laura from The Spiced Life wins the NBC Sunday Night Football Cookbook!

Lauren from I’ll Eat You wins Martha Stewart’s Cookies!

Lisa from What We Eat wins Digital Food Photography!

Aaaaaand last, but by no means least, Manggy wins the Flip Ulta Video!

Congratulations to all of the winners!

Thank you all so much for coming to help me celebrate my blogiversary! I hope you all enjoyed yourself. Take care and see you soon!