Yeah Val!

Congratulations to Val with comment #45.  Have a look at her blog for some great crafting and a yummy recipe for potato boats!  Yeah Val!  Buy your self something nice for Christmas with your $65 gift code.  I will email you the information you'll be needing to use it. 

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

45

Timestamp: 2010-12-10 00:13:36 UTC

Thanks to everyone for stopping by and playing!  It was interesting to learn your favourite Christmas foods!!

Favourite Things Giveaway ....While I have some Crostata

This contest is now closed.  Thanks to all who entered!
With Christmas preparations well under way....(doesn't it just look like Christmas here???) what a perfect time for another giveaway!  Those wonderful folks over at CSN have offered to sponsor another giveaway here.  This one is for a $65 gift code that can be used at any of their 200+ stores and can be delivered to any US or Canadian address. Please take a peek at some of their stores which offer anything you can think of from Bathroom Furniture to gorgeous Kitchen Wares and all points in between.  There are so many options.....I'm just going to take a piece of Pear & Blue Cheese Crostata from this month's Bakers Challenge to sustain me through the hours of window shopping at CSN.  So please feel free to enter for your chance to win a $65 gift code for some fine CSN shopping.

The Details

1. This Giveaway is open to anyone with a US or Canadian mailing address, as CSN will ship to either location.
2. To enter the draw for the $65 gift code from CSN please leave a comment at the bottom of this post telling me your favourite holiday food.  Is it the turkey???  The stuffing??? Steamed pudding???  I'm curious.....so tell me!
3. You can enter one time by leaving a comment on this post......and you may leave one additional comment on this post if you are a follower......mentioning that you are a follower of this blog. (a way to say thank you to you super nice followers)  so that is a maximum of two entries.  
4. Make sure that there is a way for me to contact you should your comment be chosen.  Either leave your email address written in the form jane(dot)doe(at)hotmail(dot)com (so you don't attract spam) or make sure that your blogger account etc. has an email address in it that I can access.
5. The winning comment will be selected using a random number generator at the end of the day on Wednesday December 8th.
6. The winner will be contacted by email on December 9th.  If the winner cannot be contacted within a few days.....a new winning comment will be selected.....so please leave your contact information.
7. Please do not leave links to other businesses within the comments.

This Month's Challenge.....Crostata....that's pie!
Now have a quick look below to see the recipe from this month's great Baker's Challenge.  The 2010 November Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Simona of briciole. She chose to challenge Daring Bakers’ to make pasta frolla for a crostata. She used her own experience as a source, as well as information from Pellegrino Artusi’s Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well. Using the pastry recipe provided by Simona we were permitted to find a filling that appealed to us.......I chose to make a rustic pie baked on a cookie sheet with the edges folded in......and pear and blue cheese sounded intriguing to me.

Pear and Blue Cheese Crostata
Filling
4 small to medium pears, cored and chopped
3 tbsp crumbled blue cheese
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup golden sugar
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
3 tbsp cold butter, cut in small pieces
honey, to drizzle on top

Preheat oven to 450F.
Set cut pears aside.  Roll pastry out into a 12 inch circle, and transfer onto a parchment lined baking sheet.  Spread pears over the middle of the pastry leaving 1 1/2 inch uncovered at the edges.  Scatter crumbled cheese over top of the pears.
Combine the flour, nuts, and sugar. Pinch in the butter until it is like a crumble.  Pour this topping over the pears and cheese.  Fold in the outside edges to make a circle.  Bake for 25-30 minutes until crust is golden brown.  Allow to cool for 10 minutes.  Drizzle with honey just before serving.

Coddled Eggs and Giveaway Winners

After spending a week alone, everyone is back now and we took our time getting up.  It's raining lightly here and the post man almost woke me up.  Isn't it nice to get presents from the post man first thing in the morning.  'It's a good thing I cut the grass before this rain started', I think as I bring my parcel back to the kitchen where breakfast is on the make.  My egg is coddling away in a pot of simmering water, making my morning seem a bit warmer.  I'm just going to enjoy my breakfast, and then I can see about getting my clothes dryer looked at.  So, if your morning is a bit chilly and you'd like to try a coddled egg, go here and and try out a recipe for yourself.  My perfect coddled egg simmered 1/2 submerged in an egg coddler for 9 1/2 minutes with a refrigerated egg.  A room temperature egg would take about 1 minute less.  I  added only a pinch of salt and pepper and a few drops of cream to my egg before simmering.  It was perfect for dipping with toast:)  Have a great day....OK!  Before I get going though....I wanted to say thanks to everyone who stopped by  for the Lunch Revolution party.  Hopefully you found some worthwhile information and fun at all the participating blogs.  And also a congratulations to Noreen, who made the 10th comment for the CSN Giveaway......I'll be emailing her this morning.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

10

Timestamp: 2010-08-31 15:55:58 UTC

And also to Shaz for entering the International Giveaway for the Bento supplies and lunch cookbook.  I'll be sending that package out this week.  Stop by and check her delicious blog if you are looking for something new to try.

It's Lunch Revolution Time

What's a party without presents???  And if you stop by my house.....I'd even give you a piece of this yummy slice that I just tried.  I got the recipe from Carole over at Madness and Mess, and apparently it is super common over in New Zealand.  I will warn you.....it is very addictive if you like chocolate........and it's super easy too! (which I appreciate)..........and it's nut free (or can be) so it's good for a lunch box treat as well.  

To say thanks for stopping by I am running two giveaways that I hope are in keeping with the Lunch Revolution theme.  The first giveaway can only be shipped to a US or Canadian address and the second can be sent to anywhere else (not including the US or Canada).  So click on the links below to enter the giveaway which is appropriate for you if you are interested.  And if you are around....come back tomorrow for a list of lunch ideas to get ready for those back to school lunches...................as the party continues.....that's right.......it's a sleep over party!  Check out more party fun over at the Cookie Jar.

Take me to the Lunch Revolution Giveaway (US and Canada only)

Take me to the Lunch Revolution Giveaway (International excludes US and Canada)

Let's See The Lunch Recipe List from LittleRedSaid

Now if you don't have the time to stop by for a piece of Chocolate Slice......maybe you'd like to make some for yourself.
No Bake Chocolate Slice
(adapted from the recipe at Madness and Mess)
3/4 cup butter
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup coconut
1 egg, beaten sightly
3/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup cranraisin
1/4 cup pepitas
250g (8oz) plain biscuits (like arrow root or marie biscuits) broken into small bits

In a saucepan over medium heat, mix first three ingredients until the sugar in dissolved.  Add the remaining ingredients stirring to combine.  Press into a 9X13 inch lined pan and set in the fridge to firm up.  Once firm, frost with chocolate icing listed in this post.  Keep in fridge until ready to serve.

A Super Cool or Hot Lunch:)

Thanks again to the folks over at CSN for providing another giveaway opportunity for us.  It's a perfectly perfect Zojirushi Classic Stainless Lunch Jar.  How fabulous is that for back to school or even back to work lunches.  I love Zojirushi for it's top notch rice cookers.......and now I just might love them even more for this...which I found after after scouring the CSN site and finding their le creuset tagine for my Christmas wish list.  What a happy accident for one of you:)  This giveaway is open to anyone with a US or Canadian mailing address.  For the non US and Canda Giveaway look here.

But more about this great prize:

• It has Stainless steel construction with vacuum insulation
• Comes with chop sticks, chop stick holder and carrying strap
• Contains 3 microwavable bowls (26.7oz, 13.5 oz, and 9.5 oz)
• All with a 5 year warranty

In order to enter the giveaway:

• Please leave a comment on this post telling me what your favourite lunch food  is.  
• To say thanks to all those who follow LittleRedSaid.....followers may leave a second entry  by leaving a second comment on this post mentioning that you follow LittleRedSaid for a second chance to win.  So that's a maximum of two entries per person.   
• Please make sure to leave a way for me to contact you should your have the winning comment or another winner will need to chosen. 
• This Giveaway will remain open until midnight on Monday August 30th. 
• On Tuesday morning the winning comment will be selected using a random number generator.
• All spam and ineligible comments will be removed prior to selecting a winning comment.
• Remember this giveaway is open to anyone with a US or Canadian mailing address only.

Thanks for stopping by!.......Take a moment to see more of the Lunch Revolution Party, to see what else is going on at the blog party.....And stop back tomorrow to see lots of lunch box ideas....enjoy the party!

Lunch Revolution-Bento Lunch Box Giveaway

To celebrate the Lunch Revolution Party .....there is an International (not US or Canada) giveaway as well. for Canada and the US.  If you have a mailing address that is from anywhere other than the US or Canada.....then this giveaway might be just for you.  I really love these adorable bento boxes and find they make lunch just a little more fun and hopefully you will too.  This Giveaway includes one two stage bento box, chop sticks, two closure bands, a pack of grass separators, plus the Lunch Box Book....filled with great lunch box recipes.  All giveaway items are pictured.......so you will receive those items exactly as pictured.  You can find the US and Canadian Giveaway here.

In order to enter:

• You must have a mailing address that is not in the US or Canada
• Leave a comment on this post telling me your favourite school lunch
• Followers may leave a second comment letting me know you follow LittleRedSaid for a second chance to win...that's a maximum of two entries per person
• Make sure that there is a way for me to contact you should your comment be selected as the winning comment.....if I cannot reach you another winning comment will be selected
• This giveaway will remain open until Monday August 30th at midnight
• A winning comment will be selected using a random number generator on Tuesday morning
• Spam or ineligible comments will be removed before drawing

Thanks for stopping by the Lunch Revolution Party.....Be sure to check out more of the Lunch Revolution Party to go and see what else is going on:)  Check back in here tomorrow for lots of lunch making ideas.

Red Red Rhubarb and a Beautiful Day

 

It's a beautiful morning here...perfect weather for really enjoying yard work.  I've spent quite a bit of time out in the yard......weeding and transplanting and pruning.....and today feels like another good day to spend in the yard.  My rhubarb plant which I inherited from Aunt Dorothy needs to be moved to a sunnier spot this year......it's not as large as it should be by now.  After picking all the stalks I could.....I found I still needed to go foraging for more rhubarb from friends who don't use their own rhubarb plants.  And now....I almost have enough for the coming year.  Today will be spent cooking for the neighbourhood pot luck BBQ later today, and cleaning for the arrival of a house guest.  If time permits.....maybe I'll get a chance to do some more yard work....such a nice day to be outside!  Hopefully your day will be just as nice.  

And as the giveaway is now over.......Congratulations to commenter number four!  Ana Belen from Spain was commenter number four.  Anna, your number was chosen by random.org as the winner for the vintage china pincushion.  Your package will be on it's way to Spain soon.  I hope you enjoy it, and thanks to all who entered.

Now.....I just need to  think up some good rhubarb recipes to try!  If you have any favourite rhubarb recipes.....I'd love to hear what they are!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

4

Timestamp: 2010-06-19 16:05:28 UTC

China Pincushion......Free to a Good Home:)

This Giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who entered!

Remember this little project???  Well I did eventually finish it, and finally the little china pin cushion is complete and waiting for a new home.  The project was made in a very similar manner as making a china cup and saucer pincushion........only on a little smaller scale.  I'm pretty pleased with the end result though and it was nice to use up something that I might have just thrown out anyway since the little sugar bowl was cracked.  

Maybe you have a little damaged china that you'd like to make into a pincushion??  If that's the case....then have a look here for a bit more detail.  For this little bowl:

• I started with repairing the break with two stage epoxy.......and I really glopped it on to give it renewed strength.
• Then I cut a circle of velvet about 2 1/2 times the diameter of the little bowl and centered on the back of it....a circle of steel wool slightly larger than the diameter of the bowl and two thick pieces of batting a tiny bit smaller.
• Then I used large basting stitches around the edge of the velvet to pull tight and gather it all into a tightly stuffed ball.  You can add or remove stuffing to get it to a size that looks right for your cup.
• Once the size was right, I secured the gathers with a few stitches and glued the velvet ball into the cup with a hot glue gun and held it firmly down in place while the glue set up.
• I then used a scrap of gimp which I tea dyed and glued with white glue around the base of the velvet ball.
• Next, I embellished the velvet with a few ribbon flowers and leaves and a little metal trinket all hand stitched in place.

Tomorrow I'll post a few pictures to show how to make the ribbon flowers.  I use them a lot for a quick little bit of embellishing and they are quick and dead easy as well.....lots of uses for those:)

So...on with the Giveaway Details....

Well....... now this little pincushion needs a new home.  So if you'd be kind enough to offer her a good home, please leave a comment on this post letting me know that you have the perfect spot for her, and on Saturday June 19th a winning comment will be chosen using random.org.  You can leave a comment until midnight Friday June 18th, and I will ship anywhere so everyone is free to leave a comment.  Only one comment per person.......unless you are a kind follower in which case you should leave a second comment as well.  Please make sure that there is a way for me to contact you should your comment be chosen.  If I cannot contact the person with the winning comment by June 21, I will have to select a new winning comment.

Congratulations Schmidty:).......We have a winnner!

This morning after a LONG sleep in with the kitty.........I finally hauled my lazy behind out of bed to find this on the ground outside. 

Oh well...it'll soon be gone, and besides the house is going to be hot today from making today's bakers challenge soon enough.  Check back in a few hours to see it.  But for now......I just wanted to let you know that using the random.org number generator this morning.......a winner (#11) was selected.  If you count down the comments you can see that this is Schmidty (following as Rusthawk) who loves to eat cheese grits and homemade biscuits and sausage for breakfast.  Now that's not something you see around here for breakfast!  But while down in the US on vacation I've had these 'grits' several times now......and I love them......so I do believe that does sound like a splendid breakfast idea.  Unfortunately you cannot even buy the cornmeal to make grits here:(  This summer when we take our trip down the Oregon coast.......hopefully I can find some to bring back:)  Thanks to everyone who stopped in and entered.  Back later with a very interesting Baker's Challenge! A big thanks to CSN for providing such an awesome prize!

It's a Gorgeous Cook Ware Giveaway....Yeah:)

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks to all who participated:)

Guess what? I've had a lovely offer from CSN (a collection of online stores with everything from speaker stands, to gorgeous kitchen wares........you name it, they probably can hook you up) to giveaway a set of two beautiful Calphalon omelet pans to anyone in the US or Canada.  (These are two nonstick pans....a 10 inch and a 12 inch.) They can only be shipped to a Canadian or US address, so anyone can enter if they can provide any US or Canadian address for delivery.   Please feel free to enter if you live in or even have a super nice friend or relative who lives in the US or Canada who would love a surprise.  So, that means that some wonderfully nice visitor....perhaps you!......will get to own these lovely pans.  How cool it that?  Thanks so much to CSN for such a lovely offer! I've spent a lot of time now checking out the items over at CSN and I fell in love with this totally cute tea or coffee set......so if anyone wants to know what to get me for Christmas (mom)........I'm just say'n.   Now in order to enter the draw for this prize, all you need to do is.......

1. Leave a comment on this post stating your favourite kitchen colours for one entry.
2. Because I so appreciate everyone who takes the time to follow my blog, those who follow can please leave a second comment on this post telling me your favourite breakfast food for a second chance to win.
3. If you would be so helpful as to mention this giveaway on your blog (or twitter) with a link back to this post, please leave another comment on this post letting me know this for another chance to win. (One or the other or both...but only once please)

So that's a total of 4 comment entries allowed per person.  Comment entries can be left from now until Friday April 23rd at midnight.  The winner will be  selected by the random number generator at random.org, posted and contacted the following Saturday morning.  Please make sure I have a way to contact you.  If the winning comment cannot be contacted or does not respond to my message within 5 days after being contacted, a new winning comment will be selected.  Good luck to everyone!  I think these are simply gorgeous pans and I'm excited to see where they will end up:)   I'm still working of a little something for an International Giveaway......so stay tuned my far away friends:)  And thanks everyone....... for stopping by!

It's a Lovely...... Lucky..... Day!

It's a beautiful day with all the promises of our Spring soon to come.  This year's poor snowfall is on it's last legs and it is only a matter of time now.  Grass is visible here and there and soon there will be big beautiful puddles everywhere and we'll all need to find our rainboots.  I make a point to jumping in the puddles with Ike every Spring.  Spring was such a fun time when I was little.  Sure it's chilly and wet.....but that's what homemade soup and buns are for!  mmmmm.....note to self....make some buns today!

Well after depositing Ike safely at school, I returned home to check my emails only to find out I had a surprise in my in box.  I had won a Giveaway that I had entered last week at Bead Happily Ever After.  How fabulous is that??? 

Well it gets even more fabulous as I scroll down my in box (I should really clean it up) only to discover another such message from another Giveaway that I had entered.........I thought I'd share with you these two pretty things. 

This one is a print from A Mile A Minute.  They both just drip with Springishness....don't you think?  Now I just feel guilty winning two such pretty things.........but I'll get over it:)

Who Gets a New Pair of Red Olympic Mittens??

Thanks so much to everyone for stopping in and for entering my little give away.  It was fun to do another Giveaway after so long......stay tuned next month for my 2 year Blog anniversary Giveaway!
This morning comment number 64 was selected using Random.orgs random number generator.  Congratulations momtoem your mittens will be leaving in the mail on Monday morning provided I have a mailing address by then.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

64 

Timestamp: 2010-02-27 16:49:20 UTC

Red Olympic Mitten Giveaway....yep the real ones.....no knock offs here

 This contest is now closed and the winning entry will be listed Saturday morning.  Thanks to all who participated:)
It has been quite a while since Bloggy Giveaways stopped their quarterly Bloggy Giveaway Carnival......and I sure have missed it.  I've been mulling this one over for some time now, and decided why not now!  We are in the midst of Olympic excitement here in Canada.....it's the one time every two years that I really WANT to watch sporting events on TV.  We have been so pleased here with the performance of our athletes.  It must be an experience of a lifetime to stand on an Olympic podium, see your flag raised and to hear your national anthem play. It chokes me up to watch it at home, so I don't know how they keep it together on the podium.  I'd cry.....like a baby.....but that's just me.  Would you??

So in support of these Olympic Games I am offering a giveaway of a pair of those cute as a button red Olympic Souvenir Mittens. (Brand New with Tags) They have become the most popular souvenir of these Olympic Games and it isn't hard to see why.  They are sized adult L-XL and will fit most adult sized hands.  This giveaway will be open for the coming week ending on midnight Friday February 26th.  I will randomly select 1 winner from the comments on this post using random.org, and that winner will receive one pair of mittens.  Should the number of comments exceed 100, I will draw a second winner as well.  Winners will be contacted to acknowledge their prize.  If I do not hear back from them within 5 days time giving me their mailing address, a new winner will be selected.  Good luck and enjoy your Olympic Games!

The Rules

• This giveaway is open to everyone, so it is international
• You can enter once by leaving a comment on this post saying what is your favourite Winter Olympic event along with a contact email or blog address so you can be contacted if you win
• If you are following this blog please leave a second comment letting me know for a second entry
• Comments may be left until Friday night February 26th at midnight
• Winners will be posted the morning of Feb 27th on this blog

Thanks for playing!

Hey... There's a Quilt Fabric Giveaway

Since the demise of the Bloggy Giveaway carnival.....I've been missing the opportunity to enter these fun things. I accidentally came across this one. Go check it out! Frummie is generously offering two 2 yard cuts of quilting fabric for a lovely giveaway. Thanks so much Frummie...you can count me in too:)

Wanna Play a PIF??

I noticed the badge for this Pay It Forward on Aunt Pitty Pat's blog while over checking on a swap. A few days later I figured out what the deal is........and here it is...

I need three people to sign up to play. To each of these three participants, I will send out a handmade gift within the next 12 months. In turn each of these people agrees to 'Pay It Forward' and send out a handmade something to three other people....and so on....and so on. There is a lengthy sending window in that you will have 1 year to send something to your three sendees. So I'm hoping to be able to find 3 people who would like to receive something from me. Any takers?? If you are interested, leave a comment on this post with a way that I can contact you to get your email address and mailing address.
I'm so looking forward to making something just for you:).......so come on and play....please!

I also should mention that there is a give away over at Live Love Laugh where she will be giving away 3 cute as a button handmade fabric flowers that would be super sweet on a denim jacket or on a purse or tote. There's only another day left to enter so don't delay...go check it out!

And the Bracelet and Earrings Winner is....

Congratulations to comments # 110 chosen by Random.Org

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:110
Timestamp: 2009-01-31 16:33:19 UTC

That is Jenn from Creating, Enabling, and a Bit of Life.
Thanks to all who participated, and maybe we'll see you again next quarter:)

Bloggy Giveaway #3

This contest is now closed! Thank you to all who stopped in:)

I'm giving away this bracelet and earrings set!

Wow, it's Bloggy Giveaway's quarterly Carnival time already. Well, this is number 3 for me, and the other 2 were a fun time so I didn't want to miss out..... even thought things are still a little topsy turvy here. So here we go again. This time, my giveaway is for a matching beaded bracelet and earrings set. It's in neutral tones so it's good for every day wear and the materials used are pottery, glass, crystal, stone, metal and shell. There are no plastic bits in either piece. The hooks on the earrings are sterling silver.

Have a look back at the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival for hundreds of other giveaways.

So here are the rules:

1. The contest is open to everyone whether or not you run a blog...it doesn't matter.
2. The contest is International...open to anyone....anywhere.
3. To enter you must leave a comment on this post.
4. You must leave an email address or link where I can contact you if you should win. When leaving an email address it is advisable to provide it in the form jane(dot)doe(at)hotmail(dot)com in order to prevent spammers from getting your address easily.
5. After being contacted as a winner you must supply a mailing address within 6 days of being contacted or a new winner will be selected.
6. Winning comment will be selected by a random number generator on Saturday January 31, at 8am. Entries can be left until that time.
7. You can enter the contest once.
8. Items will be sent to the winner within a week of contest closing.

Good luck!

Congratulations Shannon the Coffee is on Me

This morning we picked a winner for the Canadian Tim Hortons Gift Card. The winning comment was chosen by a random number generator and was comment 15. Congratulations to Shannon....your Gift Card will be in the mail soon.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

15 

Timestamp: 2008-11-02 16:39:05 UTC

Thanks to everyone who participated. See you all next time:)

Bye Bye Little Birdie

The little birdie felted purse will soon be flying south for the winter to it's new home. The winner (comment 88) was chosen by a random number generator. Thanks to everyone who participated! Maybe we'll see you again next time.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

88 

Timestamp: 2008-11-01 17:14:07 UTC

That's Michelle Chappell. Congratulations Michelle! Check out Michelle's photography skills if you have a minute. She does beautiful childrens portraits you really should go check it out!

Hello Canada.... it's Free Coffee

This contest is now closed. Thanks to all who participated!

This Give Away is for all you Canadians out there braving the fall weather. (If you know a Canadian you'd like this sent to that's OK too....) It's beautiful and crisp out there today and I'm hoping for good Halloween weather for the kids this Friday. How about a nice cup of Pumpkin Spice Tea and a Pumpkin Spice muffin or donut or maybe a soup to knock the chill off. Why didn't they make a pumpkin soup???

If that's not your cup of tea....then make it a coffee....you get the picture......and take a friend that you haven't chatted with in a while along.....it's on me. I'll be sending the winner a $20 gift card from Tim Hortons to help knock the chill off and hopefully spend some time with a friend. Now who wouldn't like some of that???



The Rules

1. Leave a comment below (on this post) with your favourite Halloween costume that you were when you were a kid or one you'd have liked and you are entered!


2. You can enter once per day.


3. Draw closes Saturday November 1/08 at midnight.


4. Remember to leave an email or link at which you can be reached.


5. Winner will be chosen using a random number generator, posted and contacted Sunday November 2 and you'll have to respond with an mailing address within 4 days or a new winner will be chosen.


6. Please use the format of jane(dot)doe(at)hotmail(dot)com when providing an email so you won't get a whole bunch of spam.


7. Remember this prize will only be sent to a Canadian address.

More giveaways at the Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival!

Please go check out Bloggy Giveaways for more fun !