Cookbook Giveaway #7: Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day

I'm pushing for major book movement this summer -- I'm having TWO giveaways simultaneously. Yes! The more shelf space I see, the more I want. So, thanks for the shout-outs and ReTweets to help me pare down my shelves.

The seventh cookbook up for grabs in my giveaway program is ARTISAN BREAD IN FIVE MINUTES A DAY, for those who want to jump on this artisan bread baking bandwagon.

I tried it (oh, did I ever try it), and I enjoyed it for the most part, but, I have a crappy oven in a crappy kitchen and I can't get a) the heat up to 500 degrees or b) keep a head of steam in that oven. I tried the squirt bottle trick, I tried using a pizza stone, and while I liked the bread, I found I spent too much effort trying to get around my oven's limitations. I have an entire category of Bread/ABin5 recipes if you want to browse it sometime, but, I confess, just the standard bread baking method is good enough for the likes of me, and causes me no stress. Plus, let's face it. I was eating so much bread and butter I would call this "Artisan Bread Resulting in Five Pounds a Month."

Time to share the ABin5 love!

Read about the rules for winning this book on my blog

This book is a used, in great condition, photographed, in hard-back format

To enter my drawing, leave a comment, below. Be certain you link to a blog which has a cooking section or which has posted recipes on a semi-regular basis, and be sure you've read the rules (linked above) -- remember the most important rule is that you MUST cook and blog from the winning cookbook within thirty (30) days.

The winner's name will be posted on Friday, July 17, 2009.

REPEAT: READ THE RULES, NEWER FRIENDS! This giveaway is for food bloggers, or craft bloggers with a food section. Sweeps and contest bloggers are welcome, but your blog must contain an area for cooking or recipes, you must be prepared to post the photographed results of cooking (see above), and, your name, in the comment section below, MUST link to that food or cooking related blog or your comment will be disqualified. Good luck!

Cookbook Giveaway #6: Appetizers, Finger Food, Buffets & Parties -- Now OPEN

Making some headway, here, reducing my cookbook collection. Thanks for the shout-outs and ReTweets to help me pare down my shelves.

The sixth cookbook up for grabs in my giveaway program is perfect for those who want to gather friends and families around the patio or swimming pool this summer:

APPETIZERS, FINGER FOOD, BUFFETS & PARTIES: How to plan the perfect celebration with over 400 inspiring recipes for appetizers, snacks, first courses, party dishes and desserts. By Bridget Jones.

Read about the rules for winning this book on my blog

This book is a nice, hefty size. It's brand new, fully photographed, in soft-back format (heavier than a paperback, but not a hardback). The photographs are "step by step" in many cases, which is always helpful.

To enter my drawing, leave a comment, below. Be certain you link to a blog which has a cooking section or which has posted recipes on a semi-regular basis, and be sure you've read the rules (linked above) -- remember the most important rule is that you MUST cook and blog from the winning cookbook within thirty (30) days.

The winner's name will be posted on Wednesday, July 15, 2009.

REPEAT: READ THE RULES, NEWER FRIENDS! This giveaway is for food bloggers, or craft bloggers with a food section. Sweeps and contest bloggers are welcome, but your blog must contain an area for cooking or recipes, you must be prepared to post the photographed results of cooking (see above), and, your name, in the comment section below, MUST link to that food or cooking related blog or your comment will be disqualified.

Good luck!

Girlichef's Twice a Decade Monte Cristo Sandwich

Doesn't that look fantastic? It's Girlichef Heather's Twice in a Decade Monte Cristo Sandwich. Heather was the second winner in my Cookbook Giveaway Challenge and she received from my collection "Cooking 'Round the Clock" with Rachael Ray.

For those new to the giveaway, I'm eliminating my underused and shelf-hogging cookbook collection. I've decided to limit myself to my very favorite Dirty Dozen, and that's it. If I have not used the books in a year, out they go. I'm sharing the 100 or so remaining books with everyone else with the one stipulation that you show them the love I never did, by cooking and posting from the winning cookbook within 30 days of receiving the book (well, within reason anyway).

Stay tuned for the next giveaway, which I'll post after the holiday. Have a good weekend, everyone.

Stowe Mountain Lodge - Private Cooking Classes in Vermont

Stowe Mountain Lodge
Stowe, Vermont

Stowe Mountain Lodge Wellness Center is dedicated to cultivating the relationship between living habits and health, and operates under the guidelines of the renowned Cooper Institute of Dallas. Guests of Stowe Mountain Lodge have the opportunity to visit Cooper Wellness at Stowe for quick "Wellness Weekend" trips, where they can take advantage of either special health programs and seminars focusing on healthy lifestyle choices, or, book visits in multi-day blocks of time to consult with Cooper experts, including personal fitness trainers, nutrition counselors and behavior coaches.

The Lodge, located at the base of Vermont's famed Mt. Mansfield and Spruce Peak, offers two private cooking class options for groups up to eight guests, taught by Chef Sean Buchanan, one of the state's foremost advocates of the local farm movement. Available year-round from Sunday through Thursday, both classes begin with a departure to Boyden Farm to meet with farmers and purchase Vermont-grown vegetables, meat and wine, followed by a quick lunch, and cooking class.

The Solstice Cooking School class takes place in the lodge, and ends with a four-course wine pairing dinner in Solstice, the lodge's artisan-inspired restaurant, prepared using all-natural and sustainable ingredients with a focus on Vermont producers. The Solstice Cooking School fee of $375 per person includes a farm tour and transportation, Lunch, Two hours of private cooking instruction, Four-course dinner with wine pairings, Tax and gratuity.

The Stowe Mountain Lodge Suite School class takes place in the comfort of your own private slope-side mountain suite, and the evening ends with a seven-course dinner with wine pairings served at your dining room table. The Stowe Mountain Lodge Suite School fee of $500 per person* includes Farm tour and transportation, Lunch, Two hours of private cooking instruction, Seven-course dinner with wine pairings, Tax and gratuity.

The Essex, Vermont's Culinary Resort & Spa

Sponsor Spotlight:

Savor the essence of Vermont at The Essex, Vermont’s Culinary Resort & Spa, the Burlington area’s only AAA-rated Four Diamond resort. In partnership with New England Culinary Institute, this tastefully appointed Northwestern Vermont hotel resort offers inspired cuisine in our two award-winning restaurants. Spend your next Northern Vermont resort vacation at this delectable retreat, where cooking classes, a new full-service spa and salon, golf, tennis, and hot-air ballooning are just a few of the amenities awaiting you. Nestled on 18 acres between the slopes of the Green Mountains and the cultural scene of Burlington, The Essex caters to your every need, as a true recipe for relaxation.

Visit The Essex Online

Cookbook Giveaway #5 - Cooking with All Things Trader Joe's - Closed

I'm making great progress on reducing my cookbook collection. I have so many great book earmarked to give away this summer, including those by Dorie Greenspan, Ina Garten, and more, but I'm waiting until my giveaway is a little more established before I haul out the big guns.

The fifth cookbook up for grabs in my giveaway program is perfect for those members of the Cult of Trader Joe's, of which I am a High Priestess.

COOKING WITH ALL THINGS TRADER JOE'S
By Deana Gunn and Mona Miniati

From quinoa to capers, Marsala to Masala, tofu to turkey, it's all here. Each recipe features Trader Joe's products, easy steps, and mouth-watering photos.Cooking with All Things Trader Joe's features: Trader Joe’s ingredients • Full page photos for every recipe • Substitutions in case an item is out of stock • Wine pairings.

Read about the rules for winning this book on my blog

This book is brand new, fully photographed, in soft-back format. Be sure you are within driving distance to a TJ's, because if you read my rules, you're going to have to force yourself to make another stop -- you must use and post from this cookbook within thirty days of receiving it from me.

Enter your comment, below, to be a part of this random drawing. Be certain you link to a blog which has a cooking section or which has posted recipes on a semi-regular basis, and be sure you've read the rules (linked above) -- remember the most important rule is that you MUST cook and blog from the winning cookbook within thirty (30) days.

The winner's name will be posted on Monday, June 29, 2009.

REPEAT: READ THE RULES, MY FRIENDS! This giveaway is for food bloggers, or craft bloggers with a food section. Sweeps and contest bloggers are welcome, but your blog must contain an area for cooking or recipes, you must be prepared to post the photographed results of cooking (see above), and, your name, in the comment section below, MUST link to that food or cooking related blog or your comment will be disqualified.

The Winner: HOW TO EAT A CUPCAKE

Barefoot Bloggers: Curried Couscous with Cranberries and Almonds

The first of our regular June recipes for the Barefoot Bloggers is Ina's curried couscous, chosen by Ellyn of Recipe Collector and Tester. The recipe can be found here, Curried Couscous, or on page 94 of The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook.

Up until this point, my favorite selection to date was the Butternut Squash Risotto. That has now been replaced by this simple and flavorful dish. I loved it. Mwah. I want to kiss it.

I'd had couscous before, sure, but I've never made it myself. I had no idea it was as easy (in the US, anyway) as soaking the pasta in boiling water for 5 minutes. True, we are using instant vs regular, and I've seen plenty of shows demonstrating the use of a couscoussier, so I know it commands respect. Still, if I had known how much I would love this dish, I'd have started long ago. Plus, I'm really happy to find something in the pasta department that I love. I'm kind of "over" pasta -- I never feel good when I eat it so I just stopped. This was a great substitute warm or cold, and made a wonderful lunch with leftovers.

I followed the recipe closely, but for swapping out dried cranberries and cherries for the currants, and, using dry roasted almond slivers. This dish came together so quickly and easily, and was a really colorful show stopper. I topped it with rotisserie chicken, but I'm thinking diced chicken would be a great addition, as would baked tofu cubes.

I'm going to try this soon with other spices. I think it could easily be customized with black beans, corn, cumin and cilantro, for a Tex-Mex version -- or Red Curry, Peanuts, Cabbage and Basil for a Thai version. Can't wait! Thank you Ellyn, this is a keeper and goes in the regular rotation.

About this challenge: The Barefoot Bloggers join forces and cook or bake recipes by Barefoot Contessa Ina Garten each month, chosen in order by members, and present them for discussion on two Thursdays each month. Hungry? Please join us at the table!