Panera Bread Member Card + Recipe

Baked Egg & Toast Cups w/Tomatoes-Cheddar

I just registered my "My Panera" member card online and received a bonus: a free cup of coffee, tea or soda! This is awesome--I love their coffee (and the baked egg souffle!!!). I got the card when I visited a Panera Bread restaurant and had to activate it online but I believe you can register online even if you don't already have a card. Each time you visit/purchase, your card gets swiped and they reward you with little surprises based on your purchases. 

While on the site, I saw this awesome-looking recipe for Baked Egg and Toast Cups with Tomatoes and Cheddar. I'm definitely going to try this recipe. If it is half as good as their baked egg souffles, this one will be a keeper. Check out the recipe and register for your member rewards card.

Healthy Foods Quiz: Cancer Prevention

Test your knowledge about natural foods and antioxidants that are reported to help to prevent cancer. List your multiple choice answers in the "comments" section below.

1. Cruciferous vegetables contain strong antioxidants that may help decrease the risk of cancer. Which of the following is not an example of a cruciferous vegetable?  a) broccoli   b) potato   c) cabbage   d) Brussels sprouts

2. Which antioxidant compound in tomatoes has been shown to prevent breast, lung, stomach and prostate cancer?  a) coenzyme-Q10   b) free radicals   c) beta-carotene   d) lycopene

3. Which of the following nutrients can be found in garlic? a) tryptophan  b) lutein  c) niaspan

4. The ____________ in green tea have been shown to slow or prevent the development of several types of cancer including colon, liver, breast, and prostate.   a) vitamins  b) color  c) flavonoids

5. Grapes and red wine contain the chemical resveratrol, which is a very potent antioxidant that can prevent ______________ before it begins.   a) pain   b) hair loss   c) cell damage

6. Which of all the berries are considered to contain the highest amount of cancer-fighting compounds?   a) blackberries   b) strawberries   c) blueberries   d) raspberries

Thanks for taking the quiz! Check back later to see if your answers are correct.


***Updated 2/27/11***

Answers: 1) b-potato  2) d-lycopene  3) a-tryptophan  4) c-flavonoids  5) c-cell damage  6) c-blueberries

Seasoned & Stirred! First Anniversary Giveaway

Wow, how quickly times flies. It seems like just yesterday I conceived the idea of starting the Seasoned & Stirred blog but it was year ago today. THANKS to all of my readers and friends for your support and for inspiring me to keep going when the going got tough!

We've been through a name change (formerly Love With Food), Facebook page drama, periods of inactivity due to sickness and other stuff. Not the smoothest of starts but we've had a lot of good food and fun along the way and I'm thrilled to still be here! I hope I can continue to share my journey with you all as I Season & Stir my way through my next culinary adventure!

To commemorate this special occasion, I'm having a giveaway! I'd like to present one reader/friend with a gift of PAPER (in keeping with traditional wedding anniversary gifts). The lucky winner will receive a copy of An Epiphany of the Senses (paperback) by Nancy Lopez-McHugh (aka Spicie Foodie). This little gem of a cookbook is beautifully illustrated--featuring Nancy's own amazing photography and sumptuous, healthy recipes full of delicious flavors and exotic spices. It's a recipe collection perfect for the absolute beginner to the advance cook.

To be entered into the giveaway drawing, simply do two things:

1. Reply to this post telling me one thing or feature you love about the Seasoned & Stirred! blog. Please also leave your email address as the winner will be notified via email.

2. Recommend the Seasoned & Stirred Facebook page to at least one of your Facebook friends.  Post a comment on the Seasoned & Stirred page wall letting me know who you recommended and provide a link to their Facebook page, website or blog. Here's a direct link to the Seasoned & Stirred page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seasoned-Stirred/146461612046057.

Sorry, this giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada only! The winner will be chosen based on their comment and the number of friends they get to join the Seasoned & Stirred Facebook page. :>) The deadline for entries is midnight, February 23rd (EST). The winner will be chosen and announced on February 25ht via the blog.

Good luck everyone and THANKS for your dedication and inspiration during Seasoned & Stirred's first year.

Blog Awards January 2011

I'm really excited about the sense of promise and expectancy a new year brings. I'm looking forward to good things in all areas of my life in 2011--and it's getting off to a great start with the receipt of two blog awards from one of my favorite foodie bloggers, Nancy (aka Spicie Foodie), from the Spicie Foodie Blog. I'm honored to receive these awards and excited to pass them on to other deserving foodie bloggers!

The first award is the "One Lovely Blog" award...

and the second is the "Versatile Blogger" award...

In the spirit of giving and sharing, I'd like to pass the "One Lovely Blog" and the "Versatile Blogger" awards on to to:

Maiah, Baking in Corpus Christie

Amanda, Angel Cakebaker's Blog 35

Uma, Uma's Culinary World

Dawn, Hamms Kitchen
Hannah, Bittersweet

Kristen, Ultimate Daniel Fast

Velva, Tomatoes on the Vine

Veronica, My Catholic Kitchen

Leslie, Pixiepine Blog

Stacy, Soupy Sundays

...and last but certainly not least, the youngest and cutest foodies I've ever seen...

Haile & Nia, Kids Can Cook

THANKS, Spicie Foodie, for your thoughtfulness and support. You are truly an inspiration to me and many other foodie bloggers. Happy New Year everyone!

Check out Spicie Foodie's cookbook: "An Epiphany of the Senses" and calender, "Spicie Foodie A Year of Delicious Recipes, 2011 Calendar"

Pumpkin Recipe Contest WINNER!

Entry #3 - Baked Cheesy Pumpkin by Mary Marlowe Leverette

THANKS to all the entrants for taking the time to submit your pumpkin recipes and photos! All of the recipes looked really good so choosing the winner was tough. 

The winning pumpkin recipe is.......Entry #3 - Baked Cheesy Pumpkin by Mary Marlowe Leverette!!! I chose this recipe because it intrigued me--a bit savory and sweet. I love the idea of adding the cheeses and Gruyere & white cheddar are two of my favorites. Also, Mary's instructions were very thorough and she even explained HOW to cook the pumpkin which is what prompted this contest. So, please join me in congratulating Ms. Mary Marlowe Leverette on her win. Mary will receive a $25 Williams-Sonoma gift card. See Mary's recipe below:

Baked Cheesy Pumpkin
by Mary Marlowe Leverette

1 7-pound fresh pumpkin
1 cup chicken broth
1 ½ cups heavy cream
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 French Baguette, sliced and lightly toasted
1 cup grated Gruyere
1 cup grated white cheddar

Remove stem from small pumpkin (about 7 pounds). Cut a lid on top of pumpkin – like making a jack-o-lantern. Remove all the pulp and seeds from inside leaving all the flesh.

Whisk together chicken broth, cream, nutmeg, salt and pepper.

Put a layer of bread in the bottom of the pumpkin, followed by a handful of cheese and a half cup of the stock/cream mixture and then repeat until full. If you cannot use all the bread or cheese, that is fine. But use all of the liquid mixture.

Place the filled pumpkin in an oiled roasting pan. Brush the pumpkin with a little olive oil and place in a 450 degree F. oven for an hour and 15 minutes or until tender. Serve by scooping out some of the cooked pumpkin with the cheesy bread filling. Serves 6 to 8.

~~~~~~~

Congratulations, Mary!!! Thanks for entering the contest and I can't wait to try your recipe. I'm curious...did you serve this as an appetizer or side dish? Please let me know. :>) Thanks again and Happy Holidays!

Pumpkin Recipe Contest Deadline

The winner of the Pumpkin Recipe Contest will be chosen at midnight Saturday, December 11th so please submit your entries soon! The winner will receive a $25 Williams-Sonoma gift card! There is still time to submit your recipes. Please submit your recipe to this or the original blog post (see link below) and please send your recipe photos to me via email at lotusrising523(at)hotmail(dot)com. Click here to see the original blog post for complete instructions/rules, etc.

So far there are four contest entries:

Entry #1: Pumpkin Apple Muffins by Maiah Albi

Entry #2 - Crunchy-Topped Pumpkin Casserole by Ronna Farley

Entry #3 - Baked Cheesy Pumpkin by Mary Marlowe Leverette

Entry #4 - Pumpkin Praline Pie by Perry P. Perkins

To see the entrant's recipes, see the comments section on the original post. THANKS, Maiah, Ronna, Mary and Perry. The recipes and photos look great and thanks for your patience during the contest extension! :>) I am sooooo ready to cook this pumpkin...lol!!! Ok, just a few more days...

Enter the Pumpkin Recipe Contest!

UPDATE: 12/1/10 - There are two important updates regarding the contest:

1. Entrants: Please submit your photos to me via email (see email address below) as we are unable to attach them in the comments section


2. I am extending the contest deadline. Recipe submissions are now due by midnight Saturday, December 11, 2010 (EST). The winner will be announced via the blog the following week. 


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

Original post:

So...you think you've got a winning pumpkin recipe?...

I love pumpkin flavor in ANYTHING--pie, muffins, coffee, ravioli, vinaigrette dressing, ice cream, etc. I've cooked many pumpkin concoctions but never with a fresh pumpkin. When I stumbled on a great little farm stand (Martin Farms) not too far from my house and saw their offerings, I decided to buy a pumpkin and try to cook it.

Martin Farms Market (Rossville Blvd.) Rossville, MD

The Martin Farms Market stand is great. During my visit I purchased the reddest, juiciest tomatoes I've ever seen, a huge bunch of fresh rosemary and of course the pumpkin--a small pumpkin (approx 2 pounds)...

Pumpkins at Martin Farms Market

While I was thinking of what I could create with the fresh pumpkin, I got the idea to have a PUMPKIN RECIPE CONTEST and prepare the dish from the winning entry. 

The contest winner will receive a $25 Williams-Sonoma gift certificate, have their recipe featured on this blog and get free ad space for three months on the blog sidebar (you can submit a link/banner to your food blog/website or another website you own).

Contest Rules:

Please read the rules carefully. Any omissions or deviations will result in disqualification!

1. You must be a member of the Seasoned & Stirred! Facebook page or blog to enter the contest. If you are not yet a member, join the Facebook page here S&S on Facebook or simply click the "Like" button on the Facebook app on the right sidebar of this page. To follow this blog, click the "Follow" button (with Google Friend Connect) on the right sidebar of this page. You may also invite your friends to enter the contest (they will be subject to the same rules).

2. Submit your own original recipe USING FRESH PUMPKIN in the comment section of this post. Recipes using canned pumpkin or a copy of someone else's recipe will be disqualified. You may submit a recipe in any food category: appetizer, entree, dessert, vegetarian, beverages, etc. and you may use a previously posted recipe or create a new one for this challenge.

Also, you must INCLUDE A PICTURE of your finished dish, your email address (the winner will be contacted via email) and you must state whether you are a member of the blog or the Facebook page. Please make sure your names are consistent--the name you're using to post this comment and the name you're using on facebook/google, etc. If the name is different, please let me know in your comment!

3. Deadline for recipe submissions is midnight Saturday, December 4, 2010 (EST). The winner will be announced via the blog the following week. 

How the winner will be determined:

The winning recipe will be determined by the following:

1. Creativity (ingredients, pairing of ingredients, originality, etc.)

2. Clarity of preparation / instructions

In other words, the recipe that sounds/looks the yummiest and inspires me to use my prized pumpkin to make it will be the winning recipe. So, that's it. If you have any questions, feel free to post your questions here or email me at lotusrising523{at}hotmail{dot}com. Thanks for entering the contest and Good Luck!!!

Support local farmers/growers...find a farmer's market near you National farmer's market directory

I WON the Chicken Rubs and Seasonings Set!

I WON!!!  I am extremely honored to have won the six-jar Chicken Rubs and Seasonings Set from SpicesInc.com. via a giveaway hosted by The Foodie Blogroll!!

I can't think of too many things that excite me more in the kitchen than experimenting with spices to create unique, flavorful dishes and thanks to the generous folks at SpicesInc.com, I will be experimenting for quite some time. Check back in a few days to see what magic I was able to conjure up with these bold and delicious spice blends! Below are the seasoning blends in the set (and commentary from the SpicesInc.com staff):

Kickin' Chicken - this has consistently been a family and friends favorite and was developed by the Championship BBQ Team that we have partnered with. This has consistently taken the top prize at numerous BBQ events in the northeast. We like it as it is loaded with flavor with some sweetness but no overpowering heat.

Chipotle Honey - one of our most popular, this chicken rub has the natural sweetness that only honey can provide along with a faint hint of smoky heat from the chipotle and Spanish paprika. This is a favorite of the kids and those whose palette doesn’t like too much spicy flavor.

Adobo Lime - a delicious south of the border seasoning blend that has the delicious citrus sensation that can only be provided by lime zest. This is one of our favorites for the grill or to bake and it has a little bit of peppery flavor without being spicy hot.

Tandoori - this is a classic Indian dish and while you may not have your own authentic Tandoor oven you can still get a taste of the extraordinary flavor that this dish provides.  One of our favorites is a grilled Tandoori kabob.

Mediterranean Dry Rub - ideal for those that love herb based seasoning blends and a touch of the Mediterranean. This also pairs well with fish but we especially like it with chicken. Another plus is that this is a no salt seasoning blend.

Citrus Seasoning - another herb based blend that is salt free a favorite of the getting leaner crowd. We especially love the hints of citrus that is provided by the lemon and orange zest.

Thanks again to The Foodie Blogroll for sponsoring this wonderful giveaway and thanks to SpicesInc. for your generous donation. My heart is full beyond words!

Check out The Foodie Blogroll and SpicesInc.com on Facebook or purchase your own spice set at SpicesInc.com. Tell them Lynn from Seasoned & Stirred! sent you.

Paula Deen's Facebook Challenge

Paula Deen is one of my favorite Food Network stars!  She recently posted a comment on her Facebook wall about how hilarious the famous "Old Spice" commercials are and issued this irresistible challenge:

"So, I decided...I may not be old, but I'm spicy, TWO can play this game! So here's the deal.  I want your spice-filled recipes. Gimme your spice blends, your curries, your chili powders...as long as your recipe includes at least two spices, it's eligible! Just leave 'em right here - my top favorite 50 will win my signature Spice Set!

And guess what else? I'll choose my top THREE recipes and I'll be makin' them myself - those videos will be posted right here!"  Love and Best...Spices!  ~  Paula 

Check out Paula on Facebook

Needless to say, when I saw this post I couldn't help myself...I raced over here to the blog to find the most yummy, spice-filled recipes I have.  Problem was, all of my recipes are spice-filled because I adore experimenting and cooking with spices--that's one reason I named my blog "Seasoned & Stirred!

After several agonizing moments, I decided to submit recipes for my Sauteed Kale, the Orange-Roasted Beets & Sweet Potatoes and my reduced fat Three Potato Salad.  I soooo want to win Paula's signature Spice Set but I won't be mad at all if she really likes one of my dishes enough to prepare it in a video!  Woooo hoooo!  Please pray for me and wish me luck, Ya'll! Also, all of my chef and foodie friends, throw your hats into the ring too...post your spice-filled recipes for a chance to win: Enter your recipes here.

E-Mealz: Meal Planning on a Budget

Any busy moms or frugal cooks out there?

Today I stumbled onto this great website called E-Mealz.com--a meal planning resource with a cool and simple concept: they provide various meal planning ideas in several categories that are diet specific or based on current supermarket sales in your area.  The fee for the service is $5 a month and you get a customized, aisle by aisle grocery list with each suggested meal plan.

Coming up with creative, budget-friendly meal plans is usually not an issue for me but I can see how having this type of service could be very helpful for busy moms with time and budget constraints.  I am not associated with the folks at E-Mealz I'm just passing along information you might be able to use.  Check out E-Mealz to see if what they have to offer can help simplify your life a little. Tell them that Lynn from Seasoned & Stirred! sent you.

It's Wednesday...Eat Orange Foods!

Wednesday is ruled by Mercury and Virgo and is associated with the color Orange. The color orange is linked to our emotions and is widely known for it's ability to inspire happiness and joy! 

Orange influences healing in a variety of physical and emotional areas of our bodies (stimulates the appetite, improves digestion, is associated with the assimilation of food; helps the stomach, lower back, pelvic and kidney health; sexuality, personal power and more). 

Orange foods are, in my opinion, some of the yummiest foods available--not to mention the fact that they contain high amounts of vital antioxidants--carotenoids, beta-carotene, Vitamin C--which help destroy toxic cells and repairs some cellular damage.

So, in honor of Wednesday, and because you may now have a little more information about why you should eat plenty of orange foods, I thought it would be fun to list some of my favorite orange foods, drinks, spices, etc. and link the foods to any recipes I've posted on the blog if applicable.

My Favorite Orange Foods

• Apricots
• Butternut squash 
• Cinnamon   Matcha Green Tea Latte
• Cantaloupe
• Carrots
• Ginger   Detox Chicken Salad
• Mangoes
• Oranges   Citrus Remoulade Sauce  
• Orange Juice
• Orange Peppers
• Papayas
• Paprika   Lemon Pepper Wings   Skillet Fried Potatoes
• Pumpkin  Pumpkin Ravioli/Chicken/Matcha Cream Sauce 
• Peaches   Detox-Tini
• Saffron
• Sweet Potatoes   Orange-Beets/Sw Potatoes   Three Potato Salad   Whole Wheat Sw Potato Pancake
• Tangerines 
• Turmeric   Black Bean & Corn Salad   Sauteed Kale

 Join in on the fun! Tell me about your favorite orange foods, any orange foods you've eaten lately or link to orange foods on your website/blogs.

Congratulations, Aarti Sequeira!

I'm stoked that Aarti is now the newest Food Network Star!  Her debut show, Aarti Party,  airs tomorrow (Sun., 8/22/10). I have enjoyed watching her journey so far and I'm hoping she will have a long and successful show on the Food Network. Congratulations, Aarti...you've worked hard and your dream has come true.  Now, let's get this party started!  :>)

Baltimore Restaurant Week

It’s that time again…get ready for Baltimore Restaurant Week…the summer week-long celebration of some of Baltimore’s best restaurants. Enjoy countless tantalizing three-course, prix-fixe menus for a budget-friendly $20.10 (lunch) or $35.10 (dinner) at participating restaurants.

Savor Your Flavor…

Choose from Italian, Hawaiian Fusion, Latin Fusion, New American, French, Mediterranean, Southern and more.  There are over 100 area restaurants on the list this year (yes, I counted them) including some of my personal favorites–which I won’t mention because I don’t want to sway your decision!

Some of this year’s offerings include irresistible cuisine selections like: Crab Chowder, Belgium Endive Salad, Fire and Ice Seviche, Mussels Marinara over Linguine, Lemon Mascarpone Cheesecake and soooo many more…

See if your favorite restaurant is on the list.  Don’t miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to come out and play in the city and to have your wallets and palates pampered by some of Baltimore’s premier chefs!  Reservations are recommended at most restaurants.

Can't take advantage of the summer Baltimore Restaurant Week offers this year?  Don’t worry–-you can get great deals anytime on Restaurant.com gift certificates.

Blog Hopping Party Attendants

Thank you for visiting my blog! I'm excited to be attending this blog hop--an awesome idea. I look forward to reading your comments and visiting your blogs. Like free stuff? I'll be having my next giveaway soon so "Like" my Love With Food page on Facebook (see widget in the sidebar) to be among the first to be notified. I hope to chat with you soon! 

For those of you who don't know about the blog hoping party, get the info here and join us asap as the party got underway this afternoon at 2:00PM EST. 

Btw, I'm featuring my Lavender Citrus Chicken in the picture above. I'll post the recipe soon! :>)

Happy Birthday Shirley Ovelil Peries!

Please join me in wishing a member of our community, Shirley Ovelil Peries, a Happy Birthday! Shirley, a Clinical Psychologist by profession, now homemaker, started the Enriching Your Kid blog in a venture to chronicle her mom's recipes and her experiments with cooking for her family. Shirley is also a FoodBuzz featured publisher and a featured author on CookEatShare.

If you are a parent looking for ways to enrich your kids, strengthen immunity and facilitate growth or just want to expand your knowledge about healthy foods for healthy living, visit Shirley's blog for great recipes and information. Get to know Shirley better--friend her on Facebook. Happy Birthday, Shirley! Best wishes on a fun-filled day and an abundance of happiness, love and good food all year long! :>)

3 Month Anniversary Giveaway Winners

Giveaways are always so much fun! I get a kick out of dreaming up wonderful prizes to giveaway and I enjoy the enthusiasm of the entrants. I want to take this opportunity to say "THANKS" to everyone who entered the giveaway and for referring your Facebook friends to the Love With Food Facebook page!!!

Without further ado...the winners are as follows:

PRIZE #1 - Limited Edition Fusion Gourmet Salt Sampler from Saltworks.com  - Brad Bradley

Update: I decided to give the next prize, the slow cooker to two people... :>)

PRIZE #2 - Hamilton Beach 5-Quart Portable Slow Cooker - Frederick Hamlin &   Kerrie Frick Gregory

Prize #3 - $25 Williams-Sonoma Gift Card - Turmeric N Spice

Congratulations to all the winners!  Thanks again for entering the three month anniversary giveaway. For those of you who didn't win this time, you'll have a chance to win in the next giveaway...coming soon!

Love With Food's 3 Month Anniversary Giveaway

Wow, can you believe it's been three months since I started the Love With Food blog?  Time really flies when you're having fun.  To celebrate the three month anniversary of my blog, I thought it would be fitting to have a GIVEAWAY for three great prizes to three lucky winners!

I have not advertised this giveaway to the general public--I wanted it to be a special event just for my current LWF community members.  Sweet, huh?  It's just one of the benefits of being part of the Love With Food community and a way for me to show my gratitude for your support. :>)  Read on to see the prizes and how to enter.

PRIZE #1 - Limited Edition Fusion Gourmet Salt Sampler from Saltworks.com

My friends at Saltworks.com, providers of premium-grade specialty salts, have generously donated one of their popular gourmet salt samplers for the anniversary giveaway. In addition to offering gourmet sea salts, they also offer a huge assortment of specialty retail and bulk bath and spa salts. I have tried all of the salts in this collection and can tell you that they are amazing!!!  The quality is superb and they are extremely versatile as they compliment so many dishes.  The sampler sets also make great gifts so the next time you need gourmet or spa sea salts, please visit Saltworks.com.

The Limited Edition Fusion Gourmet salt sampler contains:

Wild Porcini - A strong mushroom scent greets you when you open a container of Wild Porcini Salt. Dried porcini mushrooms mixed with sea salt has a concentrated mushroom aroma that is excellent in risotto, soups, sauces and on salmon. (.6 ounces/18 grams)

Black Truffle - Truffles are a genuine treasure imported from Italy. Black Truffle Salt utilizes the unique power of sea salt to intensify the aroma and flavors of this exquisite mushroom. Ideal with egg dishes, pasta, mashed potatoes, red meat…even on buttered popcorn. (.8 ounces/24 grams)

Spanish Rosemary - salt delivers a "straight from the herb garden" flavor. A natural pairing with roasted potatoes, it will make this simple dish extraordinary. Add to any dish to give it a fresh, herbed taste. (.7 ounces/22 grams)

Vintage Merlot - is the salt that started the entire Fusion product line. The question became, "How do you capture the deep, rich flavor or merlot within a sea salt crystal?" The answer took 18 months, but here it is. There is just one word for it…amazing. (.8 ounces/24 grams)

Espresso Brava - Properly brewed espresso has three major parts: the heart, the body and the crema. Espresso salt is a popular addition to chocolates and desserts. For an entree, try using this salt in steak rubs and marinades. (.5 ounces/15 grams)

The set also contains three glass bowls and three stainless steel salt spoons

Prize #2 - A Hamilton Beach 5-Quart Portable Slow Cooker

The Hamilton Beach 5-Quart Portable Slow Cooker is a great machine for busy people. The size is perfect for a 4-5 pound chicken or two 2 pound roasts.  It has a latch lid strap and gasket lid that helps to reduce messy spills and the stoneware crock and glass lid are dishwasher safe.  Simply let it do the cooking for you and come home to a great meal or use it as a perfect, handy little helper to keep you out of the kitchen on those hot summer days!

Prize #3 - A $25 Williams-Sonoma Gift Card

Williams-Sonoma Gift Cards may be used for making purchases at stores in the United States & Puerto Rico, by phone or online with Williams-Sonoma, Williams-Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, pottery barn kids, PBteen, and west elm.

HOW TO ENTER:

Please read and follow the rules carefully.  Not following the rules will result in you not qualifying for the giveaway prizes.  To enter the giveaway simply do the following.  You MUST do both to be eligible for one of the giveaway prizes:

1. Leave a comment to this post telling me which of the prizes you'd like to win and why. Winners will be contacted via email so please leave your email address in your post!

2. Recommend the Love With Food Facebook page to at least one of your Facebook friends.  Post a comment on the page letting me know who you recommended and provide a link to their Facebook page.  Here's a direct link to the Love With Food page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-With-Food-Blog/10150144093810195.

More info about this Giveaway:

1. Sorry, this giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada only

2. All entrants: You MUST leave your email address AND location in your post (example: lotusrising523(at)hotmail(dot)com, Baltimore, MD) as I will be contacting the winner via email

3. Winners may keep the prizes for themselves or gift them to someone else (the recipient must also be a resident of the US or Canada) 

4. Giveaway valid from May 14th through midnight, May 17th.  I will personally select the winners for this giveaway and post the winners here on the blog on Tues, May 18th.  Winners will be selected based on their comments and the number of friends they get to join the Love With Food Facebook page.

That's it folks! If you have any questions, email me at lotusrising523(at)hotmail(dot)com.  GOOD LUCK! :>).

Happy Birthday Lisa Bennett Brawner!

Please join me in wishing one of my best friends and member of the Love With Food community, Lisa Bennett Brawner, a Happy Birthday!  Lisa is a very loving person who is passionate about her relationships with her family and friends.  Lisa has dedicated her life to the care and service of others through her position as a Director of Nursing at a medical facility in the Baltimore area.  She loves sports and music, is an avid Stephen King fan, a fellow foodie and a "Mafia Wars" Don.  Get to know Lisa better--friend her on Facebook. 

Top Contributor Award

CONGRATULATIONS to Amanda J. Boyer for winning the "Top Contributor" award for her comments and participation on the Love With Food page on Facebook and here on the main blog last week (May 2nd - May 8th).  Amanda will receive a $25 gift certificate to Olive Garden Italian Restaurant.  Please help me congratulate Amanda on her prize.  Thanks, Amanda, for your enthusiasm and participation.  I'm thrilled you're a part of the Love With Food community. Mangia!

Interactive Meal Idea Center

It's the little things in life that bring me joy...

The wannabe tech geek in me almost did a somersault when I strolled through my neighborhood supermarket and literally ran into this beautiful, 37" LCD recipe center.  Truly awestruck, I stood in the middle of the produce isle, exploring this amazing piece of machinery and taking pictures with my cell phone.  I must admit I was a little embarassed--standing there gawking at the machine like I wasn't aware I was living in a technological age where just about anything is possible (picture Ellie Mae Clampett of the Beverly Hillbillies)...lol...but it was so much fun!

Although I don't usually have problems deciding what to cook and rarely cook with a recipe unless I'm creating/testing a recipe or baking, I can see how this "recipe center" would be really helpful for someone needing fresh ideas and inspiration. 

The operation is simple and very intuitive.  Just click a category button (meat, seafood, appetizers, dessert, etc.) and get lots of recipes for that category.  Once you find a recipe you're interested in, you can print it.  Standing there, my curiosity got the better of me and before I knew it I had printed out recipes for Bacon-Cheddar Breakfast Muffins, Grilled Salmon with Creamy Pesto Sauce and Grilled Swordfish with Mango Citrus Salsa.

The kiosk also has a health & wellness category with information on diabetes management, gluten-free recipes and much more.  See the video demonstration below of some of the features of this machine. The video is geared more toward potential businesses rather than the individual consumer but you can get an idea of how it works.

If you don't already have a recipe center at your favorite supermarket, talk to the managers and ask them to consider contacting Shop to Cook to get one.