Archive for the ‘Contests’ Category
One of my favorite bundt pans in my collection is my Nordicware Heritage Bundt Pan, which features a lovely spiral design with deep ridges that bakes very dramatic cakes. Like other Nordicware pans, this one is made of heavy duty cast aluminum and features a nonstick finish inside that helps the cake pop out easily every time you bake with it. It makes a wonderful addition to any baker’s kitchen, so I’ve decided to give away a Nordicware Heritage Bundt Pan to one lucky reader!
To enter the contest, just leave a comment below and tell me your favorite bundt cake, whether it is a simple pound cake or an over-the-top tunnel of fudge cake. The contest ends Sunday, May 6th at midnight and the winner will be randomly selected from the entries. The pan will ship out asap, and should get to the winner before Mother’s Day. Don’t forget to fill in your e-mail on the comment form (it will not be public), as that is how I will contact the winner, and good luck!
Here are a few bundt cakes to inspire you:
Update: This contest is now closed. Thanks to everyone for entering! The winner will be announced shortly.
There are just a few short days left before the 45th Pillsbury Bake-Off will be held in Orlando, Florida. This contest is the biggest, longest-running cooking contest in the US and offers finalists a chance at a huge prize: $1 million dollars. The contest is so popular that what was once an annual event now takes two years to organize because there are so many entries. The entries for this year’s contest were submitted last year, and once they were received, each and every recipe (that met the contest’s published guidelines for required ingredients, etc) was thoroughly tested and reviewed by a dedicated contest staff until they had chosen 100 finalists.
Once the finalists are notified, they all attend the Bake-Off event, where they have to produce three complete versions of their dish in just a few hours in a room filled with 100 mini kitchens and the other finalists. One dish is used for photos, one is made available for tasting (because the contestants love to share) and one tray goes to the judges, who evaluate every dish and choose the winners. The finalists’ recipes are all available online for people to try and review themselves before the judges have their say at the contest.
While there are many prepackaged products given as qualifying ingredients for the Bake Off, there are also staple ingredients like flour, eggs, butter and cocoa powder. The resulting recipes – sweet and savory – are always very creative and mostly very tasty. I’m looking forward to seeing what wins this year and giving the new winner a try. Be sure to take a look at these classic Bake-Off recipes from previous years to see if they’ll inspire you to check out this year’s finalists and enter the next contest.
There is an art to putting together a restaurant-style plated dessert. With a little practice and a good sense of style, you can definitely put an upscale twist on your at-home dessert presentations, but starting out with a guide that will teach you the ins-and-outs of creating these impressive desserts is an easier way to begin. To get you started, I’m giving away a copy of The Dessert Architect to one lucky reader. The cookbook, which I’ve reviewed before, is written by Robert Wemischner and teaches you the fundamentals of putting together plated desserts with detailed information about the foundations of these desserts and many tempting recipes. To be completely honest, it is also terrific for food bloggers looking for some new presentation ideas.
To enter the contest, leave a comment below with the best dessert you’ve had at a restaurant – whether it’s a neighborhood favorite or a splurge restaurant you visited on vacation. Don’t forget to mention what city the restaurant is in so we can all make a note to give it a try if/when we’re in town! Simple and elaborate desserts will both do, so don’t worry if you’re favorite isn’t something particularly fancy. The contest ends Sunday, February 26th at midnight and the winner will be randomly selected from the entries. Don’t forget to fill in your e-mail on the comment form (it will not be public), as that is how I will contact the winner, and good luck!
Update: This contest is now closed. Thanks for entering, everyone. Congrats to Madison on winning the book!
M-Cups are a very unusual set of measuring cups designed by Fred Studios. These cups have a design inspired by matroyshka dolls, also known as Russian nesting dolls. The traditional dolls – typically made of wood, but here made of food-grade plastic – split in two at the “waist” and open to reveal another, smaller, doll inside. Fred’s M-Cups are shaped like the traditional dolls and neatly stacked together, but are a little more useful than your average doll set, as each doll splits into different measuring cups. The largest has a 1 cup measure for its upper hald and a 3/4 cup measure for its lower one. The medium has a 2/3 cup measure for its upper half and a 1/2 cup measure for its lower one, while the smallest doll measures 1/3 cup and 1/4 cup. The set makes a cool countertop decoration when not in use. The matching M-Spoons also have a matroyshka doll design that matches the M-Cups, although they “nest” like regular measuring spoons do. The five spoon set includes 1/4, 1/2 and 1 teaspoon measures, as well as 1/2 and 1 tablespoon measures.
These matroyshka-inspired designs are fun and would make a great addition to anyone’s kitchen, so I am giving away a matching set of M-Cups and M-Spoons! These make great stocking stuffers, but one lucky reader will win the set as an early holiday present.
To enter the contest, just leave a comment below and mention your favorite holiday treat to bake – whether it is something simple, like kid-friendly rice krispy treats, or something elaborate, like a classic buche de Noel. The contest ends Sunday at midnight (12/11/2011) and one winner will be randomly selected from the entries. Don’t forget to fill in your e-mail on the comment form (it will not be made public), as that is how I will contact the winner, and good luck!
Update: This contest is now closed. Congrats to Maddie, who found this in her stocking at Christmas!
You can eat pie any time of year, but fall is really pie season for me. It’s the time of year when apple pie seems to taste its very best and when hearty chicken pot pies are the perfect comfort food. Pies are tasty whatever filling you pile inside, and they can be fun to make and serve, as well. A new pan from Chicago Metallic that makes four individually sized pies caught my eye and so I’m giving away a Chicago Metallic Individual Pie Mold Pan – also known as a pot pie pan – to one lucky reader!
To enter the contest, just leave a comment with your favorite type of pie below – whether it is sweet or savory – below. The contest ends Sunday at midnight (9/18/2011) and the winner will be randomly selected from the entries. Don’t forget to fill in your e-mail on the comment form (it will not be public), as that is how I will contact the winner, and good luck!
Here are a few pie recipes ad tips for inspiration:
Update: The contest is now closed! Julie A was the randomly selected winner. Congrats, Julie!
