Summer Fun - Gadget Giveaway!

If you've been reading my blog a while or subscribe to my monthly newsletter you know how much I love gadgets and GIVEAWAYS! 

With this summers extreme heat nothing is more refreshing than iced cold watermelon.  But have you ever tried to slice a whole one?  It's difficult especially if you have a dull knife.  So when I laid my eyes on this fun Watermelon Knife I knew I just had to share it with my viewers.

Made by Kuhn Rikon with it's seed shaped cut-outs, red blade and green handle - how whimsical can you get? Even with all it's whimsy this knife is made of high carbon Japanese steel and has a non-stick coating to insure quick food release. Plus with an ergonomic handle it allows you to apply pressure without losing your grip.

At just under $25 it's a bargain and a great gift to give to a friend as well.  Don't take my word for it, check out this video.  The Watermelon Knife slices watermelon as though it were slicing butter - smooth and easy!




What are you waiting for?  I know you're dying to get one for yourself and your friends.  You can purchase the  Watermelon Knife here and you can also enter my giveaway below.

All that's required to enter is:

• Comment below why you'd like to win the Watermelon Knife


• Follow my blog by Email (upper right corner of this blog), this way you'll never miss a post


• Although not required please follow Kuhn Rikon on Twitter

One winner will be selected at Random on Friday, August 12th by 12:00pm Central Standard Time.

Kuhn Rikon who was so nice to offer this fantastic knife as a giveaway, will mail the knife directly to you.   So please be sure to leave your contact information when entering.  This way if you're selected at Random, I will be able to reach you for your mailing address.  If the winner does not respond within 48 hours another name will be drawn at Random.

With the Watermelon Knife you'll have as much fun looking at it as you will using it!  In fact, you might prefer to leave it out on display rather than in a drawer.

Good Luck!

CONGRATULATIONS!  THE WINNER OF THE WATERMELON KNIFE GIVEAWAY IS:

Elizabeth@foodandthriftfinds

Elizabeth please be sure to contact me within 48 hours from now so that Kuhn Rikon can send you this fabulous knife. 

GIVEAWAY - Microplane Herb Mill!

You know I'm a gadget lover, so when I find something that I think is terrific I just have to share it with you. 

I teach a lot of culinary classes and one of them is knife skills.  However, whether your knife skills are superb or not, sometimes it's nice to give your hands a break.  Prepping herbs by hand with a knife can be a tedious and difficult task.  So when I discovered Microplane's new Herb Mill I thought, WOW, this kitchen tool is fantastic and so easy to use.  Plus it's dishwasher safe which makes clean up a cinch.

Microplane’s easy to use Herb Mill cuts fresh herbs like parsley, dill, cilantro, sage and mint with hundreds of tiny scissors without bruising or blemishing. 

At just $19.95 not only is it affordable but, it  makes quick, uniform mincing of fresh herbs a breeze!  Don't take my word for it though, check out the information about it here.

If you'd like to try and win one for your kitchen here's all you need to do.

1. Post in the comments section below why you'd like to win the Microplane Herb Mill.
2. "Like" Microplane's Facebook page and post a comment saying, "I just entered to win the Microplane Herb Mill from "At Home with Vicki Bensinger" and you can too! Post a comment on my blog that you did this.
3. "Like" me on my Facebook page, if you don't already, and post a comment on my blog that you did.

One winner for the Microplane Herb Mill will be drawn at Random on June 21st, 2011.  This giveaway is open to U.S. residents ONLY!
Please be sure to enter your contact information in the event that you are the winner.  The winner will have 48 hours to respond or another name will be drawn at Random.

Don't miss your chance to win this great kitchen gadget.  It's fun and easy to use plus makes the prep work in the kitchen a snap.

Good Luck!

The WINNER of the Microplane Herb Mill is #15, Maria Paray!  Congratulations Maria!  Please contact me within 48 hours with your mailing address and phone number so that we can send you this fantastic tool!  If you do not respond during this time then another name will be drawn at Random.  Thank you for entering.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you to all that entered my Giveaway.  Stay tuned for more Giveaways in the future.  To get the latest as it's posted "follow by Email" at the top right of my blog.

Firewire Grilling Skewers GIVEAWAY!

As many of you may know I love to grill and with the weather finally getting warmer I spend the better part of spring, summer and into fall grilling outdoors.  I reported on these back in July of 2009 when I had just ordered them and again just a couple of weeks ago.  Since receiving these I have used them often and love them.  I'm talking about the Firewire Grilling Skewers.

These skewers are so wonderful to cook with.  I don't know about you, but I can't stand having to take up so much space in my refrigerator when it comes to marinating my kebobs.  With the Firewire Grilling Skewers you simply load your food onto the wire, place them in a zip lock baggie that contains your marinade, and place them in the refrigerator, virtually taking up no space at all.  Unlike the typical metal skewers, these handles don't get hot, plus sliding your meat, veggies or fruit on them is a cinch and even easier to remove.  Don't take my word for it, just watch this video to see for yourself.

If you love to grill, and like doing any type of kebob, you need to enter my giveaway for the Firewire Grilling Skewers and Marinating Kit.  If for some reason your name isn't drawn, make sure you order a set for yourself either way.  It's an item you don't want to be without.  Plus, they're so easy to clean - just pop them in the dishwasher.  They literally take up no space at all.  I have mine rolled up in a plastic baggie in my kitchen drawer ready and clean for the next time I use them. 

To try your luck at winning the Firewire Grilling Skewers and Marinating Kit simply enter this random drawing by doing the following: 

• "Like" the Firewire Grilling Facebook Fan page, made by Inno-Labs.
• "Like" my FB fan page if you don't already and let me know
• follow my blog with "google friend connect" at the top right of my blog, if you don't already, and post a comment.
• don't forget to post on YOUR  facebook wall, "I just entered a giveaway for the Firewire Grilling Skewers on At Home with Vicki Bensinger, and you can too!" 

All entrants must live in the United States. 

A winner will be drawn at random on Friday, April 15th, 2011.

Good luck!

And the Winner is!

Maria Paray - Congratulations Maria!

LeCreuset GIVEAWAY!

If you've ever cooked with a LeCreuset French Dutch Oven, enameled cast iron cookware, you know how wonderful they are, along with the rest of their products.  Not a whole lot compares to its performance.  Perfect heat retention and even heat distribution make every dish spectacular. 

Just in time for Easter and Passover I'm offering a LeCreuset 3.5 French Round Dutch Oven valued at $280.00 to Giveaway.  If you've never tried one before you don't know what you're missing.  This perfect vessel will help you create an incredible dish for the holiday. 

The French Dutch Oven can cook rice, beans, soup, chicken, beef, stews, cake or whatever else you can think of.  It's truely amazing and it comes in a variety of fun colors to match your kitchen or your mood.

Besides having the opportunity to win one for FREE you also get to select the color of your choice.  So what are you waiting for! 


To enter the random drawing for the LeCreuset 3.5 French Dutch Oven you MUST follow the directions below!

1. Under the comments section of this blog post, tell me why you would like to win the LeCrueset French Dutch Oven.  Plus if you win it, what color do you want for your kitchen?
2. Sign up as a follower of my blog on Google Friend Connect by clicking the follow button.  This is located on the right side of my blog just above "About Me".  If you're already one then please let me know.
3. "Like" my facebook fan page, by clicking on the "like" at the top of the page.  If you already do please let me know.
4. "Like" the LeCreuset fan page, located at the top of the page then, post on your FB wall, "I just entered a GIVEAWAY on At Home With Vicki Bensinger to win the LeCreuset 3.5 French Dutch Oven, and you can too!

All of these MUST be done in order to have your name entered into the drawing.  However, don't forget to leave your contact information so that I can reach you in the event you win. 

One contest winner will be selected at random and notified on this blog and by email on Friday, April 8th, 2011.

The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email otherwise your name will be removed and another name will be selected at random.

Don't miss your opportunity to win this amazing LeCreuset French Dutch Oven. 

Good Luck!

Below is a fun and simple recipe for making bread in the 3.5 LeCreuset French Dutch Oven created by Jacques Pepin from his book   More Fast Food My Way. 

However, the recipes are endless for what you can create in your new LeCreuset French Dutch Oven should you win!

Slow & Easy Bread In A Pot
make a 1 pound loaf of bread

This is perfect to start in the evening and then pop in the refrigerator overnight so it's ready in the morning to bake.


Ingredients:

 2 1/4 cups tepid water (about 90 degrees)
1 tsp of yeast Rapid Rise)
1 tsp of salt (or a bit more)
4 cups of all-purpose flour (about 1 pound 5 ounces)

Directions:

In the 3.5 LeCreuset French Dutch Oven mix the above ingredients.
Stir them up until the dough is thoroughly blended and gooey. Cover the pot with blended ingredients and let set at room temperature for about 1 1/2 hours.

The dough will be puffed up a lit bit. Knock it down by mixing it up again with a wooden spoon for a moment, you don’t have to do too much. Then cover it and put it in the refrigerator overnight (10-12 hours).

The next day, preheat your over to 450F degrees. Once preheated, take the dough out of the refrigerator, and take the cover off (it should have risen again overnight).  Place the pot directly into the oven and bake for approximately 40 minutes.

After forty minutes, remove the pot from the oven. You will see that you have a perfect crust poking out from the pot. Let it sit and cool for a few minutes. 

Flip pot over and remove the bread.  Now how easy is that?

Enjoy!

AND THE WINNER IS:

  SANDRA DEE


Congratulations Sandra Dee!  I hope you enjoy your new LeCreuset 3.5 French Dutch Oven

FANTASTIC GIVEAWAY - JUST IN TIME FOR SPRING!

Sprng is here again in Missouri.  I can hardly believe it.  I'm hoping it will stick around a while this time so that I can finally enjoy grilling season!

Have you ever prepared a meal, waited and waited for the meat to get done, then finally pulled it out, placed it on the table, only to find that it's undercooked?

I HAVE A GREAT GIVEAWAY that I can't wait to share with you!  It will take the guesswork out of cooking.

I decided on this because so many of my students ask me how to tell when their meat is properly cooked.  Besides the touch method that I blogged about in July of 2009, there's a tried and true method which simply uses a temperature probe.

For the past 10 years I've been using the same temperature probe.  It works perfectly and still after 10 years looks like new.  Of course, I take care of mine and have followed the cleaning instructions so it doesn't get damaged.  I still like to use the touch method as well however, but for true accuracy of internal temperatures a probe never lies.

I especially love it when I'm grilling and hanging out with my guests outdoors waiting for the food.  It alleviates running back and forth to the grill, opening and closing it causing the heat escape.  With the long temerature probe you're able to view the gauge on the outside of your grill and know when your meat is done.  It also works great for the oven or even on the stovetop with its special clip attachments for pots.

Since I love the Polder Classic Cooking Thermometer so much I'll be GIVING THREE (3) OF THESE AWAY so that you too can have perfectly done meat everytime. 

In order to WIN one of the three Polder Classic Cooking Thermometers ($24.99 value) here's what you need to do:  




Mandatory Entry:  To get your name entered into this drawing simply tell me in the comments section below, the first thing you will cook using your Polder Cooking Thermometer if you win one.  (worth 1 entry) If you're in the sharing mood feel free to share that recipe with us, we might want to try it!

The mandatory entry MUST be done otherwise the bonus entries if you choose to do them, will not count. However, you can enter just the one time, or to increase your chances of winning you can enter any or all of the bonus entries.

Bonus Entries (leave a separate comment for each entry.  If you’re already a fan or follower, just say so in your comment).  Each one will count for the # of entries I've posted.  Your name will then be entered that many times for the giveaway.  The more entries you have the greater your chances of winning!

Here are the the other ways to enter:

•  "Like" At Home with Vicki Bensinger on facebook and leave your name in your comment. You can leave first name and last initial if you don’t want to leave your full name. (2 entries)
• Subscribe to my blog, (3 entries)
• Follow this blog.   (3 entries)
• Sign up for my monthly newsletter  My newsletter comes out the first week of each month. Please be sure to leave your first name, email address and the state you live in. (1 entry)
• "Like" Polder Housewares, Inc. on facebook and leave your name in your comment below. You can leave first name and last initial if you don’t want to leave your full name. (2 entries)
• Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway. Leave your twitter handle and a link to your tweet so that I can verify it.  (How to get the URL of a tweet). (1 entry)

You have the chance to be entered 13 possible times for this giveaway. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only (I apologize to my international readers ).

Please be sure to let me know which entries you made so that I can be sure I don't miss any.  I will check out all entries.  Also be sure to leave a proper email address so that I can contact you if you win.


Three (3) winners will be chosen at random sometime on April 1st, 2011. Once the winners are selected, they will be notified via email and posted on my blog.  If a winner does not respond within 48 hours, that winner forfeits the prize and another winner will be selected at random.


Note:  The winners (3) will receive their Classic Cooking Thermometer mailed directly from Polder Housewares, Inc.  just in time for the spring/summer grilling season!.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE THREE (3) WINNERS FOR THE POLDER CLASSIC COOKING THERMOMETER, BASED ON A RANDOM DRAWING.  THEY ARE:

#1 - Lanie
#18 - Loretta
# 24 - Suzitravel
Each comment was given a number in order of sequence.  To view click on the comments below.
Here is how the Random numbers came up:

Random Sequence Generator

Here is your sequence:

1

18

24

34

15

6

35

10

33

25

12

30

17

27

29

11

32

3

21

19

13

2

8

9

14

28

23

16

4

26

5

7

22

31

20

Timestamp: 2011-04-01 13:41:17 UTC