Home With Mandy 2

Welcome to Pineapple Paradise!

2012-02-27T18:10:00.002-08:00

It's a Pineapple Round Up! The great people from Frontera are sponsoring a giveaway on Home with Mandy, the winner to be chosen at random and sent golden pineapples shipped direct from the growers in Vera Cruz, Mexico.

Would you like some ideas on what to do with those pineapples? I have a great round up of sweet pineapple recipes including an appetizer, an entree, a cocktail and a dessert.

Jim and I loved this juicy grilled pork loin with a delicious pineapple relish. The best part is that you can have dinner on the table in 30 minutes.
http://www.homewithmandy.com/2011/05/pork-loin-with-pineapple-relish.html

If you love jalapeno poppers, have you tried adding a chunk of pineapple? Half a jalapeno, stuff with cream cheese and pineapple and then wrap the whole thing in bacon. Amazing!
http://www.homewithmandy.com/2008/08/jalapeno-poppers-with-pineapple.html

Pineapple infused vodka? Well yes! You must use fresh pineapple, and must be patient. This is my most favorite martini EVER!
http://www.homewithmandy.com/2009/07/my-favorite-martini.html

This is one tasty bite, we call them Kelie Shrimp and they are the perfect mix of sweet and spicy!
http://www.homewithmandy.com/2008/11/kelie-shrimp.html

Pineapple dump cake - it's easy and so delicious. Sinful I tell ya!
http://www.homewithmandy.com/2009/03/delicious-dump-cake.html

It's giveaway time! Leave a comment below telling me what you would do with the fresh pineapples and you could win super sweet, golden pineapples shipped direct from the growers in Vera Cruz, Mexico. You only have until Friday, March 2nd to entere. I will randomly select a winner from the comment section below.

You can enter the contest several times, here how:
Follow HWM by E-mail (top left sidebar of HWM)
Like Frontera on Facebook
Follow HWM on Twitter
Follow Frontera on Twitter
Comment on what you would do with the fresh pineapple from Frontera

Leave a new comment on this post each time one of these things are completed for more chances to win on March 2nd.

Also, by liking Frontera on Facebook you are entered into a grand prize drawing for a Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker valued at $200.

Frontera Pineapple Giveaway

2012-02-20T11:22:00.000-08:00

The Frontera Pineapple Giveaway is now closed. Thank you to everyone who left comments! I used random.org to select the winner...drum roll please... Congrats to Mr. Bowie!

Contact me at homewithmandy @ gmail dot com with your mailing address and Frontera will ship fresh pineapples direct to you from the growers in Vera Cruz, Mexico.

Check back between now and March to enter the second Pineapple giveaway and you can also by liking Frontera on Facebook you are entered into a grand prize drawing for a Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker valued at $200.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Original Post

What's not to love about super sweet pineapples? It's natures candy! This fun looking fruit may look intimidating, it's prickly all over and spiked at the top. Once you get past that tough exterior though, a deliciously sweet flesh is perfect for incorporating into numerous meals. I recently partnered with Frontera Produce which grows super sweet, golden pineapples in Vera Cruz, Mexico and sells them under the Frontera Premium Gold Pineapple label in stores across America.

After receiving this care package from Frontera Produce, my first thought was to make a batch of my most favorite martini ever. Since I have already posted about the delish pineapple infused vodka, I decided to take this super sweet fruit and use it in a few savory dishes.

In order to keep your entire counter from getting sticky, I recommend cutting on a cookie sheet to corral all the juices from the pineapple from getting everywhere. With your knife, lop half an inch off the top and bottom of the pineapple.

Turn the pineapple upright onto its base. Notice the dark brown "eyes" around the edge of the pineapple. Place your knife on top of the fruit just behind one of the eyes. The eyes run down the side of the pineapple in a column. Slice down to the bottom of the fruit slightly turning your knife at the top and bottom to follow the curved shape of the pineapple.

Cut off the rest of the pineapple skin by slicing down from top to bottom along each row of eyes (as revealed by your first cut). Your knife should be behind the eyes at approximately a 45 degree angle. Don't try to cut off too much of the peel at once or you will take a lot of good fruit with it.

I defrosted and marinaded three boneless skinless chicken breasts in a mix of soy sauce, chopped cilantro, spicy chili paste, garlic, green onions and rice vinegar. I baked the chicken at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

I thought the savory and spicy flavor from this baked chicken and sauce would pair so nicely with the intense sweetness of the pineapple. Grilling does wonderful things to fruit as it caramelizes the sugars creating a golden brown color and concentration of flavor.

On a grill pan set over high heat, I turned wedges of super sweet, golden pineapples until I was happy with the charred marks created on all sides.

I then sliced the warm wedges into chunks and served as a side with the dark and spicy chicken and white sticky rice.

The combination, although simple, was just perfect together.

Jim and I both agreed the most wonderful bite consisted of a little of everything at once. Sweet and spicy is a classic combination. The grilled pineapple brought the perfect amount of sweetness to the savory chicken.

The next night, Jim and I set up an assembly line of ingredients to make kabobs for dinner.

Using a bottle from Bell Springs, Jim marinaded chunks of sirloin steak for an hour in this local wine we both enjoy. He used about a cup of wine for the meat and we drank the rest with dinner! This is the only Texas winery which Jim and I are wine club members.

Although it made us laugh to skewer purple meat on the kabobs, the time spent in the wine did impart a wonderful flavor to the steak.

I cut up fresh Premium Gold Super Sweet Frontera Pineapple, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, zucchini and onion. In addition to steak, I also had some fresh shrimp to add to the kabobs. I marinaded the shrimp in a bottled sweet onion sauce which caramelized on the grill.

Kabobs are a great dinner activity. You could invite each person to create their own kabob, just the way they like it.

I used mostly shrimp and veggies with pineapples. Jim used mostly the steak and pineapples.

I sprinkled the kabobs with salt and pepper and preheated my grill pan.

Sear the kabobs on all sides until the shrimp is completely cooked through and the steak is cooked to your liking.

I had to run into the living room to quickly take a pic of Jim's plate before he devoured his kabobs. They were so tasty! The wine soaked steak and the sweetness of the onion marmalade on the shrimp paired well with the charred veggies and pineapple. Delish!

When picking out the perfect pineapple you should always use your nose! Ripe pineapples emit the sweet, tropical aroma that you crave. A pineapple will ripen from the bottom up, so if the top smells fragrant then you have yourself a ripe pineapple!

The leaves of a ripe pineapple will be loose - If you can easily pull out a leaf at the crown then the pineapple is fresh and ready to be eaten. A good pineapple will be nice and plump with green leaves and a golden-yellow body. Avoid pineapples that are bruised or soft, have dry leaves, or a sour aroma. When in doubt, just use your nose!

Whole pineapples should keep in the refrigerator for three to five days after ripening. If you wish to cut up your pineapple you can store it in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

I had one more pineapple recipe up my sleeve that I wanted to try. Stir fry!

In an oiled wok, I sauteed chopped onion, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, garlic and finally I tossed in some chopped fresh pineapple.

Stir this around and let all the veggies brown.

Next, I stir in the sauce I made by stirring together a concoction of Low Sodium Soy Sauce, Corn Starch, Fish Sauce, Chili Garlic Sauce and Brown Sugar. See full ingredient list with measurements on this Stir Fry post.

The last step was to add some leftover white rice (from the chicken and grilled pineapple recipe above.)

Once everything is stirred together, I served this up in my favorite Chinese bowl from Crate & Barrel. After the photo was taken I quickly realized that this wasn't a dish we could eat with chopsticks easily. With food this delicious, we much preferred to shovel it with spoons!

Now the fun part! Frontera is sponsoring a contest on my blog and you have two chances to win super sweet, golden pineapples shipped direct from the growers in Vera Cruz, Mexico. On ~~February 24th~~ and March 2nd I will randomly select a winner from the comment section below.

The February 24th contest is now closed. Check back between now and March to enter the second Pineapple Giveaway.

You can enter the contest several times, here how:

Follow HWM by E-mail (top left sidebar of HWM)
Like Frontera on Facebook
Follow HWM on Twitter
Follow Frontera on Twitter

Leave a new comment on this post each time one of these things are completed for more chances to win on February 24th and March 2nd.

Also, by liking Frontera on Facebook you are entered into a grand prize drawing for a Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker valued at $200.

Lot's of pineapple love going on here at Home With Mandy! Best of luck my friends!!!!

Dunkin' Donuts Coffee at Grocery {Giveaway}

2012-01-29T12:55:00.000-08:00

The Dunkin' Donuts Coffee at Grocery Giveaway is now closed. Thank you to everyone who left comments, I got a kick out of reading the morning routines of some of my HWM readers. I used random.org to select the winner...drum roll please... Congrats to Ms. W!

Contact me at homewithmandy @ gmail dot com with your mailing address and Dunkin Donuts at Grocery will ship you one bag of Original Blend, one bag of Decaf, and two Dunkin’ Donuts mugs.

Have a SUPERbowl SUNDAY everyone!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Original Post

Sticking to a morning routine is essential for me. I've been out of college for ten years and one would think that I would have this morning thing down by now. When one wrench is thrown my way, I'm either late or probably forgot something and I'm for sure frazzled by the time I reach the office.

Here is my IDEAL morning routine:

5:30 AM, Alarm goes off, I snooze for 10 minutes.
5:40 AM, Jim calls from CA (it's 3:40 AM there and he's working a night shift.)
5:45 AM, Jim has talked me out of bed and my feet hit the floor.
5:55 AM, I've managed to brush my teeth and put on workout clothes (yoga pants, t-shirt, sneakers, head band).
6:00 AM, I'm out the door on my way to the gym (water bottle, protein bar, ipod, towel, chapstick).
6:50 AM, Legs are tired, arms are exhausted, I'm sweaty and in need of a shower...bad!
7:00 AM, Feed the dogs, (second) breakfast for me, shower, COFFEE, get ready for work.
8:00 AM, *Out the door and headed to the office.

There are any number of things that can go wrong - starting with me turning my alarm OFF instead of snoozing and then ignoring the phone call from my husband, which never goes over very well.

--------------------

One part of my morning routine I couldn't do without is that first cup of coffee. I know... I'm turning into my mother... who can hardly function until her second cup in the AM. When Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee at Grocery asked if I would review their product, of course I said "yes!"

I thought it would be fun to get my co-workers in on a coffee taste test, so I set up an experiment at the office.

I used two portable coffee pumps and filled one up with Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee at Grocery (Original Blend) and the other with Folgers (Classic Roast).

To make this a completely blind experiment, I didn't label the carafes but numbered them one and two. On my survey sheet I asked for each person to taste from both carafes and write down their preference along with a few words to describe why they chose the coffee they did.

We have a LOT of coffee drinkers in our office, so I set up two stations at separate ends of the building. This is about to get fun! After a couple hours, I went back around to check on my coffee carafes and it wasn't a surprise to see that the pot filled with Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee at Grocery was an office favorite. Comments that I collected in favor of the Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee at Grocery included "Better flavor", "Brighter flavor", "Smooth taste", "More body, no bitter aftertaste." I couldn't agree more, ya'll!

I'm telling you, one taste and you will understand!

Dunkin’ Donuts packaged coffee is available in the coffee aisle of grocery retailers nationwide. Visit the Dunkin' at home web page for more information and to find a store near you.

The following Dunkin’ Donuts products are available where you buy groceries:

Original Blend: A unique mix of 100% Arabica beans with the smooth, delicious flavor that has made Dunkin’ Donuts famous.
Dunkin’ Dark: Made with 100% Arabica beans, this rich coffee experience is carefully roasted for those who prefer a darker coffee.
Dunkin’ Decaf: Made from a full-flavored blend of 100% Arabica beans, this is one decaf that has all the taste of the original.
Dunkin’ Turbo™: This rich, smooth, medium roast coffee has an extra boost of delicious Dunkin’ Donuts flavor to kick-start your day! One taste and you’ll understand.
French Vanilla: Smooth and creamy with the taste of vanilla for those craving a flavorful experience.
Hazelnut: Provides a distinctively rich hazelnut flavor and aroma.
Cinnamon Spice: Imbued with warm flavors of cinnamon and spices. (I saw this one at Target today!)

And now the really fun part! Here is where I give you the chance to win this cool Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee at Grocery Prize Pack. Leave me a message below telling me your morning routine. That's it. No trivia or hoops to jump through. Easy like Sunday Morning! On Sunday, February 5th (one week from today) at Noon Central time, I will randomly select a comment below.

One lucky HWM reader will receive one bag of Original Blend, one bag of Decaf, and two Dunkin’ Donuts mugs. I will notify the winner by email and they will have 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be selected. The prize pack is supplied by and shipped from Dunkin Donuts at Grocery. US Addresses only, please.

Even though there is going to be just one Prize Pack winner, I'm going to share some love with everyone! Hop on over to the Dunkin' Donuts web site for more information about these products and visit this page to find coffee promotions, coupons, special offers and more! I love a good deal!

P.S. Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee at Grocery compensated me for participation in this campaign. However, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own...plus, some feedback from co-workers who didn't even know what coffee they were taste testing. I'm sneaky like that.

*P.P.S. Who am I kidding? I'm hardly ever out the door by 8 AM.

Lucky Leaf Giveaway

2011-12-18T11:00:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the folks at Lucky Leaf, two of my readers will win their own copy of the 43 page full-color "Bake Your Heart Out" Recipe Book.

I've already stated my next creation will be the Cherry-Chocolate Macaroon Pie from the recipe book. They all sound so yummy: Sweet Apple-Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal, Simple and Sweetie Blueberry Cobbler, Layers of Lemonly Love...how can I choose?!?!

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment below telling me what dessert is a MUST on your holiday buffet. Enter before midnight on Monday, December 19th and I will select two random comments to receive the "Bake Your Heart Out" Recipe Book from Lucky Leaf.

Also, visit Lucky Leaf on Facebook!

Jump back to read more of my favorite holiday desserts:
Gingersnap Cookies
Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee
Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
Sopapilla Cheesecake
Lemon Basil Mint Sorbet

Splenda Brownies and a Giveaway

2011-09-13T12:17:00.000-07:00

On those days when you really want something to satisfy your sweet tooth, choose a delicious dessert option that also may help you get additional vitamins and nutrients. By swapping a portion of the sugar in this brownie recipe, I get fiber plus natural antioxidants from the dark chocolate. Thanks to SPLENDA ESSENTIALS No Calorie Sweetener with added Fiber, I get a two-for-one benefit of reduced calories from sugar and added boost of healthy fiber.

Here is what you need for these brownies:
1 pound unsalted butter
1 pound plus 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate
6 extra-large eggs
3 tablespoons instant coffee granules
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener
1 cup Sugar
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups chopped walnuts

Start by buttering a 12x18x1 baking dish.

Dust with flour and tap out the excess.

Melt together the butter, 1 pound of chocolate chips, and the unsweetened chocolate in a medium bowl over simmering water.

This is just a few minutes into the melting process. It doesn't take very long. Once it is fully melted and combined, turn the heat off and/or remove the top bowl and allow the chocolate to cool slightly.

In a large bowl, add eggs and coffee granules.

Add vanilla. I was sad to use up the last of this Tahitian Vanilla brought back from Tahiti by my parents.

Add the sugars.

The SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener is the nation's No. 1 selling no calorie sweetener. It is a delicious alternative to sugar that can contribute to a healthier lifestyle by helping reduce the intake of calories and carbohydrates that come with added sugar. SPLENDA Sweetener Products can be used almost anywhere sugar is used, and are suitable for the whole family.

Stir the eggs, coffee, vanilla and sugars together.

Don't beat the mixture, just stir gently to incorporate all parts.

Once the chocolate has cooled a bit, we can now stir the warm chocolate into the egg mixture.

Once fully incorporated, allow this to come to room temperature.

In a medium bowl, sift together 1 cup of flour, the baking powder, and salt.

Add the sifted dry ingredients to the cooled chocolate mixture.

Stir. Fold. Stir. Fold.

I really like using this handy dandy chopper - it's loud and helps me get any frustrations from the day out.

Take the remaining 1/4 cup flour and toss the 3 cups of walnuts and 12 ounces of chocolate chips.

Tossing these little pieces in flour will help them stay distributed in the batter and not sink to the bottom.

Do the best you can and fold these into your thick chocolate batter.

It doesn't have to be perfect.

Pour into the baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes in a 350 degree oven and then rap/bounce the baking pan on the counter or oven shelf to force any air bubbles to escape from between the pan and the brownie dough. Bake for another 15-20 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool thoroughly and refrigerate. See Ina Garten's original Outrageous Brownie recipe here.

I was so excited to be among the first to sample the new products! Although Splenda compensated me for participation in this campaign, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Check out these other cool new products!

SPLENDA ESSENTIALS with B Vitamins has the same great taste of SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener with the added benefit of 20 percent of the Daily Value of vitamins B1 (thiamin), B5 (pantothenic acid) and B6 (pyridoxine), per packet. The 80-count box of packets is now available at grocery stores, supermarkets and online for a suggested retail price of $4.29.

I start most my mornings with a double shot of espresso. When Jim and I went to Italy for our honeymoon we got into the habit of drinking a shot of espresso around 2 PM each day. We carried the tradition over when we returned home. Although Jim likes his espresso black, I add frothed milk and two splendas to my morning beverage.

I have been trying these new SPLENDA ESSENTIALS No Calorie Sweetener packets and they taste just like regular splenda. This product line aids in maintaining a healthy lifestyle by allowing me to experience sweetness without the added calories from sugar and by providing an added boost of essential vitamins and fiber.

I know it's important to meet my daily intake of key vitamins and nutrients, but it's not always easy. These small packets make it convenient for me to carry in my purse and can be used almost anywhere sugar is sprinkled - in my coffee or tea or on my cereal, greek yogurt, fruit or oatmeal.

Currently, when you visit the Splenda Brand Facebook page and click on the new ESSENTIALS tab, you can request a free sample of the new Splenda Essentials product and also share what’s "essential" to you. By doing so, you will be entered for a chance to win a travel mug with a $25 Dunkin’ Donuts gift card! Three lucky winners will be announced each day— but that’s not all. For every 10,000 sample requests received, the Splenda team will give away a $1,000 Visa gift card!

What could be sweeter than being rewarded for simply requesting a free sample and sharing your feedback?

It's apparently GIVEAWAY week here on Home with Mandy! I have a really great prize package, worth $75, that I'm going to send to one lucky HWM reader.

The Prize Package:

One SPLENDA ESSENTIALS No Calorie Sweetener with B Vitamins
One SPLENDA ESSENTIALS No Calorie Sweetener, 1 gram of Fiber packets
One SPLENDA ESSENTIALS No Calorie Sweetener, 1 gram of Fiber granulated
One SPLENDA ESSENTIALS No Calorie Sweetener to-go mug
One Splenda-yellow blender
Two Splenda-yellow bowls
One Splenda-yellow fruit juicer

Enter the Giveaway
To enter the giveaway, leave a comment sharing one of your "essential" healthy living tips by midnight on Wednesday, September 14th and one reader will be chosen at random and announced on Thursday, September 15th.

Twitter Party
If you are available, join SPLENDA Sweetener Products and our panel of experts as we discuss healthy living tips that are essential to you. The party will be held on Tuesday, September 13, from 9-11pm ET.

What: Girls’ Night Out (#gno) Twitter party
When: Tuesday, September 13 from 9-11 p.m. EST
Where: Party with us on our very own Custom Tweetgrid! (Use hashtags #gno and #Splenda)
Topic: Healthy living tips that are essential to you
Who: Community Panelists: @doughmesstic @DebMomOf3 @7onashoestring @HoosierHomemade @homewithmandy @SeeryusMama @simplybeingmom @RealMomKitchen @7clowncircus @aMusingFoodie , Moderators: @jylmomIF @Dadventurous @troypattee @MomItForward

Cocinaware and a Giveaway

2011-09-11T17:22:00.000-07:00

Look at all the cool new products that H-E-B is carrying now. The new line of Cocinaware should now be available in your H-E-B, check out the great promotions they are running:

9/11 – 9/27
Buy Cocinaware 10" Enamel Cast Iron Fry Pan, get 1 lb ground beef, H-E-B Ranchera Salsa, H-E-B Flour Tortillas and H-E-B Mexican blend cheese free with in-store coupons!

9/18 – 10/11
Buy Cocinaware 5.2 qt Enamel Cast Iron Casserole, get Boneless Shoulder Chuck Roast, H-E-B Chipotle and Garlic Salsa Picante, and H-E-B White Corn Tortillas free with in-store coupons!

10/2 – 10/18
Buy Cocinaware Grande Family Pan, get H-E-B Seasoned Beef, Chicken, or Pork Fajitas, Vermicelli, and Chunky Salsa Picante free with in-store coupons!

These yellow coupons are available at a select 150 H-E-B locations. Check to see if they’re available at your H-E-B store by viewing your weekly ad.

This colorful, fun line will give your kitchen a modern look and authentic results. Cocinaware cookware comes in bold, bright colors and a variety of shapes and sizes. From the multicolored whisks to the Dutch oven, all Cocinaware items are unique, affordable and exclusively at H-E-B. Would you like to win some of this awesome Cocinaware? Keep reading!

Other than the dutch oven which I used and loved, I am most excited about the bamboo platters. They are super light, have that "eco-chic" look and will blend it with my kitchen so well. By the way, all these items are super affordable. The Dutch Oven is less than $30!!!!

The Salsa Crock is super cute as well! Try Tia Lety's Smokey Roasted Salsa recipe this summer:
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes

12 roma tomatoes, halved
2 cloves garlic, unpeeled
1 small onion, quartered
1 jalapeno, halved
1 1/2 T olive oil
1 t ground cumin
1/2 t salt
3 T lime juice
1/4 c chopped cilantro

Preheat broiler. On a cookie sheet, place the tomatoes, garlic, onion and jalapeno pepper. Drizzle with olive oil. Broil for 20-30 minutes, or until the outsides of the vegetables are charred. Remove veggies from heat. Remove jalapeno stems and garlic skins. In a food processor, coarsely chop the charred veggies. Transfer to the Cocinaware Salsa Crock and mix in the cumin, salt, lime juice and cilantro. The crock comes with the cutest matching mini ladle.

My mom just bought this tortilla warmer for Labor Day weekend and it worked like a charm! On the back of the warmer is even the recipe for making homemade tortillas. Have you ever had a homemade tortilla? Oh my goodness, they are amazing!

Tia Lety's Homemade Flour Tortillas
Makes 18 Servings

4 C all-purpose flour
1 1/2 t salt
1/2 c shortening
1 1/4 c warm water

Combine the flour, salt and shortening in a food processor bowl and pulse for 4-5 times until flour looks crumbly. Add water to flour mixture and pulse 2-3 times. Remove dough and knead for 4 minutes until smooth. Add more flour by the tablespoon if sticky. Divide into 1 1/2 inch balls and keep covered until ready to roll out.

Roll out dough balls with a roller one a ta time to 6 inches in diameter, place sheet of was paper or plastic wrap on top and stack them as you roll them out. Keep covered with towel to prevent drying. Heat a griddle/comal over medium heat. Cook each tortilla for 1 minute on each side and place in tortilla warmer.

I was STOKED to find the Cocinaware margarita glass (plastic) was nearly an exact replica of my hand blown glass margarita glasses from Crate and Barrel. It's hard to tell, but the Cocinaware is the one up front and my glass C&B glass is the one in the back. They are identical except for the fact I would take one outside by the pool, and you can guess which one I am very very careful with. My college girlfriends bought me the C&B margarita glasses for my birthday and I loooove them, but I must trust you before I let you drink out of one. If you come over and I hand you a Cocinaware margarita glasses, ha, you can assume you get a little crazy and unpredictable when you drink.

Speaking of margaritas... you should try both of these recipes: Ultimate Margarita Recipe and the Skinny Margarita Recipe. Sometime in the very near future I am going to post another version of the skinny margarita that we call the Ranch Water. It is delish, I can't wait to share!

The Giveaway
Speaking of sharing... I'm going to share some of these awesome gifts that H-E-B has given to me. I've examined all the items and think they are great quality. The plates and bowls are a durable plastic, perfect for dining al fresco now that the weather is starting to cool down to the 90's in Texas. Here is what is in the giveaway: Ceramic Chips and Dip Plate, Tortilla Warmer, Potholder and matching Kitchen Towel, Margarita Glass, Ceramic Coffee Mug, 4-Piece Measuring Spoons, Ceramic Salsa Crock with Spoon, Large Malamine Serving Bowl, 2 Acrylic Serving Bowls and a Cocinaware Apron.

To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment and let me know your favorite kind of dip and chips. Any type of dip works here - just leave your comment by Tuesday, September 13, 9:00 PM Central Time. I will post on Wednesday who the winner of the Cocinaware giveaway is.

And in case you are wondering, my favorite dip is Jalapeno Ranch. It goes so well on everything!

Special thanks to H-E-B for sending me so many cool products - I'm excited to promote this line and share it with one lucky HWM reader!

BlogHer Food, Arrival and RockHer Party

2011-05-27T05:12:00.000-07:00

I still can't believe I attended the BlogHer Food Conference in Atlanta. Did I really board a flight in Austin and fly all the way to Georgia by myself to rub elbows with fellow food bloggers? To geek out about seeing Jaden of Steamy Kitchen, Kalyn of Kalyn's Kitchen and the David Lebovitz from Paris? It all feels like a wonderful dream!

I started tweeting with other attendees long before the conference started by searching for the hashtag #blogherfood. When I had a longer than planned wait in Houston for the second leg of my flight to Atlanta, I used that time to check in with other food bloggers via twitter to find out how everyone was doing. There were a lot of tweets about driving in, flying in, and also about taxi sharing from the Atlanta airport. Sweet! What a brilliant idea!

I also saw some tweets thanking Moe's for the party bus. Party bus? Who? What? Where? I sent a tweet to Moes Southwest Grill @Moes_HQ to see if they were providing a shuttle from the airport to the host hotel. I was surprised when I landed in Atlanta and received a tweet back from Moe's asking when my flight landed. I tweeted that I had just touched the ground and was walking towards baggage claim now.

The picture above is how I was greeted at baggage claim. What a warm welcome! Although we don't have Moe's Southwest Grill in Texas, they were more than happy to let me crash their little party bus.

Look, there is the Executive Chef of Moe's, along with other food blogger from around the country who were selected to be on the bus. Moe's served wine, chips and salsa on our trip to the hotel and I had the chance to chat with the President of Moe's and one of their PR/Marketing Representatives. Moe's targeted 20 bloggers, and 1 blogger targeted them. (Me) Thanks again Moe's for the ride, and the wine. You guys rock! Let me know when you open a store in Texas.

Although checking into the Westin Peachtree was not a smooth experience (don't worry I tweeted them too) the room had a really nice view.

From the 55th floor, the floor to ceiling windows revealed a beautiful downtown Atlanta.

Here is a picture of my hotel room. I didn't photograph the bathroom, it was so tiny I don't think any pictures would have turned out...but just imagine a sink, toilet and shower - bam, a bathroom.

Once I was checked in and unpacked, it was time for the Rock Her pre-conference party at the Hard Rock restaurant located diagonal from our hotel.

The party was hosted by Susan from Doughmesstic, Leslie from The Hungry Housewife and Brandi from BranAppetit (pictured above on the right).

The private events room at the Hard Rock was pretty packed. Being the first gathering for BlogHer Food attendees, it was loud, crowded, and full of opportunities to meet one another.

I was really nervous, but kept reminding myself that not everyone knows everyone. I did my best to be outgoing and introduce myself and find out more about my new blogging buddies. While standing in line to get into the party I started up a conversation with the woman in front of me... It was Pam Johnston who blogs at http://www.thefamilyfoodie.com/. She lives in San Antonio, which is an hour from my home in Austin. Although I did meet lots of people from far places, I was always so shocked and excited when I met someone from Texas.

This is a terrible picture I know, but I didn't want to use my flash. The guy in the plaid shirt is David Lebovitz who I didn't talk to because I was a wimp...but admired from afar. I observed him being so warm and nice to folks, I don't know why I didn't march myself over and say hi. I later sat in a session where he was on the panel and learned he gets a little freaked out about "big brother." I hope my stalker behaviour doesn't add to his fears.

There were some yummy bites at Rock Her, including this huge meat carving station, a pasta station and passed appetizers like shrimp cocktail and sliders.

I'm a sucker for a mashers bar though. Both sweet potato and mashed potatoes were served in martini glasses.

Then you helped yourself with the toppings of your choice.

I of course selected the sweet potato mashers and topped with brown sugar and pecans. Is there any other way? Yum!

Our hosts did a pretty outstanding job or wrangling up sponsors and prizes for the event. There were sponsors out the wazoo and lots of prizes to be won. I actually left with a ManPan. Do I think that will be enough to get Jim cooking? I wish, but probably not.

I made a few friends at my first food blogging event. The two on the left are Sues and Chels from We Are Not Martha, then there is Brandi from BranAppetit and on the right is the ONLY picture I took of myself at the conference...which stinks because this was my least favorite outfit of the weekend.

Back at the Westin, I took the glass elevator up to the rooftop bar and restaurant.

The views from the top were spectacular.

The sun setting across downtown Atlanta was the perfect backdrop to a really wonderful day.

It's time to go to bed, I needed my sleep for the first full day of BlogHer Food 2011.