giveaway

Sweet and Spicy Wings

January 22, 2013

Last year I REALLY cared about the Superbowl as the Giants were playing the Patriots again. Being a Giants fan in Patriots territory is tricky but I had high hopes that the Giants would be able to beat the Patriots again, even with Patriots’ favored to win. Even if the Giants lost it would not have been that that horrible as the Giants had beat them in 2008, all the while ripping away their chance of a perfect season. But my fierce G-men won 21-17 so I did my happy danced that Sunday night and then called out of work Tuesday to attend the parade with Price and my brother. So awesome!!!

With my Giants not playing this year (boo-hoo!!) I don’t care about the Superbowl that much this year I still look forward to the game, the event, and the food. So with the Superbowl is less than 2 weeks away (which also means that we get our puppy in less than 2 weeks… but that is another story) I am starting to plan for what we will be enjoying during the game. There are so many options… nachos, chips and dip, quesadillas, chili, subway sandwiches, and much much more!

When I received my Musselman’s Apple Butter Packaged I flipped through the recipe cards and I immediately knew I had to make the Sweet and Spicy Wings. I am not a big fan of wings (just too much work!), BUT my boyfriend is. So this got me try to try something new and make him something that he would love. He really enjoyed the sweet and spicy flavor as it was not the typical buffalo wing. I made myself some chicken tenders and I loved them. I cooked them for half the time so when I went to flip the wings at the 30 minute mark I added the chicken tenders and then gave them a quick flip after they had been in their for 15 minutes. Everything was so quick and easy to assemble, however it’s not a last minute dish as it takes some time to marinate, but that planning is so worth it!!

Sweet and Spicy Wings

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients

1 cup Musselman’s Apple Butter
1/2 c hot sauce
1/2 c ketchup
1/2 tsp celery salt
2 pounds uncooked chicken wings (drumettes and wingettes) or tenders
2 Tbsp butter, melted

Process

Combine the apple butter, hot sauce, ketchup, and celery salt in a medium bowl.
Reserve 3/4 cup of the sauce, cover and refrigerate.
Marinate the wings by coating them with the sauce and covering the bowl. Or coat the with the sauce in a plastic zip storage bag. Refrigerate 2 hours to overnight.
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking pan (about 10×13-inch) with foil for easy clean up. Place the wings in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake the wings for 30 minutes then flip and baste with the remaining marinade. Bake for an additional 30 minutes or until wings are fork-tender.
While baking the wings, warm the ¾ cup of reserved sauce with the melted butter and serve as a dipping sauce with wings.

Options: Substitute fresh chicken tenders for the wings- depending on the size of pieces, reduce the cooking time to 30-35 minutes total. Broil or grill instead of baking

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And now the good stuff… the GIVEAWAY!

You can win a Musselman’s package including a jar of apple butter, a and recipe cards.

To Enter:

Leave a comment telling me what you are looking to enjoy during the Superbowl.

Extra Entries!!!

Tweet: “I want to win @Musselmansapple Apple Butter Package including a serving bowl from @iamahoneybee http://wp.me/pzEAP-33Q #AppleButterRecipes“
Follow @Musselmanapple’s on twitter to stay in touch with them.
Like the Musselman’s Facebook page and to stay connected.

Come back and leave a comment each time to get 3 extra entries

Contest Ends Sunday, January 27th at Midnight EST. Good luck but if you don’t win be sure to go to your jam/jelly aisle at your local grocery store and pick up a jar of Musselman’s Apple Butter!

Printcopia Canvas Prints Review & a Giveaway

November 23, 2012

Printcopia is an online photo printing service that creates large format prints, canvas, acrylic, and framed prints. They are your one stop shop for your photo service needs.

I used their services to get an 11×17 canvas print. I’ve used online print services in the past but I really enjoyed getting around their site and the services they offered. One of the coolest things is that they offer is the ability to link to your instagram profile or your facebook profile to upload pictures. I use instagram so much that this is a great way to easily connect my photos to the site.

At first I was going to use a photo that Price instagrammed when we were in Chicago for his birthday but I wanted to maintain the square instagram format so I picked a photo that he took of the sun rising. For a delayed October date we went to the beach to see the sunrise on Day Light Savings day. Some Starbucks drinks, a pastry to split, and the sunrise. Now that we have this print hanging up on our first floor I will always remember our sunrise beach date.

AAAANNNND the GIVEAWAY Details!!!

Mandatory entry: Tell me what photo you would get made into a canvas print if you won? Your kids? Family portrait? A vacation?

Extra Entry: Tweet or hare on Facebook about the giveaway. Come back & leave another comment telling me what you did

Giveaway ends Thursday 29th at 11.59pm

Besides the giveaway, don’t miss out on their Black Friday Sale!!! Right now they are offering 50% canvas prints until Sunday the 25th at midnight. Don’t hesitate, it’s a great deal and this will make for a great gift.

I received an 11×17 canvas print from Printcopia in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.

Apple Pie Stuffed French Toast { & a Giveaway!}

November 4, 2012

When I was in high school I used to live off of apple butter and bagels. Because school let out at various times depending on the rotating daily schedule I would sometimes get out pretty early by the time I was a junior and senior so I would just wait to eat lunch at my boyfriends. His mom always had bagels around so I’d toast one up at have it with apple butter. I loved just how flavorful the apple butter was. I would occasionally drive to the next town to visit a farm store where I could get their apple butter. It was a real addiction I tell you!

When Musselman’s contacted me about using their Apple Butter in a recipe and having a giveaway I knew I had to accept. While my apple butter package was on it’s way, I kept thinking about different recipes to use with the apple butter because possibilities are endless. I kept going back to their site for inspiration as well as go through old magazines. I was tempted to make Apple Butter Pumpkin Pie but when it came down to it I kept thinking about something for breakfast. I thought about their Monkey Bread but decided that I would adapt one of my favorite breakfast recipes instead. I had recently adapted the Strawberry Almond Stuffed French Toast I had previously made using canned pumpkin. It turned out so well that I decided to swap the pumpkin for the apple butter and wah-la!

This might look intimidating because you have to cut the bread to form pockets but it is super simple and by creating this lovely pocket you get to full the bread with this great apple butter filling. I loved how I didn’t need syrup for this french toast.The sweetness and flavor of the apple butter is perfect for this without getting covered in syrup. It is perfect for a leisurely breakfast or for one on the go. Since this recipe makes so many servings I freeze the cooked french toast slices on a baking sheet and then I wrap them up to enjoy later. I just take one out of the freezer the night before and defrost it in the fridge Then when I am getting ready in the morning I toss the wrapped french toast in the oven to warm it up. Good to go!

Apple Pie Stuffed French Toast

Serves 6-8

Ingredients

1 loaf Italian Bread, 1 pound
6 oz cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups apple butter
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 eggs, 3 egg whites
1 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Process

Slice the bread into 1″ thick slices. Lay each piece down on a cutting board. While holding each piece down, create a pocket in the slices of bread by almost cutting it in half. (Placing your hand on top of the piece of bread will help keep the bread in place and help you monitor creating a pocket.)
Combine the cream cheese, apple butter, cinnamon, and vanilla extract until light and creamy. Transfer the cream mixture into a large piping bag.
Pipe out 2 generous tablespoons of the filling inside the pocket of each slice. Gently close each slice of bread to help the filling stay inside.
In a shallow bowl, like a casserole dish, beat the eggs, milk and almond extract together.
Over medium high heat, heat a non-stick skillet to prepare it for the french toast. Immediately prior to putting pieces on the skillet, spray the pan with non-stick cooking spray or put a pat of butter on it.
Once the pan is heated up, dip slices of bread in the egg mixture to coat both sides. Cook each side of the stuffed french toast is golden brown. Repeat this process until all slices are cooked.

And now the good stuff… the GIVEAWAY!

You can win

To Enter:

Leave a comment telling me how you would enjoy a jar of apple butter.

Extra Entries:

Spread the word- Tweet: “I want to win a @Musselmansapple’s Package that includes a jar of Apple Butter & a Spurtle from @iamahoneybee http://wp.me/pzEAP-2Li”. Come back here and leave me a comment telling me that you did.

Follow @Musselmanapple’s on twitter for updates and to stay connected. Come back here and leave me a comment telling me that you did.

Contest Ends Wednesday the 7th at Midnight EST. Good luck but if you don’t win be sure to go to your jam/jelly aisle at your local grocery store and pick up a jar of Musselman’s Apple Butter!

A Freixenet Friday Giveaway & MINI Mobile Tour Stops

September 28, 2012

When Freixenet approached me about hosting a giveaway I was excited to be able to pass along a fun gift set. Plus, I get to share with my Boston area readers about The MINI Mobile Freixenet tour is in Boston this weekend. Did you know you can win a MINI Cooper from Freixenet?!? That is so awesome.

I am a big fan of Freixinet for making cocktails. I was introduced to the sparking wine when I went to a Freixenet last summer and had a great time trying different cocktail. Then last November I hosted Freixenet giveaways as well as shared some great cocktail recipes. I really suggest that you grab a bottle of Freixenet and give the Agua de Valencia or Pom Vivant Cocktails try.

So go to one of the MINI Mobile tour stops in Springfield and Boston this weekend to give them a try, play games for fun prizes, and enter the Freixenet Drive a MINI Cooper Giveaway!

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Friday, September 28, 4:00pm-7:00pm – Table and Vine at 119 Riverdale St, Route 5 in W. Springfield, MA (http://www.tableandvine.com/)

Friday, September 28, 10:00pm-2:00am – Storyville on 90 Exeter St in Boston, MA (www.storyvilleboston.com)

Saturday, September 29, 8:00pm-12:00pm – 28 Degrees at 1 Appleton Street in Boston, MA (www.28degrees-boston.com)

And the fun stuff… the Giveaway!

The prize package includes:

Freixenet Chiller Bag
4 Stemless Govino Acrylic Flutes
2 Freixenet Cordon Negro Mini Bottles
Cocktail Recipe Booklet
4 Cocktail Stirrers
Plus 10 sweepstakes entries for the Freixenet Drive a MINI Cooper Giveaway!

How to Enter:

Mandatory: Leave a comment telling me what’s your favorite sparkling wine cocktail?

Extra Entries:

Spread the word- Tweet: “I want to win a @freixenetusa Friday Package that includes a chiller bag from @iamahoneybee http://wp.me/pzEAP-2EX” OR share on Facebook. Come back here and leave me a comment telling me what you did.

Follow Freixenet- you can follow the Freixenet truck as it hops around the country @FreixentUSA OR like them on Facebook. Come back here and leave me a comment telling me what you did.

Contest Ends Monday night at Midnight EST and is open to US residents. Residents of MA can’t receive shipments of alcohol so please only enter if you can coordinate shipment to a neighboring state. Good luck!

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Be sure to head to FindtheBubbles.com to enter in the code above to get 5 entries for the “Freixenet Drive a MINI Cooper Giveaway” for a 2-year MINI Cooper lease!!!!!!

Thank you {and a Cumberland Farms giveaway!}

December 28, 2011

I’m so excited to be able to wrap this year up with a giveaway for you! I have been been given the opportunity to thank you by visiting my blog. I write and photograph because I enjoy it, but having you all visit and comment means the world to me. With the new year I hope to continue to grow myself and the blog so feel free to comment and let me know what you think!

So the important stuff… the giveaway!! I have to give to you a Cumberland Farms coffee package. I have grown up with Cumby’s so I am glad to be able to share it with you. The 70+ year old Cumberland Farms has rebranded themselves this past year and I think their new look and approach is great. They have always been our local stop for quick things like when we ran out of milk but now they have a great new store design (the architect in me loves the new look of the stores!), products, and coffee.

In addition to the package I have to giveaway, I get to share with you that Cumberland Farms is also offering free coffee on New Year’s Eve at participating stores (excluding those Cumberland Farms stores that serve Dunkin’ Donuts coffee). Free coffee will be available starting at 5:00 pm (to help you party through the night!). Free coffee on NYE is an annual tradition for Cumberland Farms and their way of giving back to the communities they are in.

note the chaos on my desk at work… coffee to save the day!

The package you win includes a pound of their Farmhouse Fresh coffee, a insulted reusable travel cup, and 2 coupons for in store coffee.

How to win??

Required: Leave me a comment telling me your New Year’s resolution.

Bonus Comments:

1) Follow me on Twitter, @iamahoneybee, come back and leave me a comment telling me you did

2) Follow Cumberland Farm’s on Twitter @cumberlandfarms, come back and leave me a comment telling me you did

3) Tweet the following: “I want to win a @cumberlandfarms farmhouse blends coffee package from @iamahoneybee ! http://wp.me/pzEAP-1Lx” , come back and leave me a comment telling me you did

The giveaway runs from now to 12/31/11 at 11.59pm!