Food Lush

Official 2012 Food Lush Holiday Gift Guide GIVEAWAY!

By Jennie

Edited to add: The giveaway is for any gift on the 75 items under $25. Sorry for any confusion!

This is my favorite annual giveaway because it feels like a (small) gesture of thanks for your support throughout the year. We wish we could do more to thank you. I wish we could shower gifts upon every loyal reader because you are why we do this. We are so grateful for you.

This is a giveaway where we link to our awesome Gift Guide and ask what your favorite thing is from the list. Then, for one of you, we ship that favorite thing right to your door. 

If I was entering this giveaway (which I'm sadly not), I'd have a tough time choosing between:

Cook's Illustrated Cookbook

Vintage champagne coupes

Slate cheese board

Bloody Mary Mix

The giveaway's fine print:

• To enter: Check out the Gift Guide and then comment on this post (not the gift guide) what you'd pick if you win. (Like always, we won't hold you to it!)
• Giveaway ends: Friday, December 7th at 11:59 PM PST
• Who can enter: U.S. residents only! (We wish we could ship anywhere, but it's just not possible this year...)
• Other details: Limited to any item under $25 (which is 75 items!), one comment per person, the winner will be selected by random.org and announced on the site by 12/10.

Oh, enter the Style Lush Gift Guide giveaway, too!

Recipe Round-up: Brussels Sprouts, Chicken & Waffles, and Donuts!

By Jennie

Garlic Parmesan Top Knots & Brown Buttermilk Biscuits by A Cozy Kitchen 

Old-Fashioned Sour Cream Donuts by Christie's Corner

Shortbread Bites by Delish

Crunchy Black Bean Tacos by Endless Simmer

Hot Chocolate Cake by Be Different Act Normal

Balsamic Brussels Sprouts Grilled Cheese by How Sweet It Is

Spiced Wine & Pear Hand Pies by Chasing Delicious

Pint-Size Chicken & Waffles by Hungry Girl Por Vida 

Turkey Enchilada Verde Soup by Homesick Texan 

Any delicious links you'd like to share in the comments?

Foodie Gift Idea: Sampler Packs!

By Jennie

This past spring, I was looking for a birthday gift idea for my kind of hard to shop for brother-in-law. I knew he liked Whiskey, but he's a busy father of three and a full handle just seemed like something that would sit on the top of his fridge, collecting dust. I thought up the idea of a mini-bottle Whiskey sampler, and it was a huge hit. I basically bought any mini-bottle at my local liquor store, and told him to enjoy one (or all of them) after a stressful day.

I drew the same brother-in-law for our family's gift exchange this year and thought I'd re-create something similar. A hot sauce sampler!

So far, I have:

Trader Joe's Jalapeno Hot Sauce

Louisiana Hot Sauce

Sriracha

Clancy's Fancy

Any others I'm missing that should be included?

Also, what else would make a good sampler pack as a gift? Mini bottles of champagne? Craft Beer? Olive Oils? Anything I'm missing!

Recipe Round-up: Deep Fried Pickles, Scones, Pie + More

By Jennie

(Braided Bourbon Pumpkin Pie photo used with permission by A Cozy Kitchen)

Lawnmower Tacos by Baked Bree

Mini BBQ Cheddar Meatloaves by Iowa Girl Eats

Chocolate Coconut Cupcakes by Whole Promise

Roasted Beet & Chevre Ravioli by Annie's Eats

Braided Bourbon Pumpkin Pie by A Cozy Kitchen

Roasted Acord Squash & Black Bean Tandoori Enchiladas by Good Things Grow

Deep Fried Pickles by Grill Interrupted 

Spaghetti with Creamy Butternut Leek Parmesan Sauce by Skinny Taste

Apricot Cream Scones by Pinch my Salt

Cheesy Creamed Corn Casserole by Brown Eyed Baker

Poblano Cornbread Stuffing by Love & Lemons

(Photo credit: Baked By Bree)

Giveaway Winner: Simple Food For Busy Families

By Jennie

Thanks for the comments on our healthy living cookbook giveaway! I'm already a big fan of Simple Food for Busy Families, and I'm excited for one of you to get your own copy.

Congrats to...

 

Jesabes! I'll be in touch soon.

On My Foodie Life List: Outstanding in the Field

By Jennie

I have a couple of things on my Foodie Life List that are 1) Very Grand and 2) Very Expensive. Food Pipe Dreams, basically. For instance, eating at Le Bernardin is one. Oh, pricey, pricey Eric Riipert-cooked food, I would never regret you. Drinking champagne in Champagne, France is another. (I imagine the glass of champagne wouldn't be nearly as expensive as GETTING TO FRANCE.)

The one I'd like to showcase today, though, is buying a ticket and enjoying a meal through Outstanding in the Field. This is a traveling event that reconnects diners with the land around them, by hosting a meal on a farm or in a field very close to where the meal's ingredients come from. "A roving, culinary adventure," the website calls it. I love this idea, no matter how overpriced or overhyped it may seem to be. I just plain love it. (The STUNNING pictures help that love, admittedly.)

(Photo from outstandinginthefield.com)

Each ticket seems to be about $180-250, which is A LOT, I know. The food looks outstanding, though, and the scenery looks outstanding (in nearly every stop), and outstanding is in the name afterall, but I've never been able to rationalize pulling the trigger on a ticket. There are multiple stops each year in Texas, too, so the opportunity is in my (metaphorical) backyard. The cost usually includes wine, a multiple-course dinner menu, and a tour of the area.

The 2013 dates haven't been announced yet (they seem to announce on the first day of spring, so we have until March to wait), but I'll eagerly see where they'll be and hope that ~$200 will float down with "fulfill your foodie fantasy" attached to it.

In the meantime, there is a cookbook.

What's on YOUR foodie life list?

Recipe Round-up: Spicy Lime Shrimp, Fresh Salsa, and Cookies

By Jennie

(My photo of Joy the Baker's Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies.)

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins by Joy the Baker (AH-MAZING!) 

Spicy Lime Shrimp with Green Beans by Lizzie Writes 

Fresh from the Garden Salsa by Jillian Harris

Coffee Cake Muffins by Eat Boutique

25 Non-Burger Dinners to Make with Ground Beef by Follow Holly (I know! It's a link on a round-up to a round-up, but good recipes are good recipes, right?)

Brussels Sprouds Gorgonzola Salad with Cranberries by Coconut & Lime

Veggie Bacon Hash by What's Gaby Cooking 

Ale & Cheddar Soup by Closet Cooking 

Jenna's Gingerbread Sandwiches with Chocolate Butter Cream by The Church Cook

Cheesy Spinach Puffs by Foodie with Family

Pumpkin Hazelnut Grilled Cheese by Shutterbean

Giveaway: Simple Food For Busy Families

By Jennie

I was recently sent a review copy of Simple Food for Busy Families: The Whole Life Nutrition Approach and was a little surprised when I got it in the mail. It wasn't a cookbook, like I was expecting, but something even better. It's really a lifestyle book, and it walks you through a switch from over-processed, packaged foods to a wholer, more nutritious way of eating.

The book is broken up into two main sections: 1) Whole Life Nutrition and 2) Everyday Cooking: Keeping it Real. I was completely drawn to the second section because it applied all the information to my everyday real life. There are recipes (like the below hummus recipe) but there are "mix-and-match" sections where you can build your own sandwiches, salads, smoothies, soups, pastas, and more by adding easy-to-find ingredients with a simple process.

Here's a snapshot of the sandwich portion:

You choose your "wrapper," your protein, your filling, and your condiment. Where lunch and grab-and-go meals are overwhelming to someone like me, this completely breaks it down. What do I have on hand that's on this mix-and-match menu? Combine those things and voila, delicious sandwich!

It simplifies eating, which isn't what everyone needs, but it's what I need. I really love this book.

Here's the hummus recipe I mentioned earlier:

Basic Hummus Recipe

1/4 C seasme tahini
1/4 C cold water
2 T freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 t ground cumin
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 (15-oz) can, rinsed and drained, or 2 C pre-cooked garbanazo beans
1 T olive oil

1. In a blender or food processor, blend together tahini, cold water, lemon juice, cumin, and garlic. Set aside in a bowl.

2. Puree the garbanzo beans and process until smooth, adding a little cooking liquid or water, if too thick.

3. Add the tahini mixture and process until mixed.

4. Put in serving bowl, add olive oil, and mix.

***

We're giving away one copy of Simple Food for Busy Families: The Whole Life Nutrition Approach to a Food Lush reader! Fine print section:

• How to enter: Comment with your last healthy meal or your favorite healthy meal
• Who can enter: Anyone in the U.S.
• Giveaway is open until: 11/9 at 11:59 PM EST
• Misc: one comment per person, winner will be selected via random.org, must be willing to provide your mailing address, and winner will be announed by 11/16.

Good luck!

***

Editor's note: I was given a copy of Simple Food for Busy Families without obligation of review or giveaway. All opinions expressed above are, of course, my own.

Recipe Round-up: Pumpkin Pie Bars, Pesto Baked Salmon, + More!

By Jennie

(Chipotle Guacamole photo included with permission by Honest Fare)

Roasted Broccoli Carbonara by Confections of a Foodie Bride

Pumpkin Pie Bars with Coconut, Chocolate, and Almonds by Good Things Grow

Chipotle Guacamole & Grilled Tortilla Chips by Honest Fare (Fun alert: Gabrielle co-runs the La Empanada Food Truck in Winter Park, FL.)

Beef Stir Fry with Snow Peas by Grill Interrupted

Pumpkin Creme Brulee by Sunday Suppers, on Cup of Jo

Pesto Baked Salmon with Veggies by Fannetastic Food

Roasted Pear & Chocolate Chunk Scones by Smitten Kitchen (plus, her cookbook is now available, you should buy it)

Apple Skillet Popover with Maple Yogurt Cream by Baked Bree

Skillet Mac & Cheese by Iowa Girl Eats

Veggie Hummus Feta Wrap by Our Best Bites

Share YOUR favorite recipes of the week in the comments!

Recipe Round-up: Sweet Potato Cakes, Beer Brats, and Scones!

By Jennie

(Photo courtesy of Plums in the Icebox)

Pumpkin Apple Baked Oatmeal by Plums in the Icebox

Roasted Acorn Squash Bowls by Hungry Hungry Hippie

German Potato Salad Recipe with Beer Brats by Culicurious

Pumpkin Cheese Scone by Lemons & Anchovies

Spaghetti Squash Shells by Edible Perspective

Parmesan-Panko Crusted Halibut by For the Love of Cooking

Chocolate Pecan Sticky Bars by Homesick Texan

Healthy Beef & Vegetable Fried Rice by Elly Says Opa

Inside Out Neapolitan Cupcakes by Sweetapolita

Autumn Sweet Potato Cakes by Brokeass Gourmet

Minted Orzo Salad with Chickpeas and Feta by Can You Stay for Dinner?

Spike Mendelsohn's Uncle D's Chili from Made With Love Cookbook. (A little self-serving, since this is a cookbook my company published, but I'm Spike's biggest fan and it was a thrill to have his recipe in this cookbook, so I had to share. It's also chili weather!)

Carrot Cake Donuts by PaleOMG

What recipes are you using, pinning, bookmarking, etc., this week?