Cooking for Seven

Have you ever visited Shabby Apple? If not, you are in for a real treat. I have long been an admirer of their shop, so you can image how excited I was to be able to host a giveaway. This adorable online clothing boutique offers vintage-inspired dresses, skirts, aprons, and more!

Some of my favorites are this red trench coat dress (named Lois Lane - how cute!), this chocolate military style dress, and this black maxi dress.


Would you like to win an item of your choice from Shabby Apple?
Here’s how it works:

[Mandatory] Visit Shabby Apple, come back and leave a comment telling me which dress/skirt/apron you would choose if you won. You must also “like” Shabby Apple on Facebook.

Rules:

You MUST provide a valid email address so I can contact you if you win.

Only one comment per person.

US residents only, please!

If you are the winner, you must respond within 48 hours with your mailing address or a new winner will be selected.

Giveaway ends Tuesday, December 20 at 12:00 noon Central Time. Not comments will be considered for entry after that time.

I will select one (1) winner using random.org.

Good luck!

You can receive 10% off your order at Shabby Apple by using the coupon code ”cooking4seven10off“. Coupon good until January 9, 2012.

I just love getting things in the mail, like baking mixes. Lovely baking mixes, like Dassant baking mixes.

I was lucky enough to receive four mixes for review. Now, I must admit that normally I’m pretty much averse to baking mixes - they’re usually filled with gross ingredients and taste very fake. Dassant baking mixes I found to be different.

Let me tell you what I think:

Packaging:

Each mix is enclosed in a beautifully designed box with an illustration of the finished product. It also indicates the country/state of origin. For example, the pumpkin spice bread is from Vermont (there’s a little American flag that indicates the country).

On the back, the ingredients are listed with cute little illustrations, and the directions are quickly summed up. There’s also detailed instructions for the perfectionist.

Many of the mixes include recipes to accompany the treat, such and the pumpkin icing pictured above. There are also handy suggestions for deciding when the mix is finished baking, how to make it into muffins, etc.

Taste

I was privileged enough to try out four different mixes (Cinnamon Bread, Chocolate Cake, Pumpkin Bread, and Truffle Brownies). I must admit that each one was delicious and baked up perfectly.

But the real question is: Would I buy it?

Yes, I would buy these mixes as a gift. However, there’s still a place in my heart that’s against baking mixes, so I probably wouldn’t be buying them for myself. But it would be a wonderful Christmas present for someone special. I highly recommend the cinnamon bread mix. It was scrumptious.

Now for the Giveaway!

The folks over at Dassant have generously decided to give away four (4) mixes of choice to two (2) lucky Cooking for Seven readers!

Here’s how it works:

• [Mandatory] Leave a comment on this post, answering the following question: What was the last thing you baked?

Rules:

You MUST include a valid email address in the comment form.

Only one comment per person.

US residents only, please!

If you are the winner, you must respond withing 48 hours with your mailing address or a new winner will be selected.

Giveaway ends Sunday, November 13, at 12:00 noon Central Time.

I will select two (2) winners using random.org.

Good luck!

P.S. Can’t wait until the giveaway ends to try out these awesome mixes? Here’s a coupon code just for you: Receive 25% off your order at Dassant by entering coupon code SEVEN

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

A while back, the folks over at RiceSelect sent me a jar of “Jasmati” rice, and in exchange, I agreed to publish my opinion of it!

RiceSelect, which has been around since the 70s, was the first company to successfully produce basmati rice grown in the USA. Their rice is USA grown and milled/cleaned. I think that’s super-awesome.  They also offer whole grain and organic rice, as well as couscous and orzo.

What I found:

This is a very nice white rice. It cooks up beautifully and quickly (about 15-20 minutes from boil) and has a very good texture. I used it for Thai Coconut Rice - heaven!

Would I Buy It?

Yes. Superior quality rice is sometimes a must. And I’d be interested in trying their whole grain rices and pearl couscous. However, the shipping charges seem quite high, so it would be for special occasions.

On to the rice pudding!

When I was little girl, my mom would make us boiled rice for breakfast. White rice. Brown sugar. Cinnamon. Cream. Scrumptious. There’s still a place in my heart for creamy, dreamy white rice. I know it’s not the most nutritious meal, but oh does it taste good.

Here’s a version that’s a bit more sophisticated.

My favorite part is that this rice pudding only uses five ingredients. Five awesome ingredients: Cream, whole milk, rice, sugar, and vanilla beans.

Together, they meld into something magical and comforting. Vanilla Rice Pudding.

Vanilla Rice Pudding

Adapted from Tartelette

Printable Page

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup rice (I used Jasmati)
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 of a vanilla bean, cut in half lengthwise and seeds scraped out
• 1/2 cup demerara sugar

Directions:

1)Place all ingredients (including the empty vanilla pod) in a small saucepan set over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the rice is tender, about 20-25 minutes.

2) Remove from heat and discard the vanilla pod. Spoon into serving dishes and serve warm or at room temperature with a bit of heavy cream. Enjoy!

On to the Giveaway!

RiceSelect is offering a tote bag and two full-sized rice products (Texmati and Jasmati) to one lucky Cooking for Seven reader.

Here’s how it works:

• [Mandatory] Leave a comment on this post, answering the following question: What did you have for breakfast yesterday?
• For extra entries, tweet, blog, or post on Facebook about this giveaway. Make sure to leave a separate comment for each extra entry with a link to the post.
• For more entries, subscribe to my RSS feed, follow me on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook. Make sure to leave a separate comment for each extra entry.

Rules:

Giveaway ends Wednesday, October 19, at 12:00 p.m. Central Time. No comments will be considered after that time.

I will select one (1) winner using random.org.

Good luck!

And the winner is…

Comment #253

Courtney Desormeaux: “I like the Proper spot of Tea”

Courtney chose “A Proper Spot of Tea” and “Hush, I’m Reading“

Congratulations, Courtney! Enjoy your prints.

On to some things I’m really lovin’ right now…

Baked Cake Doughnuts, or most anything from Souvlaki For The Soul. His photography is stunning.

Newbie Cheese Package from Gilt Taste

Gorgeous Peach Cake from here.

Kitchen conversion poster via Whimsy & Spice

Antique European grain sack.

Juxtapose dishtowels.

What are you lovin’ today?

Did ya’ll know that I have an Etsy shop? There I offer some of my favorite culinary, still life, and nature photography in print form.

Right now, I’m having a summer sale - by using coupon code “summer15″ you can take 15% off your entire order. Plus, everything ships free to United States residents!

Today, since I’m feeling a bit generous, I’m giving away two (2) prints of choice to one lucky reader!

Here’s how it works:

• [Mandatory] Leave a comment on this post, telling me which is your favorite print from my shop.
• For extra entries, tweet, blog, or post on Facebook about this giveaway. Make sure to leave a separate comment for each extra entry with a link to the post.
• For more entries, subscribe to my RSS feed, follow me on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook. Make sure to leave a separate comment for each extra entry.

Rules:

Giveaway ends Wednesday, August 10, at 12:00 p.m. Central Time. No comments will be considered after that time.

I will select one (1) winner using random.org.

Good luck!

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS NOW ENDED