It's Catch Up Time

Good Morning!!

I had a couple of posts planned for today but, I have to admit, the trip to NYC wiped me out. I still need one more day to recover! Age is setting in I am afraid! Haha!

What will I be catching up on to share with you?

Reviews

I am almost finished with reading Apolo Ohno's new book Zero Regrets and I will be sharing a short review. It may also tie in with more Olympian news...stay tuned!

Another review which is almost complete is that of the Pampered Chef live cooking show that aired on Nov. 11th. Great cooking tips were shared and I look forward to giving you the skinny!

Some great posts are in the pipe to take us through the holiday, but one I am really excited to share with you is:

Holiday Giveaway

Mom Got Blog has teamed up with the Fisher Nuts brand and will be having another giveaway!! The last time we had a giveaway it was so well received that I know this will be fun as well! Check back tomorrow for all the details!!

I hope you had a fabulous weekend!

Pampered Chef Live Cooking Show Premiers Today!

I admit. I am a total foodie. I love to cook, bake and eat!

When I recently contacted Pampered Chef to talk some business, I shared with them how much I loved their product. If I had more room in my kitchen, I would definitely have even more of their fantastic items. In fact, a post that I wrote a while ago, Pampered Chef Stoneware, How Do I Love Thee? gave homage to one of my favorite pieces: the 9x13 lasagna stoneware pan. The post remains one of my highest keyword searches to this day. They complete my kitchen.

During our email communications, it was shared that the PC will be having their very first live cooking show on Facebook and would I like to review it?! How cool is that? Holiday Food Tips? Taking place in Chicago? Hosted by Jaden Hair of The Steamy Kitchen and PC's Test Kitchen Chef Brain Clark? You bet!

Enjoy a one-of-a-kind Cooking Show!

In fact, I just went to a home show last week and stocked up on more items to prepare for my holiday baking! I have been to so many of these demonstrations, that I normally show up after the food is prepared and just in time to socialize. This time, I was glad that I was there "on time", because I learned about new product lines that were coming out and some yummy new recipes that I will be sharing when guests pop in to say hi.

If you are a PC fan and have some time today to catch a live cooking show, stop by Pampered Chef's Facebook page to get the link to the show. I know I can't wait to see what tips they will share to make my holiday cooking and baking easier!

The show will be starting at 10:30 CST, Thursday November 11th.


Do you own Pampered Chef items? Which are your favorites to use/cook with?

Please share your comments below. You can help me spread the word by sharing this post on Twitter, Facebook or any social media you enjoy to use! Thanks!

Pampered Chef Stoneware, How Do I Love Thee?

Let me count the minutes... 26 to be exact.

I am in dire need of brownies. I'm tired of raiding the last bit of Halloween candy that has been discarded by the kids as not good enough to trade or hoard for themselves. I need something I can sink my teeth into and savor the warm, gooey, chocolatey goodness that a bite size Snickers Bar just can't match.

My favorite mix is the Betty Crocker Fudge Brownies. I've tried others, but this brand seems to bake the best in my Pampered Chef 9"x13" Stoneware Rectangular Baker.  If you do not own one, put it on your Christmas list. Seriously.

We've all been in the same boat of "Home" party invitations...make-up, jewelry, decorating or entertaining and I bet most of us always say the same thing..."If I accept, I can't just go and enjoy the party without ordering SOMETHING." We search for the least expensive item or order just one thing to "help our friend out" with getting their (free) stuff when all is said and done.  I have to be honest, I have declined an invitation or two based soley on the party item. One party I will not pass up is that of Pampered Chef.

I own quite a bit of this product...I have stoneware, mixing bowls, measuring cups, etc. and if I had more kitchen space, I would probably own more. I am a consultants dream. I have only wept over a broken dish once and that was my brownie pan (pictured above). It cracked in my oven- totally my fault- I had the temp too high. This was a pan that got my family through dozens of meals and desserts for YEARS. I let out a loud "OOOHH, NOO!" when I heard the big "POP" come out of my oven 3 years ago. I knew right away what happened and after carefully removing the pieces, I hopped on the computer and through misty eyes ordered a new one.  It felt like Christmas morning when my new one arrived and the very first thing I made when it was unpacked and washed was- yup, you guessed it, brownies.

Why am I obsessed with this stuff? Because it truly is the best product to bake with. Once you make a few brownie batches, the pan becomes "seasoned" and you don't have to grease and flour as with other pans. Plus, the item cooked in it comes out perfect every time. I could cook a lasagna, clean the pan (with just water and a plastic scraper) and then bake a cake and you would never taste the item cooked just prior.  I also have the stoneware cookie sheet and make all my cookies on it. It's a pain to use only one pan, but the finished product is just delectable.

And...oh, wait...I hear a beep, beep...timer done on microwave...26 minutes are up. Sorry, story ends here- time for chocolatey goodness! Yum!