Bush's Grilling Beans Backyard Cookout Giveaway

A few days ago, I teased you by announcing a fantastic Bush's Grilling Beans Barbecue Giveaway, and as I finalize my own plans for my Grilling Beans Cookout, I'm now ready to share the giveaway details with you and let you begin entering. I'll select the winner at the end of Memorial Day weekend, so you can begin the summer barbecue season in style.

THE WINNER WILL RECEIVE:
The most exciting part of the giveaway package is this beautiful brick red Emile Henry Flame Top Covered Casserole (retail value $240). It's a gorgeous receptacle for grilling beans or beefy stews, and just makes you want to lift the lid and plunge your nose deeply to inhale the contents of whatever is cooking inside.

You'll also win this set of high quality grilling utensils: tongs, spatula, and silicone brush/baster which are not the type of utensils you'll have to throw out at the end of the summer. The powerful tongs have already become a favorite in our house, and not just to threaten the kids when they get unruly.

And of course, you'll win a generous supply of Bush's Grilling Beans in an assortment of flavors to round out all your summer cookouts with a flavorful side. The flavors will include Black Bean Fiesta, Bourbon and Brown Sugar, Smokehouse Tradition, Southern Pit Barbecue, Steakhouse Recipe, and Texas Ranchero. And just to make sure you have everything you need, the Bush's team is even throwing in a can opener.

HOW TO ENTER:
To enter to win, please leave me a comment about your dish to serve at a barbecue, either side dish, main dish, or dessert. Feel free to share links or recipes as well! I'll select the winner at random after midnight on Monday, May 30. Contest limited to US residents only.

And there's many ways to earn additional chances to win, just make sure to return here to leave comments for each additional entry. You can:

• Follow @Frenchfoodiemom on Twitter
• Tweet about this contest.
• Like the Chefdruck Musings Fan Page
• Post about this contest on your Facebook page.
• Post about this contest on your blog.
• Subscribe to Chefdruck Musings.
• Tweet about this contest on multiple days, and you'll get multiple entries. Just don't forget to leave me a comment each time you perform an entry action so that you get credit.

*** The Giveaway is now closed. Random.org chose comment #110 - Gabby Lowe as the winner. Thanks to so many of you for entering, tweeting and Facebooking. Happy grilling to everyone! ***

Westminster Cracker Giveaway

Quality ingredients and artisanal production make a difference, even in the simplest products. When my foodie friend and PR freelancer Maris Callahan asked me if she could send me a box of Westminster oyster crackers to sample, I wasn't expecting much. I figured, how exciting can oyster crackers be? How much of a difference can a cracker make to a bowl of vegetable soup?

Pumpkin soup with brown butter drizzle would be even better with crackers

Well, I took one bite of the little crackers and threw my preconceived notions out the window. The Westminster Oyster Crackers were buttery with just the right amount of crunch and moisture balance. They tasted delicious as a quick snack on their own, and really added to a whole new dimension to my favorite butternut squash apple soup. The kids enthusiastically participated in the tasting and polished off  the sample box of 50 packages of crackers in a few days by snacking on them and putting them in their lunchboxes.

You can really taste that over a century of tradition goes into making these crackers. They are still manufactured in Rutland, Vermont with the same 7 all-natural ingredients as in the beginning. Thousands of restaurants across the US serve them with their bowls of soups and you can also buy them for your home at many local supermarkets. Overnight, thanks to Westminster Crackers, we became oyster cracker snobs and added the crackers to our weekly Whole Foods shopping list.

Picture Courtesy of Sur La Table

So that you can try the crackers for yourself and join me and my family  in the cracker snob club, I'm hosting a Westminster Cracker giveaway this week. The winner (continental US only please) will receive a beautiful assortment of soup products to really kick up their soup experience:

• Samples of Westminster Crackers (oyster, rounds and squares)
• This Set of 4 soup crocks from Sur La Table
• This Ladle from Sur La Table 
• These Soup Socks from Sur La Table

GIVEAWAY DETAILS
To enter to win, please leave me a comment about your favorite soup to make or eat. Feel free to share links or recipes as well! I'll select the winner at random after midnight on Sunday, April 10. Contest limited to US residents only.

And there's many ways to earn additional chances to win, just make sure to return here to leave comments for each additional entry. You can:

• Follow @Frenchfoodiemom on Twitter
• Tweet about this contest.
• Like the Chefdruck Musings Fan Page
• Post about this contest on your Facebook page.
• Post about this contest on your blog.
• Subscribe to Chefdruck Musings.
• Tweet about this contest on multiple days, and you'll get multiple entries. Just don't forget to leave me a comment each time you perform an entry action so that you get credit.

Easing the Pain of Monday with a Go Go Squeez Giveaway

Monday mornings are tough. When the alarm rings, putting an end to the freedom of the weekend, the return to routine is pure pain, for both parents and kids. Mondays are the days when I feel least inspired to fill the kids' lunchboxes. To ease the pain this snowy Monday, I'm hosting a giveaway of my favorite healthy snack to slip into the kids' lunches and beat the Monday blues: Go Go Squeez apple sauces.

Go Go Squeez are a line of apple sauces made by a French company called Materne that come in convenient squeezable pouches. No need for spoons, bowls, or napkins. Just squeeze into mouth and go. I can tell you that some supervision is necessary with the younger set as four-year olds find it incredibly fun to make mounds of apple sauce on the table. So much fun that they can go through a half a dozen pouches before you notice the quiet giggles in the kitchen and step in to clean up the mess.

The convenience of the packaging is only a small part of why I'm such a fan of these apple sauces. The ingredients are the real reason to get excited. There are no preservatives or added sugars. The ingredient list on the apple sauce label is short: apples, apple juice, that's it. The sweetness comes from the apples themselves, grown in France in the Val de Loire, near the beautiful Chateau de Chambord. Each pouch contains the equivalent of eating one apple.

Go Go Squeez apple sauces are available in Apple, Apple Banana, Apple Strawberry, Apple Peach and AppleCinnamon flavors. I find them at Whole Foods, Amazon and at my neighborhood supermarket. The winner of this giveaway (US Residents only please), will receive a case of Go Go Squeez in every flavor, enough to stuff your children's lunchboxes through the winter to be sure, or jazz up their snacktime. I received the same case as a thank you for hosting this review.

And I'm not alone in raving about these fun little good for you apple sauces. Go Go Squeez were just named one of the 25 best snacks in the February issue of Parents Magazine.


GIVEAWAY DETAILS
You can win a case of Go Go Squeez apple sauces to try out all their flavors. To enter to win, please leave me a comment about your favorite treat to surprise your kids in their lunchboxes. I'll select the winner at random after midnight on Monday, February 21. Contest limited to US residents only.

And there's many ways to earn additional chances to win, just make sure to return here to leave comments for each additional entry. You can:

• Follow @Frenchfoodiemom on Twitter
• Tweet about this contest using either this tweet, "Win a case of Go Go Squeez apple sauce from @FrenchFoodieMom." or another tweet of your choosing.
• Like the Chefdruck Musings Fan Page
• Post about this contest on your Facebook page.
• Post about this contest on your blog.
• Subscribe to Chefdruck Musings.
• Tweet about this contest on multiple days, and you'll get multiple entries. Just don't forget to leave me a comment each time you perform an entry action so that you get credit.

Lemon Panko Giveaway and a Recipe for Stuffed Eggplant

What type of crumb do you use when you want to add a little crunch to your dishes?

I used to crush up stale baguettes, but switched to using Panko five years ago when a Japanese friend handed me a package at a Japanese supermarket. For a few years, I was a Panko evangelist, telling all my friends to hunt down this amazing product that gives food such a perfect crunchy topping, but now I can rest. Panko has gone mainstream and can easily be found at your neighborhood supermarket in a variety of brands.

Progresso has even launched a few brands of seasoned Panko, and I'm hosting a giveaway today to call attention to their newest flavor: Lemon Pepper Panko. It gives a nice sophisticated twist to your favorite dishes. When I'm making baked chicken nuggets for my kids, I make half with this lemon pepper version to kick up the adult nuggets a notch.

 
GIVEAWAY:
Today I'm giving away a prize pack consisting of one package of Progresso Lemon Pepper Panko and an autographed copy of Michael Chiarello's Bottega cookbook. It's a gorgeous cookbook filled with dozens of dishes to help you pretend that you're living in Napa, cooking healthy Italian food. I received the same prize from General Mills as compensation for hosting this giveaway.

To enter to win, please leave me a comment about your favorite breaded dishes and whether you've ever tried to cook with panko. I'll select the winner at random after midnight on Monday, January 31.

And there's many ways to earn additional chances to win, just make sure to return here to leave comments for each additional entry. You can:

• Follow @Frenchfoodiemom on Twitter
• Tweet about this contest using either this tweet, "Win a copy of Michael Chiarelli's Bottega Cookbook and a box of Lemon Pepper Panko from @FrenchFoodieMom." or another tweet of your choosing.
• Like the Chefdruck Musings Fan Page
• Post about this contest on your Facebook page.
• Post about this contest on your blog.
• Subscribe to Chefdruck Musings.
• Tweet about this contest on multiple days, and you'll get multiple entries. Just don't forget to leave me a comment each time you perform an entry action so that you get credit.

and to inspire you a little, I'm including a recipe from Michael Chiarello, just the type of comfort food needed on a cold winter day like today.

Mama Chiarello's Stuffed Eggplant
Recipe by Michael Chiarello for Progresso® Foods

Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Start to Finish: 1 Hour 20 Minutes

1 large eggplant
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon gray sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 lb ground beef
1 onion, diced small (about 1 cup)
1 red bell pepper, diced small (about 1 cup)
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1 1/4 cups grated pecorino Romano cheese
1/2 cup Progresso® Italian style panko bread crumbs
1 whole egg
2 small tomatoes, chopped

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Cut the eggplant in half and scoop out the center, leaving enough meat inside the skin so that it holds its shape when baked. Chop eggplant that has been scooped out of the inside; place in saucepan, cover with water and boil until very soft, 10 to 12 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a medium saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat. Salt and pepper the beef. Add the seasoned ground beef to the pan, and saute until all of its liquid is evaporated and the beef begins to brown slightly. Let cool briefly, and chop the cooked beef so that there are no large chunks of meat. In another medium saute pan over medium heat, add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, and saute the onion, pepper and garlic together in the oil.
4. In a bowl, mix together the cooked eggplant, vegetables, beef, herbs, 1 cup of the cheese, 1/4 cup of the bread crumbs and the egg. Fill the scooped-out eggplant halves with this mixture, dividing it evenly between the two halves.
5. Top with chopped tomatoes, the remaining 1/4 cup cheese, remaining 1/4 cup bread crumbs, and season with salt and pepper. Place on an oiled oven tray or baking dish, and bake for 50 minutes. Let cool briefly; slice widthwise and serve.

Copyright 2010 Michael Chiarello

Recipe provided by Chef Michael Chiarello June 2010.

Win a Foodie Weekend Getaway in Grand Rapids, Michigan

And the winner is.... Comment #31, Milcah! She was selected using random.org. Thank you all for entering. Congrats Milcah! This will be a welcome break for this stay at home mom of 4!****

A few weeks ago, I was a guest of the Grand Rapids, Michigan Tourism Board along with my family for the weekend. We drove along the coast of Lake Michigan for two hours until we reached Grand Rapids, a clean city near beautiful beaches with a surprising amount of cultural and culinary activity for the entire family.

You may be surprised to think of Grand Rapids as a foodie destination, but there's plenty of restaurants to keep your taste buds engaged. I enjoyed some really exciting tapas at Sans Chez restaurant on Saturday night. The presence of world-class restaurants in Grand Rapids is clearly related to the fact that the International Culinary School at the Art Institute in Michigan is located there.

But there's more to do in Grand Rapids than just eat well. We were blown away by the beautiful artwork in the outdoor sculpture park of the Frederik Meijer Gardens, including works by Auguste Rodin and Juan Munoz. I love to expose the kids to art in such a relaxing and wild setting.

I almost feel silly saying this, but we were so impressed by the Grand Rapids Children's Museum. I normally am yawning within seconds of stepping into a children's museum with their thick cloud of germs and their tattered toys. But this children's museum was definitely the exception to the rule. Its design was light and airy with huge windows, and the exhibits were fun for the whole family. The bubble station and the working bee hive were particularly memorable.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
But don't just take my word for it, experience Grand Rapids for yourself thanks to this generous giveaway from the Experience Grand Rapids tourism board. One lucky reader will receive a foodie weekend package including:

• an overnight stay for a family of four at Courtyard Marriott Downtown Grand Rapids.
• Tickets for a family of four to to Frederik Meijer Gardens Sculpture Park
• an iPod Shuffle with a Podcast about Grand Rapids
• a Voucher to experience dining out in Grand Rapids
• And our Official Experience Grand Rapids Visitor Guide

To enter to win, please leave me a comment about whether you've ever been to Grand Rapids and why you'd like to go. I'll select the winner at random after midnight on Monday, December 20.

And there's many ways to earn additional chances to win, just make sure to return here to leave comments for each additional entry. You can:

• Follow @Frenchfoodiemom on Twitter
• Tweet about this contest using either this tweet, "Win a foodie weekend getaway to Grand Rapids from @FrenchFoodieMom www.chefdruck.com"
• Like the Experience Grand Rapids Fan Page
• Like the Chefdruck Musings Fan Page
• Post about this contest on your Facebook page.
• Post about this contest on your blog.
• Subscribe to Chefdruck Musings.
• Tweet about this contest on multiple days, and you'll get multiple entries. Just don't forget to leave me a comment each time you perform an entry action so that you get credit.

the Great Food Truck Race Giveaway

*** and the winner is Comment #14 - JenV or @JenAlber on Twitter ***

I've been a huge fan of the food truck movement ever since I first stumbled upon a huge snaking line of people waiting for warm cookies and brownies from the Treats Truck in Manhattan five or six years ago. Their excitement was irresistible. Walking past that line and missing a chance for a treat was simply not an option. The spontaneity and fun of sharing a foodie experience with all those strangers erased all the stress of the interview I had just finished. Standing in the warm spring sunshine, waiting for my turn to order my cookie, I happily dismissed all thoughts of the big job opportunity I was pretty sure I didn't want.

Since that memorable encounter with the Treats Truck, the number of food trucks in cities across America has grown exponentially as chefs and amateurs alike have embraced this low-cost way to get their food to customers. In Columbus, I was blown away by the freshness and quality of the food served by the 30 Taco trucks around the city. And now that I'm in Chicago, I can't wait to discover the local food truck offerings.

I am sure that the Food Network's latest show, The Great Food Truck Race, will inspire countless other food-obsessed entrepreneurs across the country to hit the road with their own unique food trucks. If you haven't checked out the show, it's not too late to add it to your DVR and catch up with previous episodes on the web. The finale is just 3 weeks away on September 19 at 9PM ET/PT. The show features seven gourmet food trucks racing coast-to-coast on a culinary road trip to convince Americans to step outside their culinary comfort zones and try something new. The last truck standing will win $50,000.

To drive up interest in time for the finale, I have a Great Food Truck Race gift pack for giveaway today which includes a t-shirt, an apron and a bumper sticker. To enter to win, please leave me a comment about a food truck experience before Friday, September 17. I'll select the winner at random that night.

For additional chances to win, you can:

• Follow @Chefdruck on Twitter
• Tweet about this contest.
• Post about this contest on your Facebook page.
• Post about this contest on your blog.
• Subscribe to Chefdruck Musings.
• Tweet about this contest on multiple days, and you'll get multiple entries. Just don't forget to leave me a comment each time you perform an entry action so that you get credit

In addition, you can vote for your favorite nominated food truck from now until September 10th for “America’s Favorite Food Truck Giveaway” and a chance to win a trip to the Food Network NYC Wine + Food Festival

Tassimo Brings the Coffeeshop to our Home

I'm fairly addicted to coffee drinks nowadays. I like them sweet and milky, like ice cream, but with a strong aroma of good coffee. There's nothing like the moment when the barista hands me that hot fragrant cup, makes the effort of driving to the coffee shop well worth the trip.

This week, I received the greatest appliance to review: a Bosch Tassimo Personal Coffeemaker. Every morning, I enjoyed coffeeshop quality coffee, right at home, without having to get out of my pajamas. I couldn't believe how easy the Tassimo was to operate. Before running it the first time, I ran it with just water five times to cleanse it. Then I simply inserted this little disc filled with ground coffee and pressed start. The machine came to life, sputtering and emitting the delicious smell of coffee. I made plain coffee, cafe au lait, and iced coffee, and was thrilled with the distinct and bold coffee I was able to enjoy at home.

The Tassimo has actually been a huge hit with the entire family. Every morning we're all clustered around it, and the kids are fighting to be allowed to press the button. The kids love the hot chocolate which is available from two French manufacturers, Suchard and Milka. Ironically, the kids prefer the darker tasting Suchard while I prefer the more milk chocolate flavored Milka. My husband drinks ice coffee all year round, which doesn't taste the same if you just pour regular coffee on top of ice. He became addicted overnight to the Tassimo version.

Even though the coffee is delicious, my favorite Tassimo product is the Earl Gray tea. It seems silly to brew tea in a coffee machine, especially when the cost per cup ends up being about $1.50, cheaper than a latte at Starbucks, but way more than a Lipton tea bag. Still, I find that the tea brewed in the Tassimo is richer and more intense than a plain tea bag.

Now our counters are lined with a variety of colorful boxes, and each morning we head to our personal coffee shop, in our jammas, and indulge our craving for the day.

GIVEAWAY
*** Random.org selected comment #6 as the lucky winner. Congrats to Kathy from the mouth watering Panini Happy blog. You're going to love this coffee maker! ***

I'm so excited because I have another Bosch Tassimo Personal Coffeemaker to give away today - valued close to $200. To enter to win, please leave me a comment about what your favorite coffee drink before Friday, August 5. I'll select the winner at random that night.

For additional chances to win, you can:

• Follow @Chefdruck on Twitter
• Tweet about this contest.
• Post about this contest on your Facebook page.
• Post about this contest on your blog.
• Subscribe to Chefdruck Musings and/or Chefdruck Reviews.
• Tweet about this contest on multiple days, and you'll get multiple entries. Just don't forget to leave me a comment each time you perform an entry action so that you get credit.

Get Grilling with Lawry's

One of my favorite things about summer is that it brings grilling season to full swing, making dinner prep a breeze. We've been grilling in earnest for weeks now and have been experimenting with different marinades to change things up at the grill. I recently received some of the newest marinade flavors from Lawry's Seasoning in Tuscan Sun-Dried Tomato and Szechuan Sweet and Sour BBQ along with a marinade dish and some grilling tools. I love the Mediterranean feel of the Tuscan Sun-Dried Tomato flavor on a grilled chicken breast and the Szechuan Sweet and Sour BBQ is a delicious addition to skirt steak.

GIVEAWAY
*** Comment #51, our last entry, by Gabby Lowe is the lucky winner! She likes plain barbecue sauce, and I can't wait to hear what she thinks of these marinades. ***

I have a second Lawry´s "Get Grilling Kit" for giveaway today that includes both of the new Lawry´s marinades - Tuscan Sun-Dried Tomato and Szechuan Sweet and Sour BBQ - a set of skewers and a marinating dish and cover. For additional grilling ideas and recipes, check out the Lawry's website.

To enter to win, please leave me a comment about your favorite marinade before Friday, July 23. I'll select the winner at random that night.

For additional chances to win, you can:

• Follow @Chefdruck on Twitter
• Tweet about this contest.
• Post about this contest on your Facebook page.
• Post about this contest on your blog.
• Subscribe to Chefdruck Musings and/or Chefdruck Reviews.
• Tweet about this contest on multiple days, and you'll get multiple entries. Just don't forget to leave me a comment each time you perform an entry action so that you get credit.

* Please note that the Lawry´s products, information and additional prize pack to give away were all given to me from Lawry´s through MyBlogSpark.

A Fierce Radiance Giveaway

A couple months ago, I reviewed a Fierce Radiance by Lauren Belfer. The novel came out in June, and it should definitely be on your summer reading list, if it's not already. A Fierce Radiance is definitely not your typical brainless summer fare. It's a beautifully written epic thriller about the race by Big Pharma to mass produce penicillin during World War II. Although the topic might sound a bit dry, the novel is actually filled with Nazi spies, corporate espionage, unscrupulous businessmen, and government employees prepared to commit murder to develop what they considered a critical weapon in winning the war.

I loved how much of the story is narrated by a Life Magazine photographer named Claire Shipley. Her shoots, complete with fascinating details about her equipment and angle choices, communicate the pulse of New York, the anxiety about the imminent attack from the Nazis, and the strain of rationing and war.

I have one copy of a Fierce Radiance to give away to one of my readers. I think you're going to love it. To enter to win, please leave me a comment about what's on your summer reading list before Friday, July 16. I'll select the winner at random that night.

For additional chances to win, you can:

• Follow @Chefdruck on Twitter
• Tweet about this contest, using this ready made tweet, "Never run out of power again! Enter @chefdruck's iGo Anywhere Charger giveaway: http://bit.ly/cfY7xe" or one of your own choosing.
• Post about this contest on your Facebook page.
• Post about this contest on your blog.
• Subscribe to Chefdruck Musings and/or Chefdruck Reviews.
• Tweet about this contest on multiple days, and you'll get multiple entries. Just don't forget to leave me a comment each time you perform an entry action so that you get credit.

Aroma Rice Cooker Giveaway

I've blogged before about my deep love for my slow cooker, an appliance that I essentially consider my partner in the kitchen. But there's another appliance that I couldn't live without: my rice cooker.

I lived without a rice cooker for years, just making my rice in a saucepan, thinking it was fine, until a Japanese friend let me borrow hers to make sushi rice. Before I returned it, I played around with it, and got hooked on how easily the rice cooker made perfectly fluffed rice, without me needing to worry about scorching the bottom of the pan. Soon I went out and got my own rice cooker, and started using it to make white rice, coconut rice, and even to steam vegetables.

This week I received Aroma's newest digital rice cooker to try. And the great news is that the Aroma PR team also gave me an extra one to give away to my readers!

The new Aroma Digital Rice Cooker can now be found nationally in Walmart stores for $39.88. I love that this rice cooker has both a white rice and a brown rice setting. As soon as the rice is done, it automatically switches to keep warm setting. And the delay cooking option lets you program your rice to cook up to 15 hours earlier. I can just imagine setting my slow cooker up in the morning with some nice short ribs and setting my rice cooker alongside it to come home to a ready made dinner that evening.

To enter to win, please leave me a comment about whether or not you own a rice cooker before Friday, June 25. I'll select the winner at random that night.

For additional chances to win, you can:

• Follow @Chefdruck on Twitter
• Tweet about this contest.
• Post about this contest on your blog.
• Subscribe to Chefdruck Musings and/or Chefdruck Reviews

The Next Food Network Star Giveaway

Congrats to Barb, the diebetic snacker. Random.org selected one of her comments, #11, as the winner of this Next Food Network Star gift pack. Barb's fave Food Network star is Ina Garten.

The new season of the Next Food Network Star premieres tomorrow on the Food Network channel at 9PM/8c. Now that Lost and all my other shows are over, I can't wait to get sucked into the drama and excitement of the competition to select the next Giada or Bobby Flay.

Get the scoop on the finalists at the Food Network site. It's too early to tell, but just from the pictures and videos, I'm rooting for Brad Sorensen from Texas.

I'm giving away a bag of goodies to celebrate the premiere, including a gorgeous copy of Giada's latest cookbook, Giada at Home. The winner will also receive a Food Network tote bag, a Next Food Network Star T-Shirt, and a Next Food Network Star CD.

To enter to win, please leave me a comment about your favorite Food Network personality before Friday, June 18. I'll select the winner at random that night.

For additional chances to win, you can:

• Follow @Chefdruck on Twitter
• Tweet about this contest.
• Post about this contest on your blog.
• Subscribe to Chefdruck Musings and/or Chefdruck Reviews

The Coupon Mom's Guide Giveaway

Congrats to MomForeverandEver, Comment #6, she is the lucky winner!

I am not a coupon mom. I've tried many times to get organized, bought one of those little coupon purses, took the time to go through the Sunday circular, but the habit never took. But I have the utmost respect for the moms who take the time to make the savings add up with coupons.

Today for giveaway, I have a copy of the Coupon Mom's Guide to Cutting your Grocery Bills in Half. Stephanie Nelson shares all her savings strategies and goes way beyond simply cutting coupons. She also tackles saving money on produce, at wholesale clubs, dairy, and non-grocery items, to name a few. She will revolutionize the way you shop.

I have one copy of Stephanie's book to mail to one of my readers living in the continental US. To enter to win, please leave me a comment about how you save on your grocery bills before Friday, June 11. I'll select the winner at random that night.

For additional chances to win, you can:

• Follow @Chefdruck on Twitter
• Tweet about this contest.
• Post about this contest on your blog.
• Subscribe to Chefdruck Musings and/or Chefdruck Reviews

Simply Go Gurt Busy Mom Giveaway

This year was the first year that two of my three children began eating lunch at school. Finding food to put in their lunch boxes that they will both eat can be a challenge. If they had their way, they would eat chicken nuggets and potato chips every day of their life. I'm constantly striving to find new products that are healthy but fun and will not return home at the end of the day untouched. And as a dairy-loving Frenchie, I tend to reach for cheese and yogurt first.

When MyBlogSpark contacted me to host a giveaway promoting their new Simply Go Gurt line, I was excited. My kids are big fans of the traditional Go Gurt line, but I always had mixed feelings about it due to the high fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors used to create their fun flavors. I was thrilled to learn that the new Simply Go Gurts line has no high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, or colors. And they're just as convenient to carry as the original Go Gurts. Currently Simply Go Gurts are available in strawberry and mixed berry. I love to freeze the Go Gurts tubes before putting them in their lunchboxes. Two to three hours later, the yogurts are nice and cold to finish my kids' lunches.

You must be wondering if this giveaway is just for a sample of the yogurt, and the answer is, "of course not!" The winner of this giveaway will receive a coupon for a free sample of Simply… Go-Gurt* as well as a Go-Gurt “Simplify Your Life” prize pack. A clever mom is definitely behind this giveaway as it has everything harried minivan driving moms like me need. I put the one I received as thanks for hosting this giveaway to use immediately. It includes:

• a pocket Etch a Sketch to keep your kids busy,
• an adorable flower print weekly planner complete with post it notes,
• and a seat back organizer to keep your car clean!

To enter to win, simply leave me a comment telling me what treats you sneak in your children's lunchboxes. For additional chances to win, you can:

• Follow @Chefdruck on Twitter
• Tweet about this contest - feel free to paste this in, or whatever you choose:  "@Chefdruck is hosting a simplify your life giveaway. Enter here: http://bit.ly/cPMz0Q"
• Post about this contest on your blog.
• Subscribe to Chefdruck Musings and/or Chefdruck Reviews

And you can download a coupon for $1.00 off at the Yoplait website.

*This coupon offer for free Simply… Go-Gurt is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, North Dakota and Tennessee.

Please note: the Simply… Go-Gurt, prize pack, information and additional prize pack to give away were all given to me from Yoplait through MyBlogSpark.

Yoplait Smoothie Giveaway

And, as selected by random.org, the winner is comment #46, TrixPixel. Congrats!

Smoothies are one of those things I always enjoy eating, but never think of making. In a store, I wait for my cup of fruity goodness as eager as a kid in a candy store, but it somehow never occurs to me to replicate this treat at home, for some reason, it always seems so hard.

Or I should say, smoothies always seemed so hard... until I discovered the new Yoplait Smoothies product, thanks to the folks at MyBlogSpark. They sent me a coupon for a free package of Yoplait smoothies and to make things really easy, they included a little blender with a take-along drink container. For a healthy breakfast, or a satisfying afternoon snack, all I do is reach in the freezer for one of the Yoplait Smoothies servings, add milk, and pop it all in the blender. Then I can run out the door with the kids to their afternoon activities with a refreshing treat in hand. The fact that it is only 110 calories and contains a full serving of fruit are two awesome added bonuses.

Today for giveaway, I have the same Yoplait Smoothies gift pack that I received. The lucky winner will get this convenient blender with its take-along smoothie cup as well as a coupon for their choice of Yoplait Smoothies package.

My favorite smoothies flavor is mixed berries. I'd love to hear about your favorite. Leave me a comment here before Thursday, March 18 for a chance to win. For additional chances to win, you can:

• Follow @Chefdruck on Twitter
• Tweet about this contest - feel free to paste this in, or whatever you choose: "I just entered to win a blender and a pack of Yoplait Smoothies @Chefdruck Musings. http://bit.ly/dyeDzd"
• Post about this contest on your blog.
• Subscribe to Chefdruck Musings and/or Chefdruck Reviews

You can also visit the Yoplait Smoothies website to print out a coupon for $1.25 off.

VIP coupon, prize pack, coupon link, and giveaway have all been provided by Yoplait through MyBlogSpark.

Sid the Science Kid DVD Set Giveaway

GIVEAWAY SATURDAY

*** Congrats to anonymous commenter #29 - the winner - who thinks PBS shows are the best! ***

Magically on Tuesday, when the big yellow bus stopped at the end of our street to ferry away the kids to school, the weather turned cooler. It's still August, but fall is in the air and no one is thinking of jumping in the pool anymore. The kids have been inside more which means it's a perfect time to restock my video library for those down moments after crafts, games, and snack.

One of my favorite new shows to program in the DVR is Sid the Science Kid. It's too young for my second grader, but perfect for my Kindergardener and my 3 year old. Sid is a lovable little boy who asks the same type of questions about the world that plague my kids. I love how he inspires them to be curious and investigate topics like dirt, bugs, leaves, and why bananas turn brown.

For giveaway today, I have two Sid the Science Kid DVDs: The Bug Club and Change Happens - enough to keep your kids entertained for months. As a bonus, I also have another great kids' show entitled Dive Olly Dive: Ship Shape Sub - featuring the animated underwater adventures of Olly the submarine.

These three DVDs will go as a set to one lucky winner. To enter to win, just leave a comment here by Friday, September 11. I'll select the winner at random that night. And head on over to Chefdruck Reviews to enter to win another educational DVD gift pack, this time all about space with the Zula Patrol.

As usual, you can get extra chances to win by:

• linking to this contest on your blog,
  
• subscribing to my Chefdruck Musings feed
• subscribing to my Chefdruck Reviews feed.
• tweeting this contest.
  

Just remember to leave me a different comment to get credit for each extra entry.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 25th Anniversary DVD Giveaway

GIVEAWAY SATURDAY

It's hard to believe that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. These masked turtles have been rescuing the world and entertaining hordes of little boys for decades.

To mark this special anniversary, I have two collector's edition DVD box sets, each containing six episodes from season 7 and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figurine. You can collect all 4 DVDs to complete your Season 7 set-- even the cases fit together to complete a unified action scene.

To enter to win, just leave a comment here by Friday, July 24. I'll select the winners at random that night. As usual, you can get extra chances to win by:

• linking to this contest on your blog,
  
• subscribing to my Chefdruck Musings feed
• subscribing to my Chefdruck Reviews feed.
• tweeting this contest.
  

Just remember to leave me a different comment to get credit for each extra entry.

Tag Junior Giveaway

GIVEAWAY SATURDAY

*** And the winner is comment #123: Chris. Congrats! Her favorite is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. ****

I was recently contacted by Leapfrog and given the honor of being named a Leapfrog Ambassador of Summer Reading. I eagerly accepted my role, which gives me the joy of selecting some libraries, daycare, and schools to receive sets of Leapfrog Tag readers to assist in their reading programs. In the next few weeks, I'll be sharing with you some videos and pictures of me delivering these valuable reading tools.

My kids have been fighting over the Tag reader we received a few months ago, and I've been amazed to watch how they all use it so differently. My seven year old used the Tag to grow in confidence with her reading, pressing it to long words she struggled to read. My five year old used it to read aloud to him as he followed along with the book. And my two year old cried and cried every time I took it away from her for banging it roughly against the books.

I was therefore thrilled to learn that in addition to playing Santa to a few libraries and schools, I would also be receiving another Tag pen and the newest addition to the Leapfrog Tag suite of products: the Tag Junior, a chubby and sturdy version of the Tag reader, especially designed for rough toddler use.

To kick off the Leapfrog Ambassadors of Summer Reading campaign, I'm hosting a giveaway of a Tag Junior reading set, consisting of 1 Tag Junior and 2 Tag Junior books. (a $56.98 value). The Tag Junior has its own series of toddler favorite books including Dr. Seuss' Mr Brown Can Moo, Curious George, and the Backyardigans.

To enter to win, leave me a comment by Friday, July 17 at midnight telling me your children's favorite book titles. As usual, you can get extra chances to win by:

1. Linking to this contest on your blog.
2. Subscribing to my feeds for Chefdruck Musings.
   
3. subscribing to my feed for Chefdruck Reviews.
   
4. Tweeting about the contest.

Please make sure to leave me separate comments for each extra chance to win so you get as many entries as possible!

Paris Day 3: le Desastre

My camera has an amazing battery life. It goes for weeks and weeks. It lasts so long that I never think to even check it.

But when it dies, it just dies. Without warning other than a little discreet flash at the corner of the LED screen.

And when it's done. It's over. C'est tout. Fini. No turning it off and turning it back on to squeeze an extra couple of shots. No taking out the battery to magically blow on it to bring it back to life with the power of potent breath.

And that's what happened today in front of the soaring glass Pyramid of the Louvre, otherwise known by Jack as "the KINGDOM" as in "Take my picture in front of the KINGDOM, Mommy!"

You won't see any pictures of the kids looking down into the Pyramid.

You won't see any of our family picnic of croque monsieurs and sandwiches au jambon on the cerulian lawns on the Jardin des Tuileries with the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre facade in the background.

You won't see the image of Juliette's chubby face painted with decadent Angelina's hot chocolate.

No snapshot will freeze the kids' laughing faces on the motorcyle ride at the Jardin d'Acclimatation, the little amusement park I used to beg my parents to take me to when I was a little girl.

And as for that gorgeous pink sunset that lit up Notre Dame's darkening shape as we strolled across the bridge from the Ile St Louis finishing up our Berthillon ice cream, it will only remain in our memory banks.

When we got home, I rushed to plug in the battery in the recharger, only to discover that it was only compatible with 120Volt plugs and would be fried in the French 240 Volt outlet. I would have to wait until I reached my mom's house to recharge it in her tranformer.

I thought I would have to either buy a disposable camera in order to capture our last day and half in Paris, but that's when blogger fortune smiled on us. I found a Casio camera the lovely folks at Coyne PR had sent me to review in my purse. I had tucked it in there to Fedex back to them before we left, but had run out of time. In my rush to get tout the door, I forgot to take it out of my purse!

And wonders of wonders, my memory card from my regular camera fit right in. Battery was fully charged and ready to go. Now this little Casio Exilim will really get reviewed and we won't have to rely on our memories alone to remember this epic trip.

Pasta Night Gift Baskets Giveaway

GIVEAWAY SATURDAY
*** Thank you to so many of you for entering! It was great to see that everyone struggles with getting dinner on the table. Random.org selected comments #346, 112, and 51 as the winners. Congrats to Nanana, Laura, and Bridget3420! ***

I am normally a pretty big cooking snob when it comes to mixes and prepared foods. I just prefer to make my own sauces and put my own dishes together. But I do like to have some quality mixes on hand for when life gets too crazy.

When I received this box of Macaroni Grill creamy basil angel hair pasta to review, I opened my pantry and tucked it away. I didn't think about it again until I was ransacking the fridge and pantry at 8PM a few weeks ago trying to come up with a good side to have with shrimp. I grabbed the box on a whim, whipped it up in fifteen minutes, and was sorely tempted to pass off the final product as my own creation when Steve devoured it.

I've since replaced that sample box with a few more in my pantry... just in case.

Today for giveaway I have three "What's for Dinner" Macaroni Grill Restaurant Classics at Home gift baskets. Each winner will receive a box of Creamy Basil Angel Hair chicken to try along with some great cooking utensils to make their dinner: a colander, a spatula, and a slotted spoon. I received the same gift basket and the three utensils were so nice that they made the "decluttering" cut to keep in our kitchen for our last month at home before the big move.

To enter to win, just leave me a comment here by Friday, May 29 with your biggest struggle when cooking dinner for your family. I'll select the three winners at random that night. As usual, you can get extra chances to win by:

1. Linking to this contest on your blog.
2. Subscribing to my feeds for Chefdruck Musings.
   
3. subscribing to my feed for Chefdruck Reviews.
   
4. You can also Tweet about it for an extra entry.
   

Please make sure to leave me separate comments for extra chance to win.

The Tale of Despereaux DVD Giveaway

GIVEAWAY SATURDAY

****Congrats to JillianLVeigt, comment # 229 - she was selected by Random.org as the winner of the Tale of Despereaux DVD ****

My kids don't watch much TV during the week, not because we're anti-TV, but because our schedules are just too hectic. But on weekend afternoons, after a great morning playing in the yard, we like to have some family downtime on the couch. I'm always on the lookout for family friendly movies that will entertain everyone, boys and girls, toddlers and big kids.

The Tale of Despereaux
will be released on DVD on Tuesday, April 7. It features the incredible voice talents of Matthew Broderick, Emma Watson, Dustin Hoffman, Sigourney Weaver, Kevin Kline, William H. Macy, Tracy Ullman, and Stanley TucciWe recently screened our review copy and it was a big hit with everyone. My husband enjoyed the action packed plot, Jack enjoyed the adventure, and both girls thought the mice were just "so cute!" And I liked that the movie was not only entertaining but that it had an easy to understand moral about courage and honor.

I have one DVD copy of the The Tale of Despereaux
to giveaway today. To enter to win, leave a comment here with your favorite children's movie by Friday, April 17. I'll select the winners at random that night. As usual, you can get extra chances to win by linking to this contest on your blog, and subscribing to my feeds for Chefdruck Musings and Chefdruck Reviews. You can also Tweet about it for an extra entry. As I'm shipping out this prize myself, please limit entries to Continental US only.