Thursday, August 19, 2010

Foodie News - Free Spaghetti

If you live in TN, AR, or AL, RONCO has a offer for you. Sign up at RoncoRecipes.com and they will send you FREE spaghetti. Hurry though. This is a limited time offer. I love free stuff. Don't you?

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Foodie News - Tune-In Alert

**TUNE-IN ALERT**

Brother and sister team up for new FOOD NETWORK series

‘Family Style’ Premieres Thursday, August 26th at 10:30PM ET/PT

NEW YORK – August 11, 2010 – This August, meet siblings Joey and Melissa Maggiore, in Food Network’s new primetime series, Family Style, premiering Thursday, August 26th at 10:30pm ET/PT. Despite approaching life in completely opposite ways, this “odd couple” of the restaurant world, share the same goal: to make their new Italian restaurant, Tommy V’s, in Carlsbad, Calif., a success. Melissa, a hard-working traditionalist, can find it challenging seeing eye-to-eye with Joey, a wild card without a filter. While trying to pull off everything from speed-dating events to extravagant wedding rehearsal dinners, Joey can drive Melissa crazy with his pranks and antics, but at the end of the day, these talented restaurateurs pull through together in true Family Style.

Episodes include:

Premiering Thursday, August 26th at 10:30pm ET/PT– SERIES PREMIERE!

“Speed Dating Disaster”

With business slowing down at Tommy V’s, Melissa and Joey Maggiore set up a speed-dating event featuring aphrodisiac appetizers to attract young, hip clientele. Joey hopes the event will help his shy cousin Jimmy get lucky with the ladies, and the prankster secretly signs his single sister up for the event as well.

Premiering Thursday, September 2nd at 10:30pm ET/PT

“Rappin’ Restaurant”

To create some buzz around their new restaurant, Tommy V’s, Melissa Maggiore invites the local movers and shakers to a VIP wine tasting, but her brother Joey’s idea is a bit more extravagant: create a special rap video about the restaurant. Joey decides to secretly recruit his cousin Jimmy to help produce the video and play it for the guests during the wine tasting. Will Melissa let it slide if she sees the guests enjoy it, or will Joey’s idea completely tank?


Premiering Thursday, September 9th at 10:30pm ET/PT

“Bridezilla and the Lamb”

Siblings Melissa and Joey Maggiore have two very important parties to plan for their family: a wedding rehearsal dinner at Tommy V’s and a birthday party at Melissa’s house. Things fall flat when the future bride decides she wants an over-the-top Mexican fiesta and not the Italian fare the Maggiores prepared. Meanwhile, Joey and Melissa must throw a party for their families, so Joey surprises them with a whole roasted lamb.


Premiering Thursday, September 16th at 10:30pm ET/PT

“Smokin’ Joey”

While he’s proud of his Italian heritage, Joey Maggiore follows his all-American dream of becoming the king of barbeque by entering a local barbecue festival. Before Joey competes, he decides to test his barbecue sauce in front of Tommy V’s while Melissa is out of town. Departing from her traditional Italian menu causes Melissa’s blood to boil, but she returns to a surprise when customers start raving about Joey’s special recipe.


Premiering Thursday, September 23rd at 10:30pm ET/PT

“Family Face-Off”

When Melissa Maggiore can’t convince her brother to cook for a private charity dinner, she challenges him to a bet: they’ll each create a new dish for Tommy V’s menu and their father will decide which dish is best. If Melissa wins, Joey must cook for the charity dinner, and if she loses, she’s on dishwashing duty all night. Either way, somebody will end up doing the dirty work.


ABOUT MELISSA MAGGIORE:

As the daughter of an Italian immigrant, Melissa traveled extensively to Italy with her father where her love affair with food and wine began. After pursuing a journalism degree at Arizona State University, she decided her passion for food, wine, and hospitality could not be ignored and returned to San Diego to assist in the opening of a new family restaurant venture in Coronado. In 1997, Melissa opened a trattoria, La Bruschetta, in La Jolla, Calif., and embarked on a second location, Zibibbo Italian Bistro, in Encinitas, Calif. in 2000. Melissa has been instrumental in marketing her family’s Luxus 5 wines from Sicily in the U.S. marketplace. In May 2010, Melissa opened Tommy V’s Urban Kitchen in Carlsbad, Calif., the subject of Food Network primetime series, Family Style. In December 2010, Melissa will assist her parents in their latest concept, Tommy V's Italian Chop House, which opened its doors in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. in June 2010. Melissa currently lives in Southern California with her two children, Marcella and Francesco.


ABOUT JOEY MAGGIORE:

From a young age, Joey worked with his father at their family restaurants where he learned the art of Italian gastronomy. After graduation, Joey threw himself into the restaurant business perfecting the dishes that were passed down from generations. Joey attended The Scottsdale Culinary Academy, but left the program to pursue his dream of opening his own restaurant in San Diego. Assisting as the executive chef and concept creator of his parents’ restaurants for two years, Joey got his big break when he opened Joey’s California Bistro in 1999. In addition to running his California bistro, Joey continued to be influential in the daily operations of his parents’ restaurants. In 2003, he assisted in the opening of Tommy V’s Steak & Chop House in Carlsbad, Calif. In 2004, Joey embarked on a successful endeavor to bring Southern barbecue to Carlsbad, Calif., inspired by his travels with a California edge, by opening Joey’s Smokin’ BBQ. Within three years, Joey turned this small, quick-serve BBQ joint into a franchise of eight locations around the state with more locations to open in future. In 2010, Joey and his sister, Melissa, opened Tommy V’s Urban Kitchen and he worked for his family’s new endeavor, Tommy V’s Italian Chop House in Del Mar, Calif. Joey currently resides in Southern California with his wife Cristina and their three children, Giuliana, Tomaso, and Melina.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Foodie News - Aarti Party Wins!!!

AARTI SEQUEIRA CROWNED THE NEXT FOOD NETWORK STAR

New Daytime Series – ‘Aarti Party’ – Premieres August 22nd at 12pm ET/PT

NEW YORK – August 16, 2010 – After 10 weeks of heated culinary competition jam-packed with 18 intense challenges, Los Angeles food blogger Aarti Sequeira won The Next Food Network Star as revealed during the season six finale last night. Up against San Francisco’s Tom Pizzica and Atlanta’s Herb Mesa in the final challenge, Aarti’s impressive pilot ultimately helped her win the title and her dream Food Network show, Aarti Party, set to premiere this Sunday, August 22nd at 12pm ET/PT. In addition to the new show, Aarti will be featured in Food Network Magazine and at the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival in October.

“Aarti has that all-too-rare combination we seek in our stars: a passionate food expert who is warm, radiant, fun, and relatable,” said Bob Tuschman, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Programming & Production, Food Network. “Aarti also brings a new world of flavors to Food Network and is perfectly suited for viewers seeking new inspirations.”

On her new daytime series, Aarti invites viewers to join her for a playful Aarti Party, where she shares approachable and delicious ways to enhance American favorites with simple but unique Indian influences. Whether she’s sprucing up everyday pulled pork sandwiches and perfectly roasted chicken or taking classic bread pudding and basic red lentils to new heights, Aarti cleverly combines the familiar with the exotic to create mouthwatering meals. No matter the occasion, Aarti Party promises great food and endless fun for home cooks everywhere. For more information, recipes, and videos, visit: www.foodnetwork.com/aartiparty.

Born in Bombay, India, and raised in Dubai, UAE, Aarti’s culinary inspiration stems from her cultural background, family recipes, and never-ending food experiments. After working as a producer at CNN and completing several freelance gigs in the entertainment industry, the Northwestern University journalism graduate trained at The New School of Cooking in Culver City, Calif., and earned her professional cooking certificate in 2007. She further explored her culinary calling by starting a blog and online cooking-variety show called, “Aarti Paarti” in 2008. Aarti and her husband, Brendan, currently live in Los Angeles.

In additional news about The Next Food Network Star, Food Network is excited to announce that runner-up Tom Pizzica will host the new primetime series Outrageous Food, premiering November 2010. Production begins today for this traveling food show featuring out-of-this-world eats. Additionally, casting for season seven of The Next Food Network Star, set to air in 2011, is currently underway. For information about open-call auditions, applications, rules, and submission instructions, visit www.foodnetwork.com/starcasting.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

And the winner is....

*****Update - August 23, 2010****The original contest winner never contacted me to claim the prize, so the new winner is:

A Bookish Mom said...
I am a public follower

Jennie A
abookishmom at yahoo dot com

August 11, 2010 2:36 PM


Please send me your contact information by August 25th so I can have MyBlogSpark send you the Sam's Club gift card. Congratulations!!!


*********************************************************************




Congratulations allisonsbj3! Please contact me by August 19, 2010 to claim your prize!

allisonsbj3 said...
Thanks for this great giveaway!
allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

August 11, 2010 9:04 PM


My thanks go out to Sam’s Club and General Mills for providing me with a Sam’s Club Plus Membership, a $25 gift card for myself, information, and this wonderful giveaway through MyBlogSpark.

Keep checking back for more great giveways!

Monday, August 9, 2010

Sam’s Club Back-To-School Event & Gift Card

A friend once told me about coming home one evening to find all the labels removed from her canned goods. One of her ‘little ones’ had gotten a little over excited about a class project of collecting labels for education. For the next month, the family dinners had a few ‘surprises’ and some unusual food combinations. But, you have to admire the excitement! That’s why I was very eager to help get the word out concerning Sam’s Club Back-To-School Event.

Back to School shopping can be hectic. Sam’s Club has great solutions and can help you earn more cash for your local school. From August 11th through August 31st the Sam’s Club Back-to-School event you’ll get a head start on your collection and find 6Box Tops on participating General Mills products.

Box Tops for Education brands now include such items as:

Baby & Child Care
Baking
Beverages
Cereal
Disposable Tableware
Frozen
Meals & Sides
Paper Products
Products with Limited Availability
Refrigerated & Dairy
School & Office Supplies
Snacks
Storage Bags & Containers
Waste Bags

With the great values you’ll find at Sam’s Club, you’ll be able to send your kids off to school not only with cool supplies, but yummy snacks that won’t break your budget.

Sam’s Club is giving you the opportunity to earn even more Box Tops when you upgrade to a “Plus Membership.” From Aug. 6 – Aug. 13, or while supplies last, visit the Member Services Desk of your local Sam’s Club and upon payment for your Plus Membership, you will receive a certificate for 150 Bonus Box Tops! For more information on how you can take advantage of the Back-to-School event at Sam’s Club, visit www.samsclub.com today!

Sam’s Club and General Mills, through MyBlogSpark want to help you with your back to school budget with a $25 Sam’s Club gift card. You can use it for your favorite school supplies or anything else that catches your eye while shopping their isles for bargains. To enter, simply leave a comment below and tell me your must-have item that you’ll be purchasing from Sam’s Club this back-to-school season. If you’re a member of this blog, you are automatically entered. But, if you leave a comment, you’ll get an extra entry. Hurry though, as I’ll be announcing the winner on August 13th.

My thanks go out to Sam’s Club and General Mills for providing me with a Sam’s Club Plus Membership, a $25 gift card for myself, information, and this wonderful giveaway through MyBlogSpark.

This contest has ended and the winner was: allisonsbj3

Sunday, August 1, 2010

A Tale of Three Peppers

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I love the ‘stop-light’ peppers they sell in the local grocery store.  They are soooo expensive, but the red, yellow and green colors are so inviting.  Luckily, the individual peppers were on sale recently and inspired this easy stir fry.

Three Peppers Stir Fry with Pork

1 each red, green, and yellow peppers, sliced

2 boneless pork chops, diced

1 medium onion, sliced

1 cup sliced Monterey mushrooms

2 cups cooked brown rice

1 cup cooked broccoli flowerets

1 clove garlic, minced

salt & pepper to  taste

4 tablespoons teriyaki sauce

2 tablespoons canola oil

In large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat.  Add onion and garlic.  Cook 1 minute.  Sprinkle pork with salt & pepper.  Add pork and continue to cook until pork is no longer pink.  Add mushrooms and cook 1 minute, then add peppers.  Cook to desired tenderness – about 5 minutes, stirring constantly.  Add teriyaki sauce, broccoli and rice.  Stir well and serve.