Kroger Gift Card Giveaway!

Have you heard the news? The Cart Buster Savings Event is back at the Kroger Co. Family of Stores, beginning July 31st. There will be storewide savings in almost every department!

• From July 31st through August 17th save on tons of brands across more than 100 categories from General Mills, PepsiCo, Unilever, Heinz, Mars, Wrigley and Kimberly Clark.


• Look for some of your favorite participating products like, Honey Nut Cheerios, Yoplait , Pillsbury Pepsi, Doritos, Gatorade, Smart Ones, Ore-Ida, Cottonelle, Viva, Breyer´s Ice Cream, Axe , Snickers, Pedigree and Orbit.


• Look for big savings storewide at the Kroger Family of Stores, which includes Kroger, Ralphs, King Scoopers, City Market, Dillons, Smith´s, Fry´s, QFC, Baker´s, Owen´s, Jay C Food Stores, Hilander, Gerbes, Food4Less, Fred Meyer, Pay Less Supermarkets and Scott´s food & Pharmacy.

Looking for more ways to save? Just follow the Cartbuster "Deal of the Day" beginning August 3rd and running through August 16th.* You can download exclusive offers directly to your shopper card, by visiting www.cartbuster.com, beginning Wednesday, August 3rd. If you haven’t already tried this for your coupons, now is a great time to start.

Remember, www.cartbuster.com is your link to all of the details, savings and the special "Deal of the Day" offers for the Cart Buster Savings Event, exclusively at the Kroger Co. Family of Stores. The Cart Buster Savings event beginning July 31st. "Deal of the Day" offers begin August 3rd.

*Please be sure to check your local Kroger Co. Family of Stores for participating dates and deals. The Deal of the Day promotion is not valid at: Fred Meyer or Food 4 Less.

To help get you started saving money, here’s a great giveaway:

One $25 Kroger gift card (Good at any of the Kroger. Co Family of Stores)

How to enter? Just leave a comment and tell me how you’d like to spend the gift card. If you’re a follower of this blog, you’ll get an extra entry. Be sure to enter by midnight, July 31st and I’ll announce the winner on August 1st.

"Disclosure: The Kroger gift card, information, and giveaway have been provided by Kroger and General Mills through MyBlogSpark."

Check out these great links for more info:

• Kroger Website http://bit.ly/cartbustersavings


• Kroger Facebook Page http://on.fb.me/krogercartfbook


• Kroger Twitter Page http://bit.ly/krogertwitter

Cooking with Gas?

I spent years cooking without the benefit of an oven. The stove I had belonged to my Grandmother and it was an old gas range. The oven had been repaired a couple of times at a pretty high cost, but it never worked properly. So, I just used the burners on top and borrowed the use of my Mother's oven whenever it was absolutely necessary. I saved money for a long time before I finally purchased a new electric stove. I wish I had known about "www.canadapost.ca/shopper/" back then. This comparison shopper site helps you make a really informed choice about your purchase because you can compare each item side by side.
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I eventually bought a smooth top range and love it. But, I had to learn to cook on electric again after all those years of cooking on a gas range. I know a lot of cooks prefer gas. If you have the right pan, it's great. But, most of my pans were thin and I never could 'simmer' anything. It would always end up boiling even when I had the burner turned down to warm. But, it was great for roasting a marshmallow indoors!
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My first baked item in my new oven? Cinnamon rolls! And, everyone at the office was thankful! How about you? What's your favorite - gas or electric?

Foodie News – Samples & Offers

Just passing along some interesting offers and sites:

• If you use Schiff Move Free® Advanced or Schiff® Glucosamine check out www.SchiffLoyaltyRewards.com for more ways to save each time you purchase their products.

• Need a new grill? Check out www.tnpride.com to enter for a chance to win a George Foreman Mega Size Grill! Hurry – contest ends 7/31/2011.

• Want a free sample of Nutrish for little Fluffy? Check out www.switchtonutrish.com.

Have you heard the BUZZ?

Have you heard the BUZZ? Honey Nut Cheerios cereal is hosting a "Billion 'O' Giveaway", providing free samples to fans beginning July 4, 2011, available while supplies last.

If you've never tried this cereal, now is the prefect time. Just zip over to FavCereal.com for your sweet sample!

In addition to checking out the "Billion 'O' Giveaway", make sure to BEE-come a fan of Cheerios on Facebook and get involved in the conversation about Honey Nut Cheerios!

My thanks to Honey Nut Cheerios cereal for providing me this information through MyBlogSpark.

Foodie News – Cooking Channel in July

**COOKING CHANNEL JULY 2011 HIGHLIGHTS**

The Perfect 3 Highlights Top Recipes in 13 Categories

Plus: Viewers showcase their perfect recipes in exclusive online videos

3 Season Premieres of Cooking Channel Classics and New Episodes of Hit Series

July is all fireworks on Cooking Channel with its brand new series The Perfect 3 premiering Saturday, July 23^rd at 4pmET/1pmPT. This series joins together the three best recipes from fan-favorite chefs in 13 categories and gives viewers the chance to highlight their perfect dishes in an exclusive online episode featured on CookingChannelTV.com alongside Kelsey Nixon (Kelsey’s Essentials). Diving in for more, Cooking Channel serves up four premiere episodes of Hook, Line & Dinner on Tuesdays at 10:30pmET/7:30pmPT while traveling with Emeril on his cross-country quest for iconic restaurants on The Originals with Emeril airing Thursdays at 10:30pmET/7:30pmPT. Annie Sibonney continues her Spanish odyssey in premiere episodes of From Spain With Love on Saturdays at 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PT. Two Food Network classics Alex’s Day Off and Ace of Cakes make their Cooking Channel debuts, and season premieres of Cooking Channel originals Everyday Exotic, Food(ography) and United Tastes of America round out a robust summer line up. In case that’s not enough, viewers can fill up on premiere episodes of Cooking Channel favorites throughout the month. Join the Cooking Channel conversation on Twitter and Facebook.

SERIES PREMIERES

The Perfect 3

Food Network and Cooking Channel chefs spotlight the perfect three dishes in 13 classic categories, from burgers and brownies to sandwiches and salads. Each episode then throws to CookingChannelTV.com/perfect for a webisode featuring a viewer paired with Kelsey Nixon (Kelsey’s Essentials) showing how to make his or her online recipe submission that was voted as category favorite by fans.

· Premiering Saturday, July 23^rd at 4pmET/1pmPT – “Cakes”

It's time for dessert with cake recipes from Ina Garten, Giada De Laurentiis and Paula Deen.

· Premiering Saturday, July 30^th at 4pm ET/1pmPT – “Pancakes”

Tyler Florence, Giada De Laurentiis, Bobby Flay and Sunny Anderson put their culinary spin on pancakes, a breakfast classic.

SEASON PREMIERES

Everyday Exotic: Season 4 Premieres Saturday, July 9^th at 12:30pmET/9:30amPT – “Chipotle”

Chef Roger Mooking uses chipotle to turn a gringo style tortilla and cheese meal into the real deal. He redefines refried beans, creates two unique and fresh salsas and cools it off with a refreshing watermelon drink.

Be sure to check out Roger on his new Food Network series Heat Seekers as he and Aaron Sanchez take viewers on a flaming hot journey around the nation in search of the country’s hottest dishes premiering Friday, July 22^nd at 10pm ET/PT.

Food(ography): Season 3 Premieres Tuesday, July 12^th at 9pmET/6pmPT – “Beer”

On tap for this episode, viewers learn the brew basics along with the ultimate beer and food pairings. Beer-inspired culinary creations include: German beer pizza, malt-flavored blondies from the Baked Bakery and a bottled up specialty from the Brooklyn Brew Shop.

United Tastes of America: Season 2 Premieres Tuesday, July 12^th at 10pmET/7pmPT – “Sushi”

Sushi, an in-the-raw import, has become an American success story. Jeffrey Saad does the legwork to learn what happened when sushi washed up on American shores and find out why this Japanese classic is still on a roll.

NEW EPISODES

In addition to the above series, new episodes of hit Cooking Channel series air throughout July.

Hook, Line & Dinner

· Premiering Tuesday, July 5^th at 10:30pmET/7:30pmPT – “Oregon”

Ben visits the coastal town of Newport where he helps with the winter harvest by re-baiting traps. He then visits The Saffron Salmon to cook crab cakes before teaming up with Chef Eric Bechard to catch ling cod in Depoe Bay. He then heads to Gilmore Fish Smokehouse after the annual sturgeon catch before meeting ‘Sockeye Suzy’ on the banks of the Columbia for a fish fry.

· Premiering Tuesday, July 12^th at 10:30pmET/7:30pmPT – “San Francisco”

Ben heads up to Drakes Bay for an oyster farming lesson and then rides Swan Oyster to try oysters on the half shell before heading to Tadich Grill for farmed Scottish salmon. Ben then heads out for halibut on the Lovely Martha before ending his day with cioppino, a fish stew made from the catch of the day.

· Premiering Tuesday, July 19^th at 10:30pmET/7:30pmPT – “Santa Barbara”

Ben experiences life on a trawler dragging for halibut and marches his catch straight to Brophy Brothers Restaurant where they sauté his fish. Ben takes his pile of rockfish to The Hungry Cat before heading to Santa Barbara Shellfish Company. He finishes his trip with a sunset dinner with restaurant owner, Adam White.

· Premiering Tuesday, July 26^th at 10:30pmET/7:30pmPT – “San Diego”

Ben brings sea urchins to Baci Ristorante to feast on Pasta con Ricci. He then joins Elena Rivellino on a sardine boat as Elena watches as he learns to grill sardines on a stick. Ben finishes his trip at Bull Taco Café.

The Originals with Emeril

· Premiering Thursday, July 7^th at 10:30pmET/7:30pmPT – “New Orleans 2”

Emeril heads to New Orleans to visit Domilise for fried shrimp and roast beef sandwiches, Angelo Brocato’s Italian Ice Cream Parlor for their famous cannolis and ices and The Commander’s Palace for their signature turtle soup.

· Premiering Thursday, July 14^th at 10:30pmET/7:30pmPT – “Los Angeles 2”

In Los Angeles, Emeril travels to El Cholo for green corn tamales and chile rellenos, Pink’s Hot Dogs for a specialty hot dog, and Musso & Frank Grill for charbroiled steaks and a martini.

· Premiering Thursday, July 21^st at 10:30pmET/7:30pmPT – “New York City 2”

Emeril heads to the Big Apple to visit Lombardi’s Pizza for their famous White Pizza and Clam Pizza, Katz’s Delicatessen for their corned beef and pastrami, and 21 Club for Dover Sole.

· Premiering Thursday, July 28^th at 10:30pmET/7:30pmPT – “New York City 3”

Emeril visits Grand Central Oyster Bar for fresh oysters, Papaya King for fresh homemade juices and hotdogs and Peter Luger Steakhouse for instruction on prime meat selection.

From Spain with Love

· Premiering Saturday, July 9^th at 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PT – “24 Hours in Barcelona”

Annie takes viewers on a whirlwind eating tour of Barcelona with breakfast in Boqueria market, lunch at Cinc Sentits and dinner at legendary seafood restaurant Suquet de L’Almierall.

· Premiering Saturday, July 16^th at 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PT – “Playing with Fire”

Annie explores the many ways the Spanish cook meat, fish and even ice cream over fire, using wood, coal and grapevines.

· Premiering Saturday, July 23^rd at 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PT – “Granada: Culinary Crossroads”

Annie explores Granada and cooks traditional Moroccan dishes, enjoys Granadian classics at the Mirador de Morayama and dines on dried octopus at BAR FM.

· Premiering Saturday, July 30^th at 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PT – “Olive Oil: Liquid Gold”

Spain produces and distributes more olive oil than any other place in the world, and Annie hooks up with a range of experts who demonstrate the versatility of olive oil.

DAYTIME

Chuck’s Day Off: July 10^th, July 17^th and July 24^th at 11amET/8amPT

From the Kitchens Of...: July 10^th at 10amET/7amPT

PRIMETIME

Eat St.: July 5^th and July 7^th at 8pmET/5pmPT

Kelsey’s Essentials: July 2^nd, July 9^th, July 23^rd and July 30^th at 2pmET/11amPT

Unique Eats: July 3^rd, July 10^th, July 24^th and July 31^st at 10pmET/7pmPT

Unique Sweets: July 3^rd, July 10^th, July 24^th and July 31^st at 10:30pmET/7:30pmPT

COOKING CHANNEL SPECIAL

Eden Eats: Premieres Sunday, July 17^th at 8pmET/5pmPT

Eden Grinshpan takes viewers around the world in her 24-hour food adventure without ever using her passport. She arrives in Austin, Texas to highlight the city’s global cuisine where she’s invited into kitchens to discover how people from around the world have re-created their lives and culture through food. From Chef Piroshka's famous Hungarian Spaetzle at the European Bistro to Malek the Baker's Lebanese Pita making machine, every step leads to another country without leaving the city limits.

FOOD NETWORK FAVORITES ON COOKING CHANNEL

Alex’s Day Off

In Alex's Day Off, Alex Guarnaschelli, professional chef, working mom and passionate home cook invites viewers along for a unique culinary journey. Playful, poetic and downright funny, she thinks about food and cooking in a whole new way. For Alex, cooking is sensual, personal and pleasurable, and she wants to share that passion. Her recipes are down-to-earth, sophisticated and a bit sassy – just like her.

· Premiering Saturday, July 9^th at 11:30am ET/8:30amPT – “Brunch”

Alex begins her favorite meal of the week with Popovers topped with creamy Homemade Ricotta. Next, she fries up Blended Pork Sausage and Fried Eggs and tops it off with a Salty Dog, a grapefruit and vodka cocktail.

Ace of Cakes

By shaping cakes with drill saws and blow torches and staffing his bakery with fellow rock musicians, Duff Goldman is not your typical baker. Yet he's one of the most sought after cake makers in the country. From a tilted Dr. Seuss-like-seven-tiered wedding cake to an almost perfect replica of Wrigley Field, he and his team of artists dish up sugar and spice in the most unexpected and entertaining ways.

· Premiering Tuesday, July 12^th at 9:30pmET/1:30amPT – “Triple Crown Cake”

Duff and his staff crank out 21 decorative cakes in one week including a special cake for the Preakness, one of the biggest horse races in the world, but delivering the cake to the Maryland Jockey Club's VIP tent in the infield will be no easy feat.

Foodie News – July Notes

FOOD NETWORK SCORCHES SUMMER PROGRAMMING WITH NEW SERIES ‘TOUGH COOKIES’(WT) AND ‘HEAT SEEKERS’

Robert Irvine Returns with Season Two of ‘Restaurant: Impossible’

Plus: 5 New Episodes of ‘Food Network Star’ and 6 Daytime Season Premieres

Summer‘s heating up on Food Network with two new series, seven new seasons and five premiere episodes of its number one show, Food Network Star. It’s raining men in the series premiere of Heat Seekers as Aarón Sanchez and Roger Mooking take the country by storm in a sizzling search of the nation’s spiciest food beginning Friday, July 22^nd at 10pm, and two cacophonous New Jersey sisters get down to baking business in the new series Tough Cookies (WT)premiering Monday, July 11^th at 10pm. Summer fun doesn’t stop there as Robert Irvine returns to save the day in season two of Restaurant: Impossible premiering Wednesday, July 6^th at 10pm while the suspense builds and contestants dwindle in premiere episodes of Food Network Star on Sundays at 9pm. Things are getting busy “In the Kitchen” with six daytime season premieres, and the action continues with countless premiere episodes of Food Network favorites including Iron Chef America and Food Network Challenge. Join the Food Network conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

FEATURED SERIES

Food Network Star

· Premiering Sunday, July 3^rd at 9pm – “Diners, Drive-Ins and 4th of July”

In this 90-minute episode, the ten finalists must prove that they can entertain and cook. Guy Fieri explains that each finalist will take part in a taping at Mel’s Drive-In. Then, it’s all fireworks as the contestants put their spin on American classics using MGD 64 as a special ingredient for the Fourth of July All-American Food Festival, and the finalists must take the stage and serve as the live entertainment for the day.

· Premiering Sunday, July 10^th at 9pm – “Food Truck Face Off”

Tyler Florence divides the nine finalists into groups challenging them to create and brand a unique menu for a lunch truck. They must film an advertising spot promoting their truck and then serve mobile meals to viewers they inspired, but contestants have to put their best foot forward as consumers can only visit the truck they liked best.

· Premiering Sunday, July 17^th at 9pm – “Dinner Party for Wolfgang Puck”

In this double elimination episode, Bobby Flay charges the eight finalists to create a signature dish and helps them shine before each finalist demos their dish in front of the selection committee. Later, Bobby reveals the next challenge where the remaining finalists must host a dinner party for Wolfgang Puck and create a menu with only the ingredients and supplies in the house. HGTV’s Sabrina Soto makes a guest appearance to help the finalists get the house dinner party ready, and Puck arrives with the judges to help decide which six finalists will head to New York City to finish the race to become a Food Network Star.

· Premiering Sunday, July 24^st at 9pm – “Ina Garten and Rachael Ray”

In this episode, the six remaining finalists arrive at Food Network headquarters in New York City and are greeted by Ina Garten and Bobby Flay. She challenges them to create unique cupcakes that best represent their personalities. Next, contestants are floored when Rachael Ray joins them via satellite and informs them they must put on a live demonstration on the Rachael Ray Show. Each finalist puts their twist on a traditional dinner dish hoping to impress the live studio audience and Rachael Ray herself.

· Premiering Sunday, July 31^st at 9pm – “Comedy Roast”

The five finalists begin this action-packed episode scouring the stores of Chelsea Market in New York City searching for the “Best Thing I Ever Ate.” Bobby Flay then directs them to describe how this dish impacted them. Next, the finalists prepare a signature roast dish that gets roasted by guest star comedians Gilbert Gottfried, Aubrey Plaza, Anthony Anderson, Louie Anderson and Judy Gold.

SERIES PREMIERES

Tough Cookies (WT): Premieres Monday, July 11^th at 10pm

Food Network heads down the shore this summer for the new series Tough Cookies (WT), following sisters Susan Adair and Linda Brand and their loving, squabbling, multi-generational family as they run Crazy Susan’s Cookie Company in Ocean City, N.J. Crazy Susan’s isn’t your average bakery – Susan is a mad genius, cooking up crazy new concoctions every day, and their cookies are as popular as the beach in this town. They have their hands full with lines out the door and phones that never stop ringing – all while baking and managing their employees, who are mostly family members.

Heat Seekers: Premieres Friday, July 22^nd at 10pm

For chefs Aarón Sanchez and Roger Mooking, Heat Seekers is a tongue-testing odyssey to discover the most delicious and dangerous spicy food in the country—and figure out why it’s so much fun to eat. This season Aarón and Roger travel to Miami, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Santa Fe, Chicago, Seattle, Charleston and Los Angeles in search of outrageously spicy creations. In each city, they discover the secrets of everything from broiled crawfish and buffalo frog legs to fiery ribs and seafood ceviche, and then subject themselves to a test of who can handle the heat. What results is either tears of laughter or tears of pain, but usually, it’s both.

SEASON PREMIERES

Primetime

Restaurant: Impossible: Season 2 premieres Wednesday, July 6^th at 10pm

· Premiering Wednesday, July 6^th at 10pm – “Dodge City”

Robert heads to Harrisburg, Pa., to save Dodge City, a Wild West themed restaurant. Robert challenges the staff to create an original dish, and the design team races against the clock to finish the restaurant’s new look before the grand opening.

· Premiering Wednesday, July 13^th at 10pm – “La Stanza”

At La Stanza in Philadelphia, Robert finds an old-world Italian restaurant being run by the owner’s daughter and on the brink of failure. He jumps into action brightening up the dining room and updating the menu while also training an inexperienced manager.

· Premiering Wednesday, July 20^th at 10pm – “Sweet Tea”

Robert travels to Chapin, S.C., in attempt to save Sweet Pea by improving the freshness of the food, quality of service and restaurant décor. With just minutes until opening, Robert puts the staff through a grueling boot camp to shake the bad service in a last attempt to save this restaurant from complete failure.

· Premiering Wednesday, July 27^th at 10pm – “Country Fare”

Robert’s mission is clear when he arrives at Country Fare in Stafford, Va., a neighborhood diner with inedible food and a repulsive kitchen. After teaching the staff basic cooking skills, he focuses on a much-needed design overhaul.

Daytime

Aarti Party: Season 3 premieres Saturday, July 2^nd at 9am – “Summertime and the Cookin’ Is Easy”

Down Home with the Neelys: Season 10 premieres Saturday, July 2^nd at 11:30am – “Food Spell”

Secrets of a Restaurant Chef: Season 8 premieres Saturday, July 2^nd at 12pm – “The Secret to Lobster Rolls”

Barefoot Contessa: Season 5 premieres Saturday, July 2^nd at 1pm – “Summertime Easy”

Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d’Arabian: Season 5 premieres Sunday, July 3^rd at 9am – “Italian Inspiration”

Cooking for Real: Season 10 premieres Saturday, July 9^th at 10am – “Taking My Lumps”

ON-AIR SPECIAL

Sunny’s All-American Celebration: Premieres Saturday, July 2nd at 10am

Sunny Anderson shows us that behind every great soldier is a good meal. It's a very special personal and patriotic journey for Sunny as she travels to Ft. Bragg, N.C. and Fort Lee, Va. to look back on her time in the military, celebrate men and women in uniform, reconnect with her active duty family members, and show viewers why food is often the glue that holds military families together.

ONLINE CONTENT

Pull out a checkered tablecloth, fire up the grill and look no further for perfect all-American recipes at FoodNetwork.com/july4. Food Network fans get party-perfect recipes like Guy's 4th of July Cocktail, Alton's Fried Chicken and a new favorite, Flag Cake, from Ina Garten.

NEW EPISODES

In addition to the above new series, seasons and specials, Food Network premieres all new episodes of:

Food Network Challenge: Premieres Sunday, July 3^rd at 8pm – “Star Wars Cakes”

Food Network Challenge: Premieres Sunday, July 17^th at 8pm – “Chocolate Myths”

Food Network Challenge: Premiering Sunday, July 24^th at 8pm – “Smurf Cakes”

Iron Chef America: Premieres Sunday, July 24^th at 10pm – “Flay vs. Christiansen”

Iron Chef America: Premiering Sunday, July 31^st at 10pm – “Symon vs. Johnson”

Daytime: 5 Ingredient Fix, 30 Minute Meals, Bobby Flay’s Barbecue Addiction, Giada At Home, Guy’s Big Bite, Mexican Made Easy, Paula’s Best Dishes, Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee

Primetime: Chopped, Cupcake Wars, Extreme Chef, Meat & Potatoes, Outrageous Food, The Best Thing I Ever Ate

And the winner is….

And the winner is….

Peggy Clyde said...

When would I eat a brownie? Just about anytime I have the chance. I love Fiber One bars. Thanks.

June 26, 2011 11:31 PM

Congratulations Peggy! Please e-mail me at simplecookery@aol.com to claim you terrific prize.

My thanks to Fiber One and General Mills through MyBlogSpark for providing me with a Fiber One 90-Calorie Brownies gift pack to give away.