Oneida Dotty Dish Set Review

This is the first Christmas my family is going to spend alone; it is just going to be me, my husband, and our kids. I have never hosted the festivities so I never had a need for special dinnerware. This year, I wanted dinnerware that I could dress up for the holidays, but still use throughout the year. First check out some of Oneida's holiday dishes that you can currently save up to 70% off of:
I love these candy cane glasses on sale for a set of 4 for $21.99 from $60.00! Such a good deal!
This set of 4 HoHoHo Salad Plates are on sale for $15.99!
For a more traditional look, you may like the set of 4 O'Tannenbaum Salad Plates on sale for $15.99.
For special silverware, I love this Act 1 stainless steel flatware. So classic and beautiful.
I had the opportunity to receive the Dotty 65 piece service set for 12. It is exactly what I had in mind to make our Christmas table special, but can still be used all year long. I plan on adding a holiday table cloth and chargers under the plates. The set came with twelve dinner plates, salad plates, bowls, mugs, saucers, a sugar bowl with a lid, a creamer, serving bowl, and a platter. This whole set is on sale for an incredible $59.99!!! I have never even seen a 12 place setting set and this is the perfect one, especially at such a good deal. I have already used and ran my dishes through the dishwasher several times. They still look brand new. They are also microwave safe and so durable. I even let my toddler use them. I am so excited to own this gorgeous set and look forward to holidays and daily use using these dishes for years.

BUY IT!

You can purchase the Oneida Dotty 65 piece service set for 12 for $59.99! Do not miss out on this incredible deal! This would be such a great Christmas gift!

We are not compensated for our reviews. We receive product(s) for free so we can provide our experience. These are our honest opinions. Your experience may vary.

Wilton Cupcake Shop Review & {GIVEAWAY!!}

We are officially in the baking season and Wilton has plenty of products to help you out this year. Like this Dancing Snow Man or these Twinkling Treat Sprinkles. I had the opportunity to review this Wilton Cupcake Stand and loved it.

I love to bake and am always trying out new muffin recipes so this was quite handy to have. It looks totally adorable sitting out on the counter and makes for easy access for guests to grab food from breakfast to dessert. Wilton was also generous enough to include sprinkles and cupcake holders for me to use.

The cupcake holders are so adorable! They really help make a plain old cupcake look like something special.

If you are hosting any holiday party's this Christmas season, then you need to get your hands on some Wilton products. They have everything you need to bake up a storm and put it on display.

WIN IT!!

Wilton has generously offered one of our lucky readers the:

Cupcake N' More 24 Count Mini Dessert Stand

Jimmies 6 Mix Sprinkle Assortment

Yellow Petal Baking Cups

Teal Scalloped Baking Cups

Rose Ruffled Baking Cups

Mandatory entry:

Visit Wilton and then come back here and let us know another product you would love to have in your kitchen.

You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

Extra Entries (Leave a comment for each entry):

1 Entry: Follow our blog publicly (found on right sidebar).

1 Entry: Subscribe to our blog via reader.

1 Entry: Become our friend on Facebook AND update your status with link to this giveaway.

3 Entries: Post about this contest with a link back to our blog AND a link to Wilton (Leave a link back to your post in your comment).

1 Entry: Follow us on twitter and tweet this contest. You may do this once daily (always leave the link in your comment).

2 Entries: Add our button to your blog.

Good luck! Contest ends on December 9th at midnight. Winner will be announced December 10th.

Winner will be chosen through random.org. Open to U.S. only.

Please be sure to include your e-mail or have it in your profile so I can contact you if you win. Thanks!

We are not compensated for our reviews. We receive product(s) for free so we can provide our experience. These are our honest opinions. Your experience may vary.

fusionbrands foodpod and iceorb Review

fusionbrands offers products you always wish you had in the kitchen, but were never actually available. From cooking tongs that you wear to a silicone lacing tool, fusionbrands just made working in the kitchen easier.
I received a couple of products to review. The first being the foodpod. This is a seriously cool invention. This silicone pod is used to blanch, boil, steam, and drain. It can be used to steam veggies, boil eggs, cook shellfish, and more.
I recently wanted to make deviled eggs so I tried out my new foodpod. The foodpod helps your food cook even and more effectively. My favorite part of using the pod was once the eggs were cooked, I just removed the entire thing, let it drain over the pot, and put it straight in the fridge to cool off. I didn't need a strainer and there wasn't any mess removing the eggs.
Our fridge doesn't have an automatic ice maker so we have been needing an ice tray and this iceorb definitely does the trick.

To use, you fill the outside silicone with water, replace the cup, put the lid on, and freeze. You can either use the inner cup to keep drinks or dips cool while serving or you can fill the cup with the ice and start the process over to hold 51 ice cubes.

I have been so impressed with this ice creator/holder. Unlike regular ice trays, the scent or stench of your freezer doesn't get absorbed into the ice thanks to the airtight lid.

BUY IT!

You can purchase these products as well as many other great inventions at fusionbrands.com

The foodpod is $15 and the iceorb is $16. You will love them!

We are not compensated for our reviews. We receive product(s) for free so we can provide our experience. These are our honest opinions. Your experience may vary.

Batter Up Kids Cooking Shop Tween Pot Set & Sauté Pan Review & {GIVEAWAY!}

I love getting my entire family helping in the kitchen. Batter Up Kids Cooking Shop provides everything to get your children, tweens, and family involved with frosting and decorating kits, to kids aprons, to kid-friendly appliances. Shopping their site is a great way to get your family in the kitchen and excited to spend time together and gaining a passion for cooking/baking!
I had the opportunity to try out the Tween Cook Pot Set in my home. This 3 pot enamel-on-steel set includes a small 1.5 quart pot, a medium 2.5 quart pot, and a larger 3.5 quart pot. You can purchase a set for your tween or family for $47.oo.
These are great size pots! I found the 1.5 quart (the smallest) perfect for cooking pasta for 1-2 people. I would say with each larger pot, you can make food for one or two more people. These pots are super easy to clean; I just rinsed clean with my dish soap and wiped it dry. If I could make an improvement, it would be to add rubber or some kind of heat resistant handles. As of current, the handles do get pretty hot so I had to pick up the pot with pot holders. Other than that, the pots cooked my food evenly and my water was brought to a boil fairly quickly.
I also received the Sauté Pan in bright yellow for review. This pan has a nonstick interior and a comfortable grip handle. It can be put in the oven up to 350 degrees and you can use it with any utensils. This pan is a great deal, especially since it is on sale for only $8.99!
I was so impressed with this sauté pan. My food didn't stick to the pan while I was cooking or while I was cleaning it. I didn't notice any scratching of the nonstick surface. This has actually become my new favorite pan. It is so easy to use and cooks my food perfectly. It is hard to believe that the price is so incredibly affordable.

WIN IT!

Batter Up Kids Cooking Shop has generously offered one of our very lucky readers the Tween Cook Pot Set AND the Sauté Pan.

Mandatory entry:

Visit Batter Up Kids Cooking Shop and then come back here and let us know another product you would love to own.

You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

Extra Entries (Leave a comment for each entry):

1 Entry: Follow our blog publicly (found on right sidebar).

1 Entry: Subscribe to our blog via reader.

1 Entry: Become our friend on Facebook AND update your status with link to this giveaway.

3 Entries: Post about this contest with a link back to our blog AND a link to Batter Up Kids Cooking Shop (Leave a link back to your post in your comment).

1 Entry: Follow us on twitter and tweet about this contest. You may do this once daily (always leave the link in your comment).

2 Entries: Add our button to your blog.

Good luck! Contest ends on April 15th at midnight. Winner will be announced April 16th.

Winner will be chosen through random.org.

Please be sure to include your e-mail or have it in your profile so I can contact you if you win. Thanks!

We are not compensated for our reviews. We receive product(s) for free so we can provide our experience. These are our honest opinions. Your experience may vary.

Ceramcor Xtrema Cookware Review & {GIVEAWAY!!}

After only 3.5 years of marriage, my pots and pans are a disaster. I actually have pan flakes that end up in my food every single time I cook. Not only is this disgusting, I imagine it can't be very healthy. So, after some research, I discovered that ceramic pots and pans was a safe route to go to never have chipped pan remnants again.

Xtrema offers ceramic cookware, bakeware, and teaware that could potentially last a lifetime. Their products are non-toxic, ecological sound, environment-friendly, free of heavy metals, ozone-friendly, and pollution free. This means Xtrema's products are green and healthy!
I received the 3 piece Wok Set ($139.99) to try out, which includes a silicone pot holder and a nylon wok turner. This product is incredible! You can take it straight from the freezer to the oven, microwave, gas or electric stove top and then to the dishwasher or sink without worrying about how hot or cold your cookware is.
I decided to try out my wok by making chicken fajita quesadillas. One special feature I noticed about using ceramic cookware was how low of a cooking setting you need to use. I kept the setting at medium heat and my wok stayed hot and cooked my food quickly.

I also loved being able to cook my chicken, push it up to the side where it would stay warm, and then cook my onions and garlic. I actually noticed that my food tasted better than when I use my old pans because the Xtrema cookware does not retain odors and your food won't have that metallic taste from old pots and pans, like mine.
After I finished cooking our meal, I put the pan into our sink and filled it with soapy water. I came back to after we finished eating, poured out the water, wiped it with my sponge, and it was clean. While you can use Brillo pads on this product without scratching your pan or chipping away at the surface, I didn't find it necessary. It was extremely easy to clean!

WIN IT!

Xtrema has generously offered one of our very lucky readers a 10" Open Skillet ($99.99 value).

Mandatory entry:

Visit Xtrema and then come back here and let us know another product you would love to own.

You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

Extra Entries (Leave a comment for each entry):

1 Entry: Follow our blog publicly (found on right sidebar).

1 Entry: Subscribe to our blog via reader.

1 Entry: Become our friend on Facebook AND update your status with link to this giveaway.

3 Entries: Post about this contest with a link back to our blog AND a link to Xtrema (Leave a link back to your post in your comment).

1 Entry: Follow us on twitter and tweet about this contest. You may do this once daily (always leave the link in your comment).

2 Entries: Add our button to your blog.

Good luck! Contest ends on March 28th at midnight. Winner will be announced March 29th.

Winner will be chosen through random.org.

Please be sure to include your e-mail or have it in your profile so I can contact you if you win. Thanks!

We are not compensated for our reviews. We receive product(s) for free so we can provide our experience. These are our honest opinions. Your experience may vary.

POM Wonderful Review

My family had the opportunity to try POM Wonderful. It actually tastes wonderful and best of all, is absolutely wonderful for you.POM Wonderful has been backed by $32 million in medical research, primarily in the areas of prostate, cardiovascular, and erectile function. In fact, there are published clinical studies documenting the benefits of drinking eight ounces of POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice daily. It also is a great antioxidant! I don't know about you, but I will take those benefits!

POM Wonderful is the only brand that guarantees their product is 100% authentic pomegranate juice. With my first sip of the juice, I knew this was true. The taste was sweet and tart and I honestly felt like I was eating a fresh pomegranate, minus the seeds. Completely delicious! Because their juice is all natural, with no added sugars, preservatives, color or filler juices, I felt confident offering my toddler a drink. He also loved it and asked for more. I highly recommend purchasing this product for you and your family!

I personally enjoy drinking the POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice as is, but it also great in recipes. Check out this POM Velvet Cupcakes with POM Cream Cheese Frosting:

POM CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

• juice from 3-4 large POM Wonderful Pomegranates,* or 1-1/2 cups POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice
• 1 cup arils from 1-2 large POM Wonderful Pomegranates
• 4 oz. soft unsalted butter
• 8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
• 14 oz. powdered sugar

• POM VELVET CUPCAKES

• juice from 6-9 large POM Wonderful Pomegranates,* or 2-1/2 cups POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice
• 16 oz. granulated sugar
• 14 oz. soft unsalted butter
• 4 ea large eggs
• 1-1/2 cups buttermilk
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 15 oz. all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 oz. cocoa powder
• 3/4 oz. baking soda
• pinch salt
• 1/4 cup heavy cream

• Preparation

  POM Cream Cheese Frosting: Prepare fresh pomegranate juice*, score 1-2 fresh pomegranates and place in a bowl of water, break open the pomegranates under water to free the arils (seed sacs), the arils will sink to the bottom of the bowl and the membrane will float to the top, sieve and put the arils in a separate bowl. Reserve 1 cup of the arils from fruit and set aside, (refrigerate or freeze remaining arils for another use), reduce the pomegranate juice, over low heat, down to 3 fl. oz., Allow to cool, place butter into electric mixer bowl with paddle attachment and cream on medium-high speed for 1 minute, add the cream cheese and continue to mix for 2 more minutes, turn the speed down to low and slowly add in the powdered sugar and the pomegranate juice reduction, mix until the sugar is fully combined, remove icing from the mixer and place into a piping bag with a round or star tip.

  POM Velvet Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350F, reduce the pomegranate juice, over low heat, down to 1/2 cup, place sugar and soft butter in the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, cream on medium-high speed, until the mixture is pale yellow and fluffy, turn the speed down to low and add the eggs in one at a time, in a separate bowl, combine the buttermilk, pomegranate juice reduction, white vinegar and vanilla extract, and then slowly add half of this to the mixer, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt, and then sift at least two times until well mixed, add half of this to the mixer, add the remaining half of the liquids to the mixer, and then the remaining dry ingredients, finish off with the heavy cream, beat just until combined, place cupcake liners into cupcake pan, and using a spoon, fill with cake batter until it is just about 3/4 full, bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean, allow the pan to cool slightly, and then remove cupcakes to a wire rack to cool fully, once the cupcakes are cooled completely, they can be iced with the pomegranate cream cheese frosting and topped with fresh pomegranate arils.

  BUY IT!

You can purchase POM Wonderful in the refrigerated case of your grocer's produce section!

We are not compensated for our reviews. We receive product(s) for free so we can provide our experience. These are our honest opinions. Your experience may vary.

Kroger cart buster $25.00 GC GIVEAWAY!!

Great news for all you savvy money saving grocery shoppers out there! Kroger is having their Cart Buster Sale going on now until March 14th. The sale features low prices on a huge list of name brand products for all aspects of your house. The list includes toilet paper, deodorant, diapers, household cleaners, pet food, frozen food, cereal, batteries and much much more! Check out this link for a complete list of everything included in the sale.

Are you wondering what in the world Kroger is? Then you probably live in an area with a Kroger owned store that goes by a different name. Here is a list of all the Kroger owned stores. Hopefully at least one of them looks familiar to you.

Win It!

Not only is Kroger having this awesome sale, the Kroger family of stores, along with General Mills (through MyBlogSpark) is offering a $25.00 gift card to one of our lucky readers!

Mandatory entry:

Look through the list of sale items, then come back here and let us know what items you plan on stocking up on while they are so cheap.

You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

Extra Entries (Leave a comment for each entry):

1 Entry: Follow our blog publicly (found on right sidebar).

1 Entry: Subscribe to our blog via reader.

1 Entry: Become our friend on Facebook AND update your status with link to this giveaway.

3 Entries: Post about this contest with a link back to our blog AND a link to MyBlogSpark (Leave a link back to your post in your comment).

1 Entry: Follow us on twitter and tweet about this contest. You may do this once daily (always leave the link in your comment).

2 Entries: Add our button to your blog.

Good luck! Contest ends on March 19th at midnight. Winner will be announced March 20th.

Winner will be chosen through random.org.

Please be sure to include your e-mail or have it in your profile so I can contact you if you win. Thanks!

-Tracy

We are not compensated for our reviews. We receive product(s) for free so we can provide our experience. These are our honest opinions. Your experience may vary.

SUBMIT YOUR RECIPE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A CALIFORNIA GETAWAY! & {GIVEAWAY!!}

From home cook to celebrity chef! Five lucky finalists will win more than just their 15 minutes of fame with a trip for two to sunny LA where they will participate in the California Cook-Off event with celebrity chef Ben Ford. With airfare, three nights’ accommodations, a rental car and spending money included, you’ll be living your very own California dream!

Just visit www.DoleCookOff.com to enter your signature recipe for an entrée that highlights at least one can of DOLE Fruit or Juice. Using DOLE Pineapple, Mandarin Oranges, Tropical Fruit, Pineapple Juice or Pineapple Mango Juice, as well as no more than seven additional ingredients, you will be automatically entered to win this ultimate California cooking experience.

Judging criteria for the Grand Prize Winner will be based on:

• Best use of DOLE Canned Fruit or Juice
• Creativity
• Flavor and taste

The California Cook-Off event will be held at the Epicurean School of Culinary Arts, one of the most well-respected culinary schools in California. You will be teamed up with a professional blogger as your "sous" chef, who will chronicle the cooking process and feature your dish on their site! This blogger will be on hand to help with your dish and share the experience with you with their readers. Plus the Grand Prize winning recipe will appear on cans of DOLE Fruit nationwide!

Don’t forget to keep coming back to www.DoleCookOff.com for more chances to enter your favorite recipes, as well as discover great new recipes to try out!

WIN INSTANTLY AT WWW.DOLECOOKOFF.COM

• The California Cook-Off Instant Win Game offers even more chances to win with DOLE. All you have to do is register atwww.DoleCookOff.com, and you’ll be automatically entered to win one of more than 100 great prizes from Cooking.com
• And tell your friends! For each friend you tell about the DOLE Cook-Off, you’ll get an additional entry to win!

DOLE CANNED FRUIT FUN FACTS

• DOLE Canned Fruit comes in three different varieties: Mandarin Oranges, Pineapple and Tropical Fruit.
• Convenient and ready-to-eat, DOLE Canned Fruit is the one of the best ways to have fruit always on hand in your pantry.
• DOLE Canned Fruit is naturally fat free, saturated fat free, cholesterol free, and rich in vitamin C.
• DOLE Canned Fruit has been awarded the ChefsBest award by the American Culinary ChefsBest.
• DOLE Canned Pineapple is a convenient, ready-to-eat product. For your convenience, DOLE Canned Pineapple is available in slices, chunks, tidbits and crushed.
• DOLE Tropical Fruit is a combination of hand-selected pineapple and red and yellow papaya chunks packed in light syrup and passion fruit juice.
• DOLE 100% Pineapple Juice and Pineapple Mango Juice are packed with real fruit taste and always have the flavor adventure you've been craving.
• WIN IT!

Dole has generously offered one of our very lucky readers 2 coupons for a free can of Dole fruit.

Mandatory entry:

Enter the Dole Recipe Contest and share your recipe here, too!

You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

Extra Entries (Leave a comment for each entry):

1 Entry: Follow our blog publicly (found on right sidebar).

1 Entry: Subscribe to our blog via reader.

1 Entry: Become our friend on Facebook AND update your status with link to this giveaway.

3 Entries: Post about this contest with a link back to our blog AND a link to Dole (Leave a link back to your post in your comment).

1 Entry: Follow us on twitter and tweet about this contest. You may do this once daily (always leave the link in your comment).

2 Entries: Add our button to your blog.

Good luck! Contest ends on March 19th at midnight. Winner will be announced March 20th.

Winner will be chosen through random.org.

Please be sure to include your e-mail or have it in your profile so I can contact you if you win. Thanks!

We are not compensated for our reviews. We receive product(s) for free so we can provide our experience. These are our honest opinions. Your experience may vary.

Beaba Babycook Baby Food Maker Review

Making your own baby food can be quite a process, but it doesn't have to be. Beaba has created an easy way to steam/cook and puree food with the Babycook for your baby so you know exactly what they are eating and you know it is fresh and still full of nutrients.

When you purchase a Babycook, included is:
spatula
heating compartment lid
steam heating compartment
food processor controls: cooking, reheating, defrosting, and blending
cooking light
bowl lid: security locking system
cooking, reheating, defrosting basket
removable food processor blades
cooking bowl
gasket
bolt for detaching blades
base
mixing lid

Using the Babycook is quite simple. You just pour water into the cooking bowl and into the heating compartment. You then place your diced food in the basket and put it in the cooking bowl. You then turn on the appliance to the steam symbol. Once the food is cooked, the cooking light goes out. Depending on the recipe, you will then pour out or keep part of the cooking liquid.
You can then blend the food you just steamed to the appropriate consistency for your child.
I really love the reheating feature to this appliance. You can just put your jar of food uncovered in the cooking basket with water and once the indicator light goes out, your baby food will be warm. You can also defrost food in the same manner as reheating, but with just adding a bit more water.
The Babycook also comes with some yummy recipes that I found very easy, even for someone new to making baby food. One simple recipe that we tried and enjoyed was an apple and pineapple compote, intended for babies 8-12 months. You just need 1/2 an apple and one slice of pineapple. You add water to the basket and keep half the water after it is cooked to puree in with the fruit. Delicious!

BUY IT!

I highly recommend purchasing a Beaba Babycook for anyone who is planning on making their own baby food or even if you think it would be nice to do occasionally. Your baby will love the fresh food and you will love knowing your baby is getting all the nutrients fresh food has to offer!

Buy it at Beaba babycookstore.com for $149.95!

While you are there, check out their children's dinnerware and baby food freezer trays.

Dole 30 Day Challenge

WIN INSTANTLY AT

WWW.DOLECHALLENGE.COM

• Being a DOLE fan really pays off – in more ways than one! Just visit www.DoleChallenge.com, complete the registration form and read the healthy snacking tips for your chance to win tons of Fruit Bowl prizes. It’s good for your body and your wallet!
• 100 first prize winners will receive a coupon redeemable for TEN FREE 4-packs of DOLE Fruit Bowls – that’s more than a month of healthy snacking guaranteed!
• 100 second prize winners will receive a coupon redeemable for FIVE FREE 4-packs of DOLE Fruit Bowls. You’ll be well on your way to healthy eating habits for the whole family!
• And you can keep coming back daily for more chances to win with DOLE.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SPECIAL REBATE OFFER

• Have you had your DOLE Fruit Bowl today? From January 10 – March 1, DOLE is challenging you to eat a Fruit Bowl everyday for 30 days. As a reward for passing the 30 Day Challenge, you can enter to win the Fruit Bowls Rebate Offer.

From January 10 – February 10, purchase eight 4-packs of DOLE Fruit Bowls, Gels or Parfaits and then enter to receive FOUR coupons – each good for a free 4-pack of DOLE Fruit Bowls.

Have you had your DOLE Fruit Bowl today? From January 10 – March 1, DOLE is challenging you to eat a Fruit Bowl everyday for 30 days. As a reward for passing the 30 Day Challenge, you can enter to win the Fruit Bowls Rebate Offer.

From January 10 – February 10, purchase eight 4-packs of DOLE Fruit Bowls, Gels or Parfaits and then enter to receive FOUR coupons – each good for a free 4-pack of DOLE Fruit Bowls.

Just visit www.DoleChallenge.com before February 28 and download an official rebate form. Fill out the form and mail it, along with the eight 4-pack original UPC codes and your register receipts to win. PO Box 6019 Douglas, AZ 85655

DOLE FRUIT BOWL FACTS

• DOLE Fruit Bowls are a nutritious snack that is fun to eat and perfect for on-the-go snacking – kid’s lunchboxes, family trips or whenever you feel like having a satisfying fun fruit snack.
• DOLE Fruit Bowls come in 18 different varieties! That means you could eat a Bowl everyday for 18 days straight without repeating a flavor. Don’t miss out on DOLE Apple, Pineapple, Mixed Fruit, Tropical Fruit, Peaches and more.
• DOLE Fruit Bowls have been honored as the ChefsBest® Award-Winner since 2004! Enjoy every mouth watering, award-winning bite.
• Healthy snacks have never been easier to take with you! With DOLE Fruit Bowls there are so many places and ways to enjoy a little fruit in a bowl. [Insert pre approved tips with usage occasions from Bowl A Day].
• Nutrition facts – Why are DOLE Fruit Bowls a fun and healthy snack?
• DOLE Fruit Bowls are 80 calories or fewer
• DOLE Fruit Bowls are rich in Vitamin C
• DOLE Fruit Bowls are naturally fat-free
• DOLE Fruit Bowls are low in sodium