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Category: Giveaways

  1. Tuesday, January 31

    Happy 5th Birthday, This Week for Dinner! {KitchenAid Blender Giveaway to Celebrate!}

    Happy 5th Birthday, This Week for Dinner!

    It’s kind of surreal. I really, truly can’t believe I’ve been plugging away at this blog for five years. When I started the blog, I only posted once a week and, quite honestly, I only ever expected my friends Adrianne and Emily to bop on here to tell me what they were cooking for dinner (they were always better planners than me). Little did I know what I was getting myself into! It’s been such a fun ride and has opened up so many amazing opportunities for me. But what I’m most grateful for is all of YOU…for reading, for sharing, and for connecting, with me and with each other. This blog would not be what it is without you. So, happy birthday!

    Today I made Julia Child’s Best Ever Brownies to celebrate. And, in true Jane fashion, I undercooked them. I’m always undercooking things when I bake, it’s ridiculous! This morning’s experience reminded me of a comment my sweet husband Nate made when I started the blog: “Jane starting a food blog is like me starting a painting blog.” In case you’re wondering {despite his claims of a Renaissance year in fifth grade} Nate is not artistic, so yes, that made it a sarcastic, snarky comment. And yes, he thinks he’s funny {so do I, actually}. Well, the joke’s on him. I’ve still got a food blog! Neener neener. Although, apparently five years of food blogging has not helped fix my under-baking mental hiccup! But I digress…

    To celebrate 5 years, how about a giveaway from KitchenAid? Sounds good to me!

    I love KitchenAid. I love my stand mixer. I use it all the time. I love my measuring spoons. I use them all the time. And now…I love my hand blender! I use it…well, I’ve used it twice because I just got it! But it rocked. I’ve always wanted a hand blender and finally I have one! (Thanks, KitchenAid!) My hand blender’s maiden voyage was with cream of mushroom soup. It worked beautifully and the soup had a wonderful texture. And then, this morning as I was whipping up the brownies, I had a hand blender epiphany! The recipe uses a lot of bowls. It’s kind of annoying, actually. There’s a part where I normally beat the eggs in my stand mixer, but I just didn’t feel like getting it out and washing yet another bowl. And I didn’t feel like digging around my utensils for the hand mixer beaters, so I started to whisk by hand. After about 10 seconds, my arm was tired. And then it hit me…the hand blender has a whisk attachment! It was easy to grab from its special storage case, easy to use, and easy to clean. It was quite serendipitous since I was making the brownies for this very post!

    And now you have a chance to get your own hand blender and have your own blending epiphanies! To celebrate TWFD’s big day, we are giving away  one KitchenAid 5-Speed Hand Blender (retail $129.99)! It’s fancy dancy, complete with chopper attachment, blender attachment, removable pan guard (so you can use it in any pan without damaging the pan), whisk, blade covers, and a storage case. It’s super easy to attach and detach the blades and to clean the various pieces. It’s pretty much just plain old awesome. That’s all.

    To enter, just do what you always do! Leave a comment on this post before Midnight PT on Tuesday, February 7. One randomly-selected winner will be announced on February 8.

    Good luck! And make sure to eat some chocolate today. The blog wants you to. It is the blog’s birthday after all, you should probably just do it.


  2. Thursday, January 26

    Rockin’ Baby Sling Giveaway!

    I’ve got the winner of the Rockin’ Baby Pouch giveaway. Ready?

    Cate, who said, “Ooooooh, I would LOVE to win this! I’m expecting my second baby in late February or early March, and while I have a Moby wrap and love it, it can be a little difficult to manuever when out in public.”

    I think random.org picked Cate because her name is so cool. I’m not biased or anything. I mean, just ’cause I named my daughter Cate…or maybe random.org likes that Cate has a baby on the way. Or maybe it was just random. Okay, that was probably it.

    Congrats, Cate! And big thanks to Rockin’ Baby for a fab giveaway!

    (P.S. I am making some cookies today that you are going to FLIP over. Stay tuned!)


  3. Tuesday, January 3

    Sierra Mist Natural Giveaway Winner!

    Time to announce the Sierra Mist Natural giveaway random winner…

    pattypal, who said, “How about iced up with lime, lemon AND a slice of orange in a mason jar…”

    While my mocktail was made with cuties, I think pattypal’s suggestion wins the prize for the actual cutest mocktail idea! I can just see those cute mason jars lined up at a shower or party!

    Be sure to check out the comments on the giveaway post – there were some great cocktail and mocktail ideas in there, it’s quite a collection!


  4. Tuesday, December 27

    The Cranberry Cutie Mocktail…and a $50 Giveaway!

    This giveaway is now closed. But if you’re looking for a yummy mocktail, keep reading!

    Time for my second Sierra Mist Natural mocktail post, just in time for New Year’s Eve!

    As you know, my first post featured the Frost Bite Mocktail, a recipe I received from Sierra Mist Natural. This time around I was asked to come up with my own recipe using Sierra Mist Natural. So, I thought, and I thought, and I thought some more…and all of that thinking actually worked. I’m happy to introduce you to the Cranberry Cutie! Or, if you live on the East Coast, The Cranberry Clementine! But ‘Cutie’ is, well, cuter. ;)

    Nothing quite says the holidays like cranberries and cuties, and I thought both of those flavors would be mighty delicious combined with a little lemon-lime. And I was right. Yum yum!

    I’ll share my recipe for the Cranberry Cutie, but first a giveaway! One of you lucky people will win a Sierra Mist Natural holiday gift pack (shaker set, sugar garnishes, party glasses) and a $50 AMEX Gift Card! That’s right, $50 just for you to spend how you like…and a cute set to get you mixing up drinks to your heart’s content!

    To enter the giveaway:

    • Share your favorite mocktail or cocktail drink in the comments…and the drink’s recipe if you have it!
    • For an additional entry, get those creative juices (and drinks!) flowing! Share your most creative Sierra Mist Natural mocktail or cocktail recipe on the Sierra Mist Facebook page.
    • Be sure to leave TWO separate comments on this post if you do both of the above to get your extra entry!

    Comments must be posted by Midnight PT on Monday, January 2. Winner will be announced on Tuesday, January 3.

    Good luck with the giveaway and I can’t wait to see all your creative cocktail and mocktail ideas!

    Cranberry Cutie
    From Jane Maynard, This Week for Dinner
    - 3 ounces Sierra Mist Natural
    - 3 ounces Cranberry Juice
    - Juice from 1 cutie/clementine orange
    - 1 ounce lime juice
    - Cutie slice and cranberry sugar for garnish

    In a shaker filled with ice, mix cranberry juice, cutie juice and lime juice. Add Sierra Mist Natural and stir. Strain into two martini glasses with edges that have been dipped in cranberry sugar (sugar optional). Garnish with a cutie slice.

    Note: This post is part of a sponsored campaign that I am participating in. My opinions are my own and the drink I created is DARN GOOD.


  5. Wednesday, December 14

    Busy Body Book Giveaway Winners

    Time to announce the winners of the Busy Body Book giveaway!

    Winner #1: Jessica Hansen, who said, “Would this replace my addiction to google calendar on my iPhone? It just might!”

    Winner #2: Jenn, who said, “with a 19 year old and a 6 MONTH old, i need this :) thanks for the opportunity.”

    Winner #3: Jen, who said, “Omg! Would love thissss!:)”

    I guess the key to winning this time was having a name that starts with J! :) Congrats, ladies! You’ll love your planners!

    For the rest of you…if you want to buy one (I know many of you do), click here and get shopping. It will be worth every dime. Promise.


  6. Thursday, December 8

    2nd Annual Busy Body Book Giveaway!

    This giveaway is now closed. But if you’re looking for a good calendar/planner…keep reading!

    Since 2012 is just around the corner (how did that happen anyway?), I thought we could talk calendars for just a minute. Plus, I have a cool giveaway attached to this little chat. Sound good?

    I LOVE my Busy Body Book. Love love love. I’m a paper girl all the way when it comes to my calendar and this organizer has been perfect for me. I picked my first one up at a blogger event a few years ago and have gotten one each year ever since. It’s the best! Cate was super excited at the beginning of the school year to discover that her first grade teacher also uses a Busy Body Book, which earned me a few extra ‘cool points’ in Cate’s book!

    Here are the top reasons I love the Busy Body Book:

    • The grid layout is super handy
    • I can see a week at a time and there’s plenty of room for notes/lists/appointments/etc
    • The cover design is super cute and has a thick plastic cover, making it nice and sturdy
    • It’s spiral bound
    • There’s a bookmark that you can move from week to week

    I shared Busy Body Books with you last year and I’m doing it again because I love supporting them. Plus, they are doing another giveaway here on TWFD to help you get ready for 2012! Yippee!

    THREE of you lucky, randomly-selected people will each win a Busy Body Book for 2012. Simply leave a comment on this post by Midnight PT on Tuesday, December 13. The three winners will be announced on Wednesday, December 14.

    And since it’s the season of giving, this is definitely a great gift idea for the busy people in your life!

    Good luck with the giveaway and happy organizing!


  7. Tuesday, December 6

    ‘Make and Takes for Kids’ Giveaway Winner!

    And we have a winner! The lucky person who will receive a copy of Make and Takes for Kids is…

    Suzanne, who said, “This looks like tons of fun!”

    You’re right Suzanne, this book is tons of fun!

    For the rest of ya, more giveaways coming. Plus, you should just go buy Marie’s book. You know you want to.


  8. Wednesday, November 30

    ‘Make and Takes for Kids’ Book (and Giveaway!)

    This giveaway is now closed. But keep reading. This book is awesome.

    Marie is one of my peeps. Like sister-quality peep. We’ve worked together, run together (okay, I did the driving, she did the running, but who’s keeping track?), played together, eaten together, slept together (one of the best conference roommates ever), been pulled over for drunk driving together (no one was drunk, and the cop thought he was a real funny guy…he wasn’t…see “Incident #2″ on this post for details). You get the drift. We’ve done a lot together. And I love her to pieces. So I am SUPER excited to share some Marie-ness with you today.

    On top of being a totally amazing person, Marie has an amazing blog. And now she’s taken that amazingness and put it in a book! That’s right, Marie just published her first book! I’m so happy for her! Yea Marie!!!

    Make and Take for Kids published by Wiley is Marie’s new book and it’s just as great as I was expecting…and I am not just saying that because I love Marie. It really is fabulous. Case in point: after my copy came in the mail last week I set it on the coffee table. It was the first thing Cate noticed when she got home from school. She immediately picked the book up, perused her way through all the fun projects, and sat down to make a turkey. Not kidding, within five minutes of opening the book she was already in the thick of a great project, without any help from me.

    Cate’s Crafty Turkeys…Thanks to Marie’s Inspiration!

    The projects are perfect for kids of all ages and are organized by month, so they are seasonal as well. Everything is clear and organized well and the photography is great. There are also fun food-related projects! Yum, yum! Given that it’s the holiday season, this would be a great gift for the anyone who likes crafting with kids…parents, teachers, grandparents. In fact, I think it would even be a great gift idea for the kids themselves!

    Since the holidays are all about giving, Marie is offering up a free copy for one of you lucky people! As always, simply leave a comment on this post by Midnight PT on Monday, December 5. The randomly-selected winner will be announced on Tuesday, December 6.

    If you are in the thick of holiday shopping or are just dying to get your hands on the book NOW, Marie’s book should be available at all major bookstores or you can find it online at Barnes and NobleAmazon.com, and Walmart.com.

    Good luck with the giveaway!


  9. ‘Cook Without a Book: Meatless Meals’ Giveaway Winners!

    And we have the three lucky winners for the Cook Without a Book: Meatless Meals giveaway! Drumroll please…

    Winner #1: LONG time TWFD menu-poster Soybeanlover, who said “Ohhh, a bookless cooking style is right up my alley. We like to skimp on the meat here for environmental reasons as well. Thanks for your help with the mashed potatoes!” (She was wondering how to make dairy-free but still delicious mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving and a few of you provided some great tips in the comments…I love you people and all your helpfulness!)

    Winner #2: Carole, who said, “This book looks great! I would love more ideas for meatless meals.”

    Winner #3: Renee G, who said, “Would love to check out this cookbook.”

    Congratulations, ladies! You’ll love the book!

    For the rest of you…go buy the book, or at least put it on your Christmas list! And, don’t forget, where God closes a giveaway door, he always opens a window…i.e. I have another book giveaway for you later today! (Yeah, I know, that was a dumb reference…but it’s on my mind with all the funny Bloggess stuff going on…)

    Big thanks to Three Many Cooks for this wonderful giveaway!


  10. Tuesday, November 22

    Cook Without a Book: Meatless Meals {Book Giveaway, 3 Winners!}

    This giveaway is now closed…but keep reading because you need to check this book out!

    With Thanksgiving right around the corner, one of the things I’ve been thinking about is how grateful I am for the friends that I’ve made through blogging. I have met some truly choice people in the blogging community and now have a group of dear, close friends scattered about the country. I could never have predicted that this supportive and loving network of friends would be one of the benefits (and the best one by far) of writing my blog. The lovely ladies of Three Many Cooks are most definitely a part of that amazing network. Pam Anderson, famed cookbook author, and her daughters Sharon and Maggy are talented, kind, gracious, supportive…I’m blessed to be able to call them friends!

    Pam has published yet another wonderful book and I am so excited to share it with you. Cook Without a Book: Meatless Meals is a return to Pam’s theme of cooking without a book but applied to, you guessed it, meatless meals. As you know, one of the things that I am passionate about is reducing meat consumption to help the environment. Needless to say, I was super excited about Pam’s new book!

    This book is great, of course! Pam provides a “master formula” for each type of food in the book, then offers options for changing up that formula. It is very inspiring and the techniques she shares not only help you make great food but give you the tools to make great food on your own without a strict recipe. It’s a fabulous guide, for seasoned and novice cooks alike! Pam has succeeded in once again writing a super approachable yet delicious cookbook. Wait, the cookbook itself isn’t delicious. But you get my drift. ;)

    And, of course, we are giving some copies away! THREE of you randomly-selected lucky people will win a copy of Cook Without a Book: Meatless Meals! As always, all you need to do is leave a comment on this post to enter for your chance to win. Comments must be submitted by Tuesday, November 29 at Midnight PT.

    Pam and Maggy were in town on Sunday night to celebrate the launch of Pam’s book at a dinner with a bunch of fab food bloggers. I dragged Owen, my little trooper, up to San Francisco with me since he still wants to eat practically every two minutes. I couldn’t miss out on great food and even better company! Here I am with Pam and Maggy. I think adorable-ness runs in the Anderson family, no?

    Pam may need to consider a new career…baby whisperer. She got Owen to fall asleep in her arms despite the hustle and bustle of the restauarant. And, even though this picture may say otherwise, Owen loved Maggy too. Owen was simply ready to go home by the time we took this photo!

    Now get commenting and good luck on the giveaway!


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