Anything mini is cute ain’t it? Especially food like mini pies, cupcakes, and bundt cakes. I loved making mini banana loaves during the holidays and give them as gifts but I have to say, my new food gift will probably be mini pies!  I was given this Breville Pie Maker a while back to review and oh.my.gosh.  It’s the cutest thing ever!  It makes 4 pies and it can’t get any easier. I had so much and have thought of so many things to make in it.

I started with apple pie because it’s the first thing that comes to my mind when I think pie.  You simple need Pillsbury’s Roll Out Pie Crust Dough and whatever filling you want.     Always read the directions guys….I did not and my first set of pies slightly burned.  If I had read the instructions, I would have seen that it takes 2-3 full heating cycles before the unit cooks evenly.  Here’s what the Breville Pie Maker looks like.  You get the unit itself, along with the pie cutter (one side cuts the bottom of the pie, and the other cuts the top of the pie out), and one more piece that helps you seal the pie’s top to the bottom crust.

I was able to cut out top and bottom crusts for two pies with one Pillsbury Pie Crust.

I brushed the pie maker with olive oil.  I prefer to NEVER use nonstick spray unless it’s Wilton’s.  I think the others leave a residue over time which ends up making it stick.    With the one attachment, after you lay the bottom crust in the pie spot, you use that piece to push it down into the bottom.  You then fill it with your pie filling, being careful not to overfill so that it doesn’t leak out everywhere.  Once you lay the top pie crust, you seal them together using the attachment.

Bake until the light changes and viola!

TIP: It’s recommended to use crescent dough for the top of the pie crust.  I didn’t but next time will try it.  What a great Mother’s Day gift this Breville Pie Maker would make huh!   You can make so many other things like chicken pot pie too!  I’d love to know what you’d make.

The KitchenAid Refrigerator is Ah-MAZING!   I have always wanted one with the freezer on bottom and am in awe of how much it holds.  KitchenAid sent me French Door Bottom Mount Interior Dispensing, Architect Series II.   Just the beauty of it breathtaking but the features and knowing it’s a brand I can trust is what really counts in my book.

The first thing we noticed was how tall and wide it was, way different than our previous. It’s also not as a deep as a standard fridge but the width and height makes up for it.  It holds a massive amount of food people. I immediately unpacked it, removing all the wrap and putting the shelves up, which was super easy!  The door shelves are removable and very easy to move up and down.  The front of them are clear so that you can see through and quickly grab the item of choice.  The inside shelves are adjustable as well.  There are three total drawers; two standard drawers for veges and such and one long deli drawer.  LOVE that deli drawer!

You can easily adjust the temp and we especially love the door alarm.  It beeps when the doors are left open too long.  The freezer rocks!  It’s ice making mean machine, with a scoop!  LOTS of storage in the freezer. MUCH more storage than a regular fridge freezer.   I wish I would have just bought one a long time ago.  It really is worth the extra money in my opinion.  The features are great, the storage is big, and the overall design is sleek.

Watch the video for a personal tour!

I have to say, this would make ANYONE happy. My husband loves this thing so much so I think it would make a great family gift!

more to come…….

Disclosure: KitchenAid provided the product free of cost. In return, I am sharing my honest opinions of it.  My opinions are my own, always have been, always will be.  It’s a freakin’ awesome fridge!

Coming to our home in t-minus 4 days…….. Please meet Julia.  I named her after Julia Child because she’s tall, bold, embraces the French culture, and loves food.

KitchenAid French Door Bottom Mount Interior Dispensing Refrigerator-Architect Series II

Disclosure: Appliance being supplied by KitchenAid.  All opinions of the product are always my own ’cause that’s how I roll.

Have you seen my post where Truett helps me bake a ton of cupcakes?  I LOVE cooking and baking with my kids, always have.  Even if it’s just them helping me stir something or grabbing a potato and handing it to me, it’s all special because they are moments between me and them.

I want to see moments like this from you.  Maybe you’re a Mom, know a Mom, or know someone who has the heart of a Mom, whatever the situation, I want you to share a photo of a Mom and child baking.  By sharing a baking with mom photo, you will be entered to win this lovely kitchen helper, aka the Breville Stand Mixer.

I’ve been told that it’s comparable to that other brand (you know who I’m talking about) and my review of it will come later but for now, I’ll give you some basic specs on it and then more about the contest.

• The 10-minute backlit LCD timer can be set to count either down or up to accommodate recipes with specific mixing times.
• Twelve speeds with easy-to-follow descriptions ranging from folding and kneading to whipping and aerating.
• The innovative scraper beater has flexible edges that continuously scrape the bowl’s interior, reducing mixing times by up to 60 percent
• An additional reverse speed mixes dry ingredients or loosens dough.
• The head moves in a planetary dual rotation for professional results.
• Lock the head in the tilt-back position for unobstructed access to the beater and bowl.
• Durable die-cast housing with brushed-stainless-steel finish.
• Auto-shutoff with sound alert prevents ingredients from being overbeaten.
• An attachment guide provides recommendations for attachment selection and mixer speed, ensuring foolproof results for a variety of tasks.
• For clutter-free countertops, the hideaway cord is conveniently stored inside the base.
• Includes 5-qt. stainless-steel mixing bowl, splash guard, flat beater, dough hook and wire whisk attachments.

Who wouldn’t want to win this baby!

HOW TO ENTER

—–>SUBMIT A BAKING WITH MOM PHOTO MOMENT to be entered into this contest and for a chance to win the above Breville Stand Mixer.  You can find the rules on the entry page. You’ll also be able to browse other entries and even vote for your favorites, although the voting will not determine the winner.  It’s just for fun

It’s very easy to enter.  Once you get to the entry page, you can either browse other entries or enter.  You’ll be taken to a page that includes the rules and a form to fill out and upload your photo. Once done, come back to this post and leave a comment telling me you entered.

So let’s recap:

1. Submit a Baking with Mom photo.
2. Come back to THIS post and leave a comment telling me you entered.

I would love for you to share this with your friends and family!  Also, if you have a baking story you’d like to share, I’d love to hear it!!

Since I’m on a new computer, the only photo I could find of me and Truett whipping something up in the kitchen is this one which is actually a video that I took a screenshot of.

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Now find a photo to submit or get to bakin’ and create a baking with mom photo moment!

Disclosure: Contest is sponsored by Breville.  Breville also sent me a stand mixer to review (which will be soon). As always, my opinions are my own, always have been and always will be.  Read more about my blogging ethics in my full disclosure. Find and follow -> Breville on Flickr | Breville on Twitter | Breville on Facebook

I’m not particularly fond of my stove-top and separate oven so when I see ranges like the GE Professional Monogram Range, I play the lottery in hopes of winning so that I can go out and buy me one!

Seriously, this is for the all-time food lover, the person that wants to spend all day in their kitchen whipping up creative authentic food, and for the professional.  I’d be more than happy to have it my house despite not being a professional though. In fact, I think having it my house would encourage me to be creative and whip up enough to cook for the town!

A couple of things I enjoyed learning about this big, bold beauty….

The large caterer’s oven is uniquely sized to accommodate a full-size 18-inch-by-26-inch caterer’s sheet pan. In fact, it can handle three! The second oven – the smaller everyday oven – easily handles 9-by-13-inch casserole dishes.

Illuminating the control knobs are unexpected LED task lights under the bullnose that provide a functional – and theatrical – touch. This same attention to detail is reflected in the cooking temperature and time displays, which make controls easy to read.

Each oven is also complete with full-extension, self-clean racks that are designed to stay in during the self-clean cycle.

The GE Monogram 48-inch professional dual-fuel range will be available in natural gas or liquid propane models and will be backed by a 2-year limited warranty (see written warranty for details). The all-new collection will also include 36-inch and 30-inch ranges and 48-inch and 36-inch rangetops.

Illuminated knobs?? OH YEAH!!  I don’t know if it’s particularly useful for me but it would look dang cool anyways!

A girl can dream can’t she……..

There are few things we need in life to survive…food, water and coffee.  Where would we be without that morning cup of joe?  It gets me started in the day, keeps me running past that late after noon slump, and helps me burn the midnight blog-oil.  One of the few accepted addictions, I proudly believe that if a coffee habit is wrong, I don’t want to be right.

There have been many times in the past when I looked at how much time I spent drinking, buying, working for the money to buy, searching for new beans, and shopping for machines — and decided that I’d had enough.  I attempted (and failed) to cut coffee out of my life so many times, but it never stuck.  I’d go cold turkey, I’d try to wean off.  All of the usual ways you kick an addiction.  In the end, I think the fact that I never really *wanted* to quit, was the reason I couldn’t.  The hot, steamy lovliness just is too necessary to say goodbye to for long.  Coffee has become a social pastime in our country now, and add to that all the ways coffee has been put into desserts, well it’s an American and actually Global institution.

I’m always on the lookout for espresso machines that are functional, quiet and yes, pretty.  I’d have an enormous collection if my husband and wallet would allow for it.  This one looks pretty, and this one looks simple yet fabulous. I can already hear the whoosh and the bubbling and the steaming now…

Do you have a coffee addiction you’d like to confess?  Do you have a beloved or favorite machine? I’d love to hear what brands, types, etc are your favorites.  What about desserts?  Candy?  Have your say, people, and give this coffee lover some new ideas!

Frigidaire is gonna have this mother loading something alright, dishes!   I’m excited because I’m participating in a Test Drive campaign with Frigidaire and the appliance they are asking me to try out is a Frigidaire dishwasher!  Not just any dishwasher, a beautiful stainless steel one. *drool*

Frigidaire wants Moms to do less work to have more time to enjoy life!  They are even giving you a “More Me-Time” Guarantee:

Moms will reduce the amount of time they typically spend on housework by at least 8 hours a month using a combination of three or more select Frigidaire appliances or they can return the appliances to their place of purchase within 30 days and get their money back!

I don’t know about you but I could use some more time for myself each day. I really love that they are realizing how hard we moms work and are doing their part in making it easier for us with day to day living.  I feel like they truly care and even gave a survey tp pick mom’s brains.  Moms spend 200 hours doing things they don’t enjoy and so much less time on things they do love. How sad and shame on us. We really should have more fun and live a little you know?

This dishwasher has a cycle that cuts washing time in half.  IN HALF people! For me, that’s huge, especially when you’re cooking for the ranch like I do!

Frigidaire is launching over 250 brand new appliances in their latest collection and if you’re dying to have one go buy one. BWUAHAHHAHAH! Or, you can try to win them!!  As of today, you can go to the Frigidaire website for some fun interactive things to do and enter to win an ENTIRE collection of appliances!! WOW!  You simply need to tell them 5 things you would do if you had an extra hour to yourself each day.  I would love to hear too so feel free to share them here as well.

I hope you stay tuned ’cause I’ll be sharing more, including video!  Now I’m headed over to Facebook Frigidaire!  See ya there!

The big Sunday football game is right around the corner and what better helper could you ask for to help you make all those appetizing dips and delicious food than the Magic Bullet To Go! Well, maybe a chef to actually make the food for you right? lol I know many folks who have these small food appliances in their homes, including my mom. I personally am a kitchen appliance junkie, how about you?

From what I’ve seen (because I don’t have one currently), you can do so many things in these from every day salsa to whipping up scrambled eggs to yes, chocolate mousse but this Magic Bullet is a little different because you can take it anywhere.  It has a rechargeable battery that when fully charged, can be used for up to 50 times.  This is a GREAT idea for tailgaters, for picnics, creating fresh snacks at school functions, and even to take on vacations.  I really like the portability of it but think about it a minute, how handy would it be to have this to use everyday in your home??? I HATE cords and I could move this from the counter to the stove back to the counter so easily.  That is selling point for me. Just being able to move around my counters without worrying about a plug and cord is a big selling point for me.

Since the football game is coming up, I’d make pico de gallo, guacamole dip, and smoothies for the kids to drink.

Chocolate Mousse anyone?

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 tbs. chocolate syrup

Directions

First … Add the ingredients to the Short Cup and blend until smooth. Then… serve.

Serving Suggestion: Using the Flat Blade, grind a few chocolate chips up in the Short Cup. Twist on a Shaker/Steamer Top and sprinkle a little on the top of your chocolate mousse. You can also whip some cream and add a dollop to the top of each serving of chocolate mousse.

Oh man that sounds good!! That’s just a one little ol’ recipe you can make in the Magic Bullet To Go but there are tons that you could do.

HOW TO ENTER

Leave a comment on this post telling me what you would make with the Magic Bullet To Go for the Superbowl or perhaps for other party you might be having. (YOU CAN DO THIS DAILY but with a different food idea!!!)

Additional entry options (do one, do all), leaving each one in a separate comment to count please.

• Become a fan of the Magic Bullet To Go on Facebook!
• Share this giveaway on a social networking site like Twitter, facebook, or your favorite forum.
• Watch the video at the Bullet To Go website, come back and tell me the color of the picnic blanket in the video!

There will be five winners for the Magic Bullet To Go and they are going to do their best to ship them out so that you have them before the big game!  See what you’ll be getting here!

This giveaway ends on January 31st at 9pm CST and is only valid in the US, sorry!!  Good luck to all!  Read my giveaway rules for complete details on how my giveaways work please.