Martha Stewart released her Grilling Cookbook (ecookbook) just in time for Summer! It’s filled with tons of recipes from some outstanding chefs like Emeril Lagasse.

It’s a free download but be warned, it’s a good 21MB big so it might take you a few minutes to fully download but I promise, it’s worth it! It’s filled with great photos and a little “about the author/chef” under each recipe. I’m sure you’ll find some great recipe ideas for grilling at your next house party.

Download your Martha Stewart Grilling Cookbook here (pdf format)!!   Enjoy this fabulous freebie!

I’m actually not a big fan of cookbooks so when I got a new one in the mail the other day, I was hesitant that I’d like it, as I am with other cookbooks.  But then,  I opened it up and saw that it was a recipe collection from KitchenAid and was immediately interested.

It’s hard to find a cookbook that is special.  One that has ‘features’ and doesn’t put me to sleep or cost me an arm & a leg to buy the ingredients.  Thank goodness KitchenAid didn’t let me down.  Here’s what I love about the cookbook.

1) It’s a binder cookbook. I LOVE that I can take the pages out of the cookbook vs having to sit the cookbook upright wherever I’m cooking.  This means I can move the recipe around from station to station if I need to. It also means that I can laminate the pages if I wanted too!!!!  It’s a fun tip I learned way back then and it’s awesome.  You don’t have to worry about getting food all over the page and messing it off. You’ll be able to wipe it right off, so I highly recommend you do that.

2) Speaking of lamination, there’s a front plastic page that helps protect the start of the cookbook.  I like the simple things, what can I say.

3) TABS! LOVE LOVE LOVE the tabs. There’s 19 food tab categories which covers everything.  There’s a few additional tabs for the Glossary/Cooking Terms, Index, and ‘My Recipes’. I love the Cooking terms section and at the back you have your measurement conversions.  I just love the tabs because you can find the specific category you’re after super quick.  And to make it even easier, on the back of the tab page, there’s a list of recipes that are in that section, and their page  number.  VERY USER FRIENDLY!

4) Simple but delicious recipes. One of the things I hate about cookbooks is the fact that so many of them call for such special, high end ingredients that I either can’t find or can’t afford.  That is NOT the case with this cookbook.  I browsed the entire recipe collection of over 400 and was extremely pleased with the ingredient list with pretty much all of them.  That, my friends, is a rare thing.   Each recipe has a photo and clear recipe instructions.

As I mentioned earlier, in the very back of the book, you are able to write your own recipes on the pages.  What I’d like to know though, is if additional ‘my recipe’ pages can be bought to add to the collection, since they only give you three.  I think they should!

What recipe do I want to try?  The Rustic Plum Tart.  YUM!!! We love plums but I’ve never made anything with plums.  Totally gonna though when they are back in season.

You can buy the book at Amazon – KitchenAid Recipe Collection Cookbook

Attention all foodies! QVC is scheduled to broadcast live from the VERY prestigious FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen, CO Friday, June 18 at 3 PM (ET) and Saturday, June 19 at 2 PM (ET). During the broadcasts, QVC will not only give viewers an exclusive inside look at one of the most elite culinary events in the industry but also offer shoppers the opportunity to order the latest in cooking essentials. You can keep up-to-date with it all the happening and behind the scenes in these places:

QVC Facebook | QVC Twitter | QVC Youtube | QVC Food and Wine

Featured items from The FOOD & WINE Classic include:

KitchenAid Artisan Seven-Speed Digital Hand Mixer with Attachments—QVC Item #K14470 Approximately $72.75 Comes in Buttercup, Green Apple and Clementine – exclusive to QVC! Additional colors include Red, Blue Willow, Gloss Cinnamon, Black and White.

NEW! Food & Wine Annual Cookbook 2010 and Bonus Cocktails ’10 Cookbook Set—QVC Item #F08896 Approximately $24.00

SOMETHING FOR YOU!

To Celebrate the event, I’m giving away a set to one lucky winner!  You’ll get the the Kitchenaid Hand Mixer and the Cookbook set!  WOOHOO!

HOW TO ENTER:

Leave a comment telling me what you love about QVC and if you haven’t shopped there, head over to the QVC website and check it out!

Additional entry methods, leaving each one in a separate comment please:

• Share on twitter, facebook, or any other social network. Come back here and tell me where you shared and username.
• Check out the QVC website and leave a comment with a food that they sale.  (DAILY ENTRY)

Giveaway ends on June 21, 2010.  Good luck!  Disclosure: I received the same set that I’m giving away for my time and efforts to host this giveaway.

QVC’s Fine Print

QVC FOOD & WINE SWEEPSTAKES
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Must be legal U.S. resident, 18 years or older to enter. Sweepstakes to commence on xxx at XX Eastern Time (“ET”) and end on xx at 11:59:59 p.m. ET. My Wooden Spoon will determine (1) one Winner by a random drawing from all eligible entries to receive (1) KitchenAid Artisan 7-Speed Digital Hand Mixer w/Attachments and (1)Food & Wine Annual Cookbook 2010 and bonus “Cocktails ’10″ Cookbook set. Limit one prize per household. Odds of winning are dependent on the total number of eligible entries. Approx retail value of prize $90. Winner will be notified by email. Offer valid while supplies last. Giveaway sponsored by My Wooden Spoon; Prize provided by QVC, Inc and KitchenAid.

Bread; it’s what brings our family together when the fresh baked smells are filling the air on a Sunday afternoon. It’s what completes our meal.

Bread baking can be quite the task, but it doesn’t have to be and that’s where Kneadlessly Simple comes in.  It’s a tasty cookbook of no-knead bread recipes; recipes that are broken down play by play for you with tons of helpful tips to insure that your bread comes out perfectly.  I love this book.   I love all the helpful hints, flour & bowl tips, how to store bread, explanation of ingredients—basically all the details.  Details, that will make all the difference on whether or not your bread will win the blue ribbon in competition or your family’s tastebuds.

I wanted to pick a bread recipe from the cookbook to share with you and boy was it hard to choose. There were so many delicious looking breads but ultimately, I decided on Rosemary Focaccia with Coarse Salt.  It was simple indeed but packed with flavor!   I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

For more kneadless bread recipes, ACH Foods and Fleischmann’s have created an eight-recipe book, The Bread Breakthrough. This compact cookbook introduces you to the simplicity of baking delicious no-knead yeast breads – on your schedule. You can purchase it for only $1 buck, check it out at breadbreakthrough.com.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 3/4 cups (13.75 ounces) unbleached all-purpose white flour, plus more as needed
• 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary needles (remove the stems), chopped fairly fine
• 3/4 teaspoon table salt
• 1 teaspoon instant, fast-rising, or bread machine yeast
• 1 1/3 cups plus 1/2 teaspoon ice water, plus more as needed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided, plus more as needed
• 3/4 teaspoon sea salt or other coarse crystal salt

DIRECTIONS

FIRST RISE: In a large bowl, thoroughly stir together the flour, rosemary, table salt, and yeast. Vigorously stir in the water, scraping down the bowl and mixing until the dough is thoroughly blended. Vigorously stir in 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. If the mixture is too dry to blend together, stir in just enough more ice water to facilitate mixing, but don’t over-moisten, as the dough should be slightly stiff. If too wet, stir in enough more flour to firm it slightly. Evenly brush the top lightly with oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let rise at cool room temperature for 12 to 18 hours.

SECOND RISE: Brush a 15 × 10 × 1-inch (or similar) baking pan with olive oil, then line the pan with baking parchment. Brush the parchment with olive oil. Using a well-oiled rubber spatula, turn the dough out onto the pan; try not to deflate it any more than necessary. Drizzle the dough with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. With well-oiled hands, lightly pat and press out the dough until it is evenly thick and extends to within 1 inch of the edges all around. Tent the pan with nonstick spray–coated plastic wrap.

LET RISE USING EITHER OF THESE METHODS: For a 2 H- to 3H-hour regular rise, let stand at warm room temperature; or for an extended rise, refrigerate for 4 to 24 hours, then set out at room temperature. Continue the rise until the dough has almost doubled from the deflated size. (If the pan has a 1-inch rim, the dough should be G inch below it.) Just before baking, with oiled fingertips, make deep indentations, or dimples, all over the dough. Sprinkle evenly with coarse salt.

BAKING PRELIMINARIES: 20 minutes before baking time, place a rack in lowest position in the oven; preheat to 500ºF. Place the broiler pan on the oven floor.

BAKING: Reduce the temperature to 475ºF. Add a cup of ice water to the broiler pan, being careful of splattering and steam. Bake on the lowest rack for 20 to 30 minutes, until golden brown, turning the pan from front to back for even browning about halfway through. Bake for 5 to 10 minutes more (or until the center registers 209º to 212ºF on an instant-read thermometer) to be sure the center is done. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Cool and cut.

If you would like to win a copy of the Kneadlessly Simple Cookbook, leave a comment here on this post telling me your favorite kind of bread and/or share a bread recipe!  You may enter once a day per person.

Giveaway ends on Nov. 22^nd.

Disclosure: Post is sponsored by ACH Foods, however, my opinion of the product remains authentic as always.

2 cookbooks that you must get this season are Steamy Kitchen Cookbook-101 Asian Recipes Simple Enough for Tonight’s Dinner and The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl. Both bloggers with very different styles of cooking and very tasty!

Jaden from Steamy Kitchen makes these amazing quick and simple asian recipes.  She’s funny as heck,  her food photography is beautiful, and has recipe creativity coming out her wazoo .   I watched her work hard on it and can’t wait to get it.  Congratulations Jaden on creating such a fabulous success with your natural talent!

Ree from The Pioneer Woman, a gal living ranch life like myself, adds a bit of the city to her country cookin’.  Her step-by-step photos make you drool and her witty writing captures you from the beginning.  I have no doubt that her cookbook will be the same.  Congratulations to you as well Ree and have fun on your book tour!

Can you believe it? I got to meet the Queen of Butta, Paula Deen at the Blogher Conference in Chicago.  {{WOW}}  This is probably my fourth of fifth time showing this picture off but I don’t care.  It IS Paula Deen after all and that’s freakin’ cool.

Now I love Paula for her cooking (and Paula’s cookware, especially the wooden spoons..heehee) because I consider that the best southern comfort food around, however, it is her life story that is inspirational and captures my heart the most.  A quick recap for those of you who don’t know what’s she’s about……

Before she got into the professional side of cooking, Paula was a homemaker and bank teller.  In 1989, she divorced leaving her with $200 in her pockets and two teenage boys to raise.  Instead of wallowing in self pity, she started a very small catering business, The Bag Lady, where she would make up sandwiches (and other food) and have her boys deliver the food.  She never delivered food herself due to her fear, Agoraphobia, fear of public places.  Paula has said that her fear was probably due the fact that she was held at gunpoint at one time in her life.  GAH!!!

Next thing you know, “The Bag Lady“, outgrew her kitchen and moved on to bigger things.  She was hired by Best Western Hotel, to cook of course and within 5 years or so, she owned her own restaurant, The Lady and Sons.  Freakin’ awesome I’d say!!  I’m sure she never imagined that she’d own her own restaurant, much less come to be as big as she is now.

Almost 10 years later, after her divorce, she published her very first cookbook, The Lady and Sons Savannah Country Cookbook.  She moved on to TV, promoted on QVC, and went on to make other cookbooks.  In 2003, Paula Deen got her own cooking show, Paula’s Home Cooking.  Can you tell I’m a fan yet???  I even get her magazine!

GET COOKIN’

After all this, she’s still a-goin’ and has launched something new called Get Cookin’ where she shares her stories and such through her own words, photos, and videos!  And guess what, you can participate too by uploading your own videos and photos.  Connect with her and other foodies on a more social level.  LOVE IT!  You get to see her as herself…sometimes no makeup;)

Finally, one more picture of me staring the beautiful Paula Deen while she answers a question for someone…….clearly I’m in love.  She’s an amazing women to say the least and I’m so honored to have met her.

P.S.  She really is just beautiful inside and out.

How many of you are looking for a quick-fix meal? Robin Miller is your gal! Have you seen her on Food Network?  She’s fabulous and makes delicious meals that are super easy to make.  You can find Robin Miller cookbooks everywhere or you can visit Embrace Dinner and check out some of her “Keep it Cool” recipes.

While you’re there, you can also enter the Keep it Cool Summer Recipe Challenge, where you can win $1,000 gift package, which includes spa treatments, free products and free groceries. Participants are asked to come up with their very own recipes that keep it cool in the kitchen by using Tyson Fully Cooked Chicken Strips and/or Steak Strips (and by not using the oven or stove).

WHAT I’M ASKING FROM YOU

I’m interviewing Robin Miller on Thursday and would love to hear questions that you might have for her!  Please leave your question in the comments below and I’ll do my best to get them answered.

In the meantime, enjoy one of her recipes, Courtesy of Robin Miller and Tyson Foods.

Chicken, Strawberry and Cucumber Salad with Mint and Rice Wine Vinaigrette

Recipe serves 4
Preparation Time: 10 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 2 packages (6 ounces each) Tyson® Fully Cooked Grilled Chicken Breast Strips, cut into one-inch pieces
• 1 cup diced cucumber (seeded, if desired)
• 1 cup hulled and sliced fresh strawberries
• 2-3 teaspoons chopped fresh mint
• ¼ cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar (regular or seasoned)
• 1 teaspoon honey mustard
• Pinch salt and ground black pepper
• 4 cups (9 ounces) baby spinach leaves

PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a large bowl, combine chicken, cucumber, strawberries and mint. Set aside.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together broth, vinegar and honey mustard. Season to taste with salt and ground black pepper. Add mixture to chicken mixture and toss to combine.
3. Arrange spinach leaves on a serving platter or individual plates and top with chicken mixture.

Today only, you can get Paula Deen’s The Deen Family Cookbook for $16.58! It’s QVC’s Today Special Value and only lasts one day at that price. NOT a member? Signing up is EASY! If you do, you’ll get a $10 credit! (for new members only) Let me know if you sign up for the first time! Would love to welcome you to the QVC family:)  If you want to know why I heart QVC, check out some of my favorites from there.  Also, many of Paula Deen‘s other products on QVC are on easy pay! It’s like layaway but you get the product right away!

This will ship out on April 7th so that you can receive it hot off the press! This is great for people like me who just can’t run out to the store when it’s released. I order everything almost online!

The cookbook looks fabulous! I’m watching Paula Deen now on QVC and she is fabulous. The food looks amazing and absolutely delicious.

About the book:

Come and get it, y’all! Paula Deen made a name for herself whipping up down-home family recipes. Now, in The Deen Family Cookbook, Paula shares step-by-step instructions so you can fix all her family favorites–and serve ‘em up for your family!

Combining the two things Paula loves most–food and family–this book features a heapin’ helpin’ of more than 140 brand-new recipes from Paula; her sons, Jamie and Bobby; her brother, Uncle Bubba; and the rest of her food-lovin’ clan. From corn-and-crab puffs and chicken and dumplings to red velvet whoopee pies and banana spice cake with peanut butter frosting, this book will have you cooking–and eating–like Paula’s kinfolk in no time at all.

More than just a cookbook, this volume also contains full-color photographs of Paula, her relatives, and the Southern surroundings that inspired her good ol’ fashioned dishes. Of course, you’ll also find colorful shots of Paula’s prepared recipes–enough to make your mouth water!

These are the recipes that have been passed down in the Deen family from generation to generation. With this durable hardcover edition of Paula Deen’s The Deen Family Cookbook, you can make them the recipes that are handed down in your family, too.

* Paula Deen, author
* Hardcover
* 288 pages
* Full-color photos
* Chapters include: Nibbles, Snacks, and Sandwiches; Appetizers, Soups, and Salads; Main Dishes; Casseroles and Pasta; Sides and Veggies; Breakfast and Brunch; Good Food That’s Good for You; Desserts and Sweets; Beverages
* Published April 2009

GUESS WHAT! If you want to win one, leave a comment here telling me what you love about Paula or her recipes!

BONUS: Come back each day and tell me something new you like about Paula or her recipes and earn an extra daily entry:)  That gives you a total of 6 chances to win, fair for everyone!

Ends on April 5th at 10pm CST.  Good luck!

Update: Giveaway is over.

Have you seen the Mario Batali Lunchbags line? OMG, they are THE most stylish, functional lunch bags ever! I recently received the Mario Batali Lunch Bag (The Crew Tote) in this expresso color and I absolutely LOVE IT!!!!  Not only is it THE most stylish lunch bag I’ve had, it’s also the most functional one. Some quick features about this one that you’re gonna love.

• * Two compartments – insulated and non insulated
• * Insulated lining has an insulated lining and keeps food and drinks warm or cool.
• * Easy to wipe lining
• * Back sleeve slides over rolling luggage handle for easy travel
• * Top compartment is non-insulated and secures all carry on items

So I tested this out first when I sent my little man to his wello’s house for a stay.  I was able to pack his pajamas, diapers, baby wipes, toys in the top compartment and his milk, bananas, jello, and other snacks in the bottom insulated part.  It was AWESOME!  I looked cool to…..heehee.

Everyone is trying to save money, become more healthy and more eco-friendly these days & these lunch bags are a simple way to help you go forward on that path.  You can not only save yourself the dough from eating non-stop at fastfood but you can also give yourself more healthier options by choosing healthy foods from your grocery store and packing those in our lunch bag.  And how is eco-friendly?  Well heeeellllloooo, you are reusing your bag of course and you are bringing your own food in hopefully reuseable storage containers.

I give these bags 2 thumbs….4 if I had the extra ones and I think you will love them too.  So with all that said, I’ve got a nice surprise for you! Today, I’ve got a chance for 3 winners today to receive a Mario Batali Lunch bag but the 1st place winner will also get more goodies!  Here’s how it will go down:

1st place will get the following:
We will add to the book and the lunch bag for your first prize winner, the items in the attached – a Mario Batali salt cellar for storage of salt, pinch bowls, a measuring bowl set and 2 MB silicone pot holders.  This is a fabulous package that anyone would love so remember you can enter to win and keep for yourself or give it away as a gift!!  I’m so jealous of the winner here!

2nd place winner will get to choose one bag from the following bags in my cool little widget below!!  So many great lunch bags for men and women!  There are several styles in several colors and no matter which one you pick, you’re going to turn heads and be the “cool” one!

3rd place winner will get to choose one bag from these..including one that is in floral not shown!

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

HOW TO WIN PEOPLE

Simply leave a comment on this post telling me your creative ideas for meals to pack in your lunch bag. This earns you 1 entry and can be done daily as long as you have a different lunch bag meal idea each time….and I will check;)

Additional ways to enter. Each extra entry must be in a separate comment please.

• **Twitter the giveaway and include @ACowboysWife in your tweet please. If you can fit it, include the hashtag #lunchbags (1 entry) can be done per day.

• **Blogging about the giveaway, including a link back to this post or my homepage. (10 entries)

This giveaway ends on Dec. 14th at midnight CST. Please know that the winners will need to claim their prize within 48hrs. If not claimed, prize is forfeited and a new winner will be drawn..FIRM. Please allow up to 2 weeks for delivery.

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To celebrate the final 10 days of the Velveeta Challenge, I am offering up 2 prizes today!

For the Cookbook Junkies, I have compiled several cookbooks, 12 in fact, that would be great to keep or perhaps even giveaway as gifts this holiday season!  There will be everything from casserole cookbooks to vegetarian cookbooks and much more!  I’m not listing them because I want you to be surprised!!!

For the Mystery Box folks, I have created a box FULL of goodies!!  It could have cookbooks, utensils, a small ktichen appliance or it could be a big ol’ dud but I seriously doubt that;)  There will be LOTS of stuff in the box or there will be ONE BIG prize..who knows!!!  WOOHOO

I hope that I can truly trust you guys who are saying that you are voting for me.  I’d hate to know that someone is not.  There are ways for me to check so just know that.  IT wouldn’t be fair to those who really did vote for me;)

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY: You can do one or all…your choice.

• 1. Leave a comment telling me which one you would choose.
• 2. Vote for me to Win a Wii!  You simply click and vote on LORI FALCON.
• 3. Twitter this giveaway.
• 4. Blog about it.

LEAVE EACH ADDITIONAL ENTRY YOU DO IN A SEPARATE COMMENT PLEASE.

This ends on Nov. 23rd!

If you’re into shopping for foodies, check out my Foodie Holiday Gift Guide!