Valentine’s Day Gift Idea: Fresh and Easy

I have fond memories of our time in Edinburgh…shopping on Princes Street with the Castle looming in the backdrop…taking a double decker Lothian bus to the Royal for work…sitting outside in the rain watching the Tattoo…watching New Year’s Eve fireworks from Calton Hill…hiking to the top of Arthur’s Seat…perusing the German Market at Christmas…taking our weekly trip to the “big” Tesco for groceries…I could go on and on (but I won’t…fortunately).  Living overseas is the type of experience that changes a person.  My husband and I have memories and adventures that could never be replicated in this country.  We are forever changed by our experiences living abroad.  And one day, we plan on taking our children back to the city where we lived and worked and dreamed of our little boy.

I’ve always been partial to European-made products.  Imagine my excitement when I first learned that an American version of one of the UK’s leading chain of grocers was making it’s debut in the US.  Fresh & Easy offers a wide range of affordable natural foods and products that are free from artificial flavors, colors, and trans fats.  With Valentine’s Day less than three weeks away, you’ll definitely want to check out Fresh & Easy’s selection of foods and wines for your sweetheart.

Buying flowers (especially roses) on Valentine’s Day, despite it’s romanticism, is a bad idea.  Flower shops typically increase their prices dramatically (due to the principle of supply and demand).  Ladies…tell your husbands and significant others to head over to Fresh & Easy (if your a rose lovin’ gal like myself).  Fresh, long-stemmed roses are just $9.99 a dozen (hint hint hubby…I know you read my blog!). And with all the money he’ll save, he can even splurge and pick up a bottle of wine and some chocolate.

I’m not an expert on wines, but I can tell you that $4.99 for a bottle of Montcadi Cava Rose sounds like a great price to me!  You can also pick up a bottle of McGuigan Hand Made Barossa Shiraz for $12.99.  But their selection of wines doesn’t end there.  Fresh & Easy offers 170 different wines to choose from, many of which are under $10 a bottle.  Since I’d have to defer to my husband for the technical specs on all things wine, I’ll give you some info about the above two wines, available at Fresh & Easy.

Montcadi Cava Rose:  A fresh, rose sparkling wine with ripe strawberry fruit and soft, biscuit flavors, made from grapes grown in Spain’s Cava growing region.

McGuigan Hand Made Barossa Shiraz:  This wine is rich and full-bodied with classic varietal berry and pepper flavors.  It is made from Shiraz grapes grown in the Barossa region of South Australia.

I am a chocoholic.  I probably eat chocolate every day (yikes!).  So when they sent me a GINORMOUS chocolate bar I wanted to do two things: Open it up and try it.  Close it up and hide it.  Fresh & Easy’s One Huge Hunk Chocolate Bar with Pecans & Fruit is made with Belgian milk chocolate (YUM!) and contains candied pecans and chewy fruit pieces.  I typically like my chocolate plain…without anything in it.  But this was seriously yummy.  I almost want to share it with hubby since the baby weight is looming. If you like truffles (um…who doesn’t?), Fresh & Easy offers their Sweet Boutique Gourmet Swiss Truffles.  They’re imported from Switzerland and the package contains both milk and dark chocolate varieties.  Dark chocolate and a cream filling make for a perfectly smooth combination.

If you don’t like chocolate (gasp!), Fresh & Easy offers cookies that taste better than any I could make here at home.  Their Snickerdoodle Cookies are made with butter, bourbon vanilla and premium cinnamon.  They’re so soft and chewy (like cookies should be) and just melt in your mouth.  Yes. They’re gone.

The above items are just a tasting of all Fresh & Easy has to offer.  If you’re looking for affordable Valentine’s Day gift ideas, be sure to visit a store near you.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  I received product samples to facilitate my review.

Holiday Gift Guide 2009: 1-800-Baskets *Giveaway*

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by. The winner is Monique R. Congrats!

A few weeks ago, I shared my experience with several brands that have partnered with 1-800-Flowers.com.  You can choose several items from these companies and put them together…or you could order a lovely gourmet basket from 1-800-Baskets.com.  If you’re struggling with time or a creative way to put a gift together, you can be sure that you’ll find expertly designed baskets with yummy gourmet food items from 1-800-Baskets.com. The company considers things like color combination and basket choices so that their baskets look as good as they taste.

I received the Regal Oak Grandeur Gift Basket to review.  It is was filled with gourmet chocolate (Ghiradelli), cheese, cookies, and more.  My favorite item in the basket was a pack of chocolate mint cookies.  I like the combination of both sweet and salty food items and you can choose gift baskets with a variety of food themes.  Some of the companies represented include The Popcorn Factory, Fannie May, Harry London and Cheryl & Co.  I’ve also been eying the Martha Stewart baskets!!!  Here is a little more about what makes the company unique:

Each one of our gift baskets is expertly designed by our talented team of Product, Basket and Gift Designers. Great care and consideration is given to finding exactly the right combination of materials and color for a beautiful presentation. With so many options like painted willow, distressed wood, and stamped metal, we’re sure we have the perfect gift solution for you. A lot of thought and care also goes into the work our dedicated Buyers do to search the world for the best foods, wines, fruits and other items that fill each gift. We source materials worldwide and that allows us to use the best manufacturers.

On the site you’ll find gift baskets in all price ranges, including 30 gifts under $30.

Win It! One of you will win a basket from 1-800-Baskets.com.  Simply leave me a comment with your favorite!  Comments will close on December 22, 2009 at 10 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Add the “Holiday Gift Guide” button to your sidebar and leave me a comment (be sure it’s up for the duration of the gift guide!)

Check out my Holiday Gift Guide and leave a comment on that site about a product you like! (Maximum of 1 Comment for this).

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest. Be sure to use the hashtag #holidaysurvivalguide

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For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I will be receiving a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.

Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Al Dente Pasta *Giveaway*

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to Christie!

We eat pasta at least once or twice a week.  I know it sounds rather boring, but there are so many different ways to create a pasta dish that we never get tired of it (and my son just loves it!).  And my husband, being the culinary expert that he is, is always looking for variations and twists on new dishes.  Because my husband does much all of the cooking, his business travels usually result in a lot of eating out expenditures (on my part!).  Fortunately, there are a few meals I can get together quickly (pasta being the easiest).

And now….with Al Dente Pasta…it’s even easier to get a quick and healthy meal on the table!  Started by one woman with the desire to create the perfect pasta over 25 years ago, Al Dente Pasta is a brand that is now sold at fine stores all over the US.  The company offers gourmet pastas and sauces in a myriad of flavors.  Most impressive is the fact that her pastas can be prepared in 3 minutes. Their egg noodles are a combination of Durum and Semolina flour, fresh eggs, herbs and spices.  I’ve not had the opportunity to try egg noodles in the past and Al Dente Pasta’s were surprisingly good.  And true to their word, the noodles were perfectly cooked “al dente” in 3 minutes (I’m not fond of soggy, overcooked pasta noodles).

Since you can’t have pasta without sauce, the company also offers gourmet versions with interesting combinations like olives and capers or leeks and sundried tomatoes.  My husband usually makes his own pasta sauce because he finds store-bought jars to be salty and over seasoned.  We were both surprised at the rich flavor present in the Roasted Garlic sauce.  My husband prepared fresh ground turkey and added the Roasted Garlic sauce to it and served it with the pasta.  It was delicious, quick, and painless (I definitely could have done it!).

The site offers a generous variety of flavor options and combinations.  With four sauces to choose from and fourteen Al Dente Pasta varieties, you’ll have fun mixing it up to create some unique dishes.  I’m highly impressed with their organic, low-carb, and whole-wheat pasta options (which I haven’t tried…yet!).

The site offers a lovely array of nicely presented gifts at affordable prices.  Most are in the $15-$20 range but I did see some in the $50 range.  If you’re unable to locate Al Dente Pasta products in a store near you, be sure to check out their online store.

Win It! One of you will win a Retro Gift Box.  Simply head on over to the site and take a look around. Come back here and leave me a comment with the pasta and sauce variety you would choose.  Comments will close on December 8, 2009 at 10 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Add the “Holiday Gift Guide” button to your sidebar and leave me a comment (be sure it’s up for the duration of the gift guide!)

Check out my Holiday Gift Guide and leave a comment on that site about a product you like! (Maximum of 1 Comment for this).

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest. Be sure to use the hashtag #holidaysurvivalguide

Enter Shannon’s giveaways (Maximum of 1 Comment for this).

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Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I did receive a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.

Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Hickory Farms

Certain periods and seasons of life evoke childhood memories.  Christmas is one such season.  I remember how much I enjoyed shopping with my mom.  Every year we’d get up before dark (hehe) and go Christmas shopping on Black Friday.  The crowds, the early morning coffee (once I got old enough), the excitement of seeing holiday decor all over the mall…I’ll cherish those memories forever.

And every year we’d have a list…one for “family,” one for “friends,” one for “co-workers” and one for us.  One of the stores we’d go to every year was Hickory Farms.  During this season, they set up a variety of holiday locations in malls across the country to allow you the opportunity to go in and experience all they have to offer for gourmet entertaining.   I always remember the aroma of smoked meat and cheeses when I walked into the store.  We’ve been purchasing their gift baskets for friends, family, and co-workers for years.  I don’t know a single person who doesn’t appreciate a gift that includes food.

If you’ve never been to their store or site, you may think that their selection includes nothing more than meats and cheeses.  You might be surprised to find fruit, nut, and chocolate-themed baskets and boxes, in gorgeous (and funcitonal) displays like photo boxes, reusable tins and baskets, snack coolers, and more.

We received a Hickory Handyman Toolbag, courtesy of Mom Central and Hickory Farms.  I had to hold my husband back before diving into it (I need a picture don’t I?).  Finally, a gift for the men in our lives!  We’ll actually be saving this for Thanksgiving and Christmas since our celebrations are going to be in our home (I can’t fathom traveling anywhere at 8 months pregnant).

Not only are the meats, cheeses, and crackers yummy (I’ve had them so many times over the years), the bag is something my husband can actually USE when the holidays are over. My favorite is the Gouda!

For a limited time, Hickory Farms will donate $5 to Share Our Strength for each Party Planner Gift Box sold.  The organization works to end hunger in America.  Another wonderful thing the company is doing is providing free miliatry shipping for 40 of their gift items.  It’s a great way to bring a little bit of holiday tradition to our troops serving us.

Online, you’ll find gift items in a variety of price ranges. Be sure to check out their online specials for savings on certain gifts. I highly recommend going into their store to get a look, feel, and taste of everything they have to offer.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Hickory Farms and received a Hickory Farms gift basket to facilitate my review

For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files

 

Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Fannie May Candies, Cheryl & Co., & The Popcorn Factory *Giveaway*

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by! Congrats to scottsgal.

For some reason, I have less guilt about indulging around this time of year.  There are so many events and parties filled with delicious gourmet foods.  My favorite, of course, is chocolate…ANYTHING (except chocolate-covered pretzels).  But I digressed.  Many of us will be opening up our homes to family and friends.  When I entertain, I like to have a diverse array of delicious foods.  I also like to give food gifts to many of our friends and family members (particularly the foodies!).

1-800-Flowers.com offers gorgeous bouquets and flower arrangements, gourmet foods, and gift baskets.  But what you might not know is that the company is actually a family and includes brands such as Fannie May Fine Chocolates, Cheryl & Co. and The Popcorn Factory.  If you want an array of gorgeously presented and incredible tasting food gifts, you must check out these three companies.

Being that I am a chocoholic, I had to exercise great discipline when we received samples from the above three companies.  So much so that as soon as I took the pictures, I dived in.  Jason walked inside the house earlier today when we were unloading the car and said, “You couldn’t wait, could you?”  Needless to say, I did manage to snap this picture before consuming the entire box two truffles.

Fannie May Fine Chocolates taste as good as they look.  The company combines quality with distinct and elegant packaging for a gift that is almost too good to eat.  Along with the most delicious truffles, the company offers chocolate, nut, peanut brittle, cheesecake, and popcorn gifts.  You can also find “no sugar added” varieties. We had an opportunity to try out their truffles, which literally melt in your mouth.   They’re extremely rich so while I wanted to eat the entire box, I didn’t.  I am not a huge fan of chocolates with nuts in them so I usually opt for truffles.  A couple of the truffles include chocolate liqueur so just be aware of that.  My favorite was the mocha.  The only thing I’d love to see the company add is a mini directory of all the flavors so I know exactly what I’m eating (rather than guessing).  A sixteen piece box retails for $17.99 and is available for purchase online.

If you don’t have time to bake but enjoy giving your friends and family fresh-baked desserts, visit Cheryl & Co.  The company is known for it’s delicious cookies, gourmet brownies, and cakes.  They’re fresh-baked, using quality ingredients.  I appreciate the fact that no preservatives are used in their baked goods.  Again, there are sugar free options available, if desired.  The Frosted Fudge Brownie is gone delicious.  It’s soft and contains chocolate chips and just the right amount of frosting.  We also tried their Frosted Caramel Pecan Chocolate Cookie which was good…but I’m a chocolate girl (hehe).  I always prefer straight chocolate over other desserts.  But again, the cookie was soft and tasted fresh.

Both sites are easy to navigate and I like that there are so many different choices in a ton of different price ranges.  You can get something really nice and not have to spend a ton of money.  I also appreciate the effort both companies make to ensure the gift is packaged elegantly.

Now, if you prefer crunchy and salty, you may want to check out The Popcorn Factory.  Popcorn is something we snack on regularly in our house (and I don’t feel an inkling of guilt about it).  Their holiday tins offer 3 flavors…cheese, caramel, and butter.  The only one I’m not a fan of is the cheese (but I don’t like cheese popcorn in general).  The other two flavors are delicious.  What makes the tins such a neat gift idea is the ability to personalize them with a photo or message on the top of the tin.

While the store is called The Popcorn Factory, you’ll find more than just popcorn including nuts, pretzels and other snacks.  Pricing runs between $10 to over $100 and you’ll find impressive gifts in all price ranges.

If you’re looking for gourmet food gifts with excellent presentation, check out the entire 1-800 Flowers.com family of brands.

Win It! One of you will win an AWESOME prize pack which will include items from all three companies (Fannie May Truffles, Cheryl & Co. baked goods, and a tin of popcorn from The Popcorn Factory).  Since this is a biggie, please visit each site (I promise it won’t take that long) and leave me a comment with one item you like from each site (except anything mentioned above).  Comments will close on December 1, 2009 at 10 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Add the “Holiday Gift Guide” button to your sidebar and leave me a comment (be sure it’s up for the duration of the gift guide!)

Check out my Holiday Gift Guide and leave a comment on that site about a product you like! (Maximum of 1 Comment for this).

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest. Be sure to use the hashtag #holidaysurvivalguide

Enter Shannon’s giveaways (Maximum of 1 Comment for this).

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files

Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Nudo

By now you know my husband and I tend to be foodies. We love gourmet foods made with high-quality natural, organic ingredients. While my husband does a majority of the cooking, I have a lot of influence with regards to the ingredients he uses.  Some of my favorite gourmet food shops include Williams-Sonoma and Dean & Deluca (of course we can’t forget about Whole Foods and Gelsons.   And I’m sure you know that olive oil is not created equal.  If you’re a food connoisseur, then you know that choosing a bottle of olive oil can be as intricate as choosing a bottle of wine. So, what’s the difference between a $10 bottle versus a $20 bottle? Everything from chemical treatment to how old it is to the type of tree it was extracted from can really impact the quality and taste of your olive oil.  If you love interesting facts, check out this article which details everything you ever want to know about olive oil.

We all know how beneficial olive oil is (skin, hair, heart, etc.). My husband and I primarily use it for cooking and dressings.  The most unique gift idea I’ve come across lately is by a company called Nudo.  More than just a gift, Nudo is an experience that the receiver will benefit from all year long.  Here is a little more information from the site:

Nudo is a “family-run co-operative of olive groves dotted around a small hilltop village in the Marche region of Italy.”  Adopt one of its trees for a year and you’ll receive all the produce from your tree. Imagine dunking your bread in your own oil from your own tree thousands of miles away on a hillside in Italy.

Rather than buying olive oil on a regular basis, why not consider adopting an olive tree? I have to admit that this is the first I’ve heard of such a thing, but I was highly intrigued. The process (which is actually quite simple) involves choosing a specific olive variety (I didn’t even know that there were different “kinds” of olive oil) and then following the progress of your tree for one year. The cost of adoption is $150 and includes “a personalized adoption certificate and booklet describing the tree, four 500 ml tins of first cold press extra virgin olive oil from the tree in the spring (mid-April), three 250 ml tins of infused extra virgin olive oil (lemon, chile, orange, etc.) in the fall, and an open invitation to visit your tree in person.

If adopting an olive tree is simply not something you’re ready to commit to, you can purchase Nudo’s certified organic oil made from 100% handpicked olives.  We received a tin of extra virgin olive oil which not only looks pretty (hehe), it tastes incredible.  It’s actually easier for me to taste the difference when my husband makes salad dressings with balsamic vinegar (as opposed to when he cooks with it).  The site sells an array of olive oils, most impressive being those infused with things like oranges, mandarins, and lemons (I’d LOVE to taste those).  Pricing really depends on the size of tin you purchase and whether or not you want an olive oil infused with something like thyme (Prices are in British Pounds).  Be sure to check out their store for gourmet food products such as Organic Pesto with Almonds.

Nudo uses recycled tins as opposed to glass bottles to further reduce it’s carbon footprint. The tins also protect the oil from sunlight to retain the flavor.

For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files