I am Hooked on these Food Network Shows

I am hooked on Food Network. They have some fun new shows that I am completely hooked on!

Cupcake Wars is my guilty pleasure. There are 3 or 4 "couples" and one couple gets eliminated each round. The final round is between two couples, and they have to create a centerpiece for a special party {one episode was Sea World, another was for an awards show}, as well as make 1,000 cupcakes. I love seeing what they come up with. They are scored on creativity as well as taste. It has inspired me to come up with some cupcake flavors of my own, which I cannot wait to try. If you are lucky {or maybe not-so lucky}, I will share them with you here.





Here is a look at one of the winning teams:






Chopped is a really fun show - with the same concept as Cupcake Wars.  Individuals go through three rounds and one is eliminated in each.  For each round, they have surprise ingredients in their baskets that they must use in their creations.  One round is appetizers, one is main course and the last is dessert.  The basket ingredients are different for each course.  This show is highly entertaining, as the contestants range from home cooks, to sous chefs, to caterers, etc.  The last chef standing wins $10,000.

24 Hour Restaurant Battle is fascinating to me.  I know I have dreamed of opening a restaurant, and in this show two groups have 24 hours to plan their restaurants, design a menu and shop.  They get judged on customer opinions, decor, presentation and how tasty the food is.  Love it!

My newest favorite show is The Great Food Truck Race.  The host is Tyler Florence {pretty easy on the eyes for sure}.  Last week was the opener for this show.  Seven food trucks travel across the country, and are given assignments.  Each week one truck gets eliminated.  Last week's challenge was to see which truck made the most money during a weekend.  The trucks cover a wide variety of foods.  There was the "Nom Nom" truck which featured Vietnamese meatball sandwiches as their specialty.  They ended up coming in 1st place.  There was a crepe truck, a French food truck, a pressed sanwiches truck, a gourmet burger truck.  The truck that got eliminated was my favorite.  They served hot wings and several varieties of banana pudding.

{Photo courtesy of The Food Network}

The opinions herein are those of blog author only. There was no compensation - I just wanted to share my favorite shows with  you!  Please refer to my Acknowlegement Policy for further information.

Don't miss these giveaways at Eighty MPH Mom!

The Step into Summer event is in full swing over at Eighty MPH Mom! Outnumbered 3 to 1 and Eighty MPH Mom are giving away some fabulous prizes!

Skin care:

Kids stuff:

and so much more! 

Blog author never gets paid to post. The only compensation for any review on this site is a sample of product for review. Compensation received has no bearing on any review outcome. Please refer to my Acknowlegement Policy for further information.

We have two winners!

We have a couple of winners!

KAHVE KOFFEE:

Congratulations to:  barbara.montyj!

DOMINO'S PIZZA GIFT CARD:

Congratulations to: jengd!

Both winners have been notified via email and have 48 hours to reply.

Kahve Koffee Gourmet Coffee Giveaway

{CLOSED}

Anybody who knows me, knows I love coffee.  I love it and cannot live without it.  You could say I am a "fiend" I suppose (although coffee lover sounds much nicer).  I love to discover new coffees with rich and bold flavors - it is one of my favorite things.

I recently heard about Kahvé Koffee and wanted to share a little bit about them with you {and also give you the chance to try them for yourself!}.

Our master roaster is personally responsible for all of our coffees. He knows the harvest, the altitude, the growing conditions and most of all the quality of our beans. He studies beans from around the world and chooses only the finest for Kahvé Koffees. After all, it really is all about the beans.

• We pay the highest prices for the best quality which also assures a fair wage for the farmers.
• We hand roast our coffees in small batches in order to encourage the best roast for each coffee. This is essential to an excellent cup.
• We taste our coffees again and again as we roast them, fine-tuning every few moments for the best possible taste in the cup.
• We hand finish our beans by naturally allowing them to cool versus quenching them with water as mass production roasters tend to do. This allows for a richer, purer flavor profile that adding water would dilute. Water not only adds weight to the beans, but and as it evaporates, it dries them out taking the precious natural oils with it. Our hand finishing retains our beans' pure weight as well as the natural oils and flavor. The end result is a naturally moist roast of 100% pure bean weight.
• We taste each batch before we pack and ship to assure there is never a sacrifice in quality.
• We deliver our coffees as soon after the roast as possible when they are still alive with aromatics, fresh and full of their entire flavor. A true masterpiece from bean to brew.

Rest Assured...Once You Have Tasted Our Kahvé... You'll Surely Know Why!

Kahvé Koffee has a wonderful selection of gourmet coffee, teas, coffee equipment and more. The coffees are broken down into dark roasts, medium roasts, light roasts, decaf, espresso, etc.  I found their site to be very easy to navigate and quite informative!  You can choose your coffee beans ground or unground, which is nice if you do not already have a coffee grinder.  They even have coffee faq's, fun facts, health benefits, guide to brewing and more.  I had so much fun exploring the Kahvé Koffee site!

People are positively addicted to Kahvé Koffee and for good reason. We are obsessive about our beans, our roasting, our packaging and our freshness. Our loyal customers will tell you they have never had a better, more consistent cup of coffee. They rely on us to deliver time and time again a perfect cup of their favorite blend or varietal. We are determined never to disappoint. To that end, our process is labor intensive and we double check ourselves every step of the way. We evaluate the quality and consistency of each and every roast and each and every shipment. The result... an intoxicating blend of aroma and taste, the likes of which you have never known.

Something fun that Kahve Koffee offers is the Koffee Club. Not only will you get to try several types of blends, but you will earn rewards for discounts and other perks as well!  Kahvé Koffee is definitely a great source for all of your coffee needs, whether you are looking for a new and exciting coffee, tea or gift, or if you are in the market for a new coffee maker, grinder, etc.


How would you like to try some coffee from Kahvé Koffee?  Enter below for a chance to win!

THE GIVEAWAY:

One winner will receive a 12 oz. bag of Kahvé Koffee {Winner's choice of  unflavored coffee}

For first (and required entry), head over to Kahve Koffee and take a look around. Come back and tell me in a comment which coffee flavor you would choose if you won!

EXTRA ENTRY OPTIONS - do as many or few as you want!:

{can be done only after initial entry above is done}
Please leave links to your entries, where appropriate.

Like Kahve Koffee on Facebook  - 1 entry

Blog about this giveaway, linking to The Speedy Gourmet (http://www.thespeedygourmet.net)  - 5 entries
Follow me publicly on blogger/GFC - 1 entry
Boost this Giveaway on Prizey - 1 entry

{Note: This may not show up on Prizey for a couple of days after posting}


PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT MY NEW BUTTON IS ON YOUR BLOG - THANKS!

One entry each for the following:

Follow me on Networked Blogs

Add my  button to your blog

Add me to your text blog roll

Post this giveaway on Facebook

Subscribe via email or RSS feed

Put this on a giveaway linky-leave link in your comment
Favorite my blog on Technorati
Digg this post

Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway using the suggested phrase below - 1 entry daily

"Win a 12 oz bag of coffee from Kahve Koffee! Ends 6/30! http://www.thespeedygourmet.net #giveaways"

Open to residents of US only.  Giveaway ends June 30th at 9:00 p.m. (PST)

Blog author never gets paid to post. The only compensation for any review on this site is a sample of product for review. I did not receive compensation for this review/post. The opinions herein are those of blog author only. Compensation received has no bearing on any review outcome. Please refer to my Acknowlegement Policy for further information.

Easy Corn Casserole

If you are looking for a easy side dish that feeds lots of people, you are in luck!  This has been one of our family favorites for years, and we tend to keep these items on hand for those last minute meals.

EASY CORN CASSEROLE:

Ingredients:
1 egg
1/4 cup melted butter
1 cup sour cream
1 can creamed corn
1 can whole kernel corn (drained)
1 pkg. Jiffy cornbread mix (dry)

Mix all ingredients together in large bowl.  Transfer to greased casserole dish (sprayed with Pam).  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour (should be light brown on top).  Voila!

Easy Taco Ring!

I try to keep certain ingredients in my house for those times when i need to come up with a meal quickly. One of my easy go-to meals is this Easy Taco Ring. My family requests this often, and it is easily a household favorite I used to make it on a round cooking stone, but it has been misplaced. This works just fine on a cookie sheet.

What you'll need:
2 packages crescent rolls
1 lb. hamburger meat
Taco Seasoning
Grated cheddar cheese
Optional: Sour cream, red onions, lettuce, etc.

DIRECTIONS:

1.  Cook hamburger meat with your favorite taco seasoning.  Drain.

2.  Open packages of crescent rolls and arrange on cookie sheet like this:

3.  Press edges together to make a flat surface {this is where you will put your filling}

4.  Scoop seasoned hamburger meat onto dough, evenly.  Top with cheese:

5.  Bring the corners of each piece of dough over the top of the filling and press into dough on the inside.  Make sure it is taut.

This is what it should look like when you are finished:

6.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 30-40 minutes, or until cheese is melted and dough is lightly browned.

You can be creative of course and add other ingredients inside!

Slice into pieces and add a dollop of sour cream on each piece, and add any other goodies you want.

Easy peasy!

Domino's Pizza Taste Bud Bounty Hunters - $20 Domino's Gift Card giveaway

Domino's Pizza just came out with a fun new promotion.  It's called Domino's Taste Bud Bounty Hunters.  You've always wanted to be a bounty hunter right?  Well, even if you haven't ever had the desire, I believe you will want to participate in this. It sounds like a blast, and there is an amazing grand prize!

The Taste Bud Bounty Hunter who successfully convinces the most pizza holdouts to try out the new recipe will win FREE pizza for a year in the form of $20 gift cards (that is 52 gift cards!).  Just think - one night a week you wouldn't have to cook - one night each week for a whole year.  Come to mama!

Here is how it works:
Hunters and the hunted will receive incentives via e-mail for participating in the Taste Bud Bounty. You upload your profile photo from Facebook onto the Domino’s Most Wanted Taste Bud Wall or the Top Bounty Hunter Wall. You can then have your progress updated, and be followed by friends.

Start searching by going to Pizza Holdouts. Domino’s will reward each Bounty Hunter’s first submission with a coupon for a FREE order of Chocolate Lava Crunch Cakes with an online delivery order of $10 or more. Each submitted pizza holdout will receive a coupon to buy one pizza and get a second pizza of equal or lesser value FREE {minimum delivery amount applies, only valid online}.

If you successfully “capture” 10 friends by getting them to order Domino’s new pizza, you will receive a coupon for one FREE large 1-topping pizza {with online order only, tax and delivery charge may apply}. Try to capture as many pizza holdouts as you can before June 27.

This sounds fun! I love interactive things like this, and I especially love to be rewarded!

Head on over to the Pizza Holdouts website and get to work (actually it isn't much work, but it's a whole lot of fun).

You also have a chance to win a Domino's gift card here (and another chance at Eighty MPH Mom!)!

THE GIVEAWAY:
One winner will receive a $20 Domino's gift card!

For first (and required entry), tell me what are your favorite pizza toppings!

EXTRA ENTRY OPTIONS - do as many or few as you want!:

{can be done only after initial entry above is done}
Please leave links to your entries, where appropriate.

Follow Domino's on Twitter - 1 entry

Become a fan of/like of Domino's on Facebook (tell them I sent you, if you wish!) - 1 entry
Enter the $20 Domino's gift card giveaway at Eighty MPH Mom! - 1 entry
Blog about this giveaway, linking to The Speedy Gourmet (http://www.thespeedygourmet.net)  - 5 entries
Follow me publicly on blogger/GFC - 1 entry
Boost this Giveaway on Prizey - 1 entry

{Note: This may not show up on Prizey for a couple of days after posting}


PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT MY NEW BUTTON IS ON YOUR BLOG - THANKS!

One entry each for the following:

Follow me on Networked Blogs

Add my  button to your blog

Add me to your text blog roll

Post this giveaway on Facebook

Subscribe via email or RSS feed

Put this on a giveaway linky-leave link in your comment
Favorite my blog on Technorati
Digg this post

Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway using the suggested phrase below - 1 entry daily

"Win a $20 Domino's Pizza gift card! Ends 6/25! http://www.thespeedygourmet.net"

Open to residents of US only.  Giveaway ends June 25th at 9:00 p.m. (PST)

I did not receive compensation for this post. The opinions herein are those of blog author only. Compensation received has no bearing on any review outcome. Please refer to my Acknowlegement Policy for further information.

Octopi Stir-fry: No thanks!

My son loves to make stir-fry. He loves to mix it up a bit and try new things. I encourage that, I do. Lately, however, he has been making some really strange stir-fry meals {usually for lunch} that leave me a little queasy. 

Some of his recent recipes have been less than desirable {to me, at least}. He made a sardine stir-fry, a "some other fish in a can" stir-fry and most recently, this:

Octopi stir-fry

In case that view isn't close enough {to make you lose your lunch}, I offer you this:

Yeah - that's what I said.  He enjoyed it thoroughly!  I am not a big fan of calamari at all  in general.  There is something about the little legs in my mouth that is just plain unappetizing to me.

What is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten?

Starfrit Ceramic Blade Chef's Knife Review and Giveaway at Snafood

I just wanted to give you a heads up on a fantastic giveaway going on at Snafood! She is giving away a Starfrit Ceramic Blade Knife! These are really wonderful - I reviewed one on Eighty MPH Mom (which also has a giveaway - only a couple of days left!)

 You have two chances to win one of these wonderful knives:

 Good luck!

 

Proscuitto Pizza from Shade Hotel!

I recently stayed at Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach for a Bloggers Brunch and it was fabulous!  My last night there, I was pretty tired and didn't feel like going out to eat, so I ordered room service.  I ordered their Proscuitto Pizza which also had caramelized onions, pine nuts, parmesan cheese and feta cheese.  It was absolutely heavenly, and I think I am going to have to try to make this at home.

If you are ever in the Manhattan Beach/L.A. area, I highly recommend the Shade Boutique Hotel. No compensation of any kind was received for this post. I just really loved it!

Do You Love Recipe Contests?

I have to admit, I have never entered a recipe contest though I have been tempted many times. I have compiled a list of contests for those of you who might wish to try your luck with one or more of your yummy dishes. Take a look over the right hand side for a list of current recipe contests - let me know if you plan to enter any!

PARDON THE DUST!

I am playing around with a few things here (so confused - it's quite a mess LOL), but I hope to have The Speedy Gourmet up and running again soon!

It's been a little slow!

I know it's been a little slow around here and I do apologize. I have some things lined up and some delicious recipes to share with you. I also want to tell you about the Leap into Spring event coming up on my sister blog, Eighty MPH Mom. Some of the yummy sponsors include Fairytale Brownies, The Popcorn Factory, Eli's Cheesecake, Taffy Tree and Bake Me a Wish!

 Make sure you post the Leap into Spring button on your blog - you will get extra entries! Melissa and I are so excited for this event to start!

Great Giveaways going on at Eighty MPH Mom!

I have some yummy giveaways going on over at Eighty MPH Mom - you don't want to miss these!

Eighty MPH Mom-Carousel Cakes - Oprah's Favorite RED VELVET CAKE (3-5)

Eighty MPH Mom - $20 Domino's Pizza gift card (2-25)

Eighty MPH Mom - Heidi's Heavenly Cookies Asst. (2-22) 

Eighty MPH Mom - Wanchai Ferry Prize Pack and $25 Target gift card (3-3) 

Of course there are other giveaways too, such as a Rubbermaid Drawer organizer, L'Occitane (you pick the prize, up to $60!), and Lysol No-Hands soap system!

Cheesy Crab Rounds

I posted these recipes on Eighty MPH Mom a couple of weeks ago, but they are just so good, I wanted to make sure everyone here had a chance to see them too - enjoy!
My husband, daughter and I went to a crab feed put on by his department a couple of weeks ago.  They actually had too much crab (if you can believe that), so lucky us - we got to bring home a huge aluminum pan full of dungeoness crab (the best in my opinion!) For the next couple of days, I made dishes using the crab meat, and I thought I would share them with you! Saturday night, I made these yummy Crab Rounds that my mom used to make.
Sunday night, we had Crab Louie with homemade Louie sauce!  This is my husband's favorite, and he was just beside himself with delight.  Here is the recipe for the Louie Sauce:

1 cup Mayonnaise

1/4 cup cream or milk

1/4 cup chili sauce

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup green onion

2 tsp lemon juice

The Crab feed was a blast - there was a raffle, lots of wine and good people that I hadn't seen in a long time.  Did I mention wine?  Oh yes, I certainly did.  Ummm don't drink and post on Facebook...the two don't mix! Enjoy! Blog author never gets paid to post. The only compensation for any review on this site is a sample of product for review. I received compensation for this review/post. The opinions herein are those of blog author only. Compensation received has no bearing on any review outcome. Please refer to my Acknowlegement Policy for further information.

Winner Announcement- $20 Domino's Pizza gift card!

Congratulations to rajee who won the $20 Domino's Pizza gift card...enjoy!