Amazing Giveaway for Christmas!!

Go here: http://www.fantabulouslyfrugal.com/2009/11/you-deserve-best-giveaway.html I promise, it will be worth your while. It's one of the best giveaways I've ever seen! If you decide to enter, please mention you heard about the giveaway here and both of us will get an extra entry. Good luck to us! Also, use coupon code "cheesyblog" at Donkey T's to get 20% off! They have lots of funny t-shirts. They make great stocking stuffers! xoxo Melissa

My Christmas Wreath

Isn't it cute? I got the idea from Food Network magazine. They have a lot of cute wreaths in the latest issue, all made of food. I loved them all! I figured this one would be pretty inexpensive to make, so I thought I'd try it. Disclaimer: I am NOT crafty! This is why I wanted to do something cheap. I wasn't confident it would turn out right, but it was easy! To make it, you need a styrofoam ring, toothpicks and marshmallows. I used 3 bags of big marshmallows and about 1/4 of a bag of small marshmallows. I did have some fall off, so I glued those, but mostly the marshmallows are secured by the toothpicks. The syrofoam ring was about $5, and the marshmallows were on sale for $1/bag, so that was $9, plus another $2 for the ribbon and red berries. That makes the grand total $11. Not bad-and it's original. My neighbor, Keith, liked it so much, he ate one of the marshmallows...

So, my Thanksgiving was really nice. We went to my mother-in-law's house, like usual. She does the turkey, potatoes, and dressing and everyone else brings a side/sides to pass. I make a chocolate chip cheesecake, roasted maple squash, broccoli salad and bread. Everything turned out great, but I don't have a single picture. (forgot my camera) Besides, none of them are original recipes. The broccoli salad I've made for years, the cheesecake came from a Nestle cookbook. It is an old standby-always turns out perfectly. The roasted maple squash is from Ina Garten and the bread is from the book: Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day. It was the rosemary flax baguette recipe. Anyway, the food was great as well as the company. We all had a lot of laughs.

This time of year is filled with parties for me. I may not have very many recipes for the whole month of December! I always host Christmas and always make pulled pork. I asked for requests for a new main course this year, but was asked to do the pulled pork that everyone looks forward to. I guess it's about tradition. So, we'll have pulled pork sandwiches, apple upside-down french toast casserole for breakfast, put out reindeer food, open new jammies on Christmas Eve, exchange dirty Santa gifts, play American Idol on the Wii, drink Jagermeister and Baileys, play board games and sing karaoke. This is what we always do, and I wouldn't change a thing! We have such a great time. Everyone looks forward to it. I really have the best family. Ever. What are your favorite family traditions?

xoxo

Melissa

Who Can it Be, Now??

It's time to announce the winner of my giveaway. I wish I could give an apron to each and every one of you, but I can't. I know this is something that many of my friends and readers would LOVE to win, because, I assume that, those of you who read this, like to cook. Anyway, here's my old school way of choosing a winner. Everyone who left a comment and is either a follower or became one, got their name on a slip of paper. Even my mother, who is not ACTUALLY a follower, but I cut her a break because she gave birth to me and all, and she did leave a comment. ;o) If you signed up or already follow me on Twitter, I gave you another slip of paper. Lisa D., can you see your name in the bowl? I think I can see Mrs. G in the front, too.

I was trying to decide who would actually pick the name, since D. said I shouldn't do it myself, and at midnight, the only people awake in the house, are me and the dog. I was considering lining them up on the floor to see which one the dog would go to first, but, I worried about her eating the papers. I was stirring up the papers trying to make sure they were thoroughly mixed and one popped out. I stopped for a second and thought, maybe I should just choose the one that jumped out. Maybe the little guy jumped out on purpose! I figured that would be a fair thing to do. Now, that I've put all this thought and energy into the one who jumped out, I had to see who it was.

It says, "Karen Twitter", if you can't read my chicken scratch. Karen jumped out! Karen is a very special friend of mine, even though we've never met in real life. We met through ivillage on a message board. We both have four year old sons with birthdays in May. So, Karen, you are the winner!! You win the Dorothy apron in yellow from Carolyn's Kitchen! Karen has a yellow kitchen and her favorite color is yellow. I know about her kitchen because she is an amazing photographer and takes tons of pictures! Karen, when you get your apron, I expect to see lots of pics of you wearing it! Maybe you'll let me post one here? Thanks to everyone who entered, and I'm really sorry you couldn't all win. I will have another giveaway in December, though, so please try again! xoxo Melissa

How to Follow Me

Part of the contest is to become one of my followers. That sounds rather cult-ish, doesn't it? I promise I'll be nice. :op To follow me, click on the button on the lower right that says, "Follow". Underneath that, it says, "with Google friend connect". Under that, it says, "Followers", with pictures of the people who follow my blog. Extra XOXO

Melissa

My Carolyn's Kitchen Apron <3

Just so you guys know what I actually look like when I'm cooking, here's a pic. I'm not sexy. The apron might be sexy, but me - I am unshowered, wearing sweats and no makeup. The apron does spruce up the outfit, though, don't you think? I did get a whistle when D saw me... (-: See the post below for a chance to win your own apron from Carolyn's Kitchen!! Men can enter too. This apron makes a GREAT gift for any woman in your life. Or you can wear it yourself, no judgement here! ;o)

xoxo

Melissa

Giveaway!!!

Giveaway From Carolyn's Kitchen!

I'm so excited! I've been waiting to announce this giveaway for months. I discovered these vintage inspired aprons when I was visiting the blog, At home with Vicki Bensinger and fell in love. I entered Vicki's contest, but didn't win, so I put one of the aprons on my birthday list. My mother-in-law bought me one! (Rock-n-Roll in hot pink to be specific) I loved it so much, I contacted Carolyn, of Carolyn's Kitchen, about doing a giveaway on my blog. She was so nice and emailed me back immediately. She is generously offering her Dorothy apron in yellow to the winner of my little contest.

To enter the contest, you must first be a follower of my blog. Second, go check out Carolyn's Kitchen's aprons, and leave me a comment telling me which apron you like best, and what you will do with it if you win. Will you keep it for yourself? Give it as a holiday gift? Give the apron as a hostess gift? If you follow me on Twitter, you will get another entry in the contest. Be sure to leave me a comment telling me that you are now following me on Twitter, though. Good luck! I will announce the winner, chosen randomly, next Sunday morning. That will be November 22nd.

xoxo Melissa

The First Annual Foodbuzz Festival in Photos

I had an amazing time in San Francisco! Spectacular food, too much wine and really great people. I can't wait until next year's festival. We were given so many gifts, my suitcase would barely close and I had to carry on a bag containing a set of wine glasses and a set of beer glasses. I was a little intimidated at first, being in a strange city, not knowing my way around, but, the people of San Francisco were very kind and helpful. I stayed at the Marriott in Union Square. The staff there was amazing. They made me feel right at home and helped me with whatever I needed, including weighing my suitcase for me! Ha! I was worried I would be over the weight limit. I actually was by two pounds, but Delta let me slide.

I have much more to say, but being gone for four days has put me way behind in my work and my other responsibilities. I wanted to post something, though. Especially since I was mentioned in the Foodbuzz Festival program, for inspiring a cocktail. Actually, they misprinted the name of my blog as, "Cheese, Wine and Cheddar". Today Foodbuzz sent out an email with the correct name, (Cheese, Wine and Chocolate), and a link , so I wanted to have something from the festival up to share.

See? Melissa York of Cheese, Wine and Cheddar. I appreciate the recognition, but Cheese, Wine and Cheddar? Isn't that a bit redundant? Oh well, I forgive the people at Foodbuzz. They did a fantastic job organizing everything all weekend, and they did, make the correction. :o)

xoxo

Melissa