It's About Time...

...that I finally told you a little bit more about Baked Brie with Red Pepper Jelly!

For both of my recent contests, my Mini Baker has been the "hat" I tossed the names in. And both times I mentioned this, I hinted at the fact that Baked Brie with Red Pepper Jelly was one of my favourite appetizers. Today, I'm going to share with you the three reasons why it's on my go-to list when company's coming, and then tell you how to make it yourself.

First off, it's easy. I know it sounds really fancy (and trust me, it looks fancy, too!) but all you need is the Mini Baker and two ingredients: Brie and Red Pepper Jelly.

Second, it's fast. Unexpected-company-shows-up-and-it's-on-the-table-in-ten-minutes kind of fast. I'm not kidding.

Finally, it is delicious. The rich brie and the sweet zing of the red pepper jelly were made for each other. But don't take my word for it, try it for yourself!

Here's what you need to do:

Pop a wheel of brie (around 125g) into your Mini Baker. Microwave it on high for a minute to a minute and a half. You want it to be nice and soft. Spoon two or three tablespoons of Epicure's Red Pepper Jelly on top. And that's it! Put the baker with the brie in the centre of a platter, toss some of your favourite crackers around for dipping and enjoy.

And the Winner of the Lemon Pepper Sansel is...

And now, the answer to the question that you've all been waiting for--who is the winner of my most recent contest, for one full-sized bottle of Epicure's Lemon Pepper Sansel?

Once again, I pulled out my handy-dandy Mini Baker (and once again got to thinking about baked brie with red pepper jelly...yum!), and tossed in everyone's entries - one per person for asking a question on my previous post, and a bonus entry for sharing on your own Facebook page.

I gave the pile a quick stir to mix 'em up and make it random, and drew...

Congratulations, Katherine! Please send me an email so we can discuss how to get you your prize.

Thanks to all of you for playing. I hope to have more contests in the future, so please keep visiting!

Lemon Pepper Sansel

Last week's post was all about cutting down on sodium and how Epicure Sansels were a delicious way to add flavour without adding salt. If you missed it, you can check it out here.

All that talk about Sansel got me thinking that it would be the perfect item for my next free give-away.  Yes, friends...it's contest time again!

Lemon Pepper Sansel adds a delicious citrus flavour to your chicken, fish and vegetables. You can use it while you're cooking, or add it to your food right at the table.

There are hundreds of ways to use this versatile seasoning. If your imagination isn't up to the challenge, remember...you can always check Epicure's website for tons of great recipe ideas.

 How would you like your very own jar of Lemon Pepper Sansel...for FREE?

I am giving away a jar to one lucky blog reader. To enter the contest, all you have to do is leave a comment asking me one question about Epicure--the products, the tasting parties, whatever you like.

Deadline for entries is 11:59pm on Thursday August 23rd. One entry per person, however you can get one bonus entry for sharing this blog post on your Facebook page.

The winner will be selected by random draw on Friday August 24. Watch this space for the announcement.

Good luck everyone!

Please DON'T Pass the Salt!

According to The Heart and Stroke Foundation, eating food with too much salt can raise your blood pressure and increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. To quote from their website:

"If you can lower your intake little by little each day, you can reduce blood pressure. Because our diets are generally so high in salt, everybody – even those with normal blood pressure – can benefit from reducing salt intake." - The Heart and Stroke Foundation

I bet I know what you're thinking. You don't want to give up your salt shaker, because that's what makes stuff taste good, right?

Well guess what? It's not true!

Epicure makes it easy for you to add flavour to your food in so many (sodium-free!) ways, you can take a pass on that salt and still enjoy a tasty meal.

If you browse through the catalogue, you'll see the "No Sodium" symbol all over the place. You can feel good about selecting these products, because when you cook with them, you'll only be adding flavour--not salt.

If you're skeptical, I suggest you start with one of our Sansels. Not only are they very tasty, they are quite versatile, too! You can cook with them or season your food right at the table. There are four delicious flavours - Ariba!, Lemon Pepper, Chili Lime, and--my favourite--Red Garlic. Yum!
 




"Please pass the Sansel!"

And the Winner Is...

Thank you to those who entered my first contest - the chance to win a free sample of Slow Cooker Country Chicken.

I prepared for the draw by writing the names down (one entry for a comment on the blog, and a bonus entry for posting about it on your Facebook page). I didn't have a hat handy, so I folded the papers up and put them into my Epicure Mini Baker (which is perfect for making baked Brie with Epicure's Red Pepper Jelly. That should definitely be the subject of a future post...yum!).

Drum roll, please!

And the winner is....

Congratulations, Jennifer! Please send me an email so I can arrange to get you your prize.

I hope you all had fun with this contest. I plan to have another one soon, so make sure you check back here often. Remember, if you don't want to miss a post, you can always subscribe. Just enter your email address into the little box over there on the right...and every post will be delivered right to your mailbox.

Have a great long weekend, everyone!

Slow Cooker Country Chicken

Let's have a quick show of hands...how many of you have a slow cooker in your kitchen cupboard?  Most of you, right?

Okay, next question...how many of you have used that slow cooker in the last six months?  Not too many of you, I bet.

The slow cooker is, in my opinion, one of the most under-utilized small appliances in the kitchen, and I just don't understand why.  You toss in a few ingredients, plug it in and pretty much forget about it until it's time to eat.  It doesn't get much easier than that, does it? 

And the slow cooker is not just for pot roast or stews.  Epicure has a selection of slow cooker options in their What's for Dinner? line, including the Country Chicken Mix, which is one of my favourites.  You supply the chicken and veggies, Epicure supplies the flavour, and you end up with a delicious dinner.  Plus, only one pot to wash!

How would you like to try the Slow Cooker Country Chicken Mix... for FREE??

I'll be giving away a package to one of my blog readers to try for themselves.  To enter, all you need to do is leave me a comment here on this blog post about Epicure products - which ones you love, or which ones you'd like to try.  I'll put everyone's name into a hat and choose one lucky winner on Friday August 3, 2012. 

Deadline for entry is 11:59pm Thursday August 2, 2012.  One entry per person, however you can get one bonus entry if you also share this post on your own Facebook page.

Good luck everyone!

A Dilly-icious Deal

One of the most popular Epicure products is, without a doubt, the Lemon Dilly Dip Mix.  Want to know what makes it so special?

If you've been to a tasting party, I bet you've tried the Epicure Extraordinary Cheese Dip.  This recipe alone would make Lemon Dilly a worthwhile addition to your pantry, right?  Delicious, irresistible and easy to make, it's always the first thing gone at my parties!

But guess what?  There are so many more things you can do with Lemon Dilly.  A friend asked me for some ideas the other day, and I directed her to the Epicure website where you can find 318 different recipes that feature Lemon Dilly.  And yes, I counted them!  Salads, soups, and sauces; seasoning for chicken and fish; and of course...the Epicure Extraordinary Cheese Dip.  Yum!

With all these possibilities, it's easy to see why the very versatile Lemon Dilly is so popular.  And now is the perfect time to stock up because until the end of July, you can save 25% when you order Lemon Dilly Dip Mix - the regular price is $7.99 but it's on sale today for $5.99 a jar.

The best part? You can place an order through me directly (for this, or any other item you want!) at any time.  You don't have to wait for a party, and there is no minimum order.  So email me today and let me know how many jars you'd like! 

And while you're here, why not leave a comment and let me know your favourite way to use Lemon Dilly?  I'd love to hear what works in your kitchen!