Keeping the Faith - A Giveaway

There have been a lot of twists and turns in my personal life (and in the country at large) this past week. It's times like these that send me looking (running!) for comfort.

Because I'm Cuban, I can usually find my comfort in the kitchen. (Don't judge me.) A fabulous sofrito, a perfect arroz con pollo a la chorrera, or a sweet flan all speak to me of goodness and abundance and home and give me an all-is-right-with-the-world feeling.

However, none of these can compete with the aroma of freshly brewed espresso. It is, to me, the quintessentially Cuban comfort. It speaks of my culture, reminds me of my Papi, and has been the constant in my entire existence on this planet. Too dramatic? Please. I'm having a moment here.

I was delighted that my friends at IMUSA USA have offered to sponsor this week's giveaway. “A buen hora.” (Loose translation: “Perfect timing.”)

An IMUSA Bistro 4 Cup Espresso and Cappuccino Machine and an 4 Cup Espresso Set with Chrome Rack.

UPDATE 11/10/12: The very generous folks at Gaviña Gourmet Coffees are adding a pound of their deliciously Cuban La Llave Espresso to this giveaway package. Gracias, my friends!

Honestly, I've always been partial to the old-school stove-top espresso maker. But this baby now takes pride of place in my kitchen and I'm pleased to report that it's simple enough to operate that I can practically do it in my sleep. (And believe me, most of the time, I'm sleepwalking when I'm making my first cup.)

Eric is in love with the cappuccino feature. He insists that the 3 o'clock hour is mandatory for his afternoon cappuccino. But, then again, he's fully awake and functioning at that hour, but that's not important right now.

For a chance to win BOTH the IMUSA Bistro Espresso Machine and the Espresso Set, please leave a comment on this post. Please answer one or all of the following questions:

• Coffee, tea, espresso, cappuccino?
  
• Do you have a particular hour for your afternoon caffeine pick-me-up?
• Does the aroma of freshly brewing coffee remind you of someone or something special?

For an extra entry, please go "like" IMUSA USA on Facebook and come back and tell me:

• I like IMUSA USA!

I'll choose the winner on Tuesday, November 13th, 2012 at 11 am PST.

“Coffee and love are best when they are hot.”-German proverb

Special Blue IMUSA Autism Speaks Sauté Pan (A Winner)

I decided I enjoy hosting giveaways on my blog for a couple of reasons:

1. It's really cool to be able to offer you a product that I, myself enjoy using.
2. You never cease to astound me with your insights and the depth of your answers. Thank you.

I have been using the beautiful blue Imusa USA Sauté pan just about every night this week. It's really kind of fabulous.

I'm happy to announce that the winner of the special edition sauté pan is:

Congratulations, Carmela!

You won the IMUSA USA LIMITED EDITION AUTISM SPEAKS SAUTE PAN. Please send me an email with "Hey, Marta! I won stuff on your blog!" in the subject line (so that I don't accidentally delete it). Be sure to include your snail mail address so that I forward to my friends at IMUSA USA, so they can send you your pan right away.

Thanks, Imusa, for partnering with Autism Speaks to bring awareness to such a great cause. If you'd like to learn more about Autism Speaks and "lighting it up blue," click on the following link.

How I Choose My Giveaway Winners (and the IMUSA Mini Cookware Winner)

I have to tell you that your responses to the questions in the last post were awesomely hilarious! Plus, you all had some great suggestions for how to use this Mini Cookware. Seriously, thank you! And if you're curious, go check them out here.

Here were the original questions:

• What can you see yourself making in any or all of these beautiful mini cookware pieces?
• What color Mini Cookware would you choose? 
• What's your favorite word to add an "-ito" to?

And because it's Sunday night and I'm still recovering from my trip to Tennessee and my weekend with my mom I'll make this post short and sweet, or "cort-ito."  ;-)

Here's a photo of the entire line of Mini Cookware. Isn't it just yummy?

And in case you don't know how I do these giveaways, I'll tell you now:

1. I go to the website Random.org and type in the number of comments into the True Random Number Generator. It then randomly chooses a number, like this one:

2. I then take the Result that's showing in the box and count down to see which comment is the winner and I take a screen shot, like this:

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3. At which point I congratulate the winner and give them instructions telling them to contact me, like this:

Congratulations, Kiki! You won the IMUSA Mini Cookware! Please send me an email with "Hey, Marta! I won stuff on your blog!" in the subject line (so that I don't accidentally delete it). Be sure to include your snail mail address so that I can forward to IMUSA USA and they can send you your fabulous Mini Cookware.

4. Then I thank the giveaway sponsors for their generosity and I tell you where you can purchase their products for yourself, like this:

Thank you so much, IMUSA USA for sponsoring this giveaway! IMUSA Products are available at all Macy's stores.

5. And then I let the rest of you know that I have partnered with IMUSA USA to bring you more product giveaways in the future, like this:

To the rest of you, thanks for playing once again. IMUSA USA will be sponsoring a different product giveaway here at MBFCF every month, so if you didn't win this time, please come back and try again.

Gracias!

It's the Little Things (A Giveaway from IMUSA)

 Growing up Cuban has always meant turning normal size things into the diminutive form.

When there were Everest-sized mountains of sandwiches, they were called "bocaditos." Or "just a mouthful." Lies. It took more than "just a bite" to consume these particular delicacies.

We don't just drink café, we have a "cafecito." (A little coffee.) Or an espresso topped with steamed milk is called a "cortadito," no matter what size it is. "Cortadito" translates to "little cut." (Don't ask me why this makes any sense.)

We don't eat just eat papas fritas (French fries), we enjoy "papitas fritas." Can you see just how much cuter and much more appetizing they are when you add the "-ita"?

Your adorable Cuban grandmother is not just your abuela, she is your "abuelita."

Everything seems much more adorable and cuter with the addition of the diminutive suffix.

Add an "-ito" or "-ita" to something and it becomes small and precious. In Cuban circles, I'm not just Marta, I'm "Martita," Or "Martica."  See how much cuter I am when I'm called Mini Marta.?  ;-)

I have Cuban diminutives on the brain because my friends at IMUSA USA have released a line of Mini Cookware. Yes, I said, MINI. I know. Shut up.

WARNING: Cuteness overload coming up...

Cazuelitas! Sarténcitas! GUAT? How fabulously cute are these?

The mini line is perfect for making scaled down or "-ito" versions of your favorite recipes. Ideal for singles, empty nesters and college-bound cooks. (Miss Lucy has taken to making herself two perfect, little pancakes each day on that perfect, little mini griddle. Yes, pancakes-itos!) I could weep from the cuteness of it all.

It comes in some deliciously rich Spice Line colors (think Fiesta) including: Chili Pepper Red, Cilantro Green, Sazon Orange, Saffron Yellow and Tropical Blue.

The IMUSA USA Mini Cookware product line includes the following:

• 1/2 qt. mini casserole 
• 1/2 qt. covered saucepan
• 6" grill pan,
• 2 pc. cookware sets of 6.5" griddle & 6" fry pan

Can it get any better than this?? Yes! How about if we do a comment giveaway for a set of these? (I knew you'd like that.)

1) To enter this drawing, please leave a comment on this post and answer one or all of the following questions:

• What can you see yourself making in any or all of these beautiful mini cookware pieces?
• What color Mini Cookware would you choose? 
• What's your favorite word to add an "-ito" to?

2) For an extra entry, please go "like" IMUSA USA on Facebook and come back and leave me another comment telling me:  

• "I like IMUSA USA!"

So that's not one, but two entries apiece. You're welcome.

Remember that if you want to enter the drawing for this adorable IMUSA Mini Cookware set (and trust me, you do), you must leave a comment (plus the 2nd comment if you do the Facebook liking thing) on this post and I'll choose a winner on Sunday, March 4th 2011 at 8 PST.

I just got home from my trip to Nashville, which I'll tell you all about next week when I'm all recovered. In the meantime, I'm thinking that for breakfast tomorrow, I'm going to be making a delicious English-muffin-egg-and-ham sandwich-ito for myself using all this mini cuteness.

And for the record, I'm still totally into the Orange (!).

 Hasta lueguito!  ;-)

IMUSA Orange(!) Caldero - A Winner

Can I just tell you how much I love how well you guys answered my question: "What favorite recipe of yours will taste fabulous when made in this beautiful Orange(!) caldero?"

Plus, your comments seriously made me hungry, but that's not important right now.

I also want to thank you for the enthusiasm you've shown for IMUSA USA. They are a lovely sponsor for these giveaways and they've generously offered to partner with MBFCF for the rest of this year. I'm so looking forward to the next cool product they'll be offering my readers.

Without further ado, the winner of the beautiful Orange(!) caldero is:

Congratulations, Susana! Please send me an email with "Hey, Marta! I won stuff on your blog!" in the subject line so I don't accidentally delete it. I will then forward to IMUSA USA so they can send you your cool Orange(!) caldero.

Thanks, everyone for your support. You can find IMUSA products at all Macy's stores.

I'm going to be making picadillo tomorrow in my Orange(!) caldero. ;-)

Orange(!) is the new black. (A Giveaway)

I am waiting (a little impatiently) for my fabulous new kitchen appliances to be delivered. I think we're still about a week out from that. You would think I'd be totally content now since I'm getting all new appliances, but you know how it is, suddenly everything starts looking like it needs upgrading or replacing. *sigh*

There is, however, one item in my kitchen that still makes me completely happy and that is my IMUSA USA Orange(!) caldero. I use it constantly and am always looking for new recipes to make in it.

Arroz con pollo. Carne con papas. Sopa de pollo. All made in my beautiful Orange(!) caldero. I am starting to think it has magical properties because everything I've made in it tastes amazing. I have to add that I also go ahead and put the Orange(!) caldero straight on the table, not because I'm lazy (shut up. I'm not!), but because it's so seriously beautiful.

My good friend, Chef Ana (don't-hate-me-because-I'm-beautiful) Quincoces shares her recipe for some amazing Pulled Pork Sliders in her Orange(!) caldero.

Brilliant, no?

Doesn't that just make you want this beautiful Orange(!) caldero to cook something fabulous in?

Here's your chance.

My friends over at IMUSA USA have graciously partnered with MBFCF to host this giveaway for a beautiful Orange(!) caldero.

Oooh! Yes, please!

Usually, I would only ask you to leave a comment to enter the drawing for the giveaway item, but I want to give you each a couple of chances, so....

1) To enter this drawing, please leave a comment on this post and answer the following question:

• What favorite recipe of yours will taste fabulous when made in this beautiful Orange(!) caldero?

2) For an extra entry, please go "like" IMUSA USA on Facebook and come back and leave me another comment telling me:  

• "I like IMUSA USA!"

So that's not one, but two entries apiece. Yes, I'm generous like that, but that's not important right now.

Remember that if you want to enter the drawing for this beautiful Orange(!) caldero, you must leave a comment (plus the 2nd comment if you do the Facebook liking thing) on this post and I'll choose a winner on Monday, January 16th 2011 at 8 PST.

Buen Provecho! And thanks, IMUSA USA!

This fabulous Orange(!) caldero is also available at all Macy's stores.  

{Disclaimer: IMUSA USA very generously sent me that beautiful Orange(!) caldero for my own use and to review the product and also offered one as a giveaway for one lucky MBFCF reader. The opinion that it is fabulous is my own.}

Lovers of Rice Unite! (A Winner)

I can't even tell you how happy I was to host this giveaway! Your comments made it obvious that you all love rice just as much as I do. I sincerely wish I could send you all something, but I can only choose one winner. *insert sad face here*

I'm so happy to have partnered with IMUSA USA to bring you this wonderful giveaway. I've already used my IMUSA Rice Cooker a few times and I'm completely in love with it! The pan is non-stick and it's super easy to clean which is a total win-win when it comes to rice cookers. (Of course, I have teenagers who do the dishes, but that's not important right now.)

To choose a winner, I typed in the number of valid comment entries into the Random Number Generator in Random.org which gave me the following number.

The winner of the IMUSA Rice Cooker is:

Bea said...

Rice every meal? Does a bear poopee in the woods? Nochebuena y mala; doesn't matter the ocassion we served it with rice. Christmas dinner will consist of black beans, pork shoulder, tabouli (homage to our Moorish friends and yummy with the beans), roasted garlic and rosemary swt potatoes, salad ( one jello based, of course), and lots of other goodies. All capped off with pumpkin spice flan, coconut rum cake with Guayaba filling, turrones, dates and figs, un cafe Ito y crema de vie!

ReplyDecember 16, 2011 at 05:27 AM

Congratulations, Bea! Send me an email with HEY, MARTA! I WON STUFF ON YOUR SITE! in the subject line (so that I won't accidentally delete it) along with your snail mail address.  (By the way, "snail mail" is just a techy term for your home address.)

Do it today so that I can forward to the folks at IMUSA USA so that they can send out your rice cooker ASAP.

Thanks again for playing with me. ;-)

Buen Provecho!

For the Love of Rice. (A Cuban Christmas Giveaway)

As we're nearing the holiday countdown and making all the preparations, I'm all about making lists.

I have a book with the following lists:

• My Christmas List
• My Crema de Vie Recipient List
• My Menu List
• My Grocery Shopping List
• My Stocking Stuffer List
• My Christmas Card List
• My Decorating List
• My Christmas Tag List (The to/from kind)
• My Video List (I'll explain this another time)

And on it goes.

As I was reviewing my Grocery Shopping List, I realized that all of my holiday meals involve rice. Talk about a staple in the Cuban home! Growing up, we had rice at every meal. Every meal, people.  We Cubans are nothing, if not committed to our rice.

And obviously our Nochebuena celebration is not complete without perfectly cooked white rice. Am I right? 

What else, I ask you, would so beautifully prop up our perfect Cuban black beans? (Can you hear that Angelic Chorus?)

Just in time for Christmas I have partnered with my friends at IMUSA USA to bring you an awesome giveaway. 

The Perfect Rice Cooker from IMUSA USA. Ta-da! You can also make any of your favorite "arroz con _____" in it.

To enter the drawing for a chance to win this beautiful IMUSA 5 Cup Rice (and Multi-purpose) Cooker, please leave a comment on this post and answer one or all of the following questions:

• Did your family serve rice for every meal?
• What else will you be serving with your Christmas Rice?  ;-)
• What's your Nochebuena and/or Christmas menu?
• What's your favorite "arroz con ______"?

I'll do a random drawing on Sunday, December 18th at 8 pm Pacific Time. 

{Disclosure: I received the 5 Cup Rice Cooker from IMUSA USA to use for this promotion and as a giveaway to one lucky reader. The opinion that it is fabulous is my own.}

The "Sanweech Plancha" Winner

You know what I love about my readers? That you come in all shapes and sizes and have extraordinary taste in sandwiches. 

I confess that I'm surprised that a lot of you don't have your own sandwich "plancha." How do you grill, not just a Classic Cuban Sandwich, but what about a pan con lechón? Or a pan con bistec? (I may or may not be losing sleep pondering this question, but that's not important right now.)

Anyway, congratulations to the winner of the beautiful IMUSA Sandwich maker and Cuban coffeemaker:

Guess what, Amanda? You own a plancha now. ;-)

Please send me an email with HEY, MARTA! I WON STUFF ON YOUR BLOG! in the subject line. Include your snail mail address so I can forward to the generous folks at IMUSA so they can get your goodies out to you ASAP. 

Most IMUSA products can be found at Macy's Department Stores. I encourage you to also follow them on their Facebook page for regular recipe ideas and updates to their amazing product line.

(For the record, we actually took a road trip to Porto's Cuban Bakery for the Cuban bread and made pan con lechón. Because we could...)

IMUSA Orange (!) Caldero - A Winner

I am so inspired by you all!

Arroz con pollo, pasta e fagioli, bistec en cazuela, fricase de pollo, arroz con gandules and the list goes on and on.

Those are just a few of the suggestions of what you would make in the beautiful ORANGE (!) IMUSA caldero.

I am definitely making the arroz con pollo this weekend, a la chorrera, but that's not important right now. However, if you have any more suggestions for fabulously delicious food waiting to be made in this, please feel free to let me know. =D

Sadly, I can only choose one of you......(this part is so difficult!)

Which is why I always go to Random.org and put in the number of entries and it chooses a number (randomly, of course) which corresponds to the winner.

So, congratulations to:

Please send me an email with your snail mail address and HEY, MARTA! I WON STUFF ON YOUR BLOG in the subject line and include your snail mail address so I can forward to the IMUSA people so that they can get your beautiful ORANGE (!) caldero out to you immediately.

If you are still interested in this beautiful ORANGE (!) caldero, they are available at all Macy's stores.

[To the rest of you, thanks for playing once again. IMUSA USA will be sponsoring a different product giveaway here at MBFCF every month, so if you didn't win this time, please keep trying. Lightning is bound to strike sometime!]

Buen Provecho!