1. Good Knives

2. Good Ingredients

3. Good cutting boards.

I have the first two covered but at home, I didn’t have a good board. I have known for years being a culinary student and now graduate of the program, that the number one company for quality butcher blocks and boards is John Boos & Company. They are used all over the world, in almost every restaurant I have had the pleasure to visit the kitchen in, and they are loved by celebrities too! My friend and fellow chef, Chef Billy Parisi recently attended the housewares show in Chicago and didn’t miss a beat posting a photo from the Boos booth touting that they are the best. I love Billy he is amazing and I believe him when he says he loves his Boos!

About the company:

JOHN BOOS & COMPANY

John Boos & Co. is the leading manufacturer of butcher block and stainless steel gourmet and foodservice products in the U.S.A. JB&C is renowned for their famous Boos Blocks® and Cutting Boards. JB&C products are “Made in the U.S.A” of solid and quality North American hardwoods, and are the finest in quality, workmanship and design.

 

Since 1887!

 

John Boos & Co. based in Effingham, Illinois, is one of the oldest manufacturers of premium quality kitchen equipment and butcher blocks in the United States, and has been in business continuously since 1887. Founder Conrad Boos harvested Sycamore from wooded areas around Effingham, processed it at his sawmill, and then brought it to his blacksmith shop for finishing. The first innovation was a sycamore tree placed on three legs to absorb the shock of the smith’s hammer against the anvil. When the local butcher saw and admired the innovation, he realized that he could use one in his meat market. So Conrad’s son, John, adapted the idea and made him one. This was the start of John Boos & Company making butcher blocks for commercial meat markets over 120 years ago.

I had the awesome fortune to be able to review the AUJUS. It is a 24x18x1-1/2” thick hard rock maple cutting board with grips and a juice groove. It reverses to a flat surface and is NSF approved for the FS industry.

You didn’t think I would let you just see the stock photo that does it no justice did you?

ooohhhh ohhhhh so gorgeous!

This model is very popular and ranks as one of their top 10. After using it for a few weeks I concur it is fantastic. I used it yesterday a lot in my appetizer recipe and those groves came in handy!

I needed to concasse my tomatoes and that means a lot of juice and seeds needed to go somewhere so guess what, that groove was perfect!

And also the sheer size of it came in handy as I could chop everything I needed for my recipe!

Being NSF certified means the product stands up to standards enforced by the National Food Safety board meaning i can take this board to my restaurant and use it there because its been proven safe to use. Now many people argue that wood boards are bad but because I have quite a but of money invested in good knives, I know from professional experience that wood boards are much kinder to the blade on my knives. It is preference of course but I much prefer wood. It is easier for me to not worry about meat bacteria because I don’t really eat meat but also because I am the luckiest blogger in the world and Boos sent me 2 boards for my own use. I will be renovating my ktichen and right now I am so glad I have these boards!

As a little side note, the board does make a great photo background

Care of the boards, I use water and spray it as best I can and use mild soap when needed. These have to be oiled once a month or they will dry out. DO NOT EVER put them in the dishwasher!

Bottom Line: My professional opinion and my personal opinion is that these boards really are the cream of the crop. They are heavy, thick, and stand up to the chef abuse I give them. As my classmates in culinary school can attest, I take up a LOT of room in my food prep so having 2 feet of clean prep area is my idea of cooking heaven!

Buy It: You can buy the John Boos 24 inch maple AUJUS model online at Cutlery and More,  or by using the retail locator on the website! It retails for $109.99!

Giveaway!

John Boos & Co. is giving away an AUJUS maple Cutting Board to one lucky winner!

To Enter: Fill out the Rafflecopter giveaway from, good luck!

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Products provided to facilitate this review. And John Boos and Company make the best cutting boards EVER.

First lets take a look at the Fizz. It is futuristic cool looking, and totally sleek!

Just like before you twist the bottle on and press the lever..

Carbonated water, woohoo!

Pick a flavor! (I HIGHLY suggest the Apple Mango it is super refreshing!)

Measure..

Tilt the water bottle and slowly pour the syrup in and then gently swirl the bottle to mix…voila!

Soda!

YUM

This particular unit has a digital readout that tells you when it is time to get a new CO2 tank AND tells you just how fizzy your water is after you add it

Back when I first started working with SodaStream there wasn’t much you could purchase at a brick and mortar store, but now I can go to most any store in the mall or even my grocery and find the refill canisters and the flavors so it has evolved to be super consumer friendly! Still a novelty and fun product and after three machines I think this one might just be my favorite!

Buy it: You can get the SodaStream Fizz at the SodaStream site along with all the flavors, and Cream Soda just came back in stock, YAY! The Fizz retails for $149.99 and comes in 5 colors including PINK (portions of sales support Breast Cancer research!)

Giveaway!

Sodastream is giving away a Prize pack that includes: (1) Fountain Jet Starter Set (black/silver, white, red/silver), (1) MyWater variety pack, and (3) flavors of the winner’s choice!

 To Enter:  First head to SodaStream and check out the flavors! Then come back and fill out this Rafflecopter form! Good Luck!

Products provided to facilitate review, opinions are solely my own. And SodaStream rocks.

I am so glad my Keurig has a reusable filter, that way i can enjoy fresh ground coffee! I just happen to be completely out of coffee so when Eight O’Clock coffee sent me a note and told me they had unearthed some vintage coffee jars and asked if I would try the coffee I was thrilled. We all know I love coffee here, so heck yeah I wanted to try it. I have brewed several cups and to me it is just right because its not overly strong like a Columbian blend or too light either. I had never tried this brand before this review and was really surprised how much I like it. And of course that jar? ADORABLE. I love it! And with this being my final week of the semester I am up at later hours so any and all coffee I can get my hands on is being consumed!

A Few Words From Eight O’Clock Coffee

Eight O’Clock Coffee has been in the business of selecting, roasting and packaging coffee for over 150 years. The treasure trove of jars are both a piece of history AND a great way to store your ground or whole bean coffee.

Here are Eight O’Clock Coffee’s tips for coffee storage:

·     Keep your unused coffee beans or grounds fresh by storing in an air-tight container.
·     Store your coffee in a cool, dry place and out of direct sunlight.
·     Avoid freezing—this can break down the flavorful oils in the beans and cause condensation, which makes the coffee go stale faster.

 

Giveaway

Eight O’Clock Coffee is giving away a vintage coffee jar to one lucky reader!

To Enter: Tell me what your favorite way to drink your coffee is, sugar, creamer, straight black? Flavored? Tell Me!

• Like Serendipity Mommy on Facebook
• Like Eight O’Clock on Facebook
• Follow Eight O’Clock Coffee on Twitter
• Follow me on Twitter
• Tweet this giveaway twice a day

Win a Vintage Coffee jar and Coffee from @8OClockCoffee and Serendipity Mommy! http://serendipitymommy.com/?p=10478  Ends May 3rd #win

• Subscribe to my blog for FIVE entries!

This contest is open to residents of the United States, and ends May 3rd! Good Luck!

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Disclosure: Products Provided to facilitate review, all opinions are my own!

One of the first things we did was plan a bonfire and cookout. Well a fire pit fire and a cookout. The menu request was bacon wrapped shrimp, steak, and fish for me. I did a simple herb and citrus on the fish but used Char Crust dry rub seasonings on the shrimp and steak. I am kind of picky about what I season my food with, and I have to be because everyone that invites me over seems to think that I produce restaurant chef quality, gourmet, delicious and beautiful food. Its a lot of pressure! Luckily the Char Crust made it a little easy on me because the flavor was awesome. And since chefs have been using these rubs in restaurants for years I had no worries that it would be tasty.

For the shrimp I used the Amazin’ Cajun and let me tell you I have since made all my shrimp with this rub, they are so delicious with just the right amount of “kick”! I love making them with the rub. The steak we decided to use the All American barbeque. I couldn’t tell you how the steak tasted but it was grilled to medium perfection. I don’t eat meat so I didn’t taste but it sure looked good. I don’t think it looked near as good as the shrimp. The crust on them was perfect and inside was perfectly cooked shrimp, so yum!

About the Rubs:

• Roasted Garlic Peppercorn features the robust flavor of roasted garlic and onions with the zing of peppercorns and a hint of Worcestershire and lavender. Its versatility has made it a best seller. It complements steaks, lamb, seafood, pork, poultry, and potatoes.

• Ginger Teriyaki is a balance of sweet teriyaki, fragrant ginger, plus a tingly touch of wasabi that lends a new dimension and creates a modern teriyaki interpretation. It complements chicken, fish, and steak.

• Amazin’ Cajun is a spicy-sweet blend of piquant cayenne pepper, onion, garlic, oregano and a mélange of other Mardi Gras flavors. It brings the sublime heat of New Orleans to catfish, chicken, shrimp, and even “dirty” rice.

• All American Barbecue takes the best flavors of American barbecue and blends them into a tangy-sweet, slightly spicy rub. It has rich molasses from Memphis, tangy tomato from Kansas City, mustard, pepper and vinegar from the Carolinas, plus a wisp of smoke from Texas.

Flavors retail for $5.49 ea.

Giveaway

Char Crust is giving one lucky reader a set of 4 rubs in the flavors Amazin’ Cajun, All American Barbecue, Ginger Teriyaki, and Roasted Garlic Peppercorn

To Enter: Tell me which flavor you would love to try on your meat or seafood first!

Extra entries: Do any of these for an extra entry:

• Like Serendipity Mommy on Facebook
• Like Char Crust on Facebook
• Follow me on Twitter
• Tweet this giveaway twice a day

Win a Char Crust Dry Rub Seasoning 4 pack at Serendipity Mommy! http://serendipitymommy.com/?p=10467  Ends April 30th

• Subscribe to my blog for FIVE entries!

This contest is open to residents of the United States, and ends April 30th! Good Luck!

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Disclosure: Products Provided to facilitate review, all opinions are my own!

They sent me the Rainbow Hors d’oeuvres set for review and I really love it. The box was adorable, I have a thing for Paris since I want to go there to learn to cook more..

There are SO many ways to use it but I went with fruit and mini caprese salads!

In just minutes you can have a really nice looking display that adds dimension to your food table and not just a flat tray!

It comes with 3 rainbow levels or arches, and the last little one is used to hold the extra toothpicks. I can see myself using this item a lot as a personal chef and caterer and in my photography. Very useful when you want to make an impact at your parties!

Giveaway

Uncommon Goods is giving one lucky reader a $50 GC for their store!

To Enter: Go to UncommonGoods and tell me what item you would get if you won!

Extra entries:Do any of these for an extra entry:

• Like Serendipity Mommy on Facebook
• Follow me on Twitter
• Add UncommonGoods to their circles on Google Plus
• Tweet a link to a family page (ie. those gifts for mom, gifts for men, and other links on the left side of the Uncommon Goods home page)
• Follow UncommonGoods on Pinterest
• Tweet this giveaway twice a day

Win a $50  GC to UncommonGoods at Serendipity Mommy! http://serendipitymommy.com/?p=10435  Ends April 26th

• Subscribe to my blog for FIVE entries!

This contest is open to residents of the United States, and ends April 26th! Good Luck!

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Disclosure: Products Provided to facilitate review, all opinions are my own!

Also in the package was a letter telling me about a quiz to see how much fun I am, you should take it!

Click below to find out:

Because I know you are fun. And since we all know I am fun, here is something fun for you, a GIVEAWAY! One lucky reader will win a Keurig^® Single Cup Brewer and a box of Coconut Mocha K-Cup^® packs!

To Enter: Fill out the Rafflecopter below! GOOD LUCK!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Disclosure: I was a Green Mountain K-Cup Portion packs ambassador. They are sponsoring the giveaway.I thank them profusely for asking me to be an ambassador and loved every second.

From the site:
Aww… a party with adorable little kittens everywhere! Includes 8 invitations, dinner plates, cups, forks, spoons, activity placemats, 16 napkins, solid-color tablecover, centerpiece, foil balloon, 18 balloons (3 colors), curling ribbon (3 colors), crepe paper rolls (3 colors), heart confetti and cake candles. ($45.32 if purchased separately).
This is a officially licensed Dissero Brands Limited© product.

If you think it is cute in that picture, here are some great photos of the party, even cuter in real life!

The centerpiece was PERFECT

(so cute, right?)

And it had 18 balloons that matched AND a nice Mylar one with a kitty on it

There were treats for the boxes included too!

I made cupcakes to match the colors in the party supplies, after I asked my daughter to choose some she chose pink, purple and blue The candles were also part of the supplies!

And from my daughter, she said this was her most favorite birthday party EVER. That’s a thumbs up I think!

Really great stuff from this company I am very impressed, literally everything I needed minus the cake and ice cream!

Buy It : Get this kit with the treat boxes for around $77 on the Birthday Express site!

Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive a $25 Gift Code to help you create a magical birthday too! To Enter, tell me which is your favorite party supplies theme from Birthday Express!

Extra entries: Do any of these for an extra entry:

• Like Serendipity Mommy on Facebook
• leave a RELEVANT comment on any non giveaway post
• Follow me on Twitter
• Follow Celebrate Express on Twitter
• Like Celebrate Express on Facebook
• Tweet this giveaway twice a day

Win a $25 GC to Birthday Express at Serendipity Mommy! http://bit.ly/GYpgjN  Ends April 5th

• Subscribe to my blog for FIVE entries!

This contest is open to residents of the United States, and ends April 5th!

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Samples were provided to facilitate this review. All photos and video are © Serendipity Mommy.

I am not afraid to admit I am a huge Idol fan. I have never missed a season. I think my addiction stems from the fact that I spent 4 years in school in choir and love singing! Sometimes I get lucky and my kids and family will watch it with me. And I secretly love it. Although since we are on the subject of American Idol, I have a couple thoughts. Last night they chose most of the top 24 in a two hour episode. And it was filled.with.COMMERCIALS. Not that I was on the edge of my seat but they only talked about 14 people and now tonight’s episode will have the rest. And my other thought is this.. remember the good ole days when the dejected and rejected “singers” who would get so angry they would cuss up a storm and throw water into judges’ faces? Where did they go? I loved that kind of drama! And the BAD singers, they used to show a ton of those and this year we only got a few.

I love my week with American Idol and sitting with my family watching the performances. I generally get emotionally involved and mad when I think the wrong person won. My kids think I am crazy at that point but what can you do when you have been a fan for 11 years?

At any rate I enjoy my family nights with American Idol and thanks to the Coca-Cola Family Night Initiative, I am happy to be able to offer a neat little giveaway for one lucky reader who also likes taking time out to have family night together! One reader will win:

•       (1) Handheld Camcorder : Samsung W200 Waterproof Camera *

•       (1) American Idol – The Hits Volume 1 CD

•       (1) Coca-Cola and Pringles coupon

To enter, leave me a comment below and tell me how you plan to spend your next Family Night! (mandatory

Extra Entries: Do any of these for an extra entry: (leave a separate comment for each entry)

• Like Coca-Cola on Facebook
• Like Serendipity Mommy on Facebook
• leave a RELEVANT comment on any non giveaway post
• Follow me on Twitter
• Follow Coca-Cola on Twitter
• Tweet this giveaway  (4X a day)

Make Family Time Fun with a Coke Family Night Prize Pack! Enter here http://bit.ly/A3FI8B #CokeFamilyNight Ends 3/3 US and Can @candyclc

• Subscribe to my blog for FIVE entries!

This contest has ended the winner is comment 94!

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The prize was provided by Coca-Cola, but Coca-Cola is not a sponsor, administrator, or involved in any other way with this giveaway. All opinions expressed in the post are my own and not those of Coca-Cola.
* The camera you may receive could differ from the model number depending on availability.

If you are introducing new foods to your baby this holiday season try these simple recipes!  They are delicious, nutritious and sure to be a hit with even the most finicky eater.  Now creating delicious festive holiday inspired dishes for your little one will save you money and take no time at all!  Also, check out other great recipes and parenting tips at www.babybulletblog.com.

Apple Walnut Puree- A delicious holiday treat

• 2 Apples, cored & peeled (Pink Lady, Fuji or Gala are all good choices)
• 1/4 Cup Walnuts, shelled & halved
• 1/8 Tsp Cinnamon

1. Place apples and walnuts in the Turbo Steamer.
2. Cook until apples are fork tender.
3. Place apples, walnuts, cinnamon and 3 tbsp of the water to The Baby Bullet   and puree until smooth.
4. Cool and serve.

One Pot Christmas Dinner- Feast for your little king

8 months+

• 1 cup of cubed Turkey – uncooked
  (using cooked is fine as well)
• 1/2 cup peeled and cubed winter squash
• 1/2 cup peeled and cubed white potato
• 1/2 cup peeled and cubed sweet potato
• 1/2 cup peas or green beans
• 1 small handful of fresh or frozen cranberries

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a medium sized sauce pan
2. Add 2 cups of water
3. Bring to a gentle boil and then turn heat to low
4. Simmer on low for 20 minutes or until turkey is no longer pink and veggies may be easily pierced with a fork.
5. Transfer the cooked One Pot Christmas Dinner to the Baby Bullet and puree until you achieve the desired consistency.
6. Viola!

Yummy Sweet Potato Pie- Delicious and nutritious

• 2 ounces of sweet potato cubed.
• 4 tbsp oat meal or rice cereal
• 2 tbsp water
• Yogurt (optional)

Directions:

1. Steam sweet potato in the Turbo Steamer.
2. Combine oat meal or rice cereal and water in the  Baby Bullet and Puree until you achieve your desired consistency.
3. Mix in yogurt for babies over 8 months.
4. Enjoy!

The Perfect Gift!  The Original Baby Bullet™, which boasts a warm, cheerful design aesthetic, is much more than a blender – it’s a 22-piece comprehensive baby food making system designed to make mom’s life easier while ensuring baby begins life eating the healthiest, most nutrient-rich all-natural foods.  Jarred baby food is much more expensive than homemade food and typically contains unhealthy sugars, preservatives and fillers (even when it’s labeled organic).   With The Original Baby Bullet™, moms are in full control of every ingredient that goes into their baby’s food.  Fresh is always best!
 

Purchase The Original Baby Bullet™ 22-piece system for $59.97 at Bed Bath and Beyond, Wal-Mart, Target, Walgreens, Babies R Us and other fine realtors.

The Original Baby Bullet™ is a Capital Brands LLC product and can be purchased through their direct response advertisements or exclusively at www.mybabybullet.com.

Win a Baby Bullet! To Enter, just tell me what the first food you plan to make with the bullet is!

Extra Entries: Do any of these for an extra entry: (leave a separate comment for each entry)

• Like Baby Bullet on Facebook
• Like Serendipity Mommy on Facebook
• leave a RELEVANT comment on any non giveaway post
• Follow me on Twitter
• Follow Baby Bullet on Twitter
• Subscribe to my blog for FIVE entries!
• Tweet this giveaway  (4X a day)

Win a Baby Bullet from Serendipity Mommy and @thebabybullet!  http://bit.ly/veCrId Ends 12/15

This contest ends December 15th at 11:59 PM EST. US entrants only please.

You’ve seen the commercials. You have heard the hype. And now the thinnest smartphone on the market has been released, the Droid Razr! This pretty little 4G LTE power harnessing beauty boasts a tiny 7.1 mm thickness, a KEVLAR backing and a nice 1.3 ghz dual core processor. This thing even has nano technology built in. It has nano particles surrounding it to protect it from water so it beads up like rain- X! How cool is that!Here is info from the folks at Verizon :

Awesome features:

• At just 0.27” / 7.1mm, it’s practically invisible!
• It has a KEVLAR case deflects scrapes, dents and scratches
• Slice through multiple tasks simultaneously with a Dual–Core 1.2 GHz processor.
• Time is the enemy and with the Droid RAZR running on the Verizon 4G LTE network, victory is yours.
• Capture everything in disarming detail with RAZR’s 8MP rear–facing camera and HD video capture unit.
• It’s advanced artificial intelligence monitors your behavior and self–optimizes to keep you running at peak effectiveness. Deploy your favorite apps even faster. Switch into silent mode automatically to avoid detection. Streamline everyday tasks to get 25% more battery life per charge.

DROID strong. RAZR sharp. Combined to form the thinnest 4G LTE smartphone. Reinforced with Gorilla glass. Encased in laser cut KEVLAR® fiber – the strongest material in smartphones. Power, strength, and 4G LTE speed. Compressed into a deceptively thin profile.

Thinner:

• DROID RAZR is the thinnest 4G LTE smartphone.

Stronger:

• Thin, but not frail. DROID RAZR is the first 4G LTE device back-plated with laser cut KEVLAR® fiber (yeah, the bullet proof vest stuff) and a water repellant nanocoating. It also has a Corning® Gorilla Glass® display. These help the DROID RAZR stand up to normal bumps and drops. Even the electrical boards inside are protected. This is one tough phone.

Faster:

• DROID RAZR is the world’s first smartphone with MotoCast. It lets you stream and downloads pictures, music, videos, and documents between your PC and DROID RAZR while on the go
• DROID RAZR is lightning quick thanks to Verizon 4G LTE, cutting edge hardware, and MotoCast. Load websites, download apps, create a 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot, and transfer files from your PC up to 10 times faster than 3G.

Smarter:

• Automatically optimize your battery, manage your phone, and streamline everyday tasks with DROID RAZR’s Smart Actions app.
• DROID RAZR is ready for business. Get the same advanced security support as the DROID Bionic, plus government-grade encryption for the ultimate protection while working.

Other:

• Do more on a bigger screen. DROID RAZR works with the latest LapDock® and Webtop accessories. Simultaneously watch HD videos, view and edit photos, and take and make calls
• DROID RAZR has a high-end camera that takes great pictures and captures high-definition video.
• Free NFL premium content - NFL Network, Thursday/Sunday/Monday Night Football plus
• RedZone.
• Exclusive X FACTOR voting and live behind-the scenes videos (data and messaging charges apply).

Are you ready to win? Here’s what you have to do: Tell me why you gotta have this phone! (Your comments might not show right away please wait a minute for the servers to catch up after your first comment, do not repost your comment, it is likely in the moderation queue)

Extra Entries: Do any of these for an extra entry: (leave a separate comment for each entry)

• Like Verizon on Facebook
• Like Serendipity Mommy on Facebook
• leave a RELEVANT comment on any non giveaway post
• Follow me on Twitter
• Follow Verizon on Twitter
• Tweet this giveaway  (4X a day)

Win a DROID RAZR SMARTPHONE from Serendipity Mommy and @verizonwireless! #midwestmoms http://bit.ly/sEoxhU Ends 11/20

• Subscribe to my blog for FIVE entries!

CONTEST DETAILS: One winner will be chosen by random.org from among entries received by November 20^th 12pm CST. The winner will be contacted via email and has 24 hours to respond. If winner does not respond within said time a new winner will be selected at random. Winner will need to provide name, email and address for shipment and prize will be shipped out via FedEx. This contest is open to residents of USA, CANADA and MEXICO. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. The #MidwestMoms DROID RAZR Giveaway ends November 20^th. Verizon Wireless will provide the winner with the giveaway items. Serendipity Mommy is not a sponsor of the giveaway.

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED

The winner is Thomas and he has been notified. Thank you everyone for entering!