Mother's Day Review & Giveaway: Vitaclay Rice Cooker & Slow Cooker ($129 Value)

This giveaway is now over. A big thanks to Vitaclay for their generosity and to all of you who entered! Winner will soon be announced!!


With Mother's Day coming up quickly, I knew I had to post a giveaway for all you mamas out there who would love to have one of these. Thanks to the generosity of VitaClay, I have a cooker to giveaway to one blessed mama!


First, I must share my review and how I came across this amazing dual cooker that now sits in my kitchen.

Finding the VitaClay Cooker
Several months back I started doing research on rice cookers to see if they were really worth having in the kitchen. I've been able to make nearly perfect rice, both white and brown, on my stovetop consistently. It never really cross my mind to get a rice cooker... just one less thing to have in the kitchen, right?


Well, my husband made a comment how maybe a rice cooker would be nice to have to give me more space on my stovetop. He had a good point. I often wish my stovetop was a better build (it is Latin American made, not recommended!) so that the heating is even and there is enough space for me to put in my big pots next to each other when I am cooking for large groups.


...But I am not here to complain  :o)  It is what I have and I make the best of it as much as I can. LOL!


Anyway, while doing research and not finding anything good... I came across the VitaClay Rice Cooker & Slow Cooker. I was thrilled to find out that the company had developed a rice cooker and slow cooker dual that uses a natural clay pot, rather than aluminum or non-stick. The clay pot is made from unglazed Chinese Zisha Clay!


Of course, I knew I had to try it out and send off an email to the company. They wrote back and generously offered me the VitaClay Chef Gourmet Rice N' Slow Cooker Pro - 8 Cup (makes 16 cups of rice and has a 4.2 quart size capacity) to review. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this cooker!

This cooker is so unique! The outside is all high techy and fancy looking, but then you open it up... there in that fancy machine is a traditional clay pot! It is surprisingly very light-wieghted and easy to work with. VitaClay combines all the rich flavor of traditional clay cooking with the convenience of a slow cooker. Now that's my kinda cooker!


Not only does it help make the food moist and very flavorful, the unglazed clay is toxic-free... making it a much better choice over the usual non-stick or aluminum that pretty much all rice cookers use.


10 Features That Made the VitaClay Cooker a Winner:

• The all-natural clay enriches the flavor and texture of your food
• Free of aluminum, added lead and Teflon... no chemicals touches your food
• Clay is naturally non-stick
• Heats up considerably faster than a slow cooker
• Cooks twice as fast as a slow cooker and keeps the food warm until you are ready to eat
• Saves up to 50% more energy then a slow cooker and gives 60% more cooking efficiency
• Makes perfect rice
• Multi-program functions (VitaClay Chef Gourmet Rice N' Slow Cooker Pro - 8 Cup) for savory stews, porridge, soups, fluffy rice, brown rice and sticky rice.
• Has a delayed timer and automatically keeps warm for up to 20 hours
• Push-buttons controls and an easy-to-read LCD display / clock

I only have 3 complaints so far in my testing... the first is to make sure I have enough liquid to cover the food or it will boil down and burn the bottom. I've had that happen only twice because I wasn't paying attention to how much liquid I needed to add in. The second thing is the lid on the clay pot has a small handle that sometimes makes it difficult to pick up without feeling like I might drop it. Don't know if that can be changed or not. The third thing is that I would love the cooker to be larger... it works great for my family plus another person or two, but I would love to be able to have a large enough pot of stew to feed up to 10 people or more.

Overall, I have really enjoyed my VitaClay cooker and excited to keep trying different recipes. Below are what I've tested so far in my cooker... the first 2 meals I got out of the recipe book that came with the cooker:

Thai Curry Chicken 

This was the first recipe I made and it was delicious! I am making a batch this in the VitaClay cooker right now as I type... yeah, its that good!

Greek Beef Stew
I was very surprised by how tender the beef came out in such a short time! Beef here are usually tough because the cows mostly roam on grass and whatever else they can find to eat. The recipe for this Greek Beef stew was simply delicious and rich with spices!

Morrocan Beef Stew
I love this stew and have made it several times in my crockpot, but I made several adjustments and was able to try it out in the VitaClay cooker. It was delicious and the flavors seemed more intense than they did coming out of my crockpot. Great served over wholegrain couscous! Remind me to share the recipe with you later!!

Brown Rice, Jasmine Rice and Basmatic Rice
I was VERY surprised by how perfect the rice came out each time I used it. Not too wet, not too dry and not sticky whatsoever... with just the right amount of chewiness, tenderness & firmness. I know, its hard to believe that rice would come out that perfect... but each one of them have over and over! It is amazing how I can scoop out the rice easily and they crumble apart so nicely into a bowl. I've had NO problems with the rice sticking or browning at the bottom. Its amazing! I am kicking myself for not taking any pictures! The pictures of the bowls above are rice I cooked on my stovetop because the cookers were being used for the stews.


I would like to try other grains and see how they come out. I also want to try making some desserts in the cooker... you know me and my sweet tooth! LOL!


Now, the Giveaway!
Thanks to the generosity of VitaClay, you have a chance to win a VitaClay 2-in-1 Rice N' Slow Cooker - 8 cup (makes 16 cups of rice and has 4.2 quart size capacity).

How to Enter...

Simply leave a comment below what your first meal would be if you won this cooker. That's one entry... please read on for more entries to increase your chance of winning!

Extra Entries...

You must do the main entry above first before doing the extra entries. Remember that each entry is a separate comment! Thanks and have fun!

1. Subscribe to receive my posts via email (1 entry)
2. "Like" Just Making Noise on Facebook and share giveaway on your wall. (1 entry)
3. Follow me on Pinterest and pin this giveaway! (1 entry)

Remember, if you are already subscribed, liked on facebook and follow me on pinterest... you automatically get those entries. Please post a separate comment for EACH entry. You can have a total of 4 entries!

The Rules...

Every comment must have an email address. The giveaway ends May 16th, 2012 and is open to those who live in the USA. The winner will be chosen via random.org

I will contact the winner and the winner will have 48 hours to reply with his/her contact information. If there is no reply, then the winner will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen.

Thanks for participating and spreading the word about the giveaway.  Hugs!

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14 Reasons Why I HEART Blendtec Over Vitamix & Valentine Special!

Valentine Special:
Through February 14th, you can get $40 off the purchase of their newest edition... the Twister Jar. This is the lowest price ever for this amazing jar! The Twister Jar can create extra-thick blends like nut butters, hummus, baby food, dips, dressings, thick shakes and more! Compare peanut butter in the FourSide Jar (4-5 minutes) vs. the Twister Jar (35-45 seconds). The jar can be loaded up to a full 16 oz., which is incredible for dense ingredients. These jars normally sell for $129, but get it today for only $89! Of course, if you don't have the blender base... read on.

Over 2 years ago I was blessed (and thrilled!) to receive Blendtec to review and compare it to  Vitamix.

I had been using Vitamix for about 3 years and it did pretty well and I was, for the most part, happy with it… until I got Blendtec.

Since Blendtec arrived, I have retired Vitamix and don’t miss him one bit! Sorry Vitamix!


Below I am going to share my fourteen reasons, yes 14 (why does it have to be 10 like everybody else?!), why you should have Blendtec helping you in the kitchen.

14 Reasons Why I HEART Blendtec

So easy to clean. The whole thing is a breeze to clean! The buttons don't have cracks and the motor base can be wiped down easily with a wet cloth. The wide square base of this blender makes cleaning so much easier then Vitamix. You can toss it in the dishwasher or put in a couple drops of soap with water and pulse a few times, then rinse and dry it!

Nothing gets stuck at the base. It really bothered me whenever food would get stuck at the base of my old Vitamix, especially in the corners where I couldn't get it with the stick. I would have to turn it off and take a knife or thin spatula and scrape it around to get it moving again. With Blendtec, you can be assured that nothing will get stuck at the base because of its wide square base!

Functions like a food processor. I often make homemade salsa, chopped or pureed… depending on what I want. You can throw in any fruit or veggie and pulse for a few seconds to get it nicely chopped. Honestly, though, I still like my CuisineArt food processor and think it does a better job with some things like homemade mayo! Blendtec also makes wonderful soup very simply & smoothly… much like Vitamix, but better.

Grinds grain perfectly. I was shocked by how good this monster can grind grains into fine powder... it can even turn flax seeds and chai seeds into a nice powder! I have tried grinding my grains in my old Vitamix and wasn’t too happy with how hot and gritty it would get. Plus, some of the flour would get stuck in the base. With Blendtec, you can blend both dry and wet ingredients in one container (with Vitamix you have to buy two!) and does a way better job, all because of that wide square base! You can only grind 2 cups at a time, not exactly ideal for large quanities of bread baking, but great for everyday flour needs (ex: pancakes, muffins, crackers, etc.). I've grind my orange chips into powder in Blendtec and love how quickly it does the job!

Makes fantastic “smooth” smoothies. We love our smoothies, especially green smoothies whenever I am able to get fresh lettuce or spinach. I am so happy with my smoothies because they come out so smooth that you really can’t tell by texture what’s in the smoothie. I am able to “hide” some things in the smoothies from my girls and they slurp it up with delight! Another bonus, I can throw in whole raw flax or chai seeds and they are completely grinded smooth with no lingering texture. Never been able to do that with old Vitamix!

More versatile. According to the company, Blendtec can replace up to nine other kitchen applicances - no need for a grain mill, juicer, bread machine, ice cream maker , smoothie maker, blender, milkshake maker, coffee grinder or ice crusher. But I honestly can't live without my ice cream maker or juicer as they do best what they are made to do!

Makes smooth sauces with ease. I love how I can throw in a whole apple (skin, seeds and all!), add a little water and in several seconds get raw applesauce. Makes wonderful salsas, hummus, tomato sauce, mayo and other sauces in just over a minute! But you have to make sure to have enough moisture to keep it going without it getting too hot... normal for any blender.

Can do the job itself.Love how I don’t have to guess how long and how high or low of speed to use with Blendtec! This machine is a 'smart' blender, with 17 settings to get the job done! It’s simple, all I need to do is push my desired setting and let the machine do its job. I don’t have to stand there, hold the lid down and jiggle around with it like I had to with Vitamix. Blendtec has specific digital settings for pretty much every job and will turn off automatically when the task is done! Totally a muti-task machine… I can get a smoothie going or some sauce while prepping something else or cleaning up. Also, if you have an absent-minded family member, no worries… Blendtec will turn off on it own!

Very powerful & compacted. This machine is a monster, I am not kidding! It can tear through anything from 1560 watt with a 3 HP direct-drive motor and does not need any extra space to fit its mighty engine. It has run powerfully since the first day I used it and I've used it over 930 times! I couldn't say that for Vitamix, after just a year of using it The overall height is shorter, but wide and can fit in standard countertops. I couldn’t do that with old Vitamix, had to put the container next to the base because it is too tall. It is compacted enough that you can take with you when traveling, so you and your family can eat healthy while on the road!

Professional & very durable. After having Blendtec for over 2 years now, I can’t believe how durable it is! This Blendtec machine is popular in the majority of professional businesses and known for its high quality guarantee.


Better technology. I love how it shows on the screen how many times I've put Blendtec to work... over 930 times and it still works like new! When you run Blendtec, a timer comes up to show how much time is left before its done. Like I shared above... it is a 'smart' blender with 17 settings to get the job done well! I appreciate how the company took care to design their blenders with a wider base so there is no need to use a stick to push everything into the blade. That was one thing that bothered me about all the blenders I've used growing up, the narrow base... it never made sense to me because in order to 'cut & puree' your food up, you need room to allow the food to move around the blade, duh!

BPA-free plastic.Nice to know that I am not exposing my family to toxic chemicals when using it!

Looks pleasantly attractive. I like how simple and neat it looks, not bulky or awkward like Vitamix. Plus, you can choose a white, black or red base. I chose red, but they sent me a black one! Oh well, can’t complain when it was free!

Decent coverage.Each Blendtec Blender has a lifetime warranty on the blade so you don’t have to worry about it getting dull on ya! That was another issue I had with old Vitamix, the blade got pretty dull and wasn’t doing the job like they said it would. I was preparing myself to pay for a new blade and try to replace it myself! Blendtec is made with solid-state electronics which are more dependable and less likely to give you trouble, so you won’t have to go through the headache of sending it back for repairs!


Check out the video to visually compare Vitamx with Blendtec...

Now, I'm sure many of you are wondering if all I am saying is too good to be true.

It is for real so good and true!

Even better, Blendtec recently upgraded their warranty to 7 years. Before it was 3 years, but they've been making improvements and working towards bringing you the best quality kitchen appliance.

Vitamix and Blendtec are very similar, but Vitamix is more commonly known because it has been marketed better... but the Blendtec company has been changing that. Now, I'm sure you've been hearing the name pop up more and seeing it all over the food blogs nowadays.

Blendtec is the choice among professionals, especially among the raw foody crowd. Its body can fit on your countertop and one jar does it all, while Vitamix it too tall and has two different jars to accomplish everything. Vitamix doesn't turn itself off and has two switches that have to be used carefully during the blending process (a pain), while the Blendtec does all the work for you in speed, power and will turn off when done.

Now, the cost... Blendtec Wildside, which is what I have, costs $474.95... ouch, I know.

BUT BUT but when you consider the cost of purchasing all nine of those kitchen appliances that Blendtec can replace... you save a good chunk of $$$ with one fantastic machine! A grain grinder alone can cost around $250 and I don't even use or like the one I have!!

As a missionary, I've had to simplify and make use with what I have. If I had the Blendtec from the beginning... I would not have half the appliances I have in my kitchen right now. Honestly.

Also, the Blendtec company is coming out with a new, improved & fancier machine called the Total Blender Designer Series... go check it out and make sure to wipe up your drool! It is supposed to be much quieter than the other machines. Hope so! Mine sounds like a monster, but a good monster  ;o)

To wrap it up... if you were to invest in one machine that would help you transition to a whole foods lifestyle, this is the machine you want. It is quality in action.

Valentine Special:
Through February 14th, you can get $40 off the purchase of their newest edition... the Twister Jar. This is the lowest price ever for this amazing jar! The Twister Jar can create extra-thick blends like nut butters, hummus, baby food, dips, dressings, thick shakes and more! Compare peanut butter in the FourSide Jar (4-5 minutes) vs. the Twister Jar (35-45 seconds). The jar can be loaded up to a full 16 oz., which is incredible for dense ingredients. These jars normally sell for $129, but get it today for only $89!  That's almost half off the original price!


Small print stuff: Yes, I will earn a small commission through my links and that is no extra charge for you. Thank you for supporting my family this way!

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Celebration GIVEAWAY: ListPlanIt Memberships!

Happy New Year everyone!


Wow, the last few days have been blowing by and leaving us pretty wiped out. I know I was supposed to post a Celebration Giveaway on my birthday, but I wasn't thinking it through when I started the whole thing.


We've had a group working here since Dec. 27th & will be here until January 6th and I've been so busy cooking meals that I've been too tired to put up something. So, I thought I would wait until January 1st and make it a celebration for the New Year... as you can see, didn't happen.


Well, better late then never!


I decided to extend all the Celebration Giveaways to January 14th. I see that many of you are itching to win one of these giveaways by your daily entries! LOL! Well, you now have many more days of chances to win.


So, I had big plans to give you all a fantastic surprise giveaway for my birthday... but it fell through  :o(


Instead, I am going share with you about ListPlanIt.com... a great place with hundreds of "lists to put your world in order"!!

Now, how many of you have put on your yearly resolution list to be more organized?!


Yep, I see many hands... hmm, just what I thought!


Who doesn't want to be at least a little bit more organized with life, family, kids and everyday things? I am not an organized person by nature, but I am also not a disorganized one either. I guess you can say I am in the middle and taking baby steps everyday to be a little more organized here and there. I don't obsessed about it because my kids don't need a organize-freak of a mama! LOL!


I've been using many of ListPlanIt lists for several months now and have enjoyed how simple & easy they are to use. Before I came across ListPlanIt, I had been looking for simple ways to organize my life and had little success with finding ideas and "already made" lists. I was ready to give up when I came across ListPlanIt!


There are lists for everything you can think of! Lists for organizing your home, business & life. Lists to organize the bedrooms, freezers, bathrooms and pantry. Lists to organize the parties, meal plans and groceries. Lists to get ready for moving, traveling and MORE!


Want a list for something specific?? ListPlanIt is sure to have it!
Want to customize a list for yourself or a business?? ListPlanIt can help you!


Now...


FIVE winners will be given ONE of the following:

• 1 Print Membership (value $20)
• 1 Download Membership (value $30)
• 3 ePlanners

How to Enter

Just leave a comment below sharing one area that you know you need to be more organized! (1 entry)

To maximize your odds of winning, you can leave a comment every day! (one comment per day strictly enforced)

3 bonus entries:

'Like' ListPlanIt on Facebook (1 entry)

Sign up for the L.I.S.T. Newsletter (1 entry)

'Like' Just Making Noise on Babble (1 entry)

So, you can have a total of 4 entries today and one everyday until January 14th! This giveaway is open to the world and the winners will be selected via random.org at the end of this month. Winner will be contacted after January 14th.

PLEASE include your email in each entry to leave for me to contact you. Thank you!

Don't forget to check out Celebration Giveaways 1, 2 & 3!!

Also, you can purchase Just Making Ice Cream for a suggested donation of $12

My friends, have a great New Year!!

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Celebration GIVEAWAY: Making Herbs SIMPLE DVD (Vol. 1)

Well! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and is looking forward to a great New Year!

Now, I was planning to post the 3rd Celebration Giveaway this past Sunday or yesterday, but we got knocked down to 24 hour dial-up after using up our limit with all the skyping we did with the grandparents  ;o)

BUT... better late then never!

So, the giveaway...

To FIVE winners, I am giving away 1 copy of Making Herbs SIMPLE DVD!

I really enjoyed this video and like how simply Shoshanna taught, step-by-step, on how to find, wash, dry and store herbs. She also teaches the hands-on steps of making poultices, tinctures and more!


When I first started watching the DVD... my 5 year old daughter, Naomi, came over and watched it with me and enjoyed it so much that she wanted to watch it again! Like the title says... it is so simple that my daughter is able to understand and thoroughly enjoy how God made all these amazing herbs (that are often considered weeds) to bring healing to our bodies. She even talked to me afterwards and pretty much explained what each herb is, the benefits and how to use them. I LOVED that! The video didn't have closed caption, so it was great to hear Naomi sum it all up like a pro and made sure that I understood what Shoshanna was saying! LOL!


So, if you are looking for a good instructional video on herbs for your child's homeschooling program or just to teach them in your own time... this is the one for you! Funny, captivating and simple... your kids will enjoy learning how to find and using herbs to improve their health!

Now, I have to talk about Bulk Herb Store.

I love their products, the prices and quality!

I made my own pregnancy tea using their herbs and the taste was delicious. I'll have to share with you my recipe... soon I hope!

Since we don't drink coffee in this family... we like to drink a lot of tea around here! I am a die-hard fan of Rooibos Tea and I like it just the way it is... no raw honey! I've learned to appreciate its earthy, rustic flavors. Of course, there are some days where I just need a little sweetness to my tea  ;o)

You can see that I have banners on my blog supporting BHS. If you are considering making some purchases... please use my links. I will get a small commission for each purchase and it is no extra cost to you! Thank you for your support!

Now, let's get to the giveaway... shall we?

How to Enter

Just leave a comment below sharing your favorite herb, tea or herbal remedy! (1 entry)

To maximize your odds of winning, you can leave a comment every day! (one comment per day strictly enforced)

4 bonus entries:

'Like' Bulk Herb Store on Facebook (1 entry)

'Like' Shoshanna on Facebook (1 entry)

'Like' Just Making Noise on Babble (1 entry)

Follow Just Making Noise via emails or RSS feed (1 entry)

So, you can have a total of 5 entries today and one everyday until December 31st January 14th! This giveaway is only open to US residents and the winners will be selected via random.org at the end of this month. Winner will be contacted in January.

PLEASE include your email in each entry to leave for me to contact you. Thank you!

Also, don't forget you can purchase Just Making Ice Cream for a suggested donation of $8 through this month! That is $4 off the original suggested donation.

Have a great New Year!!

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Celebration GIVEAWAY: Bones & Fat Cookbooks

Well, today we are celebrating my little man's birthday! I know every mom says this, but... I seriously can not believe he is already 1 year old. Time just flies faster and faster with each kid!

It is my goal to share the birth story later today in honor of Tobias' birthday. I have to tell you! It is an amazing story of faith, trust and... well, I get to that later  :o)


Before I get to the giveaway... let me share a few highlights of Tobias' first year of life.


Everybody fell in love with this little guy... my girls are especially crazy about him. How can they not be?! I am SO grateful that there has been no jealousy issues between my girls and this little guy. None at all.


He has proven to be a very strong-will little guy... my third strong-will child *sigh*. Life is sure very loud and noisy in the Beard household! All 3 of my kids have very strong spirits and lungs. People often ask me if it is hard for me to hear them... my answer is always, "Ha! No, God has blessed me with very loud children. If I think they are loud... can't imagine how loud they are to you!"

He began to crawl around 9 months old, but started walking before he was 10 months old! He loves following my girls around and doesn't let them push him around. Almost everyday I often see him do things and say, "He is SUCH a BOY!". Seriously, after having two girls... I am amazed just how different Tobi is and it sometimes feels like he is my first child.


Tobi has had more bumps, bruises & cuts on his head and face then both my girls combined when they were babies! Thankfully he isn't much of a crier and gets right back in the action after a few minutes in mama's arms  ;o)


It has been an awesome year with this little man and I am so blessed! Thank you Lord! Happy Birthday Tobias!


Now, the second giveaway!

To one winner, I am giving away 2 delicious & savory cookbooks:

 

These two cookbooks are deliciously amazing... just reading through the recipes and look at the pictures make me feel nourished and well-fed! LOL!

Jennifer McLagan has done a wonderful job of explaining everything you need to know to appreciate the benefits of eating wholesome bones and fat. I love her witty sense of humor thrown in at just the right places. You can read Jennifer's bio here.

These two books are vital in my kitchen these days! I just love how there is so much you can learn and do with just bones and fat.... and still thrive in good health. Here's a simple write up on Fat cookbook (taken from Amazon.com): 

For all of history, minus the last thirty years, fat has been at the center of human diets and cultures. When scientists theorized a link between saturated fat and heart disease, industry, media, and government joined forces to label fat a greasy killer, best avoided. But according to Jennifer McLagan, not only is our fat phobia overwrought, it also hasn’t benefited us in any way. Instead it has driven us into the arms of trans fats and refined carbohydrates, and fostered punitive, dreary attitudes toward food–that wellspring of life and pleasure.


In Fat, McLagan sets out with equal parts passion, scholarship, and appetite to win us back to a healthy relationship with animal fats. She starts by defusing fat’s bad rap, both reminding us of what we already know–that fat is fundamental to the flavor of our food–and enlightening us with the many ways fat (yes, even animal fat) is indispensable to our health.


Mostly, though, Fat is about pleasures–the satisfactions of handling good ingredients skillfully, learning the cultural associations of these primal foodstuffs, recollecting and creating personal memories of beloved dishes, and gratifying the palate and the soul with fat’s irreplaceable savor. Fat lavishes the reader with more than 100 recipes from simple to intricate, classic to contemporary, including:


• Butter-Poached Scallops • Homemade Butter • Carnitas • Duck Confit • Sautéed Foie Gras with Gingered Vanilla Quince • Prosciutto-Wrapped Halibut with Sage Butter • Steak and Kidney Pie • Lamb Fat and Spinach Chapati • Bacon Spice • Cookies • Salted Butter Tart 


Observing that though we now know everything about olive oil, we may not know what to do with lard or bone marrow, McLagan offers extensive guidance on sourcing, rendering, flavoring, using, and storing animal fats, whether butter or bacon, schmaltz or suet. Stories, lore, quotations, and tips touching on fat’s place in the kitchen and in the larger culture round out this rich and unapologetic celebration of food at its very best.

The one thing I learned from her Fat cookbook is chicken fat is delicious used for frying up corn tortillas! Oh my!


Next is the Bones cookbook (again, taken from Amazon.com):

Top food stylist and food writer Jennifer McLagan has a bone to pick: too often, people opt for boneless chicken breasts, fish fillets, and cutlets, when good cooks know that anything cooked on the bone has more flavor -- from chicken or spareribs to a rib roast or a whole fish. In Bones, Jennifer offers a collection of recipes for cooking beef, veal, pork, lamb, poultry, fish, and game on their bones.


Chicken, steak, and fish all taste better when cooked on the bone, but we've sacrificed flavor for speed and convenience, forgetting how bones can enhance the taste, texture, and presentation of good food -- think of rack of lamb, T-bone steak, chicken noodle soup, and baked ham. In her simple, bare-bones style, Jennifer teaches home cooks the secrets to cooking with bones.


Each chapter of Bones includes stocks, soups, ribs, legs, and extremities (except for whole fish -- they don't have any). Many of the recipes are simple, with the inherent flavors of the bones doing most of the work. There are traditional, elegant dishes, such as Roasted Marrow Bones with Parsley Salad, Olive-Crusted Lamb Racks, and Crown Roast of Pork, as well as new takes on homestyle favorites, such as Maple Tomato Glazed Ribs, Coconut Chicken Curry, and Halibut Steaks with Orange Cream Sauce. Stunning, full-color photographs of dishes like Rabbit in Saffron Sauce with Spring Vegetables; Grilled Quail with Sage Butter; and Duck Legs with Cumin, Turnips, and Green Olives are sure to inspire. 


In addition to the recipes, Bones includes a wealth of information on a wide range of bone-related topics, including the differences among cuts of meat, as well as the history and lore of bones.


Pretty awesome, huh? Now, she recently released a new cookbook called "Odd Bits: How to Cook the Rest of the Animal". I've got my eye on that and will most likely get a copy soon!


The one think I've grown to appreciate about living in Central America is how much people here appreciate the WHOLE animal. They use everything! Tongue, stomach, heart, hoof, head, tail and so on. I love grinding heart in with my ground beef... adds such a nice flavor. Oh and tongue is simply delicious... once you get past the weird feeling that you are "french kissing" the cow. LOL!! Using calf's hoof in my homemade beef broth has made a big difference in flavor... so rich!


There are a few butchers in the town next to us that often hang a whole cow in their station and will not close down until every piece of that cow has sold. Nothing goes to waste... talk about being frugal and smart!


How to Enter

Just leave a comment below sharing your favorite Christmas memory! (1 entry)

To maximize your odds of winning, you can leave a comment every day! (one comment per day strictly enforced)

3 bonus entries:

Follow Jennifer's blog (1 entry)

Follow my blog (1 entry)

'Like' Just Making Noise on Babble (1 entry)

So, you can have a total of 4 entries today and one everyday until December 31st January 14th! This giveaway is only open to US residents and the winner will be selected via random.org at the end of this month. Winner will be contacted in January.

Also, don't forget you can purchase Just Making Ice Cream for a suggested donation of $8 through this month! That is $4 off the original suggested donation.

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