Category Archives: Giveaway

by | August 19, 2010 · 7:40 am

And The Great Big Cheese Cookbook winner is….

Thank you to everyone who submitted their cheese comments and recipes. We can’t wait to test some of them out!

We’ve chosen our winner using a random generator. While we wish everyone could win this cookbook, there can only be one winner, and that winner is….Lindsey. HAP reader Lindsey wrote the following comment:

“I could eat brie every day of my life. I have too many favorite cheese recipes my husband and I eat some sort of main cheese focused meal every day. I saw this giveaway and thought it would be such a great gift for him.”

We hope you and your husband enjoy this cookbook!

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by | August 11, 2010 · 7:50 am

Giveaway: The Great Big Cheese Cookbook

Were you overwhelmed with excitement when you read the title of this post? I know the feeling. The wave of excitement rolled over me when I received The Great Big Cheese Cookbook last week at our dinner at Bacchus with the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. The cookbook is just hands-down wonderful: beautiful pictures, TONS of recipes (and very “do-able” recipes at that), tidbits of cheese knowledge. And….it can be yours! This week we are hosting a giveaway where one lucky Haute Apple Pie reader will receive The Great Big Cheese Cookbook.

To enter to win, simply comment on our page and tell us about your favorite kind of cheese or your favorite cheese recipe. Leave your comments by Wednesday, August 18th. One lucky winner will be chosen at random.

To entice your appetite and drum up some enthusiasm about this book, I’ve decided to share a recipe with you from the book.

Fontina-Stuffed Pretzel Bread

Ingredients

1/2 C (about 1/2 medium) julienned yellow onion
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/3 C roasted red peppers, cut into 1/2-in. strips
2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme, or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
2 C (8 oz) shredded Fontina cheese
1 C diced smoked baked ham
Salt and pepper, to taste
4 (6-in) pretzel rolls (if you are a Milwaukee native, Sendiks carries great pretzel rolls)

Preheat oven to 375. In a small skillet, saute the onion in oil until soft, 3-4 minutes. In a medium bowl, toss the sauteed onions with the peppers, parsley, thyme, cheese and ham. Season with salt and pepper.

To hollow the pretzel roll, cut off one end and set aside. Using a thin-bladed knife, gently cut the center out of each bread, leaving 3/8 inch around the edge. Use a small spoon to scrape out the inside of the bread. Set aside and save for another use (breadcrumbs!)

Stuff one-fourth of the filling mixture into the pretzel breads by using the end of a wooden spoon to gently push the filling into the bread. Replace the cut-off end, and wrap each bread in foil, leaving the foil open on top. Place the stuffed breads on a baking sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until the bread is crisp and the filling is warm.

Pretty easy to make and very delicious! With the size pretzel rolls I bought, this made six sandwiches with a little extra filling on the side. If you can’t find pretzel rolls, use a good loaf of french bread. This would be a great appetizer, just slice and serve!

We are looking forward to hearing your thoughts on cheese! Don’t forget to comment on this post to win the cookbook!

*A special thanks to WMMB for providing the cookbook!

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by | April 23, 2010 · 4:17 pm

And the winner is…

The winner of the Organic, Shaken and Stirred Cocktail book, written by Paul Abercrombie, is HAP reader Deb! Read Deb’s comments on how she lives a green life: 

i love that everyone is posting ways to be more green! very inspiring….

– last week we installed two rain barrels, and have them positioned at both the front and rear of our house to (hopefully) provide summer watering for all of our plants.
– i always use canvas bags when grocery shopping.
– have spent the good part of motherhood drilling into the kids’ heads the importance of turning off a light when leaving a room, as well as turning off the faucet when brushing their teeth.
– composting in the yard
– planting a veggie garden with the kids. not only do they help out, but they love eating their own grown stuff!
– walk with kids to school and other local businesses, and bike if they’re a bit farther away.
– reduce, reuse and recycle!!

Happy Earth Week everyone!

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by | March 5, 2010 · 9:01 am

GIVEAWAY! Sugar Beez Vacation Cookie Basket

Hooray!  It’s Giveaway Day and we’re super excited to have Tracy Vasquez from Chicago-land’s Sugar Beez bakery. I met Tracy, her daughter and adorable granddaughter when she was stationed next to me at the Iron Cupcake: Beer event with her Goose Island Stout Cupcakes.

To finish off spring week on a sweet note, one lucky reader will win a custom vacation-themed cookie basket from Sugar Beez.  Judging by how fast Tracy’s cupcakes disappeared, I’m sure her cookies taste as good as they look! To enter, just leave a comment telling us about your “vacation sweet spot” (your favorite vacation destination)!

flip flop cookie

And now…a little about Tracy and Sugar Beez:

1. Give us your one minute bio – a little about you and then how you got into baking.
I’m the mother to 5 daughters, grandmother to 2 babies, wife to Gil for 23 years. I opened Sugar Beez 3 years ago and started baking cookies about 10 years ago. I’d like to say I did it for my kids, but after they got sick of eating cookies every single day, it really became about me. I really just had a great time decorating cookies. I find it to be relaxing and enjoyable because I can tap into my creative nature and let it flow.

When I couldn’t bribe my kids with cookies anymore I started giving them away. Then someone actually asked me if I would make some cookies for them and they would pay me for them…WHAT? I can make money with cookies? And so Sugar Beez was born. I love the challenge of creating custom cookies. Each order is created for the client’s event and it is rare that any two orders are the same.

2. What made you decide to start your own business?
I decided to start Sugar Beez when I was asked a couple of times if I sold my cookies. I thought, heck, if people are willing to buy them, I’m willing to sell them!

3. What would be your advice to someone looking to start their own business?
My advice is do your homework. Connect with SCORE, they have been an invaluable source of information. Attend any small business classes you can. The more you know the better your chances at being successful. But most importantly, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it…don’t be afraid…just give it a try!

4. What is your favorite kind of cookie?
My favorite kind of cookie is oatmeal, no raisins! Love them…the brown sugar butteriness of them….mmmm…now I gotta go make some!

5. Willing to divulge any of your cookie tips for our readers?
Some of the best tips given to me were:
1) Roll out cookie dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper, you won’t have to use flour, which will dry out your dough.
2) Mix your royal icing for at least 7 minutes on low and you will avoid clumps that would clog your decorating tips.
3) After your roll your dough between sheets of parchment, cut your shapes then move the sheet with your shapes onto a cookie sheet and freeze for 15 minutes before baking. This will give the dough a chance to rest and help prevent spreading when you bake.

6. What are 3 ingredients that you always keep on hand?
Powdered sugar, meringue powder and flour.

7. If you could have dinner with 5 people, living or dead, who would they be?
Billy Dec, Rick Bayless, Bronwen Weber, Will Smith and Oprah Winfrey!

starfish decorated cookie

Check out more of Sugar Beez adorable cookies!

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by | February 11, 2010 · 11:20 am

And the winner is…

Congratulations to HAP reader Andrea who posted the following comment to win her very own custom Gubsi Bag! Thanks for all who commented. We love to hear from you!

 Andrea: The bags are too cute! I like that they’re unique, interesting, and AFFORDABLE! I like them all, but if I had to pick one it would be the orange and pink paisley. I would like a bag like that to use as a “transition” diaper bag. My daughter is turning one next week and I don’t need (or want) to carry around a regular diaper bag anymore. I think this would fit bill perfectly. My four-year-old daughter would love the school bags. Oh..and the toiletry bags…I bet Amy could make one to match the tote.

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by | February 5, 2010 · 8:57 am

{Covetable Good} & GIVEAWAY!: Gubsi Bags

It’s HAP’s first giveaway week and with that, I would like to present to you: Gubsi Bags by talented Haute Homemaker, Amy Neumann!

I have known Amy for years and her customizable tote bag creations have become a widespread craze throughout my hometown. Amy hand sews these adorable totes, not only putting her own personal touch on her products, but her customer’s touch as well.

She offers a variety of options and a variety of fabrics to pick and choose from, or you can purchase a pre-made bag. A teacher by trade, her creations inspire us all to do what we love and share it with the world!

I’ve asked Amy a few questions about her line of Gubsi Bags:

What products do you sell? I sell tote bag style purses, toiletry bags, make-up bags, diaper bag sets and children’s school bags and purses.

How did you begin making and selling Gubsi Bags? I purchased a similar bag at a craft show and kept buying bags for gifts for my family. I decided that I could make the same bag and make it better. I found a pattern online and voile!

Where does the name Gubsi Bags come from? Gubsi evolved from an accidental nickname 15+ years ago. Nooms – Nubs – Gubs – Gubsi.

Where do you sell your products? How can I order one? I sell my bags through Etsy. The address www.gubsibags.com will bring you right to my home page.

What type of customer do you typically attract? I have sold bags to girls, boys and women of all ages. Teenagers have been attracted to striped prints, college girls add extra height on the bag to carry their laptop computers and we all know that women love ‘one of a kind’ products.

Where does your inspiration come from? My sister and I loved sewing and would produce small quilts from time to time. She and I were drawn to quilt shops and could shop for hours; working to find fabrics that coordinated with each other. I am always drawn to a particular fabric and love the challenge of matching it with something else. You’ll notice that many of my fabrics are florals. I love floral prints! Carrying a Gubsi Bag with a floral fabric adds a bit of ‘pop’ to any outfit.

So HAP readers, what is your Gubsi Bag style? I have a tote and make-up bag of my own, personalized with seer sucker and toile. 

Looking for a creative gift? My sister picked out fabrics and had totes made for each of her bridesmaids. It was a great personal touch to her bridal gifts and provided a fab photo op! 

And…because it’s GIVEAWAY WEEK, Amy has graciously offered a custom-made Gubsi Bag to one lucky winner. All you have to do is go to www.gubsibags.com and check out her line of products. Come back to us at www.hauteapplepie.com and leave a comment under this post, telling us about your favorite bag, what you like about the products, or what your Gubsi style is! The winner of this giveaway will be announced on Thursday, February 11. 

We look forward to hearing from you and thank Amy for sharing her creativity with us!

 

THIS JUST IN: We’d like to congratulate HAP reader Cindy as the winner of the Haute Apple Pie Christine Tavares pottery giveaway! Usually we pick a winner at random but we were smitten with her clever idea for using Christine’s  jar as a “Love Cup,” especially right before Valentine’s Day! Congratulations Cindy!

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