My Favorite Thing About My Kitchen Is…

Remember way back in 2010, we had a giveaway and talked about our favorite things about our kitchens? It was my birthday. I can barely remember it myself, so if you need to, you can click here for a refresher.

Although she has been notified via email, I wanted to give a shutout to Jessica for being randomly chosen to win the premier issue of Where Women Cook. As soon as Atlanta reopens for business (a winter storm has paralyzed this poor city), I will make my way to the post office with Jessica’s loot.

Here is what you all love about your kitchens…

Jessica loves her new counter tops.

Stacie loves her island.

Damara loves her huge refrigerator.

What I love most about my tiny kitchen is my little nook. I missed it so much while I was away for the holidays. I know I told you guys this when I posted the contest a few weeks ago, but I love it so much I had to tell you again.

If you didn’t get a chance to share your favorite thing about your kitchen, I would love to hear about it now. Please feel free to share the things about your kitchen that make you warm and fuzzy inside in the comments below.

Giveaway: Where Women Cook

It’s my birthday! I’m 26 today! I’m a week older than my husband, so for the next seven days I get to rub it in his face that I’m 26 and he’s only 25. A lot of people are not fans of their birthdays or getting older, but I am, and I wanted to celebrate by giving away something very special. We’ll get to that in a minute, but first I wanted to show you some improvements that were made to the kitchen. I promise it’s all relative, just roll with me for awhile and it will all make sense soon.

Remember back when we first moved to our new home in Georgia and I was hyperventilating because of my tiny kitchen and it’s lack of storage and counter space? You can click here if you want a refresher, but if you’re not in the mood for clicking, I’ll give you a few reminder pictures below.

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

I know it’s all rushing back to you now isn’t it?

Do you also remember that I was troubled over what to do with the little “nook” in the kitchen. Again, if you don’t remember, and aren’t in the mood for clicking, I’ll remind you.

Exhibit C

Well shortly after this conniption fit, my kitchen and this little nook began to take shape. First, we took the bookshelf from Moanna’s room to use for my cookbooks and my bonsai tree. Putting books in Moanna’s room was a bad idea anyway; alligators and lava were involved. Then later on, I moved the kitchen table from the family room into the kitchen. I didn’t think it was going to fit, but once I got it in the kitchen, it fit like a glove. It was meant to be. A few weeks later, I took one of our plastic three draw organizers and filled it with most of the gluten free items from our pantry. It totally doesn’t match, but it fits OK and it takes some pressure off of the fairy sized pantry. Lastly, just last week I got one of those three tier hanging fruit baskets. Hanging fruit baskets may be a bit old school, but I was getting tired of chasing squash and pomegranates all over the counter. You put all of that together and you get this…

Voila!

This, my friends, is where I spend half (give or take) of my waking hours at home. I get up in the morning, get dressed(ish) and come to the kitchen to make breakfast. From that point forward, I’m in and out of the kitchen all day, mostly in. I cook in my kitchen (duh), but I also do a lot of other living in my kitchen, a lot of living that most people do in other rooms of their homes. I check email, pay bills, think, watch TV (on the computer), write, pray, stay warm, read, organize my days and weeks, relax, do projects – I’ve even fallen asleep in my kitchen (totally sober).

Despite my never ceasing whining about this pip squeak sized kitchen and it’s lack of practical design,  the kitchen is my favorite room in our house. I have some of my most peaceful moments in the kitchen, as well as some of my most eye opening, most joyous, most thoughtful, most spiritual, most loving, most “in the moment” times in the kitchen. I’ve also had plenty of emotional melt downs in the kitchen – and not just about ruined meals.

When I discovered the magazine, Where Women Cook, tears filled my eyes. Kitchens are sacred places. In a lot of ways, kitchens are the social epicenter of a home, but they are also very private places, in a lot of ways. They represent so much of who we are and where we come from.  Being invited into someone’s kitchen is such an honor, and this magazine is all about women sharing their sacred kitchens and what they love about them.

Picture from Where Women Cook

Because it’s my birthday, and I can do what I want, and because I love kitchens, and because this magazine brought tears to my eyes, I’m giving away the first issue of Where Women Cook. This is the premier issue of the magazine, and it features one of my favorite internet ladies, The Pioneer Woman, on the cover! The pages and stories are beautiful; it will make you all warm and fuzzy inside.

I know we all have issues with our kitchens that drive us nuts, and we all have dreams about our future kitchens – we’ll get to kitchen dreams at another time. However, we all also have something about our kitchens that we love (or at least like). My favorite thing about my kitchen is my little nook that I created. Now tell me your favorite thing about your kitchen and you will be entered into the giveaway for the premier issue of Where Women Cook.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

One lucky reader will win the premier issue of Where Women Cook ($14.95 Value). The giveaway will close on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at 8:00PM. A winner will be selected at random and notified. On Thursday the winner will be announced along with another Me, Myself et Manger post.

Here is how to get your name in the hat…

1. Entry #1 – Leave a comment to this post finishing this sentance, “My favorite thing about my kitchen is…”
2. Entry #2 – Write about this giveaway on your blog and leave a comment with a link to your blog post.
3. Entry #3 – Subscribe to my Feedburner and leave a comment telling me that you are a subscriber. If you already subscribe that counts – leave a comment letting me know!
4. Entry #4 – “Like” Me, Myself and Mommy on Facebook and leave a comment telling me that you’ve done so. If you already “Like” Me, Myself and Mommy that counts – leave a comment letting me know!
5. Entry #5 – “Follow” Me, Myself and Mommy on Twitter and leave a comment with your Twitter handle so I can follow you back. If you already “Follow” My, Myself and Mommy that counts – leave a comment letting me know!
6. Entry #6+ – Tweet about the giveaway on Twitter with a link to this post. Leave a comment here with a link to your Tweet. You may Tweet about this giveaway once a day. That is a potential of 8 extra entries in the giveaway.

**Please leave a separate comment for each entry**

If you do not see your name pop up right away, have no fear, it will be up shortly.

Because it’s my birthday, and I can do what I want, I’m donating $0.50 to Angel Wings International, a nonprofit organization building a medical clinic in Haiti.

Review: Sucre Macaroons

Earlier this month, I received a very tasty treat in the mail from Sucre, a delicious company based out of New Orleans. A friend I went to high school with works for Sucre, and saw that I did reviews on my blog and love food. She asked me if she could give the people at Sucre my information. Of course I said yes. How do you say no when there are tasty treats involved? This is so far the most delicious review I’ve been asked to do.

When I got home from running errands one day the box was waiting for me on the front step. I brought it inside and tore it open emeadeatly. Inside the shipping box was a cute little striped box tied with a ribbon. I’m going to steal a line from a movie and change it a bit and say, “Sucre, you had me at the box.” It was adorable. Wrapping paper is not needed when the package is this cute. Presentation is a huge part of the eating experience, and Sucre clearly understands that.

After I got over the adorable box, it was time to open the box and dive in. Before attacking the little treats, I did take a minute to admire their beauty. Aren’t they lovely? I had to remind myself that I was reviewing these delicate French pastries so that I would shove five or six in my mouth at once. I had the pleasure of trying the Chocolate Macaroons and the Peppermint Macaroons. They were both to die for. Oh. So. Tasty. I’m not sure which one I liked the best. My advice is to take a Chocolate Macaroon and a Peppermint Macaroon and smoosh them together. I love chocolaty-minty things. Now, these tasty delights are very flaky, so this is not something I recommend you indulge in in bed. It will be amazing, but it will also be a big mess.

The macaroons are made with almond flour, so Steve was able to indulge in them as well. I’m not sure if Sucre considers their macaroons to be certifiably gluten free, so don’t take my word for it, but Steve was able to eat them without his Ciliac’s Disease responding to them. Please contact Sucre for more information on the gluten freeness of their products.

Sucre is based out of New Orleans, so if you are in the area, I highly recommend you visit one of Sucre’s shops. If you are not in the area and are aching for some delicious chocolates or pastries they have a wonderful online botique.

To tempt your sweet tooth some more, here is a short video of one of the pastry chef’s at Sucre making macaroons.

Thank you so much Sucre for the opportunity to try your Holiday Macaroons and share the joy I found in them with my readers!

Favorite Thanksgiving Food

Thanksgiving is coming in just a few days. There is a lot of cooking and eating to be done. It’s going to be delicious. I have been day dreaming about Thanksgiving food for the past several days. I’m not kidding. I have my stretchy pants on standby in case I lose control and eat until I resemble that chick from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Wouldn’t that be a site?

So as I fantasized about this holiday that is dedicated to cooking and eating, I started thinking about my favorite Thanksgiving food.

What is my favorite Thanksgiving food? There is so much to choose from. Is it the main event, the turkey? What about the stuffing, or do you call it dressing? How about the green bean casserole? Cranberry sauce? Maybe deviled eggs?

No. No. No if you call it the other name too. No. No. And no.

My favorite, favorite Thanksgiving food is mashed potatoes. For me, mashed potatoes define Thanksgiving. I know it’s supposed to be all about the Turkey, but for me it’s all about the mashed potatoes. A spoon full of creamy yet lumpy mashed potatoes with butter and a little and pepper, and I’m in heaven. No gravy. Don’t ruin my potatoes with gravy. Sometimes I do enjoy a little bit of gravy on my meat, but not my potatoes. I could, and have, eaten multiple bowls of mashed potatoes in one sitting. Mashed potatoes make me happy, especially on Thanksgiving.

Your turn.

What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?