Monday, December 20, 2010

Gingerbread Pop-Tarts - Faith's Version of the Gingerbread Man

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Pop-Tarts®.


Last week, we were quite happy to share our gingerbread brownies with you, along with our affinity for Gingerbread Pop-Tarts. This week, Miss Faith wanted to share her version of the Gingerbread Man, or perhaps, the Gingerbread Pop-Tarts Man?


In conjunction with this post, BlogHer is giving away a $100 Visa gift card. Since I am in a total holiday mood right now, leave me a comment sharing one of your favorite holiday memories for a chance to win! Do you have an awesome family tradition? A funny story? A recipe that I simply must try that is exceedingly delicious and magically has no calories? I’d love to hear them!

Visit the Visit the Exclusive Offers section for 9 other fun Pop-Tarts posts and 9 other chances to win a gift card!

Visit the Official Pop-Tarts site for more products and ideas.

Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) Read the official rules for alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.
You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
Sweepstakes runs 12/13-12/25.

The Official Rules are available here. Visit the Official Rules

Friday, December 10, 2010

Gingerbread Pop-Tarts Review & Recipe

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Pop-Tarts®.


After last month’s amazing Pumpkin Pie Pop-Tarts posts, we were so excited to get the email to see if our family might want to participate in a holiday version!

Until the box arrived, we had a fun time guessing what flavor the Christmas season Pop-Tarts might be. Gingerbread was a front runner, candy cane/mint was one of Faith’s ideas, and Shaun even tossed in the idea of eggnog (which sounds rather bad, in my opinion). Our nice little box arrived with several packages of gingerbread Pop-Tarts. (Thank God Shaun was not right, I could not even fathom choking down eggnog flavored anything.)

After the initial family sampling and the awesome fact that mine had a hockey goalie on it, we needed a recipe to use with them. Since we did a Pumpkin Pie Pop-Tarts cheesecake, I wanted something different. Gingerbread Pop-Tarts would make an awesome cheesecake crust though, and I do plan to try that at a later date. Originally, my mom (who is always in on my baking plans) suggested an éclair style cake with a vanilla pudding and whipped cream topping. That was the plan, till Shaun randomly tossed in the idea of brownies.

Brownies and gingerbread sounded so good, and brownies, gingerbread and some candy cane flavored sounded even better, so he ran to the grocery store and I got to work. An hour later, we had a lovely pan of “Candy Cane-Gingerbread Brownies” that might not make it more than a day or two around here. He picked up the candy canes, so in lieu of mint, they are cherry flavored, but I think mint would be wonderful as well.



Candy Cane-Gingerbread Brownies
1 package brownie mix
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup water
2 eggs
3 packages of Gingerbread Pop-Tarts (6 total pastries)
3 candy canes

Prepare brownie mix in a separate bowl with eggs, oil and water, mix well.
Crumble Gingerbread Pop-Tarts into coarse chunks and sprinkle at the bottom of a greased 9x9 pan.
Slowly pour brownie mixture over Pop-Tarts, spread to cover the pan if needed.
Bake for 30-32 minutes at 350 degrees.
Remove from oven, crush candy canes and sprinkle over top.
Return to oven for another 5 minutes till candy canes melt and glaze together.
Cool, cut & serve!

**Adjust your brownie recipe per the box you purchased (eggs, oil, water, etc).**



In conjunction with this post, BlogHer is giving away a $100 Visa gift card. Since I am in a total holiday mood right now, leave me a comment sharing one of your favorite holiday memories for a chance to win! Do you have an awesome family tradition? A funny story? A recipe that I simply must try that is exceedingly delicious and magically has no calories? I’d love to hear them!

Visit the Visit the Exclusive Offers section for 9 other fun Pop-Tarts posts and 9 other chances to win a gift card!

Visit the Official Pop-Tarts site for more products and ideas.

Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) Read the official rules for alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.
You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
Sweepstakes runs 12/13-12/25.

The Official Rules are available here. Visit the Official Rules

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Heart of Haiti



Isn't the above pendant beautiful?

Not only is stunning to see, you can help support an amazing cause by purchasing one.

It is made by Heart of Haiti, an organization dedicated to helping Haiti rebuild their country through their motto of "trade, not aid".

Rather than simply sending money, they are helping the people of Haiti rebuild through their own talents and income, allowing them to repair homes, send their children to school, and feed & clothe their families. After the recent earthquake devastation, the country is needing much help with rebuilding efforts.

Each item is designed by a master Haitian artist and made by hand in Haiti. They are made from recycled materials, and include vases, candleholders, serving trays, picture frames, mirrors, coasters, necklaces, clutch purses and more.

Visit Macy's to learn more about Heart of Haiti.

Disclosure: I am writing this post to spread the word about Heart of Haiti through a Mom Bloggers Club member program and will receive a Heart of Haiti pendant as a thank you.
 

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