2011 was quite the eventful year around the ol’ Flamingo Pond. Particularly the last six months! I’ve taken my particular brand of crazy, Freakin’ Flamingo, to the web, the South Miami Farmers Market,  and even teaching the occasional culinary/canning class at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, here in Miami. (Click on that last link to see what I’m teaching and find out how to sign up.)  2012 promises to be just as eventful, if not more so!

In keeping with the theme of a New Year – A New Day, I took the plunge, abandoned Blogger, and (very reluctantly) moved it all over to a self-hosted WordPress platform. Ooo. Scary. It was time for a change and part of that change was to coordinate this blog more effectively with my retail site.  Kudos to one of my best friends and original retail site designer, Lynne Cohen of Tante Leah’s Handmades.  Heather Jurczyk (better known to you as @bodaciousgirl) of He Cooks She Cooks did all the updates, cleanup, and took away the night terrors. Heather then rocked out the New & Improved Flamingo Musings, and did the move over here.  Just in time for the New Year!

Never fear – Flamingo Musings will continue to be primarily a blog about food, not just jam. And whatever else I feel like talking about at any given moment. For instance, in the coming days you’ll see several cookbook reviews (both here and at Cooks & Books & Recipes); more original recipes (some involving jam, some not), even some restaurant reviews – both local and from my travels – (from the perspective of an average person who just wants a good meal, not a persnickety reviewer).  I hope to also get back to joining in some of the blog challenges, such as Secret Recipe Club.  I miss you guys!

And to celebrate, let’s kick things off with a giveaway! No, it’s not a mixer. Geez.

No, I’m giving away Jam! Of your choice! And a cool, heavy duty, last-for-the-rest-of-your-natural-life Freakin’ Flamingo market bag! And a $15 StarSux (er, Starbucks) gift card!  That one’s actually a re-gift. What’s the matter with people that they keep giving you gift cards for places they know full well that you can’t stand? But you like Starbucks, don’t you? I know you do. So you want this.

What do you have to do? Well, for starters, you have to leave a comment here. Tell me how much you missed me. For additional entries, “like” Flamingo Musings on Facebook, “like” Freakin’ Flamingo on Facebook, and/or sign up for the Freakin’ Flamingo Newsletter (see the form? right over there in the sidebar?).  Then leave separate comments telling me that you did.

Wanna tweet?  Tweet this (maximum once per day – don’t annoy your friends!):  Check out the NEW Flamingo Musings and win Freakin’ Flamingo Jam, a Starbucks gift card & more from @RJFlamingo! http://bit.ly/xaxk17

Deadline to enter is midnight, Monday night, January 8th!  The winner will be chosen by random number generator at Random.org.

So? What do you think? Does this wallpaper make me look fat?

Update:  We have a winner!  Dena, come on down and claim your prize!  Thanks for playing, everyone!

Everybody recovered from the 4th of July? Yes? Good! Totally time for a contest!

I’ve been using the catchphrase “Everybody Gets Jam!” for about 7 months now. It started out as a private joke between me and the hubs around Christmastime, when we were trying to figure out what to gift people for the holidays. And even though I’m kinda stuck with it for awhile on a bajillion business cards, t-shirts, market bags, and the like, I think it’s time to freshen things up a bit.

A contest is definitely in order: You get to come up with the next great Freakin’ Flamingo tagline. The winner will receive a Freakin’ Flamingo mug (suitable for coffee, tea, or disguising your fave beverage):

PLUS a heavy-duty market bag: PLUS a jar of any Freakin’ Flamingo product (jam, marmalade, or BBQ sauce) your little heart desires. Check the website to see what’s available.

Your prizes will bear the “Everybody Gets Jam!” line, because, well, I paid for them already. But, your winning motto may appear on my new market banner, on future versions of my business cards, and on all future promotional materials.

The only rules are: Your entry should be original, short, funky, and pithy (kinda like me), and fit on one line. It should be G (or marginally PG) rated. And, most importantly, it should make me laugh. Simple, huh?

Just submit your entry* in the comments on this post, and make sure it’s linked to a good e-mail address, so I can contact you. And, I’m going to open this up to anyone in the U.S. and Canada. Shipping, of course, is on me.

Deadline for entries is Monday, July 11, 2011, so get those creative minds cracking! I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

**UPDATE** The first Freakin’ Flamingo Newsletter will go out on Wednesday, July 13th! That’s the first place the winner will get to see the new tagline in action – sign up for the mailing list now! Please? http://eepurl.com/eEPrk

**UPDATE 2** We have a wiener! Um, a winner! The winning motto is: “Tickle Your Tastebuds Pink!” submitted by Lettergirl. She will receive all of the aforementioned prizes in addition to immortality! At least until I get bored again. Thanks for playing, everyone!

*All entries become the property of Freakin’ Flamingo, LLC and may be used in advertising and promotional materials of every sort, in print and online. By entering this contest, you confirm that your entry is original to you, that you have the right to publish and release said entry, and that you release the contents of your entry to be used by Freakin’ Flamingo, LLC in any manner at its discretion. Compensation for the use of the winning entry is limited to the prizes listed in this post.

Well, I’m back from Mousetown, having Food Blog Forumed (yes, I know it’s not a word – sheesh!) with some of the finest people I know – fellow food bloggers, mostly from right here in Florida! I learned a lot and more importantly, got to see some wonderful people, face-to-face, who I’ve mostly only tweeted with before. (Shout out to The Merry Gourmet, The Domestic Mama, Creative Kitchen, Aggie’s Kitchen, Fork, Spoon, Knife (who flew in from NY!), The Educated Palate, and the most talented and organized The Little Kitchen! xox to you all!)

So before I dive headlong into Passover, I wanted to share something with you. I was contacted by the nice people at Buitoni USA, recently, who asked me to try some of their refrigerated pasta and sauce offerings. They sent me two VIP coupons to take to the store and buy whatever I pleased, plus a $25.00 Wine.com gift card to top off the feast! But wait – there’s more: Buitoni will also send one of my lucky U.S. readers exactly the same thing! That’s right – the winner of this giveaway will win two VIP coupons plus a $25.00 Wine.com gift card, so you can have your own little romantic Italian feast, on them! More about that in just a minute.

First, take a look at my delicious Angel Hair Pasta with Pink Alfredo Sauce and Broccoli:

I used Buitoni’s fresh Angel Hair Pasta and their Light Alfredo Sauce, both of which are in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. I can’t even rightly call this a recipe, because all I did was boil the pasta for a couple of minutes to perfectly al dente, steam some broccoli in the microwave, and combine the Buitoni Light Alfredo Sauce with a 14 oz. can of organic diced tomatoes in a saucepan for 5 minutes. The whole meal was ready in under 15 minutes!

And yes, I tasted the Light Alfredo Sauce before adding the tomatoes. I have to say it’s pretty darned good and didn’t taste “light”. It was rich and creamy and I could distinctly taste the Romano and Parmesan cheeses. The addition of the tomatoes lightened up the texture and gave it a very pretty pink color that I love. I didn’t even add any seasonings or doctor it in anyway. Surprisingly, it didn’t need it.

I chose an Italian white wine from Wine.com – a classic Soave – to accompany our meal. Believe it or not, it arrived the very next day after I ordered it, with no special shipping charges! The Soave was clean and crisp and complimented the sauce beautifully.

This was the quick and light meal we were looking for, and honestly? I don’t think I could have made this sauce as low in fat and calories and as fast as Buitoni made it for me. Bummer, right?

So. Would you like to win your own Italian feast from Buitoni? I’ll make it as fast and easy as this dinner:

“Like” Buitoni on Facebook and enter the Masterpiece Challenge: Top Chef Edition Sweepstakes. You can win two VIP passes to “Top Chef: The Tour” when it comes to your city! Then come back here and leave a comment. That’s it! This is a quickie – the sweepstakes ends this Friday, April 15th at 11:59 PM (EDT), and so does this giveaway!

Just one comment per person, please, and make sure your comment links to a good e-mail address, so I can contact you if you win. I’ll also announce the winner on Twitter and the Flamingo Musings Facebook page on Saturday morning. The two VIP store coupons and $25 Wine.com gift card will be sent to the winner directly by Buitoni.

*Disclosure: I was sent 2 VIP store coupons for Buitoni products and a $25 Wine.com gift card for the purposes of trying their products and writing this review. Two additional VIP store coupons for Buitoni products and a $25 Wine.com gift card will be sent directly to the winner of this giveaway by Buitoni USA. I was not compensated in any other manner, nor was I directed to write this review in any specific manner. The opinions expressed, as always, are my own.

You know, it’s Christmas. You’ve been running around decorating, baking, cooking, buying presents for everyone else. You deserve a little something just for you. That’s what I’m thinkin’.

So, to reward you for just being you, I’m giving one of you a $15 Starbucks Gift Card. Starbucks is everywhere – probably right next door to your favorite shop in the mall – and I want you to take a little break on me!

Here’s all you have to do:

Tweet this on Twitter: “I just entered to win a Starbucks Holiday Coffee Break from @RJFlamingo at Flamingo Musings. Join me? http://bit.ly/iaogaB” Then come back here and leave a comment with the URL of your Tweet. (To get the URL of your tweet: Go to your own user stream, find your tweet and click on the bit where it says how long ago you tweeted it. A browser window should open with the information.) -and/or-

“Like” Flamingo Musings on Facebook, either by clicking the icon in the sidebar over there to the right (no, your other right!) or by clicking here then leaving me a comment here. -and/or-

Or, if you’re not on Facebook (Why not? All the cool kids are doing it.), just leave me a comment telling me why you deserve a break today. Wait. Wrong restaurant.

This is a quickie, kids – deadline to enter is 12:01 AM, EST, Friday December 17, 2010. Random.org will choose the winner and I will tweet and post the winner on the Facebook Flamingo Musings page on Friday morning. Make sure there’s a valid e-mail address linked to your comment!

Happy Holidays, from all of us (that would be me) at Flamingo Musings!

Disclosure: I was not paid or otherwise compensated to conduct this giveaway. I don’t even like Starbucks. But I knew you would. This is my own personal gift card that I’m giving away just because I like you. And it shouldn’t go to waste.

I’ve got two – count ‘em – two treats for you today! Maybe even three!

I was on the web recently, looking at platform beds for my new space-age foam mattress, when I was struck by an idea for another frozen and healthy concoction (it happens that way, sometimes), and inspired by the new Flickr group,

created by Elle and Heather, I give you treat number one:

Vegan Blueberry “Ice Cream”
(makes about 1-1/2 pints)

Ingredients:

1 dry pint blueberries
1/2 cup agave nectar (divided) -or-
1/2 cup sugar (divided)
1 cup soy milk
1 cup silken tofu
1 tsp. vanilla
pinch of salt

Preparation:

Make the blueberry syrup at least one hour before preparing the base.

Wash the blueberries, removing any stems in the process. Do not dry.

To make the syrup: In small saucepan over medium heat, combine the blueberries and 1/4 cup agave nectar or sugar. Bring to a boil, and allow to cook and reduce for about 20 minutes. Remove from heat, transfer contents to a heat-proof container, and refrigerate. You should have about 2/3 cup of blueberry syrup. When the syrup is completely cooled (it doesn’t have to be cold – just room temperature is fine), make the “ice cream” base.

To make the base: In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy milk, silken tofu, remaining 1/4 cup agave nectar or sugar, vanilla, and salt. Transfer this mixture to the bowl of your ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Put the now-soft ice cream into an air-tight container and mix in the blueberry syrup. Cover and freeze – minimum an hour or two.

So, if you’re vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian, diabetic, or just want a sweet, frozen sump’n-sump’n on a hot summer day, that won’t kill your diet and might actually be >gasp!< healthy, give this a try while the blueberries are in season!

I promised you a second treat, didn’t I? I don’t think you’ll be disappointed…

I was contacted recently by CSN Stores – you know, the hugely popular web company with over 200 internet stores that carry everything from patio furniture to (my personal fave) Cookware.com? They asked if I would like to give you – my dear, dear readers – a gift certificate for $50! Think about it – $50 to spend anyway you like in any of those 200 stores! It’s like Christmas in June, isn’t it? I said, “Heck, yeah! My readers deserve a little something special!” Because I love my readers. All of my readers. So I know you won’t be mad when I tell you that only those of you with U.S. and Canadian shipping addresses can play. Sorry!

And because I love you, I’m going to give you several ways to win:

First way, go to CSN and find something you’d love to blow $50 on, come back here and leave a comment about it.

Second way, follow me on Google Friend Connect (over there in the sidebar), and leave another comment that you did.

Third way, follow me on Networked Blogs (also over there in the sidebar), and leave another comment. If you already follow me on Google Friend Connect and/or Networked Blogs, leave a comment for each one that you do.

Fourth way, tweet about this giveaway on Twitter and/or mention it on Facebook, then come here and leave the link to your tweet or mention in another comment. You can tweet and FB everyday – but only comments about tweets and mentions with links will be counted. Above all, make sure I have a good e-mail address for you – if I can’t contact you within 3 days after the end of this giveaway, I’ll choose a new winner.

Fifth way, “Like” Flamingo Musings on Facebook, and of course, come back and leave a comment that you’re a “liker” (I really hate that… What was wrong with “fan,” anyway?). Again, if you already like Flamingo Musings, please leave a comment saying that.

Winners will be selected by random.org next Sunday night, June 13, 2010 at 11:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern time. I’ll tweet, FB, and e-mail the winner shortly afterward.

Fun, right? Well, guess what? Here’s your third treat: My buddy Barbara, over at Barbara Bakes, is also giving away a CSN gift certificate this week! Double your chances of winning by visiting her, too!

One post, three treats – isn’t that a great way to start off the week?

*Disclosure: I have not been paid in any way or given any inducements of any kind to write this post or participate in this giveaway.

Print this post for your Moleskine journal

The PhotoHunt theme this week is “Sweet”

I can’t think of anything much sweeter than the Macaroons I baked for Passover. Okay, there’s a sweet little giveaway for my U.S. and Canadian readers at the end of this post, too!

These wonderfully chewy almond and coconut drop cookies are so easy to make and keep so well, you should make them all year-round!

Chocolate Macaroons

Ingredients:

1 2/3 cups blanched almonds (about 8 oz)
3 large egg whites
1 cup sugar
7 oz. sweetened, shredded coconut
3 1/2 Tbs. cocoa powder

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350º F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Grind the almonds in a food processor and set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff. Alternately fold in the sugar and ground
almonds, then gently fold in the chocolate and coconut.

Drop from a teaspoon onto the lined cookie sheets, spacing them 1/2” apart. Bake for 20
minutes. Allow to cool completely before eating or storing.

Notes:

Don’t like chocolate? Really? Okay, then simply omit the cocoa powder.

I scooped these out using a small ice cream scoop, but you can use a spoon for a more free-form shape, or if you want to get fancier, load the dough into a piping bag and use a large star tip.

I mean it when I say “Allow to cool completely.” Once cooled, they firm up nicely, giving a great crunchy texture outside and firm, chewy inside. They keep super-well in a zip-top plastic bag.

The Giveaway!

A few weeks ago, I was approached by the people at Skin M.D. Natural, asking if I’d like to try out their “Shielding Lotion” for review. With all the cooking and baking and cleaning and yard work – not to mention washing my hands a zillion times a day at work AND all the antibacterial gel to try and keep that nasty flu bug away – I was definitely ready to try something other than the usual hand lotions. So, I said “Sure, why not?”

A few days later I got a package in the mail containing a full-sized 4 oz. bottle of Skin M.D. Natural Skin Shielding Lotion, plus three little purse/pocket sized packets: two of the Shielding Lotion, and one of their Shielding Lotion + SPF 15.

I’m not easily impressed, but I have to admit that I really do like this stuff. It’s light, not at all greasy, and quickly absorbed into the skin without leaving that filmy “something’s on my skin” sensation. I’ve seen a definite improvement in the skin on my hands and those rough patches on my elbows seem to have pretty much disappeared.

Guys, you can use this too – it’s hypoallergenic, fragrance, colorant and paraben-free and dermatology tested. Even those with the most sensitive skin types can use it.

Also – and this is a biggie for me – it contains no animal products, nor is it tested on animals! So I can use it in my kosher kitchen, and even you vegetarians and flexitarians out there can use it with confidence.

I’m not going to get into all the whys and wherefores of how it works – go to Skin M.D. Natural’s website and check it out for yourself. Then come back here and leave a comment about something you learned, or some aspect of how you think this pretty cool shielding lotion could help you out.

What’s in it for you, you ask? Well, I agreed to review this product on one condition: That I can give some to one of you guys, too! Skin M.D. Natural agreed to give one of you the same exact package they sent me: One full-sized 4 oz. bottle of Shielding Lotion, plus 3 sample-sized packets, including one with SPF 15. And those sample packets go a long way, too. Each one contains enough product for 3-5 uses – I guess depending on how big your hands are. )

Here’s how you enter:

The one must, is that you go to Skin M.D. Natural’s website and check it out. Come back & tell me about it.

For additional entries, follow me on Twitter, become a Fan on Facebook, follow me on Google Friend Connect (in the sidebar), and/or follow me on Networked Blogs (also in the sidebar). Each one of those things gets you an additional entry! If you already do one or more of those things, just leave additional comments letting me know.

You can also Tweet or Re-Tweet about this contest on Twitter. Come back and leave another comment with the URL of your tweet (Just click on the time stamp under your tweet and it will open a page with just that tweet. The URL will be in the address window of the page.)

So that’s six ways you can enter! And please do enter – I’m really eager to share this with you and find out what your results are! Deadline for entering is Thursday, April 15th. I’ll submit the number of entries to Random.org and will announce the winner on Friday, April 16th! Unfortunately, only U.S. and Canadian residents are eligible.

Disclosure: I have not been compensated in any way for writing about this product, other than to have received the above-mentioned, at no charge, to test and review. I have not been directed what to write, other than to give my honest opinion. Which I have done. So there.

Random.org has spoken, and the winner of the Microplane Specialty Cut Resistant Glove from CSN Stores and cookware.com, is (drum roll, please!):

Number 29 – Di! She said…

“Cool giveaway! I don’t have too many problems when I’m using knives. What I really need the glove for is when I’m grating cheese! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve accidentally grated some part of my hand…”

Congratulations, Di! And may you never serve faux pimento cheese ever again! Okay, wait. That was kind of gross. Well, you know what I mean…

Thanks for playing, everyone!

I was sitting on one of the bar stools at my counter a few days ago, checking my e-mail, and was surprised to have gotten a note from CSN Stores, asking if I’d like to host a giveaway of one of their products! CSN Stores is one of the largest internet retailers in the world, with over 200 internet stores selling nearly everything from home furnishings, toys and games for kids, outdoor furnishings (including a huge selection of bird feeders!), and my favorite, of course, cookware.com.

So I started thinking about what I might like to give you, and I kept thinking back to Twitter conversations I’ve had recently, in which I was surprised at how many of you are cutting yourselves in the kitchen! I thought: “What should everyone who prepares a meal have as standard equipment in the kitchen?” The answer: a cut glove! I bought one for myself about a year ago, and I can’t tell you how much more confidence wearing it gives me when handling those sharp knives and slicers.

Not just any cut glove – a Microplane Specialty Cut Resistant Glove! After all, who knows more about sharp edges than Microplane? I use my glove all the time – on my right hand when I use my mandoline, other kitchen slicers, and my box grater, and on my left hand, holding the food I’m chopping. While you still have to take care when using any sharp blade, the glove offers extra protection from those accidental contacts, and gives everyone a little extra confidence. Here are some of the specs:

• Specially engineered cut resistant fibers
• Lightweight, breathable, and stretchable
• One size fits most hands
• Fits either hand
• Made in USA

I have one, MJ has one, and now I want you to have one! Here’s how to enter:

Between now and 12:01 A.M., Eastern time, on Friday, February 12th (2010, duh!) just leave a comment on this post, telling me why you need a Microplane Cut Resistant Glove. Um, okay, you can leave out the explicit, gory details. Really.

Want extra chances to win? Tweet (or Re-Tweet) about this giveaway on Twitter, come back and leave another comment with the URL of your tweet. All comment and tweet entries must be on this post. You can do this as many times as you like!

Just make sure that you leave a good e-mail address at which I can contact you. Anyone in the U.S. and Canada can play!

On Friday, February 12th, I’ll count up the entries, use Random.org to choose a winner, and will announce the winner here and on Twitter! So, pay attention – if I can’t reach you to get a street address to send you your glove by 12:01 a.m. Monday, February 15th, I’ll choose another winner. Okay?

You don’t have to be a “foodie” to want to protect yourself from accidents in the kitchen. If you prepare food for yourself or your family, a cut resistant glove should be as standard as a can opener!

Can’t wait to read your stories and tweets – Ready, Get Set, GO!