Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Giveaway: smart stick hand blender, seeds, and recipe!

Sorry, this giveaway is now closed. I thought I'd celebrate spring, my 10,000th view and 100th post with a giveaway! I've recently started a new series of posts on Asian vegetables. So far, they've all been titled "Growing, Buying, Cooking _(vegetable)_". The mission is to demystify some of the Asian vegetables gardeners can grow and give hints on what to look for if you're not growing yet, but spot these veggies at the farmer's market. The second important goal is to share a recipe so that once you've got the veggies rinsed off in the sink, you have a starting point for enjoying them.The bok choy post shared a "family" stir-fry recipe. The bitter squash may be more of an acquired taste, but well worth trying. Napa cabbage was made into my father's infamous dumplings. Daylilies, beautiful and reliable, can be (safely!) eaten in many dishes as well!

To win a hand held stick blender (perfect for salsa, soups, smoothies, etc.), pack of heirloom cilantro seeds, pack of heirloom tomatillo verde seeds, and my special recipe for summer salsa verde, answer one (or more!) of the following questions. I'll choose a winner at random. You don't have to be a blogger, just leave your email address so I can contact you at some point if you win. You can get a double entry by leaving a second comment with how you've spread the word about this giveaway. Contest closes next Wednesday, 3/24.


1) What is your favorite "family" dish - either something you request every time you go "home" or something your family always asks you to make.

2) What is a favorite food of yours that may require an acquired taste to enjoy?

3) What is the most adventurous (or weirdest!) food you've ever tried? Did you enjoy it?

4) What are you craving RIGHT NOW?


  1. Wow Wendy, Congratulations on 100 posts, but 10,000 VIEWS, Awesome!!!!!

    1. liver and onions
    2. liver
    3. liver
    4. liver and onions

    As you can tell I love liver. Most people turn there noses up at it, my husband hates it, so I only ever get it when I go home. Very rarely on a restaurants menu, either. And have you seen how it looks, gross.

  2. Congrats! And I look forward to reading more of your Asian vege.

    1. I always look forward to have braised mushroom during Chinese New Year.
    2. Avocado - I find it tasteless at first but later I kind of like it.
    3. Japanese cold noodle - super weird!
    4. Kentucky Fried Chicken! I think the KFCs here in Malaysia taste the best.

    Wendy, I hope to have your summer salsa recipe.

    Now I am curious about what answers others will give you.

  3. 2) It might not be a food, but I have a taste for straight tea--no milk, sugar, or lemon--that I know is an acquired taste for people... because it took me a while to acquire it. Since I knew I'd have to drink mostly tea in China, I started making myself drink one cup after dinner every day during one semester in college. Now I can't get enough, and a lot of the same woody, herbal flavors you get in strong tea are the ones I like best in food.

    friendliestghost at gmail dot com

  4. I tweeted about this giveaway: http://twitter.com/doppeldeer/status/10652431399

    Thanks again, and congratulations!

    friendliest ghost at gmail dot com

  5. 1) Cornbread dressing with giblet gravy.

    2) Anything with cilantro.

    3) Pan-seared sweetbreads at Cafe Cenizo in Marathon, Texas. Loved 'em.

    4) a J-Bomb: a creation of a local sushi restaurant. It's a large fresh jalapeno, cut in half and seeds removed, stuffed with cream cheese, wrapped in one layer each of surimi and spicy tuna, tempura-battered and deep fried, drizzled with nitsume sauce and spicy mayonnaise. To. Die. For. (craving satisfied this evening!)

  6. Let's see...
    I'm gonna answer number 2 with Peach Salsa. I have friends and family that refuse to try it, but it's really fantastic and one of my favorite summer recipes. Completely different flavor.

    Congrats on the enormous number of views! that's impressive. :o)

  7. 1)Favorite home dish is chicken noodle soup

    2)Acquired food would have to eating lamb meat

    3)Most adventurous food - definitely pig brain steamed with Chinese herbs.

    4)Craving now - caramel apples!

  8. 1) Wintermelon soup

    2) chicken liver

    3) Tried frogs and no, I didn't like it

    4) chocolate chip mint ice cream cake :)

  9. Wendy,
    Great contest and congrats on the milestone!

    1. There's a pound cake recipe in my family that's to die for...

    2. Brussels sprouts - those of us who love them, really love them!

    3. Escargot. A friend ordered it at when we were at a tapas bar about a year ago. There was a definite mental block to get past for me. Taste was good, but don't think I'd order them on my own.

    4. I just bought Girl Scout cookies a couple weeks ago, but can't have them till after Lent!!

  10. Congratulations on your 100th post! Thanks to you I have a bouquet full of daylilies that I keep eyeballing, thinking maybe I should just pluck the buds off and cook them instead of letting them open! LOL.

  11. What a fun giveaway.

    Let's see...
    1. For family functions I am always asked to make Baked Beans. Pretty lame huh?
    2. Maybe my 1950's style tuna noodle casserole.
    3. Frog legs and yes I did. (They taste like chicken..really.)
    4. Right now, I want some homemade salsa. Sounds so yummy.

  12. oooh, this all sounds good - from the pound cake to the escargot! I REALLY wish someone would sell a J-Bomb around here...I'd be seriously craving that often!

  13. 1.My father's savory, crepe-y, absolutely fantastic egg pancakes.
    2. Natto. Fermented soybeans. Japanese superfood! My husband thinks anything described as "fermented" is not meant to be consumed. He must not count beer! :)
    3. Duck tongue. Even after almost 20 years of vegetarianism, I must admit that I remember loving the flavor and the texture.
    4. My father's egg pancakes!!

  14. 3) For sure, not muskrat that I grew up eating :) Happy Spring :)

  15. Congratulations on your latest milestone, the 100th post and 10,000 views! May you achieve many many more milestones. Here's my answers:

    1. Chicken double boilde with Ginseng roots soup

    2. Assam Fish Head - Hot and sour dish cooked and garnished with wild ginger buds (etlingera elatior). Hot chilli and exotic ginger bud taste is an acquired taste.

    3. Smelly tofu (chow tofu) - I tried this in a Taiwanese restaurant and I still say, "Yucks!"

    4. My grandma's signature dish of Braised Duck with Yam - duck is seasoned with 5 spiced powder and braised.

  16. Hi Wendy, congrats on reaching a century with your endlessly enjoyable quirky blog. Witchetty grubs could be the most adventurous food I've ever tried - tasted delicious, bit like barbecued sweet corn. I know this will be extra challenging to you Wendy with your disgust for insects. I plan to write a review of a book I've just finished called Fireflies, Honey and Silk about insects who have been useful and important to us humans. When I do I will dedicate to you. Cheers, catmint

  17. Congrats for your 100th post! Let's see,
    1) enchiladas; my mom's chocolate pie!
    2) peanut butter on waffles :)i know kind of weird.
    3) chocolate crickets :/
    4) brownies ... love them!




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