Sugar & Spice by Celeste

Without further ado, I'm thrilled to announce the winner of the $500.00 Your Set by Calphalon giftcard.   The winning comment is #20, from The Wileys!! The Wileys said. .. 20 I like you on FB! February 14, 2013 at 9:17 AM Congratulations!!!  : ) :) :)

Shortly after walking into Birmingham's beloved Hot and Hot Fish Club recently to chat with Chef Chris Hastings, I was greeted by a warm smile, a firm handshake and a bottle of sparkling San Pellegrino by the Chef himself.  As far as culinary royalty goes, Chef Hastings is certainly on that list.  He's a James Beard winning, Iron Chef conquering, seafood loving, PB & J eatin', passionate and inspiring chef.  Read on as he talks about his most unforgettable meal, what it was like competing against Bobby Flay, his awesome advice for serious home cooks, and lots more... Let's start with what everyone wants to know about a phenomenal chef:   What are at least 5 items that you always have stocked in your home kitchen? Collection of fresh herbs Seasonal fruits and vegetables Good olive oils, grains and vinegars, or what I call a well-stocked "larder".   Larder being an old term for your cellar or where you store dried goods. Interesti...

So, I'm super duper, incredibly excited to offer my wonderful readers (that would be you!), a chance to win a $500 "Your Set by Calphalon" giftcard... Yes, $500.00 , just in time for Valentine's Day !!   It's my largest giveaway to date, and I can't wait to give you all the details... I recently had the opportunity to have lunch with 2 awesome reps from Calphalon, and they told me about something that I think is really cool.  They have a new program called "Your Set by Calphalon".  Have you ever gone to purchase a new set of pots and pans and wished that you could customize your set instead of being stuck with whatever pots were already included in that particular box set?  The brilliant people at Calphalon have remedied that whole problem.  They've got a wonderfully interactive website where you can pick and choose exactly which pots you want in your set, so that you can create something special and unique... totally tailored to the way YO...

My awesome mom-in-law, Carol, makes the most amazing Greek Salad...It's the stuff of dreams.  She makes it often for big family gatherings, and I always save a special spot on my plate for a generous helping.  It's fresh, vibrant flavors are incredible, and you know what?  It couldn't be any easier to make. Simply chop up all the ingredients, throw them into a large bowl along with a dash of freshly ground black pepper, a little dressing, feta cheese and VIOLA!   The great thing about this salad is that the longer it sits all cozy and cool in the fridge, the better it gets.  That gives all those wonderful flavors time to meld together into a symphony of Greek deliciousness.   Doesn't that sound fabulous?!? Because of that, this is the perfect make-ahead side dish for your next gathering.  Make it the night before and have one less thing to worry with the day of your party.  But don't thank me, thank Carol.  :) Bon Appet...

Who's ready for the Super Bowl tomorrow??  If truth be told, I'm probably more excited about the commercials (and food, of course!) than the actual football game, but hey, the commercials are usually awesome.  And they better be, especially when the average cost of a mere 30-second ad spot during the game is $4 million ! That's right...$4 Million....WOW. Awesome party food is an absolute MUST for any Super Bowl party, and my new friend Martie Duncan, from The Next Food Network Star , knows her stuff when it comes to party food.  Martie kicked some serious butt on Season 8 of the show as a finalist, and I recently had the opportunity to help her prepare for her latest cooking segment on our local Fox 6 station here in Birmingham.  On the segment, she demonstrated how to make her A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. Arancini (AKA Italian Rice Balls). Folks, these are simply irresistible... When you bite into that first perfectly-fried little sphere, your tastebuds are greeted...