Muir Glen “Sweet Springtime” Link Up and Giveaway

I have become a big fan of Muir Glen tomato products. I received one of their gift baskets over the holidays and really like the presentation. They are currently providing free shipping (until may 13th) on their organic reserve gift baskets. The gift baskets are a great way to try out just how good this product is and of course they also make a really great inexpensive gift. Check out and order the baskets right here https://www.muirglen.com/reserve/default.aspx . For $10 each you could buy all the  Foodie Mothers in your life a gift. Each 2011 Muir Glen Organic Reserve Gift Basket Includes:

• One 14.5 oz can Reserve Harvest Sunset Organic Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes
  
• One 14.5 oz can Reserve Harvest Sunset Organic Diced Tomatoes
  
• One 14.5 oz can Muir Glen Organic Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies
  
• One 14.5 oz can Muir Glen Organic No-Salt Added Diced Tomatoes
  
• A recipe booklet featuring a variety of recipes created by award-winning chefs from around the country made with the 2011 Reserve Tomatoes

Muir Glen have generously offered to allow me to give away two baskets to my readers. I thought a link up would be a good way to do this. I want you to post your favorite Springtime recipes here and I will randomly draw one of the posts to receive a basket. If you are not a blogger do not worry, just leave a comment telling us what your favorite springtime food is and I will do a random drawing from the comments section also.

I am sorry but the giveaway is only open to US addresses. I will draw the names on April 30th and will email the winners you will have 48 hours to get back to me with your mailing address and phone number.
Check out some of the great links from a previous Muir Glen Giveaway  http://www.theculinarylens.com/2011/10/sharing-harvest-muir-glen-giveaway-and.html

The above picture is a Chicken Cacciatore Recipe I created using Muir Glen Tomatoes

There is no need to link back here from your blog post but if you enter I would really appreciate you spreading the word via Facebook, Twitter or just emailing a few friends.  Go ahead and spread the love. Just Click Right Here To Tweet The Giveaway

My Year In Food

Mid October might seem a little early to be reviewing my year but as part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker program I was offered a gift card so I might review the gifts available from the Wallgreens Photo Center. I already use them for my general photo printing needs so jumped at the opportunity to try some of their gifts. I thought putting together a calendar with some of my favorite images might be fun.
Do you have a favorite twelve images you would use?
I have a tendency to get ahead of myself and was all set up and ready to order before the card arrived.

I started by choosing twelve of my personal favorites of the photos from the past few months. I created a collage on my own computer to use as a cover for my calendar. It is possible to do this on site but I had a particular layout in mind.

I then uploaded the photos to the Walgreens site and then got to work putting my calendar together. The process was very easy and pretty intuitive.

You start by choosing the start date for your calendar which is an excellent idea should you want to purchase a calendar mid year.

You can either have the pages auto filled or choose each page individually. You can also add text to each page. Each date box can be personalized with photos and text if you want to add birthdays and such, I did not do this. You’ll notice I put the Guinness gravy photo in March to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day.

Calendar Cover

March Page

When done you can do a preview of what your calendar will look like when printed. Obviously you do not have to use food shots and I am planning on putting together a family photo one to send to my mother in Ireland.

After ordering I was able to choose same day pick up at my local Walgreens which was pretty cool and a very efficient way to do things.

Walgreen's Gifts

Walgreens have many photo gifts and I also purchased a mug which I decided not wait for the delivery of before sharing my calendar experience. I think this will make a great gift with some homemade biscotti.

Biscotti Mug

I received a gift card to review this product but the opinions are my own.