Giveaway Time! Cousin Leroy's BBQ Sauces!

I mentioned last week that i would be doing a fun giveaway of a great local product: Cousin Leroy's BBQ Sauces. Cousin Leroy sells (and samples!) his sauce at our Urban Farmers Market at 5109 Manchaca in Austin, TX every Saturday 10 - 3. I just love the mustard mop on some freshly fried chicken wings (i know, not exactly my usual healthy fare) and have used his seasonal Asian Sauce to cook a most delicious salmon fillet. His sauces are all great for marinading, dipping, or slathering on meat and veggies alike.  Don't miss out on this opportunity for a taste of some delicious, local flavor blended to perfection by the fastidious foodie, Cousin Leroy.

What's in the box for the lucky follower:

A taste of Cousin Leroy's BBQ Sauces. Leroy has hand selected the three following sauces: In this gift box is the excellent Spicy, the Mustard Mop and his newest sauce The Texan. Leroy offers these sauces with that " Kick In The Mouth Flavor " that you will find in all of the Cousin Leroys products. This product is made in Austin and carries a proud Texas tradition of quality ingredients and service.

How to win:

Enter this giveaway by "liking" Cousin Leroy OR An Austin Homestead on Facebook, or if you're not a Facebook user simply become a follower of An Austin Homestead. After you've liked or followed, submit a comment below with an idea you have for using Cousin Leroy's sauces. If you're already a follower, that's great! Just be sure and mention that along with your great serving idea. Tell your friends - this giveaway is not to be missed.
I will choose the winner this Friday, so get your comments in!

These sauces can be shipped anywhere within the lower 48 in the USA, so enter now to get your gift basket in time for the holidays! Delicious local Austin flavor at it's finest!

Review: Kong Wobbler and an Upcoming Giveaway!

Pocket and I were recent recipients of a great package from CSN Stores that included a Kong Treat Dispensing Disk, a Life Jacket (for Pocket) and a Kong Wobbler. I'd hoped to get out on the water two weekends ago to test out the jacket, but my husband broke our air blower and the inflatable kayak is useless without compressed air.  Alas.

BUT i've had success with the Wobbler, so here are a few photos and a short review written by miss Pocket Muffington Rommel:

 Pocket writes:

I really enjoy my new Kong Wobbler. It says on the packaging that it is meant for dogs 25 pounds or larger. I'm only 17 pounds, but enjoy this sucker just fine. Maybe it's due to my superior conformation to other tall, skinny dogs. The wobbler reminds my mom of toys she used to play with as a kid in the 80s that would topple over but not fall down - she can't remember what they were called. If i push it over it springs right back up, and i can't pick it up and dump it out like i can my usual favorite toy: an empty Gatorade bottle full of kibble/treats. Mom fills my Wobbler with kibble or dog biscuits and i have a great time trying to get it out. I'm kind of a finnicky eater though, and will often dump the kibble all over the house and then just leave it there. (I secretly enjoy watching the mice come out and eat the kibble when mom leaves me home alone in my crate - ah, sweet revenge). She doesn't enjoy cleaning it up, but our hens like to eat it too so it works out. I'd recommend this toy to any dog that really enjoys eating, eats too fast and needs to be slowed down, or who needs some extra mind stimulation. Buy it now at CSN Stores! It's only ten dollars!

Well, thank you, Pocket for that great guest post. While she was typing i just discovered a seriously amazing website. I think i still own about half of these toys. Can't believe they only made 'My Child' dolls for three years! If you're a kid or a mom of a kid from the 80s, totally look at that website. Blast to the past. Still can't remember what those little toys were called though. Send a comment if you remember.

And FINALLY: a teaser! Leroy of Cousin Leroy's Sauces has generously offered to host a giveaway here at An Austin Homestead! My booth is usually right next to his aromatic canopy at our market at 5109 Manchaca every Saturday. He's always generous enough to cook us up something delicious and you will not be disappointed if you win a jar of his sauce. He offers up a delicious and versatile mustard mop (my current favorite), two barbecue sauces, and also creates seasonal favorites, like the asian sauce i used a few weeks ago to grill the PERFECT salmon fillet. They're all perfect for marinating and for dipping in and make great ingredients to dishes like meatloaf, roasted cabbage, or hot wings! Versatility at its yummiest! I will start the giveaway next Monday, including all the details for what he'll be donating and how many winners will be chosen. In the meantime check out Leroy's Facebook page - and salivate over these sauces:

 Leroy's sauces are delicious and versatile - but the reason i offered him this giveaway is his commitment to quality and fresh ingredients. He uses no nasty chemicals or high fructose things, avoids sugar as much as possible, spends hours upon loving hours perfecting the recipes and textures, and is as local as it comes for me - a few miles away. He does ship across the USA, so readers from across the country are welcome to enter the giveaway.

Don't forget to visit next monday for your chance to win - entries will be based on comments here and 'likes' of his facebook fan page.

*Another Giveaway* !

Hello lovely readers -

Summer has been filling my garden and kitchen with some delicious bounty, and I've been having such fun cooking lately and posting the recipes.  I thought  it would be nice to sponsor a giveaway - not of my own goods this time, but from CSN stores. You have probably seen some other giveaways from CSN stores around the blogosphere - i normally don't like to get commercial or cheesy on this blog, but they've been gracious enough to offer a $50 giftcard to one of my readers valid at any of their jillion (over 200) online stores.  I'm poor, so i like it when people give me $50 =  why wouldn't you?? I've ordered things on Amazon and had them come from CSN stores - they always do a good job packaging their items, and their prices are very reasonable. They carry everything from doggie beds to dinnerware, cooking utensils, and even green houses!

Delicious locally caught, kaffir marinated trout with salsa and pupusas (recipe to follow)

So, to enter the GIVEAWAY:

Visit my handy dandy recipe page, explore, and choose a favorite.  If you've cooked one of my recipes, and would like the chance to win some free dinnerware to serve your delicious meal on, or just about anything else - post a comment below with a link to to that recipe and any feedback on how it turned out. If you haven't tried one of my recipes and just think something sounds good, comment on why you might want to make it and who you'd serve it to.

For a bonus chance, grab my badge (found in the right hand column) and post it to your blog and add an additional comment with your link OR become a follower of this here blog. I'd love to link up with more bloggers and see all the great info you're putting out there.

I will choose a winner (via some creative random choosing method) on August 17th: my BLOGVERSARY! Have at it, comment away: i'm looking forward to hearing which of my recipes you all like best (hopefully any!).

****A Winner has been chosen! Thanks for all your entries****

New Planting Bed and an *ONION GIVEAWAY*

I really know how to pick the best time of day to garden. Not. I found myself out digging and tilling this new bed at 3pm yesterday: only about the hottest time of the day around these parts. I don't think i've sweat quite that much in a long time. Sweat + overalls + dirt + bug spray + inevitable mosquito bites despite the DEET = a shower was absolutely necessary.

I have the best garden helpers.

Today i did my gardening pre noon, but still managed to sweat rather profusely - with great results. About half of the multiplying onions i harvested today (about 1/3 of the total in the front bed) got planted in this new bed that had been prepared with homemade compost (tilled in nicely with the help of my chicken friends) and soil that had been underneath the mobile coop for a while to absorb good chicken manure and feathers. I planted each little bulb with plenty of space around it: they look little now, but each little bulb multiplies to become a cluster of onion bulbs about 6 inches wide. I then surrounded the bed with some wire to keep the chickens from dust bathing in their new favorite spot, and the pup from getting herself into trouble. The ends are bordered with cement blocks, into which i will plant flowers and herbs for beauty and companion planting/chicken snacks. The onions will multiply and fill the space to be harvested and eaten/ shared/ sold next year, and some room has been left along the southern side of the bed for garlic this Autumn. I'm quite pleased with the bed: it will open up the front gardens for planting more peppers or greens and give me a nice and large dedicated space for my onions and garlic, both staples in all my recipes. It even looks pretty out the kitchen window!

I really am amazed how prolific the few multiplying onion bulbs i bought last year have been. I'm so amazed and happy with them that i would like to offer a giveaway to my loyal readers! I will also have several bushels to sell by the pound - email for prices and details. I'm mildly concerned that the bulbs have sprouted - just 2 weeks ago there were only bulbs in the soil - but then we had 2 weeks of torrential downpours and thus the bulbs have sprouted. On the up side: i have bulbs AND green onions to eat, on the down side: i doubt these bulbs will store as well, i may be keeping them in the fridge until they get eaten.

If you would like to try these old fashioned little wonders in your garden, just leave me a comment mentioning one of your favorite heirloom varieties (of any vegetable) that you like to grow and please 'follow' this blog or add it to your reading list. I'll choose the winner Monday the 26th, just in time for their planting in your autumn garden.

The "official" time to plant multiplying onions is September - but these guys are pretty versatile and will do some growing/transitioning at just about any time of year. They're really worth having in every garden.

Nursery Decor Giveaway

Hello readers,

I recently created a cute crocodile for Penelope over at Penelope's Oasis, and she loved it! Check out her blog and enter the giveaway for your chance to win an 8x10 baby name piece made by me. You really want one, trust me ;)   She also has some info on some discounts I'm offering on gift certificates, etc. (Great for baby shower presents!).

So don't mind my shameless plug, and I hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity.

Tomorrow's Wholesome Wednesday: Spinach!

PASTA PASTA PASTA **GIVEAWAY**

As promised, the pasta giveaway is here.
One batch of whole wheat pasta made with backyard fresh, organic, free range eggs and optional garlic and herb flavoring could be yours!

A local winner could swing by 'the farm' next Monday for uber fresh pasta, and out of towners would receive their pasta dried and in the mail.
I can't guarantee that pasta that is shipped in the mail arrives nice and unbroken, but i'll package it up as carefully as i can.

For your chance to win simply comment on this blog post with a link to your favorite (easy) bread recipe or visit my online portfolio/shop and let me know what your favorite image is. 

Special favors will not be granted to folks who forward those links to a few friends, but you'll make me a little happy :)

Have a wonderful week, and check back on Friday to find out who the winner is!

New Pasta Maker! Upcoming Product Review and *GIVEAWAY*

Yipeeeee!
I love it when i hear the UPS truck stop outside my house, especially when it's followed by the DingDong of my door bell and the plop of an unexpected package on my stoop.
This particular package contained a brand new CucinaPro Pasta Maker sent from CSNstores. Not the fanciest pasta maker on the market, but quite affordable at around $30.  This Thursday or Friday I will whip up a batch of fresh pasta and let you all know how the little machine does. We'll probably eat that batch (with the last of my frozen tomatoes from last Summer's garden). I'll be whipping up a second batch over the weekend, however, and would love to offer a pound of fresh pasta as a free giveaway to my lovely readers. More details will go up with the review post.

So don't miss out! Check back this weekend to find out if this pasta maker is a thumbs up or down, for those of you looking to make your own pasta maker purchase, and to enter for your chance to win some delicious, nutritious homemade pasta made by me with my chickies' eggs.