You don't know how lucky you are

All right, I'm going to use this post as a quick catch up. There's a lot that's been going on that I've let fall to the wayside, and you all deserve an update!

First, the moment you've all been waiting for - the winner of the Bossa Nova giveaway. Using the random number generator I got an integer to correspond with the entries. That integer matched up with.....drumroll please....... Lisa of Jersey Girl Cooks. Congratulations!



Second, I'm a winner too! I won the last Platinum Chef Challenge, which means I get to host this round! Does everyone remember the rules? If not here they again!

“Platinum Chef Challenge started as an activity on a cooking message board to encourage members to create a meal out of 5 selected ingredients. You might think they go together, and you might not. You might have used them before, or maybe not. Maybe you will have a recipe in mind, and maybe you will create a new one. Most likely, you’ll put on your creative (chef’s) hat and whip out something new and exciting. To play, just create a meal using the five given ingredients and blog about it. Please link back to this post, and feel free to include the event logo in your blog. The meal can consist of 1 or 2 dishes - so you can use all the ingredients in one recipe, or make two. Example: main dish + side, appetizer + main dish, main dish + dessert, etc. But, if more than one dish is created, each dish must use at least two of the ingredients (and, any ingredient may be repeated and used in both dishes if desired). You can add whatever other ingredients you like.”

I'm giving you an extra long time to do this one, because of the holidays, and because I'll be out of town a lot in December and I hate to keep y'all waiting for the results!

To participate, please post your dishes on your blog (linking back to this post), and send an email to platinumchefchallenge@gmail.com by midnight (PST) on Friday, January 9, with the following information:

Name

Location

Name of your dish(es) and your blog

Pictures you want in the Round-up

Link to the PCC12 post in your blog

(If you don’t have a blog, send recipes and photos in your email and I will include you in the PCC Round-up that way!)

Here are your five challenge ingredients:

Potatoes! Idaho, Russet, Red, Purple, Gold, White. Whatever your favorite is.

Pear: Bosc, Asian, Bartlett...again, I'm not picky.
Egg: For this you HAVE to use cage free organic eggs.....Naw, you can use whatever eggs you want. Even egg beaters. Even if you just want to use the white. And by the way- I am now queen of recipes that use up extra yolk or extra whites if you ever need any help.

Parsley: Personally I prefer the flat-leaf Italian parsley, but who am I to tell you what you like best!

Fingers! Oh wait, those are carrots aren't they. Yeah, to be on the safe side, let's use carrots instead of fingers.

All right, and now to catch up on memes and awards.
Giz of Equal Opportunity Cooking has tagged me with a compliment meme. Which seems fitting in the holiday season.

*List the Last 10 people who have commented on your blog.
*If you appear on my list, you are tagged and have to do this meme on your own blog too.
*So - who were my last ten commenters?

10) Wan from Wan Life to Live
9) Kayla from Central Cooking
8) Katie from The Summertree Cafe
7) Just Another Small Town Girl (no blog?)
6) Pamela from Cookies with Boys
5) Psychgrad from Equal Opportunity Kitchen (is this cheating?)
4) Tiff from Tiffany's Temptations
3) R from Married Not Buried
2) Karen (no blog?)
1) Nina from My Easy Cooking

Now answer the following:

1. What is your favourite post from number 3's blog?

R keeps us updated with her friend Spunky's battle with Leukemia. Spunky is 5 years old, and although we've never met, Spunky's battle touches me in a very personal way because of my own experiences with a friend who lost the same battle. R doesn't know it, but I can't get through a single Spunky post without dissolving into a mess of tears. And yet I crave each new entry in the hopes that this time it will have a happy ending.

2. Has number 10 taken any pictures that have moved you?

I LOVE the pictures Wan takes of the Bean. Seriously - if there are any talent scouts out there check out her blog for the cutest baby pictures ever.

3. Does number 6 reply to comments on their blog?

I don't think she does - but then again, I don't think she gets many questions. I have no doubt that Pamela would reply to any queries in a heartbeat!

4. Which part of blogland is number 2 from?

?????

5. If you could give one piece of advice to number 7 what would it be?

I think I get a pass on this one too. Although maybe I would recommend that she may enjoy "Rock of Ages" if she happens to be heading to New York any time soon.

6. Have you every tried something from number 9's blog?

Not yet, but I have a couple bookmarked!

7. Has number 1 blogged something that inspired you?

Nina always inspires me. She makes the most gorgeous bites, using ingredients I would never have thought of, and she also manages to corral a couple kids in the process! In addition, she's played a ginormous role in Garden Village, a gardening project that is meant to feed both the body and the soul.

8. How often do you comment on number 4's blog?

I don't think I've ever commented. But I will start!

9. Do you wait for number 8 to post excitedly?

Don't you? Especially when I'm trying to decide what to pack for lunches!

10. How did number 5's blog change your life?

Change my life? That seems a little drastic. Psychgrad (and Giz) have definitely made me appreciate my relationship with my mom!

11. Do you know any of the 10 bloggers in person?

I know both Wan and R.

12. Do any of your 10 bloggers know each other in person?

I'm going to keep it safe. I know Wan and R know each other, so I'll stick with that answer.

13. Out of the 10, which updates more frequently?

I'm going to go with Wan. Even when she has nothing to say, she still finds time to post!

14. Which of the 10 keep you laughing?

I'm going to stick with Wan on this one.

15. Which of the 10 has made you cry?

I think I kinda answered this with the first question!


And last but not least, Pamela of Cookies with Boys has awarded me the Kreativ Blogger Award. Awwwwwwwwwwww. It's nice to be recognized for being creative. I'm just hoping "Kreativ" is the creative spelling and not the result of too much to drink on the part of the creator.