Tag: giveaways

Verizon Jet Pack Giveaway….Always Staying Connected as We Roam The Globe

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I think is one of the best giveaways ever on Coco Cooks. If you are anything like Certain Someone and I , you know the importance of staying connected while traveling. I can’t tell you how many vacations we have been on , when Certain Someone is taking conference calls in airports, cars, or golf courses, while working on his computer or smart phone.It’s the price we pay I suppose. But we don’t want to stay connected just for work. We need to know whats going on back home, with our families, and other areas of life. I can’t imagine not being connected. The mobile hotspots saved us on our most recent road trip to the remote Upper Peninsula. Hard to think how we lived without all of this before. My slimline XYBoard tablet fit snugly in my little basket purse and away we went.

So I’m offering you a chance to win a Verizon Jet Pack and $150 gift card (to purchase other equipment or use toward bills).

For those who aren’t so tech savvy here is what a Verizon Jet pack can do for you!

  • Stay Connected to internet where ever you are.

  • Connect 2 or more devices for extended data sessions.

  • The entire family can stay connected to the Internet without relying on a Smartphone user to be home for use of their Mobile Hotspot feature.

  • As a device dedicated to Internet connections, customers can easily multi-task with a Jetpack.

  • Jetpack™ provides the best battery life experience compared to Mobile Hotspot on a Smartphone (which can consume battery power extremely fast).

  • Traveling coworkers can share a connection while awaiting flights at the airport.

  • Family members can connect all their WiFi capable devices connected in the car on a road-trip

  • Access the Internet when roaming outside the U.S. in more than 205 countries.

  • More than 150 of those countries support 3G data speeds.

Pretty amazing  isn’t it.  I’m running this contest until October 1st and will chose the winner then. Please comment to enter and spread the word to all your friends. Now more than ever we really need to stay connected. Good luck.

Disclosure: I am participating in the Verizon Wireless Midwest Savvy Gourmets program and have been provided with a wireless device and six months of service in exchange for my honest opinions about the product.

Meat Tips,Confessions and a $100 Giveaway from U.S Wellness Meats

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Meat….. is something I  hear quite often around the house. Certain Someone is a carnivore. When he is around I can’t get away with a meatless dinner, no matter how I try. Don’t get me wrong, I like meat too, but try to vary my diet a bit more. One thing I have control of, is that if we are going to eat meat, I strive to be very careful of the quality of our meats. So when US Wellness Meats contacted me and offered me a range of samples including Grass-fed beef I was impressed.

Because we use the best practices of sustainable farming that allow us to avoid harmful additives like hormones and antibiotics, our grass-raised animals pass the best of their nutrient-rich diet on to you.

Grass-fed beef is rich in omega-3 anti-inflammatory fatty acids (the healthy fat found in salmon), in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a proven cancer fighter and lean muscle-building tool, as well as vitamins A and E, essential nutrients that are known for their antioxidant properties. When it comes to nutrition, grass-fed beef truly is a completely different animal.

I confess when it comes to steaks and beef I’m intimidated. Some chefs are great with certain foods, but not so with others. While I consider myself both a cook and a baker, steaks and certain cuts of beef I always  tend to overcook it unintentionally. US Wellness sent me 2 T-Bones, 1 eye of the round, 2 chicken breasts, BBQ sauce, All Purpose Seasoning and a package of Ground Bison. Through out the month we tried all the products and were pleased. I was intimidated by the Eye of the Round as its a cheaper and leaner cut that you want to cook till perfection but not overcook or dry as its more lean.

Eye of The Round Roast Method

I confess this was the method I used and the best one I have ever found for this cut. It cooks it for a short period on a very high temp and then you let meat sit in the oven uncovered for 2 -3 hours. The roast is perfection. I took the leftovers and made the dish on top with the BBQ sauce sample  from US Wellness and fried onions  served atop a corn tortilla.

Ground Bison

Leaner and healthier, Bison is used as you would use ground beef. Its makes a great substitute.Not only is there a nutritional benefit but an ecological one as well . Bison are grass fed and graze without harming the environment, as nature intended. Their waste and movements both nourish and aid the grounds and land.

Meat Facts and  Cooking Temperatures

Meat/ Protein and carbohydrates are considered a TCS food (Temperature Control Safety). Harmful pathogens are controlled by temperature. So cooking and storage of these items should be followed with care. The following are  cooking requirements for TCS foods and any recipe containing a TCS food.

  • Ground Beef is prone to Shiga Toxin -producing E.Coli  found in intestines of cattle and should be cooked to minimum temperature of at least 155 F (68 C). This applies to ground pork as well and other meats ( not ground poultry).
  • Roasts( pork, veal and lamb) should be cooked to minimum internal temperature of 145F (63 C)
  • Poultry ( ground or whole chicken, turkey and duck) should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 F (74 C)
  • Seafood (fish, shellfish, and crustaceans) should be cooked to a minimum internal temp of 145 F( 63 C)
source ServeSAFE Essentials National Restaurant Association Fifth Edition

I am offering a Giveaway sponsored by US Wellness Meats to all US Residents. Sorry it must be within the US ( AK and HI included). The winner will be to shop for $ 100  worth of sustainable  products from the Midwest farmlands that are raised according to organic principles. Meats, poultry, fish, and even by products such as soap and candles, ice cream , etc are offered. They even have condiments and spices. All you have to enter is  go here and fill out your info. The contest closes Sunday March 13, 2011 at 12 :00 am.

Senseo Stay or Go Single Serve Coffee Maker Giveaway

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Happy New Year!

The madness of the holidays is almost over and many of us are about to turn over a new leaf in 2011. Maybe one of your resolutions was for more efficiency and less waste? Well then I have the Giveaway for you. The Senseo Stay or Go Personal Coffee Maker.

Confession: I have resisted the individual coffee makers and pods for a while. My first experience years ago didn’t leave a favorable impression. So I stuck to my old school methods of grinding my beans and brewing. With it just being Certain Someone and myself, that could lead to a lot of expensive wasted coffee. Then I was lucky to get a Senseo Stay or Go to try and I have used it daily for the past few weeks. So easy and convenient with no waste. I have very large mugs and like to make it strong with two Senseo pods. You can fit your travel mug or cup underneath. Ironically after receiving my Senseo from Hamilton Beach, I have been seeing everyone is on the Single Serve Coffee maker trend at all the houses I visited over the holidays. Most important was taste. Certain Someone and I cant agree on coffee and strengths,  but both of us are mutually pleased. He’s picky you know.Germans are the worlds biggest coffee drinkers , besides beer.

So to kick off 2011 I am giving away a Senseo Stay or Go Single Serve Coffee Maker which comes complete with an assortment of Senseo Coffee pods. Its going to be a week of Giveways to kick off the new year. All I need you to do is leave a comment here. If you join my Coco Cooks Fan Page or Tweet this, that counts as double vote. Please be sure to tell me you joined my Fan Page or tweeted in your comments. I will be picking the winner on Saturday , January 8, 2011.

I wish you health, happiness, joy, and prosperity in 2011.

*Coco Cooks received a Senseo Stay or Go Single Serve Coffee Maker from MWW Group for review and for a Giveaway.