Subject: $35.00 Gift Card to CSN Stores Giveaway

I recently received Mini Loaf Pans from CSN Stores for review. If you missed my review of them you can read it here. I really liked them and I've used them several times since I received them. CSNstores.com has over 200+ online stores to shop from were you can find just about anything from Baby Bottles to End Tables and everything in between. Need new luggage? CSN Stores has it! Looking for new bed lines? CSN Stores has it. They really do have a store for almost all your needs!

Grandmas Cooking & More has teamed up with CSN Stores and they would like to give one of my readers a gift card for $35 which you can use in any of their stores! Isn't that wonderful?!

To Enter: Do any of the following to enter. Just leave me a separate comment for each entry.

1. Leave a comment as to what you would LOVE to purchase with your gift card.
2. Follow me on Facebook, come back and leave a comment.
3. Follow me and twitter (http//twitter.com/gramscooking) and tweet about the giveaway; come back and leave a comment.

4. Tell your friends about the giveaway and send me a copy of your emails to your friends.
Be sure to include your e-mail address in your comment so that I may notify you if you are a winner. Good Luck!

Details: This giveaway is open to US residents only (unless he said otherwise) and will end October 22, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. The winner will randomly be picked and announced shortly after.

Disclosure: I received a gift certificate to CSN stores for my review. However my words and opinions are my own and were not influenced by this.

PORK LOIN STUFFED WITH ROASTED PEPPERS & MUSHROOMS

This is one of my favorite meals, stuffed pork loin with roasted peppers and mushrooms.
Quick and easy to make and cooks in no time.
Ingredients:
1 small pork loin about 1 1/4 lb to 1 1/2 lb.
4 slices of roasted red peppers
1 small can of mushrooms - any variety
1 sprig of parsley
McCormick Perfect Pinch Vegetable seasoning
1 clove of garlic
Salt and fresh ground pepper
Directions:
Butterly the pork loin
Place in order: roasted pepper, parsley and mushrooms. Add seasons, cover and bake at 350 F
for about 20 minutes (depending on how well you like it done.) Let it sit for a few minutes.
Just before serving, place it under a broiler to brown the mushrooms and serve.

Give away! from Nicole's Nickels

I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter have decided to give away an awesome grilling prize packs on Nicole's Nickels blog. It includes an I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Spray as well as a cool bag with top of the line grilling gadgets in it! Check it out and enter! I did!

Household Hints - #1 Removing gum from surfaces and HAIR

I learned a long time ago when I was selling Avon Products. You can remove gum from any surface especially your child's hair with Skin so Soft Bath Oil.
There are so many uses for Skin so Soft Bath Oil. You can also remove old paint from carpets, use it as a lubricant to spray some around screws and nuts and bolts that won't come loose, use it as a lotion on your arms and legs to repel mosquitoes, spray it around the outside of screens on sliding doors and windows to repel mosquitoes. Coat your shower walls with Skin so Soft after cleaning them. It will repel the water...shower stays cleaner longer. CAUTION: DO NOT USE IT ON THE SHOWER FLOOR. IT WILL BE SLIPPERY AND YOU CAN FALL. Use a clean cloth to apply it on the walls to prevent it from going on the floor.

We had the experience of removing paint from an automobile after scraping the side of our house. You would be amazed how quickly it removed it.

If you have some around the house give it a try. I would be interested in the results.

Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella Salad

This is my second year of having a veggie garden. The tomato featured here is the largest tomato in my garden. it is 4.5" to 5" in diameter and about 5" high. We made two salads and 2 lunches with this tomato. The basil is also fresh. Mozzarella was purchased at Stop & Shop in the Salad Bar Section where you can get fresh Mozzarella, olives etc.

Here is what you need:
Fresh tomatoes (whenever possible)
Fresh Mozzarella
Fresh Basil
Olive Oil
Balsamic Glaze
Oregano
Salt & pepper

Directions:
Slice tomatoes and mozzarella to the thickness to your liking. Layer the slices alternating tomatoes and mozzarella. Chop the basil and sprinkle on top. Season. Drizzle Oil and Balsamic Glaze. Place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill and serve.

Review for CSN Stores - I received my Pans!

A few weeks ago, I mentioned an upcoming review I would be doing with CSN Stores. I was able to choose any product from their 200 + Stores. I decided to get two mini-loaf pans with a non-stick coating since I love to bake and I knew these would come in handy. They arrived last week and this past week I put them to the test.

Two of my favorite things to bake are Muffins and Banana Pineapple Cakes. I decided to first make Banana Pineapple Mini-Loafs in my new loaf pans. Below I will demonstrate what you need to make this fantastic cake. I'm excited that now I can make Mini loafs to give to my friends instead of slices of cake.

BANANA PINEAPPLE CAKE

3 cups of flour

2 cups of sugar
1 tsp. Salt

1 tbls. baking soda
1 tbls. powdered sugar

2 Cups mashed bananas (3 bananas)
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 - 8oz can crushed pineapple
3 eggs slightly beaten
1 cup cooking oil

In a large bowl sift flour, salt, sugar, baking soda and powdered sugar. Make a well and set aside. Combine eggs, crushed bananas, un-drained pineapple and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients all at once.




Stir until moist. Pour into prepared baking pans.....In my case i used my new pans "Kaiser Mini-Loaf Pans.

Makes one dozen mini cakes. Enjoy!

HOME MADE BAKED BEANS

This is the time of year for BBQ's. An all time favorite is Baked Beans. This recipe comes from my Mother-in-Laws recipe box.

You will need:

2 lbs of dried Pea Beans
1/2 lb. of Salt Pork
2/3 cups Molasses
3 Tablespoons Sugar
1 Teaspoon Mustard
2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Onion, cut in quarters

Pick over beans and wash thoroughly. Soak overnight in cold water. Drain and cook in cold water enough to cover the beans, slowly for 45 minutes. Cut salt pork into 1/2 inch thick strips. Place some on the bottom of pot before the beans are poured in. Mix Molasses, Salt, Sugar and Mustard in boiling water to dissolve. Put the beans in the pot on top of salt pork. Pour mixture over the beans adding enough hot water to cover the beans. Place the rest of salt pork and onions on the top.
If baking in bean pot, bake 4 to 6 hours. If cooking in pressure Cooker be sure to add enough water (about 1 1/2") to cover the beans. Close cover securely. Place pressure regulator and cook beans for 45 minutes at 15 lbs of pressure. Let pressure drop at it's own accord. DO NOT OPEN THE PRESSURE COOKER BEFORE IT COOLS.

You can cook 1 lb. of beans simply cut the recipe in 1/2.