I can’t start this post without first squeeling a gigantic, “THANK YOOOOOOUU!” to everyone who has taken time out of their busy holiday-preparing-lives, opened a new browser window and read about the amazing food bloggers and contributors featured in the Holiday Issue of FoodieCrush mag.
Sharing these food bloggers stories, recipes and photography is such a reward, one that I hope shows through in the flippable, online pages I hope you’re inspired to cook from. I also encourage you to visit their blogs where there is so much more to discover.
Last week I featured a few food bloggers in my Holiday Gift Guide, all of whom generously donated items for a giveaway for FoodieCrush readers. Please be sure to enter the giveaway before Monday at 11:59 p.m. MST to be entered to take home some foodie blogger swag.
In addition to getting the mag uploaded, I’ve been doing a bit of traveling of late—some for the mag and some for me and my man to do some celebrating of a big number anniversary. Let’s just pretend I got married at 14 so it doesn’t hurt so much to think of the fact that much time has passed us by so quickly.
The travel combined with the holiday eats within the pages of FC magazine and barking dogs welcoming packages delivered to our door…well, it’s starting to feel like the hubbub and crazy energy of Christmas is in full swing at casa del Larsen.
One of my favorite features in the new issue of FoodieCrush (okay, I loved them all!) is this Christmas brunch put together by Jillian and Robert.
They hit an entertaining homerun—creating inspired recipes with a casual entertaining vibe that makes me want to be one of their cute friends, so I could hang out, be waited on and spend a lazy Sunday chit chatting and noshing from the amazing snack board they put together, oh yes! A little sweet, a little salty, a little savory.
For me, when the mood strikes and impromptu get togethers happen, I feel best when there’s a little something in the pantry, giving me no reason to be unprepared to serve up a bite and a sip. Entre vous the Harry & David gift basket.
When I visited Harry & David earlier this year—oh how I’m still coveting my White Peach Sangria— I walked the Oregon orchards where Royal Riviera Pears are grown, tended to and plucked by hand by Harry & David workers. 700 tons of pears a day plucked by 300 pickers. 2.9 million pears a day. For 28 days. Then these beauties sit and ripen to juuuuuust the right maturity until they’re shipped off to homes and savored upon many a holiday table.
When Harry & David offered to do a giveaway to celebrate the release of the new issue, you might wonder why I chose this gift basket out of the many that H&D create?
First, my aunt lives in Seattle and thanks to the fond food memories of visiting, checking out Pikes Market and eating amazing meals at restaurants I’ll always remember, I have a soft spot for the northwest. Second, in this basket, Harry & David has paired some of the best of the northwest, showcasing products that emulate a visit there while creating an insanely easy way to entertain. Without the chaos or the strain.
Oh man, take me back to Oregon, or Seattle, will you pleeeassseee? This is as close as I’m going to get for the time being, and thanks to my stocked pantry, I’m alright with that.
The Harry & David Northwest Basket (value $79.95 and shipping) contains:
- 3 Royal Riviera Pears
- Lemon Dill Smoked Sockeye Salmon (6 oz.)
- Olympic Provisions Finocchiona Salami with fennel and garlic (4.5 oz.)
- Rogue Creamery TouVelle Cheese (4 oz.)
- Oregon Whole Roasted and Salted Hazelnuts (6 oz.)
- Beecher’s Honey Hazelnut Crackers (5 oz.)
- Marionberry Pepper Jelly (5.5 oz.)
Ship it to yourself, or a friend. If you’re the winner, you decide.
To enter to win one Northwest Gift Basket, leave a comment below answering, “What is your favorite food gift to give?”
For bonus entries:
1. Join FoodieCrush on Facebook and leave a separate comment letting me know you did so.
2. Follow @FoodieCrush on Twitter and leave a separate comment letting me know you are a follower.
3. Subscribe to FoodieCrush newsletter and leave a separate comment letting me know you subscribed.
4. Follow FoodieCrush on Pinterest and leave a separate comment letting me know you follow.
***Congratulations to Jen L. who has won the giveaway after following me on Twitter.***
The giveaway is now closed. The giveaway is only open to U.S. residents. Be sure a valid email address is included with your comment(s). Winner will be chosen randomly and announced on this post. We will email the winner and if the winner doesn’t respond in 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. Products will be shipped by Harry & David.
And now, my Friday Faves. It’s been a week focused my online magazine so lets just keep the ball rolling going heavy on the magazine and cookbook theme.
1. I think this sounds like such a cool idea for a magazine and Kickstarter is helping them make it happen. Maybe I should start a Kickstarter campaign so we could see FoodieCrush in print. Whaddya think?
2. We know about the Bon Apetits and the Food & Wines, but have you checked out some of these new to me food mags.
3. When I wasn’t creating my own magazine I was contributing to this one along with some of my favorite food bloggers.
4. Did you see what Deb said about creating her best-selling cookbook? Fat congrats and well deserved!
5. While trolling other issues as my issue was uploading, I discovered this DIY online mag that I have quickly become obsessed with. Glitter baby animals. I am so down with that.
6. Oh Martha, Martha, Martha. While you did win the best Thanksgiving cover contest, I’m not so down with you discontinuing my subscription.
7. Thanks to Bree for turning me onto Alison, of who I am so enamored! She did a guest post about how to take advantage of those camera pics and create an Instagram book. Use the code WARM on checkout and save 25%!
8. While my man and I were slurping ramen and downing sushi in San Francisco, we went to my late grandmother’s favorite store, Gump’s. I walked away wanting these and these ornaments and drooling over how purdy my cake would be perched atop this. No, I’m not hinting at all. Nope, not me. Not at all.
9. I’ll be sitting down at my computer to read this bit of blogging advice from the man who knows. (via Sarah)
10. And my favorite Tweet of the Week: “I’m TTTP: Too Tired to Pin” via @runningwithtweezers
Good luck in the Harry & David Northwest Gift Basket Giveaway and have a happy weekend.
Thanks for reading and please keep in touch. Subscribe to Foodie Crush and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest and check out Foodie Crush magazine and Cookie Cravings Holiday Cookie Cookbook.
This is a sponsored post on behalf of Harry & David. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.
Jean
I follow you on Facebook.
Jean
I follow you on Pinterst.
Jean
Homemade candy and cookies!
Jean
I already subscribe to your newsletter!
Sarah
I follow you on Pinterst.
Sarah
I follow you via Email.
Sarah
I liked you on Facebook.
Amy S
Homemade candy and cookies!
Sarah
I love to give Sparkling Cranberries.
Denise Wilson
I actually like to give Harry and David gift baskets, food is better than flowers when someone close to me experiences a death.
Terri
Chocolates!
Cheryl S
I love to give cookies!
Cafe Johnsonia
I subscribed to your newsletter!
Cheryl S
I am a newsletter subscriber!
Cafe Johnsonia
I follow you on Pinterest.
Cafe Johnsonia
I follow you on Facebook.
Cafe Johnsonia
I follow you on Twitter.
Cafe Johnsonia
I love making homemade caramels to give to friends and neighbors. They kind of expect it now. :)
Sarah G
I am a newsletter subscriber.
Sarah G
I like giving away homemade sweet treats, especially rum balls!
Auntiepatch
I subscribe to your newsletter.
Chelsea
I like giving away homemade baked goodies!
Auntiepatch
Cookies, brownies, moose poop……..
The Healthy Apple
I love Harry & David and your Friday Fave’s are always fabulous, Heidi! xo
Amber K
I am subscribed to the foodiecrush newsletter.
Amber K
I love giving away homemade candy. I can easily customize it to fit the various food allergies of the people in my life.
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes
I follow you on Twitter
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes
I joined you on Facebook
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes
I follow you on Pinterest
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes
I subscribe to your newsletter
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes
I love giving banana bread as a gift!
Stefanie @ Sarcastic Cooking
I love giving an infused liquor and jalapeno cheddar crackers as gifts for the holiday. I also love to give homemade salted caramel cheesecakes to family friends.
Elizabeth
I ollow FoodieCrush on Pinterest
Elizabeth
I subscribe to FoodieCrush newsletter
Elizabeth
I follow @FoodieCrush on Twitter
Elizabeth
I joined FoodieCrush on Facebook
kimberlee trim
I love to give anything made with chocolate. Brownies, cookies, cocoa, cakes…. Who doesn’t like chocolate?..
Amy S
I follow FoodieCrush on Pinterest.
Amy S
I subscribe to FoodieCrush newsletter.
Amy S
I love to give homemade cookies.
Amy S
I liked you on FB
Elizabeth Kellett
I’m following you on Pinterest!
Elizabeth Kellett
I’m following you on twitter !
Elizabeth Kellett
I always make my late grandfathers popular peanut butter fudge recipe to give out as a gift! It’s delicious!
April
I don’t know if I have a favorite but this year Im obsessed with homeade lemon curd and gifting it in jars with a little note on what to serve it with. Im also gifting herb roasted pecans for the men in my life!
I’ve been following your newsletter but I just started following you on Facebook and Pinterest!
Cassie Z
And I follow FoodieCrush on Pinterest!
Cassie Z
I follow FoodieCrush on Twitter (it’s how I found out about this contest!)
Cassie Z
I love to give someone’s favorite food. If I know they love chocolate peppermint bark, I give them that, or bread, or browned butter toasted coconut dark chocolate chip cookies. I’ll make their favorite.
MaryB
I follow you on Pinterest.
MaryB
I follow you on Facebook.
MaryB
I love to give homemade vanilla.
Cassie | Bake Your Day
The magazine is gorgeous once again, Heidi! I loved every piece of it!
Heather
I followed you on Twitter
Heather
I followed you on Pinterest.
Heather
Dessi
and I’m subscribed to the newsletter
Dessi
I follow you on pinterest
Dessi
I follow you on twitter
Dessi
I like you on FB
Dessi
COOKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!
Heather
I subscribed to the newsletter. Thanks
Heather
Heather
I follow on Facebook. Cheers
Heather
Heather
My favorite food to give – especially during the holidays – is white chocolate peppermint bark!
It makes a great and easy giveaway. Thanks
Heather
Elin
I love giving away Christmas cookies.
Lisa
I follwed you on Pinterest – awesome!
Lisa
I subscribe to your newsletter!
Lisa
I followed you on Twitter :) @Culinarymom21
Lisa
I Joined you on facebook! Love the magazine!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom
Fave food gift to give? Homemade cookies of course! :)
Sammy
Any sweet food! Cookies, bars, pies…
Mary
I liked Foodiecrush on Facebook!
Mary
I receive your newsletters and look forward to reading them (and looking at the lovely photos!).
Mary
Homemade cranberry nut bread is my favorite gift to give.
Sarah Beth
I subscribe to the Foodie Crush newsletter
Sarah Beth
I follow Foodie Crush on Pinterest
Sarah Beth
I follow Foodie Crush on Twitter
Sarah Beth
I like Foodie Crush on FB
Sarah Beth
I love making homemade peppermint bark and cookies and giving them as Christmas gifts!
Jenna@Littlekitchenbigflavors
Twitter follower!
Jenna@Littlekitchenbigflavors
Homemade fudge!
CathyWMDA
I follow you on Pinterest :)
Becky @ Olives n Wine
I follow you on Pinterest!
Becky @ Olives n Wine
I follow you on Twitter!
Becky @ Olives n Wine
I love giving away my homemade baked treats for the holidays!
Deb
I follow you on Pinterest
Deb
I subscribe to your newsletter
CathyWMDA
Oreo and peanut butter truffles… Crowd pleaser every time.
FB and twitter follower :)
Deb
I follow you on Twitter
Deb
I follow you on facebook
Deb
Favorite food gift is meat, cheese and fruit
Urban Wife
Already follow you on Pinterest.
Urban Wife
I love baking cookies to give as Christmas gifts.
Denise | TLT
Foodiecrush in print? I say Yes!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend, Heidi. You can be proud for creating such a gorgeous and inspiring magazine!
Tara
Cookies!
danielle
Homemade sweets!
Penny @ From Harvest To Table
I already subscribe to your newsletter!
Penny @ From Harvest To Table
I love Harry and David! My favorite food gift to give is a home baked loaf of bread, with a jar of homemade jam.
Rachel J
My favorite gift to give is cookies!
abbi
Anything homemade, I like to try different things to give as gifts each year.
Yoon
Fruit!
SLF
Homemade Cookies – a gift everyone loves.