Hi Noshers!  Well, I’m back after a pretty long blogging hiatus!  You miss me?    These past few weeks have sure been keeping me busy – I was in Asia for a few weeks where I met up with the lovely anniegurumi (stay tuned for photo heavy recaps from my trip!), and then when I finally got back I wasn’t able to update the ol’ bloggy blog due to some wordpress updating fun!  Thankfully a good friend was able to help fix things up.   I thought I’d welcome myself back (ha ha) with a great GIVEAWAY for you all! Yay – I just love a good giveaway, don’t you?

Today’s giveaway features lovely Green & Black’s chocolate – one of my faves! The lovely peeps at Green & Black’s sent me over 6 bars of chocolate to sample (errr, devour) – Almond, Cherry, Dark 70%, Hazelnut & Currant, Milk, and Toffee.   I tried to pick my fave, but I LOVED them all. If I had to pick my top 3, no 4, they would be Toffee, Almond, Hazelnut & Current, and Milk.  But don’t take my word for it – I’m giving away TWO prize packs of 6 bars each and a Green & Black’s tote bag! You want to win? You gotta enter!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Remember to actually answer the question I’m asking – I’d love to see your responses in the Comments!  GOOD LUCK!

Check out my past coverage of Green & Black’s events:

• Green & Black’s Chocolate Event 2010
• Green & Black’s Chocolate Event 2011

Legal Jargon I must include! – Kraft Foods is providing the prizes for this program at no cost to me. This program is not administered or sponsored by Kraft Foods or its affiliates, but solely by Big Apple Nosh.

Happy Monday, Noshers!  How did you all spend the weekend? It sure was a scorcher in NYC – phew! Definitely called for a short trip to Long Beach and some lounging!

If you follow me on twitter, you’ll know that I attended a Brother Jimmy’s #QueSummer event last week.  Consisting of a 5-course, BBQ-focused meal, it was saucy, juicy, tender meaty goodness.  Oh, and colorful beverages galore – just take a look at the menu:

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Happy SUMMER!

Ok, it’s technically not summer yet, but it sure feels like it!  And you know what that means – tons and tons of summer recipes!  One of my favorites from last year’s Veggie Resolution was the Squash, Potato and Goat Cheese Gratin – chock full of hearty summer squash and potatoes, and finished with goat cheese, yum!  When I first prepared it last year, I wrote about how much easier the dish would have been to prepare if I hadhttp://bigapplenosh.com/wordpress/wp-admin/post.php?post=3057&action=edit a mandoline, but I didn’t want to invest in another bulky piece of equipment.

Well, lucky me, OXO gave me one of their hand-held mandoline slicers to try.  This bad boy slices in three different thicknesses at lightening-fast speed, and my favorite part – it takes up almost no room! Perfect for my tiny NYC kitchen!  In the future, I’ll think I’ll use this to make my salted caramel apple pie – it will be such a time-saver!

The OXO hand-held mandoline slicer comes with a grippy tool to hold onto whatever you’re slicing, perfect for a klutz like me.  It sometimes had a little trouble gripping onto the potatoes, but in the end was quite helpful.  I sliced 5 medium potatoes and 2 squash in about 10 minutes. Super easy!

Lucky YOU – OXO has given me one more hand-held mandoline slicer to give away!  Wouldn’t you like to win one for yourself? If so, enter below!

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Happy THURSDAY!  I thought I’d kick the day off with a flash giveaway!  You all like giveaways don’t you?

Image via Heluva Good!

Today’s giveaway is in honor of Cinco de Mayo, and it is a quick one (ending tomorrow night!) so make sure you get those entries in!  The prize is a Cinco de Mayo prize pack – a margarita maker, margarita glasses, and Heluva Good! Black Bean Queso Dip. Yay!

Now here’s the thing about my relationship with beans – it is a relatively newfound one.  Up until a few years ago, I was not a bean fan AT ALL.  However, I knew they were versatile, nutritious and filling, so I was determined to like them.  I tried them in soup, dip, salads, the works.  I finally realized that I needed to find the right type of bean – and for me, that was black beans. Deeelish.   Whenever I eat black beans, they are invariably found in a Mexican or Tex-Mex dish, which is a choice cuisine for me. Mmm.

SO, when Heluva Good!  sent me over some bean dip to review, I was really excited for several reasons – 1. It features my favorite type of bean.  2. It is sour cream based (‘Nuff said) 3.  Food being delivered to my door – yes, please!   I unpacked the dip as fast as my hot little hands would allow, and dunked in tortilla chip.   And the dip was great!  Creamy, tangy, cheesy and beany – I was sold.

But don’t take MY word for it -  enter to win a prize pack for yourself, courtesy of Heluva Good!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK!

Prize provided by Heluva Good!  Opinions in this post are my own.

‘Tis the season for holiday cheer and thankfulness!  I am SO thankful to all of you who have followed along with Big Apple Nosh this past year!  In celebration of the season, I’ve compiled a short list of items I would love to give and receive.  The list includes many of the most treasured/delicious/useful food and cooking items that I’ve enjoyed in 2011.   At the very end, I’ll be giving away one of these coveted items, so be sure to keep reading!

1.  Your “I don’t actually use my kitchen, but I want it to look pretty” friend:

Nest 8 Bowls – (I don’t currently own these)

I first saw this bowl set live at the MoMA Design Store here in NYC, and let me tell you – they are as cute and clever in person.  Now for practical purposes, I’m usually a proponent of stainless steel bowls for baking (they are sturdier and are easier to rid of grease if you’re making meringues or something equally finicky).  However, I must admit these bowls would dress up my kitchen counter way better than a stainless steel bowl would!  They are “bowls for show,” one might say.

2.  Your “I actually DO use my kitchen and want something practical, thankyouverymuch” friend:

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Hi, Noshers!

Just a quick reminder – today’s the last day to enter my Green & Black’s Chocolate Giveaway!  Get those entries in! And remember, if you have twitter, you can enter once per day!

Good luck!!

Last week I attended a delicious chocolate event, hosted by none other than Green & Black’s!  After the awesome event Green & Black’s put together last year, I knew I was in for a scrumptious treat.  This year was a small, intimate affair – about 10 bloggers, tops.  In addition to samples of the 10+ luscious chocolate varieties (first photo), we were treated to a cheese, fruit and prosciutto collection (mmmmmm):

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Hey, Noshers!

Quick drive by post here – I just entered to win Italian white Alba truffles from Marx Foods!  I absolutely LOVE truffles – yum!

You want to enter? You totally should!  You have until this Sunday!

PS I understand that the more of you  who enter, the less chance I  have to win, but that’s how much I care about you guys!! (No, I’m not getting compensated for this post)

See my other Marx Foods posts here:

Morel Lollipops with Garlic Truffle Aioli

Marx Foods Ridiculously Delicious Challenge Winner Announced!

NoshGirl Chef: Wasabi!!

Wasabi!!

Ridiculously Delicious Challenge #3: Chilled Cucumber Dill Soup

Ridiculously Delicious Challenge #2: Spicy Cherry Truffles

Ridiculously Delicious Challenge #1

Wild Mushroom Risotto

Mushroom Madness

Mushroom Recipe Challenge Winner Announced!

Porcini Flan with Mushroom Confit

Update: @leafygreens is the winner of the BUILT Gourmet Getaway lunch tote, but I don’t think she knows! Why don’t y’all flood her with tweet notifications?

Happy Monday, Noshers! I thought I’d start this week off right with a fun giveaway!

A few months ago, I purchased a BUILT Gourmet Getaway lunch tote, and I’ve been in love ever since!  I was looking for a sturdy, insulated bag that could hold a lot of food (hey, girl’s gotta eat) but is good-looking at the same time.  Just check out all the food I can stuff in this bag! It keeps my precious food protected and safe during my NYC subway commute, and looks super cute too!

Wouldn’t you love your very own BUILT Gourmet Getaway tote?  Now’s your chance!
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When I first started Big Apple Nosh last year, I never dreamed that I’d have the opportunity to attend fabulous foodie events, meet really cool celebri-chefs, and experiment with unique and scrumptious ingredients.  It’s been such an AMAZING time so far – and I want to thank all of you for your comments, engagement, and suggestions, not to mention following Big Apple Nosh on Facebook and twitter! You guys rock!

As a more tangible show of my appreciation, I am so excited to give away an advanced copy of Junior’s Dessert Cookbook: 75 Recipes for Cheesecakes, Pies, Cookies, Cakes and More.  Yes, you read that right – more. As in “more dessert” – um, yes please!  The publishers of the cookbook were kind enough to include a giveaway copy of the book along with one for me to review, and I just wanted to share the love.  I’ve perused the prize, and trust me – you want this!   I don’t know if I want to try making the black-and-white cookies first or the strawberry cheesecake or the rugelach or. or… mmmmmm….  The recipes are clearly written, with a variety of complexity levels so even the most novice baker or chef can use this book. And the pictures are just delicious.

Interested in winning your very own copy?  I know you are!  I’m using the nifty new Rafflecopter for this giveaway  – thank you Kim for the invite!

I’m making it easy – you only need to leave a blog comment (and acknowledge you did that on Rafflecopter), but if you want extra entries you can do that too

GOOD LUCK!

Disclosure: 2 copies of the book were provided to me, one to review and one to give away.

PS: You must use the Rafflecopter widget for your entry to count! If you comment but don’t click that you did on Rafflecopter, it won’t count.  So make sure your entry is included!

GOOD LUCK!!!