Cooking from A to Zest: DVD review & GIVEAWAY ($59.99 value)

I am not very skilled in the kitchen. I can make meals, follow recipes, and sometimes (but seldom) I can get creative with a dish I make. I wish I could learn how to make amazing meals, desserts, etc. and I always thought it would be fun to take a cooking coarse. I just got a super DVD set to review called: Cooking from A to Zest and it is a great set of DVD's to learn from and get educated! My husband and I are watching these together, and we are learning so much! I love all the helpful hints, suggestions and ideas that Kierstin Buchner, host on the DVD's, share with the viewer.
Product description:
Cooking is more than just following a recipe. It's being able to confidently walk into a kitchen, assess what's there and whip up something delightful and delicious. With that in mind, Cooking From A to Zest is like having your own private in-home instructor teaching you a foundation of techniques and skills. Watch it like a class, learning as you go, or use the main menu to jump directly to the technique or recipe you want. From how to dice an onion like a pro to roasting the perfect chicken to gaining helpful insight from experts at markets and restaurants, host Kierstin Buchner shares tips for both the beginning and more experienced cook. VOLUME 1 - BUILDING YOUR KITCHEN: Cooking starts with kitchen essentials - such as efficient knife skills, selecting your equipment and stocking your kitchen with staple ingredients. VOLUME 2 - STOCKS, SOUPS, & SAUCES: Learn the building blocks of delicious stocks and broths, unveil the secret to cream soups and purees, then finish with with five key Foundation sauces. VOLUME 3 - SALADS, VEGETABLES, POTATOES, PASTA, GRAINS & LEGUMES: Learn to prepare salad dressings with ease, saute, blanch, and grill your way to flavorsome vegetables, and cook the perfect rice and pasta - every time! VOLUME 4 - EGGS, MEAT, POULTRY & FISH: Discover six classic ways to prepare eggs, then move on to a variety of mouth-watering methods for meat and poultry, including brining, braising and stewing.

The first DVD was highly informative. Volume 1: Building your kitchen, went over the essentials that most kitchen shows don't explain. I thought the first DVD was very helpful!
Building your kitchen starts you off with the basic necessities your kitchen needs. It went over the different kinds of knifes, how to sharpen them, and what they are designed to cut. Kierstin described the pots and pans you should have in your kitchen and what the pots and pans purpose is designed for. I thought it was very helpful and useful information. Also included in Volume 1 is the staple ingredients you should stock in your kitchen for basic recipes.

The other three DVD's went over meal planning and proper meal preparations. I did not know that putting oil into my boiling water was not the correct way to boil pasta! So helpful, and great ideas in these DVD's!
I learned a lot about spices and herbs, and how to use them in meals...and which spice/herb went with what type of food. Kierstin shared how to cut and store the herbs, as well.
I am excited to prepare some home made soups and salad dressings, from the helpful ideas of these DVD's. I like how Kierstin goes through the steps individually and is very thorough in her instructions and guidance. I highly recommend these DVD's and I am so thankful that I have these for a reference. I think they would make a great house warming gift, wedding gift, or college graduation/high school graduation gift. Really, I think anyone who enjoys food would benefit from Cooking from A to Zest! (SRP $59.99 plus tax)

***Enter to Win!!***
This contest is open to bloggers and non-bloggers of the United States, and the contest is open until midnight October 31st, 2010. To enter, comment here about what some of your favorite ingredients are, or your favorite recipe. You could also leave a comment about what you have found helpful for working with food, or in the kitchen. Winner will receive the Cooking from A to Zest DVD collection set (4 DVD's). I will notify winner, and if after 3 days the winner does not respond, I will pick a new winner.

**For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or become a fan on facebook, and/or visit everyday and add another friendly comment about something you found helpful for cooking. You can comment on other blog posts of mine for extra credit, too, just let me know in another comment the link to your comment. Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

This review was provided from Cooking from A to Zest.com. They have provided me with DVD's to review and information to share with my readers. I am sponsored to offer a giveaway for my readers through this review (same DVD set for one winner). I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Aroma Houseware's Rice Cooker

I love the Aroma Rice Cooker that I got to review! I made great tasting brown rice yesterday! I couldn't believe how easy it was to use this rice cooker! I rinsed out the brown rice, then drained it. I poured it into the bottom of the inner pot and added the correct amount of water. I used the special spoon that came with the rice cooker, and leveled the rice out. I then shut the lid, it latched, and I pushed the brown rice button. No hassle, no sticky mess, and delicious rice! My kids loved the rice and I was very impressed at how easy, convenient and worry-free Aroma made my rice making! I love that the Aroma Rice maker, model ARC-998 8-cup, has a brown rice, white rice, steam, and warm/off button. Not everyone likes white rice, so it is nice to have the two different rice settings. I also made steamed broccoli in my Aroma Rice Cooker! The broccoli came out perfect, and it only took 5 minutes! I really like that the rice cooker is multi-functional! I am really looking forward to trying some of the recipes found on the Aroma Housewares website! I know that the fall/winter season is coming up quickly, and it will be great making stews and soups in the rice cooker from Aroma Housewares!
I think that the Rice cooker is easy to clean and assemble. There is an inner pot and steaming tray. After each use, you have to take off the steam vent, wash in warm, soapy water and wipe it clean. The Aroma Rice Cooker came with an instruction guide, and inside you will find a cook & steam chart to help you with your food preparation. I found the guide to be very helpful! The Aroma 8-Cup Cool-Touch Rice Cooker prepares up to 16 cups of rice and keeps it warm and for up to 12 hours! I think that is impressive! But, the best part of the rice cooker, in my opinion, is that you can assemble and prepare a full meal in it! I recommend this great product to everyone who loves rice, steamed vegetables, or stews/soups. I think the price to value is great, too!($59.99)
You can get more information and check out all the other Aroma products on their website.

The Mixer from Betty Crocker (giveaway)

Would you like to learn the ins and outs of cooking and baking with Betty Crocker Kitchen experts? When you join The Mixer online (IT’S FREE!) you can connect with the entire community of people wanting to learn more for in the kitchen with LIVE classes. What’s great is that you can do it in the comfort of your own kitchen whenever it best fits your schedule.

Each week for six weeks, The Mixer will feature a new class line up complete with recipe demos, tips & techniques, flavor secrets and much more.
Week #1 - Kickin' Chicken Recipes and tips for making juicy, mouthwatering chicken
Week #2 - Pastabilities Secrets of building flavor that will allow you to create your own signature sauces
Week #3 - Greens with Envy Recipes for go-to salads
Week #4 - Viva Tortilla Taking taco night to a whole new level
Week #5 - Wok it Out Stir-fry techniques and recipes for easy flavorful sauces
Week #6 - Small Bites-Big Flavors Dips and appetizers that are easy and flavorful and guiltless desserts Classes are held three times a week.
Chat live with the Betty Crocker Kitchens Experts:
Tuesdays 7 p.m. ET
Wednesdays 9 p.m. ET
Saturdays 4 p.m. ET
But don't worry if you miss it, you can always go back to watch the classes on demand and get in on the conversation. For complete details on each of the classes simply go to Bettycrocker The Mixer and register to become a member.
CONTEST!!
You can leave a comment here telling me what is the one cooking gadget in the kitchen you can't live without? You will be entered to win a basket full of goodies to help you in your journeys in the kitchen. This basket is filled with a Betty Crocker mixing spoon, spatula, measuring spoons and cups, whisk, liquid measuring cup and a Betty Crocker Magazine (filled with recipes), which is just the right items to help you prepare spectacular meals and desserts! This contest is open to all those in the USA, and will end on May 21, 2009. Feel free to do all the extra credits, just be sure to leave the extra comments to get the credit. (see past contests for extra credits). Good Luck, and enjoy!