Holiday Gift Guide: A Century of Flavor Review & Giveaway

30 November 2009


One of my favorite holiday traditions is putting in a CD of Christmas tunes, donning an apron, and hitting the kitchen. I start whipping up all sorts of baked goodies as Christmas gifts for loved ones and neighbors. It doesn't take long for wonderful aromas to fill` the house, as I sing along, stirring, sifting, and mixing. I love cooking so much and especially enjoy it during the holidays.



Since this is my favorite time of year to hit the kitchen, I was thrilled when given the chance to review Nielsen-Massey Vanillas' A Century of Flavor. This is a fantastic cookbook! It is filled with beautiful photographs, easy to understand recipes, and oh my does it have some delectable food inside! There are recipes for everyone from the beginning cook to the experienced chef. Many can be made with minimal prep and fuss. I love low fuss! If you want to make something more adventurous, they have that too! I made the most marvelous scones I've ever eaten with a recipe from this book. A Century of Flavor is going to be treasured in my kitchen for years to come.

Check out these amazing recipes!



Creamy Vanilla Sweet Potatoes

4 medium sweet potatoes

~canola oil

2 ounces cream cheese, softened

½ cup (1 stick) butter, softened

¼ cup real maple syrup

1 tablespoon Nielsen-Massey Tahitian Pure Vanilla Extract

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

5 strips bacon, crisp-cooked and crumbled

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Wash the sweet potatoes and lightly coast the skins with canola oil. Pierce each potato several times with a fork. Place the potatoes on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour or until fork tender.

Cut the hot potatoes into halves. Scoop the potato pulp into a mixing bowl, discarding the skins. Beat at medium speed for 1 minute using an electric mixer. Add the cream cheese, butter, syrup, vanilla extract, salt and pepper. Whip until creamy.

Spoon the whipped potatoes into six ramekins coated with nonstick cooking spray and top with the bacon. Place the ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheat 375-degree oven for 5 to 8 minutes or until heated through. Alternatively, they may be reheated in a microwave for 2 to 3 minutes.

Serves 6



Crisp Vanilla Butter Cookies

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

1 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar

1 tablespoon Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Powder

2 eggs, lightly beaten

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup chocolate pieces of choice

Cream the butter, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla powder in a mixing bowl using an electric mixer on medium speed. Add the eggs and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt on low speed until just blended. Place the dough on parchment paper and shape into a 12-inch long log. Chill for 3 to 24 hours.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat an insulated cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Cut the dough log into ¼-inch-thick slices and place on the cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Place the cooled cookies on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.

Place the chocolate pieces in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat on High for 15 seconds. Repeat at 5-second intervals, stirring and checking the consistency. The chocolate is ready when it freely drips from the spoon in a fine line. Spoon the chocolate into a large plastic food storage bag. Twist the bag until the chocolate is in one corner and then trim the tip of the bag. Drizzle the chocolate over the cookies.

Variation: Add ½ teaspoon of any Nielsen-Massey Pure Flavor Extract, such as Chocolate, Almond, Lemon, Orange or Coffee, to the cookie dough to create a signature cookie.

They make your mouth water, don't they? I bet you'd love to read more of these wonderful recipes. You are in luck, as I have three of these fantastic cookbooks to share with my readers! All you have to do to enter is head over to Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, then come back here and leave me a comment with something you learned or a recipe you'd love to try.

For Bonus Entries:

*Follow on Networked Blogs. This is worth 5 entries, so leave 5 comments.

* Subscribe to my blog.

* Follow my blog on Google Friend Connect.

* Follow me on Twitter & tweet this giveaway.

* Blog about this giveaway. It doesn't have to be a whole post, you can just mention it when you are posting about other giveaways if you wish. Just be sure to include a link back to here.

* Add my holiday gift guide button to your blog. This is worth three bonus entries, so leave 3 comments.

*Add my normal button to your blog. This is worth 5 bonus entries, so leave 5 comments.

* Stumble this post. Please leave your username.

Deadline to enter is 11:59pm CST on 12/14/09. Good luck!

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.


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60 comments:

Linda said...

The cookies look delicious and very festive. I would love to try these.

Melissa said...

I'd like to try the Gingerbread Tea Loaf

melissamcnicol at yahoo dot com

Amber said...

I learned that a few drops of vanilla in a can of paint will eliminate odors!
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

Amber said...

I follow your blog!
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

lynette355 said...

I was so surprised that I could use vanilla in savory dishes

lynette355 said...

follow

lynette355 said...

subsribe

lynette355 said...

cg button

lynette355 said...

gg button

lynette355 said...

the cg or gg (which every you call it) button

bison61 said...

the Ellen Easton's Almond Honey Pound Cake recipe sounds so good

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Tarah said...

I would love to try out the Pumpkin Cake with Spiced Whipped Cream

Tarah
tarah716[at]ymail.com

mindy said...

the gingerbread tea loaf it is a twist on traditional thanks minsthins at optonline dot net

Becca said...

I would love to try the double lemon cheesecake recipe, thanks! sbcashortie (at) hotmail (dot) com

Becca said...

I follow you on Networked Blogs as Becca Okaneko (entry 1)

Becca said...

I follow you on Networked Blogs as Becca Okaneko (entry 2)

Becca said...

I follow you on Networked Blogs as Becca Okaneko (entry 3)

Becca said...

I follow you on Networked Blogs as Becca Okaneko (entry 4)

Becca said...

I follow you on Networked Blogs as Becca Okaneko (entry 5)

Becca said...

I am an email subscriber.

Becca said...

I follow your blog. sbcashortie (at) hotmail (dot) com

Becca said...

I am following you on twitter (I am sbshortie) and I tweeted the giveaway at http://twitter.com/sbshortie/status/6592947731

Becca said...

I blogged about the giveaway at http://beccascontestlist.blogspot.com/2009/12/nielsen-massey-vanillas-century-of.html

Becca said...

I have your holiday gift guide button up on the left at http://beccascontestlist.blogspot.com (entry 1)

Becca said...

I have your holiday gift guide button up on the left at http://beccascontestlist.blogspot.com (entry 2)

Becca said...

I have your holiday gift guide button up on the left at http://beccascontestlist.blogspot.com (entry 3)

Jennifer T. said...

I'd love to make the Double Lemon Cheesecake.

Jennifer T. said...

I follow through Google Connect.

Jennifer T. said...

I'm an e-mail subscriber.

Jennifer T. said...

I follow on Networked blogs under Jennie Tilson. #1

Jennifer T. said...

I follow on Networked blogs under Jennie Tilson. #2

Jennifer T. said...

I follow on Networked blogs under Jennie Tilson. #3

Jennifer T. said...

I follow on Networked blogs under Jennie Tilson. #4

Jennifer T. said...

I follow on Networked blogs under Jennie Tilson. #5

Daniel M said...

actually those crisp vanilla butter cookies look fantastic! - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com

SeahorseLady said...

I just printed out the recipe for Double Lemon Cheesecake and will be making that this week along with the Crisp Vanilla Butter Cookies.

SeahorseLady said...

I subscribe.

Brooke said...

I love vanilla... I went and checked out the site and then visited the facts... Was surprised to learn (and never would have thought about)adding vanilla to a can of paint to get rid of the smell

chromiumman said...

would love to try their gingerbread tea loaf

Jenny said...

The Seared Scallops with Vanilla Sauce sounds amazing to me. Vanilla and scallops are two of my favorite things, and I never thought of combining them.

Hotsnotty2 said...

I'd love to try the Pumpkin Cake with Spiced Whipped Cream, thanks!

Hotsnotty2@hotmail.com

Faither said...

Didn't know that Thomas Jefferson was credited with introducing vanilla to the US, nor did I know that Chocolate extract is available

Smooshy said...

i want to try the pumpkin cake with spiced whipped cream!

Bebe said...

love to try the shrimp kabobs!

chlorinebrain said...

I want to try out the Pumpkin Cake with Spiced Whipped Cream

Karen said...

I learned that a few drops of vanilla in a can of paint will eliminate odors! Great tip !!

ktgonyea at gmail.com

Maja said...

I learned that a few drops of vanilla in a can of paint will eliminate odors!

Maja said...

honey citrus pork roast

Anonymous said...

The largest producer of vanilla is Madagascar!

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

tina reynolds said...

I would love to try the Karen's Bittersweet Brownies thanks for the chance to win eaglesforjack@gmail.com

tina reynolds said...

I am following on networked blogs 1/5 eaglesforjack@gmail.com

tina reynolds said...

I am following on networked blogs 2/5 eaglesforjack@gmail.com

tina reynolds said...

I am following on networked blogs 3/5 eaglesforjack@gmail.com

tina reynolds said...

I am following on networked blogs 4/5 eaglesforjack@gmail.com

tina reynolds said...

I am following on networked blogs 5/5 eaglesforjack@gmail.com

Dawn Reid said...

Ellen Easton's Almond Honey Pound Cake sounds really good.
mightynaynay(at)cs.com

Cynthya said...

I'd like to try the Ellen Easton's Almond Honey Pound Cake

theolotto said...

The Double Lemon Cheesecake sounds good.

cman said...

I'd like to try the Double Lemon Cheesecake :)

Melissa said...

The recipe for Gingerbread Tea Loaf sounds great!

xmeliss182x (at) yahoo (dot) com