Remember when I wrote about S’mores recently and shared a recipe for s’mores made in the oven? Well, I was also supposed to have a s’mores giveaway for a s’mores kit from Hershey’s. I didn’t then, but I am now.

Since this is a last minute thing, the giveaway is only open to entries for today, so enter quick.

Good luck!

Hershey’s S’mores Giveaway

Hershey’s has provided me with a S’mores Kit to giveaway to one lucky reader. The contest closes at 11:59 p.m. on July 28. One winner will be selected via Random.org on July 29 and will be notified via email. The winner must reply within 72 hours or another winner will be chosen. Contest open to U.S. residents only.

To Enter: Leave a comment on this post about your favorite s’mores memory.

Extra Entries:

• Like both Hershey’s Say S’mores! AND Sarah’s Cucina Bella on Facebook. Then, leave a comment here saying you did. (1 per person)
• Follow @SarahWCaron on Twitter. Then, leave a comment here saying you did. (1 per person)
• Like Sarah’s Cucina Bella on Babble’s Top 100 Food Mom Blogs. Then, leave a comment here saying you did. (1 per person)

This post is part of my participation in the Hershey’s “Say S’mores” Promotion. All opinions expressed are mine.

Have you been impacted by breast cancer? I have. In 1994, I lost my grandmother to the horrific disease. A coworker battled it in 2003. Another coworker is waging her own war against it now. So, when it comes to organizations that support breast cancer research, I am all for it.

I was recently contacted by Del Webb, an active adult community builder, about the Cook for the Cure events they are hosting across the country to benefit the Susan G. Komen For the Cure foundation. The Susan G. Komen For the Cure foundation is dedicated to education and research in the search for a breast cancer cure.

The folks at Del Webb asked me to share some information about the Cook for the Cure events, which are happening through the 24th (see the Del Webb Facebook page for a full list of events). If you are in the neighborhood, drop by one!

Here’s some information about the events from Del Webb:

From July 15-24, 45 Del Webb communities across the nation will be hosting the events. They are free, open to the public and will feature:
Cooking demonstrations

• Food samplings
• Live entertainment
• Silent auctions
• Raffles, prizes and more

Attendees are invited to come eat, enjoy the Del Webb lifestyle and enter to win KitchenAid® small appliances. Those interested in attending can find a community nearby and RSVP on Del Webb’s website.

Cooks for the Cure challenges America to host 1,000 dinner parties to raise money for breast cancer research and community outreach programs. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the event has raised a collective $8 million for the foundation since 2001. Read the rest of this entry…

Who likes milkshakes? This girl! While I have never been a fan of those triple thick, can’t get it up a straw, milkshakes (hello, tummy ache!), I am a huge fan of the slightly thinner, creamy, cold variety. And this year, I finally learned how to make ‘em. Thanks to Bobby Flay.

Earlier this year, Shawn bought me a copy of Bobby Flay’s Burgers, Shakes and Fries, which is a great book — and perfect if you want to learn to make a mean burger, killer shake or … perfect fries. So it was using that book that I conquered my inability and started making awesome shakes. But just for me. Until today, I never shared.

What?

I was practicing!

Today’s milkshake was Bobby Flay’s Banana-Milk Chocolate Crackle Milkshakes from that cookbook. It’s a rich, creamy milkshake that isn’t too thick. It has the perfect balance of vanilla and banana, and is dotted with smooth bits of milk chocolate. It’s divine. And making it? It takes all of five minutes and just a few ingredients. Easy as it comes.

I tested the milkshake this afternoon while the kids were at school. Oh, it was good. So, seeing as I had extra ingredients, I decided to surprise my kids with shakes of their own when they got home from school.

I think they liked them. Seeing as there was nothing left when they were done.

Scrappy went for a look ...

Scrappy was disappointed. The little bellies were definitely not.
Are you a milkshake fan?

Click through and scroll all the way down for a chance to win a signed copy of Bobby Flay’s cookbook. Read the rest of this entry…

Happy Friday! It’s the end of the week and time to let loose. So, when Will got home from school today, I called the kids into the kitchen for some cookie making and decorating. Check it out:

Mwah! Love the shaped cookie trays that we used for these.

The little chefs ... before they baked up a storm.

Pressing the cookie dough into the cookie tray openings ... We used premade dough to make it speedier.

Read the rest of this entry…

A friend of mine made this cake for me last year. It was delish.

Can a blog have a birthday? Or is it better referred to as an anniversary? Whatever the case, five years ago today, I sat down at my old laptop and wrote the very first post ever for Sarah’s Cucina Bella. Coming from a journalism background, I hemmed and hawed about publishing it without an editor to double check and and finesse it a bit … But finally, I hit publish and there it was.

I wasn’t really sure where this blogging thing would lead, but I was hoping it would open doors into food writing for me. It did, and I am forever grateful.

The cool part though? One day, someone I didn’t know left me a comment. People — beyond my friends — were reading! Writing this blog has been so much fun over the past five years, and I am excited for what the future will bring. Thank you so much for reading Sarah’s Cucina Bella.

To celebrate, I wanted to do something a little different this year.

Sarah’s Cucina Bella Birthday Giveaway!

It might be my blog’s birthday, but you are getting the present (well, one of you anyway).

One lucky reader will receive a 1-year-subscription to either Bon Appetit, Everyday Food or Cooking Light magazine (their choice).

To enter, simply leave a comment below telling me your favorite post ever on Sarah’s Cucina Bella and why.

You have from now until Friday, November 12, at 11:59 p.m. to enter. The winner will be chosen at random using a Random Number Generator application. Be sure to leave a valid email address so that I can contact you.

Disclosure: This giveaway is being paid for by me as a thank you to my readers. Just me.

Where to start? There are so many elements to trying to lead a greener life. It encompasses everything from where we get our food from to what we clean with. For me, it even means staying away from unnecessary synthetics (in clothing, in the kitchen, etc).

I spent a good part of the last few months researching in preparation for going green. In a way, it felt counter-intuitive because I put off starting until I was sure I could start and continue with success. Part of my concern is with the aspect of where we get our food. My area of Connecticut is startlingly devoid of butchers, for instance. And finding things like wheat, flour and sugar that isn’t from a giant company and shipped for thousands of miles is pretty much impossible.

Some decide to take drastic measures for their green pursuits, much like No Impact Man is doing. That’s just not me. The more gradual change I am taking will ultimately be more sustainable in my life.

Want to know more about my green transition? Check out Operation Green, a weekly column by Cate of Sweetnicks and I on Well Fed On The Town. It appears every Monday.

I recently wrote about the Kenmore PRO line of appliances for The Cook’s Kitchen over at The Well Fed Network. The relatively new product line has professional equipment styling with a more affordable price (it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles either, but looks like it should). Have you seen these appliances on Top Chef and fallen in love? Or maybe you have them at home? Perhaps you’ve been oogling them in Sears? If you are in love with Kenmore PRO, it’s time for you to put your love into words. Read all about the Kenmore PRO: How Do I Love Thee? contest sponsored by Sears and The Well Fed Network here. The deadline for entries is Monday, June 20 at 11:59 p.m.