Feelin’ the Heat + Giveaway!

I’m not exactly sure what happened to Spring around here.

Winter was definitely here a month ago, but the past 2 days have been in the mid 80s – 90s! That is not Spring weather!

I love getting out all of my skirts, summer dresses, and sandals, but I’d really like it to cool back just a bit so I can enjoy this season before summer officially hits.

All of this warm weather is making me want cold meals now, too.

IMG_8704

After we got back from running last night, all I could think about was a breakfast cookie. I mixed up a great one!

  • 1/2 cup oats
  • pinch salt
  • cinnamon
  • 2-3 spoonfuls applesauce
  • 1 Tbsp White Chocolate Wonderful pb (it’s back!) ;)

I mixed it all up, spread it on a plate, and let it sit in the fridge overnight.

IMG_8706

I love making breakfast cookies because there’s barely any work in the morning!

IMG_8705

All I had to do was add my greek yogurt and strawberries.

So refreshing – I may have to get back on this breakfast cookie kick again.

—–

Time for a Giveaway!

I was recently contacted by CSN stores about holding a giveaway on the blog. CSN has over 200 online stores that carry everything from bedroom decor to tv stands to kitchen gadgets and appliances. You can check out all their stores here!

 

As for the giveaway, I picked something I thought you all would love :)

Cast Iron 5.25-Quart Covered Oval Casserole in Blue

One winner will get this awesome Rachael Ray Cast Iron 5.25-quart Casserole Dish in Blue!

While I’m excited to hold this giveaway, I’m really jealous that I won’t get it, too ;)

I LOVE this color, and you know how I feel about cast iron!

 

To Enter:

Leave me a comment telling me your favorite soup or casserole.

 

I’ll be picking a winner Friday at noon! Good luck!

 

109 comments

  1. love tomato soup! great giveaway :)

  2. Awesome giveaway!

    My favorite soup is probably….oh dear…I love soup. I’d have to go with tomato!

  3. I <3 chicken noodle :D

  4. I LOVE CHICKEN NOODLE!!!

  5. I love to read your blog. I would also love to have that casserole dish. My favorite soup is taco soup. Yum!

  6. My favorite soup is the Persian lentil soup with noodles and lots of greens. My mom makes the best and now I can steal the recipe!

  7. I love my fiance’s grandmother’s homemade Italian wedding soup. It’s so good!

  8. I think old fashioned hashbrown casserole ranks in my top 3 :)

  9. My mom’s Acorn Squash Soup!

  10. My favourite soup is the turkey soup my grandfather makes after every holiday. Its meaty with dumplings and lots of veg. Yum-o!

  11. My favorite soup is mushroom cream cheese soup :)

  12. What an awesome pot!! My favorite soup is Black Bean!! YUM!

  13. Assuming you’ll get the weather we’re having, it should cool off there in a day or so! It was 80 yesterday here, and today? 45! Everyone’s going to get sick.

    I’m loving the soup I made yesterday… an African-style chicken, sweet potato and peanut stew/stoup thing. Oh, and my favorite casserole? Totally the old core tamale pie!

  14. I love potato soup. You really can’t go wrong!

  15. The breakfast cookie sounds delicious, I totally need to try that. I could really use a dutch oven like that, so I will tell you, my favorite soup has to be anything made with butternut squash!

  16. My favorite soup is vegetarian chili, it really warms me up on a cold day!

  17. Soup is one of my favorite foods, so I have many favorites. If I had to pick one, right now it’d be Curried Red Lentil & Apricot soup.

  18. My favorite soup is actually a chili: vegan chili never disappoints!

  19. I know what you mean about spring going by in a blink of an eye–here too!! Fingers crossed it stays!

    Ahh, love the casserole dish! Shepherd’s pie still reigns supreme around my house :-)

  20. I have to say that my official new favorite soup is my ham and lima bean soup! I started making it this year and it has knocked my taco soup clear out of the running. B, you would prolly love this soup too!

  21. It’s so hard to pick just one, but I would have to say that baked mac and cheese with veggies is my favorite casserole.

  22. my favorite is cashew chicken cassarole …. yummy!! and that cookie looks wonderful :)

  23. I love making traditional chicken and rice casserole and then throwing in numerous types of veggies that I have in the fridge at that time. I LOVE this pot and could really use it in making my Mom’s famous chicken soup.

  24. My mom’s homemade vegetable soup. So good!

    Also Maggie is adorable:)

  25. I had a breakfast cookie this morning too! As l was making it I recalled how much you loved them last summer and was wondering when you would break them out again.

    My favorite soup is wedding soup. As a kid I thought it was so crazy to put meatballs in soup. . .now I don’t think about it till someone else mentions it.

  26. I absolutely love black bean soup and a Mexican polenta casserole dish.

  27. I’m loving this summer weather too – supposed to be high 80s in NYC today…insane! I had to dig to the back of my closet for the summer dresses!

    My favorite soup is one we call Cowboy Stew…just a whole big mix of delicious veggies, tomatoes, beef – so delicious!

  28. That breakfast cookie looks so good! I’ve never tried one but it does seem like it would be an awesome breakfast for warmer days. :)
    My fav soup? I don’t really have a fav one. If it has a lot of veggies and made by mom… I love it. :P

  29. ahhhh…i need that cast iron casserole dish. rachael’s products seriously rule. my favorite soup is probably black bean or lentil veg (something along those lines). i have a natural hatred towards casseroles because that’s all i ate growing up. blame mama everythingtarian!

    happy wednesday :)

    p.s. checking into the whole honduras thing to see if it could happen. we will see…..

  30. I’m a clam chowder fan :-)

  31. I actually don’t really liked canned soups all that much. Mostly I make my own and it is always LOADED with veggies : )

  32. My favorite soup is either Minestrone or Butternut Squash! YUM!

  33. I would probably make chicken and dumplings in this.

  34. I totally just came to comment on how beautiful breakfast looks, but since I’m here I’ll throw my name in and say that my favorite soup is SPLIT PEA!

  35. What a great contest! I would have to say my favorite soup is lentil veggie! I love it!
    :) Have a great day!

  36. I know what you mean about this heat! I have to start getting up earlier to run because I’m dying out there lol

    My favorite casserole is green bean casserole :D

  37. Chicken noodle.
    HOMEMADE!

  38. Homemade Minestrone! Whole family loves it.

  39. I love all kinds of soups and casseroles, but I’d have to say homemade chicken soup is on the top of my list!

  40. Favorite soup: Panera’s Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice soup. I came up with my own less fattening version. It’s delicious!!!

    Favorite casserole: My Mom’s Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas. Mmmmm. Haven’t had it in so long! I might have to do some sweet talkin tonight so she’ll make it this weekend!!!

    btw…your cookie looks so pretty! My stuff always looks like a sloppy mess.

  41. I love all soup! Ha. But my favorite is probably anything involving squash, especially butternut. :)

  42. OOH! Great pick, Brandi… it would go perfectly with our purple kitchen!

    I love cassoulet, a Mediterranean chickpea casserole.

  43. Roasted Carrot Soup

  44. I love chicken tortilla soup!

  45. Beautiful breakfast :)

    HANDS DOWN fave soup is chicken jalapeno. Made famous by a little tavern in town, I think my recreation of it is SO much better, and clearly WAY more healthy!!

  46. looove some french onion soup with garlicky croutons!! yumm :)

  47. FANTASTIC giveaway! I would say my favorite soup is 15 bean. Brings back GREAT memories from when I was a kid!

  48. my fav casserole that my grandma used to make was poppyseed chicken casserole. omg its heaven!!!!!!!!!!!

  49. I’ve been making french lentil chili over and over. Hunni loves it so much I have to hide the portions I want for leftovers or he’ll eat them all.

  50. ahh I’m crossing my fingers I win this one to give to my mama for Mother’s day! she has the whole rachel ray lineup of products (pots/pans/knives/etc) and this is the only missing component! she would dieeee.

    my favorite soup = split pea. comfort in a bowl!

  51. It’s been hot here too lately, but it cooled off a little today.

    My favorite soup is Corn Chowdah. Yum!

  52. i love butternut squash soup!!! light and delicious

  53. Lentil soup!

  54. My favorite soup is broccoli soup! I love making my own with my Bella Blender at home! It’s so easy. Just steamfresh broccoli, minced onion & garlic, a splash of soy sauce, and voila! :)

    Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

  55. My favorite soup is Zuppa Tuscana–an Olive Garden favorite. I made it healthier with some fat free half and half instead of heavy cream–yummy!!

  56. favorite casserole: Chicken Divine!

  57. Love your blog! My daughter’s also love it. My favorite soup is Crab and Roasted Red Pepper soup from Charley’s in Farmville .

  58. Love Paula Deen’s Taco Soup–so easy to make too!

  59. My fav casserole is this rice and bean casserole I found at fatfree.com in 1999! It became a potluck family favourite!

  60. My favorite soup ever is my homemade sweet potato & roasted red pepper soup. Sooooo good, and so good for you, too! :)

  61. Pingback: Snacking Smart «

  62. i love spring too, there is nothing like wearing sun dresses and flip flops – makes life that much better =)

    I’d love to win this casserole dish – my favorite soup is cream of mushroom (made with greek yogurt instead of cream) and my favorite casserole is sweet potato, the kind with pecans on top – not marshmallows

  63. Great giveaway! I love soup so it’s hard to pick just one. Probably tomato or chicken tortilla. I’m not a huge casserole fan but I have a recipe for greek rice and spinach that is pretty tasty.

  64. Such an awesome giveaway!!!

    My favorite soup is creamy crab chowder!:)

  65. I love homemade tortilla soup!

  66. This beautiful blue dish would look great filled with my favorite casserole: layers of spicy black beans, savory saffron rice, garlicky sauteed spinach, and jack and cheddar cheeses. I serve it with guacamole, salsa and tortillas on the side. Yum!

  67. My favorite soup is matzoh ball soup! Great giveaway!

  68. Oooooooooooo that’s so pretty! You know my favorite soup — I’ve guest-blogged about it here — http://branappetit.wordpress.com/2010/02/22/guest-post-chicken-stoup-2/

    Chicken soup – all year round – is my all time favorite soup!!

  69. Ham macaroni and cheese – pure comfort food at its best.

    Um, for the record Brandi – blue is my favorite color! :D

  70. oh i love what you picked for the giveaway!! fave soup is probably veggie filled/tomato based.

  71. i absolutely adore kabocha soup!

  72. My favorite soup is Panera’s black bean – so good, yet every time I go lately it’s never the soup of the day!

  73. I love italian wedding soup! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

  74. I have been wanting this SO SO bad! I cannot believe you’re giving it away! My favorite casserole: http://itzyskitchen.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-weekend-dishes.html

  75. tomato basil is my favorite!

  76. The best lowfat potato soup

    Peel 5 or 6 medium size Idaho or Russet potatos and chop into bite size pieces.

    Chop a large onion and brown it gently in a dry pan until it starts to color.

    Add 1/4 cup of flour and stir it around until it starts to color.

    Add 2 quarts of good homemade chicken stock, or Organic Chicken stock.

    Add the potatos and simmer until they are done.

    Season to taste with salt and good fresh ground pepper.

    A small handful of fresh cut parsley is the finishing touch.

    This was the Potato Soup recipe created by my Mother in Law who did not like butter in her soup or oil of any kind. It is delicious, and surprising to see that you can brown onions and flour without any fat whatsoever.

    Enjoy

  77. Buffalo Chicken Baked Pasta. I ‘invented’ it off the top of my head (recipe’s on my blog) and it rocks my socks.

  78. Hi,

    Love your blog! My favorite is a homemade butternut bisque using garam masala as the main spice. Yum!

    Thanks for the chance,
    Jona

  79. Love the color! I also love vegetable chili in the winter!

  80. Great giveaway – thanks! I love homemade split pea soup – so easy, and so filling!

  81. That looks like the most refreshed breakfast ever, especially given this east coast heat wave!

  82. That is such a pretty blue! I love making chili… does that count? :)

  83. Coconut curry soup loaded with veggies and tofu!

  84. Carrot leek soup!!

  85. This pot would look even more beautiful filled with some delicious tomato basil soup. (I use the recipe from the Best of Cooking Light cookbook.)

  86. Love this giveaway :) My favorite soup/stew is chili, with meat, beans, and beer!

  87. I would probably have to say that my favorite soup is Pasta Fi Gioli that my mom makes every christmas and thanksgiving!! ;)

  88. My current favorite is potato leek soup. So good http://wp.me/pDGDO-bD I followed Jamie Oliver’s recipe. This pot would make it even better; I’m sure.

  89. My favorite is good old macaroni and cheese casserole. Yummy!

  90. minestrone soup is by far my favorite. Such a comfort food for me!

  91. Oh soup, there are so many to love :) I love anything made with homemade chicken stock. Something about homemade stock that can even turn plain chicken noodle into something just wonderful. Also a good Baked Potato soup with the works on top. So warm and comforting on a cold winters day :)

  92. My favorite soup is classic tomato… with a grilled cheese on the side!

  93. My favorite soup is good old fashioned chicken noodle!

  94. My favorite casserole is sweet potato casserole!

  95. I love making minestrone soup!

  96. I love red bean dessert soup! :D

  97. LOVE French Onion soup!!! But I wanna make a french casserole…like coq au vin! :-)

  98. Pingback: Tweet, Tweet «

  99. I love Sausage Tortellini soup. It’s a tomato based soup loaded with veges and has cheese tortellini floating around….it’s yummy and very filling.

  100. I LOVE black bean soup!!! So filling and delicious.

  101. My favorite is split pea soup!!!

  102. Pingback: Tweets that mention Feelin’ the Heat + Giveaway! « -- Topsy.com

  103. I think my favorite soup is a good spicy minestrone, really healthy but with some spice it feels indulgent!

  104. Pingback: Smoothie, Shopping, and a Recipe «

  105. I love split pea soup or black bean soup! Thanks for hosting such a great giveaway!

  106. good old chicken noodle. It’s the best!

  107. My favorite soup is my mom’s home made hungarian soup. It has lots of beans and ham, and is not healthy by any means!

  108. i love green bean casserole

Comments are closed.