Day 20: Summer Entertaining GIVEAWAY from National Pork Board
Thanks for joining me in my “30 Days of Summer Entertaining” series. (Scroll down to the bottom for previous posts in this series) :)
Grilling is a big part of summer entertaining, so today’s post is a very exciting one!
Back in May, I was invited by my cute and inspirational friend, Marla Meridith, from Family Fresh Cooking, to attend a wonderful evening with … the National Pork Board. It was called a Pork Crawl, hosted by Jaden Hair from Steamy Kitchen. Basically, a group of bloggers went to some of the finest restaurants in Atlanta, where chefs created pork recipes in ways I’ve never experienced before.
Lori @ Recipe Girl, Angie @ Bakerella, Jenny @ Picky Palate, Jaden @ Steamy Kitchen, Sandy @ Reluctant Entertainer, Georgia @ Georgia Pellegrini, Marla @ Family Fresh Cooking, not pictured Carrie Minns @ La Pomme De Portland, and photo credit by Amanda @ Kevin & Amanda
And the night didn’t end there … when we got back to our hotel room, we were given a gift of great cooking tools and spices for making our own pork chops when we arrived home. (Items in very top photo – my favorite? The grilling pan and juicer! Both awesome!)
Yesterday I shared this fantastic recipe that our family enjoyed for an early Father’s Day celebration using fresh pork chops and glazed apricots.
Today I am sharing with YOU the exact same items I received from the National Pork Board, to give away here at RE to ONE LUCKY WINNER!
As the generosity continues … here are the items I’m giving away here on RE today:
Pork Be Inspired brand Apron
Pork Be Inspired Brochure
Digital Meat Thermometer
Cuisinart CCJ-100 Citrus Pro Juicer
Vacu Vin Pineapple Slicer
Norpro Grip-Ez Jalapeno Pepper Corer
Cuisinart Grill Pan (I’m most excited about this!)
Dry Ingredients (Salt, Light Brown Sugar, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Chili Powder)
If you are interested in receiving this generous gift from the National Pork Board, leave a comment and tell me:
What is it about summer entertaining that stressed you out?
Extra ways to win, 1 point each, and please come back and share the link.
-Tweet this giveaway (@SandyCoughlinRE)
-Share this post on your Facebook page
-Post this giveaway on your blog
-Become a brand NEW follower of RE Facebook page
-Become a brand NEW follower of ReluctantEntertainer.com (Brand NEW folks, easy to sign up with your email)Contest ends Wednesday at midnight, 6/22/11. Winner announced Thursday, 6/23/11 on RE.
(Very top photo credit of giveaway items from Carrie, La Pomme De Portland.)
If you’ve missed the last 19 days of this series, you can catch up now:
Day 1: Summer Entertaining is About the People
Day 2: When Perfect Robs You of Something Good
Day 3: Who To Invite to Dinner
Day 4: Planning the Menu for Outdoor Entertaining
Day 5: Setting the Table Using What You Have
Day 6: Using One Classic Water Glass
Day 7: Napkin Options for Summer Entertaining
Day 8: When You Feel Like Canceling the Party
Day 9: Leave Your Technology at the Front Door
Day 10: Candles That Enhance Good Conversation
Day 11: Serving Flavored Herb and Fruit Water
Day 12: Leafy Greens and a Tiny Bit of Agave
Day 13: Keeping Nut and Fruits and Cheeses on Hand for Easy Appetizers
Day 14: Move Your Table to a Different Space
Day 15: Greek Salad on a Stick and Getting the Kids Involved
Day 16: Three Lies of Perfectionism that Ruin Entertaining Moments
Day 17: Be Creative When You Run Out of Linens for Your Dinner Party
Day 18: Gather Around a Fire for Intimate Summer Entertaining
Day 19: Last Minute Father’s Day Invite and Pork Chops with Glazed Apricots
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Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
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For me it’s serving a wide enough variety of food that’s light and can sit out without worrying about food poisoning!
One thing that stresses me is cleaning the house for guest and I always have extra guest.
Hello and thanks for hosting this giveaway! I think the only thing that stresses me about summer entertaining is bugs! They are much more abundant in the summer. Any ideas?
I always worry that everything wont’ be ready at the same time. I know it always seems to work out, but I still worry. It seems we’re always waiting on the meat especially chicken. I prefer pork grilled as I tend to undercook chicken grilled.
Living in DC, many of my friends take public transportation to get to my house – so the timing is not always the best. That’s why I’ve gotten to serving simple dishes that don’t require exact serving times! Thanks for the opportunity!
Summer entertaining stresses: 1. Heat/shade 2. Bugs 3. Keeping the food fresh due to the heat & away from the bugs!
Thanks for the wonderful giveaway!
I stress most about BUGS! Flies + wasps in the food and little biting nightmares under the table! I’ve been itching like mad (ohhh so literally!) the last 10 days after getting horridly mysterious bites in the garden last week. Can’t do that to my guests, NO way! I didn’t think the North had chiggers, but mosquitos don’t itch like THIS!
Your giveaway is going to bless someone’s socks off! It’s amazing!
I am probably most stressed that my house does not have enough landscaping and a good enough outdoor entertaining area. Trying to slowly remedy that. We just put what we can in as we go.
In the summer I feel like my indoor AND my outdoor has to be just right, but the biggest difficulty for entertaining is the season of life I’m in with 3 children 4 years and under.
WEATHER!!! The weather on our California central coast is very unpredictable. It makes it hard to plan entertaining outside which is where I’d love to host guests…right in the middle of my yard and flower garden. Most times I’ll settle for lunch or dinner indoors, with the window view of the yard, to make sure my guests are comforable. It’s just great fun (and work!) to host people. It truly makes my heart smile to hear the happy conversation and laughs when others fill my home. What a blessing to be able to serve others! Thanks for all your great tips! You are an encouragement and inspiration to me!
Thanks for an awesome giveaway! What stresses me out is making sure I have enough variety of foods for the picky eaters I know. And another thing is trying to find open nights to do it with the busy sports schedules we all have.
OOh thanks again.. now that my post has actually posted.. there’s an invite to your gorgeous blog on it! http://marlisbennett.blogspot.com/2011/06/ode-to-number-52-tablescape-in-white_22.html
I get stressed out about our lack of comfortable after-dinner seats.
For me…it would have to be learning how to relax after the dinner. I am always wanting to start cleaning things up & I know this drives my guest nuts & really seems rude. I just can’t stand food & messes all over the place. :(
Thanks
Lauri
I know it’s wrong to say but probably my family. I invite people and they seem to feel it’s optional to attend so I either have too much food or not enough. Grr!
the thing that stresses me out is my small kitchen in my tiny apartment!
Will it rain? It seems it rains all the time in the midwest any more…So, will I have room for everyone inside when I really want a patio/deck party?
What stresses me out is the weather – – will it be too hot to be outside and, if so, is my house in good enough shape to take on the party? Scary!
It stresses me out trying to get everything done on the day of the event. I hate when things have to wait until the last minute to be completed and then guests start showing up before you’re ready.
People schedules are so busy during the summer months. It’s scheduling a gathering! Trying to find that agreeable time when friends will be home that stresses me.
Like many have said – weather and bugs (mostly flies). Last night celebrating my mother’s birthday and Father’s Day we dined outside then huddled together on the covered patio to watch a sudden hail storm, which my 9 year old nephew thought was really cool (we all could use more child-like outlooks). Covered patio helps!