Into the heart of L.A.....

I've been working day and night to have all things in order for my trip to L.A. courtesy of Bertolli foods. Mother's Day was a sweetened blur. Kirsten made me this flourless chocolate torte.


Paul made Eggs Benedict ("it's a cinch" he said before he actually made it.)

Matthew made rhubarb muffins.

It's morel season in Minnesota - more about them later.... think pasta with a light creamy- dreamy morel sauce.

It's lilac season. My home is filled with them.

A Bertolli frozen skillet meal lays in wait for a tired husband and children at the end of the day. Matthew is working two jobs and Kirsten is in finals week at the University.

But I - am going into the Heart of L.A. for a culinary tour and to meet this smiling gentleman.

So I know you're not feeling too sorry for me.
And I get to meet Pat from Mille Fiori Favoriti., and take a culinary tour and meet other bloggers and ... how sweet it is. Until Thursday - have a grand week.

Blog Giveaway - Culinary Tour of L.A. from Bertolli Foods

We've made it to Day 4 - one day closer to picking a winner for the all-expense Trip to L.A. courtesy of Bertolli Foods. One day closer to packing your bags. One day closer to a Celebrity Chef Event with Rocco DiSpirito. What do they say in "Les Miz?" "One More Day." (When you're in theatre, everything's a song from a musical.)
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Life's funny. There are great sadnesses and greats days of mountainous happiness. Life has gotten full - in ways I never would have fathomed. But I'll tell all of you the other "stuff" later. Suffice to say, there's little time to cook. But somehow - lots of time to eat.
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I hope you try these small tasty savories - my "parvines." They'll put you in the mood for our culinary trip to L.A. and what's to come. We're nearing the end of the Giveaway - today is the last websiode for Into the Heart of Italy - Bertolli Foods. I've tried to crawl into my monitor to join Marisa Tomei, Dan Cortese and Rocco DiSpirito as they unlock the culinary secrets of Italy - but I do not fit. In the same way my summer clothes do not fit!

And this is why. I'm not cooking much - but eating too well. These are "Parvines." A cross between verrines - the tiny, clear-layered amusements the French so lovingly dish up and their heartier parfaits. I do not have many 1-2 oz glasses but I do have wine glasses and cordial glasses (hmmm, no comments on that).

Tomatoes, a one ounce medallion of goat cheese and I am all set to eat while I watch Into the Heart of Italy. This is the last webisode before we pick a winner to go on a culinary tour of L.A. May 10-12. I'm rooting for all of you because I have met so many people through blogging, it would be an absolute treat to visit with you face-to-face.

And eat I do. I cut 6 cherry tomatoes in half, lay them in the bottom of the glass, cover with1/4 ounce of goat cheese, cut another 6 tomatoes and put them on the goat cheese, layer another 1/4 ounce with goat cheese. Put a raspberry on top, drizzle all with a little balsamic vinegar.

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And eat. Savor.

Most happily.
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And settle down to watch Webisode 3. ( apparently linked you to Episode 4 yesterday - oy vey.)

If you cannot view the video, please click here to see it.

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Recap: To win, you must simply leave a comment telling me the "clue" in the webisode and your favorite part - just 'cause I like hearing it and seeing if it matches up with my favorite parts! (I know, I'm a story nerd.)

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You may go back and comment on the previous days webisodes if you are new to this. Upon my return home from work tomorrow, May 6th (somewhere between 9 and 10 p.m. CST), I will print out comments, number them and let random.org hand me that random number list they do so well. And go down the list and the first commenter that matches up with Random.org's numbers and can actually go to L.A. will be chosen and notified. (Be sure I have a way of reaching you.)

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Disclaimer: Winner receives an all expense trip (transportation, meals and hotel) to L.A. on May 10-12 which includes the aforementioned Celebrity Chef Event with Rocco DiSpirito and a culinary tour of the City of Angels. All courtesy of Bertolli Foods. Winner must be located in the continental US and be free to travel May 10-12.

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Talk to you tomorrow. I can hardly wait.

Day 2 of the Great Bertolli Giveaway all-expenses-paid trip to L.A.

I'm so looking forward to meeting one of you in L.A.? Are you ready for webisode 2 of Into the Heart of Italy?



I can barely cook. Sauteed some turkey sausage. Sauteed broccoli, mushrooms, broccoli rabe and threw it in with some penne and then threw in some goat cheese, stirred and serve. No reductions, no separating, no whisking. The simplicity of spring.
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Bertolli Foods is sending me and one of you on a culinary tour of L.A. where we will be a guest at a Chef Celebrity Even with Rocco DiSpirito. Clear your calendars. We leave Monday, May 10th and return either May 11th or 12th. Can't you get away for a few days? Clear your head? Let someone else do the cooking? I so want to meet you. Bread bread with you. Laugh and exchange recipes.
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I made entering as simple as can be. Don't need to go to Twitter or Facebook. Don't need to link me around the world- just watch the webisode, comment and tell me the "clue" and your favorite parts. The webisode is so easy on the eyes. I mean - it's Italy! Enter every through Wednesday for a chance to win. Winner announced Thursday by 10 p.m.



If the video does not work for you, click on this link:
http://intotheheartofitaly.yahoo.com/#18773464
I am watching the weather in L.A., wondering what to pack, dreaming of markets that have exciting produce earlier than MN and looking forward to finding out who I will go with! An all expense-paid culinary trip to L.A. doesn't come around weekly (or yearly in my life) What are you waiting for? Enter now!
Disclaimer: Transportation to and from L.A., hotel, meals and culinary tour all included (for me and one of my readers) provided by Bertolli Foods. travel must between the continental USA and winner must be available May 10-12 for travel.