We went to Walmart this past weekend and while there, I decided to check if they had any Olivari Olive Oil. I received some coupons and a sample of the Extra Virgin Olive oil for the giveaway that I’m hosting on my food blog and their literature says that they also make flavored olive oils. So that’s what I was looking forward to getting with my coupons, and so far Walmart is the only store that carries this brand. I was disappointed to find though, that the Walmart store we went to only carried the ‘Classic’ Olive Oil. So I got a bottle and held on to my other coupon to get a flavored one when I find it.

If you would like to try Olivari Olive oil, make sure to enter the giveway for this Kitchen Essentials Kit that I am giving away on Cooked From the Heart. Click on the photo above to go to the giveaway post.

Good thing I didn’t commit to any of the everyday/356 blogging projects going around, because I would have fallen off the wagon already. I really did have the best of intentions to start off this year right. I was going to cook up a storm on New Year’s Eve then stay up all night blogging about it and wishing all my friends well for the New Year. Ah, they were grand plans!

I had such high hopes and I almost pulled it off! I did cook up a storm worthy of the winter wonderland we were blessed with on Christmas. For the New Year Eve’s supper I had lined up a surf and turf meal (ribeye steaks and shrimp scampi) complete with loaded baked potatoes or rice, a huge salad and I forget now what was dessert, but I know we had something. I can’t remember because beyond getting all the food prepared, everything quickly became a faint and hazy memory. See, as soon as I pulled the steaks off the broiler, that damned migraine, the one that I don’t usually have to mess with but once a year, decided to strike before I could put them steaks down and it struck hard! You’d think something jumped out of the oven and hit me over the head!

I heard dinner was great and the girls got to talk to all our family in California via Skype. I heard some mini sausages even got fried into mini-corndogs and they were great.

I wouldn’t know. I was splayed out in bed, my arms over my eyes and wishing sleep would claim me and save me from the torture. I woke up on the first morning of the New Year still with a pounding headache despite several Tylenol pills.

I stayed in bed for most of the day, but I couldn’t possibly let the first day of 2011 go by with me lying in a darkened room and nothing cooked, could I? Of course not!

I dragged myself up and called up my girls who turned out to be troopers. Way to start the year, girls! Between us, we managed to keep the kitchen clean and put together a pretty decent first dinner for 2011.

We baked some cornish hens but not with the sweet glaze or rice stuffing as we did in the recipe posted on our blog. It was just plain roasted like you would a turkey or chicken. By the way, don’t you just love how the six cornish hens fit perfectly in the paella pan?

In addition we also had some cornbread stuffing, black-eyed peas, steamed broccoli and cauliflower, and gravy. Oh don’t forget the canned cranberry jelly! So shoot me. lol! they were good and we found a can in the pantry, so there!

After dinner though, it was back to bed for me and for the rest of the weekend all the way into Monday when I finally got to see my doctor to adjust my meds and all was made well again.

So today is officially my first day of the New Year. I got out of bed with just a trace and fading hint of a migraine, the sun was shining, I got dressed and got to work and nothing disintegrated in my absense. All is good.

Happy New Year! And here’s to more days like today!

P.S. excuse the photos, my daughter took them from her cell phone. It was just too much effort to pull out my camera and plate stuff.

It is tradition to receive at least one gift basket of food at our house. When we don’t get any, we sorely miss it and the holidays do not seem the same without it. This year, we are ensured to not miss having the summer sausages and cheese over crackers that the girls love to snack on (well ok, me too!) accompanied by a cupful of hot chocolate and marshmallows.

We received this gorgeous box of goodies from Hickory Farms thanks to the Hickory Farms Blog Tour from Mom Central. So how about you, do you have a holiday tradition that is a ‘must-have’ at your house?

Do you blog about food and travel? You may be interested in the email that I received regarding this awesome opportunity for a blogger to travel across five Asian countries and be paid $10,000! I wish I could apply. How about you, would you go for it? 

ULTIMATE BLOGGER OPPORTUNITY:
PEI WEI LAUNCHES SEARCH FOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT
One blogger will be selected to travel and blog across five Asian countries for $10,000
 
WHAT:   Pei Wei Asian Diner is searching for an international correspondent to accompany Executive Chef Eric Justice as he travels to Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan and Korea in search of culinary inspiration for Pei Wei’s next dish.  Via blogs, photo posts and video uploads, the correspondent will document the journey and share the international experience along the way. The selected blogger will eat everything from street food to five-star cuisine, trek from remote villages to world-renowned cities, and meet everyone from rural farmers to cutting-edge chefs.
 
In addition to the experience of a lifetime, the blogger will receive $10,000 for his or her time and skills.
 
WHEN:          Applications Accepted: Now – December 20, 2010
                       Winner Announced: Week of January 17
                       Culinary Tour: Late February – early March, 2011
 
WHERE:       Entry Page: www.PeiWei.com/BlogAsia
                      Website: www.PeiWei.com
                      Facebook Fan Page: www.Facebook.com/PeiWei
                                              
WHY:   Pei Wei’s menu is influenced by the cuisine of five Asian countries and Chef Eric’s foreign travels help bring the exotic flavors of Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan and Korean into the restaurants. The Pei Wei blogger will play a pivotal role in uncovering new dish ideas and sharing the discovery process with a worldwide audience.
 
WHO:    So what does it take to be the Pei Wei blogger? A talent for writing, a boundless appetite, a willingness to experiment with the unknown, an eye for the unforgettable image and the ability to capture it, comfort both on-camera and behind the lens, a spontaneous spirit but a grounded work ethic, and a passion for Asian cuisine.
 
About Pei Wei
Pei Wei Asian Diner, owned and operated by P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, offers a menu of fresh, high-quality Asian cuisine. The restaurant provides a comfortable, quick and casual dine-in experience as well as the flexibility, speed and convenience of take-away service.  From the exotic aromas rising from the sizzling 600-degree woks, to relaxing environment and hip décor, Pei Wei Asian Diner serves freshly prepared & made-to-order dishes from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam in a modern diner environment.  Pei Wei currently operates 168 restaurants in 22 states.  For more information please visit www.peiwei.com.