A KitchenAid Canada stand mixer giveaway

KitchenAid Raspberry Ice Stand MixerIf you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ll have my recent post explaining how you can support the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation though KitchenAid Canada’s Cook for the Cure. To recap:

  1. Find out more about the KitchenAid Cook for the Cure at www.cookforthecure.ca then register and start fundraising for The Culinary Showdown here: www.culinaryshowdown.ca.
  2. Purchase a KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer in Raspberry Ice and KitchenAid Canada will contribute $75 towards the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
  3. Support ME in my fundraising efforts! I, too, am fundraising for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation KitchenAid Cook for the Cure Culinary Showdown event on December 7th, 2013. Please consider supporting me here.

KitchenAid Canada is sponsoring the Cook for the Cure event and encouraging food enthusiasts to “Put their Best Plate Forward” – you might remember some of my tips and tricks about this topic too. In short, my top 5 tips are:

  1. Be a planner
  2. Write lists
  3. Choose your dishes wisely
  4. Make sure you have backup food (and wine!)
  5. Enjoy yourself!

(you can read the full post here).  Hopefully my tips will help you out over the next few weeks – I know I can use all the tips I can get heading into entertaining season!

And because it’s not just the season of entertaining but also the season of giving, I present:

A (Canadian) KitchenAid Stand Mixer Giveaway!

Because it is the season of giving, thanks to the kind folks at KitchenAid Canada, I have ONE Architect® Series Stand Mixer with 5 quart glass bowl in  Raspberry Ice to give away to one lucky Canadian resident!

How to enter:

There are 3 ways to enter (maximum of three entries per person for the duration of the contest).

1. Leave me a comment on this post telling me how you put your best plate forward when you’re entertaining. What is your top tip for entertaining?
2. Leave me a second comment telling me what is the first thing you’d whip up in your KitchenAid stand mixer in Raspberry Ice.
3. Tweet the following message: “I entered to win a KitchenAid stand mixer from @eatlivtravwrite and you can too (Canada only)  http://bit.ly/1b1YepU” then come back to leave a third comment letting me know you did.

Eligibility and contest rules:

– Open to Canadian residents (excluding residents of Québec)
– No purchase of any product necessary for entry.
– Winner will be chosen randomly (using www.random.org) from all qualified entries on December 6th after 6pm EST.
– Winner will be notified via email Saturday December 7th.
– The prize consists of of one Architect® Series Stand Mixer with 5 quart glass bowl in Raspberry Ice.

EDITED ON DECEMBER 6th: The contest is now closed and the winner will be notified via email. Thanks for entering and thanks for all your great entertaining tips 🙂

_________

Disclosure: KitchenAid Canada has provided me with product as compensation for my services and posts promoting Cook for the Cure but all posts represent my own opinion and I was not required to fundraise.  KitchenAid Canada has generously provided one Architect® Series Stand Mixer with 5 quart glass bowl in Raspberry Ice as a prize for this giveaway.

FBC-Cook-For-the-Cure-Badge

 

I’m fundraising for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation KitchenAid Cook for the Cure Culinary Showdown event on December 7, 2013. Support me here.

296 thoughts on “A KitchenAid Canada stand mixer giveaway”

  1. Serve food family-style, so as to encourage more interaction among your guests. When everyone is standing around the table, dipping the serving spoon into the spiced pilaf platter, it makes for good conversation.

    Reply
  2. how you put your best plate forward when you’re entertaining. What is your top tip for entertaining?

    stick to classic crowd pleaser dishes, but add a personal twist?

    top tip? watch for allergies and make sure you account for the wee ones dining with your guests 🙂

    Reply
  3. I love entertaining, but it can be super stressful. One of my favourite tips is to make lots of fun virgin drinks. These are great for those not drinking, but also a good option if you want to entice those that need to take a break from that wine glass without saying – ‘you could use some water.’ I make virgin mojitos and a yummy iced tea from David’s Tea. If I have it, I’ll make their Tropicalia iced tea – with a little bit of milk it’s like a Pina Colada. 🙂

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  4. The first thing I’d make in my Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer in Raspberry Ice? I’d probably whip up some of my favourite sugar-free cookies. Because we don’t have a stand mixer, I find they don’t have the consistency I’d like. That’s a problem I’d love to solve. 🙂

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  5. I always make sure my plates are pre-heated before food is served. It’s a nice little bit of luxury for an otherwise casual meal.

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  6. And my top tip for entertaining? Buy the best ingredients and have great people over. Great ingredients helps to hide any cooking errors. And great guests enjoy the food no matter what!

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  7. My entertaining tip is to make foods that you don’t have to fuss over, make something you’ve made before, a party is not the time to try something complicated or new to you – you don’t want to spend all the time in the kitchen and not able to enjoy your own party. 🙂

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  8. My top tip for entertaining – make as much as you can ahead of time, delegate if you can and don’t forget to relax and enjoy yourself! So many people get so caught up in making sure others are having a good time that they don’t take a moment to mingle with the guests themselves. Yes, they’re there for a good time, but they’re there to see YOU too!

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  9. I’ve been doing a lot of cupcakes lately, so the first thing I’d whip up with the Kitchenaid Stand mixer in Raspberry Ice would be a fresh batch of macarons. I haven’t done macs in a while and want to get back into practice!

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  10. My top tip for entertaining & how I put my best plate forward – find an awesome co-host with different skills to complement mine & add diversity to the guest list while taking some of the pressure off.

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  11. My #1 entertaining tip: always be prepared! Know who’s coming, what their likes/dislikes are, and don’t sweat the unexpected!

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  12. The first thing I would whip up in this bad boy would be a chocolate cake for the holidays for my family and guests to enjoy!

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  13. For entertaining I try to keep the menu SIMPLE. It can still be classy or fun depending on the night and crowd but if i’m a ball of stress I can’t be a good hostess!

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  14. If I won this it would actually be gifted to my amazing mother in law … and then I’d ask HER to whip up some of her yummy gingerbread cookies for my sons.
    Although I’d love this for myself, my mother in law is dying for a mixer and i’d love to put a smile on her face!

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  15. The first thing I’ld whip up in the KitchenAid stand mixer in Raspberry Ice would be a big old fashion 3 layer cake with lots of homemade icing. I associate such cakes with my first baking experience with my mom’s mixer.

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  16. Top tip for entertaining: Prep as much as you can ahead of time to reduce last minute stress and to enable you to spend more time with your guests! Make lists!

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  17. My top tip….relax, everyone is happy to receive an invitation to be with friends…and if any disasters happen, well you can dine out on that later!.

    Reply
  18. At this time of the year, I stock up on some good quality meats, cheeses, olives, roasted red peppers and sundried tomatoes, also, some really good crackers (like Rainforest) and I store some of that bake at home bread. That way when someone drops in, or I have a short notice visit, I can put out an amazing spread and look like a genius! (and there is no stress or cooking involved, which can be a blessing at times).

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  19. I would pull out my kitchen scale, and my traditional pastries recipe book and whip up a batch of Madeleines. It will take a full afternoon, but be fully worth the effort…oh, those sponge cakes…

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  20. My top tip is relax and make your guests comfortable. Don’t go too over the top. Prepare as much as you can beforehand so you can enjoy the meal with your guests.

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  21. For huge family feasts during the holidays (and all big family dinners), we serve buffet style. Copious amounts of food (enough to feed an army) are put on tables for guests to serve themselves. Much easier than a formal sit down dinner. People can sit wherever they please. Always have lots and lots of food.

    Reply
  22. I try my best to pepare in advance when entertaining. Make sure I have a variety food, appetizers, and beverages that my guests would enjoy. Have relaxing background music, and ensure there’s lots of chatting to keep the guests entertained & comfortable.
    If I won, the first thing I would make with my mixer would be a big batch of cookies.

    Reply
  23. Cool contest! My entertaining tip: make sure people have a drink in their hand as quickly as possible after they arrive. It makes people feel more relaxed and comfortable, and like they’re a part of things.

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  24. Truthfully, I have been OBSESSED lately with baking vegan and gluten-free bread and I’m trying to perfect some recipes, so I’d be working on that.

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  25. The first thing I would do with this stand mixer is try to replicate the delicious pineapple shortbread cookies I tried in Maui.

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  26. Best tip: plan ahead and make/prep ahead so that you can have fun with your guests and not spend all your time in the kitchen!

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  27. Have your menu planned in advance and know who is coming in case you have to make dishes with special dietary needs. Don’t leave anything to chance.

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  28. My best entertaining tip is to keep it stress-free! Do as much as you can in advance and make sure you aren’t tied up in the kitchen the whole time your guests are over 🙂

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  29. My best tip was gleaned from years watching The Barefoot Contessa: do as much as you can in advance so you can actually enjoy the company of your friends and family, instead of being stuck in the kitchen during the party!

    Reply
  30. What is your top tip for entertaining?

    My top tip would be to plan ahead and take into account the people who will be attending and consider their peculiar taste. For instance, if there will be kids coming, make sure there’s kid-friendly food, nothing too spicy, etc.

    Reply
  31. My top tip for entertaining is to do as much prep as possible the day prior to the dinner. I even set the table the evening before. I enjoy spending as much time with family and friends as possible, and less time in the kitchen means more time with them.

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  32. I tweeted 🙂
    Thank you for the chance to win a Kitchenaid. I have been entering contests trying to win one for 3 years. I am nothing, if not persistent 🙂
    Good luck everyone!!

    Reply
  33. The first thing you’d whip up in me KitchenAid stand mixer in Raspberry Ice would be a batch of Cinnabons… they are a family favorite and would be so easy with this mixer

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  34. I like to serve side dishes where most of the preparation is done in advance (roasted vegetables or blanched vegetables that just need a quick saute) and a roast of some sort for the entree; they require little attention until serving time leaving me more time to spend with my guests.

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  35. My top tip for entertaining? Remember, it’s all about having a good time with your guests and making them comfortable. Even the food is secondary to that, so keep it simple and good!

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  36. The first thing I would whip up in my new KitchenAid mixer would be a batch of raspberry-flavoured marshmallows. How pretty they would look, billowing up in that beautiful glass bowl!

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  37. Entertaining tip – choose a theme! For example, we just went on a Caribbean cruise so the theme was based on the countries we visited. Great way to keep the conversation going.

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  38. First thing I will make when I win is Christmas cookies of course! Oh the mixer would make the holidays so much more fun.

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  39. My tip for entertaining is to do as much as possible in advance so I’m not stuck in the kitchen while my guests are at my place. I also like to serve my homemade preserves, a great conversation starter, and so yummy!

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  40. My tip for entertaining is to do as much as possible in advance so I’m not stuck in the kitchen. I also like to serve my homemade preserves, a great conversation starter, and so yummy!

    Reply
  41. I always make sure to prepare as much in advance as possible, in order to spend the most time with my guests. No guest ever wants to feel abandoned by their host. 😀

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  42. The first thing I’d whip up in my KitchenAid Raspberry Ice mixer would be a decadent chocolate mousse. I’ve had such a craving for that lately!!! 😀

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  43. How I put my best plate forward – I make sure I make every guest feels at home and welcome. Then I wow them with variety.

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  44. The first thing I’d whip up with this Kitchen Aid mixer (lovely colour, by the way) would be a batch of cookies – thimble cookies with jam in the centre.

    Cheers.

    Reply
  45. Q1: How you put your best plate forward when you’re entertaining. What is your top tip for entertaining?
    A1: Prepare for everything beforehand, so that you (as the host) can enjoy as much as everyone else is!!

    Reply
  46. Q2: What is the first thing you’d whip up in your KitchenAid stand mixer in Raspberry Ice?

    A2: I would make French macarons in a heart beat!! Salted caramel ones to be precise;) <3

    Reply
  47. My top tip for entertaining is to decorate my place to have a homey and festive feel to the atmosphere! That always gets guests feel comfortable and at home 🙂

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  48. Top tip for entertaining? Prepare foods that require guests to be able to have fun and create their own – like vermicelli spring rolls. And good wine never hurts 😉

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  49. Top tip for entertaining…. I like to have batches of cookie dough frozen in handy portions so that I can pop them into the oven at a moments notice and always have freshly baked cookies on hand

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  50. My top tip is to prepare what you can in advance. That way on the big day you are not overwhelmed and running around to get things done

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  51. The best plate my wife and i put out for guests who come to visit us is a Filipino dish called Turon which is a common Filipino snack made with Asian Bananas and are deep friend to look like a Spring Roll. Very delicious.

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  52. My best suggestion for Entertaining…prep in advance so YOU can also enjoy your party..I have spent too many events not even seeing what went on !!!

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  53. use your best table setting for sure and know your guests food restrictions. the first thing i would whip ip is a choclate cake

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  54. I do as much prep as I can beforehand so I can spend lots of time with the guests instead of in the kitchen. Also, if people ask to help. Let them!!

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  55. When I entertain, I like to prepare things ahead of time and set things on the table and plate things with holiday theme décor. I also like to ensure glasses are ready and marked for wine or other beverages kind. I like to present that the preparation went smooth and no stress showing. I love to make sure guests are impress with the presentation before they start eating.

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  56. banana bread for sure..i don’t have a mixer I use forks to mix up my banana ingredients. it would be a nice win for sure.

    Reply
  57. Putting my best plate forward when entertaining is try to find out what your guests like before hand and if they are allergic to anything so that you know. Makes it easier so that everyone can find something they enjoy.

    Top tip for entertaining is try to do as much prep work before hand so that you can spend time with your guests and enjoy your time

    silverneon2000 at yahoo dot com

    Reply
  58. My tip is to prep everything before guest arrive so you can join in with them instead of in the kitchen the whole time
    thanks

    flower_child_23(at)hotmail(dot)com

    Reply
  59. I try to prepare as much in advance as pros single n dishes that required minimum prep time so I can spend time with my guest.

    Would love to whip up some cookies for holiday gifting

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  60. We usually have potlucks over the holidays to cut down on the amount of work that the host has to do. That way you also get to sample a variety of food.

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  61. Well, I’m definitely not the big, jolly guy, SANTA, but I’m always making a list and checking it twice before I do any holiday entertaining. I live by the motto, “It’s better to be prepared” than not.

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  62. The first thing I would make with the Raspberry Ice Kitchenaid mixer would be my signature dessert – Cheesecake Pops!!! This Christmas I’m going to coat the cheesecake pops with whilte chocolate and crushed candy canes. These will be placed on the dinner plates for a festive look.

    Reply
  63. What is my top tip for entertaining? Well I like to delegate what others can bring to help me out ! And in return I love to bring goodies when they entertain. It’s all about sharing and lessening the preparation stress.

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  64. My top tip is to always have an impressive table setting. If the table looks inviting, then your guests will feel most comfortable!

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  65. When entertaining, I make sure that there are options available to suit the needs of those that have dietary restrictions to make sure everyone feels welcome and cared for. And lots of wine surely helps too.

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  66. My best tip for entertaining – keep your stress level down. Pay for a house cleaner to take care of the clean up before the party so you can focus on the fun part, preparing the food. I love all your other tips too….lists are a must.

    Reply
  67. I would make as much ahead of time as I could, that way I could spend time with the people I’m entertaining rather than being in the kitchen the entire time.

    The first thing I would make in that beautiful mixer is macarons!

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  68. I realized I put both of my answers in one post.

    So for Question 2: The first thing I would make in that beautiful mixer is macarons!

    Reply
  69. What I like to do when I’m entertaining is make sure there is always a bit of organized fun involved. I will often have a costume element with a prize, such as the best “Christmas Sweater.” Or we’ll play the present game were everyone brings an inexpensive gift and we roll the dice and pick gifts until the timer runs out. Or we will play a party game like Werewolf where everyone can still be seated around the room and be comfortable without having to get up. Adding some fun always relaxes people and gets the laughs going and makes the event more memorable.

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  70. My top tip: RELAX! People came to see YOU, so don’t stress so much about getting things perfect. Most people wont care if the table isn’t set right, but they will care if you are in a grumpy mood.

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  71. I always plan in advance, writing lists and even writing down timing. I pre prepare all that I can so that it’s just the last minute details I need to worry about. And clean up should be a breeze so I can enjoy the company

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  72. My top tip is plan ahead, don’t get stressed if something goes wrong, because the guests don’t care. They just want to have fun!

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  73. My top tip for entertaining is music. Music can change the mood and the atmosphere of a party. I usually put uplifting music to entertain the guests.

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  74. Plan and do as much as you can ahead of time so that you can relax and socialize instead of slaving away in the kitchen.

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  75. Well I don’t do a lot of entertaining but if I were to do more I would always want to make sure there are more than enough appetizers – cheese! olives! dips!
    Thanks for the contest.

    Reply
  76. comment #2 – the first thing I would make in this mixer is pie crust pastry.
    I had a fear of pastry for the longest time but then I realized I needed a standing mixer.
    Thanks again for the contest!

    Reply
  77. The first thing I would whip up with my new kitchenaid mixer would be my special whipped cream for our Sunday’s brunch for our pancakes.

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  78. my top tip: LOTS of food – i’d rather have people leave being mad that they overate because everything was yummy, than not having eaten enough!

    Reply
  79. One of the best tips besides enjoying yourself. Make sure any kids attending the event are entertained and kept busy, have an older teenager be in charge of keeping an eye on them. Have healthy snacks/food that kids enjoy. Happy parents make for a happy get together 🙂

    Reply
  80. When I’ve had large family gatherings, specifically at Christmas time (with 20 to 25 people), I’ve always set the dining table as my last ‘chore’ on Christmas Eve. I know there is a lot of food to ensure makes it to the table the next day, but there is something magical about seeing the table all set with china and waiting for the guests to sit at the next day and bring to ‘life’ with their presence, conversations and all the food prepared. In our family we have taken turns for the dinners for Christmas Day, and in my home, I make it a rule that everyone relax at the table, and I serve them, ensuring they have everything they need. I take their plates and remove them to the dishwasher, which will be set to go later. I try to minimize the amount of help the guests have to give in cleaning up all the mess afterward. I want my guests to enjoy themselves and not have to arrive and help with setting the tables, etc. I usually will take a ‘night before’ photo of the table settings and then the photos of all the family sitting at the table.

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  81. The first I would make especially in winning my dream color and mixer, which I’ve salivated for for years is
    “Raspberry ‘Ice’ Cheesecake”
    200 g. box shortbread cookies
    1 egg seperated
    2 pkgs cream cheese room temperature
    2/3 c. sifted icing sugar
    1 pkg frozen raspberries with syrup.
    1/4 c. melted butter
    1 cup whipping cream
    1/4 teas. almond flavor
    250ml. frozen raspberry juiced (thawed) I can my own raspberry juice and use that.
    Crumble cookies till finely ground. Measure out 1 1/2 cups of mixture, stir in melted butter. Mix all other ingredients. Place crumbles on bottom of pan and pour other ingredients over. Add cream cheese/mixture. Top with raspberries/with syrup. Chill in Freezer for 1 hour.

    The second recipe I would make is in memory of my mom who passed away in 2010 of stomach cancer, one of my favorites of her’s was a simply ‘melt in your mouth’ ‘danish butterhorns’ recipe.
    Mom’s Butterhorns
    1 1/2 c. scalded milk
    3 eggs
    1 1/2 cups sugar
    1 tbs salt
    1 1/2 cup melted butter
    3 tbs yeast using 1 tbs sugar to mix with yeast
    1/2 cup water
    6 cups flour.
    MIx ingredients and set in fridge for 1 hour.
    Take amount of dough to ‘swirl into a spiral form. Danish should be 3 to 4 inches diameter.
    Bake 25 minutes at 400F
    Use butter icing of choice, and sprinkle nuts.

    Reply
  82. I always make stuff I know. I hate trying out a new recipe if I know Ill be entertaining. So I leave the experimenting days for when it’s just me and the roomies. When entertaining, the only thing I really worry about is making enough to feed everyone and have lots left over for them to take home (must be the european in me lol)

    Reply
  83. Putting best plate forward is easy when entertaining family and friends. If you serve large dished items, such as large salad, large zitti, large caserole, etc, it is not making the meal into a buffet, it is making the meal become a networking experience. People talk while getting their food, and they continue to talk amongst themselves after. It is sort of an ice breaker. And it works!!!!!

    Reply
  84. The first thing I would make in my Raspberry Ice mixer would be Whipped Shortbreads, so that I could celebrate the season in which the mixer was won, if I were to win. After the shortbreads were made, I would then whip up some buttercream to decorate the cookies with. Mmmmmm, I can almost smell them now. Cheers and thanks for offering such a chance to enter.

    Reply
  85. I always make a meal plan ahead of time when entertaining. That way I know what I’m making and can be sure I have all the ingredients to avoid last minute trips to the store.

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  86. My top tip for entertaining is organization! As much pre-planning and preparation that can be done ahead of time will make everything go so much more smoothly. It can start with menu, table settings, guest list … all that can take the last minute pressure of you so that you can actually enjoy the event!

    Reply
  87. If I was the lucky one to win the Raspberry Ice KitchenAid stand mixer, I would whip up some Raspberry Semifreddo to celebrate!

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  88. When entertaining I prefer buffet style so it’s all casual (and it’s all I have room for) thus making everyone at ease. I love finger foods and cheese balls!

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  89. The first thing I’d whip up in my new KitchenAid mixer would be whipped shortbread cookies. Whipping with the mixer would make the butter light and fluffy which is essential for melt in your mouth rich cookies!

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  90. I want it to show case on my counter cause it reminds me why I had to be strong going through breast cancer! Love the colour!

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  91. My entertaining tip is to plan ahead and make as much as possible ahead, so you can arrive at your own party relaxed and enjoy yourself.

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  92. I prep as much as I can before guests come and keep all the food warm in the oven – that way I can still be part of the mingling before the meal starts!

    Reply
  93. The first thing I would up whip up in my
    KitchenAid stand mixer in Raspberry Ice is a Chocolate Raspberry Swirl Bundt Cake!

    Reply
  94. The first thing I would make in the kitchen aid mixer is chocolate chip cookies. My kids love them and the bring back memories of my mom.

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  95. When entertaining I say you should always go with a tried and true recipe you’ve made before. Don’t stress yourself out by making something new and unfamiliar.

    Reply
  96. The first thing I would make with a Kitchenaid stand mixer in raspberry ice is my famous chocolate chip cookies!

    Reply
  97. Tip for entertaining: Always make sure you find out what your guests allergies, dietary preferences, and dislikes are. Wouldn’t be very nice to serve a vegetarian meat, for example!

    Reply
  98. Best tip for entertaining would to be plan things out, have a game plan as to what you’re making and when. Time management is everything!

    Reply

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