The “What’s Cookin’ Wednesday” giveaways were supposed to end last week… but I’m adding one more week. I am SUPER excited about it, and I think you will be, too.
A couple weeks ago, I was invited to take part in a webinar with NYC cupcake chef David Arrick. David, who was formerly a Wall Street attorney, founded Butch Bakery, which specializes in unusual cupcakes – specifically, cupcakes made for men. Take a look:
In addition to not looking like your everyday pink fluffy cupcake, they come in really unique flavors. For example, they’ve got The Campout,which is an ode to s’mores, and the Beer Run, described on their website: “Butch meets buttercream in our chocolate beer cake with beer-infused buttercream topped with crushed pretzels.” Think that’s unique? Check out the Home Run – “This peanut butter cake with banana bavarian cream & crumbled bacon is more fun than getting to third base.” Yes, you read that right – bacon on a cupcake.
They also have a rum and coke cupcake, which they may have thought they made for men, but they really made for me. AND according to David, he’s working on a new margarita cupcake. Really – there are no words to describe my thoughts on that.
Anyway… The point of the webinar was to introduce us to the genius that is Butch Bakery, but also for us to get baking tips from David himself. His biggest tip? Use Breville products!
I was introduced to Breville a while ago, when I was asked to review their blender. I love that thing, so I was excited to see what other small appliances they offer. David showed us how he can make his famous cupcakes using two things – the Breville Stand Mixer and Smart Oven.
Aren’t they pretty?
After we all drooled over these for an hour, David told us that the people at Breville were sending us one of each – and a stand mixer to give away! Needless to say, we were all thrilled. Cortney and I pretty much stalked the UPS guy until they were delivered!
I was intrigued by the Smart Oven. I’ve actually never had a toaster oven. I’m a child of the 80s, we love our microwaves! I really never thought about getting one, but now that I have it, I love it! This model comes with a wire rack, a removable crumb tray, a pizza pan, a baking pan, and a broil rack. It can do just about anything! The LCD display has options for baking, toast, pizza, broil, roast, cookies – you name it. It’s big enough to fit a casserole dish as well! The first time I used it, I could not believe how quickly it preheated. My oven preheats really quickly, but still, the Smart Oven caught me off guard with how fast it was ready. There are so many times that I want to bake a few dinner rolls or something and I hate to use the regular oven, so I am looking forward to having the Smart Oven for things like that.
Now, onto the stand mixer!
I was soooooooooo excited about this, because as my interest in baking has developed over the last year or so, I’ve heard time and time again how wonderful stand mixers are. They are an investment, to be sure, and a lot of people I know got one for a wedding present. However, when I got married, I was too clueless to know I needed one, and I hadn’t been able to pull the trigger on buying one myself. But let me tell you.
This. Thing. Is. Amazing.
I’ve had it for about a week, and I’ve tested it out quite a bit in that time. I made buckeyes first. I have been making buckeyes for a few years, and while they are delicious, a problem I always had is that the peanut butter filling turned out very crumbly – so much so that I couldn’t use a good portion of the last batch I made. Not so with the stand mixer – the mixture was creamy and beautiful and I used every last morsel.
I also made three pumpkin rolls. I love making pumpkin rolls and I love eating them even more, but they are rather time consuming. A couple weeks ago I made three of them, and it took me a solid three hours. This time, using the stand mixer, I shaved a half an hour off the total time AND I managed to do the dishes and clean up the kitchen during that time as well. Honestly, I have no idea why the mixer saved me so much time, but it really did. It also made the cream cheese icing super fluffy and smooth – no butter chunks to be found.
The mixer comes with an assortment of attachments – a regular mixing one, a dough hook, a wisk, and my personal favorite, a scraper.
It scrapes the side of the bowl as you go, and it comes standard with the mixer. How cool is that?
As you can see, I could not be happier with either of these products, and I am thrilled that Breville has given me an opportunity to give a mixer away!
Here’s how to enter!
Required entry: Leave a comment on this post and tell us what you like best about the Smart Oven or the Stand Mixer.
Extra entries:
— Tweet about this contest & leave a comment with a link to your tweet. Here’s an example: “Win a @brevilleusa stand mixer from @momminitup & @jennyitup! http://bit.ly/eX8m9k”
— “Like” Breville on Facebook and tell them Mommin’ It Up sent you, and then leave a comment here telling us you did so.
For more information about all Breville products, check them out on Facebook , Twitter, Flickr and YouTube.
This contest will end at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 29. Good luck!
p.s. You can also enter to win a Breville stand mixer from our good friend Cortney!
i like how the mixer scrapes the edges!
Oooh, I love that scraper attachment on the stand mixer. I would love to win the mixer, because I broke mine earlier this year. This one looks like it would last much longer!
I love the attachments on the mixer. The stainless steel is beautiful.
i posted on Breville’s facebook wall that you sent me!
I’ve been so wanting a stand mixer! What’s not great about it?!
love how the oven preheats quickly
That scraper blade looks like it would be great! I’d love to win this.
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/punkinmama/statuses/17598607448350721
I tweeted about this giveaway
http://twitter.com/#!/dfurgason
I love how the mixer scrapes the edges! How awesome! I have to stop mine every minute or so to scrape mine or else I have a bunch of unmixed dough on the sides and bottom.
I “Like” Breville on Facebook and told them Mommin’ It Up sent me
I love how the mixer is able to handle large quantities of dough without losing speed!
I LOVE LOVE the stand up mixers. I am still using the ol retro style. To be able to be hands free while mixing would be wonderful!
Tweeted. http://twitter.com/bobbysgirl703/status/17599158437285888
I like the pouring shield on the mixer.
oh my gosh! a scraper?? that is brilliant. gotta have one.
The scraper is very cool! I need a stand mixer so badly, but haven’t been able to find an affordable one that does what I need it to do. My mom bought me a Sunbeam one last year for Christmas, and it went back after not being able to make pizza dough.
I love that there is a scraper with the mixer!!
i liked breville on facebook and told them about you.
Like Breville and told them that you sent me. 🙂
I like Breville on Facebook
I absolutely would LOVE the Smart Oven or Stand Mixer for my home. I am constantly trying to make more space in the oven for side items or dinner rolls and have used a countertop oven for years. The one I currently have is just about shot and I’m in the market for a new one…now that I’ve read your thoughts on the Smart Oven, I may be picking one of these up:) As for the stand mixer, this is something I do not own and have longed to have. I love to bake when I have free time and the stand mixer would make this process so much easier. For certain treats, it would be nice to have someone (or something) else mixing up the batter so my hands are free to tend to a baby or begin cleanup:) I hope I win!!
I “liked” Breville on Facebook and told them you sent me:)
I like that everything is included in the mixer…you don’t have to hunt for a scraper, etc.
I posted on Breville’s facebook wall that you sent me!
I “liked” them on Facebook, and also told them that you sent me!
WOW! I would love a mixer. I love that I can throw in the ingredients and turn it on…unlike having to stand there with a hand mixer.
LOVE LOVE LOVE the scraper on the mixer. Genius!
liked on fb
I tweeted about your contest!
I “liked” Breville on Facebook and told them you sent me
I love that you don’t have to stand there and hold the mixer in your hand. You can just watch it work!
I tweeted about the giveaway
Uh…LOVE the scraper attachment on the mixer! Yes, please =o)
Wow! The mixer has a timer on it.. what an interesting feature!
I agree, scraping the sides is pretty cool!
Liked and posted on Breville’s FB =o) *crossing fingers, hoping to win this one*
A scraper attachment? Very cool!
Liked Breville on facebook and commented. Thank you.
The scraper is GENIUS. SHEER GENIUS
samanthajocampen at gmail
I liked on fb and posted that you sent me
OMG i love how it scrapes the bowl! My hand mixer leaves cake mix stuck to the side of the bowl!!!!
Liked Breville on FB and left them a comment!
I LOVE the scraper!! I hate feeling like i’ve left half the mixture in the bowl or that its not mixed well around the edges when i do it by hand!
The stand mixer looks amazing! I use mine all the time and desperately need a new one!
I liked Breville on facebook and and informed them that Mommin’ It Up sent me!
I tweeted! http://twitter.com/#!/Armywife7908/status/17606360015314944
i love the scrapper on the mixer paddle.
I “Liked” their page and commented that you sent me!
The scraper paddle looks awesome! I love being able to walk away and do something else while the mixer is running!