I’m not a great cook, but I do like good-quality ingredients. I think this makes my humble offerings turn out better than they otherwise would.
My favorite secret weapons are spices from Penzeys. Penzeys has shops all over the country now, but I’ve found their mail delivery to be quick and efficient.
Their web site, penzeys.com, is a bit clunky to navigate and not especially pretty, but their catalog is excellent. It is full of first-rate recipes (well, maybe not Candle Salad) worthy of clipping.
Also, the catalogs usually contain excellent coupons. An employee at one of their retail stores told me they’ll honor the coupons past the expiration date, although your mileage may vary. I’ve tried many of their signature spice blends this way for free.
Their Sandwich Sprinkle and 4/S, Special Seasoned Sea Salt, are staples at my house.
Despite being a specialty store, I find their products cost less than the offerings in the grocery store. Also, there is a significant difference in freshness and taste.
Instead of buying bulk spices from the grocery or warehouse stores, I can now buy the smallest size from Penzeys inexpensively and use it all up within six months to a year, the length of time before most spices lose the peak of flavor.
If you try their ground black pepper or cinnamon, you’ll see what I mean. Even the ground pepper I bought at Trader Joe’s tasted like floor sweepings in comparison. I never thought I’d care about pepper.
All this is leading up to my last giveaway of the year–a Baking Mini Gift Box for *two* lucky friends.
The boxes contain a quarter-cup jar of each of the following:
- China Tung Hing Cinnamon
- East Indies Ground Nutmeg
- Powdered Ginger
- Ceylon Cinnamon
Penzeys says “This holiday season share the very best with all the bakers who have over the years made your life a little bit sweeter. The Baking Mini also is the gift of confidence that everything you bake will come out tasting its best. With the Baking Mini great flavor is in the palm of your hand.”
You can compare the two cinnamons and decide which one you like better.
Entering is easy–just leave me the comment “SPICY!” here in my blog’s comment section below.
For additional, bonus entries,
- forward this post on Facebook
- follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway
- become a follower of this blog
- or mention my blog with a link on your own blog. A shout-out about this giveaway or a link to a post of mine that you especially liked would be great.
This gives each person up to five entries total. Each entry needs to be in a separate comment here on my blog.
If you are already a follower or connected through Twitter, it still counts! Just make an additional comment here after you write “Spicy!”.
I’ll close comments and announce the two winners, selected at random, on Wednesday, December 22. The winners will have 48 hours to contact me via e-mail at IM NOTA SUPERMOM [at] GMAIL [dot] COM
I’ll ship to anywhere in the US or Canada.
PS, I’m throwing in the current catalog and a bumper sticker that says “Love people. Make them tasty food.”
Very good luck to you!
I am not affiliated with Penzeys spices and was not comped or reimbursed for this giveaway. I’m just a happy customer!
Spicy! Penzey's has long been a staple in our house. I think I started ordering from the catalog when Sophia was a babby. LOVE them!
I'm in! I've never tried Penzey's
Spicy! I've never had any before and would love to try them!
Natalie
(I Need a Nap from SL)
Spicy! Dh just did a Penzey's run for me this week–one of their stores is close to his office.
I shared your post on facebook!
Spicy, love penzey's
shared on Fb too
Rhoda
Spicy!!
Shared your link on FB!
Became a follower! I've never done that before. What is this crazy hold you have over me, Nota?!?
Spicy! I just received a box of Penzy's this week. 🙂 Can't wait to try the cinnamon it continued. Waiting to finish the Sam's stuff very soon. The best part? I ordered on a day their computer went funky and dbl charged me. So I now have a 25.00 gift card. 🙂
I can't believe I hadn't become a follower of your blog until just now…I have been on FB. 🙂
SPICY! I've subscribed to this blog
SPICY! I shared this on my blog.
SPICY! We love Indian/Pakistani food at our house. These spices sound wonderful! And to my delight, I see that I can buy a pound of poppy seeds from them at a very good price. I don't know why, but I have been unable to get poppy seeds in my rural town (except for a very expensive Celestial Seasonings that I refuse to pay for)for MONTHS.
…oh and December 22 is my birthday. 🙂
Spicy! You, Nota, are my favorite Spicy blogger!!
You…spice up my life…you give me hope…
Nevermind….
SPICY! I love Penzeys!
bridgestranslation at yahoo dot com
I follow as bridgestranslation with GFC
bridgestranslation at yahoo dot com
Spicy! I have never tried Penzeys, but I am going to go check out the website and get a catalog!
Spicy! Yum!
I already am your friend on fb! 🙂
I already follow you on twitter!
Posted on my fb wall. Now if I can just figure out how to tweet.
I tweeted a spicy tweet!
Spicy! Never tried Penzey's. I need to request a catalog.
Spicy! Nota you add spice to my life.
Spicey! I've heard my girlfriends rave about these spices, but I've never tried them. Thanks for the chance, Nota!
Spicey? I obviously cook too much, because I buy in bulk, $1 a scoop, from the spice guy at the City Market, and it is always gone in just a couple months.
Spicey! Yum!!!
Spicy! Another Penzey's lover here!!
also posting on my FB page.
Spicy! I love me some spices!
Posting on FB too!
Spicy! Count me in! Now you have me curious enough to have a pepper and cinnamon test of some sort.
Spicy!!!! I have never tried them, but if I win I will bake and send you something Nota!!!!
lisarn3
Posted to fb also!
lisarn3
"Spicy!" Or, you spicy up my life!
Spicy!
Now I'll have to become a passable cook. 🙂
Spicy! I'd love to try those spices…hmmm…
Spicy!
Looks like a lot of Spicy posts! I haven't tried Penzy's yet, but I've heard good things about them.
SPICY!!!!
Spicy!
I'd love to try some new spices and Penzy's is a new one for me.
lauraoneill69 at yahoo dot com
Spicy! I would love to give them a try.
I am now following your blog.
Already friends on Facebook, but I am now followiing you on Twitter also.
Shared on Facebook:)
Spicy!
I'm a follower too, btw.
Spicy
Posted on FB
Subscribe via google reader
spicy!
Spicy! 🙂
Posted on my blog: https://notasupermom.com/2010/12/christmas-giveaway-penzeys-spices.html?spref=bl
Shared on FB!
And I tweeted.
http://twitter.com/#!/Jagsfanalways/status/17671800150302720
shared on FB
And while normally I'd never say this, I will for now, 😀
I'm a follower.
all ready follow the blog
Spicy!
ajandmichelle AT juno DOT com
Google Friend follower!
ajandmichelle AT juno DOT com
I shared on Facebook.
ajandmichelle AT juno DOT com
Wow! What a great SPICY giveaway. My Aunt introduced us to Penzeys' spices and we enjoyed smelling the sample jars when we visited Memphis over a year ago. The small jars we purchased then are still wonderful.
I follow your blog.
Spicy!
Love Penzeys. I just hosted a giveaway for the mini-sets too for my 2nd blogoversary. Would love a baking set of my own though! 🙂
SPICY!
And I forwarded on facebook, and linked you on my blogroll (before I even saw this post!). I don't tweet… sorry!
Spicy! They would sure come in handy for my baking come the New Year. We love pumpkin muffins and pumpkin choco-chip cookies year round.