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What’s Cookin’ Wednesday (and a giveaway!)

If this isn’t the first time you’ve visited us here at Mommin’ It Up, this is probably not the first time you’ve heard of my cooking escapades.

There was the pumpkin cake last Halloween. And then there was the time I just about set the crock pot on fire. Ah, yes, that was a classic.

But then you also know that I’m trying to get better.

One thing I’ve learned in the last year or so of trying not to suck so much is that good equipment is important.

I upgraded my appliances, but I also needed to upgrade my cookware, which was of the finest just-married-first-big-kid-apartment quality. It was junk.

Last year I had the opportunity to try out ScanPan during our Holiday Gift Guide, and so when I embarked upon this cooking self-improvement course, I reached out to them to see if they would be interested in partnering with me. They generously sent me a few pieces to try out – and also the same pieces to give away!

Here’s a little bit of background on ScanPan products:
Scanpan is the first producer of nonstick cookware that is certified PFOA free, so it’s safe for you and the earth. The unique cooking surface is safe for metal utensils and allows for browning, searing and deglazing—things you can’t do with traditional nonstick. It requires little to no fat for cooking, so you can enjoy a healthy meal.

Pretty cool, huh? I like ScanPan because they’re high-quality and sturdy, and unlike some other non-stick pans, they don’t contain any pesky carcinogens. They heat up really quickly and they wash up easily.

The first ScanPan product I tried out was the 10 1/4 inch skillet.

This skillet is the perfect size for searing meat, making pancakes, or cooking up a grilled cheese.

Tonight, I used it to make BBQ chicken quesadillas.

I put a splash of olive oil in as the skillet heated up, but I actually forgot to add any more in after the first quesadilla was done, and the other three turned out just fine.

I took pictures of the whole process but apparently my phone ate them. Grrr…

Anyway, I’ve been using the ScanPan products for a while now, and I’ve been really impressed with the results, and I’m excited to share them with you.

I’ll be doing a What’s Cookin’ Wednesday for the next three weeks… with a giveaway each time!

So here’s how you can win the ScanPan 10 1/4 inch skillet:
Required entry: Leave a comment on this post and tell us what you’d cook in the skillet.

Extra entries:
— Visit this site and then leave a comment telling us what ScanPan product you’d like to try out.
— Tweet about this contest & leave a comment with a link to your tweet. Here’s an example: “Win a @scanpang skillet from @momminitup & @jennyitup!”
— “Like” us on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.

This contest will end at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 23. Good luck!

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Tide Dry Cleaners is coming to Ohio

And we’re going to be on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony!

You all know how I feel about Tide… I love the stuff. Did you know they have Tide Dry Cleaners? Neither did I. But it makes sense, doesn’t it? The Tide people know laundry! They even have a drive-thru, which is awesome because I think EVERYTHING should have a drive-thru. And I just read that every garment is treated with Tide FreshScent – I am sold.

Until now, Tide Dry Cleaners stores have only been in Kansas City, but as of tomorrow they’ll be open for business in Mason, too.

Tide is invested in the community as well (I’d wager a guess that a P&G employee or two lives in the Mason area) and they are already giving back. They’ll be a drop off location for the local chapter of Dress for Success.

The grand opening is tomorrow from 2-3 p.m. at their new location (8100 S. Mason-Montgomery Road) and there will be lots of fun (and prizes!). Come by and say hi!

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Why I Love Twitter

Tuesday morning I dumped a ham in the crockpot before work and was looking forward to an easy dinner. I had planned to make some mac & cheese (yes, the blue box. We are klassy like that) and broccoli, and maybe some rolls (have you tried the yeast rolls in the freezer section? They are good!).

However, my leisurely attitude about dinner quickly turned into panic when I was about five minutes from home. My husband called me to say he had a friend over helping him fix our outside faucet (that had been leaking for a month. Our grass is quite green!) and since we had a ham in the crockpot anyway, he’d invited him and his two kids to stay for dinner.

Well, yes, we did have ham… but it was the stuff that goes with the ham that we didn’t have. So instead of going home, Sam and I pointed the car toward the grocery store.

I bet you’re wondering what this has to do with Twitter, aren’t you? Here’s where Twitter comes in.

As we headed to the store, I (stopped at a red light, I might add) tweeted this:

By the time I pulled into the grocery store parking lot, a solid 90 seconds later, here’s what I saw.

Five brilliant answers from five people I don’t even know. How cool is that?

But it didn’t stop there. As I wandered down the mac & cheese aisle (I had to get the family sized big box to accommodate our guests. Did you know that it calls for a stick of butter? omg), I saw this tweet:

So I’m all:

I told you I was klassy.

So then VDog’s like:

Then Jennifer jumps in to help a sister out:

Which made VDog glad that not everyone in the fly-over states is a complete moron:

And I showed my gratitude to them both:

And then the OTHER Jennifer jumps in to tell me how to make this cous cous stuff:

MEANWHILE, I’m having a simultaneous conversation with ShaRhonda, that went something like this:

Keep in mind that all this took place while Sam and I were making a mad dash around the grocery store, and within a span of 15 minutes.

That is why I love twitter.

I had a need and instantly – instantly – multiple people were there to help out.

It wasn’t anything important, but I know that if I tweeted “Help! I’m lost in Chicago and can’t find my way back to the hotel!” or “omg Kate just fell out of a tree and I don’t know if I should take her to the ER. Is the bone sticking out a bad sign?” that my Tweeps would respond back immediately with directions or advice or prayers or whatever.

That, my friends, is why I love Twitter.

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