Winner: Yonanas Classic Ice Cream Maker Giveaway

Thank you everyone for participating in the Yonanas Classic Banana Ice Cream Maker contest via blog comments, twitter, instagram and leaving comments on the SweetThings' facebook page.

The winner is....

 ... a Twitter Entry from @valerieann47  Congratulations!  I will be contacting you shortly to get your address to ship the Yonanas to you

Recipe: Paleo/Vegan/Gluten-free Banana Ice Cream Treat

Only a few more days to enter the Yonanas Classic contest.  Full Contest Details here and make sure you enter before Thursday, July 9th at midnight.

Here are the amazing little banana ice cream treats that I made for my daughter's 4th birthday party - the recipe is below.

Paleo/Vegan/Gluten-free Banana Ice Cream Treat 

Step 1:  Make your crust and let it cool. You can use any regular pie crust recipe, but you probably only need 1/4 of it.  I used a 6" square pan and the following recipe:

• 3/4 cup ground pumpkin seeds (or almonds)
• 1 tbsp arrowroot powder
• 2 tbsp molasses
• 1 tbsp avocado (or coconut) oil
• 1/4 tsp sea salt 

Mix together and press in pan lined with parchment paper.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes (or until slightly browned).

Step 2: Follow the instructions in the Yonanas maker and make 3 flavors.  I only ended up using about 4 frozen bananas. I started with the lightest color - pineapple, then raspberry, then blueberry - so the color wouldn't bleed too much.

With your cooled crust, spread your first flavor on and/ put in the freezer for a few minutes.

Step 3:  Remove from freezer and spread the next flavor.  Then re-freeze for a few minutes.  Repeat with final flavor.

Step 4:  Slice it up and place on small cupcake holders.  You can store them in freezer until they are ready to be served.

Contest: Yonanas Banana Ice Cream Maker

Happy Canada Day and it's time for a contest!  I received a Yonanas Banana Ice Cream maker to test out some recipes, but I already had one.  So, one Yonanas "Classic" Ice Cream Make will be awarded to one of my lucky blog readers in Canada.  Contest starts today until Thursday, July 9th, 2015 - details below.

What can I do with this machine?

You can make this gorgeous Gluten-Free/Grain-Free/Paleo/Vegan Banana Ice Cream Layered treat!  This recipe will be posted on Tuesday.

How to Enter

1. Leave a comment on my blog - make sure you leave me your email address so I can get a hold of you if you win.  Or send an email to info(at)sweetthings(dot)ca if you'd prefer.
2. For 1 additional entry, visit the SweetThings Facebook page and leave a comment.
3. For another 1 additional entry, follow me on Twitter @SweetThingsTO and tweet the following including the shortened url:  I want to win the #Yonanas Classic from @SweetThingsTO and @Yonanas http://goo.gl/ZVDw6p
4. For another 1 additional entry, follow me on Instagram and leave me a comment
5. A maximum of 4 entries per person.  Available only in Canada.
6. Deadline for entry is Thursday, July 9th, 2015 at midnight EST.
7. One winner will be randomly selected and posted on Friday, July 10th, 2011.  Also notified via email.  The Yonanas Classic (valued at $50 at Loblaws, Canadian Tire and Walmart) will be shipped to you.

Good Luck Everyone!

Craftsy Review and Contest Giveaway!

Have you heard of Craftsy?  Some of you might be like me, as you may have signed up but haven't had a chance to take a course.  They have created this wonderful system where you can easily take online classes for cake decorating, sewing and so much more.

I am not trying to sell you anything - I'm actually going to tell you about 2 of their FREE cake decorating classes.  They are not paying me or giving me anything to do this review - they will actually give one of you a free Craftsy cake decorating class - so make sure you enter to win.

If you are a cake decorator, seamstress or crafter - you probably have lots of quiet time working some late hours.  Usually when I'm decorating or creating sugarpaste decorations, I have my iPad playing in the background with food network or some mindless reality show.

It only took me a few minutes to figure out the Craftsy system and the neat features. I realized that I could watch a course while I was in cake-mode and easily re-watch later.  I watched these 2 free classes.

1) Modern Buttercream with Joshua John Russell

• Firstly, this class is free and jam-packed with a ton of information.  If you've seen Joshua on Food Network - he's pretty awesome and generously shares how he does things.  Whether you are a beginner or professional, there is a cool tip to try or just interesting to know how another caker does it.

• I'm not sure the full length of the videos as it was in several parts, but it must've been a couple hours total.  I kept thinking that it would stop and you'd have to pay more to see how the cake turns out.  You really got to see the cake from start to finish - tons of tips along the way.
• Joshua is quite a perfectionist like many cakers.  I really like how he said it was "simple".  But in actual fact, he is really passionate about making his cakes perfect and he provided "simple in the highest quality".  It allows the viewer to decide what degree they want to follow the techniques.  It also allows people to appreciate what goes into making a cake.
• I would highly recommend this class and if all the other classes provide as many tips, viewpoints and ideas - that is awesome!

2) The Hand Painted Cake with Erin Schaefgen

• Another free class that I watched during my late nights making sugarpaste decorations.  Erin shares some great color tips like "How do you make grey?" and I just had that problem the other week.  She also gave the best explanation about the use of a little pencil to outline designs on a cake.
• She also re-affirmed my thoughts when I do free-hand painting on cakes.  A lot of this video was her painting in different techniques, which I probably couldn't sit there and watch.  But, it was actually nice to to have this in the background, glance up once in a while and listen to her talk.  I actually didn't feel so lonely in the wee hours caking :-)

I would definitely recommend that you at least watch the free classes.  Make sure you enter to win a free Craftsy cake decorating class:

1. Jump over to Craftsy to enter your name.  One entry per person.
2. Deadline for entry is Monday, June 17th, 2013 at 8pm EST.
3. One winner will be randomly selected and notified in a week. 

Lastly, if you want additional free tips, you have to check out their blog and youtube channel.  A ton of helpful info for everyone!

Winner: Cupcake Diaries Book Giveaway

Thank you everyone for participating in the Cupcake Diaries book giveaway via blog comments, email submissions, twitter and leaving comments on the SweetThings' facebook page. Also a big Thank you to the folks at Harper Collins Canada for sending over the books.

The winner is....

 ... a Facebook Entry from Nicole C.  Congratulations!  I will be contacting you shortly to get your address to mail the book out to you! 

For those of you in Toronto, the sisters Katherine Kallinis and Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne will be at Indigo Yorkdale on Tuesday, November 22nd at 7pm.  Have a great weekend everyone!

Contest: Cupcake Diaries Book Giveaway

Happy Friday!  I'm happy to announce another book giveaway!  I received a wonderful package from Harper Collins Canada this week.  A copy of The Cupcake Diaries: Recipes and Memories from the Sisters of Georgetown Cupcakes.  These are the ladies from the show DC Cupcakes.

One book will be given to one of my lucky blog readers in Canada or USA.  Contest starts today until Thursday, November 17th, 2011 - details below.

There are so many recipes in this book - some of them include: Salted Caramel Cupcakes, White Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes, Bacon Blueberry Pancake Cupcakes, Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Lava Fudge and Hibiscus Mango Cupcakes.

How to Enter

1. Jump over to the Harper Collins Canada website and just pay them a visit to see what they are up to.
2. Leave a comment on my blog - make sure you leave me your email address so I can get a hold of you if you win.  Or send an email to info(at)sweetthings(dot)ca if you'd prefer.
3. For 1 additional entry, visit the SweetThings Facebook page and leave a comment.
4. For another 1 additional entry, follow me on Twitter @SweetThingsTO and tweet the following including the shortened url:  I want to win the new Cupcake Diaries Book from @SweetThingsTO and @HarperCollinsCA http://bit.ly/vQpIwP #Cupcakes
5. A maximum of 3 entries per person.  Available in Canada and USA.
6. Deadline for entry is Thursday, November 17th, 2011 at midnight EST.
7. One winner will be randomly selected and posted on Friday, November 18th, 2011 at noon.  Also notified via email.  The book will be shipped to you.

Good luck everyone! And for those of you in Toronto, the sisters Katherine Kallinis and Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne will be Indigo Yorkdale on Tuesday, November 22nd at 7pm.

Winner: Cake Boss Book Giveaway

Thank you everyone for participating in the Cake Boss Book giveaway contest via blog comments, email submissions, twitter and leaving comments on the SweetThings' facebook page. Also a big Thank you to the folks at Simon & Schuster Canada for sending over the books.

The winner is....

 ... a Twitter entry from Dat757Deeva.  Congratulations!  I will be contacting you shortly to get your address to mail the book out to you!

For everyone else, please check back in on Friday for another contest book giveaway!  Another book hot off the press... but this time, it's about cupcakes!

Contest: New Cake Boss Book Giveaway

Don't you just love getting packages in the mail?  Here's a lovely package I received last week from the folks at Simon & Schuster Canada.   It is a copy of the new Baking with the Cake Boss: 100 of Buddy's Best Recipes and Decorating Secrets which just launched today!

Even better, they sent me two!  One book will be given to one of my lucky blog readers in Canada or USA.  Contest starts today until Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 - details below:

 Here's a little peak at what is inside:

 I know that I will definitely be trying to make these lovely cannoli's.

How to Enter

1. Jump over to the Simon & Schuster website and just pay them a visit to see what they are up to.
2. Leave a comment on my blog - make sure you leave me your email address so I can get a hold of you if you win.  Or send an email to info(at)sweetthings(dot)ca if you'd prefer.
3. For 1 additional entry, visit the SweetThings Facebook page and leave a comment.
4. For another 1 additional entry, follow me on Twitter @SweetThingsTO and tweet the following including the shortened url:  I want to win the new Cake Boss Book from @SweetThingsTO and @SimonSchusterCA  http://bit.ly/tkOdWr
5. A maximum of 3 entries per person.  Available in Canada and USA.
6. Deadline for entry is Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 at midnight EST.
7. One winner will be randomly selected and posted on Wednesday, November 9th, 2011 at noon.  Also notified via email.  The book will be shipped to you.

Good luck everyone!

Winner: Tetley Tea Gift Basket

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Tetley Tea Colour Therapy Gift Basket contest.   But before I get to the winner, a sneak peek of a 1st birthday cake I did this weekend.  What a wonderful colour palette:   chocolate brown and pale blue.

Now, onto the contest.... Thank you everyone for participating in the contest via blog comments, email submissions and leaving comments on the SweetThings' facebook page.  And a big Thank you to Tetley Tea Canada for providing the wonderful gift basket.
The winner of the wonderful Tetley Tea Colour Therapy gift basket worth approx. $70 with 2 containers of each tea, a canister/teapot and 50 mood influencing gift card is.....

Congratulations to edmontonjb!  I will be sending you an email to get your address to send you this lovely gift basket.  Have a wonderful day everyone!

Contest: Tetley Colour Therapy Gift Basket

A sneak peak of the a cute baby shower cake that I made this weekend.  One of the things I loved about this cake was the colour palette.  I will post more on this cake on my regular Tuesday blog post.

Speaking of COLOUR.... Tetley Tea has a new line of herbal teas based on how colour influences our lives every day.  Our surroundings and colour choices can have dramatic effects on our mood and well- being.  You can discover which tea will suit your mood by visiting their website.

Even better.... Enter this contest!  Tetley Canada has provided me with this gift basket for one of my readers to win.  Available in Canada, excluding Quebec.

Win this Tetley Colour Therapy gift basket worth approx. $70 with 2 containers of each tea, a canister/teapot and 50 mood influencing gift cards.  Deadline for entry is Friday, December 17th, 2010 at midnight EST.

How to Enter

1. Visit the the Tetley Colour Therapy website and tell me what tea or colour you selected
2. Leave a comment on my blog - make sure you leave me your email address so I can get a hold of you if you win.  Or send an email to info(at)sweetthings(dot)ca if you'd prefer.
3. For an additional entry, visit the SweetThings Facebook page and leave a comment.
4. A maximum of 2 entries per person.  Available in Canada, excluding Quebec.
5. Deadline for entry is Friday, December 17th, 2010 at midnight EST.
6. One winner will be randomly selected and posted on Saturday, December 18th, 2010 at noon.  Also notified via email.  The gift basket will be shipped to you.

Good luck everyone!  Have a colourful day!