Giveaway Hickory Farms Gift Basket Salami & Cheddar Cheese Flight Holiday Assortment

Giveaway

This is a sponsored post

Few stores spark nostalgic memories like Hickory Farms which has been around for more than 60 years. Today, the American brand that hails from Ohio in the heart of the Midwest continues to serve up many of the same old-fashioned products they've been offering multiple generations since the beginning. Specialties like their reknowned cheeses, sausage and salamis that can be bought individually as well as in luxe gift baskets and boxes ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas giving. They also have a range of new contemporary products that will likely appeal to younger customers.

Hickory Farms Cheddar Flight & Salami Gift Box, MommyBlogExpert.com

What's inside this gift box, Image from Hickory Farms

Talking about all this delicious food is making you hungry, right? Lucky for you Hickory Farm aficionados! The iconic American brand is providing one Mommy Blog Expert reader with the chance to win the Hickory Farms Reserve Cheddar Flight with Salami gift box featured in this post that includes four handcrafted Wisconsin cheddar cheeses plus a savory salami.

Hickory Farms
Cheese Flight & Salami Gift Basket

GIVEAWAY

Ends 12/4/13 

The Prize up for grabs, MommyBlogExpert.com

This Hickory Farms Reserve Gift Box prize includes

• 5 Oz Apple Smoked Cheddar With Paprika 
• 5 Oz Smoked Garlic Cheddar 
• 5 Oz Classic Cheddar 
• 5 Oz 3 Year Aged Cheddar 
• 7 Oz Dry Aged Salami
• Beautifully gift boxed as shown
• Retails for $44.99

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This Hickory Farm and MommyBlogExpert (MBE) Giveaway ends December 4, 2013 at 12 am PT. Contest open to legal residents of the U.S. only. ONE (1) winner will receive the prize package described above. Winner of this MBE contest will be selected at random from all entries and will be notified via email and must respond within 24 hours to claim their prize.

Hickory Farms Elegant Gift Ribbon Label, MommyBlogExpert.com

Visit HickoryFarms.com or one of 700+ Holiday Market stores or kiosks in North America to purchase the brand's edibles and gift products. For additional information, promotions and more, follow the company on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

GOOD LUCK!

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Thanks to Online-Sweepstakes.com for including this contest in their directory of current giveaways.

FTC Disclosure: Compensation and products for review were provided by Hickory Farms via MomTrends to facilitate the associated review and this giveaway. However, opinions here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Nostalgic Hickory Farms Christmas Traditions

Celebrations

60 Years of Holiday Traditions

With Thanksgiving right around the corner and Christmas just over a month away, families across the U.S. are gearing up and looking forward to their unique holiday family traditions. If you observe those holidays, you may already be feeling a little nostalgic. 

Me with my fall harvest, Circa late 1960s

MBE partnered with Hickory Farms for this post

Here to help you get even more into the holiday spirit is Hickory Farms, a retailer that has been part of this American seasonal celebration of family and feasting for more than 60 years.

I know I remember as a child going to the local shopping center, as malls were called back then. Deeply ingrained in my memory is a very clear vision of seeing the Hickory Farms store decked out at Christmastime, bustling with shoppers picking up gifts for others and themselves. Chances are that you have your own recollections of this unique retail shop.

In 2013, Hickory Farms continues to pride itself on perpetuating that classic holiday tradition and being a part of multi-generational gatherings of friends and family past, present and future.

Today the brand maintains its popularity with consumers, bringing back year after year many of the same old-fashioned products they've always been known for -- like their iconic beautifully packaged gourmet cheese, salami and sausage gift boxes.  

To keep up with the latest trends and changes in modern tastes, the food specialty chain is equally adept at mixing in more contemporary edibles and gift items that appeal to today's young people, inspiring new traditions in the next generation such as the new Snowflake Pretzels being offering this season. 

Image provided by Hickory Farms

Where to Buy Hickory Farms

Consumers can shop at more than 700 Holiday Market stores and kiosks in North America, both in the U.S. and Canada, during the holiday season.  Additionally, you can shop online at Hickoryfarms.com year-round as well as by phone at 800-753-8558 so you don't have to wait all year to enjoy your favorites. Order by Monday, November 25 for 2-Day delivery in time for this Thanksgiving or by December 18 for standard shipment to arrive before Christmas.

Hickory Farms Reserve Elegant Gift Box

FTC Disclosure: Compensation and products for review were provided by Hickory Farms via MomTrends to facilitate this review and the associated giveaway. However, opinions here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Tech Use Interrupts Family Thanksgiving 64% of Parents Wish for Holiday Meal Device Ban

Technology

Before Thanksgiving it's a great time to talk turkey about replacing our mobile addictions with some quality family time.

Back in the day -- before personal computers arrived on the homefront -- it was simply about surviving the family drama among relatives during holiday gatherings between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. It seems some things never go out of style because today dysfunctional family dynamics are alive and well especially at this time of year. Thanks to technology that permeates nearly every aspect of our lives in 2013, though, now there's yet another layer of stress that is complicating modern family togetherness every day including during holiday celebrations.

Image by Raphael Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

Results just announced from the Tech Timeout survey conducted by Harris Interactive have unearthed to what extent tech has taken over our family and kids lives and how parents really feel about it.

Here's a peek through the keyhole at some noteworthy findings

• On average, a US resident admits to spending 6.5 hours per day on electronic devices outside of work
• 64% of US parents wish they could ban the use of technology during family holiday meals such as Thanksgiving
• 77% of US parents believe their family would benefit from taking a one hour break every day from technology

About Tech Timeout

Tech Timeout is an initiative started in February 2013 by Foresters, a life insurance provider, to inspire families, both kids and adults, to take a break from technology every day in favor of carving out more quality time to spend with loved ones. To enhance your family life you are invited to sign the digital pledge as well as see their free list of 50 Things to Do With Kids Without Technology by visiting TechTimeout.com.

Like this story? Then, I invite you to read another MommyBlogExpert post to get ideas on how the smallest changes can enhance the quality of family time.

FTC Disclosure: I did not receive any payment or compensation for this post sourced from Tech Timeout. Opinions are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Gortons Wicked Good Seafood Coupons & Swag Fish Prize Package Giveaway

Giveaway
Ends 12/9/13

This is a sponsored post

Image from Gorton's

Gorton's Wicked Good Seafood fish products are one of my go-to foods for those times when my four teens come home hungry, which seems to be happening frequently these days with 16 year-old triplets and their big brother. The brand is also a great base ingredient for some of my favorite foods including this original, easy Tilapia Fish Mexican Fiesta recipe I created for this blog.

Keep reading, because immediately below you'll learn how you can enter to win a Gorton's Wicked Good Seafood prize package that includes store coupons and fun swag for seafaring fish lovers of all ages.

Gorton's Prize Package, MommyBlogExpert.com

Gorton's Seafood 
Coupon & Swag

GIVEAWAY

Ends 12/9/13 

Prize Package includes

• THREE (3) $2 off Gorton's store coupons
• ONE (1) Gorton's branded silvertone ship wheel keychain in box
• Assorted Gorton's recipe cards
• A collection of seaside/Gorton's postcards

Gorton's engraved key chain, MommyBlogExpert.com

This Gorton's MommyBlogExpert (MBE) Giveaway ends December 9, 2013 at 12 am PT. Contest open to legal residents of the U.S. only. ONE (1) winner will receive the prize package described above. Winner of this MBE contest will be selected at random from all entries and will be notified via email and must respond within 48 hours to claim their prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Image from Gorton's

To learn more about Gorton's, the iconic Gorton's Fisherman, responsible fish sourcing practics and everything else the brand is doing, visit Gortons.com. For additional information, promotions and more, follow the company on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube.

GOOD LUCK!

More Family-Friendly
Mommy Blog Expert Giveaways

ENTER Them All HERE

Thanks to Online-Sweepstakes.com for including this contest in their directory of current giveaways.

FTC Disclosure: This is a compensated post. I disclose that I received product coupons and other items in exchange for hosting this giveaway and writing the related Gorton's review. Gorton's is providing the prize and shipping for this giveaway. However no payment was received and opinions here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Gortons Wicked Good Seafood Review Delicious Fish Ready in a Flash for Hungry Teens

Good Food

This is a sponsored post

Enter to win a Gorton's Prize Package

Image from Gorton's

Working as a brand ambassador for Gorton's Seafood is lots of fun because it gets me to think outside the box about a popular consumer food company that has been around for over 150 years. It's a brand that I have been buying regularly for years that keeps reinventing itself to meet the needs and wants of contemporary families. 

Me at Gorton's Booth, BlogHer 2013 Chicago, MommyBlogExpert.com

In May, I created this original Tilapia Fish Mexican Fiesta recipe using the brand's ready-to-cook Gorton's Skillet Crisp Tilapia. Now I'm back to share more with readers about Gorton's Wicked Good Seafood and what makes this company and their fish products so desirable when you have chronically hungry teens like I do.

As a former PR executive now a full-time lifestyle blogger and social media strategist, I especially appreciated the Gorton's press kit I received for the campaign. This media kit was cleverly packaged, literally, inside one of the brand's new zip close resealable bags. 

Gorton's fisherman USB w/ press bag added to fun, MommyBlogExpert.com

My family of six does enjoy eating together and I love creating recipes like that delicious Tilapia Fiesta Fish for my appreciative DH and kids. The reality is, though, that with four teens with irregular and busy schedules, I sometimes find that I turn into a short order cook who prepares dinner for each of them on a different timetable.

Gorton's in-store display, Image by MommyBlogExpert.com

To make sure I'm prepared at home for feeding frenzies that are bound to occur at random moments, I always keep our freezer stocked with the Gorton's fish varieties we like most. As a matter of fact, it's often my go-to protein source ingredient on those hectic school nights when my kids come home one by one, starving and wanting to eat RIGHT NOW. 

Teen temperaments permitting, I'll sometimes bring my iPad into the kitchen and use one of the many creative fish recipes on Gorton's site. But more often,  each kid picks their personal favorite out of the freezer and I'll prepare anywhere between 1-4 pieces of fish per person (sometimes even more for my big guys).

Gorton's Fish Sandwich Fillets, Image from Gorton's

Gorton's Fish Sandwich Fillets in 10 minutes, MommyBlogExpert.com

Recipe

10-Minute Teen Fish Sandwich

Like many other teens, mine usually come home ravenous and they don't have a lot of patience to wait around for me to make dinner. The directions on the package of Gorton's Fish Sandwich Fillets, for example, instructs you to bake in the oven a total of about 28-30 minutes. 

But what I do when the kids are really in a rush and can't wait that long, is microwave the fish for about a minute to thaw. Next, I put it in the oven on broil for 5-10 minutes, flipping it once and watching it carefully so it doesn't burn until it looks brown and crispy. Lastly, I add a sesame seed bun, lettuce, tomato and onion, with a side of dipping sauce, and -- as the package declares -- I'm done! 

The kids love this and so do I because it's simple and fast, taking less than half the preparation time listed on the box. For sure, it's a win-win for both this home cook and her demanding "customers."

Buffalo Fish Sandwich, Image from Gortons

Now, with all this talk about Gorton's delicious fish offerings, aren't you getting hungry? Maybe, even thinking about cooking up some for your own kids or teenagers? To help you out, thanks to the brand, I'm pleased to be hosting a Gorton's Wicked Seafood Giveaway with prizes that include coupons and branded swag. You can also download a $1 off Gorton's store coupon here.

Image from Gorton's

To learn more about Gorton's, the iconic Gorton's Fisherman, responsible fish sourcing practics and everything else the brand is doing, visit Gortons.com. For additional information, promotions and more, follow the company on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube.

FTC Disclosure: This #WickedGoodSeafood review is a compensated post. I disclose that I received free product coupons and other items in exchange for writing this review and hosting the associated prize package giveaway. However no payment was received and opinions here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.