This is my first giveaway! I’m so excited, because as you have read over my recent posts, Christmas is about giving to others. AND I get to give to YOU, so maybe that makes me a selfish, Christmas Spirit hoarder. I’m fine with that.
I was contacted by Ile de France a few weeks ago, and they wanted to give YOU somethings. Making me so excited to be the middle man in this little transaction.
Let me back up and tell you all a little about how the blogger/product-company relationships work. I had no idea about any of this when I jumped head first into the blog world 6 months ago, but it really is a fun perk. You start a blog, you write about food, people read it, your traffic grows and then product companies and PR people email you and want to send you stuff! For free! There isn’t any catch. They want you love their products and write recipes for them, but there is no obligation. I have even seen bloggers write BAD reviews of products, which is not my style. A PR girl once told me, "Advertisers PAY for space, PR people PRAY for space." They just send it and hope.
I have companies write me all the time and ask if they can send products to me. I am always so excited, and proud that they found my little blog worthy of the shipping charges, but I have some rules about this:
I only accept products that I like, or think I will like.
I never take a product that I would never write about. For instance, even though I may from time to time have a package of pre-made food in my house, I would never write a recipe about a box of Mac N Cheese (for instance) so I would never accept that from a company who offerend. Even if I knew I was going out of town and Mr. Fits would use it. To me, it’s unethical to accept it knowing I would never write about it.
Even if I accept something that I hope to love and write about, I never feel obligated to do so. My integrity as a blogger and your respect means more to me than a box of chocolate or a vat of olive oil. I will never say that I love I product unless I do. If I mention a product it’s because I really do like it.
Ile de France contacted me and I was glad to accept their Roquefort Cheese, because I have used it and do really like it. Although I like to buy my fancy shmancy cheese from local artisan cheese stores, I also like to give my readers all over the US (and the world) options that are easy for them. Ile De France is sold in the grocery store, and still schmancy enough to fool cheese snobs. AND they wanted to give you this beautiful gift that is perfect for your New Years Party:
Four beautiful cheeses, a fabulous cheese dome, and a cheese knife.
Won’t you look fancy as the owner and operator of a cheese dome. It’s so grown up.
I don’t even have one, but I love and admire them at parties. As if you have reached a whole new level of entertaining if you have an entire centerpiece dedicated to cheese. This one is beautiful, and one of those things that you would never really buy for yourself, but would end up using every time you have people over. What did you ever do before your cheese dome?!
All you have to do to enter is to comment on this post, and make sure and leave your email address in the comment form (not in the actual comment). I’ll use a random number generator to choose the winner and then contact you by email for your address. And those nice people from Ile de France will send it over to you.
Contest is open as soon as this post goes up and ends December 14th at High Noon (PST). So comment quick! Only a few days! Everyone in your house can enter, just have them all write separate comments with separate email addresses.
The winner will be announced Wednesday afternoon on my Facebook page. "Like" the page to receive the announcement in your feed.
And now, here is what I did with that wonderful, smelly, tangy Rouquefort that those nice people form Ile de France sent me:
Rouquefort, Dried Cherry & Bacon Wontons
12-14 wonton or gyoza wrapers(you can buy them in most major grocery stores, usually by the Tofu)
1/3 cup dried cherries
1 3.5 oz package of Ile De France Cheese (Roquefort, Blue OR even my favorite of all: Goat Cheese)
3 strips of bacon, cooked, and chopped into bacon bits
1/4 cup water
3 tbs olive oil
Lay the wonton wrappers on a flat surface.
Top with 3-4 dried cherries, then top with 1 tsp cheese, sprinkle with about 1/2 tsp bacon.
Moisten the edges of the wrapper with water.
Fold the wrapper in half and secure the edges well with your fingers.
Repeat for all wrappers.
Heat the oil oil in a large pan until hot but not smoking. Working in batches (making sure not to over crowd the pan) cook the wontons on each side until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove from the pan and allow to cool and drain on a paper towel. Serve warm.
Congrats to Dee, Number 55! She is our winner!
Thank you SO much to everyone who entered. Wish I had 141 more to give out.
What a great combination! I never thought of wonton wrappers. We tried puff pastry and crescent rolls, but I can’t wait to try this. You may wince, but I may also try it with veggie bacon for my non pig eating friends.
Mnomnomnom cheese! I am really looking forward to my Christmas cheese board which is normally a tray covered in foil! A dome would look somewhat better eh?!
It’s time for me to "grow up"! I would love the cheese dome and all the cheese! Love your blog. I look forward to each installment. Any ideas with wontons are top on my list.
Cheese is my favourite,love to buy all the different cheeses for chrismas.I’m on a diet but still have cheese within my allowance.Would love to win this prize as having a cheese & wine evening on New Years Eve,so fingers crossed i’m lucky!!
Christine Bray / @chrriss88
December 13, 2011 um 12:12 pm
Fabulous cheese 's the recipe looks mouth watering (I dont cook ) but I do eat lots of cheese please enter me into your comp if you are accepting UK entries! x
I love the wontons! Amazing! Cherries (and especially dried cherries) are possibly one of my favourite things ever and I love when I find recipes – not only desserts – that use them. Yummy!!
Wow! Everything on here looks lovely. Would love to win the cheese dome as I am patial to cheese and me and my partner are going to have some chill out time Christmas Eve with soem cheese and grapes before the chaos begins on Christmas Day!
Comments
Miranda @ Living One Bite at a Time December 12, 2011 um 11:18 am
Wow, those wontons are really cool! I never would’ve thought to make something like that. Also, I love cheese!!!
Pav December 13, 2011 um 8:14 am
Wow, fantastic recipe, I would love to recreate it during the festive season!
If you accept entries for the competition from the UK, please count me in 🙂
German Mama December 12, 2011 um 11:19 am
Wow, this sounds great! I love to make wontons and I am very curious to try this combination of flavors.
Jessica December 12, 2011 um 11:39 am
Yum! Looks great. I like that it’s only a few ingredients.
Renee December 12, 2011 um 11:45 am
Those do look really good & easy!
T December 12, 2011 um 11:46 am
I just found your blog and everything looks amazing! This one too! I think I will have to try it.
Stacey December 12, 2011 um 11:49 am
Very pretty! The wontons are a great idea!
Jey December 12, 2011 um 11:52 am
These sound amazing! I might have to add these to my NYE menu!
Eva @ Eva Bakes December 12, 2011 um 12:16 pm
Looks great!
The Home Cook December 12, 2011 um 12:21 pm
Wow, those look delicious! I love cheese and this sounds like a great giveaway.
Jasmine December 12, 2011 um 12:21 pm
Looks yummy.
PhotoMommi December 12, 2011 um 12:33 pm
love your blog!
Cheri December 12, 2011 um 1:02 pm
You had me at Roquefort…
Lindsay December 12, 2011 um 1:30 pm
These look delicious!
Brianna December 12, 2011 um 1:51 pm
Those wontons sound delicious! Roquefort and dried fruit are a match made in heaven. and bacon too? yes please.
Ange December 12, 2011 um 1:58 pm
I need to make these!
missy December 12, 2011 um 2:05 pm
those look beautiful!
Paula December 12, 2011 um 2:12 pm
nothing cheesy about your delicious recipe and offer.
Hezzi-D December 12, 2011 um 2:12 pm
I love cheese-it’s one of my favorite things to eat. Your wontons look amazing!
Miss Nirvana December 12, 2011 um 2:27 pm
Cool giveaway! I love cheese.
Lindsey December 12, 2011 um 2:36 pm
Looks great!!! Yummm
Caroline Barbee December 12, 2011 um 2:44 pm
My parents are coming to visit this weekend, I have been searching for something impressive, this is it 🙂 thank you!!
Tasha December 12, 2011 um 2:47 pm
What a great combination! I never thought of wonton wrappers. We tried puff pastry and crescent rolls, but I can’t wait to try this. You may wince, but I may also try it with veggie bacon for my non pig eating friends.
Lindsay {Life and Kitchen} December 12, 2011 um 4:26 pm
I love putting stuff in wonton wrappers. This is so creative!
Live Learn Love December 12, 2011 um 4:26 pm
This is so elegant! I’d love to win.
Annette W December 12, 2011 um 4:28 pm
We would love to have this for our Christmas party!
Jenni H December 12, 2011 um 4:36 pm
That is pretty! Much better than the paper plate our Thanksgiving cheese ball sat on! lol!
Joanna December 12, 2011 um 4:38 pm
ooohhh those look yummy!
Becca December 12, 2011 um 5:27 pm
Wow, that looks delicious! I’ll have to try it soon!
Sara December 12, 2011 um 5:48 pm
These look fabulous! I am always looking for a new appetizer. Can’t wait to try these!
Melissa December 12, 2011 um 6:13 pm
Looks so yummy!! I had a muffin once that had goat cheese, cherries and bacon as the topping. The flavors really did compliment each other…
Sara December 12, 2011 um 6:14 pm
That recipe looks awesome! And I love Ile de France cheese-I’ll have to try it one day!
Melissa December 12, 2011 um 6:29 pm
I love all three of those cheeses you suggested, and I bet they’d all be equally delicious in this recipe!
Molly Jean @ The Rookie Chef December 12, 2011 um 6:36 pm
Bacon wontons?! SHUT THE FRONT DOOR. These would be a delicious change of pace in our house… great giveaway!
Name Andi McGrew December 13, 2011 um 4:46 am
I’m going to try these!
nigel December 13, 2011 um 5:54 am
would go great with my home made merlot
Cara December 13, 2011 um 5:56 am
I am massive of cheese. Great for Christmas party and fab giveaway!
Hazel Wright December 13, 2011 um 5:58 am
Mnomnomnom cheese! I am really looking forward to my Christmas cheese board which is normally a tray covered in foil! A dome would look somewhat better eh?!
Angela Parker December 13, 2011 um 6:00 am
Looks delicious!
Harpal Kaur December 13, 2011 um 6:02 am
mmm amazing – would love this
Ann Mckenna December 13, 2011 um 6:02 am
I’ve never owned a cheese dome but would love one. Also, I love cheese, especially French cheeses, so would be very happy to win this prize.
KELLY December 13, 2011 um 6:05 am
yummy – Im a chees a holic!
ashleigh December 13, 2011 um 6:05 am
What a great giveaway, please include me – i would love to win!
Emma Warner December 13, 2011 um 6:10 am
Yum Yum!
Joseph Watson December 13, 2011 um 6:10 am
These look scrumptious
valerie mccarthy December 13, 2011 um 6:13 am
Yum! A fab prize.
Robyn Clarke December 13, 2011 um 6:14 am
I love cheese and have always wanted a cheese board and dome. Looks so classy. MMM
KellyM December 13, 2011 um 6:16 am
The wontons look smashing. I could see making them like mini calzones and them being hoovered up by the little ones!
tobias batchelor December 13, 2011 um 6:16 am
excellent
Joe Balinas December 13, 2011 um 6:18 am
looks really good! roquefort is the best
kerri dunn December 13, 2011 um 6:19 am
wow they look lovely!! love the cheese board! oh please pick me
Tom Hampson December 13, 2011 um 6:21 am
I <3 Cheese.
Alison Barker December 13, 2011 um 6:22 am
Lovely prize
Stephanie Harrison December 13, 2011 um 6:22 am
Great prize, thank you and the wontons look amazing
Dee December 13, 2011 um 6:23 am
Cheese is my favourite food, and not as fattening as you think, as long as you don’t eat it with lots of carbohydrates.
x
Simon Moore December 13, 2011 um 6:25 am
Wow, I would love to give these a go.
Filipa Alexandre December 13, 2011 um 6:26 am
I simply love the cheese board!
Jennifer Schofield December 13, 2011 um 6:36 am
Looks fantastic – and the prize does too!
Trevor Waddleton December 13, 2011 um 6:45 am
Great idea for a comp. and great looking cheese!
Christina Hedges December 13, 2011 um 6:50 am
Baby is due in a few weeks.. would love some cheese to celebrate!:)
Love the glass dome its lovely
diane findlay December 13, 2011 um 6:52 am
great recipee i think ill try that out
Nancy Blue December 13, 2011 um 6:53 am
It’s time for me to "grow up"! I would love the cheese dome and all the cheese! Love your blog. I look forward to each installment. Any ideas with wontons are top on my list.
Karianne December 13, 2011 um 6:57 am
I LOVE CHEESE! 🙂
Emma Webster December 13, 2011 um 6:59 am
Oh my – that looks so yummy! it’s christmas yummies!
Jen Rogers December 13, 2011 um 7:05 am
I can almost smell this lovely prize!
Jo Jones December 13, 2011 um 7:12 am
These look so simple to do
Bernie December 13, 2011 um 7:14 am
My son in law is a cheese monster and would adore this!!
Alison Bruce December 13, 2011 um 7:17 am
Love to win
STUART HARGREAVES December 13, 2011 um 7:29 am
cheese always finishes off the meal
sehadre anirood December 13, 2011 um 7:33 am
Yum yum, Mama Mia,fab prize!
Brenda corr December 13, 2011 um 7:44 am
Wow, those look delicious! I love cheese and this sounds like a great giveaway.
sarah garvey December 13, 2011 um 7:59 am
Mmm… Those wontons look amazing. I don’t eat meat, but I’m sure it would taste just as good with meatless bacon.
MARK ENTWISLE December 13, 2011 um 7:59 am
I LOVE CHEESE.
DENISE W December 13, 2011 um 8:03 am
Lovely idea looks very tasty great prize too thank you.
Max December 13, 2011 um 8:33 am
I bought tickets to the millennium dome in 2000. I was thoroughly disappointed.
If I win this I think that I will finally be able to move on.
Fantastic.
Cheese.
Debra Schramm December 13, 2011 um 8:55 am
That wonton recipe is fabulous! I can’t wait to make it. I love cheese and would love to win this prize.
Natty December 13, 2011 um 8:57 am
awesome dude!
Kari December 13, 2011 um 8:58 am
Those wontons look fantastic!
Anthony Bravender December 13, 2011 um 9:04 am
Great prize thanks
sally collins December 13, 2011 um 9:08 am
this would impress the in laws at christmas time!!!!!!
Lorna Totton December 13, 2011 um 9:08 am
Sounds absolutely delicious. Would love to win as i love all cheese.
Denise Sansum December 13, 2011 um 9:10 am
SAY CHEESE!!!
Lewis Pontin December 13, 2011 um 9:11 am
great prize to be won
lee burton December 13, 2011 um 9:11 am
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm what eles can i say
ValB December 13, 2011 um 9:37 am
What would life be without cheese !
suzanne sendell December 13, 2011 um 9:45 am
lovely prize,Ideal for christmas
Tina Corder December 13, 2011 um 9:49 am
Wow cheese I think I should have been born a mouse. Yum yum
Julz December 13, 2011 um 10:03 am
Another cheese fan here!
Val H December 13, 2011 um 10:10 am
Fiongers crossed.
emma holder December 13, 2011 um 10:14 am
our family love cheese ,would make our xmas 🙂
Name December 13, 2011 um 10:21 am
Cheese is my favourite,love to buy all the different cheeses for chrismas.I’m on a diet but still have cheese within my allowance.Would love to win this prize as having a cheese & wine evening on New Years Eve,so fingers crossed i’m lucky!!
nikki L December 13, 2011 um 10:27 am
Great! Will have to give these a go!
suzanna gentle December 13, 2011 um 10:45 am
I would never have thought to put dried cherries together with bacon but am gonna try this recipe. Will let you know how i go 🙂
Pete Hewitt December 13, 2011 um 10:47 am
Sounds Tasty
Melanie Edjourian December 13, 2011 um 10:53 am
oooooooooo yummmmmmmyyyy fancy coming over and making me some 😉
Kaz December 13, 2011 um 11:06 am
Gorgeous lovely cheeses please let me try some xxxxxxxx
Lottiegirl December 13, 2011 um 11:07 am
That looks great for a starter over Christmas – my hubby loves blue cheese!
Lisa Wilkinson December 13, 2011 um 11:21 am
I could have done with this last week at my flat-warming. I did a cheeseboard but it soon dried out.
Cheryl Lovell December 13, 2011 um 11:23 am
This would be fab on my boxing day buffet!
paulam December 13, 2011 um 11:45 am
my mouth is watering!
RENA PLUMRIDGE December 13, 2011 um 11:51 am
would love to win yummy !
Lindsey Jones December 13, 2011 um 11:56 am
I love cheese x
Christine Bray / @chrriss88 December 13, 2011 um 12:12 pm
Fabulous cheese 's the recipe looks mouth watering (I dont cook ) but I do eat lots of cheese please enter me into your comp if you are accepting UK entries! x
cadizzy December 13, 2011 um 12:21 pm
Would love this
Rachel December 13, 2011 um 12:28 pm
Looks absolutely delicious!
Leigh Larkin December 13, 2011 um 12:40 pm
Hmm! The wontons look fab. Googled them after seeing them being made so many times on Australian Masterchef….
Claire December 13, 2011 um 12:48 pm
The wontons look perfect as a starter! Might have to try out the recipe:)
Yvonne December 13, 2011 um 12:49 pm
Looking at the wontons makes me want to try making some with turkey and dried cranberries as a Christmas dinner starter.
Michael December 13, 2011 um 12:50 pm
The cheese dome looks amazing, although there wouldn’t be cheese in it for very long!
Jonathan December 13, 2011 um 12:51 pm
Cheese has to be my favourite snack of all time, would love that cheese dome to put on my kitchen table!
Jack December 13, 2011 um 12:54 pm
The wontons look great, although I’d probably eat all the cheese before having a chance to make anything with it!
Glenn Hutton December 13, 2011 um 12:55 pm
Gorgeous prize!
jennie jackson December 13, 2011 um 1:04 pm
mmmm this would make my christmas extra special
Paul Witney December 13, 2011 um 1:22 pm
Looks lovely.
Allan Hill December 13, 2011 um 1:39 pm
cheese me up
Trish December 13, 2011 um 2:07 pm
Look fabulous and so easy to make, even I could do it!
Debbie Bird December 13, 2011 um 2:37 pm
These look amazing and I love cheese should have been a mouse
Wila Jones December 13, 2011 um 2:55 pm
Fabulous prize and great recipe, thank you
A Capps December 13, 2011 um 3:01 pm
Looks yummy!
judith luscombe December 13, 2011 um 3:03 pm
This is an amazing prize, will look really classy on my dining table should I win.
Cathryn Bowen December 13, 2011 um 3:07 pm
what a perfect centre piece for my xmas party – lovely give away thank you x
Louise Dray December 13, 2011 um 3:07 pm
They look great the prize and wontons
Andy Wilmore December 13, 2011 um 3:37 pm
Those wontons make my mouth water…..Drooool !
Margy December 13, 2011 um 3:47 pm
I love the wontons! Amazing! Cherries (and especially dried cherries) are possibly one of my favourite things ever and I love when I find recipes – not only desserts – that use them. Yummy!!
Kirsty O’Neill December 13, 2011 um 3:47 pm
They look AMAZING!!!
Louise Comb December 13, 2011 um 3:50 pm
I would love to win this yummy prize. Fingers crossed, not easy while typing.
Emma Holness December 13, 2011 um 4:33 pm
The look great. I’d love to win.
Kim Bee December 13, 2011 um 7:03 pm
Wow, you really nailed this recipe. I’m not usually a big cheese kind of a gal but this has me drooling all over my keyboard. Just beautiful!
Adrian December 13, 2011 um 7:39 pm
Congratulations on your first give away! I can’t wait to be even happy when I am eating some won cheese 😉
Sarah Parker December 13, 2011 um 11:14 pm
would love to win 🙂
Justin Parker December 13, 2011 um 11:15 pm
Please enter me
antonia December 14, 2011 um 12:35 am
well yummy
ben audsley December 14, 2011 um 2:10 am
looks an amazing prize to me!
Rosemary Drummond December 14, 2011 um 2:16 am
They look amazing! I would love to make these and share them at Christmas!
Claire Higgins December 14, 2011 um 2:29 am
They look really handy for making some unique finger food, xxx
beth December 14, 2011 um 3:26 am
mmmmmm…cheesetastic!
Judy Wright December 14, 2011 um 3:27 am
Mmmm, I love cheese!
Nicole S. December 14, 2011 um 3:54 am
Looks so yummy!
Ceril Roberts December 14, 2011 um 6:42 am
Wow! Everything on here looks lovely. Would love to win the cheese dome as I am patial to cheese and me and my partner are going to have some chill out time Christmas Eve with soem cheese and grapes before the chaos begins on Christmas Day!
Carrie December 14, 2011 um 7:17 am
I love anything with cheese & bacon. These look crunchy on the outside and creamy & salty on the inside – wonderful!
Scott Mottern December 14, 2011 um 8:24 am
Just found your site and those look delicious!
Becky (central oregon) December 14, 2011 um 8:27 am
blue cheese and bacon!!!!! whats not to love!!!
Jackie December 14, 2011 um 12:02 pm
The entry period is now closed. Thank you to everyone who entered!
Andrew Edwards December 14, 2011 um 1:11 pm
Wow, love the look of this!
EGF December 14, 2011 um 2:09 pm
Looks lush!
Suzanne Cooke December 14, 2011 um 2:43 pm
You have made me very hungry, some lovely stuff.
Solange December 15, 2011 um 1:43 am
Looks great
Moni April 14, 2013 um 2:46 pm
What is in the dipping sauce?
Jackie April 14, 2013 um 3:09 pm
I can’t remember since this was about a year and a half ago. I think it was a combination of sweet chili sauce, soy and mirin.