Letting Great Taste Shine // Simply Cranberry Cocktail Giveaway

Simply Orange Juice is launching a new flavor, Simply Cranberry Cocktail.  In conjunction with the launch, I am answering the question: How do you let your great taste shine?

Entertaining is one of my favorite things to do.  My favorite part of entertaining is creating a memorable menu for my guests.  I pay close attention to every detail of a meal from appetizers and drinks, to salads and the main dish to a spectacular dessert.  I want everything to be perfect.  Nothing makes me happier than seeing the people I love enjoy the food I've made for them.  When you're a guest at my table, I make sure every part of the meal is enjoyable, so I ask guests beforehand what their favorite foods are and if there are any special dietary needs so they can relax and enjoy their time at my table.

Table set for a party at Colonial Williamsburg

Thanksgiving 2008

Now, it's your turn.  Tell me in the comments how you let your great taste shine--whether it's with food, style, or merely a way of being.

You'll be entered to win this fabulous Get Together and Enjoy Good Taste Prize Pack:

• (2) Coupons redeemable for a  59 fl. oz. carafe of Simply Cranberry Cocktail
• (1) Coupon redeemable for a  13.5 fl. oz. carafe of Simply Cranberry Cocktail
• (1) Customizable Slate + Wood Serving Board from West Elm
• (6) Silver glass votive holders with unscented tea light candles from West Elm
• (1) One-year print subscription to Bon Appetit plus current issue
• (1) $25 Gift card to Stonewall Kitchen

Entrants must be 18 or older and a US resident to enter.  (Sorry international friends!)

Winner will be chosen at random on Thursday, June 7th at midnight EST.  Anonymous comments will be ignored unless accompanied by a valid e-mail address.  Winner will be notified by e-mail and have 3 days to respond, or another winner will be chosen.

Extra entries can be earned by doing the following and leaving a separate comment for each:

*Liking Cafe Johnsonia and Simply Orange Juice on Facebook.  (You must do both.)

*Following Cafe Johnsonia on Twitter

*Tweeting about the giveaway and leaving the link in a comment.  You might say something like:  Looking to host a get together? See how #SimplyCran is sharing great taste with the world! Enter here (link to this post) #SimplyCran (and don't forget to add me in there so I know you did it @cafe_johnsonia)

*Posting about it on Facebook (let me know in a comment)

*Subscribing to Cafe Johnsonia via e-mail (fill in your address on the sidebar) or reader

*Following me on Pinterest

If you already do any of these, just tell me in the comment.

The prize was provided by Simply Orange Juice Company, but Simply Orange Juice Company is not a sponsor, administrator, or involved in any other way with this giveaway. All opinions expressed in the post are my own and not those of Simply Orange Juice Company.

Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki

In June of 2006, right after my son was born, my dear friend Jenni brought us Chicken Gyros for dinner. WHOA. They were so good.  I begged her for the recipe.  Ever since that day, we have been making these regularly. 

The marinade is nothing more than some fresh herbs, sliced onion, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

Honey and Stone Fruit Ice Cream

This is from my draft folder.  Amid many computer problems that last few years, many posts fell by the wayside.  Pictures were lost on my other computer, to be found later.  You know how it is.

What I do remember about this recipe is how glorious it is.  Besides taking some cues from Dorie Greenspan's, Baking:  From My Home To Yours, I took one from The Martha.

Martha steeps the pits and peels in the hot milk.  It makes for a much stronger fruit flavor, which I really like.  If that's not your thing, or seems like too much effort, then go ahead and omit that step.

I'm getting excited for local summer fruit.  The stone fruit trees in my neighborhood have teeny green fruit on them.  Just another month or so and I'll be picking apricots off my neighbor's tree.  And then I'll make this with apricots.

Feel free to substitute other fruits--cherries, apricots, apriums, pluots, etc.  The only fruit that really needs to be peeled are peaches, if you use them.