This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Cooking.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you’ve looked for recipes or ideas for your kitchen online at any time since 1998, I’m sure you’re familiar with cooking.com. They have been one of the web’s leading sources for cookware and other cooking related products for a very long time, and now they’ve got another addition to their site that I think you guys are going to find entertaining and useful at the same time.

They’ve just introduced a new zone on cooking.com called the Celebrity Kitchen, which features products and recipes from some of the world’s op celebrity chefs, such as Nigella Lawson, Mario Batali, Emeril Lagasse and my personal favorites in this stunning lineup of culinary talent: Alton Brown and Sam, the Cooking Guy.

Not only do they have the tips you want from these top celebrity chefs, but the recipes themselves work well with the product lines they’re offering as well. This way you’ll know that if the recipe itself calls for a certain item you don’t happen to have in your kitchen, you can find it right there in the shop. I think that’s a great idea, especially for novice cooks that might get better results if using a recipe that’s already been tested in a specific type of pot, pan or dish.  At the very least the results should be consistent with the original from a technical standpoint.

Lastly, there’s a newsletter that’s focused on new recipes and product releases.  If you’re an avid collector of Paula Deen enameled cast iron or Emerilware, (That’s me!) you’ll find it useful… Though you may be tempted to spend your money a little faster once you’ve signed up. (I’m sure that’s the point, but really… I WANT that 1 qt. pro-clad saucepan.  I want it with a vengeance!)

All-in-all, it’s a useful addition.  The recipes are solid, pulled directly from the chef’s cookbooks. The product quality is high (I own Emerilware… Can’t live without them.), the store is easy to navigate and most of all, it was fun just poking around…  If you can get over the need to drool all over your keyboard.  You’re going to want to buy at least one of the items in the store… I resisted, but just barely.

At least for now…  That saucepan has been on my wishlist for two years now.

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I’m a serious music fanatic, which is why I’m going to deviate from food related subjects here for just a moment and let you in on a couple of tidbits that will make any music lover extremely happy.  I’d like to take just a moment to tell you about HD Radio.  HD Radio is pure digital quality music, but not from some location ignorant satellite system.  This is radio the way it should be; local and relevant to your area.

You can probably tell from that last statement that I’m not a huge fan of satellite radio, and I’m not.  Not only are the selections they play generally generic, but there’s no local news, road condition information, alerts or even a decent set of DJ’s to love or hate.The only plus to satellite radio until now has been the quality vs. traditional broadcast radio, but no more!

Local radio stations are now broadcasting in high-quality digital audio, this kills the issue of quality, but there are other perks as well.  If you own the right HD Radio tuner, like the JVC KD-HDR20, you can also get a list of songs to download to your iPod with the click of a button from anywhere at any time.

This is called Song Tagging or iTunes Tagging . When you hear a song you like on the radio (assuming it’s got an iPod port), just press the “tag” button to automatically add that song to a playlist called “tagged”.  When you get back to your computer you can easily jump over to the iTunes store and grab a copy of the new songs you like and buy them when you’re ready.  You don’t have to remember the name of the artist, album or even the lyrics, just tag it and get it later.  Simple!

I know a lot of my readers are serious about their iPods and iPhones, so I thought I’d share.  Hopefully most of you will find this as interesting as I do.

At least I hope so…

But now, back to the food!

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If you’ve been thinking about getting anything at all for your kitchen or home lately, you’re going to want to be sure to make it to Amazon’s Kitchen and Home Sale. They’ve slashed prices on some items as much as 60%, so if you’ve been itching for a new Stainless Steel Cookware Set now’s the time to act.

Maybe you’ve been craving a kitchen Aid Mixer? If you wouldn’t mind saving $120.00, you can grab yourself a KitchenAid Professional 6-Quart Mixer for just a little over $300.00 while the sale is on.

You’ll have to be quick though. The sale is only runningfrom may 4th to may 5th.  there are 400 products on sale, so go take a look. Don’t miss out on something you’ve been dreaming of while you can save a bundle in the process!

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I’m really glad to announce that my fellow blogger and postie Ben Spark has presented this offer! Dragon is something my wife has been trying to talk me into for a long time, and with the number of typos I’m famous for, it’s probably worth it.

Check out this video of Dragon Naturally Speaking in action:

The following is the official blog article for this product:

Hello my name is Brett Bumeter and I write about Dragon Naturally Speaking at Softduit.com (Tip if you are looking for the details on the coupon codes scroll to the bottom of this article). I wanted to share this video with you showing a fellow blogger named Drew who is using Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 for the first time. There are some interesting things that you will see in this video that I wanted to point out to help you get a sense of how Dragon NaturallySpeaking works and how it could potentially work for you.

I think it’s important to see Dragon NaturallySpeaking, when people are using it and videos definitely help show you how well the software works these days. It’s extremely fast and can help you to type at 150 words per minute. You can see this in the demonstration that Drew has created as he is basically talking at a relatively normal speed. You will notice that he tends to look with his eyes to the right and up just a little bit.

I mention this not because Drew is looking in some strange direction, but instead because Dragon NaturallySpeaking does use your brain in a slightly different way than what you may be used to. You have to think of the words you will say in your head and then speak it out loud. That’s a little different than when you think of a composition and type it out with your fingers or even more different than when you attempt to write with your hands using a pen and paper. All three activities use different sections of our brains.

There used to be a time a decade ago when using Dragon NaturallySpeaking was more difficult because it would take a significant amounts of time to train the software. These days, the software can be trained in as little as seven minutes. The out-of- the-box experience with Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 is flat-out amazing. That said, it will take you a little bit of time to train your brain or compose messages or articles or e-mails by speaking them out loud.

You can type 150 words a minute using Dragon NaturallySpeaking and that’s typically 2 to 3 times faster than your average person can type. 2 to 3 times faster can save you a great deal of time and a great deal of money. This can enable you to spend more time with your family or be more productive at work and get more done and possibly a promotion or raise. Possibly the biggest benefit that you can experience is just staying on top of your workload with less effort.

If you consider also that Drew is looking off to the right a little bit as he’s composing, I will share with you a hidden benefit of Dragon NaturallySpeaking. When you use Dragon NaturallySpeaking, you are not locked into a position physically, where you have to stare at your computer monitor all of the time. When you don’t have the light on your computer screen glaring in your face all the time, you experience a great deal less eye strain. The muscles in your eyes can relax more, as you look around the room and change your focal point. You would be amazed at how much extra energy this will give you as your eyes, and the muscles in your eyes don’t get worn out as fast as they would if you sit at a computer and type all day long.

We often associate sore hands and fingers and wrists with typing, but typing also creates very sore eyes and can even lead to migraine headaches. Plus, it basically just makes you tired sitting in front of your computer. Using Dragon NaturallySpeaking, you can save a great deal of time and effort and keep your energy level high, because you’re not wearing out your eyes. With a wireless microphone headset like the one I’m using, you can even pace around your desk or exercise on a treadmill or bike machine while you write your emails!

Best regards,
Brett Bumeter
www.softduit.com

PS I wrote this article with Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 preferred. It took me about five minutes to write the words above, which are proximally 670 in length. That’s about 130 words per minute typing, and it only took me another minute or two to edit, which is still approximately 95 words per minute with editing included!

Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 Discount Coupon Code Details. Use this coupon code to get 25% off either Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 Preferred or Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 Basic.
DNSMSBG
The code only works when you click on one of the links in this article or the clickable image in this article! The discount enables you to save $25 – $50 off the price.

Killer stuff, yes? All you have to do to get your discount is follow one of these links.

• 25% off Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 Standard
• 10% off MacSpeech Dictate
• Save 25% on Dragon Naturally Speaking with Coupon Code

I really hope someone takes Ben up on his generosity. I think I may have to pick up a copy for my wife and myself for Christmas.

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Now there’s even more to love at the CbsoP Store.  I’ve just put out a few new Holiday themed T’s, with more coming in the next few days.

The photo at right is one example of what you’ll find in the Thanksgiving section of the store.  Meet Rambo Turkey.  He’s not going in without a fight!  Wouldn’t it be cool to wear this around just before the Holidays?

I’ve got a few coming in the next day or so that should make vegetarians and vegans happy at this time of year, as well as the beef lovers in our midst.

I’ve got some ideas for christmas attire as well, adn will be putting togeter as many other items as possible before Thanksgiving weekend.  After that I’ll be prety much buried by the pressures of keeping up with everything we’ll be cooking.

Do drop by the store and have a look!  If you would like to see these images on any other product that CafePress has available, just let me know, I’ll gt it set up as quickly as possible!

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The holiday season is upon us. That means that, just as it always does,Black Friday is coming.  Haven’t heard of Black Friday?  It’s the day after Thanksgiving.  The busiest shopping day of the year for retailers both online and off.  It’s also the days that the big sales hit.  You know, the sales that are only good for the first 50 people that hit the store in the morning?  Yeah, those sales.

I’m a big fan of Black Friday.  Why? Because it can save my family a boatload of money, that’s why.  I’m an even bigger fan of blackfridayonline.com, because it lets me get those deals on Thanksgiving Day, from the comfort of my sofa, without having to brave the crowds of raving, turkey-stuffed lunatics that are waiting to rush the stores at some unholy hour of the morning.  I like simple.

Then of course there’s cyber monday. This is the Monday following Black Friday, the busiest day of the year for online retailers.  But I prefer to avoid that by shopping early as well, since on that monday there’s a good chance that online shops and stores will respond slowly because of the increased traffic.

The biggest draw of blackfriday online.com for me is the fact that they publish AAFES Deals. AAFES is the Army Air Exchange Services store, better known by most as the BX (or PX, for us Navy types).  For us that means that we can get our gifts with no sales tax.  This can be a huge savings to say the least.

This of course does not preclude anyone reading this.  They’ll also have sale papers from hundreds of other retailers that can help all of you get some significant savings, all from the comfort of your own homes without having to battle the insanity that is Black Friday.

So go sign up for their newsletter.  Get those alerts!  Save some money!  Sleep in the day after turkey day!

See how good I am to all of you?  Do you see it?  I really do try.

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I know that Halloween is still just around the corner, but I’m already warming up my Christmas music collection. Yes, Ladies and gents, the Holiday season will be officially upon us in.. Just. Five. Days.

I’ve given a lot of thought to the gifts I’ll be sending this year. I thought I had it all planned out. Then I found out about these nut gifts, and I’m thinking of adding these to my list of “gotta sends”. No, really.  They look that good.  Good enough that I’m shoving them down your throat just had to share them with you… Right now.

Why these particular nuts?  Because they’ve been chosen for the best flavor the company can deliver, and the thought of telling my friends and family members that I think they’re Premium Nut kind of people makes me smile.  Get a little nutty this Christmas.

C’Mon, I dare Ya.

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If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, especially over the last summer, you’ve probably gotten the impression that I have a low opinion of gas grills.  You would be incorrect.  I love gas grills, I simply refuse to call them “barbecues”, because they are not, and cannot be used to properly barbecue anything.

Rather, I consider gas grills to be the ultimate in outdoor cooktops.  They’re perfect for a quick grill job or for sauteing onions in my favorite stainless steel skillet.  They are wonderful for getting a good sear on a piece of meat, or cranking out great grilled desserts, especially in situations where the taste or smell of wood smoke would detract from the overall experience. In a nutshell, they are an integral part of any well stocked outdoor kitchen, I just have no intention of actually barbecuing anything in one.  For that I’ve got my smoker grill, and that, ladies and gents, is WOOD powered.

There are those gas grills that are simply more than drool-worthy.  For my money those come with names like Napoleon Grills.  If you’ve been considering getting a top-end outdoor grill or just need some grill parts, iBuyBarbeques.com may just be the place you want to check out for your next purchase. The prices may seem high at first glance, but trust me peeps, you’re not gonna get these monsters at the local BigScaryMegaMart.  These are quality outdoor toys.

The same people that bring you these barbecue grills and Napoleon Grills is also running a contest that could net you up to $400.00! (Just click the link at the beginning of this paragraph for details).  Will I be netering?  No.  Nothing I’ve made this year would translate easily to a non-smoke environment.  I suppose I could modify my brisket recipe to work with a much smaller brisket, but then I would have become a hypocrite, since the only way I’ll eat brisket is corned and boiled or smoked. (No sauce, please!)

Check out the contest, win yourself a few duckets, and put a hefty down payment on a great gas grill.  Or hey, use the money for the Holidays.  but if you entered because of this post, let me know, would you!  I’d love to see if you got the prize or not.

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Whether you’ve thought of it or not, Halloween is right around the corner.  In just over a month and three quarters things will once again be bumping in the night, or at least pounding on your door in search of free candy.  For some of us the season will bring with it a few parties or gatherings of friends and family, all of whom will be vying to see who can find the most outrageous costume of the bunch.

For some of my military friends this will mean choosing something wildly inappropriate, especially if the party involves alcohol.  For me however, I think this year I’m going to be running for mayor.  The Mayor of Munchkin Land, that is.  Why? I don’t know, really.  I was looking over the Wizard Of Oz Costumes at Halloween Adventure and just decided that it would be a lot of fun! Besides, who didn’t want to be the mayor of Munchkin Land as a kid?

There are a lot of Halloween Costume Storesout there, but hey, why not go with one that offers free shipping on orders over $100.00?  You’re going to spend that much or more on a pair of costumes anyway, right?  You don’t have to go as something out of OZ, either.  They’ve got a ton of different costumes available, one of them should be just right for you!

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Yes, I do succumb to sponsored posts.There are those in the blogging world that would condemn me for it, but I challenge any one of those people to tell me that they wouldn’t do the same thing if that post was about dark chocolate. I mean, seriously.  Dark chocolate is the center of the universe, culinarily speaking. There is nothing in the world of food that evokes such strong emotion, such passion, such mystique as dark chocolate, and I’ll pimp it every chance I get.

Enter The Chocolate Path, providers of chocolate gifts, with an emphasis on dark chocolate gifts. Any company that’s mission is top prove to the world that dark chocolate is something worthwhile is something that everyone should enjoy is worth my time in streading the word. This is simply someplace that anyone who loves chocolate has to go and visit!

On the plus side, dark chocolate is known to provide health benefits.  It can lower blood pressure, for one.  It can improve your mood, even in small quantities. Given on a first date, it can turn a bad night into a good one. given to your partner, “just because you wanted to”, is more effective and uplifting than roses.  This stuff is magic!

So head over to The Chocolate Path, get some love in solid form, and enjoy the rest of your day.  It’s worth it, no matter who you are.

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