And the winner is...
#7
Hope from Hope in the Kitchen!
Congratulations!  

I came home one day after work last week to a parcel from Oliviers & Co. filled with a bottle of Basil Olive Oil, Ketchup, Balsamic vinegar and bubble wrap. The first thing we did was put the bubble wrap on the floor and stomp. There's something so joyful about jumping and so pleasurable about popping bubbles all at the same time. We do this at New Year's every year, but it was fun to do at the end of summer break.

That same night, we found the Cat's Cradle string and taught each other how to pull the x's to make new and magical shapes with a simple line of string.

bubbles pop
hop and giggle
stomp
i'm alive
i feel
i laugh
i'm airborne
flying
soaring
living
jumping


A homemade vinaigrette is so simple to make. There's really no reason why you should ever buy a bottle of store-bought. The ratio for vinaigrette is 2-3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar. You can add flavorings such as mustard, salt, and pepper. Always whisk the vinegar and flavorings first, and then whisk in the oil. {Although just popping everything into a tupperware container and shaking works too.}


And always use the best olive oil and the best vinegar. In this case, I was lucky to have a small jug of Basil Olive Oil from Oliviers & Co. that was lightly aromatic and fresh.

Recipe for Vinaigrette
¾ teaspoon sherry vinegar (or half red wine vinegar and half cooking sherry)
⅛ teaspoon salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or Basil Olive Oil from Oliviers & Co.


Recipe for My Salad*
Romaine lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces
carrots, chopped
celery, chopped
broccoli, in florets
cauliflower, in florets
cilantro, chopped
old cheddar, cubed
hot Italian sausage, cooked and sliced
papaya, cubed

* Inspired by a friend who is eating a whole-foods-only diet: no preservatives, no sugar (except for the odd temptation of a Theo chocolate bar), and lots of raw food.


Giveaway
Oliviers & Co. sent an extra 2010 Catalogue filled with beautiful photos and recipes. This 70-page soft-cover booklet is charming, and I'd like to send someone my extra copy.

Giveaway starts Monday, September 6, 2010 at 12:01:00 a.m. Eastern Time ("ET") and ends on September 11, 2010 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET. One winner will be chosen using Random.org.

Include your email in your comment so that I can reach you. If your name is selected, and your email isn't included, I'll draw another name.

How to Enter:

1. Follow me on Twitter, then Tweet this giveaway. Make sure you come back here and comment to let me know you now follow (or already do) and that you tweeted. That counts as ONE, not one each. Just one.

2. Sign up on the Google Friend Connect (see the widget in the left sidebar at the top of my home page). Then leave ANOTHER comment on this post.

3. Subscribe to my RSS feed. Then leave ANOTHER comment.

4. Post about this giveaway on your own site with a link to this post. Return. Comment. Rinse, repeat. You get the picture.

GO!

Links
Virtual Bubble Wrap
"I ♥ Bubble Wrap"® apparel
How To Do Cat's Cradle
HI + LOW: J-U-M-P
Oliviers & Co.

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