Friday, June 4, 2010

My 500th Post!!!! Oh, and a giveaway, too!


Can you believe it? This is my 500th post! When I started this blog almost 2 years ago, it was with the hope that my family and close friends would read it. I NEVER imagined that complete strangers would not only read it, but comment on posts and ENJOY what I was writing/making.

Now here I am, 500 posts later, and still going strong. I absolutely love blogging... almost as much as I love making the food I blog! I plan on continuing for as long as I have readers... so please keep reading! :)

Thank you to all who stop by and take the time to enter my world. I appreciate every single comment and am so grateful for my all of you!

As a thank you, I would like to give a $25 gift certificate to King Arthur Flour to one lucky commenter! I love KA flour. Not only do they have food items for baking, they also carry gadgets and pans. (No, I am not getting anything from them for saying this... I just love them enough to say it on my own!)

You have 3 chances to enter:

#1- Leave a comment. Easy peasy, right? Make sure you enter your email address, though, so that I have a way to contact you if you win!

#2- Become a follower of my blog and leave a seperate comment. If you are already a follower, leave a comment letting me know!

#3- Blog about this giveaway or post on Facebook and leave a comment telling me you did!

Please make sure that each entry has its own comment. If not, it won't be counted. :) The giveaway will end at 9pm EST on Sunday, June 6. I will announce the winner Monday morning.

And, just in case you would like the recipe for the delicious giant cookie you see above, here it is...

Enjoy!

Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips, divided

Preheat oven to 350.

Cream butter and sugars; add vanilla and egg. Mix in flour and baking soda just until combined. Mix in 1 cup chocolate chips.

Press dough into 12" pizza pan (make sure it has a lip). Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips and press lightly into dough.

Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan.

55 comments:

  1. ShelbyJune 4, 2010 at 4:37 AM

    Congrats Cristine! I love your blog I think you know that! ;)

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  2. ShelbyJune 4, 2010 at 4:37 AM

    I am a loyal follower!!

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  3. ShelbyJune 4, 2010 at 4:40 AM

    I posted on my FB page!

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  4. hannepaJune 4, 2010 at 5:14 AM

    Congrats :)

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  5. UnknownJune 4, 2010 at 6:23 AM

    mmmm...yummy looking cookie!

    boylanite2@comcast.net

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  6. UnknownJune 4, 2010 at 6:24 AM

    I'm now following your blog

    boylanite2@comcast.net

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  7. The McBride FamilyJune 4, 2010 at 6:52 AM

    WOW 500 POSTS! That's incredible. Umm and I want to win!!! :) you are awesome girl. SOOO happy you started this blog!!!!!

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  8. amanda @ fake gingerJune 4, 2010 at 6:56 AM

    Congrats! 500 posts is huge!

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  9. amanda @ fake gingerJune 4, 2010 at 6:57 AM

    I'm your newest follower! :)

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  10. JuneBugJune 4, 2010 at 7:00 AM

    WoW! 500 posts is quite the accomplishement. So is such a beautiful giant cookie! I love KA flour too, just discovered it when I moved to VT. Found out about your site from Grumpy's HB...

    jshen37 *at* gmail.coma

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  11. JuneBugJune 4, 2010 at 7:01 AM

    now I'm a follower of your blog!

    and that was supposed to say... gmail.COM

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  12. JuneBugJune 4, 2010 at 7:02 AM

    and I facebook-ed it too!

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  13. Suburban prepJune 4, 2010 at 7:22 AM

    I have tried KA bread flour and the breads I have made have been oh so good.

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  14. SnoWhiteJune 4, 2010 at 7:43 AM

    King Arthur is the only flour I use -- I'd love to win :) Happy 500th post!!

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  15. SnoWhiteJune 4, 2010 at 7:43 AM

    I'm also a follower :)

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  16. ALLRED FAMILYJune 4, 2010 at 10:38 AM

    Happy 500 posts, Cristine!! It's amazing how what started as something to pass the time for a deployment became something in such high demand! And what's even more amazing is that that means you've made 500 different foods! WOW!!

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  17. ALLRED FAMILYJune 4, 2010 at 10:39 AM

    And I'm already a follower!! YAY!!

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  18. ElaineJune 4, 2010 at 11:37 AM

    I follow your blog faithfully!

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  19. ALLRED FAMILYJune 4, 2010 at 11:37 AM

    I posted on Facebook too! Thanks for the reminder!

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  20. The GrowsJune 4, 2010 at 11:46 AM

    Well, You know I love your blog. I still remember when you first started it. I am so proud of you for making it so big. You are awesome.

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  21. The GrowsJune 4, 2010 at 11:46 AM

    You know I am a proud follower of your blog.

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  22. Ingrid_3BsJune 4, 2010 at 11:58 AM

    WOW, 500? I struggle to post once a week.

    Thanks, for the giveaway & cookie recipe!
    ~ingrid

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  23. AnonymousJune 4, 2010 at 1:11 PM

    this is such a wonderful way to have a window into your world - and your recipes are amazing! i look forward to your next 500!!
    :o) waterbugtrimble@yahoo.com

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  24. AnonymousJune 4, 2010 at 1:12 PM

    posted on facebook too - yahoo for you!! - waterbugtrimble@yahoo.com

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  25. KassyJune 4, 2010 at 1:50 PM

    Congrats on 500 posts! You have a great site!

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  26. KassyJune 4, 2010 at 1:52 PM

    I am now a follower! :)

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  27. LisaJune 4, 2010 at 3:00 PM

    That cookie looks great.

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  28. LisaJune 4, 2010 at 3:00 PM

    I'm also a follower of your blog.

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  29. UnknownJune 4, 2010 at 3:46 PM

    Congrats on 500 posts Cristine!! Your site is great and I always enjoy stopping by to see what you're up to :)

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  30. UnknownJune 4, 2010 at 3:47 PM

    I'm already a loyal follower too!

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  31. teresaJune 4, 2010 at 4:59 PM

    YAY! congrats on 500 posts! i too hope that you stick around for a long time.

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  32. The MortensensJune 4, 2010 at 6:25 PM

    Congratulations Cristine! That's quite the milestone!

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  33. JulieJune 4, 2010 at 9:00 PM

    What a great giveaway....congrants on your 500 posts :) The big cookie looks yummy!

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  34. JulieJune 4, 2010 at 9:02 PM

    I'm a follower!

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  35. CariJune 4, 2010 at 10:38 PM

    Congrats Cristine! I'm so excited for you!

    carissa.sutton(at)gmail.com

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  36. CariJune 4, 2010 at 10:39 PM

    I've been a follower from the beginning :D

    carissa.sutton(at)gmail.com

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  37. CariJune 4, 2010 at 10:40 PM

    I linked on facebook :)

    http://www.facebook.com/#!/carissa.sutton?v=wall&story_fbid=109431485770522

    carissa.sutton(at)gmail.com

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  38. csrJune 5, 2010 at 8:17 AM

    Congratulations on your 500th post! And thanks for the shout out. We love our fellow bakers and bloggers! Molly @ KAF

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  39. The McBride FamilyJune 5, 2010 at 12:19 PM

    Okay posted on FB! :)

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  40. The McBride FamilyJune 5, 2010 at 12:19 PM

    I think I'm already a follower. HAHA!!!! :)

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  41. Brad and EricaJune 5, 2010 at 3:33 PM

    Congratulations on 500 posts Cristine! I am so glad that you decided to start this blog and that I got to reap the benefits during the last deployment. I am equally glad that you have decided to keep it up. Not only are you a great cook, you are a great blogger too. I can't wait for many more posts to come!

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  42. Brad and EricaJune 5, 2010 at 3:33 PM

    And because I really do want to win -- you know I am already a follower of your blog. Stalker might be a better term for it, really.

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  43. Brad and EricaJune 5, 2010 at 3:37 PM

    I just posted on facebook too. I should have done that a long time ago. Everyone should read your blog!

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  44. AvrilJune 5, 2010 at 6:48 PM

    Hip! Hip! HOORAY!!! I'm sooo impressed! I hope to one day be able to celebrate such an accomplishment - BRAVO! :-)

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  45. KatrinaJune 5, 2010 at 7:25 PM

    I have really enjoyed your blog during the time I've been reading it! Especially loved your CCC week.
    Happy 500th.

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  46. KatrinaJune 5, 2010 at 7:26 PM

    I'm already a follower.

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  47. KatrinaJune 5, 2010 at 7:30 PM

    I just posted about the giveaway on my FB page.
    http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1503071399

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  48. Barbara BakesJune 5, 2010 at 7:56 PM

    Wow! Congratulations on 500 posts. I love the King Arthur catalog. I leave it around for weeks just looking longingly at what I'd like to buy.

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  49. AnonymousJune 6, 2010 at 9:14 AM

    I would love to win!!! I love reading your blog!!!
    momofpeg @ gmail.com

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  50. AnonymousJune 6, 2010 at 9:14 AM

    I am a follower!!!
    momofpeg @ gmail. com

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  51. AnonymousJune 6, 2010 at 9:15 AM

    putting it on my FB
    momofpeg @ gmail. com

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  52. gilchristJune 6, 2010 at 10:21 AM

    I'm your newest follower.
    lee_donna6802 @ yahoo. com

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  53. gilchristJune 6, 2010 at 10:24 AM

    Posted on facebook.

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  54. Lauren McConnellJune 30, 2010 at 9:08 AM

    Congrats! Cristine, Iv'e been touched by all you make because it always turns out to be good!!

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  55. Lauren McConnellJune 30, 2010 at 9:12 AM

    Congrats! Cristine!! I love your blog and I love having a place where I know I can find excellent recipes. :)

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Thanks for commenting! I love hearing what you think!