How to make snags a little more interesting

I don't usually eat sausages.  Unless they are of the fancy, schmancy, exotic, spicy ones.  Unfortunately my family like the plain old beef ones.  So to compromise I try to cook beef snags in either a curry or tomato based casserole.  This is my stumbling introduction to what I did with my my exciting delivery today.


You may have read my previous post on the Panasonic Competition where I was able to give away a rice cooker and electric toothbrushes.  After this I was able to enter a competition with Soup where I was one of the winners of a Panasonic MS183 Rice Cooker.  And as luck would have it, it was delivered today - a day when I had to stay home from work as my Chicken came home sick from school (there were some vomity episodes in our hallway, at her school and in my car on the way home - luckily I foresaw the upchuck and had brought along a bucket).

After working out the Chinese/Australian translations in the instruction book, I made a version of the recipe in their book of American Baked Rice (????). OK, it's actually sausages and rice and tomato sauce. With a bit of relish and garlic added. Lazy woman's dinner but it wasn't too bad. Probably could have done with a can of tomatoes but for once I didn't have one in the pantry.

I did like the fact that you can throw it all in, turn it on and it turns itself off and then switches to 'Warm' in case, like me, you go off and do something else (like turn the computer on) and completely forget you were cooking dinner.  "Yes dear, dinner's ready, I've just forgotten what it is. It's in the cooker, there's the spoon, I've just got to finish reading Edenland."

What's your cheat dinner? My mum used to say if you want your man to think you've cooked dinner, just put your wineglass down for a minute and fry some onions before they come in the door.  They'll think there is something wonderful simmering.  Then heat up something frozen.  OK, she didn't actually tell me to do that, but I saw it happen often!

Win a Panasonic Rice Cooker and 2 Toothbrushes!!!

The lovely ladies at Soup had invited me to an opportunity to go and hang out in a swanky penthouse suite in the city last week and not only be served tiny little morsels of really yummy food and excellent wine, but also got to be amongst some of the first Aussies to perve on brand new Panasonic appliances. How could this humble beginner blogger resist?

Amongst the harbour views we viewed the new washing machine (with its surreal see through casing so we could see how it really works), refrigerator, air conditioner (almost convincing this greenie that I needed one with its air filterer), rice cookers, breadmakers, microwaves, cordless phone, iron, toothbrushes and shavers. A couple of the appliances weren't even available in Australia yet, like the refrigerator and washing machine.

As I am trying to convince my family that the white, cotton wool type sandwich bread isn't the best bread in the world, I am hankering after a breadmaker (even as much as an iPad). I know our household is on spending freeze for at least another year, so I wanted to be sure it wouldn't be one of those appliances you buy and hide in the cupboard because it's just all too hard to use and clean. Well this one looked handsome enough to leave out on the bench and really simple for this lazy housewife to clean.

The SD-2501 boasts a large capacity raisin and nut dispenser to ensure that additional ingredients such as nuts and dried fruit are added at the correct time and are evenly dispersed throughout the loaf. After baking is complete, the dispenser can be removed for easy cleaning.

The SD-2501 has a variety of bread programs including Gluten Free and Rye Bread modes. The new Specialty mode also allows users to bake bread with ease using various cereals and flours – such as spelt flour. It also has a raisin and nut dispenser which adds them just at the right time during the process so they are evenly dispersed in the loaf.

And this was really surprising! It even makes jam! I had no idea it could also make the stuff to go on the bread! But wait, there's more. The breadpan and kneading blade is coated in diamonds, yes really! This strange use of a girl's best friend ensures that the bread doesn't stick to the pan, so when you tip it up, it comes out easily. Probably makes cleaning a whole lot easier too.

But what you really want to know about is the rice cooker, right? You can win the newest model SR-MS183WST which uses advanced fuzzy logic technology which means when cooking is complete, it automatically switches to Keep Warm Mode and the rice is maintained at the perfect temperature. It has eight pre-programmed options, including a handy quick cook feature. You can choose ‘sticky’ for the perfect sushi rice, programs that allow you to cook porridge and cake, or even use the slow-cook mode for soups and stews. It even has steam program which works well with food like dumplings or healthy vegetables. So really, you may not need any other appliance in the kitchen! (Except that bread maker of course).

As well as the Rice Cooker, Panasonic are throwing in two electric toothbrushes which come in some lovely colours. The model is the EW-DS11 which has a lot of other great features which you can read here. I love that it comes with a cap, is only 16cm long and you can carry one around in your handbag (just don't get it mixed up with your mascara!).

Bugger! Wish I could enter. But seeing this is my first ever giveaway, I'll play by the rules and leave it up to you guys to grab onto this great competition. This is all thanks to Soup, a word-of-mouth marketing company that I've been involved with a few times before. Check out their site where you can become a "Souper" and have your say about products and participate in reviews and surveys.

[Please note that this competition has closed as of midnight Sunday 23rd October. Thankyou everyone for your entries! Winner will be announced by Thursday 27th October so watch for the post on that day!]



To win the Rice Cooker and Toothbruses, all you need to do is:

1. Leave a comment letting me know what appliance makes your life easier (or what appliance would you love to have) in 25 words or less; AND
2. Make sure you can be contacted via email through your profile on the comment; AND
3. Follow my blog (by submitting your email address over on the right), and let me know you have in your comment.

The best entry will be chosen by myself and Michelle from Soup and the winner will win:
- The Panasonic Rice Cooker (Model SR-MS183WST), RRP value of $209; and
- Two Panasonic Toothbrushes (Model EW-DS11) for you and your favourite person (or keep them both for yourself!); RRP value of $32.95 each
- Total Prize has a RRP of AU$274.90!!!

If you want to know anything more about these and other Panasonic products, maybe the new refrigerator or air conditioner, have a look at Panasonic's website for details.

COMPETITION TERMS & CONDITIONS
1. The Promoter is Birdy Num Num (www.beccibird.blogspot.com) with prizes supplied by Soup (www.thsoup.com.au).
2. Submission for this prize constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions. All entry instructions and competition information published by the Promoter form part of these conditions. Entry is via the Internet only.
3. Entry to the competition is open to all residents of Australia over the age of 18 (sorry followers overseas!).
4. The competition commences on Thursday 29th September 2011 (AEST) and closes at 12 midnight Sunday 23rd October 2011 (AEST).
5. To be eligible for the prize, persons must submit a response (in 25 words or less) to the question via public post on Birdy Num Num "What appliance makes your life easier (or what appliance would you love to have)?"
6. The person who in the Judges' opinion submits the most original and creative answers, will be declared the winner. The Judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. This is a competition of skill and chance plays no part in determining the outcome. Entries must be the Entrant’s own work and must not infringe any rights of third parties.
7. Prizes are not transferable, exchangeable, or redeemable for cash. The prizes must be taken as offered and cannot be varied. The Promoter accepts no responsibility for any tax implications that may arise from the prize winnings. Independent financial advice should be sought. The Promoter accepts no responsibility for any variation in the prize value. The Promoter accepts no responsibility if the prizes are lost or stolen. The Promoter reserves the right to replace any prize with another of equivalent retail value without notice.
8. Judging will take place by Wednesday 26th October 2011 when winners will be chosen. The winners will be notified by email within 5 days of the judging date. Names of the winners may also be published on Birdy Num Num unless requested otherwise.
9. Prizes will be posted to the winners at the address nominated by them, via email correspondence with the promoter within seven (7) days of the winners being notified.

GOOD LUCK NUM NUMS!