Gooseberry Patch cookbook WINNER!

First of all, thanks to everyone who entered the drawing! I'm so glad you're loving "101 Breakfast & Brunch Recipes." My daughter picked a random number, and the winner is...

JENNIFER (nice name, by the way!)! Jennifer said,

"Looks like I got in just under the wire - Phew! I only own a couple of Gooseberry patch cookbooks but have enjoyed many of the recipes from them - the are so fun and cheery to use, too! I sure would love to win this cookbook this cookbook for my bed & breakfast! I just told Mr. Innkeeper (aka hubby, aka Mark) that I am hoping to win this and he says to give you a message for him..."Pick me"!"

Congratulations! I will email you so that I can get your mailing address. Thanks again for everyone's entries!

♥ Jen

"101 Breakfast & Brunch Recipes" review and giveaway!

*UPDATE 8/21: CONTEST IS CLOSED, THANK YOU!*

It's time for another Early Bird review of Gooseberry Patch's new cookbook!

This one is called 101 Breakfast & Brunch Recipes. It's from their Photo Series of cookbooks, so each recipe has a beautiful color picture. I love the format!

The nice folks at Gooseberry Patch sent me two copies...one to review, and one to give away to a reader. So read on and find out how you could win! But first, I tried three of the recipes that I'd like to share with you!

The first one (and my favorite) is called "Hashbrown Quiche."

YOU WILL NEED:
3 Cups frozen shredded hashbrowns, thawed
1/4 Cup butter, melted
3 eggs, beaten
1 Cup half-and-half
3/4 Cup cooked hame, diced
1/2 Cup green onions, chopped
1 Cup shredded Cheddar Cheese
salt and pepper to taste

In an ungreased 9" pie plate, combine hashbrowns and butter. Press hashbrowns into the bottom and up the sides of the pie plate.

Bake at 450 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes until golden and crisp. Remove from oven and cool slightly. Meanwhile, combine remaining ingredients in a bowl.

Pour mixture over hashbrowns.

Lower oven temperature to 350 degrees; bake for 30 minutes, or until quiche is golden and set. Serves 4 to 6.

VERDICT: This is deeeeeeelicious. The hashbrowns crust is genius! One of my all-time favorite GP recipes now. The combination of potatoes, cheese, eggs, ham and green onions is to die for. We had this for dinner along with a salad and some crusty bread. Yum!

Recipe #2 is "PB&J Breakfast Bars."

YOU WILL NEED:
1-1/2 Cups quick-cooking oats, uncooked
1/2 Cup all-purpose flour
1/2 Cup light brown sugar, packed
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. plus 1/8 tsp. salt, divided
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
6 Tbsps. butter, melted
8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 Cup creamy peanut butter
1 egg, beaten
1/2 Cup favorite-flavor jam

In a bowl, stir together oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda, 1/4 tsp. salt and cinnamon. Add melted butter and mix until crumbs form. Reserve 1/2 cup of oat mixture for topping; firmly spread remaining mixture in a lightly greased, parchment paper-lined 8"x8" baking pan.

My helper!

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, or until golden. In a bowl, beat together cream cheese, peanut butter, egg and remaining salt.

Spread cream cheese mixture over baked crust; spread with jam. Top with reserved oat mixture.

Bake for an additional 30 minutes, or until topping is golden; cool. Refrigerate for one hour, or until fully set. Cut into bars. Makes 12 to 15.

VERDICT: Pretty good! The peanut butter/cream cheese layer is a bit too cream cheese-heavy for me; if I make these again, I will only use half the amount of cream cheese. The oats layer is very yummy.

OK, now for the final recipe in this review! This one is short and sweet and it's called, "Feel-Good Shake."

YOU WILL NEED: 
2 bananas, sliced
2 Cups milk
2 Cups non-fat vanilla yogurt
1 Cup pineapple juice
1 Tbsp. honey

Process all ingredients together in a blender until smooth. Pour into a tall glass. Serve immediately. Makes one serving.

VERDICT: The serving size printed in the book is incorrect, unless you want to drink one huge smoothie! I cut the recipe in half and I still had enough for four 8-oz. servings. But besides that, this is a very good recipe. I love smoothies and the flavors of this one blend really well together.

I hope you decide to make these and tell me what you think! For a chance to win your own copy of this book, please leave me a comment on this post with your email address. I will not consider your entry if there is no way to get in touch with you. A random winner will be chosen on Tuesday, August 21st. If you can't wait and want to purchase a copy of "101 Breakfast & Brunch Recipes," you can do so here.

*UPDATE 8/21: CONTEST IS CLOSED, THANK YOU!*

Best of luck and thanks for visiting!

♥ Jen