Not only did Andrea, Alexandra and Anthony (Raw Model) of Blackbird Naturals generously offer to sponsor a giveaway for the Cyber Celebration, but they suggested I try their Raw Vegan Cacao Fudge Truffles for myself.
My truffles arrived beautifully wrapped with a handwritten note. The packaging was a simple, clear container, tied with a red ribbon, that showcased the truffles. Immediately, I get the impression that these truffles are not to bought on a whim to satisfy just another sweet tooth. However, if you seek a special gift for a chocolate lover or perhaps to indulge yourself, you have found the right truffle.
On sight (and smell), I noticed a quaint date-based truffle enrobed with cacao powder, and finished with cacao nibs. Fair warning, there is a bit of a tease to be had. Blackbird Naturals suggest you eat the truffles chilled. So into the back of the refrigerator they went for about 45 minutes.
Refrigerated and ready to taste, I realized upon the first bite, Blackbird Naturals’ fudge truffle isn’t about the delectable nibble, it’s about an unique experience. The truffle has a smooth and velvety texture that lends itself to a sensual quality. The date/coconut oil combination causes the chilled truffle to slightly melt on contact with warm lips. The flavors are so delicate and subtle, no ingredient outshining the next. Even the bitterness of the cacao nibs melds perfectly with the sweetness of the dates.
It was hard to believe the Cacao Fudge Truffles were made with just six organic ingredients and none of them involved nuts in the base.
You can order the truffles rolled in cacao nibs or pistachios or half of each. Also available Butter Fudge Truffles, an organic and non-vegan truffle made from the milk of grass-fed cows. I believe the Raw Vegan Cacao Fudge truffles will impress and delight any chocolate epicure.
Blackbird Naturals gifts one (1) winner with a box of Raw Vegan Cacao Fudge Truffles.
For a chance to win, leave a comment below. Optional entries: Here are more ways to enter. Each Way Gets You One Entry, except #1.
Remember, leave a separate comment on my blog for each entry you want. If applicable, please leave the link to your Facebook/Twitter/Blog in the comment you leave me.
1. Link the Daily Raw Blog's 3rd Anniversary Cyber Celebration back on a Blog Post of yours. **You Get 5 Extra Entries for Doing This** Please leave a link. And create 5 separate comments in the comment field below.
2. Follow Me. If you are already following me, let me know.
3. Post this on your Twitter: "Blackbird Naturals Truffles giveaway at josculinary.com"
4. Post this on your Facebook: "Blackbird Naturals Truffles giveaway at josculinary.com"
The deadline, for the all the contests, is tonight at 12:32 a.m. {May 28th} (EST).CLOSED Random.org will pick the lucky winner.
This giveaway is open to U.S. mailing addresses only.
Here is a list of sponsors, for The Daily Raw Blog's 3rd Anniversary Cyber Celebration, who have generously donated some pretty fabulous prizes. More to come.... 105 Degrees Blackbird Naturals Book Publishing Company Chia Seeds Direct Eden Foods Emma and Rod MacDougall Jenna Norwood Kaia Foods Krazy Kracker Lady Living Harvest Living Nutz Living Tree Community NuNaturals, Inc. Pure Jeevan Raw Food Rehab Raw Indulgence (Raw Revolution) The Raw Food World RAWvolution Raw Spirit Fest UBRaw UliMana Wheatgrasskits.com Zukay Live Foods
Me in May 2011I couldn't let this week pass without acknowledging that Wednesday was my 4th Anniversary at the Daily Raw Blog, especially after last year's blowout. This year is a bit more low key.
I am taking a brief trip down memory lane at my favorite posts at The Daily Raw Blog.
They are in no particular order, just fun times all around.
The Cyber Celebration featuring two days of wild and crazy fun. I had a blast making the videos and sharing all the recipes.
5 Things About Bishop
Nothing but Love 10 Thoughts From The Pictorials
Blackbird Naturals' review
Valentine's Day Celebration. Chef Vinnette Thompson threw down something amazing. It was one of the best Valentine's ever!
Everything I Ate Raw is pretty fun.
How to Sprout Garbanzo Beans is a handy post and it's the most viewed page on the site.
Even though it was kind of sad, I like the way the mushroom soup provided much needed comfort after the breakup of a sister-friend.
Cheeze and Broccoli. Yummy.
I loved the early days of the blog, when I was creating the foods by the seat of my pants and praying they would at least taste good. It was a very special time of creativity.
Gotta love candy, especially the Legally Raw Bar.
Life by Chocolate
What happen to???? Raw News You Can Use. Too busy to keep up with it, but I still love the idea The Complete Book of Raw Food Endeavor. See above.
What about you? What is your Daily Raw Blog favorite posts?
105 Degrees Blackbird Naturals Book Publishing Company Chia Seeds Direct Eden Foods Emma and Rod MacDougall Jenna Norwood Kaia Foods Krazy Kracker Lady Living Harvest Living Nutz Living Tree Community NuNaturals, Inc. Pure Jeevan Raw Food Rehab Raw Indulgence (Raw Revolution) The Raw Food World Raw Spirit Fest RAWvolution UBRaw UliMana Wheatgrasskits.com Zukay Live Foods
Let's give another shout out to my wonderful sponsors, without them I wouldn't be able to give you, my readers, some pretty awesome gifts and I am so thankful that the sponsors made this possible.
I want to let you, my wonderful readers, know that I appreciate you. With all the blogs out there, you take the time to visit The Daily Raw Blog and I think that's pretty cool. Although, there isn't a physical party (something to shoot for at 5th anniversary...methinks) to attend, I hope you stay within the spirit of a party.
Visit the cyber celebration when you have the time and leave smiling. I will make sure you have plenty to explore.
Love, Terilynn
Giveaway Guidelines As The Daily Raw Blog gears up for a super Cyber Celebration, I wanted to give you the information regarding the contests.
Here are the guidelines for the giveaways for May 27th. There will be at least 24 giveaways starting at 8:32 a.m. until 8:32 p.m. (EST). The giveaways will post every half hour with maybe a surprise bonus giveaway added in.
The deadline, for the all the contests, is 12:32 a.m. May 28th (EST). Random.org will pick the lucky winners.
You can enter as many drawings as you want for the amount of entries possible. Unless otherwise stated all contests are open U.S. mailing addresses only. I am truly sorry everyone else in the world.
Each Way Gets You One Entry Remember, leave a separate comment on my blog for each entry you want. If applicable, please leave the link to your Facebook/Twitter/Blog in the comment you leave me.
1. Leave a comment on the giveaway post starting with the first post on May 27th.
2. Link the Daily Raw Blog's 3rd Anniversary Cyber Celebration back on a Blog Post of yours. You can mention the celebration on your blog before May 27th. For this you have my utmost gratitude and **5 Extra Entries** Please leave a link AND create 5 separate comments in the comment field of each giveaway on May 27.
3. Follow Me. If you are already following me, let me know.
4. Post on your Twitter: More information on each individual May 27 giveaway posts.
5. Post on your Facebook: More information on each individual May 27 giveaway posts. Have fun everyone and good luck! Terilynn
A note regarding cyber time. Right now as I post it is just about 11 p.m. on Sunday night. When I hit send it the post will read sometime after 2 a.m. Monday morning. I do this so I can have a morning post but blog at night before bed.
On May 27th, I would like my first giveaway post to read 9:32 a.m., in order to do this I will be posting at 6:32 a.m. Please feel free to enter the contest as soon as the post is up no matter what time it may be. You will have until 12:30 a.m. (May 28) Eastern Standard time to enter all the giveaways.
The 9:32 a.m. time issue is my own sentiment doing, my first post was at that time on May 25th, 2007.
Image by Cool Text: Free Logos and Buttons — Create An Image Just Like This It's been nearly three years since I offered up a holiday guide, I promise not to wait another three years for the next one. I forgot how fun it is to share my picks for the gift-giving season.
Here are some holiday gift suggestions to give to that rawsome person in your life.
If you have more gift ideas please share in the comments box below.
World Cuisine A4982799 Tri-Blade Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer, $33
Recycled Bamboo Utensil Kit, $19.99
Reusable shopping bags from Waste-Less Bags, 3 bags and a pouch, $14.99 or a single bag $4.95
Cashew Creamery, Choose-Your-own Flavor, including vanilla, mango, cappuccino, mint cacao chip, chocolate and more. 12 Pack, $125.04 wheatgrasskits.com The Gift of Education
Associate Chef and Instructor, Gourmet Chef and Pro Chef programs available at Living Light Culinary Institute. Classes begin January 8 and continue throughout the 2011. Register for a complete Chef Training Series and save 10-15% on tuition.
105degrees Academy offers Fundamentals of Raw Cuisine and Advanced of Raw Cuisine chef certifications.
Raw Prep & Raw Chef Mastery programs taught by Raw Chef Dan of Quintessence Restaurant
Creative Health Institute hosts Raw Living Chef certification programs.
The Ann Wigmore Natural Health Institute teaches Dr. Ann Wigmore's Living Food Lifestyle through one- and two- week educational programs in the Living Food Lifestyle.
Cousin's Incredible Vitality presents the Raw Gourmets International, the Raw Culinary Art and Hospitality Institute. THE GIFT OF DETOX
The Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center hosts an array of programs including Detoxing and Juice Fasting, Spiritual Restreats, Vegan Spirit Vacations and more.
During the Opitimal Health Institute's Holistic Healing Program, participants cleanse and nourish the body with diet, fasting, and exercise; quiet and focus the mind with journaling and meditation; and renew and awaken the spirit with study, prayer and celebration.
Tanglewood Wellness Center offers upervised fasting programs.
Needak Non-Folding Soft Bounce Rebounder, $272
The Organic Wheatgrass Growing Kit, $32.95
THE GIFT OF BOOKS
Ani's Raw Food Essentials: Recipes and Techniques for Mastering the Art of Live Food, by Ani Phyo, $18.45
Everyday Raw Desserts (Raw Food) by Jo Cook, $12.90
Raw Food for Everyone: Essential Techniques and 300 Simple-to-Sophisticated Recipes, by Alissa Cohen with Leah J. Dubois, $23.10 DVDs
Raw Food for Real People — Three-part series offers easy-to-prepare, delicious raw food for a healthier diet. $39.99.
The Best of New Holiday Traditions, computer DVD, includes 16 raw vegan culinary demonstrations plus a bonus DVD with 9 additional demonstrations and an Adobe PDF file with all of the recipes in writing. $195
Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days, $29.95 STOCKING STUFFERS
Raw Food World Gift Certificates, starting at $10.
One Lucky Duck Gift Cards can be used online at OneLuckyDuck.com; at Pure Food and Wine Restaurant; and at One Lucky Duck Juice and Takeaway in Gramercy Park.
Stainless Steel Tongue Cleaner, $7
Blackbird Naturals Truffles, 10 Truffles pack $20
Raw Beauty 2011 Calendar, $16.99
Mila, the Miracle Seed, has the highest combination of Omega-3 fatty acids and phytonutrients of any source on the planet. It is gluten-free, sugar-free and high in fiber and protein. 1-pound bag, $55
Glass Dharma Straw, $9
Raw-luxe 3-piece Face Kit, by Carol Alt's Raw Essentials Skin Care line, $48.50 * The products and services included in The Daily Raw Blog Holiday Gift Guide are selected solely at the discretion of The Daily Raw Blog owner. Links to retailer sites are provided as a convenience for readers of josculinary.com and do not represent an endorsement of any store or brand.
