QVC Giveaway

There's nothing quite like QVC. A whole channel dedicated to what I love most, shopping! You don't even have to go to the store and deal with annoying crowds either. You can order your favorite perfume or even a gorgeous necklace while laying in bed in your pajamas! QVC offers thousands among thousands of products that anyone would love.



QVC is a multinational corporation specializing in televised home shopping. Founded in 1986 by Joseph Segel in West Goshen Township, Pennsylvania. QVC broadcasts in five countries as QVC US, QVC UK, QVC Germany, QVC Japan and – QVC Italy to 200 million households. The name is an acronym standing for Quality, Value, Convenience.

Whether you're looking for a new comforter set, state of the art shiny electronics, or even a vacuum that will suck up dirt you didn't even know was in your rug, QVC has you covered. QVC is also your Christmas gift headquarters! Avoid the long lines and do your Christmas shopping with your telephone. :)

Back in September, I was invited to a QVC media party. I met David Venable, host of In the Kitchen with David. I had a wonderful time and I had the exciting opportunity to interview him!

My questions are in bold.

1. What is your advice for people who enjoy cooking but feel some recipes are too complicated?
Be confident! You might be surprised how well the recipe turns out. It always helps me to read the recipe completely before I cook. Some dishes take a long time, while others take only a few minutes. Being familiar with the cook times and instructions will go a long way toward making the recipe a success. Also make sure you have all your ingredients and tools handy before you start. As you cook, don’t be afraid to improvise. Baking is more of an exact science; cooking certainly isn’t. It’s about creating great meals and great memories for your family and friends.

2. What are some great low-fat or low calorie substitutions for everyday meals or desserts?
When I bake, I often replace half the “fat” (from ingredients like butter, oil, or shortening) with unsweetened apple sauce or another fruit puree of pineapples or bananas. You can even use a veggie puree of sweet potatoes, pumpkin, or zucchini in some recipes. In all your cooking, you can make it a habit to use margarine instead of butter and a lighter oil like canola, sunflower, or extra virgin olive oil. Also consider using a sugar or salt substitute whenever possible. Nowadays, many substitutes measure spoon-for-spoon and cup-for-cup, which is really convenient.

3. How did your passion for cooking come about?
Growing up, it wasn’t unusual for my mother to spend lots of time making comforting body-and-soul warming meals for my brother, sister, and me. She loved to cook. But more than anything, she loved having “all her chickens round the table!” I’m not sure my mother would admit it, but she was truly ahead of her time. She never underestimated the importance of a family meal. In fact, family dinners weren’t optional. We joined her at the table every night, and the world stopped until the dishes were cleared. We listened, fell into comfortable, meaningful conversation, and embraced the comfort of family time. That’s where my passion began.

4. What's one of your favorite recipes to make?
I’m a meat and potatoes type of guy, so one meal that immediately comes to mind is my French Onion Soup Meatloaf with Mashed Potato Topping. This is a hearty, comforting, all-in-one dish that’s always a hit with my friends and family. And, it’s incredibly easy to make. There’s nothing better than a big helping of this on a chilly autumn or winter’s day!

5. Is there a kitchen tool or appliance you consider an absolute essential?
One of my all-time favorites is the Cook’s Essentials® 4-qt. Digital Pressure Cooker (http://qvc.co/K34606). Now, this is electric, so it’s much safer than those questionable pressure cookers we all remember! This is extremely user friendly and cuts cooking time by as much as 70%. Plus, foods retain more of the healthy nutrients that get lost during the conventional cooking process.

6. What is a quick, easy dinner recipe you can share from your collection?
My Easy Cheesy Bacon Chicken is one of my favorites. I LOVE bacon and I love cheese, and this recipe highlights both ingredients in a simple, yet effective way. Here’s the recipe. By the way, you can find this one and all my recipes on QVC.com. (http://qvc.co/Davids_Recipes)
Easy Cheesy Bacon Chicken
Ingredients:
4 slices bacon, chopped
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/4 lb. easy-melting cheese (like Velveeta), cut into cubes
1/4 cup chicken broth
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
Directions:
In a large nonstick sauté pan (about 2.75 qt.) over medium heat, cook the bacon for 4 minutes or until crisp. Remove the bacon from the pan and drain on paper towels. Discard all but 1 Tbsp. of the bacon fat.

Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook over medium heat for 5 — 6 minutes on each side or until cooked through.

Combine the pasteurized cheese and chicken broth in a small saucepan (about 1.25 qt.). Cook over medium-low heat for 2 — 3 minutes until cheese is melted and sauce is well combined. Spoon the sauce over the chicken, sprinkle with bacon and fresh parsley, and serve.

I really enjoyed David's answers and they were really insightful! QVC is going to make a foodie's dream come true by offering one lucky winner a chance to win a Le Creuset 12" x 9-1/2" Rectangular Dish in Caribbean Blue.


GIVEAWAY RULES:

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Winner will be chosen on November 18, 2011 at 10 pm and then will be emailed.
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