Wednesday, December 5, 2012

What Does Wendell Have To Do With Coconut Oil?
A Giveaway!

It's Wendell's fault. He is so darn cute, I always have to check Patrice's blog (Everyday Rurality) to see what Wendell is up to. Wendell is a draft horse that lives with Patrice and he likes loves carrots! He reminds me of my Haflingers... but he is much bigger!



One day I stopped by Patrice's blog and she had pictures of some yummy fritters. It seems she had made them using Tropical Traditions Organic Palm oil. Patrice, through the kindness of Tropical Traditions, hosted a giveaway. I didn't win. It's OK, Patrice (and Wendell) I'm over it. I still love you both!
Anyway, after not winning... ( ie after losing....) I visited the Tropical Traditions Web site and found out that I could sign up for a free sample of Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil to review on my Blog, and host my own giveaway.

I visited the Tropical Traditions Web site and signed up. It turns out that Tropical Traditions is America’s source for coconut oil. Then... I had second thoughts. I decided I didn't want to experiment with Coconut oil. I didn't want to write a review of a product (even though I was under no obligation from the company) and I didn't want to conduct a giveaway. So I went back on the site and cancelled my order.

Imagine my surprise when I received a shipment from UPS. 

I received a bottle of Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil. 

Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil - 32 oz.

I checked the packing slip and chuckled. In the Notes section it clearly states that, "Customer cancelled order on 11/12/2012 at 3:15 PM." Well, at least I wasn't going insane! Under the Packing Slip instructions it mentions that this is a "Press Review Sample for www.livingadream2. blogspot.com - Per DG order cancelled in error. Request sent for order to be shipped 11/15/2012." I'm not sure just who DG is, but I guess he thinks he knows what I am thinking, or maybe he sensed my uncertainty about whether to try the product or cancel, or maybe he knew that I'd really, really like coconut oil!

Well, now I have had a few opportunities to try the Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil and I can say that I really do like the product, with one exception, which I will detail below. (That's a sure-fire way to make you read this to the end...right?!)

I have used the oil in four things, so far. 

First, I substituted Coconut Oil for half of the fat following a pie crust recipe on the Tropical Traditions site for my Thanksgiving pumpkin pie.




I wrote a post about the pie crust here


Next, I sautéed onion and mushrooms in the coconut oil... 




I added the sautéed vegetables to ground beef...



I used a bit of the coconut oil to grease the pan and cooked hamburgers.




They were delicious!


I made crab cakes.




Frying them in coconut oil.


The panko bread crumb encrusted crab cakes were very crispy. They received thumbs up from Mr. Dreamy and from me.

Most recently I made a mushroom ragout over braised pork. I used the Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil to sauté the onions and mushrooms, before adding garlic, cream and cheese.


It was superb!

There are so many ways that the coconut oil can be used. The Tropical Traditions Web site lists many other uses here. I have a party coming up this weekend, and figure I will use the oil in cupcakes and in hot chocolate!

I have enjoyed using coconut oil for cooking. I have been pleasantly surprised by the outcome. My only hesitation in giving this product a perfect review is the odor. Don't get me wrong - I love the odor of coconut.  This product has a very light, refreshing odor to it. But, when I am cooking meat or something savory, it seems very odd to smell coconut in my kitchen. However, the cooked food does not smell of coconut and there is no coconut taste to the end product.  


Giveaway

Tropical Traditions has allowed me to host a giveaway of their Virgin Coconut Oil. There are two main requirements to enter and a few ways to get extra entries.

Required:
1.  Subscribe to the Tropical Traditions Newsletter.
2.  Be a follower, or become a follower, of Living a Dream.

Extra Entries:
3. Follow Tropical Traditions on Twitter  Twitter@troptraditions and @ttspecialdeals
4."Like" Tropical Traditions on Facebook.
5. Follow Tropical Traditions on Pinterest.
6. Follow Tropical Traditions on Google +.
8. Check out Free Coconut Oil.

Leave a comment telling me how many times I should throw your name in the hat. Tucker says he would much rather pick a winner's name out of the hat than wear it!




The Tropical Traditions giveaway winner will be announced on December 17, 2012.

Tropical Traditions has asked that I include a disclaimer.... Tropical Traditions sent me a 32 oz jar of Virgin Coconut Oil for free.  I am under no obligation to write a review and I am under no obligation to say something positive about it. I could take my coconut oil and do whatever I wanted with it. But, I did find the marketing strategy rather interesting, and I really did like the product. So... let me know if you want to be entered into a giveaway.... and good luck!



27 comments:

  1. I am one of your followers..I have heard my cousins talk about coconut oil..they love it..thanks for the review:)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wendell would like me to saute carrots in coconut oil. That would probably be good. BTW- cute little pumpkins on your pie crust!

    ReplyDelete
  3. uhmmm. I just want to come to your house and eat your food...dang that all looks so goooood! so please do not put me in your drawing, just keep posting pictures of the food you make, you cooking goddess you...!

    ReplyDelete
  4. The crab cakes sound delicious!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Number one done, Number two complete. I am ready to try it for cooking and I have heard it is a good flea repellent. I would like to try it for that.

    Put my name in the winning hat, please.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love coconut oil. . .but not for cooking with, for Shy's hooves! Works wonders.
    Ok, I already follow the blog, I will subscribe to the newsletter, and follow on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Google+. Six entries?

    ReplyDelete
  7. I absolutely love Tropical Traditions. They are an ethical company committed to environmental sustainability and their products are of the utmost quality. I am signed up for their newsletter and follow you via GFC (Ummu Adillah). Also I did all of the bonus entries. So I guess that is a total of 10 entries! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I subscribe to the TT sales newsletter.
    GFC: Kristen

    kristen_yeh at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great Product, thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  10. All 8 entries complete! Thanks for the opportunity to win! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I subscribed to the Tropical Traditions Newsletter. and I am now a follower of your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I did the required entries #1 and #2 and I also did #7 and #8 so that is 4 entries.
    slrdowney at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I subscribe to the Tropical Traditions newsletter
    bethelderton59 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I follow Tropical Traditions (both) on twitter as mbm218
    bethelderton59 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I like Tropical Traditions on FB as Mary Beth Elderton
    bethelderton59 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I follow Tropical Traditions on Pinterest as Mary Beth Elderton
    bethelderton59 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I follow Tropical Traditions on Google+ as Beth Elderton
    bethelderton59 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I subscribed to the Tropical Traditions Newsletter and I am now following your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I already follow TT on twitter. :D

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'm subscribed to the newsletter, follower, like on facebook, follow on pinterest, visit special deals, check out free coconut oil so I need 6 entries please!!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I've done both the required items.

    ReplyDelete
  22. TT Newsletter getter :)

    jenetta penner at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  23. I Subscribe to the Tropical Traditions Newsletter.

    ReplyDelete

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