27 September 2011

Or otherwise known as? Heaven in a box.

Yet another one of my fabulous September sponsors..and you guys? When Kimberley, who works at the family-owned Italian food company Tantillo, emailed me about a sponsorship, I immediately jumped on it. I mean, who doesn't love Italian food? I know, right? That's what I said too.

Keep reading below for the interview, a giveaway and an amazing recipe that Bob and I made with some of the items we received.

If you're not hungry now? You're gonna be.
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1. So, tell us a little bit about yourself!
Well, I'm an Italian girl through and through. I've been surrounded by the culture since the day I was born. I love Italian food. No really, I love it. If I could, I would eat pasta every single day. I majored in Public Relations in the hopes of one day helping my parents expand their company. And now, here we are!

2. You work for an awesome company, huh? Do tell!
We are awesome! Tantillo Foods started about 18 years ago and is a family run business, but we are not your average mom & pop operation. All of us have a hand in the business to help to keep it growing more and more every year. Our product line started with a delicious Extra Virgin Olive Oil and now we have five different varieties of oil, two different vinegars, four marinara sauces, and two juices! We are always trying to think outside the box and come up with new products to help bring our consumers the best tastes of Italy. We strive everyday to deliver not only the finest quality ingredients, but to offer the most affordable price points we can.

3. How long have you been involved with this company and in what capacity?
I started working with my parents right out of college- there's no turning back now!

4. What are your favorite items and what would you recommend to others?
The OIL! I seriously don't think I could possibly cook without it. Butter doesn't exist in my house, I use the oil for everything. Our new Mediterranean blend is my favorite. Besides my love for olive oil, I do genuinely love and enjoy all of our products and use them all the time. My 14 month old loves the sauce! Such a good Italian boy!

5. A giveaway, you say?
Yes! Hang tight for a little review first...
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Hi guys, it's me again. Jenni. The owner of this blog. Ya know... the one who doesn't cook. That doesn't mean that I have a problem eating, however.

Here's what Kim sent us to review from Tantillo Foods:
IMG_9460
Or otherwise known as? Heaven in a box.

Bob makes this fabulous oh-so-yummy {it's seriously my new favorite and I can eat it everyday until I die} meal called Chicken Fresco. And in order to make said meal, these are most of the items that you need...
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First? Let me share the recipe with you!

Chicken Fresco
Ingredients:
  • Chicken breast {we use 3-4}
  • 1/2 oz of balsamic vinegar
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Olive oil
  • Roma or vine ripened tomatoes {we use Italian Roma... yum.}
  • 6-8 oz. of white wine
  • 1 1/2 oz of fresh lemon juice
  • 5 oz. heavy cream
  • 1/3 stick butter
  • Fresh basil
Cooking Instructions:
  • Marinade the chicken in balsamic vinegar for about 30 minutes {we make a homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing and use that as a marinade!}
  • Saute chicken in enough olive oil just to keep the pan and chicken coated. Saute chicken until cooked; and plate.
  • Place your slices of tomato on top of chicken breast.
  • Sauce As follows;
  • Combine white wine, lemon juice, in a sauce pan over low-medium heat until warm and almost boil;
  • Lower heat to low. Add heavy whipping cream, and simmer for about 3 minutes to thicken the sauce, now add your cubed butter, whisking all ingredients together constantly. Once sauce is hot and thicker consistency, pull from stove top and top over the plated chicken.
  • Fresh Basil on top of the chicken.
We {I keep saying that, sorry honey}... Bob tends to make the sauce while the chicken is marinading just to give it a little more time to thicken.
IMG_9552
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While Bob was doing that, want to know what I made with the Tantillo Garlic Dipping Oil?
IMG_9553
I'm quite the cook, eh? ;) Hey, but I did make the side dish! You can really eat this meal with any of your favorite side dishes: mashed potatoes, asparagus, etc. But we eat it with brown rice and fresh steamed broccoli.

But it's not just plain brown rice. No. What fun it that? Here's what I put in it...
  • 1 cup of brown rice
  • 1 large tomato; diced
  • broccoli florets; chopped
  • shredded cheddar cheese
  • Chicken Fresco sauce & basil to taste
When all is said and done, this is what the rice looks like...
IMG_9557
And the rest of the meal? YUM.
IMG_9555
We topped the chicken with the Tantillo Balsamic Bliss and OMG. Heaven.
IMG_9556
Mmmmm, with some wine? This is seriously the greatest meal EVER.

Hungry yet?

Okay, back to the Tantillo giveaway...
One lucky winner will receive the Mediterranean Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, Balsamic Bliss, a lemon juice, and a Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce.

If you would like to receive these "heaven in a box" items, all you need to do is leave a comment with your name and email address! That's it!

This giveaway ends on September 29th at 11pm EST and the winner will be announced on September 30th.

Good luck! Oh, and please let me know if you plan to make this recipe!

Vote for yummy dinners!
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72 comments:

  1. Hi. its me. And that meal had me drooling. lovesoflife@hotmail.com

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  2. Looks very yummy. Would love to try it.

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  3. We love Italian! What a great giveaway :) homeiswithyoublog@gmail.com

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  4. Italian food is definitely my favorite. I mean seriously, who could go wrong with spaghetti?!

    chelsea.thom90@gmail.com

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  5. Love anything that has to do with food :)

    abusta1@gmail.com

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  6. September 29th is my anniversary...I would love to win and maybe make my husband dinner...that would be a shock!

    jenpete_1998@yahoo.com

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  7. I think I'd definitely have to try it - I don't use balsamic vinegar very much so this would give me a great reason to try it with a quality ingredient:)
    Gwen
    gwennythepooh@hotmail.com

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  8. Wow - that looks amazing! Pick ME!!

    Marymill917@gmail.com

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  9. Definitely plan to make that!
    Lauren - lchudzik(at)gmail(dot)com

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  10. OMG drooling, I hope I win!! I never win anything, lol
    Jill
    Totallymomma@gmail.com

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  11. Looks delish!!

    heather.lovering@gmail.com

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  12. I'm starving!
    ahull-rost@cspiinc.com :)

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  13. Awesome products and meal...can Bob drive 5 hours south and make it for me?

    ausher17@hotmail.com

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  14. Love it!
    Jillian
    jilliandeluca@yahoo.com

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  15. that looks so good! I remember when you first posted that recipe and I saved it thinking I had to try it... Now, I REALLY have to try it!
    sbcarlin07@gmail.com

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  16. YES please!

    christiecrofford@yahoo.com

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  17. I have to try that recipe. It looks so nummy!

    Laura

    LCole517@hotmail.com

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  18. I firmly believe I was Italian in a past life. Oh and I'm glad it's lunch time because the meal made me hungry and I'm going to have to added it to the menu for next month! kblrlf@yahoo.com

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  19. so want it! Javier cooks all the time, I have even given him cooking classes, so I am going to send him the recipe...but we would love the giveaway!

    kerrigrey@hotmail.com

    Thanks Lady!

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  20. Looks delicious!

    Teresa - JTBerry143@comcast.net

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  21. I'm so making your chicken fresco this week! YUM!!
    Jen

    jmk454@gmail.com

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  22. I love to cook! This would be great. My email is jackattack623@gmail.com.

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  23. oh, I would love a box of heaven. thank yoU!

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  24. Yum!!! That box of heaven has my italian blood pumping!

    andrea.debusschere@gmail.com

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  25. I love trying out new recipes and this one sounds like a winner!

    Susan liblondi@optonline.net

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  26. looks yummy!

    kim1730@gmail.com

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  27. Can't wait to try it!

    ephealey08@gmail.com

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  28. Sounds yummy!
    linsleyjamie@Juno.com

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  29. mmmmm! looks de-lish! :D

    stephaniert90@aol.com

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  30. Wow, looks amazing!

    Jenni
    pineapple83@hotmail.com

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  31. Brandi
    brandi.malopolski@baker.edu

    I am married to an Italian boy...another receipe to add to the list.

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  32. That looks yummy! I would certainly like to win that!

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  33. Yum! We use olive oil all the time! The recipe looks yummy!
    rebatink(at)gmail(dot)com

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  34. Looks really good!!
    Hollie
    snowwolf222@yahoo.com

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  35. This made me hungry and I just ate less than an hour ago, dang!
    meg.keith@gmail.com

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  36. Oh em gee...so delicious sounding both the products and the recipe. I'm printing it right now to add to our weekly collection!!! :)

    I'd love a chance to sample since I love cooking so much :)

    duchesss1010 at gmail dot com

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  37. I totally plan on making that recipe! It looks so amazing! Like, I just ate lunch and I now I am hungry again amazing! :)

    itsavol {at} yahoo {dot} com

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  38. Looks Yummy!

    katkarban@gmail.com

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  39. Looks so good

    bstuart1983@gmail.com

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  40. Looks delicious! :)
    baileysbudi@aol.com

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  41. I will TOTALLY be trying this recipe. Looks delicious!!!
    Melissa
    canneymelissa@yahoo.com

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  42. OMG so hungry now...thanks ;)

    mastersk79@gmail.com

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  43. Pick me! Pick me! I will be making that recipe for my lovie ASAP!

    Danielle Westbrook - daniellewestbrook@hotmail.com

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  44. Yum, italian food!
    Laura
    lshearer9@gmail.com

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  45. OMG...I'm suddenly starving. Oh, and I'll accept an invite for that dinner anytime...delivery is fine too.
    stacinicole@gmail.com

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  46. YUM! I'm Summer at summerelaine@hotmail.com

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  47. I've never heard of this brand, but I waaaaaaant that big ol bottle of Olive oil! *drool*

    Ashley - laughlovelattes @ gmail.com

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  48. Looks amazing!

    Shannon Smith

    ShannonSmith1012@gmail.com

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  49. Mmmmmmm.... looks good to me.
    Kendra
    kendra.dewey@gmail.com

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  50. This Italian girl loves to cook! 1 box please!
    cmacri722@optonline.net

    Christina

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  51. That recipe looks great!We might try it for a weekend birthday dinner this weekend. quinn.heath@gmail.com

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  52. The prize and your meal both look delicious!

    miranda040@gmail.com

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  53. looks so good!!
    Shannon - shannonsteen@hotmail.com

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  54. Would love to make that for dinner asap. Pretty sure the hubby would like it too :)

    Alyse

    fuzzydancer@gmail.com

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  55. This inspired me to get creative with cooking. I'd love to win!

    Becki
    becsunshine at hotmail dot com

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  56. Love Italian food!

    Pam Boimel:

    pamboimel@gmail.com

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  57. I'm 1/4 Italian so I'm pretty sure that qualifies me to say this looks delicious.

    Ourgrowinggarden@gmail.com

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  58. My husband is Italian, and I just love Italian food!

    growingupgeeky@gmail.com

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  59. Jamie Baker
    jlp1163@gmail.com
    yum!

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  60. Nomnomnom

    Shaun.mcgahey@gmail.com

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  61. the recipe sounds great! thanks for sharing

    shannonLcosta@gmail.com

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  62. Recipe looks delish!!

    Valerie Foresta

    Valerie1283@hotmail.com

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  63. Looks delish

    Samantha

    cherrypietwins@gmail.com

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  64. This sounds easy enough that I could do it!

    jamiwhite81@comcast.net

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  65. looks tasty!

    kayleigh larkins
    kayleighlarkins@gmail.com
    Baby and the Hounds

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  66. I'm not gonna lie...that meal looks FABULOUS...I'd love to try some of their product, so here's to winning! XO
    Courtney (at) baxtronlife (dot) com

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  67. Amy Scroggs
    amyjade88@gmail.com
    http://lillovestories.blogspot.com/

    I'd bake a garlic bulb with the olive oil as an appetizer (drizzle the bread with some balsamic bliss) and make some eggplant parmesan for dinner with the tomato basil sauce!

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  68. You've been talking about this dish for a while but I love that you posted the photos. This is seriously my dinner tonight. The chicken is marinating now. Hope it turns out as well as yours (Bob). Next, I'll hope to try it with Tantillo Olive Oil.

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  69. Wow! I must make that next week, it looks amazing!

    mindy71183@gmail.com

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Thank you for taking the time to comment... I read every single word that you say! If you ask me a question in the comments section and don't leave an email address, don't forget to check back here for a reply. xoxo