GIVEAWAY - Garofalo Pasta & Partida Agave Nectar

                                        

Garofalo Pasta & Partida Agave Nectar Giveaway!
Sara is my newest best friend! Sara represents Garofalo & Partida Agave Nectar, and she sent me this HUGE box of goodies one day! I almost felt guilty trying all the little bottles of Tequila, Vodka, and Gin.  But wait! That wasn't all! She also sent me a big bag of Garolfalo's Calamarata Pasta too. I'll show you the picture of all the things she sent, but then you'd feel left out. So, please, don't feel bad, because we're having a.......

GIVEAWAY!
Thanks to Sara, she's going to drop ship TWO (2) winners, a big bag of Garolfalo's Calamarata Pasta, AND a bottle of their awesome Partida Agave Nectar! We ate the pasta with homemade sauce and mushrooms. It was awesome! The pasta holds its shape and is very elegant on the plate.


John is in LOVE with the Partida Agave Nectar! Even though it's great for a Margarita, he's been using it as a sweetener in his tea and coffee too. It's 100% organic, so he really feels good about that. I've used it in baking, which is comparable to honey in texture and volume, although much sweeter. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one of those gallon jugs some day. Good for Margaritas AND baking!

Garofalo
Garofalo has been making pasta for over 200 years and today produces the Signature line from its headquarters near the world-renowned ruins of Pompeii. Garofalo’s Signature line of pastas combines decades of knowledge of the art and skill of traditional Neapolitan pasta making with the efficiencies of today’s technology to create top quality pasta products. Their specialty cuts include; Schiaffoni, Pappardelle and Calamarata. Long cuts, short cuts and whole wheat pasta. They make lots more, so go check out their website and see what else they have to offer! Also, I heard that Costco carries the product in some of their stores, so you'll be able to get it there as well.

Calamarata
The shape of this specialty cut calls to mind calamari rings and is perfect when paired with heavy sauces that can stand up to Calamarata’s heft.Sauce Pairing Suggestion: Cream sauce with porcini mushrooms. Like I said, the pasta rings are big almost like Calamari, and very elegant. Something you would definitely serve to company!

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Check out Garofalo's tips & tricks for "The Secret To Perfect Pasta". Lots of good info here; How long do I cook pasta for? Do I rinse my pasta? What so you suggest I pair the pasta with? Recipes & links to more recipes!!!

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Partida Agave Nectar Partida Tequila from 100% blue agave combined with 100% Organic Partida Agave Nectar provides the pure, natural agave taste found in the partida Margarita. Agave Nectar is a natural sweetener made from 100% agave extracted from the heart of the blue agave plant. Because agave nectar has a low glycemic index, it is absorbed slowly into the body which prevents spikes in blood sugar levels. Partida nectar is sweeter than sugar by as much as 2/3 so less is needed for sweetening, meaning less calories. It is also less viscous than honey, making it more versatile. The sweet, natural flavor of agave nectar is great for baking, sweetening beverages and a multitude of other uses in addition to making the Partida Margarita, the best Margarita ever!

The Partida Agave Nectar Margarita

• 1 1/2 ounces Partida Tequila (Blanco, Reposado or Anejo)
• 1 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice (the juice of one whole lime)
• 3/4 ounces Partida Agave Nectar (to taste)
• 3/4 ounces pure water
• Shake all ingredients with ice in standard bar shaker. Taste. Add additional lime juice if you prefer more tartness; add more agave nectar for more sweetness. Serve in glass on rocks. No garnish, no salt.

The Giveaway Rules
Don't you just hate rules? I do too, but to make sure everything goes along smoothly, there has to be some guidelines. Tell me what kind of pasta sauce is your favorite? Do you make your own? Or do you buy it in a jar, then doctor it up? 

Sorry, US entries only this time please! They're drop-shipping the box, so we have to keep it in the country. One entry, no duplicate comments allowed, and it has to be on this post. I'll use Mr. Random Generator (totally legit) to pick the winning numbers and email you if your number comes up. I will choose TWO (2) winners. They'll each get a box with Garolfalo's Calamarata Pasta & a bottle of Partida Agave Nectar. I'll announce it right here on my blog like I always do.

Deadline for comments is Tuesday, April 7th, 2009 at midnight EST. Good luck to  everyone!

Comments

[Jenny]

My favorite sauce is my own - just thick with lots of garlic.

[Karin]

I like the different Prego varieties--

[Nicole]

Oo Ooo Ooo! I'm up for a margarita anytime!! :) We're huge on weird pasta too! I'm always looking for something new to try.

[Kerstin]

I buy Prego at Costco and doctor it up a bit with herbs and freshly sauted veggies.

[Kam A.]

We always buy Ragu :)

[Lisa@The Cutting Edge of Ordinary]

I usually make my own. I like it the best.

[Mermaid Sweets]

I like the Prego tomato, basil and garlic.

[randi]

I usually make my own. I love a lot of mushrooms and usually put TVP crumbles in!

[Charmaine]

When I have time I make my own tomato based sauces...when I'm in a pinch...I use a canned marina from Trade Joe's and doctor it up.

Charmaine

[Cathy-wheresmydamnanswer]

I love to make my own time permitting that is - the recipe is from Paula Dean and it is amazing!!

I am now a loyal agave fan and love to cook with it whenever possible!!

[Cindy]

I love to cook Italian food, it's my favorite. I even have a pasta machine and roll my own linguine and cannelloni squares. I make all my own sauces, different ones for different pastas. I LOVE Fettuccine Alfredo, with garlic mushrooms. Spaghetti Rinaldi, with Basil and Garlic Clam sauce is delicious, too. The one I make the most is a simple basil tomato sauce. But I think my favorite is Cannelloni, which uses a tomato sauce with carrots to make a Zesty sauce. BTW, I use Agave Nectar all the time, but have never tried this brand before!

[Alex]

My favorite sauce is my girlfriend's Italian mother's pesto. AMAZING stuff. Second place is probably my mom's. : )

[Linda2000]

I usually make my own sauce but occasionally I will use bottled sauce. My favorites are barilla and Prego.

[Sarah Walz]

I love to use Prego but I add more herbs and lots of fresh mushrooms.

[Amy]

My favorite pasta sauce is Bove's Vodka Sauce but since I seldom have it (as it is sooo not good for me), I usually just make a pasta bianco.

[Mary H.]

I have to say my favorite sauce is my Mom's, which she makes from scratch. Me, however? I generally use bottled sauce and doctor it up with fresh garlic, onions, and basil. I do like to make sauce from roasted veggies - tomatoes, carrots, garlic, onion - then blending with a little olive oil. Yum! Thanks for this giveaway. Looks delish!

[Tiff]

I usually make my own - I like vodka sauce the best. If I do buy a jarred, Newman's Own is pretty good.

[Elyse]

Another great contest, Donna! That agave nectar looks fabulous, by the way. So, if I have time, I'll make my sauce from scratch...but, since I'm usually running low on time, I like to make my meat sauce like this: brown turkey sauce in bottom of large sauce pan (along with some onion and garlic), add 1 can crushed tomatoes with Italian seasoning, add 1 can whole peeled tomatoes in sauce (crush them with your hands...FUN!), add 1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles, and 1 jar of your favorite tomato sauce (I like Newman's). Add some salt, some oregano, and a HUGE pinch of sugar. Bring to a boil, and let simmer for a while. Then, you're reading to go, and it tastes almost homemade!

[Jeannette]

i'm guilty of using Ragu. flavored with meat. i swear sometimes just the thought of adding it to my spaghetti makes me sick. BUT its the only sauce my fiance will eat. le sigh.

maybe if i come across a superb pasta sauce i can convert him... hmm...

[Paula]

I make my own spicy seafood pasta sauce. It's a breeze and everyone loves it! Another one of my favorite sauces uses spicy italian sausage and mushrooms. This giveway would be used in my home!!!

[Jingle]

You are going to kill me, but I usually use Prego. Straight up. LOL! We both like it and neither of us have a lick of Italian in us so we just don't have that desire to make our own! Isn't that horrible?!

[Susie Littlewood]

My favorite jarred sauce is Prego Mushroom with Extra Spice. However, it is impossible to find where I live, so I've started a quest to find a good recipe that replicates the saucy-spicy-thickness. I haven't "quite" found it yet, but am enjoying my efforts!

[Shanna]

My favorite sauce is my own, full of veggies and just the right balance of sweet/savory. I will buy bottled and doctor it up from time to time - Newman's Own Sockarooni Sauce is really pretty good.

[Tracy]

I typically buy Prego traditional sauce. Once in a while I will add hamburg to it to make it more flavorful. I would like to make my own sause but never have found a recipe that is somewhat quick and easy.

[Amy]

I make my own tomato sauce on special occasions, but buy Bertolli Tomato Basil for most pasta meals. I usually add some garlic and herbs, just to brighten the flavor. I also LOVE pesto, and I make my own when we harvest basil from our herb garden. I've never tried Agave Nectar, but I would love to try it for baking.

[Tiffany S.]

I would love to make my own sauce, but I just don't eat a lot of pasta at my house. I tend to use it for eggplant or chicken parmesan. I tend to go for one's with the lowest sugars. So usually Ragu or a local Italian restaurant's sauce, depending on how much I need. I never doctor it.

[MaryR]

I make my own sauces and love a creamy tomato based sauce and also a good garlicky alfredo sauce - mmmm.

[Margaret]

I love making my own pasta sauce with the goodies from the garden. Can it up and enjoy it all year round.

Thanks for the chance to win this great 'prize'

[Carolyn G]

I make my own sauce with fresh tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, red chili flakes and some fresh basil. It's simple but delish!

[Jojo]

I usually use Prego, and doctor it up some if it's not going into a baked casserole. More mushrooms, sometimes meat. My favorite sauces (when I order pasta out) are regular old white clam and fra diablo.

thanks for the giveaway!

[Madeliene]

Linguini with Clam Sauce is my fav!

[Kristin]

My favorite sauce is a red sauce. I make my own. Sometimes I add ground beef, other times meatballs and italian sausage.

[Angie]

I usually make my own sauce - and it's darned good if I say so myself. (And I guess I do.) It really DESERVES to have a great pasta to go with it, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Of course, you could just tell your BFF Sara what a wonderful friend I would be, too LOL...

[jacquie]

make my own when tomatoes are in season - otherwise something from the jar - no particular brand but something simple and straight-forward to let the tomatoe flavors shine through.

[KathyC]

I love to make my own sauce! I have a recipe that only takes about 30 minutes and it has become everyone's favorite--including my son's cross country team and my daughter's lacrosse team. Thanks for a great give away. I am a HUGE italian food lover!

[Maryblair]

I like some of the Classico varieties. Love to make my Uncle Tony's recipe, but rarely have time.

Love your blog! We just bought a Bristol 32' and I can't wait to get out on the Chesapeake! :)

[Joie de vivre]

I can my own sauce in early September from the plethora of tomatoes and peppers in the Farmer's market. That way, I can make it a little spicy and very rich!

[Ashleigh]

As unhealthy as it may be, my favorite sauce is and will always be Alfred sauce! I love the rich, buttery and creamy taste. It goes great with a nice bottle of red! :) I am a little picky about my Alfredo (I've had several not so good sauces). I make my own using: heavy cream, fresh lemon juice and lemon zest, butter, grated Parmesan (of course) and the secret....a pinch of grated nutmeg. Salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!

[danielle]

My husband usually makes his own sauce--it is fantastic...we never use jar sauce b/c his is so good! If we do buy sauce then we buy it locally from Uncle Tony's Pizza...it's one of my favorites (and on the menu for tonight's dinner I might add too)!!

[Stacy Berg]

Well usually I cheat a little when it comes to the sauce I use. I like to buy the Classico Sauce and add to it. To me it has a great flavor and it is a bit of a time saver. Have a great day!
Stacy

[Lia]

OOh! A new kind of margarita!

[Lysa]

my boyfriend wont eat anything but the jar sauce....prego i believe so thats what gets used in our house.... haha.

your box o' goodies looks FABULOUS! im so jealous!!

[SharonAnne]

Making pasta sauce is like taking a Valium for me. I know it sounds kooky, but just the chopping, crushing sauteeing and simmering can lift me out of even the bleasest of moods. It's equally as satisfying to have my kids request it when they're having friends over. Because of the prep time, I make a triple batch and freeze it for later. When I'm out of that, and need a quick meal, I use Bertolli and jazz it up with whatever meat and veggies I have on hand and spices...always garlic! Thanks for the terrific giveaway! sharonanne56[at]yahoo[dot]com

[megan]

I've been known to make my own but on busy weekdays, I'll buy a bottle.

Hi Donna, I can already see that it's gonna work for me. The button is lit. I swear, I tried a few times and I dont know why I was having the trouble. I guess I was just having an idiot moment. ;-p Go figure!
Thanks for your help.

[Renee]

I make my own sauce, just the way my Great Gramma taught my Gramma who taught my Mom who taught me :) It's my favorite for all the right reasons :)

[Mary Emerald]

Ragu (Traditional) usually. Once in while I purchase a large can of crushed tomatoes and start adding ingredients from there including sauted or roasted mushrooms, red pepper, red onion, etc. and herbs.

[lisa]

Me too, I love to make my own sauce of pasta.. I love sweet style sauce of spaghetti..:)