Lamb Sirloin Roast Recipe (+Giveaway)

'Tis the season to be jolly, and the way I embrace the spirit of that message is by not feeling very guilty about what I eat! I enjoy decadent desserts as much as the next gal, but what I really crave is meat. It’s probably because I live with so many vegetarians.

I roasted a lamb sirloin today with Herbes de Provence, garlic, tomato paste and maple syrup. Prior to roasting it in the oven, I seared the meat to form a deliciously sweet, herby crust. I enjoyed every single bit of it, and so will you if you give this recipe a try. I guess I'll eat healthier to shed some pounds in 2012. That’s what New Year’s resolutions are for!



Today's prize is sponsored by Somersault Snacks. You could win five 6-ounce packages of their insanely addictive nuggets! These sunflower seed-based nuggets are nutritious and tasty; they're a perfect combination in between gorging on calorie-laden holiday food. My personal favorite? Definitely the Dutch Cocoa. It has a very satisfying mild chocolate flavor. As for the savory options, I really enjoyed the Salty Pepper, which has just the right amount of heat. If you want to experience Somersault Snacks for yourself, just go to the 25 Days of Giveaways page today and enter for a chance to win!

Make sure you're a fan of PhamFatale Facebook fan page and Somersault Snacks or follow @Phamfatalecom and  tweet about this giveaway. To make it easy, you can just copy and paste this tweet if you’d like: "snack pack #Giveaway from @Phamfatalecom and @SomersaultSnack: http://bit.ly/sp4V7y".

Christmas Dessert: Orange Marmalade Cake (+Giveaway)

My husband's younger sisters' winter break finally arrived. I think baking is a great way to spend time together and get over the stress of their school's finals. I didn't really have a specific recipe in mind, but I wanted to make a cake that reflects the holiday season. We started with a simple cake batter and flavored it with orange marmalade I received through our friend Diane from Napa Farmhouse 1885 and store-bought Swedish orange gingersnaps. I crumbled the gingersnaps and added them to the batter and the top of the cake. We baked the cakes in individual Flexipan molds and I let the girls decorate their own version with orange-flavored buttercream and chocolate-covered cherries.

Have fun this holiday season!

Today’s giveaway is 1 fig & Grand Marnier jam, 1 pear & vanilla preserves, 1 orange & ginger marmalade, 1 organic herbs de Provence and 1 organic Italian seasoning from Napa Farmhouse. For a chance to win the prize, just enter today’s giveaway.

Make sure you're a fan of PhamFatale Facebook fan page and Napa Farmhouse 1885, or follow @Phamfatalecom and tweet about this giveaway. To make it easy, you can just copy and paste this tweet if you’d like: "3 jams & two seasonings #Giveaway from @Phamfatalecom and @NapaFarmhouse: http://bit.ly/sp4V7y".

Roasted Chicken with Lingonberries

The first time I tasted lingonberries was during a trip to England. As a child, I traveled a lot to Great Britain and stayed with host families so I could improve my English. There would usually be another international student staying with the host family. One time, I stayed with a Swedish girl. It's been so long I can't remember what her name was, but I do remember that she introduced me to many new flavors. Typically, the students would bring a present that represented his or her culture and country. I would usually bring either chocolates, wine or Champagne. But this Swedish girl brought lingonberry preserves that were delicious. Lingonberries are Scandinavian berries with a flavor reminiscent of cranberries but slightly less tart and sweeter. And like cranberries, I think the preserves go especially well with white meat. If you're preparing your Christmas menu, this lingonberry roasted chicken could be a festive and tasty option for your main course. I roasted a whole chicken, adding the preserves to the marinade and glazed the chicken at the end so the skin turned sweet and crispy.

There's a giant IKEA store near where we live. I sometimes wander in the food area and buy Swedish root beer, delicious sparkling pear drink, Swedish meatballs and of course lingonberry preserves. If you don’t have an IKEA nearby, you can always buy lingonberry preserves online.

Today's giveaway is the Caramelini Gift Box of salted caramels from Das Foods. The flavors are unique: Chili Pecan, Orange Honey and Ginger Pistachio (my personal favorite), just to name a few. I grew up with far more traditional fleur de sel caramels from France, so it was very nice to see such a creative take on a classic treat from my childhood. As an added bonus, the packaging is so lovely that they also make a wonderful gift. For your chance to win these caramels, just enter on the 25 Days of Giveaways page.

Make sure you're a fan of PhamFatale Facebook fan page and Das Foods, or follow @Phamfatalecom and tweet about this giveaway. To make it easy, you can just copy and paste this tweet if you’d like: "the Caramelini Gift Box (salted caramels) #Giveaway from @Phamfatalecom: http://bit.ly/sp4V7y".

Chocolate French Toast Recipe (Pain Perdu) + Giveaway

It may be a bit cliché, but I'm a chocolate addict. I’m always trying to find new ways to use chocolate. Growing up, there was Nutella on the table every day, and I thought it would be fun to come up with a decadent, chocolate-flavored breakfast treat for the holidays.

This special breakfast combines French toast, chocolate and, since it's the holidays, marshmallows. I took stale brioche, dipped it in chocolate flavored custard and seared it on the stove. The garnish is made with marshmallow fluff and a drizzle of warm Nutella. Who would say no to that?

Speaking of chocolate, our friends from Romanicos are giving away $85 worth of their delicious handmade chocolates, called the “Cube Box”. I had an opportunity to try the chocolates recently, and they are honestly some of the best I’ve had in the US. I thought I could only get chocolates of this quality in France, so I was very pleasantly surprised. My husband’s family was literally fighting over them, so I’m going to have to get more soon! If you’d like to personalize the product for the holidays, check out Romanico’s Family Holiday Gifts. You can have your holiday greeting cards printed directly on the box. And of course, don’t forget to enter today’s giveaway for your chance to win!

Make sure you're a fan of PhamFatale Facebook fan page and Romanicos Chocolate, or follow @Phamfatalecom and tweet about this giveaway. To make it easy, you can just copy and paste this tweet if you’d like: "$85 Romanicos Chocolate #Giveaway from @Phamfatalecom and @Romanicos_Choco: http://bit.ly/sp4V7y".

Foie Gras Creme Brulee Recipe (+Giveaway)

I've mentioned it in the past; even though it might raise some eyebrows, foie gras, or duck/goose liver, is my guilty pleasure. Maman would always serve this French delicacy during our holiday dinner. If you've never tasted foie gras before, it's like eating a piece of intensely flavored, semi-softened butter.

I got a lovely whole duck foie gras from The Milk Pail Market in Mountain View, CA. Instead of serving it as a main course (I’ll publish a main course recipe soon), I added the foie gras to a savory custard and made crèmes brûlées. Obviously, this is not your ordinary vanilla flavored dessert crème brûlée. I made savory crème brulees in the past with ingredients like garlic, so this isn’t exactly new territory for me. The result was amazing; foie gras and sweet flavors pair perfectly together. I added specks of foie gras to the custard as well as a large piece in the center of each ramekin. I also topped them with a larger chunk on top of the sugar crust as a reminder of the flavoring inside. I served the fancy starter with toasted bread so the foie gras could be spread onto the toasts.

This weekend giveaway is for Bay Area readers or people who are able to redeem their prize on site. The Milk Pail Market, which happens to be my favorite local market, is generously donating five $25 gift certificates. You could put this to good use and create a marvelous Christmas dinner for your loved ones. At any rate, I love this market; you can find a wide variety of cheeses, (check out the fromage blanc), French products such as Mamie Nova yogurts and tons of other European products as well. And don't forget to try their famous croissants!  Be sure to stop by and discover these fabulous ingredients. The address is 2585 California Street, Mountain View, CA 94040. To participate to our giveaway, visit our 25 Days of Giveaways page and enter today. Good luck!

Make sure you're a fan of PhamFatale Facebook fan page and the Milk Pail, or follow @Phamfatalecom and tweet about this giveaway. To make it easy, you can just copy and paste this tweet if you’d like: "Five $25 Gift Certificate #Giveaway from @Phamfatalecom and the Milk Pail: http://bit.ly/sp4V7y".