10 min. Soup and $75 CSN Giveaway!

Last week I told you guys that as a way of celebrating the release of my cookbook CSN was going to sponsor a giveaway, and here it is today. They are sponsoring a $75 gift certificate giveaway!! It couldn't come at a better time of the year. Christmas is right around the corner and CSN is such a great place to get so much of your holiday shopping done. They cover everyone on your list like that business woman or man in the family. You simply must look at CSN's briefcase collection, they have a large collection of classic, fashionable, feminine, manly and even a heavy duty briefcase. The collection offers these gorgeous and sexy red briefcases that I have my eye on. I better be nice so Santa can bring me a sexy red briefcase.

I'm making it easy and trying to give each of you many opportunities to win. Here are the rules to participate:
The giveaway is only open to USA participants, if you win you will have to create a post on your blog saying you won a gift certificate from CSN and tell us what you bought. The winner will be announced Thursday the 2nd of December. The winner will be chosen through random.org

Opportunity 1. Pick a number between 1-1000 and post a comment giving your chosen number.

Opportunity 2. Follow my blog on Google Friends, then leave a comment saying "I follow you with Google Friends" and choose a new number between 1 & 1000.

Opportunity 3. Add me on Facebook, then leave a comment saying "I follow you on Facebook" and choose a new number between 1 & 1000.

Opportunity 4. Follow me on Twitter, then leave a comment saying "I follow you on Twitter" and choose a new number between 1 & 1000.

Opportunity 5. Add me on Foodbuzz, then leave a comment saying "I follow you on Foodbuzz" and choose a new number between 1 & 1000.

Opportunity 6. Subscribe with Google Reader, then leave a comment saying "I subscribe to Google Reader" and choose a new number between 1 & 1000.

Opportunity 7. Tweet about the giveaway, then leave a comment saying "I Tweeted" and choose a new number between 1 & 1000.

Opportunity 8. Tell your Facebook friends about the giveaway, then leave a comment saying "I told my Facebook Friends" and choose a new number between 1 & 1000.

Get those comments posted below and Good luck to everyone!

Speaking of the holiday season and Christmas list, this means many of us don't have a whole lot of extra time to cook. Unfortunately this can mean making bad or unhealthy choices and peoples good eating habits turn bad. But I have the perfect recipe for those lunches or even diners when you are really short on time. It's cold now in many parts of the world and soup is a great way to get those vitamins, nutrients and minerals on to our tables. This soup is healthy because it doesn't use fatty ingredients, it tastes great, and it takes 10 minutes to prepare! Here it is and I hope this helps some of you that are going crazy with all of the holiday plans :)

Healthy 10 Minute Creamy Vegetable Soup

Ingredients for 2 large or 4 small servings:
1 bag (350 grams or 3/4 lb. ) of frozen mixed vegetables (like broccoli, cauliflower, carrot,green beans,peas etc.)
2 large garlic cloves, whole and peeled
1 vegetable bouillon cube (No MSG and low sodium)
11/2 cups or 350 ml water
1/4 cup or 60 ml whole milk
1 tbsp. flour
salt and pepper to taste

1. Place the frozen vegetables and garlic cloves in a pot with a couple of tablespoons of water. Cover the pot ad under medium low heat allow the vegetables to defrost. Once defrosted place the vegetables, bouillon cube, water, milk, flour, salt and pepper inside a blender. Blend and puree until the consistency of a thick creamy soup puree. If you would like a more watery soup add more water to the puree.

2. Pour the puree back into the same pot and simmer for another 5 minutes or until ready to serve. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve with fresh bread on the side. Or for a meal serve with grilled cheese sandwiches, a salad or as an entrée to a meal.