This giveaway is now closed. The winners were Emma F from London, Cheryll Hastie from Peterborough and Sue Lempkowski from Aylesbury.
Three lucky Maison Cupcake readers have the chance to win a copy of Gwyneth Paltrow’s new book Notes From My Kitchen Table which I reviewed yesterday.
There is one mandatory way to enter and several ways to get bonus entries.
This giveaway is only open to readers based in the UK.
The winner will be chosen using an online randomiser and shown at the top of this blog post shortly after the winner has claimed their prize. All being well, this will happen within 28 days – hopefully a lot quicker.
How to Enter
1. Mandatory. Leave me a comment to say what is the most obscure or geeky ingredient you’ve ever cooked with?
2. Second chance to win: subscribe to Maison Cupcake updates by email using this form below and leave a second comment saying you’ve done so.
3. Third chance to win, cut paste and tweet this text exactly as shown in bold – and then leave a third comment saying you’ve done so telling me your Twitter ID:
#WIN Gwyneth Paltrow fab cook book #prize @maisoncupcake https://maisoncupcake.com/giveaway-18/ Pls RT
4. Fourth chance to win “like” the Maison Cupcake facebook page and leave a fourth comment saying you have done so (here, not on FB please but you can write chirpy things there too if you want).
5. Fifth chance to win, leave a fifth comment to say you are following @maisoncupcake on Twitter and tell me your Twitter ID.
N.B. You must leave a further separate comment for each bonus entry otherwise they cannot be selected in the draw.
Most obscure/geeky ingredient: white cardamoms.
*kisses* HH
And I also tweeted it
Most geeky/obscure ingredient…. radish tops – the bit you normally throw away, I can’t stand waste! http://beafoodlover.blogspot.com/2011/05/glut-of-radishes-try-radish-top-soup.html
And have tweeted 🙂 @BLovesFood
Most geeky?
Probably epsom salts that I use to coagulate home made soy milk to make tofu.
tweeted
I (or Fuss Free Flavours) likes your FB page
I also follow you on twitter
A while back I procured some pure MSG and tested cooking meat with it – I was so curious to see what effect it would have when used as an ingredient in normal homecooking. I also tasted it on its own – very bizarre. No flavour at all but it is true Umami, in that suddenly your mouth starts salivating as though you’d just eaten some prime steak!
I just tried to subscribe to the feed but it keeps just saying (& I’ve tried several email addresses)….
“Please specify a valid email address. [5]…
Email Address Problem
There is an issue with your email address.
Please specify a valid email address. [5]
Please go back and fix the problem, or log in if you have an existing FeedBlitz account.”
Same here.
Tweeted! (@FoodieEmma)
“Liked’ on Facebook (Emma Franklin)
Already follow you on twitter (@FoodieEmma)
I think my geeky ingredient is glycerine – used to make Delia’s royal icing.
soy cream cheese? first time round we bought sheese, crazy cheddar style soy thing, not good. Also actual liquorice sticks to try and get the juice from them…
I once baked flapjacks for my fitness fanatic boyfriend using protein powder-actually quite tasty!
I once bought Bouquet Garni for a recipe. It’s sat in the cupboard ever since, used once!
I’ve tweeted your tweet @feefeegabor
I already like you on Facebook – Fee Edwards MSE
I follow you on twitter too @feefeegabor
bulls testicles, they didn’t taste too bad considering! @Runnerduck22
HAVE TWEETED @Runnerduck22
Am following on twitter @Runnerduck22
LIKE YOU ON Facebook Runnerduck mse
The most obscure ingredient I have cooked with is gizzards. They make a wonderful salad. 🙂
I am a fan of Maison Cupcake on Facebook!!
The most geek thing I use when cooking is garlic. I must try and use it in everything! Have.also signed up
My obscurest ingredients are either black cardamons (saw them in a Chinese shop and bought them as I’d never seem them before – thankfully I found a recipe to use them in!), or salted fermented black beans (I try and buy some everytime I go to the Chinese Warehouse to make chicken and black bean stirfry, but they didn’t have any for months!)
I have RT’d the tweet – @JennyStout
I have liked you on FB
I am already following you on Twitter – @JennyStout
Home grown yellow pak choi
Most geeky? Hmmm. I had a spell where I tried to put ground flaxseed into *everything*. Didn’t work so well.
Following on Twitter as @laylafletcher
Cannot subscribe to newsletter as it wont accept my email address
Like on FB
And my food is soy sauce, I use it on everything
Hmm, cardamon pods? They’re horrid to eat but I simply can’t make a curry without them!
Already ‘like’ you on facebook
Follow you on twitter as @B4kersgirl
cornichons (tiny pickled gherkins)
Have subscribed to newsletter
Already like the facebook page
Out of date dessicated coconut! I’m not going to let you know HOW out of date *blush*
@pipersky1
Have tweeted @pipersky1
Following on Twitter @pipersky1
‘Liked’ on FB @pipersky1
gum tragacanth – when making my own sugar paste.
Confit de petales de rose. Not really geeky but definitely obscure.
Your email subscription doesn’t like me!
I put Rose Water in homemade rice pudding once, the recipe asked for ONE drop. I thought ‘nah, that can’t be enough’, so put in about six, it tasted WAY too strong so one probably would have been enough.
Like on FB – Georg Ball
Tweeted – GeorgeBee69
Follow on twitter – GeorgeBee69
My most obscure item is truffle oil…but I am truly addicted. Great on aspargus and in mashed potatoes…even a little added to butter when you sautee mushrooms
tweeting @karenL109 & following
also following on FB
tried to sign up to newsetter but it won’t let me:)will try again after I post this..
The most obscure ingredient I have ever cooked with …. hmmmmm ….. probabaly Ladies Fingers !
have tweeted @wannabefoodie76
I already like you on FB bith as Julia England & A wannabe Foodie
I follow you on twitter @wannabefoodie76
Have tried to subscribe but it won’t accept my email address 🙁
mine would be saffron
i have tweeted as @ashlallan
My most obscure ingredient would be one of the French cheeses from Corsica where you have to scoop the maggots on top…apart from that it’s delicious 😉
I have tweeted the link
@CoxeeFoxy
I have signed up to the newsletter 🙂
I already like the Facebook page.
I’m already following @MaisonCupcake on Twitter
@CoxeeFoxy
My most obscure ingredient would have to be….Lard
Hmmm my obscure ingredient would have to be pumpkin puree. Thank God for Waitrose, it’s not such an obscure addition to my baking anymore 🙂
I wanted to make a calamari dish. I purchased squid that needed to be cleaned and deinked…….what a mess. I never tried this again!
pigs cheeks
Probably wattleseeds for me; lovely in biscuits, or pomegranate molasses.
I already follow you on Twitter @ScrumptiousSal
And I’ve RT’d @ScrumptiousSal, too!
Phew, I didn’t miss it. Seriously, I don’t use obscure ingredients. I am going to have to think about this for a few minutes… um… oh, I’ve got it! It was that umami paste that Waitrose started stocking last year. No. 5 I think it’s called.
I helped cook brains and eggs once. I have to say it wasn’t wonderful.
Azuki beans
saffron
following and liked too
Haggis – Yuck
I tried to sign up but it wouldn’t accept my gmail email 🙁
Tweeted @BoostieBoo
BTW the post above is me too, it wouldn’t accept my email so I tried hubbies and his details were still on the reply form when I posted – whoops!
Follow you on FB – JoJo Young
I follow you on Twitter – @BoostieBoo
have facebook page please enter me
snails from the garden. yuck unsuprisingly nonone in the family was brave enough to try them.
Millet. I’m still not sure what to do with it but it’s supposed to be good for you.
peri peri spice. Obscure when you think I was brought up that seasoning was salt and pepper.
Have tweeted @captainsunflow
Am following you on twitter @captainsunflow
Squid, horrible stuff
The most obscure ingredient I’ve cooked with is probably pigs trotters. Not that obscure, granted, but it was certainly new for me.
mirin
Tripe had to make it for a relative, did not have a clue how to cook it, he ended up dipping it in his cup of tea, Gross
Would have to be saffron
Mussels, horrible things
black pudding yuck!
@_cathyj_
Most obscure ingredient I have cooked with is black salsify
saffron brought back from India
Ooh lots of things, I’ll try just about anything once.
I still have a bag of frozen frogs legs in the freezer I need to cook for my 6 year old, who insisted he wanted a whole bag just for him. He loves them cooked chinese style. And escargot of course, though that will be jsut for meee!
Indian drumsticks (long green vegetable) which is really tough on the outside, but you scrape out the middle with your teeth!
Ostrich, venison, wild boar, rabbit, oh and reindeer burgers for last xmas eve – told the kids we were eating Rudolf 😉
Am follwoing on facebook, those macaroons look lovely!
Have recently become more interested in baking (I’m normally a savoury person!) and working my way through the HUmmingbird bakery book.
follwing on twitter @kellykoya 🙂
Not unusual but i add wholegrain mustard to every dish! i cant get enough of the stuff
newsletter will not accept my hotmail address either 🙁
already following on facebook
tweeted @lillyfer85
following on twitter @lillyfer85
I had to use chocolate essence for a Mississippi Mud Pie I make recently, its really difficult to get in the UK!
Have liked the Maison Cupcake facebook page. :]
Following on twitter, @emmacooper
Rosehips are strange, the are prickly inside and can make ur skin itch like itching powder when raw! Rosehip syrup is just delicous as a cordial or as an ice cream topping!
I’ve cooked Lady Fingers or Okra and found them really hard to find here. Bit slimy too but delicious!
Subscribed to the e-newsletter already.
Have tweeted @maisietoo
Have already liked the FB page.
Follower on Twitter @maisietoo
The most obscure ingredient I’ve cooked with is probably Kudzu
Have re-tweeted on Twitter @953am
Liked Maison Cupcake on Facebook
I’m following Maison Cupcake on Twitter @953am
These days its very common but when i was younger and a nanny for a rather well to do family i was very surprised when i was shown how to cook partridge for the first time – and still love it now.
rosewater
Tamarind
I’ve tweeted @angiehoggett
already like on FB
already follow on twitter @angiehoggett
Tamarind very ocscure ingredient
subscribed to Maison Cupcake
Squid, my work surfaces are still stained!!
Signed up to your mailing list
Tweeted the link to the competition
I have liked you on facebook
I am following you on twitter @napkinface
Pumpkins from my garden produced seemingly endless puree – for use in cakes and savoury dishes. Also surprisingly found white puffballs in my garden. They appeared out of the blue and made wonderful soups!
The most geeky ingredient? There have been many – but probably kombu. It’s a key ingredient in Dashi stock, used in japanese cooking. I am very big on japanese food and have tried to make it as authentic as possible 🙂
I already subscribe to your newsletter. 🙂
I have tweeted about your giveaway @fairydustwing
I already like you on facebook (natalie holland)
I already follow you on twitter @fairydustwing
Obscure item – a boring one but shrimp paste
The most geeky ingredient – a mouse. I have no idea how the hell it happened.
tweeted @joanna_kow
following on FB
following on twitter @joanna_kow
I have used mealworms before, yes really. Made my friend some lollies with them as she loves them (yuck lol)
Have tweeted @Cat1980uk
Winter savory – a herb from my garden. OK but not very exciting was the verdict.
Tweeted @ericahughes
Following you on twitter @ericahughes
Liked on fb
Geekiest ingredient? Squid Ink – not sure I’ll use it again!
Have subscribed to the newletter
And am following on twitter @Putters_delight
Star Anise
Most obscure ingredient? Possibly fresh violet heads.
And I follow you on twitter @domesticjules
Palestinian Za’atar or Jamaican pimentos would be my geeky ones.
Tweeted
Think I subscribed- had problems getting my email recognised!