Giveaway - Tickets to Manchester Eats Festival

Tickets to Manchester Eats Up for Grabs!

Your Chance to Win Passes for You and A Friend to Enjoy Fabulous Food at Heaton Park, Manchester this July

I have joined forces with Manchester Eats Festival for a great giveaway to celebrate the inaugural event this year, which will see Manchester’s Heaton Park transformed into a food lovers’ paradise.

The Festival will include talks and workshops from top celebrity chefs and mixologists, classes including vegan and vegetarian cooking, a chocolate masterclass and even cooking for kids. It will celebrate Manchester’s growing restaurant and bar sector, and its reputation as the food capital of the north. Guests will also have the chance to preview new recipes and exclusive tasty treats across areas including a prosecco tent, gin garden, global food court and a healthy living zone.

Official charity partners the Diane Modahl Sports Foundation will be providing an activity zone on both days with interactive, accessible sporting activities for both children and adults. The event also features a dedicated children’s village and live DJ.

For your chance to win one of three pairs of tickets (for access on both the 7th and 8th July), simply complete the following:

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Giveaway: The Manchester Cookbook

I've been leafing through this little beauty over the last couple of days; I love it already. The Manchester Cookbook is a brilliant idea. It's packed with recipes and stories from 55 local restaurants, cafés, delicatessens, pubs, producers and suppliers. Contributor Aiden Byrne said “The vibe in and around Manchester is electric, the sense of positivity is contagious and the number of restaurants that are opening is proof of this.” Yes Aiden, we are indeed a city of cocktail drinking, food loving folk, who occasionally love to cook at home too.

Whether you live in Manchester or not, this is a little corker. If you are a native to the city, you'll adore this book, which is packed with recipes from some of your favourite restaurants, if not, it'll make you want to visit then recreate some of these dishes in your own kitchen. I'm already planning to make my own corned beef in an ode to Mr Thomas' Chop House! If you've never tried it, I must insist you correct this. Other highlights include The Dish Ran Away with the Spoon's Eton Mess Cake, and some some of Harvey Nic's favourite cocktails (see pics below).

What's even better is that I have three copies to give away! That's right, you could win one of your very own. It's currently sold out, but I'm assured more will be on their merry little way, very soon indeed.

Pictures: Meze Publishing

The Manchester Cook Book retails at just £14.95 and will be available soon in all of the businesses featured in the book as well as select local gift shops, book shops including Waterstones and online at www.amazon.co.uk.

How to Enter

• Simply follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below.
• To be in with a chance of winning you must complete ALL the mandatory fields.
• All entries will be checked and verified before a winner is announced.
• Rafflecopter will pick three random winners.
• The competition runs until 12am on 31st December 2015.
• Please see the Terms and Conditions on the Rafflecopter widget for the rules and more information.

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Giveaway - Tickets to the Manchester Cake and Bake Show

The Book People Competition – Win FREE Tickets To The Cake & Bake Show In Manchester

UK foodies and baking enthusiasts, listen up! How would you like the chance to win FREE tickets to this year’s Manchester Cake & Bake Show? To be hosted at Eventcity from 12 to 15 November, get ready for a spectacular event featuring demonstrations from top celebrity chefs including Rosemary Shrager and MasterChef co-presenter Gregg Wallace.

Great British Bake Off fans are in for a treat as The Cake & Bake Show plays host to the first ever live bake off stage – with a few familiar faces whipping up a storm. That’s right, the show will be welcoming back amateur bakers from the most recent series as well as GBBO winners Jo Wheatley (2011) and John Whaite (2012).

There’s even the chance to bring your own show-stopping bake along to be judged live on stage in the Great British Bake Off: Showstopper Show and Tell. Ideal if you fancy yourself as the next Paul Hollywood or Mary Berry.

To enter the competition to win FREE tickets to this year’s Cake & Bake Show in Manchester, all you have to do is click here (hint hint), then fill in the Rafflecopter widget below. What are you waiting for?

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Image credit: bernashafo/ Shutterstock.com

Cranks Giveaway: Crank Up Your Lunch!

It's been a while since I've done a giveaway, so I've teamed up with my pals at Cranks to give you a chance of winning a little lunchtime treat for you and your homies. Our team at work recently put their Whole Lotta Loaf through its paces, and saw that it was fully wonderful, so I have every confidence in their new veggie friendly sandwich range. I like their cheeky names too... I've got my eye on Falafelly Good!

Mmm! Us putting Whole Lotta Loaf through its paces... Warrior like behaviour... 

About Cranks

Here's what they have to say...

Cranks Philosophy

Since their swinging start down Carnaby Street in 1961, Cranks have always been champions of great tasting, wholesome food. From the remaining Cranks Kitchen down in Totnes, Devon to their slow risen wholemeal loaf and vibrant range of delicious handmade sandwiches available on store shelves, Cranks’ philosophy has always been that nature knows best. Proper food indeed!

Cranks Food to Go

If their range of tasty vegetarian sandwiches hadn’t already shaken up the food to go fridge – the onion bhaji and mango chutney stuffed Argi Bhaji is worth a bite – then wait until you see their new colour in packs. Not only are Cranks making veggie lunches delicious and easy to come by, but they’re taking the stress out of lunch too with fun patterns and shapes to spend your lunch hour colouring in beautifully. Bliss. 

Eyes on the Prize

'So what can I win?!' I hear you cry! Cranks have put together a beautiful lunch hamper containing:

• Six Cranks sandwiches
• Two wraps
• One salad

They'll even keep it all nice and chilly for you!

How to Enter

• Simply follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below.
• To be in with a chance of winning you must complete ALL the mandatory fields.
• All entries will be checked and verified before a winner is announced.
• Rafflecopter will pick one random winner.
• The competition runs for one week only.
• Please see the Terms and Conditions on the Rafflecopter widget for the rules and more information.

Please feel free to share this giveaway! 

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National Bundt Day Nordic Ware Giveaway!

It's the most wonderful time of the year... Forget Christmas, it's nearly National Bundt Day dammit!

It's getting a bit out of hand in our house. I stopped counting the Nordic Ware at 50 items, and if my husband asks - no, I've had that one for ages. They're in the kitchen, under the stairs, in the study, on the walls and even in the loft.

I have tins I haven't had chance to use yet (the occasion has to match the tin, naturally) and ideas popping out of my head left, right and centre. Basically my life is getting in the way of my bundt baking.

I've been baking bundts for nearly four years now, and I can't see me stopping any time soon. Since that fateful Christmas where I battled with bundt perfection I've been spreading the word, baking a bundt a month for cake club, guiding others and generally eating lots of cake too.

The cakes displayed on this post are just a few of the bundts that I have made this year, which show some of the beautiful designs Nordic Ware have to offer and highlights the versatility of what is the ultimate sharing cake.

If you fancy having a go, perfecting your skills or trying a new recipe, there are lots of hints and tips on my Bundts on the Brain page, including my Build-a-Bundt recipe creator.

There's a bundt for every occasion, and once you've cracked it, you really won't need an excuse to make one. I've been known to bake them just to celebrate Thursdays being Friday eve... whatever works for you really...

So then, fancy winning the lovely goodies above? It's really easy...

How to Enter 

• Simply follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below.
• To be in with a chance of winning you must complete ALL the mandatory fields, and then can move onto the additional entries if you want to increase your chances of winning.
• All entries will be checked and verified before a winner is announced.
• Rafflecopter will pick a random winner.
• The competition runs until midnight on 15th November 2014.
• Please see the Terms and Conditions on the Rafflecopter widget for the rules and more information.

Please feel free to share this giveaway!

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Giveaway - Organic Chocolate Making with Virgin Experience Days

Have you ever fancied making your own chocolates? Perhaps as gifts for family and friends, or just to fuel your own cravings (we've all been there)? I've teamed up with Virgin Experience Days (see here) to give away an organic chocolate making experience to one lucky follower. You can even pick whether you go to Brighton, London or Manchester.

By the end of the workshop you will have learned a bit about the history of chocolate from bean to bar, partaken in some essential taste testing, and more importantly you will make and decorate some truffles of your very own. You don't even have to share them with anyone - perhaps just forget to tell people you're going...?

Fancy getting your truffle shuffle on? Entering is easy, just nip over to the Virgin Experience Days Competition page and follow the instructions. Good luck!

Giveaway - Afternoon Tea for Two at Harrods

I love to visit London. The restaurants, the tea shops, the vast amounts of cake on every corner... It's a food lover's paradise. I have a list of places I want to try, and generally cram so many of them into one trip that we leave wondering whether that pain in our feet is fatigue or gout...?

One of the experiences on 'the list' is afternoon tea at Harrods. It's an institution. I always manage to squeeze in a quick trip, which generally involves dragging my husband round the food hall then landing in Ladurée. 

Imagine my excitement when those fun loving folk at Buy a Gift asked me to go and review their afternoon tea experience? Even better... they want me to give the same experience away to one of you lovely lot! Eyes on the bedazzling prize everyone... 

This rather elegant tea for two includes finger sandwiches, scones and clotted cream and sweet English fancies from the Harrods patisserie, all complemented by an extensive menu of unlimited fine world teas and a whole world of class.

I'll be off to sample the goods at the end of this month, so expect to see lots of photos...

How to Enter

• Simply follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below.
• To be in with a chance of winning you must complete ALL the mandatory fields, and then can move onto the additional entries if you want to increase your chances of winning.
• All entries will be checked and verified before a winner is announced.
• You can increase your chances of winning by Tweeting on a daily basis.
• Rafflecopter will pick two random winners.
• The competition runs until midnight on 31st March 2014.
• Please see the Terms and Conditions on the Rafflecopter widget for the rules and more information.
• Please feel free to share this giveaway!

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Giveaway - Cake and Bake Show 2014 Tickets

The Cake and Bake Show is back in Manchester! This year's show will run from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th April at Manchester Central, and promises to be even bigger than last year's extravaganza. Whether you're into cake decorating, need some inspiration, fancy a spot of retail therapy or want to improve your skills - there's something for every baker from novice to expert.

Our Clandestine Cake Club stall will be hosting the Taste the Table competition on every day that the show is open, judged by Britain's Best Bakery presenter, Peter Sidwell. On Friday and Saturday you could win a whopping £100 voucher from bakers' favourite Renshaw, and on Sunday we are doing something that's right up my street...

Sunday is Bundt Day! Why not enter to be in with the chance of winning the most amazing bundt collection courtesy of my good pals at Nordic Ware? I'll be there on the stall to offer advice for budding bundters as well as answering questions about cake club in general. Check out the prize below... Devastated that I can't enter...

You will also be in with the chance of meeting some of your baking idols, including contestants from the Great British Bake Off. Star speakers include:

• Eric Lanlard - cake boy...
• Frances Quinn (GBBO Winner 2013)
• Simon Rimmer - local lad and foodie's fave
• Rosemary Shrager
• Mich Turner
• Peter Sidwell
• John Whaite (GBBO winner 2012)
• Aiden Chapman
• Paul A Young
• Duncan Glendinning
• Glen Cosby (GBBO)
• Kimberley Wilson (GBBO)
• Christine Wallace (GBBO)

So want to win some tickets?! I have five pairs to giveaway.

It's easy peasy...

• Simply follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below.
• To be in with a chance of winning you must complete ALL the mandatory fields, and then can move onto the additional entries if you want to increase your chances of winning.
• All entries will be checked and verified before a winner is announced.
• You can increase your chances of winning by Tweeting on a daily basis.
• Rafflecopter will pick a random winner.
• Each winner will win one pair for a specified day.
• The competition runs until midnight on 31st March 2014.
• Please see the Terms and Conditions on the Rafflecopter widget for the rules and more information.

Please feel free to share this giveaway!

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Twitter: @cakeandbakeshow

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cakeandbakeshow

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Giveaway: Renshaw Baking Goodies!

To celebrate two whole years of DollyBakes and Bolton Clandestine Cake Club, I have teamed up with my pals over at Renshaw Baking to bring you two rather wonderful prizes. They've been really supportive of all my hair-brained ideas, and been a constant source of decorative inspiration.

Winner: £50 voucher to spend on renshawbaking.com. That's the equivalent of around 30 packs of ready to roll icing, 25 packs of colour melts, 17 packs of sprinkles or 16 tubs of frosting. Whatever your preference, it will keep you out of trouble for quite some time!

Runner Up Prize: The 'Basics Ready to Roll Icing Range', ideal for all cakes and bakes, which includes:

• 500g White Ready to Roll Icing
• 500g Celebration Ready to Roll Icing
• 500g Black Ready to Roll Icing
• 500g Flower & Modelling Paste
• 500g Original White Ready to Roll Icing
• 500g Original Golden Ready to Roll Icing

How to Enter

• Simply follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below.
• To be in with a chance of winning you must complete ALL the mandatory fields, and then can move onto the additional entries if you want to increase your chances of winning.
• All entries will be checked and verified before a winner is announced.
• You can increase your chances of winning by Tweeting on a daily basis.
• Rafflecopter will pick two random winners.
• The competition runs until midnight on 1st March 2014.
• Please see the Terms and Conditions on the Rafflecopter widget for the rules and more information.

Please feel free to share this giveaway!
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Giveaway - Cadbury's Essential Christmas Hamper

I'm on a roll! You can never have too much chocolate over the festive period. My husband tells me it's 'bulking season'... Therefore I didn't think it was unreasonable to bring you another chocolate themed festive giveaway. This time I've teamed up with Cadburys Gifts Direct to bring you a monster of a prize...

This box of goodies includes:

• Snowman Selection Box 
• Christmas Sleigh Selection Pack 
• Mixed Chocolate Christmas Decorations 144g 
• Cadbury Chocolate Chunks Carton 193g 
• Snow Bites Bag 100g 
• Chocolate Snowman 100g 
• Wishes Share Bag 128g 
• Choc Full of Popcorn Bag 130g 
• Maynards Christmas Jellies 100g 
• Freddo Treatsize Selection Carton 
• Milk Tray 200g 
• Chocolate Coins Net 

That little lot should last you until at least Boxing Day.

How to Enter

• Simply follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below.
• To be in with a chance of winning you must complete ALL the mandatory fields.
• All entries will be checked and verified before a winner is announced.
• Rafflecopter will pick a random winner.
• The competition runs until 8th December 2013.
• Please see the Terms and Conditions on the Rafflecopter widget for the rules and more information.

Please feel free to share this giveaway!

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Disclaimer: I was not paid for this post - I just thought it was a belting giveaway and I adore Cadbury's chocolate!

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Giveaway - Easy Art Biscuits Wall Canvas

It is the season for giving... so I have another brill giveaway, which I think will be popular with all you bakers (and biscuit eaters) out there!

The creative little creatures at Easy Art have sent me one of these pretty canvases to give away to one of you lucky lot! It's is perfect for brightening up any dreary kitchen wall and would make a lovely gift.

How to Enter

• Simply follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below.
• To be in with a chance of winning you must complete ALL the mandatory fields, and then can move onto the additional entries if you want to increase your chances of winning.
• All entries will be checked and verified before a winner is announced.
• You can increase your chances of winning by Tweeting on a daily basis.
• Rafflecopter will pick a random winner.
• The competition runs until 8th December 2013.
• Please see the Terms and Conditions on the Rafflecopter widget for the rules and more information.

Please feel free to share this giveaway!
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Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. Easy Art have kindly donated this canvas for the giveaway. Cute eh?

Giveaway - Red Candy Vintage Style Cake Tin

Yes, I have yet another festive giveaway! Those red loving rascals at Red Candy have given me one of these stunning cake tins to giveaway. 

As the carol goes... 'tis the season to eat cakes' (or something like that), so this beautiful vintage style cake tin is the perfect accessory for the job. I know all our cake clubbers will adore this, as it's the perfect size to transport your cake, but also a decent 'trough' to bring cake home in too. Imagine turning up to your office buffet or a friend's house over the yuletide period with this bad boy in hand! It says 'I mean business... and I have cake about my person'. 

Want to win one all of your very own? Thought so... 

How to Enter

• Simply follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below.
• To be in with a chance of winning you must complete ALL the mandatory fields, and then can move onto the additional entries if you want to increase your chances of winning.
• All entries will be checked and verified before a winner is announced.
• You can increase your chances of winning by Tweeting on a daily basis.
• Rafflecopter will pick a random winner.
• The competition runs until 8th December 2013.
• Please see the Terms and Conditions on the Rafflecopter widget for the rules and more information.

Please feel free to share this giveaway!
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Giveaway: Hotel Chocolat Festive Wreath

Ho ho ho! I've waited as long as I can! Bonfire night is over so I'm cracking open the festive cheer with my first festive giveaway. Those elves have been at it again... this time the lovely chaps at Hotel Chocolat have been creating lovely edible goodies for us all to over-indulge in over the holidays.

This beautiful gift is made from smooth milk chocolate with hand cut florentines and little pieces of crunchy biscuit. My stomach is literally rumbling like mad just looking at the picture. Although it's the perfect Christmas treat to share, I think others would struggle to get a look in if I'm being honest. Greedy pig. It would be gone in one sitting whilst watching Elf.

Want to win one all of your very own? Give it as a gift if you like, but I highly recommend that you snaffle it yourself... 

How to Enter

• Simply follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below.
• To be in with a chance of winning you must complete ALL the mandatory fields, and then can move onto the additional entries if you want to increase your chances of winning.
• All entries will be checked and verified before a winner is announced.
• You can increase your chances of winning by Tweeting on a daily basis.
• Rafflecopter will pick a random winner.
• The competition runs until midnight on 12th December 2013.
• Please see the Terms and Conditions on the Rafflecopter widget for the rules and more information.

Please feel free to share this giveaway!
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Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. 

Nordic Ware National Bundt Day 2013 - Giveaway!

My name is Rachel and I am a Bundt-o-holic. My house is full of bundt pans. They take up most of my kitchen, my dining room and much to my husband's delight, they now also reside in his study. 

If you've never baked a bundt before, now is the time to have a bash. They are the ultimate friendship cake because they are large enough to share, and cut into lovely uniform pieces. They're moist, have a wonderful sugar crust, and come in an array of flavours and shapes. I make a bundt every month for my Clandestine Cake Club, and over the past couple of years have coached probably hundreds of you to make the perfect bundt. 

If you fancy having a go, perfecting your skills or trying a new recipe, there are lots of hints and tips on my Bundts on the Brain page, including my Build-a-Bundt recipe creator.

Now then, it's that time of year... National Bundt Day is nearly here! On 15th November 2013 the UK will celebrate its first official National Bundt Day. This is something that has been celebrated in the US for a few years, so it's time we got a slice of the action. Some of you may remember I flew the flag for the UK last year, but this year Nordic Ware have recognised that we deserve our very own celebrations on this side of the Pond. 

And boy do I have a treat for my little band of bundt bakers! Not only do I want you to share your bundts in a very special Nordic Ware Linky, but I have the best competition ever. Ever.

Nordic Ware National Bundt Day Giveaway

I have a pack of Nordic Ware goodies to give away worth over £130! The pack includes:

• Bavaria Bundt Tin - a full sized, beautifully fluted tin
• Cake Lifter - perfect for manoeuvring bundts 
• Bundt Thermometer - never wonder when it's done...
• Cake Pops Pan - perfect for making goodies with the kiddies
• Bundt Cupcake Pan - teatime treats in bitesized morsels
• Mini Pie Pan - perfect pies in individual size...

Yes, it is an absolute corker, and could all be yours by entering by National Bundt Day giveaway below. Easy peasy.

How to Enter 

• Simply follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below.
• To be in with a chance of winning you must complete ALL the mandatory fields, and then can move onto the additional entries if you want to increase your chances of winning.
• All entries will be checked and verified before a winner is announced.
• You can increase your chances of winning by Tweeting on a daily basis.
• Rafflecopter will pick a random winner.
• The competition runs until midnight on 30th November 2013.
• Please see the Terms and Conditions on the Rafflecopter widget for the rules and more information.

Please feel free to share this giveaway!

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Show us your bundts...

We would also love to see your own creations using Nordic Ware Bundt pans. Why not show off your bundts using the Linky tool below?

• If you're a blogger, please link back to this page to spread the word.
• If you don't have a blog, you can link up pics from your Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Flickr, Pinterest or Instagram by right hand clicking on the picture and selecting Image URL. Just paste it into the Linky.

Need help or advice? Just ask...

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Giveaway: Clark's Honey and Cookie Crumbles Baking Kits

My pals at Clark's Honey and Cookie Crumbles have sent me some fantastic goodies to giveaway! They even sent me a pack to road test too - very kind indeed. 

You could win one of three granola bar baking sets, which include two packs of granola bar mix, and a jar of Clark's Honey. That's enough to bake a substantial stack of granola bars... Last night I set about road testing one of these bad boys. It took approximately half an hour including greasing and lining the tin, mixing everything together and baking it in the oven. Easy peasy. All you have to do is melt some butter and honey together, then pour it over the nutty mix. Push it into a tin and hey presto!  It tastes pretty damn good too. 

This would be ideal for making with children (with a little 'hot stuff' supervision), but to be honest it's handy to have in the cupboard if you're partial to a nutty snack too. Don't think packet mix... It's as far removed from Thomas the Tank Fairy cakes as you can get. The mix includes oats, seeds, dried cherries and is all natural. More brill than Trill. 

How to Enter

• Simply follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below.
• To be in with a chance of winning you must complete ALL the mandatory fields, and then can move onto the additional entries if you want to increase your chances of winning.
• All entries will be checked and verified before a winner is announced.
• You can increase your chances of winning by Tweeting on a daily basis.
• Rafflecopter will pick a random winner.
• The competition runs until 28th September 2013.
• Please see the Terms and Conditions on the Rafflecopter widget for the rules and more
• information.

Please feel free to share this giveaway!
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Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I was sent a free pack of Granola Energy Bar Mix and a jar of Clark's Honey.