Introducing #HowToYOUsDay & Goat Cheese Stuffed Praline Dates

 Introducing a new monthly contest for all Country Cleaver readers and how-to cooking lovers! Read below for all the details and how to win a $25 Target Giftcard!

2014 is the year to be inspired. And happy. Those two feelings go hand in hand. 2014 is the year that amazing things are going to happen and we’re going to do it together! And I have a plan. Do you want to join me? Do you want to know how? I hope the answer to both of these is “YES!”

Over the last year, I’ve learned a lot in the kitchen and I’ve told you guys again and again how much I love How-To Tuesdays – it is hands down my favorite post of the week. Best of all, you have all responded and said how much you love it, too! It’s so great to see the e-mails roll in about the latest how-to’s and the tricks you always wanted to learn, but never tried.

How does this all tie together? Well, we’re starting a little game! What do you think? Because it revolves around YOU, it will be called *drum roll please * …

HowToYOUsDAY!

C’mon you knew that I had to throw a pun around in there somewhere? Right? You all know me so well.

Here is how it works.

Every month you will get a new How-To to try, and it’s up to YOU to get into your kitchen do try it out yourself. Take a photo of it and share it with me and all the how-to fanatics out there! It’s like selfies – but with food – so, automatically better!

What’s in it for you, you ask? How’s a $25 gift card to Target sound?

To participate, go whip up the how-to of the month, take your photo and share it with me and everyone else following #HowToYOUsDay!

Share Your Photos Here – 

On Facebook – Tag my Facebook page and use the hashtag #HowToYOUsDay

On Twitter – Tweet me a Photo and use the hashtag #HowToYOUsDay

OR on Instagram – Tag me, CountryCleaver, and use the hashtag #HowToYOUsDay

Fine Print

One winner will be selected each month from all of your entries. The final day for entries this month will be January 31, 2014 at 5pm PST. The winner will be selected by me, myself and I. Now, as for my judging – this is not about the prettiest photo – It’s a trying something new and expanding your horizons in the kitchen and being confident in your new skills. And trust me, all your photos will be amazing – they can’t be worse than Martha Stewart’s… Bazinga. The winner will be chosen and notified by me directly on their winning photo.

This Month’s Inaugural HowToYOUsDay Recipe

As the first HowToYOUsDay of the year, we’re starting with yesterday’s How-To Tuesday – How to make Balsamic Glaze! I’m madly in love with it. If one can be madly in-love with a condiment. Balsamic glaze is a one ingredient treat that has incredible versatility. It goes amazingly drizzled over roasted Brussels sprouts (my favorite) and it is incredible and gleek worthy on strawberry ice cream. Balsamic glaze is tart, tangy and slightly sweet. If you haven’t tried it before – do it now!

The other way it’s incredible, is on goat cheese stuffed dates. Like these! There is no hiding the truth from you all, because I have to admit, I ate the entire plate of these. All except the one I forced Ben to eat – and even HE liked them!

Ingredients for Goat Cheese Stuffed Praline Dates

• Dates
• Goat Cheese
• Praline Walnuts or Pecans
• Balsamic Glaze

So let’s get started shall we?! Are you in? I so am!

Try this how-to in any recipe, below are a few of my favorites, and don’t forget to send me pictures! Give it a whirl. The final day for submissions for this HowToYOUsDay is January 31^st So let’s get glazed my friends!

 Balsamic Glaze Recipes

Inspired Homemade Recipes To Try

Goat Cheese Crostini with Herbs and Bacon

Honey Roasted Strawberry Bruschetta with Goat Cheese

Marinated Goat Cheese

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Balsamic Roasted Root Veggies

Cantaloupe Bruschetta with Balsamic Glaze