Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomatoes Review and Giveaway!

 
Today I have a tasty review and giveaway for you - Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomatoes!  Yum.  I love sun-dried tomatoes, and over the winter it becomes one of those foods I forget about eating, as I normally just use them in salads (and that should tell you that I haven't been making a lot of salads lately - bad on me).  I got an email from Mooney Farms, who produces the Bella Sun Luci line of sun-dried tomatoes, offering to send me some - and send me some, they did!  Look at what arrived on my doorstep:
A bounty of sun-dried tomato products!

I might have mentioned a time or two that I don't cook much anymore - what with Jeff traveling so much, and of course the kids having made us empty-nesters a few years ago, I'm more likely to have something simple for dinner, but these actually inspired me to cook.  I know - who am I???  Of course, it helped that two of the products I received were sauces/spreads, so I didn't have to do much to make a meal, but still.  I cooked!  And it was really good.  First up, I tried the Sun Dried Tomato Pesto - I made a quiche using a recipe from their website, and then I tossed some penne pasta with it for a quick dinner:
The pasta dish (it was dark when the quiche was ready and the pictures did not do it justice, so I'm not including them).

Next, I made bruschetta, using their jarred spread - I sliced and toasted a sourdough baguette, then topped it with a little Laughing Cow cheese and the bruschetta:
This was really tasty, although I couldn't differentiate much between the taste of the pesto and the bruschetta - both were good, don't get me wrong, but I think because sun-dried tomatoes have an intense flavor, it's hard to separate the two products.

I made a spinach quiche with the julienne-cut sun-dried tomatoes that were packed in olive oil and Italian herbs.  I drained and blotted off most of the oil for this one - I think the oil would be great, mixed with some vinegar for a salad dressing, but I don't like to use too much when I'm cooking:
This one, as Jeff said, is a "keeper" - the flavor combination of the spinach and sun-dried tomatoes, along with some Gruyere cheese, was so good!

Bella Sun Luci sun-dried tomatoes are made in Chico, California, at family-owned Mooney Farms - it's a small business that started out with a kiwi farming operation, but expanded to sun-dried tomatoes, and they've really taken off.  Check out their website for inspiring recipes and ordering information - and they even have a recipe contest going on right now, where the winner will receive $2,500!  I know several of my readers should definitely enter it.

Mooney Farms has generously offered up two price packs for giveaway - you'll be receiving the same thing I did!  To enter, just leave me a comment saying you are in - I'll announce the winners on Friday.  U.S. only for this one.  Please make sure you leave an email address in the comments if your name is not connected to a blog.

Comments are now closed as this giveaway has ended.

FTC:  I received these products for review; Mooney Farms will provide products to the giveaway winners.

23 comments:

  1. WAVES HAND IN THE AIR (like she just dont care :-) and then skips away rapping...)

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  2. This is one I'd really like to win! I haven't used sun dried tomatoes enough. I love regular tomatoes, and I need to try the sun dried ones. Plus, these people are practically my neighbors!

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  3. I used to not even liked tomatoes, but I love sun dried tomatoes - consider me in!! Oh, and now I think I'll have to come up with a recipe for the contest - you know I love a challenge! :D

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  4. This is so amazing! I never buy sun dried tomatoes anymore because my husband doesn't like them and I feel like I'm just "wasting" money on them. You should definitely keep posting your sun dried tomato excursions! Let me live vicariously!!
    ~Chris
    www.lifeonholland.blogspot.com

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  5. Look at you and all your fancy cooking!!

    I like SDTs, but they always seem like such a gourmet ingredient that I don't actually buy them.

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  6. That quiche looks amazing! I hadn't heard of Mooney farms and they aren't far from me. I'll have to check them out.

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  7. I'm in! I love sun-dried tomatoes!
    Wendy
    kismet345@aol.com

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  8. Please count me in! I especially loved what you did with the Bruschetta - looks delicious.

    Thank you!
    Shonda
    srhenry@daktel.com

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  9. I'm in! the quiche looks good!

    Laura
    laurakay0001@aol.com

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  10. Me, me, me! I love sun-dried tomatoes :)

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  11. I'm in. I love sun-dried tomatoes!

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  12. I don't use sun-dried tomatoes often. This might help kick start a new habit!

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  13. Pick Me! This would be amazing for a salad or an indulgent, savory pizza!

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  14. I LOVE sun-dried tomatoes! My mom used to cook with them a lot when I was growing up. ksrolf@hotmail.com

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  15. I want to be entered in the giveaway. conniesuit91@gmail.com

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  16. I couldn't resist this one! ;)You know my email ;)

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  17. I m SOOO in. Crossing my fingers (and toes and eyes!)

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  18. Ooooh, count me in! I love sun-dried tomatoes in m quiches in the summer.

    P.S. I got the book the other day! Thank you again! I will publish my review once I have a chance to read it. :)

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