Everyone loves cupcakes, especially for a fun holiday like Halloween. But often times, we just don't have the time to spend decorating them. These Ghosts and Jack-o-Lantern Cupcakes are a perfect treat for a Halloween Party, Classroom Treat or even for a special dinner at home. Halloween Cupcake Supplies:

• White frosting
• Frosting colored Orange
• Black gum drops
• Green gum drops
• Giant Round Decorator Tip to use for cutter
• Decorator bag fitted with Giant Round Tip for ghost
• Ghost eyes - Mini M&M's

Jack O' Lanterns:

1. Face - roll out black gum drops using a little sugar to help it from sticking. Use the small end of the giant round tip {or other large round tip} to cut the eyes and mouth.
2. Eyes - using the tip, cut out a small moon shape
3. Mouth - cut the circles in half
4. Nose - cut a triangle
5. Stem - roll out green gum drops, using a small knife cut out a small piece for the stem
6. Frost cupcake with orange frosting, smooth with an offset spatula run under hot water
7. Add face and stem

Ghost:

1. Frost cupcake with orange frosting {you can also add a little copper color to make it a pumpkin color}
2. Fit a decorator bag with a giant round tip and fill with white frosting
3. Pipe on ghost, working in a circular motion, and creating a tip at the top
4. Add mini M&M's for eyes

Liz from Hoosier Homemade has over 200 cupcake recipes and decorating ideas. These Halloween Cupcakes, along with 11 other cute and easy ideas are from her book, Cupcakes! 12 Months of Happiness.

If you're thinking about going camping over Labor Day weekend but are afraid that you'll need to purchase costly gear, guess again. You can keep it simple by buying a few key items - and you can split the responsibilities if you're planning a group vacation. Here are some ideas to get you started on a fun and inexpensive camping trip.

One of my go-to summer recipes is pasta salad.  I can use whatever I have available in the fridge to make it.  I love that it makes a giant bowl - enough for my family of six plus leftovers.  And if I add diced grilled chicken, it's a complete meal that can be packed and taken along for a picnic at the park or at a soccer game.


1 lb. any type pasta - I like bowties, but other shapes are just as good
4-6 cups veggies, chopped - try broccoli, asparagus, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers etc.
For the dressing:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup white or red wine vinegar
2 garlic cloves, minced or crushed
1/4 tsp. salt
1 Tbs. Dijon mustard
black pepper
fresh herbs such as basil, parsley, chives, tarragon etc. or use dried

Cook the pasta according to the directions.  Veggies like broccoli can be added to the cooking water during the last few minutes to blanch them. 
Drain the pasta and run under cold water to stop the cooking process.
Combine all veggies and pasta in a large bowl.
Whisk all the dressing ingredients together and pour over the salad.  Toss to coat.


Serves 8-10

Tiffany King writes the blog, Eat at Home  She shares easy recipes as well as printable menus with complete grocery lists.  There are over two years' worth of menus available for free.  She focuses on common and frugal ingredients to make meals that are family friendly and quick to fix.  Tiffany is also the author of Feast in 15, an eBook of 15 minute meals.

Follow @Not_A_Cook on Twitter, or at NotACook.com for recipe updates, kitchen tips, and more! To enter to win, simply comment below and tell us - What's your favorite Easter tradition?

 

The SousVide Supreme Demi is the latest new cooking appliance that allows you to cook meat, poultry, seafood, vegetables, and even desserts, to perfection - all at the push of a button. Sous vide, pronounced "soo-veed", is the culinary technique used by top chefs all around the world, and now you can recreate this same quality at home with the SousVide Supreme appliance.

Sous vide cooking locks in the flavor and nutrition, as food is sealed in vacuum pouches and cooked at a gentle temperature. The SousVide Supreme is versatile and convenient, allowing you to easily create gourmet restaurant quality meals for a fraction of the cost!

Enter to WIN this incredible Prize Package valued at $468: - SousVide Supreme Demi water oven (choice of color) - SousVide Supreme vacuum sealer - 2 boxes of vacuum seal cooking pouches - Easy Sous Vide cookbook ENTER NOW!

How to enter:

Post your comment below telling us what you would most like to cook in the SousVide Supreme.

• For ideas, browse the Recipes on SousVide Supreme's website at http://www.sousvidesupreme.com  or on their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/SousVideSupreme

Entries must be submitted by Sunday, March 11, 2012. Participation is open to all residents of age of majority in the United States and Canada.   

Good luck!

 

 

 

Our friends at Dancing Deer Baking Company have got us covered. They have a sweet offer exclusively for Ebates Customers. Use code HEARTS for 30% off their Conversation Hearts Gift Set! Better yet? You will also get 12.0% Cash Back since they are today's Facebook Daily Double!

As I mentioned before, one of my resolutions is to cook more as eating out tends to be a budget buster. I was recently given a Le Creuset french oven, and this single item has single-handedly elevated my mood while cooking. 

There are many wonderful things about the Fall, but one of my favorites has to be the seasonal snacks. They seem to fill you and and warm you up all at once. Now you can indulge in these tasty treats and earn great Cash Back!

September and October here in Florida can be very much like July and August. It is still hot and everything is still green. We Floridians must depend on other things to let us know that Fall is on it's way. Like the arrival of certain fruits in the grocery stores.

Around my home nothing says Fall has arrived more then a warm loaf of homemade cranberry bread.I've made this recipe for many years now and because my family loves it so much it has become a Fall tradition in our home.   As soon as the cranberries start showing up in the produce department of the grocery store it's not long before the first loaf is baking in my oven. 
I even stock the freezer with a couple of extra bags of fresh cranberries every Fall so I can bake an extra loaf or two once cranberry season is over.

Matter of fact the cranberries I used to bake this batch was in my freezer. The cranberries haven't hit the shelves here yet.Normally I am all for tweaking a recipe but this one is perfect the way it is so I suggest you follow the recipe to a tee the first time around. 
Then if you think you can improve on it I say go ahead but make sure you send me a copy of your changes to the recipe. Otherwise,  I'll never believe you could improve on this recipe until I've tried it your way myself..
 

I'm Erin Chase, also known as The $5 Dinner Mom.

I have a little problem. I can not make a meal that costs more than $5, and I want to show you how to make a meal for your family that doesn't cost more than 5 bucks!Making family dinners can be difficult enough, but doing so on a budget can be even more challenging!

I started 5dollardinners.com on August 22, 2008, to inspire and equip others to cut your grocery bill in half. At the website and in both of my cookbooks, you'll learn all about the method to the $5 Dinners madness. My hope and desire is that you can start spending less of your hard earned dollars at the grocery store.On the website, you'll find meal planning advice and strategies, couponing tips and tricks, ways to spend less time in the kitchen preparing all of your favorite meals, and daily recipes that are simple to prepare and easy on the wallet.

Today celebrates the 3 birthday of 5dollardinners.com, and because I love y'all so much...I'll be giving away a cookbook every single hour of today! And also, I'm thrilled to be throwing a little party over here with the Ebates family, as we celebrate the birthday with more giveaways!

I love cooking, so I must admit that occasionally I head over to the Sur la Table webstore and drool over the out-of-my-price-range cooking tools that I hope to someday splurge on (and earn some Cash Back).

There are few things I enjoy more around Independence Day then the glorious smell of BBQ wafting through the air. Since nothing screams 'time to grill' like warm weather and fireworks, making your BBQ stand out above all the others can be tricky. There are so many offerings that can help make your BBQ a raging success: award winning barbecue sauce, to citronella candles, and my personal favorite grilling book. Throw on some red, white, and blue, and get to the grilling!

Today's guest blog is from Arlene at Flour On My Face. Enjoy this and other recipes from our new favorite foodie blog, and be sure to catch Arlene and other savvy bloggers in our Savvy Living Community.

Memorial Day weekend is the kick off of Summer, and millions of people around the country will be celebrating with back yard bbq's.What better way to round out your celebration and quench your thirst then with an ice-cold refreshing glass of a fruity pink lemonade. Here is an easy to prepare recipe for a delicious Summer time drink that is easy to make and guaranteed to please a crowd.

 Ingredients

 1 can frozen pink lemonade

1/2 cup to 1 cup of fresh or frozen blackberries or raspberries

1 lemon and 1 lime, sliced thinly

Makes a bit more then a half gallon pitcher.

Directions

You can use blackberries or raspberries or do a combination of both. Today I used blackberries.

Pour the frozen pink lemonade concentrate into your pitcher. Add water per directions on the can. The brand I used today called for 4 1/2 cans of water.

Stir.

Add a 1/2 cup to a 1 cup of berries to the pitcher. You could even add more. It really depends on your own tastes when it comes to adding the berries!

Chill in the fridge until ready to serve.

Right before serving slice your lemon and lime into thin slices and add to the pitcher. Or do like I do and make lemon/lime ice cubes. Simply add a slice to a cupcake mold, then add water and freeze. Before serving, add them to the lemonade for an extra kick.

Serve in a tall glass and garnish with a wedge of lime.

Enjoy!

Today's guest blogger is Brenda Watson. Brenda is the ReNew Life founder, and is among the foremost authorities in America today on natural digestive support, detoxification and internal cleansing. Today ReNew Life is featured in the Ebates Daily Double. For one day only, you will receive 12.0% Cash Back in addition to 10% off all products on the site. You also get free shipping on all orders over $50!


What should you look for when choosing an effective probiotic supplement?  The four main points to consider that I discuss in my PBS show are as follows:  

Look for high culture count.  

The culture count refers to the total amount of live, friendly bacterial cultures in a single serving. You need a least 15 billion cultures to begin to make an impact on your health--often more depending upon age or health-related concern.  

Check out the number of strains.

There are over 1,000 strains of beneficial bacteria in the gut.  Probiotics with a variety of strains most closely resembles the diversity that naturally exists in the gut. It's important to get a variety of strains because each person's body has a different bacterial footprint and utilizes some bacterial strains better than others.  

Make sure the capsule is designed for delayed release.

Probiotics must travel through the harsh stomach environment and be delivered to the intestines to be effective. Delayed-release capsules are engineered to remain intact through the stomach and begin dissolving in the intestine, where they are needed most.

Look for potency at time of expiration, not manufacture.  

Any probiotic is fresh when manufactured, but very few remain at full strength through their expiration date. A probiotic supplement, with the right amount of cultures and strains, can help promote digestive health, and strengthen the body's natural immune defenses. 

Get your savings today and live clean!

Yours in Health,

Brenda Watson

We're beyond thrilled to have today's guest blogger I'm Not A Cook. What better way to celebrate mom than with a tasty treat that's easy to make?

Mother's Day is just around the corner, and with our hectic modern-day lives, we more often than not just send her a card in the mail and then continue on with our busy schedules.
Take a little time this year to make her something beautiful and sweet to eat. This twist on the classic strawberry shortcake is so quick and easy, making it won't impede on your busy life. You can even prepare this up to a day before serving. See? You can have your cake and eat it too.

Not sure what to do with holiday leftovers? Foodie blog In Her Kitchen, shares their advice on making the most of your holiday meal. Bon Appetite!
If your family is anything like mine, then Christmas is an excuse for Thanksgiving dinner Part 2 with a table full of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and an assortment of desserts! I am always looking for a creative way to use up my leftovers, rather than a simple turkey sandwich or soup. Desperate to make a little room in my fridge last year, I came up with this Turkey Leftover Won Tons with Cranberry Salsa.

Ingredients

Turkey and Stuffing Won Tons

•    1 1/2 c cooked and shredded turkey
•    1 c prepared stuffing
•    4 oz cream cheese, softened
•    4 T thick prepared turkey gravy
•    1 14 oz package won ton wrappers
•    1 T water
•    3 c canola (or vegetable) oil
•    salt to taste

Cranberry Salsa
•    1 c dried cranberries
•    3/4 c lemon juice
•    2 T minced onions
•    1 T lime juice
•    1 t minced jalapeno
•    1 t minced garlic
•    1 t water

Directions

1.    To prepare, heat oil over medium-high heat in a large deep skillet. Marinate cranberries in lemon juice to plump. Mix turkey, stuffing, cream cheese, and turkey gravy in a medium bowl.
2.    Drain lemon juice from cranberries. In a small food processor, pulse cranberries until minced. In a small serving dish, mix cranberries, onions, lime juice, garlic, and water. Add in jalapeno to desired heat.
3.    Place about 1 T of the mix in the center of each won ton wrapper. Wet edges of each wrapper lightly with water, fold in half, and press the edges with a fork to seal. Lightly salt to taste.
4.    Place a single layer of won tons in the skillet. Heat for about 4-6 minutes or until golden brown flipping once halfway through. Remove with a large spatula onto plate covered with paper towels. Repeat for remaining won tons.
5.    Let sit for about 5 minutes and serve while warm with the cranberry salsa.


Please visit our blog, InHerKitchen.com for more recipes and tons of pics documenting each recipes' directions. You can also follow us on Twitter at @InHerKitchen and like us on Facebook. Hope to hear from you!

Today's guest blogger is also from the Frugal Living Community. Melissa from Saving Cents With Sense. Enjoy!

One of our family traditions has been to make edible Christmas wreaths each holiday season. Not only are they fun to make (and eat!), but they make nice gifts for friends or family. Plus, they are easy enough for the kids to help.



Ingredients:

Box of Cornflakes
16 ozs of Marshmallows (1 bag)
1/2 butter
Green Food Coloring
Red Hot Candies

Instructions:

1. Melt butter and rarshmallows in microwave stirring every minute until marshmallows are completely dissolved.

2. Add green food coloring to melted mixture - stir in until you reach color desired for wreath.  (Approx. 2 TBLS)

3. Pour hot melted mixture over Cornflakes. Stir quickly to coat all cereal.

4. Pour mixture over buttered bowl(s) - let fall in shape of wreath.

5. Place red hot candies around the wreath while hot, to look like berries.

6. Place one candy cane on each side of wreath.

7. Put bow at top if wanted. Remove bowl from center after partially cooled.

8. Optional: Fill center with goodies (cookies, candy, etc).

Enjoy your wreath and have a very happy holiday!

Today's Guest Blogger is Diane from FruFrugals.com. She shares one of her favorite Holiday recipes as part of Ebates Holiday Blogs.

Got vegetarians on the holiday dinner guest list? Homemade split pea soup is not only super cheap to make but it is a perfect soup to have on hand in case extra guests show up.


Last year I was making Split Pea Soup at least once every couple of weeks. I had a vegan in the house and this was about the only thing I could make that everyone would eat. After a few months, my husband started protesting about it not having any meat. Guess what happened next? I came up with a quick and cheap recipe that included ham. Did I mention it's cheap?

Ingredients

    * 1 cup chopped onion
    * 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
    * 1 pound dried split peas
    * 1 pound ham bone
    * salt and pepper to taste

Directions

    * In a medium sized pot saute onions in oil or bacon grease. Add split peas and remove from heat. At this point you can add the ham bone or chopped ham. Cover ingredients with water then season with salt and pepper.
    * Cook then cover until there are no whole peas are left, approximately 2 hours. Check to see if water has evaporated while it is cooking.  Add water if needed.
    * Now all peas should be soft and soupy, remove from heat. Soup will thicken.
    * Serve and Viola!

Today's guest blogger is from Wine.com and offers must-read advice for anyone throwing a holiday party this year. Enjoy and Happy Holidays from Ebates!

Throwing a holiday party this year? Great move - everyone loves a good party to celebrate the season. Unfortunately, host duties can also cause a bit of stress. Avoid added chaos by making sure you've got all your wine bottles in a row. Here are some helpful tips & tricks to do so.

1. Make sure you have enough wine! You don't want to break the cardinal rule, which is to never run out of wine. Generally, you want to have a half-bottle per person on hand - that's about two full glasses per guest. If wine is the primary beverage and you're serving little else, or if the party is set to run more than 4 hours, I up that ratio to a full bottle - or at least 3/4 a bottle - per person. Just make sure you have enough of something to keep everyone happy.

2. Be diverse! Just because you're on a budget doesn't mean you have to be boring. It doesn't have to be complicated, but offer some choice in your wine - go for a sparkling wine, two white choices and two reds. Maybe choose a rich Australian Viognier and a crisp South African Chenin Blanc for your whites, and a spicy Rhone blend and a dense and jammy Zinfandel for your red selection. At Wine.com we sort our wines by flavor profile, among other things, so it's easy to pick out something light & crisp and something rich and creamy to offset it.

3. Screw it!  When you are serving a lot of wine, the last thing you want to do is be stuck behind the bar with a corkscrew, hastily opening bottles. Screw caps aren't for bottom shelf wines anymore - top quality vino is bottled under screw cap these days, and there is nothing easier than opening one when you're rushing around a party. For cork closures, make sure you pre-open a few bottles to stay ahead of consumption.

4. Keep those white wines chilled! If you've got quite a few bottles you need to keep chilled, there is no better ice bucket than a bathtub. Throw a few bags of ice in there, mix with a bit of water and voila! instant (and large) ice bucket. Just be careful if the bathtub is also the restroom for the guests!

5. Name those glasses! If you are using actual glassware, use wine charms or tags to help people remember which glass is theirs. Saves people from losing their glasses and you from having to provide more! If you're using plastic cups, nothing like some white labels and a Sharpie! Again, cuts down on waste and half-drunk cups everywhere. You can actually use easy-stick labels and a sharpie for regular glasses as well.

6. Clean glassware in the morning! This goes against my "stay ahead of the mess" rule, but to preserve more stems and break less bowls, wait till you have a clear head and lots of patience and room to wash those glasses. Feel free to rinse them that evening, but when it comes to a good wash, save it for morning. I promise you less casualties. 

Though procrastination is all-too-popular during the holidays, we hope these tips help you prepare the beverage side of your party and avoid some chaos. Cheers, Cin-Cin & Sante!

Hey Everyone,

You may remember a post I did a little bit ago for Ebates featuring a Jessica Simpson look for less. In addition to my The Looks For Less blog, I also have a website that "feeds" my addiction for cooking and baking. My sister Lauren is also addicted to food and photography, so we decided to document our recipe exchange in a blog appropriately titled In Her Kitchen. 



The recipe I decided to share with you all is the dessert that inspired the blog - my sister's famous (amongst my friends) Fruit & Nutella Pastry Cups. She came up with the recipe after we had dessert crepes together at a local French restaurant. Hope you will try it out and if you do, please let us know what you think. If you're not a baker-extraordinaire fret not, Ebates has numerous gourmet stores that sell delectable treats.

Thanks,
Jennifer


Ingredients

• 1 Pepperidge Farm puff pastry sheet
• 9 tb. Nutella hazelnut spread
• 8 oz strawberries
• 2 bananas
• 1 tb. confectioners sugar
• 1 can whip cream
• 9 tb. chocolate sauce
• Hazelnut (optional)

Directions

1. Cut one sheet of nearly room temperature pastry dough into 9 squares (3 x 3). I use a pizza cutter, which seems to work best.
2. Stretch each square out just enough to fit into an ungreased muffin tin. Fold the corners that are exposed into the tin and press until evenly covering the inside of the tin. Repeat for remaining squares. Bake for about 10-15 minutes at 350 until lightly golden brown.
3. While pastry is baking, cut bananas and strawberries into bite sized chunks. Lightly coat with confectioners sugar to give a bit more sweetness to the fresh fruit.
4. Remove the pastry from the oven when it is a light golden brown. It will puff up filling the inside of each muffin tin. While it is still warm, press gently around the inside with a spoon to open up each pastry forming a "pastry cup". Remove muffin tin from oven, and while still warm, press a spoon into each pastry to open them up. Spread a spoon full of Nutella into each pastry and spread evenly around the inside of the pastry.
5. Also while still warm, spread the Nutella into the inside of the pastry cups. It is much easier to spread when the warm pastry melts the Nutella.
6. Top each pastry with a heaping spoonful of the banana and strawberry mixture, a swirl of whip cream, a drizzle of chocolate sauce, and a shaving of hazelnut (optional).

This is my favorite desert, all time ever! Pastry, fruit and Nutella go so well together, and you feel as though it's somewhat healthy with the fruit, hahah.

Please visit our blog, InHerKitchen.com for more recipes and tons of pics documenting each recipes' directions.  You can also follow us on Twitter at @InHerKitchen and like us on Facebook.  Hope to hear from you!

Thanks to Gourmet Week, I've been craving all things food related, including blogs. I thought I'd take a break from fashion and spend some time with blogs that make my mouth water for reasons other than boots. For those who can bake/cook you'll enjoy the yummy recipes in these blogs, but for those who would rather let someone else do the baking I suggest you shop our Gourmet Stores and add double cash back to your account.


Cupcakes and Cashmere.
The perfect blend of fashion and tasty treats, this LA based blog has been a favorite of mine for nearly 2 years.  When I pop onto this sight I can expect to see obtainable fashion (cue why didn't I think of that?) and photography that makes even the simplest of items look divine. Some of my favorite recipes include Cheddar-Dill Scones, and Merlot Poached Pears.

Dessert First.
When I stumbled onto this site a few months ago I couldn't help but think I had found my twin. I too believe desert is the best part of life, which is why this San Francisco blog has earned a spot on my favorites list. Aside from introducing me to cool restaurants, recipes, and food trends, her book A Field Guide To Cookies is a godsend to those who can't bake. Shop her book at Barnes and Noble.

The Wednesday Chef.
This blog is romantic, as in it makes you want to travel to Europe, live with a host family, and learn their culture in and out. Each recipe has a bit of a story and gives the reader a glimpse into what I like to call the good life. Favorite recipes include Austrian Potato Strudel and Moroccan Tomato Soup.   

Happy eating!

Father's Day is home to the burger, the steak, and the awesome taste of grilled food. Mother's Day is home to sweet delights, pretty flowers, and softer things. Don't get me wrong, I love Mother's Day. But I also think there's something fantastic about spending a warm June day sharing a cold beer with my dad. After all, he appreciates my femininity while fully accepting sometimes I'd rather be in a t-shirt hanging with the guys. By guys I'm referring to 3 brothers, so yes, Father's Day is quite the occasion.

Ebates thinks so too, so we've teamed up with nine of our top stores to bring you Father's Day Double Cash Back. And speaking of double cash back, you'll get 6.0% Cash Back at Omaha Steaks. You know, in case I'm not the only one who thinks grilled meat is a Summer must.

From now until June 20th, you'll save up to 65% at Omaha Steaks plus get free extras like 4 burgers and 4 franks with many orders. There's also The Dad Pack. A four person feast of dad's favorites foods; stuffed baked potatoes, top sirloins, and juicy burgers. For just $49.99 you'll meal is nearly complete. Just add in some other goodies like green beans with red peppers, and chocolate chunk cookie dough cookies and you're feast is fit for a king. Isn't that was dad is?

The Ebates blog is typically used to promote great deals on clothing, books, furniture, beauty items, and whatever else you can think of. Everything except food. Why? Well despite the numerous stores in our Food and Wine Category, cooking a tasty meal at home is one of the few ways you can't earn cash back. Right? Wrong! While it's true you don't receive cash back while shopping the farmers market or your local grocery store, you can get cash back on the tools necessary to turn ingredients into a pass-it-down recipe. As a self proclaimed foodie I thought I'd share one of my favorite meals; Peppers stuffed with my famous green potatoes. Easy to make, this meal is full of flavor, low on cost, and you can incorporate cash back by adding a few tools.


Step One: The Basics
For this meal you'll need
3 Peppers. Tops cut off and set aside.
1-2 lbs Yellow and Red Potatoes. Washed and quartered. I leave the skin on for more nutrients.
1Tbsp Salted Butter
2 Tbsp Olive Oil. This is really a guesstimate since I always eye my ingredients rather than measure them.
Salt and Pepper to taste.


Step Two: The Seasonings
Add as little or as much as you like, but note the term green potatoes comes from the abundance of fresh herbs!
1/4-1/2 c. Chopped Red Onion
1/4 c. Minced Parsley
1/4 c. Fresh Rosemary
1-2 tbsp Minced Garlic


Directions
Preheat oven to 375. In a 3-qt saucepan melt butter and add in onions, parsley, salt and pepper. Wait till butter is fully melted then add in desired amount of olive oil. This will replace the need for adding milk later. In a separate 5-qt pot or dutch oven (like this Enamel Coated Cast Iron Dutch Oven from Target) boil water and add potatoes. I've always adhered to the more is more philosophy when it comes to buying cookware. More quality, more cash back. The mentioned dutch oven will get you 3.0% Cash Back at Target. 

While potatoes are boiling lightly grease 9x9 inch baking dish, and place in peppers. Be sure to only use peppers that stand on their own. When potatoes are ready to be mashed, strain them and return to pan. Add butter mixture and mash. Once fully mixed, stuff peppers with green potatoes and add a dash of pepper on top. Cheese also works well. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes so crust forms, then drop temperature to 350 and bake another 35 minutes. When it comes to baking or roasting, only buy what suits your needs. Because I live alone and typically cook smaller servings, this Open Glass Roasting Pan is a perfect option. Purchased from Sur La Table, I received 4.0% Cash Back on this heavily used item.


After 45 minutes from placing in oven (always be sure to check food during cooking time as ovens vary) remove peppers from oven and serve! For display purposes, top with lid and serve as an appetizer. Of course no meal is complete without a delicious wine, so head over to Wine.com for an extensive selection of fine wines and 4.0% Cash Back.

Get cooking in our Food and Wine category.

You always hear various stores on TV, the radio, or the internet tell you to "shop like a pro." Personally, this slogan has never entirely made sense to me. Despite the grammatical vagueness of what kind of "pro" they are referring to, it always makes me feel like I am doing something wrong when I just shop for things the way I've been doing most of my life. However, today I discovered Instawares, and everything suddenly became so much clearer.

Curious about their name, I clicked the link on Ebates, and I arrived at the site to find a restaurant supply super store. "But Bill" I suspect you might say, "I don't have a restaurant that needs supplying." You are absolutely right, however I'd be willing to place a tidy wager that you do own a kitchen, and since you read the Ebateable Blog, I also know that you love a good value. While I think just as much as the next person that nobody needs to spend four hundred dollars on a supercharged bar blender, or to buy cutlery by the gross, but if you weed through the mass-quantity bargains and specialized equipment at Instawares, you can find some great deals on everyday kitchen supplies at amazing deals. Colanders, cutting boards, steamers, and a whole variety of pots and pans can all be found for low prices, which come with everyday 3.0% Cash Back when you shop through Ebates.

However, if you really want to go crazy, and want to win the hearts of most anyone I know, pull some cash together and buy this free-standing deep fryer unit. As someone with friends in the restaurant business, I can say without hesitation that you would be flat-out shocked at the number of things you can deep free, and you'll be even more shocked when you find out how much better those things taste after they come out of the oil! Yes, I fully realize that it's nearly eight hundred dollars, but can you put a price on love? More importantly, can you put a price on deep fried tasty treats? I mean, come on, you save over eighteen hundred dollars and get free shipping!

Outfit your kitchen with deals from our Kitchen Appliances category!

Those of you who know me, or even those of you who even read this blog on a somewhat regular basis, might have noticed that I enjoy a nice cold frosty brew from time to time. A number of my friends and co-workers who share this interest with me have also started the fun hobby of brewing their own beer using the Mr. Beer system. I would love to be able to brew my own beer as well, but unfortunately, as most of my spare money goes to musical instruments, typewriters, and wonderful tech finds, I don't really have the spare time and cash to get into the home-brewing game. Luckily, I have a number of friends who love it, so I get to reap the benefits of home-brewed beers without the work of having to make it myself! It's a win-win!

If you too want to get into the action, Ebates is currently offering 3.0% Cash Back on products from Mr. Beer, whether you are just getting started and need the whole kit, or just want to get more supplies for your new batch of home brew, you can get cash back on all the wonderful products Mr. Beer has to offer. Even though I don't make it myself, I can certainly vouch for the quality of beer that comes from Mr. Beer kits -- I just had some at a friend's house on Sunday, and it was delicious!

So, while you might not have time to whip up a batch of green beer in time for Wednesday, you will certainly have plenty of time to perfect your recipe for next year, or you could take inspiration from the great folks at St. James's Gate Brewery and whip up a nice traditional Irish Stout that can be enjoyed at any point this year!

Whet your whistle with products from our Wine & Bar category!

I sure as heck hope you know Jelly Belly. If you have never had a Jelly Belly jelly bean, then, my friend, you have not lived. They are the premier jelly bean on the market right now, to the point that I almost hesitate to lump them in with all their competitors. At this point, you're probably asking me why I'd be writing a "Did you know" blog about a famous candy seller, and you would be valid in your curiosity. But there are two things that you might not realize or know about Jelly Belly that makes it blog-worthy. Two things beyond the fact that they offer 5.0% Cash Back, that is. Behold:

1) Jelly Belly Sport Beans: Yep, sports candy. You heard it right here, folks. Delightfully tasty little jelly beans that are loaded with vitamins, carbs, and (perhaps most importantly) caffeine. Considering that blogging is a pretty low-impact undertaking, I haven't had the opportunity to try these for their intended purpose, but the buzz around the internet is pretty positive. If you have tried them, please leave a comment. I'd love to hear a firsthand account of how good they are.

2) Valentine's Day: Yes, I know, you're supposed to give chocolate on Valentine's Day. Still, normality has never been my forte, and doing something a little outside the box can score you major points with your loved one. All I ask is that you step back and think first about who you're giving these candies to, since I don't want to be held responsible for someone getting upset at a lack of Valentine's chocolate. Also "But Bill from Ebates said it would be cute" is not an excuse if your loved one gets upset - I'm just planting a seed in your mind. But with that caveat out of the way, I will say that the array of gift ideas from Jelly Belly for your favorite (or least favorite) romantic holiday is pretty staggering. Plus, if you spend $35 or more, you qualify for a free box of conversational jelly beans. They're like conversation hearts - but tasty!

So check them out, or if you're more of a traditionalist, you can find all sorts of standard Valentine's fare in our Flowers & Gifts category.

Ah, Valentine's Day. Whether this year finds you single, happily attached, or whatever label you can think of, February 14th is about love. In honor of St.Valentine I'm throwing a party for my true loves; my friends. Along with bubbly there will be yummy appetizers, good music, and, of course, treats for my sweets. Speaking of sweets and treats, Godiva is one of twelve stores participating in our Valentine's Day Double Cash Back. Until February 8th you'll receive 9.0% Cash Back at Godiva, and find scrumptious desserts like the above Limited Edition Pink Vanilla Buttercream Cupcakes. Yum.  

When it comes to hosting a party for upwards of twenty people, making sure I have enough food is my top priority. It's for this reason I'm thrilled Godiva has an online bakery shop filled with mouth-watering items like chocolate ganache cake, chocolate macaroons, and chocolate chunk brownies. If baked goods aren't your thing, Godiva also sells gift baskets and other specialty items like biscuits, assorted candies, and, my all time favorite, hot cocoa. No matter what your plans are February 14th, add a little sugar and 9.0% Cash Back!

Share the love this Valentine's Day with Double Cash Back!

Because I'm not making the long trek back to Boston this year, Christmas will be spent in a different way. Instead of waiting in long lines at the airport only to have my flight canceled (as was the case last year), I'll be cuddled up in bed with a glass of wine and a good book. While I'll miss seeing my larger-than-life family, there's no reason why I can't bring the holiday spirit into my home. Here are the top two items I look forward to on December 25th.

Egg Nog
This should be named liquid heaven, because it tastes that good. This year I've taken to drinking this savory concoction almost every night, but the corner store near my house charges an absurd amount. Good thing Safeway carries egg nog for around $2-3. Never shopped Safeway.com? You should, because new customers receive $15 in free Groceries and free Delivery on $99+ orders with code HOLIDAY (Exp. 12/31/2009). Not to mention you'll get $5.00 Cash Back!



A Christmas Story
Quite frankly the best Christmas movie ever, A Christmas Story is a personal tradition of mine as well as my family. It's true that TV stations like TBS will play this classic tale the entirety of Christmas day, however owning a copy is a must for whenever you need a good laugh. This copy sells at Barnes and Noble  for $18, and you'll get 8.0% Cash Back.

Happy Holidays from Ebates!

Having been single for the past... umm.... "quite a few" New Year's celebrations, when the clock hits midnight, and everyone reaches for their special someone, I do too. I reach for a bottle of champagne, and let that cork fly (always outdoors, of course). This year looks to be more of the same. So if you're looking for a little bubbly to help you ring in the new decade, I thought that I might remind you that you can find various bottles from various merchants with such a wide variety that we should hopefully be able to suit every taste.



Wine.com has 105 results for "Champagne and Sparkling" on their site, and with bottles ranging from $7.99 to $500.00, all with 3.0% Cash Back, you should definitely be able to find something that strikes your fancy.

The Wine Messenger has a somewhat smaller selection, but what they lack in size, they more than make up for in quality. Each of the ten bottles in their Sparkling Section all boast a 90 rating or better, which is no small feat. Ranging in price from $11.75 to $85.00, you will earn 6.0% Cash Back on any of your purchases.

My Wines Direct has a significantly smaller collection to choose from, but they also offer the highest cash back out of the three with 7.0% Cash Back. They also have the most coupons to choose from of the three wine merchants I listed. So if you have trouble making decisions, find one of their four bottles, all of which are between $14.99 and $24.99, and it will be hard to go wrong!

Still searching? You can find all of our wine merchants in our Wine category!

My coffee addiction is well documented, gentle readers. I make no bones about it; I consider my days "good" if I can have at least three cups of coffee, and don't consider the label of "great" until I hit at least five. So in my quest for a perfect and hassle-free (that's the important part) cup of coffee, I have tried literally hundreds of options. I've got a French Press that I love. I've got a single-cup drip brewer and a regular Mr. Coffee. I've tried doing turkish style, where the coffee is ground into basically a fine powder. I've tried the Starbucks VIA. I've tried all sorts of small countertop espresso makers with generally disappointing results.

But I digress.

A few months ago, a new and different brewing system showed up here in the Ebates office. It was small, self-contained, and used these bizarre little packets of honest-to-goodness ground coffee. It was the Flavia brewer. Granted, I bristled a bit at first because it was a foreign brewing system that I couldn't just intuitively figure out (yep, I had to read instructions), but I was pretty impressed with the result it yielded. You get a solid cup of brewed coffee, with a simple packet for disposal (read: no grinds all over the place) and for under $50, you can get a case of 100 single-serve brew packs. Yes, you do have to have the special brewing equipment, so you might want to see if there's a way to give it a test run first, but so far, I'd give it a thumbs up if you want a no frills, no hassle cup of coffee. I've even heard speculation that Flavia is what the astronauts drink, but I can't seem to find any hard evidence of that.

So check them out; they offer a solid 6.0% Cash Back, and have a couple of coupons where you can get free brewing equipment if you spend certain amounts of money on their drink packets. There are a few exceptions to cash back as well, so make sure you check out the My Flavia page for all the fine print.

Find your perfect cup of coffee from one of our Coffee merchants!

You may have tuned in to the Today Show this morning and seen their special segment on "Food Gifts from Across the Country". Being an avid non-morning person, I will admit that I missed it, but some of my foodie friends made sure that I watched it online once I'd had my first cup of coffee. At first I was curious about what everyone was all excited about; most everything that the people were discussing was pretty standard as far as tasty treats go, but then, right about the five minute mark, it hit me like a bolt out of the blue: the Vosges Chocolate Bacon Bar.

It's no surprise coming from someone like myself that I am well-versed in this sweet and savory treat. I've had both the milk chocolate version as well as the dark chocolate version, however I haven't tried the latest addition, the bacon and chocolate chip pancake mix. I'd be lying if I didn't say that I am mighty tempted, and almost placed an order at first mention. But instead, I will leave all bacon and chocolate ventures where they belong for the moment: on my holiday wish list.

If you think you know someone who might want a little bacon and chocolate love in their life, or if they just have an appreciation for such things like delicious truffles, wine or champagne and truffle gift sets, or most any other kind of gourmet comfort food involving chocolate, then Vosges is just the gift site that you're looking for. Best of all, you can earn 10% Cash Back on all your purchases when you shop through Ebates. Plus, through the end of the year, you can save 15% on all purchases of $100 or more with coupon code HOLIDAY15OFF, so that's a perfect chance to save a little extra on a whole bunch of gift shopping.

Plus, most food items ship on short notice, due to freshness concerns, so not only are these things delicious, they should get to your door lickity-split for you procrastinators!

Find all sorts of gift ideas in the Ebates Top Holiday Gifts pages!

I have to admit I do watch early morning infomercials. Typically I am able to ignore whatever must-have item these shows sell (usually centered around weight loss, make-up, and acne programs), but one show catching my attention was for something that I could actually use: a juicer. No, make that an emulsifier. Before I go into detail, allow me state this items sells at QVC for $30 less than what is advertised on TV, plus you'll get 4.0% Cash Back at Ebates.

I've owned juicers in the past, but the process was always messy and it seemed half of what I put in was being wasted. The whole idea behind juicing is to promote good health, yet many fruits and veggies hold most of their vitamins in the same skin other juicers discard. The HealthMaster actually liquefies food, eliminating waste, and the clean up process is half of what other juicers demand. This product is advertised on TV for $200, but through QVC it's only $169. Perfect for my dad who's vegetable intake is far less than what it should be, this emulsifier is an easy way to make juices, fresh baby food, even dessert. Instead of nagging loved ones to adopt a healthier lifestyle, give them the tools to do so. New Year's resolutions are being made now, so why not get a jump start?

Find more gift ideas here.

I'm an anomaly, folks. I rather tend to enjoy making the big messy holiday meals. I take pride in setting food down in front of a table full of people and hoping that nothing comes back into my kitchen. I'm sure this is because I seldom cook for myself. Okay home chefs, I'll give you a moment to hate me....

There that's better.

But for all of you who are reading this right around Thanksgiving, chances are you are stressing a little bit about the prospect of a giant bird being in your oven, with basting responsibilities, sides to over-cook, and that pie that just won't make itself. I say stop one second and think about how you feel right now, then imagine what it would be like if you didn't have anything to worry about around the holidays. What if a meal magically showed up? What if you could be having cocktails with your friends and exchanging witticisms rather than keeping one eye on the clock and one eye on that little pop-out turkey tester thing we all use? Does it sound like magic? That's because it kind of is; it's MagicKitchen.

While one of the major functions of MagicKitchen is to supply day-to-day meals for invalids and those with specific dietary concerns, they also offer specialty holiday meals for larger parties. So this is the perfect time to plan ahead and arrange for a healthy and hearty holiday meal to be delivered right to your doorstep, saving you all the troubles of buying, preparing, and cooking a large meal. Plus, when you shop through Ebates, you'll get 4.0% Cash Back, which should save you enough to buy some extra nibbles for cocktail hour. Or even better, give the gift of a pre-prepared meal to friends this holiday season!

Find gourmet goodies in our Food & Wine category.

Below are just a few of the many gift ideas for the foodie in your life, and they're all available through Ebates merchants. So sit back, relax, and earn cash back!

The Master Chef

For the cook who could rival Julia Child and bam! louder than Emeril comes the ultimate in cookware. In French it means the melting pot, but chef extradionares know it as Le Creuset. This 20 Piece Cookware Set from CHEFS is made from Le Creuset's famous porcelain enameled cast iron. Right now you'll save $438 on this set and get 6.0% Cash Back. For more ways to save at CHEFS, check out their coupons and Fall savings.   

The Host(ess) with the most

For those who would rather entertain than cook, this La Rossa Dinnerware Set from Sur La Table adds festive charm to any table. Sixteen pieces in all, this set is just $99.99 (savings of $180) plus you'll get 4.0% Cash Back. For other entertaining ideas (and to save up to 20%) shop the Holiday Entertaining Sale going on at Sur La Table.



The Wine Lover
Whether your loved one is a sommelier or just starting out, Wine.com offers monthly wine clubs, discounts, and gift sets. They even have a section that describes how to pick the perfect bottle of wine. This Tour de France Wine Set includes three bottles each from one of France's famous wine regions. Perfect for beginners, this set is just $39.99 and you'll get 3.0% Cash Back.



Stocking Stuffers For the Food Lover

 Even if you're not able to visit San Francisco this year, you can still savor it's famous chocolate. Try the Limited Edition Peppermint Bark Squares Gift Bag from Ghirardelli Chocolate. Enter code EBATES15 and save 15% off the entire site and get 6.5% Cash Back.


 

For the foodie who's always pressed for time, Starbucks VIA Ready Brew is a great way to enjoy their favorite coffee on the run. Just $9.95 for 12 servings, plus you'll also get 8.0% Cash Back.


Looking for even more gift ideas? Check out Gifts For Her and Ten Dollar Toys in the buzz box!

It's my experience that Halloween is a rather polarizing holiday: you either love it or hate it. I can say that I fall into the latter category because I am not particularly fond of constructing an elaborate costume, dressing up, or being festive. Yet, there is one thing about Halloween that I cannot get enough of: sweet, delicious, addictive candy. Halloween is a special time of year for candy lovers because most everyone has some to give out, special edition candy is available, and you can basically eat of ton of it and rationalize your over-indulging with the fact that it only comes once a year. Another way to rationalize heavy candy consumption is shopping at Candy Warehouse, through Ebates during the Halloween Sale where nine merchants have increased cash back and offer special deals for the event. The Candy Warehouse has increased to 7.0% Cash Back and has more candy options for holidays, special occasions, and themes than you could even imagine at amazing prices. Check out the Candy Warehouse and find delightfully creepy candies like chocolate filled eyeballs (yum), candy-corn shaped lollipops, gummy earthworms, and much, much more.

Shop at the Candy Warehouse now and save on your candy purchases that will please everyone from the die-hard candy addict to the neighborhood trick-or-treaters, and the Halloween lover.

Shop all of our Halloween Sale Merchants with increased cash back!

You may be surprised to hear there are some things I think are best left simple. Not everything needs to be over the top and uber stylized, like for instance, flatware and dinnerware. When it comes to serving food I think it's best to keep the utensils clean and minimal. No neon swirled plates or flatware in the shape of twigs. To be brutally honest, both are extremely tacky. I mean who wants to eat with a twig? Isn't that the point of civilization? To get away from such caveman activities? But I digress. In the market for an upgrade in the food serving department, I shopped at SmartBargains where I got 8.0% Cash Back (more than double!) and found a wide selection of dinnerware, flatware, really all kinds of wares.

The above Cambridge Silversmith 65pc Set is a "do" when it comes to flatware. No crazy designs or space age looking forks, just a simple and elegant set. Selling at just $89.99, I saved 33% of the retail and thanks to Ebates Columbus Day Sale I earned 8.0% Cash Back too. That's money that I can use toward something else for my home, like sheets.


Shop the Ebates Columbus Day Sale!

I will be among the first to admit that I am a coffee snob. I have been one for years. Ever since I first tasted beans roasted on premises that were ground individually for each order, I have gone down the dark path that leads to more and more perfect cups of coffee.

But it was not always this way. I used to be able to enjoy a cup of coffee anywhere. I could go to the diner down the street and be fully content with their warmer-plate seventy five cent bottomless mug. Not to say I don't still drink it now, but I certainly notice the disparity in tastes when I do.

So it was with some skepticism when I decided to try VIA from the Starbucks Store. Being a former barista for the "green team", I know the standards to which Starbucks holds their coffee, so I was curious to see how their to-go option would translate. I have to admit, I was impressed. For being a packet of micro-ground coffee that can be tossed into a bag, briefcase, or pocket, it actually makes a solid cup of coffee. Considering you're paying less than a dollar a cup (only eight ounces, but still), with 8.0% Cash Back from Ebates it's a good deal too.

Find your perfect cup of joe in our Coffee category.

Nope, not the book of world records - I'm talking about the birthday of that fine dark Irish stout that so many of my friends (myself included) are so incredibly fond of. Yep, it's been two hundred and fifty years since Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000 year lease on the now-famous St. James Gate Brewery in Dublin. Even if it hadn't been 250 years of success, I'd toast to the man for having the foresight to sign a lease that will provide him ownership of the brewery for that long.

So, you may have seen the toast "to Arthur" if you happened to be around a pub in the last day or two, and we here at Ebates want to provide you your chance to join in the celebration. That's partially one of the reasons we added the Guinness WebStore - so you can have all the best apparel, barware, and more, all with a crisp, refreshing 5.0% Cash Back.

So even if you're one of those folks who only ever has a pint of Guinness when St. Patrick's Day rolls around, or if you have a Kegerator full of Guinness in your house, you can now have all the accouterments.


Get your home bar in order with help from our Home & Garden category!

It used to be that in order to save money, you had to eat at home. Grocery shopping, cooking, and bringing your lunch to work were all necessary steps in the fight to keep extra cash in your pocket. With milk, quality meats, and even produce costing three times more than they did a few years ago, eating in isn't the money saving ritual it used to be. Especially when it comes to meat. Not to fret, though, because Omaha Steaks offers top quality meats, seafood, and even appetizers at prices you can afford. Thanks to Man Week at Ebates, you'll now get 6.0% Cash Back on top of great savings on mouth watering food.

Shop the End of Summer Sale at Omaha Steaks and save 50% on filet mignons, pork chops, boneless chicken breasts, as well as half off yummy sides and dessert. They also have great deals like The Weekender Combo which offers a combination of franks, burgers, and top sirloin for just $44 dollars! That's a discount of $81! Perfect for the game, camping trip, or for later, you'll enjoy top quality meats at prices that make you wonder "Why did I ever go to the grocery store?"


Find more great deals during Man Week at Ebates!

If you're within driving distance of any major metropolitan area, there's no reason why you shouldn't be planning your meals alongside Restaurant.com. With up to 80% off gift cards for every type of cuisine imaginable, you'll practically be eating for free once you toss in our Restaurant.com coupons and outstanding 15% Cash Back!

Restaurant.com was one of the first places on the 'net to offer up discounted gift cards to a handful of your local hotspots. Because of this, they've carved out a little niche for themselves that allow them to post amazing Restaurant.com coupon codes like "NAPKIN" that will save you 80% off your entire order at checkout! You can get $25 gift cards for just $2 -- how can you pass up a top-notch dinner when you're just paying the tip?

Restaurant.com coupons are an easy way to save money just by shopping ahead at Ebates. But don't take my word for it -- check out our list of 1100+ stores to find out where else you could be earning your cash back today!

Sometimes people take the little things in life for granted. The biggest TV and the fastest car might be fun for show, but oftentimes little gadgets have the biggest impact on our lives. Even though these gadgets are simple, two little upgrades to your kitchen could improve your life and earn you cash back in the process!

Milk Frother
Who doesn't love a nice cafe latte in the morning? I love my coffee, but it's often hard to get a good froth going for your favorite drink. Now you can warm up the milk, froth it up with a $8 Milk Frother from Overstock, and add your favorite coffee or espresso. How relaxing!


Digital Weigh Scale
It might not be an essential gadget to everyone, but a proper scale saves you time, money, and tummy-aches by telling you the weight of everything to the nearest gram. A co-worker swears by it for everything from pastries to main courses -- why not spend $25 at Target and improve all your meals too?

Whether you've got a small business, or just like to buy in bulk, Sams Club has always been a great place to get lots of stuff at ridiculously low prices. But for so, so long, you could never find Sams Club coupons or get any sort of break on necessities like gallon jars of mayonnaise, 500-count snack packs, and actual boxes of candy. But no more! With 1% Cash Back at Sams Club, you can save on every purchase, regardless of size!

Even though you still have to be a card-carrying member of Sam's elite Club, the amazing values and deals on practically everything and anything just can't be beat. Plus, with shipping to your local Sam's Club, you can save big bucks on shipping all those massive things!

While we're currently low on Sams Club coupons, there's no reason to worry! You'll always get cash back on the best sales and deals at Ebates.

I am not yet a father, but I will tell you this much right now, dear Ebates users: when I become one, I only want my children to give me gifts that I can barbecue and eat. For my money, the best place to get said edibles is Omaha Steaks. Throughout the course of our Father's Day Promotion, Omaha has upped their cash back, so now through the 21st, you can enjoy 6% Cash Back at Omaha Steaks -- now that's a tasty little morsel of cash back goodness!

Now, extra cash back isn't the only thing you get when you shop through Ebates, you will also be able to take advantage of Omaha Steaks Coupons for added savings on some tasty treats and savory meats. Take a look for yourself, and give Dad the gift that keeps on eating: a thick, juicy steak.

On average I spend fifteen minutes each morning standing alongside other dreary commuters at my local Starbucks. As amusing as the time spent trying to decipher barista lingo is, I'd much rather spend it in bed. Perhaps it was sleep deprivation that motivated me to check out the Starbucks Store on Ebates, but once I did, I knew the days of waiting for a simple cup of coffee were over. Not only will I receive 8% cash back through Ebates, but I was pleasantly surprised to find my favorite Starbucks products. Great coffee and online rebates? Say no more.

The Starbucks Store offers beans from around the world, as well as brewing equipment guaranteed to excite the barista within. Choose from top products such as DeLonghi Espresso machines, Chambord French Press, and Cuisinart Electric Coffee Makers. For those who want just the beans, the average pound of coffee is just $10.95! That's half the amount I would spend in store. In fact, the prices are so low I don't need to search for online coupon codes, or wait for major sales. I will however save over 50% on my monthly coffee expenditure. In addition to saving money on Starbucks products, I'll also be getting something far more valuable than my morning java fix: extra sleep.

Check out more ways to save in our Food and Wine category!

Although today is meant to be filled with high fructose corn syrup, overbearing perfume, and depressed singles, I'm going to step outside the box and not succumb to the frenzy that is Valentine's Day. After spending two years in overpriced and overcrowded restaurants, the bf and I gave up on going out for a special night. Like a true couple, we now stay home and get everything delivered. As far as my clothing is concerned, let's just say my attire has more flannel than frills this year.

Being that this is a long weekend, I took off to my parents house located in far far away. Besides making s'mores, ignoring my wine intake, and hoping I don't get mauled by a bear, I also have cash back to think about spending. In keeping with today's love theme, I'm going to show some serious love to the most important person in my life: me. I'm taking my cue from the original self-love guru, Ms. Piggy. No other woman loved herself with such passion. She never thought twice about spoiling herself, and neither will I.

Unfortunately for me, Valentine's Day is full of complications. From straitjacket-inspired lingerie to indecipherable menu options, there's more time spent trying to figure out what something is made of, and less time enjoying its flavors. Being a simple girl with simple tastes, there's only one thing I desire this year: Chocolate.

The world of chocolate has changed greatly over the past five years. Much attention has been paid to those who grow cocoa beans, with many businesses pledging fair trade practices, and livable wages for farmers. Alongside this new awareness has come an onslaught of new flavors from around the world. From exotic green tea, to traditional milk, your taste buds will never get bored. My search for new and interesting chocolate brought me to ChocolateSource.com (6% cash back). Not only do they carry everything chocolate (baking needs, bars, fudge, etc) but they house some of the most exotic flavors I've ever heard of. One bar that caught my eye was by famed chocolatier Dolfin. Their Dark Chocolate Infused With Earl Grey Tea sounds absolutely delightful, and the milk chocolate with cinnamon bar is sure to be a household favorite. Each pack of five is only $16.95. Considering most health food stores sell a single bar for almost ten bucks, the savings really add up.

Chocolates, jewelry, wine... the gift list for February 14th goes on and on. It's no wonder that men (and women) can get frazzled when trying to do something nice for the special someone in their life. Commercials bombard with overpriced truffles, diamond necklaces, and skimpy lingerie, but is this really what Valentine's Day is about? The origin of lovers' day comes from Saint Valentine. After being rejected by his mistress, Saint Valentine sacrificed his heart and sent it to her in a dramatic show of undying love. Luckily for you, modern times call for less bloodshed, with a heart-shaped card replacing the body's strongest muscle.

The point of this day is to show loved ones the true feelings that everyday can hide. While dinner at a nice restaurant is one way to celebrate, cooking a meal together can be much more intimate. Sur La Table (4% cash back) offers classes encompassing a world of flavors, including a Valentine themed "Date Night" class. For the cost of a fancy meal for two, both you and your partner can enjoy the satisfaction that comes with preparing your own unique meal taught by world class chefs.

Greetings Ebaters, today I'm throwing you a curveball.  Instead of the usual Free Shipping Friday, I'm going to give you a few ideas on how to save a little more cash.  Besides, it's almost the end of the month, and that means that, like always, there would be far too many shipping deals to list anyways. So if you want the comprehensive list, just click here.

For the rest of us, I have a little idea ripped straight out of today's headlines. If you follow the news, especially the economy, you probably heard that Starbucks is planning on some major cutbacks. According to Newsday, the coffee chain will be cutting seven thousand jobs and closing three hundred stores, above and beyond the six hundred they started closing this past summer. See, I have personal interest in this since I was a green-aproned barista all through college, so I still try to keep an eye on my old company.

So what are we coffee fanatics supposed to do? Simple: in these economic times where both time and money are at a premium, make an investment and do it yourself. I'll tell you from personal experience, it's not that terribly difficult to do. I mean, come on, I was a coffee jockey for three years. Think of the screwup kids at the local cafes - you wonder how they can manage to dress themselves, but you entrust your wakeup juice to them every morning. Instead of trusting the highs and lows of your morning caffeine fix (or decaf or tea) to some stranger, learn exactly how to make your favorite drink and make it yourself in minutes.
 
I recommend the DeLonghi Drip Coffee & Espresso Maker. This beauty comes with both an espresso maker and a drip coffee maker, so you can choose to make yourself either a morning latte or a pot o' joe depending on whether you hit your snooze bar one too many times. Plus, at $139.99, if you have a $5 a day coffee habit like most of America, you can pay for it all by just foregoing buying coffee for a month.

Since the beginning of the current economic downturn, pundits have been talking about everyone's need to scrimp and save. Everyone I know has been tightening their budget, being smarter with their money, and cutting back on luxuries that were much more commonplace as recently as nine months ago. One such way in which people are cutting back these days is the newfangled invention of the "stay-cation." The seemingly simple premise is this: you give yourself a mini vacation without ever leaving your city of residence. Sometimes you might go one or two towns away, but still, you're not booking flights or trains, and ideally you're not driving too terribly far.  I have heard of people doing things like getting massages, booking a night in a local luxury hotel and taking advantage of all the amenities they have to offer, or just treating themselves to a night out at a fancy restaurant.

Today, I'm going to take the idea of the stay-cation one further, and show you how to enjoy a nice stay-cation while leaving the car in the garage and staying within the comfortable confines of your own home. Personally, I find stay-cations are most effectively taken towards the end of the regular work week, since it's a day you might usually be in the office, and you aren't influenced to fall into your standard weekend routine. Rather you can enjoy the day by waking up late, making a nice brunch for yourself and your loved one(s). Then spend the day relaxing: take a bubble bath (assuming you have a bath tub), take a nap if you want, watch a favorite movie, or get out and get some exercise - whatever floats your boat. Then, as the evening falls, light some candles and treat yourself to a gourmet meal - delivered to your doorstep. Whatever your taste may be, you can find it all at Legal Sea Foods.




While their area of expertise is seafood (hence the name), Legal Sea Foods has a vast array of gourmet dishes to excite and entice the palette. Whether your taste is for lobster, crab, shrimp, steak, pork chops, Angus hamburgers, or good old fashioned New England Clam Chowder, you can find it all at Legal, along with sides, appetizers, and desserts. The best part is, most of their selection comes pre-prepared, so all you're doing is warming the items up in your own microwave or oven. That means no cooking mess, and hopefully very little cleanup after the fact. If you're going to complete your stay-cation, you can get to bed a little early, and leave the dishes for another day. What's better, is not only do you save a lot of money in comparison to what you'd pay for meals like these in restaurants, you also earn 6% cash back on all your purchases, which you can put in your piggy bank to help pay for your next "stay-cation."

If there's one thing I am looking forward to during an otherwise bland month such as January, it's the upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama. Politics aside, now is a time to celebrate. What better way to celebrate than with a party? For such a significant party theme as an inauguration, there's going to be some prep involved. Luckily Ebates has countless merchants that provide everything you need to get the party started. Here's a rundown of what you'll need to throw the best inauguration party anyone's seen in eight years.

Decorations

There's something about trying to beat the living daylights out of a candy-stuffed object that's just fun. Kids love pinatas because of the candy inside. Adults however, seems to be a little too eager for cheap gum and low quality chocolate, leading me to think the reason behind trying to massacre a papier-mache form is because it offers a sort of stress release. Going with this theme, it only makes sense to pick a pinata that represents your scapegoat of stress. Unfortunately, finding pinatas in the shape of your boss's head is rather hard. Finding them in the shape of say... Dick Cheney is easy thanks to Pinatas.com. This site boasts enough pinatas to satisfy anyone's taste, including my ultra-Republican aunt. As much as I love her, talking politics with her is a sure way to cause a ruckus, in which case we simply agree to disagree. On top of pinatas, this site sells both costumes and party supplies, all with a pleasant 6% cash back. For easy planning I suggest the Election Time Party Kit. Only $39.99 this kit include plates, cutlery, streamers, confetti... you get the point.
Whatever party you're planning (or whichever party you belong to) this one stop shop has you covered.

Food and Drink


When planning a party, feeding your guests should be the number one priority. A hungry guest is likely to drink more to compensate for the lack of food, ultimately creating a house full of drunk, obnoxious people you once thought pleasant. Avoid the post-party awkward moments by ensuring there's plenty of food to go around. Unless you're the type who enjoys cooking for an army, I suggest catering as a means of effectively feeding the ravenous masses. Having aluminum tins filled with steaming lasagna can equal death to your clean carpets, so skip the furious scrubbing at 11pm and order from Appetizerstogo.com. Whether it's bleu cheese & bacon burgers, or shrimp dumplings, this site has an overwhelming selection of bite size food perfect for keeping things (and guests) normal. Another incentive should be receiving 5% cash back, something not available to you at the local deli. The mouth-watering selection is so good, I'm now starving after having browsed the site. Not wanting to keel over and die of starvation, I'm now off to satisfy my hunger of a different kind, the shoe kind.

The holidays are not solely about Christmas and no one knows this better than myself. Sunday night was the start of Chanukah, a celebration of family, life, and history. Most everyone has heard of The Festival Of Lights, (especially if you're an Adam Sandler fan) however most don't know the history and meaning behind this eight day celebration. What I'm sure everyone does know is the jealousy felt as a child when your Jewish friends would get presents for eight days while you only had one day of gifts. Let me clear the air and say that it wasn't eight days of jaw dropping gifts. More like two or three really great gifts, with the remainder of gifts being socks and underwear. My mother alone would supply me with enough underwear to clothe an army, and that's before my aunt and grandparents had a chance to give me anything.

The reason for the eight nights has a long, long, history. During the Maccabean Revolution of 200 B.C. the Holy Temple (center of Jerusalem) was destroyed. All that remained is what is now known as the Wailing, or Western, Wall. The temple was home to The Eternal Flame, a sign of God's eternal presence. It was thought that the oil needed to fuel this flame would last only one day, yet it lasted for eight. Cue Mel Brooks yelling "It was a miracle!" and you'll understand the significance. Each day of celebration commemorates each day the oil lasted. My Hebrew school teacher would be so proud of me.
 
Now that you've got the history down, let's get on to the good stuff...gifts, family, and of course, the food. Here's a list of my favorite Chanukah items. Being that this list was made by myself and not my mother, there will be no mention of socks, underwear, or calendars. Even if I did need socks and underwear, they never make an exciting gift. Sorry Mom.

The first item on my list addresses the most important part of this holiday - Latkes! Potato pancakes fried to oblivion and drowned in sour cream. I don't think I need to mention how utterly fattening this is, and unless you're an Atkins follower, now is not the time to diet. Getting the mixture just right takes a bit of know-how, so if you're new to the world of Jewish cooking, fret not. Jewish Cooking For Dummies is the ultimate guide to cooking falafel, Hamantashin, and other delicious Jewish foods. Be warned: side affects may cause un-zippering of pants, and a renewed membership to Jenny Craig. Both Jewish and Italian households have a tradition where the grandmothers who have slaved in the kitchen for hours, walk around making sure everyone else has eaten. Commonly heard phrases are "You look too thin" and "When are you getting married?"

My second favorite thing about Chanukah is the chance to see family. My family happens to be the kind that shouts your name out as you enter a household, and it sounds something like "Allison!, Allison's here!" "Hey look who it is!" It's such a red carpet welcome, that it will easily give anyone a superiority complex, and I firmly believe I can blame them for my big head. Considering that I am not able to see them often, this Kosher Hanukkah Cornucopia basket from Gourmet Gift Baskets makes the perfect Wish I Could Be There gift. It features dried fruits, smoked salmon, chocolate, dip, and much much more. It's enough to please the pickiest eater, and the 5% cash back is pleasing to my wallet.

So there you have it, Chanukah a la Allie. Perhaps some of you thought I would talk about the new jeans I'm eyeing, or the chic sweater I've been dying to get, but during these eight crazy nights, all that matters to me is the love of my family, the memories made and to be had, and of course the food. Happy Chanukah to all and whatever you get, as my mother says, "Use it in good health".

I have a confession to make: I am an addict. Every morning, my life revolves around getting a fix before I start going into withdrawals by early afternoon. At the first sip, my body sighs a breath of relief. A sensation of euphoria rushes over me, and the smell alone sends my brain into Pleasureville.

Ah....coffee......

There is nothing more pleasing to me than to have that first cup of coffee. Coffee in the morning with a bagel, coffee in the evening with dessert. I love coffee so much that it is making me broke, not too mention the lines at those major coffee establishments take forever, and the baristas inevitably always mess up my order. Yes I love coffee, and when walking through a fancy department store I always stop by the espresso machine section hoping, just hoping, that I will find one less than $500. Needless to say, I haven't found one yet. That is until I discovered that illy caffe offers espresso memberships. Yes, you read that right: Espresso memberships. You're probably assuming an espresso membership entails monthly purchasing of coffee, which is true. However, would you ever assume that an espresso membership also gets you a Francis Francis X5 Espresso Machine for just $150? Or that it also includes espresso cups with matching saucers?

Imagine how different your life would be if you no longer had to wait twenty minutes for average coffee. No more lines or spending all that money; your coffee would be delivered every month to your front door. Instead of leaving earlier for work, you could relax and sip on Italian espresso while watching the morning news. Do I even have to mention how incredibly chic the machine is, or how it adds a touch of class to any kitchen? Didn't think so, but I will add that not only does this make an incredible gift, but you can also expect to receive 6% Cash Back. With all the extra money saved, you could fly yourself to Italy for your next cup of espresso.

Greetings dear readers, it is again my favorite time of the week. No, it isn't the end of the workday nor is it even happy hour. It's time for the weekly installment of "Did you know?", and oh my goodness do I have a site for you today.

I will be the first to admit it: as soon as someone says the word "barware", my ears perk up. So it should be no surprise to anyone that today's site focuses in part on all your needs as a discerning imbiber of spirits. However, as I discovered more and more about all that there was to be had from this fine site, the more I realized just how much they deserved their spot in the "Did you know?" pantheon. 

Their products include all things imaginable for the proper host or hostess, from simple things like serving platters and cocktail shakers to cheese labels and wine decanters.  Being a relatively clueless gift giver, I also appreciate the fact that they offer customized gift guides for any number of varied interests that your recipient might have.  But enough teasing, let me get down into the meat and potatoes (pun partially intended) of what it is that I like so much about this site. 

Since I set up my "meat and potatoes" pun, I'd better follow up with that first. I have never seen a product like this before, but I think it's perhaps the most genius idea ever for the devoted BBQ chef. I have seen custom aprons, monogrammed sets with tongs and spatulas, even monogrammed oven mitts (which a real BBQ chef would never be caught dead using). However, for that little extra step in personalization you need the BBQ Branding Iron. That's right, if farmers can mark their cattle, why can't you mark your steak? Use this branding iron to let your guests know exactly who it was who cooked their steak to perfection, or just call dibs on the best-looking steak in the lot.

If you're not so big on red meat, or even outdoor cooking, impress your friends by offering them raclette. Never heard of raclette?  Me neither. Apparently, it's a large amount of cheese that is melted and served along with potatoes, pickles, and any other number of side dishes. It's origin is Swiss, and it's similar to fondue, but with a much thicker consistency. So if you want to prove your continental status and impress your friends and family with your vast knowledge of all things gourmet, pick up a raclette set that allows service up to six people. I don't know for sure where you can find the raclette itself (if there is a specific cheese you have to use) but either way, it sounds like  a fun culinary experiment.

Finally, on to the drinkware. I don't know why, but this belted silver cup strikes me funny. Chances are I just find it funny that my drinkware might have an actual minature crocodile leather belt around it. I have to admit, it looks very old money, and would make me feel like a king if sipping a fine scotch out of it, but I'd imagine washing might involve some de-belting, and that might cause your cup's pants to fall off.

If silver drinkware doesn't strike your fancy, perhaps the Bottle Buddy ring might be more your speed; I can gaurantee you it's more to my liking. I think this particular piece of finery might change drinking as we know it. No longer will people have to use all sorts of tricks from bike lock keys to Bic lighters to get the caps off their bottles when no one has a proper opener. Wear this ring to a party, and you will immediately be the most popular person there. Imagine the ease of opening at picnics and barbecues where people bring their own beer but not their own opener.  Sorry ladies, these rings start at size nine, but go all the way up to size 14, so even if you've got big ol' monkey paws like myself, you can still find one to fit comfortably. 

So there you have it. Click around Klinq a little, see what you can find, check out the gift recommendations, and someday you and your special someone could be cozying up along side your own fondue set like this happy couple:

Plus, with your Ebates account, you get 7% back on any purchases you make from these wonderful folks.

That's right folks, and I'm not just talking about my own popularity at the office when I say that we here at Ebates care about the beer drinkers. I didn't realize just how much until we added this new merchant.

Do yourself a favor and check out Bier Boot Haus, the online home for all your large-quantity beer drinking needs. For those of you who are familiar, the boot is a traditional way for Germans to serve beer, and they come most commonly in the two liter size. This site offers a wide variety of sizes of boot drink ware, along with a detailed history of the boot both in German and American culture. Considered to be the greatest test of a beer drinker's mettle, the beer boot is more commonly used as a table-wide drink, meant to be passed between friends. 

Who couldn't love a gift like this?

What's even better is that the website also offers a number of both mugs and boots featuring the logos of some of Germany's most famous breweries. Or, if you prefer, they also have custom-engraved boots so that you can drink beer from a piece of glass footwear baring your name, a company logo, a team logo, or (even more intriguing), your picture.

"But Bill," you say, "Where am I going to find two liters of beer to put in a boot?  That's a lot of bottles or cans."  You know what, you're right. That's why the blog doesn't stop here. 

For those of you who ask for a little more from your beer drinking experience, I present Mr. Beer, the home brewing superstore. If you can't imagine filling giant drink ware with your favorite beer, you have no choice to brew your own. Mr. Beer makes the whole process painless with simple-to-follow recipes and more variety than anyone could have imagined, from Altbier to Zealous Bock. What makes everything taste a little better is that with your Ebates account, you will earn a 10% rebate on everything you buy from Mr. Beer.

In the end, I guess I just have to throw this out there: imagine how envious your friends will be when you greet them by saying "Come on in, would you like some of my home-brewed beer out of a giant glass boot with my picture on it?"

If you’re like me, you need a little pick-me-up every now and then, and that’s just what we’re trying to help you get here at Ebates. As I watched my coffee slowly drip down into my cup this morning, fearing I was going to miss the train to the office, I thought to myself “There must be a better way to make coffee while I'm half asleep and running late.” Being a night owl, those rough-and-tumble hours before noon are always difficult, and I hate facing them without a cup of joe, yet I hate even more the idea of waking up earlier to get that first installment of caffeine for the day.

I realize that there are coffee makers that can be set the night before so that you will wake up to a freshly-brewed cup of coffee, but it seems like such a waste to go through the process of setting up a paper filter and cleaning everything out for just one cup as I’m rushing out the door. So, after a little research, I am going to share my discovery with you all: the Keurig K-cups coffee system. Unlike those “coffee pods” that are popular in single-cup brewing, K-cups are all vacuum sealed to lock in both freshness and the coffee’s natural oils that can be left behind if ground beans are exposed to the elements. For those of you with more brand loyalty, they also offer the “my K-cup” brewer for other commercially available coffees, which incorporate the same system, except with standard supermarket or coffee shop coffees not sold through Keurig. All sorts of different K-cup brewers, pods, and accessories can be found at CoffeeForLess.com.

You've got a mouth-watering barbecue dinner all planned: succulent asaragus, juicy baby tomatoes and tender, flaky halibut. What could possibly go wrong? For one,  your delicious dinner could go up in smoke! Protect your veggies from falling through the grill rack with the Weber Stainless Steel Grilling Basket  from Cooking.com. This handy basket evenly roasts small pieces of food like shrimp, vegetables and baby potatoes. You get that delicious barbecue flavor without losing your food to the flames. This would make a great gift for Dad!

It's easier than you think. The 2008 Entertainment Book is bursting with savings at hundreds of restaurants and attractions in your neighborhood, and beyond! Whether you like the ambiance of a fine steakhouse or a quick and cheap fast food fix, you'll find savings at your favorite restaurants, plus a few you may not have tried! For a very limited time, The 2008 Entertainment Book is reduced from $30 to just $15. Considering the thousands of dollars in savings inside every book, this handy guide pays for itself!

From next week's Top Picks Newsletter:

Don't resort to Two Buck Chuck*; impress your guests with the finest wine without roasting your Thanksgiving budget! Affordable, top-rated reds like Chateau du Basty Régnié ($14.75) and  Château Cadillac Lesgourgues Bordeaux Supérieur ($17.95) pair exquisitely with rich turkey, roast veggies and scrumptious hard cheese, as does Villard Estates Expresión Reserve Chardonnay ($13.00). If your feast features spicy ethnic dishes,  try Domaine Loew Gewurztraminer ($17.75) for a white that pairs perfectly with turkey or thai!

*Ok, I'll be honest. I don't have a problem with Two Buck Chuck. In fact, I kind of like it. Why shouldn' t I? It was judged Best Chardonnay from California at the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition. Has your wine been voted Best Chardonnay from California? Thought so! Do I sound defensive? I think I sound defensive.

Mouth-watering filets mignons, juicy gourmet burgers- does this sound like your family dinner? If not, then it's time to step it up and treat your family to delicious gourmet meats from Omaha Steaks! One of their best-selling premium beef combos is The Family Pack. You get eight six-ounce filets mignons and sixteen five ounce gourmet burgers for just $99.99. The regular price on this deluxe package is $175- that's $75 in savings! Throw some burgers in a pan and the rest in the freezer so you'll have an easy gourmet meal at hand.

Even if you're not in Munich this week, why not experience a little Oktoberfest magic at home? All you need is some wienerschnitzel, a little currywurst, and, of course...beer.

Several merchants at Ebates carry the Mr. Beer Deluxe Home Microbrewery Kit. I've never considered making beer at home before. I wonder if it's any good?

According to Wikipedia,

"One of greatest draws of homebrewed beer is the opportunity to enjoy beer that is 'live'. Since almost every beer available is pasteurized, it is almost impossible for the average beer drinker to enjoy beer in its natural state... Commercial brewers collect the boiled off alcohol, mix it with the pasteurized beer and force carbonate the brew...Therefore, the beer tastes considerably dissimilar from ‘live’ beer. Homebrew is never pasteurized, therefore the carbonation present is naturally produced by the yeast, the taste is a more natural flavor, and the beer will age, changing in taste, texture and color over time. Without homebrew, the general public would not be able to enjoy beer in its natural state..."

Sounds pretty good, huh? Almost as good as doing this.

Ok, maybe the lederhosen are optional.

The moment has finally arrived! Welcome to the premier of The  Daily Cash Back, the official blog of Ebates. My name is Rebecca, and I'll be featuring the top  deals and savviest shopping tips on the web offered through Ebates! Be sure to come back often so you  can stay on top of the latest deals we have to offer!

The hottest thing right now is green. No, not the color of  your aunt’s avocado-hued fridge from the ‘60’s, but being a little more aware  of how your purchases impact workers and the environment. You may be thinking,  “Well, I’d sure love to buy those organic, fair-trade, free-range ,  solar-powered coffee beans from the Chilean mountains, but for $25 a pound? NO  THANKS.” Not so fast! You can still do your part to make Earth-friendly  purchases but keep plenty of green in your wallet.

For  instance, check out REI.com. They’re having a July 4th Sale and  Clearance on clothing, camping gear, footwear and more with markdowns at 25-30% off. If you haven’t gotten a membership to  REI, I recommend that you do so, pronto! Any Joe Schmo can get discounts during  the seasonal sale, but only REI members get hooked up with a nice fat refund  check at the end of the year. The more you spend, the bigger the refund- gotta  love those Bay Area consumer co-ops (businesses that are co-owned by the  customer). Top this off with 3% Cash Back from Ebates and you’ll have two Big  Fat Checks to look forward to! Be sure to take a look at their Organic Cotton  separates for men and women that’ll come in handy for yoga, summertime hikes  through Yosemite, or even just a walk around the block.

And  that fancy coffee I mentioned earlier? Start at Ebates (to get your Cash Back!)  and check out the shipping special for MotherNature.com. They’ve got several varieties  of fair trade, organic whole bean coffees by Green Mountain that are delicious!  Their Breakfast Blend has been getting great online reviews and would be  perfect for your first cup of the morning. Pick up some of their green-friendly  Divine Dark or Milk Chocolate as well and enjoy free shipping on the whole  order!

Independence Day. It’s a day when we, as Americans, can appreciate all our forefathers gave in the name of freedom and liberty. A day when we can hold our heads high, and take pride in what our nation stands for.

Let’s be honest- it’s also a day when we barbeque, shoot bottlerockets and drink pitchers of Sangria!

If you’re in the midst of planning a July 4th party like I am, don’t break the bank on planning the perfect Stars and Stripes bash. Granted, it’s already the 29th, but if you start ordering your party supplies now, you’ll be all ready for Tuesday afternoon!    Now,  some of us have already sent out the invitations, made the phone calls, but did  you first take a look at your grill? Maybe it’s a little rusty, or just plain old. Think of how impressed your pals will be if you have a shiny new grill on  which to roast those yummy, dripping ribs! Head on over to Ebates and then to  Kitchenetc.com for a great collection of grills and grill accessories in all  shapes and sizes- buy one that’s over $69 and it’s shipped for free!    

How about Target.com? Good ol'  Target has totally revamped its image in the past few years. It's become a downright classy joint, but their prices are still fair! Right now they're doing Free Shipping on over 10,000 items in the store! Here, you should buy BIG-  we all know it's the big things that add up fast in shipping charges. They've got free shipping on some great-looking barstools that would be perfect out on the patio or even for an indoor Independence Day soiree. Ebates will hook you up with 4% Cash Back on your Target purchases, which should make you feel a little more festive!   

If you want your barbecue to be really swank, why not Hail a Cab? Not the checkered kind! MyWinesDirect.com is doing Free Shipping on these great collections of wine- you get six bottles at a time (which, if your friends are like mine, you’ll finish long before the burgers have browned!). My favorite is the collection of Cabernet Sauvignons that’ll pair deliciously with ribs, chicken, steaks- really, any kind of meat you’ve tossed on the grill! And guess what? Ebates is giving 12% Cash Back! That’s certainly a reason to raise your glass.