Winner, Winner... Chicken Dinner!!

Just thought I'd let you know that we actually won the KGWN Cutest Couple Contest!

Can you believe it?

I am totally flabbergasted that we actually won.

If you don't know what I am talking about... then you missed THIS POST.

Here is what we have won!

The lucky couple voted "Cutest" will win a prize package from KGWN News Channel 5 and the Cheyenne CW including a one night stay and dinner for two at the Historic Vee Bar Ranch nestled in the foothills of the Snowy Mountain Range, a prize package worth more than $200! 

You can bet your bottom dollar that there will be a blog post concerning our stay and dinner!

Click on the picture below to go to the contest link to see the other winners.

When I entered the contest, I was entering it kind of as a joke.  I told Dan the Man I thought we should enter with our "American Gothic" picture from this past summer and he rolled his eyes at me and said that was a stupid idea.  Well, you know me... as soon as he said that he thought it was a stupid idea, I knew I had to enter to prove him wrong.

The first few of days the contest it was a tight race between us and another couple.  We would take first place during the day, and then they would pass us up in votes during the night.  I pleaded daily, actually twice a day on Facebook for our friends to vote for us and boy-howdy, did they ever vote for us!  It became a team effort with people making it their mission to vote everyday and win the contest for us!

Friends and family were even soliciting votes from their friends and family for us.  It was great fun and exciting to see the battle for the cutest couple go back and forth!  With such a dedicated team pulling for us, we eventually took a commanding lead and ended up winning the contest by almost 200 votes.  We had a total of 530 votes, the 2nd place couple had 338 and the 3rd place couple had 325.

Yesterday I received an email saying that we had won and they would be contacting us soon to discuss how we will be receiving our prize.

I can not possibly adequately thank all of our friends and family for voting for us!  We would not have won with out your support!  We are truly blessed beyond measure and thank the Lord for each one of you.

My First Official Giveaway!! Whoo Hoo!

Okay peeps! Here it is my first "official" giveaway!!

Who wants a beautiful and functional "Emerilware" Cast Iron 10" Square Grill Pan along with a "Sassy Cook'n Hot Chicks" Oven Mitt and Potholders Set?

I am so excited for my first "official" giveaway sponsored by Cookware.com, a part of CSN Stores!

I tried to think of something that everyone could use. I recently purchased one of these square cast iron grill pans and absolutely love it! They are perfect for grilling steaks indoors when the weather outside is not conducive to grilling. And I also chose something that would be appropriate for the Country Chicken Girl, the "Sassy Cook'n Hot Chicks" Oven Mitt and Potholders Set, which are just adorable. I want a set myself!

I'll tell you how to enter the giveaway at the end of the post, but first of all let me introduce you to these fantastic prizes!

First the skillet... oooo, ahhhh, it's so beautiful! Click on the link below the picture for a better view and details! Just remember to hit your browsers back button to return to the blog. Ya'll come back now, ya hear, because there's more!

Emerilware Cast Iron 10" Square Grill Pan

Second prize is the most adorable chicken print oven mitt and potholder set. "Pluck Yourself Out of Your Daily Routine and Whip Up Something Fresh! This delightful print features stylish black and white polka dotted chickens strutting about with white eggs on a yellow background." How fitting for the Country Chicken Girl or anyone who reads this blog. You'll have to click on the link below to see these. Go ahead, I'll wait until you get back.

Sassy Cook'n Hot Chicks Oven Mitt and Potholders Set

Just the other night I grilled up some steaks on my grill pan. They were so delicious I wish you would have been here to share. I love this grill pan because cast iron really knows how to treat a steak like it should be treated. It isn't hard to cook restaurant quality steaks at home with the right pan and the right steak. The most important rule is to not over cook your steak!!! For a medium rare steak, you need to cook it for about 2 minutes on each side for a thin steak, or 3 to 4 minutes on each side for a thick steak over medium-high heat. Also make sure your skillet is nice and hot before you put the steak on. I like to coat mine with butter before I put the steaks on!

These delicious looking steaks were some of our Burgundy Mushroom marinated round steaks! Oh my, so incredibly tender and flavorful! Who knew round steak could be so tender! Seriously! I can't begin to tell you what a savory, delectable piece of heaven this steak was. Notice that I also grilled a significant amount of mushrooms and onions to top it all off with!

The skillet in action!

Too bad you can't smell this!

Hold on to your horses, this is the best steak there ever was!
Does anyone else out there love grilled mushrooms and onions as much as I do?

Yummmm...

Who all wants steak for dinner now? I know I do!

But wait that's not all...

You too can experience these scrumptious steaks in your own home (if you live local that is, or come for a visit!) We, meaning our family run business Open A Bar 2 Ranch, LLC have four different kinds of marinated steaks to offer. We have Mesquite Round Steak and Burgundy Mushroom Round Steak along with Mesquite Sirloin Steak and Beef Mushroom Sirloin Steak. If you are interested you can see our price list by clicking on the link below. (Local delivery can be arranged.)

OPEN A BAR 2 RANCH ALL-NATURAL BEEF


Okay, now lets get back to the giveaway. I can tell you are just dying to enter! All that you need to do is tell me your favorite cut of steak in the "comment" section. Could be sirloin, ribeye, t-bone, new york strip... you name it. Maybe you don't like steak? Well then you can say that too and I promise it won't disqualify you from the giveaway. You will also need to leave your first name and your last initial.

You don't need to "sign-in" to leave a comment. You can do it by commenting as "Anonymous" but you'll need to include your first name and last initial in your comment! Got it? Hope it isn't too confusing. If you just can't figure it out, you can email me at kathi@openabar2ranch.com and I'll see if I can walk you through it. IMPORTANT: Please don't leave your comments on Facebook! Those comments will NOT be entered.

You can only enter once and that rule will be strictly enforced. Anyone caught entering more than once will receive a mean nasty rooster AKA Whitey as their "prize!"

You have until noon on April 2nd to enter, so a whole week. The winner will be determined by a "draw of the hat." I will announce the winner on the evening of April 2nd. You will need to check the post and contact me if you are the winner so I can get your information so the prizes can be sent to you. Let's see, what have I missed? Can't think of anything...

Please tell all your friends and tell them to enter! Men you can enter too, these would make wonderful gifts for that special lady in your life. Mother's Day is coming up, enter and see if you can't win this for yo' mama!

A huge thank you goes out to Cookware.com, a part of CSN Stores for sponsoring this giveaway. Please visit their site. CSN Stores has everything you need to design your perfect kitchen including track lighting to accent your countertops and pot racks to show off your cookware.



Okay now enter!!

And the Winner Is...

I know you all have anxiously been awaiting the results of the
"Name That Calf" Contest.



We had a total of 23 names submitted!



I wrote them all down on separate pieces of paper and threw them in a hat.





Dan the Man drew the winner.





And the Winner Is...

Drum roll please...




Sweetheart submitted by Amy!!


Congratulations Amy!


You win...

nothing.


Sorry!


Maybe I could send you some Farm Fresh Eggs!!



I feel bad not having a prize.



How lame is a contest without a prize???



Well, I'm sure Sweetheart is happy that she now has a name!



Maybe I could send you a picture of her!



Tell me Amy, would you rather have the eggs or a picture?

The choice is yours!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered!

Last Chance to enter the "Name That Calf" Contest

Okay people, here is your last chance to "Name That Calf"!

What were you waiting for? A formal invitation?

Well, then...

You have cordially been invited to enter the Country Chicken Girl's "Name That Calf" contest.
When: Now
Where: on the Country Chicken Girl blog



If you have no idea what I am talking about then saddle up your horse and git rat over to the post with the contest.



Click Here to go to the contest.



I'll draw the winning entry around 5pm this evening and post the winner on the blog.


Won't you please help name this poor nameless calf.

She is counting on you!

I know there are a lot of kids out there that haven't entered.
Sometimes kids have the best ideas when it comes to naming animals.

Won't you please help me get a name?
I don't want to be just a number, #924, for the rest of my life.

I'm almost a year old and still don't have a name, boo, hoo!

Spring is Coming!

Spring is creeping up on us and here at the ranch, that means the babies are coming, the babies are coming!

Up above is a picture of #924 when she was about a month old. Here she is below almost a year old now. My how she has grown. I think that she needs a name.

We should have a contest... Name #924!

If you have any ideas on a name for this little cutie, leave a comment. I'll pick a name by drawing the entries out of a hat on Sunday. How does that sound?

Let's see, most contests have prizes for the winner. What could we do for a prize?

Well, probably nothing except for knowing that you were responsible for this little sweetheart's name! Sorry! But please don't let that keep you from entering!

Here are a few more pictures I've taken of the 2009 calves.

Partners in Crime!
Look so innocent until you want them to go into the corral!

What's with that single piece of hay hanging out of your mouth?

The 4 Amigos!