Petal's Table Hot Cocoa and Marshmallow Gift Set Review and Giveaway

UPDATE: This giveaway has ended.  Click here for the winner.

The Frugal Follies family loves chocolate. Really, really, really loves chocolate. Really.  (Did I mention we love chocolate?)

So when I was asked to review the Petal's Table Hot Cocoa and Marshmallow Gift Set, I jumped at the chance!

Petal's Table offers menus and tablescapes for celebration as well as handmade delectable delights. Products include:

• Marshmallows in unique, fascinating flavors (Rose, Orange Essence, etc.)
• Delicious cookies, chocolate bark, sinfully delicious truffles and granola
• Infused oils, dipping oils, vinegars, and syrups
• Gift baskets and postcards

Petal is a food professional who has served in the food industry in many capacities - as a restaurant and private chef, as a manager, and as an entrepreneur.  She says, "All of these experiences led me to the simple conclusion that I want be a part of the relationship between food and people -- and that 'presentation' can be a big part of enjoying food!"

I sampled the Hot Cocoa and Marshmallow Gift Set along with my three daughters, ages 14, 10, and 6.  When we opened the mailer, we were greeted with a beautifully but simply wrapped package inside:

After opening up the box, we found a nicely wrapped gift box containing a glass canning jar of hot cocoa mix, a bag of handmade vanilla marshmallows, and a mini whisk, all in a small market tray.

When I opened the hot cocoa, I was met with not only the heavenly smell of the cocoa, but also a sweet, spicy, delicious smell.  When I checked the ingredient list, I saw that Petal's cocoa mix includes ground cloves.  What an unexpected but delectable addition!

My youngest daughter put a few vanilla marshmallows in each of our mugs, but not before we all tasted one.  They were wonderful, and adding vanilla to them was a very creative idea!

Then it was time to make the cocoa.  I followed the package directions, adding 6 oz of water to 2-3 tablespoons of cocoa mix to a pot for each serving, then whisking it with the mini whisk while it heated to a simmer.

My oldest daughter wanted to use the whisk, and she used it with such gusto that the accidentally let it fly from her hand, and the whisk fell into the hot cocoa.  Oops!  Luckily the cocoa wasn't too hot yet and I was able to rescue the whisk.  So be careful and hold on to the mini whisk!

And then it was time to taste.  I poured the hot cocoa into the cups.  The vanilla marshmallows floated to the top and started melting, making a yummy sweet topping for the cocoa.

I was happily surprised that the cocoa was not overly sweet - no corn syrup in here! (No artificial ingredients at all!) The cocoa was warm, and creamy, and absolutely delicious.  It would be perfect for a cold day after being out in the snow - too bad that there's no snow here in Florida!

I also appreciate that I'll be able to reuse items from this gift set once the rest of the cocoa is used up (which I'm sure will be very soon).  The canning jar would be perfect to hold small items like paper clips or pushpins.  And the market tray that the gift set came in would look wonderful on a dining room table, filled with seasonal fruits.

I think that the Petal's Table Hot Cocoa and Marshmallow Gift Set would make a perfect gift, especially now around the holidays.  It would be great for a hostess gift, for a teacher, or for that hard-to-shop-for family member.  (Note to my family: I'd love to get another set!)  Please be aware that Petal's Table products may contain nuts.

Thank you, Petal, for allowing me to review one of your amazing products!

Would you like to receive a Hot Cocoa and Marshmallow Gift Set, too?

Frugal Follies is holding a giveaway for one gift set, courtesy of Petal's Table!

To enter, follow Petal's Table on Twitter @PetalsTable and become fans on Facebook www.facebook.com/petalstable.  Then leave one comment below saying that you've done both these things, along with your Twitter handle and your Facebook username. This entry is mandatory.

To receive more entries into the drawing (optional), you can do one or more of the following and then leave a separate comment for each action:

• Visit Petal's Table Menus and Tablescapes and leave a comment saying which menu you like the best (1 entry)
• Visit Petal's Table Treats and leave a comment saying which food item intrigues you the most (1 entry)
• Follow Frugal Follies on Twitter (1 entry)
• Subscribe to the Frugal Follies RSS feed. (1 entry)
• Become a fan of Frugal Follies on Facebook (1 entry)
• Follow Frugal Follies with Google Friend Connect (find it on the left sidebar) (1 entry)
• Follow Frugal Follies via e-mail (find it on the right sidebar) (2 entries)
• Post this giveaway on your own blog (3 entries)
• Post the link to this giveaway to a blog giveaway linky and leave a comment.  Please put the giveaway linky you used in your comment.  (1 entry per linky - you can do this as many times as you wish, but make sure each link is to a different site)
• Tweet about this giveaway using the following wording (1 entry per day): I just entered to #win a @PetalsTable Hot Cocoa & Marshmallow Gift Set via @FrugalFollies #giveaway http://bit.ly/vKLOYe
• Comment on another post on Frugal Follies. (1 entry per comment, up to 5 comments)
• If you've previously done any of those, leave a comment saying you've done so.

This contest is open to US residents 18 and over. One winner will be chosen from all the eligible entries via Random.org.  If you're the winner, I will post your username (but not your email address) in a future post announcing the winner of the giveaway. If you're posting a comment and don't have a Google account or OpenID, please leave an email address in your comment so that I can reach you if you've won!

Good luck!  This giveaway will end on Wednesday, December 14, at 11:59 pm Eastern time.

(Disclosure: I received a Hot Cocoa and Marshmallow Gift Set from Petal's Table for this review.  All opinions expressed are my own.)