Wednesday, April 1

Kitchens Across America (and $100 Visa gift card giveaway!)


The kitchen has long been known around the world as the heart of the home. The place we gather, talk, laugh, share our dreams, raise our kids, and make the very food that sustains us. The hub of family life. And the American Kitchen is no exception. From coast to coast, it is the anchor of the home. It's where life happens. But I think the American Kitchen is unique in that its face is so diverse. It has changed so much over the decades, and continues to change in ways that reflect the diversity that is us. There is so much variance based on geographic location, economic background, and cultural roots. If we look in our own neighborhoods we can find a wide range of kitchen styles, cooking styles, and family styles.  Every family is unique with different needs, different history, and different culture.

When I think of the American Kitchen, my first thoughts go to the originals. Settlers coming to a new world and moving west, with minimal supplies, small homes, and only fireplaces or wood stoves to cook on. But that's not what it is anymore. We've come leaps and bounds with modern amenities from running water to refrigerators to microwaves to grocery stores. I have a Kitchen Inspirations board with some of my other favorite ideas for a modern American kitchen.

Even my own kitchen has evolved over the last seven years. It's gone from feeding two newlyweds to a family with two wild little boys. From boxed mac 'n' cheese three times a week to meals cooked from scratch. From a chilly rental proper to a cozy kitchen of our very own. It's where we've learned to bake bread, plant seeds, ice bruises, and parent our kids. What a journey these walls have seen.

Our kitchen three years ago in February 2011.

My idea of an American Kitchen now is a place that pulls our family together. We go about our days to work, to the park, to the store, but every night we all end up right back here. Together. We cook, work on projects, finger paint, and clean up spills. We fill our tummies with nourishing foods and hearts with laughter. We grow together.


Since 1905, GE Appliances has been a part of changing the way people live, play, cook, celebrate, and shape life at home in America. For 110 years they have been making products for the American people - for individuals and families whose unique needs, history, and culture give America its rich diversity.


This is why GE Appliances has started a documentary series called Our American Kitchen. It takes a peek into real homes across the country to see real families living life in their own kitchens. From an autistic boy who found a voice through cooking, to an injured athlete turned home chef. From a family with children adopted from around the world to a woman who started a cookie business out of her home kitchen. We'll see how different these kitchens can be, yet they still work in the same fundamental ways. This is the idea behind Our American Kitchen. You can see there first documentary here.



Time to give away a $100 Visa gift card to one lucky reader! Want a chance to win? Just leave a comment answering this question (and make sure we have a way to contact you if you win):
What does the American Kitchen mean to you?
Entry Instructions: 
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
  1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
  2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
  3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
  4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 4/1/15 – 6/30/15.
Be sure to visit the G.E. Appliances brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

173 comments:

  1. it means a place for the family to congregate, as well as friends to enjoy food and conversation.

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  2. my tweet https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/583251792894394368

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  3. The American Kitchen means to me that I can can get my family all together in the evening to share a dinner that I have prepared and get to find out what everyone did during the day and take time from my busy day to talk and bond with my family over meals!

    my email jewelwood55(at)gmail(dot)com

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  4. Tweet--https://twitter.com/JewelWood/status/583256345555513344
    my email jewelwood55(at)gmail(dot)com

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  5. https://twitter.com/aliciaa0795/status/583278092812197888

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  6. american kitchen to me means somewhere were family can get together and spend time making memories and laughing together. I know that is what goes on in my kitchen(:

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  7. American kitchen is a big, spacious kitchen where the whole family can get together and cook their favorite meals

    elena150980@yahoo.com

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  8. https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/583279548709490688

    elena150980@yahoo.com

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  9. What does the American Kitchen mean to you? A gathering place for families and good food, good cooking, good times.

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  10. https://twitter.com/dropastitch/status/583282352236924929

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  11. The American Kitchen means a place for family to gather to create and enjoy meals.
    kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom

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  12. tweet
    https://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/583344233295134720

    kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom

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  13. The American Kitchen to me is an open space where families gather, not just to eat, but to play cards, lean against or sit on the counters and talk about their days, etc. It is the family gathering point in our house. It's also a place to show off the kids' artwork on the fridge. Definitely a place where memories are made on a daily basis!
    Erika / kendall608(at)aol(dot)com

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  14. I shared on Twitter: https://twitter.com/seabattle2/status/583360819309645825
    Erika / kendall608(at)aol(dot)com

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  15. The American Kitchen means a place where the family comes together to talk and laugh. A place of joy and comfort and of course good food.

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  16. Tweeted- https://twitter.com/Cherie1629/status/583365146271182848
    email- cherie1629@gmail.com

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  17. The American Kitchen is the place where the whole family gets together and can talk without the distraction of the TV or electronics.
    reklaw422 at Hotmail dot com

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  18. A place to come together to cook and laugh together.

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  20. tweeted
    https://twitter.com/rubylorikeet/status/583422751014137856

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  21. American Kitchen means a kitchen in AMERICA where we all sit around the table, eat dinner talk or watch tv. ... (wish I could cut out the tv part)

    thanks!

    vanitizebaby@yahoo.com

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  22. Our kitchen is where we gather and talk.

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

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  23. tweet

    https://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/583435289038684160

    vanitizebaby@yahoo.com

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  24. tweet--https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/583437669755125761

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  25. My American kitchen means so much to me. It is a spot that we gather each and everyday in which holds special memories of the most important people in my life. It's where we create the food we love with the people we love. email- starla.bates@yahoo.com

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  26. I tweeted! https://twitter.com/mmstarla/status/583448551121821696

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  27. The American kitchen means a place where the family gets together to eat, cook, talk and share their day.
    heather hgtempaddy@hotmail.com

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  28. It means a time to bond and a time to spend time together and make lasting memories. amypugmire@live.com

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  29. tweet. amypugmire@live.com
    https://twitter.com/1amypugmire/status/583482500254601218

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  30. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  31. When I hear the term American kitchen I think of a kitchen that has shared a lot of great memories. I think of a spacious kitchen with old kitchen tools that have been handed down generation to generation. It means a place where people feel at home and can relax and talk to each other!! yarbr012@gmail.com

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  32. https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/583635701071093760 yarbr012@gmail.com

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  33. To me, American Kitchen means family gatherings :)

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  34. https://twitter.com/LauraBessy/status/583702738816507904

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  35. a place of creativity

    dlatany at gmail dot com

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  36. https://twitter.com/sweetums82/status/584064789644763137

    dlatany at gmail dot com

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  37. https://twitter.com/leighanne000/status/584193652752257024

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  38. The American kitchen is the place where families connect!

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  39. The American Kitchen means the gathering of family and close friends to create, share, and laugh together.

    Nicole.ddziedzic at gmail dot com

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  40. My tweet: https://twitter.com/lil_lady_dz/status/584213690280316929

    Nicole.ddziedzic at gmail dot com

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  41. The American kitchen represents the values we find important of family, sharing, food, and memories of good times.

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  42. https://twitter.com/KRISOTTO2276/status/584521871254650880

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  43. American kitchen means , family, fun and comfort to me.

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  44. https://twitter.com/dawnmonroe83/status/584682257157382144

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  45. To me it represents family, enjoyment, and healthy values. Love making meals in our home.

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  46. Tweeted https://twitter.com/NikiJohnson8/status/584784193244295168

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  47. it means place where family and friends gather. they gather for food,laughs and love!
    kayleefaith1228@aol.com

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  48. To me it means a place for family and friends to gather and have good food and maybe even a good board or card game all the while enjoying everyone's company!
    nurse_mommy(at)live(dot)com

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  49. Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/sgrant2005/status/584835074664767488
    nurse_mommy(at)live(dot)com

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  50. The American Kitchen is a place families become closer and enjoy making and/or eating home cooked meals.

    Nathansmommy619(At)aol(Dot)com

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  51. Tweeted https://twitter.com/MomOF2Boysz/status/584928815081717761

    Nathansmommy619(At)aol(Dot)com

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  52. The American Kitchen means family to me.
    tcarolinep at gmail dot com

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  53. -https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/584933586626711553

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  54. The American Kitchen is a place where everyone gathers (everyone is in each others’ way) because that’s where the magic is happening: the delicious smells and such.
    madelinebrubaker {at} gmail [dot] com

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  55. Tweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/585049769057333249
    madelinebrubaker {at} gmail [dot] com

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  56. https://twitter.com/OneFrugalGirl/status/585082521156722688
    onefrugalgirl AT gmail DOT com

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  57. Family and comfort!
    onefrugalgirl AT gmail DOT com

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  58. The American Kitchen to me means a place for family and friends to laugh and spend quality time together. magpied.piper at gmail dt com

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  59. https://twitter.com/DuckyBunny/status/585105342767464449

    Tweeted. magpied.piper at gmail . com

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  60. Hang our center! I’m so thankful for our little galley kitchen! It’s a 1978 time warp but it serves its purpose!

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  61. The American kitchen is the place where we can teach each other new recipes and make memories by cooking them together. It’s a gathering place for our family and friends.

    Kristin Goodson
    marleykristin@hotmail.com

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  62. It's a place to gather and to be a family.

    chambanachik(at)gmail(dot)com

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  63. It's an inviting place for friends and family to come together and make a meal!

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  64. a space to talk and relax
    tina19820115@gmail.com

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  65. https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/588146471960190977
    tina19820115@gmail.com

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  66. My kitchen means lots of warm memories and laughter with friends and family over a home cooked meal!

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  67. A place to cook, make memories and share love.

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  68. I hate cooking because I hate doing all the dishes afterwards. So, to me, the American kitchen is a kitchen with a dishwasher where I don't hate cooking for my family. I hope that I have an American kitchen someday.

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  69. I see the kitchen as a place to have fun cooking together and make memories while entertaining family and friends.

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  70. https://twitter.com/dsickles87/status/591350860820652033

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  71. The American Kitchen is one in which family comes together and connects.

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  72. to me it means a gathering place and a place for both work and fun pryfamily5@gmail.com

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  73. tweeted https://twitter.com/thepryfamily2/status/591687451841830912 pryfamily5@gmail.com

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  74. The American Kitchen is where a family comes together to eat, share stories and entertain.
    prettyinhotpink6 at gmail dot com

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  75. Tweet: https://twitter.com/PrettyHotPink6/status/592684120054050819

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  76. The american kitchen to me means time with family. neyabenz(at)gmail(dot)com

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  77. https://twitter.com/mkjmc/status/596443754493550592

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  78. The American kitchen means a celebration in the comfort of having a home, an opportunity to share with family and friends, and an expression of endless creativity.

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  79. My kitchen is a place for renewal at the end of the day - we nourish our bodies and catch up together.

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  80. it means a place where family gathers.


    Thanks for the chance to win!
    wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com

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  81. American Kitchen means a well equip kitchen that I can spend time with my kids in there to create what they love.

    amy [at] utry [dot] it

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  82. tweeted:
    https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/600535174393176065

    amy [at] utry [dot] it

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  83. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  84. To me, the American kitchen is the heart of the home...it's where families gather together to cook, eat, laugh, and love!
    kila1964 [at] yahoo [dot] com

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  85. When I think of the "American Kitchen," I think of a place where parents raise their children and prepare them for their future. It's where the heart and the home begins for the family.
    sazzyfrazz at gmail dot com

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  86. Tweeted: https://twitter.com/sazzyfrazzy/status/607437781342691329
    sazzyfrazz at gmail dot com

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  87. What immediately comes to mind it wholesome, original, reliable and welcoming.
    mummytotwoboys@yahoo.com

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  88. tweeted https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/608333500803125251

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  89. To me, the American Kitchen means family, food and fun.

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  90. It means having a gathering place where everyone can converse and enjoy each others company.
    nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

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  91. tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/610922811788513281
    nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

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  92. The American Kitchen is a place to gather with family and friends to enjoy good food and company.

    diacronan(at)hotmail dot com

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  93. Tweet https://twitter.com/Lindiac/status/611672125988933632
    diacronan(at)hotmail dot com

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  94. American kitchen is a big, spacious kitchen where the whole family can get together, talk, laugh and cook their favorite meals.

    s2s2 at cox dot net

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  95. https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/612446493790879744

    s2s2 at cox dot net

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  96. the American Kitchen means the place where delicious family meals are prepared and enjoyed!

    debbiebellows (at) gmail (dot) com

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  97. i posted a tweet here:

    https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/612462974955950080

    debbiebellows (at) gmail (dot) com

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  98. IT MEANS MAKING GREAT MEALS AND HAVING FUN DOING IT!!! afjackly@oakland.edu

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  99. https://twitter.com/kytah00/status/613236442521714688 afjackly@oakland.edu

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  100. https://twitter.com/eliza_elliott/status/613852264801800192 truckredford(at)gmail(dot)com

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  101. A plce to met, eat, and have fun.

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  102. A place to cook and come together as a family.

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  103. The American kitchen is a place where the abundant bounty of our farms can be prepared and enjoyed by families.

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  104. Tweet
    https://twitter.com/clc408/status/614029199746158592

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  105. For me the American Kitchen means lots of open space and a big oval braided rug.
    We all gather around the table at dinner to share the day's events.
    thank you

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  106. Tweet https://twitter.com/JalapenoMama/status/614066581421858816

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  107. Our great room opens into the kitchen and together they are the heart of the home, so to speak. When we have family or friends over, people gather in the kitchen, great room and weather permitting the back yard in a way that it often becomes one big group. The kitchen is great for gossiping and drinking as well as cooking and eating.

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  108. https://twitter.com/Attea2d/status/614073522177081344

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  109. Our kitchen is where we gather and talk.

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  110. I don't know if the American kitchen is different from anyone else's-to me, it signifies home, family, and love.

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  111. My kitchen means happiness because it's the place where I cook food and spend time with family.
    POKERGRL8 at gmail.com

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  112. https://twitter.com/aes529/status/614125172241641472
    POKERGRL8 at gmail.com

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  113. The American Kitchen means independence from precooked packaged foods and junk food eateries.

    Hope to win!

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  114. The American Kitchen is a place where friends and family can come together to enjoy a great meal and conversation.

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  115. I think about creating a recipe with my daughter for our family to enjoy.

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  116. The idea of the American Kitchen means to me -- I place to cook good food with the family, like our favorite dessert PUMPKIN PIE!

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  117. Tweeted! https://twitter.com/pixel_berry_pie/status/614457282919854080

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  118. The American kitchen means a place to cook and talk.
    My email is redaurelie(at)gmail(dot)com

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  119. My tweet https://twitter.com/AurelieRed/status/614880405297229824
    My email is redaurelie(at)gmail(dot)com

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  120. American Kitchen to me brings memories of the whole family gathered together especially at the holidays to help my mom fix a huge feast. Although I now live in the house where these wonderful get togethers happened it just doesn't feel the same without mom. We do try to get the whole gang together as often as possible though but we seem to head to the firepit to make different memories

    janc51@comcast.net

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  121. An American kitchen means bringing friends and family together.

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  122. The american kitchen to me means family spending quality time together

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  123. https://twitter.com/klp1965/status/614950971760844800

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  124. https://twitter.com/smilekisses/status/615026841167003648

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  125. American kitchen is the special place of home where family gets together and creates memories
    iamdadtastic@gmail.com

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  126. tweet https://twitter.com/iamdadtastic/status/615070006011781121
    iamdadtastic@gmail.com

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  127. To me, it's means a place to hang out, chat, have fun and talk about everything while we are cooking delicious food :)
    anastasia2013@gmail.com

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  128. Tweeted :) - https://twitter.com/Enter_Now/status/615252279071879168
    anastasia2013@gmail.com

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  129. lots of space to gather with family and friends - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com

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  130. It means where family gathers to eat and play games and laugh together. My sons and grandsons have grown up in mine.

    eswright18 at gmail dot com

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  131. tweeted

    https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/615334840045469696

    eswright18 at gmail dot com

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  132. The American Kitchen means to me a place for family to get together for great food.

    rounder9834 @yahoo.com

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  133. tweeted
    https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/615369966758559744

    rounder9834 @yahoo.com

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  134. To me, it means a place to gather. Growing up, we always gathered there to eat; but we also gathered there for game night or just to converse with family and friends.

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  135. The American Kitchen mean family it a place with everyone can get alot and feel loved

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  136. https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/615546121541316609

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  137. The American Kitchen is a kitchen that is modern but build for families to enjoy.

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  138. I Tweeted: https://twitter.com/lisalmg/status/615619453355556864

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  139. A place to create and then to communicate with others over the preparations.

    theyyyguy@yahoo.com

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  140. American Kitchen means to me there's memories being made.

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  141. https://twitter.com/Stephanie64030/status/615657041722408961

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  142. A place to eat and share and get ideas, and find some peace from the outside world.

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  143. A kitchen with lots of space for everyone prepare meals. In the kitchen I currently have 2 people is crowded so really only one person can prepare meals.

    motioncitycutie(at)aol(dot)com

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  144. My kitchen hasn't been updated in 30 years. Now that my mortgage is paid off I plan to update it.
    Thanks for the contest.

    ReplyDelete
  145. https://twitter.com/slehan/status/615698699562323968

    slehan at juno dot com

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  146. The American Kitchen means memories of my mom and her five sisters cooking family dinners in each of their kitchens

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  147. It's about creating bonding time.

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  148. An American kitchen means family baking together

    jOE GERSCH

    JOEBISSY@Mail.com

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  149. An American kitchen means the kitchen is the heart of the home. Its where projects are done, meals are cooked and it is also where people tend to gather. Its a very important part of the home
    addictedtorodeo at gmail dot com

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  150. To me it means a place where the family spends quality time eating together and talking about what is going on in their lives

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  151. https://twitter.com/klp1965/status/615852512063590400

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  152. Just memories of my family around the kitchen table talking , cooking and baking.

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  153. An American kitchen means a place where great meals are created and enjoyed.

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  154. https://twitter.com/myfolly/status/615884798675013632

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  155. To me the American Kitchen is just like any kitchen anywhere in the world: it is the place you cook your food for yourself and your family to show that you care.
    Angie
    14earth at gmail dot com

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  156. I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/615885109707849728
    Angie
    14earth at gmail dot com

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  157. The American Kitchen means cooking something from scratch that is greater than the sum of its parts.
    dmarie824 at aol dot com

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  158. tweeted - https://twitter.com/dmarie824/status/615960196192407552

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  159. It's a gathering place where my kids can talk about their day while baking cookies

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

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  160. my #SweepstakesEntry tweet:

    https://twitter.com/thrincor/status/615970524796166144

    KC
    kacor7@hotmail.com

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  161. #SweepstakesEntry:

    to me, an american kitchen means fond memories of helping mom clean, bake & also doing my homework at the kitchen table

    KC
    kacor7@hotmail.com

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  162. https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/615968417812713472

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

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  163. cooking home made cookies with my grand mother

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  164. https://twitter.com/momsfocus/status/615985791802544128

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  165. It a place of love and family

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  166. https://twitter.com/ardy22/status/615990367721230337

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  167. It's a place to make lifelong memories. thank you!
    crystalfaulkner2000 at yahoo dot com

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  168. The American Kitchen (well in my household) is hustle and bustle. thank you

    candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com

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  169. An American kitchen means to me a place where generations gather and memories are made!

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