Monday, March 25, 2013

Yay! A Giveaway!

So you might have heard this already, but the day before my birthday, I reached (and passed) 200 "likes" on Facebook!  Normally, I'm not much of a popularity monger, and I started this blog as a hobby, but I do have to admit that it makes me pretty giddy that 200+ people like my ramblings.  It's a good feeling, and I have amazing friends that helped me get there.

I have a little gift for one of you lucky people who cares enough to pop on your computer and read From Scratch.  It's kind of like Oprah's Favorite Things, but I'm not Oprah, and I can't afford to lavish gifts on my entire audience.  I just checked Facebook, and Oprah has over 8 million followers.  When I hit that, I'll do much better, I promise.  Heck, I'll be reasonable.  I'll do better with just 2 million fans.  For now, you'll just have to settle on a chance to get one of my favorite things.  But I'm telling you, it really is a favorite of mine.



I'm giving away a copy of one of my favorite books: Too Many Cooks: Kitchen Adventures with 1 Mom, 4 Kids, and 102 Recipes, by Emily Franklin  From the book jacket: "Emily's Franklin's food memoir Too Many Cooks was born of two simple loves: food and children.  A foodie and former chef, Franklin wants to pass on her love of cooking to her kids to get them not only to enjoy what they're eating, but to know what they're eating."

This is my much-loved copy.  You'll get your own, shiny new copy if you win!

Emily Franklin's writing style in this book is right up my alley, and she mixes the stories of a year in her life with the recipes tied to those memories flawlessly.  I've read it over and over.  Given a little free time and some direction, I would totally stalk her and befriend her, because I feel like we would be kindred spirits.  Lucky for her, I have no free time.

Most of the recipes in this book are very easy and delicious.  I mean, they were written by a mom of 4 kids...she know's what's up.  Some of my favorites are a roasted red pepper feta dip, "Buttery Apricot Bars", "Gross-Looking but Very Delicious-Tasting Red Lentil Soup", eggnog pancakes with a Kahlua sauce, and banana packets.  I'm starting to drool just thinking about the recipes I've tried from this book.  Franklin travels a lot more than I am able to right now, but her writing brings you places with her family as if you were right there alongside them, cooking in her father's kitchen in Italy, or on an east-coast island for a birthday weekend away.  And she gives you the means to actually taste a bit of these places.  Did I mention this is one of my favorite books?

So, are you ready to find out how you can win this gem of a food adventure?  Here you go.  If you'd like a chance to win this book, sent straight to you from me, then all you have to do is comment on this blog post with something that you'd like me to blog about.  It can be an ingredient, a hot topic, parenting advice...whatever!  I'll throw all the names in a hat and have an unbiased third party (aka probably one of my kids) pull a name for the winner.  Much easier than a Hunger Games style battle, which is usually my go-to for making decisions.

May the odds be ever in your favor.  Oh, and in case I didn't say it before, thank you, thank you, thank you for reading From Scratch.  I love you guys!  :)

**Forgot to add this!  Contest ends at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, April 1st, 2013!!

17 comments:

  1. I'd love tips on getting picky eaters to eat more than just PB&J.

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  2. I would love to read about how you plan out and execute your community garden plot. I'd love to do more than a patio garden but feel very overwhelmed with all of it. I'd just copy what you do. ;)

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  3. I have 2 requests. #1 I'd like tips for fruit and vegatable storage and preserving. #2 What are your "must-have" herbs to plant?

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  4. I'd love to hear how you got into growing your own food so that I won't be too scared/lazy/overwhelmed to try it! :)

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  5. I'd love to learn more about your gardening, too. Maybe we can trade info? :)

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  6. Talk about what you to do host parties. You always make it so seemless! You rock! :-)

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  7. Would love to see recipes for processed food favorites that can be (just as quick and easy) made from scratch and are better for the family to eat!

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  8. I'd love to hear your thoughts on utilizing old drums and trombones as a method of distraction to squash temper tantrums and attention seeking behavior. ;) Actually, any topics about getting picky eaters to eat and keeping sane as a working mother would be lovely. My best ideas involve duct tape and liquor so anything you have to add would be appreciated!

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  9. Hmmm I like your random posts. But to suggest something, maybe more on how to keep using summer stuff through the winter by freezing or canning?

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  10. I would love to see info about make ahead meals, things you can freeze, thaw and enjoy :)

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  11. You always seem to be doing something awesome... I would love your ideas for fun kid-friendly summer activities to do at home or in the area. Kwynn is going to be home with the kiddo all summer and needs to keep him entertained :-)

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  12. I have loved reading your blog/Facebook posts...so much so that I even joined the green earth institute's CSA for the summer! I am super excited about it but feeling a little overwhelmed as I have never prepped or prepared so many veggies! My goal is not to be wasteful... So maybe some tips on that? Or some more veg recipes? Love your blog!

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  13. I would like to learn more about the digestive system and how it works.

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  14. I'd love to see you blog about your community garden plot planning. I need direction.

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  15. With soccer season about to start, I'm going to have 2 more nights a week with some activity interfering with dinner. (Why?! Do people have to plan all these activities right around dinner?! Soccer practice from 5:30 to 6:30? Then we wonder why we end up at McDonald's either right before or after.) Let's say you have 1.5 hours to cook, eat, clean up, get at least 1 kiddo dressed in a new outfit, fill 4 water bottles, find the soccer balls, and make sure we have all visited the bathroom, etc. before leaving the house. What's for dinner?? ;)

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  16. Ooh let's see. I love your posts and I'd love to more about 1) fun and yummy ways to present vegetables to the kids. Mine will eat them but I don't do anything to exciting with them beside steam them. 2) More about buying a side a beef and how to decide where to buy from, pricing, maybe how long it takes your family to get through (1/4? 1/2?). It's something I'd like to try in the future. 3) Thoughts on Paleo, maybe some Paleo friendly recipes? We're heading more Paleo lately. 4) And I love love love crockpot recipes. :-)

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  17. Thanks for all the ideas, everyone! I decided not to announce yesterday, (because it was April Fools, and I didn't want anyone to think that it was a joke)and the winner is...MrsBoxerG!!! Congrats, and it looks like I have a lot of posts to work on! ;)

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