With a husband and 5 grown children I consider myself a seasoned cook, so when I offered to review Marcia’s book I didn’t expect to learn a lot of new things. But being an avid recipe collector and always willing to learn new things, I decided I might be able to add a few things to my repertoire that would give more variety to our meals or a couple of tips that would get me out of the kitchen faster.
I wasn’t quite ready for the suggestion of using monkey meat in her African Chop, and I don’t think I’m adventurous enough to try that yet. (She did offer alternate suggestions for meat to use in the recipe, of course.) It certainly did get my attention, though!
I came home tired and weary today from several hours of shopping with my 20-something-year-old daughters, sat at my desk, and said, “Now what can I accomplish that won’t require a lot of energy?” Immediately Marcia’s book Homemade Convenience Foods came to mind, and since it was ever so handy on my desktop I got a glass of ice water and settled back to read and relax a bit.
I got so engrossed I didn’t stop until I had read the entire book. By the end I felt like I’d just had a nice long chat with Marcia. She writes in a way that makes you feel like she is talking with you, gives instructions in a straightforward way that even the most inexperienced cook could understand, yet keeps it interesting enough for someone who has been around the kitchen a bit longer like me.
In her email to me she said, “Many readers who are veteran cooks confess to “Aha!” moments—“Why didn’t I think of that?”” I too experienced a couple of those times while reading her book, and do plan to use several of her methods of simplifying food preparation.
I must confess, I did sort of try one of her ideas last week – before I knew it was her idea. I prepared our pizza crust mix ahead of time, except for the wet ingredients and the yeast. (This is only part of her suggestion; I don’t want to give it all away.) My attempt didn’t work out so well, but not because the idea wasn’t a good one. When it came time to make the crust I popped the ingredients into my bread machine, but when I came back to check on it a few minutes later it was just clumps of dry flour because I had forgotten to put the water in. So now I leave myself a note taped to the package – just one of the things you need to get used to as you become more “experienced.” That does sound better than older, right?
This book would be the perfect shower gift for a bride-to-be, or a young woman wanting to learn how to set up housekeeping, and even an experienced cook like me can learn a few new tricks. It is available in a paper edition as well, perfect for those gift giving opportunities that are right around the corner.
Marcia has generously offered to make an e-book edition available for a giveaway to one of my readers—just leave me a comment with your email address and let me know that you would like to have your name in the drawing. I will announce the winner next week.
In addition, any of you who want to can write to her at marcia@marciawashburn.com and request a free e-copy of her money-saving article, Kitchen Economics.
For those of you who don’t win the free copy she is also running a special on the e-book edition—$4.99 instead of $5.99. She will extend this offer to last at least 7-10 days after this post appears.
Finding Joy in the Journey,
Phyllis
I would love to have the opportunity to keep in touch with you. Please sign up to be notified of new entries and to receive my Free E-zine. (Your address will not be shared)
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Phyllis Sather
Proclaiming God’s Faithfulness at:
http://www.Phyllis-Sather.com
© 2011 Phyllis Sather
All rights reserved
Contact me at: Phyllis@Phyllis-Sather.com
Marcia Washburn Bio
Marcia Washburn has operated several businesses including a profitable piano studio and a small publishing company. She and her husband homeschooled their five sons in rural Colorado for nineteen years. She has served in various leadership positions at the local and state level and holds advanced degrees in elementary education & music education.
A columnist for two major home education magazines, she also speaks nationally and internationally. Her books include Activity Days for Homeschool Groups and Families; Talent to Treasure: Building a Profitable Music Teaching Business; and Homemade Convenience Foods.
Contact her at marcia@marciawashburn.com. Request her free newsletter at http://www.marciawashburn.com/.
I received a copy of this ebook, Homemade Convenience Foods, to read and review. I am receiving no other compensation for this review.
17 Comments
Tamiko Mitchell
Please add me to the drawing for this wonderful gift.
Tamiko Mitchell
tmitc41279@aol.com
Laura Lane
Please add me to the drawing.
Laura Lane
lane.family@yahoo dot com
Elyse
Wonderful giveaway! Would love to win!
Michelle
I would love to win this cookbook! Sounds wonderful!
=)
Stephanie
I would love to win a new cookbook! 😀
hisbelovedblog {at} gmail {dot} com
Phyllis
Kris, for some reason you’re comment isn’t showing up so I’m posting it for you. 🙂
Marcia’s Homemade Convenience book sounds interesting. I am always wishing to continue to cook good meals but without the enormous time doing so. The idea of once a month cooking is not appealing, especially after my friend told me how her loving husband kindly asked her if she would not continue to feed him from the freezer. If you like please add me to the e-book list, even if it costs me. Thank you, Kris
Phyllis
Kris, If you don’t win the drawing Marcia is offering a special price to my readers. I mention it in the post:
“In addition, any of you who want to can write to her at marcia@marciawashburn.com and request a free e-copy of her money-saving article, Kitchen Economics.
For those of you who don’t win the free copy she is also running a special on the e-book edition—$4.99 instead of $5.99. She will extend this offer to last at least 7-10 days after this post appears.”
But wait until after the drawing – who knows, you could be the winner. Phyllis
Elizabeth
Oh!!! I hope I win this! It sounds Very Helpful for BUSY cooks like me!!
Milenda
We would love to win it here. My teenage son is a budding chef and loves ebook cookbooks. At this stage, any helps and shortcuts for cooking are right up his alley since he doesn’t have to UNlearn the old habits first!
Tiffany (As For My House)
I would definitely like to win this, thanks!
Phyllis
I just read about using Pillsbury Grands for pizza crust. We plan to try it to make individual pizzas. If you have a plan for crust pizza is always a quick meal.
Or sloppy Joe’s. I usually use Manwich. I fried my beef before I realized I was out of it. I remembered that Marcia has a recipe in this book so I used it and it was so easy and good that I plan to switch to it.
You will probably have all the ingredients on hand – which is another bonus.
Here it is:
SLOPPY JOES
½ C. chopped onion
2 pint boxes cooked ground beef
2/3 C. catsup
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1-1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1-1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vinegar
¼ tsp. dry mustard
Mix and heat in microwave for 10 min. at 70% power, or simmer on the stovetop.
Shannon
I’d LOVE to be included in the draw – monkey meat, eh? Well… I don’t exactly know where I can pick that up locally, but I’m game for trying…?
I like that idea of the pizza dough.. hmmm.. pizza. I think I was supposed to make that for supper this evening. Got distracted! Anything quick and easy you wanna suggest?
*grin*
Be blessed!
Shannon
family (at) ratcliffeblessings . com
Laura
I would love to win this book. I am always looking for help in the kitchen and love to try out new ideas.
Tina
I would love to be added to the drawing. I am also a recipe “collector” and enjoy trying new things. With a hungry military husband (who is currently deployed) and three children (two which are VERY hungry boys) … I completely understand the need for simplicity when it comes to cooking. 🙂 God Bless!! 🙂
Phyllis
Tina, I will add your name to the drawing.
Do you know that we give a free MP3 or ebook of our Purposeful Planning material to all military families? Check it out in our bookstore and let me know if you would be interested. If you are please let me know which format you would like. We also have special military pricing on the other Purposeful Planning materials.
Blessings, Phyllis
Linda Winton
I’d appreciate a chance to be in the drawing. I hope I never get too old to learn something new or more efficient!
Phyllis
My husband had an aunt who was still asking for recipes in her 80’s. She was always asking me to write one down for her after we had her over. I’m hoping to be like her.