Also, they can put together e-cookbooks or CDs to give as free items to customers, readers, and blog/web site visitors.  This is one way authors have promoted their books and crafters their other products.

Over at Home Biz Notes, I described how I’ve been involved in creating free e-cookbooks as promotional giveaways for my books.  This was a project initiated by author/publisher Kathleen (Katy) Walls.

Check out the post, Developing a Free e-cookbook for PR, and learn more about the two I’ve been involved with.  We have also compiled an anthology of our writing this was as a freebie.

(Cookbook cover by Katy & Martin Walls)

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Cookbook Idea for Crafters

For one thing, the seasonings.  Food & Wine has made sure that even classic chicken dishes that made it into this book have the very best, very most up-to-the-minute spices and seasonings and techniques used to bring out the best in the flavors.  I made the Chicken Provencal (page 134) the first night.  Boring, right?  Nope!  Flavorful, delicious, and now my new favorite recipe for this classic.

Ingredients for Chicken Provencal in my crock pot

Another of my new favorites is a delightful curry called Massaman Curry (page 28).  Four recipes down so far (Kung Pao, page 130 and a  Brazilian grilled chicken dish, page 112 ) and at dozens left to go…I can’t wait!

Massaman Curry, using shredded chicken instead of chunk

Check out The Bookshop for more links to books about fine food in addition to this excellent guide!

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Book review: Quick from Scratch Chicken

For your chance to win one of these copies, leave me a comment below sharing your favorite non-meat meal. Mine is avocado on toast. Oh, yum!

The Vegan Cook’s Bible, by Pat Crocker,  is good for vegans and non-vegans alike. It features 250 recipes including Bulgar Asparagus Salad(it’s Aspargus season, you know!), homemade Candied Nuts (a healthy snack treat), Almond and Curry Brocoli Stir-fry (Ooh, I can use locally grown almonds for this one!), and Dark Chocolate Pudding (I have to have chocolate at least once a day).

The book offers sections on getting to know herbs, common vegan cooking ingredients, and how to eat to support Healthy Body Systems.

For example, the top 10 heart healthy foods:

*Fish
*Garlic
*Soy foods and beans
*Pomegranate
*Extra virgin olive oil
*Oats and oat bran
*Celery
*Apples
*Asparagus and leafy greens
*Tea and cocoa (see, chocolate is good for you!!)

Please leave me a comment and I’ll get back to you next week with our two winners!

Giveaway open to residents of the US only.

Image credit: Barnes and Noble.com

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Win A Free Cookbook!

It’s called, “Make Me Something Good To Eat,” and it’s full of recipes that she’s prepared on her cooking show. Recipes utilize common vegetarian food items like tempeh or seitan, but there are also a few seafood recipes, as well. Tamra does her best to cover the tastes of her entire family and she offers a large variety of different meal options. I love this little book.

My favorite type of food is Mexican and there’s a section on Mexican that includes a homemade enchilada sauce that is made out of peppers and a Chipolte sauce. Yum. There are breakfast dishes, deserts, sandwiches, salads, even a recipe for Mango Margaritas.

Probably my favorite feature of the book is the section called “Combo Meals.” She starts with a recipe for the boys, then takes it a step further for the adults. I love that idea. Couples need some alone time and it’s not always easy, especially in these tough economic times, to get out of the house for a Date Night. Use the Combo Meals as the jumping off point for a Date Night at home.

Purchase the book during the month of May and save 10% by using the code Maycontest10 at checkout.

Image credit: Tamra Davis Cooking Show.com

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Make Me Something Good To Eat

Included with Morgan’s books her Favorite Mother’s Day Fashion Ware: Kitsch ‘n Glam “Fresh Traditions” Apron along with these great kitchen gadgets from Williams-Sonoma. A total value of $500!

• Cuisinart Mini Prep Food Processor
• Round Cookie and Biscuit Cutters
• Collapsible Measuring Cups
• 12” Long Silicon Edge Tongs
• Set of 3 Veggie Peelers
• Jar of Herbs de Provence
• Assorted Spoons and Spatulas
• Lemon/Lime Press
• Green Herb Snip Scissors
• Set of 4 Pairing Knives
• Microplane Coarse Grater
• Chinese Strainer Basket
• Set of 4 Kitchen Towels

GORGEOUS:  The Sum of All Your Glorious Parts. “When it comes to beauty, one size does NOT fit all!”
FRESH TRADITIONS: Classic Dishes for a Contemporary Lifestyle
AT HOME ENTERTAINING:The Art of Hosting Parties with Style and Panache
AT HOME INT THE KITCHEN: The Art of Preparing Foods You Love to Eat

Jorj’s kitchen and party planning tips can be found in national print, radio and television media as well as on her website, www.Jorj.com. Check out the sections with tips and sample recipes!

Contest is closed.

Congrats to Cheryl!

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Giveaway: Mom’s Kitchen Helpers

It works like this, players arrive, they are weighed, and put into teams. They work with a trainer, change their way of eating, compete in challenges, and lose weight.

Each week they are weighed again and if they have one of the two lowest percentages of weight loss, they might go home. I always feel bad for whomever goes home. I want them to be able to stay at the ranch and continue the hard work.

Luckily, when they go home, they are not totally alone. The show gives them continued support by way of 24 Hour Fitness. 

If you’d like to try the Biggest Loser at home, then you might start by picking up the Biggest Loser Family Cookbook. The recipes have been developed by Chef Devin Alexander.  You can find out more about the Biggest Loser Cookbook here.

Image credit: Biggest Loser Family cookbook.com

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The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook

America The Majestic Pictorial Cookbook

This picturesque book showing American sceneries accompanied by the States dishes was actually put together by a team from Sydney Australia. Mike Alberts, the managing editor explains why a group of Australians produced the book. He said a pitch was given to him during one of many trips in the US. He has discovered recipes written by Americans through out the years. The pictorial cookbook gives a reader references to which dishes represents a particular region.

Alaska : Corned Bear W/ Hot Mustard Dill Sauce

Dixie : Plantation Stew

Sunbelt : Tongue W/ Almond Gooseberry Sauce

Pacific North West : Trout Wellington

Heartland : Nasturtium Chicken Salad Loaf

The cookbook features desserts, main course, breakfast, appetizers, cocktails, and many more from Alaska, Pacific North West, Heartland, NYC, California, Tex-Mex, Cajun, Dixie, Sunblet, Florida, Hawaii and Festive dishes from North, West, East and South regions.

On the last pages of the book, there are also comprehensive list and explanations on spices, different kind of fish, crustaceans, vegetables, herbs, fruits, edible flowers, cereals, pulses, nuts, teas, coffee, and wines.

America The Majestic Pictorial Cook Book is very informative coupled with amazing pictures of sceneries from US regions.

The book was published on 1981 therefore the pictures couldn’t rival what a good dSLR camera could produce these days. I’ve pretty much called it “vintage” in terms of pictures quality. Having said that, I still like it and looking forward to creating some of the dishes soon.

(Images : © Dexie Wharton / Blisstree)

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America The Majestic Pictorial Cookbook

This book contains more than 300 healthy recipes, including options to make vegetarian meals vegan, changes for people with allergies, wheat-free, and soy-free. Some of the recipes are quick and easy, while others are perfect for plan-ahead, re-heat it meals. This handy cookbook also contains complete nutrition information, helpful shopping lists, and time-saving tips.  It’s a great addition to any cookbook collection.

Vegetarian Mother’s Cookbook: Whole Foods to Nourish Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women and Their Families, by Cathe Olson

Image credit: Barnes and Noble.com

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Vegetarian Cookbook For Pregnant Moms

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Winners of 30 Minute Meals

I love getting new cookbooks, don’t you? I especially like recipes that make my life easier. So that’s why I especially like this cookbook, 30 Minutes or Less Favorite Foods. There are a lot of yummy recipes in here, and best of all the book has a lot of vivid pictures so you can see what each dish is supposed to look like.

I’ve got TWO of these wonderful books to give away to two lucky readers here. To enter to win, leave a comment on this post by Monday, January 5th. I’ll choose two winners at random and announce them the next day. Good luck!

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Win a Copy of 30 Minutes or Less Favorite Foods Cookbook