Monday, August 30, 2010

My first ever Blog Giveaway!!!

I am having my first ever giveaway, pretty exciting eh!!!

For those of you who are regulars on my blog you know I have been busy with putting together a recipe book to raise funds for the church I attend.  The book arrived last week and in celebration of that I am giving away two copies of the book.


I did have help with certain things. One lady was an absolute dear in proofreading everything for me, and even input some of the recipes. As I soon discovered that although I have lived in Canada for 21 years, I still have a lot of British ways about me, in the way I write, and cook! Her husband did the artwork for the front of the book. Another guy did the original artwork for the dividers in the book. Two other ladies came up with the idea of the Liturgical Section, and between me, them and the Vicar completed that section.

Now to "win" one of these books is pretty simple:

  1. You MUST be a follower of my blog.
  2. I have to have a way of getting in touch with you.
  3. Tell me the name of your favourite recipe that you use over and over again.  If you have a link to it on your blog, all the better, but not a prerequisite.  Mind you remember that may encourage more people to pop by your blog!
  4. Oh, and you must comment on this post to enter.
The contest closes at 5pm (my time, 10pm in England, 2 pm on the west coast of Canada and the USA) on Monday September 6th, 2010.  I will post the winners names on Tuesday September 7th, 2010.  The winners will have 48 hours to respond to my email, then I will draw again.

**This contest is open to people all over the world.  Depending on who wins and where they live, I may end up sending the recipe book surface mail.......just a warning!!

34 comments:

Tracey said...

I have so wanted a copy ever since you first started writing it! Great give away. My fave recipe is spinach & cheese filled pancakes covered in cheese sauce.....no link though! xxx

Sugar__Mama said...

oh i would so love to win this! my favourite recipe would have to be a white bread recipe for the breadmaker. it's in an older cookbook i picked up at a secondhand store a couple of years ago. unfortunately it's still packed in a box since we moved, so haven't made any in the new place yet. now i need to find that box!

Niki said...

Of course I'd love to win a copy....I'm a cookbook junkie after all..I read them like novels!

One of my favourite recipes is Amish Oven Fried Chicken
http://ruralwritings.blogspot.com/2009/05/amish-oven-fried-chicken.html

Have fun!
Niki

Niki said...

PS...and I can't believe I am not a follower (well, until now)...after a couple of years of reading you and you reading me!!! LOL

Piece by Piece said...

I would love to have a copy of the cookbook also. My favourite recipe is for the Shortbread Cookies I make at Christmas, everyone in the family loves them, no link because it was given to me by a co-worker years ago.
Sept 7th is my youngest daughter's birthday, so I feel lucky.
Patricia

MyBulletinBoard said...

Okay, I'm in. What a neat idea! One of our favorites is muffin bread which I will get back up on my blog soon. I've been tweaking it just a bit. I actually did a spreadsheet for the ingredients so I don't have to decipher all the color-coded hen-scratches every time I bake.

Hope you're having a good time with your brother. Enjoy the vacation with your DH. Know you both need it.

Liz, The Republic

cassagena said...

I really am enjoying your blog and just love trying different recipes but I guess my favorite is my grandmother's spaghetti with meatballs and italian sausage. She gave me the recipe when I first got married and have been making it ever since (34 years tomorrow).
Judy

Leiani said...

Congratulations on your first giveaway, you've come so far with your blog! I would love to have a copy of your cookbook, I'm always on the look out for tried and true recipes. A current favourite recipe in this house is Choc Chip Jaffa Muffins - yum. Link is http://my-eccentricity.blogspot.com/2010/03/cooking-school-saturday.html

Gaylehere said...

Hi Appleby, would love to win your recipe book. A recipe I love is my corn meat and white sauce that I cook in the microwave. It's the one I put in the "Crafty Mamas" recipe swap earlier in the year

Stephanie V said...

What a great idea! Unfortunately, my favorite recipes are not online since they're that old.
One that I've used so many times the paper is dog-eared and stained is for the easiest - and fudgiest - brownies. I found it in a Family Circle mag back in the early '70's when my daughter was very little. It has been my go-to recipe whenever I have to make a sweet for any occasion.
I'll post it to my blog this week.

Lori said...

I have been watching you gather recipes for this. Our favorite recipe--made it again this weekend--Buttermilk Chocolate Sheet cake! I also make Peanut Butter Sheet cake, another favorite--almost the same recipe.

Kim said...

Would love to win this cookbook - home recipes are always the very best!

A recipe I always make, hmm that is hard...I make cheater's curry chicken pretty often (uses cream soup).

Justine said...

OOh I would love a copy. I use many recipes over again but my favourite is one of Linda McCartney's and is called Chilli Non-Carne. I dont have a link sorry.

Rashed said...

This sounds really interesting, and I'd love to win a copy of your book!

My favourite recipe is Bangladeshi-style chick peas, similar to the recipe shown here: http://www.ivu.org/recipes/indian-beans/chana.html

If I win, you can contact me by e-mail at chowdhuryrashed [at] gmail.com

DeniseinVA said...

What a nice surprise to pop in on a giveaway Gill. Great idea :) Well, personally speaking, I've lived in the US for the last 34 years, and the phrase "You can take the girl out of England, but you can't take England out of the girl" applies to many of us.

I have been making a chicken salad recipe for years and you can find it on my blog here.

An English Girl Rambles

I will enjoy entering your giveaway contest and will tell people about it in my post today. Thanks Gill, always enjoyable visiting.

The Witch said...

Gill,
Count me in!!
I'm a regular follower as you know and loved this idea of the Church Cookbook from day one.
Congratulation on your first give away.
My favorite recipe ,well it plain old spaghetti with lots of veggies and home made garlic bread.

Kelly Casanova said...

Thanks Gill, I'd love to win one.

One of my fave recipes that I seem to use a lot for my family is good old spaghetti bolgnaise.

Unknown said...

I love your blog and though I do not have one of my own, I do visit your blog evreyday. Love your posts about Kamakazi hill, I loved the post about UPS and thank you for all the 50+1 recipes. These days I am into sweet potatoes so I would say my favourite recipe from that series is the sweet potatoe cheesecake. I love the way you write, it brings back fond memories of the way my dad wrote and spoke. Thank you for sponsoring the give-away and I do hope I win one of the recipe books.
Jean from Winnipeg

chksnowqueen said...

Hello Gill,

How kind of you to offer up the fruits of your labour like this. I do not have a blog, but follow yours.

A recipe that I have used for years is for Meringue cookies. My nephews love them and I never have to look at the recipe:

- 1/4 cup sugar for every egg white used, 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar powder, a pinch of salt, and a teaspoon of vanilla.

- Beat the egg whites, salt and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Add the sugar gradually (a tblsp at a time) while beating the eggs until thick and smooth like a marshmallow whip. Blend in vanilla.

- Spoon or pipe onto baking sheet lined with foil paper and bake in a low oven (225 to 250 degrees F depending on how hot your over is) and bake until they are not sticky to the touch. They will be soft, but harden when cooled. You don't want to brown them.

They are like sweet puffs of air.

Christine

Joyce Paski said...

I think I messed up making a comment here, Gill, so I'll try again. I'm a sucker for church cookbooks because they have the best recipes! My favorite dessert recipes are on my blog under the Special Links on this Blog section. (Scroll down on the right hand side of the blog.) I use the grunt recipe the most, but the apple slices recipe I use when I need to "impress" people -- there are never any leftovers with that one! I enjoy your blog very much -- I'm waiting for you to put in a garden LOL.

Daxingcujo said...

Hiya Gill!
Bravo on the book...how awesomne to get that accomplished! though I do not blog myself, you have always been the recipe inspiration for me! I love you 50+'ers and the links you provide!
Good luck to all and best wishes to those who get one!!

Caroline said...

I would love to enter your giveaway Gill. In my family I'm known as the cook book queen. I have two recipes on my blog that are favourites & if you click on the pictures it will take you to the recipe. They are both simple & easy for busy mums, one is a Savoury Pie & the other is an Apple Slice.
Caroline

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

How nice of you to give one of the cookbooks away! I do love cookbooks that are a combined effort!
I love to make cake, and my favorite recipe is for "coke cake" It's a delicious, moist chocolate cake that has fudge frosting--Pure heaven!!! :-) http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,186,133189-247192,00.html

Dawn said...

I would love to have a copy of this cookbook. I love having cookbooks from other areas to just see what differences there are in area cuisine. You are always likely to find me reading a cookbook!!!

My favorite recipe that I prepare is Beef Ranchero. You may find this recipe along with many others on my blog: http://dawnrester.blogspot.com/

Thank you so much for giving us this opportunity to own a copy of the cookbook you worked so diligently on.

John Going Gently said...

ok here goes!!!!!

see my recipie of my famous fishcakes!!!

http://disasterfilm.blogspot.com/2010/07/as-requested.html

ENJOY

and if they dont win me a book NOTHING will
xxxx

Rose said...

I wanted to enter the giveaway since it is not too late...as for a recipe...here is something I came up with years ago. My kids and husband love it. Nothing in it is set in stone...

Bell Pepper Casserole

1. Preheat oven to 325º

2. Chop up about 1/2 of a small onion

3. Clean 1 to 2 bell peppers...then slice in strips and place in bottom of 2 quart casserole.

In the meantime, be frying approximately 2 pound of ground chuck with the chopped onion.

When the hamburger is browned, drain and add to the casserole dish over the bell pepper.

Next pour enough tomato juice to cover the hamburger...I always leave just a few tips of hamburger showing.

Place the dish in the oven for about an hour and 15 minutes to an hour an a half.

Serve with mashed potatoes.

I developed this because I love the flavor of stuffed bell peppers but do not like to eat the peppers...so it was a waste to make them. With this I get the flavor, and my husband gets the flavor AND the peppers which he loves.

I have never had anyone not like it....

And this is one dish that is definitely better as a leftover. I like to make it ahead of time till it has time to cool down and come to room temperature. Something about it setting for a while enhances the flavor.

Stella Jones said...

Oooh how exciting. Please enter me in. My favourite recipe (this week) is Bedfordshire Clangers and here is the link to the recipe:
http://star-foreveryoung.blogspot.com/2010/08/bedfordshire-clangers.html
If I'm lucky enough to be drawn, you can send the prize to my American address if that's cheaper for you.
I'll give you the address if I win.
Good luck to everybody else too.
Blessings, Star

Stephanie V said...

Me, again. I've put my recipe right on my blog page. Just scroll down to the bottom for Fudgy Brownies.

Tania said...

Gill, Thanks for this opportunity to win your giveaway. Just what every girl needs...another cookbook!

My favourite recipe for the moment is the one I posted recently on my blog for an easy fruit cake.
http://outbacktania.blogspot.com/2010/08/easy-fruit-cake-low-fat-too.html

Have a great day,
Tania

Evelyn said...

would love to get a copy of your recipe book! my fav recipe is Reeses peanut butter squares. no blog sorry. i beleive you still have my email?

JohnD said...

Just saw this!

Contact: Tuloosletrek@gmail.com

DEAD EASY CHICKEN CASSEROLE

4 boned chicken thighs, cubed, dipped in a spiced (S&P) plain flour and parmesan powder mixture (I put flour mixture in a bag and shake, baby, shake!)and fried until brown in a little oil.
Put chicken in a 2 litre casserole.
Add chopped vegetables of your choice to casserole dish (I use the older vegies from my crisper - capsicum, carrot, celery, broccoli, mushrooms, etc and some choppeed spring onions and some peeled small whole brown eschalot onions)
Pour a 440g can of "Cream of Chicken" soup over the vegetables.
Place in a moderate oven and cook for 35 minutes
Remove and stir and return to the oven and cook for a further 35 minutes.
Serve with some crusty cob bread and a glass of Lambrusco red wine.

Excess can be frozen for a future meal in up to two weeks time.

Vintage Girl said...

Hi Gill, church cookbooks are the best...they are the best of everyones recipes and use ingredients that we all have on hand. Thanks for offering this giveaway to us. My favourite recipe...oh my...so many...the one that gets made over and over again here is Fudge Brownies, made from a few simple ingredients, easy to make and gobbled us just as fast! I have been a follower for some time now. Hope you are having a great long weekend! Heather

Anonymous said...

This is my first time i visit here. I found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! keep up the good work.

Anonymous said...

I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog.

{{{SIGH}}}

Tuesday was a mixed bag type of day. Had the appliance repair guy come again to install another circuit board in the fridge.  When hubby got...