I have to thank Andrea for writing about Molly Wizenberg’s book, A Homemade Life. She is the blog writer of Orangette – a food blog I wish I had found a long, long time ago.
I just finished reading her book and there are so many parallels between her life and mine, it was as if I was reading the diary of a dear, close friend. Both of our father’s died of cancer, and after reading about how her father “ate” Ensure, it drew me back to a moment in time.
My dad was probably two months from death at this point. He was in his recliner, as usual, and since I was the only one there, I had to “feed” him his drink through a tube in his stomach. I used to joke with him that he was about to “eat” meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy, and looking back, I thought I was being funny, but I realize now it might have been a bit mean describing food to him that would never touch his lips again. He always smiled though, so I have comfort in that!
And Molly also reminds me a lot of my daughter, who doesn’t like change all that much, although you would never know it by the amount of times a week she rearranges her room. Hannah likes things in a particular order, I’ve not done her laundry since she was 9, and I haven’t packed her suitcase in probably 10 years. She travels with my Mom quite a bit, and my Mom would always say “did you double check her suitcase to make sure she has everything?” I would then tell her that Hannah had created her own checklist weeks in advance of any trip! She usually packs my suitcase.
And Hannah is the first to shout “Mom, how many times do I have to tell you, the gravy boat does not belong on the drinking glass shelf??!!” and I’ll hear her move it to the “right spot.”
But the biggest similarity between Molly and Hannah is that Molly took the same lunch to school every single day for the first fourteen years of life. Every single day! When Hannah was in first grade and could take a lunch, I asked her “what kind of sandwich do you want?” She replied: “Hard salami on white bread, no cheese or mustard.” I love mustard and how I produced a child that doesn’t, I’ll never know!
Around 3rd or 4th grade, I arranged a trip to Whole Foods. I decided, if she doesn’t try any other lunch meat, how would she know if liked anything other than hard salami! First off, smoked turkey breast. “Um, this is really good!” Aha, I was onto something! Next up, honey ham. “I like the sweetness of this!” Hooray! This went on for about five additional lunch meats, and when I asked her which ones she wanted, she said “I’ll have hard salami!”
But the biggest similarity is that we both met our respective husbands online. Her husband Brandon was one of the first people to comment on her blog, and through emails, phone calls and cross-country visits (she in Seattle, he in New York) they are now married and about to open a restaurant together the middle of this month.
I still crack up when I read (yes, I kept our first email!) Tony’s first email to me:
I am a divorced father of a 10-year old son, and while I am Italian, I am proud to have two separate eye brows and no back hair!”
So the giveaway is a copy of Molly’s Book: A Homemde Life and a food scale!
Shelley recently got one, and I think its key to weight loss success and to keep your portion size in check. Allison won last month (well, I did a 100,000 hit giveaway) and I decided this will probably be included in each months giveaway.
Here’s how you enter, you know the drill:
- leave a comment answering this question – what is your favorite cookbook?
- link back to this post on your blog for another drawing
- add me to your blog roll (send me an email at bdl319@gmail.com to let me know!) I am always seeking out new food blogs to read!
I’ll use ramdom integer to pick a winner at dinner on Wednesday, August 5th. Good luck!
Hi there,
That’s a tough one but I guess it would have to be Nigella Lawson’s ‘How To Be A Domestic Goddess’, by a narrow margin! I’ve used it the most out of all my others and it’s never failed me yet!
My favorite cookbook is Mark Bittman’s How To Cook Everything.
It was the very first cookbook I ever bought myself, back in 1999, when dh & I bought our first house…and I still have it.
My favorite cookbook is the Pillsbury general cookbook, my mom sent it to me when I was living in Honduras and I actually used the cake recipes in it to make and sell! Thanks!
Can it be an online cookbook….err website? I don’t have a fav cookbook – I read recipes and then kind of wing it. I do check Allrecipes.com an awful lot for ideas though.
I could definitely use a new food scale! thanks!
just one cookbook? haha, mmm, i’d have to go with ek’s the food you crave, too. but really i’d give a shoutout to foodblogsearch.com, since that’s usually where i start!
I have an old church cookbook entitled, Burnt Offerings. It is a family love. We all use it.
My current favorite cookbook is Ellie Krieger’s The Food You Crave. I have tons of favorite cookbooks, but this is my newest one:) I already have you on my blogroll, but I haven’t really been doing anything with my blog lately.
i have a barefoot contessa cookbook that i love…it’s perfect for recipes that are both simple and complex at the same time. and the pictures are heavenly! everything ive made from that cookbook has been stellar 🙂
I looooove cookbooks. My favorite is, of course, Joy of Cooking, but I also really love Giada’s cookbooks – Everyday Pasta is my favorite. Will be linking back too, AWESOME GIVEAWAY! 🙂
I think my favourite cookbook is my Essential Asian cookbook. I love Asian food, and it has the best recipes! Too bad it’s been out of print for years.
Mark Bittman is a brilliant cook and has created a really exciting array of attainable recipes – but my FAV are in his “How to Cook Everything Vegetarian” cookbook …. two very enthusiastic thumbs up!… highly recommended 😉
Please count me in for the drawing!
CHEERS
I’m not huge on change either. It just messes up your routine!
My favorite favorite favorite recipe book is Junior’s Cheesecake! OMG! I love it!
I’m not big on change either! 😀 My school lunch when I bagged it was PB sandwich no jelly, please!
I totally snorted my coffee when I read that snippett from your first email with Tony. Too cute!
My favorite cookbooks are the old ones I have from like the 40s, 60s, and 70s. The recipes are a little crazy and totally awesome. 🙂
Did you guys really not like funny people?
It was good, but you said it was the funniest movie you’ve seen, and funnier than Hangover and we didin’t feel it was that funny.
It seemed more like a drama to me! 😀 How was work last night?
Hi!
My favorite cookbook is “The Eat Clean Cookbook”. Every single recipe I have made from here has been healthy and DELICIOUS! My fave recipe from it so far has been herb grilled salmon. So yummy! (and easy!).
Oh and I will be linking to this contest in the blogs I write tomorrow and I am adding you to my blogroll.
http://classroomconfessions.wordpress.com (my teacher blog)
http://ieatgood.wordpress.com (my food blog)
Thanks!
My favorite cook book right now is called Irish Food & Cooking. It totally reminds me of my study abroad experience there!
Oh great post! This sounds like an interesting blog, and what a great story to meet your husband online via the blog world! Oh, and your husbands first “e-mail” was great. It is definitely rare to find an Italian man without a unibrow and back hair!
Favorite cook book: The Art of Simple Food. It’s filled with some amazing dishes, that are simple yet delicious. The book is also full of so many sugestions, information about foods, directions on HOW TO COOK! IT’s great.
Great story! I thought you were already on my blogroll, but apparently I have not done that yet – my apologies. I will also mention this post in tonight’s update.
Oh I really enjoyed your analogy and getting to know you a lot more, Biz! What a nice story, and haha, you seem to have a humorous relationship with Hannah! And don’t worry about your dad…I’m sure he appreciated your humor.
My fav cookbook is Baking; From my home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan!
I used to really enjoy the Frugal Gourmet’s cookbook until “things” changed. Please do not give me a food book or the scale. I have far too many as it is! (My wife only reads food related books and magazines)
P.S. If I haven’t mentioned lately, I think your awesome.
xooxo
OMG, that totally gave me butterflies in my tummy! Thanks Tony – I love you more every day! 😀
I want the book but already have a scale (obviously, lol) – if you draw me, you could draw someone else for the scale!
My favorite cookbook is an old one, Better Homes and Gardens New Dieter’s Cookbook…I think it’s from the late 80’s or early 90’s.
oh..and the luch thing…I took Peanut Butter and Jelly EVERYDAY from Kindergarden until the 7th grade…lol
oh…what kind of pickled jalapenos do you buy…I bought some today to try and they had carrots in them…the red ones and the green ones..i thought it was a little weird..BUT they are so GOOD
Perfectly normal to have carrots in them – some brands are different – my brand is called San Marcos and I buy it at my Mexican grocery store – mine are also called “nacho” jalapeno peppers, so no carrots in these. 😀
thanks/… i will have to look at my produce stand…they have a lot of mexican goodies
Favorite cookbook…that is REALLY hard…lol
I guess it would be my 5 ingredient 15 minute cookbook by Weight Watchers. But really my favorite is something of a cookbook to come (Roni—from greenlite bites..I make so many of her recipes)
You are already a part of my blogroll…:)
I love this post!
My favorite cookbook changes to tell the truth! I buy them all the time at thrift stores for like .25c. I usually look for certain kinds like an ingredient one (100 ways to cook chicken), a dish (hearty soups), or unique ones made for church groups, fundraisers, etc. I rotate them out and mark the recipes I like and any substitutions or notes in the margin.
You’re already on my blogroll and I’ll mention you in my next update! 🙂
Love the storie. Hannah and I have something in common too: I always took the same sandwich to school everyday too. Wheat bread with cheese. I would flip if I got peanut butter!
But really my favorite cookbook is Betty Crocker too. I had that thing memorized when I was ten!
Favorite cookbook: Classic Betty Crocker 😉
THE SCALE IS THE BEST!!! (obv i’m not commenting to win!) but serioulsy – everyone else – COMMENT! YOU’LL LOVE IT!