Help name the New Cookbook

Psalm 119: 32  I run in the path of your commands, O Lord, for you have set my heart free.

I have finished editing my newest cookbook.  I will be selecting the cover, design, etc.  The only problem is that I don’t have a NAME for this new book.  It will contain 250 recipes that I have prepared for my family on Sunday dinners, church pot lucks and regular dinners.  The first book was “Family Favorites”, which is currently sold out.  This book has many of the recipes from Family Favorites, but many new recipes as well.  Let me know your creative titles.  If I choose your Title you will WIN a FREE cookbook when it is published.  Looking for some creative ideas.  Get Ready – Set – Go – Get Creative.

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New Business Venture

Philippians 4:13  I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.

This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible and so appropriate for this post.

My daughter has just started her own company.  She strongly believes in trying to help small businesses to reach their full potential.  Her company:   JMS Marketing Solutions has been developed to help those businesses gain exposure through internet and social media avenues.  If you have a business:  Do you have a website, do you have a Facebook and/or Twitter account, can you send out a newsletter?   If you have a small business and you do not have a web presence you are not in tune with the modern generation.  Contact JMC Marketing to find out how they can help you expand your business.  Their rates are very reasonable.  Their web site is:  www. jmsmarketingsolutions.com  Check out the link on My Blogroll.

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2010 in review

The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads This blog is on fire!.

Crunchy numbers

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 12,000 times in 2010. That’s about 29 full 747s.

 

In 2010, there were 15 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 259 posts. There were 5 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 2mb.

The busiest day of the year was February 22nd with 220 views. The most popular post that day was Spaghetti for 100.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were frugalhacks.com, en.wordpress.com, search.aol.com, jamiegates.wordpress.com, and cookeatshare.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for church dinner recipes, diaper cake, spaghetti for 100, spaghetti for 100 people, and how to make a diaper cake.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

1

Spaghetti for 100 September 2008
2 comments

2

Diaper Cake April 2008
1 comment

3

Pork Chops and Potatoes June 2007

4

Taco Casserole for 40 – 50 people February 2009

5

Let me introduce myself April 2007
25 comments

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I am Back ?!?!?!?

Colossians 4:6  Let your conversations be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

I am back.  So sorry for the long time inbetween posts.  I have assumed a CFO (Chief Financial Officer) position with my son’s construction company.  With the economy in a downturn I am trying to help keep his remodeling/construction company on a positive track.  This is definately a walk in faith because projections of what you will have coming in depends on what business will come in next week. 

People are still repairing and remodeling their homes instead of selling them.  This is good news for my son.  I have been a business owner of many different businesses, but this is definately different for me.  I am knowledgeable about construction since my Dad was a carpenter and my husband and I have had rental properties for many years.  We do a lot of the repairs ourself, so the details of painting, laying tiles, etc. are not foreign to me. 

If you live in the Central Ky. area give me a shout.  My son has a wonderful new program to help Maintain your home if you are too busy to make minor repairs, etc.  It is very affordable and is ideal for busy working professionals,  those who are maintenance challenged,  persons with limited physical capabilities and those who are retired or elderly. 

I hope to be able to post some additional ideas for money saving ideas, recipes, etc.  Keep us in your prayers.

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Barack Obama’s Presidency

Psalm  138:8  The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord endures forever – do not abandon the works of your hands. 

Today was definately a Historic day for our country.  I am not a minority and do not pretend to know what minorites in our country have faced or what this day meant to those groups.   I pray that this is a sign that this country gives people the opportunity to  prosper beyond any other country in the world.

I have really been appauled at the tone of the conservative “talk radio” today.  I did NOT vote for President Obama.  I do not believe that government handouts will solve the problems of the economy.  BUT, I also believe that someone who can inspire the people in this country to come together to support each other, help each other and take an active role in getting our country back on track cannot be bad.

I remember the presidency of John F. Kennedy.  He inspired this country to look beyond themselves and to help each other.  Ronald Regan also inspired us to become one nation.  I pray that this country can come together.  The words that John F. Kennedy spoke, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for this country”, should be our mantra.  Together we can embrace each other, help meet each others needs and propel this country into a new era.

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Going when Called

Romans 12:  10-12  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep our spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithul in prayer.

My son is a member of an on line gaming group.  Video games.  He has not played much this last year (two young girls and a pregnant wife), but he has kept in contact with several members of the group.  One member’s mother has had a lot of medical problems and has developed ARDS, which is usually a fatal lung problem.  She is on a ventilator. Her son has lost his house due to losing work to spend time with her.  Her husband is out of days to use away from his job unless he loses pay and has to travel 5 hours to the hospital.  The mother is a Christian and will go home to be with her father, but the son and husband are NOT Christians.  They are struggling with some of the deicions they may have to make this weekend.  She has been on a ventillator for 96 days.  Pneumonia has worsened. 

My son has been talking to them over the phone and via e-mail.  He feels he is being called to travel to be with them.  He is a devout Christian.  He will be flying to NC to reach out to these men that he has never met. 

Please pray for him, that he will know and discern God’s direction for his journey.  He is such a loving soul.  I don’t know that I would have the courage to go, but I do know that when God tells you to do something it is very difficult NOT to answer his call.  The more people we have praying in this situation for God’s will to be done the better. 

Please forward this to all you know.

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Recipe Contest

1 John 4:7  Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. 

I am developing a new cookbook of easy to prepare, economical recipes.  I know many of you have some great recipes that have gotten you through hard times.  This contest will run until the end of December 2008.  By submitting your recipe you are agreeing to allow me to use this recipe in future cookbooks, posts, or other uses.  You will be credited with submitting the recipe, so be sure to tell me how you want to be mentioned:  by your blog, e-mail, name, etc. 

What do you get??????  A cookbook to the recipe I feel is the best suited to enter the book.  Others may be chosen to be published, but there is only one winner.  The cookbook is my original cookbook.  I wrote this several years ago.  The children kept calling back asking for this and that recipe.  I self-published and have sold many copies:  local bookstores, friends/family, E-bay, etc.  These are basic recipes that definately have a Southern influence.  Many people have told me this is the only cookbook that they use now.  There are a 160 recipes in this cookbook.  It is SOLD out, so don’t ask for a copy, EXCEPT to the winner.  Yes, I am in the process of writing a sequel with new and improved recipes plus many of the old tried and true recipes.

The rules are:  1. Recipe that has economical ingredients, 2.  Easy to prepare (crockpot, prepare ahead, quick in the kitchen), 3.  Easy to find ingredients, 4.  Spices, etc. that would be commonly found in most kitchens, 5. All categories:  Appetizers, Vegetables, Breads, Sides, Main Dishes, Meats, Poultry, Fish, Pasta, Salads, Soups, Desserts, Kids Recipes, Dishes for One/Two, Prepare ahead and Freeze, Vegetarian and Others, 6.  Extra points for Money Saving ideas with the recipe.

You must submit the recipe via a comment on this post.  Make sure that your post will allow me to contact you if you win.

 

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

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Rental Property

Romans  15:5-6  May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I have heard that Rental Property is a “Love – Hate Relationship”.  You either Love it or Hate it, or at different times both.  My husband and I began our rental adventure many years ago.  We now have numerous properties.  We have houses, duplexes and tri-plexes.  We try to do most of the repairs ourselves when renters move out.  We have had mostly good fortune.  We check references, etc., but we still have a few horror stories I could tell you.

I want to give you some advice if you are a renter or a landlord.  I don’t know what renters have against cleaning ovens.  Even the renters who leave a clean apartment DON”T clean the OVEN.  This is not rocket science.  You just have to use spray oven cleaner,  let it set (overnight is good) and then wipe it out.  Even the most crusty things will usually come out if you clean with the “green” scouring pads that are non-abrasive.  If you are moving out “CLEAN THE OVEN”.

The other amazing thing is that people don’t clean their showers.  How can you shower to get CLEAN in a dirty shower ???????  I use the spray Scrubbing Bubbles cleaner (generic works great also).  Spray and leave for 20-30 minutes.  Most of the grime rinses away.

We have discovered that several products that have helped us tremendously are:  ODO-BAN (deodorizer) and Mr. Clean Magic Erasers.  The Odo-Ban is wonderful for getting rid of smells:  Pet, Smoke, Mold, etc.  We puchase this through the Sam’s Club, but they have a web site.  The Mr. Clean Erasers are one product that really does work.  I don’t know how, or why, but I don’t care.  The recent apartment had pencil marks, scuff marks, dirty hand prints, etc.  We normally would have painted, but by using the Magic Erasers I don’t have to paint three rooms.  If you are a renter and moving out try these and you might be amazed. 

As Landlords we expect normal wear and tear, but we do charge for cleaning ovens, showers, repainting, etc.  So save yourself some money and try these products before you move.  You might get your deposit back and if you are Landlord that had someone leave your apartment somewhat less that you expected try these before you spend a lot of money.

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Cookbook #2

1 Timothy 6:6-7  Godliness with contentment is great pain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we take nothing out of it. 

I self published a cookbook several years ago:  Family Favorites.  I had 500 copies published and I am almost sold out.  I have been amazed.  They have been sold to:  family, friends, on e-bay and at a local bookseller.  Of course a good cook does not just cook the same things over and over, but develops new recipes.  I have several more that would be great addiitions to the cookbook. 

I made a post several months ago about doing a new cookbook and got some encouragement.  I am definately going to  publish another cookbook.  I am still trying to work out the details for what to include in the cookbook.  I have developed a lot of menu plans, how to cook once and eat several meals, money saving ideas, etc. 

If anyone has any ideas on what would be beneficial to them I would love to hear them.

 

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Emergency Contact Information

Psalm  36:  Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. 

This is a good idea.  If you are in an accident and cannot communicate, how will people know who to call.   I.C.E. is a good idea.  This stands for Emergency Contact Information.    Go to this website and request stickers to put on your mobile phone:   www.icesticker.com

You then need to list a phoe number on your mobile phone under ICE.  This can be more than one number:   Ice 1,  Ice-Dad,  Ice- Mom,  Ice- Wife, etc.  

You place the ICE sticker on the back of your cell/mobile phone

 This could save lives, pass onto all that you know

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