Deseret Book

I just got my Deseret Book flyer in the mail Saturday - and my book is there! Very exciting day! I guess you could even say I'm the centerfold - along with several other cookbooks that ended up right in the middle of the flyer.:) This flyer is going in my permanent file. Maybe somday I will have wall space to frame and hang it next to the reciept my brother sent me of my first book sale.

Crazy Fun Christmas Baking

Christmas is here and life has gone crazy. The kids are out of school this week, and begged for a goodie baking day. I like baking and cooking, and I certainly like eating sweets - but seven kids, hot appliances, and precise recipes scare me when they are all together in one little kitchen. To calm myself, I invited two friends over (who don't have kids) to help with the chaos. We all had a sticky, noisy blast baking and talking and keeping kids involved. Today's project is driving goodie plates around to those we love and admire who need more sugar in their lives.

Our absolute favorite Christmas treat for the last several years is Cranberry Bread. I get lots of friends every year who request the recipe. It's easy, inexpensive to make, and not too sweet. The recipe is on the back of the Ocean Spray cranberry bag, but I'm planning on posting it on my website ASAP so you can all access it and make some before cranberries and oranges go out of season. Watch for cranberries on clearance. They freeze well and are really good for you!

Book Released!

It's official! "Centsibe Meals" is released and available at bookstores! Tuesday the 8th was the actual date, and of course, it was the one day in weeks I had no internet access. I wanted to tell the whole world, but had to settle for making myself a cake, and announcing it to the kids - who were as excited as kids can be who don't really have a clue about why this is such a big deal. After all, their world did not drastically change - except that they got cake. Yum! So start looking for "Centsible Meals" in bookstores around you! Ask and it shall be ordered in!

Christmas Baking is Coming!

Had a great Thanksgiving with my sister, her husband and eight kids. Fifteen kids and four adults all under the same roof for a few days - and we all had loads of fun! Now we are officially in the thick of the
Christmas rush. Seems like everyone tries to get their "event" in the first two weeks of December to "avoid the crazyness of the last two weeks." My calendar is chock full this week and we have nothing happening the week before Christmas. Maybe it will stay that way and we can enjoy baking and relaxing that week. :) There were so many good grocery deals before Thanksgiving, that I've been laying low for the last little while. Next week I'll go on the actual "Christmas Baking Shopping Trip" and try to get everything so we can be indoors and enjoy the zero degree weather we've been having.

Website is Up!

My website is FINALLY up and running! For a computer illiterate like me, this has been a huge undertaking and very time consuming. But..success! Please check it out at http://www.loraebowden.com/ and give me feedback and suggestions.

Also, check out the recipes I posted there. Two are my favorite yam recipes.  The Apple and Yam is perfect for your Thanksgiving feast.  The Apple, Onion, Sausage Pot Pie is fantastic for Fall - a definite comfort food. They take a little time but are REALLY worth it - so yummy! I promise they will become family favorites for you, too. Also, after much trial and error, I have come up with a delicious granola recipe. I won't claim it is absolutely perfect - mostly because I think every recipe can be tweaked and be good or better - but let's just say I couldn't stop eating it when it came out of the oven. Dangerous for a diet, but very healthy, simple, and cost-effective!

Yams

I was thinking about yams this week. What a great food! I always stock up around now because yams go on sale for Thanksgiving and they can be used in so many great recipes. Sweet potatoes and yams are interchangeable, so don't stress about which is which at the grocery store; get the least expensive. I like them boiled or baked with butter and salt - just like a baked potato. They are also good as sweet potato fries, in pies, in casseroles, in cookies, and loads of other recipes. Check out a good recipe site like www.recipezaar.com. The Dr. Gourmet link also had a roasted yam recipe that looked delicious. Look up www.drgourmet.com/recipes/extras/roastedyams.shtml. I'm going to try it! Comment here on this or other yam recipes you love.

My Family

At Glacier National Park.We had so much fun and the weather was perfect!

Keeping up

I'm trying to look all professional and knowing on this blog, but I really have no clue what I'm doing. Obviously technology is advancing faster than I am - so here's to jumping in late in the game. My publisher informed me I "absolutely must have an on-line presence" so here I am simply because of my book. There's definitely ulterior motive here. Why else would I try to facebook and keep track of 300 friends along with my own kids? I will admit it's been a steep learning curve - but fun - and seriously time-consuming - but REALLY fun. Maybe soon there will be a website, too...

My first book is now available for sale! It will be officially in stock on December 8th, 2009. Pre-order it at Amazon.com or request it at your local bookstore or library. I thought it was going to be later, so I'm thrilled it will be available for Christmas gift giving - and an inexpensive gift, too - something I like.:)