My favorite cookbook as a kid

I am a big advocate for cooking with your children or grandchildren. I grew up in the kitchen. I really loved helping my mom and grandma cook in the kitchen. I was an expert cook by the time I was in 3rd grade. I could cook better than most adults. I would make bread from scratch and all sorts of delicious treats and meals. I find cooking very therapeutic. I am going to teach my son to cook. He has already shown interest in cooking. He likes to stir. He helped me make his birthday cake this year. Cooking with your kids is a fun way to bond with them in the kitchen and through food.

When I was 8 years old, I begged my mom for a cookbook called Kid’s Cooking by Klutz that came with my own set of measuring spoons. I love that cookbook so much. It has always been one of my favorites. Yes I still have it to this day. I still use it too. The measuring spoons are long gone though. I lost them somewhere during a move. Well, I think..I still have the Tablespoon somewhere maybe. This book has the best brownie recipe. In my eight year old handwriting it says “World’s best brownie recipe” complete with little hearts. You know if there is hearts it has to be awesome.

There are all sorts of recipes that are broken up by meal types and desserts. It even has recipes for play dough and face paint in the non-edible section. My mom and I used to joke about some of the recipes that have pictures with a “grown up with a knife”. We always thought that the pictures were silly looking. I still chuckle when I see one of the grown ups with a knife.

This book is a perfect cookbook for kids. I think it is something that all kid chefs should have. The recipes are easy to follow and are worded so kids will understand. I have had this cookbook for 20 years and it is still in pretty good condition minus the food stains from using it so much. I was looking at it online and now they have easy to wipe off pages. I would never trade this cookbook in for a newer model. Out of all the cookbooks I had a child this one will always remain as my favorite.

My son will use this cookbook too. I am not sure if I will get him a new copy or pass on mine when he turns 5. That will have to be decided at a later date. I have so many treasured memories with Kid’s Cooking. Every time I look at this book, I remember them. So as the holidays are approaching please remember Kid’s Cooking by Klutz for your young chef. It is a great learning guide. It is only $14.99 so it is an economical present that hopefully provide many many years of memories like it has for me.

This not a review. This is just something fun I decided to write.

Macy's gift card giveaway!

I really like shopping at Macy’s, especially when they have great sales. I got a Panini Grill for $20 there and I love it. It is great for making Cuban sandwiches. I really am impressed with all of the charitable things that Macy’s does as well.

Right now they are taking part in Coming Together, Cooking for a Cause. The project is aimed to feed 10 million people that are plagued with hunger. Macy's is working with Feed America on this campaign. I think this is a wonderful cause. I think that everyone should help.

Here is how YOU can help:

1. Host a Dinner Party. Get a group of your friends and family together and enjoy a special meal. Instead of the normal hostess gift of wine why not suggest everyone to donate. Macy’s will match you dollar for dollar. You can find delicious recipes and party planning tools here.You can even send the invitations from the site. It is really simple and such a great cause.

2. You can give. Just go to your local Macy's and donate some money right at the cash register. You would be surprised to find out that one dollar will feed SEVEN people. A dollar really isn’t much. A dollar gets you a candy bar at the gas station. That one dollar would fill seven people’s stomachs with food.

3. Shop! On October 17th 2009, When Macy's hosts a national Shop For A Cause day you can go to your local Macy’s and spend $5 on a ticket for special savings that day. A portion of the ticket sales will go to Feed America. Not only is it a great cause but, you could really save some money and help those in need. It is a win win situation. It would be great if there was something big you had your eye on.

I am going to donate a few dollars the next time I go to Macy’s to help.

To help spread the word about Coming Together, Cooking For A Cause, I have a $25 Macy’s Gift card to giveaway to one lucky reader.

Mandatory Entry: Please tell me how you are going to help this cause.

You must do the mandatory entry for the bonus entries to count.

Subscribe to my blog via email and you must validate it. (I have had to disqualify winners for not verifying.)

Follow my blog

Add @sheilacakes7 and tweet about this giveaway on twitter (this can be done ONCE a day)

Please remember to put your email address in your comments or make it accessible to me on your blog.

This giveaway is sponsored by Macy’s and Macy’s is providing the gift card. I myself received nothing for this post.

This giveaway is open to US residents ONLY.

This giveaway will end on October 20th 2009 at 11:59 pm ET.
Good Luck everyone.

Happy Birthday Chris!

Happy Birthday Chris. Today is Chris’s 27th birthday. A day that is supposed to be a happy one full of joy and cake and presents is one full of tears and empty arms. His mother is probably crying and his kids are probably wondering why right now. Tears are falling for him 5 years later tears for a fallen Solider. See my friend Chris was killed in Iraq in 2004. He was fighting for my freedom and all of us. He just wanted to make his kids proud of him.

I will always remember Chris as a smart man who was very funny. I miss him a lot. I think about him often. He was special. He could make me laugh. He “saved” my life once. Well, I twisted my ankle and he came and got me. We didn’t always get along but he was a good man. We butted heads a lot but we had fun playing Perfect Dark and talking. I learned so much from Chris. He was an encyclopedia of knowledge.

We always did crazy things, Chris, Her and I one year we decided we were gonna go and buy each other a ton of presents and open one each night and then we would end up opening more so we would have to get more presents. They had a birthday party of me and I ended up knocking everything out of the fridge with the gallon of orange juice and I got kicked out of the kitchen. Long Story :)

I remember when She told me he was enlisting. I thought oh he’ll be ok he will be fine. I remember when she told me he was going to Iraq. I reassured her it will be ok he will come home. I remember that March afternoon when I checked my voicemail and it was her calling and saying Call me right away Something bad has happened. I remember when I called her back her sister wouldn’t tell me what was going on. I remember when she called me back and told me. She said Chris has passed away. I couldn’t believe it I couldn’t speak and opened the gates of the Hoover Dam of tears.

I remember the viewing, I remember the funeral. It was really hard for me to approach my best friend of 17 years. I remember all of it. It seems like a dream. I used to dream that Chris was on a secret mission and that he was faking like in the movies and he would just randomly show up. Of course that isn’t the truth. My heart hurts for his family and his kids. His youngest will never remember him and that is a sad sad thing. Chris was a great person , great father and an American Hero.

So, Happy Birthday Chris, some day we will be able to see each other again and We can talk about all those things we talked about back in the day. Until then, Happy New Year.
Love,Sherla

Please remember to Thank A Solider give them a hug after all they sacrifice things: their time and their lives for our freedom. Support the Troops until they all come home. Remember to hold them tightly and tell them how proud of them you are.