Announcing my newest eBook... Plan It, Don't Panic: How to Successfully Create and Use a Meal Plan!

What if you could learn to meal plan in a way that helped you to eat better, while saving you money, time and stress?

After the huge success of the Plan It, Don't Panic Meal Planning Challenge that I ran on my blog this past fall, I realized that there was a definite desire for women to learn how to meal plan more effectively and to start doing it more consistently, for this very reason.

They wanted to be able to serve more healthful meals, while cutting down on their stress, their time in the kitchen, and their grocery budget costs!

But how do you learn to meal plan effectively?

I have been meal planning on and off for almost 8 years. I'm not sure where I first learned to do it, but I do know that most of what I have read in the past has been very basic and gone a little something like this:

• Figure out some meals your family likes eating
• Make a plan for when you want to cook them
• Buy the ingredients and make those meals

Gee, thanks for that.

Based on the amount of women who joined in the challenge, and by the questions and comments that arose, both on my blog and on the Plan It, Don't Panic Facebook page, I know that it can be a little more complicated than that.

Some methods work better for some people than for others. Figuring out how to store and organize recipes can be daunting for some. Meal planning can even feel like more work in the beginning, just another thing to add to the to-do list. Perhaps worst of all, without some guidance in how to approach your planning and subsequent grocery shopping, it might not feel like it saves much money, if it saves you anything at all!

So, I Wrote a Book About It...

I wrote the Plan It, Don't Panic eBook with 3 primary goals in mind, to help you:

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If you want to learn something, one of the best ways is to learn from someone who has actually done it.

Do you want to learn to get your budget under control, cut your expenses drastically, simplify your life, and live both frugally and generously? My dear friend, Crystal Paine, is just the person to ask. Her story speaks for itself.

She and her husband began their marriage on a penny-pinching, rice and beans budget of as little as $650-900 (total!) some months, while he went through law school, without going into debt at all. They've dealt with multiple moves, job loss, starting up new businesses and having 3 young children during those years, all the while keeping Crystal at home full-time. They have built up two successful businesses, saved up and bought their vehicles and then their house with CASH (yes, cash!), and are committed to continuing to live frugally so that they can give generously.

Today, her new book The Money Saving Mom's Budget: Slash Your Spending, Pay Down Your Debt, Streamline Your Life and Save Thousands a Year hits bookstores and I am thrilled to be giving away 5 copies to my readers!

My Thoughts on The Money Saving Mom's Budget

When my own copy of the book arrived just before Christmas, I was eager to read it and found that there were many parts of the book that I didn't want to put down. I had initially wondered whether I would learn anything new or be personally inspired by the book, as my husband and I have similar views as the Paine's do on money and budgeting, we aren't in debt, and frugality is something that I love to practice and share about.

However, I found the book inspiring and helpful to read, no matter where you are at in your financial journey.

You see, Crystal doesn't think that having your finances in order is just about having a budget, cutting up your credit cards, and finding ways to trim your spending. Her approach is very holistic and that's what I loved about this book.

The first two chapters were an unexpected breath of fresh air, and focused on goal-setting and simple, clutter-free living. Her premise is that you need to set goals so that you know exactly where you're going and how you're going to get there, and that streamlining your life and eliminating the clutter (physical and mental) is key to being able to achieve those financial goals.

She's right. It's not enough just to say that you want to spend less or that you want to get debt-free, but not change anything about your overall lifestyle in order to accomplish those desires. If you're still living exactly the same lifestyle that got you into that place of financial struggle, then doesn't it make perfect sense to address the bigger picture and not just the money issues?

Although our family is debt-free, with a healthy amount of savings, and we budget our money every month, I was still reminded of things that we could improve on. Her chapter on goal-setting was the most impactful for me. If I can see one major weakness in how we run our finances, it's that we aren't specific or aggressive enough with setting meaningful goals for our income, our savings, or our giving. Crystal and Jesse have done some tremendous things through their careful money-management and I can see how we could steward our money more effectively by being even more intentional with it.

What You Can Expect to Learn From This Book?

• How and why to set financial goals, and practical, down-to-earth suggestions on how to move towards achieving those goals
• How to simplify and de-clutter your life and why it makes a difference financially
• How to budget your time (in order to help you achieve your goals)
• How to budget your money in a step-by-step manner, why it makes sense to use cash, and how to find money you didn't know that you had!
• How to get rid of your debt and go completely plastic-free
• How to cut down on your grocery expenses drastically, both with coupons and without
• How to reduce expenses in most other areas of your life (clothing, household needs, recreation and entertainment, etc.)
• How to cultivate contentment, no matter what your circumstances are, and live more generously

The one area in which I would suggest that this book may not be helpful for some of my readers is when it comes to the chapters on saving on groceries and household goods through couponing.

Now, I am not against using coupons at all. I use them myself sometimes and write a weekly post with Natural and Organic Coupons and Deals for Crystal's blog, Money Saving Mom. I even started up a deals blog a year and a half ago, with a focus on saving money on more natural, healthy living which included couponing as a way to save (although the blog is now under new ownership). Coupons can be a helpful tool when used carefully, in the context of a "real food" budget.

That said, I think that for those who really desire to focus on eating real, whole, and traditional foods and to keep their homes free of toxins by using simple and natural cleaning and beauty products, you may not gain as much from these two chapters. There is a third chapter that focuses on twenty-five ways to lower your grocery bill without using coupons, and I would agree with (and practice myself) many of these suggestions.

A Worthwhile Read

If you are in the midst of serious financial struggles, OR if you want to learn to steward your money more carefully and work towards meeting your financial goals, I think that you will be encouraged by this book and find its suggestions practical and helpful.

Some of Crystal's suggestions may be downright hard and she doesn't try to sugar-coat what it takes to be in control of your money (rather than letting it control you). She is straight-forward and honest and one of the hardest working women I personally know. She isn't advocating quick and easy solutions, but rather a lifestyle of intentionality and conscientious stewardship of the resources that you've been given. She acknowledges that it takes discipline and often sacrifice, but that the rewards of financial peace are worth it. 

An amazing bonus is that ALL of the profits from the sale of this book will be going towards an organization that is dear to my heart, Compassion International. I travelled to the Philippines with Compassion International this past spring, and was blown away by the impact of the work that they are doing in the lives of impoverished children and families, as they meet physical needs, offer hope and transformation, and share the Gospel all over the world.

Would You Like to Win a Copy of The Money Saving Mom's Budget? I Have 5 to Give Away!

Here's how to get entered (remember to leave a separate comment for each entry):

1. Tell me why you would love to win The Money Saving Mom's Budget, or share one of your financial goals for 2012.

2. Subscribe to Keeper of the Home by RSS feed or by email.

3. Share about this giveaway through your blog or favorite social media (find us on Facebook and Twitter here).

Giveaway ends Friday, January 13, 2012.

Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book for the purpose of review.  This post contains affiliate links to Amazon, where I receive a small commission of sales, which helps to support this site. 

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In our recent decluttering and purging, I realized that I have a huge stack of books that I already own, but haven't yet read.

Being a book lover, it's easy for me to be constantly buying new books or adding to my wish list, but with so many interesting choices already on my shelves, I chose instead to make a list of books I already have to read in the New Year.

I also find that I can consume books, but not really put into practice what I've read. That makes even reading the most amazing books an exercise in futility, so I added to my reading list with some oldies but goodies that I'd like to take another read through.

Books I Would Like to Read in 2012

(in no particular order)

What Jesus Demands From the World by John Piper. This book is thick and a bit daunting, but the concept intrigues me (what does Jesus really expect of his followers?) and I greatly respect John Piper.

Grace for the Good Girl- Letting Go of the Try-Hard Life by Emily P. Freeman. Emily is one of my dear friends from my trip to the Philippines- I've just begun this book and am already loving it.

What Women Fear: Walking in Faith that Transforms by Angie Smith. Because we all have our own fears, and I would love to learn more about how to address mine and give them up to the Lord.

Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger: Moving From Affluence to Generosity by Ronald J. Side. I stumbled upon this in a clearance section at a Christian bookstore on vacation this summer. It's an older book, first published in 1978 and recently updated. I'm curious to read his perspective and to be challenged in this area.

The 4 Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss. I read this a couple years ago and want to re-read it, as he has many excellent ideas (and also some that I don't agree with) about running businesses, streamlining processes, automation and elimination of tasks, and more that I find extremely interesting and helpful as my husband and I are both entrepreneurs, balancing several businesses. I don't actually like how this book is marketed, because I think it's viewed as being about how you can escape from work to go have a permanent vacation, but I find it much more about learning to minimize "working for work's sake" (wasting time unnecessarily), and instead putting time and energy towards the things in life that are most important to you.

The Love Dare by Stephen Kendrick. This is the book that was written to go along with the movie Fireproof. My husband bought a copy for each of us this past year and I really want to work through it entirely.

Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson. After meeting Sally twice in the past year or so, and also reading her books Mission of Motherhood and Seasons of a Mother's Heart (both excellent!), I am eager to dig into this book, which focuses more on how we actively disciple our children.

Grace-Based Parenting by Tim Kimmel. I'm not sure what to expect of this one, but I got it for free at a conference and it looks like a worthwhile read.

The Money Saving Mom's Budget: Slash Your Spending, Pay Down Your Debt, Streamline Your Life and Save Thousands a Year by Crystal Paine. I'm excited to be reviewing this book in January, which was written by my dear friend Crystal (and I'll be giving several books away as well). Although we don't have debt and we do have a good grasp on how we manage our finances, there is always more to learn and I'm sure that this will be an excellent book to recommend to those struggling financially.

Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp. A book that I read many years ago, and have re-read in part since. I feel like I need to read it again every couple of years, to help me keep a proper focus and perspective on how we discipline, train and raise our children. I highly recommend this book!

Don't Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman. If Shepherding a Child's Heart offers the meaty theory and concepts, then this book gives the utensils that help you to actually cut it up and digest it, making it applicable to your daily life and parenting decisions. So practical and as a bonus, hilarious. Another re-read for me that I'm looking forward to.

Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. I first bought this book almost five years ago. When I go to look for a recipe, I almost inevitably spend 20 minutes reading interesting excerpts from the sides of each page. This year I want to go back and re-read through all of the nutrition chapters in the beginning as a good refresher. For those wanting to understand more about real food and traditional nutrition, this book is the best I know of.

A Few Excellent Books I Read in 2011

• Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider (the inspiration for our recent house purge)
• EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey (if you own/run a business, a must-read!)
• One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp (love, love, love)
• Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman (an excellent resource for any mom)
• A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing my Life by Donald Miller (I had no idea what to expect, but surprised myself by really enjoying this)
• Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades by Steve Solomon (if you garden and live in Western Oregon, Washington or BC, this book rocks)
• Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson

What have you been reading in 2011 and what's on your list for 2012?

Disclosure: The links to these books are my Amazon affiliate links, which means that I do earn a small commission if you purchase something through my link. Thank you for your support of this site! 

Image by Florin Gorgan

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The two winners of the Desires of My Heart ebook and hand-stamped necklace giveaway are:

Kristy (rnkristy1@)

Sara (s.timm@)

Congratulations!

This insightful devotional ebook is only $0.99 (yes, you read that right!) and available in PDF, Kindle and Nook formats. If you're looking for some new devotional material, you can learn more the book and purchase a copy here.

I was also asked whether the Psalm 37:4 hand-stamped necklaces are available to be purchased, and the answer is yes. There is a limited supply and you can purchase one here.

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Does eating healthy, real foods mean giving up all desserts and other sweet treats?

I definitely don't think that the eating well and enjoying dessert have to be in opposition to one another. In fact, it's really about the ingredients that you use, far more than about the particular dish that you're creating. So in theory, we should be able to swap in some better, alternative ingredients and simply enjoy our goodies.

One challenge, however, can be finding dessert recipes using those wholesome ingredients, that don't taste bland, dry or just plain old blah. Ever had any "healthy" desserts like that?

The ebook I'm giving away today is a fun compilation of tempting, delicious treats full of real food goodness. They make use of old-fashioned fats, soaked whole grains or nutritious nut flours, unrefined sweeteners, and absolutely none of the junky stuff like hydrogenated oils or high fructose corn syrup. But these recipes actually taste GOOD.

Kate, author of Treat Yourself: Real Food Desserts, had this collection of 32 cakes, cookies, cupcakes, frostings, pies, frozen treats and more carefully tested by a team of recipe testers (you can see the entire list of recipes included in the book here).

Although I wasn't a tester myself, I did decide to treat our own family to her Chocolate Cake I, with Cream Cheese Frosting for my husband's birthday. It was just as I think chocolate cake should be. Moist, lightly sweetened (but not overly sweet), rich chocolatey flavour, with a perfectly sweet and tangy frosting.

Naturally-sweetened desserts like these may not have that same confectionary taste as their white-sugar bakery counterfeits, and they won't last indefinitely on the shelf or in the fridge, either. It might take a small bit of getting used to for those accustomed to store-bought treats, but once you do, I guarantee you won't want to go back. I love that I can fearlessly indulge in the occasional goodie, without guilt, and the whole idea of this aptly named ebook is that we can "treat ourselves" without having to compromise.

It's killing me that I'm writing this post as I finish up my last few week's of a completely sweetener-free diet, because I've got so many recipes in this book that I'm eager to try out… carrot cake, chocolate eclairs, vanilla bean cheesecake. Mmmmm.

I'm excited to be able to make this book available to my readers as well!

I have 5 copies of Treat Yourself: Real Food Desserts to give away. Want to win one?

Here's how to get entered (remember to leave a separate comment for each entry):

1. Tell me what your favorite dessert is or what types of real food dessert recipes interest you the most.

2. Subscribe to Keeper of the Home by RSS feed or by email.

3. Share about this giveaway through your blog or favorite social media (find us on Facebook and Twitter here).

Giveaway ends Thursday, October 20th, 2011.

Keeper of the Home readers can use the code KOTHTREAT to take 25% off a purchase of the book! Code is good until October 20th. (And yes, if you win, I'll reimburse you!)

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for the purpose of review. I'm an affiliate of the book, and I receive a small kickback when you purchase through one of my links. You aren't obligated to do so but when you do it helps to support this site, so thank you!

Top image by C1ssou

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With the Plan It- Don't Panic meal planning challenge beginning this Monday morning, now seemed like the perfect time to share some really helpful resources to help you succeed with your menus.

Learn more about how to make meal planning work (and some different methods for doing it), find tons of my favorite online recipes and cookbooks, and score some great resources for planning and tracking all of your meal planning efforts.

The How-To of Meal Planning:

Healthy and frugal meal planning help Part 1 and Part 2 (this is my weekly method that works based on shopping once every two weeks or so)

A Seasonal Menu Plan (this is a method that requires more planning up front but can be used for months at a time with little effort afterwards)

Healthy Homemaking: Meal Planning Primer (some basics on meal planning)

Organization in the Real Food Kitchen: Planning to Make Food Preparation Happen (so that what you plan actually ends up on the table!)

Organization in the Real Food Kitchen: Meal Planning (includes my 21 meals list and how I do monthly meal planning)

Cook More Real Food: This was an event that I ran over a year ago, with 4 different components-  Pantry Inventory, Fridge and Freezer Inventory, Meal Planning and a Freezer Cooking day. There are several videos within these posts, showing how I do my inventories and planning.

My Recipe Binder

A Basic Guide to Menu Planning and Back to the Basics: Menu Planning, both @ Simple Mom

A New Way to Menu Plan, 9 Tips to Successful Meal Planning and Menu Planning 101 @ Simple Bites

Recording Your Menu Plan

Plan to Eat (an online meal planning program that allows you to store recipes, categorize and tag them, pull in recipes from your favorite sites, make simple drag and drop menus, create instant shopping lists and more)

ListPlanIt (these are the printable/downloadable organizing lists that I have been using for a couple of years now- their meal planning ones are fantastic, and I use so many other lists with my membership as well)

Sunday Planning @ Design Finch (seriously adorable free printables- menu planning, weekly planning, cleaning charts, everything!)

Free menu planning printables @ Money Saving Mom (This include many different variations on meal planning- one week, 2 week, monthly, shopping lists, and options like vertical or horizontal)

Free Daily Docket and Grocery Shopping printables @ Simple Mom (This is the grocery shopping list that I use- I print out extras and keep them on top of my fridge. The daily docket is more of a general organizer, but includes rooms for meal planning if you want something that will multi-task for you.)

Weekly Menu Planning and Shopping Lists @ Life...Your Way (these are among a HUGE list of other free printables, over 150! Pick and choose individual ones for free, or download the entire package in nicely organized folders for only $7)

Evernote.com- I'm the first to confess that I just don't "get" Evernote. People rave about it, I've tried it out and haven't found it particularly helpful. I do know that they have a desktop app, as well as a phone app. Maybe those who use and love Evernote could share in the comments how you use it and why you love it?

iPhone/iPad apps- I don't use this option at all, but there are sooo many apps out there. Does anyone want to share which ones they use?

Google Docs- I know that many people simply create a free google doc and store their menu plan in there, just tweaking it weekly or monthly, however you do your planning. You can also save previous menu plans if you like, so that you don't have to reinvent the wheel each week, but sometimes just recycle a previous menu plan.

Google Calendar- Although I don't use this for my meal planning, I use it for all of my blog planning, and for our family calendar, and I think it is fabulous. You can repeat events if your family doesn't mind the repetition (but you can choose how often they repeat- once a week, every two weeks, every month, every 3rd Friday, etc.) and have reminders sent to your email. I know that Tsh from Simple Mom uses this method.

Image by Annie Mole

Recipes

A selection of my favorite whole foods recipe ebooks:

In the Kitchen ebooks

Healthy Snacks to Go (love the many simple but wholesome snack ideas in this one- our favorite are the mock-Larabars!)

The Everything Beans Book (if you're looking to include more frugal and nutritious bean recipes in your meal plans, this is the book for you)

In the Kitchen- Real Food Basics (lots of information and basic, wholesome recipes for those just starting out with whole and traditional foods)

Treat Yourself (so, maybe this one isn't truly necessary for menu planning, but yummy nonetheless- healthy desserts!)

Against the Grain (grain-free recipes, many of which are suitable for GAPS or SCD)

Simple Food {for winter} and Simple Food {for spring} - Both of these books are packed with delicious seasonal recipes. The winter one has a lot of comforting soups and stews in particular.

Real {Fast} Food (another one with wonderful basics on nourishing cooking and lots of simple, tasty recipes)

Fresh- A Salad Cookbook (this is from The Nourishing Gourmet, one of my favorite food blogs and a dear friend as well, and the recipes are wonderful. Lots of main dish salads, as well as green salads and various side salads, some grain salads and more.)

Sourdough from A to Z (this sourdough ebook is amazing- tons of recipes for everything from breakfasts, breads, desserts, as well as main dish items like tortillas, biscuits, pizza dough and more)

Other Recipe Books:

Sue Gregg Cookbooks (I have and adore the grains book and use it frequently. Her other books are also awesome and on my wish-list. Very simple, family-friendly yet nutritious.)

Jamie at Home (I love this book by Jamie Oliver. Some recipes are more complex than I prefer, but I am still often inspired and have loved some of the simpler recipes. The food and garden photos just make me swoon.)

Nourishing Traditions (probably still my favorite cookbook after many years)

Image by homard.net

Recipe Blogs I Like:

Recipe index here at Keeper of the Home (yes, shameless self-promotion)

Simple Bites

Heavenly Homemakers (so many that are very simple and wholesome, yet kid friendly)

The Nourishing Gourmet (for those who need it, there are a lot of dairy free recipes here, but just a wide variety in general)

Kitchen Stewardship

Passionate Homemaking

Nourishing Days

Naturally Knocked Up

GNOWFGLINS

Modern Alternative Mama

Frugal Granola (plenty of gluten-free recipes here)

A Little Bit of Spain in Iowa

The Purposed Heart

AllRecipes (not a food blog, but I still go to this site often when I'm looking for something in particular. Just skip over the recipes with processed-food ingredients and you can often make easy adaptations to make a recipe healthier. I love the ingredient search function and store a ton of recipes in my Recipe Box.)

Phew! I hope that is helpful!

For those who are new to all of this and feeling a bit overwhelmed, here's my suggestion. Don't look at a whole bunch of these links. Pick a few that sound particularly helpful or interesting and look at only those ones. Maybe it's some new recipe inspiration, or some great printable pages for writing down your menu plan. Just don't overwhelm yourself with too much "good" stuff (because when you get overwhelmed, even good stuff isn't useful).

What are your favorite meal planning and recipe resources?

Disclosure: There are some affiliate links mixed in to this post. They're mostly for recipe books or programs that I really like and personally use. I don't recommend things that I wouldn't use myself or can't stand behind. There is no obligation at all to use my links if you purchase anything, but know that when you do it helps to support this site, so thank you!

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If you've ever thought about learning to eat more seasonally, now is the time.

Farmer's markets all over the continent are beginning to open up, and overflowing with seasonal harvest like peas, lettuce, spinach and other green leafies, garlic, strawberries, rhubarb, green onions, fresh herbs and more.

One of our contributing writers here at KOTH also happens to be a huge advocate of eating locally, seasonally and sustainably. So much so that this past winter she put out her first ebook, Simple Food {for Winter}, with a focus on eating whole and nourishing foods, but sticking to foods that were actually available in winter (which includes foods that had been preserved in various manners).

Following up on that book's success, Shannon has now crafted another ebook full of enticing recipes, and inspiration for those who want to eat seasonally with the freshness of the spring harvest. It's called Simple Food {for Spring}.

An avid gardener myself and advocate of local and seasonal foods, I think that Shannon has such an amazing passion for this topic and she makes it look so darn easy. I asked if she would mind being interviewed and let some of her knowledge and passion rub off on the rest of us...

Me: Your cookbooks are based almost entirely off of seasonally-available foods... what does the meal creation process look like for you? Do you start with what's growing, or what's in the farmer's market, and go from there?

Shannon: Yes, pretty much. I find myself inspired by what ever I am finding in the garden or at the farmers market. Trying to eat only what is in season or what one has stored up also helps because you have a certain set of parameters when you decide on a menu or a specific dish.

Plus, with two small children, a garden, a home to run, and a husband I want to spend time with I like to keep things super simple. The baked eggs with spinach dish from the spring cookbook fits all of these parameters - seasonal abundance (spinach & eggs), nutrient-dense, and it cooks in one pan in under 10 minutes.

Me: Your family is in the process of moving off-grid, with plans to homestead and live an even simpler and more sustainable life. What inspired that and how has that changed the way that you eat?

Shannon: That is such a hard question because so much has inspired that. I am currently writing a series on our journey to agrarianism that shares the why behind it. The first part of the series discusses our family's convictions to live without debt, outside of consumerism, and in a way that is directly dependent on God's provisions.

I am currently writing the 2nd part of the series that involves some more personal and political occurrences in my life; namely how sending my brother to war changed my path and perspective. Ultimately, though, the why has to do with God and how He calls us to live.

Living this way (which we are preparing to do in a few months) has forced me to question everything I thought I knew about the way we eat and the way we cook. We want to be able to grow and raise much of our own food and barter for that which we do not. So again, it really makes you get creative in the kitchen but also brings a sense of gratitude to the table that you can never have when you are dependent on the current food system.

Me: Having two young boys, with voracious appetites if they're anything like my own children, do you find it a challenge to feed them seasonally? Do they struggle with wanting favorite dishes or not comprehending why cucumbers or strawberries aren't an option in the winter?

Shannon: Oh yes. When we head into our local health food store there is a lot of "Look mama, tomatoes!" in January and "Can we get strawberries?" in December. But I think it's actually easier for them to let go of these things at this age than it is for some adults. I remember when I first began to think about eating seasonally and found it hard to pass up tomatoes in winter. But then when we started getting into the rhythm of the seasons... well, tomatoes are just so good in August and strawberries are such a treat in June.

And it helps, I think, that our boys pick things out of our garden or join us at the u-pick farms for berries and eat plenty of them in season.

Me: How have you found your own tastes and food cravings shifting with this focus on intentional seasonality?

Shannon: I think it just comes naturally when you want something (freedom) as badly as we do. Most of the time it doesn't feel like going without.

Late winter and early spring are the hardest times of the year, to be sure, and I won't pretend like I didn't buy a bunch of greens or a head of lettuce before it was available locally. I had hoped our little hoop house would provide longer than it did. After a long winter it is really easy to actually crave those bitter greens because the only green thing you've eaten all winter probably came in a can.

Eating seasonally is a process whose end goal can only be achieved after a period of working to have food available year round. The shift is a process.

Me: What are your best tips for making spring's fresh greens more palatable to those who struggle with eating them? Any recipes that do a particularly good job of pleasing even the most-reluctant eater of greens?

Shannon: Use plenty of fats when you are cooking and pair the greens with something rich. If you look at age-old cuisines you will find that Italians, for instance, often pair bitter greens with rich sausages. The balance that is created is really yummy.

When I first started eating greens it was at my midwife's order during my first pregnancy. I tried sauteing them, but still had to choke them down. Putting them into soups, stir fries, or even the greens burgers in the spring cookbook is a way to get a lot of them in without having your family staring them in the face. I'm all about serving up tons of greens, but if your family won't eat that green pile you put on their plate then you're wasting your time and resources, right?

Want to get your own copy of Simple Food {for Spring}?

It's available here, for only $10.

It includes 28 recipes, which are not only full of spring goodness, but also happen to be grain-free. The color photos are beautiful, and in true Shannon style, the recipes look delicious. The one-pan stuffed shells recipe caught my eye immediately, the Greens Burgers just might fly with the kiddos, and the salad dressings are a must-try.

Disclaimer: I am a proud affiliate of Shannon's ebooks, and am happy to be able to share them with my readers. I make a small commission when you buy one through one of my links, which you are not obligated to do, but it helps to support this site. So thank you!

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Celebrating the fact that it's spring, the sun is beginning to shine (and green things beginning to grow), and most of all that in 5 short days I will board a plane that will take me and my hubby to the Philippines for the adventure of a lifetime...

... how about a smokin' book sale?

Update: The sale has been extended to June 12th (Sunday) at midnight!

For the next two weeks, May 24th (that's today) to June 7th, here's what I'm offering:

Real Food on a Real Budget: How to Eat Healthy for Less

A primer for families who want to learn how to save an average of 20-30% on their food budget, while at the same time serving better quality and more nutritionally dense foods.

Based on 6 years of hands on experience and hundreds of hours of research, Real Food on a Real Budget will teach you how to drastically lower your food budget OR significantly increase the quality of the foods that you buy (for the same amount of money).

Think you can't afford to eat nourishing foods? Think again!

eBook copy is 50% off! Regular $18.97, now only $9.49.

Paperback copy is 25% off! Regular $21.99, now only $16.48 (plus shipping).

Click here to buy your copy (or to learn more about the book).

Healthy Homemaking: One Step at a Time

A compilation of practical, relevant and varied "baby steps", designed to take you on a one-year journey to healthier homemaking. Topics include nutrition, cooking techniques for whole foods, going greener and natural/non-toxic living.

One of the major premises behind the way that I've written it is to keep it from being overwhelming. The intent is to focus instead on the little victories in each positive step we take forward, one step at a time.

eBook copy is 50% off! Regular $12.95, now $6.48.

Paperback copy is 25% off! Regular $18.95, now $14.21 (plus shipping).

Click here to buy your copy (or to learn more about the book).

My Trip to the Philippines

My to-do list is almost completed, our bags are ready to be packed, our children will hopefully be less chicken-poxy when we take them to Grandma's (sorry about that, Grandma!)... things are almost a go.

I am now signing off until sometime this weekend, while I love on my kids like there's no tomorrow and finish getting ready to leave. There will still be fabulous content from my regular writers (including a spring/summer soup recipe and more frugality talk) for the rest of the week.

From that point, I will hopefully post briefly during our travels this weekend, as we head to LA, then Tokyo, then our final destination, Manila. If I don't get a chance, guaranteed my first post (as well as posts from my other awesome teammates) will be up by Monday, May 30th.

Wish I could just pack you all up in my suitcase and bring you with me, but the hotel room might get a little cramped (and you know, seeing how my husband is coming with me, I'm not too sure he'd approve). Instead, I'll just do my best to share with you what I'm seeing. It will probably not be polished or eloquent or possibly even coherent, but it will be real and honest and as vulnerable as I can handle.

We would so appreciate your prayers as we head off and while we're over there-- thanks, everyone!

Our Sponsor:

• Plan to Eat: Simple meal planning. Your recipes. Monthly planner. Grocery lists.

Sourdough is a champion traditional food (don't miss Stacey's post on sourdough next Friday). By slowly fermenting the grain during the souring process, it becomes easily digestible (sometimes even for those with allergies or particular grain sensitivities), it reduces phytates (for better mineral availability and absorption), it even lower the insulin response to consuming the carbohydrates.

Even better, sourdough baked goods are simpler than you might think to make and very frugal. There is no added yeast necessary (a beneficial thing, because store bought yeast contributes to systemic yeast issues in the body), and the overall result with sourdough is just good, wholesome, tasty and nutritious. It is quickly becoming my preferred way to prepare grains and make baked goods.

Last fall, I reviewed the Sourdough eCourse from GNOWFGLINS, experimenting and learning all of the varied ways that sourdough can be used. Far beyond basic bread, sourdough methods can be applied to breakfast foods (crepes, pancakes, muffins), crackers, pizza dough, biscuits, and even sweet treats like cinnamon rolls, cake, cookies and pie!

I absolutely loved the eCourse contents and especially the videos, but I know that the cost of such a course isn't a possibility for everyone. When Wardeh let me know that she had compiled an eBook with the same basic contents of the eCourse, I was thrilled.

No, you don't get access to the videos and some of the amazing tutorials or the member forums that come with the Sourdough eCourse, BUT you still get all of the printed teaching material, and all of the amazing recipes, with very detailed instructions. Another great addition to the eBook is tips and fresh ideas and adaptations that have been contributed by those who took the eCourse and participated in the forums.

The Sourdough A to Z eBook

The Sourdough A to Z eBook sells for $20, which I think is a complete steal (unless you're a GNOWFGLINS eCourse member, and then it's even cheaper). The amount of information packed into this 150 page book is 100% worthwhile, and I have no hesitation in recommending it to you wholeheartedly.

This is honestly the best and most comprehensive resource on sourdough that I know of. With 5 different authors collaborating their knowledge and experience to write it, and 25 detailed lessons, it will answer all of your sourdough questions and have you preparing incredible foods for your family in no time. Though I rarely print out eBooks, this is one that I would consider printing out to have in a binder as an easily accessible resource and recipe book.

I know, it sounds like I'm being a bit over the top. I try not to gush about products, but it's hard not to when it is one that I personally feel is an incredible resource and great value.

Although I've been making sourdough breads on and off for years, I've been recently looking into the science of sourdough in a more in-depth way recently. Since our family has been struggling with remaining grain-free for a variety of reasons (although I still absolutely feel that GAPS is an excellent diet for healing the gut, reversing allergies and helping other disorders and disease as well), I'm looking for other ways to help improve my family's digestive systems and food sensitivities. Sourdough is promising in this regard, because it helps to pre-digest the grains (making them far easier on the gut than other methods of preparation), greatly reduces disaccharide content in the finished product (while most baked goods are very high in disaccharides), and can make gluten and grain proteins tolerable for many who usually cannot tolerate them.

What the book includes:

1. Starting a Starter, Caring for a Starter, and Gluten-Free Sourdough
2. Sourdough Routines: An Interview with Three Bloggers
3. Tortillas & Tortilla Chips
4. Cakes: Chocolate & Spice
5. No-Knead Sourdough Bread with Many Uses: Pita Bread, English Muffins, Cinnamon Rolls and more!
6. Spelt Sandwich Bread, Dinner Rolls, Hamburger Buns, and Swirl Bread
7. English Muffins 
& Sandwich Ideas
8. Skillet Pancakes and Waffles
9. Cinnamon Rolls
10. Crepes & Crepe Cakes
11. Basic Muffins & Variations
12. Crackers: Plain, Cheese, and Variations
13. Honey Whole Wheat Bread
14. Gingerbread
15. Pizza Crust & Pizza Pockets
16. Pasta
17. Pocket Bread and Middle Eastern Pizza
18. Cornbread & Corn Fritters
19. Donuts
20. Biscuits
21. Pot Pie
22. Basic Scones & Variations
23. Dehydrating/Preserving a Starter
24. Cookies
25. Impossible Pies — our no-wait, healthy variations on the Bisquick impossible pie!

Buy the book, get a bonus

Right now, until April 11th 2011, everyone who buys a copy of Sourdough A to Z will also receive a free thank you video of their choice, a $10 value!

Or try to win one!

Wardeh has graciously offered 5 copies of the Sourdough A to Z eBook to give away to my readers. Would you like to win one?

Here's how to enter to win (please leave a separate comment for each entry):

1. Tell me what intrigues you about sourdough and why you'd like to win (or which recipe you'd most like to learn to make).

2. Subscribe to Keeper of the Home by RSS feed or by email (and be entered to win our monthly email subscriber-only giveaways!).

3. Share about this giveaway through your blog or favorite social media (find us on Facebook and Twitter here).

Giveaway has now ended.

Disclosure: I'm a proud affiliate of the GNOWFGLINS eBooks and eCourses and I make a small commission on sales through my blog, which helps to keep this site going (so thank you for your support!). However, there is absolutely no obligation to go through my links, and even if you don't, I still definitely recommend that you look into this book. :)

Our Sponsor:

• Plan to Eat: Simple meal planning. Your recipes. Monthly planner. Grocery lists.

This week I'm pleased to be a part of a fantastic group of bloggers and authors, including my books in the Simplify Family Life collection ebook sale. Corey from Simple Marriage and Mandi from Life...Your Way have brought together some of the top authors in the family life space with 30 ebooks covering a variety of topics related to family life (food and health, marriage, finances, simple living and more).

When purchased separately, these ebooks are worth $450, but for four days only, you can purchase the entire collection for just $47! A portion of each sale will also be donated to The Mentoring Project, which seeks to rewrite the story of the fatherless generation.

This collection is only available from 2 p.m. on March 21st to 2 p.m. on March 24th. There will be no late sales offered.

Click here to purchase your collection today!

There are some amazing books included in this package, including a few that I already own and love (Healthy Snacks to Go, Tell Your Time, Herbal Nurturing, Family Camping Handbook) and many others that I am so excited about and have been thoroughly enjoying this past week (15 Minute Marriage Makeover, The Real Food Cleansing Guide, 5 Ingredients, 10 Minutes, A Simple Marriage, and Smalltopia, among others).

If you had been considering purchasing either one or both of my ebooks, Healthy Homemaking and Real Food on a Real Budget, which total $31.92 when bought together, it may be well worth it to consider spending the extra $16 to get this entire package of ebooks!

When you purchase the Simplify Family Life collection, you get instant access to each of the 30 ebooks listed below:

Family Minimalism

• Inside Out Simplicity by Joshua Becker @ Becoming Minimalist ($11.99)

• Simple Guide to Minimalist Life by Leo Babauta @ Zen Habits ($9.95)

• The Minimalist Mom by Dusti Arab @ Minimalist Adventures ($17)

Food & Cooking

• 5 ingredients, 10 minutes by Jules Clancy @ The Stone Soup ($37)

• Healthy Snacks to Go by Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship ($6.95)

• Healthy Eating Handbook by Melanie Thomassian @ Dietriffic ($27)

• Real Food on a Real Budge: How to Eat Healthy for Less by Stephanie Langford @ Keeper of the Home ($18.97)

• The Real Food Cleansing Guide by Lisa Byrne @ Well Grounded Life ($14.99)

Green Living

• Simply Car-Free by Tammy Strobel @ Rowdy Kittens ($9.95)

• Healthy Homemaking: One Step at a Time by Stephanie Langford @ Keeper of the Home ($12.95)

• Herbal Nurturing: A Family Healing & Learning Guide by Michele Augur @ Frugal Granola ($8.95)

Intimacy & Marriage

• Stripped Down Marriage by Tony DiLorenzo @ One Extraordinary Marriage ($12)

• A Simple Marriage by Corey Allan @ Simple Marriage ($18)

• Buck Naked Marriage by Corey Allan @ Simple Marriage ($9.50)

• 15 Minute Marriage Makeover by Dustin Riechmann @ Engaged Marriage ($27)

• Getting Lucky With The Wife by Sarah Baron @ Anonymous8 ($18)

Money

• The Super-Charged Guide to Financial Freedom by Jeff Nickles @ My Super-Charged Life ($14.60)

• The Hybrid Homemaker by Melissa Gorzellanczyk @ Peace and Projects ($17)

Organizing

• Organizing Life as Mom by Jessica Fisher @ Life as Mom ($9)

• Tell Your Time by Amy Lynn Andrews @ Blogging with Amy ($12)

Parenting

• Parenting with Positive Guidance by Amanda Morgan @ Not Just Cute ($9)

• Finding Educational Activities in the Most Unexpected Places by Angie Kauffman @ Many Little Blessings ($7.50)

Personal Development

• Your Life. Live It. Love It. by Sherri Kruger @ Serene Journey ($19.50)

• The Gratitude Journal by Sherri Kruger @ Serene Journey ($5.99)

• Flying By the Seat of My Soul by Tess Marshall @ The Bold Life ($5.97)

• The 7 Week Life Cleanse by Katie Tallo @ Momentum Gathering ($20)

• How to be Rich and Happy by John Strelecky & Tim Brownson @ How to be Rich and Happy ($19)

Travel

• Family Camping Handbook by Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship ($4.95)

Work at Home

• Smalltopia by Tammy Strobel @ Rowdy Kittens ($27)

Holidays

• Christmas Your Way + Planning Printables from Mandi Ehman @Life...Your Way ($4)

• Thanksgiving Your Way + Planning Printables from Mandi Ehman @Life...Your Way ($3)

Click here to purchase your collection today!

The sale ends at 2 p.m. ET on March 24th, and there will be no late sales offered, so don't wait.

Our Sponsor:

• Plan to Eat: Simple meal planning. Your recipes. Monthly planner. Grocery lists.