December 1, 2008

My new friend

Stew I recently replaced a vital piece of kitchen equipment - my crockpot.  The previous version had given up the ghost - it was no longer cooking properly.  A pretty inexpensive replacement, we got a new crockpot and all is well again.


While we had a truly marvelous family Thanksgiving dinner, it was not at my house and I missed out on any leftovers.  So Sunday morning I threw my Mexican Beef Stew in the crockpot and drove my family crazy with the amazing smell all day while I went to work at the quilt shop.  But then I was able to come home to this delicious meal!


My MIL and I have talked for years about creating a family cookbook of all our favorite recipes.  I have a pile of loose recipes and I'm constantly digging through them, searching for this one or that one.  I went searching online and found several websites that help you create and publish your own cookbook, so I'm trying Tastebook to create a recipe book for my family and perhaps a couple more for gifts.


If you are interested in seeing my family recipes, comment here and I will send you a Tastebook invite.  It's free to join and allows you to share recipes with friends and family.   You can also order a published cookbook, but that's entirely up to you, no obligation!   I hope you don't feel like I'm promoting this website - I really have no personal stake in it at all, I just thought it would be a fun thing to do and I would love to hear any of your family favorites - I am always on the lookout for yummy new foods to try!



32 comments:

  1. I hope your Mexican Beef Stew is one of the recipes that you are sharing - it's making me hungry just looking at (I didn't think it would be possible until at least next year after thanksgiving dinner).
    Rita E in AZ

    ReplyDelete
  2. My daughter and I are also planning a family cookbook. We used to have a website for it but this sounds like a better idea. I'd love a Tastebook invite.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'd be interested in an invite, too. My mother typed up a bunch of her favorite recipes years ago (like more than 20!) and it would be nice to add some from the rest of the family and put them into a book!

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a great idea! I have a few favorite recipes glued into a scrapbook, but there is no rhyme or reason in their order. Then there is the pile of papers folded semi-neatly in the front - yet to be glued in. I'm forever leafing through them to find what I'm looking for *s*

    ReplyDelete
  5. What an awesome idea!
    And what a great website ~ thank you for the tip! I have several friends who have done this kind of thing for their families, but none had it actually published. They just made photocopies and put them together in a nice little binder-thing.
    My favorite family recipe is for a Carrot Cake that my grandmother got at a church bazaar in 1972. She knew my Mom was hunting for a version using crushed pineapple ~ the woman she knew who had made the one she tasted wouldn't share her recipe. Even though we've re-copied the original index card hand-written by my Mom, we still save that first card because it is so funny to look at as every single ingredient in the recipe has been spilled on it at least a dozen times. As for the cake itself, it is still the best carrot cake I've ever had.
    Oh, and your Mexican Beef Stew looks amazing! I'm looking forward to your cookbook. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Darlene, I have a family cookbook I just love....believe it or not it's from my husband's ex-wife! We keep in touch with her and she gave it to us one Christmas. I've made so many of the recipes over and over - some of the pages are getting covered with "spills"!! I would love an invite to your tastebook - that Mexican stew looks delish! Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yes, please, I would like the Mexican Beef Stew recipe, too. Also, a Tastebook invite would be nice.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh yummy Lisa...I sure hope the Mexican Beef Stew recipe is there.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I just finished editing a cookbook for my church. It was lots of fun to do. We used Morris Press. They make the process pretty easy.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I would love to check this out. I also would love the recipe for the stew it looks yummy:)

    ReplyDelete
  11. i'm trying to find new crockpot reipes to try. I made my first meal of the season in mine last night, a beef brisket thing that Ryan enjoyed. But I'm not much of a meat eater... so I might need to find more vegatarian options.

    ReplyDelete
  12. would very much like a invite. . . many thanks

    ReplyDelete
  13. This sounds like a great, fun this to do! Very cool.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I would like the Mexican stew recipe and an invite as well. My family put together a cookbook several years ago. My mother and sister did most of the work...family members sent them their favorite recipes and then there were family recipes that we all wanted to have. It is my most used recipe book. Have fun with yours!

    ReplyDelete
  15. That stew looks yummy, would love an invite.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'd love to take a look at your recipes - especially if they're anything like the Mexican stew picture. What a yummy looking meal!!! Deb

    ReplyDelete
  17. I have always wanted my family to do this. I hope you enjoy putting it together. Thanks for the link. I'm salivating over that Mexican Beef Stew.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I would love an invitation to Tastebook if only to get the Mexican Beef Stew recipe. Thanks, Linda Caldwell

    ReplyDelete
  19. I would love to have an invite....the Mexican Beef Stew looks fantastic!!!
    Thanks!
    Traci

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'd really enjoy an invitation to Tastebook. I'm always on the lookout for good crockpot recipes!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I would love to see your family recipes! The Mexican beef stew sounds wonderful. I love finding new recipes for the crockpot.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I would love to have a invite and your mexican beef stew recipe. I took my first quilting class last Saturday and look forward to becoming a quilter. Love your blog Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  23. I would like to have an invite too. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Mexican Beef Stew? Count me in please!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I would like to be able to view your Tastebook recipes. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Nine years ago my sister and I collected family recipes and made a cookbook for my soon-to-be-maried niece. My sister typed and printed them on food-themed paper, encased each sheet in heavy plastic, and put them in a 3-ring binder. Kelly loved it. In fact, it had to be reproduced and handed out to the entire family the following Christmas. It's a great idea....one everyone should consider doing. I will check out the Tastebook idea.

    ReplyDelete
  27. please send me an invite to Tastebook. sounds very interesting! thank you. and also your picture of the mexican beef stew looks like it should be in a cookbook - great picture!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Just found your blog, love that orange masthead and the soap story. Did everyone get cookbooks or soap. And the ex Stew recipe link would be fab.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Just found your blog, love that orange masthead and the soap story. Did everyone get cookbooks or soap. And the ex Stew recipe link would be fab.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I'd love an invitation to Tastebook.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hi - I'm a new reader. Am thoroughly enjoying your blog and pictures. I'd like an invite for your Tastebook please, if I'm not way too late. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I've just found your post for this by doing a search for information on starting my own cookbook. Am I too late to have an invite to view yours? I'd love to see what you've been able to do with this site.

    ReplyDelete