*CLOSED* Winner will be announced soon!
Usually I am on top of my game with my Weekly Menu Plans (with the exception of this week when there's no plan), but every now and then I need some help pre-planning and getting fresh ideas!
That's why I was super-excited when Jane Doiron, author of Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms, contacted me about doing a review of her cookbook. Since Jane's book is focused on helping moms get ahead of the game in the kitchen, I knew this might be a secret weapon for me. (Truth be told, sometimes figuring out what to feed my family can get overwhelming.)
I was immediately tempted to try Jane's recipes for Italian Restaurant Chicken, Zucchini Squares, and Ginger Cookies. (The Italian Restaurant Chicken is on the cover- mmmm, looks delish!)
We dug right in and enjoyed some Layered Cheesy Zucchini, which was really delcious with a side of barley! And I really appreciated the fact that Jane took the time to explain "Day Ahead" prepping instructions, as well as "Cooking Instructions" and even "Freezing Instructions." HUGE timesaver for me! I am not a real 'natural' cook, so I loved the fact that Jane set me up for success!
Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms is an excellent addition to any mom's recipe collection! With Jane's great tips and tasty, easy recipes, you can't go wrong adding this to your shelf! You can find it on Amazon or on Barnes & Noble!
I highly encourage you to check out Jane's website and subscribe to her blog where you can get lots of great FREE recipes! You can even buy the e-book instant download of this great cookbook HERE for just $12.95.
Jane has generously offered one lucky Good Deal Gal reader their very own copy of Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms!!
Here's how to enter:
- Leave a comment telling me your favorite dinner recipe or time-saving tip with your email or blog link. It's important that you leave your blog link and/or e-mail for me to be able to contact you. To prevent spamming, type your email like this: gooddealgal (at) gmail (dot) com.
- Contest will close on Sunday, January 11th at 12:00pm Arizona time. All comments will be closed at that point.
- The winner will be announced and notified via email. He/She will have 24 hours to respond before I select another winner.
Want Extra Entries?
- Follow Jane's Blog HERE, come back and let me know!
- Sign up for the Make-Ahead Meals Newsletter HERE and come back to let me know!
- Buzz about this giveaway on your blog or Tweet about it and come back and leave the link.
- Grab Jane's button (lower right) and add to your blog. Come back and let me know where I can see it.
- Become a fan of The Good Deal Gal on Facebook.
- Follow Make-Ahead Meals on Twitter (@janedoiron) and come back to let me know!
Good Luck to everyone!! :)
PDF
I could really use this book!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite recipes are crock pot recipes. chicken breasts, condensed cream of chicken soup, chopped onion. turn on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4 hours. :)
I always make 2 or 3 meals worth of Chili or soup when I make it and then deep freeze it. Makes for a quick meal. kiki(at)hantla(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI subscribed to Jane's blog kiki(at)hantla(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI freeze many things, but browning up a bunch of ground beef or turkey and freezing it makes a very quick spaghetti dinner . . . if you use a jar. :)
ReplyDeleteJuli
sjlonas (at) gmail (dot) com
We love to make home made pizza at our home. I use a bread maker which saves a TON of time when it comes to making the dough :)
ReplyDeletemoodykelly(at)gmail(dot)com
I try to always make enough for leftovers that can be frozen or just eaten later that week for lunch. One of our favorites is a mock version of Olive Garden Pasta soup.
ReplyDeleteI am now following Jane's blog.
ReplyDeleteA quick meal for us is grabbing one of those pre-cooked rotisserre chcikens at the grocery store and then cooking some steam fresh veggies and brown rice in the microwave. amberbustamante (at) q (dot) com
ReplyDeleteAnything is a crock pot seems to be my time saver. My favorite is chicken breasts with a jar of salsa to make chicken burros. jenna(dot)watson(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI keep chicken and hamburger in the freezer so I can pull out what I need.
ReplyDeletedenisegee (at) byu (dot) net
When I make a regular meal, I make tons extra and freeze it in meal-size portions. (ex. burgers, lasagne, ziti bake, etc.).
ReplyDeletecindi_lach (at) juno (dot) com
My time saving tip is to use your crockpot! My favorite thing to make in it is baked potatoes!
ReplyDeletedeborahcraft at yahoo dot com
A time saving tip for our household is to use the crockpot. Especially in the winter time.
ReplyDeletedenise_22315 at yahoo dot com
I tweeted.
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/wiscmom24/status/7234603849
denise_22315 at yahoo dot com
I follow Make Ahead Meals as wiscmom24 on twitter.
ReplyDeletedenise_22315 at yahoo dot com
I use a crockpot to cook chicken breasts in. Then I use them for everything! chilli, enchiladas, casseroles, etc. They're easy and cook while I'm at work!
ReplyDeletenicolejshannon (at) yahoo (dot) com
I love an easy to make casserole, and anything easy for the crockpot!!
ReplyDeleteI would love to win the cook book!!!!!
wood (dot) co (at) live (dot) com
I'm a facebook fan!
ReplyDeletewood (dot) co (at) live (dot) com
This would be a great book for 2010! I always think after I made a meal... "Why didn't I make double and freeze the extra." That is my tip I hope to use someday.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite dinner recipe is chili. I throw all the ingredients into the crock, turn it on while I'm at work and have dinner when I come home AND lots of leftovers!
ReplyDeletekkondek at gmail.com
I'm following Jane!
ReplyDeletekkondek at gmail.com
The crockpot is my favorite piece of equipment and you can throw almost anything in there and have a great meal come out.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite time-saving tip is to chop up green pepper and onion and freeze for soups. I've even browned ground beef ahead of time and froze that.
ReplyDeleteI follow Jane's blog through Google Friend Connect.
ReplyDeleteI signed up for the Make-Ahead Meals Newsletter.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite dinner recipe would have to be a very simple one. I make pasta, sometimes pasta-roni even, and ill add chicken or tuna to it.. Especially with alfredo the girls cant see the tuna because i crush them into small pieces. But if they were to eat a tuna sandwich it would be the end of the world! But I like them to get a variety of protein sometimes secretly stashed in their meals.
ReplyDeletemamacoups (at) yahoo (dot) ^com^
I cook up extra hamberger and chicken and freeze them to use during the week. Carmen
ReplyDeletec64g@yahoo.com
My favorite recipe is crockpot lasagna--super easy and is all ready when I get home from work!
ReplyDeleteI follow Jane's blog
ReplyDeleteI'm signed up for the Make-Ahead Meals Newsletter
ReplyDelete(glass.stephanie(at)gmail(dot)com)
I try to double up on both meals and/or ingredients. For example, I often make twice as much soup or certain casseroles as we need for a meal and freeze half of it for later. I also try to prepare some ingredients, like diced onions, ahead of time. It really makes a huge difference on those hectic days!
ReplyDeleteh4schaffer at gmail dot com
I follow the Make Ahead Meals blog on Google connect.
ReplyDeleteh4schaffer at gmail dot com
I'm the Good Deal Gal's newest fan on Facebook! :)
ReplyDeleteh4schaffer at gmail dot com
I follow Jane on Twitter as hybroanglid.
ReplyDeleteh4schaffer at gmail dot com
This sounds like an excellent book. I save time by buying a half of beef so I always have something to pull from the freezer. The other item I always have in the freezer is salmon fillets, they cook from frozen which is sometimes the MOST important thing. LOL.
ReplyDeleteI follow Jane on blogger
wyndyc (@)gmail (dot) com
I also have Jane's button on my recipe site: http://wynsrecipes.blogspot.com
ReplyDeletewyndyc (@)gmail (dot) com
I use my crockpot for everything and it save a lot of time.
ReplyDeletecynthia1952 (@) qwest (dot) com
when i make spaghetti or chili i make extra. i freeze the extra and then when i need a quick meal, i just thaw it out.
ReplyDeletetracey_m_2005(at)yahoo(dot)com
I couldn't live without my crockpot!
ReplyDeleteSince my crock pot is broken at the moment (sad day!), I love to make soups on the stove. My favorite thing to do in the winter is to put on a pot of beans (like split peas) and let it simmer all day. Makes for a no fuss dinnertime!
ReplyDeleteMy biggest time saving tip is make enough for leftovers! My husband takes his lunch to work and he gets grumpy if it's always a sandwich.
ReplyDeletetravelinglacey [at] gmail [dot] com
I blogged!
ReplyDeletehttp://travelinglacey.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-year-and-maybe-new-things.html
My best time-saving tip: use the crock pot. Hurrah for slow cooking!
ReplyDeleteMy make ahead meal tip is that I spend one Saturday a month frying up ground beef and cooking and shredding chicken for meals like tacos, chicken and biscuits and things like that.
ReplyDeletehomesickforheaven2(at)yahoo(dot)com
I signed up for her newsletter.
ReplyDeletehomesickforheaven2(at)yahoo(dot)com
I follow her on twitter.
ReplyDeletehomesickforheaven2(at)yahoo(dot)com
I tweeted.
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/inthefishbowl/status/7412344931
homesickforheaven2(at)yahoo(dot)com
Looks like a great cookbook!! Would definatly get put to use with a new baby on the way.
ReplyDeleteMAde a yummy chicken salad for dinner. Added cubed chicked, red, green and orange bell pepper, red onioin and cranberries mixed in mayo. Chilled then enjoyed with croisants.
buy hamburger meat when you catch it on sale, and brown it all at once. then freeze it. that cuts down on time when you fix dinner.mavans@scottsboro.org
ReplyDeleteMy favorite time saver is my George Foreman grill. I use it 2 or 3 times a week to cook beef, pork, chicken or fish. Its quick, and I like the way it drains off any fat.
ReplyDeletebkittie@hotmail.com
I follow Jane's blog.
ReplyDeletehomesickforheaven2(at)yahoo(dot)com
My favorite new time save is my new dutch oven - one pot dinners are THE BEST! rekhilperts@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteOur favorite is chili. I make a big batch, then freeze the leftovers.
ReplyDeletepkildow at gmail dot com
I love anything in the crockpot. One of the favorites is ham & potatoes. Layer sliced potatoes, diced ham, cheddar cheese, & onion (it disappears) Repeat layers. Top with a can of cream of mushroom soup--don't stir. So good. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMrspoofa(at)aol dot com.
A favorite time saving dinner I like is pizzas on english muffins. You can cook them in the toaster and everyone enjoys fixing their own.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
chirpatme at rocketmail dot com
I follow Jane's blog :)
ReplyDeletechirpatme at rocketmail dot com
I signed up for the Make-Ahead Meals Newsletter.Thanks!
ReplyDeletechirpatme at rocketmail dot com
I follow Make-Ahead Meals on Twitter (I'm @ErinReisman)
ReplyDeletechirpatme at rocketmail dot com
I too love the crockpot. My fav recipe is for pot roast. I use a jar of chili sauce and a can of coke...delicious!
ReplyDeletekristenheverling(at)cox(dot)net
The crockpot is a time saver.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite quick dinner recipe is throwing some chicken tenders, a can of salsa, a small can of tomato sauce, a package of taco seasoning, and any veggies (and beans, if my bean-despising hubbie is out of town) I have laying around into the crockpot. Voila -- southwestern stew!
ReplyDeleteMy e-mail is abigail_mieko (at) yahoo (dot) com.
I have jane`s button on my blog
ReplyDeleteahh! i need this cookboook!
ReplyDeletemy best time saving tip is to make a menu for the week. it saves me loads of time each day struggling to decide what to make.
kmc.love @ gmail.com
i am now getting their newsletter.
ReplyDeletekmc.love @ gmail.com
I love making vegetable soup in my crockpot. I make enough for 3 meals and freeze/refrigerate the extra.
ReplyDeletesadimill (at) iupui (dot) edu
I love making enough chili for multiple meals, especially when its cold (its 5 degrees this morning here in Oklahoma!!).
ReplyDeletesilverglitz23 (at) aol (dot) com
I like using my crockpot and making overnight breakfasts like oatmeal in it.
ReplyDeletecynthiaholstrom64 (at) yahoo
I would love this cookbook!
ReplyDeletellallone465 at qwest dot com
My time saving tip is the 1 minute rule. If there is a chore that I can do in a minute or less like file a bill away or do a quick vacuum, then I will do it. It keeps the piles from piling up.
ReplyDeletesorry, forgot my email:
ReplyDeletecmjhawaii at hotmail dot com
I am already a follower of Jane's blog.
ReplyDeletecmjhawaii at hotmail dot com
I am signed up for the newsletters as well.
ReplyDeletecmjhawaii at hotmail dot com
My favorite is Chicken Pot Pie. I cook my chicken in my spare time & then when dinner time comes, I just dump, stir, & bake. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteKelly - secrets_girl23@yahoo.com
I signed up for the Make Ahead Meals Newsletter.
ReplyDeleteKelly Deaton - secrets_girl23@yahoo.com
I'm a facebook fan of The Good Deal Gal.
ReplyDeleteKelly Deaton - secrets_girl23@yahoo.com
Cool giveaway! My fav time saver is to make ahead the "staple" for the meal. For example- homemade spaghetti sauce, taco meat, sloppy joe meat mix, etc. That way I can put something good on the table with some effort, but not a lot and my freezer isn't overloaded with big pans. azerinlong (at) gmail (dot) com
ReplyDeleteI love to make Chicken Enchiladas.
ReplyDeleteericandsarita(at)gmail(dot)com
Following Jane's blog.
ReplyDeleteericandsarita(at)gmail(dot)com
Signed up for newsletter.
ReplyDeleteericandsarita(at)gmail(dot)com
Jane's button is on my blog at ericandsarita.blogspot.com in the lower right corner
ReplyDeleteericandsarita(at)gmail(dot)com
Following Make-Ahead Meals on Twitter.
ReplyDeleteericandsarita(at)gmail(dot)com
I like to make a big batch of chicken enchiladas b/c it makes enough for 2 large pans and I can freeze one whole pan for later.
ReplyDeleterach62803@yahoo.com
Subscribed to newsletter.
ReplyDeleterach62803@yahoo.com
plan plan if i have plan the day is easier ,and ilove that crock pot
ReplyDeletelkp21@charter.net
My favorite time savings tip is to grill a package of boneless chicken breasts. The first meal is around the grilled chicken with salad and steamed vegetables. The second meal is a verde chicken enchilada casserole and the third meal is a cheesy chicken pot pit casserole. This saves me the time in the kitchen of having to prepare the chicken on three separate occassions. luvnphrost(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI make extra of everything so that I can freeze it for later use - it'll come in handy especially sincemy sister and her two small kids are moving in!
ReplyDeleteeod_army_wife04(at)yahoo(dot)com
My favorite tools for keeping meal-making simple are the slowcooker and the freezer. Sometimes I feel like baking and I'll bake all day. The goodies are cooled, carefully wrapped, labeled, and placed in the freezer. Sometimes I feel like shopping, reading, or just goofing off. On those days I use the slowcooker to make supper.
ReplyDeleteJoined your facebook page.
ReplyDeletelscharr(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love to make mac N cheese in the crockpot, it stays warm and moist all evening - no hard, cold noodles!
ReplyDeletelscharr(at)yahoo(dot)com
I found a quick pizza dough recipe that only takes about 45 minutes to use. If I do it when I first get home from work, it's easily ready in time for dinner!
ReplyDeleteI follow Jane on twitter (drainl)
ReplyDeleteI would love to win this!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite recipe right now is a wonderful baked potato soup recipe I made for a church meeting last night from the Taste of Home annual cookbook.
Thanks for the giveaway!
When I make a good meal, I try to make a second one and put it in the freezer to eat later.
ReplyDeleterebeccalynn78 at gmail.com