Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Back to School Giveaway! 2 Cookbooks- Hello, Cupcake! and LunchBoxes and Snacks

It's Back to School time and that means it is time for a giveaway! I will be giving away 1 copy of each of these cookbooks- Hello, Cupcake! by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson and Lunch Boxes and Snacks by Annabel Karmel.

To enter, just leave a comment on this post- if you don't have a blog leave your email address, so if you win, I can contact you!
This giveaway will close on Sunday 9/13 at 12:00 midnight. The winners will be announced on Monday.
The first cookbook is Hello, Cupcake! It came out in 2008 and has tons of super cute and easy ideas for decorating cupcakes. You don't need any special decorating tools or supplies, it can all be done with plastic baggies and other things you already have at home.

This is a great book to have and so many of these designs would be great for school parties or snacks. There is also a webpage for this book and a blog!
I decided to let my 7 year old son pick out a cupcake design for us to try at home. Of course, he had to pick one of the scariest ones that was in the book- Shark Attack!

I scaled it back, because there are only 5 of us here and made 3 sharks, 3 life preservers and 1 cupcake with gummy fish. I had a few problems with my sharks, but that is just because of the way I put them together. As you can see in the last picture, my shark was starting to fall apart, but that was my fault, not because of the directions.
I have to say that these were fairly easy. It is nice that you can do most of the decorating with a knife and a plastic baggie. Success! My kids thought these were awesome.
We also made the Garden Party Cupcakes from this book last year for Father's Day. The great thing about this book is that the designs are easy to adapt and make your own. We really like this book.

The second book, Lunch Boxes and Snacks, is a great resource for packing lunches for school and also for providing good wholesome snacks. This book is geared towards children, but I have made many recipes from it with success for my entire family and other adults as well.

I decided to make the Caesar Salad Lettuce Cups for a summer dinner and we really loved them. I added shredded carrots, cherry tomatoes, chopped cucumbers, and made my own croutons with a whole wheat baguette. Yum!

I have also made the Finger-Picking Chicken Balls,
Pita Pockets stuffed with Tuna, Egg and Corn,
Chicken Chunks on a Stick, Couscous Confetti Salad,
and many other things that I haven't blogged about, like her no bake chocolate squares. She also has a webpage- which has recipes and all sorts of other helpful information.

Best of luck to all who enter!
Caesar Salad Lettuce Cups from LunchBoxes and Snacks by Annabel Karmel
makes 2 portions

1 small skinless, boneless chicken breast
Marinade:
1 Tbls olive oil
1 tsp lemon juice
salt and freshly ground black pepper
Caesar Dressing:
3 Tbls mayonnaise (I used fat-free)
1 tsp lemon juice
2 tsps water
1 tsps freshly grated Parmesan cheese - plus extra to serve
2 or 3 drops Worcestershire sauce -to taste
salt and freshly ground pepper
Extras you can add:
grated carrot, diced cucumber, diced apple, chopped cherry tomatoes, sliced scallions

2 Boston lettuce leaves
croutons

Place the chicken breast between 2 layers of plastic wrap and flatten with a rolling pin to 1/4-inch thick. Mix together the marinade ingredients, add the chicken, and marinate for 30 minutes. Heat a griddle and brush with oil. Remove the chicken from the marinade and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side or until cooked through.

Whisk the dressing ingredients in a bowl. Dice the chicken and toss it in the dressing.
Add extras if you wish. Spoon onto the lettuce leaves, add a few croutons, and sprinkle with Parmesan.


One Year Ago- Chocolate Malted Whopper Drops

78 comments:

Deeba PAB said...

Hi MaryAnn.Just saw yr giveaway on Twitter. I hve the first book & it's a lot of fun. I love what u made from it. Fabulous!I love the idea of the second book & I love the stuff you've made from it. How interesting. Lunchbox & snack ideas are just what I need!! Thanks for the giveaway. Let me go & RT for you. Cheers

Unknown said...

oh! Pick me! Pick me! Pick me!

The Food Librarian said...

Mary Ann, Your shark is too adorable! I mean, frightening! I love it. Both look like fun books. Thanks for your giveaway - you are too sweet!

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

Such great books. Great to have especially when you have hungry kids at home. :)

Mia said...

What a great giveaway!

shannon said...

would be exciting to win a book. thanks for all the great cooking ideas

Marie Rayner said...

Great books Mary Ann and wonderful giveaway. Somebody will be very lucky!

Meghan said...

These two cookbooks are so neat! I have seen some of the stuff from Hello Cupcake - amazing. Your shark cupcakes look so great :)

Unknown said...

wow cool always love the chance to win a cookbook, thanks for a great site!

Rebecca said...

Lovely books and tasty treats!

Thanks,
Rebecca
rostewart@gmail.com

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tiffany said...

I would love to win, as both these cookbooks look neat!

tiffanyandtucker@gmail.com

Unknown said...

What a fun giveaway Mary Ann!! Your sharks are awesome. I already have the Hello, Cupcake! book but I haven't made anything from it yet. The LunchBoxes book sounds great too - I'm always looking for ideas for quick meals and snacks :)

My name is Michelle. said...

Those cookbooks look adorable! I'm seeing picnic food!

theresaworminmynose.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

So cool - I'd love to win either!

Best,
Louanne
louanne23@bellsouth.net

Melissa said...

The books look great. Thanks for the chance to win them!

Carla said...

I have looked through the cupcake book before and I loved it. I have never heard of Lunchboxes and Snacks, but it sounds just perfect with back to school season. My daughter has taken more interest in packing her lunch this year. Thank you for the chance to win.

Caroline said...

Both your cupcake and salad look great. My kids adored Hello Cupcake when I borrowed it from the library and the Lunchbox book looks like it has tons of neat ideas for kids. Thanks, Mary Ann.

Aloha_Misty said...

They both look really yummy ;)

Me and the Boys! said...

Looking for the day to stand in the kitchen again and make fun thing! :) What a fun giveaway!

Marthe said...

Both books look sooo fun!!

Bonnie said...

How Fun! They both look like great books. Love your blog too!

Jo Dyson said...

Great post. I love the shark attack cupcakes!

AmyRuth said...

DNT DNT DNT DNT DNT DNT DNT DNT AHH AHHH AHH ITS A SHARK!!!! (Jaws.... yea I know its lame)
Any way, I think he was going for shock value Mom. Afterall, duh, he's a guy in the making. he he
Yea okay, I came to win. So that's my comment. Please? Yep, saw it on Twitter. Fun huh?
AmyRuth

tawnya said...

That second book looks so awesome!

Bella Baker said...

I already own the Hello Cupcake book! I got it as a gift but haven't tried any of the recipes yet! Those cupcakes look INCREDIBLE!!! As do the ceasar salad wraps!

Me said...

I have looked through Hello Cupcake MANY times. I think it's so cute!!

cpullum said...

Wow I would love this! Great ideas!
Count me in!
Carla
cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com

Cindy said...

I love your shark! My 2 year old grandson loves all things sharky! This must be his birthday cake. Great blog, fun give away.

Henriksen TRIBE said...

I love your give a way! I want to win. Both books look like so much fun. I know Rachel and I will have fun in Kitchen with either book. Thanks for all the fun ideas on your blog. My email is emilymeta at yahoo dot com Thanks Emily

Mandy said...

I love everything you do, but I gotta say (i mean write) those sharks are too darling!!

Laura said...

Either book would be fabulous to win! I've check out Hello Cupcake from the library and love it! and I can always use help with lunchboxes and snacks!

Lauren said...

oooooooh! i have been eyeing Hello, Cupcake! for a while now! What an amazing and creative book :) Your shark looks great! Thanks for having a giveaway!!

Anonymous said...

I would love to win this giveaway! I've seen so many cute cupcakes on different blogs recently and I would love to try some out! :-) And I'm on a quest to find some good snacks that are easily portable to send with my husband to work. Thanks for hosting!

Tiffany said...

Two very cool cookbooks! What a great giveaway.

Anonymous said...

I check out your blog every day for food inspiration. Thanks for the fun ideas- cooking with my kids is one of my favorite ways to connect with them- we'd love to try the cute cupcakes.

sjhamre@yahoo.com

Kate said...

I'd love to win either of these books! Thanks for the great giveaway and for always providing lots of inspiration for good, healthy food!

Eliana said...

I love your son's cupcake pick. And I think even adults packing lunches for work could get some inspiration from the LunchBoxes book.

Delicious Dishings said...

Those shark cupcakes look awesome! I have been trying to do more exciting things with cupcake/cake decorating lately. Would love to win that book!

And the salad cups look adorable!

Cat said...

What fabulous books! I would love to win the LunchBoxes and Snacks one, but mmmm.... cupcakes! :)

Dianna said...

Such great books. Thanks for the giveaway!

Megan said...

Packing lunches can be so difficult sometimes - what to make? I really would love to surprise the kids with something unique for a change!

GeorgiaBecksteads said...

Can I enter more than once! :)

Carrie said...

I love cupcakes! I've wanted this book since seeing it at a book fair. The lunch box book would be fabulous, too, as my children take their own lunch daily and we could use some new ideas:)

Julie said...

That lunchbox book looks fantastic and a wonderful way to make lunchtime healthier than the vending machine.

Unknown said...

I love the cupcake book and would love to give the lunchbox and snack book a try!

kshansen at msn dot com

Melanie Anne said...

Wow both of these cookbooks look awesome! As the mother of 5 hungry little boys cupcakes and lunchbox snacks are a hit around here! My three yeard old son was on my lap while I was looking at your blog. He keeps asking me if we can make those shark cakes now! They are so cute. You have a great blog! I (we) love it! :)

Stephanie said...

I love blog giveaways! And shark cupcakes I could learn to love too :)

Jared and Katy said...

MaryAnn I would love to enter myself to win those lovely cookbooks!

Natalie said...

both of these books look awesome!

What's for Supper? said...

What a fun giveaway! I have been eyeing up that Cupcake one for awhile!

Jamie said...

Those books look like so much fun! I love cookbooks way too much...

stacief said...

Pick me! I have been looking at the cupcake book for ages, but not bought it yet.

Judi A. said...

I would love the cupcake book.

judi7597@bellsouth.net

Stephanie said...

I love reading your blog and I would love either of those books, but especially the lunch one. I have a kindergartener that needs some help eating her lunch.

Fun!

TZel said...

Such great ideas- and those shark cupcakes are hilarious! Thank you ;-)

Anonymous said...

Would love to win!!!

stutzman.cara@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I have to say making lunches day after day gets mundane. I could really use some new, exciting ideas!

Kelley said...

I am pumped about this giveaway! thanks for hosting it!

Anonymous said...

Hi Mary Ann! Great blog! I love to read cookbooks (kinda weird) and these both look like fun.
Thanks!
Amber Westfall
awestfall@gmail.com

Laura said...

how many times can i leave a comment? lol! i'll try to be fair and just leave one but i really hope i win the cupcake book. i was just eyeing the other day to get for my friend because she loves creative food. i want to win for my friend!!!! please pick me!
ps. i do love ya mare and hope GA is treatin' ya well.

Holly (2 Kids and Tired) said...

Both of these look terrific, but the lunch box one is awesome. I get in such a lunch rut, but my boys are so patient with me!

Thanks for such a great giveaway.

Jen said...

These books look awesome. Thanks so much for the chance at the giveaway. I really enjoy your blog.

scrappygirl78@yahoo.com

Alyssa said...

Thanks for the chance to win in this giveaway! You always take awesoMe photos and I enjoy reading your blg.

Sara said...

What a fun giveaway! Your cupcakes turned out so cute!!

Thanks so much!
Sara
saralentz1@hotmail.com

Kerstin said...

What a fun giveaway! I love those cute shark cupcakes, I've been meaning to pick up a copy of Hello Cupcake for awhile now!

Lauren said...

Both of these books look great! I love the sound of the cupcake book - adorable!!

annmao said...

It looks like they are two great cookbooks!
Thanks for hosting the give waay!

janetha said...

those look like great books. thanks for the giveaway!

Cathy said...

Oh my word - these books both look incredible, so I think I'll be adding them to my Christmas cookbook wish list even if I'm not a lucky winner in your fabulous giveaway! I've become a lot obsessed with cupcakes lately (I know, like half the rest of the world). I'm loving Martha's new book, and I just ordered another cupcake book from my son's school fundraiser. This one looks awesome - how adorable (and scary!) are those shark cupcakes?? The lunchbox book sounds great too - I so need to diversify J's lunch. He would eat a peanut butter sandwich every day. I'm really sick of making them, to be honest with you. I need to check out this book! Thanks for hosting such a cool giveaway!

Aaron, Vicki Tunell said...

I'd love one of these books!! Thanks for giving these away and I hope I win :)

Vicki

White Toast with Butter said...

I would love those books - especially the LunchBoxes book.

Natalie said...

Those look like great books, enter me in the contest. I can't wait to try your BBQ sandwiches.
Natalie Thibodeau( Katie Flynn's sister)
qnthibfam@msn.com

Cynthia said...

The shark cupcakes are cute and look delicious. My son would love the cupcakes and a cupcake cookbook. I myself would like the lunchbox cookbook, since I'm always racking my brain on what fun things I can pack in his lunch :o). Thanks for the giveaway.

email: cynthia at thecasaamiga dot com

Sarah said...

Those Caesar Salad Lettuce Cups look like something really fun I could make for our house dinner this week! Thank you for the recipe!

I've been reading your blog for a while, but this is my first comment-- naturally for a giveaway =]

Anonymous said...

I'm fixin to be a newlywed! PICK ME PICK ME! So i can cook awesome stuff for my hubby to be!! :D :D :D

Amber said...

I'd love that hello cupcake book, the other one looks fun too!

Unknown said...

77 comments. Drat. I will never win anything! lol