Friday, April 21, 2017

Cookbook Giveaway!

Hi everybody!

Would you like to win a copy of my latest cookbook, The Well-Seasoned Skillet? Enter to win one of five copies of the book through Goodreads. The giveaway ends on May 20, 2017. Good luck!!



Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Well-Seasoned Skillet by Kimberly McCallie

The Well-Seasoned Skillet

by Kimberly McCallie

Giveaway ends May 20, 2017.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter Giveaway

Thursday, March 23, 2017

My Second Cookbook is Here!

Cedar Fort Publishing
March 2017



Hello everybody! I've been away from my blog for a long, long, long time. I spend most of my time on my Facebook page so you can join me there at www.facebook.com/wellseasonedlife. Another project that has kept me busy since last fall has been the completion on my second cookbook, The Well-Seasoned Skillet. The book is available now in various outlets including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Here's a description of what's inside:

Create gourmet meals in minutes--no expensive kitchen equipment required! With just one piece of cookware you can enjoy mouthwatering appetizers, snacks, side dishes, and entrees. Clean up is so simple, you'll be done in under five minutes. Try recipes like Chicken Pot Pie Dumplings or Buffalo Shrimp Pasta with all of the flavor for a fraction of the effort.

This cookbook is perfect for beginners and home cooks. Please check it out! Thanks!!



Monday, June 13, 2016

The Birth of a Cookbook



Hello everyone! While I've shared some aspects of my cookbook writing journey on my Facebook page, I have been hesitant to do it here because, frankly, I didn't know where to begin. Where does one begin to explain what it feels like to fulfill a dream? When I started writing this blog in 2010, my main goal was to one day write a cookbook. This blog was to serve as my writing portfolio. While some bloggers enjoy the social aspect of blogging and responding to comments, I've enjoyed the writing process. It is hard for introverts like me to do the social thing even in a virtual world. 

I'll confess here for the first time that, when I submitted my cookbook proposal to a publisher last summer, I did so with the resolve that if the proposal was rejected that I would pack it all in - the blog, the Facebook page...the dream of becoming a writer. It was time for me to grow up and put away the food blogger props. No more dishes, linens, and cookbooks for me. It just wasn't meant to be that I would have any success as a writer. So, with yet another rejection looming in my mind, I hit the submit button and received a message that I would know something within two to six months, prolonging the inevitable. But, something miraculous happened. Eight days after I submitted my proposal, I received an e-mail from the acquisitions editor stating that my proposal had been accepted. My cookbook would be published!

So, work quickly began on Southern on a Shoestring with a focus on Southern cooking on a budget. I wanted so badly to convey to readers how deeply I understand financial struggles and also how much I admire the act of feeding a family to the best of one's abilities. 

My Food Philosophy:

My food philosophy is that people shouldn’t have to spend a lot of money to put a nice meal on the table for their families. I also believe that there are many people out there who are struggling to make ends meet and they should be applauded for feeding their families to the best of their abilities. I wrote Southern on a Shoestring with those people in mind because I am one of those people.

Budget:

My main area of interest is budget cooking. Fortunately, Southern cooking is fairly inexpensive as it incorporates local ingredients that are inexpensive when in season. I have never gone into a grocery store without being highly aware of the cost of an ingredient. I always buy food that is on sale and also purchase store brand products. With creative seasonings, it is easy to make inexpensive food taste delicious.

Pantry & Freezer Stockpiling:

I believe in keeping a well-stocked pantry and freezer so that I can create meals from scratch, often recreating some of our favorite boxed meals. In addition to a well-stocked pantry, I keep a freezer full of packages of meat bought on clearance. I brainstorm ways to stretch small packages of meat to feed my family of four through creative use of pantry ingredients, a variety of spices, and fresh vegetables.

Southern Influence:

Being born and raised Georgia, I cook the food that I grew up eating. Most of these traditional comfort foods are simple to cook and include common ingredients. And, most importantly for someone on a budget feeding a family, these foods yield numerous servings that can be stretched for more than one meal. 

The Cookbook:

With Southern on a Shoestring, I have attempted to merge my food philosophy with my interests in budget cooking, pantry stockpiling, and Southern recipes. The recipes that I have included in the book are simple to prepare and the ingredients are readily available in any grocery store. My intent is to create recipes that will encourage people to put a simple, delicious dish on the table, to make their struggle just a little bit easier.

Finally...

For those of you who buy the book, I hope that you will enjoy it and will find a recipe or two that your family will love. Thank you to all who have inspired and supported me in this endeavor!

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Real Food Real Kitchens Blog Tour

 

"Real Food Real Kitchens prides itself on four words: family, food, culture and history."

In Real Food Real Kitchens, Craig Chapman invites us along to explore the kitchens and food culture of the citizens of New York. Within the book, we journey to kitchens in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island.

The book is divided by these areas of New York and each section features several families from that area. These families open their homes and kitchens to the readers and allow us to learn about their food culture and history while sampling a tradition recipe.

Each feature story contains a sample recipe along with photographs of the family, cooking process, and finished product. The photos are extremely realistic - no food styling here - and make you feel that you are actually standing in someone's home kitchen.





Disclaimer: The publisher provided me with a review copy of this cookbook; however, the opinion expressed here is my own.