Jan 12, 2013 |
Dear Reader-Subscriber-Follower-Family-Friend-Inquisitive Person,
You may have heard I wrote a Cookbook. If you’ve been around the Blog or my Facebook page (or me) for anything length of time, this is not news. In fact, you may think it’s all I talk about.
The truth is, I’ve worked very hard at not spamming you with an abundance of posts relating to the Cookbook itself. Sure, you’ve been reading about my recipes and Meal Plans and how places like Casey’s Cupcakes and WinCo Foods are taking notice. So I must be doing Something Right.
But it’s not quite enough.
I need your help.
The Cookbook cover below links to my Kickstarter campaign. I need to raise $3,200 more before February 1, 2013. Kickstarter is all-or-nothing. My goal is $5,000. If I’m one penny short, the Project is unfunded.
Kickstarter is a great way for creative people to pre-sell their projects, and find Project Backers. Each Project is as different as the person creating it.
My Project offers a copy of The Unemployment Cookbook, Second Edition, to Backers who pledge $15 or more. And there are more Rewards as well. Recipe cards, coffee mugs, and tote bags.
People who pledge now don’t pay until Project completion. My end date is February 1st. That’s only 20 days away. That means I need to average $160/day to meet my goal.
I have to be honest, here. I’m nervous that I might not have the funds to succeed. And that’s a thought that didn’t enter my head before I started this. I’ve had such a great response from those who have the First Edition, and comments on my Blog and Facebook Pages.
The news reports are constantly telling us that inflation is back. Grocery prices are on the rise. People are having a hard time already. I believe wholeheartedly The Unemployment Cookbook is not just a collection of recipes, but an essential tool to help others feed their families with less financial strain.
My drive to publish The Unemployment Cookbook, Second Edition, is not just to say “I did it.” It’s to help others put hearty, tasty, frugal meals on the table.
Will you help? I invite you to check it out for yourself. Visit my Kickstarter campaign. Watch the video. Read the updates. Leave a comment. And share the link with your people. Help me get the word out. Please.
And thank you.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Dec 14, 2012 |
I’ve been promoting my Kickstarter Campaign in various formats on various platforms. And I have to say, while it doesn’t look like I’ll reach my goal [although never-say-never; there’s over two weeks left (nudge, nudge!)], I’ve been having fun drafting the “commercial” and creating some photo art to help spread the word.
From a purely creative standpoint, I’m rather proud of the following efforts:
*I created a Facebook Event for my personal friends to check status updates.
*My YouTube video will be a basic commercial that I can use even after the Kickstarter Campaign ends.
*I’m discovering how to use social media to my benefit, without drowning my Friends and Followers in a barrage of BUYTHIS marketing.
*I pinned the Campaign to Pinterest with many hashtags. This was the creative result of realizing my most popular post resulted from a Pin. It was for a Wilton’s contest many months ago. But just in the past week it has blazed like a wildflower. I thought, if a Pin can do that for chocolate, it can do that for my Pre-Orders!
Mostly, I had fun putting this together:
Instagram Advertising
I like keeping my social media social. But every now and then, just for the Muse in me that’s screaming to get noticed… I gotta give my Inner Cook a shout-out.
We now return you to your regular scheduled program.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Dec 9, 2012 |
Pretty, isn’t it? That’s the cover to The Unemployment Cookbook, First Edition. Only I didn’t know at the time it was First Edition. Now I’m taking pre-orders for the Second Edition, and it’s just as exciting!
I had no idea when I started my Kickstarter campaign to sell pre-orders and raise funds for publication, how entirely nerve-wracking and roller-coastery it would be. (Is roller-coastery a word? It is now!)
It’s so delightful to hear from people who tell me how excited they are for this Project. Easy, inexpensive menus. Full, hearty flavors.
And while I’m trying not to push this in front of people’s faces, the truth is, Word-of-Mouth advertising is what’s getting me funded. And so, if you’ll indulge me for this post, I’d like to market my Cookbook.
From the back cover:
Sometimes it’s hard to make ends meet. Food shouldn’t be a sacrifice. The Unemployment Cookbook is a collection of recipes for eating abundantly on a frugal income. As with any great recipe, it’s my desire that you and those you feed enjoy the flavors and versatility of the recipes in this cookbook. But more importantly, I hope it inspires you in the kitchen, at the table, and with your family. Happy eating!
The Unemployment Cookbook is my first publication. It’s my Project. My baby. And, because times are still tough, it’s my Go-To Guide in the kitchen.
With over 100 pages of family- and wallet-friendly recipes in the first, and even more in the Second Edition, this is a Project I believe in. I realize my promotional video may seem low-key to many. I did that on purpose. Why should a no-frills Cookbook be advertised with glitz and glam?
Not here. This Cookbook was written and designed with frugality in mind. Sure, someday I’d love to have other cookbooks. Full-page color photography. Delectable, hard-to-find ingredients. Exquisite, one-of-a-kind, never-before-tried-in-the-kitchen recipes.
And some day I will.
But right now, people need to feed their families. And they need to do it well and on a budget.
These recipes cost less than a pizza (unless you use the Slow Cooker Ratatouille for your own veggie-pizza topping!), offer fresh, healthy ingredients, and many of them give you the opportunity to change them to suit your family’s tastes.
Hungry for more information? Click on over to my Kickstarter Campaign and pre-order yours now.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Jan 19, 2012 |
I want to be a Wine Snob. I want to be able to tell from the color and aroma in my glass that it’s going to be good or bad. I want to know right away which bottle to serve with my chicken, my fish, or my aperitifs.
But wine is expensive. Usually. So I’ve learned a few tricks to develop a taste for good wines. This won’t do if you’re in a hurry to learn about wine. And by no means is this the only, or even the best way, to learn. But for myself, I’ve enjoyed taking this route.
First, I allow myself a small wine budget. Originally it started out at about $10 or $15/month. It’s not much, but remember: you’re not a Wine Snob yet. Find a flavor you are interested in, and give it a try. Once you find a flavor you like, then buy a more expensive label.
Second, find a store in the area that caters to wine drinkers. They have informative cards that detail information about the kind of information you’re looking for: where and when it’s made, what foods it pairs with, what to expect from its taste and aroma. Some regular stores are starting to do this; but you can also find local wine tasting shops that offer the information.
Third, it’s always fun to schedule a wine tasting at a local wine shop or even a winery if you live close enough. For a very nominal fee, they offer information and a great afternoon experience.
I’d like to get a book like “Wine Tasting for Dummies” or something similar. There are plenty of books that assume you already know the language. Find something easy and introductory. It’s not only informative, it’s fun!
Ask your friends what they like. Ask your waiter what he recommends. Don’t be afraid to experiment. You’ll come across some flavors you don’t care for. I recently discovered that I prefer a lighter wine than the full bodied Syrah. You’ll find ones that will always be your favorite.
What tips do you have for becoming a wine snob?
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
