Sunday, September 16, 2007

I Only Have to Cook Once a Week?!

OK, I'm taking a break from posting tonight. I was going to write, but my baby girl has been screaming her head for three hours straight and it's taken me that long to type out these two sentences because she's on my lap squirming and screaming. Instead I'm going to host a book tour, or is it called a blog tour? Hmmm, how about a blook tour? I'm hosting a blook tour because I already have this typed up and ready to go. I'm hosting a blook tour for a very sweet and funny girl, Trish Berg who has written a book on supper swapping, which, I think, is a really cool idea. The tour will run from the time I post it Sunday, the 16th until Friday, the 21st at midnight Eastern time.

Trish started emailing me during my Ebay auction. She thought I might be a bit overwhelmed (can't imagine what gave her that idea), so she jumped right in and offered up her wise advise and prayers. I can't thank her enough for helping me to navigate the waters. The reason Trish was so very knowledgeable and helpful to me is that she is a published author and national speaker who is working on another book due out in January 2008. She knows what she's talking about.

I'm hosting this tour for Trish, not only because she's an amazing person with a really kind, good heart, but because her book is awesome! I really didn't know what "supper swapping" was until I read her book, but what a terrific idea it is! I can't wait to get a group of friends together and give it a try. Hey, anything to shave off a few minutes in the kitchen and save a few dollars is worth a try if you ask me! Trish shares her expertise on supper swapping or co-op cooking, as it is also known, and includes examples from her own supper swapping experiences. She includes helpful hints to get you started, fellowship ideas, and (my favorite part) some of her tried and true recipes.

And (here's the really cool part!) anyone who leaves a comment on this posting will be entered into a drawing for a FREE copy of Trish's book The Great American Supper Swap! Trish will be giving away, not one, but TWO free books this week to the readers of my blog who leave a comment on this posting during the tour which will run from Sunday night, September 16 when I post it until Friday night, September 21 at midnight Eastern time. Also, feel free to write to Trish with any questions you might have about supper swapping. Here's a little interview with Trish...

The Great American Supper Swap
Solving the Busy Woman’s Family Dinnertime Dilemma
By Trish Berg


Many moms struggle with their endless to-do list, and dinner is just one more thing that usually doesn’t get done. Author and speaker Trish Berg has a great way to solve your dinnertime dilemma and shares all her secrets in her new book, The Great American Supper Swap.

Thanks for being here, today, Trish.


Thanks for having me.

I wanted to begin by asking you what IS supper swapping?


Supper swapping is really a simple solution to that ever present “What’s for dinner,” question that hits most moms at 4:30 every afternoon.

Its moms helping moms by sharing the cooking responsibility for their families by cooking in bulk then swapping meals during the workweek.

And how did you become a supper swap mom?


First of all, I’m a wife and mother of 4 kids all under 12, and so life at our house is pretty chaotic most days. I’m just like all the moms out there struggling with my daily to-do list, and dinner was just one more thing stressing me out.

So, four years ago when one of my girlfriends asked if I wanted to try swapping suppers with her and two other gals to simplify dinner, I gave it a try. I had no idea how much supper swapping would bless my life, or that God would lead me to write this book and help other families as well.

That sounds great. But how exactly does supper swapping work?


One great thing about supper swapping is that it can be adapted to meet the needs of the families in the group. No two supper swapping groups have to look alike.

Basically, women join with 1-4 other women to form a supper swapping group. Each mom chooses one weekday to do the cooking for everyone in the group. The rest of the week, dinner is delivered to their door, hot fresh, and ready to enjoy with their family.

You only have to cook ONE night a week and the other nights, you essentially get free meals catered to your door? Wow! With so many other dinner options out there, why do you think supper swapping is becoming a hot trend?

Basically because moms need help. Today families run at a fast pace unheard of 30 years ago. Usually, dinner is a fast food, on the go grab bag, or relegated to pizza, take out or frozen quick fix meals. These meals are unhealthy and expensive.

Studies have shown that women today still do most of the cooking. Just looking at the workweek, that’s 5 dinners a week, 260 dinners a year. Whew! No wonder we’re all tired of cooking and settling for grilled cheese, pizza or take out.

Supper swapping cuts a moms cooking by up to 80% since she only cooks one day a week.

For about 1-2 hours of meal preparation and 15-30 minutes or less of meal delivery one day a week, you get a week’s worth of hot, fresh, homemade dinners.

Eating dinner together as a family has got to be a better way than going through drive-thrus for fast food on the run. Speaking for myself, I know I could probably make an entire Happy Meal out of the food on the floor of my van.


Eating dinner together as a family opens communication, helps children to eat healthier, feel more connected to their parents, feel loved and cherished. These benefits have a lifelong impact on our children.

According to research from Columbia University, children who eat dinner with their family on a regular basis are 60% less likely to smoke cigarettes, 50% less likely to use drugs, and 66% less likely to drink alcohol.

If a mom wants to start supper swapping, where can she get more information?

There is a ton of how to information, delicious recipes, encouragement and support in my book The Great American Supper Swap, available at bookstores and online at amazon.com and christinabooks.com, or contact me via my website for a signed copy.


What do you hope families gain from supper swapping?


Supper swapping can save families $4000 a year or more, reduces a moms cooking by 80%, adds deeper faith and friendships, and helps families eat healthier food.

BUT MOST OF ALL – I want families to gather back around their dinner table each and every day. That is my passion. A return to the family meal.

Though I’m an avid supper swap mom, each family must find what works for them and re-claim their family dinner however they can. Supper swapping is just one simple tool to help moms make that happen.

But if you’re stuck in a rut singing the dinnertime blues, ask a couple girlfriends to give supper swapping a try.
When it comes to dinner - DON’T GIVE UP. DON’T GIVE IN. JUST GET SWAPPING!

The family meal has a lifelong impact on our kids!
For more information on The Great American Supper Swap or Trish Berg, go to http://www.trishberg.com/.

Remember, when you leave a comment, be sure to include your name and email address so we can notify the winners!

872 comments:

«Oldest   ‹Older   401 – 600 of 872   Newer›   Newest»
Kelli said...

Love the idea I need to get a group together to do it! Thanks

Kelli
lkgard@comcast.net

S2K said...

Cool idea. How do you suggest dealing with people with food issues (we keep Kosher in an area where not many others do, I have a friend whose son has SEVERE food allergies, etc)?

I hope I win, would love to see if the book addresses this!
-Sara
sarakalt@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

It sounds really interesting...I don't know if I could keep my friends if they had to eat food I cooked though! Dawn, your blog is so much fun to read. By the way, I thought LDS was learning disabled too.
Ashley
ashleymjamison@yahoo.com

Sally Datria said...

Add me to your drawing! Thanks! Sallydatria@cox.net

APS said...

Not a mom (yet), but where I work we would do a similar thing. Most of the other women were mothers and would bring the same leftovers to work for lunch for a week straight. Some were tired of this, so others would share part of their lunch. It finally became a daily thing, where each person would bring in twice as much of their lunch as they normally would, and then pass stuff around, each person taking a bit of each. That way, everyone had a bit of something different each day.

I'm sure if one's workplace is small enough you could arrange a lunch swap just as easily :)

PS. I just wanted to say thank you for the great read. Keep up the hard work :)

Pam
piecqueen2001@gmail.com

The Bowins said...

Supper swapping sounds great! Thanks for giving us the chance to enter for the book!!

Just your everyday average married momma... said...

What a BRILLIANT idea! I've never heard of supper swapping before! Many of us moms in a local moms group does "mama break" dinners - like when a mom is sick, has a baby or a surgery - we band together and take a night each to bring the family dinner, sometimes we go for long stretches that go into WEEKS which is great!!! I had moms band together when I had my fourth child adn that first week home we had dinner brought to us each night..it was sooooo fabulous! I love this supper swap idea and might bring this up to the moms group I'm in to see if anyone is interested!!!

Anonymous said...

What a neat idea. Being a mother to a 4yr old a 3yr old and a 1yr old on top of going back to school full-time. I am always looking for new ideas!
Athena
athenamamaof3@yahoo.com

Elizabeth F. said...

I've done this with girlfriends, but it's hard to find a group of moms who want to do it on a consistent basis. It's a great plan if you have friends who want to participate.

Unknown said...

Sounds like fun, count me in. :)

Lisa
lisaschaos at yahoo dot com

Elizabeth F. said...

Great idea! I'd love that book too.

Also, I've got a Give-Away going on for a FREE TArget Gift Card to celebrate my Blogaversary. Head on over and enter!:-)

Stop and smell the Daisies said...

Sounds like a great idea! I think my aunt did something like this in California. Of course, like the priveous post mentioned, we help take meals to people at church when they have a baby, or surgery, or something like that, but I love the idea of only having to come up with one meal idea a week! I actually make my oldest two children (10 &4) each take a dinner night where they at least decide what to have, then I help make it if necessary. I look forward to winning a book!;o)

Stop and smell the Daisies said...

I forgot to leave my e-mail and name...
melissa.sonntag@gmail.com

Unknown said...

What a GREAT idea! I love it! AND I really love reading your blog. Thanks for sharing with us.

Tara
tara.mmts@gmail.com

Susan said...

Hey, I already do this. I didn't even know it was a thing! My next door neighbor and I swap one day each week. We started doing it on the nights each of us had to work and just kept it up. Enter me in the drawing, I'd love to know how other moms do it and I always need new recipes!

Anonymous said...

What a fantastic idea? I wonder if people would let me join with my famous hotdog casserole?

Anonymous said...

sounds like a great idea!
Cheryl
rcross25@cox.net

Anonymous said...

I am sending an email to my neighborhood moms right now to see if they want to do this. I know that they are all really good cooks and I would love to have one of their nice, hot, homecooked meals a few nights a week! Thanks for a great idea!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the great ideas! I look forward to starting my own dinner swapping club.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the great ideas! I look forward to starting a dinner swapping club soon.

Tweejy said...

Cool! I think it's a great idea to get the word out and the chance to win a prize! I am very interested in this! A few weeks ago some friends and I made 40 frozen dinners for a friend whose husband fell 75 ft. and was in the ICU. He's in rehab now working on getting out of bed now. He's the only source of income, and they have 3 small boys, so we did this to help them out with meals so she doesn't have to worry about cooking for a long time!
Thanks!

Maria in Columbus said...

I love this concept! Gonna look for some swapping friends...:) Maria

Rebecca Banner said...

Why didn't *I* think of this??? Holy cow that sounds amazing. I'm getting on this first thing tomorrow to talk about this idea with some friends. Boy i'm glad i read these things!

Rebecca
red40ispoison@sbcglobal.net

Anonymous said...

Now, if I can just figure out how to adapt this to a group that work 2:30 to 11:00, I'd like to try it.

Diane
homeandgardenparty4u at yahoo dot com

Keven & Alicia said...

Sounds wonderful! What a great way to bless people you love and taste great new recipes!

Anonymous said...

Count me in!!

wilcoxfamily1@msn.com

Thanks for sharing!

Susan&Wayne said...

Yes, I have heard of this "group-cooking" just one time a week, and getting your meals delivered by the co-op. Sounds great!!

shallmsn1@aol.com

Anonymous said...

AGH! I can't believe you approved that comment already!

Go to bed already! ;-)

Allison @ Allie Browns Layouts said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bill and Jenn said...

What a great idea!
Thanks for sharing it...

Jenn Hughes
jbhughes@masters.edu

HappyCampers said...

I love this idea so much! If I could get off the hook just two nights a week I'd be greatful! I just need to find someone who is willing to do this. :)
Thank you!
Holly

Anonymous said...

I don't think I left my email address...just in case! :) bennettelizabeth2000@cox.net
Thanks! :)

Anonymous said...

First let me say I love your Blog... like you haven't heard that before... okay now let me tell you how funny it is that my Navy Wife friends and I usually do dinner swaps (kids incuded)when our husbands are gone on deployments. I guess because it is a way of life within Navy living that we never thought to write a book... but we are glad that the secret is out... Yeah!!! Good Luck to Trish and her awesome book and to you and your awesome blog... maybe your book will be out soon?

Margie
www.mycmsite.com/margie

Kendra Field said...

What a great idea! I'm feeling lucky, fingers are crossed! We do freezer meals and try to get a little jump start to the month.

Christie said...

My friends and I started a dinner swap a couple of months ago and life is SO MUCH easier now! It's amazing! I would love to check out this book!

Anonymous said...

I'm loving this idea! This could SO work for us! Thanks, Amy
marriedchk@yahoo.com

B's Blog said...

I love the idea. The country I live in only has McDonalds as the fast food/drive-thru choice and if you are on the other side of the road, you may not make a left turn to enter and then it takes an hour to get back, so we have to purposefully plan to go there.
Even though my three children love McD's, we don't go there often. We do like to eat together as much as we can.
Betty

betty@5sinks.com

Anonymous said...

Wow! What a brilliant idea! Would love to find some locals to dinner swap with.

Unknown said...

Wow! I've never heard of supper swapping, but it sounds amazing! I'm all for anything that makes life easier yet doesn't compromise the health of my kids (ie take out, pizza's and fast food). So I am going to be asking all my friends and neighbors and find other moms willing to give this a go with me! I can't wait! Maybe I will even be blessed and receive a copy of the book to begin the fun! If not I will just have to buy a copy.

Thanks for writing the book Trish and thank you Dawn for the 'blook tour' so I could find out about it!

Anonymous said...

I've never heard about this before but what a great idea! I'd love to give it a try! Good luck with your tv interview.
Leslie Moreland
lucky225@cox.net

Sandy Tracy said...

Great Idea!!!

Kirsten said...

I have been doing a group like this for a year now, with three other moms and it is fabulous! I have four kids, five and under, and boy does it save time during the week. The day I cook is usually a little hectic, but then the rest of the week it is great! I can play with my kids, or take them to the park, etc in the "hard to entertain them in the afternoon hours" because dinner will arrive right at 5:15! It is great! We have planning meetings together with my friends once every three months, agree to cook things we'll eat, and we are honest with each other about things are family won't eat or try. Definately a great way to have a less stressful week!
Kirsten
ammonrasmussen@yahoo.com
P.S.
Your blog makes me laugh and laugh. Thanks! I can understand everything with four kids of my own! Especially the story about grocery shopping with all of them!

candi said...

Great idea, I guess the key is finding other moms with somewhat equal size families. Those families with 2 20lb girls can't imagine how much I have to cook to feed my brew of 4 HUNGRY boys and a husband!!

Crunchy Mom said...

I'm interested in this too - we've got a great community of holistic moms that feeds new moms for a month after birth... but this is a GREAT idea for those moms who would love someone else to cook for them... WITHOUT having to have another child to get that "free" meal! LOL

Thanks!
Julie
thecrunchymom@mac.com

Anonymous said...

wow!!!! great idea. infact i discussed it today with my husband and even he loved it.thank u sooo much for sharing.

S Huiz said...

I do this already with one friend and it works so well. I would love to read the book to look into expanding our supper swap to include more people. I love your blog!

Sarah
shuizeng@zps.org
www.huizengafamily.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Interesting idea. I know alot of people though that do take out constantly. My mother is the only one that probably be willing to do this.

Jennifer aqua409 @ yahoo . com

knit_tgz said...

Wonderful idea! I am curious!

Tania

tar.gzip@gmail.com

Frankie said...

You have certainly peaked my curiousity. Now to find a few freinds who are interesting and participating. I am on it!
Peg (pwithrow4@aol.com)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing this idea. I would love to give it a try, just need to find some friends who want to do the same. Love reading your blog, a light spot in the day.
Thanks
Sue
marklovessue@numail.org

Anonymous said...

Great idea! Thanks for sharing. Love your blog, a light spot in the day!
Thanks
Sue
marklovessue@numail.org

Kristen2309 said...

I love that the main idea is to get families back to the table together. It is so hard with so much going on.
Kristen Cook

Heidi Mathews said...

Wow!....this is a great idea!....I'm going to have to start talking to some of my friends to see if we can start this up also.

Anonymous said...

Wow..what a fabulous idea! I have always wanted to try Supper Swappers and other places like that but they are SO EXPENSIVE! This would be so much fun.
I have 4 kids under 12 also and my oldest 2 have recently joined the swim team. That means they have daily practices from 4 - 5:30. Add a twice a week soccer schedule and you have one busy and frazzled mom. I use the crockpot all the time but would LOVE to have meals all ready to go.
Thanks so much!
Brenda

Anonymous said...

What an awesome idea!! I have the hardest time coming up with daily dinners, so this program would be a life saver! Thanks for posting this info!!

~Hayley~
bullen613@yahoo.com

P.S. I LOVE your blog!! You do such an awesome job and it really brings a smile to my face on my tough days. Thank you!!!

Mommy Brain said...

Great Idea! My BFFS live a little far away to deliver...but I think we could bring the meals to Wednesday coffee and put them in the freezer!

Love your blog Dawn, written to Oprah and WGN and anybody else who would listen about you. I just think it's too cool for a SAHM to reach such cult status! God's Blessings!

biermaclan@comacast.net

Anonymous said...

This is a great idea!
Of course, we have done this for the new moms or those dealing with a hardship, but why not do it on a constant basis to help each other out? I am a mom of 4 ages 5 and younger. I also do daycare. So, yes, I'm busy - but I think even I could manage one night of cooking for friends! I'll have to feel them out and see what they would think about doing this. How cool! I would love to be in the drawing for the book.
.....and Dawn, thanks for sharing your life and your stories! It sure is a great start to my day each morning!
Michele
mmrinehartbc@msn.com

Carla said...

Man, I can't wait to have you and Trish come over, swapping supper!! How lucky can I get?? :)

Carla Stream
carlastream@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Sounds wonderful~~and love the blog! Not sure how well this would work for us as hubby has food allergies but since I went from part time to full time this summer we're not getting the family dinner thing down very well so I'm open to suggestion.
lhoddy@sbcglobal.net

BethBG said...

This sounds like a great idea! Now if I can just find some friends willing to join in :-D XX's BethBG

Michelle said...

The concept is cool without a doubt. I have only 1 neighbor that I would do this with but we are on a really tight budget and often have breakfast for dinner (a box of pancake mix makes many meals) for the kids and the adults in the house are doing no carbs (between us we've lost 50 lbs since Jan). I'd hate to provide a disappointing meal for someone else. We eat a lot of salads and veggie plates. Not really a swap others would sign up for.

erika said...

love the idea of the supper swap!! i just need to find a group of vegetarian/pescatarian friends.....(we just moved to MD).
but it got me thinking.....i know there are other readers who might not know someone to swap with or readers who might be willing to let someone new join in. however, i wonder if there's a way to compile a list of those people and where we are from. and maybe (just maybe) from that list there will be a couple of people in the same area that might want to do the supper swap.
that way, not only would a cooked hot meal be delivered, but it would also be a way to make a new friend :)
i don't know if it would work or how to get it started....it was just an idea. i'd be willing to help start this. but maybe the idea is too crazy! (what can i say, my three year old didn't sleep well so i'm a little sleep deprived :)

opattie said...

What an awesome concept! I look forward to reading more about this....especially if it can make my life easier feeding 2 little ones (under 2)and my Veggie hubby!

P

60 toes said...

I think this sounds like a great idea. Pick me, pick me!

Unknown said...

I always thought this sounded like such a doable idea. I never had enough people close enough to me who were interested in trying it. it sounds like Trish has a great sense of humor and I'll bet this book is not only informative but humorous too! Thanks for letting us know about it.

Sharon said...

Love your blog. Your son reminds me of my daughter. She is ADHD and can be quite a handful, but it is a joy to be her mother. Thanks for bring laughter to motherhood.

Anonymous said...

I thought I would have to wait for someone to die before I got any help with meals - this is a much better idea!
Thanks,
Kare Ybarra
kybarra@neo.rr.com

Anonymous said...

YES.I think I might have to give this supper swapping a try. My DD just started preschool and now we are even more busy.thanks....


would love the book to share with neighbors and perhaps get started. thanks again for the idea.

Yolonda
ydferris@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I think this is a great idea. Hopefully I will win so I can introduce this idea to my friends.

Marisol Collins
marisolcollins@hotmail.com

My Two Army Brats said...

What a great idea! In a military community full of busy moms and dads that only make an appearance when their chain of command decides to set them free we need as much help as we can get to have a spare minute that doesn't come at 2am!!

My Two Army Brats said...

I didn't leave my name and email oops!

Michelle
kmtkbest@gmail.com

Trish Berg said...

Good morning,

Well, the ABC crew is standing over my shoulders with a camera – YIKES! Say Hi to Jared and Tom everyone…..

And my Autumn Soup is on the stovetop simmering – YUM!

So many of you seem ready to swap! That’s great! Keep in mind that you don’t have to get a BIG group of moms together. You can begin very simply with 1 other girlfriend or neighbor or co-worker. Don’t let the oddness of eating someone else’s food keeps you from giving it a try. You can always try it for a month or two like a trial period, and agree that after that time period, everyone has a “GET OUT OF SWAPPING” free card and can leave the group guilt free if they choose.

And, though you do need to be honest, do remember not to hurt others feelings either while you are swapping, or leaving a group. Saying, “It just wasn’t a good fit for our family.” Is a LOT BETTER than saying, “You cooking really STINKS!”

You get my drift, ladies…right?

And here is some FANTASIIC NEWS – Since so many of you are posting such GREAT questions and comments, I am going to add a few books to the prize. I will give away 4 FREE Book on Friday!!!

1) As for Sara’s question about food allergies and keeping the meals Kosher, that can be a challenge. The key for someone who eats Kosher is to find another family or two that also eat Kosher. Then you’d be set.

As for severe food allergies, that’s a tough one. Though if you can find another
family in the same situation, what a blessing to swap with them!

2) As for the questions about making it work for different moms on different schedules, that is the beauty of supper swapping. Each group of moms can tailor their own group to meet their needs.

Work full time? You can all meet Sunday evening at someone’s house and swap
all your meals for that week at one time.

If you want to use freezer food? Well, cook in bulk and swap frozen dishes, like
Once a Month Cooking but simplified.

If you are a stay at home mom and want to cook in the daytime – GREAT. Prepare your meal, and deliver it prepared but not yet cooked, with baking instructions taped to the foil or Pyrex lid.

And like my group, if you have all of the above in your group, you can each deliver your meal when it works best for you INDIVIDUALLY!

3) To Margie – My book was released last April. It is available at bookstores
everywhere and online.

4) To Brendag – You are so right about the cost of fast food, not only in dollars and cents but also in calories and sodium. If you eat at a fast food restaurant (I am not naming names, but big Yellow Arches or red pig tail braids come to mind) you can easily spend $25 on a family of 4-6. WOW! That works out to $4-$6 per person! That is expensive.

A typical supper swap meal only costs about $1.20-$1.80 per person, because it is
grocery store food, it is from scratch and it is much healthier.

Ok- Riley’s tea party is over and the “GUYS” from ABC are packing up for now.

See- You were all a part of the ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT TAPING!!! I hope you looked good!!! No sweat pants and bed head out there, right???

Keep posting questions and sharing this blog, and I’ll check back later tonight.

If we hit 500 comments – I’ll throw in another free book. As of now, I am offering 4 free books on Friday….

Enjoy the journey,

Trish

Porter Family said...

My sister-in-law does this and loves it! We do it on a part-time basis and it has saved me on many a harried day. (I call those my 4 Dr. Pepper days).
Heather
hgriffitts@hotmail.com

Jenna said...

I love your blogs and so far have read everyone. So I decided to start my own blog on the site. my2sis3friend.blogspot.com.
A supper-swapping book would be awesome for my mother, she works 6 days a week and so does my dad and I have 2 siblings and she is always in a hurry to make dinner and a book like that would help her out so much.

Anonymous said...

awesome idea!! love your blog!! it makes me feel not so bad about my life!! :0)
nicole
laslavnm@zoominternet.net

Anonymous said...

Dawn,
Thanks so much for making me laugh so hard I cry! I love the swapping idea and can't wait to read the book. I've done the plan ahead and freeze, and that's great-but to have the meal ready to eat delivered sounds like heaven. I have 10 yr old twins-so right now we are eating for twelve! My husband works 24 hour shifts (firefighter) 10 days a month, and this would help a ton. Thanks again for smiles,
Jeffie Kopp
jeffiekopp@msn.com

Anonymous said...

Just wondering......Is it right to ask a family of four to fix a meal for a family of eight? Or would I just fix enough for eight for them so they can have leftovers?
Melissa

Hifam said...

My friend and I have done something similar in the past and loved it.
I'm excited to read the book.

Jody

hickenfam@hotmail.com

Rick said...

I'm not sure I should leave a comment. I might win... and end up cooking for my wife for the first time. But she is having her second reconstruction surgery after breast cancer today, so maybe she deserves it - that is... if I can somehow create a decent meal.

Anonymous said...

This sure sounds better than buying your food at one of those new make and take places.
P

Erin said...

I do something similar with my 2 next door neighbors. We all have kids under the age of 4 so we usually eat together and either one family will cook and it's enough for the other two adults, or we'll all bring something potluck. It's more fun and It's a lot easier. We eat together about 3-4 times a week. This is a super Idea though, I will definately be buying Trish's book. I live in a great community for starting something like this up. Thanks!!

boyandgirl2 said...

This is an awesome idea! I guess I had a different response to the dinner swap idea though. We live out in the boonies with not many close friends nearby- although we have 200 neighbors (yes, in the boonies--it's a weird little subdivision in the middle of nowhere--I don't know how the developers thought of this location). I have a difficult time thinking of trading dinners with people I don't know well, but it gave me an idea. Since we live so far out (15 miles from a "real" grocery store 4 miles from a mom and pop convenience store), I bet a lot of people would be willing to pay me to make dinner for them! I know we frequently settle on interesting dinners just because we don't want to drive to the store or restaurant. (I wouldn't make weird things for pay customers obviously, in case it crossed your mind.) It could provide a little extra income for our family...I don't know why I didn't think of that before! And then again, do I like cooking that much? I'll have to think that one over...

Anonymous said...

Great idea! We have tried the Group Cooking/Freezing method but having fresh meals everyday is even better! Thanks!

Tracy said...

Holy Canoli, there are a lot of comments! LOve this blog Dawn! Love the idea of the supper swapt too. I would love the book - though nervous of the thought of having to cook in bulk and for my friends no less. What if we try the thing, then after the 1st week everyone backs out because my cooking is terrible! Ah! No, it sounds worth the meals delivered to your door part.
Thanks
Tracy
tracybrumm@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Great idea! We have tried the Group Cooking/freezing method but I like the thought of fresh meals everyday!! brenize2000@cox.net

Stacey said...

This sounds like a fabulous idea and I'd love to hear more about it. All of my friends and I are stay at home moms to 2-5 kids.

Teresa said...

Fantastic idea, but with my cooking skills it would only last one week! :(

KL said...

I absolutely love this idea and wanted to thank you so much for sharing the information. Add this to the Family Meal Planner info you posted and I'm totally set... I got my Planner yesterday!

Also, thank you for sharing your stories of the trials and tribulations of motherhood. While I've only got one, I can relate to the insanity that can occur if you turn your back for just a minute.

Anonymous said...

WONDERFUL Idea!!!! I'd love to only have to cook once a week!

Angela Pell

Anonymous said...

I am now a loyal reader of your blog. Brightens my day. I love the idea of the Supper Swap.

Carrie Crosley
carrielou82@yahoo.com

aggieclari said...

I have really been wanting to do this, a local moms group gets together and does frozen dinners they swap for the week. I'll probably join them soon, thanks for reminding me about this idea :)

Nikki said...

4000.00$ a year, who does not want to save that kind of money. That's what a 1/4 of year at a University when my kids are ready to go. (5y, 3y, and 7mos).......
Nikki

Trish Berg said...

Hey moms-I wanted to detail a typical supper swap meal cost for you so it makes sense. I go over a ton of money saving tips in the book, but here is one meal example:

Lasagna and Garlic Bread (P. 83 in The Great American Supper Swap)

Lasagna and Garlic Bread
Ingredients
Lasagna Noodles $1.06/Box = $0.53 per family
Parmesan Cheese $2.27/Can =$1.14 per family
Mozzarella Cheese $6.42/Bag=$1.28 per family
Ricotta Cheese $2.53/Can=$1.27 per family
Eggs $1.28/Dozen= $0.32 per family
Spaghetti Sauce $1.00/Jar=$100 per family
Ground Beef $13.11 /6 lbs.=$3.28 per family
Frozen Garlic Bread $1.74/Loaf = $1.74 per family
Total Cost Per Family Meal
(For a family of 6)= $10.56
Total Weekly Supper
Expenditures = $42.28

These figures are based on Wal-Mart prices for January 2006

Just wanted to share more detailed info with you all.....

Enjoy the journey - Trish
www.trishberg.com

Stacey said...

I am excited to try supper swapping - thanks for the idea!

Anonymous said...

I don't think my last comment worked.
Anyway - this sounds great. Please enter me - I've got 3 under 5.
THank you, Catherine
cahbailey@sbcglobal.net

Living the Dream said...

WOW-
Talk about a great idea! I have a bad habit of cooking in mass quanities anyway. I love the idea of sharing. Plus, then when my kids turn their nose up at something because it is green or smells funny (although some of the smelly stuff taste the best i.e. chicken marsala) or it looks like puke, (my middle son's expression to most casseroles) I won't take it personally and will be able to sleep knowing the stuff I make is only getting questioned once a week rather than EVERYnight!
I can't wait to get started, of course, I will miss my friends in the drive-through window at Wendy's. They were just beginning to get my order down. Plus, that sweet car-hop at SONIC, how will she pay her bills now that I am not there everyday. These are the sacrifices I am willing to make. SEE HOW MUCH I NEED THIS BOOK!
Carri - Houston, TX

Anonymous said...

I'm another one here from the ebay auction...what a riot! What a fabulous idea (supper club)! I would LOVE the book :)


asedlock@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

So far my culinary delights have not been appreciated by many kids. We were camping with 3 other families and I got the job of preparing mac and cheese. I had never made it before and found cooking it over a campfire a bit hazardous. Not only did I catch my fleece jacket on fire but I also lost a contact lens in the smoke and turmoil. Then the kids decided to start a fight with rocks and sticks. As I tried to chase them from the fire, whilst sheilding myself from the rocks with the lid of the saucepan, I heard a loud clang against the mac and cheese pan. I think one of the rocks made its way into the glutinous disaster which was now burning furiously like an angry volcano.(Luckily the parents were going to eat something else.) Finally it was sufficiently burned to serve. One child, Rachel, chipped a tooth on the rock which had made its way into the charred disaster zone. My own son who is 3 told the other kids, "My Mummy always cooks poopy food. She says I can only have candy if I eat it" Luckily for me, another kid, Rob, got my contact lens stuck between his teeth. At least I got it back again. Some of the fathers were able to "see" the funny side of all this. But I don't think the other mothers would be very amenable to sharing supper-making with us again! Maybe we will have to move to another neighborhood.

I would love a copy of this book. Thanks Sue the very bad chef.

Anonymous said...

i wonder if she addresses anything on swapping meals with families whose children have allergies, or like my mother, who lives with us and refuses to eat any pork, catfish or shellfish...

still a very interesting and creative idea. i can't imagine cooking enough to feed my family as well as 3 or 4 others. seems like it would take a very very large pan or several ovens... hmmm... i would love to read the book and see some of the recipes designed to feed an army : )

Sarah Werner-Crow
hot_rod_dragon_eighty@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

This sounds like a great idea. I don't know if I can round up other participants, but it might be worth a try since we're always so busy.

Anonymous said...

i'd love to be in the drawing!

Julie anozira86@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

Please enter me in the draw! Beverley - ali_webitems@hotmail.com

No kids yet... but soon... :)

Anonymous said...

how fun- what a great idea!
jeannie _ Denney at yahoo dot com

Johnson Family said...

I would love to give this idea a try! Thanks for the tip.

Darla said...

Absolutely great idea! darlakorpi@juno.com

Wildsissy said...

this is a GREAT idea! thanks for posting! Also cheaper than those places you go to prepare dinners for the week!

stampqueen said...

WOW what a great idea and great giveaway - if I don't win I may have to get her book anyway. Love your blog girl!!!
Tera
stampqueen22@yahoo.com

Katie said...

Great idea-- guess you have to know the cooking skills of your fellow moms too- I'd hate to get five days of gross food I could make myself :)
Youngest has food allergies so it might not work for our family but it really is a great idea. Maybe I could find a 'I cook, you clean' buddy system....

tp said...

Wow, as a Mom of five who is still undergoing procedures for breast cancer this would be a great Blessing. My Mom has sent me gift cert. for those meal prep places, but you still have to do more work.
I would love to start this up with some of my friends.
Thanks,
Tara

darling said...

I LOVE your blog. I'm so glad I found you. I know your life has been changed by your new found fame, but you should just know that your blog entries are funny and very endearing and they give me something nice to look forward to on my lunch break. I made the conscious decision to only have 1 child because I came from a large family and used to wish I was an only child. I have a huge amount of respect for anyone who can deal with the chaos and still have a good sense of themselves at the end of the day.

Jenrey said...

Wow!! I love this idea. I also have tried the frozen meal thing. But this way we would get to taste everyone elses recipes as well. Heaven knows I am tired of cooking the same 14 meals all the time. What a great Idea. If i don't win I think I will buy the book anyway. I know tons of moms in my LDS church group that would love this.
Just a side note in addition to being LDS with four children 8 and under, I think that I may have become somewhat learning disabled. Especially when I have to help my third grader with her math!!! But the funniest thing I ever was asked when I told someone I was LDS, they said " What, you are on LSD?" They also thought that was the drug of choice for our Sunday meetings. Ha, Ha.

Anonymous said...

This sounds fantastic! My kids love eating anyone's cooking but mine- so they'd only have to suffer through it once a week!

Now where do I find other people who would chose to choke down food that burns its way out of my kitchen?
-Dana
sdjanasek@earthlink.net

Anonymous said...

Sounds fun! I have done freezer cooking, but this would be interesting to try.
Jill
markandjillsmail@juno.com

Rhonda said...

i have heard of making meals to freeze and sharing them, but never of making the meal and delivering fresh! sounds wonderful!!

megan said...

pick me! pick me! I would love to win :-) 4meggs@gmail.com

Kikilia said...

Interesting idea. Though I'm not sure I'd ever find some one to swap with.

Kara said...

I have loved reading your blog. Thank you for brighting my day. I would love to be entered. Thank you!!

Kara
hotmomak@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I have always wanted to start and dinner group since some friends we know use to do this a year or so ago. I have no idea there was a book about it. I am going to have to get it and try to find some friends who would love to join a dinner group.

Anonymous said...

This is a very interesting idea. I'm always looking for ways to run my household more smoothly. Thanks for the tips!

Twila Dang

Anonymous said...

I love this idea and am definitely going to propose it to a couple of my friends.

Back in the day, one of my girlfriends and I used to take turns bringing lunch to work every day. It was a good way to get rid of the leftovers from the day or two before. Plus, sharing leftovers with someone eating the meal for the first time made it that much easier to enjoy it the second time around.

Anonymous said...

I love that you're encouraging families to eat together each night. I am glad to feel a connection, through this blog--it's writer and it's readers--to so many other moms who really do care about families.
Thanks,
Janel Williams
janeljoywilliams@hotmail.com

Blog said...

You've got a lot of comments on this one! I think that supper swapping is such a great idea! With dh being deployed and being a "married/single" mom, I think that this can help reduce the stress of our daily lives.
Thanks for the post.
Kelly
Kellysblog@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I, too, haven't posted because you must be exhausted. Then again, as a writer, I know I love to read people's responses. Anyway, I have been thoroughly enjoying your blog. At the end of the day, when my 3 are finally silent, your humor gives me a lift. I didn't read all 503 other comments, but felt a bit better when I read of others with my dilemma - not having a friend base to start a supper swap with. We moved from IL to my husband's family's farm property in IN a year ago, so that I could stay home with my two babies. I've never had difficulty establishing a friend base before, but it is isolated and I'm always busy at home with the kids ... So, to those who have 3 or 4 friends to do this with - give it a go and thank the Lord for his blessing of friendship. My best friend back in IL had a supper swapping ring, but then I only had one child and didn't mind cooking for the three of us. It was a fabulous thing for her (she has 5). Thanks Dawn, for all the encouragement and suggestions to other moms around the world who are trying their best to give all they can to this important job of motherhood.

Wendy Hill
Yorkie524@aol.com

Cat said...

Wonderful Idea...Lord knows I could use help...If it weren't for my chef...I mean husband I would have died of malnutrition, not to mention our daughter.

Mommy's Boot Camp said...

WOW what a wonderful Idea... just wish I knew more people in our town that live closer to me to give this a try..
mommycamp@yahoo.com

Lizscraps said...

I am so enjoying your blog... I wish you sucess, very cool concept.

eta_is_here ATNOSPAM hotmail.com

Jen (Mama's Magic Studio) said...

wow this is a fabulous idea! i'm going to suggest it at our next playgroup meeting. so kind of you to help publicize it!

jen
bfbeads at gmail.com

The Miller's said...

I like the sound of this. I've tried other methods, but they never seem to last long-term. Enter me please! konky@earthlink.net

Thanks,
Amber Miller

Heather H said...

That is such a super idea! I think I will bring this up with some of the other women at church, I HATE deciding what is for dinner and with a 2 1/2 year old and an almost 7 month old I just dont have a lot of time for thinking about dinner anyways!

Unknown said...

It is a great idea to only have to cook once a week. I am surprised that no one thought of this, or it wasn't advertised many years ago.
jsthomps@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Hi Dawn,
My name is Milissa and I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy reading your posts and that it's become part of my daily routine! :o) I am a new mother and although I only have one child, I can really relate to many things that you talk about. I am a huge music fan - music is my passion and I thought you might find the following link interesting. And maybe you've already heard of her but she really seems like someone you could appreciate. Enjoy!
http://www.lorimckenna.com/

Sincerely,
Milissa in MN

Anonymous said...

Love this idea.... think it would really take off in my neighborhood.

Anonymous said...

Love the supper-swapping idea and hope to win a copy of the book! Thanks for sharing with the rest of us Dawn and Trish!!!
Alena
awesomealena@marykay.com

Danielle said...

I have been doing a dinner group for about five years! I should have written a book so I could be famous too! It is the biggest lifesaver! What is important is finding families similar in size and tastes as your family!

Anonymous said...

Hey!! Great idea! I live in a townhouse complex and I'm sure I could get lots of interest to get this going!

Love your blog Dawn! You rock!

CB said...

Help! Mother of 5 needs this book! Great Idea!

Anonymous said...

This sounds like a great idea! BUT...what happens if someone in your group is a lousy cook? I wouldn't want to hurt anyone's feelings but wouldn't want a dinner no one will eat either.

Thanks!
Tam

Nancy said...

Who knew? I'm joining 100's of you to participate and maybe win a book! But what a wonderful idea!! Love it and love your blog.

Nancy M.
nancymenn02@yahoo.com

Zarsky Family said...

What a great idea. I can't wait to try it! :)

Anonymous said...

I'll give anything a try and this sounds cool!

Great Blog, Dawn! Reading since the ebay auction:)

fishdino@netscape.com

Fedden Family said...

This is wonderful! I am so glad you spreading the work about swapping dinners. I already am in a dinner group (same concept) and think it is fabulous. Many people in my church have one as well. I have to get my hands on this book...especially for recipes. I have been telling everyone about it!

Kami Fedden
kamifedden@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

My church is doing one of those make your own dinner places as a women's activity, and while that is great, I simply couldn't afford it. They may spend over $100 on 6 meals, but for my family(4 kids, two adults) I spend less than $150 for two weeks of meals. So I have one friend in mind to swap with, I hope she likes the idea.
April colorfulwishes@sbcglobal.net

StampingJoan said...

What a great idea! I am anxious to learn more! How do you handle families that are 3 people compared to families of 6 etc.?

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to try this. I'm new to my neighborhood, so hopefully there will be some who are willing to try this. Even if it's only one other person and me doing it, the "Witching Hours" (from about 3:30-5:30 PM when my kids seem to reach a climax of whining and melt-downs while I'm trying to prepare dinner) might become a thing of the past. Thanks for this most awesome blook tour spotlight, Dawn!

Heidi Brady
heidi@bradyfam.org

Kristy said...

My church has always delivered meals to new moms and other folks needing a hand for a bit... and I *always* look forward to that as much as I do the new baby. (Maybe *that* is why I have four kiddos and don't plan on stopping. Hmmm.)

I'm another one wondering about delivery time/stress cause that's always a biggie for me when I cook for others with new babies. I guess that is where any group I worked up would have to be most creative to not make it more trouble than it was worth.

Also I am a *horrid* cook... 90% of what we eat comes from the microwave and it isn't just because my oven has been broken for two years. (No really, two years... nothing functioning here but the stove top and the magic box... But hubby is gonna fix it any day... wanna hold your breathe with me?) It would be a *very* good thing to *force* me out of that rut... but in the beginning, this would be much, much more work in this house.

Kristy

ioi said...

I've never seen anyone consistantly get so many comments! You inspire me, and I love to read your posts in snips and clips between the demands of my little ones. Any day now, and I'll have three under 3! And the Supper Swap idea is brilliant.

Anonymous said...

Dawn~
I gather my kids together daily and we read your blog. Thanks so much for the laughter and perspective. My 5 kids (number 6 due end of November) feel a kindred spirit with your children. I would love a copy of this book, as for my kids "not liking what another person cooked" for the supper swap,well I have noticed that the under 3 set in our house seem to want nothing more than P.B.& J. and string cheese for months on end with no ill effects.*grins*

So yes, please enter me into the drawing as well.

Blessings, Joyce
littleducks4@yahoo.com

Kristy said...

Oops... just posted without my email in it... so just in case you need me: kristyfah@hotmail.com :)

Kristy

Anonymous said...

Wow - That's an awesome idea. Makes me wish I had friends - Or knew other mothers. Wonder if I could talk the kids into making dinner four nights a week...

Anonymous said...

Oh - seems I, like everyone else forgot to include an email address.
scooter_m74@yahoo.com

Bri said...

Dawn,
I love your blog. I try to read it everyday. Dinner time around here is usually Ramen noodles, mac n cheese or sandwiches. I could definitely use the cookbook to help out our dinner dilemna. I wish I could try supper swapping too but I dont know anyone that lives close enough. Oh well.. maybe Ill get the cookbook.

Keep on writing,
Brianna: bridinkas112@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

Supper Swap sounds awesome. I love to support Trish Berg ever since my first 'meeting her' through MOPS. And supporting you too! :) OK, I really love cookbooks! :) Thanks much - great idea.

The Leader Of This Crazy Clan said...

What a wonderful idea. Now to make some friends with some good cooks!

Briana Almengor said...

I've got three kids under 3 at home. I'd love to be added to the drawing, PLEASE!!
And, I have really enjoyed reading your blog since I came upon the Ebay ad. I need to take my life less seriously, and your blog helps me do that! Thanks.

Ang said...

Love the blog. Just wanted to get in on this contest. Sounds like a great practical book.

Kahlan said...

Neat! sounds like a great idea! I have a group of friends we might be able to make this work with.. but we live a little farther apart then we would need to be to do this right. I wonder if we could do a freezer swap once a week.. all cook on the monday night for ourselves (and our extra portions) pack it all up and bring it to play group on Monday! hmm worth considering :D

Anonymous said...

Sound like a great idea. Sadly I don't know very many people here.

Anonymous said...

WoW!! Awesome idea. I'm going to share this with my mom's group. As a SAHM who homeschools her two boys (age 12 & 10). This would be a wonderful blessing for our family. Thank you for sharing!!

Jolanthe said...

Amazing, Dawn. You are simply amazing. :) Thanks so much for keeping us laughing...

WendyDarling said...

This sounds great!! :-)

Anonymous said...

That is such a cool idea I would love to be in for the drawing :D

Love said...

great idea! and that is a seriously lot of comments you have. how wonderfully connected we are as mothers and you remind us all so well!! =)

Kristina said...

Count me in PLEASE!
Kristinakarroll@yahoo.com

I love this idea!

dianekwak said...

hi... i really love the idea of the supper swap and am going to try to get my friends to join me in doing this! with 3 active kiddies under 6, it will be heaven-sent! i'd love to be in the drawing to win the book.

also, i think you misspelled one of the websites where you could find the book. it should not be "christinabook.com" but "christIANbook.com" (caps, no caps don't matter; i just included to distinguish).

thanks!
-diane
dianekwak@gmail.com

Christina said...

I love this idea. Sounds like a great time saver. I will have to look in to the book and read it. I work full time and would love to save time cooking meals for my family.



Hugs,
Christina
addictedtoincredimail@gmail.com

peacekeeper said...

Sounds to good to be true. My only concern is working around young kids likes and dislikes. I think the idea sounds great and now I must read the book to find out more.
jeggeen@yahoo.com
www.nelsonshack.blogspot.com

love your blog and have shared you with my friends...you make me laugh and it is much needed sometimes so thanks.....jessica

Anonymous said...

Ok.. ths thing just ATE my recipe!

The Thompson's said...

Great idea! I look forward to reading your blog daily. I still think you should be on Oprah! We should all write in and tell her about you.

Good luck!

McSherrie said...

... That is such an amazing idea. And it would work for us singletons as well. Brilliant!

*begins compiling a list of people to approach about this*

Oh, and please do enter me in the contest. I am all about extra cookbooks and chances to exchange food. ;)

Gwen Way
gwen_way@hotmail.com

Reina said...

I have heard of this and need to try it.With little ones around some times (well alot dinner is cereal)

Unknown said...

Your blog is my one nighttime luxury...everything else deals with getting caught up before the next day. I love this supper swap idea. I have 4 children, 5 and under, and my husband travels every week for 4 days. Needless to say, we need some relief as school and activities have gone into full swing. I will have to give this a try.
thanks for the idea.
LeAnne

Anonymous said...

Great idea. We had cooked all our meals on Sunday and frozen them, but that still takes forethought each night to thaw them. I love this idea.

Rachel S.
Orange County, California

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness, with over 500 comments I'm pretty sure I won't win, but it can't hurt to enter, right?

Shellie said...

This sounds like a good idea 6 nights a week. It's the 7th I worry about! How about swapping your kids out while you cook?
See how my kids supper swap at our house at little-but-loud.blogspot.com Post Where Was I? And actually if you can get someone with a George upholstery and carpet cleaner, the butter comes out good. Also a mixture of 2 parts dish soap and 1 part glycerine tends to get grease out of fabrics.
Dawn, hope your baby is doing better! I so don't miss that part of it. sjespinoza@mstarmetro.net

mrsjj1025 said...

Supper swapping is a great idea. I know that a little extra time in the day would be wonderful! And not having to decide what to make for supper is even better!

Unknown said...

Sounds to good to be true. I would like to try it to see if it really works. Would love to read the book.

- Shel

michelle_ketcham@yahoo.com

Kristin said...

I'd love this book!
kuflicker@gracepocatello.org

Lois said...

At first I didn't think I would need this book, but I do see it would be great for cooking for a crowd. So enter me in. waterman_lois@yahoo.com Thanks Dawn for sharing your life and your perspective with us.

Nat said...

Good grief!!! You got (so far) 566 comments!! LOL!! What would people do to get a free book!!
You probably will never get down to read my comment.. which is really not a comment at all! Oh well.

Have a blessed day.

navide

(by the way, I am intentionally omitting the emai address -- I don't really want the book)

Heather Leigh said...

Fortunately, my dh does the cooking. I do the laundry. He keeps us fed, I keep us in clean clothes. It works out quite nicely.

Heather - If I'm chosen, can you notify me via my blog? THANKS!
http://thelifeofheatherleigh.blogspot.com/

jaime said...

I'm very interested, sounds great. Hey Dawn I'm a new reader of yours and like many I got the forward from the ebay sale. I loved it!!! I'm actually on vacation in Boston, if you have time to write well then so do I.

Heather said...

What a timely post! I just started researching OAMC online. Once-a-month-cooking might save my life!

Heather

Anonymous said...

This would be a life saver! I'm crossing my fingers!
Jennifer

Trenting said...

Hmm.. they do have something like this here in OH, I was supposed to pick a night for it, but.. Umm.. I'm waaayy too busy blogging of course.. So.. with that said, I'm in for the drawing, I do have time for that :)

divanicki75 said...

What a WONDERFUL idea! I can't wait to read the book ;) We just moved 3 days away from my hometown, and this might even be a great way to meet some of my neighbors. THANKS!

Nicki Henry
nicki_henry_04@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

what a great idea!

I'd love to be chosen.

Carolyn
ckteach AT yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Hi Dawn,
Like all those before me, I love your blog!! I check in everyday for a dose of sanity.....

I too loved the idea of a "supper swap"....now to find some friends to cook with....!

Cheers,
Mel
mjg326362@aapt.net.au

Anonymous said...

This idea sounds incredible, why have I not heard of this??? Four kids later, 18 to 9, and I would start this locally in a snap. Just think of all the time I wasted in the kitchen all these years!
jsrowland@cox.net

jenhirr said...

Q.Why did the cookie go to the hospital?
A.Because he felt crumby!!!

That's my four year old favorite joke and here comes my two year old. For some reason, the word bedtime means nothing to him.
Good night!

jenhirr said...

oops! I forgot.

jenhirr@hotmail.com

3boysmama said...

Great idea, i woul dlove to be entered in the drawing. IF you click on my name you can get to my email address.

sklay723 said...

What a great solution for moms who don't really mind cooking but don't want to spend the better part of their week in the kitchen trying to keep the "meal plan" healthy and satisfying for the whole family. :)
On another note, just wanted to say THANK YOU for your constant sense of humor, and for reminding us that our children are blessings, even when they drive us crazy!
Take care,
Katie

sklay723 said...

Oops, forgot to leave my name and email for the drawing...
Katie, sklay723@comcast.net

Anonymous said...

I did something similiar with a group of friends but we made freezer meals using the Gladware (black, plastic, 9x9 inch) reusable cookware. We made the same meal, and froze it. We would switch once a month and easy to pull out of the freezer and put in the oven. Only thing we needed to provide were the sides.

KamiMari said...

I don't have kids but work full time and go to school full time. I am not all that into cooking and maybe me and some of my other friends (in the same boat or even with kids) could adopt this idea to help each other a little.
Thanx, as always, for your wonderful insight on life.

Anonymous said...

What a great idea! I will certainly be sharing this with my friends!

twinmom2ra@yahoo.com

Marta O. Smith said...

What a great idea! But my friends here locally who would be likely to want to swap each have 6 children (still at home) and I was only blessed with 2. So I guess I need a copy of the book to figure out the logistics, don't I.

Kristy said...

I just read your ebay auction and found the link to your blog. You are such a wonderful writer. I love the idea of a Supper Swap. I have 4 kids. Cassie 7, Kailey 6, CJ 2, and Kris 10 months. I look forward to reading your blog more often!
~Kristy

The 311 Boys Mom said...

I love to read you, so I'm #592 in your contest & even if I dont' win, I'm going on Amazon to get the book! MAybe I'll go anyway & give it as a gift/idea to friends/family!!!

Can't wait to see your interview with CAhrlie, I miss him on GMA!!!!

Audrey said...

oooh, ooh ooh!! pick me, pick me!!!! PLEASE pick me!!!! *hand waving in the air*

Goodness knows I could use it! :)

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