Non-Crappy Giveaway - Parents Need to Eat Too

I have a friend, Debbie. Debbie wrote a book:

Her book is called Parents Need to Eat Too: Nap-Friendly Recipes, One-Handed Meals, and Time-Saving Kitchen Tricks for New Parents. It comes out in two weeks (I have a copy already because I'm special) but you can pre-order it so you don't forget and then starve. 

The real thing looks like this:

So Debbie had this idea to write a book that will help parents not eat like crap. Sure, there are shelves of books about making baby food and feeding kids. But what about feeding yourself? I know I'm not the only one that sucks at feeding myself since having kids.

Now this is the part of the post where I should really be telling you about her recipes, like broccoli & cheddar pinwheels and cheater's chana masala. But I'm not going to. They are all good, they are all yummy. Her cookbook is filled with great stuff. But just saying this would be boring. I'm going to talk about something else. Something specific. Something personal. 

Her chocolate chip cookie recipe. You can judge a cookbook by its cookie. 

The cookies of which I speak are in the last chapter. They are also on her blog, called The Best Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies in the Entire World. A title which automatically made me skeptical and prepared to hate them. I'm weird like that. 

So I made them. 

That is the cookie. It has a crown so you can see how awesome and powerful it is. 

I gave one to Crappy Boy:

This kid eats a lot of cookies. For him to say that is a huge endorsement. 

But her cookbook is for parents, not for kids. So it doesn't matter what he says. He'd probably praise white sugar on a spoon. What does he know? 

So back to the parents...

The kids are asleep. Crappy Papa grabs the whole tray of cookies and starts walking into the family room with it.

I stop him: 

I tell him he can't eat the whole tray. 

He doesn't like this. He actually whines a little. He isn't making fun of the kids. This is sincere whining from a grown man.  

We're bringing the cookies the next day to a friend's house, I remind him. I'm not just being a mean wife who doesn't let her husband have her cookies. 

But he begs me. Suggests I make more. I explain that we don't have any more chocolate chips. So he offers to run to the store. I consider this for a moment, but making cookies in the middle of the night could wake up the kids! It isn't worth the risk. If those kids wake up and catch me secretly making cookies they will have scars for life! They also will never go to bed again. I have to be a big meanie and tell him that no, he really, truly can't eat the entire tray of cookies.

So I make fun of him.

And he makes fun of me. 

In the end, we compromised by counting the number of people that would be there the next day, separating out one cookie per person and he got the rest. Which was still around six or seven cookies. Which was entirely too few. (I'll make more soon, I promise!)  

So yeah. These cookies are GOOD. 

But I don't want you to think that Debbie is telling parents to eat chocolate chip cookies. 

No, those are special treats only. 

And now, here is a special treat for you...

 

GIVEAWAY:

Debbie is giving away a copy of her book, PARENTS NEED TO EAT TOO, to one lucky winner!

How to Enter:

Comment on this post! One comment per person. Comments will close Monday, February 13th at 7PM PST & winner will be picked via random # generator, emailed and then announced here at the bottom of this post.   

Comments are now closed, thanks everyone!

Congrats to...  

 

Rebecca: Wait, I don't have to eat my baby's leftovers? I need this book!!

 

Comments

[Lauren T]

I dream of the day I can make cookies for my children! My "crappy" husband and I do not have children yet because we are reproductively challenged. IVF starts in two weeks! But until I givt birth, there's no harm in practicing the awesome recipes in this book (especially the cookies, right?)!

[Susanna]

Awesome! Must have been really, really good cookies to have hubby genuinely whine like the kids LOL

[Kaylene]

I want cookies :) oh, and also other nutritional stuff and all that.... yeah.

[Liz Cheslock]

What a great idea for a cookbook! This one sounds like a great one to have around the house. That and when I read my hubby the post, (he can Crappy Papa sound a lot alike!) he wanted me to get the book now so I could make the cookies! LOL

[Caley]

ummmm cookies! I totally understand where your husband is coming from! 6-7 cookies is not enough if they are gooooooood!

[laggedy]

We have a bowl of candy that is hidden in the pantry. Of course, we only sneak a piece (or six) after our 3 year old goes to bed.

Without fail, once that candy bowl comes out, he is out of bed and on the stairs, asking to get a drink or use the bathroom or whatever.

I always stash the bowl behind a chair, under a pillow, whatever I can as quickly as possible because I know if he sees that candy even one time, he'll never go to bed again.

[fl.]

Such a relief to read about stuff for young parents... that is not all in the interest of the little ones! We exist, we are people, not just parents, and we want cookies!

[Joey]

I am going to buy this book.

[kathallen@eastlink.ca]

I love your blog! I am truly thankful to my daughter who got me hooked. My 3 kids are grown and starting to have their own kids, so I would gift the book to one of them (after reading it cover to cover, of course!). Your blog reminds me of my days in the trenches, and I work with kids, so I still get to hear the funny things they say and see the funny things they do. Keep writing and drawing so I can keep laughing!

[Linda]

Love your blog. I'm a Nana now, but I remember what it was like to have two small children. Some things never change.

[mle]

I have scars from catching my parents make popcorn without me after I was in bed.... Popcorn still haunts me. I'm only sharing that because there is a cookbook on the line. :)

[Regina W]

Sounds like a cookbook I could use!

[Betsy]

I want this book so much, I could die. Seriously.

[Crystal]

I need to eat too! Great giveaway, thanks!

[Tanja mom of twin toddlers]

I want the book! You are "awful" nice for sharing ! LOVE the cover picture!

[Wendy]

Mmmmm this post is making me hungry.

[Zoe Q.]

My husband doesn't like chocolate. Crazy, right?! Guess I'll have to eat the whole batch myself.

[Scott]

I feel guilty commenting to win a cookbook when I usually don't, even though I pretty much relate to EVERYTHING you blog about.... but I sure would love to win that cookbook....

[Laura]

Cookies....mmmmmm..me LOVE cookies! Cookbook----mmmmm...me love cookbook even MORE!!!

[Jill]

I would love to win this book! Thanks for the chance!

[Toni]

Yeah, especially now with nursling (number 3) allergic to milk, eggs, and some nuts, I survive many a day on bananas, toast, and expensive vegan cookies I found in the health food aisle lol. At least until dinner. Not good.

[Life WIth The Lieutenant]

Would love to one-handedly eat some chocolate chip cookies while nursing a newborn and chasing a toddler. I also seem to make up new words in my spare time. (one-handedly???)

[BalancingJane]

I'd be happy to get some of the best cookies in the world. Between the toddler and the husband, I might even get to eat one or two myself.

[Michelle Zonca]

I can almost taste the cookies now. I am guilty of forgetting to eat, or calling a handful of Lays chips a meal, more times than I can count. This would be great!

I love the blog! It's my absolute favorite thing to read! Thanks for making it!

[Jenny]

Mmmm cookies! I would love to win this cookbook!

[Laurel]

Me me me!! I need to eat more cookies!

[Jennie]

What an awesome idea for a cook book! Its so true that new parents have a hard time eating right.

[kt]

Oooooo! Oo! Pick me! Sounds great. Thanks for the opportunity.

[Jube]

Oh Lord, how I need recipes I can make whilst my 35 pound 2-year-old refuses to get off my hip. What a great idea!

[Kelli]

mmmm...cookies

[Maria]

This was written for me. I just told DH last night I have to find food I can eat fast & 1-handed, that's not crap.

[Sarah]

Sweet!

[Jennifer]

great idea for a cookbook - I need to read this!

[Ari B. Adler]

Great idea for a cookbook. My kids are teenagers now, but I have a brother-in-law who could definitely benefit from this book. I watched him trying to eat dinner the other night while holding and feeding his new baby daughter and it gave me some flashbacks of crappy parent dinners!

[Shannon]

I live getting new cookbooks! Also i can totally see my husband saying "you've never hurt me this much" over cookies too. :)

[Lyndsey]

Sounds awesome! What a great idea.

[Stephanie]

Those cookies must be amazing!

[Justine]

actually heard about this book awhile ago and was excited for it to come out! glad for the chance to win it!

[Jennie Mae]

I so need this book. You could say I'm some what challenged in the kitchen department, therefore don't eat as well as I should (also because I'm always holding someone or cleaning up poop) and I love chocolate chip cookies!

[Jacquelynn]

mmmm... cookie....

[Becky]

I want to make chocolate chip cookies! And other food too, I suppose.... but mostly the cookies!

[Jenn]

Once you said "chocolate chip cookie" I was determined I need this book. Congrats to your friend!

[ashton]

We have a baby on the way (arriving in August) and since I'm already a bit of a challenged cook, this boom looks like the best hope for me to make a decent meal while caring for a little one :) I live that you are doing giveaways now!

[Jessica]

this sounds great - especially the cookie recipe. thanks for the giveaway!

[Jessie]

I find it very, very hard to believe that these cookies could be better than my mom's chocolate chip cookies, but I am willing to give them a try. For science.

[AB]

Methinks I NEED whine-worthy cookies!

[Becky]

With 2 little kids, sometimes I forget to eat. This is a good reminder for me! ;)

[Stephanie]

I love giveaways, and I love cookbooks :) Yay!

[Valerie M.]

Who doesn't love a cookie!

[Mary L]

yum.. those must be some good cookies.. ps i am lurker just letting you know I love your blog!

[Angela S.]

I'd love to win a cookbook! :)

[Jennifer Womack]

I want this book for the cookie recipe alone!

[Connie Marshall]

Mmmmmm...white sugar in a spoon.

[Teresa - Embracing the Spectrum]

Your husband sounds JUST LIKE mine. Every time I make sweets to take to some sort of event or to work, he whines that I NEVER make any for him.

Anyway. Now I want cookies. Thanks.

[Rosalinda]

I hadn't realized I've been a crappy eater since Jr. was born (fast food=crappy?). What a wonderful idea.

[Erin]

Oooh! A new cookbook!

[Tina Earl]

cookies....milk...i think i shall go have some while i wait to see who wins...

[Kim]

YAY!!! I am craving those cookies now!!

[AHC]

cookies!!!! yum yum yum... we like cookies!!!!

[Stephanie]

Omg this book is a great idea! With my fussy little girl, I had to learn to eat one handed WHILE breastfeeding since she'd cry from like 5:30-9 every night!

[Tammy]

Oh, YUM! Now I want cookies! :D

[Jem]

I have a 3 yr old and a 1 yr old and love to cook...This book is a must for me :)

[Davina]

I really need this book! I am due with baby #4 in 7 weeks, I never remember to eat for myself!

[Taiga Sudakin]

This books sounds awesome! I need to eat something other than my twin boys leftovers!

[Trisha]

I need to make these cookies!!!! (and thanks for the laugh)!

[Jeane Ess]

Wow! I can't wait for this book to come out and try these cookies!

[SusanC]

I TOTALLY need this book! My spirited 20-month old always has me on my toes and I basically shove food in my mouth like you described in the 'eating out at a nice restaurant' post. :) If I don't win, I'm buying it anyway!

[Evelyn]

I have a secret. I've made cookies after the kids went to bed. Shh! Don't tell them! How did I do it without waking anyone? Premade dough! Mwah hahahaha! (that's my super sneaky laugh)

[charlotte]

this would be so awesome to win!

[Jenny K]

Woooooh!! I could probably try to at least eat one-handed!

[Rachel]

Such a great book idea!!! I always eat whatever is around...goldfish, cheerios, etc! Super healthy!

[Daniele C.]

This is a brilliant idea! I will have to get this book for my sister, who has not eaten a meal with her husband and kids in 8 years, thanks to her two cherubs.

[Sarah Billings]

I LOVE cookies but more than anything would love to start eating my own lunch before having to run out the door with the kids!

[Kirstin]

I'm commenting for the cookies...

[Elizabeth]

ME WANT COOKIE!!!

[Tammy]

Great now I want cookies but I'm dieting. I've actually been enjoying my little tiny meals so much that I've discussed with my 4 year old he CANNOT have my food. It's diet food, it's all MINE!

[Sonia]

I remember doing everything one handed when my 2nd daughter was born!

[Lisa]

I like cookies too....

[Christine]

My husband and I have actually had this argument about cookies! My complaint is that I buy 12- I eat 2, and within 24 hours, the rest are gone. He has destroyed my incentive to buy cookies! So no more cookies for us. Unless we get this cookbook and I can make more than twelve, of course. :) I'll separate them in bags and label them with our names. The baby? He gets none!

[Christi]

I need this for sure... I'm always forgetting to eat, or not having time to make something if I actually remember I need to eat.

[Nicole]

I want this book for the sole reason that I think my husband would do the exact same thing. So I really want that recipe for those cookies....

[Ashley M]

cool idea for a cookbook. Great first giveaway!

[penny]

I think that I would probably eat the cookies before my husband got to them. I would probably save him one.

[Jessica Cameron]

There's a way to eat normal food with kids???? I need this book!

[Staci Phillips]

Cookies are totally a meal!

[Melisa]

Awesome book!

[Amanda]

I have a 3 month old to take care of and this book sounds like the perfect solution to my eating habits. Hooray for cookies!

[Candi Nordick]

"He'd probably praise white sugar on a spoon". I really cracked up at that one!!! I LOVE reading your blogs. Also would LOVE to have the best chocolate chip cookie recipe in the whole world and I would rename them "The hubby whines" cookie.

[Mandie]

With 5 kids of my own, I always laugh so hard when I read your posts. "If my kids caught me secretly making cookies" ...they'd be scarred for life!! :) As always, awesome to read your mommy humor.

[Drea]

I want it, I want it, I want it, I want it. Just quoting my boys. ;) Seriously though..I want that cookbook!

[Lauren C]

The book sounds great (and so do the cookies)! Love your blog!

[McKenna]

Oh! Oh! Oh! Pick me! Pick me!! Seriously, I haven't eaten good food in years. YEARS! And I'm a food snob. Food snobs shouldn't have to eat mac and cheese. Please, please, please, pick me!!

[Meg]

Dang, my best homemade chocolate chip cookies in the entire world recipe has been trumped!

[LaKendra]

Sounds like a great book!

[Kacie Flegal]

Coooooookkkiieeeesss! I would LOVE LOVE LOVE this cookie.. er.. cook book!

[Mama Moo]

I'm about to give birth to baby number two. Really could have done with this sort of book when my first born came along. Thinking it might actually be necessity this time around!

[Sheri]

Not very creative but I REALLY WANT THIS BOOK! And easier to justify if I win it and it's free (my husband gets that look on his face ever time I buy a cookbook.

[Jennifer Johnson]

I'd love to win a copy of the book, since having kids I normally don't eat for the first time until around 3pm...and it's always crap! And I could ALWAYS use a cookie recipe =] Thanks!

[Betsy Zimmerman]

Those cookies sound amazing. And I was just having a conversation about how to eat healthy while being a working mama with a new mama friend the other day... this would be a great book to share with her!

[Maria]

Mmmmm.... cookies!