The Homemaker's Mentor CD Review and Giveaway

I have had the wonderful opportunity of reviewing an advance copy of The Homemaker's Mentor CD. This CD is a collection of lessons, resources and ebooks that were available to members of The Homemaker's Mentor website. On this site, Martha Greene, Rebekah Wilson and other homemakers shared help and encouragement. 

I have to say, this wonderful collection sure has been an encouragement to me. My homemaking skills are very poor, to say the least. I was hoping to find some helpful information, something to help me along in making my house a home. I want to be able to teach the children so they can grow up knowing the proper way to care for a home and to have a good attitude while doing so. I have to say, I have found just that, and I have barely scratched the surface of this CD.  

There is good reason for my barely scratching the surface. There are over 110 files on this CD! You will find recipes (and tons of them), homemaking lessons, tutorials and ebooks. 

Here is a sneak peak of what you will find:

You can click here to see a full list of the CD's contents. 

As I was perusing the files I wasn't sure where I wanted to start digging deeper. My husband and I both skimmed the contents and I don't know about him, but I was a bit overwhelmed. I started reading one of the homemaking lessons called "A Vision of Order: Organization in the Home." 

I was reminded that chaos and disorder are not a part of God's plan for our lives as he is a God of order. How do the authors recommend gaining a sense of order in the home? The most important thing is to have a schedule. I need to sit down and figure out which tasks need to be done Daily, Weekly, Monthly and every once in a while. And, yes, the children are to be involved in the chores (which we call "helpful jobs"). 

I loved this quote from the lesson:

"You can teach [your children] by your own example that serving your family

through your daily housework is a source of great joy and contentment.

They will soon desire the same joy in their own lives."

There are even writeable forms provided where you can add your schedule right on the computer and then print it out. 

I also discovered another ebook that is a wealth of information about homemaking. It is the "Treasury of Homekeeping Skills: A Vintage Keepsake Collection" by Martha Greene. 

There are 265 pages in this ebook covering a multitude of topics.

Here is a list of the sections you will find in this ebook:

• Homekeeping
• Hospitality
• Home Duties
• First Aid in the Home
• Gardening
• Cooking and Baking
• Reserves for the Family
• Handiwork
• Business of the Home
• Family Records

I love all the information here and I feel it will be a help to many homemakers, whether just starting out or looking for new tricks or advice. I have to say, I love the black and white vintage drawings and ads, they give the book a nice homey touch. I will definitely be digging into this book more in the near future. 

Of course, I had to try some of the recipes included in this CD. There is a file titled Amazing Simple Recipes. There are recipes for a wide variety of dishes and some of the files even give recipes for a full menu. We tried the Breaded Italian Chicken the other night and I made the Garlic Toast and Cheesy Red Rice with Olives to go with it. A Green Salad and Garden Beans are also suggested along with Southern Iced Tea. While I don't have fresh out of the garden green beans, I did include canned green beans. 

You can read more about this meal in my Delicious Dish Tuesday post. 

For Kids and a Mom in the Kitchen I chose a cookie recipe from "A Cookie Fixes Everything." 

Hubby loves his coffee and the girls and I like to sneak sips every once in a while. Additionally, we love stopping for the occasional treat of a Frozen Mocha. So, I thought making the Frosted Mocha Cookies would be a good idea. 

Um, yes, it was a very good idea. These cookies are wonderful. There is just the right amount of coffee flavor in with the chocolate and they were so easy to make (check out the Kids and a Mom in the Kitchen post here).  Unfortunately we didn't have enough frosting for all the cookies. That is because someone got into it and ate a whole bunch of it. We still don't know who the culprit is. 

The next thing I am going to do, is try to restore my cast iron pan using this lesson:

Seasoning & Caring for Cast Iron

If you are a new homemaker starting out, or if you would like to improve your skills to be a better, more frugal homemaker, as I hope to I would highly recommend this CD. It would also make a lovely gift for friend or maybe a new bride. Would you like to sample a couple of lessons? You will find a link to download two lessons: "For the Love of Laundry" and "Perfect Pies" here. You can purchase the CD for the Introductory Sale price of $37 for a limit time (after October 18th it will be $47). 

There is a HUGE MEGA GIVEAWAY going on from now through October 18th. There will be one Grand Prize Winner and 10 runners up. Here is a sneak peak at what you can win. You can find more details by clicking here. 

Worth over $400!

You can check out each Launch Team Member's Review by clicking here, and you will have the chance to enter to win each of their giveaways. Additionally, I have also been given the opportunity to offer my readers a chance to win 1 of 2 copies of The Homemaker's Mentor CD. That's right, there will be two winners!

All you need to do is enter in the Rafflecopter form below. There are only 3 simple mandatory entries, with the remainder of the entries being optional. Remember, you do not have to do the extra entries, but they will increase your odds of winning. 

This giveaway is open to US residents 18 and over. 

The giveaway runs October 9th-October 22nd.

Thanks for stopping by and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Delicious Dish Tuesday: Marvelous Menus from the Homemaker's Mentor CD Featuring Italian Breaded Chicken

It has been a while since I have participated in Delicious Dish Tuesday. That would be because I haven't really been making anything new lately. However, there are so many yummy looking recipes in the Homemaker's Mentor CD that I thought it would be great to share some with you. I did share the Frosted Mocha Cookies last week for Kids and a Mom in the Kitchen and there are many other cookie recipes in this wonderful resource.  However, there are a variety of other recipes contained in the collection. Some are complete meals. I decided to try one of the "Amazing Simple Recipes" featuring Breaded Italian Chicken, Cheesy Red Rice with Olives, and Garlic Toast. The vegetables were to be Garden Fresh Green Beans and a Tossed Green Salad. Finishing off the menu was Southern Iced Tea. 

The Breaded Italian Chicken calls for:

3 pounds of boneless skinless chicken

2 1/2 cups homemade bread crumbs

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

1 Tbs dried Parsley Flakes

1 heaping tsp Italian Seasoning

1 tsp Garlic Salt (I always use Garlic Powder)

1/2 tsp black pepper

You also need melted butter to dip the chicken in. 

I used my Magic Bullet to make my bread crumbs from whole wheat bread. Then I added all the seasonings and stirred. 

I dipped the chicken in the melted butter (about 1 stick of butter melted in the microwave), then I rolled it in the bread crumb mixture. I sprayed my baking pan with cooking spray and baked the chicken for approximately 45 minutes on 375 degrees.

While the chicken was cooking I made the rice. I have to say, I would never have thought of making rice this way. I am so glad I found this recipe. It was delicious.

2 1/2 cups white rice

1 can diced tomatoes with juice (do not drain)

1/4 cup olive oil

1 Tbs fresh minced garlic (I use my garlic press)

1 tsp salt

4 1/2 cups water

1 cup sliced black olives

2 bouillon cubes

1 Tbs parsley flakes 

2 cups shredded Jack and Cheddar

This is so simple. You just put all the ingredients, except the cheese, in the pan and stir. Put it on medium heat and cover. Let cook undisturbed for 18 minutes then remove the lid, stir and add cheese. I did feel it was still too watery after 18 minutes, so I cooked it an additional 5 minutes and it was perfect.

When the chicken came out of the oven I made some Garlic Toast. 

French or Italian Bread Sliced into 1 inch slices

Softened butter

Parmesan Cheese

Garlic Powder

Parsley Flakes

I just spread the bread with the butter, added the Parmesan cheese, garlic powder and parsley flakes. Then I put it under the broiler for about 1 1/2 minutes. I did burn the first batch as 1 minute wasn't quite long enough and I forgot to set the timer when I put it back in. The second batch turned out really well.

I just used canned green beans as I do not have green beans in my garden. I did add some butter and seasoning salt though to change it up a bit. We also didn't do the salad or the iced tea as it was getting so late. 

Stay tuned for my full review of the Homemaker's Mentor CD along with information about the giveaways!!

edited to add: You can now find the full review and giveaway for 2 CD's here.

Linking to:

Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Try a New Recipe Tuesday at Home to Four Kiddos
The Gathering Spot at Mamal Diane
Tempt My Tummy at Blessed with Grace
Friday Food Frenzy at Close to Home

Kids and a Mom in the Kitchen #56: Frosted Mocha Cookies

Time for Kids and a Mom in the Kitchen

(A weekly linky where you can share your special time in the kitchen, such a great place for learning. You can also link up Kid-Friendly Recipes)

<a href="http://totsandme.blogspot.com/search/label/Kids%20and%20Mom%20in%20the%20Kitchen "><img alt="Tots and Me" src="http://i597.photobucket.com/albums/tt58/kewkewphoto/KidsandaMomintheKitchen2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

The linky is at the bottom.

I have had the privilege of reviewing an advance copy of The Homemaker's Mentor CD. I can't wait to share my full review with you next week along with a wonderful giveaway. While we are waiting, I would like to share one of the many recipes with you. I thought it would be great for this week's Kids and a Mom in the Kitchen. We made:

Frosted Mocha Cookies

(It's getting a little crowded at the stove.)

Cookie Ingredients:

2 (1oz) squares of semi-sweet baking chocolate

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 egg

1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

1 cup chocolate chips

First we melted the baking chocolate and shortening on low heat.

Then we let it cool for 10 minutes.

I poured the chocolate mixture into a bowl, because I didn't want to use my beaters in my saucepan, but the directions did say to just add the next ingredients to the pan. We added the brown sugar, buttermilk and egg to the chocolate mixture and mixed it well.

We set the chocolate mixture aside and combined the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. We were supposed to sift it together, but I never do. I just use my whisk and stir it really well.  Then we mixed the chocolate mixture into the flour mixture.

Next we stirred in the chocolate chips and walnuts.

The girls and I took turns putting teaspoonfuls of batter onto our cookie sheets. The instructions said to line them with parchment paper, but we do not have any. 

We baked one cookie sheet at a time in a 375 degree oven for 10 minutes.

While I waited for them to cool, I made the frosting.

Mocha Frosting Ingredients:

1/4 cups softened butter

2 Tbs baking cocoa powder

2 tsp instant coffee granules

2 cups powdered sugar (The recipe calls for 2 1/2 cups, but I always start with a little less and 2 cups was perfect, not too sweet.

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Enough milk to make it spreadable

I added all the ingredients.

This was the frosting after 1 Tbs of milk. It was not quite thin enough.

Another tablespoon of milk was just right.

Edited to add, you can now find the full review and giveaway for 2 CD's here.

Do you have your children help you in the kitchen?  What lessons do they learn? Do you have any kid friendly recipes to share?

I'd love to see your posts, whether you have done something this week or some time in the past. Just link up below. This is a weekly linky.

I am linking up to:

 

Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Try a New Recipe Tuesday at Home to Four Kiddos
The Gathering Spot at Mamal Diane
Tempt My Tummy at Blessed with Grace
Friday Food Frenzy at Close to Home
Fantastic Thursday at Five Little Chefs

And here is my Kids and a Mom in the Kitchen linky