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It’s My Party and I’ll Give Away Things If I Want Too!

Birthdays.  I have to say I’m not too fond of them anymore!

There’s too much life to live and not enough years to do everything.  I have way too much left to accomplish.

Sadly, I spent the past year telling everyone I was thirty-seven but I was only thirty-six.  Today, I am thirty-seven.  I feel twenty-five, except for the fact I can no longer read without glasses.  God forbid I go to a restaurant without my specs, I can’t see the menu.

It would be nice to be twenty-five again but with the wisdom of everything I’ve learned since.  I think everyone wishes for that.

I do not like Birthday gifts.  I’m a giver, not a receiver.  I get so much more pleasure out of giving a gift than getting one.

So to celebrate the beginning of my thirty-seventh year I want to give!  Give to you who visit here and for some crazy reason keep coming back.  Somehow, I haven’t scared you away.

One of the reasons I started this blog was to inspire others to cook.  I have lots of friends who don’t cook at all.  You know who you are!  I hope I have at least gotten a few random folks to pick up a wooden spoon and make something……ANYTHING really.

So on that note, today I am going to GIVE AWAY eleven, yes eleven (I hate even numbers) of my favorite FOOD BOOKS. 

Some are cook books and others are food related, but all are GREAT BOOKS!  I hope you love them as I do.

All you have to do is leave a comment (one entry per person please) here today (by 11:00 PM Pacific Time) and the winners will be chosen by Random Integer Generator (RIG) and posted here tomorrow.  Winners will be matched to the books below in the order RIG spits them out. 

So easy and good luck!  And Happy Birthday to me!

The Cake Book by Tish Boyle.  This is one of my favorite go to baking books.  I have made several cakes from this book and all have turned out well.  Remember this one?

The Art Of Simple Food by Alice Waters.  If I had to sum up this book in one word, AMAZING might do.  The recipes are full-flavored renditions of what Alice serves at her very famous restaurant, Chez Panisse in Berkeley.  The techniques section is very helpful and the Chocolate Crackle Cookies are too die for!

Secret Ingredients: The New Yorker Book Of Food And Drink edited by David Remnick.  This is not a cookbook.  But instead is one of the best reads about food and drink, written in a very passionate manner.  I love this book and recommend it to every foodie out there.

King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion The Essential Cookie Cookbook by King Arthur Flour.  I bake something out of this book several times a month.  I love it’s use of all the whole grain flours.  It’s another big favorite of mine.


1080 Recipes by Simone Ortega.  I love cooking authentic Spanish food with tapas being one of my favorite.  This books covers everything you ever wanted to know about Spanish cooking and with great recipes too.  You’ll love this one.

Pure Dessert by Alice Medrich.  The recipes in this book are one of a kind, focused on using fewer but finer ingredients.  The results are wonderful with impressive recipes you will make again and again.

The Elements of Cooking by Michael Ruhlman.  Need I say more, it’s written by Michael Ruhlman.  Author of The French Laundry Cookbook.  Let’s just say this is your new-go-to-book when it come to definition of cooking terms, chef’s secrets and all kinds ratios for making sauces and cakes and just everything.  This is your new cooking reference book.  Move over Joy of Cooking, there’s a new guy in town!

How to Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman.  This book is hip.  Everything I’ve ever made is inspiringly delicious.  All around amazing book.

The Food Snob’s Dictionary by David Kamp.  Finally a book that describes everything your foodie-obsessed friends are talking about! Love this one.

Martha Stewart Cookies by Martha Stewart.   Well I love Martha and her cookies.  I love this book and I hope you will too!

The Bread Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum.  I’ve saved one of the best for last.  This book has taught me everything I needed to know about baking bread.  The techniques, the terminology along with wonderful recipes.  This is one of my favorites.

I can’t wait to see who the winners are!

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Comments

  1. I can only wish I were 37 again! I’m 45 soon. I’m thinking, only 5 years away from 50. Man, that sounds OLD. But I’m not, really! What an awesome way to celebrate your birthday. One of the good things about getting older is realizing it is more fun to give than to receive!

    Reply

  6. HAVE A WONDERFUL 37TH BIRTHDAY CATHY!! You are the first one who likes giving gifts on their birthday…how generous are you? 11? Each one of those is wonderful. Let me say something; even if I don’t get picked by the RIG,I’m gonna send you a cookbook from my part of the world. Do mail me you address & if possible, tell me what sort (if any) of Indian cuisine grabs your attention!! HAVE A GREAT 37th…it’s really not so bad you know, I turned 40 & it’s so much easier to remember how old I am!! LOL!!

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  7. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Gosh, I wish you a perfectly lovely day, and a very happy year. I do the same thing; I’ve been saying I’m 50 for nearly a year now, and when I actually turn 50 this November (in Marrakesh, real cool) it’s going to be anticlimatic. I kind of remember 37, I think it was great. It’s all a blur now. 🙂

    Happy birthday, for real.

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  8. How very generous of you! Happy Birthday! I’m getting ready to celebrate my 38th birthday later this month. It’s funny, I always think I’m a year younger than I really am. And, yes, I agree, I still feel about 25…if only I still looked 25, LOL! Thanks for offering the giveaway of so many great books.

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  12. Happy Birthday Cathy!!!! It seems like just yesterday I was 37….well, 12 years ago! I hope you have a fabulous day!

    Your birthday books looks delish! What a nice thing to do.

    Fran

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  13. Oh man, I started drooling when I saw these cook books. There’s always room for one more cook book on the shelf as well as another bottle in the “wine cell” and another glass on the table.

    Teri

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  19. I hope you have a great birthday. I love, love, love cookbooks. Even if I’m not in the mood to cook, I still peruse and read recipes. My husband says I’m funny that way.

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  20. Just found your website and LOVE LOVE LOVE it.
    You are a fantastic writer and your sense of humor is wonderful. I really get a kick out of your stories about your boys, keep it real, nothing better and oh so funny. Thanks for the inspiration, wine reviews, recipes and laughter. Best regards. Krys

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  21. Many returns of the day!!!! The “back half” of 30 was a good age for me because I finally slowed down and took a deep breath, realizing what was really important and what was simply fluff. Have some cake!

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  23. Happy Birthday Cathy! I am not quite twice your age yet, but I can tell you that the second half of my life has been twice as good as the first half, if that is any consolation. All of the above books sound very interesting. Thank you for thinking about your readers once again!

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  26. I found your blog because there was an absolutely yummy looking recipe listed (I think it was your blueberry crumblies which we’ve made many times) and then I got completely wound up in your buying a winery. I’m living vicariously through you:)

    Happy birthday – I hope you have a marvelous day and please never stop sharing recipes. I’m finding allthis great food thanks to you:D

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  29. Happy Birthday Cathy! I remember loving my 37th year. (seems like yesterday!) I know yours will be outstanding!

    I hope you, the wild boar and the hooligans do something fun today to celebrate!

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  30. Happy Birthday to you ~ !!! I happen to love birthdays and I celebrate 2; one when I was born and the second is the date of my last cancer diagnosis (I tricked ’em!) which happens to be in August.

    Live out LOUD, more importantly, LOVE OUT LOUD!!!

    Again, Happy Birthday! Cheers! to you!

    p.s. I hate even numbers as well; won’t use them on the microwave (this always makes my husband grin).

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  31. Happy Birthday Cathy!! Awe at thirty seven your still a pup! My life didn’t start till I turned 40. I’m a later bloomer hee hee. At 53 I don’t feel old and I don’t think old , my body does sometimes ! Getting older just means you have more life experience from which you’ve attained lots of wisdom….from all the stupid crap you’ve done and learned from! Ha Ha!!
    I hope you have a wonderful birthday!!

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  34. Congratulations! I think I turned 41 this year and keep asking my children… “how old am I this year?”… I also tell them some day I will be old an gray sitting on a porch lobbing water balloons at all the perky breasted joggers who trot by!

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  35. Happy Birthday!! You are so sweet to be giving stuff away on such a special day. Age is just a number, I never would have guessed your age – you can act/feel like 25 anyday.

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  37. Happy birthday to you!! You are so sweet to be giving stuff away on your special day! You totally threw me off – I never would have guessed your age – you can act/feel like 25 anyday – age is just a number.

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  40. Happy Happy Birthday to you!! I know what you mean about the age thing, I still think I am in my thirties until someone corrects me and tells me I will be 43 in a couple of months!!! I just know they are wrong, I certainly dont feel it!!!

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  43. Happy Birthday Cathy!
    My day is off to a rotten start, and I could really use a free book.
    Here’s a way my mom taught me to tell my age (now that I’m 30). I say, “I’m twenty-ten”. It sounds younger. And funnier. So you could say you’re “twenty-seventeen”. Make people do the math.

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  49. Happy Birthday! I also spend the year telling people that I’m a year older than I really am. My husband turns a year older than me a couple months after my birthday so I tend to say that I’m his age by mistake.

    I’ll be 38 in October so I’m officially closer to 50 than 25!

    Hope you have a wonderful 37th year on earth!

    BTW, I’m embarrassed to say that I haven’t read ANY of those books. What kind of food lover am I?

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  50. Well, happy birthday to you. This is my first time here. What a great day to choose to visit. Just looking for some cooking blogs. Your’s looks interesting.

    BTW, I turn 37 in October. Sympathy to you and me as well.

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  56. Happy B-day, Cathy. I love coming her for my daily bloggy fix.

    I’m eyeing on Simone Ortega’s book but I don’t have a luck for any giveaways but who knows. Have a great day.

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  57. Happy Birthday! How generous of you.

    I never remember how old I am anymore either, I constantly find myself stopping and thinking when someone asks. Time seems to fly by faster the older I get.

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  59. Happy Birthday Cathy!
    I have to agree with you-I have much more fun giving than receiving.
    After the 20s go by-birthdays can tend to be not so fun anymore……at 53-and I have to think and do the math when giving my age-geesh…..but I look age now as just a number…..
    That’s a wonderful collection of cookbooks you have there-and what a nice thing to do!
    Make it a special day!
    Carol

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  60. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CATHY!!! My inner being is younger than my actual age too! Every couple of years or so it gets a little old…but for the most part, never my actual age! I hope you have a wonderful day! We could never not come back to you, no matter how bad you try to scare us. 😉

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  68. “So they say it’s your birthday, duhnunununununu, well it’s my birthday too, duhnunununununu . . . “

    Happy Birthday! I read your blog everyday. LOVE IT. 🙂 Enjoy your day!

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  69. Happy 37th!!!! Dang, you are just a babe… A smart babe with her act together no less!
    I also wish I was 26 with all my current knowledge… As they say, youth is wasted on the young…
    I am 46!
    Cool book selection! I’ll take the Alice Waters off your hands, gladly!

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  70. i don’t remember how i found your blog, but the reason i keep coming back is for the inspiration to cook. i love baking, but the cooking is a bit harder for me. would love any of the books, especially the baking ones. thanks for the opportunity

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  73. Happy Birthday Cathy!!! Wishing you a great day and year!! I totally agree w/ what you said about aging! Luckily, I still *feel* 25 too!

    And–you have definitely inspired me to cook! I have made a lot of recipes from your site. And I’m STILL drinking those limoncellos!!

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  77. Happy Birthday to you! I like giving better than receiving too. It’s much more fun, isn’t it? Great choices of cookbooks. Aren’t you the generous one today?? Have a terrific bday…

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  78. Cathy,
    My 40th is looming – I have less then 4 weeks left as a “thirty-something”.
    Enjoy your day and your year! Happy, happy birthday! And remember 40 is the new 30, right?

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  81. Happy Birthday, indeed. I am 25 and I wish I had the wisdom of 37 – because what I do got is a lot of bad decision making. But, enough about me – great list, have a happy year – and remember, you’re not getting older, you’re getting sexier 😉

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  83. Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you…Happy Birthday dear Cathy…….Happy Birthday to you!

    And many more…

    The book selections look great, thanks for the chance to win one.

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  86. Happy Birthday! Today is my 2nd anniversary!

    I love cookbooks, and don’t own any of the ones you listed. My H has actually had to physically stop me from buying more cookbooks as they currently take up almost 2 shelves in our pantry!

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  87. Happy Birthday Cathy!! I hope you have a wonderful day.

    What an awesome variety of cookbooks and how generous of you to do a give away. 🙂

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  90. Happy Birthday! My next birthday is 25 and it made me smile to think that you wish you could be 25 again. I have been fearing it because time seems to be flying by but your little comment might have changed my perspective.

    I am just starting to really get into cooking and would love a book to enhance my education.

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  95. Happy Birthday! I’m glad you still feel 25 and I’m sure you don’t look a day older than 25 either! 🙂 This is a great collection of books, thanks for your generosity.

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  100. Happy Birthday Cathy. I hope that today is everything you hope for:D I just noticed that the security code is hard to read…must be the lighting….wink…wink..in fact it just said that the test does not match….where are those glasses….

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  104. Happy Birthday Cathy! This is just one more reason why I can’t stop reading your blog! Emily my daughter say’s one day she hopes we bump into you because she knows that we could easily be friends, but then we would talk too much and she doesn’t like to share me THAT much!

    My family gets upset with me because they never know what to get me for my birthday so they like to take me shopping, then I always end up buying something someone else wants without fail! I really hate celebrating my birthday (then again I’m uhhhhh 47 now, that was hard to say!) So since Emily is now an aspiring chef, if you gave me a book… I would only give it to her! Because I know she would enjoy it, which is probably why YOU are giving these away on your birthday. Enjoy your day… You deserve it!!!

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  105. I have used several of the recipes from your blog and they have all turned out great!! Thanks for the wonderful job you do.
    Happy Birthday!!
    Mary

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  106. lol @ you lying about your age, silly rabbit!

    I turned 40 this year and I’m loving it. While I nearly had a breakdown while turning 35 (I figured I was approximately halfway to death), the past 5 years have been very liberating and enjoyable. I had another baby at 37 (who turns 2 this fall) and honestly, I feel better at 40 than I have at any other time in my life! (Besides now I get to hang the “Forever 39” magnet on my own refrigerator – the same magnet I gave my mother on her 40th birthday some 23 years ago!)

    Have a very happy birthday my blogging friend, and if I should happen to win one of these cool cookbooks, it’ll be a very merry celebration!

    (P.S. I’m with you… much better to give gifts than to receive them!)

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  108. Happy Birthday! I hope all of your dreams come true.

    I know what you mean about not feeling your age. I don’t even remember how old I am sometimes. People ask me my age and I have to think about it. 40 looms too close on the horizon!

    I admit to loving gifts and having people make a huge fuss over me on my birthday, but giving stuff is good too! I am a nurturer (Cancerian trait I suppose) so I make it a mission in life to cook for people!

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  113. uhm, no need to enter me in giveaway… Cause I don’t have only ONE of those books. I’m kind of embarrassed to admit that actually. I have cookbook issues.
    But I did want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Especially since my very own 35th birthday is just a week away and I’m none too thrilled about that. Boo hiss to getting old.

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  115. Happy Birthday! I am not posting to win a book, only to say that once again you are an amazing “giver” and a great friend. Thanks for making us all laugh with your stories.

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  120. Happy Birthday Cath,
    You forgot to tell us what you are having for your birthday celebration. First I got hooked on Google Reader, and now on Noble Pig.
    Tom, 70 from Walnut Creek, and still cooking.

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  124. I may need the Bread Bible to live. Just sayin’. This is a cool idea, and I may have to borrow it for my next birthday.

    Meanwhile…ahem…

    Hippo Birdie, two Ewe
    Hippo Birdie, two Ewe
    Hippo Birdie, Deer Ewe
    Hippo Birdie, two Ewe

    Shade and Sweetwater,
    K

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  130. Happy Birthday. Join the ranks of all who forget just how they are, how many years they have been married and how many children they have. Oh you wouldn’t forget the children part. That is engraved permanently.

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  134. Happy Birthday! I love that you have 135 comments! I bet you everyone is going for the cookie book. Or the bread book. Or any of the other 9 books!

    I shall send the Flying Pigs from the Pond with their finest grass to wish you a happy birthday!

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  138. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Cathy!

    You’re the same age as my daughter and oh how I’d love to be your age again! Although I’m not sure I’d like to go through the “teen years” of my children again. “THAT” was exhausting, but survivable. I love reading your blog, your experiences, take on life and mostly your yummy recipes! I’d love to have one of your cookbooks. If I’m lucky enough to be chosen, could you autograph it for me? Again, Happy Birthday, enjoy, enjoy!
    Kathi

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  139. I am relatively new to your site/blog. I love your candidness and the little comments you make as you’re presenting your recipes. I love to cook. I like to follow recipes exactly the first time. Then I tweak it and make adjustments each successive time I use it again. I look forward to your emails as I find them entertaining and informative. I hope I am one of your winners. Since my husband is of Hispanic descent, I am hoping for the Spanish food book. It is difficult to find an authentic Spanish cookbook in English for a “gringa” like myself. I will continue to enjoy your commentary whether or not I win however. By the way, I’m your age + 20 years. I assure you, like everything in life getting older has its up and down sides. Ha ha! Just make it a point to enjoy your life whatever age you are. I always try to see the glass as half full. Negativity just takes way too much energy. Well, I guess I’ve rambled long enough. Take care, keep writing and God Bless you on this your th year! Many happy returns of the day as well!

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  140. Happy Birthday, Cathy!! Hope it’s a fun and relaxing day!

    How sweet of you to GIVE on your birthday!! I have that Secret Ingredients book too – been having fun skipping back and forth through all the vignettes 🙂

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  142. i entirely agree about the receiving vs. giving thing
    i love to give little gifts, even little things … don’t get me started on my obsession with sending a dozen cards a week to friends and family members

    … praying for the cake book

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  145. You don’t like receiving gifts? Oh man! I love receiving gifts! It’s my love language! These cook books look awesome! HAPPY BIRTHDAY and thank you for this wonderful site!

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  146. Happy birthday Cathy! I’m a rarely new reader and the day I stumbled uponed it I made two recipes, better than money and the blueberry crumblies! We love them so much!! I’d love to see what books inspire you!

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  148. wow! what a give away! I wish it were your birthday every day! 😉
    and I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you’re actually in your thirty-eighth year now. You’re born, you live your first year and have your first birthday then you’re in your second the whole year up to your second birthday. You see? You really are older than you think. 😉 Don’t fret though – I’ll always be older than you. I’m turning 30 ten this year. And I am falling apart. I think I had my first hot flash yesterday. Feel sorry for me? A new cookbook would help!

    Happy day, Cathy. And many more.

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  149. Whoo-hoo I’ll be 37 this year too! A book you may enjoy, if you haven’t discovered it already — The Book Lovers Cookbook… takes recipes from various fiction books, plus excerpts from the books… (yes, you need gifts too!)

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  151. Happy Birthday!

    I know what you mean about birthdays. This week I celebrated a monumental one. I deliberately took vacation so that I would not be in the office on my birthday. I just hate office birthday celebrations. Dinner with three or four good friends is great. Sharing birthday cake with 20 people who are just there for the cake…not so much. I think it was Bette Davis who said “Getting older is not for sissies.” She got it right! But, that’s what makes the accomplishments so much sweeter. When you can rise above the aches, pains and failing senses, and still have a full, satisfying life, then you’re the winner! I do pretty well…for an old broad. And that makes me happy.

    Hope your birthday is everything you want it to be.

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  152. Giveaways ROCK!

    This is a great idea. My current favorite cookbook is the Washington Inn Cooks for Friends, which is all the recipes for the great food served at the Washington Inn in Cape May New Jersey.

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  155. Happy Birthday Cathy!!! I have a friend who honestly thought she was 36 two years in a row. She was serious and argued when I tried to tell her she was only a year younger than me until she did the math..haha!

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  157. Today is also my father’s 73rd birthday, so Cathy, I would say that you are in excellent company! You Leo’s are the best!!! Happy Birthday to you, from yet another person who lives to eat!!!!

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  159. Happy Happy Birthday Cathy! I am celebrating the last few weeks of my 37th year and wondering how 38 will be. I’ll let ya know. 🙂
    Hope you have a wonderful day with The Wild Boar and your cute hooligans!

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  163. I can’t believe all the comments! Wow!!

    Here is the best thing to say about birthdays: they mean you’re healthy. You keep havin’ them, you keep on living!

    So HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Trust me, you get older but you never really FEEL older!

    ==Lennie

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  164. Happy Birthday to you!
    I agree, I do not like Birthday gifts. It’s hard for me to receive but oh so easy to give. I love giving of any kind.
    Although, I do love, love, love cookd books. I really don’t know what my family will do when I die? Probably end up at Good Will.

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  168. Wishing you the happiest of birthdays, Cathy!!! I love giving presents as well … finding just the right things for folks I love and even folks I don’t know at the food bank, etc. Giving is the best way of receiving. I confess that I do like the celebrating part of my birthday though. That could go on for a good month if you ask me. LOL Thanks so much for this giveaway … very cool.

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  173. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! you could be my age LOL 41 going on 20 most days! and 41 feeling 90 somedays… sigh… anyway I like you love to give its just soooooooo FUN!
    HUgs LAura

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  175. Happy Birthday! I hope you have a wonderful fun filled day! Already you have given me the gift to be inspired to cook again, and be excited about it. So thank you for that!

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  180. happy birthday! hope it was a good one. my hubby turned 45 on sat. wow, 11 cookbooks! maybe i’ll be lucky enough to win one, because my cooking skills need to evolve. lol 🙂

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  183. Oh, I’m hungry now! The hazard of visiting your blog on an empty stomach …

    Happy birthday! For some reason I thought you were in your very early 30’s. You’re still young, you know. Old is some place in the mid-80’s, I think.

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  184. Oh, how I love you and your website! I have made the bake sale bars for my church family, but I really aspire to make (and eat!) An Unfair Advantage.
    You crack me up and are my first laugh every day. (especially that court thingy, the good girl SHOULD win in the end!!)

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  185. Cathy, I stumbled across your website one day and I’ve been coming back ever since. I have tried some of your recipes and enjoyed reading your thoughts. Have a Happy Birthday and thank you for sharing with all of us.

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  186. Happy Birthday Cathy!

    Like you, I’m not really into my own birthday. If it’s someone I care about, however, I’ll go all out! There’s no better feeling than giving someone the perfect gift, tailor made for them. So I hope someone special gives you something great!

    I hope you have a wonderful day!

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  187. Well this contest got you a lot of comments. I don’t need a book but I am thankful for the recipes you run. They give us a little push and the pictures really help.
    ‘O! Happy Birrthday.

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  189. Damn Cathy, there’s a lot of comments on this post!

    Happy Birthday! It’s all about how you feel right 🙂 As you know I just turned 30 but still feel about 21, just smarter and with kids 😉

    I think I just drowned my keyboard drooling over those books. Any book that has anything to do with food and I’m all over them!! 🙂

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  190. Happy Birthday Cathy!
    My husband’s father (who is deceased) used to give gifts on his birthday to all his kids & grandkids. That way, they always remembered HIS special day!
    I love your book choices.
    Karen

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  192. oh my goodness, what great books. I have been reading your blog for awhile now and absolutely love it. I am enrolling in pastry school soon, so those books would be awesome! Thanks for the give away on your special day! Happy Birthday!

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  193. Happy Birthday! I would very much like to be 37 again. I am sure that I would do it much better the second time around. As for inspiring others to cook, the day I found your blog, I also found your recipe for beef brisket which started me on my journey to make one new recipe per week. My family and their stomachs thank you. And they loved your recipe for clafoutis.

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  197. Happy 30 something??? I have so enjoyed your posts. I subscribed to your site a few months ago from another xangan (Alice) and I have enjoyed so much your recipes and cooking tips. Your other witty posts have quite often had me laughing hysterically. There are probably a lot of us out here that enjoy your wit and talent…but forget to tell you. Thanks, Candy

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  200. Happy Birthday Cathy !!!!… OMG.. now I feel so old *yikes *lol*

    Just keep pretending your 5 years old… thats what I try to do 🙂

    Its going to be a good year for you… you have a vineyard to plan for !!!

    Cheers 😀 ALL THE BEST !!!!

    PS: Dont even begin with the glasses… wait till you’re my age, all of the ancient years of 45… and its all true what they say…. I didnt believe all the stories, fact or fiction, I’ve been in denile for a year,but home has hit the roost.. I may now need not just one pair of RX, two, maybe, but depending on what I am doing at work and how comfortable I am with my visual acuity… maybe a 3rd set

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  201. …”Happy Birthday!” I agree, it is so much more fun to give than to receive but I so love even numbers…lol…

    …Here’s hoping your day is spectacular and full of laughter and love!

    …Blessings birthday girl… *<:o)

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  205. Happy Birthday!!!

    I got a ticket this weekend and thought of you, so I came to re-read that post and saw this so decided to take a chance and comment.

    so happy birthday to you! don’t mind me while I’m wishing for court justice as you blow out the candles!

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  208. Boy! You have great taste in books!! I have enjoyed your blog so much!! Great recipes, but even better writing! You really make me laugh!!!
    Happy Birthday!

    Debra in Kansas!!

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  209. What a compliment. I always wanted a sister. 🙂 Happy birthday to you–may 37 be more wonderful than 36. If it helps, I can’t even crawl out of bed without specs for fear of encountering closed doors that look open to my myopic eyes. Sigh.

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  210. I visited here the for the first time today, thinking this blog was about pigs! Silly me! But a great find, nonetheless. If I win, I will feel very very guilty since this is my first visit, but what the heck…let’s tempt fate.

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  212. Haha you have a bazillion comments. And no wonder–what a great selection and how nice of you.

    I won’t lie, I am a giver and a receiver. I love giving gifts but I also love getting them. Happy birthday, I hope yours is a great one!

    Reply

  213. Hi- I am a new reader, but I very much love what I have seen so far. I would love to get a new food book to add to the burgeoning shelf. That bread book looks amazing! (here I am, literally judging a book by it’s cover – Mama would be proud…)

    Reply

  223. Happy Birthday, my dear! I’m only a few years behind ya. And yes, it would be great to be 25 again, but with the wisdom. Ah, the wisdom.

    I truly hope you have had a wonderful day. You deserve it.

    Reply

  226. I just discovered your blogsite, and I hope I am picked for a cookbook. I collect them, and have many, but none of the ones you showed. I’ll be checking in everyday, to hear from you.

    Reply

  228. i’m disappointed that i missed the contest, but i’m more disappointed that i missed the chance to say “happy birthday” on your actual birthday. i guess i’ll have to settle for “happy belated birthday,” which i hate to do. i hope you get everything you want [within reason–would you really want to go back to 25? i’m here to tell you, it’s not as great as you recall… :)]

    Reply

  230. Wow, 230 comments. Damn B-day girl, you are popular!!!

    I think I missed the fabulous book giveaway deadline but want to wish you a SUPER HAPPY B-DAY nonetheless.

    With the big OR plans I’m guessing you, the boar and the little men have an exciting year ahead of you!

    Happy happy!

    Reply

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