Sunday Salon: Six Sisters’ STUFF

With today’s Sunday Salon we get a bit closer to springtime, even if the weather refuses to cooperate.

No matter what the weather brings, it’s always a good time to read a book. The book I share today is part of a blog tour and the authors have a challenge underway. First I’ll share my thoughts on the book and then tell you about the tour/challenge/giveaway.

Six Sisters’ STUFF

Sometimes looking at a cookbook, I feel I have to be a culinary expert just to be able to understand and execute the simplest recipe. When I picked up Six Sisters’ STUFF, I was delighted to find not only yummy recipes, but practical and easy instructions even a novice cook like me can follow.

The recipes aren’t complicated and use canned and packaged ingredients. That way more time is spend with the family than in the kitchen cooking. However, if you want to go into more detail, many of the recipes also include instructions for ingredients made from scratch rather than a box or can. Though simple in preparation, the recipes are packed with great taste and easy to prepare for families on the go.

The cookbook is divided into three sections: Recipes, Crafts, And So Much More. In the Recipe section the categories are broken into Main Dishes, Slow Cooker, Sides, Salads, Breads and Desserts.

The Slow Cooker section has recipes for everything from Melt-in-Your-Mouth Slow Cooker Pot Roast to Slow Cooker Hot Fudge Brownies. Having only used the slow cooker for roast, beans and soup, I decided to try the Creamy Slow Cooker Ranch Pork Chops and Potatoes recipe. It was simple, easy and best of all - tender and delicious. Even the clean up wasn’t bad. I’m looking forward to trying the brownies next.

Woven among the recipes are fun and inexpensive crafts ideas, as well as helpful hints and tips. The crafts include such things as an Easy Monster Sock Puppet to a neat Ultimate Kid Wash that will have grownups wanting to play. The hints and tips feature such items as a spring cleaning checklist, fun family activities and even 50 fun date ideas for the adults.

Six Sisters’ STUFF would make an ideal gift for a bride, a nice housewarming gift or a fun surprise for anyone who enjoys cooking. The fact that it is compiled by six sisters (Camille, Kristen, Elyse, Stephanie, Lauren, and Kendra) gives it an extra appeal to me. This debut cookbook evolved from the sisters’ blog that began in February 2011. Living in different parts of the country, the sisters used the blog to stay in touch, share ideas and express their love to cook, craft and create.

This is a fun cookbook filled with almost 100 delicious recipes designed to give families more time together at the table. The recipes are easy and nutritious. The extra crafts and more are designed with creating family fun in mind.

Six Sisters’ STUFF: Family Recipes, Fun Crafts, And So Much More by Six Sisters’ Stuff, Shadow Mountain, @2013, ISBN: 978-1609073244, Paperback, 208 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book as part of the Six Sisters’ Tour and it was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
 

Join the Family Dinner Challenge The authors are very passionate about making time for family dinner. According to Pew Research , only about half of families make dinner a daily ritual and another third eat together a few times a week. Roughly one in 5 families (20%) eat together only occasionally or never.  

In conjunction with the book’s release on March 4, SixSistersStuff.com launched a 4x4 Dinner Challenge. Families are encouraged to eat together as a family at least four times a week for four weeks. Families can register online at www.SixSistersStuff.com and receive meal tips, ideas for family activities, and helpful recipes to assist in making this challenge a reality.  

“We grew up knowing the importance of feeding our families a home-cooked meal and sitting down to eat it together,” said Camille, the oldest sister. “Even the busiest of people can make the food and project ideas we share, which will give you even more time to spend with your family and loved ones.” 

In addition, there is a giveaway promotion included in the tour. You can enter by doing one of two things:
    1) Like the Six Sister’s STUFF Facebook page and comment that you are joining the 4x4 Dinner Challenge.
    2) Click the 4x4 Family dinner banner on their website (on the right sidebar) and leave a comment that you are joining the challenge.
 
In just two short years, SixSistersStuff.com has quickly become one of the most popular food and craft blogs, receiving on average 5 million page views per month, with over 130,000 Facebook fans and more than 190,000 Pinterest followers (as of Feb. 7).

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Hope you’re having a pleasant and relaxing Sunday. Does your family make time to discuss the day’s activities around a meal? Was meal time a quiet time or noisy time when you were growing up?

One Other Note…
Today (Sunday, March 10th) is Good Deeds Day.

This annual celebration of doing good on March 10th is based on a simple premise: that every person can do something good, be it large or small, to improve the lives of others. It only takes a small act to positively change the world. This groundbreaking worldwide initiative was began by American-Israeli global business leader Shari Arison.

Doing Good, is Shari's overarching vision that induces change and answers the global shift towards balancing between economy, society and the planet. She shares her practical philosophy in her upcoming book: Activate Your Goodness: Transforming the World through Doing Good. In it, she gives clear and effective guidelines to those who wish to bring about positive change in their lives, businesses, societies and the world.

All over the world, thousands will choose to volunteer and help others today. No matter the size of the gesture – exchanging a smile or holding the door for a stranger – Shari believes that if we do good deeds for the benefit of others, the world will be a better place.     

For more information on Good Deeds Day and Shari, visit good-deeds-day.org, or www.shariarison.com

Former President Bill Clinton has said of Shari: "Your work has impacted the world in a profoundly positive way, touching lives everywhere in your everlasting pursuit to make the world a better place."

What will you do today as part of Good Deeds Day?