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A Challenge

By May 28, 2014June 24th, 201452 Comments

You guys know the story about how family dinner got majorly kick-started in our house…way back yonder when the girls had to stand on stools to reach the stove…right? For those of you who don’t, a superquick refresher: To bust out of a pizza-pasta-nugget rut, we challenged ourselves to cook 30 brand new meals over the course of 30 days. It was like dinner bootcamp — we thought it might get the kids to try a few new foods, as well as re-ignite our fast-waning love of cooking. (Which is what happens when you eat pasta with butter sauce five nights a week.) It worked on both fronts, and Dinner: The Playbook out in August, will tell the long version of the story, but for now, I want to issue forth a mini challenge. A dinner bootcamp lite.

So who’s ready to bust out of a recipe rut? Or who just wants to inject a little sumpin sumpin into dinnertime again?

If that’s you, pay attention! We will be picking 50 readers and bloggers to partake in a challenge. NO! NOT A THIRTY DAY CHALLENGE! All you have to do is cook at least three meals from Dinner: The Playbook over the course of ONE week (June 22 – June 29) and share the results on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, or Tumblr page. (Or just call up a friend on the phone and tell her about it. I’d like that very much, too.) Whether you think the meals were successes or failures, I want to hear about them all.

Participants will receive an advance copy of Dinner: The Playbook, a coupon for Applegate products, and a $50 Target gift card to help buy groceries for a week of cooking.
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Are you man enough? Woman enough? Cook enough? (If I was, anyone is!) If so, join me!
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Update: The deadline for applying has now passed. Those selected to participate will be notified the week of June 16.

52 Comments

  • Avatar Jen says:

    Jenny, I entered the challenge, but didn’t enter my pinterest/instagram/facebook, etc. If it matters, if I was selected (and I would love to be selected :), I would post the results of my challenge on pinterest and/or instagram. Hope my failure to fill in those fields doesn’ t put me out of the running! Thanks.

  • Avatar Nilu says:

    So excited about having the chance to get picked!! Yipeeeee!! Sounds right up my alley!! Love Food, Have Kids, Love trying out new recipes!! You Rock, I Rock, We all Rock!! Got a little carried away:)!!!

  • Avatar Susan says:

    Sign me up! At the end of the school year (and my kids still have over three weeks to go) we are all looking for something new and fun. For them it is the beach, or Maine or anything not school – this would be that for me!

  • keely says:

    This excites me soooo much- it’s just what I need to get me out of this rut!

  • Avatar Stacy says:

    Guessing this is a no, but is there a way to modify an entry? I want to add my Instagramand FB pages as I would share using those also.

  • Avatar Ashley in MD says:

    Fun!

    Your other books and this blog are a regular part of my meal-planning rotation, so I’m excited for the chance to possibly get my hands on the next book a little early.

    P.S.-Last night we made the grilled steak tacos at our community pool (pickled the onions and made the sauce at home and brought it along in the cooler). Everyone around us with their hot dogs was jealous. 🙂

  • Avatar Jason says:

    We’re totally in!

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  • Avatar Allison says:

    Hi Jenny!
    I am an unwavering fan of DALS the book and your blog and would like to ask that if my only means of electronic communication is email will my submission be considered valid? Thanks!
    Allison

  • The Countess of Nassau County says:

    I would love to take part. I am a big fan and my family really enjoys your recipes …. and I will never, ever buy Shake n’ Bake again after trying your homemade version!!

  • Avatar Justine says:

    I entered and am super excited at the possibility of being chosen…but I didn’t get any notification if my entry went through, just got a blank screen. Is there any way to check to see if my entry went through? Not sure if I should re-submit my application or not. Sorry to be a pain!

  • Sara says:

    Love to do the challenge!im tired of the rut!

  • Avatar Jenny C says:

    I found myself hoping my contest-entry comments were cool enough to be chosen! We really are all about cooking here, but with a very DALS mellow vibe. Nothing too fussy here.

  • Avatar michele says:

    I got DALS for Christmas………….I immediately hid away in my quilting studio reading it. My 11 year old daughter calls me a cook-book nerd, of course this is while she is salivating through one herself!

    Anyway, I look forward to seeing The Playbook – hopefully in June!

  • Avatar Kelly Reyes says:

    Wow! I’d LOVE to participate!

  • Suzanna says:

    Just entered, I am dying to be chosen for this. Sounds like the most fun I’d have in the kitchen all month!! I love your blog and book. (Is this overkill?!) Happy picking!! **wink, wink

  • angie says:

    crossign my fingers! would love to get my hands on this book early! i can then gift my pre-ordered one! 🙂

  • Richelle says:

    Pick me, choose me, love me
    –Grey’s Anatomy (or me, trying hard to get in on this!

  • Avatar Mary says:

    Very cool! I entered and am so hoping I get to participate – how fun! And perfect timing, since I’m in a rut and haven’t tried a new recipe in too long.

  • Avatar Colene Barlow Durocher says:

    Jenny, is it too late to enter? I just clicked and saw a
    ‘This SnapApp is no longer available’ message.

  • Divya says:

    Jenny,
    Have you chosen the participants?!
    I hope I was one of the chosen ones!!

    Thank you,
    Divya

  • Suzanna says:

    Have the participants already been chosen/notified?

  • Avatar Michelle W. says:

    Hi there – did you select and notify all the participants yet?

  • Avatar Shelley says:

    I would love to enter this challenge~ the message I keep receiving is that “the snap app is no longer available” but I see in the post that we have until the 16th to enter…a techno glitch maybe?
    I’ll be watching for some info~ Thank you for the opportunity!!

  • Avatar Michelle W. says:

    Thanks for the update! Hope to get selected!

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