Hi, friends!
Just thought I’d check in again and say THANK YOU for helping me sell out on QVC again! We sold almost 6,000 copies in 6 minutes. You guys are amazing! Thank you!
Since we keep having this little issue of selling out, I’m actually doing another appearance just for you! There will be more books available on the August 19th episode of In the Kitchen with David. I’ll be on at my usual time, around 8:30pm EST. Thank you so much for the support, friends! It warms my heart so much to know that others are enjoying my small-batch recipes. While the vast majority of folks have multiple kids and a large group of lovely people to cook for, it’s been me, myself and I for many years. Only recently did I get married and start my own family. The recipes in this book have been with me since my single girl days, and I'm so glad they are finally in print. Although, my husband and I are still eating the breakfast, lunch, and dinner for two recipes these days, too! (Shhhh! I also included 15 new dessert for two recipes, but that will be our little secret! I can’t help myself when it comes to small batch desserts!)
If you’re single, newly married, an empty nester, or just someone looking to spice up date night by cooking at home, my recipes for two are for you. Cooking for two books are also great bridal shower gifts, too. Just sayin'.
You can pre-order on Amazon.
I wanted to clear up the release date. QVC is shipping books on September 1. The wide-spread release date is September 10. I was under the impression that QVC was shipping books immediately since the warehouse has started to receive books already. I apologize for misleading you! The Dessert for Two release was very similar, and while 10 days early may not sound like that big of a deal, it ended up being a huge deal because the book sold out so quickly across all major retailers. Some people told me that even though they preordered on Amazon, they still didn’t get their book until 3 weeks later. Barnes and Noble was even slower about re-filling book orders. So, if you order on QVC, you are guaranteed to receive your book before anyone else. I hope that’s okay. If you’re fuming mad, email me, and maybe I can send you one of the super duper early copies that are sitting on my coffee table right now. In the meantime, if you’re aching for Dinner for Two recipes, try my archives. I’m sharing one a week these days!
What else is going on in my crazy house? Hmm.. I taught my first cooking class at Kitchen Conservatory last week. I apologize for not advertising it—it sold out so quickly that I didn’t have a chance to mention it. However, I’m teaching again on October 20th, so if you live in St Louis, call and get on the list! In each class, we make 5 recipes, start to finish. Then, we sit down at the end of class and chow down! It’s the best! For the first class, we made 5 recipes from the Dessert for Two cookbook: Texas Peach Cobbler, Raspberry Pick-up Pie, Strawberry Shortcakes, Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes, and Oatmeal Cream Pies. I’d love to meet you, so come and bake with me!
Let’s wrap up with photos of baby Camille, shall we? She is the best baby ever. It’s not like I have other babies to compare her to, but I just know we lucked out with her. She started sleeping through the night at 10 weeks, but had a small set-back when I got back from QVC due to low milk supply. I'm happy to report at 12 weeks, she’s back it. She’s such a champ, which is a great thing, because I’m a monster without sleep. My husband is an absolute saint for taking care of Camille while I travel to promote the book. He just started a fabulous new job where everyone is very family-oriented and supportive of our unique situation. (Also, three cheers for my husband for finally leaving a job he wasn’t passionate about and starting over fresh! I couldn’t be more proud of him!)
Last time we talked, my life was consumed with breastfeeding and cloth diapers. I'm happy to say that life has leveled back out, leaving me more time for creativity and pursuing a life I love. Cloth diapers are old hat to me now; I don't even have to think about it anymore. I've also taken a more relaxed approach to breast feeding lately. Instead of scheduling her feedings and trying to plan my day around it, I just feed her whenever she's hungry. Revolutionary, right? I feel like a weight has been lifted. If you make something the center of your life and obsess over it, it can drive you crazy. These days, I view feedings as a chance to rest on the couch with her for a few moments, and then we get back to our day. I am much more relaxed. I mean, I'm still googling all things breastfeeding-relating and stressing about supply, but I hear this is completely normal for new moms. (Like the arm rolls up there could ever mean she's not getting enough to eat!)
My husband has gotten me into so many fun podcasts lately. We've always been big Dave Ramsey fans (live debt-free, yo!), and Dave turned us onto Dan Miller. He wrote a book called 48 Days to the Work You Love, and Brian bought it for me a few years ago when I was struggling in my old career. And here I am now, loving every second of this precious life! Brian recently picked up the book when he was facing his own struggles, and it led him to a new job that he loves. Dan Miller has a podcast called 48 Days that we are obsessed with. We love all podcasts that have to do with positivity, the creative process, and building a life you love (because everyone deserves that, yo! Ok, I'll stop saying 'yo' now). We listen to Happier with Gretchen Rubin, 48 Days by Dan Miller, TED talks, the TED radio hour, and the new Food Blogger Pro podcast by Pinch of Yum, too! Making a commitment to a happier, positive, productive life has made so many good things flow our way recently, and I just had to share.
Thanks again, friends for being so supportive of my dream to cook for two. I wouldn’t be here without you, and I hope to keep at this for the rest of my life! Even if we have a dozen more babies, I'll always be cooking for date night :)
As always, let me know if you have any recipe requests. I’d love to tackle them for you!
Love and cupcakes,
Christina
Leila says
Camille is so sweet and it's great to hear about your husband's new job. I missed your QVC appearance. Was it recorded.
I have your dessert cookbook and LOVE it. I am interested in your 2nd cookbook, but I keep kosher and therefore any recipes containing pork/shellfish or meat/poultry/fish and dairy are off limits for me. Would there be a decent amount of recipes left for me to try?
Countryman Press says
Hi Leila, I work with Christina at her publishing company and I noticed your comment because I keep kosher too! There are only a handful of recipes that use pork or shellfish, and all others can be easily adapted for the kosher home. Enjoy!
Christina Lane says
Thanks so much for replying! I was just thinking there are really only a few pork recipes (baked bacon, eggs benedict, and potato chip crusted pork chops). As for kosher, combining dairy with meat, I'm thinking there are a few that are not acceptable, but not many. You can leave the cheese off of things, too. I think you would be able to make almost all of the recipes with a few exceptions. I think you would be happy :)
Leila says
Thanks! Looking forward to the release date :)
bobbi dougherty says
She is adorabs! I can see why you are loving on her all the time. yes, you have to take your time with them and enjoy EVERY second. It goes by too, too fast. My "baby" is 27!!! Enjoy. looking forward to getting your book.
barbaraa says
Congratulations on your book sales - there is one key person responsible for those sales; YOU (and your little gorgeous assistant!). As your adoring fans, I guess we did helps some :) . All the very best to you and your family!
Shawnna says
Oh Camille is just so cute!! I love babies!! the pics are really good!! And congrats on your new cookbook!! Love ya!
Kit says
Who says you can't have it all? Realizing that all of the usual bumps in the road are there for you too is what I love bout your blog! It is all in how you react to them that gets you where you wanna be in life. Yo!
I love your updates equal to your fabulous recipes.,as an empty nester, the recipes keep a young fresh vibe in our meals that my old '70 Betty Crocker, much as I cherish it, lacks for sure! Thank-you. Your family is delightful!
Christina Lane says
Thanks so much, Kit! You're so kind!
Crystal says
Camille is so adorable! Congrats to Brian and the new book! My husband and I both just started over and We know exactly what it feels like! I'm also 20+ years older than everyone in my new office except the owner and I'm still ten years older than him! LOL, at least no one has taken to calling me mom yet! July was my second month and I turned 43 there, they even threw me a birthday party...haha they just wanted cake...but it was the first time any of them had red velvet cake...can you believe that! I have to make sure these kids are shown the light and some good food! I love your blog and all the recipes...and baby Camille!
Christina Lane says
Aww, congrats to you, Crystal! That office needs you! :)
Sarah // The Sugar Hit says
Seriously, though, Camille's little sleeping face peeping out of that baby wrap while you bake? SO PRECIOUS. And as always, you are an absolute inspiration to me!
Christina Lane says
YOU inspire me, Sarah! Gah! You're so sweet!
Leah | So, How's It Taste? says
Camille is so adorable! What a sweetheart! I can't wait to get your new cookbook. I oohed and aahed so much over your Dessert for Two cookbook that my mom got one, too. We're slowly making everything in it! It is seriously one of the best dessert cookbooks I own. You rock!
Christina Lane says
You are so sweet, Leah! Thanks so much! :)
Lynn says
You're such a rock star! If you're ever in LA I want you on MY podcast!
Christina Lane says
Soon, my love. Soon. Long term plans to get to Paradise... ;)
Darcie says
Congrats on the second book! I'll have to buy it when my budget will allow it (still not living debt-free, thanks to student loans/car loans... ha).
And I can't wait until October to take your class!! It's so nice to have another food blogger like me in STL. I love food blogs and the bloggers alike, so I am stoked to meet you. We'll have to get a selfie or something together. :)
Christina Lane says
I can't wait to meet you, Darcie!!!!!! I've got a book for ya, don't you worry! ;)