Friday, April 22, 2011

ChopChop

I know you're secretly ogling my new Ikea smaaalaablorf duvet set, but you need to focus. We're looking at the magazine, which Ben is reading, because he is suddenly all about learning to cook. More on this fact soon.

Hey, you guys, I have some exciting news! I'm going to be doing some work for an awesome nonprofit, ChopChop--and get a load of their mission: 
ChopChop’s mission is to educate kids to cook and be nutritionally literate, empower them to actively participate as health partners with their families, and help establish and support better eating habits for a lifetime of good nutrition.
Um, hello, perfect fit! Basically, it's a kids' cooking and recipe magazine, and its mission is to fight childhood obesity, but really it's great for any families who want to eat healthfully, have a way to talk to each other about food and nutrition, and--and of course I love this part--teach their kids to cook. Another thing I love--their Food Philosophy:
We believe in the simple values of cooking together as family and sharing healthy meals.
[me too!]
We don't do calorie counts or post nutrition content, but everything in this publication is reviewed and approved by our medical and nutrition advisors.
[me too! except for the advisors and approval, etc., which is always implied here on the blog, if not factually obtained]
We don’t demonize any individual foods.
[me either! except head cheese. and eggplant, sometimes, but only if it's kind of undercooked.]
We believe that consuming healthy, wholesome meals is a vital step toward a resolution of America’s obesity epidemic.
[so do I!]
I especially love the cooking and eating together, and also the not demonizing of any individual foods. Yay! Because salt, sugar, butter--you know I still want you.
I'm going to be doing some writing and blogging online for them (I'll post links here), and in the meantime, would you consider subscribing? For one thing, you're going to love it: the recipes are great and nicely geared towards cooking children (oh geez, but you know what I mean), the kids are totally real and beautiful, and there are puzzles and games that make it a great magazine to leave around the car when you're not cooking from it. Plus, if you subscribe, and then come back here and tell me about it, you'll automatically be entered to win. . . what? That's another thing you can tell me! A cookbook? A batch of homemade granola? A framed photo of Ben's pink Hello Kitty suitcase? Subscribe, tell me your heart's desire here, and we'll see what we can figure out. I know you're thinking Enough with the contests or What the hell kind of a contest is that? but this is what we're doing, so you're going to indulge me, right?
I might have to post again soon, because there's still so much I want to tell you. Like about what we've all been reading around here. Let's do another book-title sway, Get yours ready, okay?
Happy Passover. Happy Easter.
xo
p.s. Please feel free to comment here, even if you haven't subscribed--I just won't enter you in the special Mystery Sweepstakes that will take place next Friday.

78 comments:

  1. Subscribed! It looks like a fantastic magazine, I can't wait to see it! Congrats on the new job. :-)

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  2. Subscribed! I can't wait to see the magazine. It sounds like a perfect fit for you too.

    Looking forward to the book post!

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  3. Already subscribe to it (although I've just gotten the one issue ... would love to see it eventually get published more than four times a year). I love it and my second-grader really enjoys it, too. I stumbled upon it through the Fed Up With Lunch: The School Lunch Project blog. I'm glad you'll be involved with Chop Chop, Catherine!

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  4. Anonymous7:14 PM

    Just gifted a subscription to my granddaughter. I only wish she lived closer so we could enjoy cooking (and eating!) together more often.

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  5. rebecca7:46 PM

    I subscribed! Looking forward to reading your new work.

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  6. Subscribed! My 11-year-old daughter and her best friend are planning to open a restaurant. Her friend will be the chef (vegetarian specialties) and my daughter will be the pastry chef. To practice, she made her first on-her-own recipe this week: A pound cake that you poke holes in, and then make a caramel sauce that you pour over the cake so it soaks into the holes. Um, yeah, it was amazing. Anyway, this magazine is the perfect thing for my budding restauranteurs!

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  7. O.K., I susbscribed. And just so they know (in case for some crazy reason Disney didn't) how much we adore you, I went into my new account there and e-mailed them this:

    "I just wanted to let you know that I am here because of Catherine Newman! She is one of my favorite authors/bloggers and I'm so glad you're including her!!!"

    I'm not messing around with these people anymore.

    By the way, my verification word is "swinamut," and I'm sure that's what all the cool kids will be wearing to the beach this summer.

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  8. Sounds like a fantastic place for you to continue your passions of food, writing, kids....not necessarily in that order, of course!

    Subscribed!

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  9. Congratulations on your new gig - sounds great! I just subscribed to Chop Chop. What I want most of all is an $800 Nikon camera, but since that seems a tad unreasonable... what I'd ask for instead is a copy of your favorite cookbook for grownups, and also a copy of your favorite cookbook for kids.

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  10. I just subscribed! I can't wait to try out recipe ideas with my two daughters.

    My 8 year old second grader loves to help me cook in the kitchen, she's quite the little sous chef. My 4 year old helped make our salad tonight for dinner - she did a great job chopping up red and yellow peppers, shredding lettuce, and dicing avocado!
    She made sure to announce at the dinner table (several times) that she doesn't like salad but she helped make tonight's salad and it's yummy. : )

    Fondly,
    MaryLea

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  11. Subscribed! Look at your influence at work- all this happy family, good food nonsense. Kidding. It looks great, and just perfect for you (and us, vicariously)- so happy you've found another place to write.

    I, too, agree with the earlier comment that we're not messing around after all that Disney business. also lookg forward to the book post- in addition to eating, we're voracious readers. Cookbooks, too, in case you're writing one.

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  12. Teafortwo9:25 PM

    I subscribed! I'm going to post a link to my FB profile as well. I'm part of a group that's trying to get better food in our schools. They'll love it. Thanks for sharing!

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  13. subscribed:) and awesome, you, for putting your talents into such important work! A healthy eating non-profit that WON'T tell you to watch sugar suicide (don't. watch. it. ever.) is just plan awesome!

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  14. Sold! I can't believe it was that easy to talk to me into it. It does look like a great magazine and with you in it too - perfect! My 8-year-old daughter has recently been interested in cooking for us and I want to encourage that in every way I can. If I happen to win the contest, I'd love any one of the many cookbooks you've mentioned over the years. (Or a board game!)

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  15. Subscribed! What a perfect fit for you, and sounds like a great magazine for my family.

    I'd LOVE some homemade granola, seriously. I'm nine weeks pregnant, and for the last month I haven't been able to eat anything but oatmeal, or granola and yogurt. I still cook meals for my family, and then sneak away to eat my granola and yogurt. It is the only thing that I still love to eat. Thankfully, I think it is a perfect food.

    I'm glad this opportunity came your way. I can sense how energized you feel from your last post. It is great news!

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  16. Dear Catherine,
    You don't know me but I feel that I do know you. For one thing, every time I read something you have written the first thing that comes to my mind is that essay you wrote a few years ago about your son liking all things pink. What a wonderful essay. I also absolutely loved your writing in the now defunct magazine wonder...ful? I cannot remember the name now but I really liked that magazine very much. It was so inspiring. Now, I am stuck with Family Fun, which is OK. Anyways, I will subscribe to chop chop. But will you also considering visiting my friend's website familyfeedingdynamics.com?
    If you like reasonableness in nutrition messages Katja is it.

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  17. Brooke10:56 PM

    Subscribed! Yay! Can't wait to get the first copy! I'd still love Dixit....or some surprise cookbook for kids...no...wait! That popcorn maker your always talking about!

    Brooke

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  18. Allyson11:20 PM

    I went over and subscribed before even finishing your post! So happy you found such a perfect niche for yourself, Catherine. Best of luch, good Pesach, and happy Easter, my fellow interfaith celebrant!

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  19. Subscribed!

    Anything handmade by you sounds awesome. :)

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  20. Anonymous1:41 AM

    Catherine, I feel really stupid, but what exactly is " head cheese"?
    Is it really what I think it is?!!!!
    A

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  21. Okay, I subscribed! This looks like it's going to be fantastic, and I'm pretty sure my son will be excited about it, too! Congrats and thanks for continuing to share ways to help my family be healthier. :)

    Chris

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  22. Subscribed - thanks for sharing. I was really hoping towin Dixit in your last giveaway, so I'll go with that again.

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  23. So wonderful - what a perfect fit! I am going to subscribe!

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  24. Subscribed and looking forward to it!

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  25. Claire11:49 AM

    Subscribed! And congratulations Catherine. I look forward to reading you in Chop Chop.
    I know it is too late for Easter this year, but do you have a recipe for English Hot Cross Buns? Maybe you could post one next year?

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  26. My daughter already gets that magazine, and, in fact, might be IN it next month. She wrote a letter to the editor asking for tips on cooking brussel sprouts so that more people will like them. It is a great magazine for kids- and now of course, with you in it, it will be even better!!! So exciting!

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  27. Subscribed and will tell all my friends also!
    So happy for you. Sounds like you're in just the right place!

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  28. Not ready to subscribe yet. I'm lucky to get my kids to eat something from each food group, and I'm not ready to tackle new recipes yet. I'm slowly introducing new ingredients to them, with limited success. (My almost-3-year-old son recently stated that he doesn't like fruit. Um, what? Who doesn't like any fruit?! It's also not true, but you see what I'm up against here.) Maybe when they're a bit older....

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  29. I just got our first issue last month so that makes me a current subscriber, I suppose, but I'm THRILLED to hear you are writing for them now!!! It was very exciting to find a family cooking magazine!

    As for prizes, well... I have an 8 day old baby in the house as well as my three older ones. Can you send me some sleep? No? Hm. How about a hug? Because honestly the scariest part about having four kids is fathoming how I am going to get dinner on the table every night once Grandma leaves...

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  30. Kendra3:15 PM

    I subscribed! The magazine looks great. Congratulations on this new opportunity (the first of many, I hope!)

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  31. Subscribed! This is perfect for us. I love cooking for and with our girls, and we are HUGE followers of Ellyn Satter, and this magazine seems right up the same alley. I've learned to let go of trying to "get" them to eat anything and just provide healthy and tasty options. I can't wait to get the first issue! And I'd follow you anywhere and support whatever you're up to.

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  32. Just subscribed. What a great fit for you! And why didn't I think of this magazine first? Brilliant!

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  33. I just subscribed to Chop Chop. I also found another new magazine about children and eating. It is called Ingredient. Did you know about it?

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  34. Anonymous6:33 PM

    I just subscribed to Chop Chop. Thanks for the tip, glad you'll be in it too!

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  35. Heidi6:35 PM

    I just subscribed to Chop Chop. Glad you will be in it!

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  36. Anonymous6:36 PM

    Congratulations on your new job Catherine... it sounds just perfect for you. Sorry, won't be subscribing as I'm overseas and the cost is just a little too much out of my budget, but I wish you all the very best in your new venture!

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  37. plazamom7:09 PM

    Subscribed! I'm happy to see that you'll be writing for them. I dropped them a note to tell them that you're the reason I subscribed!

    As for the contest, I'm still longing for Dixit.

    I'm excited about this new magazine!

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  38. Subscribed- it looks great and I have a five year old who is suddenly getting picky- so we're in need of some changes and some ownership to get him back on the it's "grown in the ground" track. Although I did get him to eat some greens from our CSA tonight...they might have been swimming in ranch, but it was Newman's so it's healthy...right?

    Thanks for the introduction to Chop Chop and YEA that when one door closes or slams or shuts part way, another, maybe even better more fitting one opens. Best of luck!

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  39. Shelley4:11 AM

    I subscribed too! I am in a rut and am looking for new ways to get my kids interested in eating right. This magazine sounds exactly right for this moment, for me, and sounds like it is a perfect fit for your wonderful, amazing self and your awesome recipes. I'm so happy for you! Best of luck to you Catherine, in all you do.

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  40. Subscribed and can't wait to get our first issue!

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  41. Subscribed! And will get a subscription for my library, too :)
    I'll exclude myself from the drawing since I just got Dixit in the mail -- so perfect for my storyteller daughter! Thanks again!

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  42. WV Mama10:23 AM

    I subscribed. I've been cooking with my kiddos since the oldest (now nine) was 18 months old. We all love it.

    My heart's desire is... well, maybe it *is* a framed photo of Ben's Hello Kitty suitcase. My daughter would find it most beauteous, I think.

    Happy Rainy May!

    I looooove your writing, verily and much.

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  43. Ann Mc.10:32 AM

    Subscribed! Trust your judgement completely, looking forward to receiving my first issue.

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  44. What a fit! Congrats on the new opportunity. I'm hopping over to the site now. My son's only 3, but I'd love to start getting him in the kitchen more.

    Head cheese is pretty popular around these parts. Offensive doesn't even begin to describe it.

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  45. HelenF12:54 AM

    I'm coming out of 8+ years of Catherine Newman lurker-dom to say I just subscribed, and I'm a huge fan of both your writing and your recipes (not that you could tell due to the lurking...) Thank you so much, and best of luck in this new endeavor!

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  46. I subscribed... what a great idea... hard to pass it up and to be entered into a contest - BONUS!

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  47. I just subscribed! This looks like a magazine I will love.

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  48. Elizabeth10:52 AM

    Subscribed and bought two gift subscriptions as well! We just read Omnivore's Dilemma (young readers edition) in our mother/daughter book group, so my 10-year old will love this. Thanks for letting me know about it!

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  49. Can't wait to check this out.

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  50. Subscribed! Looking forward to reading it (especially if your writing is involved).
    And I just made your Matzah Crunch again and everyone loved it again! The other Matzah crunch recipes (you know, the ones that only call for 1 stick of butter!) just aren't as good! Thanks again. So glad that you are still blogging recipes!

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  51. my aunt got me a gift subscription before i could subscribe myself...does that count?

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  52. Just subscribed!! Perfect timing too, as my 10 yr. old is SO into cooking lately!! Thanks for the great tip! So happy you are working with them!! More Catherine is always a plus!! I hope it is okay that I let them know that I was glad you were going to be a contributor. I agree with the others that we have your back this time!

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  53. dale in denver11:55 AM

    The window opened. yay! I, too, clicked on the link to subscribe my sons, Riley, Jack & Wyatt, before I finished reading the post. Fan-freaking-tastic! I hope they will let you continue to tell us stories about practicing conceiving and drinking 45 beers so forgot to take pics. We love that stuff. We are digging Ticket to Ride. I'm thinking something less complicated, fewer parts, portable would be great - Dutch Blitz?

    You rock!

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  54. Subscribed!
    As for prize, what about a fave or fun kitchen gadget? Didn't you once blog about re-usable straws?!

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  55. I just ordered a subscription for my 9 year old. I can't wait for it to start!

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  56. AlisonT1:04 PM

    Subscribed! I can't wait for my kids to see this!

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  57. AnandaMama1:14 PM

    Subscribed! My almost 5 year old and I have been cooking together since he could stand up in the "kitchen helper" (an invaluable folding wooden platform/box type thing that kids can stand on which safely brings them up to counter height ... highly recommended!) and now my almost 2 year old has joined him there, it's a tight squeeze but worth it!

    Thank you, as always, Catherine!

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  58. AnandaMama1:22 PM

    P.S. And I too, sent ChopChop a message saying that I arrived at their door thanks to you.

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  59. Cool! I hope to get my kids back to cooking with me!, so I subscribed, looking forward to my first issue.

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  60. Sounds great! Thanks!

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  61. I just subscribed. This mag look great, I can't wait for the first issue!

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  62. Subscribed! No need to enter me in a giveaway . . . I'm just happy to hear about your new gig and looking forward to reading the magazine with my kids.

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  63. Subscribed too. Looks like a fun magazine, and a good cause.

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  64. Kathy Evans5:28 PM

    Subscribed! I'm excited to start getting the magazine. It looks fantastic. The recipes on the site look like foods my daughters would like. And now maybe my 10-year-old will make something besides brownies.

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  65. So, as I was reading your description of it, I was thinking, "That would be perfect for the son who is turning 11 tomorrow!" And then you provided an easy link, so how could I not subscribe?? Looking forward to the first issue and cautiously optimistic that this will mean I may have to do a little less cooking around here.

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  66. Subscribed! SO much easier than even just leaving a comment on the Disney site. Moving up! Could you just make photocopies of all your favorite recipes that are still in your books and print your blog recipes and stick 'em in a binder and send them as the prize? We keep getting flour in my laptop keyboard and smudges on the screen. Better yet, how about a cookbook? Publish a lovely companion volume to Bringing up Birdy and then send the two together for the prize! Yes, please. Gratitude for the years of your writing and your recipes.

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  67. Subscribed and had it sent to my mom's house in hopes of having Nana cook with us, too.

    If you are still giving things away, it would be a fun souvenir to have a canvas bag from your favorite grocery store.

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  68. miryboo11:56 AM

    I subscribed! Thanks for the tip. I have so much to learn. Don't know what to wish for!

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  69. Subscribed (and can't wait, healthier family eating is the topic of conversation at my house right now) and if I win I'd love some of your homemade granola. Which you may have been joking about but I want anyway.

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  70. Subscribed! What perfect timing-the kids and I have started our first organic vegetable garden inside and will be planting in our backyard if spring ever decides to show itself here in Wisconsin. I devour everything you write, Catherine...so glad you're going to be published again so quickly and in such a cool forum. Congrats!

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  71. Janine8:14 AM

    Praying that you never advise us to jump off a bridge--because I probably would! Love and trust you so much that subscribing to ChopChop is just one in a long line of things I've read, played, cooked, and done because you recommended it. They must have seen a real bump in business after your post. Hope they know why :-)

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  72. Just subscribed, looking forward to the magazine and your contributions to it! Also sent them an email and said I first heard about it from your site.

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  73. casio5:01 PM

    I just subscribed! Thanks for letting me know about a great looking magazine.

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  74. I subscribed; so excited! I am also excited to have found your new place on the web. I've been following you since babycenter days <3

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  75. Subscribed. I am so happy you will have a new home! As one who has grown up with your babies (mine are 9 and 7 and I first fell in love with you at Babycenter) I always appreciate the sanity you bring to this journey. We also love to garden, cook and create and celebrate all holidays--Jewish, Christian and Pagan. xoxo!

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  76. Yay for You! This will be an awesome fit for you, please let us know as soon as you are up and running there as well. I am a brand new subscriber to chop chop! , great website, I look forward to wonderful cooking with my kiddos, and of course, more of my fave, Catherine Newman.
    And, I would love to win perhaps a signed copy of your hook, or... homemade granola, can't decide which is the best! Hugs and congrats!

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  77. Andrea11:28 AM

    We're already subscribers-- there were some free issues at my kids' school that completely won me over. It's great to see a kids' cooking magazine that doesn't talk down to them, and features do-able recipes of reasonable nutritional value and wide appeal. It doesn't assume that kids hate vegetables or spices, but it doesn't preach, either. It does a good job of finding a middle ground between the over-sugared, neon colored, all sweet kid recipe genre, and the all-kale purees with groats and fish oil super-health foods genre. I think it's a great fit for you.

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  78. Anonymous1:42 PM

    got our first ChopChop today! We are making the carrot cupcakes- excited!

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