**UPDATE ON 10/9/12 @ 10:15 pm: THE GIVEAWAY IS OVAH! CONGRATS TO CICHLISUITE!**

I’m going to let you in on a secret: When I’m too lazy to take food photos and throw together a new blog post, I host a giveaway. Win-win! (Well, unless you don’t actually win.)

Kidding aside, one lucky reader will receive THREE great cookbooks that run the gamut from Whole30-approved to not Paleo at all (but awesome nonetheless!).

First up: My pal Melissa Joulwan’s ridiculously great Well Fed.

I’ll say it ‘til I’m blue in the face: Well Fed is one of my all-time favorite cookbooks. Your life isn’t complete ‘til you’ve tasted her Bora Bora Fireballs or The Best Chicken You’ll Ever Eat. Mel’s book is crammed with so many great tips, antidotes, and tantalizing dishes that you won’t even notice that you’re eating Whole30-compliant meals. If you haven’t gone Paleo yet, Well Fed’ll convince you to make it a lifestyle.

Next up is Tammy Credicott’s new cookbook, Paleo Indulgences. 

I rarely make or eat dessert these days — “Paleoized” or otherwise. But when I’m in the mood for some sweet off-roading, Tammy’s been a great source for foolproof recipes that deliver the goods without the usual gluten gut punch. I made her blueberry crumble muffins the other day, and my decidedly non-Paleo parents inhaled ‘em. Not in the mood for sweets? There are plenty of savory indulgences in her cookbook, too.

Last but not least: Thomas Keller’s Ad Hoc At Home.

This cookbook wasn’t written for Paleo eaters, though you’ll find plenty of Paleo-friendly recipes in there. I’m including this gorgeous hardcover ‘cause it’s beautiful and inspirational, and authored by one the best and most acclaimed chefs in the known universe. I mean, the guy’s the only American chef to have been awarded simultaneous three-star Michelin ratings for two different restaurants.

Beginning in the late ’90s, I’ve enjoyed mind-blowing (and wallet-blowing) meals at all of Chef Keller’s restaurants, from The French Laundry (in California’s wine country) to Per Se (in New York City). Ad Hoc’s one of their more casual cousins, but it’s equally worthy of an off-the-rails splurge. Don’t believe me? Just ask Mrs. Whole9 (a.k.a. Melissa Harwig), who visited Ad Hoc earlier this summer.

I still look at Henry’s photo of Ad Hoc’s famous fried chicken (taken in the summer of 2009 using our old point-and-shoot!) and fondly remember the days when I’d fall headfirst into this platter of awesomeness:

Ready to join Cookbook Hoarders Anonymous with me?

Simply leave ONE comment at the end of this post by Tuesday, 10/9/12, at 9 p.m. PST letting me know your all-time favorite cookbook. Yep — that’s all you gotta do to enter for a chance to win this prize package (worth $110)!

(Sadly, Tumblr — which hosts my site — restricts this contest to U.S. residents over the age of 18. Apologies to my super-awesome international readers!)

Good luck, and be sure to tell your friends!

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m keeping a copy of Melissa Joulwan’s cookbook, Well Fed, on my kitchen counter this month to keep my Whole30 on course.

I’ve been a superfan of Melicious for as long as I’ve been Paleo, so I was impatient for her cookbook to join my collection.

What I love about Mel’s blog is that the recipes are foolproof and filled with handy tips to ensure success in the kitchen. Her prose is so good that she doesn’t need fancy food pictures to keep your attention (*cough*). It’s fun to read her Smupdates and inspiring to follow her adventures in self-improvement.

The fantastic thing about Well Fed is that it’s all these things PLUS beautiful food photography, practical advice on how to actually get food on the table for every meal, and adorable sketches. I treasure this cookbook because you can tell her heart is on every page — each recipe is interwoven with anecdotes from her childhood and genuine words of inspiration.

And it’s not a put-on. I can attest to the fact that she really is that warm, encouraging, and va va va voom in person.

(Above: Me, Melissa & Dallas Hartwig, Melissa Joulwan, and Dave Humphreys at Animal, inhaling totally non-Whole30-compliant foods.)

So far, I’ve successfully recreated Mel’s Asian-style Scotch Eggs…

… The Best Chicken You Will Ever Eat….

…and Waldorf Tuna Salad.

Well Fed offers variations of just about every recipe in the book, so you’ll never have to make the same thing twice. In fact, Mel encourages you to stretch your culinary muscles and experiment. Being self-confident in your own cooking chops is the most important tool in the kitchen, hands down.

Now, who doesn’t already have a copy of Well Fed?

Shame on you!

Because I love all of you — even the sad sacks who haven’t managed to get themselves this insanely great cookbook — I’m giving away a copy of Well Fed to one of you (retail value: $29.99).

AND: In honor of Melicious’s roller derby girl past (haven’t you read her memoir?), the lucky winner also gets a pair of my limited edition Nom Nom Paleo knee-high socks by Gumball Poodle! (Retail value: PRICELESS!) 

These are UNISEX socks, so gents: You can wear ‘em proudly, too — pair them with your kilts or Speedos.

If you already have Gumball Poodle’s BACON or MEAT socks, you’re familiar with the quality: These knee-highs are thick, comfy, durable athletic socks, and 100% made in the USA. You can roller skate in them, CrossFit in them, or just curl up on the couch in them.

(By the way, once I get my act together, I’ll offer a limited quantity of these socks for sale, so stay tuned…)

What do you have to do to win?

Here are the rules:

1. Like The Clothes Make the Girl and Nom Nom Paleo Facebook fan pages.
2. Follow @Melicious11 and @nomnompaleo on Twitter. (If you’re not already on Twitter, get on it!)
3. Leave only ONE comment on this post below, telling me you followed these instructions.
4. Do all the above by Tuesday, 1/17/12 at 11:59 p.m. PST.

Good luck! 

Who knows? I might even throw in a jar of homemade spice blend or two…

**UPDATE on 1/18/12 @ 12:26 a.m.**

The giveaway has ended! Congrats to Aleen! Thank you to everyone who entered!

Paleo food maven Melissa “Melicious” Joulwan is awesome in so many ways, but her greatest contribution to society is her easy recipe for making homemade coconut butter.

Here’s what I gathered to make my own batch:

• 8 ounce package of Let’s Do Organic Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
• 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• Pinch of Kosher salt (key ingredient in my humble opinion)

Here’s how I made it:

I dumped everything into my Vitamix…

…and blitzed everything on high for a minute. Yep, my blender is one loud mofo.

After about a minute, a paste forms and you’re done! Don’t over-process the butter because it can overheat the Vitamix and then it’s Bad News Bears!

Presto change-o…coconut butter!

So simple and delicious! Thanks, Mel!