Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Vegan Pressure Cooking, Revise & Expanded by JL Fields

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Conquer your pressure cooking fears and make meals in minutes!
 
Say goodbye to long cooking and preparation times. With an Instant Pot® or other pressure cooker, you can cook filling, nutritious meals in under an hour and with little mess or cleanup. It's the dinner (and breakfast, and lunch) solution you've always dreamed of. 
 
In this revised edition of the classic Vegan Pressure Cooking, you'll find:
--More than 30 pages of new content, including new recipes (over 120 recipes total) and new photos
--Information about using any type of pressure cooker or multicooker, including an Instant Pot, and how to choose which is best for you
--Cooking charts for beans, grains, vegetables, and more, so there’s no guesswork—or mushy vegetables—involved
--Recipes that span all meals and tastes, from easy breakfasts like Savory Oatmeal and Stewed Apricots to healthy dinners like Kale, Lentil, and Squash Chili and Sweet Potato Enchiladas

Perfect for novice cooks and experts alike, there's something for everyone with Vegan Pressure Cooking



My thoughts-

I think this is an excellent book for someone who is vegan or wanting to explore veganism. I am not vegan, but I love my Instant Pot and was hoping for some good veggie heavy recipes. What I found were carb heavy recipes, which makes sense because vegans need to get their protein from grains. I think there were some excellent recipes in the book, just not many that would work for my grain free lifestyle. There were a few though that I will definitely be giving a try. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who follows a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle or who just want more varied recipes for their Instant Pot.

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

The Summer I Met Jack by Michelle Gable

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

My thoughts-


The Summer I Met Jack] offers an alternate Kennedy family history that will leave readers wondering whether America knew the real JFK at all." --Kirkus Reviews

New York Times bestselling author imagines the affair between John F. Kennedy and Alicia Corning Clark - and the child they may have had.
Based on a real story - in 1950, a young, beautiful Polish refugee arrives in Hyannisport, Massachusetts to work as a maid for one of the wealthiest families in America. Alicia is at once dazzled by the large and charismatic family, in particular the oldest son, a rising politician named Jack.
Alicia and Jack are soon engaged, but his domineering father forbids the marriage. And so, Alicia trades Hyannisport for Hollywood, and eventually Rome. She dates famous actors and athletes and royalty, including Gary Cooper, Kirk Douglas, and Katharine Hepburn, all the while staying close with Jack. A decade after they meet, on the eve of Jack’s inauguration as the thirty-fifth President of the United States, the two must confront what they mean to each other. 

The Summer I Met Jack by Michelle Gable is based on the fascinating real life of Alicia Corning Clark, a woman who J. Edgar Hoover insisted was paid by the Kennedys to keep quiet, not only about her romance with Jack Kennedy, but also a baby they may have had together.



About the book-

There are so many things I love about this book. It is set (at least partially) in one of my favorite places- Cape Cod, it is based on historical people that actually existed, and it has an intriguing protagonist in Alicia Darr. I had never heard of Alicia Darr before reading The Summer I Met Jack, but the book has set off an interest that needs to be explored. I will definitely be looking for more books about her and her fascinating life. I appreciate the extensive research that the author conducting to be able to write this book and I also plan to read several of the books she cited at the end. I would love to see another book from Michelle Gable from Jack Kennedy's point of view of this time in his life. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or who has an interest in the Kennedy family. 

People of Peace by Sandrine Mirza

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Dreamers, leaders, fighters for our rights... meet 40 amazing activists for peace! From Martin Luther King’s dream to Gandhi’s protest to Nelson Mandela’s struggle, discover how each of these people dedicated their lives to making the world a better place in their own unique, and peaceful, way. Learn how these heroes from history changed the world in this inspiring book packed with hundreds of incredible facts. Who will you choose as your hero?

My thoughts-

I really like the premise of this book. Kids definitely need people to look up to and to aspire to be like and there are 40 tremendous choices within these pages. People of Peace is an inspiring book about 40 different people, from different walks of life, who each made it their mission to contribute to a world of peace. I love that there are both men and women from old times and current times for kids to learn about. They will learn not only about these people's missions, but a little about world history as well which I think is super cool. I even learned about a few world changers myself! I think this book should be something all older elementary school aged children should read!