*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-
From sun-drenched shores to cool, lush valleys, the unique climate of the Mediterranean has long been associated with delicious, simply prepared food abundant with flavour. In recent years these remarkable ingredients have been utilised by the region's best chefs to create a cuisine that builds on the history and traditions entrenched in the areas food and reinterprets them into something new: A Modern Mediterranean cookery.
In this book, Marc Fosh, the Michelin-starred chef behind Palma de Mallorca's Restaurant Marc Fosh, takes us on a tour of the bountiful produce of the Mediterranean and shows us how to harness its flavours in new and exciting ways. Organised into 18 chapters by key ingredient; covering everything from tomatoes, garlic, almonds and olive oil to octopus, chorizo, saffron and truffles, the book is a love letter to the Mediterranean and its food. The recipes include new twists on classic dishes, such as Yellow Gazpacho with Smoked Salmon and Avocado or Saffron, Raspberry and Orange Blossom Crème Catalan, as well as less familiar fare, including Herb-roasted Guineafowl with Couscous Salad and Sobrassada and Honey Croquettes with Almond Aioli.
Each chapter opens with a fascinating introduction explaining the history and provenance of each ingredient, with information on key suppliers and when each ingredient is at its best. With 100 delicious recipes accompanied by stunning photographs and beautiful, specially commissioned, on-location photography this is a true love letter to the region and a must-have book for anyone interested in Mediterranean cookery, both classic and modern.
My thoughts-
Modern Mediterranean is a beautiful book to look at. Not only are their gorgeous pictures and stories of where each ingredient originated, there are also fantastic recipes tying into those ingredients. I love the way this book is set up by ingredient and not type of dish. It makes it easier to find something specific to make when a craving strikes. There are plenty of fantastic recipes to choose from and they all look incredibly modern and fancy, so you can impress them with your new recipes. This is the type of book I like to keep out on my cookbook holder or on the coffee table for company to be able to thumb through. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cooking or learning about different regions of the world.
*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-
Snacks are essential for getting the proper amount of nutrients and keeping us energized during busy days at work, school, and the gym. While most snacks are made of carb-laden, allergy-provoking ingredients, these low-carb snack recipes are filled with healthy, nourishing ingredients that you can feel good about including in your diet. You'll find plenty of superfoods, like coconuts, sweet potatoes, and almonds. Many of the recipes are quick and easy to make, and most take under 15 minutes to prepare!
The sweet and savory low-carb snacks include: Cauliflower Pizza Bites, Zucchini Muffins, Crispy Okra Sticks, Chicken Maple Sausage Meatballs, Cinnamon Donut Holes, Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Fat Bombs, Lemon Cheesecake Fat Bombs, Stilton and Chive Fat Bombs, Key Lime Smoothie, and Creamy Keto Coffee.
With Super Low-Carb Snacks, you'll always be ready with a delicious, wholesome snack to keep you going.
One of my biggest struggles with trying to maintain a low carb lifestyle is being hungry between meals. Usually for low carb snacks I turn to Whisps, which are delicious cheese crackers, but that can get monotonous not to mention expensive. I love that I have that option for something quick, but it is nice to have a book full of a variety of options, both sweet and savory. There are so many recipes I want to try out of the book. One section that I am particularly excited about is the smoothie section. I didn't think that there were many smoothie options for low carb lifestyles but I was wrong. There are lots of options I can't wait to try. I also think that there are some new and interesting savory fat bombs in Super Low-Carb snacks, as well as plenty of recipes to satisfy my sweet tooth. I recommend this book to anyone who lives a low carb lifestyle or just wants some new healthy treats to try.
*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of this book from the publisher 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-
Following a ketogenic diet means you can never enjoy sweet treats again, right? Think again! You can enjoy delicious desserts and sweet treats while eating keto, and you can make them all low carb and sugar free!
With 80 recipes and beautiful photography throughout, Keto Sweet Tooth Cookbook is the only keto desserts book you'll ever need. In no time, you'll be making everything from low-carb cakes to cookies, pies, fat bombs, shakes, ice creams, candies, and smoothies. Every low-carb recipe is sugar-free and includes essential macros along with clear, easy-to-follow instructions for making virtually any sweet treat you can make with sugar. Keto Sweet Tooth Cookbook will satisfy even the most persistent sweet tooth, but without all the sugar and excess carbs!
I have probably the biggest sweet tooth in the world which is part of the reason I love the Ketogenic way of living. It is easy to still satisfy a sweet tooth but I tend to have much less cravings for sweets when in ketosis for whatever reason. Still, I have mostly made sweet fat bombs and cheesecake fluff and while good those things gets tiring. I love that all of the old favorites are available in sugar free versions in Keto Sweet Tooth, utilizing Keto friendly sugar alcohols and natural sweetners like stevia. If I want a cookie, I can find a recipe in this book. If I need to make a birthday cake there are no shortage of options. All of the recipes in the book sound delicious and I can't wait to get in the kitchen and try many of them out. I recommend this book to anyone living a low carb or ketogenic lifestyle.
*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-
Sixth grade is no picnic for Nate Wright. His pal Francis won’t stop bombarding him with useless trivia. A wild pitch knocks him out of a ballgame and into the emergency room. And the only thing standing between Nate and summer school is a study session with the worst possible tutor: his too-obnoxious-for-words arch enemy, Gina. But a chance encounter on an amusement park ride could change everything. Meanwhile, the troubles are piling up in this hilarious new collection of Big Nate comics, and there may be only one thing for Nate to do: HUG IT OUT! In this brand-new collection of comics from the New York Times bestselling series Big Nate, everyone's favorite sixth-grade prankster is back for more hilarious misadventures — and even a little romance!
Today my 9 year old son Noah, a huge Big Nate fan, will be a guest blogger for this review!
Noah's thoughts-
WOW! That Big Nate book was good. I liked the part where he was at home and listening to a tape and it said "I am Junie B. Jones"! I think any Big Nate Fan would like this book.
As a big nate fan, it's GOOD in many ways-
https://www.gocomics.com/bignate/
That's the BIG NATE SITE.
Note that there were some references to
things OTHER THAN the Big Nate
Cookie Monster, eta.
On this link: https://www.amazon.com/Big-Nate-Hug-Lincoln-Peirce/dp/1524851841
it says that it will come out on MY BIRTHDAY!
How cool is that?
--NOAH
*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% own.
About the book-
There's no denying the thrill of cooking outdoors and the sense of community it brings when people gather around a fire, and in this book, author Linda Ly will teach you how to master the flames. For the adventurous, start by building a home fire pit. It's easier than it sounds and requires minimal investment of time and space. If you'd rather not, that's okay! There are plenty of other options, from vessel fire pits to tabletop grills. Even a charcoal kettle grill will give you more flavor than cooking with gas. Ly also covers everything you need to know about fuel sources (hardwood, hardwood lump charcoal, and smoking wood), her go-to grilling tools and accessories, secrets for stocking an indoor and outdoor pantry, fire making, fire safety, and tips and tricks for grilling more efficiently.
You can choose your own adventure with over 70 recipes for ember roasting, wood-fired cooking, charcoal grilling, and foil pack meals. Next-level techniques like dutch oven cooking, grilling a la plancha, and plank grilling are all part of the fun, too. With modern twists on classics and globally-inspired meals like Smoky Ember-Roasted Eggplant Dip, Thai Chicken Pizza with Sweet Chili Sauce, Grilled Oysters with Kimchi Butter, Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf on a Plank, and Artichoke, Sun-Dried Tomato, and Feta Stuffed Flank Steak, you’ll find a recipe for almost every occasion. This is not a book about low-and-slow barbecue, and you won't find overnight marinades or complicated recipes, either. Ly aims to encourage easy, accessible grilling that you look forward to doing on a weeknight because, quite simply, food just tastes better outside.
My thoughts-
My husband loves cooking outside on his smoker and the idea of having a homemade firepit back there is incredibly tempting and something I definitely may want to pursue after reading The Backyard Fire Cookbook, but even if we don't build our own backyard fire pit, many of these recipes would be great for camping trips! I love that there is a how-to for building a firepit and a plethora of interesting recipes that I wouldn't have even thought about making outdoors. I love that the book goes beyond burgers, pulled pork, and brisket. and offers a fresh new take on backyard cooking. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys being outside and loves cooking and trying new things.
*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-
For two sworn enemies, anything can happen during the Hawaiian trip of a lifetime—maybe even love—in this romantic comedy from the New York Times bestselling authors of Roomies.
Olive Torres is used to being the unlucky twin: from inexplicable mishaps to a recent layoff, her life seems to be almost comically jinxed. By contrast, her sister Ami is an eternal champion . . . she even managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a slew of contests. Unfortunately for Olive, the only thing worse than constant bad luck is having to spend the wedding day with the best man (and her nemesis), Ethan Thomas.
Olive braces herself for wedding hell, determined to put on a brave face, but when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning, the only people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. Suddenly there’s a free honeymoon up for grabs, and Olive will be damned if Ethan gets to enjoy paradise solo.
The Unhoneymooners was such a cute romantic comedy. I am a sucker for a story that has two enemies fall in love. I will chalk it up to my peace loving tendencies. Anyway, I enjoyed the way the story unfolded and thought the author did a great job moving the story along with humor and heart. It is interesting to learn the backstory to how Ethan and Olive have become enemies and to see it slowly unfold to them that maybe it wasn't exactly as it seemed. I thought it was the perfect summer read and would recommend packing it in your bag for a nice day reading out at the beach or lake.
*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-
In Stitch and String Lab for Kids, art teacher and winner of the Netflix bake-off show Nailed It! Cassie Stephens presents 40+ inventive projects that explore everything from simple sewing, embroidery, and weaving to string art, needle felting, and yarn crafts.
Stitch and String Lab for Kids leads children, step by step, through a huge range of sewing and fiber art projects. As they go, they will learn a variety of techniques, develop dexterity and coordination, and enjoy making a variety of creative projects. Kids will employ simple embroidery stitches to embellish a sun catcher, wall hangings, and an appliqué animal. Sewing projects include a drawstring bag, a sketchbook jacket, and custom plushies. Children will learn how to make custom looms to weave bookmarks, bracelets, and even a mini rag rug. They will also experiment with string art, needle felting, shibori dyeing, pompom animals, as well as finger knitting, yarn art, and cool wrapping projects.
My kids, like most kids these days, want to spend a lot of time watching tv, playing video games, and staying on electronics in general. I am always looking for fun, engaging things for them to do away from screens. All 3 of them enjoy art projects so stitch + string lab for kids is right up their alley. They like creating, but like most people unfamiliar with a new hobby, they need guidance to get things going. I loved that these projects are fun and use different textile materials and are just challenging enough without being too difficult. This is a great book for a rainy day when kids can't go outside or, if like me, you are looking for something to engage the without staring into a screen.
