An essential addition to every cook’s bookshelf, The Modern Cook’s Year will show you how to make the most of seasonal produce, using simple, hugely inventive flavours and ingredients.

Divided into six seasons, Anna Jones’s long-awaited new cook book contains over 250 delicious vegetarian recipes interspersed with tips on everything from seasonal music playlists to flowers to look out for in each month of the year.

The Modern Cook’s Year includes:

Start of the Year: Spelt with pickled pears and pink leaves and Chocolate and blood orange freezer cake; First Warm Days of Spring: Elderflower dressed broad beans and leaves with burrata and Chickpea farinata with slow cooked courgettes; Herald of Spring: Spring chickpea soup with salted lemons and Rhubarb and rose geranium frozen yoghurt; Summer: Smoked aubergine flatbreads and Beetroot tops tart; Autumn: Orzo with tomatoes and feta and Honey, lemon and coriander seed cake; Winter: Velvet squash broth with miso and soba and Chocolate rye porridge with quick honey pears.

Guiding you through the year, from the coldest winter days to the long light summer evenings, The Modern Cook’s Year is set to become a contemporary classic.

Review

This colorful cookbook is chock full of recipes that incorporates vegetables that are in season by the season.  There are six sections including each season, start of the year, herald of spring, first warm days, and basics.  There are even Flavor Maps which give you a place to start whether it is soups, flatbreads, fritters, or other dishes.  Then it walks you through each step of deciding what to add from other vegetables, spices, to what to serve the dish with at mealtime.  For a newer cook these are invaluable as it isn’t a recipe to follow per se, but a guide to trying different spices or vegetables in the same basic recipe.

I like that this cookbook focuses each section based on what is in season because we all know that is when those fruits and vegetables taste the best.  There are 250 recipes in this cookbook and you could make something different every day and not repeat any recipe for nearly a year.  I’m sure you will find some favorites that will become a staple in your home.

The recipe that I am going to try first (because I have a picky husband) is Tomatoes with Whipped Feta.  This is in the summer section and while not quite summer, close enough for me! Plus I love tomatoes and this looks like an easy side dish to make.

I have several other recipes tagged including Orzo with spiced tomato sauce and feta, Mini squash and chive dumplings, and Sea-salted chocolate and lemon mousse.  There are so many delicious recipes I can’t wait to try them all and see what my family thinks.

Overall I give this 4 1/2 paws up only because some of the ingredients are not common and might be harder to find in the store.  The author is from the UK so some things may be easier for her to find than me without running around to multiple stores or shopping online for some of the less common ingredients.

About the Author

Anna Jones is a cook, writer, and stylist, the voice of modern vegetarian cooking, and the author of several cookbooks.  The Modern Cook’s Year won the Guild of Food Writers Cookery Book Award 2018 and Observer Food Monthly’s Best Cookbook 2018.  Anna’s books have been translated into six languages.  She writes a weekly column for the Guardian.  She believes in putting vegetables at the center of the table and the unbridled joy of cooking and eating.  She lives in Hackney, East London, with her husband and son.

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Flour Shop’s rainbow explosion cakes have become an international sensation! And now, with The Power of Sprinkles, Flour Shop Founder Amirah Kassem reveals the secrets to making her magical cakes at home.

Amirah Kassem preaches the power of sprinkles in her wildly creative first book. A modern-day Willy Wonka, Kassem reminds readers that joy can be found in creating something delightful and delicious, that baking a cake for someone is the best thing in the world, and that, when it comes to cake decorating, any mistake can be covered in sprinkles (and everyone will love it anyway!).

With twenty-nine different cakes—from unicorn cakes and donut cakes to cakes that look like reindeer, popcorn, spaghetti, and avocado toast—and packed with photographs, illustrations, and infinite ideas, The Power of Sprinkles is a book for bakers and cake decorators at every age and level.

My Thoughts

When I received the box of books from #AbramsDinnerParty, this is the first book that I gravitated towards and spent quite some time drooling over the photos and wondering if this is something that I could make in my own home.  The photos are colorful and just plain gorgeous, I mean look at the cover photo above – ALL of the cake photos are like this and the photos will leave you wanting to rush out and buy cake pans and tips to create these masterpieces.

I will say that I have not made anything out of this book yet.  It arrived just as tax season was fully upon me and so all I really had time to do was enjoy the photos and read the beginning of the book where Amirah discusses how this book came to be, shares her basic cake and icing recipes, and provides tips on baking the various cakes and using the various cake tips for icing.  She shares what they do in their shop to make the cakes and what they have found that works the best.

“We have so many sprinkles that we have a sprinkle closet!”

These cakes are ones that have sprinkles in the middle so when you cut into the cakes it is like a sprinkle explosion.  She offers sprinkle tips, identifies her favorite types of sprinkles, and even provides sprinkle math so you know how much to buy.  Now you could make all of these cakes without the sprinkles but then where is the fun in having a cake with no sprinkles?

This book also provides cake suggestions for all of the holidays – from Valentine’s Day to St Paddy’s Day to Christmas.  There are mini cakes, unicorn cakes, and even a sushi cake.

If you are a baker looking for new ideas on making a cake then this is a book you will want to check out.  Yes, it is one cake and icing recipe, but it is the assembly of the cake and the joy it will bring to those around you.

We give this 5 paws up!

Deadly Southern Charm (Cozy Mystery Anthology)
Cozy Mystery
Wildside Press (March 27, 2019)
Paperback: 173 pages

Wildside * Wildside eBook

“Deadly Devonshire” by Samantha McGraw

When one of her best customers dies while having lunch in her tea shop and the police can’t get to the crime scene, Tess Adams must determine who poisoned the Devonshire cream and catch the killer on her own.

Enjoy this recipe for blueberry scones and faux Devonshire cream while reading Deadly Southern Charm.

SCRUMPTIOUS BLUEBERRY SCONES

3 Cups All-Purpose Flour

1 Cup Sugar

1 Tbsp Baking Powder

1 Lemon, zested

1 1/2 Sticks Cold, Salted Butter, cut into pea size pieces

1 1/2 Cups Fresh Blueberries

1/2 Cup Heavy Cream

1 Tsp Vanilla Extract

Turbinado sugar (optional)

Devonshire Cream (recipe follows)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lay parchment paper on cookie sheet.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and lemon zest. Add in butter; knead and rub with your fingers until combined with dry ingredients and become coarse and crumb-like. Gently stir in blueberries. Add in heavy cream and vanilla, stir to combine.

Option 1 – scoop dough and form into dough balls, place on prepared cookie sheet 2″ apart. Makes 12-14 scones.

Option 2 – form dough into 1 large round disc, cut into 6 wedges and place on prepared cookie sheet 2″ apart. Makes 6 scones.

Sprinkle with Turbinado sugar and bake for 15-18 minutes until lightly golden. Cool and serve with Devonshire cream.

DEVONSHIRE CREAM

3 Oz. Cream Cheese, softened

1 Tbsp Sugar

Pinch of Salt

1 Cup Heavy Cream

Cream together cream cheese, sugar, and salt. Beat in heavy cream until soft peaks form.

About the Author

Samantha McGraw is a freelance writer with a love of mysteries and tea. You can find her blogging about both at Tea Cottage Mysteries. She is also a member of Sisters in Crime – Central VA Chapter.

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The Rest of the Authors

Frances Aylor, CFA combines her investing experience and love of travel in her financial thrillers. MONEY GRAB is the first in the series.  Website

Mollie Cox Bryan is the author of cookbooks, articles, essays, poetry, and fiction.  An Agatha Award nominee, she lives in Central Virginia.  Website

Lynn Cahoon is the NYT and USA Today author of the best-selling Tourist Trap, Cat Latimer and Farm-to-Fork mystery series. Website

A. Chalkley is a native Virginian. She is a writer, retired public safety communications officer, and a member of Sisters in Crime.

Stacie Giles lived many places before settling in Virginia where she is returning to ancestral Southern roots, including a grandfather who was a Memphis policeman.

Barb Goffman has won the Agatha, Macavity, and Silver Falchion awards for her short stories, and is a two-time finalist for US crime-writing awards.Website

Libby Hall is a communication analyst with a consulting firm in Richmond, Virginia.  She is also a blogger, freelance writer, wife, and mother of two.

Bradley Harper is a retired Army pathologist.  Library Journal named his debut novel, A KNIFE IN THE FOG, Debut of the Month for October 2018.  Website

Sherry Harris is the Agatha Award-nominated author of the Sarah Winston Garage Sale mystery series and is the president of Sisters in Crime.Website

Maggie King penned the Hazel Rose Book Group mysteries. Her short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries and 50 Shades of Cabernet anthologies. Website

Kristin Kisska is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime, and programs chair of the Sisters in Crime – Central Virginia chapter. Website

Samantha McGraw has a love of mysteries and afternoon tea. She lives in Richmond with her husband and blogs at Tea Cottage Mysteries.Website

K.L. Murphy is a freelance writer and the author of the Detective Cancini Mysteries.  She lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband, four children, and two dogs. Website

Genilee Swope Parente has written the romantic mystery The Fate Series with her mother F. Sharon Swope. The two also have several collections of short stories. Website

Deb Rolfe primarily writes mystery novels. This is her first published short story. She and her husband enjoy life in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

Ronald Sterling is the author of six books and draws upon his colorful and varied life experience as a U.S. Airman, saloonkeeper, private detective, realtor, and New Jersey mayor.

S.A. Warwick, in the last century earned a bachelor’s degree in American Studies. Ever since she has been trying to decipher the American enigma.

Heather Weidner is the author of the Delanie Fitzgerald Mysteries.  She has short stories in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 SHADES OF CABERNET and TO FETCH A THIEF.  She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and Jack Russell terriers.  Website

EDITORS

Mary Burton is a New York Times, USA Today and Kindle best-selling author.  She is currently working on her latest suspense. Website

Mary Miley is a historian and writer with 14 nonfiction books and 5 mystery novels to her credit. Website

Lethal Ladies Social Media

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Synopsis

Actress Abbie Cornish and chef Jacqueline King are best friends who bonded over their love of food and self-care. A few years ago, Abbie, a novice cook, asked Jacqueline, a graduate of the culinary program at the National Gourmet Institute, for cooking lessons. Every Sunday, they would take trips to the local farmers’ market, spend all day cooking, and then serve these dishes to their family and friends. Pescan is an extension of this tradition and all the food they explored together. Their way of eating—which they call pescan—is centered on plant-based, dairy-free dishes, but with high-protein seafood and eggs incorporated. The recipes, like Veggie Tempeh Bolognese, Artichoke Hummus with Za’atar, and Miso-Ginger Glazed Black Cod, are highly nutrient dense, incredibly energizing, and very accessible. Pescan is a collection of healthy recipes, but it’s also a story of friendship, healing, and developing a more positive relationship with food.

Review

You have probably seen a few of my other posts of cookbooks that I have received as being a part of Abrams Dinner Party this year.  I am loving all of the cookbooks they have sent us and while some might be a fantasy for me (I’m not much of a baker), I love looking at the recipes and photos and reading the stories of the authors & chefs that created these for us to enjoy.

This is quite an interesting cookbook with many colorful and tantalizing recipes. If you eat dairy free, plant-based and some seafood then this is a cookbook to check out.

In my house, I have several meat eaters who also eat fish. (Me, not so much on the fish part) but there are many recipes that would make great side dishes to the main course of meat or fish.  Should you decide to try a meatless meal, there are some really good options.  I even like the sauces and spice mixes that they include.  I have been making my own spice mixes for awhile, but am always happy to find a new one to work into my normal routine.

I have tried one recipe so far – the Lemon-Pea Risotto with Mint. My husband surprised me and said that it sounded good so into the weekly meal planning it made its way. I make risotto a lot so I didn’t follow this recipe to a T but then I also don’t have things on hand like chickpea miso or nutritional yeast. It was still very tasty and I enjoyed the tartness of the lemon, the coolness of the mint, and the creaminess with the goat cheese that I added at the end.  I also included pine nuts that I toasted while caramelizing the onions.

I have several other recipes earmarked and I think this could be a great cookbook for this summer with fresh veggies in season.  Plus if it is ever just me for dinner, I can see several of these making the rotation.

I am thinking that the next dish I try for a side dish will be the Fiesta Veggie Rice or the Pesto Zucchini Noodles (there is a how-to on making the noodles if you don’t have a spiralizer!)

Overall we give it 4 paws up.  Depending on how you cook you might have some of the unusual ingredients on hand.  If not, just play around with the recipes and make them your own.

Restaurant Weeks Are Murder (A Poppy McAllister Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Kensington (February 26, 2019)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages

Synopsis

Cape May, New Jersey, is the site of a big culinary competition—and the knives are out . . .

Poppy McAllister is happy about opening a Jersey Shore B&B—but working in a professional kitchen has always been her real dream. Now it’s coming true, at least briefly, as she teams up with her former fiancée, Tim—and his condescending partner, Gigi—during the high-profile Restaurant Week challenge. Poppy’s specialty is pastries, despite her devotion to a Paleo diet. But if anyone can make glorious gluten-free goodies, it’s Poppy.

Things get heated quickly—especially when some ingredients get switched and Tim’s accused of sabotage. Relatively harmless pranks soon escalate into real hazards, including an exploding deep fryer. And now one of the judges has died after taking a bite of Poppy’s cannoli—making her the chef suspect . . .

Includes Seven Recipes from Poppy’s Kitchen!

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Hudson Booksellers

Target * Books A Million * IndieBound * Walmart

Review

I seriously love this series…I don’t know what it is about the characters or the setting (maybe it is the recipes), but I can’t wait to read these books as they are released!

Poppy is an engaging protagonist.  A mistake in her youth altered her future but she seems to be doing ok trying to get a B&B off the ground, baking gluten-free items for a coffee shop, and solving the murders that happen in her town.  It doesn’t hurt that she has two potential love interests – Gia, the owner of the coffee shop and a hot Italian and Tim, her college sweetheart who owns a local restaurant.  I am team Gia – just putting that out there – because, while Tim wants to be with Poppy, he lets himself get distracted by GiGi and other women.  Anyway, you can make your own decision on which team to belong.

I love to cook (which may be why this series appeals to me) and this one brings together cooking with reality TV.  Poppy teams up with Tim and Gigi to represent Tim’s restaurant in a cooking competition.  Gigi is not likable and she gets her due many times throughout the book.  I think my favorite is when the network decides that anyone on the team must cook one of the courses.  This infuriates Gigi because she doesn’t think Poppy is a chef because she didn’t attend culinary school.  Gigi is in for a rude awakening because not all great cooks have attended cooking school and Poppy knows her way around a kitchen which is more than can be said for Gigi.  As is to be expected, there is murder during the show and Poppy has to figure out the killer before she becomes the next victim.  I really tried to decipher the clues but I did not do a good job because I was quite surprised to learn who the murderer was and the reasoning behind the death(s).

There is a cast of quirky characters that liven up the storyline and of course, we can’t forget Aunt Ginny and her antics along with the rest of her Senior friends.  She knows how to liven up this book with her shenanigans.

We give this 5 paws up and suggest reading the whole series starting with the first book so you can understand the back story.

About the Author

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Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

From the founder of Cali’Flour Foods comes a cookbook that offers guilt-free recipes for every carb craving! Welcome back pizza, pasta, cookies, and sandwiches with 125 recipes!

Cali’Flour Foods has helped millions transform splurge foods into superfoods. And now, their first cookbook, Cali’Flour Kitchen, offers recipes for the dishes you haven’t been able to enjoy for years—from French Onion Soup and Quiche Lorraine to pizza, cookies, enchiladas, and lasagna. Cali’Flour Kitchen is designed for people across the dietary spectrum, providing perfect, guilt-free recipes for every carb-heavy craving, whether you’re eating vegan, dairy-free, keto, paleo, or a plant-based diet. For those suffering from health issues like diabetes and autoimmune diseases, this cookbook reintroduces those favorites that have long been forsaken, reinventing them to include a full serving of vegetables. With more than 125 recipes and photos plus detailed how-tos on creating cauliflower crusts, rice, crisps, wraps, and zoodles, Cali’Flour Kitchen is all about indulging without compromising health.

Review

I have loved being part of this dinner party with Abrams and having the ability to check out new cookbooks before they hit the shelves!  My inner foodie is excited and this was a book I can share with my vegetarian sister as many of the recipes would be right up her alley.

To help facilitate trying these recipes (especially those that call for a cauliflower crust or bread) and for those of us that can’t think about making them ourselves, we were sent a 3 pack of the pizza crusts to try out the many recipes in the book from Califlour Foods.  I chose the variety pack which includes Italian, Spicy Jalapeno, and Sweet Red Pepper.  The great thing about these is that they freeze well and you don’t have to rush choosing a recipe to test out these crusts.

I may (or may not) have shared that I have a picky husband and stepson that will eat anything not nailed down.  So when choosing a recipe from the cookbook to try, I had to figure out how to sneak the crusts into the dish without my husband’s knowledge.  The recipe that was a perfect fit is the Chicken and black bean enchilada casserole.  This is the photo from the book

I will never claim to be a food blogger but I did remember to take some photos of my dish – of course, all you can see is the top and all that glorious cheese.  I didn’t have Monterey Jack on hand so I used cheddar.  It was still delicious!

I didn’t put the avocado on top because my husband doesn’t like it, so it was on the side and I added some to my plate to enjoy.

This recipe was very easy to put together and I used rotisserie chicken for ease.  I also substituted Verde sauce for the Green Chili sauce recipe since I was pressed for time.  I also used some regular salsa since my Verde sauce didn’t stretch as far as I thought it would.  Even with these substitutions, the dish was flavorful and I think the Jalapeno crusts gave it a little extra zing.

I liked how easy it was to use the crusts and now to decide on another recipe to use with the Italian and the Sweet Red Pepper crusts.  These are so versatile you can even cut them up and bake them to use as chips (there is a Nacho recipe that the Jalapeno crusts would be amazing)

Even if you used a regular pizza crust with many of the recipes, I think you would find some keeper dishes for you and your family.  I’m already eyeing the Thai Pork Pizza and the Chili Chocolate pie which uses the Jalapeno crust….I think I’m going to have to order more of those!

We give this cookbook 5 paws up and suggest checking it out if you eat on the Keto plan, are a vegetarian or Vegan, or just want to include more simple carbs into your diet.

About the Author

Amy Lacey is the founder of Cali’Flour Foods, which she developed after being diagnosed with lupus in 2010. Lacey’s Cali’Flour pizza crusts were selected as Clean Eating Magazine’s “Coolest New Find of 2017” and named one of “Whoopi’s Favorite Things” on The View. Lacey is a health coach and authored the self-published The Clean Switch.

Valentine’s Day Anthology

Mystery.

Murder.

Lots and lots of chocolate.

Grab a cup of cocoa and get ready to spend Valentine’s Day with a heart-warming collection of ten Valentine’s themed Cozy Mysteries from some of the most popular authors in the genre. There are short stories, novellas and full-length books in the set, all of which are sure to grab you from the first page and take you on a thrill-filled ride through the sweetest holiday of the year.

Short Story: “Sweet Retreat” from The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series by Jodi Rath

Jolie Tucker wished she had gone on a one-time date while the going was good. Now she finds herself spending an entire weekend in adjoining rooms in a suite at Sweet Retreat’s Spa with none other than Detective Mick Meiser. Jolie had been trepidatious since she found out he had made the highest bid at the date auction fund-raiser for the village’s local pet adoption charity. But the possibility of romance disappears when they stumble upon a red silk glove in the parking lot…that has a severed hand inside! Instead, the unlikely duo must investigate who the hand belongs to…and where the rest of the body is.

Review

If you are looking for a quick read over lunch or while waiting at the doctor, this story will fit that description.  I was delighted to learn more about Joie and Mick and see what happened after Mick won Jolie at an auction for a date.  Obviously crime happened.  It was interesting to see how it all came together in a shorter time frame and fewer pages.  There are a few twists and turns that might surprise you as much as they surprised me!

I hope to read the rest of the stories in the book sometime soon.

We give this story 4 paws up.

Series Title: The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series

Book 1 Title: Pineapple Upside Down Murder

Synopsis

Welcome to Leavensport, Ohio where DEATH takes a delicious turn!

Introducing Jolie Tucker, an introverted yet passionate restaurant co-owner of Cast Iron Creations. When her grandma Opal becomes the prime suspect in the murder of Leavensport’s local chocolatier, Jolie goes on a search for answers—only to find out that her family’s secret recipes may not belong to the Tucker family at all. Jolie’s job, family, and livelihood are all on the line.

Release Date:  11/23/18

Check out my review here

Recipe

Cast Iron Creation Valentine’s Day Berry Cake

Use a mini cast iron when baking for one or two!

Recipe adapted from Toaster Oven Love

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon + 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar, divided
• 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
• A pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/8 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup frozen berries (do not thaw)

Optional Toppings

• Ice cream, melted chocolate chips, whipped cream, yogurt

Instructions

1. Preheat toaster oven to 350 F and lightly oil a 3.5 inch cast iron skillet.
2. In a small bowl mix together the flour, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the milk, vanilla, and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil until well combined, and no oil is sitting on the top. Stir in mini chocolate chips.
3. Pour batter into prepared skillet. Top with frozen berries and sprinkle remaining brown sugar over fruit.
4. Bake at 350 F for 17 to 22 (times may vary depending on your oven) minutes until the cake is lightly golden and the fruit is bubbly. Allow cake to cool 5 to 8 minutes and serve warm with your favorite toppings.

Enjoy!

About the Author

Moving into her second decade of working in education, Jodi Rath has decided to begin a life of crime in her The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series. Her passion for both mysteries and education led her to combine the two to create her business MYS ED, where she splits her time between working as an adjunct for Ohio teachers and creating mischief in her fictional writing. She currently resides in a small, cozy village in Ohio with her husband and her seven cats.

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I was lucky enough to be chosen as part of Abrams Books dinner party group.  This is a select group of bloggers – from book reviewers to cooks to lifestyle bloggers – that receive some of the hottest new cookbooks to come from Abrams Books.  I hope I can do all the cookbooks justice and I’m very impressed with what I have seen so far.

Today I am showcasing Matty Matheson A Cookbook.  It is much more than just a cookbook.  It is the story of his life and his memories of family and food.  I think we all have good memories when it comes to family and food…or maybe it is just me!  We love to eat in my family and my mom will even tell you that she isn’t sure where I got my passion for cooking.  I’m not a gourmet by any stretch, but I do love trying new recipes whenever I can.  So let me share this cookbook with you and you can make your decision from there.

Matty Matheson, star of Viceland’s It’s Suppertime and Dead Set On Life, reveals his favorite recipes and stories in a cookbook that his devoted fans have been waiting for.

Matty Matheson is known as much for his amazing food as his love for life, positive mental attitude, and epic Instagram account. This debut cookbook is about Matty’s memories of the foods that have defined who he is. With a drive to share his zest for life, he creates dishes within these pages that reinterpret the flavors of his youth in Canada, as well as the restaurant fare for which he has become so well-known. Interpretations of classics like Seafood Chowder, Scumbo: Dad’s Gumbo, and Rappie Pie appear alongside restaurant recipes like Bavette, Pigtail Tacos, and his infamous P&L Burger. This is a very personal cookbook, full of essays and headnotes that share Matty’s life—from growing up in Fort Erie, exploring the wonders of Prince Edward Island, struggling and learning as a young chef in Toronto, and, eventually, his rise to popularity as one of the world’s most recognizable food personalities. His no-nonsense approach to food makes these recipes practical enough for all, while his creativity will entice seasoned cooks. This book is like cooking alongside Matty, sharing stories that are equal parts heartwarming and inappropriate while helping you cook dishes that are full of love. Matty Matheson: A Cookbook is a new collection of recipes from one of today’s most beloved chefs.

Review

This cookbook is one that any meat lover should pick up and take a look.  There are recipes that include everything from beef to bologna (yes you read that right), from venison to veal, and quail to duck…and everything in between.  But interspersed between all of the recipes are gorgeous photos of the recipes, Matty’s life (cooking schools, family, etc), and some gorgeous scenic shots of Prince Edward Island.  This is a cookbook meant to be savored slowly and you will have time because most of the recipes take time to create.  So enjoy a glass of wine and read some of Matty’s story while preparing whatever dish you choose.

I have several recipes tagged to try but the first one I tried was the Double Bone Pork Chop with Maple Jack Daniel’s Bacon Sauce.  This dish included several of my husband’s favorite items – primarily pork chops and bacon.  I will have to say I could not find any double bone-in pork chops but found some really thick chops with a little bit of bone and that would have to suffice.  I think I would need to call around and find a butcher or grocery store that carries these.

I was going to make this dish one Sunday night and then realized I had not brined the pork chops.  I’m sure I could have gotten away with that but wanted to follow the recipe closely at least the first time to have a feel for the dish.  So the dish was moved a few days forward so I could follow all the steps.

I found that the recipe easy to follow, but as Matty says at the beginning of his book, all of these take time to prepare.  Let’s just say I should have started about 30 minutes sooner than I did!  But no matter, the pork chops were made and very delicious.  I’m glad I didn’t flip as many times as the cookbook called for because they would have been overdone.  I am guessing it is due to the lack of bone and perhaps not quite as thick as what the recipe states.  No matter, it was very delicious!

The Bacon Sauce – mmmmm

Basting the pork chop in a butter, rosemary, garlic sauce

The final dish plated. I had to take the picture quickly before it was eaten by my husband.

I highly recommend this dish from the cookbook and have several others tagged to try in the coming months.  If you are a vegetarian you might have a hard time finding a recipe to prepare.  There are also very few “sweet” dishes.  But any way you slice it, the book will provide many nourishing meals and some entertainment for you and your family.

Synopsis

The popular Six Sisters’ Stuff bloggers come to the rescue with a new collection of more than 100 easy-to-make recipes of popular restaurant dishes and takeout favorites for busy families. Make meal planning a breeze as you mix-and-match side dishes from one restaurant with main courses from another and finish it off with a dessert from a third. Save money while spending more time with your family. Change dining-out to dining-in for a memorable experience your whole family will enjoy.

Includes recipes for Texas Roadhouse Cactus Blossom, Panda Express Orange Chicken, Olive Garden Chicken Parmesan, Disneyland Monte Cristo Sandwich, Chili’s Molten Hot Lava Cake, Sprinkles Red Velvet Cupcakes, and Universal Studios Butterbeer.

Review

I have several of the cookbooks by these ladies and love each and every one of them. The recipes are simple to make, do not include fancy ingredients, and are quite tasty.

I have tried 3 of the recipes so far in this cookbook – Bajio Mexican Grill Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos, Macaroni Grill Penne Rustica, and Dickey’s Barbecue Pit Pulled Pork Sandwich. All were very tasty but my favorite of all of these is the Penne Rustica. It is very easy to split this recipe in half and I went back for seconds. I’ve made this dish twice already and I already know it is going into rotation. I will say that I made it without shrimp since I do not eat seafood but that did not take away from the deliciousness of the dish!

I am not a professional when it comes to taking food pics (might have to work on that! but here are a few photos I took.

Macaroni Grill Penne Rustica

I forgot to take a picture of the pan before we started scooping it out, so this was just half the pan and then what I scooped into my bowl

This is the BBQ sandwich – first while it was cooking and then on the bun

I have 4 or 5 more main dishes earmarked that I just haven’t had time to make yet and I haven’t even touched desserts, drinks, or the appetizer sections yet!

We give this 5 paws up and suggest you pick up a copy for yourself of this cookbook or any of their cookbooks!

About the Authors

The Six Sisters—Camille, Kristen, Elyse, Stephanie, Lauren, and Kendra—started their blog in 2011 as a way to keep in touch after they moved out of their house and started lives and families on their own. In just a few years, their blog has become one of the top blog sites for women, with millions of visitors each month enjoying the Sisters’ family stories, recipes, and tips for running a home. The sisters live in California, Texas, and Utah.

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Synopsis

“One blender + fresh ingredients = 50 shakes to last you all summer!”

Summer is upon us and we all need to stay cool and hydrated. The reason I came up with this recipe book was to give recipes which can be prepared easily and quickly. No one wants to be stuck in the kitchen for hours when they can be outside catching some sunshine.

So sit back and enjoy these wonderful 50 Shakes of Amazingness that are bound to rock your summer.

50 Shakes of Amazingness presents you with “50- crowd-pleasing and award-winning milkshakes presented in an easy, step-by-step format to ensure success for anyone.”

From the potassium-rich bananas to the free radical-fighting blueberries, and the nutrient-rich spinach, not forgetting the sweet almond milk – you can be sure of healthy, fun-filled shakes for you and your loved ones.

Filled with classic recipes such as the strawberry shake, and the chocolate shake which is presented with the owner’s own unique twist, this is a collection of simple, straightforward recipes that will help you enjoy a healthy, fun-filled summer.

Whether you are vacationing at some exotic location, enjoying the day at the beach, or simply spending some quality time with family, these simple, delicious recipes are all you need to keep you filled, fueled and smiling all through summer.

50 Shakes of Amazingness is a keeper for anyone who likes to delicious cold drinks or plans to get started.

Regina is happy to share with you some of her favorite shakes of all time.

Check out this Recipe!

Orange Creamsicle Shake

Get orangy with this creamsicle shake. It’s bursting with orange flavor perfect for your sunny summer

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 Cups orange sorbet
• 1 Cup vanilla ice cream
• 1/2 Cup almond milk
• 1/4 Cup orange juice
• 1/2 Teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 Scoop vanilla whey protein
• 1 Tablespoon sugar powder (optional)
• 1/2 Cup ice cubes

Directions

In a blender add all ingredients and blend until smooth.

Pour in tall glass and garnish with vanilla ice cream

Enjoy

About the Author

Regina is a writer, cookbook author, blogger and cooking teacher living in Nairobi Kenya.

Regina Timothy is passionate about food. Her articles and recipes appear regularly in Let’s Cook Kenya, Let’s Eat and Cooking magazine.

She loves sharing her recipes and kitchen knowledge, techniques, and tips with homemakers all over the world.

50 Shakes of Amazingness is her second book after Full Circle which was released late last year and has been doing really well on Amazon store. Her second recipe book is scheduled for release later in the year.

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Giveaway

The author will be awarding 5 copies of the recipe book to randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway