Review: Slow Cooker Magic

Summary: The beloved Fix-It and Forget-It series has sold nearly 11 million copies, giving home cooks around the world exactly what they crave—recipes for delicious, satisfying meals that anyone can make with simple ingredients and minimal preparation time. Who doesn’t love being able to serve their family a wholesome dinner (and dessert!) without spending hours in the kitchen—or a fortune on groceries? Now, New York Times bestselling author Phyllis Good presents a collection that gives cooks even more!

Featuring 600 new, mouthwatering recipes, cooks will be amazed at the “magic” their slow cookers can perform. In addition to delicious soups, stews, and chilis, cooks will also find pizza, cheesecake, bar cookies, quick breads, and dozens of other surprising treats!

There are reasons why the Fix-It and Forget-It series is so popular, and this latest book is no exception.

Each page is packed with easy-to-follow, carefully tested recipes.
No one has enough time these days—with a slow cooker, anyone can prepare a fantastic meal in minutes!
The recipes use ingredients most people already have in their cupboards—no searching high and low for exotic foods that will break the bank.

With 16 pages of full-color photographs and a price that’s tough to beat, this is destined to become a staple on home cooks’ shelves everywhere. -- Good Books

Like many busy families, we have a hard time eating dinner together on school nights. Wednesdays are particularly difficult because my husband travels to Delaware, my son has karate, and my daughter has dance. None of us eat at the same time so a "together" dinner is impossible! Eating out is even difficult given the timing. I decided that the best solution would be to make Wednesdays our crockpot dinner night. Everyone can just get their dinner as they get home!

The problem is my family isn't big on slow cooker meals. It's the rare meal outside of pulled pork or ribs that they will eat. But I was determined to find a some crockpot dinners that everyone would enjoy. And that's where FIX-IT AND FORGET-IT SLOW COOKER MAGIC: 550 AMAZING EVERYDAY RECIPES by Phyllis Good came into play!

SLOW COOKER MAGIC is a wonderful cookbook consisting of 550 slow cooker recipes. Ms. Good compiles recipes from her legions of fans and tested by a select group of home cooks known as “Team Fix-It." As a result, there is a huge variety of recipes in here. I can guarantee that there is something for everyone.

The cookbook has tons of recipes which overall is good although it does mean that there aren't a ton of color pictures. It is divided into the following chapters -- Appetizers, Snacks, Spreads, and Beverages; Breakfasts and Breads; Soups, Stews, and Chilis; Main Dishes (Chicken and Turkey; Beef; Pork; Pasta, Grain Meatless, and Seafood); Vegetables and Side Dishes; Sweets and Desserts; and Everyday From-Scratch Basics. The cookbook also include an index and a "Quick and Easy" Recipe index along with hints for using the cookbook and your slow cooker.

What I loved the most about this cookbook is the variety of recipes. There are recipes from many different ethnicities as well as good old American comfort food. There are also tons of soups, main dishes, appetizers, and even desserts. It's a tad bit overwhelming when you realize how much you can do with your slow cooker. I honestly think you could cook for months with just recipes from this cookbook!

Even given my son's food allergies, I was able to find many recipes to try. Last night, I made the Mexican Chicken Bake. I liked that it was super quick to prepare and pretty healthy. Basically, you take brown rice, canned tomatoes, corn, canned black beans, boneless chicken thighs, and spices and let it cook for 4 hours. The last hour you add peppers and right before serving, you cut the chicken into pieces and add cheese. My daughter and I really liked it and my husband said it was okay (that's the best I'm going to get from a crockpot recipe!) Even though the recipe included a little bit of rice, I knew my family would prefer more, so I ended up making a batch of brown rice. It still ended up being a really quick and healthy dinner.

I definitely intend to use SLOW COOKER MAGIC for my Wednesday night meals! With 550 recipes, it should keep us in dinners for many weeks to come! If you need quick crockpot meals, then I highly recommend SLOW COOKER MAGIC.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

Review: Dinner Solved!

Summary: Katie Workman is a gifted cook, a best friend in the kitchen, and a brilliant problem solver. Her Mom 100 Cookbook was named one of the Five Best Weeknight Cookbooks of the past 25 years by Cooking Light and earned praise from chefs like Ina Garten (“I love the recipes!”) and Bobby Flay (“Perfect . . . to help moms everywhere get delicious meals on the table.”). Now Katie turns her attention to the biggest problem that every family cook faces: how to make everyone at the table happy without turning into a short-order cook.

Expanding on one of the most popular features of the first cookbook, her ingenious “Fork in the Road” recipe solution, which makes it so easy to turn one dish into two or more, Katie shows you how Asian Spareribs can start mild and sweet for less adventurous eaters—and then, in no time, become a zesty second version for spice lovers. She shakes up the usual chicken for dinner with Chicken Tikka Masala-ish—and feeds vegetarians, too, by offering a fork where cauliflower is used in place of the chicken. Fettuccine with Shrimp and Asparagus is a blueprint for seven other easy mix-and-match pasta dinner combinations. Crostini for breakfast—truly an aha! idea—can go sweet or savory, pleasing both types of morning eaters. Have all the ingredients on hand? Make the insanely delicious Chocolate Carrot Cake. Missing chocolate? Don’t run out to the store—the basic Carrot Cake is just as satisfying.

Katie’s voice is funny and wry, and completely reassuring. Stunning full-color photographs show every dish. The result: no more cranky eaters, no more dinner table strife, no more unsure or stressed-out cook. -- Workman

I love Katie Workman! I met her a few years ago at BEA when her last cookbook THE MOM 100 COOKBOOK was coming out -- you can read my review here. I have followed her on Twitter and Facebook, and I loved the unique (and easy) recipes that she shares.

Her new cookbook is called DINNER SOLVED! and it's fantastic. It includes 100 recipes that should keep everyone in the family happy... even the cook. I have an extremely picky family that makes cooking meals a challenge. When you add to that the food allergies that my son has to eggs, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, soy protein, and sesame, it's not always fun to come up with meal ideas. I basically feel like I'm cooking the same five or six meals every few days.

DINNER SOLVED! will help busy moms keep their families happy. Ms. Workman offers tons of recipes that are both simple and healthy. And then she includes what she calls a "Fork in the Road." A "Fork in the Road" shows very simple changes you can do to make the recipe more tailored to individual audiences. For example, many times she offers vegetarian options or different spice/heat options.

Katie is a busy mom and knows what comes with cooking for a family. If kids can feel like they are helping the parents cook the meal, then they are more likely to eat it and try new things. In DINNER SOLVED!, Ms. Workman provides some help with what the children can do to help prepare the recipe. I'm horrible with letting the kids help in the kitchen because of the additional time and mess, but I know many moms will love this aspect of the cookbook.

DINNER SOLVED! has a huge variety of recipes. There are twenty chapters and they pretty much cover almost anything you can think of. There are morning foods, appetizers, salads, soups and stews, various meats, pastas, one-dish meals, and even a variety of desserts. I truly believe that there is something for everyone in this cookbook.

The cookbook has gorgeous color photographs for every recipe which is a must as far as I'm concerned for cookbooks. In addition, Ms. Workman does a wonderful job explaining the background of the recipes along with special food prep instructions. She even breaks the recipes into what you can do ahead of time and what has to be done last minute.

I found many meals that I want to make over the next few weeks. While most of the recipes aren't exactly allergy-friendly for my son's allergies, I still managed to find quite a few to try. The first recipe that I tried was actually an appetizer for my book club. It's called Lemony Parmesan Artichoke Dip and it just happened to be vegetarian. I love hot artichoke dip but this recipe had a twist -- the lemon juice and lemon zest. It was easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. In fact, I had multiple people ask me for the recipe. It tasted so fresh and it was actually relatively low-fat because I used low fat cream cheese.

DINNER SOLVED! is my new go-to cookbook. I love the healthy and simple recipes as well as the flexible options. Highly recommended!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

Review: Kitchens of the Great Midwest

Summary: Kitchens of the Great Midwest, about a young woman with a once-in-a-generation palate who becomes the iconic chef behind the country’s most coveted dinner reservation, is the summer’s most hotly-anticipated debut.

When Lars Thorvald’s wife, Cynthia, falls in love with wine—and a dashing sommelier—he’s left to raise their baby, Eva, on his own. He’s determined to pass on his love of food to his daughter—starting with puréed pork shoulder. As Eva grows, she finds her solace and salvation in the flavors of her native Minnesota. From Scandinavian lutefisk to hydroponic chocolate habaneros, each ingredient represents one part of Eva’s journey as she becomes the star chef behind a legendary and secretive pop-up supper club, culminating in an opulent and emotional feast that’s a testament to her spirit and resilience.

Each chapter in J. Ryan Stradal’s startlingly original debut tells the story of a single dish and character, at once capturing the zeitgeist of the Midwest, the rise of foodie culture, and delving into the ways food creates community and a sense of identity. By turns quirky, hilarious, and vividly sensory, Kitchens of the Great Midwest is an unexpected mother-daughter story about the bittersweet nature of life—its missed opportunities and its joyful surprises. It marks the entry of a brilliant new talent. -- Pamela Dorman Books

At this year's BEA, I asked a woman who works for Penguin what were her must-read books for Fall 2015. She listed a few including KITCHENS OF THE GREAT MIDWEST by J. Ryan Stradal. This novel is the author's debut, and all I can say is "wow!" This book was both original and a treat to read. It will definitely go down as one of my favorites of the year!

KITCHENS OF THE GREAT MIDWEST centers around Eva Thorvald. Eva had a difficult childhood between the abandonment of her mother and the sudden loss of her father; however, prior to his death, he shared his passion of food with her. It ends up that Eva developed quite the sophisticated palate.. and that's an understatement.The novel then follows Eva's life from her birth until her success as a legendary chef at a secretive pop-up super club.

I kept my description short and sweet because I knew very little about this book when I picked it up, and I ended up loving the little surprises that I found. KITCHENS OF THE GREAT MIDWEST is truly special and so incredibly well done. This book has a little bit of everything! It has food, love, family, mother/daughter drama, and more. Fans of food novels and literary fiction will devour this novel. (Sorry for the pun, but I couldn't help it!)

One thing I truly appreciated about this book is how the author decided to tell Eva's story. The story is told from points of view from different characters who knew Eva throughout her life. Each chapter reveals something about Eva as well as featuring a special food or ingredient, many of which are from her native Minnesota. Naturally, I enjoyed getting insight into Eva through the various people in her life; however, I also loved that each chapter almost read like a short story.

I also loved Mr. Stradal's writing style -- he has major skills. KITCHENS OF THE GREAT MIDWEST is a beautifully written novel that captures the essence of Eva, a complicated and impressive woman. His descriptions of the beauty of the Midwest and all of the foods and ingredients were nothing short of amazing. However what was even more impressive is how he managed to tie together all the separate chapters (and the food references in them) and wrap up everything in a satisfying conclusion. And I have to be honest, there were times when I wasn't sure where this book was going and if he could pull it off!

I honestly loved KITCHEN OF THE GREAT MIDWEST and think it would be an ideal book club selection. Just think of how amazing your food and wine selections could be for your meeting! In fact, the author put together a terrific book club kit that includes lots of recipes, wine and music suggestions, and even a Q&A. There is also a reading guide available with ten thought-provoking questions. Some of the themes you might want to explore include food and cooking, mother/daughter relationships, loss, grief, comfort, connections, and memories.

KITCHENS OF THE GREAT MIDWEST is a must-read for both foodies and fans of literary fiction. Highly recommended!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

Review: The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook

Summary: The Mystery Writers of America have joined forces to deliver this superb collection of more than 100 wickedly good recipes.

From Mary Higgins Clark’s Game Night Chili and Harlan Coben’s Crab Meat Dip to Scott Turow’s Innocent Frittata and Kathy Reich’s Shrimp Scampi, this cookbook offers one tasty treat after another.

Complete with a glamorous art-deco design and intriguing sidebars on the surprising—and sometimes deadly—links between food and foul play, this is the ultimate cookbook for crime aficionados. -- Quirk

As many of you know, I love mysteries! So much so that I try to feature a different one every Monday. I also love cookbooks and trying new recipes... even though I haven't exactly been writing many reviews for them lately.  THE MYSTERY WRITERS OF AMERICA COOKBOOK: WICKEDLY GOOD RECIPES FROM LEE CHILD, MARY HIGGINS CLARK, HARLAN COBEN, NELSON DEMILLE, GILLIAN FLYNN, SUE GRAFTON, CHARLAINE HARRIS, JAMES PATTERSON, LOUISE PENNY, SCOTT TUROW AND OTHER ACCLAIMED PLOT STIRRERS is a newly released cookbook that is ideal for mystery and food lovers like me. I'm sure many of you will feel the same way!

The Mystery Writers of America is the "premier organization for mystery writers, professionals allied to the crime-writing field, aspiring crime writers, and those devoted to the genre." They also have one of my favorite booths at BEA each year. Over the past few years, I've met so many incredible authors and received so many wonderful mysteries and thrillers. If you attend BEA, you have to stop by. You can meet up to four authors at any given time!

But back to the cookbook.... THE MYSTERY WRITERS OF AMERICA COOKBOOK is absolutely gorgeous. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect, but this cookbook is almost too pretty to use -- it looks like a coffee table book with the textured cover and gold text. And that's only the beginning! The inside of the book is a stunning too with full color photographs of the recipes.

I was pleasantly surprised by how many mystery authors contributed to this book. First of all, one of my favorites, Kate White, edited the book. (She has a new book coming up which I will be reviewing shortly!) In addition, there are over 100 recipes submitted by so many great writers -- all of them are listed alphabetically in the front of the book.  I don't know about you, but I always appreciate recipe compilations because each person submits their very favorite or most special recipe. It's like a "best of" cookbook! I also enjoyed reading the various mystery writers bios -- I even found a new author or two to try!

I don't want to make it sound like I wasn't expecting much of this cookbook because I was told it's a beauty; however, the recipes are amazing! The very first recipe is from Alafair Burke for Ellie Hatcher's Run-Soaked Nutella French Toast -- the very first one! As soon as I started reading this book, I knew I was in for a treat. Most of the recipes have tie-ins to the author's books or famous characters too, so it's a fun read for fans. I especially got a kick out of Sue Grafton's submission for Kinsey Millhone's Famous Peanut Butter & Pickle Sandwich.

The cookbook is divided into the following sections -- Breakfast, Appetizers, Soups and Salads, Entrees, Side Dishes, Desserts, and Drinks -- much like a regular cookbook. I wondered if THE MYSTERY WRITERS OF AMERICA COOKBOOK would be a little too gimmicky, but it's so well done -- far from gimmicky. It has some amazing recipes and I honestly think it's a great cookbook with recipes that I can make on a regular basis... that just happen to be submitted by famous mystery writers!

THE MYSTERY WRITERS OF AMERICA COOKBOOK is a great gift for mystery and/or cookbook lovers. Highly recommended!

Thanks to the publisher and Saichek Publicity for providing a review copy of this book.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

Review: Eat the Year

Summary: Everyone loves food.

But did you know that every day is a national food or drink holiday? It’s true! There’s National Bloody Mary Day, National Cheese Lover’s Day, and even National Blueberry Pancake Day—just to name a few.

Based on the popular blog Almanac of Eats, Eat the Year is a tribute to food-lovers everywhere that introduces a national food or drink holiday for every day of the year. From National Martini Day to National Chip and Dip Day, this book includes tasty recipes, food history, and a variety of food holidays that are as diverse as they are delicious! -- Running Press

I guess I'm really getting in the holiday spirit... albeit a little early for some of you! I am now in the mode of looking for gift ideas for the holidays, and I'm so happy to say that I have found a great one for the food lover in your life. It's a new calendar/cookbook titled EAT THE YEAR: 366 FUN AND FABULOUS FOOD HOLIDAYS TO CELEBRATE EVERY DAY by Steff Deschenes, and I think it's terrific!

EAT THE YEAR is perfect for foodies who love celebrating food holidays. This 400+ page book is chockfull of national food and drink holidays. In fact, there is one for every day of the year. Naturally, I had to see what the food holiday is for my birthday, April 20th. It's National Pineapple Upside Down Cake! It's also National Lima Bean Respect Day, but that's not as fun. (I guess that's why we "need" a National Lima Bean Respect Day.)

The book is set up by date so it's very easy to reference. There are fun quotations for each day as well as an explanation of the holiday and what it means to the author. In addition, there are fun trivia-like facts thrown in. Finally, there are recipes included for many of the food holidays. I'm telling you... EAT THE YEAR is so much fun!

I swear that there is a food holiday for pretty much everything and anything I could ever think of! Of course, some are more appealing than others like National Lobster Day, National Grilled Cheese Day, and National Drink Beer Day. The list could go on! However, there are some pretty strange ones too like National Kitchen Klutzes of America Day, National Cabbage Day, and National Grape Popsicle Day. I can pretty much guarantee that there is a little something in this book for everyone!

EAT THE YEAR is based on the popular blog Almanac of Eats. I probably shouldn't say this, but I wasn't familiar with this blog until recently; and it's a really fun and interesting site. You should definitely check it out. I am really enjoying all of the interesting tidbits about official (and not-so-official) state foods.

I highly recommend EAT THE YEAR for foodies!

Thanks to the publisher and author for providing a review copy of this book.

Review: Taste of the Town

Summary: College football culture is captured through the food, small town characters, and college life that makes Saturdays in autumn something fans look forward to every year. 

 In TASTE OF THE TOWN, Todd Blackledge, host of the enormously popular ESPN segment "Taste of the Town," focuses on popular college towns by telling you where to eat, what to eat, and great stories about college football traditions across America. With over 100 recipes from the chefs of the featured restaurants and the coach (or wife) of the hometown team you will be left hungry and excited to try out the popular football food for yourselves! 

Behind-the-scenes photos, shot on location, enhance the energy of the fun and food featured in each town. This book about football, food, and college culture showcases the coaches, players, chefs, and rabid fans who regularly join together to talk about their common passion. - Center Street

I was so excited to receive a copy of TASTE OF THE TOWN: A GUIDED TOUR OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S BEST PLACES TO EAT by Todd Blackledge and J.R. Rosenthal. I have been a huge fan of Mr. Blackledge's for quite some time. It began when I was in middle school and he was the starting quarterback for Penn State. After he led PSU to their first national championship, I continued to follow his time in the pros and then his career in broadcasting. Recently, I respected Mr. Blackledge even more when he spoke out about the Sandusky scandal and how Penn State handled it. So combine Mr. Blackledge and a cookbook and I'm definitely in!

College football fans probably know Mr. Blackledge for his ESPN feature called "Taste of the Town." This segment which showcases famous eateries in college football towns has become very popular. Not only does he taste some of the specialties, but he also shares some of the amazing college football traditions in each location. As far as I'm concerned, there is nothing quite like college football, and Mr. Blackledge does a darn good job of sharing his love for the sport.. and food in TASTE OF THE TOWN.

It will come as no surprise that I loved TASTE OF THE TOWN. It's a terrific resource for fans who follow their college teams to away games, but it also has some wonderful recipes. I am pretty sure that any fan of the ESPN segment or college football will find a few things to like about this book.

The book is set up by college divisions with the SEC at the beginning, then Texas and the South, to The Best of the Rest. A total of twenty different colleges/college towns are featured including University of Alabama, Ohio State University, and Florida State University. The last two chapters are titled "Coaches Can Cook" and "The Blackledge Family Culinary Tradition;" and I thought these were fun sections too.

Naturally, Mr. Blackledge featured Penn State; and of course, it was my very favorite chapter. I had a feeling that I already knew which restaurants he would feature, and I can tell you that I've spent quite a bit of time and consumed many calories in a few of them.

To give you an idea of what's included for each school, I thought I'd use the Penn State chapter as an example. It begins with The Berkey Creamery, the on-campus dairy store which has the most amazing ice cream. He provides a little history on the Creamery and then describes some of the most popular flavors. (Penn State is one of my very favorite places in the entire world, and the Creamery is a place I HAVE to visit every time we go to State College.)

Mr. Blackledge lists a few more of the popular restaurants in State College with a description of the must-have dishes! Then, he provides recipes from some of the restaurants including the Berkey Creamery's Penn State Ice Cream Mix. There are also photos of the various restaurants as well as some of Penn State.

Finally, Mr. Blackledge gives some fun information about the football traditions at Penn State -- Riding the Blue Buses, The Uniform, We Are... Penn State, and Success with Honor. Mr. Blackledge played for three years under Joe Paterno and he remained friends with the Paterno family; and I absolutely love how he addressed the scandal that has rocked our university. It actually made me cry!

Joe Paterno established "Success with Honor" as the Penn State football mission statement during his illustrious career as the head coach. Penn State teams were made up of men who competed just as hard int he classroom as on the football field. We won games, went to bowls, and competed for championships, while at the same time annually graduating one of the highest percentages of players in the nation. Doing things the right way, not occasionally but all of the time, was the Penn State credo. That is success with honor, and despite what some uninformed outsiders have said in the past couple of years, the phrase defines the true football culture at Penn State. That mantra was always adhered to during Joe Paterno's forty-six-year tenure as head football coach, and will continue to be upheld under Bill O'Brien's watch.
*Quoted from ARC

Overall, I enjoyed TASTE OF THE TOWN, but I especially loved how it focused on the amazing traditions of college football! Of course, the food and recipes didn't hurt either!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

Review: Taste of Home Recipes Across America

Summary: Sink your teeth into 735 all-American dishes, from crispy Southern Fried Chicken and tasty Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches to sweet Hoosier Sugar Cream Pie. This ALL-NEW Recipes Across America cookbook is our BIGGEST-EVER collection of regional favorites and a must-have for home cooks coast to coast! Take a look at the dishes below for a taste of what's inside, then order your own copy of Recipes Across America today! -- Taste of Home Books

I am a HUGE fan of Taste of Home's recipes, so when I saw that they had a new cookbook out, I knew I wanted to get my hands on a copy. Their latest addition to their cookbook line is called TASTE OF HOME: RECIPES ACROSS AMERICA, and what a cookbook it is!

RECIPES ACROSS AMERICA is quite a thick cookbook (over 500 pages) and offers a huge variety of recipes. If you are familiar with Taste of Home's cookbooks, then you know that's not unusual. However, what makes RECIPES ACROSS AMERICA so special is that it features recipes from all five regions of the United States -- the Northeast, South, Midwest, Southwest, and West.

RECIPES ACROSS AMERICA definitely appealed to me and I think all cookbook fans will enjoy the 700+ recipes. I've lived in both the Northeast and the South, so I appreciate seeing all of the foods that I have eaten all of my life. But, I also loved seeing recipes from the Southwest because I love Tex Mex food. I found it extremely interesting to see many of the foods I've come to think of as part of a particular area, and I also discovered a thing or two about some new-to-me variations of popular foods.

The cookbook is divided into five sections based on the regions of America. Then it is subdivided into Main Dishes, Sides & More, and Sweets. Needless to say, there is a little something for everyone. In addition to the recipes, this cookbook also has loads of color photographs. Not every recipes has a featured picture, but most of them do. I don't know about you, but that's pretty darn important (and impressive) to me!

Another special feature in RECIPES ACROSS AMERICA is that almost every page has a "Dishing about Food" section in the sidebar. I found this information to be particularly interesting because it gives little bits of trivia about the various region's food. For example, did you know that "fried chicken" in Maryland means pan-fried chicken that is browned and then steamed rather than a crunchy coating?

Any time I have a cookbook this large, I admit I feel a little overwhelmed when deciding what to try first. Since I was hosting book club this week, I decided to make a dessert to share with my friends. I was in the mood for a lemon pound cake so I made the Golden Pound Cake recipe from the South region -- Mechanicsville, Virginia to be exact. The recipe was really simple -- basically a doctored cake mix recipe, and it had one secret ingredient, Mountain Dew. We all agreed that the cake was tasty and extremely moist, although I wish it had risen just a tad bit more.

RECIPES ACROSS AMERICA has some amazing recipes but also some very interesting tidbits about food in America. Highly recommended.

Thanks to FSB Associates for providing a review copy of this book.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

Review: Shirley J Slow Cooker Seasonings & Giveaway

If you remember a few weeks ago, I reviewed some products that my daughter and I loved from the Shirley J Mugging! line. I was so happy with the products that I began wondering what else this great company had to offer. I decided that the Shirley J Slow Cooker Seasoning looked kind of interesting... and easy!

Since I already had a pork tenderloin in the freezer, I decided that I'd start with the Pork Slow Cooker Seasoning. I had a feeling that the "recipe" to make a pork tenderloin (or pork roast) would be easy -- it's a crock pot recipe, so how hard could it be? But I honestly was shocked by just how simple it was. All I did was mix some of the seasoning with some water and pour over the tenderloin. Truly -- it was that easy.

About eight hours later, I had a very tasty pork tenderloin with gravy! The Pork Slow Cooker Seasoning makes its own gravy and, while I'm not a huge gravy person, I do think it added a nice flavor to the meat. If I were a gravy person, this juice/gravy would have been perfect served over mashed potatoes!

In addition to the Pork Slow Cooker Seasoning, Shirley J also has a Chicken Slow Cooker Seasoning and a Beef Slow Cooker Seasoning. I have yet to try either of these, but I have no doubt that the beef one would be perfect for French Dip sandwiches. In fact, I am buying a chuck roast the next time I go to the grocery store.

While I was thrilled with just how simple this seasoning mix was to use, I also appreciated that the seasoning mixes do have some versatility. For example, I found some a recipe on the Shirley J website for Pork Chili Verde which uses the pork seasoning mix along with a few other ingredients. There are also recipes for the Beef Slow Cooker that look equally simple and delicious!

The Slow Cooker Seasonings come in 12 ounce containers for $8.95 which I think is pretty reasonable. You only use 1/3 cup of the seasoning with 2 cups water for up to three pounds of meat. So it does go a long way!

I definitely recommend Shirley J. Slow Cooker Seasonings as a great way to make a quick and easy dinner for your family!

Thanks to Shirley J for providing the Slow Cooker Seasoning samples.
 
Thanks to the fine folks at Shirley J, I have packages of all three Slow Cooker Seasonings (Pork, Chicken, and Beef) to share with one lucky Booking Mama reader. To enter, just fill out the form below before August 17th at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will randomly select and notify the winner the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. addresses only. Good luck!

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

Kid Konnection: Kids in the Kitchen Cookbook

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week, I'm going to share with you a fantastic cookbook geared especially towards kids!

Summary: TIME For Kids Kids in the Kitchen Cookbook, Fun Recipes for Kids to Make! features over 80 tasty recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and more that kids and adults will love to make and eat together.

These homemade meals focus on utilizing fresh ingredients while encouraging the understanding of nutrition and kitchen safety. New twists and alternate recipes are included to enhance simple recipes into new favorites.

Filled with full-color photos and some illustrations, this book features step-by-step, easy-to-follow recipes. Kids will practice measuring ingredients, reading nutritional labels, and learn the basics of cooking.

All of the recipes were chosen from myRecipes.com. Recipes include:

• Applesauce Muffins
• Chocolate Chip Waffles
• Fruit Smoothies
• Sweet Potato Fries
• Fish and Chips
• Sloppy Joe Sliders
• Creamy Berry Fruit Pops
• And more...

Even the most picky eaters will find foods they will love inside this cookbook. -- Time

I am the first to admit that I'm not the best mom when it comes to letting my kids test out recipes in the kitchen. I am kind of a control freak and I'm never quite satisfied with how they clean up their messes. (And yes, I do realize I'm not doing them any favors by not teaching them to cook much beyond toast and pasta!) However, I thought that maybe the new cookbook TIME FOR KIDS: KIDS IN THE KITCHEN COOKBOOK: FUN RECIPES FOR KIDS TO MAKE! might change my mind. This cookbook which is geared towards kids (and their parents) is so much fun with its yummy recipes, colorful photos, and detailed directions.

I'm sure what I'm going to say next is going to tell you a lot about my cooking skills... I think KIDS IN THE KITCHEN is a fantastic cookbook. Of course, the entire cookbook has recipes easy enough for kids to make, but I actually like that feature too. I need quick and easy recipes given our schedule. If a recipe is too complicated, I don't even pretend that I'll make is someday.

But I also really liked that the recipes were kid-friendly. And by that I mean, the foods in this cookbook were ones that even picky eaters would like. They didn't use fancy ingredients, but there were plenty of healthy ones including lots of fruits and veggies. I actually found lots of recipes, including meal ideas, that sounded delicious.

I wanted Booking Son to look through this cookbook knowing that he probably wouldn't find many (if any) recipes that he could eat given his food allergies. (He's allergic to eggs, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish.) Fortunately we marked quite a few recipes that we didn't need to modify at all and a few more that we could make if we substituted ingredients. We decided to try the Roasted Sweet Potato Fries first.

I almost hate to admit this, but I bought pre-cut sweet potatoes at Wegmans. They cost a fortune, but it did make the recipe so much easier to prepare. We added some olive oil and other seasonings (including fresh rosemary from our garden), and threw them in the oven. I am pretty sure that the wedges we used were thinner than the recipe called for, so I just adjusted the cooking time. Within 20 minutes we had very delicious sweet potato fries. Booking Son even ate them and declared them pretty good!

But KIDS IN THE KITCHEN is about more than just recipes. There are also instructions which will teach kids to measure ingredients, read nutritional labels and learn the basics of cooking. Additionally, this cookbook features: Kitchen Basics and The Young Chef’s Toolbox;  Smart Food Choices Mean Good Eats (Stay-Fit Tips and Goals for Good Health);  How to Avoid Kitchen Disaster; You Can Measure (Metric Equivalents);  Glossary;  A Word Search Puzzle;  Facts, World Records and Articles from TIME For Kids; and much more!

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN is a fantastic resource for kids and parents alike! Personally, I will be keeping this cookbook in mind as a future gift idea for budding chefs!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.  

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Review: Shirley J Mugging!

I'm not quite sure that this review of Shirley J Mugging! line should count as part of Weekend Cooking because the "recipe" is so very simple. However, I absolutely adore these products and couldn't wait to share them with you. Plus, you are "making" something which can be eaten, so I figured what the heck!

When I arrived home from BEA, there was a pretty large box waiting for me. I knew it wasn't books and I wasn't really expecting anything, so I couldn't wait to open it and see what was inside. Much to my surprise, it was four big (and colorful) mugs along with some packages of Shirley J Mugging! mixes. Booking Daughter immediately started examining all of the boxes and wanted to test the products and give her opinion.

There were so many wonderful samples that we hardly knew where to start. Or at least, I wasn't sure. Booking Daughter immediately wanted to make the Mugging! Chocolate Brownie Cake. Since Shirley J claims that these mixes are simple enough even for a child, I decided to let her do it by herself. (If you knew how much a control freak I am, you'd understand my reluctance!)

Basically, all she had to do was dump the mix into the mug, add 5 tablespoons water, and mix. Naturally, she was fascinated that there were "options" to doctor the recipe, so she decided to add a quarter cup of mini chocolate chips. She just as easily could have prepared the Rocky Road version where you add chocolate chips, nuts, and mini marshmallows. Then she placed the mug in the microwave and had warm chocolate cake in less than two minutes.

I know what you're probably thinking -- that this version of chocolate cake couldn't taste like real chocolate cake; however, you'd be dead wrong. Booking Daughter loved it! And I have to say, that I enjoyed it too. I thought the portion size was generous and the cake was very rich. In fact, she had a hard time finishing the entire serving.

The next morning, Booking Daughter couldn't wait to make the No-Pan Pancakes. Once again, all she had to do was add water to the mix and stir, but she decided to add chocolate chips. Personally, I thought the recipes for banana pancakes and blueberry pancakes sounded even better, but what kid can resist chocolate? She loved the giant pancake in a mug and even admitted that she was surprised since the pancakes were whole-grain. As a mom, I loved the quickness of the preparation as well as the idea that she was getting a somewhat healthy breakfast. Now, if I could just get her to substitute fruit for the chocolate!

Besides the chocolate cake and the pancake mixes, we also received a yellow cake mix that can be made into a cobbler, a corn bread mix, a walnut bread mix, a pumpkin spice bread mix, a quiche mix, and a gluten-free chocolate cake mix. Since I already knew that these products tasted good, I decided to test the gluten-free one.

All I did was add water and some chocolate chips to the mix and nuke for a little over a minute. I didn't really have high expectations for a gluten-free product, but I ended up liking it quite a bit. I actually added a little whipped cream to the warm cake and ate almost the entire serving. Booking Daughter even tested it and she gave it a thumbs up too!

There are so many great things about these Shirley J Mugging mixes, but one that sticks out to me is how perfect they are for gifts. You can order the mixes in a single 4 oz. pack ($3.00) or a package of five mixes ($12.95). You can also purchase the mixes as part of a gift set or bundle. How cute would a little mug with an assortment of mixes be for a teacher or a friend?

Overall, I am extremely impressed with the Shirley J Mugging! line. Each mix is better than the next and I love the ease and quickness of preparation. It's been a huge hit in our house these past few days!

Make sure you check out the entire Shirley J website. In addition to the Mugging! line, they have other delicious-sounding products.

Thanks to Shirley J for providing us with the Mugging! samples.
Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. 

Kid Konnection: Bon Appetit!

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week, I'm going to share with you a wonderful picture book about the famous chef Julia Child.

Summary: In a starred review, Publishers Weekly raves, "Chef and TV personality Julia Child likely would have delighted in and hooted over this wide-ranging picture-book biography.... Readers young and old will devour this fete pour les yeux."

Follow Julia Child—chef, author, and television personality—from her childhood in Pasadena, California, to her life as a spy in WWII, to the cooking classes she took in Paris, to the publication of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, to the funny moments of being a chef on TV. This is a comprehensive and enchanting picture book biography, told in many panels and jam-packed with lively, humorous, and child-friendly details. Young chefs and Julia Child fans will exclaim, "ooooh la la," about this book, which is as energetic and eccentric as the chef herself. -- Schwartz & Wade

BON APPETIT!: THE DELICIOUS LIFE OF JULIA CHILD by Jessie Hartland just has to be one of my favorite picture books that I've read this year. It's positively delightful and has certainly gathered its fair share of praise. I was anxious to read this book after Kathy (aka Bermudaonion) reviewed it earlier this year, and I was so grateful when she sent it to me.

While I will most likely never cook any of the recipes from a Julia Child cookbook, I am very interested in her life. I read her memoir MY LIFE IN FRANCE and even saw Julie & Julia in the movie theater (which is extremely rare for me!) I have also visited her kitchen at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History a few times, and I'm planning on tackling the huge biography of her that came out earlier this year. But in the meantime, BON APPETIT was the perfect way for me to learn a little more about Ms. Child.

BON APPETIT is too darn cute! It's definitely a biography of Ms. Child's life, but it's presented in a very fun way that kids (and parents) will appreciate. Nothing about this story is dry! The book is technically a picture book, but it has panels and text that remind me of a graphic novel. And, the artwork by Jessie Hartland is to darn cute. It's very colorful and whimsical and the perfect complement to Ms. Hartland's entertaining biography of Ms. Child.

In addition to the artwork and story, I loved the messages in this book. They are perfect for young children. Ms. Child wasn't the greatest student or even the prettiest one, and she was a bit of a late bloomer; however, she was determined to succeed at what she loved and she never gave up. The ten years she spent working on MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH COOKING definitely proved that! The book also shows that it's possible to find your passion and make a difference.

Another neat thing about BON APPETIT is that it presented a lot of information about cooking and food to children. My kids probably wouldn't know half the ingredients or foods mentioned in this book, but the author did a great job of explaining them to young readers. I especially appreciated that she drew a small truffle and explained not only what a truffle was, but how much one that size would cost. At the end of the book, the author even included her recipe for crepes.

As you can see, I absolutely adored BON APPETIT -- everything about it. The artwork, the story, and even the message make this book extremely special! Highly recommended!

Thanks to the Kathy for giving us a copy of this book.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. 

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too! 

Review: My Year in Meals

Summary: Ever wonder what Rachael Ray cooks when the cameras aren’t rolling? Here she gives you an inside look into her kitchen for one full year. My Year in Meals offers intimate access to tasty dishes that will take you from breakfast to dinner. From the meals she whips up at a moment’s notice to family feasts, and dishes inspired by her travels around the world, you can now enjoy twelve incredible months of Rachael’s homemade favorites.

Need something to get you out of bed in the morning? Try the Almond Custard Brioche Toast or Eastern Egg Sandwiches with Bacon. Looking to fire up that backyard barbecue? Try the Baby Back Ribs with Bourbon BBQ sauce. For something simple that will knock your guests’ socks off, try Rachael’s Egg Tagliatelle with Truffle Butter and Butternut Squash Risotto. Rachael even shares her husband John Cusimano’s amazing cocktail recipes, guaranteeing that you’ll never reach for store-bought Margarita mix again. To top it off, Rachael includes personal stories behind many of the dishes and her own never-before-seen photos of these culinary creations. In no time at all, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into her home for a change!

A year of delicious food is only enhanced by a selection of equally tasty cocktails, and Rachael’s husband, John Cusimano, is no stranger to the cocktail shaker. Now he’s sharing his secrets with you. Whether shaken or stirred, straight up or on the rocks, with a cherry or a twist, John’s creations—like his Strawberry Velvet featuring honey liqueur, strawberries, and lime—are always fresh, fun, and certain to make any gathering more memorable. With plenty of options for every occasion and season, such as the Pomegranate Margarita, the Halloween Fizz, and the Nod to Nog, these fabulous concoctions are the perfect complement to Rachael’s year of great eating. -- Atria

In the past, I haven't always had a lot of luck with Rachael Ray's cookbooks. In theory, the recipes should be perfect for me. They are usually fairly quick and use easy-to-find ingredients; however, there have been only a few that I've really considered "keepers." For whatever reason, every single time Ms. Ray comes out with a new cookbook, I want to check it out. Her latest MY YEAR IN MEALS was no different.

The premise behind MY YEAR IN MEALS is fairly obvious from the title. This cookbook chronicles Ms. Ray's actual meal plan for a year. I've often wondered if celebrity chefs really cook the way they do on television, and this cookbook proves that Ms. Ray does. The recipes are very similar to her other cookbooks, and I even recognized one or two that I've seen her make on television.

MY YEAR IN MEALS has over 500 recipes including breakfasts, lunches and dinners. I'm not sure I'm head over heels in love with all of the recipes because Ms. Ray tends to use a little too many condiments for my family's tastes. (We are a mayo, mustard, and ketchup-free home!) However, I did find quite a few that I want to try when my life calms down a bit after the holidays.

As far as the format for MY YEAR IN MEALS, I thought it was positively adorable and very user-friendly. There are small photos for every recipe which really helps cooks like me who need to see a photo before making something. In addition, the book is set up by month (beginning in April) with a calendar showing, by day, the various recipes Ms. Ray made; and then follows with the individual recipes along with Ms. Ray's personal notes about the meals. Some of the text looks like actual handwriting so that's makes it cute too.

MY YEAR IN MEALS is also a "Smart Book." That means that there are tags throughout the book. When you use your smart phone, you can access enhanced digital content about the various recipes. The Simon and Schuster website also has this content available.

Another really neat (and surprise-to-me) feature of this cookbook occurs when you turn the entire cookbook upside-down and then over. The "back" of the cookbook is another mini cookbook put together by Ms. Ray's husband John Cusimano titled MY YEAR IN COCKTAILS. This cookbook is actually terrific (and perfect for this time of year) since it includes more than 100 recipes for adult beverages. I'm not a big drinker, but I can tell you that many of these recipes looked fantastic, and I've already given my bartender (I mean husband!) a list of a few that I'd like to sample.

When it came time to pick on recipe to sample, I decided to make the Five-Minute Fudge Wreath. I had seen Ms. Ray make this on her show year's ago and thought it looked adorable. It didn't hurt that it was very simple (note "five-minute" in the title). I'm not a huge fudge fan, but I thought it looked cute to set out at a holiday party or share with a neighbor. The ingredients are fairly simple -- chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, walnuts and dried currants; and you just melt the chips, milk, and vanilla and then stir in the nuts and fruit. I am not a currant fan so I substituted dried cranberries. You pour it all in an 8-inch round cake pan (with the leftover sweetened condensed milk can in the middle) and let it set for a few hours in the refrigerator. You can also decorate with candied cherries or a bow. Easy peasy!

I was pleasantly surprised by the fudge -- it was actually pretty good, but I wouldn't  go so far as to say it was great. But I'm not a huge fudge fan, so I might not be the best judge. (I was happy that the fudge didn't have too strong of a butterscotch flavor because I'm not the biggest butterscotch fan either.) I do think the nuts and dried cranberries definitely added to the overall taste though! This recipe makes about two pounds of fudge and the wreath ended up looking pretty cute. I think it would be a hit at a party.

Check out this video to get a better idea about the MY YEAR IN MEALS:



I'm sure fans of Rachel Ray's will enjoy this cookbook, and there are some very good recipes in it. I'm just not sure it would be one of my go-to cookbooks.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

Review: All Gone

Summary: A daughter’s longing love letter to a mother who has slipped beyond reach.

Just past seventy, Alex Witchel’s smart, adoring, ultracapable mother began to exhibit undeniable signs of dementia. Her smart, adoring, ultracapable daughter reacted as she’d been raised: If something was broken, they would fix it. But as medical reality undid that hope, and her mother continued the torturous process of disappearing in plain sight, Witchel retreated to the kitchen, trying to reclaim her mother at the stove by cooking the comforting foods of her childhood: “Is there any contract tighter than a family recipe?” 

Reproducing the perfect meat loaf was no panacea, but it helped Witchel come to terms with her predicament, the growing phenomenon of “ambiguous loss ”— loss of a beloved one who lives on. Gradually she developed a deeper appreciation for all the ways the parent she was losing lived on in her, starting with the daily commandment “Tell me everything that happened today” that started a future reporter and writer on her way. And she was inspired to turn her experience into this frank, bittersweet, and surprisingly funny account that offers true balm for an increasingly familiar form of heartbreak. -- Riverhead

I had very personal reasons for picking up ALL GONE: A MEMOIR OF MY MOTHER'S DEMENTIA, WITH REFRESHMENTS by Alex Witchel. Mainly, I was interested in reading more about how a daughter coped with taking care of her aging mother since it's a subject that more and more of my friends are facing as their parents (and grandparents) get older. I wasn't exactly sure it was the "right" read for this time of year when I tend to read "lighter" fare; however, I had read enough reviews to know that this book did have it's funny moments. So I figured , "what the heck!"

As odd as it sounds, this memoir which chronicles Ms. Witchel's mother's struggle with dementia wasn't all doom and gloom, although it easily could have been. Naturally, there were some very sad (and even uncomfortable) scenes in this story about her mother's disappearance from reality; however, overall, I felt as if this story were a positive one. (And there were a ton of hilarious scenes!)

First, I felt as if Ms. Witchel wrote a beautiful tribute to her mother. She demonstrated how special her mother was as a mother, wife, and teacher in a time when women weren't able to "do it all". In addition, she showed the ups and downs of a mother-daughter relationship, as well as the many ways her mother's words and advice came to fruition throughout her life -- even in her adult years. I found many of her sayings to be inspirational and touching.

Next, I thought Ms. Witchel did a nice job of incorporating her mother's recipes into ALL GONE. As her mother progressively got worse, Ms. Witchel was able to find comfort in cooking her mother's old recipes. It was a form of therapy for her, and she even included a few of them in the book. I didn't find any of these recipes to be particularly mouth-watering -- most were pretty basic and used a lot of prepackaged foods; however, I did appreciate how these meals brought back fond memories of her mother and her childhood. Just to give you an idea, here are some of the recipes: Frankfurther Goulash, Chicken with Prunes and the more normal Roast Chicken.

Finally, I liked how Ms. Witchel provided so much honestly in ALL GONE about herself and how she coped (and didn't cope) with her mother's illness. I think Ms. Witchel's emotions and reactions to her mother's descending spiral into memory loss were probably very realistic and ones that many adults experience in one form or another. I also adored how she showed that as she was "losing" her mother, she was also gaining an appreciation of her. As a daughter and granddaughter, I found it to be beautiful and touching.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that there was something I found a little strange about this book. For the most part I enjoyed ALL GONE and thought it was very good; however, I did think that Ms. Witchel provided too much information about herself and her life that wasn't pertinent to her relationship with her mother. There were many personal stories about Ms. Witchel's childhood, her relationship with her husband Frank Rich, and her stepson. I realize that ALL GONE is ultimately Ms. Witchel's memoir, but I definitely appreciated the parts that were more geared towards her mother and how they handled her illness.

I hope that many people will find some comfort in this book and Ms. Witchel's words. It's a special tribute to mothers and daughters, the healing power of food, and anyone who has ever taken care of someone who is sick.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

Giveaway: Cake Mix Doctor Gluten-Free Cookbooks

Summary: Unbelievably gluten-free pizza! Unbelievably gluten-free fried chicken! Unbelievably gluten-free pasta! Plus breads, dumplings, fritters, pies, cakes, puddings, and more. For the 30 million Americans who have an allergy or sensitivity to gluten—and their families, who want to reclaim the dinner experience of everyone eating the same thing—Anne Byrn creates 125 amazing dishes where the gluten is gone, and never missed.

Author also of The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten-Free, and other cookbooks, Anne Byrn knows how to deliver incredible flavors. She replaces wheat, barley, and rye with gluten-free ingredients and employs creative techniques for achieving flawless textures and consistencies. These are recipes that taste as good—not almost as good—as they should: Tomato Panzanella Salad. Baked French Onion Soup. Spaghetti Carbonara. Grilled Chicken and Pesto Pizza. The Best GF Meat Loaf. Plus dessert: Warm Lemon Pudding Cake, Gluten- Free Red Velvet Cake, Fresh Orange Cupcakes, Old-Fashioned Peach and Blueberry Cobbler, and Gluten-Free Saucepan Brownies.

Includes how to convert favorite recipes and tips for eating gluten-free on a budget. -- Workman

Summary: Thirty million Americans are gluten-intolerant or have a gluten sensitivity, eliminating it from their diets because gluten—a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley—has been implicated in health issues ranging from respiratory problems and abdominal discomfort to anemia, anxiety, and infertility. The food industry has bullishly taken notice. Gluten-free baking products, including cake mixes from Betty Crocker, King Arthur, Whole Foods, and others, have increased sevenfold on grocery shelves in recent years, and the number of other gluten-free products has grown as well—832 were introduced in 2008 alone.  And gluten-free options are on the menu of national restaurants like Boston Market, Chili’s, Ruby Tuesday, Outback Steakhouse, and others.

Now comes even sweeter news for people looking to cut gluten from their diets: Anne Byrn shows how to transform gluten-free cake mixes into 76 rich, decadent, easy-to-make, impossible-to-resist desserts. Performing the magic that’s made her a bestselling baking author with over 33 million copies of her books in print, she doctors mixes with additions like almond extract, fresh berries, cocoa powder, grated coconut, cinnamon, lime zest, and more—naturally, all gluten-free ingredients—and voilà: Tres Leches Cake with Whipped Cream and Summer Berries, Almond Cream Cheese Pound Cake, Chocolate Cupcakes with Milk Chocolate Ganache, Caramel Melted Ice Cream Cake, Warm Tarte Tatin Apple Cake, plus brownies, bars, muffins, and cookies. Dessert is back on the menu.  -- Workman

Over these past few weeks, I've been trying out some recipes from the new cookbook UNBELIEVABLY GLUTEN-FREE! by Anne Byrn.As part of this tour, I was asked to make the Gluten-Free Mac & Cheese, and item from the Holiday Sampler (I made the Pumpkin Spice Bread), and now any dessert from either UNBELIEVABLY GLUTEN-FREE or THE CAKE MIX DOCTOR BAKES GLUTEN-FREE. I decided to try the Warm Lemon Pudding Cake from UNBELIEVABLY GLUTEN, and I think it's my favorite of the three!

This recipe is extremely simple and starts with a gluten-free baking mix! (I guess that's why Ms. Byrn is better known as the Cake Mix Doctor!) The rest of the ingredients were fresh and included sugar, eggs, milk, and lemons. It was incredibly simple to make and only took about five minutes of prep time. I baked it for about 40 minutes and served it while it was warm. I have a feeling that this is the best way to eat it!

This Warm Lemon Pudding Cake was so light and delicious! I absolutely loved how the dessert was part cake and part pudding, and I wouldn't hesitate to serve this to my friends. I bet no one would even know it was gluten-free!

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

Giveaway alert: I have copies of both UNBELIEVABLY GLUTEN-FREE! and THE CAKE MIX DOCTOR BAKES GLUTEN-FREE to share with one lucky reader. To enter, just fill out the form below before Saturday, December 1st at 11:59 p.m. ET. I will randomly select and notify the winner the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. and Canada addresses only. Good luck!