The Essential Instant Pot Cookbook

    Quite honestly, this is the best book I have found for the Instant Pot. I have tried several others, but this one has recipes I will actually use! The soup section was excellent, and I appreciated a good bone broth recipe! 
    The chapters are as follows: Breakfast, Beans and Grains, Soups and Chilis, Poultry, Beef and Pork, Vegetables and Side Dishes, Desserts, and Pantry.
    The book has loads of useful information for using the Instant Pot, stuff I had to always look up online. It has cooking times as well, and a question and answer section. How to use the pot is included, must have tools, and how to convert recipes for the Instant Pot. Usually I shy away from books that are official or authorized by a product, but this time I am glad I tried this book!
I recommend this book!

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"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

The Lauras by Sara Tylor

The Lauras was an interesting take on the coming of age of Alex. Taken away from her father by her mother she experiences the world through her mothers eyes and experiences. Traveling across the U.S. her mother reveals her past bit by bit as they arrive in various locations associated with those revelations. And of course stories of the Lauras also play into this. Very interesting read, especially as Alex is dealing with gender issues and a view of life through those eyes.

Fairly quick read and it held my attention well.

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                                   For more about the author, click here

                                      "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

The Roanoke Girls

Lane was one of the rich and beautiful Roanoke girls. But was it worth it?   
     This book was different than I expected. I guess I liked it ok, but it dealt with a topic not usually written about as a plot point for a novel.The characters made me mad at them for their ignorance, but I guess that goes back to the way they were raised, as victims of circumstance.
    The book moved along a bit slower than anticipated, but did deal with all characters in flashbacks. I thought as I read that the ending was obvious. I will say one aspect was and the other wasn't. I was a bit surprised by the final twist. Although it wasn't much of one. Just not where I expected it to go.

       Let's just say I'm thankful to not be a Roanoke girl!


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I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

The Clancys of Queens

I'm so sorry! In December I had surgery and have been dealing with the long recovery and physical therapy since then. In the shuffle I totally forgot to review the book! Forgive the briefness, it's been a long couple months....

I enjoyed this book...well, I think I did. December was foggy. I loved reading about the authors time as a girl in New York. She had an interesting childhood, living in three different homes. Her mom's - with grandma, her dad's, and her stepdads. Each was so different - city dwelling and all that went with it back then, a single man's small rural type home, and her rich stepdads estate. It was touching, funny, and fun to read. I was amazed how the city, more lower class clan was welcomed to the stepdad's home for a grand picnic/party every year. That doesn't seem very normal to me! But the author was blessed to have all these different experiences, travels, and homes.

Over all, a very enjoyable read!

I'm sorry the picture and links aren't working. Maybe it's the iPad? I'll post as is and hope I can fix it later.

Tara Clancy's Website

The Book

* I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

The Tea Planter's Wife by Dinah Jefferies.

I loved this book! Maybe not the most riveting story, but I am a sucker for historical fiction, especially in this part of the world.
What could be better than a tea plantation in Ceylon? Or what we now call Sri Lanka? The story centers around an English girl who marries and moves to Ceylon to her husbands tea plantation.
Without getting overly involved it conveys the troubles between the owners, the workers, the natives, and the overseers. Add to that a small "mystery" and a bit of romance.
It did my heart good to lose myself in this book for a couple days.
I recommend this book if you are a lover of historical fiction!

ABOUT THE TEA PLANTER’S WIFE

"#1 International bestselling novel set in 1920s Ceylon, about a young Englishwoman who marries a charming tea plantation owner and widower, only to discover he’s keeping terrible secrets about his past, including what happened to his first wife, that lead to devastating consequences."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dinah Jefferies was born in Malaysia and moved to England at the age of nine. The Tea Planter’s Wife is her US debut.

 "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

 

Food52 Genius Recipes

This book was not what I hoped for....

I was kind of disappointed in this book. I thought it would be smarter, more innovative, and it didn't seem to come close to that at all. Not that the recipes weren't ok, just not what I had hoped for! When I weed out my collection it will probably be among the first to go.

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

The Great Big Pressure Cooker Book!

This looks like a wonderful book, and I have enjoyed reading the recipes. Unfortunately I haven't been able to try any yet as I haven't received my Electric Pressure Cooker, and my old stovetop version is missing a part.

The book has a wonderful introduction, and a lot of practical information and tips for cooks from novice to more advanced.

The chapters are as follows:

Breakfast
Soup
Meat
Poultry
Fish and shellfish, vegetables, beans, and grain
Desserts

I'm most excited to try some of the soup recipes. They all sound wonderful! Both main course and vegetable and grain soups are included.

And of course, meats.... Short ribs!

The book has around 500 recipes, something for everyone. I can't wait to get my cooker so I can try these recipes out!

If you have a pressure cooker, or have toyed with getting one; if you want to eat healthy food in a shorter amount of time, or if you want great food without heating your kitchen this summer, this may be the book for you!

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

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Author bio

Reviewing Bowl + Spoon by Sara Forte

I just browsed through Bowl + Spoon. Interesting concept; one I thought I like better than I did. The author's premise is that people are busy, yet still want to eat good, healthy food. Her choice is food in bowls. Simplicity. Practical. Carry to the couch in your sweats and curl up with a good book easy.

The book itself is lovely, wonderful full color, full page photos. The recipes are creative, and broken into five categories: Morning Bowls, Side Bowls, Big Bowls, Sweet Bowls and Dressing and Sauces. The ingredients are pretty simple, often seasonal, with an emphasis on vegetables and greens.

Sara Forte also includes tools and ingredients to stock in the kitchen to make food prep easy.

Recipies I would like to try are Homemade Ricotta, Tropical Smoothie Bowl, Kale Caesar with Cornbread Bits, Herbed Falafel Bowl, and  Smoky Black Bean Chili. 

I wish there here had been a few more recipes that incorporated noodles and rice, and maybe some beef or chicken. but considering that this is a Sprouted Kitchen book, I understand why there is not.

If you are into tofu and quinoa, tons of greens and salads, then this would be a wonderful book for you!

For more information, here is the link. http://www.randomhouse.com/book/235998/the-sprouted-kitchen-bowl-and-spoon-by-sara-forte-and-hugh-forte

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Lighten Up, Y'All

Yep, another cookbook review. I just love cookbooks! I read them, use them, collect them, love them.
However, I'm just not sure about this book, Lighten Up, Y'all.
I haven't found too much I actually want to try. :( Which is disappointing.
The premise is that the Southern author, realizing southern food is often not very good for you, has remade those famous southern dishes. Unfortunately, I haven't found many I'm itching to try. I think, if I'm honest, I'd rather eat healthy consistently and then splurge on occasion with REAL southern food.
I know some people choose cauliflower as fake rice. Too much work. I'll eat rice. And hiding broccoli in guacamole? Um, no.
And some of the recipes, didn't sound especially southern, and actually didn't sound all that good. I realize many people will probably love this book. But I am not one of them. Thanks for trying, Virginia Willis. I might find a few recipes to try, but I lost interest about halfway through and I'm moving on.

Here is the official blurb:

A collection of classic Southern comfort food recipes--including seven-layer dip, chicken and gravy, and strawberry shortcake--made lighter, healthier, and completely guilt-free.  $24.99
 
Virginia Willis is not only an authority on Southern cooking, a French-trained chef, and a veteran cookbook author; she is also a proud Southerner who adores eating and cooking for family and friends. So when she needed to drop a few pounds and generally lighten up her diet, the most important criterion for her new lifestyle was that all the food had to taste delicious.

The result is Lighten Up, Y’all, a soul-satisfying and deeply personal collection of Virginia’s new favorite recipes. All the classics are covered—from a comforting Southern Style Shepherd’s Pie with Grits to warm, melting Broccoli Mac and Cheese to Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Pie. Each dish is packed with real Southern flavor, but made with healthier, more wholesome ingredients and techniques. Wherever you are on your health and wellness journey, Lighten Up, Y’all has the recipes, tools, and inspiration you need to make the nourishing, down-home Southern food you love.




"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

87th Annual Academy Awards!

I'm not trying to guess what will win. No. I'm choosing who/what I want to win. Hence the reason I don't enter pools or contests. This is just MY opinion, what I think, and it will definitely show how differently I think from the voting members. Sigh.

Ok. Here goes: (I didn't vote in categories where I didn't see the films or have enough information.)

Best Picture: Boyhood

Actress: Julianne Moore

Actor: Eddie Redmayne

Supporting Actress: Patricia Arquette

Supporting Actor: J.K. Simmons

Animated Feature:....

Cinematography: Yeoman/Grand Budapest Hotel

Costume Design: Atwood/Into the Woods

Director: Linklater/Boyhood

Documentary Feature:....

Documentary Short:....

Film Editing: Whiplash

Foreign Language:....

Makeup: Grand Budapest

Original Score: Grand Budapest Hotel

Original Song: Glory/Selma

Production Design: Into the Woods

Animated Short:....

Live Action Short:....

Sound Editing: Birdman

Sound Mixing: Whiplash

Visual Effects: Guardians of the Galaxy

Adapted Screenplay: Imitation Game

Original Screenplay: Grand Budapest Hotel

Inside the Test Kitchen by Tyler Florence.

            

I wasn’t sure about this book, but I thought I’d give it a chance. To my delight, I really enjoyed it and have marked several recipes to try.

The food is all familiar. And food you want to eat. Tyler has taken it, and tested different ways of making it better. His basic premise is, why are we using the techniques our grandmothers used…aren’t there better ways to cook these foods, yielding an even better result?  And so he decided to set up the test kitchen to try out his theory. He says, “We can’t be afraid to take chances and to try again if the first attempts don’t work.” And a strict no-bad-ideas rule was put into place.

When he asked people what recipes they would like to see in a new cookbook he found that people were asking for new recipes for recipes that already existed. And this book followed. A book where his recipes are the best possible, and which can be made in the most efficient way. As Florence says, “changing conventions.”

Thirteen chapters follow, chapters that give you a plan for an entire meal, as well as recipes that sound wonderful… from barbecue and its accompaniments to chicken, to burgers, to eggs and yummy sides.

Not only do the recipes sound great, the book is a fun read, and Florence explains his thought process as well as testing results.

I’m glad I gave the book a try!







"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

A Kitchen in France

Well, we just returned from Hawaii. It was lovely, and warm, and I wish I was still there! It did help to come home to a wonderful new Cookbook! The book, A Kitchen in France, by Mimi Thorisson, is absolutely gorgeous!  I love the personal stories shared by the author, and the family memories. each recipe has another memory or anecdote. The food truly looks scrumptious. It is divided by season, which is helpful. It is not crammed with an over abundance of recipes, but rather they are chosen carefully and thoughtfully. The photos accompanying the recipes are beautiful, and not just pictures of the dish, but the family, the vegetables, the pets, the country. I feel like I am on a vacation to France! I can't wait to try a few of these.

MIMI THORISSON is the author of Manger, a blog devoted to French cooking that was named Saveur’s Best Regional Food Blog in April 2013. After a career in television and having lived in Hong Kong, Singapore, London, Reykjavik, and Paris, she settled with her photographer husband, their five young children, her two older stepchildren, and the family’s fourteen dogs in a farmhouse in Médoc. She is the star of the cooking shows La Table de Mimi and the upcoming Les Desserts de Mimi, both on Canal+ in France.

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Another great cookbook!

I received The Skinny Taste Cookbook in the mail to review. The book is written by Gina Homolka, a mom who wanted to lose weight. Her conundrum was making meals that would help her lose weight, while still being something her family wanted to eat. Her first stop was Weight Watchers, but she was not happy with the recipes. She instead decided to take her recipes and rework them so they were calorie friendly. The result is this cookbook. The recipes look yummy..(haven't tried any yet), the pictures are gorgeous, and best of all she includes nutritional information. This is very important to me as I have to watch my sodium.
The recipes are geared to the home cook, and she includes vegetarian, gluten-free, slow cooker and freezer friendly meals, all healthy versions of your favorites. The beginning of the book does a good job of explaining her philosophy, what good fats are, what healthy is, how to make over your kitchen, and good choices for your pantry. With chapters on breakfast, soups, sandwiches,main dish salads, poultry, lean meat fish, meatless mains,sides and deserts, there is something for everybody.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

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Novel Interiors

So, today I received another beautiful book to review. The book, Novel Interiors: Living in Enchanted Rooms Inspired by Literature by Lisa Borgnes Giramonti, is a book lovers guide to decorating. The photography is gorgeous, and there are a lot of great ideas to be found. There are six "chapters" or six different styles found in the authors favorite novels. Each chapter encompasses one style, like Living Au Natural, and the author uses quotes and ideas from several author's books that fit the category. At the end of each section is a wonderful list of finishing touch ideas to make your room come alive. At the end of the book you will also find a list of sources. I plan to give this book to my daughter who loves both books and great literature. Wonderful book!

More information

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Book Review! In Her Kitchen

I recently added this book to my cookbook collection. It is a WONDERFUL BOOK! The pictures are gorgeous, the food is mouthwatering and the stories make it that much more special! Sixty grandmothers, sharing sixty recipes and a story about their life! In all fairness, I received the book free to review, but it was already on my list of must haves. I have not cooked from it yet, I had unexpected gallbladder surgery and I'm in recovery mode. Grandma food, what could be better?

In Her Kitchen

Let's Try Again

Forget the move. I think I'll just stay here for now. It's served me well. The last couple years have been interesting. Maybe I'll catch you up some day. Until then I'll be here, and on Twitter (@gerbmom)
Hoping to be able to write about travels, family, cooking.....life!
Check back soon. :)

Cats in the Cradle

Wow.
It's been forever since I've posted. Time marches on.
This entire blog is so out of date. But I still like it. Do I want to start over, or just update this one? I'm guessing much has changed here at blogger! Maybe it's time to upgrade a bit. I dunno. I do like that this is linked to Google and Flickr and makes life so easy for me. Hmmmmm.
And things have changed dramatically in my life too....so I suppose I should update that as well.
Time goes by so fast, and if we aren't careful, well, we miss opportunities, we lose track of those we love and we sadly entertain "if I had only...'s."
OK - I'm gonna go think this through, and try and decide about a format and where I want to blog.
Later!

"I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time"

Changed my mind. Stayed here. Maybe someday I'll get inspired and redo this.....

O.C.E.A.N

I'm a O80-C46-E18-A32-N93 Big Five!!

Food for Thought!!!

I have received a new book to review written (edited) by a college friend, Leslie Leyland Fields. The book, entitled The Spirit of Food: 34 Writers on Feasting and Fasting Toward God came just the other day. Excitedly I tore open the envelope and held it happily in my hands, wanting to dive in right away. I honestly couldn’t wait. Self-control prevailed. I was already reading another book I was enjoying and wanted and needed to finish it first. So reluctantly I set the book aside.

Today, after finishing up the prior book, I grabbed a highlighter (because how can I read without one?) and Leslie’s book and curled up on the couch to read. The introduction resonated with me and I sighed in anticipation of the essays to come. Many of them written by some of my favorite writers.

Eagerly I began the first chapter written by Patty Kirk, entitled Wild Fruit. Excellent. I loved the way she worshipped God in the small things, like picking fruit! And how she likened us to little creators, formed in God’s image. How much joy there is in creating a new dish, a scrumptious meal; how worshipful our imitation of our God! He must find joy in our meager attempt to create just has He has done!

Bliss. On to the second chapter written by Brian Volck, Late October Tomatoes. He writes about the joys of gardening, planting and nurturing seeds and seedlings and growing them to harvest. Of the joys of the earth and the hard work rewarding us with food. Tomatoes. I could just feel the warm skins and taste the juicy sweetness of a fresh picked tomato. He shared in his writing the connections and memories a simple food can trigger.

Sigh. I love this book. Chapter three. No. Wait. I am torn between wanting to read this book in great big bites. Gulping it in until I am satisfied. Torn between that and wanting to savor the intricacies, wanting to roll the words around in my head until the taste fills my soul.

Reluctantly I have set the book aside. Until tomorrow, or maybe later tonight if I can’t stand it anymore! I know it’s only a matter of time before I’m hungry again for the thoughts and wisdom of these authors…. 

Why?

Why do I always ask why? (Oh the irony!) Why do questions and puzzles and words effect me so much? Why do I want all the answers? Why do I have a two year old mentality?

And why do I ask why knowing fully that I won't get answers....why do I become petulant in my questioning? I have a friend who is quite content and rarely even thinks to ask why. That is just so foreign to me. I'm always questioning. I always want to know. I want to learn. I want to understand. Why do people do what they do? Why am I who I am? Why do I, and others, respond the way we do? Why is God doing this or that?

Why's about unanswerable questions, but I still want to know. Why did the oil leak; why did a tsunami happen; why did a bridge collapse; why did Haiti get rocked to its core; why did Columbine happen; why did the towers fall?

Curious why's, demanding why's, wounded why's, childish why's, accusatory why's....

Why do we believe the way we do? Why were certain rules made and why did they become more import than anything else? Why can't we all get along? Why is social justice a bad word? Why do our differences matter more than our similarities? Why is it raining, why do I struggle with depression, why did certain things happen the way they did? Why did my church have to disband? Why do people I love move? Why do I have such a hard time trusting others? Why do I build walls? Why is it so hard for me to be authentic, to let people see the real me, to feel safe in a friendship? Why do I let thoughts and ideas get to me...why do they affect me so much? Why are some people content with the way things are, and I can't rest until I see change? Why can others see that God doesn't need a back seat driver? Why can others let go, trusting God to right things? Why do they not question His plans, His methods, His goodness? Why are they so Implicit in their trust? Why are they satisfied and why am I not? Why am I restless, seeking, challenging? Why do they rest in God while I wrestle with God? Why do they seem to have life figured out when I am still searching for answers? Why do I need answers?

Why, why, why?


And why, oh why am I even awake at 6 a.m. thinking about this?