Wednesday, January 21, 2015

The Chia Cookbook by Janie Hoffman

Here's a great opportunity to take a serious look at chia and learn more 'about foods with health enhancing powers.' As Hoffman descibes it, 'these minuscule seeds from the mint family have an astonishing amount of omega 3's, protein, fibre, calcium antioxidants and more.'
Obviously for Hoffman they have been a miracle food.
Janie Hoffman is the founder of Mama Chia, an organic chia-based food and drink company in 2009.
These credentials give substance to what is an exciting voyage into new possibilities for a healthy regime. As she says and proves you can do more with chia than sprinkling it your food for a healthier lustre, and this cookbook helps to achieve that goal. There are hints on buying, storing and using.
The peach chia jam was a winner in the just ended peach season. Caprese baked eggs, smokey baba ghanoush, and much much more.Yum!
This book explodes with interesting and exciting ways to enrich your nutritional regime

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Disney During World War II: How the Walt Disney Studio Contributed to Victory in the War

This gorgeously illustrated and eye-opening book reveals the little-known role that the Disney Studios played in the Allied victory in World War II. Almost every single page in the book contains a fascinating photo illustrating Disney's war effort: from a poster about propaganda featuring Donald Duck, to fascinating storyboards for the controversial film, "The New Spirit", to a film short about Hitler directed by a Goofy specialist, to vivid poster art for anti-Nazi short "Chicken Little 1942". Also included is art from short films made to entertain the soldiers, such as "The Army Mascot of 1942", which featured Pluto (there's a great picture of Pluto feeling the effects of swallowing a wad of army tobacco). With fabulous titles such as "Sky Trooper", "Donald's Tire Trouble", and "Private Pluto", the material about these movies offers a fascinating peek into the psychology of the war effort. Baxter includes an amazing chapter on Disney's collaboration with Roald Dahl (the genius author behind Willy Wonka, and other children's classics). Written with a masterful grasp of his subject, this is a wonderful book for any Disney fan, as well as history and World War II buffs.

A Backpack, a Bear, and Eight Crates of Vodka: A Memoir

"A Backpack, a Bear, and Eight Crates of Vodka: A Memoir" by Lev Golinkin is a personal, insightful book I hated finishing. Golinkin is a born story teller and his writing mesmerized me as he tells the story of his escape from the Ukraine before the collapse of the Soviet Union and eventual immigration to the USA. It's an amazing story told with rich, vivid descriptions that bring the pages to life. This is a heart wrenching tale that had me emotionally involved with it. The story is sprinkled with bits of dark humor and heart warming moments that keep the book from getting too emotionally heavy.

Joan of Arc: A Life Transfigured

It's difficult to write a book on a figure like Joan of Arc. First, there's the competing claims about her claims. Do we interpret her through a religious lens that accepts the possibility of the supernatural. Do we approach it from an Enlightenment perspective, where a demythologization is the goal. A hagiography or a de-personalizing often are the results.

Harrison navigates the task as well as I've read. She provides a significant look into the life and the overall background of Joan of Arc, including the cultural and religious issues, and how the narrative has been used in the midst of broader political contexts.

She does not commit to a purely religious perspective, but she understands it well and she seeks to portray as accurate a picture of Joan as possible in light of today's knowledge and interpretive tools.

Very high quality research, very well written, great balance of narrative and interpretation. A model for historical biography.

A Fine Summer's Day: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery

Another five star hit for the Author's of this book! I love their work and have read every one, including the Bess Crawford novels and their other two stand alone books. I was excited to see this was a prequel to the first Ian Rutledge novel as I had often wondered about his relationship with Jean. Now I know! The characters were very believable for this time period, just before World War I. The mystery was a little different and it was fun to try and figure out who the "bad guy" was and why. (which I was able to do about halfway through). I did detect a small error which didn't diminish my enjoyment of the book at all. At one place in the book, the word "tire" was used in place of the British word, "tyre". A truly enjoyable read. Waiting for the next one to be published.

33 Artists in 3 Acts

This is a very interesting and excellent book looking into the life of various artists and how they live their lives.  The artist really captures what the artists do in their everyday life and how hard their lives really are.  I really enjoyed the artwork and the in-depth descriptions of each artist they speak of.  I have a friend that is a artist and they said that the book perfectly describes what these types of people in this profession go through daily.

Rustic Modern Knits: 23 Sophisticated Designs

This book and others written by this company and author are excellent, this book describes it perfect detail how to make some amazing designs.  This book has so many different things you can make on your own its hard to know where to start.  I enjoyed reviewing this book in depth because of all the creative ways there are to make different things.  I tried a few of the designs and they turned out perfectly.  I really appreciate getting a change to review this book. 

Defending Beef: The Case for Sustainable Meat Production

Nicolette Hahn Niman has provided readers (and eaters!) with one of the most intelligent, courageous and compelling books of our time. "Defending Beef," is the perfect manifesto for our personal health, the environment we all need to advocate for, and for the food system we all rely on and that is so terribly broken. Solidly argued and scientifically researched, this book goes far beyond the "eat meat/don't eat meat" debate. Reading it is a mind-opening experience. Everyone who eats should read this book -- it IS the future of food."  This book was excellent and helps the reader understand what really goes on when you eat meat and what the real cost of beef is.

iPhone For Dummies

This book was another excellent read in the Dummies series of books,  the author really knows how to assist the reader in all aspects of the Iphone and how to maximize the use of the product.  This book has step by step ways how to install change and completely customize the iphone to your own liking.  I will be letting my friends and family who have the Iphone review this book as well.

iPhone For Seniors For Dummies

This book was an amazing book for my grandma to read and learn how to  use her Iphone.  It has very easy instructions and walks older people step by step how to do things on the Iphone.  She learned so much from this book she couldn't stop reading it until she learned everything she could about the Iphone.  She told me she will read many more books written by this author and company if they are as useful and helpful as this book was. 

Friday, January 2, 2015

The Tucci Table: Cooking With Family and Friends

This book was great, all the recipes in it are amazing and delicious, I loved trying to make so many of them.  My favorite one was the tomato soup it was the best soup I have ever made in my life.  It is a book that makes you want to become a better cook!!

Post-Romantic Stress Disorder: What to Do When the Honeymoon Is Over

This book is a excellent read for any newly married couple.  The book explains how to act and react when the honeymoon is over and how to move forward together when things get difficult.  I loved reading this entire book and I learned so much from it.  I wish I would have read this book years ago.  I will read anything else this author comes out with I look up to him and admire him for how many marriages and people he is saving with his insight.