Magnolia Mom

The former chef for the Obamas in the White House has written a book called Eat a Little Better. This book makes it easier to eat healthy and to uphold healthy habits. He proves that small steps, small changes can make a huge difference in your health. I hope to try some of these tips and recipes to be healthier.

I am thankful for Blogging for Books who sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I sad that this will be the last book I review from them since they are shutting down.

This book, Noelle: A Novel, comes from Greg Kincaid’s heartwarming series and New York bestselling book, A Dog Named Christmas. This is a sweet story about the McCray family from Kansas. Some of the reviews for this book were surprising, but after delving deeper it was mainly because this book and it’s character don’t stay true to character based on the other books in this series.

I love the basis of the story with Mary Ann, who tries to bring back the Christmas spirit. I’m such a sucker for Christmas and stories about folks who love Christmas like I do. I highly recommend this book to all Christmas and dog lovers.

I am thankful for Blogging for Books who sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Nourished a Memoir of Food, Faith, and Enduring Love (with Recipes) by Lia Huber is a beautiful book about being fed physically as well as emotionally and spiritually. Lia is the CEO of a company called Nourish Evolution. The book is broken down into 4 sections: Seeds, Roots, Starts, and Fruit. At the end of each chapter Lia shares a recipe with a little background information as to why she chose that recipe for that chapter. Lia tells stories ranging from her trip to the Greek island of Corfu to the California wine country where she found her calling to nourish others. This book inspires me to be more intentional about the recipes I share and the food I prepare.

I am thankful for Blogging for Books who sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Deal or Duel: An Alexander Hamilton Card Game by Potter is a historic action card game that I found to have complicated rules and frustrating antics. Inside the box you’ll find:

Inside You’ll Find:
-54 Historical Face Cards
-120 Action Cards
-40 Hamilton Cards
-$3,500 Colonial Cash
-Face Card Roster Scroll
-Playing Mat

2-6 players
Ages 10 +

I am thankful for Blogging for Books who sent a copy of this game in exchange for my honest review.

The IBS Elimination Diet and Cookbook: The Proven Low-FODMAP Plan for Eating Well and Feeling Great was written by Patsy Catsos. This book is a must have if you or someone you know is battling Irritable Bowel Syndrome. This book is full of information and great tips about how to live with IBS. Meal Planning tips, Sample 7-day menu with variations…this is your go to book that can put into practical everyday use. It has a great section of recipes as well as a plan to figure out what foods aren’t going to work with you. Everyone is different and not everyone will react the same to foods so this book helps you eliminate the foods that will make you or your loved one sick.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is dealing with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

I am thankful for Blogging for Books who sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Portrait Revolution: Inspiration from Around the World For Creating Art in Multiple Mediums and Styles by Julia L. Kay features hundreds of portraits in different mediums and styles teamed. They share ways to create similar style portraits. The chapters are divided out by Media, Style, Theme, Featured Artists, Making Portraits, and Featured Subjects.

I really enjoyed seeing how amazing portraits can be created with different media, from pencil to crayon to pastels. All beautiful in their own way. The section on Portraits with in Portraits was very cool and gave me inspiration for my photography. I recommend this book to artists or even wanna be artists who want to broaden their horizons as it will spark your creativity and bring you outside your comfort zone.

I am thankful for Blogging for Books who sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Mighty Salads from the editors of Food42 brings new ideas to the bland land of salad. Mixing and matching things you never thought about using in a salad. Leafy Salads, Less,-leafy Vegetable Salads, Grain & Bean Salads, Pasta & Bread Salads, Fish & Seafood Salads, and Meat Salads are the chapters of the book. Skimming through the book, I loved that every recipe has a corresponding picture. There are also some really great tips and tricks of ways to make your salad better. No more boring work lunches!

On p. 35, the Corn-Barley Salad with Tomato Vinaigrette is at the top of my try list from this book. I’m also curious about White Bean Salad with Fennel Three Ways on p. 81. The Grilled Bread, Broccoli Rabe & Summer Squash Salad sounds extra fancy, but something I’d like to jump out of my comfort zone and try. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to spice up their lunches or dinner or just wants to make their salads more exciting.

I am thankful for Blogging for Books who sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Roadfood, 10th Edition: An Eater’s Guide to More Than 1,000 of the Best Local Hot Spots and Hidden Gems Across America is a book that is great for people that like eat and travel. For me trying new restaurants and traveling go hand in hand. I love to look at see the go to places for each city I travel to. I plan to keep this book in my travel bag so that when I’m on the go and can see what authors Jane & Michael Stern recommend, the places on the list I’ve always wanted to go so it’s amazing, and last time I tried to go I had to call the towing service because my car broke down, go here if you ever need road assistance.

This is book is divided into chapters by U.S. regions in black and white book with no pictures. Each restaurant they recommend has address, phone number, an approximate cost guide, and a description of what to expect. I’ve tried a few of the places they recommend, but will now be on the lookout for many places they offer up, like Baker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs in Denver, CO, Dinglewood Pharmacy in Columbus, GA, and Martin’s in Montgomery, AL. I think most people that travel and enjoy something other than the typical chain restaurant will love this book!

I am thankful for Blogging for Books who sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Have you ever been felt like you’ve been punched in the gut by life’s circumstances and you shout to the Lord asking “Why, God, why? I thought we were in this together?” In this book by the Heisman winning Tim Tebow he talks about his life and his big plans. In his latest book called Shaken, Tim shares personal stories of how God is constantly working in his life even through the disappointment, criticism, and media attacks. Tim shares many powerful stories from other folks as well which I found to be inspiring. While reading this book, I continued to make notes of some of the great points, Tim makes as well as the many inspirational quotes that were sprinkled throughout the stories of heartache, triumph, and redemption.

While there is nothing earth-shattering about this book, I believe that most people would find this book motivating, clever, and thought provoking.

I am thankful for Blogging for Books who sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Inspiralize Everything: An Apples-to-Zucchini Encyclopedia of Spiralizing is the 3rd book written by Ali Maffucci, so she is obviously the spiralizing queen. She covers spiralizing everything from Beets to Carrots to Onions and more in the book. The book has 21 chapters about how to spiralize 21 different vegetables. At the back of the book starting on p. 270 she included a Recipe Category index that shows if it’s gluten free, paleo, vegetarian, vegan, one pot, saves well, diary free, low calorie, and no cook. Super useful.

I have been wanting to try spiralizing for the longest time, but have been chicken about which spiralizer to purchase. On p. 14 she gives some tips with what attributes are important when buying one. She also shares some other useful tips in the beginning section. There’s several recipes that I’ve tabbed to try: Sun-Dried Tomato, Chicken, and Broccoli Pasta p. 63, Fried Green Tomatoes with Avocada Ranch Kohlrabi p. 148-149, and Sweet Potato Pizza Skillet p. 209 are just a couple recipes on my list. I appreciate that each recipe has Nutritional Info as well as all the info that was covered on the Recipe Category index that I mentioned earlier. I recommend this book anyone interested in trying pasta alternatives.

I am thankful for Blogging for Books who sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Nourishing Meals shares 365 Gluten-Free, Dairy Free, and Soy-Free recipes for healing your family. This is authors Alissa Segersten and Tom Malterre‘s second cookbook. Their first was The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook from 2014.According to Chooserly.com, this book starts off with a section about the Foundations of Health, where they go over a wealth of information in 3 different chapters; Why Whole Foods?, Why Gluten-Free?, and Why the Rise in Food Allergies and Sensitivities?. The next section is called Raising Healthy Children, which covers topics from eating during pregnancy to making the lifestyle change and growing your own foods. And after that they jump into the 365 recipes divided into easy to follow sections. Each recipe has a symbols at the top to show what allergens they are free of including gluten, grains, dairy, soy, eggs, nuts, and nightshades.

While I have not adopted a gluten free diet, I am always willing to try healthier recipes. Glancing through the recipes, it looks like most of them have easy to find ingredients and are not difficult to prepare. I would like to try the Apricot Glazed Chicken p. 306, the Peach Blackberry Sorbet p. 401, and the Slow-cooked Mexican Beef Roast p. 320. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about eating healthier and wants easy ways to make that happen.

I am thankful for Blogging for Books who sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Martha Stewart’s Vegetables is the newest book by Martha Stewart that shares inspired recipes and tips for choosing, cooking, and enjoying the freshest seasonal flavors. The book is broken down into the chapters by the type of plant:
Bulbs – p. 13
Roots – p. 47
Tubers – p. 81
Greens – p. 109
Stalks & Stems – p. 139
Pods – p. 161
Shoots – p. 189
Leaves – p. 203
Flowers & Buds – p. 237
Fruits – p. 263
Kernels – p. 311
Each section starts off with a couple pages full of tips on buying, storing, and prepping that type of veggie, as well as how to roast, steam, glaze, mash, and even how to eat raw. Invaluable info that I haven’t found in too many places without scouring the internet.

When I analyzed the recipes, I found many of them to be intriguing. I’m curious to try the Roasted Acorn Squash, Three Ways (p. 307), Corn and Scallion Chilaquiles (p. 317), and the Stuffed Tomatoes with Mozzarella (p. 298). However, many them looked to be things my family wouldn’t eat. Pork Scaloppine with Raddichio (p. 212), Oven-Fried Baby Artichokes (p. 246), and Breaded Eggplant with Arugula and Parmesan (p. 275). If you’re interested in your not so everyday vegetable recipes you will love this book. If you’re just looking for easy veggie recipes, there are some, but it may still not be worth the cost of the book.

I am thankful for Blogging for Books who sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The London Cookbook: Recipes from the Restaurants, Cafes, and Hole-in-the-Wall Gems of a Modern City written by Aleksandra Crapanzano is a beautiful book with a non-glossy cover that epitomizes London. When you open the front over you’ll find gorgeous glossy pages with eye-catching photos. Aleksandra shares over 100 eclectic recipes from London’s best places to eat even including dessert shops and cocktail lounges. There’s no doubt that this will book will either have you booking a plane ticket back to London or heading to the kitchen to make some of these tantalizing recipes. Or both!

Personally, many of these recipes aren’t ones that I would probably take a chance with because I’m not sure I’d be able to find many of the ingredients. However there were a few that no doubt had my mouth watering. Like on p. 204 the Double-Decker Tart which originated from the Smokehouse. As well as the White Peach Summer Martini on p. 270 from the River Cafe. And I can’t leave off the the Polenta with Chestnuts, Ricotta, Squash, and Fried Sage on p. 92 from The Three Crowns.

I am thankful for Blogging for Books who sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Danielle Walker’s Against All Grain Celebrations: A Year of Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and Paleo Recipes for Every Occasion is cookbook that encourages changing your diet for better health. Danielle suffered from autoimmune disease since the age of 22 and finally came to the realization that one of the biggest ways to feel better was through the food she ate. She adopted a grain-free and gluten-free diet, but after years of trial and error she has been able to come up with a book full of great recipes for all those parties, holidays, and special occasions. Danielle shares that you don’t have to be like her when she first changed her diet. You don’t have to avoid all the special gatherings. She has recreated all the party and holiday favorites to fit with her healthy eating standards.

This cookbook is conveniently divided into chapters by holidays starting with New Year’s Eve Cocktail Party (p. 23) and ends with Christmas (p. 265). She also covers The Basics (p. 320), Kitchen Gear (p. 20), and more. While I haven’t adopted this diet, this cookbook encourages me that if I ever take that leap that is doable and that I won’t have to miss out on many of my favorite recipes. There are several recipes that I’d like to try like the Sausage Breakfast Casserole p. 271 for breakfast, Witches’ Fingers p. 217 for Halloween, and the Cauliflower Buffalo Bites p. 54 for a side or snack. I think anyone that wants to go to a more Paleo diet would find this cookbook helpful.

I am thankful for Blogging for Books who sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A Modern Way to Cook: 150+ Vegetarian Recipes for Quick, Flavor-Packed Meals by Anna Jones is a lovely book chock–full of innovative and delicious sounding recipes. The non-glossy pages are filled with many beautiful pictures that will have you wanting to see more. Coming from a non-vegetarian this book has me curiously interested in making some vegetarian dishes from this book. I love the way Jones divided the book into chapters by time; 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 40 minutes, as well as super-fast breakfasts, and quick desserts and sweet treats.

Like, I said before this book has me intrigued about making some vegetarian meals. I’m a chart person, so when I saw the first chart of 10 Favorite omelet fillings on p. 34-35, I was totally sucked in. Jones shares a Main Vegetable, Backup Vegetable, Accent Flavor, Backup Flavor, and Richness in 10 different varieties. The one I want to try includes mushroom, spinach, basil leaves, lemon juice, and feta. Goodness bowls on p. 66-67 shows several variations of what to throw together in a bowl. Like quinoa, broccoli, sauteed green onions, lemon, mint, and toasted almonds. Sounds tasty to me. Something new and different. I recommend this book to anyone even if you’re not a vegetarian, who is tired of the same ole, same ole. It is full of so many innovative recipe ideas!

I am thankful for Blogging for Books who sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Victuals: An Appalachian Journey, with Recipes is a lovely cookbook written by Ronni Lundy. The book is filled the captivating and beautifully composed photography by Johnny Autry. Victuals takes you on an excursion through the southern Appalachian Mountains telling stories of the past while exploring the food and the people of today. Kentucky, West Virginia, southern Ohio, northern Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina are the states that Ronni covers. The chapters are broken down as follows:
Roots and Seeds
Salt of the Earth
Corn
Beans
Apple – achia
Preserving
Husbandry
Appalachian Spring

This book would be a great gift for anyone that enjoys not only trying new recipes, but also someone who likes stories and background on the new recipes they are trying. I’m super anxious to try John Fleer’s Buttermilk Cornbread Soup p. 125, Skillet Fried Chicken & Milk Gravy p. 263, Pepperoni Rolls p. 88, and Icebox Green Strawberry Pickles p. 219. Oh and the Old-School Tomato Gravy on p. 218 too, because I’ve been hearing a lot about this lately. This not your everyday country cookbook, but I think it could become a cookbook you find yourself going back to often!

I am thankful for Blogging for Books who sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.