Tacolicious: Festive Recipes for Tacos, Snacks, Cocktails, and More by Sara Deseran

I was so excited to get this book. I love Mexican food, in any form or fashion, but I am a huge fan of tacos. So I thought there would be nothing better than this book of recipes and I was completely right. There are so many recipes that I am super excited to try. It's very odd, but the one I am most excited to try is the "Pickled cauliflower, carrots, and jalapeño" (p. 42). 

Like I said, I know it's very odd that I'd want to try this one the most, but I love the relish that you get at a Mexican restaurant so I'm hoping this will be just as good.

Another reason I love this book is because of the layout. It's a super easy layout which makes it easier to find things. Also, the book is just very easy to read as well. There's a personal touch to the book as well. The last three recipes in the book are "mocktails" that the author's children love. This is going to end up being one of my favorite recipe books and I can't wait to have a huge party and as many of these recipes as I can.

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

Fried and True by Lee Brian Schrager with Adeena Sussman

Fried and True by Lee Brian Schrager with Adeena Sussman

Is there anything better than fried food? Fried food is delicious and comforting and most everyone loves to eat fried food at sometime or another. If you're a person that loves eating fried food, then Fried & True is for you. I adore this cookbook and I can't wait to try many of the recipes in it, but the one that I'm really looking forward to is the Fried Green Tomatoes (pg. 43). I love friend green tomatoes but have never made them for myself, so I'm super excited.

There's more than 50 mouth watering recipes in this book and they all center around something fried. The pictures in the book really do make you want to salivate. Once you look in this book you'll be itching to try some of these.

The order of the recipes are well thought and the pictures enhance the book and recipes but do not take away from it. If you're thinking about one cookbook this year, it definitely needs to be Fried & True.

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

Meat and Potatoes by Rahm Fama with Beth Dooley

I adored this book. My husband and I are both 'meat and potatoes' people and this book was great at helping me find other ways to make the meat and potatoes. I was so excited to be getting this book because meat and potatoes are the main ingredients for most meals. The book itself is exquisitely put together. The cover is inviting and almost makes you instantaneously hungry.
Now, that we've talked about the book as a whole, let's take a look inside. The recipes are separated into six categories: beef, pork, chicken & turkey, lamb, game, and one-pot favorites. Each section has several recipes and the recipes are easy to read and understand. There are definitely more than a few that I can't wait to try, however there are a few that I almost salivate when I see the picture because they look so delicious. One of the ones that makes me want to salivate is the 5-B Burger with Smoked Paprika Parsnip Fries and Asparagus with Mint Hollandaise (p. 35). Now, I'm not a big fan of parsnip of asparagus, but this burger looks so delicious that I'd give the other things a try.

Doesn't that look amazing?

This book is wonderful and will really help with not knowing how you want to make your favorite meat and potatoes. My suggestion is that this cookbook should be in everyone's kitchen. It's definitely a keeper for me.

Trust me, you need this book!

The Great American Slow Cooker Book by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough

The Great American Slow Cooker Book by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough

I was very excited about getting this book, but while it was good and have many recipes it kind of fell short. There were plenty of recipes and they're written wonderfully and look easy to follow. I think my biggest problem with this cookbook is that there were not enough pictures of the food. The book is 512 pages long and there are only 16 pages of pictures of the food. Most cookbooks generally have at least one picture for every recipe so that the reader can see what the dish is supposed to look like. I think that the writers may have overextended themselves when it came to the amount of recipes.
The recipes themselves are beautifully written and sound delicious. I went through the book and I found so many that I want to try. The Spicy Garlic Shrimp (p. 368) and the Fudgy Brownie Cake (p. 461) are two recipes that really stood out to me and that I can't wait to try. I'm not a big soup person, but the soup section made me reconsider my stance on soups. I only really eat tomato soup and there was a great recipe in the soup section for Creamy Tomato Soup (p. 57) that I wan to try very soon.
The book is set up well and the set up of the sections makes sense. Starting with Breakfast all the way through Dessert. The cover of the book is enticing ut not busy and you can clearly see what the book is about. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book is you learn easier by reading. However, if you're more of a visual learner it might not be for you.





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

The Chopped Cookbook published by Clarkson Potter

The Chopped Cookbook published by Clarkson Porter

    After reading through this cookbook, I've gotten a new respect for authors of recipes. You never really consider how difficult it can be to put recipes together, especially when you put together one that only includes ingredients that would be in the average person's refrigerator. That's what all of the authors of the recipes in this book did and it turned out phenomenal.
    While I was reading through this cookbook and checking out the recipes I was mentally going through what I had in my kitchen and I realized that right then and there I could have made several of the recipes in the book. I absolutely love to cook, but one of the biggest problems is that sometimes I can't think of something to make with the items I already have. That's where the The Chopped Cookbook comes into play. There were so many recipes that I just can't wait to try.
    The first recipe that I'm dying to try is the Spinach and Artichoke Dip Mac and Cheese (p. 21). I adore spinach and artichoke dip and the thought of making mac and cheese out of it absolutely blows my mind. It sounds like an amazing idea and something that I would definitely love (especially on a day when I'm in need of comfort food). Another that I can't wait to try is the Warm Salted Caramel Banana Pudding (p. 225). I'm not very big into bananas but this just seems so delicious. I think that when you pair them with caramel and pudding that you can't lose. Also, I think that this would be a great recipe to learn how to make pudding (which is something I've wanted to figure out for a while).
    All in all, I think that this is a great cookbook. It's especially great for those of us who get a cooking block, where we've got ingredients but can't figure out what to do with them. Make sure to check it out.

 

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

The Homesick Texan's Family Table by Lisa Fain

 I love to cook. However, at the same time, I'm very picky about the recipes that I'll use when I'm cooking. I love comfort food as much as the next person, but when I make it I want to be sure that it's something that my family is going to love. One way to be sure of that is to make sure that someone else's family loves it as well. 'The Homesick Texan's Family Table' by Lisa Fain does just that. The recipes in this cookbook do just that. They pull you in and make you say to yourself, 'This is something that my family will adore'. I haven't actually gotten to try any of the recipes yet (I'm making Jalapeño Pesto-Stuffed Pork Roast tomorrow night, pg. 155), but I've got almost every page of the book marked.
     Lisa Fain does a wonderful job of taking you into her family as she's telling you about the recipes. Each chapter starts out with wonderful stories about her own family and her recipes. She makes you feel like you are part of her family and for someone like me that's the best part of a cookbook. No one wants to make something that you don't feel like your family will eat. Ms. Fain takes you into her world, it feels like you are in her kitchen with her helping her make each recipe.
     This cookbook is topnotch and should be on the bookshelf of anyone that loves to cook, especially someone who loves to cook comfort food that they know their whole family will enjoy. After the pork roast the next recipe I'm going to try is Stacked Jalapeño-Cheese Enchiladas (pg. 194). What are you excited to try?

I received this book for free from the publisher’s Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review.

Dragonspell by Donita K. Paul is a wonderful fantasy novel that begins with a young girl who grows in a woman and finds out what her destiny is. Dragonspell is an uplifting novel that will keep you interested and wanting more. The best part is that you can see and feel the Christian themes that are so beautifully put in the writings. Dragonspell is a novel that will last the test of time and will become a favorite of many people.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review

Review of You Were Born For This by Bruce Wilkinson

This was an exceptional book and I am so glad that I read it. Wilkinson shows us in this books ways that we can become partners with God so that we are able to enjoy the everyday little miracles that are thrown our way. Not only does this book talk about everyday miracles that you can experience with knowing God, it also helps you understand new ways of becoming closer to God. This book also shows you how to be yourself and that the plan for your life was created by God the same day that God created you. A wonderful read for anyone who needs to be enlightened.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review

Review of 31 Days of Power by Ruth Myers

Ruth Myers has done it again. 31 Days of Power was a wonderfully exceptional book. It was filled with insightful information that makes the reader feel empowered and closer to God. The book was set up into daily devotionals, each with its own scriptures and words of wisdom. Myers talks about spiritual warfare and wearing God's armor and standing up to your demons through each daily devotional. The words that Myers has written have come from God himself and really begin to speak to you each day. Each day that you continue to read the book you gain power and strength from God and become a better, stronger person.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review

Review of 31 Days of Drawing Near to God by Ruth Myers

What more can I say but excellent, excellent, excellent. I loved reading ever moment of this book. This is a wonderful book that shows you ways that you can be closer to God and feel peaceful while doing it. This is an encouraging book that allows up to be closer with our God and brings Him even closer to us. The chapters are divied into 31 chapters, one for each day of the month, and are short enough so that even a busy person can read them, but are long and complex enough to help you on your spiritual journey with God. Each chapter contains a daily prayer and scriptures that help you delve deeper into your own soul and into your relationship with God. Ruth Myers delves into most people's problem about wondering if God really does love us, she shows you that God really does love you unconditionally no matter what. This book is wonderful and I completely recommend it for anyone who wants a more intimate relationship with God.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Deadly Ties: A Wonderful Read

Deadly Ties by Vicki Hinze is a wonderful read. It is suspenseful and keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time that you are reading it. This book will keep you reading and each person that reads it will identify with the characters at some point. Parts of the book are very uplifting and others downright make you think. The characters in the book develop nicely and you aren't left wondering if something was missed. This is one of the books where the characters you like you love and the ones that you don't you can't stand. The villains in this book are certainly that way; by the end of the story you absolutely cannot stand them. In a lot of suspenseful novels, the villains are too fictional to be believable but not in Deadly Ties. Overall, a wonderful and exceptional read.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review

Review of Soulprint by Mark Batterson

This was an absolutely wonderful book. I was not able to put it down, which in my opinion means that it is worth reading. This book helps you answer the question that everyone wants to know, "Who am I?". Mark Batterson's writing is inspiring and moving, he really makes you think as you're reading. Soulprint is a book for those people who need to go on a journey into finding out who they are and Batterson helps with that journey. Each chapter in Soulprint helps you to define who you are and who you are to become through God's plan for your life. Mark Batterson takes you on a journey providing you with verses from the Bible and from the story of King David as well as examples from his own life. Though the two cannot be compared because they are so different, I enjoyed Soulprint as much as I did Chazown by Craig Groeschel. This is definitely a book worth reading.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

January 17, 2011

A new year, a new me; or at least this is what I hope to accomplish.

I've decided that this year I'm trying to be a new and different me. I'm going to try and be a more positive person and then of course I'm trying to lose weight and keep my health under control so that, hopefully, I can have another chance of being a mother sometime soon.

These past few months have been the hardest of my entire life, but I know that I can get through them (that's the part about being more positive ;). Please, don't misunderstand me, these are  not my new year resolutions. I don't believe in making them because I think that making a new years resolution is an automatic way to make sure that you don't follow through with the goals that you've set for yourself. So a long time ago I decided that I wasn't going to make resolutions anymore, but I was going to keep setting realistic goals.

I'm determined to change my life this year and change it for the better. I'm tired of seeing the lives of those I love and being sad or jealous. I have a wonderful friend, who has always been there for me when I've needed her and lately I've been so jealous of her that it's been difficult for me to be happy for her even though I am. And it's not that I'm not happy for her, I sad and disappointed and jealous that she's getting to have something that I was taken from me, but I am still very happy for her, sometimes it's just difficult. But one thing I'm determined to change this year is that kind of thinking.

Though this probably isn't the best place to stop for now, it's the best that I can think of.

'Til later

Review of Chazown by Craig Groeschel

This is a spectacular book, I highly recommend it to everyone, but especially to people that believe they have a purpose on this Earth, but are having a hard time realizing what that purpose is. If you have ever heard Craig preach you'll understand these next comments (if you haven't I highly recommend that you hear him preach). Craig writes the exact same way he preaches; when you're reading Chazown it is like Craig is standing in front of you talking to you, specifically.

Chazown is not a difficult book to read, but it definitely makes you think, and not just about everyday situations, but about your life. Reading certain parts of the book can make you uncomfortable in your own skin, but it's well worth it because you learn so much about yourself. Each chapter and section of the book has its own purpose and Craig does not deviate from the purpose of that section and when that sections purpose is finished he moves on. It is really easy to decipher exactly what you're reading about and not get confused.

Wonderful book and I am so glad that I read it, because reading it helped me to learn a little about myself. Again, I highly recommend Chazown to everyone, but especially those who are walking around still looking for their purpose.

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review

Starting Over

So I believe this is my first post since I lost the baby and I'm glad to update that I'm doing better. I have my moments and I have my days. My days, for some reason, seem to be at church. I can't get through a service without crying and I'm not sure why, but it's almost a comforting cry like I know that I'm being comforted and that eventually everything will be fine. I also have my moments though, however, I am glad to report that those are few and far between. However, I wasn't able to go to one of my best friend's baby showers because I thought it would be way too difficult. I have a lot of friends that are either pregnant or just had a baby and I'm really happy for them, but it makes me so sad too. I can't help but think what if I don't get another chance. I wonder if my life can be complete without being able to raise children or a child even. I don't know and I don't know how I'll feel if I don't get the chance, but I'll cross that bridge if/when it gets here.

On to new and better things. I've gone back to school to get my masters. I'm going to Walden University and it's an online program in Forensic Psychology - Mental Health Applications. I'm really excited to be doing this stuff again and having a goal and all, but I'm really out of practice. Today I had to write a two page paper and I thought that it was going to kill me. It ended up taking me like 3 1/2 hours which is a long time for a two page paper when its me writing it. In fact it was so frustrating that I wanted to give up and not continue on with the program, that's how bad it is. But I started this program for a couple reasons. The first being that I want to make a better life myself and my husband and hopefully one day our family. The second is because since I lost the baby I've been at home moping around and I decided that I needed a goal, something to keep my mind busy so I don't have to continuously think about what I've been going through the last few months.

On a good note I had my A1C tested again about a month ago and I'm very proud to report that it is down to 5.7% which is what the A1C of someone without diabetes is, so I'm very, very proud of myself. I've also lost about 15 pounds which I'm also proud of myself for. I'm doing a good job keeping my blood sugar down and I'm getting in at least 20 - 30 minutes of exercise about 5 - 6 days a week which will help with the weight. The doctors told me that if I could get my A1C down to 6 or 7% it would lower my chance of miscarriage the next time by about 95% and getting some of the weight off will help too. So I'm excited about all of the changes that I'm making in my life. I'm working on my masters degree which I will have in May 2012 which I'm absolutely ecstatic about, now if only I can have the one thing that I want more than anything....

I guess we'll see...

'Til later

Getting Through It...

So it's been almost 2 months since I lost the baby and I can say that even though I have my bad days, it's not hard every day anymore. I'm making it through it somehow. I'm not going to say that they're aren't hard days because there are, but on an everyday basis I'm doing better. I was reading something a few weeks ago that really helped. It said that when God takes something away from you, it's because he's preparing you for something greater and for some reason that really resonated with me. That little quote there has helped me sooo much.

Last Sunday was a really difficult day for me. First we went to church, which we hadn't been since before the miscarriage, and that was really difficult, I cried throughout most of the worship and then I kind of felt better. Where is a better place to cry when something is bothering except somewhere where you know no matter what you're loved. And then afterward we went to Megan's daughter Maddy's first birthday party which was really hard too, because there were babies there and it made me sad. Then the other day I had another hard moment because I realized that next week would be when would have found out the sex of the baby. I think that was the hardest of them all because I was so looking forward to that day, but like I said I'm getting through day by day.

On another note, my diabetes is under control and in November they'll be able to check my A1C again and if it's lower then I might be able to start trying to get pregnant again, which excites me.

Looking for a job is awful. I can't seem to find one no matter what I do and I'm getting really discouraged :( I just don't understand, it used to take nothing for me to find a job. I hope it just has to do with the economy. It's probably that or the fact that I stopped working for  quite a while to concentrate on school, since I was having problems doing both. Oh well, I guess when I find the one I'm supposed to have I'll get it.

'Til next time...

The Worst Day of My Life

August 18th, that was the worst day of my life. It was that day that I found out that I lost my baby not long after my first ultrasound (which at the ultrasound I found out that I was actually only 6 weeks along not 11). Apparently the baby just stopped growing and now I have to a DNC to get rid of the remains. It's so hard to think about my baby as the remains that they're going to be getting rid of. This has been the hardest 2 days of my life, I start crying at the drop of a hat, I don't want to be around people, I don't want to talk to anyone I just want to be by myself and cry all day long. I don't understand why this had to happen to me. Logically I know that I did nothing wrong and that there was nothing that I could have done to have stopped it from happening, but the illogical side of me keeps wondering what I did to kill my baby. All I want is for everything to be back the way it was. I had to put all the baby things up along with the pregnancy tests and the ultrasound pictures and the sticky note that I had been writing stuff down on like who I told first and stuff like that I just can't deal with seeing any of it. As I'm sitting here writing this I can't keep from crying. I want to feel better but I don't know how. I've been spending every day depressed it's almost like I'm here, but I'm not. I want to believe that I'm just watching some horrible movie or story that is happening to someone else and that my baby is still alive and moving and growing inside of me, but it's not and I can't handle it when I think about it. It's just so unfair... I wanted that baby more than anything in my life and it was taken from me and I want someone to be mad at, I want someone to yell at and ask why. But there's no one to be mad at, no one to yell at, and no one to ask why. The only explanation I can come up with is illogical, but it's all I can figure, it's my fault. How else could it have happened, I had to have done something at some point in my life that would cause my baby to die while growing, just a few days after the heart had started beating. I just want everything to go back to normal, I want my baby, I want to be happy again. There have been a few moments that I have been in a good, happy mood since Wednesday, but it just feels so wrong to be in a good mood. I feel like I'm betraying my baby, it just doesn't feel right to be happy, I feel like I should be depressed for the rest of my life. What kind of good mother could be in a good mood after something like this? I want to know why I can't  get through this, all I want is to understand, but I don't know how, I don't know what could possibly be the reason for taking my baby from me. I feel like I've let me and Jeremy down, what if I can't get pregnant again, what if this baby was our only chance and it was taken from me. What am I going to do then? I had never thought that I could love someone as much as I love my baby and now it's gone. I will never get to see my baby or hold my baby or kiss my baby and it tears me up inside. I just want to scream...

♥11 weeks♥

Well today I am exactly 11 weeks and couldn't be more excited. My first ultrasound is tomorrow at 3:30 and I can't wait to see my little ♥peanut♥ for the very first time ever :) I am so super glad that so far everything in this pregnancy is going so well. I haven't had much morning sickness, just a little nausea. And I can still eat anything except onions that is and I'm also not really having any weird cravings. The only thing that I've really been craving are avocados and a chicken quesadilla from Taco Bell, mmmm!:)

♥10 weeks 6 days♥

Alright so this is week 10 day 6, almost to the 11th week. Getting closer and closer to the 2nd trimester and I'm so excited. I've got my first appointment and ultrasound this week and I absolutely can't wait. So far this pregnancy has been really wonderful to me. I never really had a traditional bout of morning sickness, I only got nauseous a few times but I never vomited. Not to mention that I only really got nauseous when I ate onions, which I still try to avoid just in case. The needing to pee all the time is awful, it's about every 45 minutes to an hour and if it's this bad now I don't even want to think what it'll be like further down the road. I'm so excited about the ultrasound this week, I can't wait to see my little peanut for the first time, even if it is only the size of a prune :) I really can't wait until I'm far enough along to find out what I'm having so that I can say he or she or him or her instead of it. I also don't really have a preference right now either as long as the baby is healthy, healthy is all that matters to me.


Here are some 10 week 6 day pictures, please forgive me for being fat :)

The job hunt is going, I wish I could say that it was going well. I heard from AT&T, they sent me a run of the mill, non-personalized post card informing me that they were going to look at other candidates. They might as well have sent a piece of paper that said "YOU SUCK", because that's exactly what it felt like. Hopefully, I'll hear something about the other interview I did last week. I also have to go and take some tests for the state this week or next. Maybe I'll get a state job, that'd be nice. Actually, at this point anything would be nice...

'Til next time

♥Pregnant♥

Yes, you read the title correctly, I am expecting a wonderful bundle of joy in around 7 months. The due date may change when I go to the doctor next week for my first appointment, but as of right now (from my calculations) my expected due date is February 21, 2011. I am so super excited, finding out that I'm finally going to be a mommy was the most wonderful day of my life. The only thing that I can think that is going to be more perfect is when I welcome my wonderful little peanut into the world. 





So, it's been quite awhile since I've posted something on here and I wish that I could say that I had a good reason, but I really don't. Life has been at the most mundane, nothing to greatly interesting has happening. I've decided though that because of the pregnancy thing that I'm going to have to put my GRE as well as graduate school off for some time. I wish that  I didn't have to, but I think it's going to be best especially with my peanut being due in February. 


I feel like my entire life has changed (and I guess it actually has) since I found out that I was pregnant. Everything in life seems so much more wonderful, but at the same time almost all I can do is worry. Worry about my peanut, worry about making sure that we get everything that peanut needs, worry about what kind of mother I'm going to be. I mean I've always been a worrier, but now it's gotten even worse. I've been worried about finding a job, which is coming along finally. I've had two interviews with different companies and am now waiting to hear something back. Both are great jobs with wonderful benefits, however I am hoping for one over the other because of the pregnancy thing. One of the jobs has a 5 week training program and if you are absent or tardy even once they will fire you on the spot and that just seems kind of dangerous being ♥pregnant♥ and all. So hopefully the job situation will be taken care of quickly.


On a different note, finally after 5 years of being together and 3 years of marriage I finally met most of my husband's family. My husband is lucky because his huge family has a reunion every year and this year we were actually able to go. Did I mention that I'm a worrier, because I am and everyday until the day we went and I finally met his family I worried about whether or not they would like me. First off, I'd like to say that his family is absolutely wonderful. They are so friendly and sweet and the most caring people of anyone new to the family that I have ever met. We had a wonderful day, well for at least as long as we were there because I started feeling nauseous which we later found out was because I was of course ♥pregnant♥! Anyway I had a great time and met some wonderful people that I can't wait to see again next year, so that I'm able to introduce them to my peanut.


Sunday is mine and Jeremy's 3rd wedding anniversary. It's so difficult to believe that we've been married for 3 years, but at the same time it doesn't feel like it's been 3 years. I never thought I would find a man that was a complete match for me and I did and I thank God for him every day. 

I'm going to try and blog at least once a week about mine and peanut's journey together, hopefully it actually happens. 


So as I'm about to finish this and probably go to sleep I'm going to leave with one final thing: baby names!!


So we've got names picked out for both a boy and a girl (I love both names so I'm sticking with them no matter what):


Girl: Alirece (Ali-reece) Desiree Makenzi
Boy: Kamren Blayne


'Til next time


♥Shanae♥