60 Ways to Salad

I'm known for my artistic, creative and delicious salads among my friends so I couldn't wait for my copy of Food 52 Mighty Salads.   Food 52 series continues to delight and inspire.  Although it's Food 52, the book shows you 60 new ways to turn salad into dinner.

What I like most about this book is it shows you salads can be fulfilling and tasty without too much fuss.  You can use what you have on hand, in the garden, even leftovers to make a sumptuous satisfying meals.  There really aren't rules.  You don't really need recipes.  And in the summer, when the temperature hits triple digits, you'll look forward to eating salads every day because you'll know no two salads need be the same.

I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

The Moth: Drawn to the Wonder

I've been a long time fan of NPR and the MOTH radio hour, so I was excited to receive the book where I could fully engage and read at my leisure.  I mostly listen to NPR and the Moth on the radio while I'm in the car, and the stories are often longer than my car ride.  In addition, I have to pay close attention to traffic both as a driver and a passenger, so many details are lost in the interest of public and personal safety.

This book is a wonderful gift, a shot of hope and courage.  Instead of drugs, doctors should prescribe a particular story.  I just lost my mother-in-law and Tig Notaro's story fit the bill.  You can read one story at a time, or several.  You can re-read them as needed, as well.

I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

King and Queen of the Road

I've been a long time fan of Jane & Michael Stern's Road Food and always looked forward to listening to their segment on Lynn Rosetto Kaspar's weekly Splendid Table on NPR.  If you want your own collection of the best places, local gems and hot spots, this 10th edition of Road Food is for you.

We all know how hungry you can get on the road, and you don't want to fill up on just anything.  Since I currently live in CA, I checked their picks for CA first.  I love that Swan's Oyster Bar, Apple Pan, Duarte's Tavern, Canter's, La Super-Rica is in here, it makes me feel "in the know."  :-)  I was bummed Swenson's and Sky-Way in my hometown of Akron, Ohio and Franklin's of Austin, TX didn't make the cut.  Ah, the choices we have to make.

This is a fun book for anyone who travels and wants to eat like a local.

I received this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest review.

Harvest

Harvest is a must-have for any gardener and nature-lover.  The book is a wonderful resource on how to use the mostly edible plants that surround us.  The recipe for lilac flower cream makes me long for the Midwest where lilacs grew in abundance.  Lemongrass salt rub sounds like the perfect salve for sore muscles, and since it grows like a weed, I can never use it up in the kitchen.  I do have a bay laurel tree, and the instructions on how to make a decorative kitchen wreath will definitely come in handy.  Previously, I'd just been drying the leaves and bundling them for gifts.  Same with rosemary, smudge sticks are on the horizon.  The photographs of the dried artichoke thistles and the flowering basil arrangements are stunning and makes you rethink flower arrangements.  Now that the drought has broken in Southern California, I'm hoping the roses will come back with wild enough abandon to make rosewater facial toner.  This is a great book that invites you on a journey, inspires you to tackle a new project, and harvest the joy.  None of the projects look that difficult, it just takes some curiosity.

I received Harvest from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Underground Culinary Tour

Damian Mogavero shows you why collecting and using data can make or break a restaurant as well as your guest experience.   His Avero software can help restaurants identify their best-selling dishes as well as their best performers.   Since restaurant theft can run 4% a year, Magoavero even lists how some employees scam the new Point of Sale (POS) system.  He describes how ignoring data can sink a restaurant -- food waste, running out of ingredients, poor service.  It does make me wonder why some of L.A.'s hottest restaurants have closed.  Is it possible they ignored the numbers at their own risk?

As a foodie, you'll also enjoy reading about the places he takes clients on his underground culinary tour.  Some you'll recognize, and some you'll make note to visit on your next trip.

I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Dumpling Heaven

It's almost Chinese New Year!  A time where I usually take the time and care to make a wide assortment of dumplings -- steam, fried, boiled.  Dumplings are good all year round, of course, and everyone knows it, for you can find juicy dumplings all over the world.

Dumpling Galaxy is a handy cookbook that reminds you dumplings are only as good as its fillings, and that luckily, you can fill the with just about anything you feel tastes good -- meat, vegetables, seafood.  There's a section on faraway flavors for the more adventurous palates and more ambitious cooks/shoppers.  The photographs will whet your appetite and put you in the mood for dumplings.

Wishing everyone a prosperous new year!  Gong Xi Fa Cai.

恭喜發財

I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Junie B Can See

Junie B Jones is a delight that both children and adults can enjoy.  Junie B has to go to first grade, a new school and make new friends.  It can be so scary which is why her teacher is aptly named Mr. Scary.  When Junie B can't see, her teacher Mr. Scary takes Junie B to the school nurse.  Anyone who has had to wear glasses at a young age can relate to Junie B's "problem" and reluctance to wear glasses.  The music is fun and mirrors the emotions well.  You Need Glasses sounds like gloom and doom, while Now I See is uplifting and fun. When Life Gives You Lemons will turn your attitude around and have you humming in record time.  Junie B reminds us what it is like to be new, an outsider, and of course, to wear glasses.

I received this audio book from Blogging for Books in Exchange for my honest review.