Review: The Paleo Aficionado Soup Recipe Cookbook

Use recipes to help children practice reading and writing step-by-step instructions. Have them sample the results to see how they did! Let's Get Cooking With Words













 The Friday 56 (56% reader)

"Using an immersion blender, puree the soup until nearly smooth." -- Amanda Matthews 

Moroccan Tomato Soup

 

1 lb. chopped tomatoes

2 Tbl. olive oil

6 c. vegetable broth

1 finely chopped onion

1 finely chopped garlic clove

1 finely chopped chili pepper

1/2 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. paprika

lime juice for seasoning

salt and pepper to taste

Add oil in large stockpot, add garlic & onions and cook for 5 mins. until soft. Add tomatoes and chili pepper and cook for 10 mins., covered. Pour in the stock, add the paprika and chili powder and cook for another 5 mins. Using an immersion blender, puree the soup until nearly smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Squeeze fresh lime juice on top prior to serving.

Book Review

I liked that the cookbook is well organized alphabetically. The vegetable soups such as Cauliflower Cream, Lemon Asparagus, Butternut Squash and Moroccan Tomato are good. The Mayan Chicken Soup sounds very inviting but I haven't tried it yet. Pretty much the proportion sizes are correct. My only feedback is that pictures added would be a real warm addition to the book. Everyone likes soup, so this is a good choice!

4/5 stars!

The Paleo Aficionado Soup Recipe Cookbook (The Paleo Diet Meal Recipe Cookbooks)

Do you have a favorite soup recipe? I like homemade Tomato soup, any type of Italian and Butternut Squash. My mom always made a great lemon and rice soup... yum!

I just love tree silhouettes, especially palm and avocado trees!

This particular winter sunset reminds me of tomato soup!

It always amazes me how quickly the sky changes. I can't get over our beautiful weather!

 Photos for Skywatch Friday

I am so blessed to be living here in SoCal, surrounded by family, friends and online readers.

Wishing you a Happy Valentine's Day! You are loved!



 
 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

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Review: Healthy Eating Vegetarian Diet for Beginners

Healthy Eating - Vegetarian Diet for Beginners

Book Description

Becoming vegetarian can be a difficult life change but now it doesn't have to be. Nicky Smith has simplified the process so that you can not only improve your health but improve your life.

In this Healthy Eating edition you will:

- Discover the reasons for becoming vegetarian
- Get clear on which vegetarian diet to embark on and how you can create your own rules to follow.
- Find tips on how to transition easily from your current diet
- Get advice on dining out and dealing with others opinions
- Learn how to stand up for yourself and your diet choice
- Discover vegetarian 101 like where to shop, what to buy, important nutritional information and health concerns.
- Gain inspiration & motivation
- Get access to further FREE resources that will help you on your vegetarian journey

Review

Eating better and following a vegetarian diet, along the disciplined path of plant-based foods, will definitely improve your life. Whether you have the land and can grow your own food or perhaps have the opportunity to shop at local farmer's market, it's important to have a supply of fresh fruits and vegetables. Having some vegetarian staples in the pantry will also provide many options for you to create meals easily. Health concerns about vitamin intake are discussed in the book, along with learning some strategies in going about communicating your feelings on being a vegetarian. The author encourages the reader in taking a slow transition of not eating meat gradually. You'll find a list of quotes is in the front while websites for vegetarian resources is listed in the back. I found it to be informative but I missed photos and recipes.

4/4 stars. It was good but not great...

Review posted on Goodreads and Freda's Voice 100 Book Challenge

The Friday 56

"We've been practicing turning a blind eye to what we know if wrong for so long, that it's become automatic to the point of invisibility." -- Nicky Smith

Author, Nicky Smith offers a list of helpful sites at the back of the book:

The Vegetarian Resource Group

Vegetarian Dining

Green People

Vegetarian Society


Healthy Eating - Vegetarian Diet for Beginners

 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

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Review: Love Thug (a.k.a Can't I Do Anything Wrong?)

Romantic comedy, especially for boys 10-13

                                       LOVE THUG (a.k.a. Can't I Do Anything Wrong?)

I was fortunate to have Daniel Berenson contact LadyD Books for a review on his recently published book, Love Thug. I'm the lucky one! The bug has 81 pages with an illustration for each chapter.

About The Book

 Billy Cantrell, normally a highly motivated student, is having the biggest crisis of his life. He has fallen madly in love with the hottest babe in his class.

There's only one problem: she already has a boyfriend, who happens to be a low-achieving dude with a totally crude 'tude--in other words, the exact opposite of Billy.

What's a guy like Billy to do? Well, he's going to do a major makeover, that's what. No more Mr. Nice Guy. No more trying to please his teachers or parents. To win the girl of his dreams, Billy will turn himself into a LOVE THUG. Then he'll have to outduel his competitor in a real-life punkathon to see who ends up as the new King of the Hill.

Will Billy triumph and win his dearly beloved or go down in flames?

LOVE THUG is a romantic comedy--full of love, heartache, and silliness. Anyone who's ever been crazy in love will identify with this story of kids doing what they do best: following their dream no matter where it takes them, no matter what the cost.

Love Thug Trailer

My Review

The writing is smart and hilarious with some deeper meanings that come out well. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and loved the ambitious drive of the main character, Billy who desperately pursues a romantic relationship with school heart-throb Veronica, but she already has a boyfriend. The story plot has a great universal hook in that most tween boys like girls. Plus, there's a great moral lesson to be learned from best friends, Kevin and Laurie. Mostly, you can't please everyone, so you got to please yourself and simply be you! From love thug to love bug you'll enjoy this classic comic novella for kids. I highly recommend this adolescent love story. I guarantee it will give you a chuckle. 5/5 stars!

Biography

Daniel Berenson is a long time elementary and middle school educator in North Carolina (with a year in England as a Fulbright Exchange Teacher thrown in). He is the founder and principal contributor at Freaky Dude Books, where he posts original poetry, videos, and achingly poignant pearls of wisdom. At the site he also maintains a blog with news and timely, incisive comments. However the blog has been in essence taken over by Dr. Crankenfuss, the middle schooler who lives in Daniel's head and who invests most of his energy in perpetual rants against real or perceived injustices. Daniel writes novels, short story collections, poetry, and joke books for kids aged nine and up including maturity-challenged adults.

Happy Reading!






“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

Review: The Dance of the Caterpillars

Book Description

While watching her Chinese immigrant son-in-law learn the English language, it became apparent to the author that prepositions are one of the most difficult concepts to comprehend. Therefore, The Dance of The Caterpillars was written as a fun way to teach prepositions. This exciting children’s book contains twenty-two prepositions, one two-word multiple, and two three-word multiples. It is destined to become a valuable learning tool for children as well as English as a second language students. This book includes English, traditional Korean characters, and Korean transliteration. There is also a vocabulary list at the back of the book for your continued study.

My Review

If you love fairies, frogs, toads, crickets, caterpillars and butterflies, you'll LOVE this book. The author has written not just a charming story that holds your interest throughout, but has provided a learning study for the Korean language. The brightly colored illustrations are adorned with musical notes that I especially like. The story line shows young ones how caterpillars gather in the garden and begin to dance, while fairies sprinkle magic dust. You know what happens next, what fun! My favorite line is, "They cha-cha-cha up one side of the pagoda, over the top and down the other side."

5/5 stars. Recommend.

Biography

"Alphabet Alliteration" is a new twist on an old subject, learning the English alphabet. "How The Fox Got His Color" and "Where Hummingbirds Come From" are picture books for children ages 3 - 6 years of age. "The Dance of The Caterpillars", a lesson in prepositions is designed for 2nd grade students. "The Gnomes of Knot-Hole Manor" is a chapter book targeting 3rd graders. It teaches words with silent letters and words that sound the same but are spelled differently.

"Catherine's Travels" is an historic novel that takes place in Missouri during the 1800's. Catherine and her family flee war torn Austria seeking a new life in America. Disaster strikes and Catherine finds herself alone in the wilderness.

Here's what others are saying: The Dance of the Caterpillars Bilingual Korean English

Happy Reading!







 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2013 – All rights reserved
LadyD Books

Review: Making Soap from Scratch

Making Soap from Scratch: Complete Beginner's Guide to Natural Handmade Soaps [Kindle Edition]

Book Description

“From start to finish, this guide makes natural, cold process soap making easy to master at any level. Thank you, Summer, for sharing your experience and recipes.” – Praise for Making Soap from Scratch

Cold process handmade soap is a surprisingly simple craft and art…when you’ve got the right guide. Look no further, Making Soap from Scratch is it!

With easy-to-follow instructions and straight-forward advice, soaping professional and instructor, Summer Vautier, will help you make natural soap at home from start to finish.

With this complete guide, you’ll easily master making natural soap for friends, family and for profit. This book includes:

• Step-by-step instructions for making cold process and hot process soap
• Equipment and ingredient checklists
• How to use molds, plus cutting and curing your soap
• Small and large batch soap recipes, from the luxurious to economical
• A guide to using essential oils and fragrances
• How to meet labeling requirements, plus getting creative with packaging for selling and gifting soap

This guide also includes swirling colors, making expensive-looking layers, incorporating embeds, and more! You’ll soon be making delicious-looking and smelling soaps, like:
Sweet Baby Chamomile Soap
Tough Guy Mahogany Soap
Chai Tea Latte Soap
Chocolate Peppermint Patty Soap
The Perfect Face Bar
Hawaiian Sunrise Soap
Fresh Cut Grass Soap
Spiced Holiday Pumpkin Pie Soap
Vanilla-Cherry Chip Soap
Lavender Sprig Soap
Lemon Crème Soap
Orange Sherbet Soap
Espresso Roast Soap
And more!

My Review

The author has shared her knowledge and experience of soap making to the beginner, as well as the experienced hobbyist. I have always admired this artwork and have enjoyed homemade bars of soap from the Farmer's Market. Here you'll discover the ins and outs to the craft from supplies and merchandise to safety gear and molds. Some of the recipes mentioned have a citrusy, pleasant scent while others have a buttery conditioning property. Others have a refreshing, cooling effect on the skin. An interesting note, there's a breakdown on how to make "Tough Guy's Soap" that is manly and mild, and soap for babies. In addition, clear steps are listed for dry skin and fragrance/color-free soap bars. If you love soap making, get the book.  (Very informative) 5/5 stars!

Biography

Summer Vautier first fell in love with natural soaps as a young girl. As an adult, she grew to fully appreciate homemade soaps and other natural goods for their purity and positive impact.

Summer is a soaping instructor, artist and entrepreneur. When not spending time with her husband and children, you can find her creating new soaps for her Lather Bee soap line, gardening, or lost in the jungle that is her craft room.

I personally don't know if I'd make my own soaps but I sure do like to buy so many of them at our local Farmer's Market. The delightful smells and aromas are marvelous, especially so many varieties with all kinds of shapes and sizes. I found this book to be very informative for soap making.

Making Soap from Scratch: The Complete Beginner's Guide to Natural Handmade Soaps

Happy reading!

 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2013 – All rights reserved
LadyD Books

Review: A Day at The Zoo

Book Description

A day at the zoo is a book you can show and read to your kids that takes you on a poetic journey through the zoo with all your favorite animals and more. Read it to your kids for fun time or bed time, either way everyone will enjoy a day at the zoo.

My Thoughts

The author has captured 20 subjects (like animals, flowers and rainbows) with well written rhyme, no more than 6 lines of words. Along with some nice pictures, I found this book to be quite informative. My grandson, who is 5 especially likes The Ant Hill, while our 3 year old granddaughter loves Zebras! Perhaps you will see larger photos on your e-reader but on my iPad the pictures were fairly small. All in all, a wonderful visit to the zoo.    

4/5 stars. Recommend for young children.
 A Day at The Zoo

Biography

Terry Thompson grew up in a military family and has spent his entire life travelling around the world gaining valuable knowledge and experience that he shares with you through his writing about life and leadership. Terry has served in multiple positions of increased authority and responsibility that spans many assignment locations to include two deployments to Iraq, and one to Afghanistan. Terry has led teams as small as 3 to much larger groups of over 200. Terry brings to you valuable insight that he has gained from his personal and professional life that will lead you to success. Terry does this through multiple platforms to include his website (Leadertank.com) and his two books (Leadership Solved, Push Start, and What it takes to become a MENTOR).    

     

While my granddaughter was here for a visit, we were able to go to the Safari Park together once again. The lion and lioness were sleeping... well, maybe resting a bit in the shade from the warm temps but then, all of a sudden the lion sat up. I was able to take these pictures through the glass.

It was so nice to come home and read this eBook afterwards. Children really seem to like animals and enjoy reading about them, too.

A Day at The Zoo



 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2013 – All rights reserved
LadyD Books

Review: I Really Love You, Ava

                                                              I Really Love You, Ava

About The Book

What is real love? Little Ava Jacobs is dying to find the answer to this seemingly simple question. Through a mother's patience, grandparents' joy, and a couple's kindness, Ava finds the meaning of real love.

My Thoughts

Author, Amberly (Krissy) Clowe contacted LadyD Books in regards to reviewing her recently released picture book, I Really Love You, Ava. Naturally, since I have a sweet granddaughter (yes, and 4 wonderful grandsons, too)... well,  I said yes! The warm title of the book grabbed my heart right away and I was anxious to discover what was inside!

My Review  

I love when books open with a question and indeed, a little girl named Ava has a simple yearning, yet complex desire in her search to find what real love is. Being a grandmother of 5, for me this well written story hits home for every child's security and self-esteem issues and that is to recognize what love looks like and to process in their own way what love feels like. With the warm reflection of care and hope on the face of Ava's mother, she answers her daughter's question, "Sweetie, when you see it, you'll know." A most needed heart-felt message in today's world, along with warm illustrations about Ava Grace and her wonderful family life makes a great addition for home, school and church library.

5/5 stars. Highly recommend.

About The Author

Amberly Kristen Clowe has been writing stories since she was a little girl. She studied cihldren’s literature in college and graduated with a degree in early childhood education. After college, Amberly taught second grade for several years. Her students inspired her to revisit her passion for writing children’s literature. She credits them as the inspiration for her first picture book, Katie Ling Fashion Queen, which was published in 2011 with AwareNow Publishing. I Really Love You, Ava is Amberly’s second picture book. Her son, George, inspired this story about love and family. Today, caring for George and her daughter, Emma, as well as tackling many writing projects, keep Amberly very busy. She lives in Texas with her husband, children, two dogs, and six fish.   -- Amberly Kristen Clowe

Here's what others are saying about I Really Love You, Ava.

I look forward to reading more from the author. Thanks for the opportunity to read this sweet story, Amberly Kristen Clowe. Best wishes and much continued success!

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2013 – All rights reserved
LadyD Books

Strawberry Fields Forever

In our neighborhood near this avocado grove, you'll find a huge farming operation of strawberry growers. Since the season is over now, there has been a tractor and a water truck on the land preparing the soil. Soon they'll be laying down the water pipes and the strawberry planting begins again.

Photo for Skywatch Friday

Farmer's have lots of faith and they work so hard in the fields. They get the job done! It will be worth the wait again, longing to enjoy this wonderful fruit again. Do you like strawberries? WE sure do!

Garden Blog and Website

I received a note from Dianne of www.igardenplanting.com awhile back. She came across the lovely strawberry photos and wanted to share one of their helpful articles with my readers. Have a look at, Complete Guide How To Grow Strawberries.

Hope you enjoyed this very informative article on growing strawberries. They truly are berry good for you!! Thanks, Dianne for your wonderful addition to this photography meme post!

The Friday 56

Vanilla-Cherry Chip Soap

"This is a recipe that challenges your soap making skills by incorporating embeds. The result is a delicious-looking vanilla soap bar with maraschino cherry chips." -- Summer Vautier

I wasn't able to find a strawberry soap bar recipe but this quote is the next best thing. Now we can smell good, too. I've never made my own soaps before... have you? I might want to try this someday but for now, I enjoy buying them from our local Farmer's Market.

Book Description

“From start to finish, this guide makes natural, cold process soap making easy to master at any level. Thank you, Summer, for sharing your experience and recipes.” – Praise for Making Soap from Scratch

Cold process handmade soap is a surprisingly simple craft and art…when you’ve got the right guide. Look no further, Making Soap from Scratch is it!

With easy-to-follow instructions and straight-forward advice, soaping professional and instructor, Summer Vautier, will help you make natural soap at home from start to finish.

With this complete guide, you’ll easily master making natural soap for friends, family and for profit. This book includes:

• Step-by-step instructions for making cold process and hot process soap
• Equipment and ingredient checklists
• How to use molds, plus cutting and curing your soap
• Small and large batch soap recipes, from the luxurious to economical
• A guide to using essential oils and fragrances
• How to meet labeling requirements, plus getting creative with packaging for selling and gifting soap

This guide also includes swirling colors, making expensive-looking layers, incorporating embeds, and more! You’ll soon be making delicious-looking and smelling soaps, like:
Sweet Baby Chamomile Soap
Tough Guy Mahogany Soap
Chai Tea Latte Soap
Chocolate Peppermint Patty Soap
The Perfect Face Bar
Hawaiian Sunrise Soap
Fresh Cut Grass Soap
Spiced Holiday Pumpkin Pie Soap
Vanilla-Cherry Chip Soap
Lavender Sprig Soap
Lemon Crème Soap
Orange Sherbet Soap
Espresso Roast Soap
And more!

Making Soap from Scratch: The Complete Beginner's Guide to Natural Handmade Soaps

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2013 – All rights reserved
LadyD Books