A well know tale: The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen

The story of the Little Mermaid is well known but, depending on your source, the story can end in one of two ways. The story as conceived by Andersen does not have the Disney happy ending.
This title provides a full and detailed long version of the tale. What I like best about this version though are the illustrations. They are truly gorgeous! The artist is well known in Europe although this is the first time that I have seen her magical work.
If you want a beautiful version of a classic tale, this book is so worth buying. I loved it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Pub Date

#TheLittleMermaid #NetGalley

I’m hungry and want to eat NOW! Quick and Easy 5-Ingredient Cookbook 30-Minute Recipes to Get Started in the Kitchen by Eileen Kelly

What a great concept for a cookbook!  Quick and easy with few ingredients is just what many of us want at times.  I never would have guessed that there could be so many recipes that fit this framework.

The book includes all meals and even has sections on vegetarian and vegan foods and a section on spice blends.  I could name so many of these good looking recipes but will just select enough to show what a good resource this book is.  So…smoky chickpeas and spinach, coconut tofu and vegetable curry over rice, balsamic and honey glazed salmon, pan seared pork chops and parmesan spinach,warm apple foldovers and chocolate chip cookies.

This is a perfect book for a beginning cook (there are many at this moment) or a more experienced cook looking for some new ideas.  I will be using it for sure.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

From the publisher:

easy cookbook, 5 ingredient cookbook, cookbook, keto, healthy cookbookOne of many tasty recipes from the book: Spinach and Mushroom Frittata

Serves 4 / Prep time: 5 minutes / Cook time: 20 minutes

Gluten-Free / Nut-Free / One-Pan

Frittatas are such an easy dinner to prepare, and the leftovers are great for lunch the next day, especially paired with the Go-To Chopped Salad or the Easy Garlic Crostini. This is also a great recipe to use as a base to use up leftovers in the refrigerator. Have some leftover bacon or turkey? A few vegetables? Add it to your frittata. Use an oven-safe pan, such as a cast iron skillet, as this recipe begins on the stovetop and finishes in the oven.

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, pepper, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the mushrooms and sauté until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the spinach and cook until wilted. Sprinkle the shredded cheese into the skillet.
  4. Pour the egg mixture into the skillet and let cook undisturbed for 5 minutes.
  5. Place the skillet into the oven and bake until the eggs are set, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool for 2 minutes before slicing and serving.

Substitution Tip: Use Gruyère, Cheddar, Swiss, or mozzarella instead of fontina.

Addition Tip: Add 1 teaspoon of Italian Herb Seasoning Mix (page 97) to the egg mixture. For meat lovers, add 4 ounces of diced ham along with the mushrooms.

Per Serving: Calories: 212; Total fat: 15g; Sodium: 577mg; Carbohydrates: 3g; Fiber: 1g; Sugar: 1g; Protein: 15g

Ingredients:

  • 6 eggs
  • ¼ cup milk
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 cup diced mushrooms
  • 2 cups fresh spinach
  • 1 cup shredded fontina cheese

#QuickandEasy5IngredientCookbook #NetGalley

Recently published: A Delightful Little Book On Aging by Stephanie Raffelock

This book includes many reflections and stories from the author on the subject of aging. I very much like how she embraces this time of life and sees it as a time for growth, exploration and consolidation of a lifetime of experience.

The book is divided into four sections; Grief, Reclamation, Vision and Laughter. In the first section the author supports acknowledging the losses both large and small that come with the aging process. In the next section, she encourages readers to reclaim things that one enjoyed at an earlier life stage; for example, maybe  to take up playing the piano or singing in a chorus again. Vision is about using one’s acquired wisdom to fully participate and see life as it unfolds each day. Laughter provides a chance to laugh which is good for us!
If you know someone, including yourself, who would enjoy or benefit from gaining perspective on this life stage, take a look at this title.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

#ADelightfulLittleBookOnAging #NetGalley

Now out: A Good Meal Is Hard to Find Storied Recipes from the Deep South (Southern Cookbook, Soul Food Cookbook) by Amy C. Evans; Martha Hall Foose

I adore the old fashioned illustrations that appear throughout this book; I felt nostalgic as I saw Camay soap, Tang and Crisco in the paintings. Amy, the artist, talks in the introduction about her inspiration while Martha, the cook, also adds her take. The book itself is organized with the day in mind, beginning with breakfast and moving through to late night snacks. There are then anytime treats. Yum.

Within this framework, there are intriguingly named recipes. For example, the Morning’s Glories section includes “Ethel’s Overnight Breakfast in Bed (a casserole), and Marge’s Usual Sunrise (a drink) among others. These titles definitely enticed me and kept me browsing through this book.

The recipes are all doable. The presentation is quirky and fun. This title could be a nice addition to a cook’s bookshelf.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

#AGoodMealisHardtoFind #NetGalley

Novels by Sara Donati…historical and long!

The Gilded Hour by [Sara Donati]Where the Light Enters by [Sara Donati]The Gilded Hour is a very long novel coming in at 742 pages.  If your dream during this crisis is to read an absorbing story that will keep you going for days, this one is worth reading.

The  Gilded Hour is the first of two books with Where the Light Enters also having been published.  By the way, the second book currently only costs $2.99 in e book format.  I bought it at a higher price when it came out.

The two main characters of the series are Anna and Sophie Savard.  Anna and Sophie are both physicians in turn of the century New York.  The city itself is portrayed in all its classes, from the poorest immigrants to the ballrooms.  Anna and Sophie are surrounded by a rich cast of characters, most fictional and a few historical.  Their relationships and work form the focus for the story.

Around this structure, there is something happening in New York.  If what I write next offends you, this will not be the book for you.  Women did not have access to much in the way of contraceptives at this time.  This led some to seek help in terminating pregnancies.  Anna and Sophie see that women are dying from procedures done by someone, but who?.  Who has done this will be a part of both of these novels, though I have only read the first.

I enjoyed The Gilded Hour and plan to read Where the Light Gets In.  Let me know what you think…have you read books by this author?

What happened to them? The Split A Novel by Sharon Bolton

I read and enjoyed many of the books that this author wrote as S.J. Bolton.  They followed a female detective, Lacey Flint, and were always suspenseful page turners.

The Split is not part of a series but has the author’s trademarks of a well told and suspenseful story.  I especially enjoyed the settings of this book which are the Antarctic  and Cambridge.  Read the novel to find out why the protagonist, Felicity, travels so far and why she feels that she must do this.  Who will be there to help her when the stakes get higher and higher?

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

#TheSplit #NetGalley

What a performance: A Fatal Finale by Kathleen Marple Kalb

I was quite excited to receive this ARC because I realized that the author of this mystery was already known to me.  She has been a reporter on my local radio station and I have heard her voice many times.  So, it was fun to think about “hearing” her writer’s voice as well.

This book is a cozy and should be enjoyed by readers who like this genre.  That means nothing too violent and a good story with characters with whom I enjoyed spending time.  These include the protagonist, Ella, who is unconventional, a murder victim and an English lord. The setting is the world of opera and the time period is the very end of the 19th century.  The place is New York City.

Sound appealing?  If yes, give this one a try.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this first in a series (I hope).  All opinions are my own.

#AFatalFinale #NetGalley

Now out: Private Investigations Mystery Writers on the Secrets, Riddles, and Wonders in Their Lives by Victoria Zackheim

I have been reading and enjoying mysteries since I was a young child with my first Nancy Drew books. I still look to mysteries as favorite reads. It’s not always the “whodunnit” but often the characters, settings and joys of following a series that draw me in.
Whenever I read a mystery, I take a look at the page about the author. Sometimes I wish I knew more though about what makes a favorite writer tick. If you feel that way too, this is a fun book to dip into in any order that you like.
This title from the Mystery Writers of America posed a question to authors; they were asked to write about a mystery in their own life, however they defined that. As a result here are writings by Sulari Gentill, Ausma Zahanat Khan, Rhys Bowen, Jacqueline Winspear, Tasha Alexander, and Anne Perry, just to name my own favorites. (Reviews for these authors are on my blog).
What a treat! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.
#PrivateInvestigations #NetGalley

#PrivateInvestigations #NetGalley

Mangia: The Easy Italian Cookbook 100 Quick and Authentic Recipes by Paulette Licitra

Right now I am very much enjoying exploring cookbooks. Since it is not possible to travel or go out to eat, I love having other ways to think about (and make) good food. This cookbook which features 100 Italian recipes is a delight. If the photos don’t make you salivate, I will be surprised.
Start with an Aperol Spritz, move on to crispy artichoke hearts with aioli dip and then have some tortellini in brodo with spinach or maybe a panzanella salad with cucumbers. A few of the other recipes include spaghetti cupcake frittatas, lemony risotto with asparagus or pasta with 30 minute meat sauce, and of course, pizza. Then after fish or poultry or other proteins, don’t forget desserts including raspberry mascarpone mini hand pies and Sicilian almost orange cookies among others.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this culinary treat. All opinions are my own.

Pub Date

#TheEasyItalianCookbook #NetGalley