Book Review: Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist

I received a free copy of this book/Ebook/Product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am a part of Handlebar Publishing. 
 

About the Book:
 As a follow up to her two-bestselling books, Bittersweet and Cold Tangerines, author and blogger Shauna Niequist returns with the perfect read for those who love food and value the community and connection of family and friends around the table.

Bread & Wine is a collection of essays about family relationships, friendships, and the meals that bring us together. This mix of Anne Lamott and Barefoot Contessa is a funny, honest, and vulnerable spiritual memoir. Bread & Wine is a celebration of food shared, reminding readers of the joy found in a life around the table. It's about the ways God teaches and nourishes people as they nourish the people around them. It's about hunger, both physical and otherwise, and the connections between the two.

With wonderful recipes included, from Bacon-Wrapped Dates to Mango Chicken Curry to Blueberry Crisp, readers will be able to recreate the comforting and satisfying meals that come to life in Bread & Wine

My Thoughts about the Book
This book was a delight to read. It was the perfect combination of two of my favorite things; cooking and writing. Shauna writes about relationships and how food and eating around the table helps to strengthen and enhance these relationships. I love how Shauna is open and honest about her journey. I felt like I was there with her throughout the book whether it was when she was learning how to cook or when she talks about her struggles with infertility.  I love how she ties each chapter around a theme and ties in a recipe with the theme. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves family, friends and food! 

About the Author
Shauna Niequist is the author of Cold Tangerines, Bittersweet, and Bread & Wine. Shauna grew up in Barrington, Illinois, and then studied English and French Literature at Westmont College in Santa Barbara. She is married to Aaron Niequist, who is a pianist and songwriter. Aaron is a worship leader at Willow Creek Community Church and is recording a project called A New Liturgy. Aaron & Shauna live outside Chicago with their sons, Henry and Mac. Shauna writes about the beautiful and broken moments of everyday life--friendship, family, faith, food, marriage, love, babies, books, celebration, heartache, and all the other things that shape us, delight us, and reveal to us the heart of God. You can find out more about Shauna and read her blog at www.shaunaniequist.com. 


Note: I'm always happy to do product reviews. If you're a company and want me to review your product, simply e-mail me at the e-mail address on the sidebar to the right.


 

I received a free copy of this book/Ebook/Product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am a part of Handlebar Publishing. 

 
 

Six Sisters' Stuff Book Review

I am reviewing this book for Deseret Book. I received a free copy of this book/Ebook/Product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.

 About the Book: 

Building Families One Meal at a Time: Six Sisters Release New Cook-Craft-Create Book

With busy schedules, after-school activities, late workdays and long commutes, is sitting down to a family dinner still possible?

The authors of Six Sisters’ Stuff (Shadow Mountain, ISBN: 978-1-60907-324-4, $21.99, March 2013) 

In their debut cookbook, the sisters (yes, six biological sisters— Camille, Kristen, Elyse, Stephanie, Lauren, and Kendra) show families just how simple putting dinner on the table can be. From Baked Chicken Fajitas to Slow Cooker Pot Roast Sliders to Mini Oreo Cheesecakes, Six Sisters’ Stuff has nearly 100 easy-to-follow recipes that use ingredients commonly found in your pantry. Each recipe includes easy-to-follow instructions and photographs that eliminate any guess work. 

Six Sisters’ Stuff evolved from the sisters’ blog SixSistersStuff.com, that began in February 2011 out of their love to cook, craft, and create. After years of living close to one another, they suddenly found themselves living in different parts of the country and used the blog to stay in touch and share ideas. In just two short years, SixSistersStuff.com has quickly become one of the most popular food and craft blogs, receiving on average 5 million page views per month, with over 130,000 Facebook fans and more than 190,000 Pinterest followers (as of 2/7/13).

Six Sisters’ Stuff also includes a collection of simple and inexpensive craft ideas – how to make hand puppets, felt bows, decorative wreaths, and more – plus lists of fun family activities for road trips, entertaining rainy-day ideas, healthy snack suggestions, and even some recommendations for cheap date nights. This family-focused cookbook is really more of an idea book to help families create fun, lasting memories together.

My thoughts: 

I have been a fan of the six sisters' for a while now. I was really excited to find out they were coming out with a book and that I got to review it. This is more than a cook book. It has recipes along with craft ideas,  time saving tips, a spring cleaning check list and so much more! There are some adorable craft ideas in the book that I am going to make soon. I also love the 50 fun date ideas, 14 days of Valentines, and 101 Fun, Easy and Cheap Indoor Activities for Kids.  I choose to make the Six Sisters Chicken Bacon Ranch Taquitos for my family. They were quick and easy to make. My family and I loved them!  I love how the Six Sisters recipes are quick and easy so you can spend more time with your family. I recommend this book to anyone who wants wants quick easy tasks so they can spend more time with their family!

Join the Family Dinner Challenge  

 

According to Pew Research , only about half of families make dinner a daily ritual and another third eat together a few times a week. Roughly one in 5 families (20%) eat together only occasionally or never. In conjunction with the book’s release, on March 4, 2013, SixSistersStuff.com will launch a 4x4 Dinner Challenge. Families are encouraged to eat together as a family at least four times a week for four weeks. Families can register online at www.SixSistersStuff.com and receive meal tips, ideas for family activities, and helpful recipes to assist in making this challenge a reality. “We grew up knowing the importance of feeding our families a home-cooked meal and sitting down to eat it together,” said Camille, the oldest sister. “Even the busiest of people can make the food and project ideas we share, which will give you even more time to spend with your family and loved ones.” 

Giveaway promotion is available with this tour!

1) Like the Six Sister’s STUFF facebook page and comment that they are joining the 4x4 Dinner Challenge
https://www.facebook.com/SixSistersStuff

2) Click the 4x4 Family dinner banner on the website www.SixSistersStuff.com (on the right sidebar) and leave a comment that they are joining the challenge.

Note: I'm always happy to do product reviews. If you're a company and want me to review your product, simply e-mail me at the e-mail address on the sidebar to the right.

 

 

Review: Chipped China Tea Room

I love tea! Especially hot tea. So naturally I'm a tea room junkie. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of tea rooms that also serve gluten free foods. Not the case with the Chipped China Tea Room in Mont Belvieu, Texas. 
 


 
The decor and atmosphere inside is unique, feminine and fun. Guys this doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't come to the Chipped China Tea Room. :) I was every impressed by the fact that the staff knew what it meant to be and eat gluten free. The chef even came out to talk to me and assured me that everything would be taken care of. And it was. I ordered the tuna salad 
 
It was delicious! The tuna salad was so light, creamy and flavorful.  I almost forgot one important part of the Chipped China Tea Room-the tea! I ordered the blood orange ice tea and it was to die for. This is saying something coming from a person who usually only drinks hot tea and water!  I also adore the cute little tea pots and saucers they bring the hot tea out in.  I even got one of their shrimp salad sandwiches to go to split with my hubby. Only it was so good that my hubby never saw it! 

 
I highly recommend The Chipped China Tea Room to anyone who wants a good, light meal at a good price with wonderful service and atmosphere. You can find out more about The Chipped China Tea Room by clicking here. 



 

Sweet Tooth Gone Wild (My top 5 favorite candies)

My Top 5 Favorite Candies
As Valeintine's Day approches my sweet tooth is already get out of control. Here's are my top 5 favorite candies Valentine's Day, Birthday....Anyday! 
1. Conversation Hearts- I dont know what it is about them. Some poeple think they taste like chalk. I think they taste great and I love the sayings!
 
2. Dove Silk Smooth Dark Chocolate-silky, smooth and oh so dark chocolaty!

3.Skittles(original and wild berry)-So fruity and flavorful! 
 
4. York Peppermint Patties-delicious, cool and refreshing! You can never eat just one.
5. Butterfinger-Nobody lays a finger on my crisp, crunchy, peanut butter treat! 
 

What are your favorite candies? 
  

Pinks Pizza Review

I have always loved pizza. However, when I went gluten free it became a challenge to fine good quality, great tasting, gluten free pizza. Recently I discovered that Pinks Pizza exceeded all my expectations.

 I heard of Pinks Pizza thanks to an app on my phone called find me gluten free. When we walked into the pizzeria I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the manager on duty was aware of gluten intolerance and celiac disease. Then he explained to me the extra measures that they took to make sure that the gluten free pizzas did not become cross contaminated.  When I looked at the different pizzas they make I knew I was in love! My hubby and I finally decided on the the This Guy Pizza. It toppings included prosciutto, Italian sausage, rosemary chicken, goat cheese, mozzarella, spinach, mushroom, tomato and roasted garlic with pizza sauce. The price was comparable to other pizza chains but the ingredients tasted far better in my opinion.

The pizza laughed in my mouth and danced all the way to my stomach. It was the best pizza I've ever eaten. If you are ever in Houston's midtown, or Height's area check out Pinks Pizza. You'll be glad you did! :)

I was not compensated to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.

Note: I'm always happy to do product reviews. If you're a company and want me to review your product, simply e-mail me at the e-mail address on the sidebar to the right.

S is for Slow Cooking

I love to slow cook! It's like the best invention ever! I mean what can be bad about putting food in a pot, turning the pot on, and then having a meal ready to serve in a few hours!  I want to share with you my favorite slow cook author/blogger. Her name is Stephanie O'Dea. She has written two books on slow cook and has a recipe on just about anything you've imagined cooking in a crock pot. Check out her blog A Year of Slow Cooking.  Do you use a crock pot? If so what's your favorite recipe? Here's my family's favorite slow cooking recipe Cream Brulee
Crock Pot Creme Brulee
 
Ingrediants
-2 cups heavy cream

--5 egg yolks

--1/2 cup sugar (baker's or fine sugar is better so the granules disappear)

--1 T good vanilla

--1/4 cup raw sugar (for topping, add later)

The Directions:

Find a heat-resistant dish that fits inside of your stoneware insert. Fit it in, and using a cup or pitcher, pour water around the edges so there is water 1/2 - 3/4 of the way up the sides of the dish. Push it down with your hand if it starts to float up. Take the dish back out. If you have separate dessert ramekins, do the same thing after nestling them all inside.

--whip the 5 egg yolks in a medium-sized bowl

--slowly add the cream and baking sugar while mixing

--add the vanilla

pour mixture into the dish and carefully lower into the stoneware without sloshing water into the dish.

Cover and cook on high for 2-4 hours. If you are using little ramekins, check after an hour; I'm not sure how long they will take. Custard should be set with the center still a bit jiggly. Touch lightly with your finger to check. Unlike an oven, it will be difficult to overcook this. Try not to worry.

I cooked the one above for 4.25 hours on high.

VERY carefully (use oven gloves!) remove dish and let cool completely on counter, then chill in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.

Sprinkle the 1/4 cup of raw sugar evenly over the top of the custard. Move your oven rack to the top rung and broil for 3-10 minutes, checking often. The sugar will boil and brown.

Cool again in the fridge for a few hours.

Recipie posted from A Year of Slow Cooking

 

Friday Favorite: Healing Chicken Soup

The weather in Texas has been crazier than ever lately. With the crazy temps and lots of sick students. This recipe has become one of my Favorites. I make this at the first sign of not feeling well. 

The reasons why Chicken soup is healing

• Soup has anti-inflammatory properties that helped sore throats and helped stop the movement of neutrophils (white blood cells that encourage the flow of mucus that accumulates in the lungs and nose). 

• steam is a real benefit. Sipping the hot soup and breathing in the steam helps clear up congestion.  This can also be said for many hot soups.

• Spices that are often added to chicken soup, such as garlic and pepper(all ancient treatments for respiratory diseases), work the same way as modern cough medicines, thinning mucus and making breathing easier.

• chicken soup contains drug-like agents similar to those in modern cold medicines. For example, an amino acid released from chicken during cooking chemically resembles the drug acetylcysteine, prescribed for bronchitis and other respiratory problems.

• Chicken Soup puts needed fluids back into the body.
  

Curative properties

According to food historians chicken soup was prescribed as a cure for the common cold in Ancient Egypt. The 10th century Persian physician Avicenna referred to the curative powers of chicken soup in his writings. In the 12th century the Jewish sage Maimonides wrote that chicken soup “has virtue in rectifying corrupted humours”, and recommended it as nutrition for convalescents; Maimonides also particularly recommended chicken soup for people suffering from hemorrhoids and the early stages of leprosy.

Modern research conducted by Dr. Stephen Rennard, professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine, and his colleagues at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha suggests that there might be some scientific basis for the belief in the curative powers of chicken soup. They found that the particular blend of nutrients and vitamins in traditional chicken soup can slow the activity of certain white blood cells. This may have an anti-inflammatory effect that could hypothetically lead to temporary ease from symptoms of illness. Their research was published in 2000 in the scientific journal Chest. This was not, however, an in vivo clinical trial, and did not demonstrate that chicken soup was the best foodstuff for this purpose.

Because it is simple to prepare, relatively cheap, nutritious, and easily digested, chicken soup is a good food for winter convalescents. Sipping warm soup can also clear the sinuses because of the steam ventilating into the nasal passages, serving as a natural decongestant, which also relieves cold and flu symptoms. Last, but not least, chicken soup can be beneficial due to the placebo effect of comfort foods.

Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

Healing Directions

1. Stew your chicken. Most of the time I don't do this. I just buy chicken breast from the store. Add to 1 can of chicken broth 

2. Add to simmering broth:

2 large onion diced

3 celery ribs diced (seeds are good too)

3 carrots diced

1/2 stick of butter

3 cloves of chopped garlic

juice of 1/2 a lemon

salt & pepper

If you want a really stronge /rich flavor:

Nows the time to add...

Add 3 or4 bouillon cubes

or 1 can of chicken stock.

(Note: if you are cooking this for someone who is already sick.... their taste buds may not be up to par and may need the soup to be stronger in flavor so they can taste it better.)  Getting them to eat it is the key to getting well.  It may be to strong for you but just right for them.  You can always add water to your own bowl if it's to strong for you personally.

3. Cut chicken up into large chunks.

Replace chicken back into simmering broth.

Add 1 cup of large diced potatoes

Cover with water

Cook for another 30 minutes

4.Last 10 minutes of cooking:

Important Healing Herbs

Add 1 bunch of chopped parsley to soup.

If you have tyme, add 1/2 teaspoon.

If you have sage, add 1/2 teaspoon.

If you have basil, add 1/2 teaspoon.

pinch of poultry seasoning

Add 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper!!

Cook for 10 more minutes

2rd  Day: Left overs

Re-warm the left over Chicken Soup

Add 4 ounces of egg noodles to the soup.

1 can of broth

1 cup of water

It's now Chicken Noodle Soup!

The Chicken Noodle Soup

will taste the best on this 2nd day!

3rd  Day: Left overs

Note: Changing the soup slightly each day will add variety to the soup so it doesn't seem so boreing while keeping the regiment of someone eating it. This soup is packed full of vitamins and minerals so the more they are willing to eat, the better.  If you go for a 3rd day, try adding a can of "Cream of celery soup"  to thicken it up and add a new feeling in the mouth.

And if you have been feeling under the weather.... 

by now you should be feeling the effects of healing soup.

A Tasty Treat

A Tasty Summer Treat

 

Cushaws. You heard me right Cushaw. I had never heard of it before either until Memorial Day weekend.  My Uncle had some growing in his garden. I thought it was an under developed watermelon. It turns out that the Cushaw plant is anything but under developed. It's wonderful!
The green-striped cushaw is technically a winter squash grown in the American South. Fruits average 10 to 20 pounds, It can grow to be 12 to 18 inches long. The skin is whitish-green with mottled green stripes.
The flesh is light-yellow; it is mild and slightly sweet in flavor; meaty in texture and fibrous. It is sometimes called cushaw pumpkin and is often substituted for the standard, orange, jack-o-lantern pumpkin in pie-making.
I brought one home with me from Alabama and made a wonderful, delightful summer dessert.  What are your favorite summer foods?

BAKED CUSHAW
1 med. cushaw 2 eggs 2 c. sugar 1/2 lb. butter 1/2 tsp. baking powder Dash nutmeg Cut cushaw pieces. Scrape out seeds and boil until tender. Remove peeling, mix cushaw with all ingredients. Place in baking dish and bake at 350 degrees until brown on top.

Bon Appetit! :)

Mud Bugs

Mud Bugs

This weekend I had the pleasure of eating mud bugs (aka crawfish) for the first time. Up until recently I had been to grossed out to try crawfish. I thought you had to suck the heads to eat them. And there was no way I was ever going to do that. Thankfully a friend of mine, a true Cajun set the record straight. After which I willing agreed to try them. 

The way you cook mud bugs is very interesting. I didn't realize you had to do it out side and I didn't realize how long it took. First you have to get everything ready. 

Then you cook the trimmings first. By trimmings I mean potatoes, corn on the cob, mushrooms and sausages. They give the the water flavor and taste yummy boiled with the spices.  For the spices they used Louisiana crab boil and Zatarans seasonings mix. I was very nervous about the seasonings. I don't like spicy food but I found it to be enjoyable and not to hot. After you put the trimmings. You start cooking the crawfish.

You cook them for five minutes and then you let them sit for five minutes and then let them sit for five minutes. After that they are ready to eat. Now, they are not the easiest seafood to eat but once you get the hang of it you're good to go. First you crack the shell and then peel the meat out. What do they taste like? Well I think that they taste just like shrimp. That's great because I can't eat shrimp because I am allergic to them. Now I have a wonderful alternative. Crawfish are quickly becoming one of my favorite foods.

Have you ever had mud bugs? Would you try them? What are your favorite foods? 

HomeKeepers Journal

HomeKeepers Journal 1/06/2010

What’s happening in my home?….

In my kitchen… lots of experimenting with food. I made veggie stew with tumeric and maharajah curry. Hubby loved it! :) I am going to start making more dishes with curry powder. It's supposed to be really good for you. My Gluten free German pancakes turned out great. It even had a better crust than the non GF German pancakes do. Making lasgana tomorrow. I am super excited bcasue I found a recipie that doesn't use tomatoes (I'm allergic).

With our marriage… still growing …. This makes me think of how we continue to grow in Christ year after year until we meet Him face to face. We never are completely “grown” until we see him. I truly believe that marriage is a picture of our relationship with Christ, so it makes sense that as we see ourselves growing together in marriage, we grow in our relationship with Christ. I did not write this part but I thought that it was so beautiful written and described what is going on in my marriage I decided to share it. Thanks for writing this Sylvia.

With the children… Sophie refuses to go outside. That's how I know it's really cold! She just curls up under her blanket on the couch. She loves warm weather! I've even caught Rosie hidding under the covers to keep warm a time or two but she still manages to find time to play.

Around the homestead… its 50's here today. It's supposed to be in the 20's this weekend. Thank God for heaters! :) Its tolerable, but everyone is wrapped in layers of clothing. Less than 2 months before everyone comes in for the big wedding. I'm trying to unpack, put up, clean and organize before everyone gets here. Thank God for FLYLADY it helps me to clean and organize my house in such a non stressful way!

In my “Inner Man”…. keeping focused on God and His word these days. I am starting to become a little depressed but I am determined not to give in.

What is your Inner Man? In 2 Corinthians 4 Paul gives us a clue about what he means when he says “the inner man”. In that scripture he says that “our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (4:16 KJV). So for Christians even though there is something about us that is getting old, decaying and deteriorating and dying..there is also something about us that is growing, becoming more alive, richer and stronger every day we live and follow Christ. That is what Paul calls our “inner man.”