I Wish I Lived In a Library

Saturday, May 9, 2015

400 Calories of Less with Our Best Bites - Cookbook Review

400 Calories or Less with Our Best Bites by Sara Wells and Kate Jones

When I first started looking around on food blogs Our Best Bites was one of the first ones I found and it quickly became one of my go to places for tasty and easy weeknight dinner inspiration and yummy desserts. I thoroughly enjoyed their first cookbook and the Puffy French Toast recipe is borderline life changing.

Lately, they've started going a slightly new direction and I've got to say that I'm loving it! While still focusing on family friendly everyday foods they've started including healthy and low calorie into the mix. What I love is that the food is just naturally low calorie. You're not substituting or using no-fat or hard to find ingredients. The foods naturally rely on fresh flavors and herbs and spices versus trying to take a high calorie recipe and trimming it down. Looking at the recipe you wouldn't think - "oh this is low calorie". You'd just think this sounds tasty!

The recipes lean mostly towards the main dishes with a handful of dessert, breakfast and snack recipes. The snacks are intriguing and I'm especially looking forward to trying the Oven-Baked Cinnamon Apple Chips and Roasted Garlic Chickpeas. Both sound incredibly easy and perfect for packing.

When it came to testing a recipe I had a hard time deciding just what to try! There's a Creamy Cajun Pasta, a Braised Italian Chicken, Crispy Parmesan Chicken Tenders, Banh Mi Tacos and Cheddar Bacon Burgers with Caramelized Onions. Finally after much flipping and mouthwatering I settled on the Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Italian Roasted Vegetables.

The Pot Roast was very simple. You take a 3 lb bottom round roast, season it with Steak Seasoning and seer on both sides. Put it in the slow cooker, top with a sliced up onion, 10 crushed garlic cloves, onion soup mix, 2 cups vegetable both and 1/4 cup red wine vinegar. Cook on high for 4 to 6 hours and ta-da your house smells fantastic and you have a tasty main course. Next time I'll probably use a chuck roast instead of the bottom round as those tend to get more tender. Other than that the flavor is amazing and everyone loved it!

Then while the roast was cooking in the slow cooker I chopped up some carrots and potatoes and sprinkled them with a little pepper and Italian seasoning and drizzled with olive oil. After a quick bake in the oven I had a flavorful and delicious side dish.

While the roasted vegetables were delicious and oh so easy I think I would prefer mashed potatoes with the roast to help soak up the yummy broth. Next time I'll probably just roast carrots and throw in some onion and save the potatoes for mashing.

The recipes are easy to follow, the ingredients are easy to find, and the results never disappoint. If you're looking for quick and tasty weeknight dinners that even picky eaters will eat this is a great choice!

I'm linking up with Weekend Cooking hosted by Beth Fish Reads

Friday, May 8, 2015

Friday Linkups: If Only

It's Friday linkup time! I'm linking up with the Book Blogger Hop hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer, Book Beginnings of Fridays hosted by Rose City Reader, and the Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice.

Book Blogger Hop Question:
If you had a chance to read a book or watch a movie that is not about a book you have read which would you choose?

My Answer:
In general I pick book over movie every time. There are the days where my brain just feels fried and as much as I love books I'm just too tired. To be honest, I'm not much of a movie person. There's something about the time commitment that makes me squeamish even though I could watch an equal amount of TV without blinking. I've started recording some of the classic movies that I love and haven't watched in ages (I adore pretty much anything with Cary Grant) and am looking forward to watching some of those.

This wee's book is If Only by Norma Budden about a woman trying to find the daughter she gave up for adoption 16 years before. I'm always fascinated by stories centering around adoption - partly because of the research that goes into discovering the answers either party is looking for and partly because of the complex emotional issues that it create. I'm not very far in If Only but so far I'm enjoying it.

The Beginning:

Demi Glenn sat behind the white marble desk, drumming her fingers on it's surface waiting for the phone to ring.

My Thoughts:

As impatient person I can so relate to this! I can even picture her expression!

The 56:

Under normal circumstances, David would have tried his best to ease her mind, but circumstances were far from normal.

My Thoughts:

I'm not here yet so I don't know what's going on but I definitely have a lot of questions now!

Thursday, May 7, 2015

The Corpse with the Sapphire Eyes - Review + Giveaway

The Corpse with the Sapphire Eyes (a Cait Morgan Mystery) by Cathy Ace

Rating: 3.5 Stars
Source: Blog Tour (For more info visit here)

Description: It's Cait Morgan and Bud Anderson's wedding weekend and the Wales castle that seemed so romantic in October is quickly turning spooky in stormy December. When a choir master takes a fatal fall and the storm causes a bridge to wash out Cait begins to worry that maybe the spooky Wales castle could be lethal.

Genre: Mystery

Why I Picked This Book: The setting is a castle in Wales! There's no way I could pass that up!

My Impression: This was an interesting mystery in a fantastic setting. The castle was so richly drawn that it was almost a character and like Cait's sister I thought it sounded fantastic for exploring though I wanted to do the exploring myself and not wait for the children! I loved the castle treasure plot tie in. I love secret treasures and throw that in a castle and I'm happy girl. I liked Cait and Bud and the inhabitants of the castle were interesting though not necessarily likable. This is the 5th book in the series but I had no problem following who was who and there was enough explanation to understand how Bud and Cait got together without weighing down the plot.

The pacing was a bit uneven at times and while there is a death that occurs early in the book it occurs off screen and doesn't really get talked too much about until a few chapters in. The book also leans towards being heavy conversation heavy which contributes to the somewhat slower pace. Cait is a psychologist who focuses on the criminal mind and Bud is a police detective so the fact that they are investigating fits.

Overall, I found this an interesting mystery in a fantastic setting and I'm looking forward to getting to know Cait better.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Yes. While this is isn't a series that is going to the top of my TBR I am looking forward to reading the first books in the series and seeing what comes next.

Would I Recommend this Book?: Yes, if you enjoy mysteries I think you would enjoy this - especially if you like cozies with a more mature main character.

Challenges Met?

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Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Killer Weeds - Blog Tour Review + Giveaway

Killing Weeds by Joyce and Jim Lavene

Rating: 4 Stars
Source: Blog Tour (Find Out More Here)

Description: It's a lovely spring night when the phone rings and Peggy Lee discovers that her garden shop, The Potting Shed, has been vandalized. Soon things go from bad to worse when a woman is found who has been poisoned is connected to both Peggy's shop and her son Paul. Now Peggy must figure out what is going on in order to protect both her family and her livelihood.

Genre: Mystery

Why I Picked This Book: I have read and very much enjoyed the Lavene's Missing Pieces series and couldn't wait to try another series by them. The timing is perfect for a gardening mystery as I'm currently getting my own garden in the ground!

My Impression: I let a sigh of satisfaction when I finished this one! The mystery was interesting and full of twists and turns, the characters were likable without being too perfect, and I'm not sure there's a more perfect time to read a book that centers around gardening! When it comes to cozies I always want to know why this person is investigating and in this case there are several reasons. Peggy is actually a forensic botanist who works part time with the police, her son is a police officer, her daughter-in-law works for the medical examiner's office, her late husband was a police officer, and her 2nd husband is an FBI agent. Add in the fact that it was her shop that was attacked and it wouldn't seem real if Peggy WASN'T investigating!

The pace of the story was fantastic and never let up and while this is the 8th book in the series I had no problem immediately understanding who was who and what was going on even though there was a fairly large cast. I loved that each chapter started out with a little tidbit about a different plant - everything from rhododendrons to Mock Orange and a whole host of other plants. I found the everything about forensic botany absolutely fascinating. The main and very minor flaw I had was I thought the police were a tad too belligerent but that's a purely personal preference. I didn't read this book in one sitting though I would have gladly done so but my pesky family kept insisting about things like dinner. If you're looking for an interesting, well written cozy and enjoy anything involving gardening this is not a book to miss!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Definitely! I have loved the Missing Pieces series and am looking forward to reading the next one next month as well as catching up on this series.

Would I Recommend this Book?: Absolutely!

Challenges Met? Reading Road Trip (North Carolina)

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Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Will Probably Never Read

It's Top Ten Tuesday time! This is hosted by the fantastic ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is Top Ten Books I'll Probably Never Read. While in theory this is a pretty easy topic. I can give you 10 books I'll probably never read off the top of my head - the usual classics which I probably should read but don't see myself racing to the library to pick up anytime soon. My next thought was my To-Read Shelf on Goodreads but after flipping through the 800+ books I didn't find any that I don't legitimately want to read. None jumped out and said "Admit it. You're not going to read me." So I turned to the place I always turn if I need an idea - Amazon. And as usual they saved their day with their Best Books of 2014 list and a little help from the Bestsellers list. So here's my top ten books I'll probably never read that lots of other people have read and have gotten lots of critical acclaim and all that. I'm in no way saying that these are bad books they're just books that for one reason or other (okay, mostly because they sound unhappy) I probably won't be picking up.

1. All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

2. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

3. We Are Not Ourselves by Matthew Thomas

4. Prince Lestat by Anne Rice

5. The Remedy for Love by Bill Roorbach

6. The Martian by Andy Weir

7. The Fever by Megan E. Abbott

8. The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

9. Wild by Cheryl Strayed

10. Natchez Burning by Greg Iles

So normally I like to put reasons on these lists but the predominant reason here is because I don't want to. Are there any books that's gotten lots of raves -even by people you know and trust - but just don't motivate you to pick them up?

Monday, May 4, 2015

Summer on Lovers' Island - Review

Summer on Lover's Island by Donna Alward

Rating: 4.5 Stars
Source: Publisher
Description: Lizzie Howard's life has always been adrenaline charged. Top of her class at Harvard Med and now a gifted trauma doctor, Lizzie's medical career has always come before rest, relaxation, and especially romance. But when one careless mistake brings her future to a screeching halt, Lizzie's only chance at reviving it is to temporarily take over a friend's practice in Jewell Cove. The sleepy Maine coast, a world away from the bustling emergency room Lizzie knows and loves, leaves her feeling more lost than ever - until she meets widowed doctor Joshua Collins and her heart starts beating a little bit faster... (from Amazon.com)

Genre: Romance

Why I Picked This Book: I absolutely loved her book The House on Blackberry Hill so I couldn't resist this one when the publisher offered it to me.

My Impression: It felt lovely to be back in Jewell Cove! It's just as beautiful and welcoming as I remember from my last trip in The House on Blackberry Hill. The Collins family is center stage in this one and they are wonderfully meddling without being over the top or too perfect.
One of my favorite story lines involve people who have had a rough time of it being able to emotionally start over and find happiness and both Lizzie and Josh definitely qualify for this one. I loved them both though I think I identified more with Lizzie's perfectionism and high standards for herself. It was just nice watching her start to breathe and relax a bit and come to terms with some of the trauma that has surrounded her lately. I did get impatient with them both a little but it was mostly because they were so obviously perfect for each other and they really should just realize it and be happy! Watching them both break out of their shells and come to terms with what they actually want is lovely, even though I wanted to reach into the book and shake them at times ,and made for an incredibly satisfying ending. While this isn't heavy reading the issues that Josh and Lizzie are dealing with are weighty and I found Lizzie's struggle with her mother who is dealing with Alzheimer's particularly poignant.

While I hadn't read the 2nd book or the novella I am glad I read Blackberry Hill before this as it explained a lot of Josh's back story particularly in regards to Tom. So while this isn't a series that necessarily needs to be read in order I do recommend reading the Blackberry Hill before picking this one up. Plus, that one has another of my favorite story lines - family secrets and restoring old houses.

If you're looking for a contemporary romance series that has a fantastic setting and a wonderful group of side characters, you can't go wrong with Donna Alward's Jewell Cove series and Summer on Lover's Island is a fantastic addition to the series.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Absolutely! Dare I hope Summer has a book coming up? I'm also looking forward to going back and reading Jess's story and Charlie's story.

Would I Recommend this Book?: Yes! This is such a fun contemporary series. I love that it's a good mix of serious and fun.

Challenges Met?

Sunday, May 3, 2015

This Week in Reading - May 3

It's Sunday Post time! This is hosted by the awesome Caffeinated Book Reviewer and gives us all a chance to recap our week.

What I Got:

It was a fairly quiet week around here bookwise I only got 2 though I have ordered a few that haven't arrived yet.

Browings: A Year of Reading, Collecting, and Living with Books by Michael Dirda - While I haven't read any of his previous work I'm looking forward to this book of essays and lists about books! (Edelweiss)

A Batter of Life and Death by Ellie Alexander - I'm so excited to be part of this blog tour this summer! I absolutely adored the first book in the series and can't wait to see where it goes next. Plus, I'm really looking forward to spending more time in the kitchen with Jules and her mother. (Publisher)

Cookie Love by Mindy Segal - This looks ridiculously yummy! I can't wait to start cooking from it! (Blogging for Books)

Currently:

Reading: Hypberole and a Half by Allie Brosh, Corpse with the Sapphire Eyes by Cathy Ace for a blog tour later this week. I'm also reading Great Expectations by Charles Dickens which I expect to be reading for the rest of my life. I love the writing but the story is dragging a bit for me. Pip is seriously whiny!

Listening: When You are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris. I'm not sure I should be listening to this while driving because I keep breaking into fits of laughter!

Watching: Stalker which finally came back on Monday! I was worried that they were going to end the season with a cliffhanger since the show looks iffy for being renewed. Luckily they've resolved that particular issue though they may still end us on a cliffhanger in the next few weeks. J and I have been watching The Following which has had a potentially interesting plot twist. We loved the first season but haven't been overly impressed with the 2nd and 3rd but it's all of a sudden gotten interesting. Also, The Spring Bake Off on Food Network. I'm having fun watching this partly because I love any and all cooking competitions and partly because I got to meet Bobby Dean and his brother Jamie a few weeks ago so it's extra fun.

Off the Blog:

If you're reading this I'm hoping that means we've survived prom season for yet another year. Emma and Paul's prom was last night (well actually tonight since I'm writing this Saturday morning). This is the first year we've had both going and the first year I've had to do any of the behind the scenes from the boy's side! When it came down to renting a tux or getting a corsage I knew nothing. Everything seems to have been accomplished and at this point all we have to do is pictures which will involve some divide and conquering on J and my parts.

Paul is up top with his date and Emma is in the blue dress in the lower picture. The girl in pink is best friend and soon-to-be college roommate. I will subject you to better pictures next week. Now I'm in the waiting up portion of the evening.