Saturday's Book Choice

Today we are in the midst of quite the little snow storm.  What started out as a bit of a drizzly gray morning, has turned into gusty winds blowing snow horizontally, and piling up inch by inch.  The kind of day that for me is the best kind of day to just stay inside where it is warm and cozy, sewing, cooking, and looking through some of my books.  One such book that I enjoy looking through is Country Living The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen: Live Well, Laugh Often, Cook Much by Serena Thompson and Teri Edwards. 

I first became acquainted with The Farm Chicks from my sister, Kass.  She told me about their blog and thought I would enjoy it.  She was right about that.  And soon after I started visiting their blog, they came out with this book.   I purchased a copy, and a good friend of mine and I headed over to Spokane one afternoon to a book signing and to meet The Farm Chicks themselves. 

Since that day I have gone through this book many times.  If you haven't seen the book before, it is a combination of a history of The Farm Chicks, a cookbook, and also a craft book.  I think at present our very favorite recipe in the book is the Big & Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies recipe.  In fact if you turn to that page of the book, you will undoubtedly find crumbs and splatters like all favorite cookbook pages develop over time.

Saturday's Book Choice

If you like to quilt, then this week's book is an amazing resource.  I don't personally own it, but have checked it out at the library over and over again.  It isn't an inexpensive book by any means, thus the reason I just use the library's copy.  But that is what makes utilizing a library so very nice.

The Quilter's Album of Patchwork Patterns: 4050 Pieced Blocks for Quilters, by Jinny Beyer is 488 pages long, but a wealth of information.  She breaks qulting down into basic steps beginning with a primer on pieced blocks, followed by square blocks, hexagon blocks, continuous pattern blocks, etc.  Each block is broken down into square grids so you can see how they are designed and put together.  Seeing the basic grid is also helpful in creating your own color sequence, as many times the grid is lost in the amazing patterns that a quilt can take on after being pieced together.  With this book, a quilter would never tire of looking at the same familiar patterns because there literally are 4,050 different quilt blocks included.  I don't know about you, but that will keep me entertained for quite some time.

Saturday's Book Choice (on Sunday yet again)

The title, Desserts to Die for, by Marcel Desaulniers says it all.  This cookbook is filled with so many wonderful and amazing recipes.  I'm not sure how many times I have read through it, but each time I do I am inspired to get out in the kitchen and bring his words to life.  Not to say that each time I am inspired to do so, it actually gets done, but I am inspired nonetheless.  I have made a few things out of this book, and each time it isn't a disappointment.  He gives very clear and detailed instructions on how to accomplish these amazing desserts, and even though they can be a long time in the making, the end result never disappoints.  The author even breaks down the recipes into possible steps that can be made a day or two ahead of the date that the dessert is needed just in case you want to spread the process over a few days.  The recommended ingredients are easily found, and unless you just really don't like to spend time in the kitchen creating incredible desserts, then I suggest you at least check for this book at your local library and give it a try.  If nothing else, simply reading through the pages and looking at the amazing pictures will be satisfying in itself.

Saturday's Book Choice (on Sunday)

I couldn't let this week go by without recommending the sequel to last week's book, The Fisherman's Lady.  The sequel is entitled The Marquis' Secret (Macdonald / Phillips).  And if you are going to read the first, you must read the second, because it is filled with unsuspecting plot twists and turns.  Both books are about a simple Scottish fisherman named Malcolm and a young girl that he knows he can never love.  But the way MacDonald develops the story is very clever, and not the type of book that once you read the first chapter, you can pretty much guess how it all comes out in the end.  In fact all of MacDonald's books are written so well that the story line keeps your interest clear up until the end.

And now, I am back off to the kitchen to finish cooking food for the Super Bowl Game later this afternoon.

Saturday's Book Choice

I was introduced to George MacDonald by my sister-in-law, Nancy.  One year for Christmas she gave me a copy of The Fisherman's Lady (Hampshire Books), and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.  Through the years I have read it several times, and as a matter of fact, after writing about it tonight, I think it is about time for another time through.

George MacDonald was an author in 19th century Scotland.  He wrote a great variety of books including novels for adults, fairy tales, theological works, and poetry.  C. S. Lewis was greatly influenced by MacDonald, and I have read that Lewis even even referred to him as "his master".

This is a good, hard-to-put-down type of story that is perfect for that cold stormy day outside when you have nothing better to do than spend the afternoon with a good book.

Saturday's Book Choice

"One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp was given to me last year by a very good friend of mine, and I have continued to enjoy it ever since.  It is the type of book that I can pick up and read over and over again.  It is about focusing your attention on giving thanks to God for everything, large and small.  God tells us that He wants us to give Him thanks, but I think we tend to set that aside while we are busy with our lives and worrying about this or that.  Ann's way of conveying to us the need for obedience in this area is like reading poetry.  She writes from her own experiences, and I think most anyone would be able to relate to her words.  I know for me I need a reminder now and then to just sit down and be thankful for all of my many blessings.

Saturday's Book Choice

This week's choice is another jewel that my daughter's found at the library.  I was surprised when they brought it home as it is a rather new book.  Somebody at the library is on top of things by keeping up with current popular reads.

I found "Where Women Cook:  Celebrate!" a very refreshing twist on a typical cookbook.  We are introduced to 28 creative women from many walks of life.  From artists, blog writers, jewelry store owners, to my personal favorite, Serena Thompson, founder of The Farm Chicks.   Each woman is introduced, and then proceeds to give details of a specific party that each of them has given, complete with decorations and recipes.  The photography is exceptional, and their stories are very interesting.  It's a great book, and I will be adding it to my Amazon wish list.  In the meantime though I will enjoy paging through the library's copy.

Saturday's Book Choice

Today is the first Saturday of our new year; and for some unexplained reason, I have thought that on each Saturday, it would perhaps be fun to make a book recommendation right here on my little blog.  There will be no particular method to my madness, just any book that seems to be calling out to me as the weeks go by.  This week was an easy one.  In fact my daughter passed it to me this very morning as we were eating breakfast together.  She had checked it out at the library; but just as soon as I started thumbing through it, I knew that I need to get my own copy.  You see I enjoy being on the lookout for better ways to keep a house by being organized and keeping it clean.  And especially with the new year, and resolutions still in full force, I thought you might be interested in it as well.  It is called "Express Housekeeping" by Anna Shepard.  The layout of the book is very user friendly, dividing itself into chapters from speed cleaning to decluttering.  The one thing I really liked about it is that you don't have to spend hours trying to organize your life just to fit in her particular cleaning schedule.  All of the suggestions seem very practical.  I also like her tips for using things around the house for certain types of cleaning, such as baking soda, vinegar, etc.  My daughter also had a great suggestion that it would make a wonderful bridal shower gift.  I agree wholeheartedly; and to include some microfiber dust cloths, or a special cleaner that you like with the book would certainly add that little extra to the gift to make it very useful.