Blogging for Books: Classic German Baking by Luisa Weiss

I love everything classic and foreign.
German flavors and combinations are infused into so many items we eat everyday, but one might not know it.
Flipping through this book there wasn't a single page I didn't ooh and ahh over.
All the cookies, cakes, and breads look so amazing.
The instructions are very clear, and most of the ingredients are common enough to find at any grocery.


**Note** I was provided a free copy of this book from www.bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for my honest review.

Blogging for Books: Modern Potluck by Kristin Donnelly

**Note** I was provided a copy of this book by www.bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

I am totally in love with pot lucks. Everything about them is awesome!
One of my favorite parts of a good pot luck is seeing variety. It is very easy to get stuck in a rut where you bring the same dish over and over again.

This book will fix that problem for you!

I loved seeing all of the options she chose, and everything is categorized for easy identification.
Snacks, Salads, 9x13 pan, desserts etc.
Some of her recipes were familiar, yet different enough to make them enticing. Chinese Chicken Salad anyone?

Some were a little "odd" to me, like a kimchi and kale cesar salad.

If you need foods that can be made ahead and prepped for pot luck and are out of ideas, this is a good book to stash on your shelf.

Blogging for Books: Country Cooking from a Redneck Kitchen

NOTE: I was provided with a copy of this book from www.bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for my unbiased review.

This book has a recipe for squirrel. I kid you not!
I guess I should expect something like this when the book itself states "redneck".

Now, before anyone judges me for saying that...I will freely admit I am sorta southern.
I lived almost half my life in the south and feel entitled to judge.

That being said, so many of these recipes make me think of the south! Good 'ole home cookin' at it's finest.
Easy to follow recipes for every course.
I have made a couple of the appetizer dips, a queso dip and a veggie dip, and both were very simple.

The book encompasses everything from basic meatloaf, to a fancier apricot stuffed pork loin.
An award winning apricot stuffed pork loin no less!

Approachable recipes tied with family stories. An enjoyable book to use!

Blogging for Books: Cravings by Chrissy Teigen

**Note** I was provided with a copy of this book for free in exchange for my personal review and opinions. www.bloggingforbooks.com 

I have to say, this is one of the most fun cookbooks I have ever perused!

Chrissy Tiegen ties in a lot of stories about growing up with a Thai mother and an American father and how this influenced her cooking style to date.
Surprisingly enough, this supermodel doesn't give us a book full of diet tips! There is even a french toast casserole with a frosted flake crust.

All the recipes are interesting and fun,,,pork stuffed cucumber soup, what?!
Her creativity even extends to her chapter titles. "$h!t on toast" pops immediately to mind.

Blogging for Books: Fast Food Manic by Jon Hein

** Note** I was provided a free copy of this book by www.bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

So, normally I review cookbooks, but this time I decided to deviate from the norm. The premise was interesting so I decided it would be a different sort of read.

I wasn't in love.
It really felt like a bunch of Wikipedia articles smooshed together with a random memory or two thrown in.
All the facts were there, which was semi interesting...but nothing that really kept my interest.

Each "chapter" was a new fast food joint. There was a pseudo message board picture at the beginning telling what each restaurant was known for, and what was a must have.
I stopped reading these almost immediately.
If I have been there, I already know what to order.
If I have never heard of it, or it's not in my area...what do I care?

Maybe I would have attached myself to this book more had there of been more personal references. He had a Roy Rogers birthday party that seared itself into his memory. Why don't I know more about it than that one fact?
I am also aware that he ate a lot of Domino's and had a McDonald's in his backyard. That's all the personality that was infused into this book.

All in all, I don't feel like I wasted my time reading this, I just feel like he could have done more with it than repeat facts.

Blogging for Books: Food 52 Baking

**I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my unbiased review**

This is a comprehensive recipe collection of baked goods. For those just starting out, it will be a baking bible of sorts. Included are some of the most basic recipes for cakes, cookies, etc. Nothing intimidating, nothing wild and crazy, just good recipes.
Love that there are little hints and tricks included...very helpful!

For those who are a little more experienced, one might find this book a little mundane. I bake all the time, but am more than pleased to have a basic collection on my shelf!

Don't be discouraged if some of the recipes have what seems to be a long ingredient list...upon closer inspection, most are items one would already have on hand.

Also, pay close attention to the "Baking for any Occasion" sections: It helps lead you to what recipes may be best for different occasions.

This book is heavily about baking, but there are some savory options included as well. They have pizza dough and flat breads that are worth taking a look at too!

Blogging for Books: TREAT by Stephanie Banyas

Can a book that is all about Krispie Treats, the original no bake dessert, really be called a "cook book"?
I think so!

This book just jumped right out at me! I mean, who doesn't love Krispie Treats?
I have made the original, but never got too wild and crazy with them....until now.

Oh the options! This book shows you how to make cookies-n-creme, peanut butter cup, berry cobbler and more!

The girl child and I immediately headed to the grocery to stock up. In one day's time, we made key lime, lemon poppy, original with sprinkles, and snickerdoodle.

They bring back such childhood memories, but now with a more grown up twist.

**Note: This book was provided to me by www.bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for my unbiased opinion

Blogging For Books: The Twinkies Cookbook

The Twinkies Cookbook

OK, I admit it...I picked this book because it was about Twinkies.
I mean, who doesn't love Twinkies?!

This book is simply fun! There are a whole bunch of different dessert options for turning the Twinkie into something different. From the more simple Twinkie Strawberry Shortcake, to the more interesting Twinkie Orange Bavarian Dream.

This definitely plays to every parent's need for "semi homemade". We can take an old fave and use it to make something totally different.

There is an entire chapter devoted to Twinkies and meat...more like a main dish section. I....just...can't. Nope. Drawing the line. Maybe it's for some, but not for me.

**Note** I was supplied with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Blogging for Books: Milk Bar Life by Christina Tosi

I enjoyed flipping through this book.
Christina Tosi's writing style is very friendly, she makes you feel like you want to hang out with her and her friends because they are just having the BEST time.

This collection is more of her family/friends home recipes, not so much recipes from the store. This is OK by be as they were all approachable with ingredients that will be easy to find.
Lots of "semi homemade" items supplementing fresh ingredients with canned or pre-packaged.

Some of the recipes require a lot more time and planning, but some are classic examples of "I need something NOW" recipes. There is one for pretzels an bleu cheese....truly, those are the only ingredients!

I have tagged a bunch of the recipes in the book and will be trying them very soon!

**Note: I was provided a copy of this book to review from www.bloggingforbooks.com all opinions are my own.

Bogging for Books: Cookie Love

**Note** I was provided a copy of this book to review from www.bloggingforbooks.com

Everyone has a favorite cookie...but, sometimes we tend to stick to just those. This book introduces new flavor combinations as well as new techniques.
Some of the recipes are certainly geared towards more "seasoned" bakers.The techniques are more technical and some of the suggested equipment are items that everyday cooks just don't keep in their drawers.
That being said, there were a good amount of approachable recipes.
Very much looking forward to testing my cookie boundaries!

Blogging for Books: Trisha's Table

**I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions are my own**

I think Trisha has the right idea....there is nothing wrong with comfort food, and certainly nothing wrong with lightening up said comfort food...but still keeping all the flavor.
As a self proclaimed "girl who loves to eat", she makes sure not to lose any of the tastes and textures that make comfort food what it is.

Not everything in this book is light and healthy, but then again, not many people live that way.
Moderation is key! (or as she says "everything in moderation, including moderation")
There is nothing wrong with enjoying a real fried chicken dinner, just maybe balance it off with tofu lasagna later in the week.

Cornbread chili casserole, Dill pickles, Grilled zucchini, there is a recipe for every taste.

She offers so many real dishes with real options; I can't wait to try them all.

Blogging for Books: Against the Grain

Members of my family are gluten intolerant, I am always poking around online trying to find something yummy to bring to family functions.
Something they can eat without worrying, but also something other people will eat and (hopefully) not know the difference.

Some people are totally overwhelmed by gluten free cooking. It's a bunch of really funky sounding ingredients...some unpronounceable...that creates something that slightly resembles your favorite dish.

This book spends a fair amount of time at the beginning explaining the science behind creating gluten free foods that can have the consistency of "regular" food. To us laymen, or to those just starting out on their gluten free journey, this is incredibly helpful.

This author spent a lot of time researching alternative food products. Ones that are accessible and pronounceable! She truly wanted this gluten free diet to be as natural as possible.

She gives a lot of base recipes, breads, doughs, etc.
There is then a whole section of alternative meals that can be made using those base ingredients. Pizza, sandwiches, desserts.
So many options, all gluten free.
It's freedom from the preconceived notion of what it means to eat "gluten free".

**note** I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review

Blogging for Books: The Soup Club Cookbook

This is my very first "Blogging for Books" review....and I am so psyched I can't even begin!

I picked this book partially because we have 90 freaking inches of snow on the ground and the thought of new soups just simply appealed to me.

I am so very in love with this book!

To begin with, I enjoyed reading the backstory to the Soup Club itself. Such a nice way to share among friends. That portion read like a friendly short story, not a long winded laundry list of how-to.
They give hints on what worked for them, and what didn't, to help anyone else who wants to share in their idea.

So many of the soup ideas were truly approachable. They had everything as basic as chicken soup, to more exotic curry and regional favorites.
All the recipes are nicely categorized; it's easy to flip to a certain cuisine type and quickly decide.


Don't be fooled by the title, this is so much more than simply SOUPS. Along with most of the recipes, there were ideas for side dishes and the best way to package them for delivery.

Look for recipes to be coming from this book SOON!

**note** I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review