Book Review The Fearless Baker By Emily Luchetti and Lisa Weiss

Scrumptious Cakes, Pies, Cobblers, Cookies, and Quick Breads that You Can Make to Impress Your Friends and Yourself

I got an electronic version of the book, so the final version might be somewhat different.

I am not a baker. I cannot prepare desserts unless I follow instructions; so the cookbook needs to be very specific for my desserts to turn out.

The author dedicates some pages to the type of equipment that we should have. I wish that they had included photographs, as I had a hard time finding some of the equipment.

The book is divided into several chapters that cover: cookies, bars and bites, cakes, pies and tarts, fruit, No oven required, Best Dessert Sauces and Breakfast. It also has chapters on Sources, Metric Equivalents and Acknowledgments (people who helped with recipes and tasted them).

The first recipe that I baked was Blondies. They turned out great. The flavor was great and they were easy to prepare. The second recipe that I tried was the Cardamon Shortbread. It kind of flop on me because my mixture was not like "wet sand". I tried it again and had much better success with it. Both of them tasted good but I would have liked to see the final product to compare with what I baked.

This book is for the person who has a clue on baking. The lack of pictures makes it very hard for people like me that do not bake.

Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for the galley copy.

Book Review: 20 YEARS YOUNGER By Bob Greene

It's time to turn back the clock! In 20 YEARS YOUNGER, Bob Greene offers readers a practical, science-based plan for looking and feeling their best as they age. The cutting-edge program details easy and effective steps we can all take to rebuild the foundation of youth and enjoy better health, improved energy, and a positive outlook on life. The four cornerstones of the program are: an exercise regimen for fighting muscle and bone loss, a longevity-focused diet, sleep rejuvenation, and wrinkle-fighting skin care.

Woven throughout the text is practical advice on changing appearances, controlling stress, staying mentally sharp, navigating medical tests, and much more. Readers will walk away with a greater understanding of how the body ages and what they can do to feel-and look-20 years younger.

About the Authors

Bob Greene is an exercise physiologist and certified personal trainer specializing in fitness, metabolism, and weight loss. He is the bestselling author of The Best Life Diet, The Total Body Makeover, Get With the Program!, and the coauthor of Make the Connection. He is also a contributing writer and editor for O the Oprah magazine, and writes articles on health and fitness for Oprah.com.

Harold Lancer, MD, is a Beverly Hills dermatologist. Diane L. McKay, PhD, is a nutrition specialist and scientist at Tufts University. Ronald L. Kotler, MD, is co-founder of the Pennsylvania Hospital Sleep Disorders Center.

 Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for this giveaway.

Book Review: The Part-Time Vegan

The Part-Time Vegan: 201 Yummy Recipes that Put the Fun in Flexitarian (Paperback)

When I saw the this book I thought that I would like to try some vegan recipes because I really do not eat that much vegetables and this could be a way to add some to my diet. I was kind of disappointed when I saw that it did not use that many natural ingredients but it used processed ingredients that are easy to find in the stores. I also wanted pictures of the recipes. I am a visual person and need to see how a recipe looks. BUT... the recipes ARE GOOD!!!

I did like the author's introduction to the ingredients she uses. I was not familiar with a lot of them and her explanation made it easy to understand them and their use. She also uses an index system to classify the recipes: protein = high in protein; fiber = high in fiber; quick = quick to fix; flex = can substitute non veg ingredients with meat.

There are 9 chapters for specific recipes such as pasta, salads, rice, grains, tofu, etc. It also includes a chapter on dinner plans and the best chapter (14), in my opinion, is called Sinful Desserts. There is also a resource section (with websites) and an index (very useful).

After trying some recipes, I have included sweet potatoes, quinoa, couscous, hummus, and tofu into my household staples. I will probably never become a vegan but I will be adding vegan dishes to our menus.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I am not required to write a positive review, just an honest review. The opinions in this review are mine. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Book Review - The King and Dr. Nick By George Nichopoulos

This book is the story of ‘Dr. Nick’ (George Nichopoulos), Elvis Presley’s personal physician, on what really killed “The King of Rock and Roll”. It tells the story of how the life of Dr. Nick changed since 1977 when Elvis Presley died. If you read the press it was from a prescription drug overdose but if you read this book it was from natural causes. You will have to make up your mind after reading this book.

This book turned out to be very interesting. I had a hard time putting it down and finished reading it in just a few days. The first part of the book explains the relationship between Elvis Presley and Dr. Nick while the second part of the book talks about Dr. Nick’s problems with the press and his legal problems. When I read how the Dr. was hounded by the media, especially Geraldo Rivera, I had to compare with what is happening with the Michael Jackson. Both events are eerily similar in the media frenzy.

George Nichopoulos, M.D. with Rose Clayton Phillips
ISBN 978-1-59555-171-9
Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2009
Hdbk, 270 pp, plus photos