Small Favors Book Review

 

Title: Small Favors

By: Erin A, Craig

Random House Children’s

Delacorte Press

SciFi & Fantasy/Teens & YA

Publish date 27 July 2021

#SmallFavors#NetGalley

Goodreads synopsis

“Ellerie Downing lives in the quiet town of Amity Falls in the Blackspire Mountain range–five narrow peaks stretching into the sky like a grasping hand, bordered by a nearly impenetrable forest from which the early townsfolk fought off the devils in the woods. To this day, visitors are few and rare. But when a supply party goes missing, some worry that the monsters that once stalked the region have returned. As fall turns to winter, more strange activities plague the town. They point to a tribe of devilish and mystical creatures who promise to fulfill the residents’ deepest desires, however grand and impossible, for just a small favor. But their true intentions are much more sinister, and Ellerie finds herself in a race against time before all of Amity Falls, her family, and the boy she loves go up in flames.”

Book Review:

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for giving me an e-arc for review.

This is Erin A. Craig’s second book, and I had a great time reading it. I enjoyed her first book a little better, but this was still a great book that kept me on the edge of my seat. I gave it 4 stars.

Small Favors is a book is about the mysteries of a forest and what those mysteries hold. A lot of strange things happen to the small town over a course of a year. Friendly neighbors are no longer being friendly, and begin turning against one another. What is what happening to this town? It seems that the pass is coming back to haunt them. This story had me guessing about who or what was causing all the havoc.

Craig’s last book was based off the fairy tale 12 dancing princesses, and Small Favors has a small base story of Rumpelstiltskin. I find her fairytale based stories to be enjoyable reads.

Sweet Revenge and Unorthodox Shepherd's Pie Recipe

 

Here is another installment of cooking with books. This time the book is Sweet Revenge By: Diane Mott Davidson. I cut this recipe in half because I am only feeding between 2-4 people. I have frozen this recipe also and it comes out well. Now onto the recipe.

Ingredients you will need for this recipe.

2 pounds lean ground beef

2 cups chopped onions

2 cups chopped. celery

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

2 cups chicken stock

2 teaspoons dried thyme, crumbled

1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crumbled

1 teaspoon sea or kosher salt

1/4-1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 cup frozen peas

1 cup frozen corn

4 1/2 pounds russet potatoes

1 1/2 cups half and half

1 cup grated Gruyere cheese

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

additional sea salt, to taste (I don’t use this)

additional black pepper, to taste

2 ounces unsalted butter (1/2 stick), cut into bits

paprika

Instructions:

Ina very large sauté pan, sauté the ground beef, onions and celery in the oil over medium heat until the beef is browned, and vegetables are limp. Add the flour and stir for 2-3 minutes, until the mixture begins to bubble. Slowly add the chicken stock. Stir until completely combined, then stir in the thyme, rosemary, and salt and pepper. Cook and stir until the mixture is bubbling and thickened. Stir in the peas and corn and set aside.

Bring a large quantity of salted water to boiling. Peel the potatoes and drop them into the water. Cook for about 40-45 minutes. In a small saucepan, heat the half and half until it is steaming, but not boiling.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 9-inch deep-dish pie plates. Grease or line a baking sheet.

Remove the potatoes from the heat, drain, and place them in the large bowl of an electric mixer. Begin to beat the potatoes on low speed, slowly adding the hot half and half, the cheeses, and the additional salt and pepper.

Place half the beef mixture in each of the prepared pie plates. Place half the potato mixture on top of the beef. Scatter half the butter bits on top of each potato mixture. Sprinkle generously with paprika.

Place the pies on the baking sheet and place them in the oven. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until the potatoes are browned and the pies are completely heated through.

Makes 8 large servings.

This is really good and I hope you give this recipe a try. The book is also a great read.

I Am Not A Label Book Review

 

 Title: I Am Not A Label

By: Cerrie Burnell

Quarto Publishing

Good Reads Synopsis

“In this stylishly illustrated biography anthology, meet 34 artists, thinkers, athletes, and activists with disabilities, from past and present. From Frida Kahlo to Stephen Hawking, find out how these iconic figures have overcome obstacles, owned their differences, and paved the way for others by making their bodies and minds work for them.

These short biographies tell the stories of people who have faced unique challenges that have not stopped them from becoming trailblazers, innovators, advocates, and makers. Each person is a leading figure in their field, be it sports, science, math, art, breakdancing, or the world of pop.

Challenge your preconceptions of disability and mental health with the eye-opening stories of these remarkable people: Ludwig van Beethoven, Gustav Kirchhoff, Henri Matisse, Eliza Suggs, Helen Keller, Frida Kahlo, John Nash, Stephen Hawking, Temple Grandin, Stevie Wonder, Nabil Shaban, Terry Fox, Peter Dinklage, Catalina Devandas, Wanda Diaz-Merced, Victor Pineda, Arunima Sinha, Abraham Lincoln, Demi Lovato, Matt Haig, Redouan Ait Chitt, Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, Farida Bedwei, Jonas Jacobsson, Trischa Zorn, Ade Adepitan, Stella Young, Lady Gaga, Naoki Higashida, Isabella Springmuhl Tejada, Aaron Philip,
Michelle Akers, Lil Wayne, Dynamo”

Review

First, I want to thank the Amazon Vine program for sending me this book for an honest book review. I gave this book a full 5 stars.

The author of I am not a Label, Cerrie Burnell, is a disabled person and this is what the book is about. She has written about other famous people with disabilities; some I knew about, but quite a few I didn’t know.

Some of the people I knew about before reading this were Beethoven, Helen Keller, Stevie Wonder, and Lady Gaga.

Some of the stories I didn’t know were Eliza Suggs, Frida Kahlo, Temple Grandin, and Terry Fox.

I like how she dedicated a page for each person. She tells a little about their life growing up, then about their disability, how they dealt with it, and all they accomplished.

This is a great book to read if you want to learn more famous people with disabilities, and how they overcame their struggles. It was a 5-star book.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder and Chocolate Chip Crunch Cookie Recipe

 

Here is the book along with the finish product of the baking results. I started reading this series because of my daughter, Tara. This is one of her favorite cozy mystery series. There are many recipes in this book, and I will pick another one to do later. This recipe is located on page 28. I took this plate of cookies to work, and they were gone quickly. Everyone loved them.

Here are the ingredients for this recipe. I forgot to put the eggs in the photo.

The first thing you want to do is to preheat the oven to 375 degrees with the rack in the middle position.

You will the following:

1 cup butter (2 sticks, melted)

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 beaten eggs (beaten with a fork)

2 1/2 cups flour (not sifted)

2 cups crushed cornflakes

1-2 cups chocolate chips (I recommend using only 1 cup)

Melt butter, add the sugars and stir. Add soda, salt, vanilla and beaten eggs. Mix well. Then add flour and stir it in. Add crushed cornflakes and chocolate chips and mix it all thoroughly.

Form dough into walnut sized balls with your fingers and place on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet. Press them down with a floured or greased fork in a crisscross pattern (the same method as peanut butter cookies).

Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack until completely cool. (The rack is important-it makes them crisp).

If you have ever wonder if the recipes are really tried and good this is what I want to do for you. I enjoy cooking and want to let you know what my family and/or co-workers think of them. This one was a big success. I hope you give this recipe a try.

Until next time, keep reading.

Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares Book review

 

Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares

By: Tehlor Kay Mejia

Disney Publishing Worldwide

Rick Riordan Presents

Children’s Fiction/Middle Grade/Own Voices

Publish Date 3 August 2021

#PaolaSantiagoandtheForestofNightmares

#NetGalley

I received this e-arc from NetGalley and Disney Publishing. I want to thank them both for letting me review this book.

Good Reads Synopsis:

“Paola is a brilliant, furious girl who often trusts her brain but trips over her heart.”–Sarah Gailey, Hugo and Locus award-winning author of River of Teeth
Six months after Paola Santiago confronted the legendary La Llorona, life is nothing like she’d expected it to be. She is barely speaking to her best friends, Dante and Emma, and what’s worse, her mom has a totally annoying boyfriend. Even with her chupacabra puppy, Bruto, around, Pao can’t escape the feeling that she’s all alone in the world.

Pao has no one to tell that she’s having nightmares again, this time set in a terrifying forest. Even more troubling? At their center is her estranged father, an enigma of a man she barely remembers. And when Dante’s abuela falls mysteriously ill, it seems that the dad Pao never knew just might be the key to healing the eccentric old woman.

Pao’s search for her father will send her far from home, where she will encounter new monsters and ghosts, a devastating betrayal, and finally, the forest of her nightmares. Will the truths her father has been hiding save the people Pao loves, or destroy them?

Review:

This is the second book in Tehlor Kay Mejia’s Paola Santiago Series. I did not get a chance to read the first book in the series before I read this one, the author did such a great a job of explaining the back story that I really didn’t have to read the first book. However, I am still going to read the first book to get a better picture of previous events.

This book is about a girl named Paola. She has the special ability of learning things through dreams. She and her best friend Dante are not getting along since their last adventure, and he blames her for everything that is happening in this story. She has another best friend named Emma, who is always there to cheer her up when she down.

In this story, she must go to Oregon to find her long lost father in to figure out what is going on around them, and how to to help Dante’s Grandma. She also teams us with some ghost hunter friends she met in the first book.

There were a lot of adventures and fighting happening throughout the story. She has a unique way of figuring things out to accomplish what needs to be done. It was an action packed book, and I enjoyed the story. I gave this book a 4 star rating.

Does she find her father? Do Dante and her become friends again or do they keep fighting? You will have to read the book to find out.

Amelia Bedelia Bakes Off Recipe

 

I want to try something new on this blog. I am going to read a book and do a recipe and or project that the book features. I don’t know if I will do it weekly because of my work schedule but I will try for at least once a month. Let me know what you think. I am starting out with a simple one that you can do with your children.

Amelia Bedella is a well-known maid who messes everything up by taking everything literal. She is well loved even though she messes things up because she is a great cook and is known for lemon meringue pie. Well in this book she helps her cousin do some baking for a friend’s cookie shop and as usually you get a laugh out of the things, they end up baking. The owner of the shop will be at a contest that a tv cook show is having and she will see Amelia there. Amelia ends up baking and decorating a cake that is shaped like a bed and the Chef loves it.

The cake is really easy to make and tastes really good. My family loves it. Here is the result of my baking it along with my frosting recipe.

Amelia Bedelia’s Sheet Cake w/ buttercream icing Recipes

Here is a delicious recipe that you should try. It is simple and good. I got the cake recipe from a children’s book and the icing recipe I got from Wilton.

 This is everything you will need to make the cake except I forgot the vegetable oil.
3 cups flour; 1 3/4 cups sugar; 2 teaspoons baking soda; 1 teaspoon salt; 2/3 cup cocoa; 3/4 cup vegetable oil; 2 tablespoons white vinegar; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 2 cups water.

 In an ungreased 9×13 pan sift the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa directly into the pan.

 Add oil, vinegar, and vanilla.

 Pour water over all ingredients.

 Mix with a fork until smooth. Bake at 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes. My oven was a little off so it took about 45 minutes to bake. Cool the cake and ice it in the pan with your favorite frosting.

 This is what you will need to make the buttercream icing.  actually cut the recipe in half. I will give you the full recipe. 1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening; 1/2 cup butter softened; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 4 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar (powdered); 2 tablespoons milk.
Cream the butter and shortening with electric mixer. Add the vanilla. Gradually add the sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often. When all sugar has been mixed in, icing will appear dry. Add milk and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy.

Here is my cake. It is good and you don’t have to use any eggs.

Again, let me know if you like this new idea. As always until next time keep reading.

The Rocky Road to Ruin Book Review

 

The Rocky Road To Ruin: An Ice Cream Shop Mystery

By: Meri Allen

St. Martin’s Press

St. Martin’s Paperbacks

Mystery & Thrillers

Publish Date 27 July 2021

 

GoodReads Synopsis:

“Riley Rhodes, travel food blogger and librarian at the CIA, makes a bittersweet return to her childhood home of Penniman, Connecticut – land of dairy farms and covered bridges – for a funeral. Despite the circumstances, Riley’s trip home is sprinkled with reunions with old friends, visits to her father’s cozy bookshop on the town green, and joyful hours behind the counter at the beloved Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop. It feels like a time to help her friend Caroline rebuild after her mother’s death, and for Riley to do a bit of her own reflecting after a botched undercover mission in Italy. After all, it’s always good to be home.

But Caroline and her brother Mike have to decide what to do with the assets they’ve inherited – the ice cream shop as well as the farm they grew up on – and they’ve never seen eye to eye. Trouble begins to swirl as Riley is spooked by reports of a stranger camping behind the farm and by the odd behavior of the shop’s mascot, Caroline’s snooty Persian, Sprinkles. When Mike turns up dead in the barn the morning after the funeral, the peace and quiet of Penniman seems upended for good. Can Riley find the killer before another body gets scooped?”

Review

First, I’d like to thank St. Martin’s and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this e-arc. I really enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars.

This is the first book in a new cozy Mystery series. This book has a lot of characters that you have to keep track of. The characters aren’t all important to the story, but they did add to the story. I also like the fact that Riley still feels at home in her town even though she has been gone for some time, and the fact she she stepped up to help out her best friend. It gives the story the “cozy” feeling that cozy mysteries are known for.

In addition to the human characters, there are two cats in this story. One is snotty and the other is a wild escape artist. The cats are mentioned quite a bit in the story, especially Rocky, the escape artist. The cat’s also aren’t really important to the story, but they are a nice sideline. They add a little flavor to the story.

*Spoiler Alert* There is a back story from 17 years ago that is brought up in the book. At first, this back story seems to be more about the character than the mystery, but this backstory is relevant to this story because it helps solve the murder.

The book starts slow, but picks up 75% of the way through. Once it picked up, I couldn’t put it down.