The Soup Club Cookbook

I asked to review The Soup Club Cookbook through Blogging for Books, I was given a complimentary copy for my review.  But as always all thoughts and opinions below are my own.

The reason I wanted to review this cookbook is because I love soup!  Usually they are easy to make, and at the right time they can just totally hit the spot!
The great thing about soup's is you can eat really healthy and not necessarily sacrifice on taste as you occasionally have to do on other things.

While it's true this book gives you idea's on how you can create your own Soup Club locally and take turns making soups for each other once a week.  For myself, this wasn't the reason I wanted the book.  I wanted to see the recipe's!  But if you have a family, and local friends who also have families.  This soup club idea is seriously something to consider!

So many different soup ideas, and so many ways to use fresh produce or items from your garden in these soups.  Not to mention, making large batches in advance to store and eat later on.  Some of my favorites were Chestnut Soup, Winter Minestrone.

Additionally there are chilled soups, like Cucumber-Yogurt Soup YUM!  Or Avocado-Arugula Soup and Watermelon Gazpacho:)

Plus, what better things to go with soup but salad.  They give you several recipe's to make your own Vinaigrette's and Dressings!  I actually haven't tried any of these yet, but I am looking forward to making up some of my own salad dressings this summer and bottle them!

For those who know me, you know I love to garden and I always can pickles.  This book even had a new canning recipe that I can't wait to try as soon as I plant and grow my cucumbers this year!

You know how you go to a restaurant and order soup.  With it usually comes some yummy breads.  This book also has some great breads, corn breads and shortbread recipe's that are sure to add

to the soup for a side or even for dipping!

There is actually so much more to this book, I literally only have scratched the surface.  I haven't even had time to make a dent in them when making them on my own.

The great things about this book are the beautiful pictures, I love knowing what things are going to look like before I set out to make them.
The instructions are detailed and really easy to follow.  Additionally, you will find explanation for a few of the things that may pose questions in your mind.
Overall, I really like this book and I am thrilled to have it added to my cookbook collection!

These are the lovely ladies behind this great book.
Courtney Allison - Tina Carr - Caroline Laskow - Julie Peacock

You can learn more about the authors HERE. As well as PURCHASE information.

So tell me, do you search for great cookbooks?  Do you love soups?

The Great American Slow Cooker Book

Today I am going to introduce you to an amazing Slow Cooker book, that if you are a cook, mother, or just a busy person who has a few minutes to throw something into a pot in the morning and would love to come back to a full done meal when you get home.  This is a book you might want to pick up.

The Great American Slow Cooker Book by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough.  This book has 500, yes you read that right.  500 EASY recipes.
These recipes are everything from simple every day meals we love, to things that you may never have thought about cooking in your slow cooker.  Yeah, I learned you can actually cook an entire turkey in it.   There are recipes for any size slow cooker too, so you don't have to cook in huge bulk if you there aren't many of you.

A few things I loved about this book.  The authors not only give you the recipe and instructions.  But they also answer a few questions in what they call "Testers Notes."  Letting you know a few facts about how to prepare things, and other tips so your meals turn out delicious each time.  Not all of us are skilled chef's so these tips with almost every dish are perfect, especially if you have a question on something, the answer may just be right there.  Additionally, the recipes are very easy to follow, which is a huge plus!

The contents cover, Breakfasts, Soups, Meats, Poultry, Fish, Veggies, Desserts and even drinks.  At the beginning of each section they offer you a little over view with some facts and information about each category over all, which if you are like me you'll gain a little knowledge from.

Why slow cooking meals, well they are fast and easy to make.  Throw the ingredients in the cooker in the morning, and by afternoon or evening your meal is ready for you to just spoon onto a plate and eat.
The only thing the book doesn't have, is pictures of each and every meal.  However, there is a picture section in the middle that shows a few of the favorite dishes.
We've actually tried several of these meals so far, and have had great success each time.  They really are easy to make and come with great instructions.
Plus with 500 recipes, we can try new things all the time.  At least once a week!

The Great American Slow Cooker Book, is on my recommend list for anyone who prepares meals whether it be for 1 or 10.  You'll love the easy fun yummy dishes this book has to offer!

Want more information or purchase information?  Click Here to Learn More.

You can also learn more about the authors, HERE.

FTC Disclaimer: I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book for my review by Blogging For Books.  I was not asked to write a positive review, all thoughts and opinions above are my own.

DIY Projects, Recipes and Modern Pioneering

Disclaimer: I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book by Blogging for Books for my review.  I was not required to write a positive review, all thoughts and opinions below are my own.




I have a different book to review and share with you all today.  It's called Modern Pioneering by Georgia Pellegrini.

Why did I choose this book?  Well the title intrigued me alone, but with as pricey as life is getting, I was looking forward to learning a few tricks of self-sufficiency that I may not have know before that could save me money!

This book was pretty great, it's not one I sat and read cover to cover.  But instead flipped through it, stopping at the different projects of interest using a note card to come back to it when I was ready to give it a try.
I haven't tried everything in the book and probably never will.  But I do have a couple dozen note cards for DIY projects I plan to work on when I have time.

The book has over 100 recipes.  A lot of them, using things in your cupboards, or things in your garden that you may not have thought of using before to cook.

I do love the small space gardening tips in the book, and there are quite a few of these.  Which I highly recommend for anyone who has anything from a larger garden, to a porch or balcony only garden.

There are also lots of DIY projects, using household items to make fun crafts.  Additionally she has what she calls a "Superwoman Skills" section, which was really fun.  In fact I am seriously learning how to pick a lock because of it!

I thought I'd share a few of my favorites of the different types of projects:

Gardening section; which was one of my favorites.  Teaches you what kind of seeds to save so you won't have to buy seeds next year.  The shelf live of many popular seeds.

Tricks for using cardboard in your garden, yup I loved these tips to get rid of weeds for good!
My favorite section in gardening was the Edible Flower section.  Yes, I never realized you could eat flowers.
In fact if you use the correct flowers in certain sections of your garden, you not only won't have to use pesticides because certain flowers keep bugs away.  But those same flowers can serve two purposes, you can actually eat them.  Yes I tried it with a few, and I was pleasantly surprised!

I also loved learning how I could make a potato garden out of a black garbage bag, yes you read that right!  Although I have space in my yard, I was shocked to learn how you can grow a couple dozen potatoes right in a bag on your porch!

The recipe section; there were so many goodies in this section, several of which I tried.
My favorites were the Watermelon salad, pea pancakes, Melon Agua Fresca, Cauliflower Steaks, Ice Cream without an ice cream maker, Apple butter (yum), Sugared Flowers, Flower Lollipops and loved the section on how to eat a rose!  Yes, you read that right, who knew huh!

Like I mentioned above there are over a 100 of them, and they are using things in your garden, everything from weeds to fruits and veggies that you can grow.  The recipes are using things that you already have, so you can improvise and avoid going to the store!

There are recipe's to make all the essentials that you normally would buy in a store, everything from spices to oils.  Tips on how to become as self-sufficient as possible each year with your garden and save yourself lots of money.

A few "Superwoman trick" are also included, I mentioned picking locks above, yes it does teach you that!  I am still working on honing that skill!
But there are also other useful tips, like how to find water and clean it for drinking.  How to turn yourself into a human compass, making fire without matches (yup, so you will do awesome if you ever get on Survivor.)

There is also a weekend warrior section.  DIY projects like making your own cheese, making your own butter (I've tried that one), making your own tea's, sparkling cider's.  Turning your old mason jars into lanterns, chalk paint for you or your kids, how to turn your glass bottles into cute kitchen drinking jars., wreaths and candle making.  Birdhouses to Antiquing this book has lots of fun weekend projects to try as you have time.

If you enjoy cooking, gardening and projects, this is a fun and unique book that you will likely enjoy!  I am really enjoying trying them myself.  I also have been taking notes, so next year when I plant my garden's, I will be able to get much more out of them, and save myself in the long run!

You can CLICK HERE if you'd like more information on this book or to purchase it.

You can also learn more about GEORGIA PELLEGRINI by visiting he Author page.