Sunday, November 29, 2015

Review - Top Secret Recipes Step-by-Step: Secret Formulas with Photos for Duplicating Your Favorite Famous Foods at Home


Top Secret Recipies: Step-By-Step:
Secret Formulas with Photos for  Duplicating Your Favorite Famous Foods at Home
by Todd Wilbur
Publisher: Plume
Pub. Date: November17, 2105
ISBN: 978-0142196960
Pages: 304
Buy Link: Amazon



Book Description:

For more than twenty-five years, Todd Wilbur has been obsessed with recreating America's most iconic brand-name foods at home. In his first cookbook with color photos, the New York Times bestselling author brings you 125 new clone recipes: 75 first-time hacks and 50 overhauled all-time favorites. Each recipe comes with easy-to-follow step-by-step photos so that even novice cooks can perfectly recreate their favorite famous foods with everyday ingredients. And your homemade versions cost just a fraction of what the restaurants charge! 

About the Author:

For more than 25 years Todd Wilbur has been reverse-engineering America's most iconic foods for his series of 11 Top Secret Recipes cookbooks. With over 5 million books in print, the self-proclaimed "food hacker" has appeared in over 100 media outlets including The New York Times, People Magazine, Newsweek, The Daily News, Entertainment Weekly, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox & Friends, The Dr. Oz Show, and The Food Network.  His website www.TopSecretRecipes.com is the #1 copycat recipes website with 1 million visitors every month. He lives with his family in Las Vegas, NV. 


Billy's Thoughts:

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Review - The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime


The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime
by Ree Drummond
Publisher: William Morrow Cookbooks
Pub. Date: October 20, 2015
Retail: $29.99
ISBN: 978-0062225245
Pages: 400
Buy Link: Amazon
 

Product Description: 

The #1 bestselling author and Food Network personality at last answers that age-old question—“What's for Dinner?”—bringing together more than 125 simple, scrumptious, step-by-step recipes for delicious dinners the whole family will love.

For families juggling school, work, and a host of other time-consuming daily obligations, the idea of making dinner from scratch can be daunting. Ree Drummond makes it easy for families to make simple, scrumptious, homemade meals with minimum fuss and maximum enjoyment. The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime includes delicious, easy-to-make recipes for comfort classics, 16-minute meals, freezer-friendly food, as well as soups, main dish salads, and a favorite of her own family: breakfast for dinner.

You’ll find more than 125 fast-and-delicious recipes that combine pantry staples with fresh ingredients, including Beef Stroganoff, Chicken Taco Salad, Pasta Puttanesca, Ready-to-go freezer Meatballs (and many dinners you can make with them!), Oven Barbecue Chicken, Mexican Tortilla Casserole, Veggie Chili, Beef with Snow Peas, and many, many more. Included is a section of mouthwatering quick desserts—literally the icing on the cake. Filled with Ree’s signature step-by-step photos, relatable humor, and irresistible, folksy charm, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime is the go-to cookbook every home cook can rely on for any—and every—night of the week.


Billy's Thoughts:

Firebird Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones Review


 
It should be no secret to my blog readers that I love listening to music as it is a way that I can relax when I'm stressed. Ever since I got my new cell phone on my birthday (back in September), I've put most of the MP3 songs from my laptop to the new cell. Since the phone has a Bluetooth compatibility on it, I got a pair of Bluetooth headphones for it, but I had problems with the right earbud as it kept slipping out of my ear, despite the fact that I switched to a smaller earplug.

That being said, I was excited to try out the Firebird Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones by Talon, which are technically workout earbuds. The headphones retail for $99.99, but can currently be purchased on Amazon.com for $49.99.

The headphones are compatible with most iOS & Android devices. The Bluetooth operating range can reach up to 10m (33 ft) with talk time up to 4-6 hours. Standby time lasts up to 150 hours. It comes with a micro USB charging port, which takes 1.5 hours to charge. It can be paired with devices simultaneously, though I haven't tested this part of it out yet.

Review - Refining Fire by Tracie Peterson



Refining Fire
Brides of Seattle, book two
by Tracie Peterson
Publisher: Bethany House
Pub. Date: July 7, 2015
ISBN: 978-0764210624
Pages: 320
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Between getting ready for Thanksgiving (which I'm glad is finally over) and clearing through my needs-to-be reviewed pile on desk, it has been a busy a month. I'm glad to say that I'm finally catching up on those long-awaited reviews, which includes Refining Fire. The second book in the Brides of Seattle series that has been sitting on my desk collecting dust since July. I finally got around to reading on Wednesday night!

Set in 1889, the novel centers on Militine Scott and her friend, Abrianna Cunningham, whom are both living at the Madison Bridal School in Seattle. After watching Lenore Fulcher fall in love and marry Kolbein Booth (Spoiler Alert: this occurred in the first novel, Steadfast Heart), Abrianna has had high hopes that the school will help her land a qualified husband. Militine is the complete opposite of her friend as she has no intentions of marrying.

Thane Patton, a fire fighter, and his pal Wade Ackerman occasionally help out with odd chores at the Madison Bridal School and over time they have become friends with Abrianna and Militine. Thane has feelings for Militine, but he is afraid of exposing his past to her. And it's pretty much vice versa for Militine, who feels the same way for Thane, but she also has a dark secret.

Friday, November 27, 2015

Holiday Gift Guide 2015: Cave Tools Meat Tenderizer Mallet



Meat Tenderizer Mallet
Made by Cave Tools
Retail: $21.99
Sale Price: $9.99

Purchase Link: Cave Tools



Product Description (taken from Cave Tools):

Meat Tenderizer Mallet is perfect pounder for chicken, steak, beef, and other tough cuts of meat. It's also the secret behind the best chef recipes such as country fried steak, weiner schnitzel and cordon bleu.

Unlike Aluminum or Zinc Alloy Models, our STAINLESS STEEL DESIGN IS DISHWASHER SAFE saving you tons of time cleaning up and also safely sterilizing any raw meat left behind.

Comes with 25 Professional Barbecue Recipes - Step by step instructions and detailed grilling tutorial videos are great for the family.


Billy's Thoughts:

Fall Reads: Fire & Ice by Mary Connealy


 
Fire & Ice
Wild at Heart, book three
by Mary Connealy
Publisher: Bethany House
Pub. Date: October 6, 2015
ISBN: 978-0764211805
Pages: 336
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

As promised, I'm featuring my review on book three of the Wild at Series, Fire & Ice, on Black Friday, though I'm technically writing this in the early morning hours on Wednesday.

This time the heroine is Bailey Wilde, the oldest sister of her family, who is slight depressed that all her sisters have gotten married and that she is still single (and lonely). With a long dreadful winter approaching, she finds a way to get Gage Coulter to marry her, which is somewhat an odd choice for husband as she previously pointing a gun to him.

It seems that there is five-thousand acres of great grazing land on a canyon, but Bailey's farmhouse happens to be located on it. Therefore, Bailey owns all the lush grass there, so that's the only reason why Gage would ever consider marrying her - to get complete control of the land.

Book Blogger Hop: November 27th - December 3rd

Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

  This week's question is submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews!

How reliable can you say you are in terms of having promised reviews completed for blog tours or publisher and author requests?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
  

My Answer: 


   If the review is for a blog tour, holiday guide or event, then I stick to the specific date that was either assigned to me or that I agreed to. If the review has no specific deadline, then it might take me a bit longer to get to it. 
Linky List: