Christmas in September?

I love BOOKSNEEZE! I have read so many great new books for FREE! Let me know if you have questions about it, or just google it. It's awesome.


The Nativity Collection: Six Stories that Share the Smiles, the Heart, and the Hope of Christmas
By Robert J. Morgan

It is so hard for me to believe that the stories Robert Morgan writes are simply that...just stories! His story telling capabilities are unbelievable. The characters, circumstances, plot twists, and emotions draw me in, captivate me, and leave me in awe. Morgan shares six short stories unlike any you've heard before, about the love of God and man during the Christmas season. It is beautifully illustrated and written.

I would highly recommend this book. It made me laugh and brought tears to my eyes. I even shared some parts of the stories with my husband while reading in bed! I've always thought of story books as being originally illustrated, but now I see that beautiful photos are a great option too. Writing has never been my forte, but I wish I could write great short stories (I would love to write children's stories!), and Robert Morgan is an inspirational writer.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”

13th Century Surgery??

I have always loved medicine and anatomy, and the history of medicine is so fascinating. Doctors didn't always have procedures to follow and the knowledge that guides them, so they did what they reasoned was right. A lot of times, they were right. Other times, they were way off!

Due to these interests I requested The Surgery of Bruno Da Longoburgo – An Italian Surgeon of the Thirteenth Century by Mario Tabanelii (Translated by Leonard D. Rosenman, M.D.), published by Dorrance Publishing. This book was not what I expected. It is sophisticated material for what I envisioned for 13th century medicine! Although his thought processes are not always exactly correct, Bruno typically puts a lot of thought and effort into trying to determine what is happening and how to fix it. There are many anatomical and medical terms in the book, which would make it hard to read for one not well versed in those terms (much like myself!). Overall, I did not really enjoy this book, but I can see it being more interesting to doctors and nurses who know the current procedures!

Find this book or others at:http://dorrance.stores.yahoo.net/surofbrundal.html.
This book was provided by Dorrance Publishing. They have so many options for books you can order, read, and review....for FREE!!

Bakin Bread!

Baking bread is a lost art! It takes time, talent, and practice! Who knew you wanted to let yeast have time to dissolve and react before mixing it with dry ingredients! This was my first "fancy" bread, and it was delicious! The taste is ok, but the consistency and appearance are awesome! Give this recipe a try, and add dried fruit if you want!

Swiss Braided Bread

Ingredients
• 3 and 3/4 cups bread flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp active dried yeast
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 cup lukewarm milk
• 4 tbsp melted butter

Combine the wet ingredients (except the egg) and yeast.
Stir and let it stand for 15 min until dissolved.
In a large bowl, mix together the flour and salt.
Make a well and add the egg and the yeast mixture.
Combine well to obtain a rough dough.
Transfer to a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic
Place in a clean bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let it double about 2 hours (depending on climate you enjoy)
Grease a baking sheet. Punch the dough and divide into 3 equal pieces. Roll each into a long thin rope.
Bring one of the ends together.
Start braiding!

Cover them loosely and let sit for another 30 min until risen
Preheat Oven 375F. Now brush the braid and the knots with egg yolk and bake them for 30-45min or until golden.
Let them cool and slice them.
act

Love, Charleston

Love, Charleston
Beth Hart

Family relationships & marriage struggles are the heart of this wonderful novel by Beth Hart. Della is struggling with financial and marital contentment, Lish is medically sick with a non-supportive husband, Anne just wants to be loved, and reverend Roy finds love after losing his wife years ago. Rooted in all of their stories is the love and care God has for them all.

I really enjoyed this novel. The pages flew by and I always wanted to know what would happen in the next chapter. The book had a slow start, but it really took off about half way through. I will pass this book along to friends for them to enjoy as well!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”

Captured By Grace

Captured by Grace: No One Is Beyond the Reach of a Loving God
by David Jeremiah

Grace is freely given, within reach, and available to all. David Jeremiah gives straight forward, Biblically based instructions on how to obtain the grace of God. If plagued by guilt or shame, Jeremiah reinforces your worth, explains the forgiveness offered through the death of Jesus Christ, and compels one to live debt free in God's glory.

This book was not for me. As a believer who already knows what grace is and how to obtain it, I thought that through this book I would be challenged to reexamine grace and reflect on it's power in my life. The second section, Grace for the Present, did present good information on analyzing our dangers, toils, and snares, and offered insight on why we undergo trials and the good that can come forth. Overall, I was not stimulated by this book – I thought it was dry and uninspiring. Although the writing was very well organized and presented, I am not sure I would recommend this book to others.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”

New Recipe Every Week......Part Dos

One of my goals this year was to make one new recipe a week....which I didn't do really while George was in the woods :( But...I got back on the bandwagon last week and made a few fabulous recipes!

Blueberry Buckle Recipe

Cake ingredients:

* 2 cups and 1-2 Tbsp of sifted, all purpose flour separated
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
* 3/4 cup sugar
* 1 large egg
* 1/2 cup milk
* 1 pint blueberries

Topping ingredients:

* 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 1/3 cup sifted all purpose flour
* 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Method

1 Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease an 8-inch springform pan. Set aside.

2 Sift together the 2 cups of flour, the baking powder and the salt. Set aside. Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the egg. Add the flour mixture in 3 parts, alternating with the milk. Toss the beries with the remaining 1 to 2 tablespoons of flour (to separate and scatter evenly throughout the batter) and fold in. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Set aside.

3 Combine ingredients for topping with a fork to make crumbly mixture. Sprinkle this over the batter.

4 Bake for one hour, then test for doneness by gently inserting a fork. If it does not come out clean, give the cake another 5 to 10 minutes to bake.

5 When the cake has cooled, run a knife around the edges and lift the cake out o the pan. Serve with whipped cream.


Summertime Pasta Salad

1 lb. pasta (shells, farfalle, macaroni, etc.), cooked, drained
1 medium red onion, diced
2 medium green bell peppers, diced
1 cup diced celery
1/2 lb. fresh pea pods, blanched
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
1/2 cup sliced radishes
1 cup sliced pitted ripe olives
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Dressing:
1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup wine vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 cloves minced garlic
Freshly ground black pepper

Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain, rinse under cold running water, and drain again. Prepare dressing by whisking all ingredients together. Stir some of the dressing into the pasta while it is still warm; pour just enough dressing to cause noodles to glisten. Prepare vegetables. Toss into pasta when noodles are lukewarm, adding additional dressing as needed to coat. Sprinkle and stir in Parmesan cheese. Chill until serving time.

Let's Do Lunch by Roger Troy Wilson

In this quick read Wilson presents a “dieting” plan that has worked for him and numerous others. He presents strategies and tips that can lead to a more healthy weight and lifestyle. The advice isn't new or rocket science. Roger tells readers what to eat and when to eat it, cutting out heavy foods and eating big meals at the wrong time of the day. It is a lifestyle I have wanted to adapt for some time but have postponed due to motivation.

Roger writes in a style that is easy to read and understand. He isn't a schooled expert. The information he presents is self-taught and practical. However, there are a few flaws to point out. The book is small to begin with, and only the first 92 pages are actual writing! The rest of the book is filled with recipes and a meal plan. Roger also tends to over-exaggerate points and does not write with fluidity.

In any case, I can't wait to try some recipes and start eating better! I made the Spicy Black Bean Soup last night and bought cantaloupe, watermelon, and locally grown carrots. I usually have a smoothie for breakfast or lunch already, which I will focus on for breakfast. My favorite smoothies are a few hunks of frozen bananas, frozen berries/pineapple, and soy milk blended with my Magic Bullet.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”