Bites & Nibbles-- [A Super Upsetting Cookbook About Sandwiches] & [Instant Happy Journal]

A Super Upsetting Cookbook About Sandwiches

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Well. I can't say as I've ever had a cookbook curse at me...until now. lol A Super Upsetting Cookbook About Sandwiches was pretty hilarious and gave me some sandwich ideas. I could totally nom on a couple in the cookbook for sure.

#AtoZChallenge--Tasty Delights--Baked Zucchini Crisps

It's the A to Z Challenge!

We're blogging the alphabet along with 1000s of other bloggers.

There's a specific letter for each day and then you pick your own theme.

Our Theme: herder of cats, burner of soup
Basically...a day in the life of and all the things I love

One of my favorite things to do when I need to relax is cook. Or bake. I love trying new recipes out or doing some little twist to an old favorite. I saw this cookbook over on Blogging for Books and wanted to try it right away. Just had to try the baked zucchini crisps too :)

Type: Cookbook            Difficulty: Easy           Rating: 3-3.5 out of 5

Amazon | Goodreads

Southern Girl. Southern recipes. Comfort foods. Um. Yes, please! Lighten Up, Y'all was a very nice cookbook that had me ready to bust out my pots and pans and whip up a few of the dishes. Everything was simple and familiar comforting while having little twists to make the dishes a little lighter and healthier.

Tasty Delights--Flourless Chocolate Torte + review Let UsAll Eat Cake

A delightful collection of gluten-free takes on your favorite cake recipes, from everyday coffee cakes, layered cakes, and cupcakes to show-stopping special occasion masterpieces.

Celebrate your favorite holidays and special occasions from birthdays to bake sales, Halloween to Christmas—and even the everyday—with delectable gluten-free cakes. In this delightful collection, Catherine Ruehle, a pastry chef and cake artist turned wellness foods chef, shares sixty classic cake recipes that are every bit as indulgent as the gluten-heavy ones we adore, but gluten-free, all-natural, and with alternatives given for vegan, dairy-free, and nut-free renditions. A few of the luscious cakes that await: Pink Velvet Strawberry Cake made electrifyingly pink with strawberries instead of food dye, Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes that children of all ages will be thrilled to find in their lunchboxes, and a dramatic White and Dark Chocolate Checkerboard Cake that’s a cinch to prepare in advance. With positivity and careful guidance, Ruehle provides basic and advanced decorating, piping, and plating techniques that will take your cakes from pretty to breathtaking. So go ahead: lick the frosting off the beaters, cut yourself a nice big slice, and let us all eat cake!

Type: Cookbook
Difficulty: moderate to difficult (dedication required)
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Value: Overall--Okay. If gluten free--Excellent

Amazon | Goodreads

One of the ladies in my book club is "gluten free" and when I saw Let Us Eat Cake I just had to get it since it's a baking book of only gluten-free recipes. Cakes, pies, torts, etc all created by a pastry chef that for medical reasons had to go gluten/dairy free and wanted to still bake and provide help for others in need of tasty treats that took into consideration gluten free living.

And it's a gorgeous cookbook. It's not for your every day baker though. These recipes take some serious commitment--from hunting down ingredients to prep. But if you're gluten free or want to bake something for friends/family that can't have gluten it might be worth the pick up.

Tasty Delights--Cheesy Baked Pasta w/ Eggplant + review (The Skinnytaste)

Gina Homolka is America’s most trusted home cook when it comes to easy, flavorful recipes that are miraculously low-calorie and made from all-natural, easy-to-find ingredients. Her blog, Skinnytaste is the number one go-to site for slimmed down recipes that you’d swear are anything but. It only takes one look to see why people go crazy for Gina’s food: cheesy, creamy Fettuccini Alfredo with Chicken and Broccoli with only 420 calories per serving, breakfast dishes like Make-Ahead Western Omelet "Muffins" that truly fill you up until lunchtime, and sweets such as Double Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies that are low in sugar and butter-free but still totally indulgent.

The Skinnytaste Cookbook features 150 amazing recipes: 125 all-new dishes and 25 must-have favorites. As a busy mother of two, Gina started Skinnytaste when she wanted to lose a few pounds herself. She turned to Weight Watchers for help and liked the program but struggled to find enough tempting recipes to help her stay on track. Instead, she started “skinny-fying” her favorite meals so that she could eat happily while losing weight.

With 100 stunning photographs and detailed nutritional information for every recipe, The Skinnytaste Cookbook is an incredible resource of fulfilling, joy-inducing meals that every home cook will love.

Type: Cookbook
Difficulty: easy
Rating: 5 out of 5
Value: Excellent. Well worth the price.

Amazon | Goodreads

If you're going to buy a cookbook...make it this one! The SkinnyTaste is one of the best cookbooks I've seen and it's focus is on healthier lower-cal meals/dishes that don't skimp on the taste. I really loved everything about this one. From the authors voice--she's matter of fact but I liked her attitude towards eating healthier and her approach to tasty meals--to the recipes themselves and the photography. There's a nice opening with the author's experiences and why this is important to her which was nice plus one thing that stuck out...even if you mess up on a recipe sometimes the best dishes are discovered that way. Recipes were easy to understand and simple enough for most to jump right in and try and ingredients easy to find at the local grocery. 

Tasty Delights--Chocolate Muffins + review (The Homesick Texan)

There are few things finer than a delicious, homemade meal shared with family and friends. Take it from Lisa Fain, a seventh-generation Texan who loves to cook and serve up the best dishes her home state has to offer—even though she now lives half a country away.

The Homesick Texan’s Family Table showcases more than 100 of Lisa’s best and most-loved recipes, ranging from down-home standards (think cheesy nachos, comforting chicken and dumplings, and fiery wings) to contemporary riffs on the classics (who knew adding Mexican spices to a German chocolate cake would taste so good?).

All of Lisa’s recipes are made with fresh, seasonal ingredients, yet still packed with real Texas flavor that will make your grandmother smile. Whether you’re looking for a party-friendly snack like Pigs in Jalapeño Blankets, a Mustard Coleslaw to bring as a side to your next potluck, a weeknight- and family-friendly meal like Steak Fingers with Cream Gravy, or a mouthwatering dessert like Ruby Red Grapefruit and Pecan Sheet Cake, The Homesick Texan’s Family Table has you covered. After all, with some mighty fine food and mighty fine people to enjoy it, any meal can be cause for celebration.

Type: Cookbook
Difficulty of Recipe: Easy to Mid
Rating: 4.5 stars

Amazon | Goodreads

So. I pretty much loved The Homesick Texan. It's a beautiful cookbook and even though I can't really cook most of the recipes--unless there are guests visiting--since I'm a vegetarian I loved it none-the-less. It had an amazing feel to it that made me think of home and loved ones and, yes, had me tearing up just a wee bit as I read Fain's intro and little notes throughout the book. She really captured family and friends so well and the wonderful way food can be used to create memories. The recipes were lovely, hearty and easy. The photos abundant and comfortable. Very much a cookbookish win and worth every penny of the price.

Tasty Delights/Cookbook Review--Meatless All Day by Dina Cheney--ALT Sandwiches w/ Frisco

Move over bland, wimpy tofu and lackluster salads—Meatless All Day redefines meat-free meals as colorful and super-satisfying. Whether you’re a committed vegetarian or are trying to cut down on meat, the hearty, creative recipes in Meatless All Day will inspire you to cook in new ways. Here, you’ll discover Beet Wellington, Spaghetti with White Bean Balls, Quinoa-Polenta Cakes with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce and White Bean Puree, Roasted Root Vegetable and Goat Cheese Salad with Lemon-Tahini Vinaigrette, and Baklava Sticky Buns—fare that will make avowed carnivores jealous. One secret behind these dishes: high-impact ingredients (like miso, tomato paste, and mushrooms).

To ensure that readers' dishes come out perfectly, the book opens with key cooking techniques, such as Tips for Perfect Vegetables, The Art of Cooking Eggs, and Tips for a Golden Brown, Crispy Exterior. It then lists 45 "power ingredients" that lend vegetarian food a meaty flavor, meaty texture, or both. The heart of the book is 85 ultra-flavorful recipes, with meal suggestions and ideas for making non-vegan fare vegan.

Type: Cookbook--Vegetarian
Rating: 4 out of 5
Difficulty: easy to moderate

Amazon | Goodreads

So! For today's Tasty Delights...I'm actually reviewing a cookbook in addition to putting together a recipe. I thought it might be fun to work some into the blog now and again. So my first go at it is...Meatless All Day. Perfect since I'm a vegetarian and always looking for new vegetarian friendly dishes that are both easy, tasty and healthy. And Meatless All Day totally delivered! From a nicely detailed introduction with suggestions and cooking tips to gorgeous photos and mouth watering recipes Meatless All Day was a culinary win and will keep me busy in the kitchen for weeks trying everything out. The price I think is very reasonable as well coming in at around $14 on Amazon.

A little breakdown on parts of the cookbook then a tasty recipe that omg was SO good!