Do you have childhood memories of a special Sunday dinner at Grandma's like I do? It was at those Sunday dinners that we finally took a minute to slow down and simply enjoy one another's company. What I wouldn't give for just one more Sunday lunch at Granny's!
Do you long to create a similar tradition or memories for your family but through the hustle and bustle of life, it just hasn't happened? Or do you tire of trying to figure out what vegetables or dessert compliment your pork loin?
Return to Sunday Dinner by Russell Cronkhite (a professional chef himself) is filled with twenty-four managable menus that will bring back the wonderful tradition of those Sunday dinners. None of the recipes have a list of 30 ingredients nor do they contain ingredients you've never heard of and few (if any) spices that you have to buy just for this recipe. Another piece that adds interest to this cookbook is that each recipe has a brief history given. Each menu has a story of the meaning includes easy time-saving and do-ahead tips for tasks you can complete the day before and the morning of the day you plan to serve your special meal. I think you'll also enjoy the personal touch added to the menus when you read the brief stories of the signficance of Sunday dinners in another's life.
If you aren't hungry when you pick up this book, you will be within minutes and it will leave you looking forward to making your next "Sunday dinner". While I originally ordered this book as a gift, I don't think it is going anywhere. Whether for a gift or something for yourself if you love to cook for your family, you can't go wrong with Return to Sunday Dinner.
What should I fix this Sunday? Grandma's Fried Chicken? Sage-rubbed roast pork loin with cranberry-apple cider Glaze? Warm pear strudel with vanilla sauce? Amish potato rolls? Spiced pumpkin mousse cake? Is Sunday dinner more about the food or making memories? You decide.
I did receive this book free from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way obligated to leave a positive review.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Friday, September 14, 2012
His Love Endures Forever
Danielle Kent grew up in an abusive situation and knew little of God and the security of a stable home until she moved in with Martha and Arnold. Living close to the Amish, Danielle was probably the least likely person to fit in with their lifestyle but she fell in love with an Amish boy who wants nothing more than to leave the Amish faith and Canaan. Thinking he loves her, she is frightened but knows Matthew will stand beside her when she finds herself pregnant with his child. However, that isn't the case. Matthew tells her he never loved her and leaves his family to move to Indiana to live with his uncle. Danielle is 18, pregnant, and alone except for her best friend, Levi, also an Amish boy.
Levi is convinced God is telling him to marry Danielle but she has no desire to become Amish nor does she want to ruin Levi's life. Nor does Danielle have a clear picture of the God Levi loves and worships. After all, very little has ever gone well in her life. Where was God in all those times? Can God use their unlikely friendship to help Danielle through the circumstances she finds herself in?
Although His Love Endures Forever is the third book in the Land of Canaan series by Beth Wiseman, you will have no difficulty picking this book up even if you haven't read any of the others. While some of the characters in this book have been introduced in the previous books, the story you find here is complete and Ms. Wiseman does an excellent job of filling in all the holes you might typically find if you begin in the middle of a series. His Love Endures Forever is a beautiful story of friendship, love, and sacrifice. While I expected a typical Amish story, I got much more than that. Rarely does an author mix the worlds of the Englischer and the Amish so skillfully.
I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way obligated to leave a positive review.
Levi is convinced God is telling him to marry Danielle but she has no desire to become Amish nor does she want to ruin Levi's life. Nor does Danielle have a clear picture of the God Levi loves and worships. After all, very little has ever gone well in her life. Where was God in all those times? Can God use their unlikely friendship to help Danielle through the circumstances she finds herself in?
Although His Love Endures Forever is the third book in the Land of Canaan series by Beth Wiseman, you will have no difficulty picking this book up even if you haven't read any of the others. While some of the characters in this book have been introduced in the previous books, the story you find here is complete and Ms. Wiseman does an excellent job of filling in all the holes you might typically find if you begin in the middle of a series. His Love Endures Forever is a beautiful story of friendship, love, and sacrifice. While I expected a typical Amish story, I got much more than that. Rarely does an author mix the worlds of the Englischer and the Amish so skillfully.
I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way obligated to leave a positive review.
Monday, September 10, 2012
To Love and Cherish
Melinda Colson was once a young woman of means and ran in the same social circle of the woman, Mrs. Mifflin, she now serves as a lady's maid. Everything changed with the death of her parents, leaving her and her brother almost penniless. Melinda is fortunate to find a job with Mrs. Mifflin rather than having to serve as a house servant but she longs for something more.
Melinda travels each winter to Bridal Veil Island, off the Georgia coast, with the Mifflins. Over the years, she had fallen in love with the assistant gamekeeper, Evan. This year, she planned a different ending to the season. She thought Evan would propose and ask her to stay at Bridal Veil but that didn't happen in spite of the obvious hints she gave him when she was forced to make an early departure for the season. Assured of Evan's love in the letters that passed between the two of them, Melinda resigns her job and is determined to travel back to Bridal Veil and discover if Evan is even still alive after a devastating hurricane hits the island and the death of a young man is reported. Finding Evan alive, Melinda finds a job on the island but still has no offer of marriage. Was it a mistake to come back to Bridal Veil? Will Evan ever be willing to ask Melinda to be his bride?
Neither Melinda or Even react to each other as the typical love story portrays. Melinda's attempts to manipulate her circumstances to turn out the way she thinks they should only result in frustration for her. Could there be a lesson in that for each of us? How many time do I forge on ahead without asking God what He wants for my life or do I tire of waiting for His timing?
I have read a number of books by both Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller. I must admit that To Love and Cherish didn't grab me as I expected it to. While it is number two in a series, I didn't have any difficulty understanding the entire story even though I hadn't read the first in the series. However, I thought the plot moved a bit slow. The setting and time period are quite charming and take the reader back to the late 19th century when social classes were a big deal and the wealthy had little get away cottages on lovely islands. That part I did enjoy. And, the storyline did pick up a bit in the second half of the book. I'm not saying that I didn't enjoy the story but I have read better by both authors.
I did receive this book free from Bethany House Publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way obligated to leave a postitive review.
Melinda travels each winter to Bridal Veil Island, off the Georgia coast, with the Mifflins. Over the years, she had fallen in love with the assistant gamekeeper, Evan. This year, she planned a different ending to the season. She thought Evan would propose and ask her to stay at Bridal Veil but that didn't happen in spite of the obvious hints she gave him when she was forced to make an early departure for the season. Assured of Evan's love in the letters that passed between the two of them, Melinda resigns her job and is determined to travel back to Bridal Veil and discover if Evan is even still alive after a devastating hurricane hits the island and the death of a young man is reported. Finding Evan alive, Melinda finds a job on the island but still has no offer of marriage. Was it a mistake to come back to Bridal Veil? Will Evan ever be willing to ask Melinda to be his bride?
Neither Melinda or Even react to each other as the typical love story portrays. Melinda's attempts to manipulate her circumstances to turn out the way she thinks they should only result in frustration for her. Could there be a lesson in that for each of us? How many time do I forge on ahead without asking God what He wants for my life or do I tire of waiting for His timing?
I have read a number of books by both Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller. I must admit that To Love and Cherish didn't grab me as I expected it to. While it is number two in a series, I didn't have any difficulty understanding the entire story even though I hadn't read the first in the series. However, I thought the plot moved a bit slow. The setting and time period are quite charming and take the reader back to the late 19th century when social classes were a big deal and the wealthy had little get away cottages on lovely islands. That part I did enjoy. And, the storyline did pick up a bit in the second half of the book. I'm not saying that I didn't enjoy the story but I have read better by both authors.
I did receive this book free from Bethany House Publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way obligated to leave a postitive review.
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