One I won't hold onto

About a year ago, my dad gave me a new pressure cooker so I could make quick, healthy meals.  Well....pressure cookers scare me a bit and it is a new way of cooking so I haven't exactly grabbed onto the concept.  Just like I don't cook in the microwave because I learned to cook on a stove with good fresh ingredients, primarily Southern style.  I suppose that is the title of the pressure cooker cookbook I should be looking for because this volume is vast and has everything from breakfast foods to dessert BUT just about half the recipes contain ingredients that I don't normally stock in my pantry as well as recipes that contain more ingredients than I typically cook with in any given meal.  So, will I use it?  Probably not.

I do like that each recipe gives you a difficulty level, serving suggestions, and tester notes.  In addition, each can be used with either a stove top or electric pressure cooker.  That is pretty much where my compliments end though.

The volume is paperbound and 512 pages in length. See any problems there?  Without two large soup cans or an easel, there is no way this book is going to stay open long enough for you to put those ingredients together. I suppose the authors wanted to use as much of the 512 pages for recipes as they could because the photos of the dishes are few.  However, if you are looking for a book filled with all kinds of ideas on what to do with that pressure cooker in your cabinet, give this volume a try. I think those who are more experimental with ingredients might find it more appealing than I do as well since I rarely buy ingredients for one recipe.

I did receive this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and was in no way obligated to leave a positive one.  

Words to dream on

When my sister was small, every night my mother would pull out a Bible story book and read her a story right before tucking her into bed.  Even though I was quite a bit older, it became a routine we all came to expect and one that I carried on some with my own children.  I bet, if you asked my sister today, one of her favorite childhood memories would be of that time of day and her special one-on-one time with Mom.

Words to Dream On: Bedtime Stories and Prayers by Diane Stortz is just such a book that will provide others with the opportunity to share the Bible with their children in wording that is easy for them to understand and illustrations that will capture the attention as well.  Each of the 52 stories begins with a short scripture, a story that illustrated the scripture and closes with a brief prayer and words that are intended to be a promise that will bless the reader that they can store in their heart for when difficult times come.  Also included are tips and encouragement to the parent on how to create your own bedtime routine.

The book is a sturdy, hardbound volume, each story bright and cheerful like the color.  Is it that different from other children's Bible story books?  Not that much, but I do like how it includes the prayer you can pray with your child and the "bedtime blessing" which is the promise/encouragement. Whether it be this newly published collection or a family favorite, begin sharing with your child the promises from God's Word early.  What better thing than to close each and every day snuggled together and reading from a child's version of favorite Bible stories.

Two thumbs up!  I did receive this book free from the publisher and was in no way obligated to leave a positive review.   

Teach your child to pray

We teach our children to do just about everything they learn to do before heading to kindergarten.  The most important thing we teach our children is about the love of God but do we ever teach them to pray?  I think my husband and I modeled prayer at the kitchen table before meals and assumed our children would pick up on it but did we ever teach them how to earnestly pray for a need or listen to God for His answers?  I'm afraid not.

Max and Denalyn Lucado have given parents a head start on teaching your child to pray.  Lucado Treasury of Bedtime Prayers  opens with a section directed toward parents which includes the importance of teaching our children to pray whether it be to ask forgiveness for a wrong they have done, facilitate hope, or to teach that God listens to us.  They encourage parents to make prayer a priority in their own lives, model prayer for their children, and then teaching your children the power of reading and memorizing the prayers of others to instill a vocabulary of faith in their hearts to shield them throughout their lives--sort of like memorizing scripture.

The prayers are broken down into "chapters" based on the theme or time of day you might use them.  Some of those "chapters" include morning prayers, mealtime prayers, asking God for protection, for wisdom, and prayers of thankfulness. Each section is beautifully illustrated by Lisa Alderson in much the same way as the cover.  Prayers include scriptures as well as short (sometimes adapted) prayers but unknown and well-known sources.

I love the variety. Many of us grew up with the "Now I lay me down to sleep....." prayer. This volume offers such a nice selection of prayers for your little one that they can choose their favorite to use on a regular basis or you can use them all so they don't become a rote repetition without meaning.   The final prayer in the volume is the one we are taught to model our prayers by, The Lord's Prayer.

Originally, I ordered this book because I have loved everything I have ever heard or read of Max Lucado.  I must admit I have never been a fan of written down prayers or using another's words to pray but I can definitely see the value of having a collection such as this to lay the all important foundation for your children.  Were I to still have little ones at home, this volume would lay right next to their bed for daily use.

I did receive this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I was in no way obligated to write a positive one.

A "souper" way to do dinner

I don't know about you but there are days that I just don't want to fix dinner but, as the chief cook and bottle washer in my household, if Mama doesn't cook, we are stuck eating popcorn (not a bad option just can't be a daily routine).  In New York City, four friends must have felt the same way because they have been participating in the "Soup Club" for years and have shared their tips, recipes and encouragement for starting your own Soup Club in this paperback volume.  The basic premise it to begin with four people so that no one has to prepare the meal that frequently yet not so infrequently that it is easily pushed aside.  Once a week, one member prepares enough soup and sides/garnishes to feed all four families.  That member delivers the soup and the other members have a meal ready to go.  Their only responsibility?  To drop off clean jars to the person who is in charge the next week to be refilled and to prepare and deliver the same type of meal on their appointed week.  Feel as if you are too busy?  Isn't everyone?  Wouldn't you rather cook one in four nights rather than four in four or worse yet pick up your favorite unhealthy fast food in place of cooking.  Who wouldn't want to come home to a meal of a delicious soup ready to feed a family with leftovers?

I am a soup lover and my family enjoys it as well.  I chose this particular book more for the recipes than for the idea of starting my own soup club but who knows where this idea will lead?  The book begins with tips on getting your own club started including stocking your own pantry, tools you will need to get started, and then is followed by pages and pages of recipes.  Whether you love broths, hearty soups, chilled soups (No thank you), meaty or bean soups, you will find recipes sure to please.  What about the second half of the book?  There you will find salads, vegetables, breads and grains, full meal ideas like lasagna and stew, as well as appetizer type food to compliment your soups.  There is something for everyone.  Each recipe comes with tips on how to deliver and serve the items.

The book is nicely, colorfully illustrated with more recipes than I expected.  Several recipes call for ingredients that I never buy but would be easily found in your local grocer or simply replaced with another item or left out entirely.  The only "fault" I find with the book is that it is paperback and not spiral bound.  I don't know about you, but I like a cookbook to lay flat so I can look back at it to remind myself of ingredients and quantities.  But perhaps those drips and stained pages are what makes a cookbook worth handing down.

I did receive this book free from the publisher and was in no way obligated to leave a positive review.