Thursday, April 30, 2020


WHAT'S COOKING? 

Blue Jean Help 

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COMFORTABLE IN THE KITCHEN
by Meredith Laurence
aka the Blue Jean Chef


Are you as comfortable in the kitchen as you are in your blue jeans? Would you like to be?

Comfortable in the Kitchen, Meredith Laurence, the Blue Jean Chef, helps you settle into your comfort zone in the kitchen with tips, tricks, explanations of cooking techniques, and over 200 recipes. Meredith shares her knowledge acquired from years working in cooking schools, test kitchens and restaurants in France, Canada and the USA. Her delicious, easy-to-follow recipes, interesting tips and informative explanations will help make any cook more comfortable in the kitchen and inspire new meals.

Comfortable in the Kitchen is designed to teach basic techniques and then strengthen skills, each chapter contains basic recipes that will give you a solid understanding of how the dish works, and four other recipes that build on that technique, but use different ingredients to create a unique and delicious meal. Once you've mastered the basic recipe and practiced the variations, you'll be comfortable enough with the dish to improvise and make it your own! For example, start with the magically simple Basic Roast Chicken. Next, spice things up with Jerk Spiced Roast Chicken, Chipotle Orange Roast Chicken, Summer Ale Chicken with Caramelized Onions, and Five-Spice Roast Chicken.

With chapters on Soups and Salads, Sandwiches and Snacks, Meat and Poultry, Fish and Seafood, Vegetables, Breakfast, and Desserts and Treats, Meredith will help you cover all your bases.

We spend a lot of time in the kitchen. You might as well get comfortable!


A shout out to my friend, Kay, for sending me the link to this book. Thank you, Kay. If not for you, I may never have found this wonderful cookbook!

The title, COMFORTABLE IN THE KITCHEN, is spot on for this delightful recipe book. Author Meredith Laurence aka the Blue Jean Chef, has delivered a cookbook that takes all manner of dishes and makes them approachable for starter cooks, while still creating recipes that will have professional chefs and foodies alike salivating.

After a brief, yet educating introduction, Ms. Laurence jumps right in with the fabulous recipes that fill the pages of this hunger maker. Recipes such as . . . Cream of Vegetable Soup, Asian Shrimp Noodle Soup, Western Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Potato Salad with Bacon, Corn and Green Onions, Basic Tomato and Cheese Pizza, Greek Pasta Salad, Lobster Mac ‘n’ Cheese,  Farfalle with Ham, Asparagus and Goat Cheese, Basic Stuffed Chicken Breast with Spinach and Feta Cheese, Spicy Italian Meatloaf, Grilled Brined Pork Chops with Grilled Peaches, Seared Scallops with a Hazelnut Orange Sauce, Baked Salmon with Horseradish Crust, Maple Glazed Carrots, Sweet Potato and Apple Gratin, Bacon, Cheddar and Tomato Frittata, Chocolate Chip Walnut Pancakes, Coconut Rice Pudding, Butter Tarts, Raspberry Cheesecake, and many more. There are many basic recipes as well that begin and are within each chapter.

While there are some lovely color photos, I’m a bit disappointed there wasn’t one for each dish. I know I sound on a loop about that because I mention it a lot of my cookbook reviews. However, photos are an important part of the experience for me that I enjoy from cookbooks. Well, I can’t really complain because I grabbed up a free Kindle version.

All in all I was very happy with COMFORTABLE IN THE KITCHEN. I’m really looking forward to trying out many of the recipes.


As always, please leave a comment and 
let me know what you think!

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Wednesday, April 29, 2020


I know you love giveaways.
I know this because I love giveaways!

A great please to win books and other great prizes is a place called

Writerspace

At Writerspace you can win books (not just cozies), Gift Cards, and other great prizes from dozens of authors!

Check these out!

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Catherine Anderson Contest
Catherine Anderson is giving away an autographed Catherine Anderson novel.
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Melinda Leigh Contest
Melinda Leigh is giving away a $50 Amazon e-gift card to celebrate the release of CROSS HER HEART.
Enter Here
US only
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Pamela Ann Cleverly Contest
Pamela Ann Cleverly is giving away a $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card.
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Debra Clopton Contest
Debra Clopton is giving away a special prize.
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Melinda Curtis Contest
Melinda Curtis is giving away a free digital copy of the prequel novella,A CHRISTMAS WISH, and a $5 Amazon gift card to on winner, plus a set of postcards to every entrant if special form is completed.
Enter Here
US only
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Stacy Finz Contest
Stacy Finz is giving away a Kindle copy of COWBOY UP and a pair of “so many book so little time” socks to one winner.
Enter Here
US only
(I just had to share this one with you because of those socks!)
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Carolyn Haines Contest
Carolyn Haines is giving away a digital edition of A BOX FULL OF TROUBLE, Books 1-5 of the Familiar Legacy series.
Enter Here
US only
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Linda O. Johnston Contest
Linda O. Johnston is giving away a copy of COLTON FIRST RESPONDER, Book 4 of The Coltons of Mustang Valley series (winner's choice of print or Amazon eBook).
Enter Here
US only
(Linda O. Johnston is a name you should know from cozy mysteries!)
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Sheri Richey Contest
Sheri Richey is giving away a signed hardcover edition of WELCOME TO SPICETOWN to celebrate the release of CHICORY IS TRICKERY.
Enter Here
US only
(This looks good!)
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RaeAnne Thayne Contest
RaeAnne Thayne is giving away a copy of A SOLDIER’S RETURN and a $25 Walmart gift card to one winner.
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Sherryl Woods Contest
Sherryl Woods is giving away a $50 Starbucks gift card to one lucky winner this month.
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These are just a few of the wonder giveaways over at Writerspace! Head over and start entering!


Writerspace

As always, please leave a comment and 
let me know what you think!

Follow my blog by submitting your email in 
upper right hand corner of this page (on the side bar).

Reading from your phone? Scroll to the bottom of your page and click"View web version". Then follow the above directions.

Tuesday, April 28, 2020


So. Many. Titles.
Check out this variety of Print, eBook, and Audio books that released today!

















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New in paperback 
(Originally released in hardcover)








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eBook


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Historical


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Audio



See any favorite authors or series?
Do you even know where to begin?
I'm both excited and over whelemed! LOL












As always, please leave a comment and 
let me know what you think!

Follow my blog by submitting your email in 
upper right hand corner of this page (on the side bar).

Reading from your phone? Scroll to the bottom of your page and click"View web version". Then follow the above directions.