I received a copy of the Best and the Lightest and was very excited to open it and see what was inside. There free lots of colorful pictures and heavy glossy pages in this paperback cookbook. There are tons of great recipes that I really w ant to try. All seem family friendly and things that my kids would actually eat! Recipes like Honey Mustard Chicken and Apples,  Salmon with Warm Tomato Olive Salad, Super Stuffed Baked Potatoes, and Low Fat Cheesecake are all recipes that I can't wait to try. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for lighter healthier recipes. It is perfect for summertime when easy light recipes are a must. I received a free copy of this cookbook from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

I was excited to receive this book and see what all of the buzz is about. It gives a nice overview of the plan and the basics you need to get started. I think the one thing I liked about this book as it did have a lot of helpful information on what to eat and what not to eat. I was a little disappointed with the books use of on plan foods and ingredients. Many are found at specialty stores. This is not a book about eating whole foods found in your supermarket. You use a fair amount of fake sugar, oat fiber and different tricks to help you feel full longer. It is a plan that might help you lose weight, but doesn't seem to me like healthy eating. There are recipes for cake and all kinds of foods filled with artificial sugar, flours etc. The recipes in this book are few and far between. You will need to buy the cookbook as well in order to fully benefit from the plan. Overall I wasn't impressed with this book. There are many other diets to follow that are backed by science and are much healthier. This fad diet isn't going to cut it for many long term. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

I was excited to get the Lucky Peach Easy Asian recipes cookbook as I don't have very many Asian recipe books. This one certainly did not disappoint. With thick [ages and lots of photographs, I really felt like I could successfully make all of the recipes in the book. They were extremely easy with easy to find ingredients. The Mall chicken and easy Claypot chicken look absolutely delicious along with the Miso Clam Chowder. I can't wait to get started with this book. Most every recipe was appealing to me and would even appeal to my picky eaters. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for quick, easy recipes that will please just about everyone. I received a copy of this cookbook for free from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

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I was excited to receive the Healthy Mind cookbook as I have many of Rebecca Katz's other cookbooks. The Healthy Mind cookbook is filled with lots of colorful photography and many delicious recipes. The pages are thick and the beginning section details many of the benefits of different foods like blueberries and fish for your mind. I found this section to be detailed and informative. The recipes are very healthy and I can't wait to try items such as Clean Green Soup, Roasted Ginger Salmon, Mexican Hot Chocolate, and the Triple Greens Frittata. Each recipe gives you detailed nutritional information with grams of carbs, fats and protein which is very helpful. I do wish the benefits of each recipe were discussed a little more in depth on each individual recipe though. Overall this is a great cookbook for anyone looking to eat fresh flavorful, healthy meals that will benefit their cognitive function. I received a free copy of the cookbook from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. To order your copy, click here: The Heathly Mind Cookbook

5 in 5 for Every Season

Michael Symon's 5 in 5 for Every Season is a beautiful cookbook with tons of colorful photographs of every recipe and thick pages. It is packed with 165 recipes which are all easy and quick to make with ingredients that can be easily found.  All of the recipes are new and different and some seem to have very interesting flavor combinations. For example, the Spicy Salami, Cantaloupe and Mint Salad. It sounds like something I don't even think I would want to try cooking. There are quite a few recipes like this but fortunately it is balanced with recipes that I actually do want to try. A few that sound appealing are the Kale Bread Salad with Feta, the Autumn Panzanella, the Spicy Fried Shrimp and the Grilled Skirt Steak with Radish & Blue Cheese. The cookbook is broken into seasons, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Holidays. This is a nice way to break things down and now that it's Fall, I find myself turning to the Fall Chapter frequently. Overall this book is a good one. There are lots of new and exciting recipes to try and a few that you might want to skip. The seasonality of this cookbook makes it one worthy of your collection as it makes it easy to whip up something warm and comforting in the Fall and Winter or light and fresh in the Spring and Summer. I received a copy of this cookbook for free in exchange for my honest review from Blogging for Books.

The Homemade Kitchen Review

I was eagerly anticipating The Homemade Kitchen, by Alana Chernila as I do have the author's other cookbook. This one however is completely different from her first. There are lots of healthy meal ideas and tons of salads to make.  The book itself has lots of thick pages with many photographs scattered throughout. Not every recipe has a photo however. The organization of this cookbook is much different than what you are probably used to. It is broken down into many different sections, such as Be Helpful, Do the Work, Eay Outside. This makes it somewhat hard to find a recipe that you are looking for. The book has main dishes, desserts and appetizers strewn throughout so you really have to hunt to find what you are looking for. I do appreciate the authors first chapter entitled Be a Beginner. It has many different techniques and recipes for basic things such as how to make Jam and basic vinaigrettes. There is actually a lot of useful information there. I do like the most of the recipes, there are many unique and interesting items to make such as, Jambalaya, Pear Gingerbread and Stuffed Tomatoes. Overall this cookbook is not only filled with great recipes but is enjoyable to read and look through. There are lots of stories and good information scattered about. It will make a good addition to my cookbook collection for years to come.  I received a free copy of this cookbook in exchange for my honest review from Blogging for Books.

I have been eagerly awaiting Giada De Laurentiis new cookbook Happy Cooking for quite some time now and it did not disappoint. Lots of thick pages filled to the brim with recipes and lots of colorful photographs makes this book a workhorse in the kitchen. Everything in it seems quick easy, healthy and effortless. There are Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Dessert recipes. Even an entire chapter devoted to clean eating.  Recipes like Parsley Lemon Pesto with Farfalle, Broccoli Rabe Tacos, Noodle Paella and Better Wedge Salad are all recipes that I can't wait to try! There are tons of pasta recipes so if you are trying to go low carb, this book isn't exactly for you, but it is true to Giada's style of cooking.

My only disappointment would be with the snack section, where there wasn't anything new and exciting. Popcorn many different ways, fruit leather, Pico De Gallo and Wings  were included here. The dessert chapter was small and lackluster as well. I also didn't like that many recipes throughout the book used Agave and there was no option to substitute Agave for anything else. 

Overall I would recommend this book if you are looking for some quick and simple meal ideas to add to your collection. I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Kitchen matrix review

The Kitchen Matrix by Mark Bittman is a great new cookbook chock full of great healthy recipes that are easy and delicious. There are many pictures scattered throughout thick pages. It is a pleasure to page through and a welcome addition to my collection. Recipes like, ice pops done a million different ways, entrees, side dishes, desserts and much much more. 400 recipes all can be customized to your liking but are surprisingly simple. There is a recipe sure to please any palate. This cookbook is one of the best I've bought in a long time. You certainly won't be disappointed. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review from blogging for books   

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 was eagerly awaiting this new Food52 cookbook. I own all of their other ones and have loved each and every page. This cookbook is no exception. It has beautiful pictures and thick pages. It is a pleasure to thumb through and the recipes look healthy and easy to make. Want a Five Minute No-Bake Granola Bar? Or the Perfect Pumpkin Pie for a traditional Thanksgiving meal? Gena has you covered. There are simple recipes like Roasted Ratatouille with chickpeas and most complex meals like a Carrot and Fennel Pot Pie. Whereas the Jamaican Jerk Chili with Quinoa and Kidney Beans is a fun twist on chili. Unlike Gena's first cookbook, there is no particular focus on raw foods and the recipes seem a bit more grown up, although I do think my kids would like the Butternut Mac and Cheese recipe and Lentil Sloppy Joes.  Her barbecue sauce is delicious and I really liked the panzanella salad (the fried capers are a wonderful addition!).Overall this cookbook is a pleasant solid vegan cookbook and one that is definitely worth adding to your collection. I received a free copy of this cookbook in exchange for my honest review from Blogging for books. Get a copy for yourself here: http://amzn.to/1MUsoeR

Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook Review

The Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook by Pearl Barrett is the highly anticipated followup book to their Trim Healthy Mama diet guide. I was really looking forward to this book, but when I opened it my expectations fell flat. The book itself is substantial and heavy for a paperback. Inside, I was expecting far more in terms of photography. The pictures were few and far between. I like to see what I'm cooking before I cook it and the pictures also looked as if there were taken by the author herself which made most things look unappetizing. The recipes included many ingredients that you probably don't have on hand at home like Stevia and Xylitol and a Sweet Blend of sugar which you need to buy directly from the authors in order to make most of the items in this book. There is also a flour (Baking Blend) that they use for most of the recipes that you must buy separately as well. The flour comes in a 2 cup bag and is extremely expensive. This wasn't exactly what I had hoped for. Overall I was disappointed by this cookbook and feel that there are better alternatives out there.  I received a copy of this cookbook from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Treat is a charming little cookbook filled with colorful photography of every recipe. The pages are sturdy and glossy and the recipes all used Rice Krispy cereal as a base. Who knew there were so many variations! There are 50 recipes in all. Some of my favorites are the After School Power Bar Treats, Chocolate Hazelnut Treats and the Chocolate Caramel Malted Treats. I can't wait to try every single one. I also love that there is a section on how to make your own marshmallows including recipes for Strawberry, Vanilla and chocolate marshmallows.  If you want to kick up your rice krispy bars a notch, I highly recommend this book. It is nothing but fun sweets that you can make and take just about anywhere. I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. To get your copy, go here: Treat by Stephanie Banyas

The New Sugar & Spice cookbook by Samantha Seneviratne is one of the most unique cookbooks I've ever had the pleasure of reading. The photography was beautiful and the recipes were purely unlike any I had ever seen before. Spicy and Sweet are mixed together to form new twists on some old favorites. Te Maple Sticky Buns use lots of fresh ground cinnamon to make them stand out and the Raspberry Shortcakes with Zingy Double Ginger Biscuits have a special zip that is spicy and sweet all at the same time. Originally, I wasn't so sure I would like this book and it deviated from the standard recipes that I am used to, but this cookbook surpassed all of my expectations and there are tons of recipes that I would like to make and try. It's a different cookbook that's not too different. It combines some familiar flavors with some new twists. I highly recommend giving it a try. I received a free copy of this cookbook in exchange for my honest review from Blogging for Books.

Martha Stewart's new cookbook entitled Appetizers is amazing! The full color photography draws you in and every recipes looks scrumptious. I started marking which recipes I wanted to make but there are so many that every page is marked now. I can't say enough wonderful things about this book.  The book is broken down into Snacks, Starters, Small Plates, Stylish Bites and Sips. From Mini Quiches, Salsas, Cheeseballs, Pigs in a Blanket and Sangria, it's all covered here. There are 200 recipes and you will want to make every one of them!  I received this book in exchange for my honest review from Blogging for Books. To purchase yours, go here: http://amzn.to/1MYpGWy

Today I am reviewing th Near & Far cookbook by Heidi Swanson. I really enjoyed this cookbook and found lots of new recipes that I can't wait to try. The photographs are beautiful and the layout of the book makes me want to come back to it again and again. The recipes are unique and very different. Things that I wouldn't normally think to make like Watermelon Radish Soup and Saffron Tagine. Each recipes is healthy and vegetarian. The authors writing style also makes you feel as though you are there with her in her travels. Smelling the warm bread and tasting various things. A completely enjoyable book. Highly recommended.  I received a complimentary copy of this cookbook from Blogging for Books. All of my opinions are my own.

I was so excited to get a copy of A Jewish Baker's Pasty Secrets by George Greenstein as his first cookbook had such wonderful reviews. While the recipes look amazing, there is not a single picture in the book except for the cover photo. This was very disappointing as I like to be able to see a picture of what I am making. This alone really turned me off.  The recipes do look wonderful and delicious, but it is hard to tell what the recipes should look like without a picture to go by.  Some of the recipes that I'd like to make are the Butter Kuchen with Two Sugars, the Babka with Three Chocolates, and the Streusel Cake. There are tons of very good and helpful baking tips sprinkled throughout the book and little antidotes about the authors personal life which I found to be enjoyable. Overall, if you are looking for a pretty book with lots of colorful pictures, you will be sorely disappointed. On the other hand, if you are looking for some really delicious time tested recipes that will Wow your friends and family, this is the book for you. I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest review from Blogging for Books.

To get a copy of this book go here: http://amzn.to/1P28EWs

The Broad Fork Cookbook Review

I received a copy of The Broad Fork by Hugh Acheson and have throughly enjoyed looking through it. The photographs are bright and colorful and I love how this cookbook is broken into ingredients. This is perfect for when you have left over Red beets or any other vegetable and you're not sure what to do with it. I've found tons of recipes that I really would like to try including the following:

Slow Cooker Apple Butter; Roasted Figs with Pecorino Romano and Frisee; Kohlrabi Salad with Pecans, Lime, Paprika and Marjoram; Butter Lettuce Roasted Cauliflower and Brussels Sprouts; and Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Lime, Queso Fresco, Chiles, and Cilantro.Buttered, Roasted Summer Squash with Basil; Blackberry Vinegar; Raspberry Cobbler with Drop Biscuit Topping; Grilled Corn Salad with Chiles, Basil and Lime; Chile-Mint Sautéed Cucumbers; Honeydew Agua Fresca; Sautéed Catfish with Cantaloupe, Lime, and Cilantro Salsa; Pickled Pepper and Feta Salad with Chickpeas, Olives, Raisins, Orange and Mint; Tian of Squash, Zucchini, Tomato, and Basil.

There are so many more recipes to choose from. I really love this cookbook. Eating vegetarian has never been easier and more tasty. I highly recommend adding this to your collection. 

I received a free copy of this book from Bloghing for Books in exchange for my honest review. 

A Modern Way to east is quite an interesting cookbook. I am not a vegetarian but am always looking for ways to eat healthier and feed my family clean and healthy foods. The pictures in this cookbook are nice and it is a joy to page through. A Modern Way to eat is broken down into the following sections.

a modern way to eat - introduction
what gets me up in the morning - breakfast-types foods
food for filling a gap - healthy snacking foods
a bowl of broth, soup or stew
satisfying salads
easy lunches and laid-back suppers
hearty dinners and food to feed a crowd
vegetables to go with things - sides
sweet endings - desserts
cakes, breads and a few other things
things to drink
jam, chutney, stock and other useful stuff

There are tons of recipes that look appealing to me and make me want to try them. From the Kale Chips to the Blueberry Pie Oatmeal, they all sound completely delicious. This looks to me like a cookbook that I will get a lot of use out of and I recommend it if you are trying to eat more plant based foods and live a healthier lifestyle. I received this cookbook from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. To get your copy, go here.

The Blender Girl Smoothies book by Tess Masters is a wonderful cookbook, filled with colorful photograph and 100 smoothie recipes. The recipes are broken into 4 sections, light & fruity, clean and green, an exotic ride and dessert. All of the recipes look absolutely wonderful and I honestly want to try them all. I love love love that most of the recipes don't use greek yogurt or milk as a base and many add healthy fats thereby lowering the glycemic index of the smoothies considerably. All of the recipes use common ingredients and superfoods that can be found at your local grocery store or health food store.  Some of my favorite recipes, are Strawberry Kiwi Candy (which tastes just like candy) and Apple Pie in a Glass.  Overall I highly recommend this smoothie cookbook to shake up the life of your smoothie repertoire. The recipes are excellent and the photography is beautiful.Go get a copy of Blender Girl Smoothies by clicking here I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

When I ordered this cookbook, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. This cookbook was surprisingly wonderful! I loved every crisp colorful page. Most of the recipes included full color photographs and all of them look very good. I honestly want to try them all! There is an entire section devoted to drinks including one for Kale Lemonade and Blended Apple Pie A La Mode which look incredible. There is another section with Salads, Dressings & Sides where the Hemp Seed Ranch looks like something I definitely can't wait to make. The Soups, Sandwiches & Wraps section has some Wild Salmon Sliders that take Salmon to the next level and the Casseroles & Comfort Food section has me wanting to make everything in the chapter. Of course there are some very healthy sweets in the Sweet Treats section like Nutty Chocolate Chip Cookies and Raw Cheesecake that look very enticing. Overall, I can't wait to start cooking from this cookbook. Each and every recipe appeals to me and I feel like my entire family would be happy eating things made from this cookbook including some very picky kids.  This book is definitely a keeper and I highly recommend making it a part of your cookbook collection.  

I received this cookbook in exchange for my honest review from Blogging With Books.  To get your copy, go here: Everyday Detox

Seven Spoons by Tara O'Brady: Cookbook Review

This cookbook is a really diverse and eclectic collection of recipes. Many are inspired by a hodgepodge of different cultures and are a mix of the author’s favorite and most cherished recipes from her family and friends. The pages have a nice thick feel and there are many pictures throughout but not all recipes include pictures. The book is broken down into 7 different sections. The Introduction is a great collection of tools and pantry staples that you will need to use throughout the book. The chapters or sections are broken into, Breads & Breakfasts, Lunches, Soups, Starters & Snacks, Suppers, Vegetables & Sides, Sweet Treats & Sips and Staples. The sections are very helpful when looking for something to make for that occasion. The recipes are very different and unlike many you’ll find in other cookbooks. Some do use ingredients that might be hard to find or out of the ordinary. Some of my favorites to try would be the Blueberry Poppy Seed Snacking Cake, Bee-Stung Fried Chicken, Chocolate Olive Oil Zucchini Bread and Trail Mix Snack Bars.  I like how each recipes has a fun family story or a description of the tastes you are likely to encounter once the recipe is made. Overall, I would recommend this book to a cook with a fair amount of experience and someone who isn’t afraid to try new things, as there are a lot of new things to try in this book. It’s beautifully written and the author poured her heart into each and every recipe. A great book to add to your collection.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books. To order your copy, go here: Seven Spoons by Tara O'Brady

I had high hopes for this cookbook and was very excited to try it out and see what all of the buzz was about. The book is broken into 5 sections: Morning Bowls, Side Bowls, Big Bowls, Sweet Bowls & Dressing and Sauces. The book has lots of colorful pictures and is a joy to look at visually and most of the recipes use ingredients that are easy to find. The recipes however were a little too different for my taste and ones that I didn't feel I would make too often although there are some that I would like to try. The chapter that I feel I would get the most use out of is the Dressing and Sauces chapter. There are lots of options to use with fish, beef, chicken or salads. The Everyday Green Dressing looks delicious along with the Yogurt Ranch Dressing and are the ones that I will be sure to try out. In the Big Bowls section, the Smoky Tortilla Soup Looks very good and so does the Creamy Mushroom Pasta with Frizzled Leeks. Overall while there are a lot of recipes in this book, I find that there are only a handful that I would actually be interested in making. I do however enjoy paging through it and reading the stories that the author tells about each dish. I would say to give it a try if you like trying new things and if you like everything to be mixed together in one bowl. You can buy your own copy here: Sprouted Kitchen Bowl & Spoon

I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest review from BloggingforBooks.com

My New Roots Cookbook Review

I received a free copy of this cookbook, My New Roots by Sarah Britton last week from Blogging for Books and have thoroughly enjoyed paging through it. I have a collection of well over 200 cookbooks and find this one to be a unique and wonderful addition to my collection. The pages are brimming with colorful photograph of wonderful recipes. The list of recipes that I want to try is abundant, The recipes are broken into seasons which is a totally genius way to use a vegetarian cookbook. This guarantees that all of the recipes you use will be at the peak of flavor and perfection.  There are lots of new recipes for desserts including Pina Colada Passion Fruit Popsicles and twists on some old favorites like the Pecan Cranberry Pie. I can't wait to try them all! There are many breakfast items, main dishes and tons of new side dishes. All look simply delicious! There are so many brand new recipes that you won't find anywhere else. Take for example the Sunflower Sesame Seed Brittle and the Salt N Pepper Chocolate Chip Cookies. Amazing! The authors famous Life Changing Loaf of Bread recipe is also included and I can't wait to try it! This cookbook is for everyone who wants to eat healthier and incorporate more fruits, vegetables and whole grains into their daily life and cooking. The only downside that I have found is that sometimes the ingredients can be a little hard to find. Spelt berries, nigella seeds, hemp and sorrel leaves are among some of the ingredients that I believe I will have a hard time finding but the good news is that there are many many recipes that have very easy to find ingredients. With 100 new recipes, there are sure to be lots that you will incorporate into your repertoire and be well on the road to eating healthier and tastier meals and desserts. I love this cookbook! 

To get your copy go here: http://amzn.to/1JeFZyA and go to www.BloggingforBooks.com for more information on how you can sign up to review books too!