Guest Review w/ Larissa: Whole Food Vegan Baking by Annie Markowitz, PhD

Source:  My Friend, Stephanie 

Stephanie received this book from Callisto Publishing Club and Rockridge Press in exchange for an honest review, and passed it along to Larissa for review. This in no way alters her opinion or review. 

Whole Food Vegan Baking: Delicious Recipes Using Healthy, Natural Ingredients by Annie Markowitz, PhD
Length: 100 pages
Publisher: RockRidge Press
Publication Date: 2020  

 

Format: Paperback

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Vegan baking made even healthier—and just as deliciousThe classic cookies, cakes, and pies in Whole Food Vegan Baking have been transformed into better-for-you versions of themselves that still taste fantastic. Most vegan baking includes refined sugar and other processed foods, but these recipes are made with only natural, whole food, plant-based ingredients. So you can be kind to your body while still indulging in decadence.Whether you’re vegan, or just in search of a healthier way to enjoy your favorite sweets, Whole Food Vegan Baking shows you how to create cookies with chickpea flour, oil-free apple pie, and dozens of other vegan baked goods that you’ll love to eat and be proud to serve.Whole Food Vegan Baking is:Easy as pie—Bake each recipe to perfection with simple instructions, and notes on prep time, cook time, and all the necessary tools. Vegan, naturally—Learn the science behind swapping sweeteners, omitting oil, and picking plant-based—without sacrificing flavor. Tips and tricks—Get pointers on recipe variations, ingredient substitutions, serving suggestions, and more.Experience natural vegan baking that’s as flavorful as it is good for you with Whole Food Vegan Baking.

Review: 

First, I should admit that I am a cook, not a baker. My baking repertoire is confined to the realm of cookies, muffins, fruit breads, and the occasional birthday cake. All of these things I can do quite well, but not great. Further, when my husband and I went from vegetarian to vegan last year, a lot of recipes went out the window. Yes, there are things you can use as egg replacements, but honestly I’m such a non-baker that the complication of a “chia egg” was enough to turn me off from even attempting to convert most of my old recipes to be vegan-friendly.

When Stephanie asked if I’d be interested in this book, I jumped at the chance to try it out. I have only one other fully vegan cookbook and looked forward to building out my culinary library around our new lifestyle. When I first got it, I thumbed through the recipes as I usually do, to see if anything caught my eye. I was pleasantly surprised that the recipes seemed simple and approachable. Many had less than 10 ingredients required, and they were all “normal” things like oats, applesauce, and sugar. I was able to identify several that I had all the ingredients for on hand and could therefore make right away – winning!

At this point, having tried several recipes I can attest that they produce consistently yummy results. Favorites include the Easy-as-Pie Apple Pie Bread and Healthy Carrot Cake with Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting. I’ll note that as a cook, I’m prone to making … adjustments throughout the process. I know, I know. I can’t help it though! This is why I’m not a baker. Anywho, the recipes have held up well to my changes, which mainly include the addition of flour to help firm up the consistency of the batter. While I appreciate the author’s attempt to keep things gluten free, my diet doesn’t necessitate that, so bring on the gluten!

The only negative I’ve found is that the ingredients lists doesn’t seem to include water. It’s a minor detail, but as someone who likes to set out all the necessary ingredients and measuring utensils ahead of time, I found it annoying. The first couple times I actually re-read the ingredient list to make sure I hadn’t missed anything upon encountering the addition of water in the recipe instructions. Spoiler alert – I hadn’t. Minor inconvenience aside, I have still thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to making more recipes from it in the future.  

Many, many thanks to Larissa for taking the time to try out this cook book AND write a review for me/us. 

Share some love in the comments below and let us know if you have any great recipes (vegan and non-vegan) to share [pssst...we like sweets] . Happy reading, baking, cooking, etc  - xoxo, Steph

Angels Among Us? A Spotlight for The Celestial Assignment by Theresa Braun

The Celestial Assignment by Theresa Braun

Publisher: Gorgon Blood Press
Publication Date:  February 14, 2020

 

Goodreads Synopsis: 

After a sudden death, Will, a misguided angel, is tasked with protecting a baby girl. Watching over her as she grows up and navigates the world appears a harsh punishment for his past failings. Can he redeem himself, or will he fall further from grace?  

Angels Among Us? Behind “The Celestial Assignment” 

with Theresa Braun

I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of angels, no matter what kind. Give me cherubs. Give me fallen angels. Give me everything in between. You don’t necessarily have to be religious to consider we might have guardian angels watching over us. It’s actually an extremely comforting thought. But it also lends itself to the question: to what extend can they interfere with our lives? I mean, many people claim to have been inexplicably saved from certain death. Even a select few describe celestial beings appearing to them in visions or in dreams, offering important messages. And why not? Countless classical mythologies and artworks portray just that. So, why in the modern world wouldn’t we have the same experiences? If we’d just be receptive to this, perhaps we’d have our own stories to share. 

Those of you who’ve seen movies like City of Angels with Meg Ryan and Nicolas Cage have experienced how fictional stories have blurred line between mortal and immortal. A quick summary for those who’ve missed this 1998 flick. Cage plays an angel who essentially falls in love with Ryan’s character. Consequently, he gives up his otherworldly existence to become human so he can be with her. Every time I think of the ending, I grab some tissues. What a tear jerker. Anyway, it’s the ultimate romance. A supernatural being sacrificing it all just to be with you? Talk about the ultimate compliment. Just heavenly (sorry, I couldn’t resist). And, I think it’s safe to say that he (or she) would definitely be a great catch—none of the human flaws that could sabotage a romantic relationship. Sure, there’d be other issues… but wouldn’t that be half the fun? 

The movie Meet Joe Black (another 1998 release) also toys with the pitfalls of mortality and what it means to be human—but from the POV of Death. Storytellers have been matching up mortals with immortals since the beginning of time. Just revisit Greek and Roman mythology, or even the Old Testament where the ‘sons of God’ impregnate the ‘daughters of men’. Yeah, that’s some spicy stuff right there.  

In the end, I’m a huge fan of these stories, which is probably why I wrote one of my own. “The Celestial Assignment” supposes that maybe some of us, when we die, get to become guardian angels. A removal from the human world forces a certain objectivity. While no none can really see or hear you, you’re adrift in your own thoughts. That’s what happens to my character Will. His metaphorical hands are tied while he watches a new baby blossom into a young woman. Can he finally self-reflect on his past incarnations on earth, while remaining emotionally detached enough to look out for her best interests? You’ll have to read to find out if he can redeem himself for his past mistakes. Or if he can offer us all some hope and understanding of what it means to graduate from the school of life. And, is there such a things as earning a set of angel wings?

Blog Tour: Guest Post - Choosing Books For Your Kids by Fiona Ingram

Fiona Ingram’s

WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING TOUR
OF
The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper

About the Book

A plane crash! Lost in the jungle! Hunted by their old enemy, will Adam, Justin, and Kim survive long enough to find the Third Stone of Power? With only a young boy, Tukum, as their guide, the kids make their way through the dense and dangerous jungle to find the lost city of stone gods, where the Stone of Power might be located. River rafting on a crocodile-infested river and evading predators are just part of this hazardous task. Of course, their old adversary Dr. Khalid is close behind as the kids press on. But he is not the worst of their problems. This time Adam will clash with a terrible enemy who adopts the persona of an evil Aztec god, Tezcatlipoca, and is keen to revive the ancient tradition of human sacrifice. Adam, Justin, and Tukum must play a dreadful ball game of life and death and maybe survive. Will they emerge alive from the jungle? Will Dr. Khalid find the third Stone of Power before they do?

Print Length: 318 Pages

Genre: Middle Grade Fiction, Adventure

Publisher: Bublish, Incorporated (November 2017)

ISBN: 978-1946229465

The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper is available to purchase on Amazon.com. 

Choosing Books for Your Kids by Fiona Ingram 

 

Choosing books wisely for a child is important because young children are impressionable. If your child is familiar with reading and books from an early age, they will probably grow up with an interest in books, and a respect for reading. What many parents don’t realize is that enjoyment of reading is not automatic; it is learned by association. When a parent reads with a child, that feeling of togetherness, that special time, creates in the child a sense of enjoyment that they then associate with reading, and thus as they grow up, reading is associated with pleasure. This will create a solid foundation in their literacy and education skills and possibly even influence their life and career choices.

Children usually begin to read around the ages of four to six. A child may even begin earlier, especially if the parent has formed a habit of bedtime reading with the child.

However, many parents may not know how to choose age appropriate books for their child. Good bookshops will be able to advise, and don’t forget to tap into the experience of your local librarian. Publishers of children’s books generally have excellent resources on their web sites to advise parents on suitability of titles. Choose books for your child around their age, interests, and the type of books they have already read and enjoyed. As they get older, let them make their own choices and start to formulate their own opinions. Make reading exciting by exploring great stories together from an early age!

Ages 0-5 (Preschool)

In this age group, children need interesting stimulation and colorful visuals to promote vision and identification with objects, people, and animals. Board books, fabric books, pop-up books, and picture books are loads of fun to share with Mom and Dad. Examples: Slippers, Sunny Days & Starry Nights, and Leon the Lizard.

Ages 7-9 (Chapter)

Chapter books are the next step for this age group. Chapters are usually short with exciting story lines, and the beginnings of more complex character and plot development. Parents can also encourage their children to think beyond the story by asking the child’s opinion of the characters’ actions and choices. Children can also retell the story to the parent in their own words. In this way, parents can track their child’s development of logic, memory, and comprehension skills. Illustrations will help the child appreciate and remember the story. Examples: The Spiderwick Chronicles, The Witches, Hero.

Ages 10+ (Middle grade+)

Now children begin to enjoy more complex themes and character developments, as well as elements in the characters to which they can relate. They like characters that are children solving problems, or children with problems, and start to form a moral, ethical, and emotional picture of the world. They will also begin to make their own reading choices. Your child will love reading if books capture the child’s attention. Examples: Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson.

Problematic Themes

Sexuality and violence are worrying themes. The older the child the more independent they will be regarding book choices. From teen and YA years, choices will be up to the individual. By then the child’s upbringing and moral training will help them make their own decisions. Concerned parents should watch what their teen is reading but remain open to discussing controversial issues. Popular teen/YA choices include The Hunger Games, Inheritance Cycle, and the Twilight series.

Publishing houses categorize book lists on their web sites. A local librarian can also advise on appropriate choices if a parent is concerned. Most children read up so allow your child to select a more advanced book than usual for their age group. Above all, let your child explore and find the books that they love!

About the Author

Fiona Ingram is a children’s author, but up until a few years ago, she was a journalist and editor. Something rather unexpected sparked her new career as an author—a family trip to Egypt with her mother and two young nephews. They had a great time and she thought she’d write them a short story as a different kind of souvenir…. Well, one book and a planned book series later, she had changed careers. She has now published Book 3 (The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper) in her middle grade adventure series Chronicles of the Stone, with many awards for the first book, The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, and a few for Book 2, The Search for the Stone of Excalibur, and one already for Book 3! She also teaches online novel writing for aspiring authors and she finds that very satisfying. Relaxation time finds her enjoying something creative or artistic, music, books, theatre or ballet. She loves doing research for her book series. Fiona loves animals and has written two animal rescue stories. She has two adorable (naughty) little dogs called Chloe and Pumpkin, and a beautiful black cat called Bertie.

Find the Author

Facebook / Website / Twitter / Author Site / Blog / GoodReads

Guest Post w/ Giveaway! - The New Adventures of A.R. Achanid by Sandi Smith

Book Details:

Book Title: The New Adventures of A.R. Achnid (Revised Edition)
Author: Sandi Smith
Illustrator: Kathy Lee
Category: Children's Fiction, 126 pages
Genre: Children's Chapter Book, Animals, Bugs & Spiders
Publisher: Mindstir Media
Release date: January 3, 2017
Tour dates: June 18 to July 13, 2018
Content Rating: G

About the Book:

Harold! There goes that spider! See, he is running on the floor! That spider has to go. He cannot live here anymore!!! Oh, no! Beth looks very, very angry. What has A.R. Achnid done now? Well, before A.R. got into big trouble with Beth, he had a lot of wonderful adventures.

There are ten different adventures in this book. There is the time he went to the circus and rode on a balloon, and then had some shoo fly pie. Another day, A.R. and Rex (a Great Dane, who is A.R.’s best friend) decided to walk all the way into town, and they had such a wonderful time. Then, A.R. and his family went to New York City for the biggest craft fair ever (which was for spiders only), plus many, many other adventures.

Unfortunately, in the tenth story, A.R.’s current living situation is going to need an adjustment. Something changes in the lives of Harold and Beth (the humans) that will make things very difficult for A.R. Come along with A.R. for some fun, and find out what small bundle will cause problems for A.R. and his family.

As A.R. says, “Spiders rule!”

To follow the tour, please visit Sandi Smith's page on iRead Book Tours.

Buy the Book:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Add to Goodreads

Guest Post THE ADVENTURES OF A.R.ACHNID 

Sandi Smith

Family First ~ Life when I’m not Writing

Family is first.  Now that we are retired, if they need any help around their house, or need us to pick up the grandchildren from school, or drop their vehicles off at the garage and need a ride to work, we are now available 24/7 to do those things whenever they need us.  When Johnny first retired, I told my daughter-in-law that I felt sorry for her, because we would be over there every day driving her crazy.  She is sweet, so she said that would be okay, but we are so busy.  We are hardly ever there.  Maybe in the fall things will slow down for us, and we can keep our word and drive her crazy, but right now it is filled with lots of things to do. I think time is going faster now that my husband has retired, then when we both worked.  Certainly, less money, but very nice to be able to spend time together.

Unfortunately, I still work part time, but I work from the house.   At 5:30 in the morning (that’s correct, 5:30 in the morning), we head up to the office where I work.  I drop off my work from the day before, and then I pick up any work that is there waiting for me to do that day.   Having to get work done every day does limit our freedom to travel or go for day trips.   I know my boss would tell me not to worry about getting it done every day, but I could not enjoy myself if I had work waiting for me at home.  Work needs to get done first, then play, so our days are really centered around my work.

My husband and I like to kayak, and we have some beautiful bodies of water in New Hampshire.  I like the quieter lakes, and we stay close to the edges.  It is so peaceful and relaxing.  We were out on the lake one day and it was a cloudy day with a very heavy mist.  We were soaked by the time we left the water, but it was so much fun. I like it when the water is a little choppy, as I like going over the waves (not too big).  With kayaking, you go at your own pace.  We sometimes look for a nice quiet, shady cove, and we just sit there and bounce with any waves that come our way.   Johnny usually does a little fishing.  I will bring a book so I can relax and read.

Watch the book trailer:

About the Author:

Sandi Smith spent her time as a young girl combing the shelves of the public library. She has always enjoyed the magic that books have to offer and was inspired by her high school English teacher, Mr. Coolidge to embrace the arts. The author found her calling as a writer early one morning as her first story came to her in the form of a poem. Since then she has written more than 15 children’s books, with her most popular series about the adventures of an adorable spider in the A.R. Achnid series.

Sandi is happily married to her inspiration and husband of 40 years, John. She continues to write for her two precious grandchildren. When she’s not penning a new story, Sandi and John like to camp, kayak and to enjoy the simple life in their home in Pembroke, NH.

Find the Author

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest

Enter the Giveaway!

Ends July 21, 2018
Prize: Hardcover copy of The New Adventures of A.R. Achnid 
Open to USA & Canada - 1 winner

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Blog Blast: Guest Post and Giveaway - The Boy Who Dreamt of Fire Trucks by Alvita Mack

The Boy Who Dreamt of Fire Trucks by Alvita Mack
Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 26 pages
Genre: Children's Books, Cars, Trains & Things That Go, Cars & Trucks
Publisher: Mindstir Media
Release date: September 26, 2016
Tour dates: May 28 to June 22, 2018
Content Rating: G

About the Book

This story is about a little boy who is fascinated by fire trucks. Throughout his early life, he has dreams about the adventures at the station and the exciting life of a firefighter. The little boy holds his dreams close until one day they become a reality.

To follow the tour please visit Alvita Mack's page on iRead Book Tours.

​

Buy the Book:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Add to Goodreads

Watch the book trailer:  

My Inspiration for Writing The Boy Who Dreamt of Fire Trucks by Alvita Mack

The way this book came about was truly by accident. I have a son that experienced some developmental delays early on, so I was always searching for interventions to support and strengthen his skills. My son has always been an artist at heart and really enjoyed drawing pictures. When he was four years old, I began to write simple sentences to go along with his drawing. Before I knew it, that activity became a hobby for us that we both enjoyed immensely. Not only did we bond with one another in the process but we were able to work on his speech development at the same time. 

Most of Roman’s beginning drawings were firetrucks and fireman. He became fascinated with firetrucks when he was two and half, so a lot of his illustrations were based on what he was most interested in besides the typical drawing of mommy and daddy. One day we were sitting in bed, and I just finished reading the book “Fireman Small” to my son. After we were done he decided to draw a picture of a fireman and firetruck. Once his illustration was completed, I began to jot down some simple sentences to go along with Roman’s picture. Before I knew, I had a page full of words that happened to rhyme. 

Roman was excited to have a story that matched his drawing, and I was happy to just spend quality time with him. Later that day, I showed my husband the picture Roman drew and I read the story out loud, my husband looked at me and said, “That’s actually really good, you should publish it”. I thought about it for a second, but I remembered I was still in the process of publishing my first book that I co-wrote with one of my best friends. The thought of taking on another project before completing the initial one was overwhelming to say the least. 

A couple of weeks later, I was speaking to a friend, and I happened to read the story to her on a whim, and again I received great feedback. In that moment, I thought I was a little crazy for attempting to begin the publishing process all over but I told myself it was different this time for a couple of reasons. This book was truly a labor of love because, it was based on my little boy, and I have purchased countless informational and fictional books based on fireman, and none of them really mirrored my son. He was always aware that he was different from his peers, and I felt it was my responsibility as his mother to ensure him that his differences just made him unique and special. Now he embraces his long luscious brown curls and he knows that his best is what we expect from him.

I always try to instill the importance of working hard and never giving up on yourself, because essentially you are your biggest cheerleader. You have to believe in yourself and your abilities to accomplish anything but especially greatness. The process of making this book was really cool because everything was approved by my five year old. All of the illustrations mirror his real-life interests, such as, Tae Kwon Do and Soccer. All of the numbers throughout the book are significant and correlated with my son’s birthday. All in all my son inspired this story.

About the Author

Alvita is a lover of writing, a teacher, and most importantly, a mom. Writing has always provided a creative outlet for which she finds sensible solutions. Having a son with developmental delays was very challenging for her. However, she used books and original stories to help him overcome the obstacles he faced at an early age. Alvita believes that the imagination is truly a key that unlocks the doors to an endless journey.

Find the Author

 Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram

Enter the Giveaway!

Ends June 30, 2018

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Blog Tour: Guest Post from Orren Merton author of Stringer and Bow w/ Giveaway!

Welcome to my tour stop for Stinger and Bow by Orren Merton! This is a young adult urban fantasy and is the first book in a spin off series of The Sedumen Chronicles. The tour runs Feb. 15-26 with reviews, interviews, guest posts and excerpts.  Check out the tour page for the full schedule.

About the Book:

Stinger needs a new crossbow. 

Thirteen year-old Rachel Silver—or as she's known to the world, Stinger—needs a new crossbow. Her last bow failed her when she needed it most. Besides, Firebird Alex, her aunt and fellow Seduman—half-human, half-spirit being—wields a Sedu blade, made with spirit magic.
So Stinger designs herself a magic crossbow, then convinces her best friends to accompany her around the world and into the universe of Sediin to find the right craftsmen to have it made. Trouble is, warriors attract people who want to challenge them, whether they're ready or not. Stinger is still tormented by her last battle—she's suffering night-terrors, shakes, and cold sweats. When the situation turns deadly, will she be able to come to grips with her trauma and become the warrior she needs to be to save her friends?

Goodreads | Amazon

MESSAGE TO YOUNG WRITERS: DOS AND DON’T by Orren Merton

My basic advice is the advice that any honest writer will give you: the most important thing to do if you want to be a writer is to write. Start writing something, finish what you started, let people read it. It’s simple, but it’s also right. All the other advice is just dressing.

But as dressing goes, here’s some tasty bits:

DO create an environment conducive to being creative. That’s going to be different for everyone. Do you need an empty room, so nothing distracts you? Or a cluttered room with your favorite things? Or maybe lots of images and artwork related to your story? Do you need music in the background to help create a mood? Or total silence so you can concentrate? There’s no right or wrong, so go ahead and experiment to find what works best for you.

DON’T go online unless you have to. I’m not one of these people who believes that you must turn off the Internet completely to write; I’ll often find myself looking up a word or place or translation in the middle of my writing. But it’s too easy to say that you’re just going to check out your social network timelines for a little while, and pretty soon, you’re sucked in.

DO give yourself an achievable goal for each writing session. Generally, that means setting a word count (“I’m going to write 1000 words today”) or a time count (“I’m going to write for two hours today”). Make sure it’s something that pushes you and keeps you focused, but also is achievable. So if your mind starts turning to jelly at 2500 words in a sitting, or if after 2 hours you start getting ansty, set your writing session goals accordingly. You can always raise them later.

DON’T obsess over every word to make it perfect. The most important thing is just to get the words out. You hear a lot about “writer’s block.” I think that the majority of it is simply people being too hung up on every word being perfect. Give yourself permission to suck—you can always go back and change it later. Again, remember the rules above—the most important thing is to write.

DO choose topics and stories that interest you. If you do, you’re going to write better, because you’re engaged, your enjoying yourself, and what you’re doing is making you happy. Remember, there are a million things that you can do with your time. If you’re going to spend that time writing, make sure that you’re excited to be doing it, and not wishing you were doing something else.

But more than anything: write, write, write!

About the Author

Orren Merton started writing fantasy and science fiction at an embarrassingly young age. In high school, he picked up guitar and start playing up and down California in a few loud and moody bands, culminating in his current project  Ember After.  During that time, magazines, developers, and corporations began to pay him to write and edit music software related articles, manuals, and  books. Since then he has written the urban fantasy novel The Deviant and the science fiction novel Skye Entity before working on The Sedumen Chronicles, his current series of urban fantasy YA novels. He lives in Southern California with his family, pets, collection of sci-fi/fantasy memorabilia, and curiously large stuffed animal collection.

 

Find the Author

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads 

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One winner gets a Kindle and digital copy of Stinger and Bow (US)

One winner gets a $25 gift card & digital copy of Stinger and Bow (INT)

Ends March 2nd

Prizing is provided by the author, hosts are not responsible in any way. Must be 13 or older to enter and have parental permission if under 17. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to enter. 

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This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.