Tag Archives: desserts

Dingo Toad Helps a Friend by Lamar Golden and Liana Golden (Book Review)

Join Dingo Toad on an inspiring adventure in Dingo Toad Helps a Friend. In this heartwarming tale, Dingo Toad discovers the true meaning of friendship and bravery when his friend Penny faces bullies. With a big heart and a courageous spirit, Dingo Toad stands up to the bullies and teaches us all valuable lessons about kindness, resilience, and standing up for what’s right.

Perfect for young readers, this beautifully illustrated book not only entertains but also provides important life lessons on dealing with bullies and being a good friend. Share this wonderful story with your children and help them understand that everyone has the power to make a difference.

Dingo Toad Helps a Friend is a must-read for any child who has ever faced a bully or wanted to help someone in need. Let Dingo Toad inspire your little ones to be brave and compassionate in the face of adversity.


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(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

 

Dingo Toad lived in the southern swamp region of planet Venesha. This uniquely illustrative character’s fashion sense resembled what Earthlings wear daily: t-shirt, shorts, and open-toed shoes. Dingo was also sporting a white mohawk. Nice hairdo!

While the alien’s style was something you’d see here on our planet, Dingo had features that definitely screamed Alien! For one, Dingo had large yellow spots covering their teal skin. They also had a toad-shaped face with two oversized eyes and mouth, two holes for nostrils, a purple tongue, three large toes on each foot, and four fingers on each hand.

While Dingo Toad looked different than you or me, they enjoyed many of the same things as us. Dingo looked very adorable playing in the bubble bath. I found it cute that Dingo was listening to his mom read him Nortis Goes Swimming—another book by Lamar and Liana Golden. Dingo shared one important similarity with humans: their planet, like ours, had bullies. When Dingo saw his friend, Penny, being bullied by Sangu and Piman, he did not hurry away. Dingo didn’t throw punches, either. He, very sternly, demanded they apologize for being “meanies,” which they did immediately.

Unfortunately, kids will encounter bullies during their school years. Maybe they will be the target, or perhaps they’ll witness someone else being harassed. No matter the situation, kids should follow Dingo’s example —use your words, not your fists. Not every bully apologizes as quickly as they did in this story. That is where the extended lesson on how to deal with bullies should be addressed with your child or class. Ask kids what they would do if their friend is being bullied, and the “meanies” don’t stop when asked.

Dingo Toad Helps a Friend is a wonderful sci-fi children’s book that shows the importance of standing up to bullies and the power of our words. I loved every colorful and imaginative illustration. The wild and wacky zoo animals were my favorite! Even though I won’t be placing flies in my ice cream or other foods any time soon, I even thought the bug-infused desserts were cute, too.

Check out this and every book featured on the planet, Venesha!

Amazon’s recommended reading age is baby-12 years.


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Meet the Authors

Lamar:  I am a Navy Veteran who has traveled the world, met wonderful people and have enjoyed the culture, diversity and cuisines from around the world. I enjoy making up stories with my daughter to pass time and love to smoke ribs, brisket and any other meat or fish that I think would taste good.

I love hunting and fishing and believe in passing on lessons learned down to the younger generation. My motto is reach for the stars and see where it takes you.

 

Liana:  Second grade student who enjoys playing with friends, going to KidZania & Disneyland, learning at school and spending time with my mom and dad.  I love the zoo, learning about nature which my dad alw

 

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The Christmas Movie Cookbook: Recipes from Your Favorite Holiday Films by Julia Rutland (Book Spotlight)

Bring the merry festivities from the screen right to your own table with The Christmas Movie Cookbook with more than 65 scrumptious recipes inspired by scenes from your favorite Christmas films.

Do you ever yearn for roast turkey while watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation? Or, for the more cynical, do you wish you could taste the roast beast from How the Grinch Stole Christmas? Well, top up your mug of eggnog and don your coziest ugly sweater: ‘tis the season to recreate the dishes from all of your favorite holiday movies with the help of The Christmas Movie Cookbook.

This season you can indulge alongside your favorite Elf characters as they make special spaghetti and get tipsy with the Bad Moms crew while they imbibe their spiced cider. Just crack open The Christmas Movie Cookbook and discover sixty-five mouthwatering recipes to add joy to any holiday gathering.

Recipes include:
-Old Fashioned Meatloaf from A Christmas Story
-Chicken, Broccoli, and Cheddar Cheese Soup from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
-Christmas Pudding from A Christmas Carol
-Breakfast Strata from The Family Stone
-Really Rich Hot Chocolate from Polar Express
-And much more!

Complete with tips on entertaining and menu ideas for your merry gatherings, The Christmas Movie Cookbook is the perfect companion to your holiday season.

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Meet the Author

Julia Rutland is a Washington, DC-area writer and recipe developer whose work appears regularly in publications and websites such as Southern LivingCoastal Living, and Weight Watchers books. She is the author of Discover DinnertimeThe Campfire Foodie CookbookOn a StickBlueberriesSquashFoil Pack Dinners, Apples, 101 Lasagnas & Other Layered Casseroles, Tomatoes, and Honey. Julia lives in the Washington, DC, wine country town of Hillsboro, Virginia, with her husband, two daughters, and many furred and feathered friends.

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Closer to Okay by Amy Watson (Book Review)

Weaving culinary delights with an honest, appraising look at how we deal with the world when it becomes too much, Closer to Okay is the comfort food we all need in these, well, crazy times.

Kyle Davies is doing fine. She has her routine, after all, ingrained in her from years of working as a baker: wake up, make breakfast, prep the dough, make lunch, work the dough, make dinner, bake dessert, go to bed. Wash, rinse, repeat. It’s a good routine. Comforting. Almost enough to help her forget the scars on her wrist, still healing from when she slit it a few weeks ago; that she lost her job at the bakery when she checked herself in as an inpatient at Hope House; then signed away all decisions about her life, medical care, and wellbeing to Dr. Booth (who may or may not be a hack). So, yeah, Kyle’s doing just fine.

Except that a new item’s been added to her daily to-do list recently: stare out her window at the coffee shop (named, well…The Coffee Shop) across the street, and its hot owner, Jackson. It’s healthy to have eye candy when you’re locked in the psych ward, right? Something low risk to keep yourself distracted. So when Dr. Booth allows Kyle to leave the facility–two hours a day to go wherever she wants–she decides to up the stakes a little more. Why not visit? Why not see what Jackson’s like in person?

Turns out that Jackson’s a jerk with a heart of gold, a deadly combination that Kyle finds herself drawn to more than she should be. (Aren’t we all?) At a time when Dr. Booth delivers near-constant warnings about the dangers of romantic entanglements, Kyle is pulled further and further into Jackson’s orbit. At first, the feeling of being truly taken care of is bliss, like floating on a wave. But at a time when Kyle is barely managing her own problems, she finds herself suddenly thrown into the deep end of someone else’s. Dr. Booth may have been right after all: falling in love may be the thing that sends Kyle into a backslide she might never be able to crawl out of. Is Jackson too much for her to handle? Does love come at the cost of sanity?

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from R&R Book Tours.
I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Closer to Okay tore me up. I cried so many times that I thought I would have to go to the store for more Kleenex. I choked up when Kyle threw her arms around Jackson because she desperately needed a hug. I wanted to hug her at that moment, and I am not a hugger. 

When Kyle confided about her mother to Jackson, I again felt the urge to hug her. Kyle seemed so broken and, at times, almost came across as a lost child – not a struggling adult. 

When Jackson showed us his vulnerable side, my heart began to ache for him. I felt terrible for him when he begged Kyle for help, and she turned him down. I shed a tear when he first hugged her and wrote that beautiful letter. 

Closer to Okay does contain subject matter that might be difficult for some people to read. Trigger warning: suicide attempt, suicide, anxiety, depression, anorexia, panic attacks, etc. If these areas are difficult for you to read, I suggest not reading this book. If you suffer from mental disorders and feel like you can handle these topics, I encourage you to give this book a chance. I suffer from many issues and will admit this book was hard for me to read, BUT I’m glad I didn’t give up on it. Kyle and Jackson are beautifully broken people who bring out the best in each other. 

I don’t feel like the end is the end of their story. At least, I hope there’s a sequel in the works. 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤

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Meet the Author

Amy-Watson-credit-Rita-Earles-1160x1536-1-300x300

Amy Watson is a native of Little Rock, Arkansas. A wife, a mother to two boys, and a full-time office manager. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, baking, drinking coffee, knitting, and watching football.

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Sweet Love by Iman Osman (Book Review)

Sweet Love is a compilation of classic desserts handed down from one generation to the next. It is the way Iman’s family connect, sharing and making new memories. The intention behind this book is to revive bonding, love, appreciation, and connection throughout generations of families through the love of baking.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

“Sweet Love is a compilation of classic desserts handed down from one generation to the next. The intention behind this book is to revive bonding, love, appreciation, and connection throughout generations of families through the love of baking.” – Iman Osman

The author’s intent with Sweet Love is to bring her kids and her mother together over our shared love for food, for the timeless desserts that her grandmother has passed down to them. I couldn’t wait to see what seasonal and nonseasonal desserts Iman had shared. 

Iman Osman did not only offer recipes; they also shared tips. For starters, they instructed readers on what to use in place of ghee, how to properly cut and store a vanilla bean, and dividing a cake. As a fan of cooking and baking shows, I’ve seen bakers (professionally and home cooks) attempt to do the perfect split. I haven’t tried it myself, but I think it’s time to try it using Iman’s instructions. 

Iman Osman’s family recipes look divine. Oh, how I wish I could reach inside my laptop and pull out the beaters. I bet the chocolate ganache tasted delicious. 

My family loves raspberry jam, so I know they will be thrilled if they see me making fresh jam for them. With only three ingredients, the recipe will be easy on the wallet. Since I have never made fresh jam before, I appreciated all the “Tips and Tricks” and the storing information. 

The “Linzer Cookie” also looked yummy and activated my sweet tooth. I will have to try it this winter. Thank you, Iman, for the “How to assemble a Linzer Cookie.” You took the guesswork out of the process! 

There are numerous mouth-watering recipes in Sweet Love. Chocolatey, fruity, custards, pudding, biscuits, cheesecake, cookies, nutty—Iman has that and much more! 

This book contained recipes for desserts that I have tried before in my home and through travels. It also had desserts I’ve only seen on television and longed to try, such as “Granita” and “Kunafa.” With Iman’s how-to images, tips, and suggestions, I feel empowered to take them all on. My family will thank you; my waistline, not so much. 

Sweet Love is the perfect book for any time of year. So, grab your apron, and let’s serve something sweet for your family tonight! 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤

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Be a Superhero in the Kitchen by Donna Glass (Book Showcase)

The book contains a detailed list of Superhero Cooking Tips and delicious kid-friendly recipes including Super Chicken Tacos, Powerful Potato Cakes, Mega Mac and Cheese Pizza, Crime Fighter’s Cookie Fluff, Legendary Lemon Tarts, and many more!

Let your child try their hand with the recipes in this book. Every kid who becomes the superhero of suppertime is one who eats super well!

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Angie Quantrell 
 

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I am a wife, mother of two kids, a lover of comic books, and a home cook. I believe in making mealtime an enjoyable experience through joint cooking and kid-friendly meals. I also believe kids that help with the cooking process are more likely to eat their meals, which leads to a happy, peaceful dining experience. Be a Superhero in the Kitchen is my first children’s cookbook, but I strive to publish more.

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