Simply Grillin: 105 Recipes for Quick and Casual Grilling

By: Jennifer Chandler

Simply Grilling is filled with so many mouth-watering recipes!  I am so glad that summer is just around the corner.  However, I learned from this book that I can grill any time of the year by purchasing a cast-iron grill pan that can be used indoors.  What I love about this cookbook is that it is not just a cookbook filled with recipes it is truly educational.  The author did a great job explaining how easy grilling can be.  Not being an experienced griller myself, I learned so many great tips from this book including that even salad can be grilled.  The author makes the book very user friendly by including a grill pan icon with recipes that can be made indoors which I believe will be very helpful when choosing recipes.  The author also really thought about her audience and includes the following with her recipes (when applicable): cooking tips, do-ahead, variations, marinate, and suggested sides.  There are so many other useful tips like the differences between gas and charcoal grills, how to best control the heat of the grill, how to be sure that meats are properly cooked and what items are essential for grilling.  I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone.  For the less experienced griller, I am sure you will find the tips very useful.  For both the experienced and less experienced griller, I am sure you will enjoy the recipes! 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Farm Fresh Southern Cooking: Straight from the Garden to Your Dinner Table

By: Tammy Algood

Farm Fresh Southern Cooking is a great cookbook with a lot of wonderful recipes!  I cannot wait to try them.  The author encourages people to cook fresh foods and purchase these items from their local farmers market.  She mentions that finding a local market can be a challenge for some people so she explains where to go to find this information.  She also encourages people, when traveling, to shop at local farmers markets.  She makes a great, often overlooked point, that different states may have different growing conditions.  Therefore, when traveling, people may often find that food tastes better than what they are used to at home or they may find some unique food items.  I have found this to be true in my travels.   

Another great part of this book is that it spotlights farms and farmers markets.  The author did a great job sprinkling this information through-out the book.  Included with the name of the market is the address, phone number, e-mail and website (if applicable), and consumer experience.  The consumer experience is helpful as it notes if it is a farmers market or if items can be purchased on-line.  The author also includes some information about the market.  I think this information would also be great for anyone who is traveling and looking to check out some local markets.

I would definitely recommend this book!  Enjoy! 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Great Day Every Day By: Max Lucado

Great Day Every Day is a book about navigating through the ups and downs in life.  Max Lucado challenges his readers to weave Psalm 118:24 into each day.  This scripture states “This is the day the Lord has made.  We will rejoice and be glad in it.”  The scripture does not state that we must only rejoice in the good days.  Yes, life can certainly throw some curve balls but the key is how we respond.  Max encourages his readers to trust the Lord in all things and believe He is in control of each day.  Max also points out that just because something bad happens during the day does not mean that the entire day should be viewed as “bad”.  For example, someone may receive a speeding ticket but, who knows, that speeding ticket may have saved him/her from being involved in an accident up ahead. 

 Max Lucado is truly a gifted writer who can say so much in so few words.  I really enjoyed this book and found it encouraging.  It was a short book (only 112 pages) and very easy to read.  There is a Daily Compass at the end of each chapter which provides some scripture(s) and some thoughts to reflect upon.  At the end of the book there is a discussion guide and a thirty-day devotional.  I would definitely recommend reading this book.

 Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Miracle for Jen By: Linda Barrick

*FREE BOOK GIVE-AWAY* 

Would you like one free copy of “Miracle for Jen”?  Please leave a comment below along with your name and e-mail address.  Entries will be accepted until March 4, 2012.  On March 5th one winner will be randomly selected.  The winner will be contacted and will be mailed a certificate for a free copy of this book.  The winner must respond within 24 hours to the winner’s notification e-mail or another winner will be randomly chosen. 

Miracle for Jen is an amazing story about a family who has had to learn to trust God in the most difficult of circumstances.  The Barrick family attended church one evening and  made plans to have some family and friends over after the service.  As they were on their way home they were tragically struck by a drunk driver.  The entire family was injured but their fifteen year old daughter, Jen, sustained the most injuries.  The injuries were so bad that she was not expected to survive.  Once family and friends learned of the accident they started to pray.  The Lord heard their cries as Jen miraculously opened her eyes after lingering in a coma for five weeks.  Although her mind had sustained severe brain injuries, she woke up praying and praising the Lord.  This wonderful news still brought about many challenges as Jen was still not back to the way that she was before.  However, the Lord showed, in time, how He was answering this young girl’s prayer to serve Him more fully.   

This book chronicles the difficult, yet hopeful, journey that this family has had to endure and still endures to this day.  As I read this book, I was reminded of Proverbs 16:9 that talks about how man plans his ways but the Lord determines his steps (paraphrase).  This family was planning on returning home from church to spend time with their family and friends.  They certainly did not expect their evening to turn out the way it did, yet the Lord was there in spite of it all.  I was also reminded of why the Lord tells us to take one day at a time and not to worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34).  None of us know what tomorrow will bring but we can find comfort in the fact that the Lord will be there will us.    

“Miracle for Jen” is such an incredible and inspiring story.  I would recommend this book to others as it gives insight into the amazing things that the Lord can do with a willing heart.  I have also included some links below that are worth checking out.  Lastly, I do not normally comment on book covers but thought this one was extremely well done.  As I learned more about the accident scene the picture from the cover really stood out in my mind.

Disclaimer:  Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Click to see the Book Trailer

Click to learn more about the Barrick Family Hope Out Loud