Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Books read May 15




A Portuguese Christmas by Josie Riveira
Wanted to read this book because I am also Portuguese.
Starts out with Krystal and she lives in Newport, RI (on the same island as where I live) and she's in a surfing competition in Portugal and her cousin and her family are there with her.
The surfer cutting into her space causes her to go under the wave and get banged in the head from the surfboard-her angel. No more surfing til her concussion reside and she will be in Portugal for Christmas.
Love hearing of the traditional food as it was also served at our house in RI. My father and his family were Portuguese and lived within a hands throw from one another-like our own community, living on ancestiral lands.
Story also follows Adolfo who attended the surf competition and found himself tending to Krystal. He was just a farmer growing olive trees and her cousin had told him he needed a break from his work.
She also designs swimsuits and hopes that some day it will earn her money.
Love hearing of the sightseeing around the town, designs of the structures, food and decorations of the holiday season. Bull fight really intrigued me as I've yet to see one in person.
While she is stuck there she calls her brother Julio and hopes he will not put their father in a nursing facility til she gets back, she thinks he'd like to live with her, taking care of him. She just needs to win this competition.
She is still grieving the loss of her husband, a surfer himself. Adolfo is very senstiive to others needs and he is passionate.
Just recall an 80 foot wave that a man had surfed, off the coast of Portugal just a few weeks ago-the largest ever anyone had surfed.
Francisco is out of jail now and he will be hired on to help at the olive vineyard. He is very amorous and he takes it upon himself to bring her to practice surfing at the ocean.
She knows it will go against what Adolfo has to say about it as he knows she is not recovered from the injury. Same work ethics we were raised with.
Love hearing of the salted cod fish as I have one wooden container that the cover slides off. Misunderstandings and you wonder how things will turn out.
Concussions recently in the news also is brought up. Love the snowmen out of sand with the twins Descriptions are so very detailed you feel as if you are there.
Note from the author, a recipe! acknowledgements, about the author, and other works by the author are highlighted at the end.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.



Off the Grid Gourmet by Danny Gansneder, Duel City Books
Great book for camping out meals. Table of contents where it gives different methods of using things to make fresh water,  MRE's and equipment.
Pictures along the way in the introduction.
Each recipe starts with a title, summary of the dish and list of ingredients which you should be able to substitute for healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar and low fat products but most are using fresh vegetables.
Directions are included but there is NO nutritional information. NO pictures of the recipes themselves.
Home canning and other preserving methods are included.
Going to try the granola bars, but cooking inside the house.
So many meals we ate as kids, love it!
KEEPER!





The Ultimate Guide: Recipes of Massachusetts by encore books
This book starts out with an offer of a free ebook. Table of ocntents where recipes are broken up into meals.
Each recipe starts with a title, summary of the dish, prep, cook and ready times, servings.
List of ingredients which you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar and low fat products.
Directions are included. There are NO pictures. There is NO nutritional information.
Like recipe for brown bread but we no longer use tin cans for coffee, not sure if it'd work in a regular loaf pan. Love reminiscing about lobster rolls, clam boils and other favorites we still make and eat.



Instant Pot Cookbook: Tasty and Easy Recipes to...by Adam Cook
Table of contents and recipes are in no speicfic order but I found they went by meals.
Introduction about the instant one pot.
Each recipe has a title and list of ingredients which you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar and low fat products.
Directions are included some with tips on how to serve it with and what dish.
There are NO pictures. 
There is NO nutritional information.
Lots of choices to select from.
 



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