Saturday, August 7, 2010

Review: Dining With The Dollar Diva, by Elizabeth Fisher


Dining With The Dollar Diva
by Elizabeth J. Fisher¹
Paperback, 200 pages
The Elevator Group
March 15, 2010
· isbn: 0982528248
· isbn13: 9780982528242

This cookbook contains "divalicious" recipes created with ingredients that cost one dollar or less. Author Elizabeth Fisher is a regular mom who is a wiz at creating exquisite menus and dining experiences at economical prices. Each recipe is accompanied by an interesting story about how that recipe came to be created. Most ingredients can be found at your local dollar store or in the dollar section in your local supermarket. This is the first book in the Dollar Diva series.
I know this isn't YA, paranormal, or my usual fiction at all. I got this on NetGalley and, after I tried a few recipes, I knew that I had to share on here. Book bloggers, as well as readers of book blogs, come in all ages and preferences ... so, maybe someone else will find this is as useful as I found the book. Plus, it gets the word out about a great cookbook!

Dining With The Dollar Diva: Divalicious Menus With Ingredients Costing $1 or Less is divided into categories: Appetizers, Burgers, Main Courses, Sweet & Desserts. Basically, the main cooking categories, so it should be easy to find something. Also, the index includes each and every recipe with the corresponding page number, so finding what you need or what interests you should be easy peasy.

I haven't used all of the recipes, obviously. But, I've used at least one in each category. Your ingredients list is easy to follow, even things that should already be in your pantry - which are actually listed as "Pantry", but is followed with a price in case you don't have the actual ingredient. The directions are easy. If you have any problems with certain cooking terms.. guess what? There's an index in the back of the book for that as well! I think the most entertaining part is the stories that accompany the recipes. They're insightful and have some funny bits that pertain either to the recipe, the creation of the recipe, etc.

The only cons to this book would be the pricing for each recipe. If you look at it as the breakdown prices, and not the actual price ... you're good. If you go into the grocery store thinking you're only going to spend what's on the list, you may be in for some trouble - some things may not be on sale, some things you may not find at your dollar store, and then there's just the matter of not being able to find something in the small quantity that you need.

The Verdict?
I *heart* recipe books that have easy-to-follow instructions and produce delicious dishes!


¹: I couldn't find a specific author's website, so I'm linking to Elizabeth Fisher's blog.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Hop & Follow Fridays!

This is a weekly event hosted by Jen at Crazy For Books. It's a chance to discover new blogs and to garner new readers for your blog as well.
Justify Full
This Week's Question ...
Do you listen to music when you read? If so, what are your favorite reading tunes??
I do love to listen to music. I can listen to most everything. However, the thing I like to listen to the most is classical and movie scores when I read. Why? When I hear singing, I'm tempted to listen to the lyrics. When I listen to lyrics, I usually find a storyline somewhere in that song, so then my mind goes wild with how I can turn that into a full-blown story with original characters and a nice setting. Basically, I think too much - so, I just try to avoid that altogether.



To join Parajunkee's new feature and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list.
2. Follow our Featured Bloggers.
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments.
5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can.
6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers.
7. If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!




Thursday, August 5, 2010

Overwhelmed.

If you've noticed that I haven't been around much the past few days, you're very observant and I love you for caring that much to notice. You'll probably keep noticing for about another week that I won't be posting as much. Have no fear ... I do plan on participating in the hops since I will be home all weekend. And I will try to post more in the upcoming days, but it won't be as frequent.

Aside from packing for my beach trip with my husband and three of my closest friends, I'm also trying to get my house completely organized. Yes, I know I won't get all of this done ... but, I'd at least like to make a dent in it. After my beach trip, I'm going to start looking for a job again. Nothing big since I do want to start my medical billing/coding courses this Spring, but I need to make some money. While my husband makes enough for us, I can't live with myself just being a housewife. Maybe it's for some people ... just not for me. I was too independent before I got married and that part of me is still alive and well.

So, hopefully things will pick up. I just wanted to let you know. Next Thursday I'll be heading out, but have no worry because I have already started on some scheduled posts to keep this blog active while I'm gone. =)

Monday, August 2, 2010

Musing Monday


Musing Mondays is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading. This week's musing is ...

What book tops your TBR (to be read) pile right now? Is it something you own, or something you have to borrow, or something you’ll be purchasing? Why do you want to read it so badly?

The book that pops out in my head the most is Banished, by Sophie Littlefield. Ever since I came across it, it's just stuck with me and I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on a copy of it! It comes out in October, which just so happens to be my favorite month ... mainly because it's my birth month. ;)




Sixteen-year-old Hailey Tarbell can’t wait for the day she’ll leave Gypsum, Missouri, far behind, taking only four-year-old Chub, the developmentally-delayed little boy her cruel drug-dealing grandmother fosters for the state money. But when a freak accident in gym class leaves a girl in critical condition, Hailey feels drawn to lay her hands on the injured girl and an astonishing healing takes place. Before Hailey can understand her new powers, a beautiful stranger shows up…just in time to save her and Chub from hired killers. A desperate race begins, with Hailey as the ultimate prize: there are those who will stop at nothing to harness her gifts to create an undefeatable army of the undead. Now it is up to Hailey and a small but determined family of healers to stand up to the unbelievable and face the unthinkable.

What about you? What book tops your TBR list??
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