Archive for October, 2010

Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Life & Style
ISBN-10: 0446572098
ISBN-13: 978-0446572095

Easy, Elegant, and Irresistible Recipes

From the Publisher…

Claire Robinson, the hot new Food Network star of 5 Ingredient Fix and Food Network Challenge, helps people get dinner on the table with little fuss and a few great ingredients. The quest for simple, affordable, and fresh, mouthwatering food is over. 5 INGREDIENT FIX helps put delicious and sophisticated meals on the table in a snap. With people struggling to simplify, streamline, and budget, the Food Network’s Claire Robinson is here to help. Cooking doesn’t have to be complicated to be impressive; simplifying the process with fewer ingredients saves time, frustration, and ultimately, money.

About the Author…

Claire Robinson is the host of Food Network’s 5 Ingredient Fix and the daily primetime series Food Network Challenge. Claire cites her French-speaking grandmother as a major influence on her love for food. Claire graduated from the French Culinary Institute, is an accomplished private chef, and has produced several cooking series, including Food Network’s Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello.

My Thoughts…

I fell in love with this cookbook right away and just from the mouth watering photos alone! And I loved the promise that I could make extremely tasty recipes of all kinds for my family and friends with as little as five ingredients, I was in heaven. And with that being said, you can’t blame me for doubting it! Doesn’t it almost sound to good to be true?  We’ve been trying to keep a tight budget around here and to make great tasting food with a minimal grocery list of ingredients is a huge plus.

Trying to figure out what to make wasn’t easy! But after browsing through the eight different sections, I went with a dessert that I served to my family and friends. I was fully putting my trust into the recipe because I commonly don’t just serve the guest I have over a dessert or recipe I haven’t tried personally myself. And with that being said, the Millionaire’s Shortbread recipe I tried out from this cookbook was a huge hit! I had never had or personally made shortbread before but with the minimal ingredients and easy to follow instructions, I’m up to making it again! I can’t help but think how irresistible and elegant this dessert would look and be enjoyed  during the holidays to tempt taste buds of many!

This cookbook has lots of great recipes, many I can’t personally wait to try out. My fourth wedding anniversary is coming up soon so I’ve been browsing around for something to cook that’ll make the dinner extra special with minimal amounts of work and time in the kitchen. Perhaps I’ll cook the Cornish Hens au Vin or maybe the Classic Southern Blackened Catfish!

I wouldn’t hesitate at all to  recommend 5 Ingredient Fix: Easy Elegant and Irresistible Recipes to anyone! This cookbook would be a great addition to your kitchen or perhaps someone else you may know! You can purchase it at numerous bookstores locally and online. Right now you can find this cookbook on Amazon for just 16.95!

Disclaimer: A Special Thanks goes out to Anna over at Hatchett for the opportunity to review this book.

About The Waiting:

Book 2 in The Lancaster Secrets collection and hot on the heals of the best-selling The Choice, The Waiting, a stand alone story, is a compelling page turner. Jorie King has been waiting for Benjamin Zook to return home to Lancaster County so they can marry. When news arrives that Ben has been killed, Jorie finds comfort in the friendship of his brother Caleb. That friendship ripens into love, and it seems that they are meant to be together. But when the unexpected happens, their worlds are turned upside down once more. Will Jorie trust God to lead her into the arms of a new man?
A multifaceted story about complex people living the simple life. Readers will find themselves transported into the world of the Amish and deeply invested in these wonderful characters.

About Suzanne Woods Fisher:

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the CBA bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, Amish Peace, and Amish Proverbs. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, W. D. Benedict, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Benedict eventually became publisher of Christianity Today magazine. Suzanne is the host of a radio show called Amish Wisdom and her work has appeared in many magazines. She lives in California. Find out more about Suzanne at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com

Link to buy the book: http://www.amazon.com/Waiting-Novel-Lancaster-County-Secrets/dp/080073386X?ie=UTF8&tag=sprightly-20

My Thoughts:…

I wrote a book review back in February on the first book in The Lancaster Secrets series by Susan Woods Fisher, a book I couldn’t bear to put down. And with that being said the second book in this series “The Waiting” doesn’t disappoint in the least bit being just as good if not better!

I took a lot of this book and really enjoyed the sense of community portrayed in this story. Right now our church is really focused on reaching out to others not just in our own body but in the community around us as it has been displayed it in a numerous ways through The Waiting. I say let even that be a challenge to us all. To look beyond our own family and friends but to our neighbors around us with expecting nothing in return for doing a good deed.

Many traits are shown and displayed out this book and maybe that’s why I tend to love the series that much more. I love that the characters are real and the story doesn’t stray from that fact with God all things are possible and will work out for the good for those that love and chose to serve him. This book gets two thumbs way up.  Thank you Suzanne for another great book!

The Waiting is the next stand alone story in The Lancaster Secrets Collection and follows in the footsteps of the best-selling, The Choice. The Waiting is in stores now and to celebrate Suzanne is hosting The Waiting KINDLE Giveaway.

* A brand new KINDLE, Free 3G, 6″, Latest Generation

* The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher

* The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher

* A $15 dollar Amazon.com Gift Certificate

To enter, simply click on the icons below to fill out the entry form, then tell 5 or more friends about the contest. Oh, and enter soon! Winner will be announced on October 28th at Suzanne’s Lancaster Secrets Book Club Party.

Join Suzanne for the Lancaster Secrets Book Club Party on October 28th! She’ll be announcing the winner of the The Waiting KINDLE Giveaway, hosting a book club discussion of The Waiting and The Choice, and giving away copies of both books and HEAPs of readerly prizes! Be sure to join us on Thursday, October 28th at 5:00 PM PST (6:00 MST, 7:00 CST & 8 EST) at Suzanne’s Author Page.

Tropical Traditions is one of my favorite places to check out for all sorts of wonderful organic  skin  and hygiene care items! They offer a great selection of natural products which include things like deodorant, toothpaste, lotion, soap and more!

I recently was able to review their Citrus and Mint Skin Exfoliating products! Why exfoliate? Well, it smooths the skin, unclogs pores, and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. All added pluses as we get older!

As soon as I opened this product I right away was happy with the smell. It wasn’t over the top in the least bit! I couldn’t wait to use this on my feet since that’s the most common place where I get dry skin that needs to be smoothed out.  A little bit of this goes a long way. Since using this product, my feet are much smoother and happier. This a product that I’m totally going to be keeping on hand for all my exfoliating needs. I am going to be looking to get a few different of the scent though this one is a sure favorite of mine.

Buy it: If you purchase Tropical Traditions  products from their site, then be sure to use my customer number at checkout. This will get you a FREE book with your order, titled: “Virgin Coconut Oil: How it Has Changed People’s Lives and How it can Change Yours.” At checkout, underneath, “How Did You Hear About Us?”, pull the drop down box to “Referred by a Friend”. Then a box will appear to type in the User ID of the friend (me) who referred you. This number is 5542476. A $25 book, free with your purchase!

Win it!

How would you like to win your very own Skin Exfoliating product in the Orange Citrus and Mint scent from Tropical Traditions?

To Enter: Visit Tropical Traditions and let me know another product that interest you!

Extra Entries:

1. Blog this giveaway, link back to this post. (2 extra)

2. Follow on Twitter @erinlowmaster & Tweet (daily entries available)

3. Post this giveaway on a Giveaway Linky/Site and let me know where!

4. Email a friend(s) about this giveaway. (Leave name of friend)

5. Subscribe to my blog by RSS or E-mail (Feed Burner) and let me know!

6. Become a Facebook Fan of Connected2Christ and leave me a comment there letting me know you are coming from this giveaway.

7. Subscribe to Tropical Tradtions newsletter at http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/subscribe_for_special_sales.cfm

8. Follow @troptraditions on Twitter!

Giveaway running till 11/11/10 . Winners will be notified shortly afterward by email. Please respond within 48 hours or you forfeit your prize to another participant. USA & Canada only.

DISCLAIMER: My thoughts are mine own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any compensation for hosting this giveaway or review other than the sample above mentioned.