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Irene M (130 KP) rated Game of Scones: All Men Must Dine in Books
Dec 7, 2018
THIS BOOK IS BRILLIANT!!!
All baking recipes are themed on Game of Thrones with an artistic or puntastic edge to them.
From Hot Pie’s Wolfbread (a basic wholemeal bread, shaped into a wolf like he did on the show) and Sansa’s Lemon Cakes to a Red (velvet) Wedding Cake (3 tier cake with ‘blood’ pouring down the side) and the one I really REALLY wanna try myself Oberyn’s Smashing Surprise (long story short a decorated chocolate shell filled with red jelly so you can re-enact the scene and squish it open with your fingers, just like The Mountain did to Oberyn’s skull, mwahahahahaaa).
Oh yes, I shall be making a few of these recipes.
All baking recipes are themed on Game of Thrones with an artistic or puntastic edge to them.
From Hot Pie’s Wolfbread (a basic wholemeal bread, shaped into a wolf like he did on the show) and Sansa’s Lemon Cakes to a Red (velvet) Wedding Cake (3 tier cake with ‘blood’ pouring down the side) and the one I really REALLY wanna try myself Oberyn’s Smashing Surprise (long story short a decorated chocolate shell filled with red jelly so you can re-enact the scene and squish it open with your fingers, just like The Mountain did to Oberyn’s skull, mwahahahahaaa).
Oh yes, I shall be making a few of these recipes.
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Patti's Luck (Sleepover Friends, #1) in Books
Feb 15, 2019
My rating is based on how much I would have liked this as a ten-year-old. For some reason, I never read any books in the Sleepover Friends' series, even though it's a kind of a cousin-once-removed to the Baby-Sitter's Club series. So when I saw this and another one at a recent library book sale, I figured, why not?
This book has a little of everything most girls like: sleepovers (duh), junk food and baking, talk of boys, games, makeovers with purple hair gel, movies, the paranormal, school fairs, field trips, new friends, and who knows what I've forgotten! Plus, a moment when Stephanie's father cross-dresses as fortune teller at the school fair. That gave me some thoughts about secrets in that family. Maybe that's why they moved from "The City." There's some moments of suspended belief, the biggest is when Patti and Lauren chase after a car (homework was put on the bumper and apparently it stuck real good :P), Lauren (the narrator) loses track of Patti, gets back to school and tells their teacher that Patti's lost. The teacher, being told of a new student unaware of the area being lost, says not to worry(!), that someone will point her back to the school. What?! All I'm thinking is good thing this isn't the real world! Abduction, anybody? There's also a lot of baking these fifth-graders do, they talk surprisingly well, probably better than I do, and have heaps of common sense, but hey, it's a harmless kids' book that I would have gobbled up when I was that age. Overall, it's a cute book that I think even girls today would enjoy.
This book has a little of everything most girls like: sleepovers (duh), junk food and baking, talk of boys, games, makeovers with purple hair gel, movies, the paranormal, school fairs, field trips, new friends, and who knows what I've forgotten! Plus, a moment when Stephanie's father cross-dresses as fortune teller at the school fair. That gave me some thoughts about secrets in that family. Maybe that's why they moved from "The City." There's some moments of suspended belief, the biggest is when Patti and Lauren chase after a car (homework was put on the bumper and apparently it stuck real good :P), Lauren (the narrator) loses track of Patti, gets back to school and tells their teacher that Patti's lost. The teacher, being told of a new student unaware of the area being lost, says not to worry(!), that someone will point her back to the school. What?! All I'm thinking is good thing this isn't the real world! Abduction, anybody? There's also a lot of baking these fifth-graders do, they talk surprisingly well, probably better than I do, and have heaps of common sense, but hey, it's a harmless kids' book that I would have gobbled up when I was that age. Overall, it's a cute book that I think even girls today would enjoy.
Midge (525 KP) rated Batter Off Dead in Books
Dec 11, 2018 (Updated Dec 20, 2018)
Thoroughly enjoyable read (3 more)
I liked the author's descriptive style
Great for foodies - you can almost smell the cakes baking while you are reading!
Good portrayal of the lead character's relationship with her best friend
Absolutely Delightful!
Sophia Cummings, the owner of For Goodness Cakes, is catering for a charity fundraiser at Grape Valley Winery and must make it a successful event to win more catering jobs and pay the bills. Ray Peel, the Winery's landlord, has pledged to pay off a library loan in her hometown of Rumford, however, the event turns sour and Ray is murdered before the loan and Sophia can be paid. Can she figure out who the murderer is before the bakery collapses?
I have never read any of Maymee Bell's novels before, but I thoroughly enjoyed this. I particularly liked the author's descriptive style, especially the many references to the cakes sold at the bakery which were described so well that you could almost smell them baking in the oven! The portrayal of Sophia's relationships, especially Madison, her best friend, and Bitsy, her mother were also very good, although I think that there could have been a little more spark between Sophia and Carter Kincaid, her sheriff boyfriend. You were introduced to many characters very quickly at the start of the book which was a little confusing at first, however, I like that I was kept guessing all the way through as to the identity of the murderer. The ending to the book was finished off very nicely and I will be reading more Maymee Bell novels in the future.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book, supplied by Netgalley.
I have never read any of Maymee Bell's novels before, but I thoroughly enjoyed this. I particularly liked the author's descriptive style, especially the many references to the cakes sold at the bakery which were described so well that you could almost smell them baking in the oven! The portrayal of Sophia's relationships, especially Madison, her best friend, and Bitsy, her mother were also very good, although I think that there could have been a little more spark between Sophia and Carter Kincaid, her sheriff boyfriend. You were introduced to many characters very quickly at the start of the book which was a little confusing at first, however, I like that I was kept guessing all the way through as to the identity of the murderer. The ending to the book was finished off very nicely and I will be reading more Maymee Bell novels in the future.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book, supplied by Netgalley.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2069 KP) rated Wedding Cake Murder (Hannah Swensen, #19) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Hannah Swensen is getting married in just a few weeks, but first she has the dessert competition that her sisters signed her up for. It turns out this televised competition is anything but sweet when the backstage tension leads to murder. Can Hannah solve the case before she gets married?
The baking competition allowed food to be brought into the book seamlessly, and the competition itself was plenty of fun. It’s always great to revisit the characters, too. The murder takes a back seat early on, but it gets plenty of focus as we rush toward the ending. I do hope the wedding sticks because, while it was rushed, I do love the potential I see in this character and relationship.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/04/book-review-wedding-cake-murder-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The baking competition allowed food to be brought into the book seamlessly, and the competition itself was plenty of fun. It’s always great to revisit the characters, too. The murder takes a back seat early on, but it gets plenty of focus as we rush toward the ending. I do hope the wedding sticks because, while it was rushed, I do love the potential I see in this character and relationship.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/04/book-review-wedding-cake-murder-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2069 KP) rated Death by the Dozen (Cupcake Bakery Mystery, #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Mel and Angie have entered a pastry baking contest, hoping to beat their rival Olivia for the grand prize. The judges are mostly people Mel knew from culinary school, including her old mentor Vic Mazzotta. Vic can be a hard man to live, but Mel is still surprised when he is found dead inside an ice truck. Had he made a lethal enemy?
The book sets up the suspects and motives early on before Vic’s body is even found. I did feel the pacing sagged a bit in the middle, but for the most part, this was a great mystery with some good twists and a great climax. The characters are fun as always, too. It’s easy to see why the series is so popular.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-review-death-by-dozen-by-jenn.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The book sets up the suspects and motives early on before Vic’s body is even found. I did feel the pacing sagged a bit in the middle, but for the most part, this was a great mystery with some good twists and a great climax. The characters are fun as always, too. It’s easy to see why the series is so popular.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-review-death-by-dozen-by-jenn.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Erika (17788 KP) rated The Great British Bake Off in TV
Oct 25, 2020 (Updated Oct 25, 2020)
I absolutely LOVE Bake Off! There are not enough words to describe how much I love watching it. I first saw Bake Off when I was heading home on a British Airways flight six years ago (yes, I remember), and have been hooked every since. I did prefer when it was aired on PBS, rather than Netflix here in the US.
I am super confused as to why the name of this show was changed to 'Baking Show'. I still call it Bake Off because it's the fricken name.
The challenges are fun, and the casts each year are super entertaining. While I did really like Mel and Sue as the presenters, I love Noel, and my brother and I constantly hunt for The Mighty Boosh references (Old Gregg reference are our fav). I think Matt Lucas was a good choice for this series, but I'm still lukewarm on him.
I am super confused as to why the name of this show was changed to 'Baking Show'. I still call it Bake Off because it's the fricken name.
The challenges are fun, and the casts each year are super entertaining. While I did really like Mel and Sue as the presenters, I love Noel, and my brother and I constantly hunt for The Mighty Boosh references (Old Gregg reference are our fav). I think Matt Lucas was a good choice for this series, but I'm still lukewarm on him.
Sue (5 KP) rated Raspberry Danish Murder in Books
Apr 23, 2018
For newlywed Hannah Swensen Barton, the month of November is supposed to be creating memories with her new husband and enjoying the holidays. Instead, Ross has vanished without a trace and left Hannah bitter and confused.
As Hannah tries to occupy herself with a baking frenzy for the holidays, she is thrown into a new mystery when PK (her husband’s assistant) is murdered while driving Ross’s car. Was Ross the intended victim and poor PK caught in the crossfires? Or was someone plotting against PK?
Hannah with the help of her sister Michelle, Norman, Mike, and Lonnie work to uncover the mystery and along the way discover that no one really knew Ross.
Joanne has a way of making you identify and care for all the characters in her mysteries. She keeps you guessing and weaves a very enjoyable tale. And who can forget all the yummy recipes that follow each chapter?!
As Hannah tries to occupy herself with a baking frenzy for the holidays, she is thrown into a new mystery when PK (her husband’s assistant) is murdered while driving Ross’s car. Was Ross the intended victim and poor PK caught in the crossfires? Or was someone plotting against PK?
Hannah with the help of her sister Michelle, Norman, Mike, and Lonnie work to uncover the mystery and along the way discover that no one really knew Ross.
Joanne has a way of making you identify and care for all the characters in her mysteries. She keeps you guessing and weaves a very enjoyable tale. And who can forget all the yummy recipes that follow each chapter?!
Sue (5 KP) rated Raspberry Danish Murder in Books
Aug 13, 2018
For newlywed Hannah Swensen Barton, the month of November is supposed to be creating memories with her new husband and enjoying the holidays. Instead, Ross has vanished without a trace and left Hannah bitter and confused.
As Hannah tries to occupy herself with a baking frenzy for the holidays, she is thrown into a new mystery when PK (her husband’s assistant) is murdered while driving Ross’s car. Was Ross the intended victim and poor PK caught in the crossfires? Or was someone plotting against PK?
Hannah with the help of her sister Michelle, Norman, Mike, and Lonnie work to uncover the mystery and along the way discover that no one really knew Ross.
Joanne has a way of making you identify and care for all the characters in her mysteries. She keeps you guessing and weaves a very enjoyable tale. And who can forget all the yummy recipes that follow each chapter?!
As Hannah tries to occupy herself with a baking frenzy for the holidays, she is thrown into a new mystery when PK (her husband’s assistant) is murdered while driving Ross’s car. Was Ross the intended victim and poor PK caught in the crossfires? Or was someone plotting against PK?
Hannah with the help of her sister Michelle, Norman, Mike, and Lonnie work to uncover the mystery and along the way discover that no one really knew Ross.
Joanne has a way of making you identify and care for all the characters in her mysteries. She keeps you guessing and weaves a very enjoyable tale. And who can forget all the yummy recipes that follow each chapter?!
This is a good looking cookbook.
Sectioned into the usual courses, Breakfast, starters, fish, meat, pasta, and baking/desserts, each recipe has a crisp, clear looking instructions page and a full page colour image so you know what your finished dish should at least look like. A short description or tips from the chef is included, along with the standard prep/cook times and what skill level you might need (although most are easy to moderate)
A great mixture of chefs and bakers are included, may well known like Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson, many others will be known if you have watched programs like Masterchef and The Great British Menu and Great British Bake Off. Others I had never hear of before but I will go looking for them now.
Recipes of note included “black sesame seed ice cream” by Jordan Bourke … I have to admit I took a double take at the picture as it looked like a greyscale image. Grey ice-cream sounds most intriguing.
Sectioned into the usual courses, Breakfast, starters, fish, meat, pasta, and baking/desserts, each recipe has a crisp, clear looking instructions page and a full page colour image so you know what your finished dish should at least look like. A short description or tips from the chef is included, along with the standard prep/cook times and what skill level you might need (although most are easy to moderate)
A great mixture of chefs and bakers are included, may well known like Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson, many others will be known if you have watched programs like Masterchef and The Great British Menu and Great British Bake Off. Others I had never hear of before but I will go looking for them now.
Recipes of note included “black sesame seed ice cream” by Jordan Bourke … I have to admit I took a double take at the picture as it looked like a greyscale image. Grey ice-cream sounds most intriguing.
Eilidh G Clark (177 KP) rated Bitter Almonds in Books
Jul 2, 2019
Great wee book
I only wanted to read half of this book as the second half is recipes. After the first thirteen pages I put it down and sighed. I like to give a book at least a chapter so I persisted and I am glad I did. The book is written by Simeti about the life of Maria, a Sicilian woman who owns a bakery. The first chapter is all about the art of baking (old school) and I was worried that the whole novel would read along the same lines - after all it is memoir that I want to read. Things turn around after chapter one when Maria discusses her childhood in a nunnery, her feelings of neglect, her hunger but also of what she learned and how she was able to apply this to her later in life career. I found Maria's attitude to religion and family refreshing and enjoyed the conversational tone in which she delivers her own recollections.
This is a book worth persisting with.
This is a book worth persisting with.