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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.
  
The Ice-Cream truck (2017)
The Ice-Cream truck (2017)
2017 |
5
6.0 (2 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Going into the Ice Cream Truck I have to admit I had some lofty expectations for the movie. When I read this movie was directed by the grand-daughter of one Elmore Leonard (if you have to ask, leave the room). Now yes, I know I shouldn’t let that factor into how I choose my viewing but its a good place to start.

 

Ice Cream Truck didn’t disappoint me, I mean sure yeah if you watch the trailer and expect to be watching some gore filled serial killer horror (Which from the trailer you could well expect that) then you may be a little disappointed. However stick with this flick because what you actually get is a well placed slow burning psychological thriller that waits till the last 10-15 minutes to ratchet up the action. Oh and there is a few pretty neat deaths. At first I felt fairly disjointed with the flick, people where dying and no one in the neighborhood seemed to give a shit or even know, but Director Megan Freels Johnston is taking her time and building towards something, all the while having Deanna Russo deliver an incredibly layered performance in a movie that is only a sharp 90 minutes.

So the movie sees Deanna Russo (Being Human, Gossip Girl) as Mary, Mary has had to relocate to some suburban neighborhood after her husband being offered a new job. She makes her way to the new house a few days before the rest of the family and meets all the local neighborhood stereotypes on offer including the Step-ford wives, the Local Hunky yard cleaner and the Ice Cream Man. She is about to find that they have moved to a suburban hell hole.



The Ice Cream Truck also stars Dana Gaier (Despicable Me 3), John Redlinger (Thirst, Banshee), Emil Johnsen (Isolerad), Hilary Barraford (Go For Sisters), Jeff Daniel Phillips (31), and Lisa Ann Walter (War of the Worlds).

Im not going to say this is the worlds best movie but its a definite recommend. Was I expecting something else? Yes. Did I like what was presented? Yes. Johnston has given us a well constructed thriller. The only place it really falls apart is that… Well the kills are pretty easy, I personally like some cat and mouse. However Emil Johnson as the Ice Cream Man is creepy as shit. Deanna Russo is great in the lead so no complaints on that front and we got a cheeky little twist that made me go… HUH.

Not the strongest recommend I have given but you should give this flick a go and like I say at only 90 minutes your in and out before you know it. Personally I think you will get a kick from this movie.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2067 KP) rated Mint Chocolate Murder in Books

Jul 30, 2022 (Updated Jul 30, 2022)  
Mint Chocolate Murder
Mint Chocolate Murder
Meri Allen | 2022 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Was the Photographer’s Death Picture Perfect?
September has fallen, and the crowds have dropped off from their summer peak at Udder Delicious, but manager Riley Rhodes is finding life isn’t slowing down yet thanks to the art festival that former supermodel Maude Monico is hosting at the castle she’s purchased just outside of town. Riley is catering the opening night ice cream social, and that allows her to observe the weekend’s guest of honor, Adam Blasco, a controversial photographer. He fails to show up for his talk the next day, and he is soon found dead, locked in the castle’s former dungeon. Now Riley has to figure out not only how he came to be there, but who wanted him dead.

Yes, there is a reason that this castle (and a Scottish castle at that) is in the middle of Connecticut. That adds a fun layer to this mystery, but it does require a bit of set up at the beginning. Between that and meeting the victim and suspects, we are able to ease into the story. Since we have a locked room puzzle and in addition to figuring out who the killer is, there is plenty to keep us engaged, and the pages flew by until I reached the end. I enjoyed meeting the characters last year, and they were just as charming here. Meanwhile, the suspects were strong. While there actually isn’t much mention of mint chocolate here (a favorite flavor of mine), pumpkin spice proves to be a popular ice cream flavor in the story, and we get a recipe for it in the end. Whether you love ice cream or not, you’ll find this book a delicious sequel that you’ll enjoy.
  
Freaks (2018)
Freaks (2018)
2018 | Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
A young girl is seing looking through the window, everything looks to be at a stand still including the birds in the sky which appear to be paused mid flight. Her dad stops her and tells her that being seen would not be safe. Their house appears run down, there's no electricity and chloe and her dad keep practicing random scenarios on staying safe. There's not much going on but clearly something isn't right.
One day a young girl called Harper brings chloe an ice cream, but because she somehow knew chloes name, chloes dad assumed she had been outside and punishes her by locking her in the closet where chloe seemingly now has harper as an imaginary friend.
Chloes dad promises to get her ice cream if she never opens the door again, but when he returns he is injured and passes out. Chloe takes this opportunity to leave the house and befriends the ice cream man parked outside who turns out to be her grandfather, he informs chloe that she is special and her and him are going to try and bring her mum back.
From then on the movie gets weirder and weirder, chloe keeps seing different people in her closet including a sleep over at harpers House, and her mum chained up, she is also able to get inside peoples heads and force them to do things.
I found the movie took far too long to get to a point, 40 minutes to find out what freaks were and about an hour to find out about the powers and what they're capable of, and the ending...... Well I don't even understand what was going on there. If you don't like your brain to hurt during a movie I would stay clear.
  
Deadly Outbreaks
Deadly Outbreaks
Alexandra M. Levitt | 2013 | Medical & Veterinary, Science & Mathematics
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Important, interesting, freaky and even a little terrifying
A fascinating look into the Centre for Disease Control and their role in dealing with some serious but highly interesting, insane real life outbreaks. Each chapter discusses fatal cases which in itself can be turned into a film. From deadly ice cream, to an epidemic of newborns dying at a hospital - these are important cases that need addressing and for further public awareness. As vital as this book is, it's filled with scientific jargon and requires concentration. A great read.
  
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Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated Aurora in Books

Apr 27, 2018  
Aurora
Aurora
Kim Stanley Robinson | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
2
2.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I didn't finish this book because there was no plot. The first hour and a half of the book, I was still just barely understanding the world. And if the first hour and a half is just character development and world building, I’m sorry, but you’re not a story teller, you’re a world builder. It was a brilliant world, don’t get me wrong. But the only thing that happened in the first hour and a half was she got ice cream and then went outside, saw some boys, and went back inside.
  
Riley Mack was labeled a troublemaker after an ill-advised attempt to steal an ice cream cake. Now he tries to help his friends out of problems with school bullies. But when one friend has his dog stolen, Riley and the gang may be in over their heads. There's lots going on here that will keep kids engaged. Personally, I thought the characters were a little weak, but I don't think kids will notice or care.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/07/book-review-riley-mack-and-other-known.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
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Emma (16 KP) created a post

Sep 10, 2018  
You know those days or really rather weeks where everything just gets turned upside down? Well this is how it is for me. And when you're prescribed bed rest to fix it except you don't have the time for it :(, panic and worry ensue!!

And then all you want is a big bucket of kfc chicken and a tub of salted caramel ice cream to make you
Feel better but you can't keep anything down.

On the bright side, i know have time to attempt to read vanity fair to find out what happens before ITV shows me on Sunday:)

#mondayssuck #sickday #badpatient #vanityfaircure
     
Three to Get Deadly (Stephanie Plum, #3)
Three to Get Deadly (Stephanie Plum, #3)
Janet Evanovich | 1997 | Fiction & Poetry
10
7.9 (13 Ratings)
Book Rating
Three to Get Deadly was my favorite book in the Stephanie Plum series so far. As usual it was unpredictable & didn't try too hard. I found myself laughing out loud at several points in the book. My favorite was when all her elderly neighbors came out carrying handguns, shotguns, & assalt rifles when they heard a gunshot come from Plum's apartment. That would be quite a sight!
This story line was the most interesting in the series to this point. There were lots of twists & turns. The secret life of the neighborhood ice cream & candy man being the most interesting. Just goes to show that you never truly know what someone does behind closed doors! UGH!
  
Two strangers are lurking around town, and no one can quite figure out who they are or what they want. Then one of them is killed in the local ice cream shop. As his identity comes out, Charlotte has to find the killer before the case reveals secrets that will impact her future.

I have truly come to love these characters this year, as evidenced by how anxious I was to visit them again in this book. However, I did find the mystery a little slow as the book got sidetracked by several sub-plots.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/08/book-review-to-brie-or-not-to-brie-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.