How do we perceive flavour? How can understanding the senses help us to make better tasting meals?
Wake up to creamy avocado with fragrant orange pepper seasoning and green Tabasco dressing, snack on sweet and citrusy carrot and lime leaf kebabs and curl up with a warming bowl of butternut squash and spinach curry. An alternative way of looking at food, Cooking for the Senses introduces neurogastronomy and explains how understanding smell, taste and our other senses can be the key to making tasty, healthy food in your own kitchen. The authors explain the science of flavour and provide guidance on how to train your palate and be more mindful in the kitchen. This cookbook will inspire you with a practical flavour guide to a wide range of plant ingredients, and over 100 delicious vegan recipes for everyone that reflect neurogastronomy in action.
Seasoned with tales of the authors' own culinary experiences, this first book on neurogastronomy for the home cook is bursting with flavour. My Thoughts:
***Thank you to Singing Dragon/Jessica Kingsley Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC with the understanding that any review provided will be my honest opinion of the book.***
Ever heard of neurogastronomy? How about Vegan neurogastronomy? I certainly hadn't prior to this book. This book is all about cooking for the sense....see what I did there lol? Seriously though, this is the perfect cookbook for anyone who is Vegan or simply just wanting to learn a new way to appreciate food. I love food and I honestly believe that it can bring all kinds of people together. For me, cooking food isn't just about making edible food. I want people to drool over the simple smell of it cooking. The author of this book spends the first half of the book teaching you to really appreciate the smell and flavors of different vegetables, herbs, and spices. I actually felt that there was a little too much detail given on the science behind neurogastronomy and it dragged a bit. I learned a lot of information on artichokes and tomatoes that I literally will never use. That aside, it was a fairly good book.
I really liked the section on "Condiments, Spice Mixes, and Sauces". I actually made a couple mason jars up with various sauces like chermoula, gremolata, and chimichurri verde.
I also really liked the section where she discusses avocados, various mushrooms, and nuts. I love all these ingredients but often run out of new ways to use them. I even learned to make a quick vinaigrette using apple cider vinegar and wholegrain mustard. I am not Vegan so there are a lot of recipes that didn't appeal to me but I am going to try the Lemon and Thyme Radiatori Potatoes and the Green Beans with Chermoula and Tomato. I would recommend anyone Vegan to give this book a try.
***Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publishing house for the ARC. All views and opinions are my honest thoughts of this book.***
Description
Making wine at home just got more fun, and easier, with Richard Bender’s experiments. Whether you’re new to winemaking or a seasoned pro, you’ll find this innovative manual accessible, thanks to its focus on small batches that require minimal equipment and use an unexpected range of readily available fruits, vegetables, flowers, and herbs. The ingredient list is irresistibly curious. How about banana wine or dark chocolate peach? Plum champagne or sweet potato saké? Chamomile, sweet basil, blood orange Thai dragon, kumquat cayenne, and even cannabis rhubarb wines have earned a place in Bender’s flavor collection. Go ahead, give it a try. My Thoughts: I am always looking for new recipes for food or drinks and this book is like no other drink book I've ever read. The cover does not do justice to all the amazing photos inside. They are bright and colorful and make even the oddest sounding wine look tasty. We have dabbled in homebrewing n the past so lucky for me we already have all the equipment needed to make wine. I haven't tried any of the recipes in the book yet but only because I couldn't decide which one to start with. The book is split up by the types of ingredients used to make the wine. The first section contains all the fruit and vegetable based wines. I was not very interested in a few of these but the apple champagne and the cherry-chocolate-almond ones sounded the best. Then you have the flower and herb wines which all sounded delicious. Last but not least are the hot pepper wines and the cannabis wines. I am sure you can imagine how cool those recipes are....like Mary Jane's Grapes...I'm just saying. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and feel like my Spring and Summer months are about to get a whole lot livelier!
***Trailer courtesy of Marvel Studios and YouTube.****
It's been well established throughout my various social media platforms that I am a HUGE Marvel fan. I have loved everyone of these movies in the Marvel Universe without fail. The character of Prince T'Challa/Black Panther was introduced in Captain America: Civil War back in 2016. He is at the same political forum as Black Widow and Tony Stark when the embassy is blown up and in the process his father, the King, is killed. We see him transfer into his Black Panther alter and help out. I found out that Marvel was making a Black Panther movie and lost my mind. I have been on pins and needles since just waiting for the moment the film was released. That day finally arrived on Thursday night (2.15) when my local AMC theater did a Fan Event showing a day earlier than it's nation wide release. My daughter and I had our tickets and some pretty great seats to what became my new favorite Marvel movie of all time ( at least so far). This movie was so amazing that I will not be able to do it justice in this review properly so instead I give you a small taste of why fans are going crazy for this movie.
5 ( Believe me there are more.... so many more) Reasons Black Panther was a Fantastic Movie:
1. The Plot: After losing his father in Captain America: Civil War, Prince T'Challa must return home to his African Nation of Wakanda. The rest of the world believes that Wakanda is a poor 3rd world country. The truth is that it is the most technologically advanced place on the planet due to it's large amounts of Vibrainium. They have built a protective barrier around the whole country preventing the outside world from knowing any of this. They also do not allow outsiders in for fear that word of their lifestyle and resources will get out and force Wakanda into a world war. The newly crowned King is just beginning his reign when not 1 but 2 enemies appear on the scene and with help from the Dora Milaje (Wakandan Special Forces) and a CIA agent he must become the Black Panther once again to protect his family and homeland.
2. The Dora Milaje: This special forces unit has one purpose and that is to protect the throne/King. This force is made up of a large group of seriously bad ass women. The all have shaved heads, amazing fighting skills, and super cool, technological spears that pretty much do anything. The commander, Okoye ( played by Danai Gurira from The Walking Dead) is one of my favorite characters. You do not want to mess with these ladies. This is a huge cinematic/film bonus for little girls and women everywhere to be able to see strong female role models on screen, especially Black ones.
3. The Special Effects: All the Marvel movies have their own sort of bells and whistles when it comes to their superheros and the gadgets that they use. The suit of the Black Panther is infused with Vibranium ( some sort of Extraterrestrial substance that runs all through Wakanda) which makes it strong and then it gets an upgrade compliments of T'Challa's little sister Shuri ( my favorite character in the whole damn movie besides of course the Black Panther himself). Shuri ( played by Letitia Wright) is the head of the entire technology lab. She is responsible for the cool spears, suits, and gadgets used all throughout the movie and believe me there are some freakishly awesome items. The action sequences in this film are also pretty great. There is a car scene throughout a city that involves a lot of acrobatic type stunts and it's flawless and funny as well.
4. The Cast: This film has some of today's most talented Black actors in it. The Queen, Ramonda aka Mom is played by Angela Basset who is just simply amazing at any role she has and this one is no different. She is not the main character but no one could have played the part better. She is a queen among women. Chadwick Boseman aka T'Challa/Black Panther has had some pretty big roles himself. He has portrayed James Brown, Thurgood Marshall, and Jackie Robinson. Michael B. Jordan stars as Erik Killmonger but he has also been in Fantastic Four, Creed, That Awkward Moment, and Fruitvale Station. He has turned into a pretty big box office draw himself these last few years. Forest Whitaker is...well... Forest Whitaker and if you have no idea who he is then shame on you. Go back to whatever rock you live under. Lupita Nyuong'o stars as Nakia ( a love interest to the young King) but she is also known for her roles in 12 Years a Slave and Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Danai Gurira/Okoye is the commander of the Dora Milaje. You may know her from a little series called The Walking Dead. She is Michonne, the Katana wielding, dreadlocked, bad ass. The last super noticeable actor is Sterling K. Brown. He plays Erik Killmonger's father in Black Panther. Sterling K. Brown has just been breaking all kinds of records during award season. He has been in a lot of projects but mostly known for his role as Randall Pearson on the hit series This Is Us. This movie was filmed primarily using Black actors and instead of that being overlooked or mocked it shows how beautiful and strong a culture it is.A Black superhero is always a welcome change of pace much like Wonder Woman is. Roles like these did not exist for Black actors and actresses when I was growing up. The Cosby show was really the first time a show was predominately Black and not a stereotype. Well down Marvel Studios...well done.
5. The Soundtrack: Something that I have not spent a lot of time discussing on social media or this blog in particular is music. I love music of all types and would simply die if I had to go on in a world without it. A strong statement but true as far as I am concerned. I listen to music every single day for hours. It is the perfect remedy for whatever ails you, to set a mood, or to help you focus. I am a huge film lover so it goes without saying that I also own a very large selection of soundtracks because....musicals...hello. This soundtrack happened to be produced by Kendrick Lamar who is a huge deal in the industry and again, if you have no idea who he is then go back to your rock. I firmly believe that a soundtrack is one of the most important part of any film. The music provides clues to what is currently or about to happen next. Kendrick Lamar did a beautiful job with this one. It is powerful and uplifting at all the right moments. You can stream the whole soundtrack on Spotify if you have an account but if you just want a sample then I recommend listening to these particular tracks: King's Dead, Pray for Me, and All the Stars.
There is so much I love about the movie that I could literally discuss it for hours but I have given more than enough examples here so you should just get tickets and see for yourself what all the hype is about. You will not be disappointed.
A witty and emotionally charged novel that delves into the heart of a marriage, and how those we love and think we know best can sometimes surprise us the most—from #1 New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella
After ten years together, Sylvie and Dan have a comfortable home, fulfilling jobs, and beautiful twin girls, and they communicate so seamlessly they finish each other’s sentences. They have a happy marriage and believe they know everything there is to know about each other. Until it’s casually mentioned to them that they could be together for another sixty-eight years . . . and panic sets in. They decide to bring surprises into their marriage to keep it fresh and fun. But in their pursuit of Project Surprise Me—from unexpected gifts to restaurant dates to sexy photo shoots—mishaps arise, with disastrous and comical results. Gradually, surprises turn to shocking truths. And when a scandal from the past is uncovered, they begin to wonder if they ever really knew each other at all. With a colorful cast of eccentric characters, razor-sharp observations, and her signature wit and charm, Sophie Kinsella presents a humorous yet moving portrait of a marriage—its intricacies, comforts, and complications. Surprise Me reveals that hidden layers in a close relationship are often yet to be discovered. ***This was received as an ARC compliments of the author, publishing house, and NetGalley, however, all thoughts expressed are my own honest opinions of the work.*** My Thoughts: I am super stoked to be able to read a new book by Sophie Kinsella. I love her writing (ie: Twenties Girl and My Not So Perfect Life). This newest book is no exception. I was very surprised by it though. The way Sylvie and Dan deal with each other throughout the course of the book changes pretty drastically. They start out as the perfect couple that are so in sync they can finish each other's sentences and pretty quickly become a couple hanging on to their marriage by a thread. I admit that I jumped to all the wrong conclusions while reading this which is AWESOME! I love when a plot surprises me. There are some pretty serious issues at play here ranging from infidelity, money issues, public opinions, depression, all the way to denial. I had a hard time putting this one down. The thing that I love most about this book is how very easy it is to relate to. I give this one a 5 out of 5 stars. If you are interested in finding out more about the author or her other books you can find her at the following:
