Weekend Cooking-The Crockin' Girls Slow Cookin' Companion

The Crockin' Girls Slow Cookin' Companion by Nicole Sparks & Jenna Marwitz

Hardcover: 376 pages
Publisher: Five Star Institute (April 20, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0984961402
ISBN-13: 978-0984961405

I had this weekend off of work and decided I needed some Fall comfort food from my crockpot. I recently purchased The Crockin' Girls Slow Cookin' Companion. I got to work and found a great recipe that satisfied my need for comfort food! Cheddar Vegetable Sausage Casserole. It was easy to make and used items I had on hand. I really appreciate it when a cookbook has recipes that use items that I can find easily or usually have on hand at home.

First, let me tell you a bit about the cookbook. The cookbook is wonderful! It is very well done. The authors of the cookbook, Nicole Sparks and Jenna Marwitz have compiled a book full of favorite recipes from family, friends and their online crocking community. There are breakfast recipes, appetizers, soup recipes, side dishes, main entrees, and dessert recipes all made in the slow cooker. Each recipe includes a full page photo of the finished recipe. I really like having a picture of what the finished product looks like. Another huge plus for this book is that the book stays open and lays flat. I hate when I have a cookbook that won't stay open while I am cooking. I was very impressed with this cookbook! I know I will be using it quite a bit. It is now one of my favorite cookbooks.

The Cheddar Vegetable Sausage Casserole was a big hit here. You can click here for a link to the recipe on the Crockin' Girls website. If you like smoked sausage, you can't go wrong with this recipe. I did put a dollop of dijon mustard in my soup mixture when I made it. I like a little zing in my cheese recipes. This was a hearty and filling meal that was perfect for a cool Fall evening.

I purchased this cookbook for my own personal use.

Weekend Cooking is a weekly meme sponsored by Beth Fish Reads.
Weekend Cooking is a chance to share the food love. Be sure to check out all the yummy cooking posts on Beth's blog.

Dewey's Read-a-thon

Dewey's Read-a-thon is coming up in October. I am so excited! It is one of my favorite reading events of the year! This year the read-a-thon is October 13. It is looking like I should be off work that weekend. I missed the spring read-a-thon since it fell on my weekend to work. Now I need to see what books to put in my read-a-thon pile. Want to join me and the many others who will be participating? Click here and sign up!

Mailbox Monday August 27

Just a quick mailbox post before I have to go to work. I got some goodies that I am very excited about. This month's Mailbox Monday host is 5 Minutes For Books.

Love Anthony by Lisa Genova
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Gallery Books (September 25, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1439164681
ISBN-13: 978-1439164686

(Thank you Simon & Schuster!) I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this book. It will be released September 25th! On the cover of the ARC is a quote from USA Today that reads, "Picking up anything written by Genova is quickly becoming a no brainer." I totally agree!


Before Versailles by Karleen Koen
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (September 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402275900
ISBN-13: 978-1402275906

This book came as a surprise with my next mailbox Monday book. Thank you Sourcebooks!

The Ruins of Lace by Iris Anthony
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (October 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402268033
ISBN-13: 978-1402268038

This book came with a matching deck of cards! I thought that was a nice touch and a great marketing tool! Thank you Sourcebooks!


On another note, my thoughts and prayers go out to anyone in the path of Tropical Storm Isaac! Let's hope that Isaac behaves himself! If you are in the path of him, stay safe!

Have a great reading week!

Mailbox Monday August 20

It's Monday again. Time for another Mailbox Monday post. This month's host for Mailbox Monday is 5 Minutes for Books. Be sure to check out their site. It is a wonderful site with something for everyone.

I have to apologize for my lack of visiting and commenting on your blogs. I miss visiting them. I have been working some overtime when I can plus this past week I decided it was time to say good-bye to an old friend. Betsy, the mini-van was no longer safe to drive. I have driven her since 1999 when we bought her brand new. It was time to say good-bye. My boys laughed at how I mourned her as I said good-bye. Sadly, she was headed for the scrap yard. She saw my kids grow up and served us well! I now have Heidi, the Honda Odyssey. She is used but in very good shape. She has bells and whistles which made the transition nice. It took up most of my week finding and buying her. I really hate buying cars but I found a salesman who made it as painless as possible. And his wife works for Barnes and Noble! I knew we had a connection as soon as he said that! Hopefully, now that that is behind me, I can get back to visiting blogs. I will try to hit a few everyday.

This week I received two books that I purchased.

7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker

I am not sure this is an experiment for me but I am interested to see what the author discovered during her journey.

The World as We Know It by Joseph Monninger

I loved Joseph's book, Eternal on the Water. You can check out my review here. Both books are bargain priced for $6 each on Amazon right now.

So that is what came to my house last week. What wonderful reads made their way into your home?

Mailbox Monday August 13

It's Monday again and time for another Mailbox Monday post. This month Mailbox Monday is being hosted by 5 Minutes For Books. I received a few books for review and purchased one book.

The Fine Color of Rust by P.A. O'Reilly (courtesy of Atria Galley Alley)

The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner (courtesy of Atria Galley Alley)

Winter Journal by Paul Auster-audiobook (unsolicited from macmillan audio)

The Personal History of Rachel Dupree by Ann Weisgarber


That is what books made their way into my home. What goodies did you get

After the Fog

After the Fog by Kathleen Shoop

Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace (March 7, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1469935708
ISBN-13: 978-1469935706

Summary

The sins of the mother… In the mill town of Donora, Pennsylvania, site of the infamous 1948 “killing smog,” headstrong nurse Rose Pavlesic tends to her family and neighbors. Controlling and demanding, she’s created a life that reflects everything she missed growing up as an orphan. She’s even managed to keep her painful secrets hidden from her loving husband, dutiful children, and large extended family. When a stagnant weather pattern traps poisonous mill gasses in the valley, neighbors grow sicker and Rose’s nursing obligations thrust her into conflict she never could have fathomed. Consequences from her past collide with her present life, making her once clear decisions as gray as the suffocating smog. As pressure mounts, Rose finds she’s not the only one harboring lies. When the deadly fog finally clears, the loss of trust and faith leaves the Pavlesic family—and the whole town—splintered and shocked. With her new perspective, can Rose finally forgive herself and let her family’s healing begin?

My Thoughts

When I was first approached to review this book, I had never heard of the "killing smog" of Donora. I love learning about historical events so I knew this was probably going to be a very interesting book for me. Before I even received the book in the mail, I was looking up Donora and the horrible smog that enveloped the town. It's both shocking and interesting. Once I received the book and started reading, I was hooked!

After the Fog tells the story of Rose and her family. Rose was raised in an orphanage and has struggled to get to where she is today. She has a husband and two teenage children and she is the community nurse. She juggles being a homemaker while serving the community as the townspeople. In the meantime, the killing smog of 1948 is covering the town making people sick without them even realizing what is happening to them. As Rose tends to the townspeople while trying to secure funding for the Community Nursing Program, her past comes back to haunt her. Rose is challenged in ways she never imagined.

I found Rose to be an amazingly strong woman even though I found her difficult to like at times. At times I found her cold. Other times I felt sorry for her. I did find myself hoping all would turn out well for Rose and her family. I found myself reading After the Fog into the wee hours hours of the morning, just to find out how Rose's story would end.

While reading this book, you can tell that Kathleen Shoop has done much research on Donora and it's killing smog. My hats off to her for writing a great story set in such a horrible, historical event. It made for a great setting for the story. I felt as though I had gone back in time and was walking the smoggy streets of Donora alongside Rose. I got an eerie feeling reading the book which is how I imagined the people of Donora felt at the time. The author nailed the setting perfectly!

I really enjoyed this book and think it would make for a great and interesting book club selection. I have not yet read Kathleen's debt novel, The Last Letter but it is going on my wish list. She is an author I will be keeping an eye on in the future.

About the Author
After the Fog is the second novel by bestselling Kindle author Kathleen Shoop. Her debut novel, The Last Letter, garnered multiple awards in 2011. A Language Arts Coach with a Ph.D. in Reading Education, Kathleen lives in Oakmont, Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.



Thank you to Kim from Book Sparks PR for allowing me to read and review this wonderful book!



I received this book for my honest opinion which in no way influenced my review.

Mailbox Monday July 23

Happy Monday! I have time for a quick Mailbox Monday post before I leave for work. I had the weekend off and I set yesterday aside as a readathon day for me. I did a little cooking, a little laundry but for the most part I was reading and it felt soooo good! I am reading After The Fog by Kathleen Shoop. I was tempted to stay up all night reading it. If I didn't have to work today, I think I would have stayed up.

After The Fog by Kathleen Shoop

This month Mailbox Monday is being hosted by Mrs. Q: Book Addict. Be sure to check out her blog! It is one of my favorites! I received some gems in the past two weeks.

Tumbleweeds by Leila Meacham (courtesy of Hachette Book Group)- I am so excited about this book! I love a good old-fashioned family saga!

Those We Love Most by Lee Woodruff (courtesy of Voice)

Next are a couple of bargains and a couple of books I couldn't resist after reading the reviews for them.

Queen Bee of Mimosa Branch by Haywood Smith

Winter Bloom by Tara Heavey

The Very Thought of You by Rosie Alison

Wallflower in Bloom by Claire Cook -My summer is not complete unless I read one of Claire's books!

The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty

That is what treasures came into my home. What wonderful reads made their way into your home?