Laughing Lindsay

So, I still can’t believe it, but I’m supposed to graduate in May! That is something that is very exciting, yet horrifying at the same time. I mean once college is over, I have to really grow up. I have to get a real big girl job and actually… cook for myself. Haha! Yes, that’s kinda scary. I mean I’ve learned all sorts of things at college, but cooking hasn’t been one of them (sadly). So, when I was pitched to review Oh my gosh! I’m in college and I never learned to cook! book by Hollis Ledbetter, I knew I had to say yes.

This handy book is obviously targeted at people such as myself. However, with all of the helpful lists and tips, anyone could probably pick up and learn something. One of the things I love about the book is that it really explains what a basic kitchen and cook needs to know/have. It has a list of basic cooking supplies as well as a list of basic cooking terms and their definitions. It also lists abbreviations and equivalents, because who can remember those things???

The book also helps you make smart purchases. It tells what to look for when buying certain food items (such as fish) as well as things to avoid. So, it’s really much more than just a cookbook. Granted, it does have some fantastic recipes. But, this book goes above and beyond that. It also gives you suggestions for things to add to the dish to make it even tastier, healthier, or just plain classier.

Also, I really like the way the book is set-up. The chapter titles are very fitting for a college student (BA: Breakfast Attitudes instead of a Bachelor’s of Art). Plus, it does have a whole chapter on eating healthy to avoid the freshman 15. Additionally, it features some awesome drawings throughout to help the reader really make a connection to the tips/recipe (which can help you remember it more easily or feel more at home like it’s a conversation). It has a convenient index to help you find a certain recipe easier and quicker.

This is definitely a one of a kind cook book and I’m glad I have a copy of it. I would highly recommend it to any college students or recent college/high school graduates especially. However, I think it has at least a few recipes that experienced cooks may want to try.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book. No compensation was received. The opinions expressed are my own.

So, two years ago, I did the America’s Most Wanted Recipes Taste Test. Then, last year I did a More of America’s Most Wanted Recipes Book Review. This year, I’ve been trying to get healthy. Naturally, I was really excited to learn that the same author of the two above books was at it again with America’s Most Wanted Recipes Without the Guilt.

This new book from Ron Douglas came out on September 6th and costs only $16 at Simon and Schuster. It has 150 copycat recipes with less fat, salt, etc. than their counterparts. For instance, take the

Applebee’s Tijuana “Philly” Steak Sandwich, which is normally a whopping 790 calories. By using half the butter, lean tenderloin beef, low-fat cheeses, corn tortillas instead of flour, turkey bacon, and no sour cream, you can save 345 calories! Each recipe includes nutritional details, the number of calories you will save, and easy tips on how to prepare your favorite restaurant food without feeling the guilt.

The book really just implements common sense healthy changes to restaurant’s recipes. However, it is nice to actually get these popular dishes recipes for future use. It also nice to know how many calories you will be eating. The book is great for those of us who love the foods we find at restaurants, but not their nutritional facts. I think it will be a handy book to have around the house. If nothing else, it will keep me from ordering or eating some entire dishes. Haha!

Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book. No compensation was received. The opinions expressed are my own.

Back in May I announced that I was going to post a review of Area 51 by Annie Jacobsen. Well, I’m happy to announce that I finally had the time to sit down and read the entire Area 51 book. I make a point to say the entire thing because the book is actually REALLY big and thick! I mean one of the things I remember most about this book is how heavy it is. It’s not a book I could sit in bed and read or hold up in front of my face. I also wouldn’t pack it for a trip or anything. Haha! It’s hardback and it’s 523 pages total! Gah! That includes notes, index, etc.

I think the full title of this book is actually a great description of the text. It’s full title is: “Area 51: An Uncensored History of America’s Top Secret Military Base”. Let me explain. The area in question has never been acknowledged publicly to exist by the US government. Plus, virtually everything that has happened there since its inception has been classified and will remain so (for at least several more years). All of the things that occur in the area are done on a need to know basis, meaning if you don’t have to know what is taking place there (or even beside you if you happen to work there), then you aren’t told about it. That being said, there are very few people who have ever known the various tests to take place there. Annie Jacobsen has done countless hours of work for this book. She interviewed many, many people. She also poured over the documents that have been declassified on the area. From all of this research, she has been able to layout a basic timeline of history of the place. So, it really is a history of the top secret base.

You know in my style of reviews, I refuse to giveaway too much of the story or info so I don’t ruin it for my readers. So, I won’t give you all of the details of the book in this review (mainly because there’s no way to fit that much information into a simple review). However, I will say that Annie suggests that there has never been any aliens or “unidentified flying objects” in the area. Rather, they were unidentifiable by people who didn’t have a need to know what was going on. Haha! I will also say that she provides evidence that testing really began at Area 51 after the end of World War II with Operation Paperclip which involved several ex-Nazi scientists. This part of the story does fit interestingly with the Ancient Aliens Season 2 DVD I just reviewed yesterday.

This book does have many interesting facts about the area as well as the secret tests the US Army, CIA, and other agencies have performed in the area. It also includes some nice photographs in the book as well as a handy map outlining the various “areas” of the Nevada Test & Training Range. It took me a long while to actually get through the book with all of the facts and random events. I think an actual timeline would have been helpful for this book. I think someone with an interest in US history or something of that nature might enjoy this book.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of Area 51. No compensation was received. The opinions expressed are my own.