Saturday, March 12, 2011

Summer Berry Cobbler with Vanilla Whipped Creme

Many of my blogger buddies have been participating in this cooking meme.  I've been wanting to do it for awhile now, so I decided to try it out this weekend.

I do a ton of cooking and baking, all vegan style.  That means no animal products what so ever.  Vegans and non-vegans both love it when I cook and bake for them, which just goes to show that vegans eat very well.

Tonight, for desert I made Summer Berry Cobbler with Vanilla Bean Whipped Creme.  It does not have to be summer to enjoy this treat.  In fact, hubby and I like to have it when it's still warm. I always buy flats of berries when there in season, and freeze them so I can make this recipe and others, year round.  I got this recipe, here.

I must confess that I forgot to take a picture of them with whipped creme on top but the good news is this makes 4, so we have 2 left.  Heres a photo without the whip. 

I do a couple things a bit different than the original recipe does:

For the sugar/berry mixture, I use 1/3 cup sugar instead of 1/2 cup.  I followed the exact recipe the first time I made it and we thought it was way too sweet.

Tip:  When using frozen berries, I find it easiest to make if the berries are slightly thawed, rather than thawed all the way.

I don't sprinkle any almond milk or sugar on top.

For the Whipped cream:
First let me say, that this is the best vegan whipped cream recipe out there, by far!  I have tried a lot of other ones but they all pale in comparison.  

I use two heaping tablespoons of the powdered sugar, rather than 2/3 cup.  
I use a teaspoon of organic pure vanilla extract instead of the vanilla bean.
I like this best in ramekins, rather than the 8X8 pan but I use 4 ramekins instead of 8.  Just be sure to place them on a cookie sheet to bake, in case they boil over a bit.

If you want to eat them warm, be sure to let them cool for a good half hour first or you will burn your mouth.

The way I make this recipe, there are 4 bigs servings rather than 8 small servings. :)

If you give this recipe a try, be sure to let me know how you likes it.  I actually served this as one of the desserts at Christmas and my family begged for more.  Seriously, and they are not vegans like hubby and I.


Posted by Teddy Rose at 10:52 PM 6 comments  

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Win a Free e-reader of Your Choice!

Monica of The Bibliophilc Book Blog is giving away the e-reader of your choice.  Enter here.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 6:17 PM 0 comments  

Giveaway- Nerve: Poise Under Pressure, Serenity Under Stress, and the Brave New Science of Fear and Cool by Taylor Clark

Thanks to Anna Balasi of  Hachette Book Group, I am giving away up to 3 copies of this book.

Book Description:

Nerves make us bomb job interviews, first dates, and SATs. With a presentation looming at work, fear robs us of sleep for days. It paralyzes seasoned concert musicians and freezes rookie cops in tight situations. And yet not everyone cracks. Soldiers keep their heads in combat; firemen rush into burning buildings; unflappable trauma doctors juggle patient after patient. It's not that these people feel no fear; often, in fact, they're riddled with it.

In Nerve, Taylor Clark draws upon cutting-edge science and painstaking reporting to explore the very heart of panic and poise. Using a wide range of case studies, Clark overturns the popular myths about anxiety and fear to explain why some people thrive under pressure, while others falter-and how we can go forward with steadier nerves and increased confidence.
The number of entrants to this giveaway will determine how many copies of this book I will giveaway:

1-10 entrants= 1
11-20 entrants = 2
21-or more entrants = 3

To Enter:
Leave a comment with your email address, so I can contact you if you win.

Extra Entries:  (please leave a separate comment for each, for instance you you are a follower, leave 3 comments that you are a follower).

+3 Old or new follower of this blog.
+3 Old or new follower on Twitter ().
+2 Tweet about this Giveaway (Up to 1 time per day)
+3 Be my friend on Facebook (Teddy Rose).
+3 "Like" the post about this giveaway on Facebook
+3 Be my friend on Goodreads (Teddy).
+3 for Joining my Books Won Reading Challenge (be sure to follow the rules and then let me know you joined here.)
+2 for each comment on a book review I have done. (Be sure to tell me which ones).
+1 for clicking to give free food at The Animal Rescue Site (tell me you did it).( Up to 1 time per day)
+1 for clicking to give free books at The Literacy Site (tell me you did it). ( Up to 1 time per day)

That's 24 or more possible entries! Sorry, this giveaway is only open to U.S. and Canada.
The winner's mailing address: No P.O. Boxes
Only one entry per household/IP address

Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule, which means that if you win the same title in two or more contests, you will receive only one copy of the book.

This giveaway will end on Sunday March 27th , 11:59 P.M. E.S.T. The winners will be notified by email. Winners must respond within TWO days or will be disqualified. 


Posted by Teddy Rose at 12:01 AM 38 comments  

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Friday, March 11, 2011

Giveaway: Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing by Kathy Cano-Murillo

Thanks to Brianne Beers of Hachette Book Group, I am giving away up to 2 copies of both Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing and Waking Up in the Land of Glitter by Kathy Cano-Murillo.

Book Descriptions:

Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing
Scarlet Santana is never happier than when creating fabulous fashions for women of all shapes and sizes. Now, after years of hard work, she finally has the chance to live her dream and study under the hottest designer in New York. To raise money for her move, Scarlet opens an after-hours sewing school in a local record shop, teaching a type-A working mom whose rigid parenting style is causing her family to unravel and an enigmatic seamstress with a mysterious past.

Waking Up in the Land of Glitter
With glue guns, glitter, twigs, or yarn, the ordinary can become extraordinary . . . especially at La Pachanga. Owned by Estrella "Star" Esteban's family, the restaurant has a rep for two things: good food and great art. La Pachanga brings people together-even when it looks like they couldn't be further apart.One ill-fated evening, Star jeopardizes her family's business, her relationship with her boyfriend, and her future career. To redeem herself, she agrees to participate in a national craft competition, teaming up with her best friend, Ofelia-a secretly troubled mother whose love for crafting borders on obsession-and local celebrity Chloe Chavez-a determined television personality with more than one skeleton in her professional closet. If these unlikely allies can set aside their differences, they'll find strength they never knew they had, and learn that friendship, like crafting, is truly an art form.



The number of entrants to this giveaway will determine how many copies of this book I will giveaway:

1-10 entrants= 1
20 or more entrants= 2

To Enter:
Leave a comment with your email address, so I can contact you if you win.

Extra Entries:  (please leave a separate comment for each, for instance you you are a follower, leave 3 comments that you are a follower).

+3 Old or new follower of this blog.
+3 Old or new follower on Twitter (@teddyrose1).
+2 Tweet about this Giveaway (Up to 1 time per day) 

+3 Be my friend on Facebook (Teddy Rose).
+3 "Like" the post about this giveaway on Facebook
+3 Be my friend on Goodreads (Teddy).
+3 for Joining my Books Won Reading Challenge (be sure to follow the rules and then let me know you joined here.)
+1 for each comment on a book review I have done. (Be sure to tell me which ones).
+1 for clicking to give free food at The Animal Rescue Site (tell me you did it).( Up to 1 time per day)
+1 for clicking to give free books at The Literacy Site (tell me you did it). ( Up to 1 time per day)

That's 24 or more possible entries!
Sorry, the giveaway is only open US and Canadian residents only.
The winner’s mailing address: NO P.O.Boxes.
Only one entry per household/IP address
 
Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule, which means that if you win the same title in two or more contests, you will receive only one copy of the book.

This giveaway will end on Friday, March 25th,11:59 P.M. E.S.T. The winners will be notified by email. Winners must respond within TWO days or will be disqualified.


Posted by Teddy Rose at 12:01 AM 53 comments  

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Thursday, March 10, 2011

Celebrate "Read an eBook Week" with Great Sourcebooks Deals(Free)!

The following ebooks are free this week at Sourcebooks.  You can also get them at Amozon.com, Kobo, and Book-a-million:




Posted by Teddy Rose at 10:38 PM 0 comments  

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

To Defy a King by Elizabeth Chadwick

Last week I was transported to 13th century England.  I traveled on horseback all over England and beyond.  I lived with some very prominent families, the Marshals and the Bigods. 

I was witness to the betrothal and marriage of Mahelt Marshal and Hugh Bigod.  Poor Mahelt, she was so young when she had to leave her parents and move in with the Bigods, too young for her marriage to even be consumated.  However, her father, William Marshal knew it would be the best protection for her as he had fallen out of favor with King John.

King John took Mahelt's two oldest brothers hostage. When given the opportunity to see her brother Will, she did so against Roger Bigod's, wishes and put herself and potentually,  the Bigod family in danger.  When Hugh came home his father was fuming!  He told Hugh that he had to learn how to rein in the free spirited wife, Mahelt but Hugh struggled with how to do so without breaking her spirited that he so adored. 

Mahelt finally did grow up and her marriage was consummated. Mahelt and Hugh were madly in love with each other. There marriage did become in jeopardy because of King John and his miss-deeds.  This included his taking their first son, Roger hostage.

I was witness to King John's many atrocities against mankind, the men, women, and children he had killed without a thought or care.  Eventually the Barons, including the Bigods had enough and joined a rebellion against him, leading up to the Magna Carta. 

I was witness to all of this, thanks to Elizabeth Chadwick.  She seamlessly weaved historical facts with real life characters and events in to breathtaking historical fiction.  She captured my imagination and my heart.  

Elizabeth Chadwick to me, in a Queen of historical Fiction.  In fact, she just won the Historical Novel Prize.  To Defy a King is a book that is nearly impossible to put down!  Thanks for the trip Ms. Chadwick!

5/5

Thanks to Sourcebooks for the advance readers copy.

Also reviewed at:

The Burton Review
Under a Blood Red Sky
The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader
A Girl Walks into a Book Store
Polishing Mud Balls
Aneca's World

Did I miss your review?  Please leave your link in the comments.


Posted by Teddy Rose at 12:01 AM 6 comments  

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Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Teaser Tuesday

Hosted by Jenn at Should Be Reading

The Book: Messages From an Unknown Chinese Mother by Xinran
"The children were just left to cry all day. She mostly fed them on rice gruel, and kept them clean by sluicing the urine and excrement off the mat with cold water. By night she slept squeezed onto the mat with the babies, at the mercy of the mosquitoes just as they were."  Page 244
 (Note:  This is from an e-book so the page may not be exact.  It is also an Advanced Readers edition).


Posted by Teddy Rose at 8:35 PM 6 comments  

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Sunday, March 6, 2011

Maibox Monday

MailBox Monday now has it's very own blog, Mailbox Monday.  It is also on tour and is being hosted by I'm Booking It in March.

I received the following books (in my Inbox, rather than my mailbox):

Thanks to Sourcebooks for the free download of this e-book.



Thanks to Sourcebooks for the free download of this e-book.

I hadn't heard about this before but the description makes it sound really good.  It's the first book of an historical family Saga series.

 This is a book I am unsure about.  The cover has "trashy" all over it.  I have nothing agains't trashy books, I just don't care for them.  I like a book with substance.  I also like historical fiction, which is why I decided to give it a try.  Besides, Sourcebooks was offering the e-book version for $2.99.

This book was originally published in the UK with the title 'Book of Love" with a much nicer cover.


Posted by Teddy Rose at 10:15 PM 12 comments  

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The Gilded Six-Bits by Zora Neale Hurston

Last week I reviewed Sweat by Zora Neale Hurston.  I had downloaded it along with The Gilded Six-Bits, so that's what I decided to review here.

Missie May and Joe had only been married for less than a year but were very happy together.  Every Saturday when Joe came home from work they played a little game.  Joe chucked his entire weeks pay of 9 silver dollars at the door.
"Nobody ain't gointer be chunkin' money at me and Ah not do 'em nothin'," she shouted in mock anger. He ran around the house with Missie May at his heels. She overtook him at the kitchen door. He ran inside but could not close it after him before she crowded in and locked with him in a rough-and-tumble. For several minutes the two were a furious mass of male and female energy. Shouting, laughing, twisting, turning, tussling, tickling each other in the ribs; Missie May clutching onto Joe and Joe trying, but not too hard, to get away."
One day Joe met a new man in town who opened up an ice cream parlor.  There had never been one in their part of town, the black part. The man,Otis D. Slemmons had gold practically dripping off him.  He had a gold pocket watch and even all gold fillings in his teeth.  He liked to show off his gold pieces and Joe decided he wanted to show off Missie May to him so he took her out for ice cream.
"A new man done come heah from Chicago and he done got a place and took and opened it up for a ice cream parlor, and bein', as it's real swell, Ah wants you to be one de first ladies to walk in dere and have some set down." 
Joe told her to dress up in her Sunday best.  They had never seen a rich man in person before.  They had seen Henry Ford but only in pictures.  Slemmons let everyone who came by like at his gold coins and watch but they were never aloud to touch them.

One Saturday, Joe got off early from work.  He thought he would surprise Missie May and sneak into bed with her.  The surprise was on him.

I really enjoyed this story, despite being poor, Joe and Missie May loved each other and didn't let his low pay bother him.  They got by on what they had and enjoyed what they did have. Hurston started out with a playful story but then, like in Sweat, turned it around and packed a punch to her readers.  Though a small part of it was predictable it was how she lead up to it and beyond that held my interest.  Highly recommended.

You can read both Sweat and The Gilded Six-Bits, here. 


If you would like to participate in Short Story Mondays, go to John of The Book Mine Set. He has a short story review every Monday and a place for you to link your short story review. Come join in the fun! 


Posted by Teddy Rose at 9:53 PM 6 comments  

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Saturday, March 5, 2011

Winner: The Arrow Chest by Robert Parry

Thanks again to Robert Parry for making this giveaway possible!

If you did not win, there is still one giveaway happening.  Head on over to This Miss Loves to Read. If you love historical fiction, this book is a must read!  If you don't win it, it is worth buying.  It is available in paperback and Kindle.

The Winner of The Arrow Chest by Robert Parry is:

Sarah E.

Congratulations!  Please respond to 
my email within 2 days.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 8:35 PM 2 comments  

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