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Costco Cookbooks = 5 Stars , A+, Happy Dance

11/22/2016

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Guys.  Costco’s cookbook game this season is on point (or is it pointe?  Fleek?  I don’t know…it’s whatever the cool kids are saying these days to mean AMAZING).  I love cookbooks.  Like love love them.  I think of them as art and look forward to those rare nights when the kids are in bed, the dishes are done, the laundry is folded, and I can sit on the couch and page through some of my favorites.  So basically it’s once in a blue-full-harvest-super moon.  But when the stars align and I DO get to relax with a cookbook it is oh so good.  I’m pretty picky about which ones I decide to add to my collection so not any old cookbook will make the cut—they have to be filled with big, beautiful pictures and recipes I would love to make (i.e. heavy on the savory and light on the sweet).  I’m a terrible, no good, awful baker that avoids the back of cookbooks like the plague.  I’ll eat it, I just don’t want to make it!  
ANYWAYS…
Summer was a disappointing time for cookbooks, especially at Costco.  They typically have a few books here and there that sneak their way into my cart but this summer their selection was really lackluster.  No name chefs with weird ingredients and not many pictures made me feel uninspired and  therefore my stash of cookbooks—and our checkout total—stayed pretty small.  Then the weather got cooler and the leaves started to change color.  Apple spice everything was everywhere, women started wearing leggings and boots, and men stopped shaving.  It was officially fall!
Little known fact: fall is when a lot of cookbooks are released, specifically October.  As if we needed another reason to love this season!  
So as I was perusing the samples one day I thought I’d take a lap around the cookbook table.  I went in with low expectations and then BAM!  I was hit in the face (or should I stay stomach?) with stacks of glorious, wonderful books that were currently on my Amazon wishlist just waiting for a moment of weakness when I’d buy them all.  I stood there and paged through each and every one, bouncing the baby on one hip and opening a giant bag of veggie straws to keep the 4 year old quiet in the cart.  My heart raced as I saw book after beautiful book that I wanted…no, needed! 
If I only had these cookbooks my dinners would be unforgettable!  Our stomachs would be full, our children would learn to love wholesome foods, our friends would beg to join us for breakfast, lunch and dinner—all because of these books! It took very little rationalizing in my head to decide that a big ‘ole pile needed to come home with me.  So now, without further adieu, I’d like to share my thoughts on a few of my favorites!  
To begin: The Queen Bees
Martha Stewart and Ina Garten.  Mic drop, fade to black.  Do I really need to say more?!
Martha Stewart is second on my list of people I wish I could be.  Joanna Gaines is number one—Martha would be first if it wasn’t for that whole “insider trading criminal” thing and her weird relationship with Snoop Dog.  *shakes head*  I love Martha’s newest cookbooks Appetizers and Vegetables.  The recipes are pretty easy without a billion ingredients and while some of them may be new to you, everything can basically be found at Hyvee.  She really focuses on quality of ingredients (buy organic sweet potatoes…you’ll cry the first time you try them) so you don’t have to MAKE a lot of flavor, it’s already there with what you’re already using.  Full disclosure: Vegetables is not a vegetarian cookbook but rather a vegetable-focused cookbook.  The vegetables are the stars of the show but there a lot of recipes that have some sort of meat in them.  If you’re looking for a vegetarian cookbook though, she has Meatless which I definitely recommend (I haven’t seen it at Costco yet).  
Ina Garten is another all-star of mine.  I’m not a fan of her cooking show but her recipes are SO.  GOOD.  I tried about an infinity+1 recipes for Beef Stew and just could not find one that I liked.  Enter her newest cookbook: Cooking for Jeffery.  Jackpot!  It was amazing!  Technically the recipe was Lamb Stew with Spring vegetables but I used beef and made it in the fall--rebel, I know.  Costco carries a lot of her cookbooks now, including my favorites Cooking for Jeffery and Make It Ahead.  Her books are filled with lots of warm, comforting flavors covered in gravies and butter.  She’s homemade, not healthy if you know what I mean!  Besides the stew I got rave reviews from the butternut squash hummus in her Appetizers section.  If you make it, don’t forget to pick up one of those jumbo bags of naan (by the salsas and guacamole) to serve with it!!
If you could only have one cookbook…
Just the thought makes me cringe.  BUT If I really had to choose only one cookbook to save from the burning fire, I would have to choose The Complete Cook’s Country TV Show Cookbook.  This cookbook is insane, especially for the price.  EVERY recipe, ingredient testing, and equipment rating from 9 seasons.  You heard me, 9!  There is also a picture with every single recipe.  It reminds me of a Grandma’s secret recipe book.  Seriously think of any dish…there will be a recipe for it in there.  There is also a ton of great information on what kitchen gear and brands to buy.  If someone had given me this book as a wedding present maybe I wouldn’t have spent my first year of marriage burning Rice-a-roni every night!  There is a bigger, textbook-like book there too which I have yet to check out.  Cook’s Country had more pictures so it was a no brainer to get that one first.
If you’re a serious Cookbook-ie (like Foodie but for cookbooks?  Maybe it’s a thing…)
Danielle Walker from Against All Grain just released a new cookbook called Celebrations.  Now, I may be partial to it because I had the incredible experience of being on her Launch Team for the cookbook.  I was on Instagram at the right time and she put up a message that she needed 150 people to recipe test and hype her new book before it was released.  I was lucky number 89 and received the book about a month early and got to cook a bunch of her recipes for a media blitz she was doing.  For those of you who don’t know, Danielle Walker is paleo and writes recipes that are gluten, dairy and refined sugar free.  Most recipes use nut flours in place of white or wheat flour and there is a ton of coconut everything.  If you are new to this way of cooking and eating, I would recommend getting her first book Against All Grain or Meals Made Simple.  Celebrations is a great addition to her other two books but it is heavy on the baked goods (cookies, cakes, pastries, etc.) because that’s what a lot of grain and dairy free individuals miss at get-togethers.  There are a lot of really great savory dishes too, but not as many as in Against All Grain or Meals Made Simple.  I think Celebrations is a great cookbook for someone growing a collection, not necessarily starting one.  
Dump and Mix:
Costco is carrying almost all of the Six Sister’s Stuff cookbooks.  I kept Six Sister’s Stuff and Dinner Made Easy.  Their recipes have lots of cream-of chicken/celery/onion and packets of onion soup mix but I think they’re good to have in your back pocket for days when you need something super easy.  They also have craft ideas, cleaning to-do lists, and kid’s snack ideas.  Their baked goods are pretty famous too—feel free to make some and drop them off at my house!  
Honorable Mention:
Skinnytaste and Skinnytaste: Fast & Slow are pretty good too.  I’m pretty sure she follows Weight Watchers—there are point totals on recipes—but I just ignore those.  Fast & Slow is her newest release and each chapter is split up into fast (20 minute or less) and slow (slow cooker or long bake) recipes.  I prefer Skinnytaste to Fast & Slow if I had to pick just one.  She has a lot of Cuban/Mexican inspired recipes (I loooove her picadillo) and has a whole chapter dedicated just to tacos in Fast & Slow.  We just made her Korean-Style Beef Tacos and I literally drank the sauce.  It wasn’t my proudest moment but it was dang tasty!
The Shocker:
Guy Fieri Family Food.  Just like with Ina, I am not a fan of Guy Fieri’s shows.  I don’t own any of his other cookbooks and just threw this one in the cart thinking I would probably return it.  I got home and started looking through it and I seriously love it!  It has a very Southwest / West Coast feel (I’m pretty sure there’s roasted red peppers and onions in everything) and has lots of “build your own” style meals (tacos, chili, pizza, etc.).  He also gives recipes on how to repurpose leftovers for more meals and a whole section dedicated to just kabobs.  I don’t know about his other books but this one sure is great!
The Disappointment:
Alton Brown’s Everyday Cook.  I don’t own any of his other books but saw a few of his recipes on the Today Show and thought I would give it a try.  First of all, he uses a kitchen scale for a lot of his ingredients.  While I know he’s a science guy that loves to get things precise, I’m more of a “that looks about right” kind of cook when it comes to measuring ingredients.  Why dirty more dishes if you don’t have to??  So that was my first turn off.  Then, unfortunately, the meals just weren’t things I’d cook.  They were a little too picky or exotic for me (if you consider mussels exotic).  This cookbook was food that he actually eats when cooking at home and all of the photos were shot on his iPhone—pretty cool!  I wanted to love this book but just couldn’t.  Thankfully Costco has that amazing return policy because this was one that went back.  


Well I hope this post made you hungry!  Head over to Costco today and pick up a great new cookbook—there’s one for everyone!  And if you’re new to home cooking, I also recommend checking out their magazine section.  My favs are Food Network Magazine and Martha Stewart Living.  
Also, a few of us started doing Cook The Book with Iowa Medical Partners members.  We choose either a cookbook that everyone cooks out of or a theme (soup, vegetarian, etc.) and get together for a potluck to share recipes/tips.  Let’s be honest: it’s a fancy name for an excuse to eat!  Join us at our next get together Friday December 16th!  Details will be in the Iowa Medical Partners Facebook group.  The North Liberty library also does a Cook The Book.  Their next event is December 5th at 6:30pm.  They’re cooking their way through Chrissy Teigen’s book Cravings (which I of course own and recommend).  Their events are for adults only, however, which is why we started something similar for Iowa Medical Partners—no babysitters needed! 
Bon Appetit!  
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Winter Is Coming...

11/15/2016

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It is hard to believe that it is Fall, let alone November, with the amazing weather we have been having. I heard its supposed to be 70 degrees on Thursday! Shorts the week before Thanksgiving! Where do we live again?!? For all of you Iowa newbies, No, this is not normal. Get ready because winter is most definitely coming. Here are some of my best tips for surviving the cold. 
LAYER IT UP
Always dress in layers. The weather here tends to change every ten minutes. If you have layers on you make it easier to get warm before you go outside and shed layers when you go inside so you don't melt. 
COVER UP
The wind chill out here is nasty. Make sure you have most of your skin covered. I'm talking hats, scarves, boots, the works. When the wind chill is really low, you can get frost bite in about 10 minutes, so make sure you limit your time outside then.
SANCTUARY
 If you have little kids, find some indoor places to burn off energy. I recommend the Children's Museum, the indoor play place at the mall, the Play Station in Cedar Rapids, Synergy and the Gym-Nest both have open gym times, and the indoor playground at the North Liberty Community Center. 
PASS THE SALT, PLEASE
Invest in a bag of salt. Iowa can get really icy, thanks to the cold and sometimes that means you are stuck chipping ice off the driveway so you can pull into the garage. Cover the ice that settles on the driveway with salt and after a few minutes it should come up easy. 
DON'T FREEZE
If you have any lawn furniture or if your kids have any plastic outside toys, make sure they make it somewhere covered for the winter because the cold will ruin it all. Plastic shatters when it gets really cold. Trust me, I speak from experience. Also, make sure that your garden hoses are unhooked from the spigot and in your garage. If you leave it attached, your pipes could burst and make a big mess for you. 
CLEAN IT UP
Get the leaves out of your yard before the snow comes. There is nothing nastier than when the snow melts come Spring and there are gross, slimy leaves in your yard. 

Hopefully we will get a few more weeks of this great weather before the cold sets in. If this is your first Iowa Winter, buckle up and enjoy the ride. Just remember, the winter doesn't last forever and spring will eventually come!
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Are you an OILER? Essential Oils + a giveaway! 

11/5/2016

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Essential Oils…Giveaway!
 
Are you all totally taking advantage of this amazing Fall we are having?! I know I am. In the back of my mind I keep thinking about the viruses and bugs that lurk just around the corner. The ones that show up when we are stuck inside and then pass them around from person to person for weeks at a time. Blah! This year, I feel a little better prepared to face them thanks to a friend that introduced me to using essential oils.
 
Are any of you out there “oilers”? I am completely new to them. A couple months ago, I went to a class my friend/neighbor taught and I was surprised to learn there are so many uses for oils.
 
I always thought that oils were mainly for aromatherapy. I had no idea they were used in cooking, cleaning, preventing illness, healing, stress/muscle relief, etc. They have so many uses, and what I have seen so far, I can say that I am very pleased.
 
I started with some of the main oils that most people use for many different things.  Lavender for example is one of my favorites. Besides being a natural bug repellent, I have personally used it to calm my 4 year old from a raging irrational tantrum.  All I did was rub a drop or two on the bottom of his feet and in seconds he called down. Maybe he was just super confused at what I was doing, but hey, whatever it was it worked! 
 
I also have those stressful nights where I have too much on my mind and a couple drops of Lavender helps to relax and put me to sleep.
 
Peppermint has been a lifesaver for stress headaches. I love how the tingling/cooling feeling is refreshing and relaxing across my head and temples. I also recently used it for major heartburn. AWESOME.
 
Then of course there is Lemon oil. I use this one in the laundry to freshen that load I accidently forgot to change yesterday and sat in the washer so my husbands scrubs smell gross and musty. A few drops of lemon on a cloth can freshen a whole load of laundry. Its also nice to add to the free and clear fabric softener we use. I add Lemon oil to water as I drink it through out the day. It just plain smells nice.
 
There are a couple more I use on my kids, and I’ve been super happy with. Breathe is great for asthma relief. My 4 year old always gets asthma when he gets a cold. He started with a cough last week and I used Breathe oil on his feet and on his chest, along with another oil called On Guard that is meant to help boost the immune system.  It helped the cough go away. Instead of lasting 2 weeks, all symptoms where gone in 3 days.  I also used On Guard on all my kids when they came home with sore throats and runny noes. So far, it seems to nip it pretty fast and we haven’t developed any serious colds or coughs. I will be interested to see how it works as the school year goes on.

OK, now that I’ve named some of the oils I’ve used, who else loves oils? I am planning to host a class sometime soon to learn more about some of the mood oils. I have struggled with seasonal depression for several years, and I am hoping to find some alternative methods of dealing with it. Especially as we head in to the icy tundra of a winter here in Iowa.
 
Now for the GIVEAWAY, my friend who is an educator for Do Terra has generously donated a starter pack of essential oils. The three I talked about today—Lavender, Lemon, and Peppermint. To enter, leave me a comment with your name and what you know or don’t know about essential oils. And for an extra entry, let me know if you’d be interested in coming to a class I’m hosting soon and I will get in touch with you!
 
Have a great weekend!!
NICOLE V.

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