Higher Read

You can see the actual review and a recipe we tested out for this product here: http://theindigoquill.blogspot.com/2013/06/review-how-to-cook-from-scraps-by.htm...

Although my husband is a chef and can make anything taste good, I didn't add anything special to these recipes...except some cilantro. :) I had to be sure I really put this book to the test by following the recipe the way it was written. In order to achieve this, we also had to use exactly what the title says: scraps! We did not purchase anything new for these recipes and just grabbed things that were getting dusty in our cupboards...or garden!

Well that sounds easy, huh? Let me just point out that this book is for those looking for simple recipes to use things lying around your kitchen, or for the very beginner (I kind of wish I had this in college). If you are worthy of being a participant on the Iron Chef, this book will most likely bore you. If you are like me and had to marry a guy who went to the same college as Emeril Lagasse because you can't even make mac & cheese right, then this is perfect for you.

The recipe we chose (Leftover Vegetable Soup) actually turned out to be really delicious. I found it especially good when mixed with crackers for a wholesome flavor, or *tortilla chips* for a fiesta taste!

I really like this book. It has recipes that make me feel like I'm contributing to my husband's gourmet cooking. Now, thanks to Higher Read, I feel a little more confident volunteering to make dinner! These are easy recipes that taste good, don't cause waste, and allow you to play with them a little bit. Add a few spices or hor d'oeuvres and you've got yourself a delectable concoction!… (more)

If you have very little experience at budgeting or holiday expenses, if you have no idea where to start thinking about a budget for the holidays or if you have the experience of overspending for the holidays, this book might help you. Most of the ideas presented are not new and are actually pretty obvious once you stop to think about budgeting and holiday spending. Some people may find this interesting and helpful. Others, like me, will not be terribly impressed with the ideas and suggestions presented. It all depends on the reader and what he/she wants from the book. Even for the person experienced in budgeting and experienced in moderating holiday expenses, there are a few pointers/suggestions that can be applied to holiday budgets of all sizes. I found the book easy to get through. It was not very long and was easily understood, and the ideas were not very new. I received this from the author to read and review.… (more)

Though this book has a wealth of information, I found some of the book to be a bit condescending and too obvious. I figure this is 2013, and most people have traveled, are going to travel or are even thinking about it/interested in it have either searched the internet for information on traveling and how to prepare or watched some discussions on TV—or both. However, even these people can benefit from reading this book because, being human, we often forget, miss or do not think of steps to take or checklists to ensure travel goes smoothly. I, for one, never go through the long process of travel preparation that the book suggests we do. I know I do most of the things listed in a checklist, but I do it without really thinking about it because, for me, it is largely intuitive and thus unnecessary. Still, not everyone is like this. This book will work well with people who are unsure of whether they want to travel or where they want to travel or who love and work off lists. Thus, there is some merit for it, just not for people like me. There are great suggestions throughout the book, which make reading it quite worthwhile. Having traveled a lot, I did not pick up many new ideas, but many ideas long forgotten were brought to the forefront. In conclusion, the book has a lot of merit and could help people think of and plan travel. For those of us who have traveled a lot and do not need all the information provided or for those who just prefer not to read through this sort of thing because it is too deep into “the weeds”, a shorter, abbreviated version might be more helpful. I received this from Higher Read to read and review.… (more)