Vegan Delectable: Volume V: 100 Irresistible Breads, Breakfast & Brunch Goodness for All! By Sheron Mingo Y

 

Enjoy VeganDelectable: Volume V: 100 Irresistible Breads, Breakfast & Brunch Goodness for All! Chock-full of visuals and 10 bonus recipes totaling 110 recipes in this volume. You get sensational flavors that indulge and delight your palate, creating a Caribbean-American marriage of exotic, alluring dishes for everyone! Enjoy breakfast and brunch recipes such as pancakes, rolls, artistic breads, muffins, porridges, oat bars, pastries, hot meals, and more. Simple instructions accompany each recipe that even a novice can follow. Fresh and wholesome nuts, fruits, grains, and vegetables are utilized for the authentic taste of each recipe. Each recipe is a burst of lingering flavor from childhood and adult indulgences, and this book was designed with careful thought, especially for vegans, vegetarians, and carnivores alike—I mean you.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON Paperback and now on KINDLE

REVIEW

If you thought the vegan food life was bland and boring, think again. I discovered Vegan Delectable Volume V 100 Irresistible Breads, Breakfast & Brunch Goodness for All! which opened the door to vegan/vegetarian cooking that is delicious! Sheron Mingo Y tapes into her Caribbean heritage and American cuisines to bring us luscious recipes for breakfast, brunch, and between. 

All ingredients used in each recipe are organically fortified and non-dairy. Included are tons of recipes from pancakes (Mango Rasin pancakes, anyone?) to rolls (Curried Potato Rolls) and muffins (Apricot Walnut Muffins). A whole chapter is dedicated to breads from sweets like the Artistic Pumpkin Whole Wheat Bread. To savory Kale Onion Bread.
The most interesting recipe I found was in her Balmy Porridges chapter. Not exclusive to the Three Bears anymore. I’ve never had porridge before, but I tried her Balmy Plantain Blueberry Cranberry Porridge which was delightful!
Also included are fruit jam recipes and her perfect Vegan Brunch recipes such as Lipsmacking Kale Green Pea Cups, which features Cassavas, a nutty-flavored, starchy root vegetable or tuber native to South America. Better yet, go for her yummy Carrot Cranberry Rice Balls or Savory Cheesy Tomato Cauliflower Shells. Get exotic again with Mashed Potatoes with Walnut Bora Stew which is Caribbean-themed—ending it all with some Fruit Oat Bar Recipes that are amazing! This has to be the most fun vegan cookbook ever!
Five stars all the way!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sheron Mingo Y, a multi-genre writer and the cookbook author of “Vegan Delectable: Volumes I-V.” She was born in Guyana, South America, but has lived in the US for most of her life. She enjoys traveling and has lived and studied in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Germany, and Costa Rica. She is the sole vegan in her family. You will love her cookbooks whether you are vegan, vegetarian, or carnivore! Her cookbooks offer 500 exotic recipes packed with Caribbean, Guyanese and American flavors. Recipes cover breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, beverages, and desserts, consistently delight vegans and vegetarians and seduce carnivores. Vegan Delectable recipes are unique since they deliver indelible tropical flavors! Enjoy soups, salads, biscuits, rice options, stews, proteins, pies, pizzas, sandwiches, dips, pancakes, rolls, muffins, breads, porridges, jams, oat bars, puddings, cakes, buns, tarts, milkshakes, ice creams, iced teas, mocktails and more.

 For more recipe goodness from Sheron, visit SuperMementosYea.com

To learn more about Sheron and all her works, visit www.sheronmingoy.com

BOOK REVIEW: The Littlest Dinosaur's First Christmas By Steven Kothlow & Bryce Raffle/Illustrations by Tessa Verplancke

 

The Littlest Dinosaur is excited to play in the snow for the first time. He wishes he could play in the snow forever, but Christmas is a busy time of year, and Mama Tyrannosaur has plans for those presents under the tree!

 

Available at  The Littlest Dinosaur  and on Amazon

REVIEW

Getting into the holiday spirit, we are reviewing The Littlest Dinosaur’s First Christmas (The Littlest Dinosaur Series). While geared toward young readers, I read this story to my 9-year-old book-loving twin boys, who enjoyed it, thinking, as they put it, “Pretty good.”

In The Littlest Dinosaur’s First Christmas, we meet our favorite veggie-loving t-rex, his brother Ty, and Mama Tyrannosaur. It’s Christmas eve, and Ty and the Littlest dinosaur cannot wait to open presents. Only upon Christmas day do The Littlest Dinosaur and Ty find out the gifts are not for them. Who are they for, then? Mama Tyranasauous will show them as Ty, and The Littlest Dinosaur will learn the real spirit of Christmas.

Illustrated by Tessa Verplancke, The Littlest Dinosaur is the cutest little dinosaur you’ve ever seen. Kids will fall in love with him, and a plushie should definitely be in the works, hint hint to authors.

As a parent, I enjoyed reading the story. I liked how the text bubbles matched the color of the dino who was talking ( Mama dinosaur is blue, Ty is darker green, while our littlest dino is a lighter green.), so you knew who was talking. The sweet message of the overall tale is one that every parent should delight in and love to read to their kids repeatedly.

I rate The Littlest Dinosaur’s First Christmas 5 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Don't forget to check out The Littlest Dinosaur's other adventures too!

The Littlest Dinosaur, The Littles Dinosaur Finds A Home, The Littlest Dinosaur Goes To School,

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Bryce Raffle was the lead writer for the video game studio Ironclad Games. He also writes stories for young adults and designs book covers.

Steven Kothlow is making his debut as a children’s book writer. He hopes to tell many more stories that help spread a message of diversity and inclusion, especially in children’s literature.

Tessa Verplancke is a sound designer by day and an illustrator by night. She lives to tell stories through as many mediums as possible.

Book Review: Tales From A Lady's Bower: A Collection by Isabella Berdyna Zysk

 

A young student scribe named Spring is hired to go to Greenholme Keep for two weeks to prepare an inventory of the buildings, contents, and farmsteads which belonged to Lady Emmaline, an elderly widow who had recently passed away. Lady Emmaline's family had owned the property for centuries.

Spring meets the caretakers, Martha and Charlie, and is surprised to find that Greenholme Keep isn't simply a house as she had thought but a fortified property on a hill that includes four homes and other outbuildings. Most of these were closed up and had not been used for twenty years, and the furnishings and such sold off. But in the main house, one particular room fascinated Spring. Lady Emmaline's bower. Among her books and belongings, Spring would uncover connections between her life as an orphan in a distant city and the life of Lady Emmaline.

Available Now on Amazon

REVIEW

Set in medieval times, we met Spring, a young struggling student scribe. When a job opens up to do menial inventory at an old estate at Greenholme Keep, Spring jumps at the chance. In her progression, she is led to the bower of the former mistress of the home Lady Emmaline. In it, she finds stories written by Lady Emmaline and a connection to her past. 

Curious, she must read them as six tales unfold led by award-winning historical fantasy romance writer Isabella Berdyna Zysk. She is joined by Aleksandra Layland (Windflower Saga) and Ronna Eileen Henry (Penruddock Romances) for six romantic fantasy adventure tales set in each author's signature series. Zysk lends two excerpts from her two novellas, Adalindis: A Tale of Generosity in The Tale of Lindy and Kenric and The Cliffs of Darad in The Tale of Prince Ercanbald and the Chieftain Darad. Layland lends two from her epic novel series, the Windflower Saga in The Tale of Brother Kapa'a and The Tale of Kahutane. And Henry also lends two with excerpts from Edmund, A Knight of Selby in Edmund and Ellinor, and Denisa, The Castellans Daughter in Denisa and Karsten.

 Having read all the original titles, my fave out of all the tales is the first two tales, The Tale of Lindy and Kenric (from Adalindis: A tale of Generosity (Zysk)) and The Tale of Edmund and Ellinor (from Edmund, A Knight of Selby (Henry)), the most. Zysk and Henry condensed all the perfect points from these two novellas, making them have a beginning, middle, and end. Historical romance isn't my thing, but I found myself getting lost and engrossed and lost again in both tales all over again. I also liked Layland's two contributions, but readers needed to read the epic Windflower Saga to understand the power of The Tale of Kahutane and The Tale of Brother Kapa'a.

Overall, Zysk, Layland, and Henry all write with stoic grace and superb world-building that is easy to get drawn into. Tales From A Lady's Bower gives a nice tasty morsel from each author's book that will salivate readers' appetites to check out the original works each story is based on. I give Tale From A Lady's Bower 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Isabella Berdyna Zysk was born in Michigan, raised in southern California and central Virginia, attended the University of Florida and Virginia Tech, graduated with a degree in civil engineering, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer (Civil Engineer) in Micronesia, worked for the United States government as an engineer and senior manager, lived in several states and foreign countries where her work took her, and now resides in Florida where she enjoys her retirement years. Her interests include history, horses, dogs, trees, sustainable farming, various arts and crafts, and the writings of Aleksandra Layland, Ronnda Eileen Henry, Jane Austen, and William Shakespeare. 

Isabella published a collection of historical fantasy/romantic adventure novellas titled The Venturous Tales, which was selected as a medalist in the 2020 FAPA (Florida Authors and Publishers Association) President's Book Awards. The novellas in the collection are also available individually. She is currently working on three more collections to be eventually titled The Valorous Tales, The Virtuous Tales, and The Sundara Tales. The Valorous Tales will feature protagonists who exemplify military heroism in defense of their homelands. The Virtuous Tales will stress positive character attributes while combining adventure and romance in medieval-like settings. The Sundara Tales will feature noble and common birth protagonists who are "everyday heroes" in their kingdom while blending adventure and romance into medieval-like fantasy settings. The first of the novellas for The Virtuous Tales and The Sundara Tales have been published as Adalindis: A Tale of Generosity and The Cliffs of Darad. They are featured in this collection as "The Tale of Lindy and Kenric" and "The Tale of Prince Ercanbald and the Chieftain of Darad."

Book Review: Disney Princess: Beyond the Tiara by Emily Zemler

 

Everyone knows the Disney Princess characters, but how did they become the cultural icons we know today? From the Princesses, Walt Disney and his artists brought to the screen in the twentieth century, such as Snow White and Aurora, to the recent additions, such as Moana, Tiana, and Rapunzel, each Disney Princess character's influence has expanded beyond their original film. Each of their unique, individual stories create a fabric with the power to inspire our imaginations, spark social conversations, and empower us. 

  

Featuring concept art, memorabilia, and original interviews, Disney Princess: Beyond the Tiara explores the legacies of the princesses and what they represent today. 

 
 

Featured Disney Princesses include: 

• Moana 

• Merida 

• Rapunzel 

• Tiana 

• Mulan 

• Pocahontas 

• Jasmine 

• Belle 

• Ariel 

• Aurora 

• Cinderella 

• Snow White 

• 
  

Organized by themes of origins and inspirations, re-imaginings, toys and collectibles, fashion, music, parks, fandom, and more, Disney Princess: Beyond the Tiara features memorabilia and interviews with Disney historians, directors, voice talent, and fans. Explore the different eras, influences, and legacies of the Princesses with Disney Legends such as Jodi Benson (the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid and author of the book's foreword), Lea Salonga (the singing voice behind two Princesses, Jasmine and Mulan), and composer Alan Menken. 

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

REVIEW 

 
 

Containing a special forward by Jodi Benson (Ariel the Little Mermaid herself.) Zeller entertains and educates, examining Disney princesses' power in our lives and culture. The most delightful book to grace your bookshelf or coffee table (The cover is gorgeous.) Disney Princess: Beyond the Tiara will warm the hearts of all Disney princess lovers all over.  

 
 Zelmer starts us with the queen of Disney princesses herself, Snow White. As we go on a journey to explore how these princesses were born and designed and how they became the pop culture staples, we know today, influencing everything from cookbooks to music to home decor to makeup to fashion. The book includes stories from the artist creators, voice actors, and fans who have been inspired by these leading ladies we love so much.  

  

Beautiful to display on a coffee table, Beyond The Tiara also includes fabulous photos, development sketches, and artwork to please the casual reader's eye. I love learning the behind Disney magic lore, and Disney Princess: Beyond the Tiara delivers.  I enjoyed this book thoroughly. It also brought back fond memories of how I fell in love with Disney princesses all over again. 

  

I grew up pretty much in a Disney Princess drought. Of course, there was the classic Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty (who was my fave at the time.) It was not until 1984, when Michael Eisner, Frank Wells, and Jeffery Katzenberg arrived, that the "Princess rebirth," you could say, started with The Little Mermaid in 1989. So I was a young teenager (14) by then but got entranced instantly. Hey, Ariel was a young teen, and so was I. I could so relate! And to think Walt Disney had wanted to do a take on the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale for decades!  

  

These fascinating tidbits and more are sprinkled throughout that you never knew about Walt Disney, or your favorite princesses, before. Belle, though is my fave as she could read a book while walking, which was something I had done for years. An excellent book for the princess lover in you. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emily Zemler is a writer and journalist based in London. She is a frequent contributor to the Los Angeles Times and Rolling Stone, among other prestigious outlets. Emily is the co-author of 'A Sick Life,' with TLC’s Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins, and the author of 'The Art and Making of Aladdin' and 'Disney Princess: Beyond the Tiara.'