Succotash Book Reviews

On the Topic of Only Reading Good Books (And Just Rereading Your Favorites)

2025-12-28T10:29:00.000-08:00

I came across a good article on the topic of reading, 7 Ways to Retain More of Every Book You Read from James Clear. I was looking for tips for reading comprehension. And as internet searches do, it led me to different topic from the one I was searching.

While the article is about 'reading comprehension strategies', what made double take was when he wrote: "Start more books. Quit most of them. Read the great ones twice."

I thought that a great strategy. I do love reading, and I read all types of books. But how many times have I slogged through a story that didn't resonate with me? And that includes cookbooks. And do I actually bring that strategy to real life? To answer this - I just need to count the number of times a handful books and audiobooks I've reread or listened to again and again.

Opening up a new book and finding myself in a new world in someone else's shoes is somewhat exciting. But there is also something about picking up a book and reliving it.

Read James Clear's full article here: https://jamesclear.com/reading-comprehension-strategies

Renee Shelton
Succotash Book Reviews
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Disclosure and More Info: Most books found in the reviews are purchased by me and some have been given to me by publishers or the writers themselves. Some of my large cookbook library collection can be found on The Library Thing, which is a constant work in progress to categorize all my books. All reviews are independent and opinions my own. Any advertising helps support this site. :) Thanks for reading!

Reading Escapism: Mental Health Boost from Stress and Overthinking for Adults

2024-07-28T07:57:00.000-07:00

I came across an article today about reading and mental health. The article by MHFA England, The Benefits of Reading for Self-Care, listed six ways reading can boost mental health, but the one that stood out for me was healthy escapism. The other items on the list were digitally detox, cultivate emotional intelligence, boost self-confidence and self-improvement, help to relax, and boost cognitive stimulation.

What are the benefits of reading escapism? For adolescents, it can be a tool for forming the foundation for identity and individualization. There was a even a study on this, link below, that found fictional escapism that includes reading helped to form the building blocks of empathy for young adults as fictional settings puts them in situations similar to real life. For adults, escapism through reading can mentally lift individuals from unpleasant situations for a period of time, kind of like giving your mental health a vacation from reality and overthinking, which can in turn give your body a reboot and refresh.

Below are some links that explore reading escapism and mental health. And after you're done reading all this non-fiction, open up a good story to read. Your brain and body will thank you.

MHFA England: The benefits of reading for self-care.

https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/blog/the-benefits-of-reading-for-self-care/

Paper: Fictional Escapism and Identity Formation: A Duoethnographic Exploration of Stories and Adolescent Development by Cammie J. Lawton and Leia K. Cain.

https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5742&context=tqr

Abstract: "Almost Like Freedom." Prison Libraries and Reading as Facilitators of Escape by Jane Garner.

https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/706309

Book Therapy blog: Why Fiction as Escapism is Healthy by Fijal Shah.

https://www.booktherapy.io/en-us/blogs/book-therapys-ask-the-bibliotherapist-blog/why-fiction-as-escapism-is-healthy

Enjoy,
Renee Shelton
Succotash Book Reviews
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Disclosure and More Info: Most books found in the reviews are purchased by me and some have been given to me by publishers or the writers themselves. Some of my large cookbook library collection can be found on The Library Thing, which is a constant work in progress to categorize all my books. All reviews are independent and opinions my own. Any advertising helps support this site. :) Thanks for reading!

BOOKOFF San Diego

2024-04-21T07:01:00.000-07:00

BOOKOFF San Diego

BOOKOFF is a used bookstore chain with locations worldwide. The stores began in Japan (according to their corporate profile, they currently have 866 stores in Japan, 10 in the US, 8 in Malaysia, and 3 in France). The US chapters began in 1999 with headquarters in Gardena.

Also from their website, their relationship to society and their customers:

The BOOKOFF Group’s mission is to become a “Waste-free infrastructure for people who don’t want to throw things away.”
Reuse, the main business of the BOOKOFF Group, is that the act of "buying or selling things at BOOKOFF" already leads to a "valuable action" such as "reducing waste" and "extending the life of usable things".
We will contribute to the construction of a sustainable environment and society through our business activities as a company with a platform of "circular economy" where customers can take valuable action and experience".

The San Diego location is a tightly packed and well organized used bookstore with a great section of manga, anime, video games, and collectables. It has a very large selection of $1 and slightly higher priced used books, both fiction and nonfiction, which takes up a good center of the store. I gravitated to the cookbook section and all their nonfiction titles are laid out and organized (located at the back, if you're looking for them, too).

Some books not in the discount aisles are a little pricey for being a used book, but you never pay full price and the higher priced books are hard to find ones or ones in excellent shape. They do buy titles, and like other consignment shops, the amount you get may not be high (especially for a title destined for the $1 section), but you'll get a little something including more space for new titles.

Parking can get a little crazy, as in no parking at all depending on when you go, and the spaces are small. It shares the parking lot with Mitsuwa, Staples, Ross, Starbucks, and a couple of restaurants, which means lunch time is hectic as is afternoons. I got there early on a weekday when the store opened this trip, parked right in front with no problem - by the time I left, all spots were practically taken. I dropped of my books and went to Mitsuwa for lunch (one of my fave Japanese stores in San Diego).

But, I digress, BOOKOFF is a great used bookstore if you have the time to go through the stacks to find something new for your home stacks or something new to read - the discount sections are large but it makes for great fun going through all the titles. On this visit, I found a couple of $1 odd paperback fiction titles with cool covers and three higher priced pastry books that where brand new, and left very happy.

Bookstore Info:

Name: BOOKOFF San Diego
Address: 4240 Kearny Mesa Rd #128, San Diego, CA 92111
Neighborhood: Kearny Mesa, next to Mitsuwa Marketplace
Website: BOOKOFF San Diego

The Momo Cookbook: A Gastronomic Journey Through North Africa by Mourad Mazouz

2024-03-02T12:55:00.000-08:00

North African cookbook highlighting the flavor-rich regions of Morocco (Marrakesh, Tangier, Casablanca, Rabat, and Fez), Tunisia, and Algeria.

Publisher blurb:

The Momo Cookbook contains ninety authentic recipes from Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, including some of the region's most characteristic and delicious dishes: tagines, couscous, briks and briouats, gazelle horns (delicately shaped almond pastries) and refreshing mint tea. As well as recipes, stunning photography evokes the romance and mystery of the region -- its colours, images, traditions and rituals, while award-winning writer, Janine di Giovanni, contributes prose-portraits of the land, the people, their customs and their legendary hospitality.

Momo Cookbook goes over North Africa food by describing ingredients and cooking equipment, the major regions, and the people who live there. Recipes include light meals, celebration dinners, side dish, desserts, and beverages. If you're looking for ways to use the recipes together, set menus are included at the back.

This carrot salad recipe from the book is a simple but delicious side dish from Fez. It is sweetened with oranges and a bit of sugar, spiced with cinnamon, and perfumed with orange-blossom water. I think, a perfect side dish for grilled chicken.

Recipe: Carrot Salad with Orange Juice and Orange Blossom Water

Ingredients:

1 lb 2 oz grated carrots
2 oranges, segmented and cubed
3 oranges, juiced
1 lemon, juiced
3 tablespoons orange blossom water
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Procedure:

Place the carrots and segmented oranges into a bowl.
Mix the rest of the ingredients except the cinnamon into a bowl, whisk to combine, and pour over the carrots.
Cover and chill for at least an hour.
Sprinkle with the cinnamon before serving.

Book Info

Title: The Momo Cookbook: A Gastronomic Journey Through North Africa.
Publisher: Simon and Schuster, 2000.
ISBN: 0684860104.
Notes: Hardcover book, great photos.
Find it: Amazon: The Momo Cookbook.

San Diego Used Book Store: Helen's Book Mark

2024-02-24T21:54:00.000-08:00

Helen's Book Mark Paperback Book Exchange - San Diego Used Book Store

Helen's Book Mark is a fun used bookstore in downtown Escondido, and this shop specializes in all things paperback and fiction. They have it all: thrillers, action, mysteries, sci-fi, contemporary, suspense, fantasy, supernatural, horror, YA, classic western, and if you are in a mood for romance, they have a whole section that's guarded by a knight in armor. If you search Instagram, you can even find a video of a romantic proposal in this section of the store (ok I won't make you search, here's the proposal and video, sooo sweet).

I walked out with a David Morrell spy book (my fave author) and a puzzle (they have many to choose from).

This is a paperback book exchange AND use bookstore - meaning if you donate books, you'll get a store credit, and if you want to return a book, you'll get a store credit for a different book. They purchase no books in cash, and if you want to donate books, they'll check them out first.

To buy a paperback book, it's 50% off the list price on the cover, or $4.00 minimum. My novel was $7.95 so it was $4.00. If you see an older classic paperback for $1.99, it will cost you $4.00, which is fair. The price is different for hardcover books ($12 minimum), trade size ($7.99 minimum), and new releases (half off). Puzzles (they have lots!) are priced by number of pieces.

Variety is key here, and there are many genres.

On my visit, the store was well organized, the staff working there was super friendly, and there were several people happily shopping when I shopped (meaning, it was very much alive with a friendly vibe). If you get a little lost in the stacks, or it's the first time here, or you have a hankering for some fiction and you just don't know exactly what you are looking for yet, there is a laminated map you can borrow that gives a lay of the land. I took a picture of it for handy reference on my phone for my next visit. And there will be a next time because this place encompasses all the love for reading, and shows it.

Bookstore Info:

Name: Helen's Book Mark Paperback Book Exchange
Address: 153 E Grand Ave, Escondido, CA 92025
Neighborhood: Downtown Escondido
Website: Helen's Book Mark

San Diego Used Bookstore: Escondido Friends of the Library Book Shop

2024-02-18T21:52:00.000-08:00

Escondido Library - Friends of the Library Book Shop - San Diego Used Book Store

The Friends of the Library Book Shop is located inside the Escondido Library - once you enter it's on the left past the stairs and restrooms. The Escondido Library is an independent library - meaning it's not connected to the County Library system that many city libraries are in San Diego County. If you check out a book here, you have to return it here. I love everything about this library, from it's wonderful children's section to the periodicals, and the staff in reference are knowledgeable and very helpful.

This bookstore here has it all, and inventory is from generous public donations. And the bookstore itself is fairly large as far as bookstores inside a library goes. The price is very right for used book finds, too (I found 3 cookbooks for $1.50 total). The day I was there, it was busy and the volunteer who was working the desk was super nice answering questions.

Escondido Library states the book shop is a volunteer-run 501(c)3 organization, donations are tax deductible, and if you want a receipt for donations ask Library staff.

Bookstore Info:

Name: Friends of the Library Book Shop (Escondido Library)
Address: 239 S Kalmia St, Escondido, CA 92025
Neighborhood: Downtown Escondido
Website: Escondido Friends of the Library Bookstore

Couscous and Other Good Food From Morocco by Paula Wolfert

2024-01-27T23:06:00.000-08:00

This was one of those "I cannot believe I don't have this book already" moments when I found a copy at a used bookstore. In case you're not familiar with Paula Wolfert, she's the godmother to all things Mediterranean, and having lived there she brings a not only a wealth of information on the food but brings the region to you in the way she writes about food.

While the book does have an incredible amount of wonderful couscous recipes, there's many other dishes included such as tagines, pastry, salads, vegetables, meat dishes, and more.

The first part of the book details the pantry ingredients used, and describes the spices, herbs, olives, oils and more. If you're looking for a Moroccan cookbook by a food expert on the region, this would be the book to get.

Book Info

Title: Couscous and Other Good Food from Morocco by Paula Wolfert.
Publisher: Quill: 2001.
ISBN: 0060913967
Notes: Fantastic book on Moroccan cuisine.
Find it: Amazon: Couscous and Other Good Food From Morocco
Find it:

San Diego Used Bookstore: Footnote Books

2024-01-27T22:16:00.000-08:00

Footnote Books - San Diego Used Book Store

When I close my eyes and think of a used bookstore, I think of books stacked up on top of each other, books piled in corners, books of super interest that I have to reach high for (and found all the way on the bottom stack on the floor), and books of such varying titles and genres that they will keep my interest as I browse from one stack to another. And all of this is found in Footnote Books.

One of my favorite places for used books. I'm a cookbook collector and each visit I can usually find something interesting to pick up. Make sure you open each book (not just cookbooks) as you may find that it is signed.

The place is small, and the multiple stacks make the space between them narrow, so sometimes you'll have to back out if someone is coming past you, or you need to squeeze at the end to let someone in. The small footprint though makes the visit much more intimate and you'll want to open all the covers of all the books because they are right there in front of you - waiting to be opened and taken home.

Pricing is inside the book, usually first page, and if it's new it will generally be 50% of the original price. Some older books are priced a bit steep, but seem right for the value and I've never made a purchase I thought was too expensive. Because of the bookseller's choosiness when bringing in books, the quality is high and the diversity is great of the books being sold. A gem of a place.

Excellent selection of nonfiction books, as well as trade paperback fiction and children's books.

Bookstore Info:

Name: Footnote Books
Address: 1627 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
Neighborhood: Hillcrest
Website: Couldn't find one, but they do have a Facebook page and a space on AbeBooks.

Does Reading a Chapter a Day Bring Logevity?

2024-01-14T11:22:00.000-08:00

Interesting study cohort from the Health and Retirement Study and collected by the University of Michigan's Institute of Social Research found that reading does lead to a longer life.

The study also found that the types of reading materials was important, and that the greatest impact on longevity was found with reading books over other reading materials such as magazines and newspapers.

Abstract from A Chapter a Day - Association of Book Reading with Longevity

Although books can expose people to new people and places, whether books also have health benefits beyond other types of reading materials is not known. This study examined whether those who read books have a survival advantage over those who do not read books and over those who read other types of materials, and if so, whether cognition mediates this book reading effect. The cohort consisted of 3635 participants in the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study who provided information about their reading patterns at baseline.
Compared to non-book readers, book readers had a 4-month survival advantage at the point of 80% survival. Book readers also experienced a 20% reduction in risk of mortality over the 12 years of follow up compared to non-book readers.
These findings suggest that the benefits of reading books include a longer life in which to read them.

The study notes:

We speculated that books engage readers’ minds more than newspapers and magazines, leading to cognitive benefits that drive the effect of reading on longevity. In the following study, we were able to build on previous studies by examining the potential survival advantage of books. We predicted that the survival advantage for reading books would be greater than the survival advantage of reading newspapers and magazines.
This study found that those who read books for an average of 30 minutes per day – say, a chapter a day – showed a survival advantage, compared to those who did not read books. The robustness of our findings suggest that reading books may not only introduce some interesting ideas and characters, it may also give more years of reading.

Original manuscript can be found at the National Library of Medicine:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5105607/

And the final published copy was published at Social Science and Medicine Volume 164 Sept 2016.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.07.014

Fiction vs Non-Fiction on Language Skills

2023-11-18T17:03:00.000-08:00

Great article on the studies of fiction vs non-fiction and how it improves language skills.

Reading to improve language skills? Focus on fiction rather than non-fiction from theconversation.com.

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Disclosure and More Info: Most books found in the reviews are purchased by me and some have been given to me by publishers or the writers themselves. Some of my large cookbook library collection can be found on The Library Thing, which is a constant work in progress to categorize all my books. All reviews are independent and opinions my own. Any advertising helps support this site. :) Thanks for reading!

How to Organize Your Home Library: A Round Up of Creative Ways to Manage Your Book Piles at Home

2023-09-11T22:35:00.003-07:00

I'll be honest, my fiction is often stacked vertically in places randomly put, like next to my bed, office desk, on top of my dresser/nightstand, in the living room...you get the idea. My cookbooks are the ones that get billing on the shelves and since I have so many, and I categorize them by theme or category (breads, cookies, meats, regional cookbooks (separated by country or US region), fish and seafood, preserving, etc etc etc) making it super easy to look something up.

For those of you that have are in need of some book organizing tips, here are some ideas to dive into.

Start with this 7 step plan to organize your bookshelves: this is more of a designer feel to organize books as six designers were asked their favorite tips, and you generally have to have a lot of blank space to feel the most impact.

When you have a very large collection, read up on 15 ways to keep your out-of-hand collection of books in order. Yes, the first step is to cull your collection, but just think of all that room (for more books, I knew you were going to say that) - that you now have for better organization.

If you do have a large collection that you want to keep no matter what, here are some pretty great ways to organize them all, 12 ways to organize all your books - from genre or subject (which is what I do), by color, or the most imaginative way - to organize your books by how they make you feel.

Another article showing how to organize your bookshelves shows a couple of new (old (read: classic)) ways to organize them: by the Dewey Decimal or the Library of Congress systems. If you have a ton of books in a wide range of themes, topics, and categories, this might just be the way to go.

Let's say you have a lot of books and no bookshelf in site. This article shows how to arrange books sans bookshelf from underneath things, in things, on top of things, or just stacked up vertically in neat rows (although I have no idea how you are going to get to the one book you really need in the middle of the stacks without knocking them all over). All the ideas are fun, and make you think, yes, I can put that book stack anywhere.

Then, lastly, if you can't really get into the groove of organizing your hundreds of books collection, why bother organizing your books at all article is for everyone who organizes their books, but doesn't really organize them at all.

What is HB 900? And the Complaint Book People vs. Wong

2023-08-27T17:12:00.005-07:00

HB 900, also known as the Restricting Explicit and Adult-Designated Educational Resources (READER) Act, is an attempt to regulate all material purchased from library vendors for school libraries, thereby restricting explicit books based on a certain criteria in the bill.

An initial content review is due no later than April 1 2024 from library vendors and Jan 1 2025 by all school districts and open-enrollment charter schools. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission will adopt the standards for school library collection development by Jan 1 2024. If book vendors don't comply, they are restricted from selling any books to public schools.

The bill was passed into law on June 13 2023, and essentially moves to ban any books from entering the public school system that is deemed inappropriate under the law.

Middle Tennessee State University's The Free Speech Center categorizes book banning as censorship:

Book banning is the most widespread form of censorship in the United States, with children’s literature being the primary target. Advocates for banning a book or certain books fear that children will be swayed by its contents, which they regard as potentially dangerous. They commonly fear that these publications will present ideas, raise questions, and incite critical inquiry among children that parents, political groups, or religious organizations are not ready to address or that they find inappropriate.

A complaint filled by Book People Inc, VBK Inc dba Blue Willow Bookshop, American Booksellers Association, Association of American Publishers, Authors Guild Inc, and Commic Book Legal Defense Fund on July 25 2025 on the basis that it violates the 1st and 14th Amendments of the Constitution.

Read the whole HB 900 bill here: https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/pdf/HB00900F.pdf#navpanes=0

Read the Book People v Wong complaint here: https://mediacoalition.org/files/litigation/book-people-v-wong-complaint.pdf

Read more from The Free Speech Center from MTSU: https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/986/book-banning

Renee Shelton

Succotash Book Reviews
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Disclosure and More Info: Most books found in the reviews are purchased by me and some have been given to me by publishers or the writers themselves. Some of my large cookbook library collection can be found on The Library Thing, which is a constant work in progress to categorize all my books. All reviews are independent and opinions my own. Any advertising helps support this site. :) Thanks for reading!

Color Coding - Organizing Your Bookshelf

2022-02-26T16:38:00.002-08:00

Cool literary read from Domino.com - how a literary critic organizes her books.

“The way some people would have to make their house childproof, I have to make my home book welcoming,” says Molly Young.

https://www.domino.com/content/molly-young-book-collection/

Enjoy,

Renee Shelton
Succotash Reviews
:)
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Floret Farm's Discovering Dahlias

2021-09-12T08:42:00.003-07:00

A gorgeous garden book all about the dahlia flower. The link to the full review is below.

Floret Farm's Discovering Dahlias: A Guide to Growing and Arranging Magnificent Blooms by Erin Benzakein with Jill Jorgensen and Julie Chai, and photography was shot by Chris Benzakein.

Book Info:

Amazon: Floret Farm's Discovering Dahlias
The Book Depository: Floret Farm's Discovering Dahlias
Chronicle, 2021.
ISBN13: 978-1452181752
Hardcover, 224 pages.

Enjoy,

Renee Shelton
Succotash Reviews
:)
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Sand and Succotash - My Blog
Cookbook Papers - Cookbook Reviews
Twitter: @121degreesC

Cookbook Review: Milk Street - Tuesday Nights Mediterranean by Christopher Kimball

2021-09-07T09:02:00.006-07:00

Milk Street: Tuesday Nights Mediterranean by Christopher Kimball. The full review can be found here:

http://www.sandandsuccotash.com/milk-street-tuesday-nights-mediterranean-by-christopher-kimball/

Book Info

Amazon link: Milk Street: Tuesday Nights Mediterranean by Christopher Kimball.
The Book Depository Link: Milk Street: Tuesday Nights Mediterranean by Christopher Kimball.
Voracious; 2021.
ISBN13: 978-0316705998.
Hardcover, 304 pages.

Disclosure: This book was purchased by me and any opinions are my own. Any affiliate links help support this site. :)

Enjoy,

Renee Shelton
Succotash Reviews
:)
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Sand and Succotash - My Blog
Cookbook Papers - Cookbook Reviews
Twitter: @121degreesC

Ways to Better Remember What You Read

2021-08-20T08:05:00.003-07:00

A great article on remembering what you read from FS blog. Tips and tricks on how to get that book to stick in your head, especially when it's a long academic one with no pictures lol. The link is below.

How to Remember What You Read from fs.blog.

Enjoy,

Renee Shelton
Succotash Reviews
:)
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Sand and Succotash - My Blog
Cookbook Papers - Cookbook Reviews
Twitter: @121degreesC

The Taste of Mexico by Patricia Quintana and Photographed by Ignacio Urquiza

2021-08-14T11:07:00.009-07:00

The Taste of Mexico is an excellent cookbook for authentic Mexican cooking taking the reader into 8 different regions of Mexico.

Patricia Quintana wrote this classic Mexican cookbook in 1986. All the recipes are relevant today, and if “lush” and “grand” were terms for a cookbook then these would be perfect for this book. Photography was done by Ignacio Urquiza and the photos give a glimpse of each region as well as capture the flavor of the recipes.

I picked up this copy in used bookstore for a dollar, and it was a great find. The pages are thick and glossy, and the photos are excellent. The recipes are all long and are wonderful to read through. Quick and one step recipes definitely have their place, but enjoying a morning cup of coffee reading through the many recipes in this cookbook is both informational and inspiring.

The cookbook makes you want to cook. The recipes have all been broken down into parts making it easy to prep and assemble, and some of the recipes have 5 parts in the recipe – the Felete Relleno de Cabrilla (Stuffed Cabrilla) for example includes parts for the fish, for the sauce, for the stuffing, for the batter, and for the garnish. Some recipes have quite a long list of ingredients – the Mole Negro Oaxaqueno (Black Mole from Oaxaca) has 20 ingredients.

The Taste of Mexico goes into these regions of Mexico: The North (Baja California to the Gulf of Mexico); The North Pacific Coast (Mexico’s pacific shoreline of Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, and Colima); The South Pacific Coast (Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Chiapas); The Bajio (the mountainous region bordered by the Bajio mountains); The Gulf; Mexico City; Central Mexico; and The South (which includes the Yucatan Peninsula). Quintana details each region with its people, its food, and its different cultures and histories.

All the recipes are richly flavored, and the pictures that accompany some feature the local surroundings. Enclosed is a recipe adapted from the book. It’s a fully flavored shredded crab appetizer recipe that would make any family and friends outdoor meal worthy of a get together.

Salpicon de Jaiba (Shredded Crab)

Serve the shredded crab on a platter with freshly grilled, or made, corn tortillas. Eat by rolling some of the shredded crab inside the tortillas.

Ingredients

3/4 cup olive oil
6 tablespoons butter
6 cloves garlic chopped
2 each white onions chopped
4 each whole canned jalapeno chiles chopped
1/2 cup chile juice (reserved from the jalapenos)
1/3 cup canned pickled carrots chopped
4 each medium tomatoes chopped
1/2 cup parsley chopped
1/2 cup cilantro chopped
2 1/2 pounds crab meat, cleaned
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Heat the oil and butter in a large frying pan. Add in the garlic and onion and saute until softened.
Add in the chiles, chile juice, carrots, tomatoes, parsley, and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper. Cook over low heat until the mixture is thickened, about 25 minutes.
Stir in the crab, and cook until thickened. Adjust seasonings if needed.
Serve as an appetizer with tortillas, or place inside cleaned crab shells, sprinkle with bread crumbs and melted butter, and bake until browned.

Book Info

Title: The Taste of Mexico
Publisher: Steward, Tabori and Chang; 1986.
ISBN: 0-941434-89-3
Notes: Hardcover, 303 pages.
Find it on Amazon: The Taste of Mexico by Patricia Quintana
Find it on Book Depository: The Taste of Mexico by Patricia Quintana

Enjoy,

Renee Shelton
Succotash Reviews
:)
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Sand and Succotash - My Blog
Cookbook Papers - Cookbook Reviews
Twitter: @121degreesC

Book Life Read: Growing Up With Books Has Lasting Literacy and Technology Skills

2021-04-25T12:18:00.004-07:00

Here's a great book life read from the Smithsonian Magazine -"Growing Up Surrounded by Books Could Have Powerful, Lasting Effect on the Mind." It highlights a study showing that when kids grow up around books, it has lasting literacy effects when they are older.

Research study link - Scholarly culture: How books in adolescence enhance adult literacy, numeracy and technology skills in 31 societies.

Enjoy,

Renee Shelton
Succotash Reviews
:)
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Sand and Succotash - My Blog
Cookbook Papers - Cookbook Reviews
Twitter: @121degreesC

Make Your Art No Matter What: Moving Beyond Creative Hurdles by Beth Pickens

2021-04-04T11:36:00.002-07:00

This was an interesting read. Written by a licensed counselor who has found a niche field with artists and creatives, this book explores things that may hold back an artist - and it has nothing to do with the actual motion of picking up a paintbrush or a pen.

She lists topics that she says every artist struggles with, and they are the names of the a different chapter in the book: Time; Work; Asking; Money; Fear; Grief; Other People; Education; Thinking + Feeling; Isolation; Marketing; and Death + God. Examples from different artists help illustrate different situations and topics, as well as the author's own thoughts and experiences.

At first look, I was expecting this book to tackle things that may physically obstruct an artist from doing their work - like a better organized work space. This book instead tackles the mental and emotional barriers or roadblocks that artists face. From the Thinking + Feeling chapter:

When artists take better care of themselves and stabilize mental health issues, it becomes easier for them to maintain a regular practice and their output grows exponentially. We are robbed of an artist's life and gifts when that person gives up on creating art, becomes immobilized, or dies by suicide or overdose. We must take care of ourselves and each other.

An immensely useful book for anyone who creates for a living. Mental health awareness is a very important topic that some prefer to gloss over.

Book Info

Amazon link: Make Your Art No Matter What: Moving Beyond Creative Hurdles by Beth Pickens
The Book Depository link: Make Your Art No Matter What: Moving Beyond Creative Hurdles by Beth Pickens
Chronicle; 2021.
ISBN13: 9781452182957
Paperback, 208 pages.

Enjoy,

Renee Shelton
Succotash Reviews
:)
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Sand and Succotash - My Blog
Cookbook Papers - Cookbook Reviews
Twitter: @121degreesC

Wine Time by Barbara Scott-Goodman

2021-03-31T11:45:00.002-07:00

Image above is from the publisher. For more pictures and a deeper look inside some pages from the book visit the publisher’s page for this cookbook.

Most recipes have quick introduction with a wine suggestion, assembly tip, or food paring. The pictures are great and the recipes themselves are pretty easy to put together. Overall, an excellent book for snacks and quick bites to eat, and for things to add to your party and buffet table.

Below is a recipe adapted from the book to try. Easy and tasty.

Caramelized Onion and Bacon Jam

Recipe adapted from Wine Time by Barbara Scott-Goodman. Author notes this recipe is great with bruschetta and served with a rich white wine like Pinot Blanc or Riesling.

Ingredients

12 ounces slab bacon, diced
4 each white onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon water
1 1/2 teaspoons mustard seeds
Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Cook the bacon over medium heat in a heavy saucepan until bacon has completely rendered and the bacon is crisp.
Drain off all but 1 tablespoon of fat and add in the onions, vinegar, brown sugar, mustard, and water, and stir to combine. Lower the heat to low, cover, and continue to cook for 15 minutes.
Remove the lid, and stir the ingredients well. Continue cooking over low heat while partially covering the pan until the liquid has evaporated and the onions have darkened and jam has thickened, about 1 hour. You may need to add additional water during the cooking time.
When finished, season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature. The jam will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week in a covered container.

Book Info

Amazon link: Wine Time by Barbara Scott-Goodman
The Book Depository Link: Wine Time by Barbara Scott-Goodman
Chronicle; 2021.
ISBN-13: 978-145218186.
Hardcover, 192 pages.

Enjoy,

Renee Shelton
Succotash Reviews
:)
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Sand and Succotash - My Blog
Cookbook Papers - Cookbook Reviews
Twitter: @121degreesC

Book World Article to Read: An Independent Bookstore's Fight with Amazon is About More Than Price

2021-03-15T09:34:00.003-07:00

A great article "A Kansans Bookshop's Fight with Amazon is About More Than the Price of Books" by Casey Cep is about Amazon and the whole of the indie bookstore market, and why independent bookstores are so important to the health of communities. It's a great read.

Most people probably don't know that some authors who publish with Amazon can't market or sell their books in independent bookstores or have licensing agreements with public libraries - thereby creating an even bigger hole in the digital divide.

You don't have to completely stop shopping at Amazon:

Caine argues that, even if American shoppers never fully divest from Amazon, it is crucial that we not purchase all our goods from one company—and he maintains that any given act of consumer decision-making might alter our habits and help lead to larger changes.

Long live independent bookstores, and public libraries.

Link is below, from The New Yorker.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/us-journal/a-kansas-bookshops-fight-with-amazon-is-about-more-than-the-price-of-books

Enjoy,

Renee Shelton
Succotash Reviews
:)
------------------------------------
Sand and Succotash - My Blog
Cookbook Papers - Cookbook Reviews
Twitter: @121degreesC

The No Recipe Cookbook: Quick and Easy Healthy Meals to Save Money, Time, and Calories by Dr. Samantha Pillay

2021-03-14T07:00:00.013-07:00

The No Recipe Cookbook: Quick and Easy Healthy Meals to Save Money, Time, and Calories by Dr. Samantha Pillay is made on the premise that learning to cook without a recipe is possible, and doing so will save your time and money, and is healthier in the long run since you know exactly what you are putting inside your body. Pillay’s story at the beginning lays out how meal planning has helped her over the years. There are no pictures, and no real standardized recipes, but conversationally she takes the reader through each dish start to finish.

Dr. Pillay teaches the reader how to cook without a recipe in 5 parts.

Part 1 is all about why you should start cooking for yourself, cooking tips and cooking safety guidelines. Part 2 is the meal ideas section and has lots of recipes for 14 days of cooking. You’ll find pastas, side dishes, curries, and main dishes. Part 3 has desserts and baked goods, and has the most structure of any of the recipes since most baking does have to follow a set of ingredients. Part 4 is breakfasts and you’ll find all the basics here from eggs to muesli. Part 5 is lunches and snacks with some great ideas for school lunchboxes.

The recipe below is adapted from the book and is a very simple recipe for baked whole cauliflower. She literally just takes the whole head of cauliflower and bakes it whole.

Whole-Baked Cauliflower

1 whole cauliflower head
Olive oil
Salt, pepper, and whatever seasoning you’d like on it

Remove outer leaves. Wash and dry, and place on a baking sheet. Brush the top with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper, or another seasoning mix such as curry or a Mexican spice mix. Bake for 40 minutes at 400 degrees F and 1 hour to 1 1/4 hours at 350 degrees F. Cauliflower is done when center is tender when tested with a skewer at the base.

Book Info

Title: The No Recipe Cookbook
Publisher: Self-published; 2020.
ISBN: 978064897481.
Notes: Paperback, 172 pages.
Find it on Amazon: The No Recipe Cookbook: Quick and Easy Healthy Meals to Save Money, Time, and Calories by Dr. Samantha Pillay
Find it on Book Depository: The No Recipe Cookbook: Quick and Easy Healthy Meals to Save Money, Time, and Calories by Dr. Samantha Pillay

Disclosure: This book was provided by the author via NetGalley and any opinions are my own. Any affiliate links help support this site. Thanks :)

Enjoy,

Renee Shelton
Succotash Reviews
:)
------------------------------------
Sand and Succotash - My Blog
Cookbook Papers - Cookbook Reviews
Twitter: @121degreesC

Herbarium: The Quest to Preserve and Classify the World’s Plants by Barbara M. Thiers

2021-03-13T16:01:00.003-08:00

A truly excellent read for anyone into botany. While it is a little on the academic side, the pictures break up the text and people interested in biographies and history would find this a great book to read and to add to their library collection.

Read the full review on the garden blog, and view some pages from the book.

Book Info

Amazon link: Herbarium: The Quest to Preserve and Classify the World’s Plants by Barbara M. Thiers
The Book Depository link: Herbarium: The Quest to Preserve and Classify the World’s Plants by Barbara M. Thiers
Timber Press; 2020.
ISBN-13: 978-160469930.
Hardcover, 304 pages.

Disclosure: This book was provided by the publisher and any opinions are my own. Any affiliate links help to support this site. Thanks 🙂

Enjoy,

Renee Shelton
Succotash Reviews
:)
------------------------------------
Sand and Succotash - My Blog
Cookbook Papers - Cookbook Reviews
Twitter: @121degreesC

Medicinal Herbs for Family Health and Wellness by JJ Pursell

2021-03-13T10:23:00.002-08:00

Medicinal Herbs for Family Health and Wellness: 123 Trusted Recipes for Common Concerns, From Allergies & Asthma to Sunburns & Toothaches by JJ Pursell is a great reference for keeping the family healthy using herbal medicine. The same author wrote Medicinal Herbs for Immune Defense.

Read the full review and try some medicinal recipes adapted from the book on the garden blog.

Overall, another great book on herbal medicine by this author for anyone interested, beginners or advanced, in preparing herbal wellness preparations at home.

Book Info

Amazon link: Medicinal Herbs for Family Health and Wellness: 123 Trusted Recipes for Common Concerns, from Allergies and Asthma to Sunburns and Toothaches by JJ Pursell
The Book Depository link: Medicinal Herbs for Family Health and Wellness: 123 Trusted Recipes for Common Concerns, from Allergies and Asthma to Sunburns and Toothaches by JJ Pursell
Workman Publishing Company; 2021
ISBN-13 : 978-1643260679
Paperback, 264 p

Disclosure: This book was provided by the publisher and any opinions are my own. Any affiliate links help support this site. Thanks 🙂

Enjoy,

Renee Shelton
Succotash Reviews
:)
------------------------------------
Sand and Succotash - My Blog
Cookbook Papers - Cookbook Reviews
Twitter: @121degreesC

Animal Embroidery Workbook by Jessica Long

2021-03-12T16:30:00.000-08:00

Animal Embroidery Workbook was reviewed on Sew Now This craft blog. A great resource for hoop embroidery with lots of tips on the Thread Painting technique.

Book Info

Amazon link: Animal Embroidery Workbook by Jessica Long
Landauer; 2020
ISBN-13 : 978-1947163461
Paperback, 208 pages

Enjoy,

Renee Shelton
Succotash Reviews
:)
------------------------------------
Sand and Succotash - My Blog
Cookbook Papers - Cookbook Reviews
Twitter: @121degreesC