Cindy's Recipes and Writings

I received copies of the books Tasting the Seasons, The Food Substitutions Bible and Top 100 Step-by-Step Napkin Folds and The Baking Bible from their respective Publishers for review and to giveaway. I received no further compensation. All opinions are my own.

Every Foodie knows there’s more to a great meal when entertaining than the food itself.
There’s the planning stage where you make your guest list and theme menu. Then you try to decide where you can obtain the ingredients you’ll need to make that spectacular dish.

Fast forward to the day of the party. Out-of-town guests are on their way. Things start to go awry.
You just sent your significant other, child, neighbor or friend to the store for the third time to look for another missing ingredient.
You can’t get that table setting to look finished. The napkin looks sloppy. It needs color, texture or something.
I know how to help.

In her book, An Appealing Plan,Krayl Funch takes you on a journey through 365 days of ideas to celebrate the everyday moments of our lives. Funch puts her expert event planner and lifestyle coach skills to good use. From seasonal table setting ideas using fresh flowers and greens to seasonal menu ideas your family will love. I had the pleasure of being one of Krayl Funch’s recipe testers and found her recipes well written, easy to follow and delicious!
Special days are not forgotten. An Appealing Plan covers ideas for birthdays, Holidays, showers and even garden parties. The basics are outlined to create stunning table settings.
Backed by beautiful photography, this book delivers an appealing plan to follow for celebrating everyday life every day.

An Appealing Plan: A Year Of Everyday Celebrations by Krayl Funch

Click here to learn more about An Appealing Plan: A Year Of Everyday Celebrations and purchase information

I love the way little touches can make a table look spectacular. Denise Vivaldo knows the secrets to make a plain piece of cloth turn into fish, parrot, bikini or even an elf’s slipper. Napkin folding can be a challenge. With over 10,000 parties under her belt, Vivaldo expertly shows you how to choose the right fabric, shape and fold to create something truly beautiful. This book is outlined into 3 levels of skill folding. Easy step by step instructions will have you creating the perfect finishing touch to your table setting. This book takes it a step further by explaining the best types of napkins from paper to cloth to use under which occasion and setting. where to place napkins and napkin accessories like napkin rings are explained in the book.
Top 100 Step-by-Step Napkin Folds: More Than 1,000 Photographs Spiral-bound – August 30, 2012
by Denise Vivaldo
Click here to learn more about Top 100 Step by Step Napkin Folds and purchase information
Running out of an ingredient when you cook or bake can be frustrating. Last minute change ups don’t bother David Joachim. In fact he’s an expert at it. In his new book, The Food Substitutions Bible, Joachim offers more than 6500 practical substitutions for just such an occasion. He doesn’t stop there. The book goes on to give substitutions for equipment and techniques in the kitchen. Joachim shares his ideas for what to do if you’re out of for example, pastry bags. You can use a plastic resealable bag or rolled parchment paper. Clever and practical. The book offers recipes as substitutions for items you usually have on hand, like tomato paste. Recipes for items you would not normally have are included too, like for Roux. Some substitutions go the extra mile with examples of healthier versions. All conversion measurements are included. This book is a must have for every kitchen.

The Food Substitutions Bible: More Than 6,500 Substitutions for Ingredients, Equipment and Techniques Paperback – September 2, 2010
by David Joachim
Click here to learn more about The Food Substitutions Bible and purchase information

Cooking with locally obtained, in-season produce whenever possible is more than just a good idea to Kerry Dunnington. Its a way of life.
In her new book, Tasting the Seasons, Ms. Dunnington explores how we can apply these practices to our everyday lives with taste-filled recipes and practical eco-friendly, all-occasion tips.
These kind of cookbooks are right up my alley, so to speak. The author shares 250 recipes seasoned with insight on sustainable living and sprinkled with humorous family derived anecdotes.
I had the pleasure of meeting Kerry Dunnington and tasting samples of dishes from her book.


Tasting the Seasons lives up to its title.

Tasting the Seasons: Inspired, In-Season Cuisine Thats Easy, Healthy, Fresh and Fun Paperback – September 8, 2014
by Kerry Dunnington
Click here to learn more about Tasting the Seasons and purchase information

Here are two baking cookbooks I highly recommend.

Make Ahead Bread: 100 Recipes for Melt-in-Your-Mouth Fresh Bread Every Day by Donna Currie

Click here to learn more about Make Ahead Bread and purchase information

The Baking Bible Hardcover – Lay Flat, October 28, 2014
by Rose Levy Beranbaum
Click here to learn more about The Baking Bible and purchase information
For my review and Rose’s Sour Cherry Pie recipe, click here

I’m giving away one copy of Tasting the Seasons, Top 100 Step-by-Step Napkin Folds and The Food Substitutions Bible to three different lucky winners (one book each)! Enter the Rafflecopter below for details and your chance to win!

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