A Trio of Cookbooks from Woman's Day

I was browsing thru the cookbooks at Amazon this weekend and ran into this trio of bargain cookbooks from Woman's Day. To get the bargains, you have to step away from their pre-orders; not only is Weeknight Meals in a Hurry: The Monday through Friday Eat-Well Cookbook Series ($29.99) outrageously overpriced, but the more modestly priced The Woman's Day Everyday Cookbook: 365 Tasty Recipes and Monthly Menus for the Whole Year ($14.99) can be beat with a bit of sleuth-work (although that last one does look interesting, I will admit).

First up is Woman's Day Cookbook for Healthy Living ($4.99), by Elizabeth Alston. I've already purchased this one and made the Fudge Brownie Pudding Cake only minutes after downloading it (the cake isn't bad at all and was easily modified for gluten and lactose free, but next time I'm going to serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream; in any case, not a crumb remained in anyone's bowl). The 224 page hardcover for this one is discounted by Amazon to $18.99, so the Kindle edition is a real steal. The recipes are well formatted on the Kindle itself, with a table of contents in the front that makes it easy to jump first to a section and from there to any recipe (I've got to try that Margarita Fruit Cocktail, next), while on the iPad or PC you get the addition of full color in the images to provide further inspiration.

Book Description
If you're ready to feel great and take charge of your health (and your family's), then this book is for you.

Relax! Just because the recipes in this book are "healthy" doesn't mean you have to give up the foods you love. This book offers a simple, enjoyable approach to delicious and healthful cooking that anyone can master. This is no diet book - the recipes are neither fat-free, sugar-free or sodium-free - rather, it is a daily guide to gradually changing your cooking habits to include a wide variety of nutritious foods: fruits and vegetables, meats and fish, whole grains and even sweets. Over time, you'll find that a positive transformation has taken place, without you even knowing it! You'll feel better, look better and save time while making fabulous meals the whole family will enjoy.

The best approach to building a healthy lifestyle is a balanced approach - none of those restrictive fad diets, splurging on the latest workout equipment or popping the vitamin du jour. Nor must you deny yourself the occasional slice of chocolate cake. Instead, we'll help you make positive choices that support your lifestyle while gradually developing a healthier way of cooking and eating.

From the same author, Elizabeth Alston, the next one that caught my eye was The Woman's Day Cookvook: Healthy Food for Everyday Living ($3.99). Yes, that isn't a spelling error, but an intentional play on words, as this one is intended for the iPad or iPhone (for now). There are 45 recipes and demonstrations, without the usual introduction and what to stock in your kitchen chapters - instead, each chapter is a single recipe and has an accompanying video, demonstrating just how to prepare the dish (two are included in the sample, with the complete recipes for each). Some of the chapters will no doubt be basic for some (how to cut an avocado and get the seed out, for example), but others may find just the training they are looking for, as they turn to cooking on their own for the first time, using real ingredients rather than just popping a boxed entree into the oven. I haven't bought this one yet, so if you do, let me know what you think of it.

Book Description
The Woman's Day Cookvook: Healthy Food for Everyday Living is the ultimate guide to good, healthy cooking with recipes tested by the experts at Woman's Day and prepared by everyday cooks -- from seasoned pros to culinary newcomers.

Packed with 45 nutritious and mouthwatering recipes from the trusted editors of Woman's Day, each one includes nutritional information and cooking time. This is the perfect cookvook for anyone who wants to eat low-sodium, low-fat, and low-sugar meals without sacrificing taste and fun.

Every recipe includes a video so you can cook along with other Woman's Day readers or watch a helpful cooking or shopping tip with Woman's Day experts.

The trio finishes up with a another volume from Elizabeth Alston, New Woman's Day Cookbook: Simple Recipes for Every Occasion. This one has so many desserts, they had to spread them across two chapters (with a few extras tucked into chapters on Entertaining and Celebrations).

At $8.99, it's a bit above my usual fair for this blog, but that Agency set price compares well to the $35 the 432 page print edition was listed for. With this one, though, you can have your cake and eat it too: the Hardcover is currently being discounted to $2.95 and the paperback to $5 (not as good a deal, but probably lighter to hold to read). So, you can get it on the cheap for under three bucks, spend a bit more and get the more convenient Kindle edition (on your PC and Kindle for under $10) or get both the print and Kindle editions for as little as $11.94 (plus shipping).

Book Description
Woman's Day, America's most popular and trusted magazine, brings you a comprehensive reference cookbook - perfect for every cook from novice to pro.

Reflecting today's busy lifestyles, this cookbook contains a wealth of time-saving recipes that will allow for less time in the kitchen while still creating healthy and delicious meals. The editors of Woman's Day presents over 350 wholesome meals with nutritious ingredients - many can be prepared in 30 minutes or less.

The savory recipes cover Pasta, Chicken & Turkey, Beef, Fish & Seafood, Pork & Ham, Eggs & Cheese, Pizzas & Breads, Soups, Salads, Cakes & Cookies, and Desserts. Some of the scrumptious dishes include: Roasted Red Snapper with Coconut-Ginger Sauce, Thai Steak Salad, Chicken Breasts with Fresh Orange Salsa, Tex-Mex Pulled Pork, Chorizzo Frittata, and Carribean Pumpkin Soup.

From the easy-to-follow directions to the appendix of cooking terms and essential preparation tips, The New Woman's Day Cookbook is an indispensable collection of classic and contemporary recipes to add to your cookbook shelf.

New Kindle Game - Checkers

It seems like only yesterday that I told you about a new Checkers game for the Kindle .... oh, wait, it was yesterday. I missed it yesterday, but there are actually two new Checkers ($0.99) games for the Kindle, the second from Code Mystics.

Best of all, if you are hesitating to spend another 99 cents (really? you can't even get a value menu chili for this anymore) and aren't sure if you would like this one better than the other edition, you can play this one in your browser.

Book Description
Enjoy the classic board game of Checkers on Kindle.

The object of Checkers is to jump over and capture all of your opponent's pieces before you lose all of your own, or to put your opponent in a position where there are no legal moves available.

Checkers allows you play against Kindle at one of eight difficulty levels, or play with a friend with a Pass 'n' Play mode. You can save your game at any point, and then continue at a later time. Checkers also includes a practice mode that lets you set up the starting board any way you like.

Enjoy Checkers today!

Free Book (noDRM) - Save My Soul

Save My Soul ($4.95 Kindle), the second book in the PreternaturalsPreternaturals series by Zoe Winters, is free on AllRomance today.

Book Description
All he’s asking for is her soul.

After buying the antebellum home she’s fantasized about since childhood, Anna Worthington discovers Luc, a dangerously seductive incubus who has been trapped in the house by a fifty-year-old curse. To rid herself of her problem house guest she’ll call on a priest, gypsies, ghost hunters, and the coven of witches from lust bunny hell. All she has to do is resist him long enough to break the spell so they can go their separate ways. If she doesn’t, she could die. And that would be the best case scenario.

Click HERE for the free download.

New Kindle Game - Checkers

If Chess ($2.99 $0.99) isn't your game, you may want to take a look at the new Kindle game, Checkers ($0.99), from A Gamz, makers of Maze A Thon.

Book Description
The classic board game of checkers is now available on Kindle.

Choose whether you wish to play against Kindle with up to ten levels of difficulty, or against a friend with Pass 'n' Play mode. You can customize the game with a variety of gameplay options including "Forced Jump" mode, which requires you to jump if you can, and a "Relaxed" mode which does not force you to make a jump. In addition, "Tournament" mode offers a different challenge by randomizing the first three starting moves, leaving you with a different game every time.

Stuck? You can ask for a hint on your next best move or look for pieces with letters to see your options for legal plays. And if all else fails, just undo your last move (or moves) - including all the way back to the beginning of the game if you wish.

Enjoy the classic board game of Checkers on the go!

You can find out more about the game direct from A Gamz.

Organic Gardening Magazine - Half Price

Today only, you can get a 2-year subscription to the print edition of Organic Gardening for $11.97 at Amazon. This price is good with or without the auto-renewal option (which you can cancel at any time, but I find it helpful to remind me when I have a magazine that I want to renew, since they all send renewal cards in the mail for many months ahead of time, which I generally toss without opening). This has been one of my go-to magazines for many years (thru many format changes and editors), so it's great to be able to add two years to my current subscription at this price.

Book Description
Since 1942, Organic Gardening has been delivering well-researched, practical and timely information and useful products and services. As the essential resource for any gardener, it provides current and authoritative information, with a focus on making the process of gardening fun and easy.

Who Reads Organic Gardening Magazine?
Organic Gardening readers are women and men who enjoy growing and eating the freshest food, want a yard that is beautiful year-round yet safe for people, pets and wildlife, and take deep satisfaction from working in harmony with nature. They rely on Organic Gardening for well-researched, in-depth reporting on the best plants to grow in their conditions, the most effective pest and weed control strategies, tips and techniques for keeping plants healthy, plus ideas for sustainable living indoors and out.

What You Can Expect in Each Issue:

• Food: We evaluate new and heirloom varieties of tomatoes and all your favorite vegetables in our nationwide network of test gardens. And we bring you the latest research on how to grow them to the peak of flavor. Each issue also includes hints on serving them simply to show off their homegrown goodness.
• Landscaping: A well-maintained property enhances your home’s value and gives you a comfortable space where you can relax with family and friends. We show you how to create a yard that is filled with color and interest in all four seasons, with details on the flowers, shrubs and trees that demand little care and deliver big impact. And we offer expert suggestions for giving your yard that “designed by a pro” look.
• Pest and Weed Control: Toxic pesticides and weedkillers not only harm wildlife and poison our fresh water supply, they threaten the health of people and pets. Organic Gardening readers get solutions that are proven to work, but safe for all living things.
• Soil: The secret to success in gardening is right below your feet. Organic Gardening is the only magazine that gives its readers information they can use to build the most fertile, well-balanced and healthy soil possible. Plus, find out how easy and rewarding composting can be.

Feature Articles:

• Test Garden Report: Each season, we grow the newest varieties in 12 locations around the country and name those that deserve space in your vegetable beds this year. We also try out tools and other gear, and highlight the products worth your money.
• Complete Beginner’s Guide: Everything you need to know to succeed in your first season. From how to set up your first bed to what to plant to where to shop, we take you by the hand and help you make the smartest choices. Even old hands will learn a new trick or two.
• Kitchen Garden Plan: Transform an ordinary vegetable bed into a practical yet attractive potager. Includes recommendations on the best crops to grow and how to plant them to help you enjoy fresh, homegrown food every day, all season long.
• The Time-Strapped Gardener: Hundreds of tested tips on how to get more food, beauty and pleasure from your garden, in just minutes a day.
• Tomatoes for Every Space: No matter how big or small your plot, we give you the varieties and strategies for growing your biggest and best harvest of tomatoes ever.
• Best Tasting Harvest: Get the most flavor from everything you grow with small but significant changes that make all the difference between “ah” and “blah.”
• Organic Roses: Yes, you can enjoy these most beautiful and fragrant of flowers without relying on noxious chemicals to protect them. An expert shares his most dependable varieties and his hints for keeping them healthy in even the worst conditions.
• Plant Now, Eat in Fall: Keep enjoying homegrown food even as the weather changes with this plan for summer planting and autumn harvesting.
• Drought Busters: Meet the tough flowers that thrive when the heat is on and the soil is parched.
• Four-Season Sensations: Trees and shrubs that are attractive and low-maintenance year-round and that attract colorful birds to your yard.

Past Issues: