30 Day Book Meme - Day Twenty-Six

Day 26 - A book that changed your opinion about something

Diet for a New America  by John Robbins. This was the first book on our food system and on nutrition I ever read and it made me really start to pay attention to the foods I ate.  I'm now more of a Michael Pollan / Arthur Agatston "all things in moderation" person... not as extreme as Robbins still seems to me... but it definitely changed my opinion on food and most especially on the "food" machine.  Yes, I'm quoting food and not machine there because a lot of what runs through the US food industry is barely food.

The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 09 - A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

30 Day Book Meme - Day Twenty-Five

Day 25 - A character who you can relate to the most


Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series.

The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 09 - A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

30 Day Book Meme - Day Twenty-Four

Day 24 - A Book that you wish more people would've read


In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan.  "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."  How much healthier would humans be and the planet be if we all understood food a little better and understood how commercial food and chemical companies manipulate our food supply?  You don't have to be a vigilante about healthy foods... but being informed helps everyone make better choices.  I still choose the chocolate chip cookie sometimes, but I do it from a place of knowledge about what I'm putting into my body.

The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 09 - A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

30 Day Book Meme - Day Twenty-Three

Day 23 - A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven't


Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice.  It's been recommended to me by several people and I do like vampire books, but somehow I haven't picked it up yet.

The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 09 - A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

30 Day Book Meme - Day Twenty-Two

Day 22 - Favorite Book You Own


I own many of the favorite books I've already listed... To Kill a Mockingbird, Hitchhiker's series, Harry Potter series.

 The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 09 - A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

30 Day Book Meme - Day Twenty-One

Day 21 - Favorite Book from your Childhood


Cubby in Wonderland by Frances Joyce Farnsworth - it's about a baby bear in Yellowstone Park.  I still have the original copy of it and Cubby Returns to Yellowstone.

 The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 09 - A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

30 Day Book Meme - Day Twenty

Day 20 - Favorite Romance Book


I don't read romance books very often.  I did read one last winter that was entertaining called I'll Be Home for Christmas by Fern Michaels.  There's time travel and anachronism that must be surmounted for the love interests to be together.  It was an easy read and fun... and not smutty which I'm not really a fan of.

 The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 09 - A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

30 Day Book Meme - Day Nineteen

Day 19 - Favorite Book Turned into a Movie


Oh holy cow! How do I pick one?  I'm going to go with the one book (or rather series) that was turned into a movie and the movies didn't suck by comparison... the Harry Potter series.  Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh  / The Secret of NIMH are another example of a book into movie that wasn't too bad.  Most movies from book are appalling compared to the book.

 The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 09 - A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

Snack Food Stadium

This year was our Twelfth Annual Super Bowl party.  Every year we've made mostly the same menu plus our friends potluck as well so there is always quite the spread for the commercial watching (what?  You thought we watched the football?  Nope.. only if the Chiefs ever make it...  HA!).  We've always made Buffalo chicken wings, Rotel cheese dip, Totinos pizzas, Brownies a la mode and the "World Famous Team-Colored Jello Shots" (which I apparently have no pictures of).

This year I decided to do something a little different.  Thanks to Pinterest, in the weeks before the party, I saw many, MANY examples of snack food stadiums.  I figured that had just the right kitsch for my Super Bowl party.  It was a hit and YUMMY  I think we'll be adding it to the tradition.

We're a dairy-free, beef-free family because of food sensitivities so the 7 layer dip was more like a 4 1/2 layer dip.

2 cans refried beans, spicy
1 lb ground turkey, browned & seasoned with 1 pkg taco seasoning
2 cups salsa
3 recipes of Alton Brown's guacamole or 3 pkgs Wholly Guacamole dip
Cilantro
1/2 cup Sour cream
1 can Vienna sausage
Pepperoni, for garnish
Colby cheese, for garnish
2 long Slim Jim meat sticks for goal posts
Italian bread, sliced, buttered and toasted
Cheese puffs
Tortilla chips
Potato chips
Barbecue potato chips

In a glass 9x13 dish, layer the beans, turkey, salsa and guacamole in that order.  Use cilantro leaves to make the sidelines.  Put the sour cream in the corner of a plastic sandwich, twist the top, snip the corner off and pipe the yard lines and end zone on.  Just the tiny bit of sour cream won't affect my family because they can scrape it off.

Cut the Vienna sausages in half and place on the "field" in formation.  I know this is only 7 on 7 football this way but I wasn't going for that much accuracy.  Use pepperoni on top of one team of sausages and little cheese slices for the other.  Cut the meat sticks into four shorter pieces and use toothpicks to make the goal posts.

Place the field in the middle of a large base of some sort.  I used a plastic storage bin lid.  Cardboard covered in plastic wrap would also work.  Line the Italian bread up around the outer ring of the base, brick-style.  Fill in between the bread walls and dip dish with the different chips.

I think next year I'm going to try for Rice Crispy treats for the walls and try to build them higher.  And maybe use a 7x11 pan for the dip and make less.  Even with all that yummy homemade guacamole and all the people, the dip was only about half consumed at the party.  The smaller pan will ensure no leftovers (a goal for that party) and more room for chips so I won't have to refill them so often.

30 Day Book Meme - Day Eighteen

Oops... missed a couple days.  It's been one of those weeks.

Day 18 - A Book that disappointed you

Healthy, Happy, Sexy: A Thrilling Journey to the Ultimate You by Nancy Deville.  It was recommended to me by a friend.  There are FAR better books out there about eating whole foods, upping antioxidants and otherwise making healthier choices... books written by real scientists and doctors and not by someone who called herself fat when she wore a size 10.

 The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 09 - A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time