The Smell of Ink/Lukten av Trykksverte

As it is the last day of 2018 I decided it was probably time to do a wrap up post for all the challenges I've participated in this year. As usual, I overestimated a bit on how many challenges I would manage to participate in, so I didn't accomplish the goals in all of them. Regardless, I still had a fun reading year and here's my lists. Foodies Reads Sugar and Spice and All Those Lies by Evy Journey The Uninvited Corpse (Food Blogger Mysteries #1) by Debra Sennefelder Poké! fargerik gatemat fra Hawaii av Oskar Sellin og Helle Øder Valebrokk The Cosy Teashop in the Castle (The Cosy Teashop #1) by Caroline Roberts The Quiche and the Dead by Kirsten Weiss Death by Dumpling (A Noodle Shop Mystery) by Vivien Chien Slow-Cooker Fall Favorites by Gooseberry Patch Food Wars! Vol. 2 by Yuto Tsukuda, Shun Saeki and Yuki Morisaki Food Wars! Volume 3 by Yuto Tsukuda, Shun Saeki and Yuki Morisaki Bake for Syria Recipe Book by Lily Vanilli The Street Food Secret: The World’s ...

As part of both Foodies Read Challenge and Literary Voyage Around the World (Mexico), I ended up reading Frida's Fiestas by Marie-Pierre Colle, Guadalupe Rivera and others. Today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads In the tradition of the best-selling Monet's Table, Frida's Fiestas is a personal account in words and pictures of many important and happy events in the life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, and a scrapbook, assembled by her stepdaughter, of recipes for more than 100 dishes that Frida served to family and friends with her characteristic enthusiasm for all the pleasures of life. Full-color photographs. My Thoughts on the Book It was fun and interesting going through the pages, as Frida Kahlo is a pretty iconic artist. One can learn a lot about a country and a person when it comes to food and one does so in this book. If one is interested in either art or food, feel free to pick up Frida's Fiestas.

It's time for yet another review and this time it's of Christmas at the Cupcake Café by Jenny Colgan. Description from Goodreads Issy Randall, proud owner of The Cupcake Cafe, is in love and couldn't be happier. Her new business is thriving and she is surrounded by close friends, even if her cupcake colleagues Pearl and Caroline don't seem quite as upbeat about the upcoming season of snow and merriment. But when her boyfriend Austin is scouted for a possible move to New York, Issy is forced to face up to the prospect of a long-distance romance. And when the Christmas rush at the cafe - with its increased demand for her delectable creations - begins to take its toll, Issy has to decide what she holds most dear. This December, Issy will have to rely on all her reserves of courage, good nature and cinnamon, to make sure everyone has a merry Christmas, one way or another... My Thoughts on the Book Even though it was an okay and entertaining read, I thought that a ...

Da jeg så at jeg kunne forhåndsbestille Farmor si oppskrift - julemat og tradisjoner av Ingrid Sandvik, var jeg ganske kjapp med å bestille. Hendig nok kunne jeg bestille en bokpakke både med den boka, og den forrige, Farmor si oppskrift. I dag skal jeg skrive omtale av den med julemat og tradisjoner. Beskrivelse fra forlaget Julematen vi gleder oss til hvert år stammer ofte fra oppskrifter som har gått i arv gjennom generasjoner. Mange av dem finnes i håndskrevne kokebøker hos våre besteforeldre, men alle hemmelighetene er ikke nedskrevet. All kjærligheten som ligger bak disse tradisjonsrike oppskriftene er det viktig å videreføre til kommende generasjoner. Derfor har vi tatt på oss å samle inn de kulturskattene som skjuler seg på kjøkkenet hos våre besteforeldre. Og vi hyller menneskene som står bak dem. Det er nemlig våre besteforeldre vi har å takke for våre juletradisjoner, og det er de denne boka handler om. Mine tanker om boka Boka er lett oversiktlig og delt inn ...

As part of both the Cloak and Dagger Mystery Challenge and Foodies Read Challenge, I ended up reading the cosy mystery Death by Eggnog (Bookstore Cafe Mystery #5) by Alex Erickson. Today I'll post the review. Description from Goodreads Krissy Hancock is staying in her adopted hometown of Pine Hills, Ohio, for Christmas this year--and she even has a whole week off from her combination bookstore-cafe. But a killer is about to dampen her spirits . . . Unfortunately, Krissy's been roped into filling in for a sick elf in the local holiday musical extravaganza. With a demanding director, backstage gossip, and two men in fierce competition for the starring role, it isn't all sweetness and Christmas lights. Then a murder puts a stop to the production, and Krissy is faced with a pageant of suspects. Could her ex-boyfriend, a fellow elf, really be the culprit as the police are claiming? Or will the actor playing Santa be trading his red suit for an orange jumpsuit? When her behi...

As I've got a weak spot for cosy mysteries, I couldn't resist reading Not a Creature Was Purring by Krista Davis. Today I'll post my review of this novel. Description from Goodreads Santa Claws is coming to town and checking his list for a murderer--as the New York Times bestselling Paws & Claws Mysteries continue... Inn owner Holly Miller finds it ruff staying cheerful over the holidays when the dead body of a beloved businessman turns up in the pet-friendly town of Wagtail, Virginia. Inspired by her German heritage, Holly's grandmother has arranged for Wagtail to have a Christkindl Market packed with goodies and decorations for the howliday tourists. But Holly's mood takes an unseasonable turn when she learns that her old flame and childhood friend Holmes Richardson has brought his fiancee home--and she'll be staying at the Sugar Maple Inn... A love triangle becomes the last thing on Holly's mind when her Jack Russell Trixie's nose for troub...

For et par måneder siden var jeg såpass heldig at jeg fikk tilsendt et leseeksemplar av kokeboka Viltkokeboka - enkle og fristende oppskrifter av Anders Levén fra forlaget, og i dag kommer omtalen. Beskrivelse fra forlaget Følelsen av å tilberede vilt som du har felt selv er vanskelig å slå. Selv om du ikke jakter selv, er råvarer fra våre skoger og marker det beste grunnlaget for et godt måltid. Her finner du retter med forskjellige stykningsdeler av viltet, og i de fleste oppskriftene kan du benytte akkurat det viltet som du har tilgang til: elg, hjort, rådyr, hare, villsvin, osv. Klassiske nordiske smakstilsetninger blandes med inspirasjon fra hele verden. Ikke gå glipp av den sørafrikanske bobotien med kvernet kjøtt av elgkalv, shish kebab med flatbiff av elg, karrigryte med elgstek eller chili med kvernet elgbog. Eller hva med godt krydrete hjemmelagde pølser, en saftig burger eller pizza med tynne skiver av elgbiff? Retter som både jaktlaget og familien kommer til å elske! A...

I'm not going to deny that I have a weak spot for interesting cook books. When I came across The Street Food Secret: The World’s Most Exciting Fast Food in Your Own Kitchen by Kenny McGovern I couldn't resist and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Celebrating classic dishes enjoyed every day by generations of people the world over, as well as more modern fusion food creations, this book is packed full of exiting recipes ideal for sharing with friends and family. Following the success of his previous two books, author Kenny McGovern has ventured abroad and developed his repertoire of global fast food, becoming particularly interested in street food - an interest increasingly shared by the UK's foodies whose own travel experiences in places such as Mumbai, Marrakesh and Malaysia have fuelled a rise in authentic ethnic dishes such as Mediterranean kebabs, tacos and wraps, halloumi, satay and jalapenos. My Thoughts on the Book Apart from the fa...

As part of the Foodies Read Challenge, I ended up reading the Bake for Syria Recipe Book by Lily Vanilli and today I'll post my review of the book. Description from Goodreads #BakeForSyria started as an offshoot of the very successful #CookForSyria campaign by Lily Vanilli. This special edition cookbook will raise additional awareness and funds for the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with all profits going to UNICEF’s Syria Relief Fund. This book is an amalgamation of stories and traditions around Syrian food from Syrian nationals and recipes from the restaurants, contributors and chefs headlining the #BakeForSyria campaign. My Thoughts on the Book Not only does this book have great photographs and a great variety of recipes, it also raise awareness on the crisis in Syria in addition to raise funds for UNICEF's Syria Relief Fund. It's a great selection of both traditional Syrian recipes and modern recipes inspired by Syrian food, with the added touch of the co...

As part of the Manga Madness Readathon and Foodies Read Challenge, I ended up reading Food Wars! Volume 3 by Yuto Tsukuda, Shun Saeki  and Yuki Morisaki. Today I'll post the review. Description from Goodreads Soma Yukihira’s old man runs a small family restaurant in the less savory end of town. Aiming to one day surpass his father’s culinary prowess, Soma hones his skills day in and day out until one day, out of the blue, his father decides to enroll Soma in a classy culinary school! Can Soma really cut it in a place that prides itself on a 10 percent graduation rate? And can he convince the beautiful, domineering heiress of the school that he belongs there at all?! The "teamwork and friendship-building" camp from hell begins! While most students are already petrified by the threat of instant expulsion for low marks, the unveiling of the teachers responsible for judging their dishes ratchets their fear to a whole new level! Just which fear-inducing teachers hold th...

Due to Foodie Reads Challenge and Manga Madness Readathon, I ended up reading Food Wars! Vol. 2 by Yuto Tsukuda, Shun Saeki and Yuki Morisaki. Today I'll post my review of this manga. Description from Goodreads Soma Yukihira’s old man runs a small family restaurant in the less savory end of town. Aiming to one day surpass his father’s culinary prowess, Soma hones his skills day in and day out until one day, out of the blue, his father decides to enroll Soma in a classy culinary school! Can Soma really cut it in a place that prides itself on a 10 percent graduation rate? And can he convince the beautiful, domineering heiress of the school that he belongs there at all?! Leaving home for the first time in his young life, Soma moves into the school’s Polaris Dormitory—a place run by an old crone and filled with crazy and eccentric students! Barely settled in, Soma quickly finds himself in one of Tohzuki’s legendary cooking duels—a shokugeki! Who will his very first opponent be? ...

Feel free to laugh as I am fully capable of switching from writing reviews on feminist essays to cookbooks. One can be a feminist and still enjoy cooking - it's not mutually exclusive. Nevertheless, today I'll post my review of Slow-Cooker Fall Favorites by Gooseberry Patch. Description from Goodreads Fall not only brings beautiful leaves, warm cider and hayrides in the country...it also brings busy back-to-school nights, get-togethers and the cherished Thanksgiving dinner. What a perfect season to put your slow cooker to work, and what better cookbook to use than Slow-Cooker Fall Favorites? From breakfast to soups, dinners to desserts, Slow-Cooker Fall Favorites has the hearty slow-cooker recipe that you're looking for. Start the day of apple-picking off right with a hearty breakfast like Cranberry Bread Pudding, Breezy Brunch Florentine or Banana-Walnut Oatmeal. Invite family & friends over to watch the big game and munch on Spinach Queso Dip and Honey-Garlic Mea...

As some of you probably have figured out, I'm participating in a few reading challenges this year. Recently I've read Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien and it fits right into three challenges; Cloak and Dagger Mystery Challenge, Foodies Read Challenge and Platypire Diversity Challenge. Today I'll post my review of the book. Description from Goodreads Welcome to the Ho-Lee Noodle House, where the Chinese food is to die for. . . The last place Lana Lee thought she would ever end up is back at her family’s restaurant. But after a brutal break-up and a dramatic workplace walk-out, she figures that a return to the Cleveland area to help wait tables is her best option for putting her life back together. Even if that means having to put up with her mother, who is dead-set on finding her a husband. Lana’s love life soon becomes yesterday’s news once the restaurant’s property manager, Mr. Feng, turns up dead―after a delivery of shrimp dumplings from Ho-Lee. But how could th...

The Quiche and the Dead A Pie Town Mystery Book 1 by Kirsten Weiss Genre: Cozy Mystery Is Val's breakfast pie the quiche of death? Owning her own business seemed like pie in the sky to Valentine Harris when she moved to the coastal California town of San Nicholas, expecting to start a new life with her fiancé. Five months—and a broken engagement—later, at least her dream of opening a pie shop has become a reality. But when one of her regulars keels over at the counter while eating a quiche, Val feels like she's living a nightmare. After the police determine the customer was poisoned, business at Pie Town drops faster than a fallen crust. Convinced they’re both suspects, Val's flaky, seventy-something pie crust maker Charlene drags her boss into some amateur sleuthing. At first Val dismisses Charlene’s half-baked hypotheses, but before long the ladies uncover some shady dealings hidden in fog-bound San Nicholas. Now Val must expose the t...

(This post contains affiliate links) In the search for something light and fitting for the Foodies Read Challenge, I ended up reading  The Cosy Tea Shop In The Castle by Caroline Roberts. Today I'll post the review of the novel. Description from Goodreads When Ellie Hall lands her dream job running the little teashop in the beautiful but crumbling Claverham Castle, it’s the perfect escape from her humdrum job in the city. Life is definitely on the rise as Ellie replaces spreadsheets for scones, and continues her Nanna’s brilliant baking legacy. When Lord Henry, the stick-in-the-mud owner, threatens to burst her baking bubble with his old-fashioned ways, Ellie wonders if she might have bitten off more than she can chew. But cupcake by cupcake she wins the locals over, including teashop stalwart, Doris, and Ellie’s showstopping bakes look set to go down in castle history! Now all that’s missing in Ellie’s life is a slice of romance – can Joe, the brooding estate manager, be...

It's almost a bit sad that Mystery Thriller Week is over for this time, but I still has one review left; the review of The Uninvited Corpse by Debra Sennefelder. I was fortunate enough to recieve a press copy/eARC of the book from the author and today I'll post the review. Description from Goodreads Leaving behind a failed career as a magazine editor and an embarrassing stint on a reality baking show, newly divorced lifestyle entrepreneur Hope Early thought things were finally on the upswing--until she comes face-to-face with a murderer . . . Hope's schedule is already jam packed with recipe testing and shameless plugs for her food blog as she rushes off to attend a spring garden tour in the charming town of Jefferson, Connecticut. Unfortunately, it isn't the perfectly arranged potted plants that grab her attention--it's the bloody body of reviled real estate agent Peaches McCoy . . . One of the tour guests committed murder, and all eyes are on Hope's old...

(Inneholder affiliate linker) For et par måneder siden var jeg såpass heldig at jeg fikk tilsendt et leseeksemplar av kokeboka  Poké! fargerik gatemat fra Hawaii  av Oskar Sellin og Helle Øder Valebrokk, og i dag kommer omtalen av boka. Beskrivelse fra forlaget Poke, eller pokebowl, har tatt verden med storm. Det er lett å forstå hvorfor! Denne maten har alt: Den er sunn, enkel og rask å lage, den ser lekker og innbydende ut, og den smaker veldig godt. Poke består hovedsakelig av rå fisk, ris, nøtter og marinader, og kan utformes og varieres i det uendelige. I denne boka har poke-kokk Oskar Sellin og matskribent og blogger Helle Øder Valebrokk dykket ned i historien rundt den hawaiiske retten og funnet fram til deilige varianter fra hele verden. Her får du oppskrifter inspirert av Hawaii, Asia, Stillehavet, California, Mexico og Skandinavia, og ikke minst forslag til hvordan du kan bytte ut fredagstacoen og lage et ordentlig sunt og digg poke-party.  Med sine ka...

Thanks to iRead Book Tours I got the chance to read Sugar and Spice and All Those Lies by Evy Journey. On top of that, I realized it could fit into the Foodies Read Challenge, which was an extra bonus. Today I'll post the review of the book. Book Details: Book Title: Sugar and Spice and All Those Lies by Evy Journey Category: Adult Fiction, 240 pages Genre: Literary / Women's Fiction Publisher: Sojourner Books Release date: December 2017 Tour dates: Feb 1 to 16, 2018 Content Rating: R (Two bedroom scenes) Book Description: Cooking a wonderful meal is an act of love. An act of grace. A gift that affirms and gives life—not only does it nurture those who partake of a meal; it also feeds the soul of the person who creates it. These are lessons Gina learns from her mother. Gina is a young woman born to poor parents; a nobody (her words) who wants to taste life outside the world she was born into and her passion for cooking is all she has to help her do so. ...

As it is January, I thought it was time to sign up for a few new reading challenges. As usual I have the issue of limiting myself in terms of how many I sign up for, but luckily some books can be used for several challenges which makes things a bit easier. Also, I have participated in some of these challenges earlier years (Cloak and Dagger, Foodies and Back to the Classics to be specific), so it will be nice to revisit them. In order to kick myself a certain place in terms of my world literature project, I also decided to join the Literary Voyage Around the World Reading Challenge, as it basically gave me an excuse to read some of the books which makes me capable of crossing off a few countries. Anyway, here are the challenges I want to participate in this year. 2018 Cloak and Dagger Challenge  (Amateur Sleuth Level; 5-15 books) Literary Voyage Around The World Reading Challenge 2018  (Hitchhiker Level: 25-40 books) Foodies Read 2018 Back to the Classics 2018 2018 Pl...

It's the last day of 2017 and probably the time to actually summarize the results for the reading challenges I've participated in this year. I had originally planned to participate in more challenges, but due to various reasons (like blogs closing down etc) I ended up doing three challenges. I've enjoyed doing them all and if I had more time, I would probably have read a few more for the Foodies Reading Challenge, but I'm happy nontheless. Foodies Reading Challenge, Short-Order Cook (1-3 books), hosted by  Spirit Blog The Mistress of Spices av Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni Food Wars! Vol. 1 by Yuto Tsukuda and Shun Saeki Chocolat by Joanne Harris Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg LBTQIA Reading Challenge, hosted by  Book Dragon's Lair Blå er den varmeste fargen av Julie Maroh Den forhatte kroppen av Niccola Lecca Ernesto av Umberto Saba The Best Party of Our Lives: Stories of Gay Weddings and True Love to Inspire Us All av Sarah ...