From the back cover:  This sixth volume in Susie Fishbein’s celebrated Kosher by Design cookbook series was crafted with your good health in mind!  Kosher by Design Lightens Up is a gorgeous culinary guide, bursting with easy-to-do ideas for eating and feeling better.  This cookbook teaches healthy cooking techniques through delectable recipes, with special commentary by certified nutritional expert Bonnie Taub-Dix, national spokesperson fo the American Dietetic Association.

Susie says, “These nutritious recipes are easy to integrate into your everyday menus.  If you’re looking to migrate into a better way of eating and living, you’ll find delicious options here.”

*Over 145 brand-new recipes

*Creative new entertaining ideas, including tasting parties, a spritzer bar, and more!

*Healthy approaches to oils, sweeteners, grains flours, nuts, and superfoods

*Tips for smarter supermarket shopping and more efficient kitchen gadgets

*Comprehensive cross-referenced index and nutritional glossary

Kosher by Design Lightens Up is a shift in Fishbein’s approach to bringing simple elegance into kosherhome cooking.  In explaining the swing toward whole grains, healthier oils, less fat and reduced sugars, she said, “Since the original Kosher by Design was published in 2003, I’ve certainly grown as a home cook and my kids have grown.  I was looking to do better by them and so I began investigating and experimenting with healthier foods and cooking methods.  Lightens Up is the homegrown result.”  For expert nutritional advice for Lightens Up, Fishbein recruited certi?ed nutritionist Bonnie Taub-Dix, national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.  A frequent guest on Good Morning America and CNN, with many published articles in the New York Times, the Washington Post, WebMD, and other national publications, Taub-Dix was delighted to be part of the project. “When Susie asked me to collaborate on this book, I jumped at the challenge of combining my love of the science of nutrition with my passion for the art of cooking,” she enthused.  

My Review:  This book will be very helpful with me as I learn to cook for my newly diagnosed with diabetes husband, and as I try to keep off the weight I recently lost.  Susie gives some VERY helpful information, definitions, and explanations about food as well as yummy recipes.  She also has a page giving ideas for helpful gadgets to use in the kitchen and table setting ideas.  This is so much more than just a cookbook!  Here are some pictures of recipes I plan to try.

Product Description
A unique collection of devotional insight and empowerment geared toward making your work and life a much more fulfilled and Christ-centered journey. Maximize your opportunities to advance the work and message of Christ through your everyday life. Don’t settle for mundane when God seeks more from you and can give so much to others through your work. Are you ready to make a difference? Are you tired of going through the motions and want to make what you do matter in a divinely eternal way? We have 40 powerful principles to set you on the path to a more enriching life of faith and insight.

My Review:  This devotional helps those of us called to ministry in the marketplace to keep our ministry in the proper perspective.  I enjoy the format and emphasis of this devotional.  Each chapter has two or three pages and ends with a short page including a Scripture, a thought or quote to take with you for the day, a suggested prayer request that goes with the chapter, and an application.  The book is divided into three sections: 1. True Riches – Thinking Biblically About Money and Wealth; 2. Kingdom Business – Your Marketplace Ministry;  and 3. Leaving a Legacy – For Christ, His Commission and His Kingdom.    I find the format and content challenging, very helpful, to the point, and user friendly.

When you bring a new dog into your home, a wash of great joy can become a trial of perseverance as your furry pal chews, digs, yaps, and yes, piddles her way through every room in the house. Allison Pittman learned this all too well when she adopted a “tiny, shiny puppy of indefinable breed(s).” Stella wasted no time in turning her home upside-down as only a pup can.

As could be expected, six weeks of obedience school covered the much needed basics–sit, stay, come, and down. What Allison didn’t expect was the spiritual benefit she would receive as each Saturday lesson revealed a fascinating metaphor. In this heart-warming, thoughtful, and often hilarious tribute to her beloved Stella, Allison Pittman shares how she came to understand what it means to follow the ultimate Master, including how to: 

Sit!–at the feet of Jesus and listen for His voice
Drop It!–and let go of personal agendas 
Come!–when it’s time to run in the right direction
Stay!–in God’s presence 

My Review:  If you are a dog lover – you will adore this book.  We have always gotten mutts from the Humane Society and they were a huge part of our family when our kids were growing up.  Stella is just about as typical as you can get for a dog.  You just want to reach through the pages of the book and hug her!  I have always appreciated our dogs’ unconditional love, but never really thought about how other things dogs do are so like my relationship with God, but they are.  I could definitely relate.  This book could be used as a daily devotional.  Otherwise, it is a rather quick read with 161 pages.  The chapters are rather short.  The pictures at the beginning of each chapter of Stella are adorable.

Product Description
Ever since Barack Obama was young, Hope has lived inside him. From the beaches of Hawaii to the streets of Chicago, from the jungles of Indonesia to the plains of Kenya, he has held on to Hope. Even as a boy, Barack knew he wasn’t quite like anybody else, but through his journeys he found the ability to listen to Hope and become what he was meant to be: a bridge to bring people together.This is the moving story of an exceptional man, as told by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Bryan Collier, both winners of the Coretta Scott King Award. Barack Obama has motivated Americans to believe with him, to believe that every one of us has the power to change ourselves and change our world.

My Review:  This was an interesting book, although above the heads of my second graders.  The book traced Obama’s life from boyhood to adulthood.  The book spoke of Obama’s ideals and hopes for change.  I would recommend this book for upper elementary and even middle school students.  We learned about Obama’s father and Obama’s search to know more about his father; we learned about how and why Obama wants to make a difference with his life; and we learned a teeny more about Obama’s spiritual life.  Nikki Grimes based this book on Obama’s book, Dreams from My Father.  A good and interesting read.

Product Description
Born the son and grandson of military men, Senator John McCain from Arizona was destined for a life serving his country in the armed forces. Like many great men, he occasionally struggled with authority, but once he found his true calling — flying naval aircraft — his ideals and commitment to his country took him far.From the low point of five years as a prisoner of war to the high points of raising a large, happy family and being chosen as the Republican nominee in the 2008 presidential election, Senator McCain has lived an incredible life driven by a love of his country and a desire to serve it to the best of his ability.

This picture book biography, written with great love and insight by his oldest daughter, writer Meghan McCain, shows us the public John McCain and the personal John McCain in a way we’ve never seen before — making this American hero come to life before young eyes. 

My Review:  This book captured the interest of my second graders.  Meghan McCain began the book by saying, “There are a few things you need to know about my dad, and one of them is that he would make a great president.”  She then proceeds to tell his story.  She tells about all of his life – his rebellion in high school, his experience in the Naval Academy, his life in the navy including learning to fly, crashing, being involved in a exploding plane and surviving; his prisoner of war experience; his marriage to Cindy; his senatorial experience; and his two runs for the president.  Whew!  All this was written in a very simple, easy to understand way.  Dan Adreasen had great illustrations throughout.  I would recommend this book for all elementary school students.

Like most of you, I couldn’t escape the constant headlines about Britney Spears. To my great shame, I’m sure I passed quick judgement on her as her life seemed to unravel before our eyes. I have to say I didn’t follow the headlines closely, but it was impossible to ignore them altogether. I didn’t know how I’d feel about this book. I actually didn’t know much about Lynne Spears but it seems that she has earned quite a bad reputation for herself as a stage mother. I didn’t know what this book would be about or if I I could believe it.

What I read was the account of a heartbroken mother whose private family life was shoved into the spotlight. As her daughters faced their own individual heartaches, they were offered up for public judgement. But in truth, each member of the Spears family is more than what was made available to us in tabloids. They each have their own full lives, flesh and blood people like the ones that surround us. This memoir is Lynne’s attempt to pass something on about them and their family history and lives to her children.

It’s an interesting read as most memoirs are detailing their family lives and Lynne’s own struggles with her marriage, giving up her career for her children’s, the loss of her family members (both parents and her sister), and the unexpectedness of what Britney’s fame brought to them all. I couldn’t always follow the parts about Britney, because I think it was assumed that the reader had obsessively read the tabloids. While I saw certain events reported, I must admit I tend to turn the channel when a particular celebrity (or politician!) is constanly in the headlines. I did understand that Lynne loves her children.

It did seem to me she was a bit naive about what fame would do their family and bring to her children, but at the end of the day, it’s not my place to judge. This book is an excellent reminder that the people you see on television are real…and hopefully will give us all the ability to judge a little less.

About the Book: You’re suddenly single again. What do you do now? Where do you turn? Starting From Scratch When You’re Single Again serves up poignant stories from twenty-three widowed or divorced women who survived a horrific deathblow to their dreams for a happy, secure future.

Somehow, with white-knuckle faith, each one found enough strength in themselves and in their God to move forward. Let each woman’s story and the guiding principles she offers be an encouragement to you, and as a bonus, let the taste and aroma of her favorite recipe comfort and nourish your soul.

Amy’s Thoughts:Well, I’m still single, but I think this book is a magnificent resource. This issue is something that’s often overlooked in Christian circles that focus heavily on traditional family units. But this book offers hope in the form of true stories from women who have been there. As they address different aspects of the struggle in finding themselves single again, they also offer hope and…recipes. How fun is that? Additionally, guiding principles are pulled out and highlighted. Since this book is in the form of individual stories, it’s very easy to read and laced with hope and inspiration.

Here’s a question and answer with the authors, Mary and Sharon!

Mary, why did you write this book?

Mary: I’m neither divorced nor widowed, but I, too, have a heart for those who are starting from scratch. My father died when I was 16, and although she was never aware of the impression she made, my mother was an inspiration to me. While my faith in God faltered, hers remained intact. I watched how she made decisions—how she continued to put one foot in front of the other—how she guided my younger brother and me.

Today I work with my husband in the financial services business. We meet many women who, because of the loss or absence of their spouse, are faced with decisions that were once shared.

I wanted to offer all of these women hope and encouragement so they wouldn’t feel alone or overwhelmed. I want them to know that others have survived and that they will, too. I also want them to know—if they are young mothers—that their children are learning how to cope through the example they set. Children are not harsh judges, but will admire them for their willingness to learn new skills, and for listening to, talking with, and leading them even when the road is strewn with uncertainty.

Sharon, do you think widows and divorced women are treated differently? In what way?

Sharon: When my marriage failed after thirty years, I was filled with tremendous guilt and shame. I had been a devout believer in Christ, an active leader in my church, the parent of two beautiful daughters, and the kind of person who loved both my own and my husband’s extended family. It was as if I had received a ten-foot tall letter “F” on my imaginary “Report Card of Life.”

Widows don’t carry that kind of shame around, although they are consumed with grief, as was I. Friends and relatives know what to say to a widow—they offer counsel and comfort.

Mary, as you talked with women, what did you find helped them cope with their situation?

Mary: Many of the women we visited with often spoke of turning to Scripture. While some had a strong faith that allowed them to draw comfort from great passages in the Bible, others questioned God at first, or had feisty conversations with Him.

All were needy of, and appreciated, kind words and gestures from friends and family. But I was struck at how they all found comfort when their supporters were not available. Many of the women we visited with mentioned a devotional, a workbook, or some special story that encouraged them. Some started blogs or began a ministry. Many swallowed their pride and accepted help from others, including the government, recognizing that this was just for a season.

For most of these women, dependency on God Himself seemed to be the key ingredient when tragedy first struck. After that they allowed others to minister to them. And then eventually they took that one small step necessary to move forward and accept change.

Sharon, the first story in the book is from your personal experience and is titled, “Telling.” Why is talking to others—even friends—about your situation so hard?

Sharon: When I suddenly got divorced, no one knew what to think or say. It was a complete shock to everyone (including me), and it felt like a bomb had gone off in the night. People want an explanation, and if one is not readily apparent, they make their own guesses as to what probably happened. Some gossip and take sides. Some get very angry and feel betrayed: in a way, their own security is threatened and they wonder, “If that could happen to her, could it happen to me?”

“Telling”came right out of my journal. It was written as I grappled with how to tell people what had happened just a few months after the divorce. We have included this as a book excerpt on our blog.

Mary, what is your best advice to a woman who finds herself single again?

Mary: As tempting as it might be, do not stay in bed with the covers pulled over your head. Accept invitations from friends and learn something new, no matter how small. If God seems far away, ask Him for just a little bit of faith. Eventually, it will grow.

Sharon, do you have a quote from the book to close with?

Sharon: Mary and I designed beautiful bookmarks to give away, and they express what the stories in this book convey. The bookmark says, “Be thankful for whatever God is doing in and through your suffering. TRUST that eventually He will make everything right” (from page 212). God is in the business of redeeming and restoring lives, and this holds true for those who believe in Him no matter what.

Giveaway: Interested in owning a copy of this book? Leave a comment with a valid email address!

About the book: Casey McDaniel had never been so nervous in his life. In just ten minutes, The Meeting, as it would forver be known, would begin. Casey had every reason to believe that his performance over the next two hours would determine the fate of his career, his financial future, and the company he had built from scratch. “How could my life have unraveled so quickly?” he wondered.

My review: Although I am a teacher and not a business person, I lead and attend plenty of meetings. I found this book fascinating. I love the way it was written. The author used story – not just facts and commentary. Throughout the story, Lencioni gives principals for successful meetings and exposes myths – such as you always need an AGENDA. How freeing! The author brings you inside the characters’ heads and causes the reader to relate to common fears and goals. This is a short read – I read it in half a day. It is totally engaging and thought provoking. The story takes up about three-fourths of the book. The last fourth of the book is the model and written as non-fiction.

For anyone who has to attend and/or lead numerous meetings, I recommend this book. My husband recommended it to me and he is not a businessman either, but he is in ministry. The principles cross over to other lifestyles and career choices.