Whether you are looking for a special gift for Mother’s Day or would like to dazzle your mother with a delicious meal, Mother’s Day Delights is the perfect choice. Packed with recipes, insightful poetry, and information about the holiday, this cookbook is a treasure trove of inspiration. Even mothers who don’t do much cooking are sure to enjoy this book, for the recipes are quick and easy with clear instructions, and the results are always fabulous. On the other hand, if your mother is a kitchen whiz, she will be impressed by the quality and variety of recipes that range from appetizers to desserts, jams and jellies to soups, main dishes to side dishes and everything in between. Amaze your mother with a breakfast of Swedish Pancakes and a souffle, or serve her Baked Beef Burgundy and a tantalizing Confetti Chopped Salad for dinner–no matter what meal you choose to honor her with, she will be delighted. Many of the recipes are easy enough that the kids can help Dad out in the kitchen to make a special breakfast in bed, and some are even suitable for older children to make on their own.

My family tried out the Buttermilk Cloverleaf Rolls, the Steak with Sweet Onions, the Baked Potatoes with Stuffing, and the Chocolate Velvet Cake. The rolls were both aesthetically impressive and delicious, very light and buttery. The steak was incredible, as flavorful and tender as any steak we would find at an expensive restaurant. My husband may insist that it become a Father’s Day dinner too! We were pleasantly surprised at the way our kids devoured the potatoes despite the tofu in the stuffing, and thought that it was a great way to add protein to this normally starchy side dish. The cake was best of all–and not just because I’m a chocoholic: it was very moist and rich, truly velvety. Karen Hood has come up with a unique way to add a special touch to the traditional chocolate cake recipe, and I continue to be impressed by her cooking experience and the quality of her Cookbook Delights series.

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Strawberry Delights is an excellent collection of more than 250 recipes that feature the flavorful flair of the strawberry. This versatile, innovative cookbook will impress even experienced gourmet chefs with its range of dishes and creative uses of the fruit. At the same time, those new to cooking will not find themselves intimidated, for instructions are laid out in a clear manner and are simple to follow. The rewarding experience of making such delicious food will prompt even reluctant cooks into returning to the kitchen again and again. Many of the recipes use strawberry preserves or frozen strawberries, so there is no concern that this cookbook will ever be out of season.

Karen Hood‘s remarkable cookbook also includes fascinating facts about strawberry nutrition, history, and folklore in addition to information on growing and cultivating your own strawberries–a valuable addition for anyone looking to go green or eat more responsibly. Hood’s lovely poems and wide knowledge of cooking, gardening, and the strawberry itself further enhance the collection in the poetry section and the ‘Did You Know?’ segments sprinkled throughout the book. Plainly, Strawberry Delights is far more than just a cookbook: it is a versatile companion for any household.

My family had fun trying out the Strawberry Pineapple Chicken Bites. Even though it is in the Appetizer section of the cookbook, I made it as a fun lunch for my kids, and it was a big hit. My oldest is fairly stand-offish about fruit, and to be honest even I am not too fond of pineapple, but this made a very light and flavorful meal that I will be happy to make again. I also made the Spiced Glazed Pork Tenderloin, which was very tender and moist. The spices gave it a taste reminiscent of the holidays, while the strawberry added a bright sweetness that I found particularly tasty. For dessert, we tried the White Chocolate Strawberry Fudgies, which were honestly just about the richest, most delightfully decadent cookie I have ever had. Everyone was blown away, even my husband, who is a strict milk-chocolate-only person. I find myself continually impressed and grateful for the way in which Hood’s recipes tempt even the pickiest eaters in my family to eat foods they don’t normally enjoy.

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Bindings

Hardcover $29.95 Paperback $19.95 Spiral $21.95 Comb $22.95 Printable CD $15.95 E-PDF (electronic download) $9.99

Morning Reflections by Karen Jean Matsko Hood is the first book in the Inspirational Reflections Series by Whispering Pine Press International. I have had this book for several weeks now, and have thoroughly enjoyed waking up to its peaceful and uplifting devotionals. Each page features a Bible verse followed by one of Hood’s original poems, with a brief but insightful prayer completing the day’s reading. The devotionals are centered around themes that are reflected in verse, poem, and prayer alike, and this allows the reader to really concentrate on the message and internalize it. The poems are simple yet poignant, a powerful and often elegant contemplation of various facets of the Christian walk. Thankfulness, praise, the filling of the Holy Spirit, the struggle to live righteously in a difficult world–all these topics and many more are meditated upon in Morning Reflections. I have found that my mornings tend to start much more smoothly when I set aside the time to quietly reflect on God, and Karen Hood‘s gentle, thoughtful words make it easy and enjoyable to do just that.

In the back of the book are three separate indexes that are helpful for finding a particular devotional quickly and easily: Index by First Line, Index by Bible Verse, and an Alphabetical Index. I really appreciated having these indexes handy to help me navigate the book to find my favorite poems and prayers again.

Morning Reflections also offers several other extra touches that I thought were particularly nice. There are several blank pages at the beginning of the book to provide space to write out my own thoughts on the reflection of the day, and there is a another page where you can fill in a personal message if you want to give Morning Reflections as a gift. There is a Reader Feedback form that can be mailed to Whispering Pine Press, something I have never seen before in a book and really appreciated because it shows that the publishers are truly interested in treating their readers right.

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