Quick Hit Review: The Lion’s Den by Katherine St. John

Review copy provided by the publisher The Lion's Den rides the line between suspense and soap opera...it's a little crazy...but with just enough grit to feel real. In The Lion's Den, when Belle's best friend invites her to a birthday bash on a boat on the Italian Riviera, she can't say no. She's a struggling…

February 11, 20210Comments

Book Reviews

Review: A Pho Love Story by Loan Le

ARC provided by the publisher for review Relatable characters, Sweet Romance, Stand Out Vietnamese American Representation At face value, Loan Le's A PHO LOVE STORY is a Romeo & Juliet-esque romance between two teens from rival pho shop families. But really, it's about love of family, community, and the push-pull between immigrant parents and their…

February 9, 20210Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Breaded Fried Ravioli

Just in time for Super Bowl Sunday, Trader Joe's dropped a new snack in its frozen section: Trader Joe's Breaded Fried Ravioli. Filled with a mix of ricotta, Monterey jack, mozzarella, asiago and parmesan, these cheesy little pillows are breaded and fried. And they're just waiting for you to throw them in the oven (or…

February 4, 20210Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Kibbeh

As the box says, Trader Joe's Kibbeh is a Middle Eastern-inspired stuffed meatball. Ground beef cooked with onions and other seasonings are enclosed in a bulghur shell and fried. When they get to you, you just throw them in the oven or airfryer. The ingredient list is impressively clean. Cooked beef, onions, water, cracked…

February 2, 20210Comments

Recipes

Recipe: Trader Joe’s Mini 5-Layer Dip

So, no one's having a big Super Bowl party, right? But one thing remains true, you still gotta have your snacks. At my house, I'm the only one who likes 5-layer dip, so this is the perfect opp to size it down and make just enough for two. So, ta-da! Trader Joe's Mini 5-Layer…

February 1, 20210Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Sparkling Apple Cider Vinegar Beverage

If you've ever had a shrub, a fruit syrup preserved with vinegar that dates back to the Colonial era, you know what Trader Joe's is going for with its Sparkling Apple Cider Vinegar Beverages. It comes in two flavors: ginger-lemon and lemon strawberry. I'm not usually a big fan of shrubs, they're typically too vinegary…

January 26, 20210Comments

Book Reviews

Review: The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley I finished the ARC and immediately ordered a signed copy from my local indie. The thing that initially drew me to The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon was the fact that it was set in the world of public radio about two co-hosts who pretend to be…

January 26, 20210Comments

Food News

Trader Joe’s Reveals 12th Annual Customer Choice Awards Winners

With a reduced set of categories in this year's awards, Trader Joe's unveiled winners of its 12th Annual Customer Choice Awards. Old favorites and Trader Joe's classics dominated this year's winners, with perennial favorites Mandarin Orange Chicken and Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter cups taking top honors. But there are a few surprises, too. In the…

January 25, 20210Comments

Book Reviews

Review: While I Was Away by Waka T. Brown

They always say immersion is one of the best ways to learn a language, but when your parents send you to Japan to live with your grandmother for 5 months, it sounds like punishment. That’s where we start with Waka in WHILE I WAS AWAY, Waka T. Brown’s middle grade memoir, out Tuesday, 1/26. While…

January 25, 20210Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Potato Chips

Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel seasoning has been one of its more popular items for a few years now. We sprinkled it on cucumber slices, put in on pizza crust and knots, added it to avocado toast. And Trader Joe's made its own yogurt dip, and coated smoked salmon with it. And now, they've…

January 21, 20210Comments

Michelle

Quick Hit Review: The Lion’s Den by Katherine St. John

Review: A Pho Love Story by Loan Le

We Tried Trader Joe’s Breaded Fried Ravioli

We Tried Trader Joe’s Kibbeh

Recipe: Trader Joe’s Mini 5-Layer Dip

We Tried Trader Joe’s Sparkling Apple Cider Vinegar Beverage

Review: The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Trader Joe’s Reveals 12th Annual Customer Choice Awards Winners

Review: While I Was Away by Waka T. Brown

We Tried Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Potato Chips

Review: The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren

Book Review: Wisdom Corner by David Heska Wanbli Weiden

Book Review: Just for the Season by Rachel Griffiths