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My Favorite Books of the Year

Alexa [fooduzzi.com] — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 15:35:45 +0000

It’s that time of year again! Time to dive into a recap of my favorite hobby: reading.

Does this have anything to do with food? Nah. But I’ve published annual “Favorite Books of the Year” posts since 2020, so I’m not stopping now. Catch up here:

Now I will say that this reading year was a bit of a bleh reading year for me. I didn’t finish quite a few books that I started, and I didn’t love many of the books I read. Plus, I had a hard time just staying focused on and prioritizing reading this year.

That said, I’m happy to report that my love of reading has come back with a vengeance, and we finished the year strong.

So let’s get into my favorite reads from this year.

As always, if you’re interested in checking any of the books I mention, I have a few links for you below:

The first one, the link to buy a physical copy, is for Bookshop.org, a website that allows you to support independent bookstores with your purchase.
The second, the ebook version, is an Amazon affiliate link.
The third is a link to add the book on Goodreads.

I also highly encourage you to check out your local library––most of the books I mention here I got from my library. I download my ebooks through the Libby app by adding my library card. It’s free and super convenient!

I also ended up listening to a few audiobook memoirs through my Spotify premium subscription. More on that in a bit.

Let’s get into the reads!

No Two Persons

Erica Bauermeister
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I had never heard of this book before, but a local bookstore I was in featured it as a book club pick, so I did what I never do and purchased a book I’ve never read. I typically only purchase books if I’ve loved and want to re-read them, but there was something interesting about the synopsis, so I took a chance and bought it.

If you’ve read the book, you’ll know how fitting this situation actually is.

I just really loved this. It’s almost a collection of interconnected short stories, and the common denominator between them all is a book. Each story personifies the saying, “No two persons ever read the same book,” and it explores each character’s life during the time they’re reading or interacting with the same book.

It’s so clever (even the chapter images have meaning!), really heartfelt, and a story that will absolutely stick with you. There are some emotional moments and some funny moments, and I just couldn’t have loved it more.

The Collected Regrets of Clover

Mikki Brammer
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I had this book on hold from the library for months before I actually got around to reading it, but once I finally got around to it, I absolutely loved it.

It follows Clover and her experiences serving as a death doula. I had never heard of a death doula before, but I’ve heard of them more since reading this book.

A big part of this book revolves around fully embracing and living the life you’ve been given, and even though I waited for months to read it, this book came to me at just the right time. While it certainly has some sad moments, it was inspiring and heartwarming.

Loved it, and I now have a physical copy (thanks, mom!) so I can re-read it again soon.

The Measure

Nikki Erlick
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This is a pretty popular book, and IMO, it’s for good reason!

Imagine a world where every single person over the age of 21 receives a box with a string inside. No one knows where they came from or what they mean…until they start to figure it out.

The entire world changes once the meaning of the strings is revealed, and each character we follow copes with the decision of looking at their string, their string length, and the string lengths of their loved ones in a different way.

This book made me think, and it really stuck with me––if this happened today, would I look at my string?

It’s a slower read, but I loved the interconnected stories and the touching “found family” moments.

The Third Gilmore Girl

Kelly Bishop
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I love Gilmore Girls. Always have, always will.

I hadn’t really read many memoirs before this came out, but once I saw that Kelly Bishop narrated the audiobook version of her memoir, I knew that’s how I wanted to read it.

I used my audiobook credits through Spotify Premium to listen to this one during some fall activities––a hike, painting, driving to see the pretty fall leaves, etc––and it was such a great experience.

I didn’t know much about Kelly’s life before Gilmore Girls, and she came across as such a “sure of herself” person with loads of interesting stories.

I will say that a good majority of the book isn’t about Gilmore Girls, and even though I’m a huge fan of the show, I didn’t mind one bit. Kelly is a fascinating, inspiring person with or without the show!

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Taylor Jenkins Reid
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This was a re-read, and everyone loves it, so I won’t go into too much detail here.

If you haven’t read it yet, you should. It made me cry at the exact same spot that it did the first time I read it. It’s great.

2024 Reading Stats

These stats are pulled from The StoryGraph! I use Goodreads to track my reading throughout the year (because it automatically syncs with my Kindle), and then I import my Goodreads data into The StoryGraph to get these fun graphics.

I read 41 books this year, and here’s how those books break down into genres, moods, and ratings:

I traveled a lot this year, and the number of books/pages sort of reflects that hecticness and lack of reading time. Plus, like I mentioned before, this was sort of a weird reading year where I didn’t love many of the books I read, so I lost some motivation to read a few times throughout the year. That said, we finished strong in December!

If you ask my book club, my book ratings are a bit chaotic. I never give anything one star (if it’s going to be a one-star read, I just won’t finish it). I never rate any books I don’t finish. And I never rate memoirs or nonfiction. Knowing that…these are my ratings for the year. One of the lowest averages in the past few years for me!

Nothing super surprising here. I used to read a lot more romance, but I’ve been super burned out on romance novels for a while, so I’m glad to see contemporary being #1 this year! I have a few fantasy and sci-fi books on my list to read soon, so I’m hoping those two genres make a comeback next year.

I’m a fiction girlie through and through. The only three nonfiction books I read this year were two memoirs and a book for book club.

I feel like this graph is a good representation of me as a reader. I gravitate towards books that make me feel, laugh, and think. :)

And that’s a wrap! How was your reading year? What were some of your favorite books? And how do you rate books (please tell me I’m not alone in my chaotic book ratings)?

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My Favorite Books of the Year

Alexa [fooduzzi.com] — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 11:00:00 +0000

It’s that time of the year again, my friends! It’s time to talk about BOOKS!

This is my fourth year publishing a roundup of my favorite reads from the past year, and I look forward to writing this post every single time.

Why? It’s just a little different from the regularly scheduled programming here on Fooduzzi (vegan recipes).

And reading is what I spend a lot of time doing, so it’s great to reflect on the truly great reads at the end of each year.

If you’re interested, here are the past “favorites” posts:

This year was an interesting reading year for me. Not only did I only read two five-star books (one being a re-read), I kind of fell out of love with romance books.

For the past few years, romance has been a top genre for me because they’re quick, fun, and make you feel good. But lately I’ve just been bored of them, so I actually ended up reading a lot more “contemporary” and straight fiction novels this year.

Regardless, I’m excited to share the deets on my favorite reads from the past year with you today! As of the day I’m writing this (December 23), I’ve read 52 books, which is pretty average for me. I like to try to read a book a week, and that’s what I did!

As always, if you’re interested in checking any of the books I mention, I have a few links for you below:

The first one, the link to buy a physical copy, is for Bookshop.org, a website that allows you to support independent bookstores with your purchase.
The second, the ebook version, is an Amazon affiliate link.
The third is a link to add the book on Goodreads.

I also highly encourage you to check out your local library –– most of the books I mention here I got from my library. I download my ebooks through the Libby app by adding my library card. It’s free and super convenient!

Ready to get into the books? Let’s do it.

The Best Books I Read in 2023

The Lager Queen of Minnesota

J. Ryan Stradal
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I adored this book. It was a fascinating coming-of-age story following the lives of two sisters and the decisions they make following an inheritance bestowed onto only one of them.

The characters’ stories weaved together in such a lovely way, and it really got me interested in the how behind the way beer is brewed! Even if you’re not a beer lover, I think you’d still enjoy this book. But if you’re a beer fan like me, this is a must-read.

The House in the Cerulean Sea

TJ Klune
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This was a re-read for my book club, but I loved it just as much as I did when I read it a few years ago. It’s a perfect “found family” novel, which is one of my very favorite tropes.

It’s just a big ol’ hug in the form of a book, and it will definitely leave you feeling heart-warmed and cozy!

Rabbits

Terry Miles
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This book has stuck with me for months. It’s all about a super secret, underground game with life-changing winnings that eventually turns into a race to save the entire planet. For most of the book, it was completely non-put-downable

It definitely gave me Ready Player One vibes (another of my favorite books!), but I think it was a bit too long and the ending was a bit rushed.

That said, this “there’s a secret game where clues are hidden in plain sight if you know where to look” idea is just one of my very favorite things in books. If anyone has any other recommendations for books like this, I’d love to hear about them in the comments!

Things I Wish I Told My Mother

Susan Patterson, Susan DiLallo, & James Patterson
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This was one of those novels where the story was fine, but the book as a whole made me feel completely and totally homesick (in a good way). It’s all about the story of a trip a mom and her daughter take, and it’s full of arguments, touching moments, and a big ol’ twist at the end that left me teary-eyed and ready to call my parents.

I love books that just make you feel, and this one did just that!

The Summer of Broken Rules

K.L. Walther
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To be honest, I think I liked this book as much as I did because we played Assassin (the game they play in the book) as a class my senior year of high school. It brought back a ton of goofy memories, and I just really liked being a part of a group game like that again!

Apparently the novel itself was also inspired by Taylor Swift lyrics? I don’t listen to her all that much, so I didn’t get any of the references, but I still really enjoyed this cozy, summertime read!

The True Love Experiment

Christina Lauren
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The writing duo of Christina Lauren are back at it again, and I think this is my favorite of all of their novels! And that’s because of the main lead, Fizzy.

She is such a fun character who isn’t afraid to speak her mind and who knows what she wants and goes for it. I loved reading a romance with such a strong female lead like this!

I don’t watch reality dating shows like the one depicted in this book, but I still really loved this book as a whole.

Mary Jane

Jessica Anya Blau
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Another “found family” story! I really really love it when someone who’s an outcast (whether it be within their own family, their school, their “friend” group, etc.) finds people they really, truly click with.

The only frustrating part for me was how childish the adults were throughout the story. That said, this book made me smile, and I loved the connection that Mary Jane had with the Cone family!

2023 Reading Stats

I was really surprised (and glad) to see I hit so many reading “moods” this year! Top were Emotional, Funny, and Mysterious. Kinda mind-bending to see that I read 17.7k pages too!

Unsurprising to see Contemporary as my top genre this year! Like I mentioned before, even though I read a lot of romance novels this year (21 in total!), I definitely cooled it during the second part of the year and leaned into more general fiction stuff.

April, July, and August were my biggest reading months this year, but I love seeing the pages read distribution throughout the months too. I was on vacation in July, which allowed me to read some longer books like The True Love Experiment (mentioned above!) and Cassandra in Reverse.

So I’m a bit… particular about how I rank books. I never give a book a 1 star rating because I actually wouldn’t finish any book that I would give a 1 star. I also didn’t finish quite a few books this year because I didn’t like them, so I didn’t rate those either. I also read some memoirs this year, but I never rate those. Last, I read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe for book club this year, and I didn’t rate that either since it is a kid’s book. All of that being said, an average of 3.23 stars sounds about right for this year of reading!

I just love talking about books, so I’d love to hear if you had any favorites this year in the comments. 😊

Thanks for tuning in for another recap of reading, and I’ll see ya in the new year!

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My Favorite Books of the Year

Alexa [fooduzzi.com] — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 11:00:00 +0000

Let’s talk about one of my favorite things: books!

This is one of my favorite posts to publish every year because it gives me a good excuse to go back and remember all of my favorite reads from the year.

I read 55 books in 2022. I hit my goal (35) and managed to read just over “one book per week of the year,” which is kinda fun!

Reading gave me a lot this year. It quieted my brain when it needed to calm down, it brought me to different cities and countries filled with characters from different backgrounds, and it helped me facilitate some of my favorite moments of the past year –– aka me sitting on the couch with a book and my cat (Maya!) curled up beside me.

The list you see below are the best of the best (in my opinion) from the gaggle of books I finished this year!

Like the past two years, if you’re interested in checking any of the books I mention (or for a loved one! books make the best gifts), I have a few links for you below:

The first one, the link to buy a physical copy, is for Bookshop.org, a website that allows you to support independent bookstores with your purchase.
The second, the ebook version, is an Amazon link.
The third is a link to add the book on Goodreads.

None are affiliate links; I just wanted to give you as many places as possible to look for these fantastic books!

I also highly encourage you to check out your local library –– most of the books I mention here I got from my library. I download my ebooks through the Libby app by adding my library card. It’s free and super convenient!

And new this year: I’m breaking down some of my reading stats! These are all taken from StoryGraph. I exported my Goodreads data and imported it into StoryGraph! Kinda cool reviewing the reading year through stats like this! Click here if you want to jump straight to that section.

Otherwise, let’s get into the reads!

The Best Books I Read in 2022

Lessons in Chemistry

Bonnie Garmus
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Oh gosh, did I love this book. I actually read it for book club, and to be completely honest, I’m not sure I would have ever picked it up if it weren’t for that group!

It’s the story about a female scientist named Elizabeth Zott in the 1960s. Being a female during that time in a male-dominated field leads to many interesting, heart-breaking, and hilarious situations, and this book explores it all.

While it’s a touching, moving story, it’s also a hilarious, laugh-out-loud chronicle of a truly fascinating and inspiring character. Really excited to read more from this debut author!

The Roughest Draft

Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
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I talked about this read in my mid-year book post, and I still love it! I actually got a physical copy for Christmas because I’m excited to re-read it sometime in the not-so-distant future.

It’s one of those reads that I probably read at just the right time and one that had two characters with whom I could just really relate. Three cheers for this one!

Funny You Should Ask

Elissa Sussman
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Not gonna lie, I was inspired to read this one because of the fun cover. But I’m glad I picked it up, and I actually read an advanced copy through NetGalley before it was released!

It reminded me a lot of one of my other favorite books, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, as it gives the reader glimpses of both sides of Hollywood –– the polished, public-facing view as well as the messiness that happens behind closed doors.

“Funny You Should Ask” is about Chani Horowitz, a “puff piece” writer, and her chance to interview her Hollywood crush, Gabe Parker. The story spans ten years, as we follow Chani and Gabe’s first meeting and blossoming romance to them living separate lives and reuniting ten years later to face their history and missed opportunities.

Really well done, and I’m excited for Sussman’s new release early next year!

Just Last Night

Mhairi McFarlane
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This book surprised me in the best way.

I’ve read a few of Mhairi McFarlane’s novels, and I’ve liked them. But none have stuck with me quite like this one!

Yes, this one has romance, but it also deals with tragedy, friendship, and grief in a really beautiful way.

I stayed up way too late reading this one. It’s the only book I gave 4 (not 5) stars to on this list, but I still really loved it.

The No-Show

Beth O’Leary
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I talked about this one in my mid-year book post as well, but I’m just going to say this again:

Trust me and pick up this book without reading anything about it.

Romance novels typically follow a relatively similar “formula,” which makes them fun to read (IMO!); I really enjoy how authors can put their own spins on that formula with their own characters and stories.

That said, this novel, while it is a romance, surprised me over and over and over again. I haven’t enjoyed the twists and turns in a book like I did with this one in a long time!

Daisy Jones and The Six

Taylor Jenkins Reid
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One of my few re-reads this year! I haven’t re-read a ton of books, but I really loved doing it this year, so I see myself doing more of it in the future.

I wanted to re-read this one because:

It has been a few years since I read it for the first time.
The Amazon Prime show is coming out early next year.
I really enjoyed the unique way this one was written.
TJR is one of my favorite authors!

Not only did it live up to my memories of loving this book, it exceeded them. I think it was even better this time around! I’m really excited to re-immerse myself in this world when the show comes out in March!

2022 Reading Stats

This is a hilarious graph, but it’s representative of nearly all of my reading! I’m just not a nonfiction person. There are a few nonfiction books I’ve loved (I had two on my “favorites” list in 2020!), but if I’m going to read, I’m going to pick up a fiction book nearly 99% of the time.

This was interesting for me to see because I read most of my books as an ebook, so I’m not constantly reminded of how long or short a book is. I had some 4-star reads in the 500+ page category, and the <300 category was made up of mostly 2-3 star reads. 300-499 pages is my sweet spot!

Not super surprising to me to see romance at the top of my genres list. I love thriller/mystery/science fiction reads, but I have to be in the right mood to read them. I can pick up a romance book at nearly any time and dive right in.

If you’re familiar with Goodreads, you’ll know you can only give books “whole number” star-ratings, 1-5 stars. And I never give a book a 1-star rating; in my experience, if a book is a 1-star, I’m just not finishing it. Lol. I’m also very stingy with my 5 stars; I only gave five this year –– and you just read what I thought about them!

Yay reading! I love talking about books, so I hope you enjoyed this little detour from the vegan eats you typically find here. :) If you’re interested in learning about some of the other books I read this year (or if you’d like to check out what I read next year), feel free to follow me on Goodreads.

And, as always, leave your recommendations below! What were some of your favorite reads from this year?

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Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag 2022

Alexa [fooduzzi.com] — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Let’s talk books!

I’ve been reading up a storm recently, and when I saw a few of my favorite online book personalities do the Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag, I knew I wanted to join in on the fun!

And I know what you’re probably saying: “A book tag?”

Yeah, tbh, I’m not 100% confident in this definition, but as I understand them, a “book tag” is a way to talk about books with different prompts. People come up with the prompts, typically around a specific topic (like Sci-Fi or Romance) or time (like summer or mid-year), and then people online who talk about books (like on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, podcasts, blogs, etc.) answer the questions based on their reading.

I found out about this one from Noelle on YouTube, but if you simply search “Mid-Year Freak Out Tag,” you’ll find loads of lists from different people! And the fun of it is that if you find some creators with similar book tastes as you, these tags are an awesome way to get reading recommendations.

To be honest, I started writing this post a few weeks ago, and I’ve read a few books since then. But I’m writing this as if I was in the past, so I think I was at 27 books read this year at that point. The prompts from the tag are the headings throughout this post, and you’ll find links to purchase the book at Bookshop and Amazon and to add it to your Goodreads account below.

SO. Without any further ado… here’s my Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag!

best book you’ve read so far in 2022

The Roughest Draft

Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
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Easy. I LOVED The Roughest Draft.

It’s a story about a pair of co-authors who refuse to work together again after a mysterious falling out. Throughout the book, you get clues about what might have happened between the two in the past, and you learn about their history from both authors’ perspectives.

The way the characters were more comfortable communicating through writing than speaking to one another was just… incredibly relatable, and I ate up the whole dang thing. So good. Definitely one I’ll want to reread in the future!

best sequel you’ve read so far in 2022

A Court of Silver Flames

Sarah J Maas
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Yep. I read the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. And actually, I liked this one-off side-character book the best out of the whole series!

If you’re unfamiliar with this series, it’s a fantasy romance. Not my typical genre of choice, but I’m glad I picked up this one at the recommendation of my co-worker, Leslie.

A Court of Silver Flames focuses on Nesta, the bold and brash sister of Feyre, the High Lady of the Night Court and the main character of the rest of the series.

Nesta’s character arc in this novel was one of my favorites in any piece of fiction, and I loved getting to know the multiple sides of her throughout this story!

new release you haven’t read yet, but want to

Something Wilder

Christina Lauren
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I’ve become a big big fan of the writing duo of Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings (aka Christina Lauren!), and I’m excited to get my hands on this one soon!

And by soon, I mean in like 14 weeks when it’s available from my library.

From the few reviews I’ve seen, it seems like this one is a bit different from their usual rom-comy reads, so in 14 week, I feel like I’m going to be a very happy camper.

Some of my other faves from Christina Lauren are:

most anticipated release for the second half of the year

Carrie Soto is Back

Taylor Jenkins Reid
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Upgrade

Blake Crouch
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I have two! Really looking forward to Taylor Jenkins Reid’s new novel, Carrie Soto is Back, even though her most recent release, Malibu Rising, wasn’t my favorite of hers. Regardless, I will always always always look forward to something new from her since The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six are two of my favorite books of all-time!

And it’s been quite a few years since I read any of Blake Crouch’s novels (Dark Matter and Recursion), but I remember liking them both! His books are more mystery/science fiction/thriller books, and I just eat them up! I’m super excited for this new adventure!

biggest surprise favorite new author (debut or new to you)

Funny You Should Ask

Elissa Sussman
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The one that stands out is Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman. I read an advanced copy through NetGalley, so I didn’t really know what to expect. Turns out I LOVED it.

It reminded me a bit of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in the way it showed different sides to Hollywood stories, and I completely and totally ate up the whole thing. Definitely stayed up way too late finishing this one!

book that made you cry

The No-Show

Beth O’Leary
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Eh. I actually don’t think any of my 2022 reads made me cry.

I probably got closest with The No-Show by Beth O’Leary. It was probably one of the most surprised I’ve ever been reading a book.

The story was nothing like I thought it was going to be like, and I almost recommend picking it up without reading the synopsis (so long as you like romances!). I had forgotten what the synopsis said when my library finally had this book available, so I read it with no expectations.

I loved it. Seriously such a creative story, and one that shocked me multiple times throughout!

book that made you happy

Honestly, all of them have made me happy in one way or another.

I’ve gotten pretty good at not finishing books that I’m just not meshing with. And me not finishing a book says nothing about the quality of the book –– sometimes you need to be at the right place in your life to read a book. And sometimes it just isn’t for you.

And that’s okay! There are loads of other books that will do it for you, and it’s okay to say “thanks but no thanks” to a book you’re just not jiving with.

*gets off soap box* Lol.

most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)

I don’t really buy books anymore! I read everything through the library and only purchase the books I know I’m going to reread in the future.

I did get some books for Christmas last year, so I think that counts, right? I have physical copies of my then-four favorite books:

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Clune

what books do you need to read by the end of the year?

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow

Gabrielle Zevin
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It Starts with Us

Colleen Hoover
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Oh I have so many on my list. I’m especially excited about these two.

I found Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow at Barnes & Noble the other day, and I was instantly excited to read it after I read these few sentences in the synopsis:

Spanning thirty years, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Venice Beach, California, and lands in between and far beyond, Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a dazzling and intricately imagined novel that examines the multifarious nature of identity, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in play, and above all, our need to connect: to be loved and to love. Yes, it is a love story, but it is not one you have read before.

Doesn’t that sound like such a fun read?! Can’t wait.

I’m also extremely excited about It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover. I talked about how much I loved It Ends with Us in my “Favorite Books of 2021” post from last year, and I’m just super jazzed a sequel is due this year!

And that’s a wrap! Have you read any absolute winners this year? Any you’re anticipating for the second half of the year? Let’s chat in the comments. I love talking about books!

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My Favorite Books of the Year

Alexa [fooduzzi.com] — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 11:00:00 +0000

It’s that time of year again! Aka the time of year when I gush about all of the fantastic books I read throughout the year. And oh boy howdy, were there a lot in 2021.

I feel like this was an especially great year for reading. I track everything I read on Goodreads (it automatically syncs with my Kindle, and it’s just so gosh-darn convenient), and, as of right now, I’ve read 67 books this year.

Of course, I started a few I didn’t end up finishing for one reason or another, but that’s 67 books I read from cover-to-cover.

Most of the books I ended up reading were fiction; I read to escape and to really lose myself in the story, and fiction is the best way, the most engaging way, for me to do that.

I learned about aliens and their distant home planet. I traveled through Europe and time. I went on vacation countless times. All without leaving my couch, my favorite blanket, and my best girl, Maya.

But, of course, some of the novels I read this year now have a very special place in my heart. They’re the ones that I read just at the right time. The ones that blew me away, surprised me, or made me laugh. The ones that I just can’t stop talking about.

And that’s what you’ll find in this post today!

Like last year, if you’re interested in checking any of the books I mention out for yourself (or for a loved one! books make the best gifts), I have a few links for you below:

The first one, the link to buy a physical copy, is for Bookshop.org, a website that allows you to support independent bookstores with your purchase.
The second, the ebook version, is an Amazon link.
The third is a link to add the book on Goodreads.

None are affiliate links; I just wanted to give you as many places as possible to look for these fantastic books!

I highly encourage you to check out your local library as well –– most, if not all, of the books I mention here I got from my library. I download my ebooks through the Libby app by adding my library card. It’s free and so so convenient.

Alright. Onto the reads!

The Best Books I Read in 2021

Project Hail Mary

Andy Weir
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If you and I talked at all this year, I’ve probably mentioned this book once or twice.

I. Loved. This. Book.

In fact, I’d go as far to say that this book right here is my all-time favorite book.

Andy Weir also wrote The Martian, which was on my “best of” list last year. But man. He can write. I love the way he writes internal monologues. They’re hilarious and super witty, yet based in science and excitement.

The adventure! The flashbacks! The suspense! ROCKY!

I’m obsessed with this book.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

V.E. Schwab
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I think I read this book right before it blew up on social media, and I can honestly say that I 100000% back the hype that it has gotten this year!

It’s a story of a girl named Addie who makes a deal with the devil. Good news? She lives forever. Bad news? No one remembers her. Until one person does.

The story spans centuries and countries as we follow along with Addie’s experiences of trying to find her place in the world, all while being invisible to each and every person she meets.

I don’t re-read books very often, but this is one I know I’ll be revisiting.

A Man Called Ove

Fredrik Backman
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I love characters that are grumpy and witty but also have a soft side. And that describes Ove to a T.

This book had me from the first few pages. Even now, nearly 8 months since I read the thing, I still think of it every week.

It was such a touching, funny, moving story of what it means to love and be loved. Very much an Ove fan.

The Last Flight

Julie Clark
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This thriller! I think I found it from following my friend (Gretchen!) on Goodreads, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. The synopsis –– two women, trying to escape their lives, switch tickets at the airport so they can’t be tracked and can disappear completely –– sounded really unique and interesting.

I think I finished the book in two days.

It kept me on the edge of my seat without being too intense (just didn’t have it in me for many intense thrillers this year), and I thought the twist was great. Very much a fan!

It Ends with Us

Colleen Hoover
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I’ve read a lot of Colleen Hoover’s books, but this is probably my favorite of the bunch.

I thought the love story –– between those intense first few interactions to their problems and reactions throughout –– was super interesting. It’s a bit of a hard read when the characters face some difficult issues, but I thought they were handled (and resolved) really well in this novel.

People We Meet on Vacation

Emily Henry
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I liked this book way more than I thought I would! I thought it was just going to be your standard rom-com with some very silly hoodwinks and problems and then ultimately end in a cute-yet-predictable way.

Of course you had some of that in this novel, but I think People We Meet On Vacation gives you a little more than that, too. I thought the strained relationship between best friends, Poppy and Alex was a really interesting twist, and the entire story was really fun, heartwarming, and memorable.

I liked this one a lot more than Beach Read (loved the premise, but way too dramatic, IMO), so I’m excited to dive into this author’s next novel (Book Lovers!) when it comes out next year!

The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany

Lori Nelson Spielman
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The best cure for my wanderlust in 2021? This book.

It reminded me so much of my childhood –– the unique relationships between family, the Italian deli they worked at, the foods that were just… everyday foods to them. It was so fun.

The story follows Emilia, her cousin, and her great-aunt as they galavant around Italy to break the curse that has haunted their family for generations –– the second-born daughters in their family never find love.

The story is a wee bit far-fetched, but man. I enjoyed every second of this one. For being a book about traveling, it was such a cozy and homey read for me and my Italian roots.

The Hating Game

Sally Thorne
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I’m so very late to this one, but I really enjoyed it. And if you, too, love the enemies-to-lovers trope, you’ll also be a fan.

Lucy and Joshua, who work at desks right across from each other, have hated each other for years. So when a single promotion is dangled in front of them both, tensions rise, emotions go wacky, and, of course, their feelings towards one another start to evolve.

It was funny, it was spicy, it was sweet, and it was exactly what I wanted in a rom-com like this.

There’s a movie based on the book coming out soon, but I’d still recommend the read!

The House in the Cerulean Sea

T.J. Klune
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I had no idea what to expect from this book, since the synopsis didn’t quite sound like my thing:

When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management, he’s given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.

That said, I’m so happy I picked this one up because it has become one of my all-time favorite books.

It had me laughing, crying, and feeling so many things. It was one of the most heartwarming books I’ve ever read.

So much so, I’m thinking about buying this shirt.

Tips for Reading More

If you’re like, “You know, I want to read more (or start reading) next year!” I have some tips for ya that have really helped me do just that.

I read a lot when I was younger, but then I got out of it as a teen / college-aged person. I only very recently (within the past few years) started reading on the regular again, and it has become my favorite hobby!

Here’s what has helped me fall (back) in love with reading:

I wake up early before work to read. Of course, this is relatively simple for me because A) coffee, B) I work from home, and C) I don’t have any kiddos to worry about. But! It works well for me –– and I really do love easing my way into the day with a book in my hands.
I mentioned this before, but my library card is usually smoking from how much I use the thing each week. Pre-covid, I would use it to check physical books out of the library, but this year, I used it solely for ebooks on the Libby app.
I find my book recommendations from a few different places. Friends and family are always a great place to start. I’ve also become a huge fan of Booktube (that’s people on YouTube who make videos about books) recently (Ariel, Noelle, and Leone have been my faves as of late!). And! I listen to a podcast about books to get some recs (it’s called Books Unbound, and it’s run by Ariel and her friend, Raeleen).
That said, all of these tips wouldn’t really matter if I didn’t lean into reading what I actually wanted to read. For so long (most of my 20s!) I felt like I had to read a certain genre/type of book since I was “an adult.” That’s dumb. Read what you want to read because, if you actually enjoy it, it’s much easier to stick with.

And that’s a wrap on this year’s “best of” list of reading! Writing about books is definitely different from writing about food, but it’s something that’s really important to me, so I hope you enjoyed and got some good recs out of the deal.

If you’re interested in learning about some of the other books I read this year, feel free to follow me on Goodreads.

And! Leave your recommendations below. What were some of your favorite reads of 2021?

The post My Favorite Books of the Year appeared first on Fooduzzi.

My Favorite Books of the Year

Alexa [fooduzzi.com] — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 11:00:00 +0000

2020 will go down as the year of many things, but one of the most important things to me is that it was the year that I fell back in love with reading.

I used to read a ton as a kid. I actually remember taking a book to a store one time — pretty sure it was a Magic Treehouse book — and reading it while walking through the aisles.

But through middle school, high school, and college, I kind of lost my desire to read for fun. We’d read these classic books, I’d skim the text or just read the Sparknotes, take the test, and move on.

I also got busy, I had more responsibilities, and I was trying to get good grades, internships, and jobs. Reading just wasn’t a priority for me anymore.

Then…2020 happened. And I found myself having much more time at home on the couch snuggling with my cat.

So, I decided to read! And read and read and read. And read some more.

So far, I’ve read 36 books this year (and I started a few I didn’t end up finishing).

And through these stories, I was able to get out of this four-wall house and explore the French Alps, befriend an alien from another world, participate in a treasure hunt through a virtual utopia, survive a silly-yet-heartwarming hostage situation, and even colonize Mars.

These stories allowed me to go on so many fun, exciting, thrilling, and suspenseful trips, even when I was stuck at home in my pajamas. I am so thankful for these books, and that’s why I wanted to share some of my faves today!

If you’re interested in checking any of them out for yourself or for a loved one, I have links to purchase the books below. The first one, the link to buy a physical copy, is for Bookshop.org, a website that allows you to support independent bookstores with your purchase. The second, the ebook version, is an Amazon link.

I highly encourage you to check out your local library as well. Getting a library card last year was one of the very best things I’ve done for myself, and it’s free. I’ve read so many more books thanks to my local library! I’ve gotten physical copies from them, as well as ebook and audiobook copies. Literally something for everyone!

Little Fires Everywhere

Celeste Ng
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Obviously this book has gotten a ton of hype this year since it was turned into a Hulu miniseries with Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon, but man. I loved it.

Ng’s writing style was so unique, but I loved it. She expertly weaved each character’s thoughts and actions into a powerful story about what it means to be a mother and how to be a family during tough times.

Ng was actually born in Pittsburgh, and some of this book takes place in Pittsburgh! Super fun.

Ready Player One

Ernest Cline
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I watched a lot of “Booktube” (aka. creators on YouTube who talk about books) this year, and this is one of those books that was recommended a ton.

That said, the premise didn’t sound all that appealing to me. It seemed to be about video games and was set in a pretty depressing future, and I almost didn’t read it.

It ended up being one of the best books I’ve ever read.

If you get a kick out of “Easter Eggs,” if you love adventure books, or if you’re just looking for a book that will keep you thinking about it even when you’re not reading it, this is it.

Ready Player Two came out this year, but I haven’t read it yet. I’m excited to, though!

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Benjamin Alire Sáenz
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This was such a beautiful book, and another that kept me up way too late reading until the very end.

It’s the story of two boys who don’t really fit into a normal mold, but they end up forming a really touching and caring friendship.

It’s as funny as it is heartwarming, and I highly recommend!

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing

Hank Green
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Okay, this was one of those books that I didn’t love as I was reading it until the end. And after I was done, I thought about it for weeks.

I was so enamored with the story, I ended up buying the ebook version of the sequel the next day.

It’s a bizarre story of aliens coming to Earth, a girl who becomes an “influencer” and social media star overnight, and the power that we have when we all come together in pursuit of a common goal.

That last part was just so encouraging and promising, especially given the pandemic this year.

The Other Mrs.

Mary Kubica
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Oh my goodness. This book was twisty.

It’s a suspenseful thriller with a potentially unreliable narrator, and I just couldn’t put it down.

I will say it started a bit slow, but once I got about a fourth of the way through, it was a bit of a race to the finish.

I totally didn’t see the main “twist” coming, and I highly recommend it if you’re a fan of thrillers!

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

Lori Gottlieb
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Switching gears a bit, this was one of the few nonfiction books I read this year, and man. I loved it.

It came recommended from Mark’s mom actually, and I just really got into the writing style. The way Gottlieb was able to weave different stories together with her own struggles was so well done.

It was heartwarming, funny, educational, and it took me to a unique place of reflection and self-awareness.

For someone who typically doesn’t read nonfiction books, I loved this one so so much. If you’re interested in learning more about mental health, I highly recommend it!

One True Loves

Taylor Jenkins Reid
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Taylor. Freaking. Jenkins. Reid.

My favorite author. If by some miracle she happens upon this blog post, I just want to say: Hi, I love you. Thank you for your stories.

She has written some of my very favorite books (The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six), but this one was a surprise hit for me.

And that’s because the premise…is a bit wild. It’s a love story gone Castaway situation gone love triangle.

But man. Reid can pull at your heartstrings through tragedy, hope, and love. She has a way with words that will leave you devouring every last one and hungry for hundreds more.

Anxious People

Fredrik Backman
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This was one of those books that I didn’t necessarily love, but I really liked it. The story was equally bizarre, hysterical, touching, and puzzling.

As the book starts out, it’s a story of idiots. But it’s also a story of doing the right thing, pushing through the bad days, and finding hope in unlikely places.

There are some twists, lots of hope, and quite a few questionable decisions, and it’s probably one of the more unique stories I read this year, both in writing style and story development!

The Book Thief

Markus Zusak
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Totally late to the game on this one, but one of the best books I’ve ever read.

Death narrates this story that takes place in the WWII-era, and it follows a little girl, her love of reading, and how she navigates the hate and danger of growing up in Nazi Germany.

It’s a unique and an emotional read, and I couldn’t recommend it more.

Oona Out of Order

Margarita Montimore
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This book was so much fun.

It’s about a girl, Oona, who lives her life…out of order. Each year on her birthday, she goes to sleep one age, and wakes up another.

It’s just such an interest premise for a book — imagine what your life would be like if you feel asleep at age 16, woke up as a 45 year old, lived an entire year as that 45 year old, and then woke up again at age 21.

It’s wild, fun, and actually a super heartwarming story. Such a good one.

The Martian

Andy Weir
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Again, super late to the game with this one, but wow. I actually ended up clapping at the end of this book.

Weir really knows how to tell a story!

It’s the story of an astronaut who is left for dead on Mars, and how he tries to survive for years before he can potentially be rescued.

It is full of some science jargon that I didn’t really understand, but I was hooked from beginning to end.

I’ve never seen the movie, but this book is a masterpiece.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown

Talia Hibbert
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I don’t read romance books often, but I am really glad I picked up this one (and Hibbert’s second book in the series, Take a Hint, Dani Brown).

It’s definitely not for younger readers, but I thought Hibbert’s writing style was so fun and entertaining. In fact, I actively laugh out loud when I’m reading her books!

This one in particular is about a chronically ill shut-in who makes a list that she believes will help her “get a life.” Silliness and romance ensue.

It’s just a super fun and fast read, and I’m really excited to read the third in the series when it’s published!

Big Magic

Elizabeth Gilbert
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I did not think I’d like this book. I’ve heard about it for years, but I kind of assumed it was over-hyped. Plus it’s non-fiction, and I just kind of thought it would be full of a lot of superficial and shallow advice. Plus plus, I really didn’t love Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love.

I was so so so wrong. This book. Gah. It may very well become my go-to guide when I’m pursuing a creative project or as I’m working on refining and strengthening my writing skills.

I highlighed so many lines and paragraphs in this book, and I can tell that it’s going to be one that I’ll go back and re-read for many many years.

It’s great for people (like me) who can’t seem to get out of their own way or who can sometimes get paralyzed by their own thoughts, doubts, and fears.

If you’re interested in learning about some of the other books I read this year, follow me (or lurk, I won’t judge) on Goodreads.

I’m also really interested in getting your recommendations! What books did you read and love this year? Leave ’em in the comments!

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A Week of Meals from Vegan for Everybody (Cookbook Review)

Alexa [fooduzzi.com] — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Hi, friends! It’s time for another cookbook review!

This is my very favorite semi-recurring series on the blog. I have a lot of cookbooks. But I don’t always remember to cook from said cookbooks.

Plus, it’s easy to get into a dinner rut. You know how it goes. Long week, busy day at work, need to get dinner on the table asap –– you resort back to a few of your old standbys.

But with this series, I’m trying to break out of my dinner shell (and inspire you to do the same along the way).

Today’s cookbook review is of America’s Test Kitchen’s Vegan for Everybody! I had recently seen a few people on Instagram cook from this cookbook, so I requested it from my library.

Guys: I didn’t even get to the end of the breakfast chapter before buying my own copy. These recipes are wild. They’re well-tested, exciting, unique, and just really really good.

Let’s start with some deets:

Title: Vegan for Everybody: Foolproof Plant-Based Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and In-Between
Author: America’s Test Kitchen
Diet: Vegan
Number of Recipes: 200+
Sections/Chapters: Breakfast and Brunch, Soups/Stews/Chilis, Burgers/Sandwiches/Pizzas, Main Dish Salads and Bowls, New Dinner Favorites, Stir-Fries/Curries/Noodles, Snacks and Apps, Desserts
Recipes You’ll Wanna Make ASAP:
· Tofu Frittata with Mushrooms – pg. 40
· Creamy Curried Cauliflower Soup – pg. 86
· Pub-Style Burger Sauce – pg. 120
· Tofu Banh Mi – pg. 125
· Sizzling Saigon Crêpes – pg. 130
· Mushroom Pizza with Cashew Ricotta – pg. 139
· Creamy Cashew Mac and Cheese – pg. 184
· Crispy Orange Seitan – pg. 209
· Saag Tofu – pg. 226
· Polenta Fries with Creamy Chipotle Sauce – pg. 268
· Fudgy Brownies – pg. 278
· Pecan Pie – pg. 295
Fooduzzi Rating: 4.75/5
Purchase: Here to support independent bookstores →

My list of recipes to try from this book was…extensive. So I had a bit of trouble cutting it down to just five (ish)!

Mark helped, and we settled on four meals (that I made for dinner, but we had for leftovers throughout the week) and one dessert. We ended up choosing the recipes for the familiarity, but they all called for some unique-to-me ingredients or techniques that I haven’t really used in the kitchen before.

Here’s what we made:

(ps. all of these photos were taken with my phone right before eating! No styling other than my normal weeknight “I’m a food blogger so things need to look somewhat nice” ways so you know what to expect if you make these recipes yourself!)

Black Bean Burgers – pg. 114

I can never turn down a good black bean burger, so we decided to try ATK’s version. The ingredient list is pretty minimal, but it’s unique in that it uses tortilla chips to bind everything together.

I pan-fried the burgers, and they came out crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. We served them with tomato, lettuce, lots of pickles, and their Pub-Style Burger Sauce (pg. 120), plus some sweet potato fries on the side.

I loved the flavor of these burgers –– nice and herby thanks to the cilantro, a little spicy from the hot sauce, and just the right amount of earthy from the cumin. They did crumble a bit once you bit into them, but I haven’t found many black bean burgers that don’t.

The burger sauce is a new favorite of ours. I’ve never actually bought vegan mayo before, but I’m glad I branched out and snagged it for this recipe! It was great as a dipping sauce for the fries, as a dressing for leftover burger salads throughout the week, or just on top of the burger.

We actually made these burgers and the sauce twice –– once to test, and once just because we were hungry for them again. Big win from us!

Creamy Cashew Mac and Cheese – pg. 184

I’m going to come out and say it: this recipe is worth the price of the cookbook alone. Seriously.

I’ve been craving mac and cheese for a really long time, and every vegan mac and cheese recipe I’ve tried has tasted overly tangy or way too nutritional-yeasty.

This recipe, however, is perfect. It gives me serious Velveeta vibes (in the best, most nostalgic way possible).

It’s also just really easy to make. Probably about 30 minutes from start to finish? Maybe a little longer? It’s a great weeknight meal!

It’s made with cashew, cauliflower, and a few other flavorful ingredients like tomato paste and dried mustard. You just boil everything together, toss it in a blender, and pour it over your cooked macaroni. Super simple.

We made this one twice as well, and you’ll be happy to know that leftovers are fab the next day. Just be sure to hit it with some extra salt and pepper before diving in!

Tofu Ranchero – pg. 44

This was the recipe that I was most excited to try, and the one that I adapted the most.

Halfway through the recipe, I realized I forgot to buy chopped, canned green chiles. I was so sad. So…I added a few more ingredients than it called for like canned chipotles and seasonings like cumin and smoked paprika.

It looks just like the picture in the book, but we weren’t entirely sure how to eat it? It’s served with toasted corn tortillas, so we basically treated it as a make-your-own taco bar situation.

It was okay. Really cool how you bake the tomato/onion mixture to get it nice and caramelized, but my changes definitely aren’t advised.

I’d love to make this one again with the right ingredients!

Shiitake Ramen – pg. 233

Little known fact about Mark: ramen is one of his favorite foods. He had this really incredible ramen when we were in Portland a few years ago, and nothing has really lived up to that ramen experience for him since.

We’ve tried making it a few times from a few different recipes, so I was excited to see how this recipe fared to Mark’s beloved ramen memories.

This ramen was fine. It had good flavor thanks to the red miso and kombu, but it also wasn’t that thick, rich, luscious ramen that Mark remembered.

It was definitely the most time-consuming recipe we tried (although most of that time is spent boiling the broth for an hour), and I’m not sure it was worth it in the end.

I topped mine with some pan-fried tofu, marinated bean sprouts, red onion, and the Shichimi Togarashi spice blend (pg. 23) they suggest. When I had leftovers, I added some sambal, and I liked it a lot more.

This one was “just okay” for us!

Fudgy Brownies – pg. 278

Two pictures because one just doesn’t do this recipe justice.

SUCH a good brownie recipe, you guys. I was a little suspect because it calls for a whopping 2 and 1/2 cups of sugar for 24 brownies, but after I read the full recipe, I noticed that it’s actually the only source of sugar in the recipe (you use unsweetened chocolate and unsweetened cocoa as your chocolate sources).

They’re fudgy, rich, and really yummy with some chunky, flaky salt on top. I made them for Maya’s birthday (she obviously didn’t have any), and we loved them!

I cut them and kept them in the fridge, and they are insanely good cold.

What I love about this cookbook: So. Much.

For one, I love that the nutritional information is included, but all on its own in a section in the back. There if you want it, but not in your face on each recipe page if you don’t (I never do, but I know that’s important to a lot of people).

I also really love the fact that each recipe has a “Why This Recipe Works” section. In these sections, the authors talk about why they chose specific ingredients over others, and it just shows how well-tested all of the recipes really are.

The introduction is actually full of “extra” recipes for things like a vegan fish sauce substitute, vegan mayo, or a vegetable broth base. That said, they also give you recommendations for store-bought brands that they’ve used to test the recipes as well, ensuring that your results will be as similar to theirs as possible.

The recipes are also really creative. Just…so creative. See above for proof.

What I think could be improved: The fact that none of the recipes have cook/prep times listed is kind of a head-scratcher. It was a little frustrating to have to read through the entire recipe a few times to estimate how long it would be before I had dinner on the table.

Also, the ingredient lists weren’t as clear as I would have liked. This is nit-picky for sure, but when a recipe calls for 1 tsp. salt, it’s helpful to know whether it’s kosher salt or sea salt.

That said, I really love this book, and it has quickly become a staple since I got it. In fact, I haven’t actually put it away yet –– it remains on our couch or in the kitchen so that we can use it as inspiration! I call that a super-win.

Do you have Vegan for Everybody? What’s your favorite recipe?!

p.s. If you liked this review, check out my similar reviews for:

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A Week of Meals from Love Real Food (Cookbook Review)

Alexa [fooduzzi.com] — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 11:00:00 +0000

Welcome welcome to Fooduzzi’s “A Week of Meals from” series! This is the second post in the series (check out the first one here!), and I’m v excited you’re here!

This little series is one of my favorite things, even though I’ve only done it twice.

And that’s because it came out of a need. A need to dust off the bajillion cookbooks I currently have strewn about my room. A need to get out of our dinner rut. A need to actually cook the recipes I find in cookbooks.

In this “A Week of Meals from” series, I find a cookbook, I cook a few different recipes from it throughout the week, and then I review it here! On Fooduzzi!

Today’s review: Love Real Food from the vegetarian queen herself, Kathryne Taylor from the wonderful blog, Cookie + Kate.

Kathryne’s blog focuses on celebrating whole foods. In fact! This is on her About page:

This blog is all about celebrating good food—real, sustainable food that delights the senses and nourishes the body.

And while she’s not one to shy away from an indulgence, I love that her focus is on food that tastes good and makes us feel good. And that’s exactly what she does in her 2017 debut cookbook, Love Real Food.

Here are the deets:

Title: Love Real Food: More Than 100 Feel-Good Vegetarian Favorites to Delight the Senses and Nourish the Body
Author: Kathryne Taylor (from Cookie + Kate)
Diet: Vegetarian
Number of Recipes: 100+
Sections/Chapters: Good Morning, Salads, Soups, Happy Hour, Let’s Feast, Sweet Treats, Extras
Recipes You’ll Wanna Make ASAP:
· Creamy Cashew Chai Lattes – pg. 28
· Thai-Style Mango Slaw – pg. 55
· Butternut Squash Chipotle Chili – pg. 83
· Avocado, Spinach, and Artichoke Dip with Toasted Pita Wedges – pg. 124
· Hibiscus Pink Lemonade – pg. 138
· German Chocolate Cake – pg. 212
Fooduzzi Rating: 4/5
Purchase: on Amazon →

So before this lil experiment, I actually had a few of the recipes from this book. And that’s because a lot of my friends are in love with it! The Greek nachos, the enchiladas, the hibiscus pink lemonade (which I remember being amazing)…maybe a few other odds and ends.

But I never ended up cooking from the book for Mark and me. Never. But that all changed a few weeks ago when I made a week of meals from Love Real Food.

Here’s what we made!

(ps. all of these photos were taken with my phone right before eating – we’re going for an “in the wild” review situation here)

Butternut Squash Chipotle Chili – pg. 83

Man oh man did I love this chili!

If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen my Stories when I made this little number. It’s filling, full of veggies, and really customizable.

For example, I was a little short on the butternut squash, so I just added in some cubed sweet potato. I didn’t have a red onion, so I used a sweet one. I didn’t have a bay leaf, so I left it out.

One of the surprising ingredients in this chili is cinnamon, which really warms up the entire dish and gives it an addictive and distinctive taste.

Huge huge win, especially with extra tortilla chips on top for dipping.

Fresh Sesame Soba Spring Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce – pg. 98

So. One thing about Mark is that he cannot stand the smell and taste of sesame oil. He hates the stuff. And in this recipe, the buckwheat noodles and veggies are tossed in it.

So I left it out, like a good girlfriend, but it made the entire thing lack flavor. Obviously.

Next time I’d add some more flavor to the noodles and possible add some crushed peanuts inside of the rolls for some crunch.

I just really love making spring rolls at home because they’re simple and just like…really fun. And so different!

Avocado, Spinach, and Artichoke Dip with Toasted Pita Wedges – pg. 124

OKAY. We need to talk about this dip.

It. Was. So. Good.

Looking at the ingredient list, I was like, “K. This will be fine.” Oh no. Kathryne, you know your dips, girl.

It’s just garlicky enough, just tangy enough, perfectly creamy, and way too addictive. I served mine with tortilla chips because we already had them thanks to the aforementioned chili, and it was the best.

Honestly, even better the next day.

One tiny note though: you can’t make this thinking it’s spinach artichoke dip. Because it’s not. It’s more like a guacamole with spinach and artichokes in it, and honestly I have no idea why that hasn’t been a thing before because it is GOOD.

Chickpea Tikka Masala with Green Rice – pg. 157

I’m so excited that I got to make this recipe because I love Indian food, but I have like…zero experience making it. This recipe was so simple, and the end result was pretty tasty!

I ended up skipping the cardamom because DUDE. It was so expensive at my grocery store for some reason. But even without it, the tikka masala was nicely spiced and flavorful.

It probably wasn’t my favorite recipe of the bunch, but Mark and I agreed that if we make it again, we need lots of pita to sop up the yummy sauce. Rookie mistake on my part.

Coconut Fried Rice with Edamame – pg. 182

This recipe really intrigued me. Coconut in fried rice?! Who wouldda thunk?!

It’s a super simple recipe, and great if you have some leftover rice laying around because it should be cold when you cook it (Kathryne says it’s less clumpy than freshly cooked rice).

If we’d make this again, I’d probably add some ginger and a bit more sauce, but it was a nice base upon which we could add #allthethings. And I’m not super sure about the coconut. It was different, but I personally didn’t love it in the fried rice.

So some main takeaways from Love Real Food:

It’s a beautiful book. The layout is just really appealing and easy to navigate.
The pictures are beautiful, and Kathryne gets big bonus points for including pics of her dog, Cookie.
Girl LOVES her fresh cilantro, and I do too. If you’re cilantro-adverse, mayyyybe steer clear of the recipes I made here because, with the exception of the dip, they all call for it.
Each recipe is marked with dietary notes and adaptations. So if a recipe isn’t naturally vegan, chances are she’ll have a note at the bottom of the recipe on how you can make it vegan. I’m just so impressed by that because it means she tested the heck out of these recipes.

Kathryne is such an incredibly talented blogger/author/person, and I’m really glad I finally dove into this cookbook that I’ve had since it came out in 2017. Oy.

You’ll find lots of classic vegetarian recipes in this cookbook. So if you’re looking for ways to incorporate fresh recipes, whole foods, and real foods into your diet, as well as having a resource upon which you can adjust and tweak to your tastebuds, I say Love Real Food is a great place to start.

You can’t really argue with a perfect 5/5 rating on Amazon, now can ya?

So I’m curious: Have you cooked from Love Real Food? What’s your favorite recipe?!

Some links used in this post are affiliate links, which means if you order a product through the link, Fooduzzi makes some money (at no cost to you). All money is put directly back into making delicious plant-based yum here on the blog!

The post A Week of Meals from Love Real Food (Cookbook Review) appeared first on Fooduzzi.

A Week of Meals from Food52 Vegan (Cookbook Review)

Alexa [fooduzzi.com] — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 10:00:15 +0000

Tell me if this sounds familiar…

You get this beautiful new cookbook. You flip through each page, dog-ear a ton of recipes that look “omg so good”…and then you put it on a shelf and forget about it.

Hi, my name is Alexa, and I never ever cook from my cookbooks.

I have so many cookbooks. Books from bloggers! Books from cooking show personalities! Books from random people I’ve never heard of before!

When I need a new recipe, I search online or make something up and go about my day. Or I resort to my old stand-by of brown rice, some sort of roasted veg, and chickpeas. aka. the meal I have approximately 5 times per week.

But there are pages upon pages of yum calling to me from my bookshelf, crying out, “EAT FROM ME!” and just waiting for their time to shine.

So! We’re starting a new series here on the blog called, “A Week of Meals.”

The premise is super simple: I’ll get a plant-based / vegan cookbook (or choose one that’s currently collecting dust on my bookshelf), actually cook things from it, and then write about it!

My hopes with this new series are:

It gets me out of my food funk and gets me to try new weeknight recipes and inspires you to branch out and try new recipes
It helps you figure out which cookbooks you might want to check out if you or someone you know are vegan-curious
Actually use the cookbooks I have and inspire you to do the same!

I’m so flipping excited about this new series, and we honestly couldn’t have started with a more beautiful book than Food52 Vegan.

Here are the deets:

Title: Food52 Vegan – 60 Vegetable-Driven Recipes for Any Kitchen
Author: Gena Hamshaw (from The Full Helping)
Diet: Vegan
Number of Recipes: 60
Sections/Chapters: Breakfast, Appetizers & Snacks, Soups, Salads, Main Dishes, Desserts, Basics
Recipes You’ll Wanna Make ASAP:
· Date Nut Bread – pg. 11
· Miso Soup – pg. 53
· Greek Salad with Tofu Feta – pg. 63
· Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese – pg. 85
· Penne with Summer Squash, Corn, and Herbs – pg. 81
· Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Filling and Ganache – pg. 129
Fooduzzi Rating: 4.75/5
Purchase: on Amazon →

If you’re not super familiar with Food52, go here and be prepared to drool everywhere. I love Food52’s photography style, so as soon as I saw that they published a vegan cookbook, I was all over it.

The author, Gena, is known for, not only her own food blog, but for the column she writes for Food52, New Veganism. Pretty freakin’ awesome, right? Running your own successful blog and writing for the awesome folks at Food52. Gena, you’re a super star.

I bought this cookbook fairly recently at the advice of my friend, Gretchen, and when it came, I did my typical “I just got a new cookbook” dance and sat down and read it cover-to-cover.

The photos are beautiful. With the exception of some of the Basics at the back of the book (think: nut milk, nut cheese, etc.), each and every recipe is accompanied by a photo. I so appreciate this because if a recipe doesn’t have a picture, there’s no way I’d make it. It’s just not happening.

There’s a reason they say we, “eat with our eyes.” Just sayin’.

So! Because I knew that I wanted this cookbook to be the very first I reviewed, I quickly started making a list of some of the recipes that sounded interesting, doable on a weeknight/weekday, and a bit out of our norm.

Most of the recipes are totally suited for weeknight/weekday prep. Especially if you do a few things ahead of time like make a big batch of quinoa or roast some veggies.

But to be completely honest, because the recipes are fairly straightforward, Mark and I weren’t super blown away at first glance. Mark, a non-vegan, especially. I mean, everything looked beautiful, but there were only a few where we were like, “Ooh I bet you that is so good.”

Spoiler alert: we’d soon be eating our words. Quite literally.

We ended up trying:

Date Nut Bread – pg. 11

So this recipe came from the recommendation of Gretchen. She looooved it. Like, loved it. So, as a date and carb lover, I knew I had to give it a go.

It’s pretty much your standard “quick bread” (aka. no yeast), sans eggs. The toughest thing was taking the pits out of the medjool dates.

I had to bake the bread a good bit longer than the recommended 35-40 minutes, but it came out dark brown and smelling like pretzels. It doesn’t taste like pretzels, but it definitely smelled like a fresh-baked caramelized pretzel. So yum.

I liked it! I thought it was maybe a tad too sweet for me (medjool dates are pretty sweet on their own, and there’s a whopping 1 and 1/2 cups in the recipe), but I really enjoyed the texture and date-walnut combo so much.

That said, Mark LOVED this recipe. Hardcore. I don’t think he’s ever eaten a date in his life, but he loves this bread. It was a huge win.

When I make it again (yes, when!), I’ll make sure to break up the dates a bit more so they’re better dispersed through the bread. That was a rookie mistake on my part. A delicious mistake because, hello, giant clumps of caramely date goodness are never a bad thing, but visually, I think I would have preferred to break them up a bit.

Big win!

Sesame Flax Crackers – pg. 33

Three cheers for homemade crackers! I’m constantly snacky, and because I work from home, I have the luxury/curse of being able to go to the pantry every 5 seconds if I want.

So! I’m always looking for healthy snacks that can satisfy my cravings in a healthy way. Enter: these crackers.

They are so freaking easy to make, and they require only six ingredient (one of which is water).

They taste great, the texture is super seedy and fun, and they’re awesome in hummus.

Again, I had to bake these quite a bit longer than instructed (note to self: get an oven thermometer), but dang they were good.

Again, Mark was a fan.

Summer Rolls with Spicy Peanut Sauce – pg. 41

Alright, classify this under “Dinners I’d Never In a Million Years Think to Cook on a Weeknight.” Also under “Food that Looks Silly in Photographs Unless Food52 is Photographing Them.”

Proof:

I’ve never made spring rolls before in my life. I like them, of course – thin, soft rice paper wrappers, fresh veg, epic dipping sauce -, but I’ve just never had the desire to make them at home.

Not only that, this recipe was even more intriguing to me because it required me to buy two new-to-me ingredients: the rice paper wraps (I found them at Whole Foods, but any mega mart should have them) and jicama.

Jicama is a weird little veggie that kind of reminds me of a water chestnut. It’s crisp, kinda juicy, and just…fresh. I found a pack of pre-cut jicama at Trader Joe’s (score!), and it worked perfect for these spring rolls.

The spring rolls are filled with fresh herbs (basil and cilantro – I swapped the cilantro for mint because my store was out of cilantro (?)), crisp veggies (the aforementioned jicama, cucumber, and red cabbage), and avocado. I’d love to bulk them up next time with some rice vermicelli noodles and maybe some tofu, but as a light summery dinner, these really hit the spot.

It’s served with a gingery peanut sauce, which I doctored up with a bit of sriracha.

Again, much to my surprise, Mark loved these. That’s three-for-three from a non-vegan, folks! I loved them too. They were super fresh and perfect for summer. Totally making these again soon.

Greek Salad with Tofu Feta – pg. 63

OMG. Can that just be my review of this recipe? O-M-G.

One of my favorite vegan recipes ever. Not kidding. I was completely and totally blown away by this recipe.

I’m always a fan of a tomato-cucumber-onion-olive salad with a simple vinaigrette; we had it all the time growing up, and it’s just such a great way to use up fresh summer veggies.

That said, the tofu feta in this book is outrageous. I don’t even get it. How can tofu become feta? How?!

You have to marinate the tofu feta for a day or two so that it becomes crumbly like regular feta, but dang girl. It’s so good.

Luckily for you, this recipe is coming to the blog later this week!! Stay tuned.

Penne with Summer Squash, Corn, and Herbs – pg. 81

Because Mark’s dad is a literal saint, we’ve been swimming in fresh produce all summer – specifically, zucchini.

I, for one, could eat zucchini all day long. I love it simply sautéed with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic, or marinated in something like this.

But Mark was getting sick of the same ol’ same ol’, so when I saw this recipe using zucchini in a different way, I was all-in.

My only [tiny] gripe about this recipe is that it requires you to roast the vegetables at a pretty high temperature. It gets hot and muggy and gross in Pittsburgh in the summer, and I never want to turn on my oven. That said, it was worth it, and I’m pretty sure you could just sauté all of the veggies on the stove and be completely fine.

It was such a simple recipe, and we really enjoyed it. I added some cannellini beans for some protein, as well as a good shake of my salty Vegan Parmesan and red pepper flakes, and it was super satisfying. Yum yum.

We did some snacky things, as well as some meals. Because we’re a household of two and a floof, most of the recipes gave us leftovers that we ate for a day or two afterwards, which I really appreciated. Especially in the summer when I don’t ever want to cook.

But man, I was so tickled with how everything we tried turned out. The fact that Mark was such a fan is also a huge testament to the quality of the recipes. He doesn’t sugar-coat things, and he’ll totally let you know if he doesn’t like something.

My biggest takeaway from this book is that just because something is simple, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t taste amazing. And honestly? I think that the fact that most of the recipes in Food52 Vegan are super simple is one of the most appealing things about the book.

Vegan cooking can tend to be a bit…over the top sometimes. Like requiring weird ingredients or ingredient lists that are literally a mile long.

Food52 Vegan isn’t that, and now that I’ve cooked from it, that’s one of my favorite things about it. The recipes are approachable, even for non-vegans (in fact, Mark’s non-vegan mom made the Penne with Summer Squash last week!!).

The recipes are simple, full of fresh, good-for-you ingredients, and I’m just such a fan.

I can’t wait to dive into the Soup chapter when it starts getting cooler outside, and I’m so freaking excited to make the brownies, you have no idea.

I’d fo’sho recommend Food52 Vegan for seasoned vegans and vegan-curious alike. So much plant-based yum happening here!

So! Thoughts on this series? Have you tried anything from this cookbook? What’s the next cookbook I should review?

ps. There are affiliate links in this post, and all money generated from said links will be put directly into making more plant-based yum here on Fooduzzi!

The post A Week of Meals from Food52 Vegan (Cookbook Review) appeared first on Fooduzzi.