Stolen (re-read)

Author: Kelley Armstrong
Genre: Supernatural, Canadian
Type: Trade Paperback
Pages: 461
Series: #2 in 'Women of the Underworld' series
Series Order:

1. Bitten (2001) (for my review click HERE)
2. Stolen (2002)
3. Dime Store Magic (2004)
4. Industrial Magic (2004)
5. Haunted (2005)
6. Broken (2006)
7. No Humans Involved (2007)
8. Personal Demon (2008)
9. Living With The Dead (2008)
10. Frost Bitten (2009)
11. Waking The Witch (2010)
12. Spellbound (2011)
13. Thirteen (2012)

Publisher:  Vintage Canada
First Published: 2002
First Line: "He hated the forest."

Book Description: Elena Michaels may be the world's only female werewolf, but she's just a regular girl at heart - and she certainly doesn't believe in witches.  At least not until a forceful encounter with two small, ridiculously feminine women who lure her into a carefully laid trap ...

Vampires, demons, shamans, witches - in Stolen they all exist, and they're all under attack.  An obsessed tycoon with a sick curiosity is well on his way to amassing a private collection of supernaturals, and plans to harness their powers for himself - even if it means killing them.  For Elena, kidnapped and imprisoned deep underground, separated from her Pack, unable to tell her friends from her enemies, choosing the right allies is a matter of life and death."

My Thoughts:  Any regular readers of my blog know that I adore author Kelley Armstrong's 'Women of the Underworld' series.  She's not only Canadian but the woman can write, people!!  With 'Bitten' being such an amazing start to the series did I love 'Stolen' as much (even if this was the second time I'd read it?)  Oh yes.  Most definitely yes. 

Armstrong continues her series with yet another edge-of-your-seat read with strong female characters.  Stolen is also the book where Armstrong begins to introduce her readers to other supernatural races which makes the title of the series, Women of the Underworld, make much more sense.  These other races will eventually take over the storylines for several books.  I adore this idea of changing the protagonist every book or so.  It's not that we never see past main characters but when a new protagonist picks up the reigns it keeps things fresh.  While I luuurve Clay and Elena, putting them in the background for a few books makes me (without sounding too book geeky) miss them and gives the reader a fresh look into other 'races', namely witches, demons, vampires, shaman etc.

If I'm being honest I think that I enjoyed this book more than Bitten and one of the reasons is that we get a better picture of who Elena really is.  Sure she shows us her tougher side as she has to defend herself without the help of her mate, Clay.  But we also see a more fragile side to her as she begins to view her bond with Clay differently. 

But what really makes Elena's character more relatable and 'real' is how she reacts and feels when she's at her lowest -- dealing with the ruthless, power hungry and sadistic Ty Winslowe.  Ty's dehumanizing treatment of Elena reminds her of the horrible experiences that she had as a child.  The reader sees that Elena isn't always the tough werewolf and this acknowledgement makes her seem like a more believable and endearing character.  You want to root for her. 
If I had any negative things to say about this book is that I didn't get a strong feeling for some of the other supernaturals.  Knowing that the next book is taken over by Paige I was hoping to get to know her (and like her) a lot more in Stolen.  She was OK but not overly memorable or even all that likeable.

Kelley Armstrong remains one of my favourite authors and the fact that she is a fellow Canadian is the icing on the proverbial ... maple glazed donut.  She is an author who expertly understands how to balance all aspects of her books: romance, action, suspense, mystery ...  You cannot ask for more than that in a 'unputdownable' book.  I look forward to re-reading this series over the summer and getting reacquainted with all of the Women of the Underworld.

Highly recommended.

My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Greek Salad Dressing

I hope everyone spoiled their dear Moms and Grandmas/Nanas/Grannies/Omas etc with loads of attention and hugs last weekend for Mother's Day.  Personally, I love Mother's Day.  Not for the gifts but because I get to be the centre of attention.  Yup, I admitted it.  I do loves me some attention and I unabashedly use Mother's Day to get lots of hugs (even from my 13 year old who is not a fan of PDA at the best of times).  Most years, probably because the kids were young, I didn't make a big deal about it.  But since my kids are tweens and a teen I figured they're now old enough to learn how to pamper me. 

My boys had a big Scout Camporee (with 5,000 other Canadian and American Scouts) for the weekend but did manage to make it home on Sunday afternoon in order to thank me for giving them life among all the other things I give my children on a daily basis.  I started out the day with Brad and Missy Moo making me homemade pancakes in bed (topped with sliced strawberries and whipped cream, no less), bacon, OJ and the compulsory COFFEE.  A caffeinated mom is a sane happy mom, I always say.  It was all delicious!

I completed my day with a 90 minute soak in m'tub while I watched a few episodes of Elementary followed by all five of us making tacos for supper together and watching the final Survivor show (or at least most of it before bedtime).  It was a divine day and I milked it for all it's worth.  I even managed to talk to my own Mom who happened to fly back into Canada with my Dad after 2 weeks away in France.

In order to belatedly celebrate Mother's Day I thought I'd share a family favourite recipe from my Mom.  It's been in all of our recipe books for years and years and is definitely one of my all-time favourite salad dressings.  I actually whipped up a half batch of it for my lunch today (it's marinating some yellow peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and feta.  Mmmm!).  It's so versatile that it not only can be used as a salad dressing but makes a wonderful marinade for chicken, pork or pasta salads! 

There's just something so fresh about the flavour of this dressing over a bowl of diced tomato, cucumber, red onion, kalamata olives and peppers.  Go enjoy this and don't forget to hug your Mom 'just cuz'!!

2 tbsp red wine vinegar
4 tsp fresh lemon juice
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 cup olive or grapeseed oil

Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl.

Serve over a salad which includes:
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Kalamata olives
Red onion
Greek pepper
cubes of Feta cheese
Romaine lettuce (optional)

Or, marinate chicken breasts/thighs or pork tenderloin overnight in this marinade.

Source: My Mom

Teatime For The Firefly

Author: Patel Shona
Genre: Historical Fiction
Type: Advanced Reading Copy (ARC)
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Harlequin
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
First Line: "My name is Layla and I was born under an unlucky star."

Book Description:  My name is Layla and I was born under an unlucky star. For a young girl growing up in India, this is bad news. But everything began to change for me one spring day in 1943, when three unconnected incidents, like tiny droplets on a lily leaf, tipped and rolled into one. It was that tiny shift in the cosmos, I believe, that tipped us together-me and Manik Deb. 

Layla Roy has defied the fates. Despite being born under an inauspicious horoscope, she is raised to be educated and independent by her eccentric grandfather, Dadamoshai. And, by cleverly manipulating the hand fortune has dealt her, she has even found love with Manik Deb-a man betrothed to another. All were minor miracles in India that spring of 1943, when young women's lives were predetermined-if not by the stars, then by centuries of family tradition and social order.

My Thoughts:  After adoring other books based in India (namely The Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda) I was eager to read another book set in the very rich culture of India.  From the book description I was expecting a story that showcased how the strict and limited role of women in India affected Layla who was raised by her very liberal thinking grandfather, Dadamoshai.  He believed that women weren't given enough opportunity to succeed due to their lack of education which only caused his numerous opponents to view him as upsetting the social order.  It was this discrepancy, between Layla's upbringing and the cultural role of women, I thought the book would showcase.

This was true in the beginning of the book and I really enjoyed seeing India through Layla's eyes and seeing how Layla struggled to fit into her very strict society.  Unfortunately as soon as Layla moves away to a tea plantation, in the middle of nowhere, the book takes a sudden turn.  It goes from following the relationship between Layla and Manik Deb to becoming focused on the politics of Indian tea plantations which slowed the pace of the book considerably.    

I have to admit that I continued reading the book in the hopes that the story would shift back to the initial feeling that I had in the beginning but unfortunately that never happened.  The pace lagged dramatically and the focus on the political issues of the time seemed to take centre stage.  While beautifully written and descriptive I unfortunately didn't enjoy this book as much as I would have hoped.

My Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Note: My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for providing me with a complimentary Kindle e-book copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Greek Pita Pizzas

I'm not sure about you but our family tends to not get overly excited about leftovers.  I can hear my kids' inner thoughts when I tell them what's on the menu "We just ate that meal and we have to eat it again?  Gah!".  Leftovers are kind of a drag ... unless they involve marinated Greek chicken thighs {for my Greek Chicken Marinade recipe click HERE}, pitas, Feta and Kalamata olives.  THIS, I can work with!

 

After the big family Greek supper that I hosted last week I had a plethora of Greek fare leftover.  What to do?  With a bag and a half of leftover pitas staring me in the face all of a sudden a mental picture of Greek pizzas popped into my head.  Opa! 

 

These little 'zzas were so good that we ate them two days in a row.  Unheard of, people!  That's leftovers squared!  I do believe I should get Bonus Mom Points for this one.  My family is not known for loving leftovers so the fact that I was going to offer up the same fare two days in a row (using leftovers t'boot) made me a little uneasy.  Would my offspring revolt and anarchy ensue?? Nope. 

 

My saving grace is that I had the forethought to offer up said leftovers in the form of pizza.  My kids love pizza {feta, kalamata olives and veggies not so much}.  With this pizza I still got the fresh veggies, olives and the marinated chicken that I love and with the addition of the tanginess of feta and cheese to hold it all in place?  Gastronomical love.  My kids opted for variations of toppings but all in all the supper was a success. 

 

 

Yield: 4 individual pizzas

4 large Greek pitas
1 cup roasted garlic hummus (I used President's Choice brand)
1 cup Feta cheese, cubed
1/2 cup green peppers, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup red onions, coarsely chopped
1 Roma tomato, seeded and diced OR 1/2 cup sun-dried in oil - coarsely chopped
1 cup Greek chicken, cooked and diced finely (see recipe HERE for Greek Chicken Marinade)
16 Kalamata olives -- pitts removed and cut in half or quartered
2 cups marble cheese, grated

Note: Next time I'll also try adding a jar of artichoke hearts too.

Preheat oven to 400F.

Spread hummus over pitas.  Be generous.  Roasted garlic hummus rocks!  Throw on all the yummy toppings.  Oh delish!

Now sprinkle with marble cheese. 

Bake for approximately 10 minutes or until marble cheese has melted and pitas are lightly browned.  Serve immediately.

Source: The Baking Bookworm

Related Recipes:
Greek Chicken Marinade
Layered Greek Dip

The Inquisitor's Wife: A Novel of Renaissance Spain

Author: Jeanne Kalogridis
Genre: Historical Fiction
Type: e-book ARC
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: St Martin's Press
To Be Published: May 7, 2013
First Line: "Christ-killers, they call us, but we did not crucify their Jesus; we were bitter exiles in Babylon when he died in Jerusalem."

Note: My thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary e-book copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Book Description: In 1480 Seville, Marisol, a fearful young conversa (descendant of Spanish Jews forced to convert to Christianity), is ashamed of her Jewish blood. Forced into a sham marriage with a prosecutor for the new Inquisition, Marisol soon discovers that her childhood sweetheart, Antonio, has just returned to Seville and is also working for the inquisitors. When Marisol’s father is arrested and tortured during Spain’s first auto da fe, Marisol comes to value her Jewish heritage and vows to fight the Inquisition. When she discovers that her beloved Antonio is working to smuggle conversos safely out of Spain, she joins him and risks her life on behalf of her people; a passionate romance follows.

Unfortunately, Marisol does not realize that her supposedly kind and gentle inquisitor-husband has been using her all along to lead Antonio and her fellow conversos to their doom...

My Thoughts:  Historical Fiction is one of my favourite genres which simply means that I love learning about different eras in history with a great story thrown in for good measure.  So when I saw that this book was set in Spain during the Inquisition I jumped at the chance to review it.  Before reading this book I will sheepishly admit that I knew practically nothing about the Inquisition, Conversos or the horrors that the Jewish population had to endure in the 1400's. 

Being a big fan of Historical Fiction also means that I've read a lot of books in this genre.  A tonne.  Not necessarily from the same era but the style and feel of the genre is similar.  I figured picking up an historical fiction read would help to give me a general understanding of the era all wrapped up in a delicious storyline full of wonderful characters.  

While this book did open my eyes to the brutality and injustice of this period, overall I didn't find it quite as captivating as I was hoping.  I think this stems mainly from my lack of connection with the main character, Marisol.  She came off as very naïve and one-dimensional.  I didn't feel like I really got to know her (or the other characters very well).  I would have loved to get the point of view of Mariam, Marisol's servant as well as Gabriel, Marisol's new husband.  We get a brief glimpse into Mariam's life (one of my favourite parts of the book) but I would have loved to get her inner thoughts as Marisol's life was in turmoil.

And then there's Gabriel, Marisol's new husband.  The description given of him on the book (see excerpt above) notes that he is a 'kind and gentle inquisitor'.  I have a big issue with this description because that is the complete opposite of what his character is like. He wasn't in the book very much and when he was he was an absolute brute who only bowed down to his malicious brother.  Not sure why that was added into the synopsis but it is a far from fitting portrayal of the character.

My other issues with the book are the slow pace and the predictability.  Marisol seemed to be shocked at the reason for her marriage to Gabriel but unfortunately the reason was glaringly apparent to me right from the start.  Plus the surprise ending I saw coming from early on and I found that the ending was tied up much too neatly for my tastes and bordered on being an unlikely situation. 

I was truly hoping for a much more interesting and fast paced read full of interesting characters, drama and plot twists; a book that I could get lost in.  Unfortunately I found the pace so slow that I found myself glossing over paragraphs.  I felt that the characters under-developed and the plot twists were predictable.  

What this book did give me was a better understanding of the Inquisition as well as some of the history of the Jewish people during this time.  It showcases the blatant and undeserved malice and injustice that was shown towards an entire group of people merely because of their religion.  Unfortunately, as we all know, history would sadly repeat itself. 

My Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Can You Keep A Secret?

Author: Sophie Kinsella
Genre: Chick Lit
Type: Hardcover (own)
Number of Times Read: 2
Pages: 357
Publisher: The Dial Press (Random House)
First Published: March 2004
First Line: "Of course I have secrets."

Book Description: 
Meet Emma Corrigan, a young woman with a huge heart, an irrepressible spirit, and a few little secrets:

Secrets from her boyfriend: I’ve always thought Connor looks a bit like Ken. As in Barbie and Ken.

Secrets from her mother: I lost my virginity in the spare bedroom with Danny Nussbaum while Mum and Dad were downstairs watching Ben-Hur.

Secrets she wouldn’t share with anyone in the world: I have no idea what NATO stands for. Or even what it is.

Until she spills them all to a handsome stranger on a plane. At least, she thought he was a stranger... Until Emma comes face-to-face with Jack Harper, the company’s elusive CEO, a man who knows every single humiliating detail about her.

My Thoughts:  This was the second time that I read this book.  The first time that I read it (way back in May 2008) I rated it a 4.5/5 stars.  Ya, I loved it and found it hilarious.  This  surprised me because the other two Kinsella books that I had read (including the first Shopaholic book) I didn't love ... at all.

So how did I feel about this book the second time around?  Weellll, I liked it but didn't love it.  Perhaps it's because I kind of knew what to expect.  Or it could be that Chick Lit is becoming a genre that I tend to stay away from because I truly think that it's one of the hardest genres to write well -- at least if the author wants to impress me.  Either Chick Lit comes off as clichéd and silly or, if done well, it can show us a humourous journey as the main character 'finds herself'.  However you look at it this book didn't impress me as much the second time around. 

I know that one of the things that bothers me with Chick Lit in general is that it usually begins with a clichéd, dowdy and misunderstood main character who is typically a complete push-over and looking for the perfect man and/or dress size.   Unfortunately Emma is no exception for some of those clichés.  She is continually degraded by people around her (especially her cousin) and just takes it for the bulk of the book until she begins to view herself differently.  That's great that she 'finds herself' and 'comes into her own' but until then I wanted to reach into the book and shake some sense into Emma every time she didn't tell her cousin off after one of her negative comments about Emma's love life or career.  Gahhh!  I guess that's just not how I work.  I'd be sitting that cousin down and having a heart to heart.

I understand that chick lit is meant to give it's readers a nice, light and enjoyable read and not delve into heavy subjects or spark debates.  I get that.  But for a Chick Lit novel to impress me and keep my attention is quite rare.  The first time I read this book I remember feeling shocked that I enjoyed it so much because I hated Kinsella's first Shopaholic book.  I found 'Can You Keep A Secret?" to be quite funny and Emma to be an endearing character.  So you can either chalk this review up to me now being a more seasoned reader (or perhaps jaded) because this review's rating is much lower than my first rating or how masses of other readers feel about the book.

While this book did have some funny moments as Emma shares her inner-most secrets with a complete stranger (I even found them funny the second time around) those funny bits unfortunately didn't make up for the overall feel that I got from the book and the unease that I had reading about how Emma was used as a doormat.   

My Rating: 3/5 stars

Layered Greek Dip

This past weekend I thought I'd host a big family get together.  I had one of my sister's and her family (my baby sister lives too far away for an impromptu get together), my mother-in-law and my parents.  It was a big send off to my world travelling parents as they got ready to leave for France the following day. 

 

Ya, this whole semi-retirement thing my parents are trying out?  Two months in Florida, a three week visit home then jet off to France with their friends?  Let's just say it doesn't suck ... at all.  It's lookin' pretty good from where I'm sitting.  I received a picture of them standing on the Eiffel Tower yesterday with the glory of gay Paris in the background. *sigh*  Yesterday the highlight of my day was getting the laundry washed, dried, folded AND put away on the same day.  You may now marvel at my awesomeness.

 

Anyway, I had decided to make a Greek feast for my guests because we all adore Greek food.  So I marinated 30 chicken thighs in my Greek Chicken Marinade (get that recipe HERE) which is one of my top recipes here on the blog.  It is divine, oh so easy and designed to impress your guests.  Seriously, you have to try it.

 

Tip: When you buy chicken thighs (or breasts which you then cut into small pieces) put them in a freezer Ziploc, pour this marinade over them, massage those thighs and freeze them!  This way they're already marinated and ready for the grill.  Plus, as they thaw they get that little extra marinating time.

 

Along with the glorious thighs I also made Lemon Roasted Greek Potatoes (recipe to follow soon because they were ahhh-mazing!!).  My sister made dessert as well as a Greek salad (using my Mom's infamous Greek Salad dressing -- this recipe will also make an appearance soon on the blog) and we had Greek pitas and copious amounts of Costco Tzatziki to round out the meal. 

 

To keep with the Greek theme I decided to make a dip as an appetizer.  So I decided to make a trip to Costco to buy my beloved Tzatziki.  Ahhh, Costco.  You magical mega superstore that sells everything from packages of pork chops that could feed the Duggar clan, to jungle gyms, DVD players and wall safes.  I'm still suspicious that Costco uses some kind of Vulcan mind control to get me to buy waaaay too much stuff but I have yet to prove my theory.  One of my favourite things to get there (besides their yoga pants) is their Tzatziki dip.  Oh man!  This stuff is awesome on pita, cucumber slices, in wraps, on your finger ... ya, I did it.  Don't judge me. 

 

So with this dip as a base, I added some Greek yogurt for that tangy little kick, topped it with store-bought roasted red pepper hummus (hummus is my new addiction) and fresh veggies and feta.  Did I cheat by using store-bought Tzatziki and hummus?  Depends who you ask.  You could try asking one of my 9 year old nephews but you would have a hard time getting an answer because his mouth was continuously stuffed with this dip.  He apparently didn't mind that Aunt Laurie didn't make it totally from scratch and neither did anyone else.  'Nuff said. 

 

This was a really delicious and impressive dip and will definitely be making a repeat performance this summer as we enjoy the sun while sitting in Costco lounge chairs wearing suntan lotion bought at Costco while watching the kids play Bocce ball, you guessed it, bought at Costco.  



 

1/2 cup Greek yogurt (I used 2%)
1 cup Tzatziki sauce (I adore the Skotidakis brand sold at Costco)
I (7oz) container of Sabra Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives, cut in quarters
1/2 cup fresh tomatoes, seeded and chopped OR sun-dried tomatoes in oil, chopped
1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
1 cup English cucumber, finely diced
3/4 cup Feta cheese, crumbled

In a medium bowl, combine the Greek yogurt and the Tzatziki sauce until well blended.  Spread over the bottom of a pie plate or serving dish.

Carefully spread the hummus over the Tzatziki mixture. 

Top with the remaining ingredients leaving the feta as the last addition.  Serve with mini pitas, crackers or nacho chips.  Store in refrigerator if not using right away.

Source: The Baking Bookworm

Secret Lives

Author: Diane Chamberlain
Type: Kindle e-book
Source: Own
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Harper Collins
First Published: 1991
First Line: "Eden Swift Riley was good at pretending."

Book Description:  Actress Eden Riley's decision to make a film about the mother she barely knew plunges her into a shattering confrontation with her own past. Through her mother's journal, Eden discovers a life of hardship, madness and secrets. Shifting gracefully between Eden's world and that of her mother, Secret Lives seduces with the power of its images and the lyricism of its prose.

My Thoughts: This is not my first book by Ms Chamberlain.  Last year I read and reviewed another of Chamberlain's books (The Good Father -- see my review HERE) and enjoyed it.   She has a knack of writing interesting storylines with just the right amount of twists to keep the reader interested. "Secret Lives" is an easy and engaging read told via multiple storylines about familial secrets and people running from their pasts.

While this is an easy read it does deal with a few very serious topics.  There's mystery, dark family secrets, child abuse and forbidden love.  This book deals with these, sensitive issues believably and I didn't feel salaciously.  That said, some of these topics may shock more sensitive readers.  I will admit that a few scenes made me inwardly cringe based on the subject matter.  Let's just say that I'm not sure that I would have read the book if I had known that it dealt with these very sensitive topics.  There are just some issues that I don't want to read about.

So what did I think of the characters?  They were hit and miss with me.  On the one had I adored Katherine.  She is a unique and very misunderstood young woman.  What helped me really get to know her were the additions of excerpts from the journals she kept as a teen and young woman.  You get a very personal and in-depth feel for her character as well as her inner struggles with her debilitating anxiety disorder that has plagued her entire life.  Chamberlain's descriptions of Katherine's anxiety were vivid and sensitively written making them almost painful to read.   My heart broke for this poor misunderstood woman who tried so hard to overcome her disorder.

In stark contrast, I really didn't love Eden and didn't have sympathy for her plight. At times, she felt overly naïve for a woman of her age, occupation and status.  This seemed very disjointed with who she was (a famous actress - a la Julia Roberts, I'm assuming) and it frustrated me. I didn't feel that she realistically portrayed a successful and famous actress.  Also, her sudden romance with a new man in her life felt rushed, a little desperate and unbelievable that this woman would throw everything away for a guy she just met.  Gratuitous sex scenes were added to spice things up but didn't add to the storyline for me.

Ben was a decent leading man; a handsome man with a dark past. Personally, I'm not sure that I could have looked past his issues but I did appreciate the tension that that author created as she slowly let the reader in on Ben's secret.  Chamberlain is quite good at adding the tension and mystery to her storylines without losing the interest of her readers.  That said, I wasn't too shocked when I finally found out about his big secret but it didn't really stop me from enjoying the ride. 

The only major beef that I had with this book is the conclusion to Ben's issues.  These issues plagued the man throughout the book.  They destroyed his life and yet were resolved very quickly and wrapped up much too easily at the very end of the book.  When I read a book, I love for the momentum to continue right up to the end and sadly this book didn't.  It skidded to a stop and ended with everyone being all happy.  Nice but not very realistic.

Diane Chamberlain has a knack for writing books that keep the reader interested.  While she did throw in several big reveals into the storylines, overall I felt like the book was fairly predictable and towards the end I knew how it was going to end. 

This is not a literary work of art but it is a nice, enjoyable afternoon read.  It wasn't jaw dropping in its reveals and its main character left a lot to be desired but the honest portrayal of Katherine's character truly made this book for me.  While this isn't my favourite book from Diane Chamberlain, I do plan to read many more of her books.

My Rating: 3/5 stars

Fast Food Vindication: The Story You Haven't Been Told

Author: Lisa Tillinger Johansen, MS, RD
Type: e-book ARC
Source: NetGalley
Genre: Non-Fiction
Publisher: J. Murray Press
Publication Date: October 4, 2012
First Line: "Do you eat at fast food restaurants?"

Note: My sincere thanks to NetGalley and J. Murray Press for providing me with a complimentary e-book copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Publisher's Description: For years, dozens of books, documentaries, and magazine articles have targeted the fast food industry as the cause for many of society’s ills, ranging from the obesity epidemic to the proliferation of dead-end jobs. Now, hospital dietitian Lisa Johansen makes the bold case that the fast food industry is actually a positive force in society.

Johansen takes the reader from the industry’s scrappy, entrepreneurial beginnings to its emergence as a global business generating hundreds of billions of dollars annually. Far from a blight on society, the fast food industry has distinguished itself by providing a product that meets high standards of quality and safety, often healthier than meals served at home and in sit-down restaurants. The myth of the “McJob” is debunked by true-life cases of corporate titans who succeeded by virtue of the fast-food chains’ practice of promoting from within. And, relying on her years of counseling patients at one of the nation’s largest health networks, Johansen shows the reader just how easily fast food can be incorporated into a healthy lifestyle.

Lively and informative, FAST FOOD VINDICATION destroys the media myths and paints the true picture of an industry that touches the lives of millions.

My Thoughts:  My devoted blog followers know that normally I'm not an avid reader of non-fiction.  It's not that I don't care for the genre but if I'm going to read a non-fiction book I have to really be interested in the topic. 

When I saw this book on NetGalley with its giant burger on the front it definitely got my attention.  Sure, I do love me a good burger but this book's unique take on fast food piqued my interest for other reasons. 

Before I review this book I want to inform you that I have a lot of experience and connections with McDonald's Canada.  Without divulging too much information about me (I like to keep my life private and mysterious here on the blog -- you know, like Batman), I want to let you know that my family is very invested in McDonald's.  Like, 'Big Mac sauce pretty much runs through my veins' invested.  My father is a successful Canadian McDonald's franchisee whom I've worked for in the past as crew and management and I have recently gone back to work for him.  Yup, I'm a McKid.  And I'm lovin' it.  I also met my husband while working at McDonald's and I'm very proud to be associated with this corporation.

Note: To the followers who personally know my family and I please refrain from mentioning personal facts about myself and/or my family, our location in Ontario and our specific connection to McDonald's in order to keep my private life just that, private.  Thanks.

I'm not the only one with an admittedly close connection to McDonald's.  Ms Tillenger Johansen, the author of this book, also has a long history with McDonald's in the US and it's her connection to the fast food giant as well as her new career as a registered dietician that really drew me to this book.  I found it interesting that she can see both sides of the issue and can back up her statements with experience and knowledge.

There were two topics in this book that I was really drawn to.  First, how McDonald's (and fast food in general) has been denigrated in the press regarding their perceived negative influence on society, specifically the increase in obesity.  Second, for obvious personal reasons, how fast food jobs are viewed as the epitome of a 'dead end' job.

There is no question that there is an obesity epidemic in North America.  The author clearly proves this fact by providing statistics which are jaw-dropping.

• approximately two-thirds of adults 20 years and older in the USA are overweight or obese
• it's projected that 42% of Americans could be obese by the year 2030.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that by the year 2015 (in a mere two years) there will be more than 2 billion overweight people around the world.

Those statistics are shocking and saddening. 

Some people are adamant that the fast food industry is the main culprit.  But is that a fair and accurate statement?  The author advises the reader to take a wider look at the issue.  By focusing on fast food as the only culprit are we then minimizing or totally ignoring the other issues (as well as possible solutions) that affect the health and weight of North Americans?

No one is going to argue that fast food doesn't provide some high calorie snacks and meals.  But they also have healthier choices.  Ms Tillinger Johansen points out that the onus of what people eat should be put squarely on the individual.  No one forces us to eat deep-fried chicken at KFC or a Whopper at Burger King instead of choosing a grilled chicken snack wrap with a side salad with low calorie dressing.  It's time people took control and responsibility for what they eat and how they care for their bodies.
 
It's not only specific meals that are the issue but the size of those meals.  One of the things that I'm always shocked about when I visit some sit-down restaurants (especially in the US) are their huge servings. I'm talking 'I couldn't eat that meal in two sittings' kind of huge.  This fact was never more apparent than when we were visiting Fort Myers, FL this past February and my 11 year old son ordered a hot dog.  When it came to the table it was literally a two foot hot dog on a platter surrounded by a pile of wedge fries! Unfortunately excessively large serving sizes have become the norm and it has to take its fair share of the blame for obesity in adults and children alike. 

Many people believe that eating at a sit-down restaurant is a better and healthier choice.  But is it?  The author reminds the reader that their assumption may not be accurate.  In a sit-down restaurant they do not have as strict portion sizes and often suggest 'add-ons'.  For example, your server will often ask if you'd like to start with an appetizer.  Some restaurants provide baskets of bread and unlimited salad as well as refilling your drinks (often without prompting).  The meal is often followed by the server providing dessert suggestions to finish off their already large meal.  These additions to your meal can really add up when it comes to calories and fat content.

Do you think a meal salad at a sit down restaurant has lower fat and calories than a Big Mac? You may want to read the nutritional statements for that salad first. When you look at the fat content of that salad sometimes you're getting much more fat that you bargained for.  Not so healthy, so buyer beware!! My point? All you have to do is read the nutritional information about what you're putting on your fork to perhaps make you rethink what you choose to eat.

Now let's get to one of my biggest pet peeves -- the assumption that fast food industry perpetrates dead end jobs.  The author blows this claim out of the water as she illustrates how many of the top McDonald's executives began their successful careers at the bottom of the 'food chain' by serving customers and making burgers. 

I contacted McDonald's Canada head office for some Canadian stats to back up this author's claim.  McDonald's Canada staunchly believes in promoting from within -- 90 percent of restaurant managers and 50 percent of franchisees began in entry-level positions.  It's this firsthand knowledge of the inner workings of all positions within a restaurant that, I believe, help give those executives a better understanding and respect for the people who carry out the day-to-day operations.  More than 65 percent of McDonald's Canada's corporate staff began in crew level positions, including McDonald's Canada President and CEO John Betts who began his career 40 years ago as a crew person.

“I know first-hand what it’s like to start your first job working in the kitchen at McDonald’s. That’s how I got my start. It’s where I learned about teamwork and the importance of listening to customers’needs,” says Betts. “I regularly speak to students at colleges and universities, and I often share my story of how I went from crew to boardroom because I want young people to know they can find real opportunities to learn, grow and develop at McDonald’s. I take great pride in the fact that this company offers young people their first job opportunity. We set them up on the path to success whether they stay with us for a year or, like me, an entire career.”  [Source: 'McDonald's® Set To Serve Up More Than 6,000 Jobs in Canada on National Hiring Day' (McDonald's Media Relations)]

This has got to say something about the quality and dedication of the corporation towards encouraging and nurturing their staff to succeed within the company.  This is also evident if you visit their famous Hamburger University in Chicago where they host over 5,000 students every year in their 130,000 square foot facility where graduates obtain a 'Degree in Hamburgology'.  The quality of their training is so high that it's been deemed eligible for certain college credits in the USA and Britain.
 

"If you're going to take money out of a community, give something back. "

-- Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald's

Another topic that I loved in this book showcased how some of these fast food corporations give back to their communities.  Whether it's Dave Thomas of Wendy's who set up his 'Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption' or Taco Bell's association with the 'Boys and Girls Clubs of America' the author shows how various fast food chains give back.    

The author shows how McDonald's gives back in their own way.  Not only are they one of the biggest employers of youth but they have provided more than $2 million in employee scholarships for post-secondary education since 1985. 

But, by far, the biggest way McDonald's gives back to its communities is through their Ronald McDonald Houses.  I couldn't help but feel proud of the commitment McDonald's has to helping care for the families of sick children by providing these Houses near children's hospitals.  My family has provided meals to our local RMH in the past and the feeling you get when you enter a Ronald McDonald House is that of a home. It's full of people who care and who want these families to focus all their energy on their sick child. The food, shelter and support is provided for whatever amount of money they can afford ... and is often provided free of charge.  My point? Fast food isn't all about making burgers and the bottom line.

Overall I enjoyed this book and found it very informative even though many of the examples given were American (I had never heard of some of the American fast food chains mentioned). I'm hoping that this book will change people's view of the fast food industry as a negative force and that it will help people think about what they're eating and make healthier choices whether they're eating at home or at a restaurant. 

The book is filled with a lot of information but readers are provided with extra resources at the end of the book to help them navigate through all of the information.  Ms Tillenger Johansen helps her readers understand that with knowledge and self-discipline it's not difficult to incorporate nutritious fast food items occasionally into our daily, healthy lifestyles.

I came away from reading this book with a renewed desire to keep in mind what foods I make and order for my family whether we're at home or in a restaurant. It has also reminded me why I'm proud to be associated with the Golden Arches. I am proud of the corporation for what it stands for, how it encourages it's employees to succeed and how it helps within individual communities.

This was an enlightening read.  Recommended.

My Rating: 4/5 stars

Source: 'McDonald's® Set To Serve Up More Than 6,000 Jobs in Canada on National Hiring Day' (McDonald's Media Relations)

Note: Special thanks to McDonald's Canada Media Relations for providing me with some of the McDonald's Canada facts and stats.

Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Fries

There are certain flavours that I just can't stop myself from wanting to eat again and again.  My favourite flavour combo du jour combines Frank's 'Red Hot Buffalo Wing' sauce and blue cheese.  This weekend this culinary combo is the Will to my Kate, the PB to my J, morning coffee to my sanity.  In a sentence ... it completes me. 

Now, I'm not a fan of burn-your-face-off hot and spicy {I'm a wuss} but there's just something about the flavour and the right amount of heat that's in Frank's famous sauce.  The man has it going on when it comes to chicken wing sauce.  Oh ya.  Add in some fries and two kinds of ooey-gooey cheese and I'm in luurve.

With Brad and Boy 1 gone for the weekend {they're leading a Cub camp up north} I thought I'd just make something easy for Boy 2 and Missy Moo for supper and take some time to bring together my favourite flavours for my own fine self.  The two younger kids aren't fans of anything mildly spicy or remotely adventurous so I just made a smaller batch of this for moi.

Being that this dish has chicken (protein), green onions (veggies), potatoes (starch) and two kinds of cheese (dairy) I could easily convince myself that this was all I needed for supper.  With Frank's spicy hot sauce I also figured that just by eating this spicy sauce that I had to be burning off calories as I was eating.  My mind works in very mysterious ways.  Do not try to understand it.  With a little ingenuity I could probably convince myself that a huge bowl of ice cream would be a balanced meal.

Anyway, did I like this dish?  Let's just say that I loved this dish as much as Sheldon Cooper loves his spot. 

Ya, it was THAT good!  The combo of blue cheese and Buffalo wing sauce is utterly divine and it was hard to stop eating.  You cannot go wrong with gooey fries covered in two types of cheese drizzled in Frank!  It was utterly delicious and the kicker is that it's so easy. 

If you don't have my mad powers of persuasion and cannot convince yourself that this is a good meal then feel free to serve it as an appetizer, snack for watching some hockey on TV or if you have a pack of hungry teenage boys staring you down.

Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Fries

Yield: 4-6 servings

1/2 of a 1 kg bag of frozen crinkle cut fries
1/2 of a 1 kg bag of frozen steak cut fries
3 tbsp grapeseed oil or vegetable oil
1 tsp seasoning salt

1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups precooked frozen chicken strips, unbreaded

1/4 cup Frank's 'Red Hot Buffalo Wing Sauce'
3 tbsp sour cream
1 1/2 cups Cheddar cheese, grated
1/4 cup Blue cheese, crumbled
4 green onions, green ends only chopped
1/4 cup Ranch dressing

Preheat oven to 450F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

In a large bowl, toss the fries with 2 tbsp of oil and seasoning salt.  Pour fries onto prepared baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, turning fries after 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small skillet, heat 1 tbsp of oil.  Brown chicken strips to get rid of excess moisture and give them some colour.  Set chicken pieces aside.

In a small bowl, combine Frank's Buffalo sauce and sour cream until smooth.

Remove fries from oven.  Change the oven rack to the highest setting and set the oven to broil.

Sprinkle the chicken, Cheddar and Blue cheese over the cooked fries.  Drizzle some of the Frank's sauce mixture over the fries.  Save the rest of the sauce for serving.  Return pan to oven and broil for 2-3 minutes (watch carefully!).  Remove once the cheese has melted.

Sprinkle fries with green onions.  Drizzle more of the Hot sauce mixture over the fries, if desired.  Serve with Ranch dressing and/or more hot sauce mixture.

Loosely Based On: TidyMom's Buffalo Cheese Fries