Review This Reviews!

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

The Protein Advantage Cookbook — A Delicious, Healthy New Cookbook

The Protein Advantage Cookbook is a collection of 100 high-protein, low-carb recipes and tips from bestselling author Carolyn Ketchum, the deservedly popular recipe developer and blogger behind All Day I Dream About Food. Ketchum’s newest cookbook blends quick weeknight meals with make-ahead basics and treats, wrapped in her pragmatic, low-carb approach, this time with a focus on high-protein recipes.

Its official launch date was yesterday, August 12, 2025, but I was lucky enough to get an advance review copy courtesy of the author and the publisher, Fair Winds Press (an imprint of Quarto). It’s a terrific cookbook for anyone interested in increasing their protein intake, and I’m delighted to share my review.

The Protein Advantage Cookbook by Carolyn Ketchum

Who It's For

This low carb, high protein cookbook is for anyone looking to improve their health through “weight loss, blood sugar management, building lean muscle mass, or simply having more energy for daily life” while eating delicious, easy to prepare, wholesome food.

Ketchum’s stance of prioritizing protein aligns with the current science: increasing protein intake can improve satiety and support lean mass, especially alongside resistance training. And for adults 40+, adequate protein becomes increasingly important.

What's Inside

Ketchum opens with a concise science and strategy overview, including what “protein-forward, low-carb” means, why prioritizing protein matters from a health perspective, and how to stock a high-protein, low-carb pantry with healthy, tasty ingredients.

True to its name, of course, the majority of The Protein Advantage Cookbook is devoted to the recipes. I was delighted to see Ketchum's signature format: clear, easy to follow, step-by-step instructions, lots of full-color photos (although not every recipe has a photo), and practical tips, such as for swapping ingredients or scaling portions.

The 100 recipes are organized into chapters with straightforward labels:

Breakfast
Breads and Muffins
Appetizers and Snacks
Soups and Salads
Main Dishes
Desserts

The Breakfast chapter includes 22 tasty recipes, such as Loaded Breakfast Casserole (29.5g of protein), Chocolate Protein Pancakes (19.7g of protein), Hot Maple Cereal (29.7g of protein), and Everything Bagel Smoked Salmon Toast (26.5g of protein).

Loaded Breakfast Casserole recipe from The Protein Advantage Cookbook

The Breads and Muffins chapter has 10 yummy high-protein recipes including Easy Protein Bagels (13.3g of protein), Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread (11g protein), Cheddar Jalapeño Biscuits (12.9g protein), and even Chocolate-Glazed Donuts (10g protein)!

The Appetizers and Snacks chapter caters to both savory and sweet cravings, including 17 recipes such as Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms (12.8g protein), Taco Bites (18.7g protein), Frozen Hot Chocolate (17.6g protein) and Chocolate Hazelnut Spread (9.8g protein).

Asian Chicken Noodle Soup recipe from The Protein Advantage Cookbook

The Soups and Salads chapter features 13 simple yet satisfying recipes such as Asian Chicken Noodle Soup (31.1g protein), Chicken Chile Verde (35.3g protein), Turkey Club Salad (29.1g protein) and Old Bay Shrimp Salad (23.3g protein).

Easy Steak Fajitas recipe from The Protein Advantage Cookbook

The Main Dishes chapter contains 22 terrific recipes to suit a wide range of tastes, such as Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs (33.3g protein), Easy Steak Fajitas (25.2g protein), Pork Tenderloin with Dijon Cream Sauce (33.4g protein), and Teriyaki Salmon (30.2g protein).

If you have a sweet tooth, never fear! Carolyn Ketchum is also the author of The Ultimate Guide to Keto Baking, and The Protein Advantage Cookbook includes 16 luscious desserts with a high-protein twist, such as Deep Dish Brownies (16g of protein), Lemon Cheesecake Bars (12.3g of protein), Coconut Candy Bars reminiscent of Mounds bars (10.4g of protein), and Strawberry Lemonade Ice Pops (10.1g of protein).

There's also a chapter called "A Day in the Life" which chronicles what Ketchum ate over the course of a few typical days, along with the workouts she did on those days. As a very active, extremely fit woman, her calorie limits are much higher than mine, but it was still helpful to see how she incorporates the cookbook recipes into her daily meal plans.

Why It Deserves a Place in Your Kitchen

The Protein Advantage Cookbook delivers exactly what it promises: approachable, protein-centric low-carb recipes anchored in sensible nutrition guidance. For those of us who want to feel more satiated, lift heavier weights, or simply be stronger as we age, while eating delicious, nutritious food and without spending all day in the kitchen, this book will be an excellent, much-used addition to our cookbook collections.

The Protein Advantage Cookbook: High-Protein, Low-Carb Recipes That Burn Fat, Build Muscle, and Restore Metabolism

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

What is Summerween?

Curious about Summerween? Wonder where it came from? Looking for ideas for celebrating the holiday?

I have long known that Halloween is the biggest selling holiday in America. With all the costumes, candy and decorations that people buy, that comes as no surprise. But I have just discovered a trend known as Summerween that I will review here.

The stores have long put their Halloween merchandise out during the late summer. However, Good Morning America says that stores launched their Halloween items extra early this year at least in part hoping to catch a piece of this trend. People are not just buying their Halloween supplies early but they are actually celebrating the holiday twice. That is, in October and in June or July and hence the term Summerween.

According to the magazine Real Simple, the holiday may have originated from the Season 1, Episode 12, Disney Channel episode of Gravity Falls, in which the residents celebrated Halloween with jack-o-melons and trick-or-treating in the summer on June 22nd or the second to last Friday of the month. The Pioneer Woman points out that if this is the origin, it took more than a decade for the trend to translate from the screen to reality, which it has done in 2025.

Summerween is enjoying succes at least in part because of the nostalgia surrounding Halloween though Summerween-themed merchandise tends to include our favorite themes with some brighter, summery colors like those shown in the photo at the top of this page. You will find an endless variety of items like these for your Summerween celebration here on eBay.

The new ‘holiday’ is I suppose whatever you make it but it tends to be a blend of summer and Halloween with both non-traditional Halloween items like the aforementioned melon jack-o-lantern, icy drinks and flamingoes to traditional items like Frankenstein, skeletons and ghosts. You can have a pool party and a BBQ. You can read fireside stories at the campfire. You can watch spooky movies outdoors!

What a great way to get double the value out of your Halloween collection. If once a year is not enough for you and you want to do Halloween twice, you’ll find lots of ideas for celebrating a traditionally non-traditional Summerween in your social media feed but let me take this opportunity to share a few great ideas here:

MORE SUMMERWEEN CELEBRATION IDEAS

Harley Quinn Costume

A Harley Quinn costume might even be better in the summer than in the winter because you don't have to worry about being warm!

A Barbie-Themed Apron

How about a Barbie-themed apron? I think it would make a perfect part of your costume in the summertime especially if you are serving up some pink cocktails.

Here's How to Celebrate Summerween

A Summerween party with recipes from Delish that seem appropriate to the original holiday hosted in summer. Mummy hot dogs, pumpkin s'mores cookies and a black widow cocktail are just a few.

Creepypasta

Perfect for your Halloween-themed storytelling, fall or summer, creepypasta is definitely not edible.

Wait Until Dark

Audrey Hepburn's Wait Until Dark is a perfect psychological thriller considered "one of the most intensely frightening movies in movie history."

Halloween Treats Jigsaw Puzzle

Puzzles aren't just for wintertime. If you find you have more time on your hands in the summer or you just enjoy puzzling all year long, you will enjoy this Halloween Treats puzzle.

SOUND UNNATURAL?

"Summerween?" says the Gravity Falls character played by Kristen Schall. "Sounds unnatural." What do you say?

Happy Summerween!

Brenda

Treasures By Brenda

SUMMERWEEN MERCHANDISE

Find the Summerween-themed pieces shown at the top of the page -- including Frankenstein's bust (and his bride, not shown here), a pumpkin flamingo, assorted skull ice cream cones and the female Scream movie character and so much more -- here, on eBay.

FOLLOW US ON:

Monday, August 11, 2025

Jim Henson Muppet Monster Cereal by General Mills

Discover Jim Henson's Muppet-themed Monster Cereal boxes by General Mills.

Fans of The Muppets and Jim Henson, of Halloween and of General Mills’ Monster Cereals are going to love this review of this limited-edition, monster-themed cereal. It’s a collaboration between the two companies. That is, The Jim Henson Company and the General Mills Company and it shares new artwork with the popular monster cereal characters of Count Chocula, Boo Berry and Franken Berry as Muppet-style puppets.

General Mills says the boxes are tactile and ‘soft-touch fuzzy’ though I have not had the opportunity to actually touch one and I have seen mixed messages about when it is supposed to be released. One article said October and another said August but I see that some boxes with this artwork are already on store shelves and on eBay as I write this post on August 11, 2025. It does make me wonder if there is a non-fuzzy and a fuzzy version. If you know, be sure to let us know!

The back of the boxes feature more Muppet pictures and celebrates 70 years of “A Monstrous Legacy.” The box is collector worthy whether you collect Muppet, Halloween or cereal-themed items and is supposed to retail for $7.70 per box at Walmart. Of course, being a limited edition, that price will not last once the supply is sold out. If you don't find the box or boxes on the cereal shelf, you will likely have to pay more to obtain the boxes when they are retired.

General Mills says, “Whether you're reliving fond Halloween memories or making new ones, Monsters Cereal promises a season of frightful fun, fuzzy feels, and puppet-powered nostalgia.” Though not a particular fan of this cereal myself, I agree.

Note that more merchandise and collectibles are available here on Jim Henson’s website featuring the Monster Cereals. Eventually, I am sure, they will arrive on eBay, too.

Click here to see what Jim Henson Muppet-themed Monster Cereal merchandise is available now on eBay.

Happy Halloween!

Brenda

Treasures By Brenda

MORE READING

Find General Mills and The Muppets in my eBay store.

The Muppets Exclusive Deluxe Plush Toys.

I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story.

Haunt Your House With Lego's Haunted Mansion set.

FOLLOW US ON:

Sunday, August 10, 2025

The Secret to Uniform Sized Homemade Burgers - Use This Must-Have Gadget!

The Handy Little Burger Gadget My Husband Swears By

Let me tell you about a simple kitchen gadget that's made a big difference in our house—especially for my husband, who's the one doing all the burger grilling around here.

Shaping Burgers Has Never Been Easier!

We make a large number of burgers at once, especially during the summer, and we typically freeze a batch for later use. However, shaping them by hand was becoming frustrating—none of the patties came out the same, and they always had a little lump in the middle that made them cook unevenly. Some were too thick, some too thin, and it just became a pain.

One day, after another round of lopsided burgers, my husband went digging through Amazon and found a burger press that looked like it might do the trick. He asked me to place the order—and I'm so glad he did.

A Simple, Affordable Gadget That Does the Work For You

This little gadget has completely changed the way we make burgers. The patties come out perfectly shaped—uniform in thickness and size—and they actually look like something you'd get at a restaurant. Best of all, they cook evenly, which means no more guessing which one needs more time on the grill. And when you place them between the buns? Chef's kiss. They fit just right.

Easy To Use, Clean and Store - It's Not Big!

It's easy to use, easy to clean, and doesn't take up much space. It's a compact little unit. I actually keep ours on top of the bread box—not because it's big, but because our kitchen drawers aren't very deep and I don't want it to get caught when we open and close them. But if you have deeper drawers, it'll fit nicely inside. Either way, it's small and simple to store.

Here Are Some of the Particulars For This Must-Have Burger Press Gadget:

Made from food-grade aluminum that's BPA-free and SGS certified, so it's safe and built to last.
Features a premium non-stick coating and comes with 50 pieces of wax paper to keep patties from sticking—plus, it's dishwasher safe.
The built-in grooves give the burgers that classic, professional look.
Comes with a detachable non-slip handle, great for taking along to barbecues, picnics, or camping trips.
Compact size: 4.6 inches wide, 0.7 inches deep, and 3.7 inches tall.

Final Thought

If you're making burgers at home—especially in batches like we do—you really should try this gadget.

It's affordable, easy to use, and just makes the whole process smoother. My husband's been using it ever since it arrived, and we're both impressed. Sometimes, it's really the little things that make the biggest difference.

FOLLOW US ON:

The Language of Hoofbeats by Catherine Ryan Hyde - A Book Review

Among the many interests and activities which author Catherine Ryan Hyde enjoys, is that of horses. She is an avid equestrian and often posts pictures online of her horses. In addition, Catherine has featured horses in several of her books. The Language of Hoofbeats is one such book. This is my review of this fascinating and interesting novel.

Synopsis

Two of the main characters, Clementine and Jackie, each narrate the story, taking alternating chapters to tell their side of the events.

The Language of Hoofbeats

The story begins when Jackie and her wife, Paula, looking for a quiet life for their kids - a young adopted son and two teenage foster children - move in across the street from Clementine. Paula is a veterinarian and this move has brought her to a remote country area in need of another vet. Jackie is a stay-at-home mom for the kids.

Clementine is a terribly unhappy person who is so damaged by her daughter’s suicide that she cannot be civil to most people, including her husband. The husband finally cannot take her negativity any longer and he moves out about the time Paula & Jackie and the kids move in next door.

Clem has a horse named Comet who used to belong to the now-dead daughter. Comet is quite high-strung and has not been receiving very good care because Clementine is rather scared of the horse and the husband has moved out. When the foster teen Star, a quite unhappy girl herself, is drawn to and bonds with Comet and attempts to begin a friendship with the horse. Clementine, in her usual horrid fashion, resents the friendship developing between Star and the horse and chases her away from her property several times. Clem is extremely nasty to Star and also to her foster mothers, Jackie and Paula. Finally, not being able to stand the way the horse is neglected, Star steals Comet and they become lost. The real action in the story begins as Jackie and Clementine join forces to search for both Star and Comet.

Throughout the story, we also become acquainted with the other foster child, Mando, and the younger adopted son, and learn what happened to Clementine’s daughter.

Summary

From the book jacket:

When a troubled girl steals a horse, her foster moms are thrown together with their reluctant neighbor

The Language of Hoofbeats shows us the complexity of human relationships and points out how very relatable characters can sometimes be intensely flawed. But, by facing the scars they carry and the choices they have made, along with forgiving the regrets, a diverse group of people often can be transformed into a family. An extremely good read!