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Wednesday, August 17, 2022

The Best Keto Pizza Crust Mix With 0 Net Carbs

A good keto pizza crust is one of the things people who follow a very low carb lifestyle dream about. Until recently, making your own fathead dough keto pizza crusts from scratch by blending melted shredded mozzarella, cream cheese, eggs and almond flour or coconut flour was the best option. But, while many people love it and it does make a pretty good "holder" for tasty low carb pizza toppings, neither my husband nor I found it a satisfying substitute for conventional pizza crusts made with wheat flour and semolina flour.

Fortunately, more and more keto pizza crust alternatives have been coming on the market and I have started working my way through the most promising looking ones, as I explained in my recent review of The Best Quick and Easy Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe featuring vegetable-based frozen Kbosh keto crusts.

I have made two pies so far using Scotty's Everyday Keto Pizza Crust Mix and my husband and I liked them so much that we have added this mix to our Amazon Subscribe & Save auto-deliveries.

When you taste it, you will be shocked that this excellend keto pizza crust mix has 0 net carbs per serving!

Note: I discovered that Scotty's modified their recipe so it has less sodium and increased the serving size from 1/12 to 1/8 of the dry or prepared mix, which is a much more realistic serving size (yay!). I have updated this post accordingly as of July 2023.

Main image: Quick, Easy & Delicious Scotty's Everyday Keto Pizza Crust Mix 0 Net Carbs Per Serving!

A Tasty Keto Pizza Crust With Just 80 Calories, 5g of Fat and 0 Net Carbs!

Fathead dough pizza crust recipes usually have several net carbs per slice as well as a lot of fat from the mozzeralla cheese, cream cheese, eggs and almond flour! When I first saw that Scotty's Everyday Keto Pizza Crust Mix has just 80 calories, 5g of fat and an amazing 0 net carbs per serving, I was pretty skeptical. With macros that low, how could it not taste like cardboard (like so many disappointing low carb and keto baking mixes and baked goods on the market)?

On the other hand, I liked the first mix I tried from the company, Scotty's Everyday Keto Cupcake & Cake Mix, which is remarkably good for something with 0 net carbs. You may remember it as the cupcake mix I used for The Best Quick & Easy Low Carb Keto Shortcake Cupcakes Recipe. So, I decided to give Scotty's Everyday keto pizza crust mix a try as well.

Nutrition Facts

Here are the full nutrition facts for Scotty's Everyday Keto Pizza Crust Mix, prepared according to the package directions with 3/4 cup water and 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.

Amount Per Serving (serving size 1/8 prepared keto pizza crust mix):

Calories	80
Total Fat	5g
Sat. Fat	1g
Trans Fat	0g
Cholesterol	0mg
Sodium	280mg
Total Carbohydrate	22g
Dietary Fiber	22g
Total Sugars	0g
Added Sugars	0g
Protein	2.5g

Net Carbs Calculation
22g total carbs –22g dietary fiber = 0 net carbs

Enjoy a Slice (or Two or Three) Guilt-Free!

With so few calories and 0 net carbs, there's no need to limit myself to just one small slice when I make a yummy keto pizza with Scotty's Everyday Keto Pizza Crust Mix. Even though the stated serving size is 1/8 of the prepared dough, I usually cut my baked pies into quarters and then eighths and serve two of these generous slices each (i.e., 1/4 of the pie) to my husband and me, along with a fresh, colorful side salad.

Reheated pizza slices made with Scotty's Everyday Keto Pizza Crust Mix

I reheated some leftover keto pizza tonight for a quick, delicious dinner that was ready in minutes!

We refigerate the remaining four slices (1/2 pie) and reheat it for a super quick and easy dinner or lunch on another day. We have found that pies made with this keto pizza crust mix reheat beautifully! And who doesn't love leftover pizza?

Non-GMO, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free Pizza Crust

I really like the use of clean, non-GMO ingredients in this mix. More importantly, people with certain food allergies or other dietary restrictions will appreciate being able to eat a delicious pizza crust that is vegan, gluten-free and nut free.

Scotty's Everyday Pizza Crust Mix dough in pizza pan

Prepared Scotty's Everyday Keto Pizza Crust Mix in a lightly oiled 12" stainless steel pizza pan

Quick and Easy to Prepare

Scotty's Everyday Keto Pizza Crust Mix is quick and easy to make. Just mix it with water and olive oil in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment until the dough comes together and then knead the dough for 3 minutes, either by hand or in a stand mixer with a lightly oiled dough hook (which is what I use).

Unlike conventional pizza dough made with yeast, there's no need to wait for the dough to rise. Just combine the mix with the water and oil, knead the dough and it's ready to roll!

Place the dough on a large, lightly oiled surface (I highly recommend a silicone pastry mat) and roll it out to a 10"–12" circle, depending on your preferred size of pizza crust. Then just transfer it to a lightly oiled pizza pan, brush the top of the crust with a little more olive oil, top with your favorite low carb pizza toppings, and bake in a preheated 425 ℉ oven for 15–18 minutes and cool for 5 minutes before slicing.

Keto pizza with mushrooms, tomatoes, ham and fresh basil before baking

My first pie made with Scotty's Everyday Keto Pizza Crust Mix and topped with mozzarella, fresh mushrooms, tomatoes, ham, fresh basil leaves and freshly grated Parmigiana-Romano cheese, ready for the oven...

Baked keto pizza with mushrooms, tomatoes, ham and fresh basil

...and after baking. You can see how the thin edges of the crust were so crisp that they cracked a bit when I tried using a spatula to lift the baked pie out of the pan and onto a cutting board for slicing.

Surprisingly Good Taste and Texture

Low carb, keto-friendly macros and ease of preparation are all well and good. But, of course, the big question is, how does it taste?

Realistically, no low carb dough is going to be as good as a Bertucci's pizza crust! That said, I find that Scotty's Everyday Keto Pizza Crust Mix produces one that is much more similar to a wheat-based pizza crust (and also much sturdier) than fathead dough or vegetable-based Kbosh keto crusts (which my husband and I also enjoy in my quick and easy low carb keto pizza recipe, especially on busy weeknights).

My pies tend to be loaded with lots of toppings including wet ones like pizza sauce and ricotta cheese, which can make even a conventional crust a bit soggy. However, we were pleasantly surprised at how firm our crusts made with the Scotty's Everyday mix and baked on the lower rack of the oven came out. The exposed edges had a delightfully crunchy exterior and slightly chewy interior.

Next time I plan to try rolling the dough thinner and building up a slightly thicker rim.

If you have tried other low carb pizza crusts and been disappointed, I think you'll be very pleasantly surprised by this high-quality mix!

My second pie made with Scotty's Everyday Keto Pizza Crust Mix, topped with pizza sauce, ricotta cheese, portobello mushroom slices, diced ham, shredded mozzarella and freshly grated Parmigiana Romano cheese

Try This (Or Any) Scotty's Everyday Mix Risk-Free

I love buying from companies that stand behind their products. Scotty's Everyday mixes are backed by a 365-day guarantee: If you're unhappy for any reason, contact them and "we'll make it right."

High quality keto baking ingredients cost more than conventional, less nutritious ones like wheat flour. Naturally, high quality, low carb baking mixes also cost more than mixes from big-name brands made by big, multinational corporations.

You may want to start by ordering just one package of this keto pizza crust mix to see how you like it. However, the price is significantly less expensive per package if you order a 3-pack of Scotty's Everyday Keto Pizza Crust Mix, and you'll save even more if you choose Amazon's Subscribe & Save option.

Either way, you can feel confident placing your order, knowing that you can contact the company for a refund if you aren't happy with the product(s) you purchased.

Baked keto pizza sliced with rocker-style stainless steel cutter

It was quick and effortless to slice this 12" pie with my razor-sharp KitchenStar 14" stainless steel rocker-style pizza cutter. If you look closely, you can see part of the black blade cover at the far left.

Helpful Kitchen Tools for Making Homemade Pizza

I make pizza for dinner frequently find that having the right tools for the job makes things a lot easier. Here are some of the kitchen tools I use most often for this purpose, whether I'm making a traditiona-crust or keto pizza.

Large, Nonstick Pastry Mat With Printed Measurements

I love using my HIC Harold Import Co 18 x 24-Inch Pastry Mat to roll out all types of dough. It's extra large, nonstick, easy to clean, extra large and rolls up neatly into a lidded plastic storage tube when not in use. Best of all, it is printed with helpful measurements for rolling out doughs for pies, tarts, and up to a 16-inch pizza crust. I also appreciate that the printing of the measurements is durable. I've owned my mat since 2012 and it still looks almost new. If that one is out of stock, this silicone pastry mat is very similar.

Although I didn't expect to when I purchased it, I've found that I much prefer it to my old, traditional cloth pastry mats, not only for low carb baking but also for conventional doughs, since the nonstick surface doesn't need to be coated in flour to keep pie crust or other doughs from sticking (which can make them tough if they absorb too much extra flour during rolling).

Cordeirite Pizza Stone

Baking your traditional or low carb crust on a preheated pizza stone makes a world of difference in terms of crispness and even baking! The best results come from baking directly on the preheated stone or on parchment paper placed on top of the stone, but that requires a pie peel, which I finally ordered but have not yet received. Even if I build my pie on an oiled or parchment lined stainless steel pizza pan, I still place the filled pan on the preheated stone for baking.

Since we now have a large countertop oven but no wall oven, the pan sizes I can use are limited. I love my durable cordeirite 12” Round Pizza Stone that can withstand temperatures up to 1400 ℉ without cracking and can even be used on a grill.

Stainless Steel Pizza Pan

A stainless steel pizza pan may not result in as crisp a crust as baking directly on a pizza stone, but it makes building and transferring your pie into and out of the hot oven a lot easier. It can also help protect your stone from drips and stains (as can baking parchment). This set of two stainless steel pizza pans costs less than $15 (at the time of this post's publication) and my pans have been in use nearly every week since I got them.

Precut Baking Parchment Sheets

If you have read some of my other recipe posts, you'll know that I am a huge fan of precut, flat baking parchment sheets. I have them in several sizes and shapes and use them all the time.

I have been cutting down 16" x 12" sheets, but I just found these 12" round flat unbleached baking parchment sheets that are the perfect size for my low carb pizza crusts and immediately ordered a package.

Sharp, Rocker-Style Stainless Steel Pizza Cutter With Protective Blade Cover

Rotary pizza wheels are small and convenient to store and do a fine job of cutting pies. However, I have always found them a pain to clean, especially since I like to made "loaded" pizzas with lots of layers of toppings and lots of gooey melted cheese, which tends to cling and leave a greasy residue that can get stuck between the round cutting wheel and the riveted arms that attach it to the handle. Even though many claim to be dishwasher safe, I prefer to wash knives and other kitchen tools with sharp blades by hand to avoid dulling the cutting edge.

Earlier this year, I finally decided to try a different style of pizza cutter, one that made it extremely quick and easy to cut an entire pie into neat slices with straight, clean edges in just seconds with minimal effort. The first time I tried it, I was so thrilled with it that I immediately retired my old rotary-style cutting wheel.

I chose the KitchenStar 14" Sharp Stainless Steel Rocker-Style Pizza Cutter With Blade Cover, which is the perfect length for cutting my 12" pies. (It is also available in a 10" length for smaller pies and 16" and 18" lengths for larger pies.) It's a beautifully made, sturdy, heavy-duty cutter made from 18/0 food grade stainless steel and has thick, perforated plastic blade cover to protect the razor-sharp edge (and your family's fingers!) when not in use. The extremely sharp cutting edge cuts through even vegetables and meat toppings cleanly and easily, and the very comfortable, ergonomic, integrated rolled handle provides excellent leverage and control.

I'm planning to use this fabulous rocher-style slicer for many other kitchen uses as well, such as cutting sheet cakes, brownies and bar cookies into even strips and rectangles.

Tip: To protect your pizza pan, pizza stone and slicer blade, I highly recommend transferring the baked pie to a large cutting board before cutting it into slices.

Help Make a Low Carb or Keto Pizza Lover's Dream Come True

Order 3-packs on Amazon and save!

A tasty keto pizza crust that's quick and easy to prepare, has a firm yet chewy texture and just 50 calories, 3.5g of fat and 0 net carbs per slice really is a low carb pizza lover's dream come true!

If someone you know is trying to follow a keto diet or low carb lifestyle or a vegan, gluten-free or nut-free diet, they might love to receive a bag of Scotty's Everyday Keto Pizza Crust as a gift. To make it even more special, consider putting together a gift basket or box with a few packages of this mix and one or more of the pizza making tools and supplies I've recommended in this review.

Make Delicious Calzones With This Mix, Too!

You can use your Scotty's Everyday Keto Pizza Crust Mix for more than just pizzas. Check out my fabulous Low Carb Sausage and Ricotta Calzones Recipe that uses this mix for the crust. Scrumptious!

The Best Keto Pizza Crust Mix With 0 Net Carbs by Margaret Schindel

Posts About My Keto Diet Journey

My First Year on The Keto Diet

Preparing to Succeed on the Keto Diet, Part One

Preparing to Succeed on the Keto Diet, Part Two

Low Carb Muffins & Cupcakes: Treats to Enjoy on a Keto Diet

Low Carb Keto Chocolate Yogurt Granola Chip Pudding Recipe

Good Dee’s Keto Cookie Low Carb Baking Mix Review

Hamama Microgreens Growing Kit Review & Success Tips

My Favorite Hamama Microgreens Seed Quilt Accessories

Keto Cheddar Cheese Biscuits With Chives Recipe

The Ultimate Keto Hot Chocolate Recipe

The Best Low Carb Keto Gift Ideas: Keto Gift Guide

The Best Low Carb Keto Cinnamon Muffins

Wholesome Yum Keto Bread Mix and Yeast Bread Recipe

The Good Chocolate 100% Organic No Sugar Dark Chocolate Review

The Best Advice to Maintain Your Keto Diet Weight Loss

My New Irresistibly Delicious Keto Cheese Crackers Recipe

Luscious Low Carb Keto Triple Peppermint Cheesecake Brownies Recipe

Quick & Easy Livlo Blueberry Scones Keto Baking Mix Review

Snack Better With The Best Healthy Keto Cookie Dough Bites

The Best Quick and Easy Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe

The Best Quick and Easy Low Carb Keto Shortcake Cupcakes Recipe

Comparing the Best Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spreads - No Added Sugars

The Best Low Carb Keto Sandwich and Burger Buns Mix

Blueberry Biscuit Scones — New, Easy, Low Carb Keto Recipe

The Best Keto Pizza Crust Mix With 0 Net Carbs

An Unusual, Delicious Strawberry Chocolate Tea With 0 Calories

Delicious Sugar-Free Keto Cookies That OREO Fans Will Love

Healthy Pistachio Cherry Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cereal Treats Recipe

Easy, Decadent, High Protein, Sugar-Free Rocky Road Cottage Cheese Ice Cream

The Best Quick & Easy Low Carb Sausage and Ricotta Calzones

How to Make Refreshing Vanilla Italian Soda (With or Without Cream)

Reviews of the Keto Diet by Barbara C. (aka Brite-Ideas)

My Personal Keto Testimonial

How I Stayed Committed to the Ketogenic Way of Eating

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Katherine Faulkner's Greenwich Park Book Review

Katherine Faulkner's Greenwich Park is a domestic psychological thriller. Learn more here.

The cover of Katherine Faulkner’s Greenwich Park reads, “gripping and haunting and gorgeously suspenseful” and I agree. I was drawn to the book by the title, a romanticized area of London, England, and by the artwork.

Greenwich Park the book is a murder mystery of the best sort. It draws you in. Pick it up and you might not want to put it down. Pick it up and you will find yourself guessing whodunit. I failed at the guessing of who did it, which I expect is good because it means the book has twists and turns. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey.

Greenwich Park is a domestic psychological thriller that is set in the current day in the south east of London. It tells the story of a pregnant woman’s privileged life in a stately Victorian home and of her family and friends. Off work because of her history with difficult pregnancies and because of current health concerns, the main character, Helen, finds herself bored and lonely. That is, until she befriends a woman named Rachel. Rachel is also pregnant but embraces none of the care that many women exercise when they are pregnant. She smokes and she drinks and she is not very interested in her body or her unborn baby. She’s loud and she's obnoxious but, however, she is fun and she quickly manages to infiltrate Helen’s tidy little world. But is it really tidy?

Helen has been described as someone who has everything including “a perfect husband, a perfect brother and a perfect sister-in-law. When she meets Rachel, she also has the perfect nightmare.”

I like Crime by the Book’s three-point list of reasons to read the book. She says that it pulls back the curtain on the lives of people who appear to have picture-perfect lives, that it is a story of obsession and cat-and-mouse tension and that it is intricate and effortlessly told.

If it helps, Crime by the Book says that this book is similar to books to those written by Lisa Jewell, who I have yet to read.

FAST FACTS:

Author – Katherine Faulkner
Format – Hardcover, paperback, Kindle, audiobook, audio CD
Genre – Domestic Psychological Thriller
Pages - 375
Publication Date – September 13, 2021
Publisher – Simon & Shuster
ISBN Number – 978-1-9821-5031-0

If you love a good thriller, you will enjoy Greenwich Park. The book is definitely dark, looking into the world of pregnancy and early motherhood, of friendships, of privileged lives lived and, of course, of the secrets that people keep. I think that it is an excellent first novel, which the author wrote while she herself was on maternity leave. The rights to the book have been sold and I will be watching for a movie or television series as well as for a second book by Faulkner. Meanwhile, you can order your copy of Greenwich Park from Amazon by clicking right here.

See you

at the book store!
Brenda

More Psychological Thrillers:

Alice Feeney's Sometimes I Lie Book Review

Mark Edward's Here to Stay Book Review

Audrey Hepburn's Wait Until Dark Movie Review

Donald Sutherland's Don't Look Now Movie Review

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Monday, August 15, 2022

Reviewing the Octopus Kite from the Hengda Kite Store

I had so much fun flying my new Octopus Kite from the Hengda Kite Store that I knew I had to share it with you today. I was very skeptical ordering a $10 kite online. But with over 3,000 positive reviews, I took the chance. I'm glad I did.

During different periods of my life I have flown kites. I am not an expert on kites, nor do I understand much about the different styles of kites and why they fly better on different speed of winds. But whether it was flying kites with my sons when they were young, flying kites as an adult on the beautiful Assateague Island in Maryland, or the few times I've tried to launch a kite up here on my ridge in West Virginia, I do know that I love flying kites. And good kites make the experience almost magical.

Octopus Flyer Kite from the Hengda Kite Store

My preferred type of kite is the Delta style. I find that they are easy to fly in a variety of wind speeds. I have flown parafoil kites but have never owned one. Until now.

The "Software Octopus Flyer Kite" is a parafoil style kite. That means, there are no "sticks" to assemble - no cross bars that we are familiar with in the diamond style and delta style kites. Parafoil kites are only the material, sewn in cells - or tubes - that help catch the wind and keep the kite aloft.

Information from the Henga Kite Store page:

no kite sticks; soft [parafoil] style
strong, durable, and lightweight polyester 210 material
measures 31" wide and 157" long
comes with a plastic handle and kite string
made in the International Kite Capital, Weifang, Shandong, China
Hengda has been manufacturing kites for 20 years

My Experience with the Octopus Kite

The Octopus came with a length of kite string on a handle. But I prefer to use my own kite string on a wooden spool. So I attached the hook from my string into the end of the strings attached to the kite, and off I went.

An internet search showed that I probably should have chosen a day with more wind for my kite's maiden flight.

"Deltas, Diamonds and Dragon kites fly well in light to medium winds (approximately 6-15 mph) while Box Kites and stickless Parafoil kites fly better when the winds get a little stronger (approximately 8-25 mph).

-- NationalKiteMonth

But I was too excited to wait another day. With my weather app showing winds of 2 miles an hour at the most, and feeling that there were periods of no wind at all, I headed up to the top of my hill to give this kite a try.

It flew! Sluggishly on the very low wind day, it flew. And when it came down I had to wait for the next puff of breeze before I re-launched. But it flew. And I loved it!

This Octopus Kite is HUGE, bright, and interesting. I purchased it for an upcoming visit with my grandkids and I can barely wait to see them and fly it with them.

The Kite Loft in Ocean City, Maryland - A Brick and Mortar Kite Store

I mentioned having spent time on Assateague Island, Maryland flying kites. Whether it is Assateague Island or nearby Ocean City... beaches are the best place to fly kites in my opinion. There is a store in Ocean City called the Kite Loft. If you enjoy flying kites, this store is a must-see.

This specialty store is located beach-front that offers top-of-the-line kites. They also host a variety of festivals and kite-related events; including the SunFest Kite Festival. It is quite a sight to behold seeing the sky above the beach full of intricate and interesting kites.

This year the SunFest Kite Festival is September 29 to October 2, 2022. If you love kites and have any chance of attending, I strongly encourage you to go. It is a fantastic event. If you cannot attend, you could get a feel for it on the Kite Loft Beach Cam. The cam can be viewed any day and I often take a peek just to see what the ocean front looks like that day.

I purchased my favorite kite from the Kite Loft - a Delta style kite with a Kokopelli and lizard design. I have since misplaced that kite during moves or someone decided they wanted a fantastic kite. I'm not quite sure what happened but I miss that kite.

While kites at the Kite Loft have a larger price tag they are completely worth the investment.

Related Links:

Our BarbRad took us to visit Moonstone Beach in Cambria. In that review, she enjoyed watching a family flying stunt kites. Stunt kites have 2 lines and you hold one in each hand. This gives you the ability to control the kite and cause it to make turns and loops. I was never able to master the art of stunts kites because they are very responsive to small movements and I wasn't coordinated enough. I enjoyed watching the video in her review - maybe you will too.

Visit the Hengda Kite Store link on Amazon here.

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Sunday, August 14, 2022

Simple DIY Home Hacks

I'm certainly not a professional or an expert on home improvement or repairs, but I have learned some things over the years. Here is a review of some simple DIY home hacks that I have used over the years.

The estimated cost of minor home repairs is said to be about 1% of the cost of your home per year. So, as the value of your home increases so do your repair costs.

Some of these hacks may save you a little money and some may save some time. These are just some tips that I have used myself over the years.

DIY Home Hacks:

This one is an easy plumbing hack. It's late night and all the stores are closed, and suddenly you find a leak under your sink in the drain pipe. What do you do?

Since there is no water pressure involved in drain pipes, simply wrap some electrical tape tightly around the leak.

This will stop the leak temporarily until you can replace the broken drain pipe.

If you have a slow-running drain try some baking soda and white vinegar. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into the drain, have a stopper or washcloth handy. Then, pour 1/2 cup of white vinegar into the drain and quickly cover with the stopper or washcloth.

Wait about a minute and then flush with boiling or hot water. To keep my drains running free I do this about once a month. This really works for slow-running drains. If your sink is completely clogged you are going to need a drain cleaner or plunger.

Are you planning some interior painting? Painting around windows can be tedious work. Personally, I like to free-hand paint around windows. But, if you don't have a steady hand you can really make a mess on the windows, and create some extra work to remove the paint.

Applying masking tape takes some time, and is also a real pain to do. Try this, use a stick of Bees Wax and apply it to the window. Be careful not to get any wax on the wood that you're going to paint. Now, paint around the window, and after the paint dries wipe off the Bees Wax. The paint will not stick to the wax.

Denatured Alcohol can be used for many things, such as cleaning glass, metal, and fuel for marine stoves.

This is another painting hack. If you are painting your walls and accidentally drip some onto the finished wood trim and you don't see it until it dries.

Denatured alcohol will remove latex paint without affecting the finish on the wood trim.

Just gently rub the paint spots with a rag wet with the alcohol.

One more hack that I have is removing old window glazing. This one applies only if you have old-style windows. The new windows today do not have window glazing. I don't have a photo because I haven't used this hack in years.

If you happen to have old windows, the glazing over time will dry out and crack. It's not difficult to apply new glazing around the window, but removing the old glazing can be a pain.

To make this job easy use a heat gun or propane torch, the heat will soften the old glazing to make it easy to remove. A word of Caution: Be careful not to overheat, too much heat will crack the glass. After removing to old glaze, clean the area with a brush, and then brush on some linseed oil before applying the new glaze.

Find more Diy Tips on ReviewThis Here: ReviewThisCrafts.com

ReviewThisDecor.com

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Saturday, August 13, 2022

The Investigator by John Sandford – A Book Review

A Letty Davenport Novel

John Sandford has written 31 books in the 'Prey' series starring Lucus Davenport.

In an early Prey novel, Lucus, an agent for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) meets Letty, a 12-year-old living in rural Red River valley. Letty ends up the center of a series of killings, and when her mother becomes one of those murdered, orphaned Letty becomes a ward of Lucus and his wife, Weather.

As the Prey series continues, Letty is featured in several other stories. First as the Davenport's ward, then as their adopted daughter, fans of this series of novels enjoy following the antics and adventures of Letty as part of the Davenport family, watching her grow up and go off to college.

The Investigator Novel

Available on Amazon

The Investigator is the first novel to star Letty Davenport as the central character. Now 24 years old and a college graduate, we find Letty working in Washington, D.C. in a desk job for a U.S. Senator. Restless and bored, Letty is ready to quit when she is offered a task she can't refuse: a real investigator job through the senator's office in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security.

The Plot

Image Source: Pixabay

Several oil companies in Texas have reported thefts of crude oil. Letty's assignment is to uncover not only who is stealing and selling the oil, but learn what the thieves are doing with the profits. Rumors link this to a radical militia group and the Department of Homeland Security is extremely worried about the stolen profits financing a domestic terrorism plot.

Letty is partnered with a DHS investigator, John Kaiser. As the two head to Texas, the case quickly turns deadly. Letty and John now know they are on the track of something bigger. This militia group, led by a woman, has set in motion an explosive plan and time is running out for them to stop it.

Summary

This fan of Sandford's Prey Series is delighted to see a favorite minor character become the main character in her own crime fiction story. I have a feeling that the author is planning a new series starring this delightful and talented young lady ~ Letty Davenport.

Friday, August 12, 2022

Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker - A Mini K-cup Coffee Maker for Travel

Many years ago, I purchased a small travel coffee pot that accommodated ground coffee and required a coffee filter. I was happy to have my own coffee pot when we traveled. It didn't make a lot of coffee, but it was portable and pack-able, which made it essential for travel.

I stopped taking it everywhere when hotels started putting small coffee makers & packets of ground coffee in every room. However, I have noted that many hotels have, once again, stopped providing the little coffee makers in the room since the pandemic began.

I need my coffee when I first wake up. I prefer to have it before I dress for the day. That requires having a coffee pot & coffee in the room. I also like being able to make hot tea in my hotel room any time of the day without having to order room service.

I don't mind taking my own coffee and coffee maker. Frankly, it is probably cleaner for me to use my own personal coffee maker, water, and coffee.

After our last trip and a hotel room that didn't have a coffee maker, I went in search of a new portable coffee maker. I was thrilled to find a mini Keurig coffee maker that uses k-cups. That is even more convenient than the travel coffee makers of begone days.

I love my new Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker! I have only discovered one downside to my K-Mini. I can't remove the water reservoir to wash it. However, there is a Keurig K-Mini Plus Coffee Maker that does have a removable water reservoir, but is more expensive. The Plus version also has a storage unit that holds 9 k-cup pods and stores in the opening for the mug when packing for travel.

I purchased a tote bag for my Keruig K-Mini Coffee Maker that has a zipper pocket on the side for k-cups. In my case, I would rather be able to pack my personal ceramic coffee mug in the opening used by the storage unit on the Plus version, but I realize that is a personal preference.

The Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker

This miniature version of the Keurig coffee maker is very easy to use. You simply add water in the reservoir using your mug. That way, you won't overfill it. Add your k-cup, close the lid, and push the button.

It takes a little longer for the mini to produce a hot cup of coffee because it doesn't start heating the water until you push the larger brew button (not the small "on" button).

I do recommend cleaning your new k-mini coffee maker right out of the box with vinegar & water to remove any manufacturing dust or debris that may be inside the coffee maker.

To Clean: Pour vinegar in the reservoir to the minimum (6) marked on the reservoir, add water to the maximum (12) fill line. Place a mug below the empty k-cup holder (the brew head), push the brew button and let it go through a complete cycle. Then, brew a full reservoir of clean water only at least 2 times behind the vinegar to cleanse.

I washed every piece that was detachable, plus wiped down the unit with a soapy cloth.

The Keurig K-Mini or K-Mini Plus Coffee Maker is the perfect travel companion for brewing coffee, tea, hot chocolate, etc. In addition to traveling, it is great for a small kitchen.

Mini Keurig Keurig K-Mini Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker - Oasis

Mini Keurig Keurig K-Mini Plus Coffee Maker, 6 to 12 oz. Brew Size, Stores 9 K-Cup Pods

Keurig Travel Mug Fits K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker, 1 Count, Stainless Steel

Mini Keurig Tote Travel Coffee Maker Carrying Bag Compatible with Keurig K-Mini

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Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker - A Mini Keurig Single Serve K-cup Coffee Maker for Travel Reviewed written by:

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Thursday, August 11, 2022

Update on Book Club

In January of 2020 I wrote a review on Book Clubs. If you are interested in starting a book club, I would recommend you read that review here Review of Book Clubs. In that review you will find out how the book club I belong to is set up and how we handle the meetings. In this post I will update you on what we have been doing since that last review and a little bit about some of the books we have been reading.

Our Book Club in 2020/2021

As you can all imagine 2020/2021 was a bit challenging for our bookclub. With the pandemic we had to look at how we could do it differently. We didn't meet at all for the first few months, but then in the summer of 2020 we all ventured out and met on my deck, where we could wear masks and social distance with each other. We hadn't picked any one book to read, but rather all discussed what books we had been reading. During the rest of 2020 we only met one more time in someone's family room where we could spread apart. In 2021 we decided to venture out and start choosing monthly books. A few didn't make it at first, but eventually most of our members returned to our monthly meetings.

We read 11 books in a year, skipping the month of December where we all meet for a holiday luncheon instead of our regular meeting. In the next section I will discuss the last 11 books we have read.

Books we have Read in the Last Year

When we started meeting again on a regular basis one of the first books we read was Educated by Tara Westover. It was a very thought-provoking book that gave us lots to discuss. Fellow reviewer Olivia Morris has also read the book and wrote a review which will tell you a lot more about the book. Educated
The next book we read was The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Piccoult. Jodi Piccoult is a favorite author that always spends a lot of time researching the books that she writes. This book deals with Egyptology along with discovering the relationships of the people involved. Most of our members really liked the book, although a few wished it had a bit less technical items on Egyptology.
The Giver of Stars was a book we read by Jo Jo Moyes. This book takes place in depression-era America in the hills of Kentucky. It starts with Alice who has married a rich American to escape the stifling rules of her parents in England. She soon finds that the hills of Kentucky can be just as stifling, and she signs up to be a traveling librarian from Eleanor Roosevelts new plan to bring books to rural America. The book shows us the brave women who worked this program and their relationships. It is based on a true story, and we found it very intriguing.
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson is another book about the traveling book program. You can read more about it in the review that I wrote. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and also one that fellow reviewer Dawn wrote Here .
The next book we read was Gray Mountain by John Grisham. This book deals with mining and many of the legal battles the ensue when it is abused. It is very well written, and you can really become involved with the characters.
The Hypnotists Love Story is a novel by Liane Moriarity. We have read several books by this author and know they will always give us a lively discussion. This one did not disappoint.
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton is a wonderful mystery that takes place in Australia in the early 1900's. It is a work of historical fiction.
The Husband's Secret is another book by Liane Moriarity. Everyone enjoyed the discussion on this book, and we delved a lot into secrets and what we would tell and what we would not.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman was our next book. It was a very interesting book about a young woman who lives a very structured life. She struggles with everyday social skills and tends to say exactly what she is thinking. This all changes when she meets Raymond. You must read this book to find out more!
Wish You Were Here by Jodi Piccoult. This was my favorite book this year. In this book Jodi tackles a very timely subject as the book begins in March of 2020 just at the start of the pandemic. I wrote a review of the book which you can find at Wish You Were Here.
A Divided Loyalty by Charles Todd is a detective story which takes place in England. It features Scotland Yard detective Ian Rutledge and is an interesting mystery. We had a good discussion on the methods used to solve the mystery.
The last book on my list is the one we will be discussing this month. I have read the book and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is Mitch Albom's Finding Chika. Fellow reviewer Pat Austin (aka Wednesday Elf) has written a review on this book. Finding Chika

I Hope you enjoyed hearing about these books and perhaps you will find one or more you'd like to read yourself. Happy Reading!!

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Wednesday, August 10, 2022

The Housekeeper by Joy Fielding ~ A Book Review

The Housekeeper by Joy Fielding is a book that will give you shivers up your spine and really make you stop and think! While it is considered a "novel", it has threads of real life tied up in there too!

Anyone looking after ailing parents or relatives will be able to put themselves into this story!

Joy Fielding manages to make you stop in your tracks and really think about the possibilities that happen when you put your trust into someone to look after your loved ones.

Image by Tania Van den Berghen from Pixabay

Those of us who were born in the 1940's, 50's and beyond and are still blessed enough to have our parents here with us, are looking at the needs of the elderly through eyes that are living the reality of having aging parents and loved ones. It is not easy!

Right now I am the one responsible for both my mother and my uncle who are 91 and 92 respectively. I am lucky though because both of them are in fairly good health and still manage to live on their own. I do a lot of running back and forth for them, but that is a minor job (so to speak). I can't imagine how much more difficult it would be should they be so ill as to not be able to live on their own. I guess that is one reason that this book really hit a homerun with me!

Back to the "Book", The Housekeeper is a rare find for Jodi! She is busy with her real estate business which just happens to be booming. Her father, Vic, whose personality is very controlling and his wife Audrey are her parents. Audrey is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and her health is quickly deteriorating.

Jodi's father decides to stop working (he was the founder of the real estate office) to look after his wife. While this seems to be a great way to cope with their changing circumstances, it really isn't working out very well. Audrey needs more help than her husband can provide. They are well off financially, so it seems that outside help would be a good answer to the growing needs of Jodi's parents. Her father (in whose eyes Jodi never seems to shine) is NOT happy with this change in his life. He doesn't want another person in the house, yet, he agrees to give a housekeeper a chance.

Jodi sees the need to look for outside help, even though her father is still adamant that he can cope. She herself, is not able to do what needs to be done on a daily basis, so she starts her search for "The Housekeeper". Her hope is that with someone to do the cooking and cleaning for her parents, her father and mother will be free to spend their time together and still live a comfortable life in their own home. Hopefully her dad will come to realize this is a good choice to make.

That's when Elyse shows up for the job! She herself is a "younger senior", quite lively and willing to do the work that Vic cannot!

This is where things start to go wrong and yet, Elyse is the answer to Jodi's prayers, or so it seems. Her children love the "housekeeper" and her dad seems to have a little more bounce in his steps since she arrived.

What could possibly go wrong?

I'm going to leave the story here only because I know you will want to know what happens next.

The Housekeeper is a story that had me thinking for days after I finished closing the book. I know you will find it interesting and I would even call it riveting. I could not put this book down.

Maybe it's because this is where my life is at right now, or maybe it's because I never thought of the possibilities that could happen, but this book really opened my eyes.

While it's a novel and none of the story is true or real, this story could be a reality and that is the scary part. This is a thriller, murder/mystery and is due for publication on the 16th of August this year. It is a timely topic that I'm sure will have many people talking!

Put "The Housekeeper" by Joy Fielding on your Must Read List, I know you won't be disappointed.

Happy Reading!

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