DIRECTIONS: Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for about 3 minutes, until it becomes translucent. Stir in the uncooked rice and cook until it’s lightly toasted. Add the garlic salt, crushed basil leaves, and ground turmeric, stirring until the rice is evenly seasoned. Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Then, reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the skillet, and let it cook for 10 minutes. Mix in the frozen peas and carrots, cover again, and continue to cook for another 10 minutes. Once done, fluff the rice with a fork before serving. 

NUTRITION INFO: Calories: 153kcal (8%) Carbohydrates: 30g (10%) Protein: 4g (8%) Fat: 2g (3%) Saturated Fat: 0.3g (2%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g Monounsaturated Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 2mg (1%) Sodium: 501mg (22%) Potassium: 134mg (4%) Fiber: 2g (8%) Sugar: 1g (1%) Vitamin A: 1543IU (31%) Vitamin C: 4mg (5%) Calcium: 24mg (2%) Iron: 1mg (6%)

(Recipe and photo courtesy of Food Faith Fitness)

DIRECTIONS: In a large frying pan, heat up the olive oil on medium high. Add in the green onions and cook one minute. Add in the ground beef and cook until no longer pink, breaking it up as you cook it, about 5 minutes. Whisk all the remaining ingredients, up to the parsley, together in a bowl. Pour into the cooked beef and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the sauce has thickened, about 9-10 minutes. Spoon the mixture over lettuce and top with cheese and parsley, if desired. 

NUTRITION INFO: Calories: 329kcal (16%) Carbohydrates: 9g (3%) Protein: 21g (42%) Fat: 25g (38%) Saturated Fat: 9g (56%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 11g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 81mg (27%) Sodium: 759mg (33%) Potassium: 632mg (18%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 3g (3%) Vitamin A: 526IU (11%) Vitamin C: 7mg (8%) Calcium: 42mg (4%) Iron: 3mg (17%)

(Recipe and photo courtesy of Food Faith Fitness)

TITLE: One True Loves (audiobook)

AUTHOR: Taylor Jenkins Reid

NARRATOR: Julia Whelan

RATING: ★★★★ 

REVIEW: The absolute first thing I need to say right from the start of this review is PLEASE don't watch the movie adaptation of this book before you read the book. I'm SO glad I didn't make that mistake because the movie is horrible. Now, with that being said, I do highly recommend the book because, as always, Taylor Jenkins Reid pulls you into it from the very beginning, and you're immediately hooked. One True Loves was published in 2016, and I will say that Taylor's writing has improved since then, and Julia Whelan's narrating skills have also improved. I loved the premise of the story, and it really does make you wonder about what you would do if you were in Emma's situation. I can only imagine how confusing it would be to get engaged and then find out your husband, who you thought had died in a plane crash, was actually alive. I don't want to give away any spoilers, so I will just say that I was incredibly happy with the ending. 

🩷 Nan Ryan (1936-2017) - When I was a teenager, years ago during the dinosaur age, I LOVED reading romance novels by Nan Ryan. I collected her books and reread them many times. She will always be one of my favorite romance authors. 

🖤 Sylvie Sommerfield (1931-1994) - Another one of my favorite romance authors. The first time I read her book, Betray Not My Passion, I was so moved by it that I wrote Miss Sommerfield a letter to let her know just how much I loved it. To my surprise, she wrote me back, and I still have her letter to this day. 

🩷 Delia Owens - I hope Where the Crawdads Sing won't be her last book. 

🖤 Stephenie Meyer - It's been four years since Stephenie blessed us with Midnight Sun. Time for a new vampire series! 

🩷 Bonnie Garmus - Lessons in Chemistry was one of my favorite reads from 2022. I hope Bonnie writes another book soon. 

🖤 Shelby Van Pelt - Another favorite book from 2022 was Remarkably Bright Creatures. I fell in love with Marcellus the octopus, and that book stayed with me a long time, so fingers crossed the author is working on something new. 

🩷 Kim Michele Richardson - I decided to listen to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and The Book Woman's Daughter on audiobook, and I'm so glad I did because the narrator, Katie Schorr, really brought these books to life. They're still some of my favorite audiobooks. 

🖤 Francine Rivers - It's been a couple of years since Francine published The Lady's Mine, so hopefully we'll get a new book from her in the very near future. 

🩷 Kelly Mustian - A fellow Mississippian, Kelly's debut novel, The Girls in the Stilt House, is still one of my favorite debut novels. I look forward to reading more from her. 

🖤 Miranda Cowley Heller - The Paper Palace is another debut novel that really blew me away. I don't know how many times my jaw hit the floor while reading this book. I hope Miranda's next book is just as shocking and unforgettable. 

DIRECTIONS: Preheat your oven to 450°F to ensure it's hot and ready for the potatoes. Boil a pot of salted water and cook the potatoes until they’re tender enough to be pierced with a fork. Coat a baking sheet with olive oil and arrange the boiled potatoes on it, spaced well apart. Gently press each potato with a potato masher to flatten slightly, then give it a 90-degree turn and press again to create a crisscross pattern. Drizzle more olive oil over each potato. Season the potatoes with kosher salt, black pepper, and chopped rosemary, then sprinkle generously with grated Parmesan cheese. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until they’re golden brown and crisp. 

NUTRITION INFO: Calories: 390kcal (20%) Carbohydrates: 74g (25%) Protein: 9g (18%) Fat: 7g (11%) Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 5g Sodium: 26mg (1%) Potassium: 1794mg (51%) Fiber: 9g (38%) Sugar: 3g (3%) Vitamin A: 9IU Vitamin C: 84mg (102%) Calcium: 51mg (5%) Iron: 3mg (17%)

(Recipe and photo courtesy of Food Faith Fitness)

NARRATOR: Julia Whelan

RATING: ★★★★

REVIEW: I've always been a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid because her books draw me into the lives of people I know I would never meet in real life - actors, actresses, singers, etc. Malibu Rising has a huge ensemble of these types of people, and every one of them have their own unique story. I loved the four main characters (Nina, Jay, Hud, and Kit). Having several siblings myself (four brothers), I could relate to the strong dynamic between these four siblings. I also understood the trials they endured with their parents constant drama, and I found myself cheering them on as they navigated through love and hardships. The first half of the book has dual timelines, and I liked that because I was able to get to know the four siblings and their parents, and it helps to get a true sense of who they are as a group and as individuals. The second half of the book is basically just one wild party that lasted twelve hours and completely changed their lives. There are many different character viewpoints in the second half of the book, which might be a little confusing to some readers, but I personally enjoyed it. This is a party with 200+ people, most of who you could call the "elite" bunch (movie stars, sports legends, famous singers, etc.), and let's just say it's an unforgettable wild ride. I adore the narrator, Julia Whelan, and the way she gives each character their own unique voice is truly amazing. She's the main reason I chose the audiobook instead of the print book. If you want a story that will break your heart one minute and make you laugh out loud the next minute, then this book is for you. Recommended! 

🟠 We will randomly select 25 participants to receive a $50 gift card to ThriftBooks! To enter, simply post your photo on social media using the hashtag #LFLweek. 

🔴 RULES OF ENTRY: ✔️ Open May 10th-20th, 2024. ✔️ Enter up to 10 photos (one Instagram post can include up to 10 photos). ✔️ A registered Little Free Library must be featured in the photo. ✔️ Use the hashtag #LFLweek. ✔️ By entering your photo, you give Little Free Library permission to use it. ✔️ Open to all! You do not need to be a Little Free Library steward to participate. 

🟣 New for Little Free Library Week 2024, celebrate by playing Little Free Library BINGO! Get out and explore the book-sharing boxes in your neighborhood while connecting with your community. Snap a photo of your completed BINGO card—yep, you need a blackout BINGO—and post it on social media with the hashtag #LFLweek during the LFL Week Photo Contest, May 10th-20th.

🩷 “‘Just a little homesick’, Alice answered. It was the truth, she thought. She just wasn’t sure she had yet been to the place she was homesick for.” ― Jojo Moyes, The Giver of Stars

💛 “Books are the mile markers of my life. Some people have family photos or home movies to record their past. I’ve got books. Characters. For as long as I can remember, books have been my safe place.” ― Kristin Hannah, The Great Alone

DIRECTIONS: Combine almond milk, frozen strawberries, and pineapple chunks in a blender. Blend on high speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Add vanilla protein powder, collagen peptides, vanilla extract, and lemon juice to the blender. Pulse a few times until all the ingredients are well incorporated. Pour the smoothie into two glasses and serve immediately. 

NUTRITION INFO: Calories: 156kcal (8%) Carbohydrates: 34g (11%) Protein: 3g (6%) Fat: 2g (3%) Saturated Fat: 0.1g (1%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 1mg Sodium: 154mg (7%) Potassium: 413mg (12%) Fiber: 6g (25%) Sugar: 24g (27%) Vitamin A: 113IU (2%) Vitamin C: 166mg (201%) Calcium: 184mg (18%) Iron: 1mg (6%)

(Recipe and photo courtesy of Food Faith Fitness)

For the sauce: 

For the chicken: 

For the cauliflower rice: 

For garnish: 

DIRECTIONS: In a medium pot over medium heat, melt 1 1/2 tsps of the coconut oil for the sauce. Add in the ginger, garlic and habanero pepper and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add in the remaining coconut oil, juice and coconut aminos. Raise the temperature to high heat and bring to a boil. Additionally, place the tapioca flour in a small bowl. Once the liquid comes to a boil, add 2 tsps of it to the bowl with the tapioca flour and whisk until smooth. While stirring constantly, pour the tapioca mixture into the sauce and boil for 2 minutes. After the sauce as boiled, reduce the heat to medium low and simmer, stirring frequently, until the sauce reduces by about 1/4 and becomes shiny, about 6-7 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl to let it cool and thicken while you make the chicken. Place the tapioca flour into a large Ziploc bag and season the cubed chicken with salt and pepper. Add the chicken into the bag and shake around until evenly coated in the flour. In a medium pan, heat 1 Tbsp of the coconut oil over medium-high heat. Place half of the chicken into the pan, being careful not to crowd it, and cook until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes. Flip and repeat. Transfer the chicken to a paper towel-lined plate and blot off an excess oil. Repeat with the remaining chicken. If the chicken starts cooking too fast, turn the heat down a little bit. While the chicken cooks, place the cauliflower into a large food processor and process until broken down and “rice-like” heat the 2 tsps of coconut oil up in a large pan over medium-high heat and add the cauliflower and coconut flakes. Cook until lightly golden brown, about 2-3 minutes. Cover, reduce the heat to medium and cook until the cauliflower is tender, about 2-4 minutes. Transfer the chicken and mango cubes into the bowl with the sauce and toss until evenly coated. Divide the chicken and cauliflower between two plates and garnish with cilantro, green onion and sesame seeds. 

NUTRITION INFO: Serving: 441g Calories: 591kcal (30%) Carbohydrates: 43.2g (14%) Protein: 36.5g (73%) Fat: 31.9g (49%) Saturated Fat: 24.2g (151%) Cholesterol: 85mg (28%) Sodium: 165mg (7%) Fiber: 6.2g (26%) Sugar: 20g (22%)

(Recipe and photo courtesy of Food Faith Fitness) 

I decided to go with ten of my favorite books with flowers on the cover. Do you spot any of your favorites?