Thursday, 20 May 2021

Physique After 50 - Scott Abel

Physique After 50
How to Use Resistance Training to Feel Younger, Maintain Muscle & Fight the Effects of Aging
ISBN 9781539497738
eISBN 9781539497738
ASIN B01MDLNGIP
 

Over the years I have read many books on health and fitness. And most of them I have learned from and appreciated. A few were transformative. I have high hopes for the impact of this volume. It was recommended by a friend, and I have since recommended it to several friends, and even my youngest brother. I was already well aware that how I trained in my teens and 20’s did not work in 30’s and 40’s; but I was not prepared for the difference in my 50’s. For about 4 years now I have had nagging injury after injury, or repeated injury. I have sprained both knees at least 3 times. What we called ‘water on the knee’ when I was in competitive sports. Back then they would rain it off and I would be back out on the field. The Doctor’s now say it is swollen to protect it. Take it easy, stay off it. Rest, elevate, ice, repeat.

This book has really opened my eyes to the difference as we age, and how we need to train different, smarter, better. And it has helped me to create a more realistic training plan for my age and limitations. The chapters in this book are:

Introduction 
he Realities of Aging, Muscle Loss and Sarcopenia 
What Form of Training is Best? 
Forget About It 
Crucial Considerations 
Safety and Injury Prevention 
Lifestyle 
How to Balance Rest and Recovery 
Bodypart-Specific Training Tweaks 
A Program for Physique After 50 
Conclusion 
The Programs 
3-Day Per Week Beginner Program 
Hardgainer Solution Workouts 
6-Day Physique After 50 Program

A few of the passages I highlighted were:

““Physique after 50” is not just simply a cosmetic solution for our age group. It’s also a cautionary tale of what happens when people let life get ahead of them. They end up leading “reactive” lives, rather than lives of design.”

“The fitness lifestyle isn’t about living longer; it’s about living better with the time you are given.”

“Sarcopenia presents a host of issues that include weakness, fatigue, lack of stamina, lack of vitality and verve, diabetes, and effects of previous injuries. There are several that deserve focus.”

What is Sarcopenia you might ask? One definition is:

“Sarcopenia is a condition characterized by loss of skeletal muscle mass and function. Although it is primarily a disease of the elderly, its development may be associated with conditions that are not exclusively seen in older persons.”

Yes we are getting older. And that causes changes. But a book like this will give us tools to help counter some of those effects and maybe even reverse them. I no longer aspire to be in competitive shape. But I do want to be in better shape than I am, for my wife and four children. I want to be healthier and happier. And this volume provides tools to help work towards that goal. For me the workouts at the end of the book are a good starting place. I just wish he had options for just free weights. All the work outs focus around body weight, dumbbells and pullies. I do not have pullies but have great PowerBlock's so plan to modify. I will use those combined with workouts from Team Body Project, and a lot more walking.

As mentioned, I have recommended this book to several people. One just into his 40’s but I told him I wish I had read something like this 10 years ago, and because of his recent injuries it was a big selling point. I will not apply all the information from this book, but a lot of it is applicable. It is an excellent read that I benefited from. And I can recommend it with no qualms or hesitations. If you are in your 50’s or even approaching them, consider giving it a read to help with your health and wellness goals.

Books by Scott Able:
The Abel Approach 
Better Abs, Stronger Core 
The Busy Woman’s Train-at-Home Program 
The Hardgainer Solution 
How to Train for a Better Physique 
The MET Workshop Workbook 
Intro to MET 
The Slingshot Program 
Your First Proper 6-Day Bodybuilding Training Program 
The Anti-Diet Approach 
Beyond Metabolism 
The Cycle Diet 
Metabolic Damage 
Permanent Weight Loss 
Understanding Metabolism 
How to Be An Insanely Good Fitness Coach 
The Mindset of Achievement 
Zen Fitness, Tao Health
Physique After 50
…
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Wednesday, 19 May 2021

The Prayerful Hour - Father Florian Racine - CTS Devotions

The Prayerful Hour: 
A Scriptural Companion to Eucharistic Adoration 
Father Florian Racine
Catholic Truth Society
ISBN 9781784692032
eISBN 9781784695835
ASIN B078TMLQGK
CTS Booklet D825


Over the last several years, I have read over 175 volumes from the CTS. I have read books from many series. And many authors. I have read several books that are part of the CTS Devotions and Prayer Series. I have read many in the CTS Biographies and also Saints of the Isles Series, and the Great Saints Series. This is the first volume I have read by Father Racine and I believe he only has one other published from the CTS. The description of the booklet is:

““May our Adoration never cease.”

The Christian journey is a journey to become like Christ, to “abide in him” and he in us. The Eucharist is the means for this to happen. This Spiritual Companion offers a beautiful formation in Eucharistic devotion that will help worshippers to practice it in all its depth, and with a missionary perspective.

Starting with the Word of God, the book’s eleven stages show how the Word is made present in the Eucharist and invites us to mature in faith and be transformed for a greater communion with Christ. This will help us to be collaborators with God’s plan in the world. Adorers can reflect on one stage at a time during or after the weekly hour of adoration.

This Companion acts as a school of adoration offered to every believer.”

This volume is a reprint of an Ignatius Press book called, Could You Not Watch with Me One Hour? that original edition was published in 2014. The CTS published the eBook in 2017 and a booklet in 2018. The chapters in the book are:

Introduction to the Itinerary 

HE IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD WHO LEADS ME TO THE FATHER 
     Cain’s and Abel’s Offerings The Offering of Oneself 
     “The Lord is my Shepherd” The Evangelisation of my Being 
     “The Clay in the Potter’s Hand” 
     “Not What I Will, but What You Will” 
     “Abba, Father” Adoration: Remedy for Pride and Despair 

SPIRITUAL WARFARE 
     “Be Still, and Know that I Am God!” Sensible Graces and Dryness 
     Jacob’s Struggle and Spiritual Advice The Trial in the Wilderness 
     Adoration in Battle, Recollection, Contemplation 
     The Power of Intercession Moses Fights against the Amalekites The Paralytic 
     “A Prophet is without Honour in His Own Country” Welcoming the Saviour

I really enjoyed reading this volume. And know I will use again and again. I highlighted a few passages my first time through this book including a wonderful prayer.

My Father, I abandon myself to you,
do with me what you will.
Whatever you do with me, I thank you.
I am ready for everything, I accept everything.
So long as your will is done in me,
in all your creatures,
I desire nothing else, my God.
I give back my soul into your hands.
I give it to you, my God,
with all the love of my heart,
because I love you,
and because for me it is a necessity of love to give myself,
to give myself back into your hands without measure,
with an infinite confidence,
for you are my Father. 
     Bl. Charles de Foucauld

Some of the other passages I highlighted are:

“An adorer testifies: “At the beginning, I thought that adoration meant loving God greatly. But the Lord made me understand that he desires above all that I let myself be loved in my miseries and my faults. For me this is so much more demanding. Letting Jesus look at me, hold me, lead me to God his Father – that is adoration in spirit and in truth!””

“In adoration, what is most important is not what we feel but him whom we meet and what we give him! Love seeks, not its own interest, but the interest of the beloved.”

“The permanent presence of the Host in each church reveals God’s unceasing faithfulness towards us. Contemplating the Host is choosing God anew; it is allowing oneself to be looked at, called, and espoused anew!”

“Each year, the Church offers periods of grace, like that of Lent, to renew our covenant with God – a covenant sealed in the Eucharist. When worldly cares have taken the upper hand, God can send us into the wilderness in order to recover the love we had at the beginning:…”

“But the Holy Spirit does not want us to think of this grace as something owed to us. We must not stop digging; rather, we must continue to seek this love with our will, always deeper, relentlessly.”

“We make reparation for the world’s great errors: Evil must be vanquished by good. The greatest evil must be vanquished by the greatest good. The extraordinary evil of our society must be vanquished by the extraordinary good of perpetual adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.”

“Thus, through Eucharistic adoration, we do a great service for mankind.” 

“Through adoration, the Christian contributes to the radical transformation of the world. Every person who prays to the Lord brings the whole world along with him, raising the world to God. Thus those who remain before the Lord fulfil a great service.”

“In the same way, when we are at the foot of the Blessed Sacrament, we can present to Jesus those close to us, our friends, the members of our family, or simply the whole world.”

This book is a wonderful read and excellent resource. During the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 I have found it very hard not to spend time in front of the sacrament. Either exposed or in the tabernacle. I have taken to parking outside the church and praying near the presence. Or a live video feed of adoration. This booklet will be used for both and hopefully soon in person.

Another excellent resource from the Catholic Truth Society, I highly recommend it. And I look forward to reading what I assume is a companion volume The Watchful Hour.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.

For reviews of other books in the CTS Devotion and Prayers series click here.














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Tuesday, 18 May 2021

Space Traipse Hold My Beer Season 3 - Karina Lumbert Fabian

Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 3
Karina Fabian
Laser Cow Press
ISBN 9781733447157
ASIN B08DKHSQVX


This marks the seventeenth book I have read, or reread that was written by or edited by Karina Fabian. And I admit I am a fan boy of her works. The Fabian Space Worlds are as fabulous as they are diverse. Stories about a Dragon exiled to earth who works as a PI, her religious themes space fiction. To be honest all of her stories are wonderful. But the Space Traipse Stories hold a special place in my heart. This volume is the third in here Space Traipse Trilogy. But I have read them out of order; I read Season 1, Season 2, Season 4, Doall's Do-Over and then circled back to this one. So, I had an idea of some of what would happen. But not how. And boy was it worth the read.

I grew up watching reruns of Star Trek the Original Series, and the animated series during its original run. I have long been a fan of the shows and when much younger read many novelizations. I loved reading the old James Blish Star Trek stories. Reading the stories in this series takes me back to that early reading, but with a much more humorous slant. These stories are part homage, part satire, part commentary, part parody, and they are a whole lot of fun! 

These stories follow the further adventures of the captain and the crew of the HMB Impulsive. The descriptions of the main crew members are: 

• Capt Jeb Tiberius: A good ol’ boy from Texas whose religion requires firm buttocks.
• First Officer Commander Phineas Smythe: His uncanny ability to win Rock-Paper-Scissors-Redshirt-Alien means he can pick his away missions.
• Chief Engineer Commander Angus Deary: The first person to reverse the polarity by 90 degrees.
• Xenologist and Ship’s Sexy, Loreli: A plant-based life form with a perfect figure, she keeps up ship morale – and ratings.
• Chief of Security, Enigo Guillermo Ricardo Montoya Guiterrez LaFuentes: Raised on the UGS The Hood, where gang war is a cultural right, he’s not afraid to shoot a fellow crewman. That’s what stun is for!
• Ops Officer Ensign Ellie Doall: Fresh from the HMB Mary Sue, she can so just about anything all on her own – and often does.
• Transporter Chief, Dolfrick Dour: By the manipulations of technology, he reduces people to their most basic elements and rematerializes them elsewhere. Is it any wonder he’s 23rd Century Goth?

The cast breaks the fourth wall in a most Dead Pool like manner. The stories in this volume are:

Trouble in Filedise
Phantom of the Cybersphere
Kippers & Chaos

At the beginning of the book we are told the tag line for the series:

“Space: By Keptar, there’s a lot of it. And it’s chock-full of stuff to do and people to meet. These are the adventures of the HMB Impulsive. Its mission: to explore worlds, to seek out anomalies, and to boldly do what no one else has the guts to do! And you know that we’re the ship to do it. 

Don’t believe me? Hold my beer!”

In this collection we join the crew as they navigate the minefields of space, time, place, and emotional entanglements. And also, family. At the beginning of the second episode we are informed that:

“So, that was heavy. Now, we lighten things up with… Space Traipse: The Musical! 

Oh, yes, I did. You may want to play songs from The Phantom of the Opera, Little Mermaid, and West Side Story, just to mentally prepare yourselves. Who am I kidding? I don’t know if anyone can prepare themselves for what’s coming. Certainly, the crew didn’t! While I hope this is less of a dumpster fire than the Cats movie, I will take complete responsibility for any lame lyrics that don’t scan. However, if you don’t like the singing, you’ll have to blame yourself because it’s totally in your head.”

We are also dealing with a robot in love. But not just a robot, a cleaning bot. That has been modified by the cybers. The bot is not only in love but has access to require your brain. And the final bonus story echoes episodes from both ST TOS and TNG. So we have a super tense story, a humorous story in a musical stylings, and then a story that is just … something else. 

This is another wonderful collection of three tales. I have said it before and say it again this is great for fans of trek, fans of parodies, or people who just love great science fiction stories. The tales reminded me of Spider Robinson’s Cross Time Saloon books in many ways. It is a great ensemble crew. More interesting adventures, and at least 2 after this one if you read them in order. Just a whole lot of fun. 

Some of Fabian’s earlier works and Anthologies are out of print, but they are well worth tracking down. And a few of them have had reprints recently. I suggest you grab these new stories I am sure you will be entertained. I cannot wait for the next season or stand-alone story in this universe. Give this third volume a try, I am sure you will be entertained. It is a lotta fun in a small package.   

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan!


Dex Hollister Series:
The Old Man and the Void
Dex's Way
...

Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator Series :
Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator
I Left My Brains in San Francisco
Shambling in a Winter Wonderland
…

DragonEye PI Series:
DragonEye PI Novels:

Space Traipse Series:
Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 1
Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 2
Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 3
Space Traipse Stories
…

Madness of Kanaan Series:
(formerly The Mind Over Series)

Edited by: Karina Fabian:
Infinite Space, Infinite God I
Leaps of Faith
Infinite Space, Infinite God II
...


Contributed to:
Firestorm of Dragons
The Zombie Cookbook
The Book of Tentacles
Twisted Fayrie Tales
FRIGHTLINER: And Other Tales of the Undead
Mother Goose is Dead
Word by Word: Slowing Down with the Hail Mary
Image and Likeness Literary Reflections on the Theology of the Body
Corrupts Absolutely? Dark Metahuman Fiction
Weird Noir
The Complete Guide to Writing Paranormal Novels
Manifesto UF
Avenir Eclectia
Planetary Anthology: Jupiter
Planetary Anthology: Pluto
Planetary Anthology: Luna
Planetary Anthology: Uranus
FlagShip Science Fiction and Fantasy v2i5
My Little Book of Headdesks
To Be Men: Stories Celebrating Masculinity
...







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Monday, 17 May 2021

Martin Sheen Pilgrim on the Way - Rose Pacatte - People of God

Martin Sheen Pilgrim on the Way 
People of God Series
Rose Pacatte FSP 
ISBN 9780814637128
eISBN 9780814637371
ASIN B07VWFV67Y


This was the fourth volume in the People of God Series that I have read. It was one that was on my Wishlist for a long time, but the eBook was not available in my region. I have been a fan of Sheen’s film and television works and was aware his faith was important to him. I especially appreciated his portrayal of Catholicism as President Josiah Bartlet in the West Wing. And many years ago I had copy of The Jesus Meditations: A Guide for Contemplation written by Michael Kennedy and with an audio CD of meditations led by Martin Sheen. I only listened to a few and lent the book out, never to get it back. The few I listened to were wonderful. When I finally got my hands on this book I read it slowly over several days. 

While preparing this review I found that Sheen has lent his voice to a few books on meditation by Michael Kennedy. And he has written the forward or introduction to several books as well. I was well aware of the issues and problems during the filming of Apocalypse Now from a film and faith course at university. But there was much in the book that was new to me. The chapters in this volume are:

Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Introduction
The Pilgrimage Begins
An Actor on the Way
Spiritual Journey
A Catholic Activist
Spirituality of an Activated Catholic
Notes
Bibliography

A lot of the book focuses on his activism. And social action. I would have loved to have read more about his personal devotion and piety. I feel like this book is a mix of broad overview, and a highlight of who’s who in Catholic social action. It does show an honest look at a man who struggled and was a revert to the faith. There is an excellent chapter about Sheen in Recovering Faith: Stories of Catholics Who Came Home by Lorene Hanley Duquin. Much of the writing in this book reminds me of that chapter. In some ways this volume feels disjointed. Jumping between accounts of Sheen’s life from friends and family, and from the author herself. Retelling stories about his actions and movements. 

But overall, I am glad I was able to track the book down and read it. And will likely read the book by Sheen and his son soon. Sheen’s faith is hard to pin down. In some ways he is very traditional, with frequent mass attendance and use of the Rosary. And in others he is very liberal or social action focused. The last chapter in the book tries to balance that out, called Spirituality of an Activated Catholic. It is a good spiritual biography. 

I consider this book well worth the read. Though for me it left more questions than answers. It is not my favorite in this series but still a pretty good book.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books by Sister Rose Pacatte FSP:
Corita Kent: Gentle Revolutionary of the Heart
Lights, Camera, Faith...! A Movie Lectionary, Cycle A
The Nativity Story: A Film Study Guide for Catholics
The Way: A Cinematic Retreat Guide
…

Contributed to by Sister Rose Pacatte FSP: 
Into Great Silence: A Film Study Guide: For Personal or Small Group Use
Lights Camera Faith - The Ten Commandments
Lights Camera Faith C
Lights, Camera... Faith! A Movie Lectiomary- Cycle B
Media Mindfulness: Educating Teens about Faith and Media
Our Media World
Through a Catholic Lens: Religious Perspectives of 19 Film Directors from Around the World
…

Books by or about Martin Sheen:
The Jesus Meditations - Michael Kennedy
Experiencing Jesus: Ten Meditations for a Changed Life - Michael Kennedy
Martin Sheen: Pilgrim on the Way - Rose Pacatte FSP
Along the Way: The Journey of a Father and Son - Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez
...

People of God Series:
John XXIII - Massimo Faggioli
Oscar Romero - Kevin Clarke
Megan Rice - Dennis Coday
Francis - Michael Collins
Flannery O’Connor - Angela O’Donnell
Dorothy Day - Patrick Jordan
Luis Antonio Tagle - Cindy Wooden
Georges and Pauline Vanier - Mary Francis Coadyn
Joseph Bernardin - Steven P. Millies
Corita Kent - Rose Pacatte
Daniel Rudd - Gary B. Agee
Helen Prejean - Joyce Duriga
Thea Bowman - J. Nutt
...
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Friday, 14 May 2021

St. Joseph and His World - Mike Aquilina

St. Joseph and His World
Scott Hahn (Forward)
ISBN 9781594173936
eISBN 9781594173943
ASIN B08QDPNPXM
 

I have read and reviewed many books by Mike Aquilina, I have benefited from each. And have many of his other volumes on my ‘to be read’ list. I have also read many books about Saint Joseph. And the fact that this volume released at the beginning of a Year of Saint Joseph is a blessing. But even if you stumble across this review long after the Year dedicated to Saint Joseph you will be greatly blessed by picking up and working your way through this volume. It is an excellent read and wonderful resource!

This is the thirteenth volume from the pen of Mike Aquilina that I have read. And it is one of my favorites. I have said it before about his works and say it again, this is one of those books that every Catholic, every Christian should read. The description of the book states:

“A TREMENDOUS BREAKTHROUGH” in the study of St. Joseph...
...There are few subjects so challenging” to authors as St. Joseph. So says scholar Scott Hahn in his foreword to this book. Yet the pages that follow give not merely glimpses, but vistas, of St. Joseph’s world. Hahn continues: “You’ll learn about Nazareth — and how it was created almost ex nihilo shortly before Joseph’s birth. You’ll learn about religious practice and education in that place and time. You’ll travel to Egypt and encounter the fascinating settlements of Jews in that land. You’ll also find out how a carpenter worked in those days: what tools he used, what items he crafted, where he got his training, and how he got to and from his job sites.” This book provides an imaginative entry into one of the most important lives in all of history — a life too often obscured by later legends. " 

This book was a hard book to put down, and to be honest even harder to review. It was a book I loved. And one I know I will return to and read again. A few of the passages I highlighted on my first read through the book are:

“What we do know is that the descendants of David lived as a clan while exiled in Babylon. Once kings, they now plied common trades and crafts. They kept a low profile, but within the home they passed their royal identity from one generation to the next, and they kept meticulous records of the family’s genealogy.”

“Later in that century, one of the families in Nazareth— a family of artisans— gave birth to a boy and named him Joseph. His name, like the name of his birthplace, reflected the hope of his people. Joseph, in Hebrew, means “God will increase.””

“It is possible that Joseph and Mary knew from a very early age that they were intended for one another. It is possible, too, that a young couple, influenced by Essene asceticism, could commit themselves to continence within marriage.”

“The great difficulty in sketching the character of Joseph of Nazareth is that Scripture never shows him speaking. He never says yes or no. He never makes a nod or gesture. And not only is he never shown to speak, the Gospels never show a single human being speaking to him— not even his wife or son. 

No humans speak to him; but four times, an angel speaks to him. 

Christian tradition makes much of Mary’s Annunciation. The Church commemorates it by a feast day and dedicates a daily prayer to it (the Angelus). But Joseph’s “annunciations” are also worthy of scrutiny— certainly for what they reveal about him, but also for what they reveal about angels. The Gospels present almost every episode in Joseph’s life as an encounter with an angel.”

“Though God had chosen Joseph for the greatest mission ever, he was an ordinary workingman. And this is a supremely important fact: he was no less ordinary for the fact that he was close to the angels. 

Why is this fact so important? Because in the midst of every believer’s daily work, the angels are there; God wants everyone to be close to the angels, attentive to the angels, and alert to their promptings. This is not a gift or a skill for unusual people. This is for everyone, as it was for Joseph.”

“God calls ordinary believers, as he called Joseph, to be his messengers and guardians, his power and his voice. He calls ordinary believers to be contemplatives in the middle of their neighborhoods and workplaces.”

“The unspoken word behind God’s call is trust. Joseph was called to remember the marvels of the Lord— to remember the divine acts that were proclaimed in synagogue and temple and at home— and trust the Lord who had worked those marvels.”

“It was no shame to feel fear. To be fearless in such a time is to be truly mad. Fear is the instinctive human response to bodily danger. In a father, it triggers the actions that will preserve his family and himself. Fortitude means not a lack of fear, but a right ordering of fears. Joseph feared the possibility of failing God far more than he feared the wrath of Herod. And he feared the loss of his son more than the loss of his own life.”

I hope from those few quotes you will get a feel for this work. It is a book of great scholarship. It was a very engaging read. And Aquilina is one of the greatest scholars of the early church and world of our times if not all time.  But he writes not just an academic volume, but a volume with will stir your faith. It is not fluff. But a real feast. It is a fantastic book to read for your personal sanctity and growth. I highly recommend this volume. Pick it up, you will not be disappointed!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan!

For reviews of other books by Mike Aquilina click here.
For reviews of other books about Saint Joseph click here.

Other reviews and articles about Saint Joseph:
Consecration to St. Joseph - Fr. Donald Calloway
Favorite Prayers to St. Joseph Compiled from Traditional Sources- TAN Books
Prayer to Saint Joseph Prayer of the Day
Joseph of Nazareth - Federico Suarez
Devotion to St. Joseph - F. Declaux
Go to St. Joseph: Do Whatever He Tells You - Brian Kiczek
Saint Joseph: Help for Life's Emergencies - Kathryn J. Hermes
Feast of Saint Joseph 2018 Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary Principal Patron of Canada
Companion to Saint Joseph - J.B. Midgley - CTS Companions Series
Saints of the Roman Canon - Julien Chilcott-Monk - CTS Living the Liturgy Series
Seven Saints for Seven Virtues - Jean M. Heimann


Books by Mike Aquilina:
A Year with the Angels: Daily Meditations with the Messengers of God
A Year With The Church Fathers: Patristic Wisdom for Daily Living
Angels of God: The Bible, the Church and the Heavenly Hosts
Companion Guide to Pope Benedict's 'The Fathers' 
Faith of Our Fathers: Why the Early Christians Still Matter and Always Will
Fire of God's Love: 120 Reflections on the Eucharist
Good Pope, Bad Pope: Their Lives, Our Lessons 
Love in the Little Things: Tales of Family Life
Ministers & Martyrs: The Ultimate Catholic Guide to the Apostolic Age
Praying in the Presence of Our Lord: With St. Thomas Aquinas
Roots of the Faith: From the Church Fathers to You
Sharing Christ's Priesthood: A Bible Study for Catholics
Signs and Mysteries: Revealing Ancient Christian Symbols
Sweet Gridlock: Selected Love Poems 
Terms and Conditions: Assorted Poems
The Apostles and Their Times
The Church and the Roman Empire
The Fathers of the Church Bible
The Fathers of the Church: An Introduction to the First Christian Teachers
The Mass of the Early Christians
The Resilient Church: The Glory, the Shame, & the Hope for Tomorrow
The Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church
The Way of the Fathers: Praying With the Early Christians
The Witness of Early Christian Women: Mothers of the Church
Understanding the Mass: 100 Questions, 100 Answers
Why Me? When Bad Things Happen
Yours Is the Church: How Catholicism Shapes Our World
...

Books co-written by Mike Aquilina:
A Pocket Catechism for Kids - Fr. Kris Stubna
Dion: The Wanderer Talks Truth - Dion DiMucci
Keeping Mary Close: Devotion to Our Lady through the Ages - Fr. Frederick Gruber
Living the Mysteries: A Guide for Unfinished Christians - Scott Hahn
Praying the Psalms the Early Christians - Christopher Bailey
Saint Monica and the Power of Persistent Prayer - Mark W. Sullivan
Seven Revolutions: How Christianity Changed the World and Can Change It Again - James Papandrea
Something More Pastoral: The Mission of Bishop, Archbishop, and Cardinal Donald Wuerl - Ann Rodgers
Take Five: Meditations John Henry Newman - Fr. Juan Velez
Take Five: Meditations Pope Benedict XVI - Fr. Kris Stubna
Take Five: On the Job Meditations With St. Ignatius - Fr. Kris Stubna
Talking to Youth About Sexuality: A Parents' Guide - Fr. Kris Stubna
The Ancient Path: Old Lessons from the Church Fathers for a New Life Today - John Michael Talbot
The Church: Unlocking the Secrets to the Places Catholics Call Home - Cardinal Donald Wuerl
The Doubter's Novena: Nine Steps to Trust the Apostle Thomas - Christopher Bailey
The Feasts: How the Church Year Forms Us as Catholics - Cardinal Donald Wuerl
The Grail Code: Quest for the Real Presence - Christopher Bailey
The Great Life: Essays on Doctrine and Holiness in Honor of Father Ronald Lawler, O.F.M. Cap. - Kenneth Ogorek
The Holy Land: A Guide for Pilgrims - Fr. Dave Halaiko
The How-To Book of Catholic Devotions - Regis J. Flaherty
The Mass: The Glory, the Mystery, the Tradition - Cardinal Donald Wuerl
The World's First Christmas: Jubilee 2000 - Regis J. Flaherty
Weapons of the Spirit: Selected Writings of Father John Hugo - David Scott
What Catholics Believe: A Pocket Catechism - Fr. Kris Stubna
...

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Thursday, 13 May 2021

The Complete Cookbook for Young Chef - America’s Test Kitchen

The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs: 
100+ Recipes that You'll Love to Cook and Eat
ISBN 9781492670025
eISBN 9781492688549
ASIN B07H9DQ1JZ


My youngest daughter at the age of 10 loves cooking and cooking shows. She saved up her own money and purchased herself two cookbooks, this one and Kid in the Kitchen: 100 Recipes and Tips for Young Home Cooks by Melissa Clark. This one arrived second and she was already enthralled with the other. She has carried them around the house for days, put in sticky note tabs for recipes she wanted to try. But more on that later.

This is another beautiful cookbook. Full color pages, but not full glossy pages.. The paper is not as heavy a weight as the other volume. It has a very solid binding. It is well designed and made. It is a great book to flip through and get ideas from. Or to plan whole meals. The chapters in the volume are:

Getting Started in the Kitchen
Breakfast
Snacks & Beverages
Cooking for You
Cooking for Family & Friends
Sides that Make the Meal
Desserts
Conversions & Equivalents
Healthy Eating 101
Recipe Stats
Index

The description of the volume is:

“For the first time ever, America's Test Kitchen is bringing their scientific know-how, rigorous testing, and hands-on learning to KIDS in the kitchen!
Using kid-tested and approved recipes, America's Test Kitchen has created THE cookbook every kid chef needs on their shelf. Whether you're cooking for yourself, your friends, or your family, The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs has delicious recipes that will wow!

     • Recipes were thoroughly tested by more than 750 kids to get them just right for cooks of all skill levels―including recipes for breakfast, snacks and beverages, dinners, desserts, and more.
     • Step-by-step photos of tips and techniques will help young chefs feel like pros in their own kitchen
     • Testimonials (and even some product reviews!) from kid test cooks who worked alongside America's Test Kitchen will encourage young chefs that they truly are learning the best recipes from the best cooks.

By empowering young chefs to make their own choices in the kitchen, America's Test Kitchen is building a new generation of confident cooks, engaged eaters, and curious experimenters.”

We have picked several recipes from this volume to test and try. My wife has done a few recipes from America’s Test Kitchen that have all been big hits. I have done a few as well, always to great success. 

My daughter loves both of her new cookbooks. She prefers the other volume, Kid in the Kitchen: 100 Recipes and Tips for Young Home Cooks by Melissa Clark. Because it is glossier and shinier. I prefer this volume. The meals are easier. The ingredients less diverse. The meals are well defined and explained. This is an excellent cookbook for children and those cooking with them. It is one we will be using for years to come.

An excellent cookbook for younger aspiring chefs. A great place to start. This one is a good one for working with younger children, or letting older children experiment on their own.
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