Beginners Guide to Grilling

Mastering grilling is tough and time consuming process. Every summer BBQ will become a failure if the person manning the grill fails to produce tasty food and juicy meats. Not everyone has the necessary skills or experience to become a grill master right away. The Blackstone Griddle Cookbook is for those of us that are just getting into grilling and want to learn the basics and slowly progress towards mastery.

Presented as the ultimate guide to becoming a grill master by Robbie Kev, the Blackstone Griddle Cookbook spans a bit shy of 100 pages and is an easy to read and understand primer. Neatly organized into three introductory sections in which Kev gives a short history and evolution of grilling techniques, temperature control, blackstone grilling, essential tools and finishes off with a chapter dedicated to choosing the right meat to be a successful grill master.

The next sections deal with specific types of food/ meats including beef, poultry, fish and seafood, etc. There is a complete chapter on vegetarian and vegan grilling techniques and options. I liked the section on preparing desserts on the griddle which includes simple staples like pancakes, to complex sweets like the white chocolate raspberry s’mores. Each recipe has detailed instructions, materials needed, and an approximate preparation time.

Overall this book can serve as a good primary guide to starting off on the grilling journey with the black stone griddle.

Book Review: The Candlestick Trading Bible

Beginners Guide to Candlestick Trading and Succeeding in financial markets

In this day and age of market volatility achieving profitability in trading seems a far cry unless you have an army of analysts working on models, and presenting varying case scenarios. Beginners are scared to get into financial markets due to this uncertainty. Even experienced traders are finding it challenging to turn profit consistently. 

In this scenario comes The Candlestick Trading Bible, a new book about how to identify candlestick patterns, understand their implication on the markets, and use this knowledge to turn a profit. Written by Lucas Lynch, The Candlestick Trading Bible can be considered a beginners guide to trading for profits. A seasoned trader, financial educator and author, Lynch has years of experience in the financial markets with amazing analytical skills, specializing in candlestick patterns and price action trading. In this book Lynch puts forth his years of experience and passionate drive to educate the reader on improving strategies, reduce risk, and achieve profits consistently.

The Candlestick Trading Bible is a great guide for beginners to establish a structured approach to analyzing the markets, navigating financial markets successfully, avoid costly mistakes, build strong financial portfolio, develop a strategy, to achieve consistent profitability. The 184 page book is divided into five sections/ books each with different chapters dealing with different approaches and strategies aimed at helping the reader succeed in the market.

The chapter on foundations of candlestick trading explains the origins, importance, and how to identify patterns. "Visualize a bustling marketplace teeming with traders who exchange tales of triumph, caution, and invaluable lessons learned. The language spoken in this arena is one of discipline, precision, and insight," writes Lynch explaining the foundations of candlestick trading. Different candlestick patterns including Doji, Hammer, shooting star, engulfing patterns, etc are explained in detail in this chapter. 

As we progress into the book Lynch explains more advanced concepts of candlestick trading such as Bullish and Bearish engulfing, how to read market momentum, and finally explaining how to master the psychology of trading. How to deal with emotions that engulf the trader during times of market upheavals. How to overcome psychological trading pitfalls is an interesting chapter that helps even seasoned traders improve and succeed in this psychological game of financial trading.

In the final conclusion chapter Lynch reemphasized the importance of "consistent application" of candle strategies and techniques to attain success. There is also a important tips on how to acknowledge and overcome psychological battles that accompanies trading.

Overall I feel that this book is a great tool for beginner traders with its great tips and tricks on successful trading. 

Book Review

Handbook on Making Delectable Pickles

Whenever I make a sandwich the most important items I add is not mayo, or meat, rather it is the pickled vegetables including jalapenos, banana peppers, dill slices, etc. It is true the bread, meats, cheese, etc. provide the bulk of calories and nutrition in a sandwich, but without the pickled vegetables there is no allure to the complete meal. 

Personally speaking I have always bought pickles from the grocery store, that is until now. I just chanced upon the book Super Easy Pickling and Fermentation - 3-in-1 Cookbook for beginners, by Oscar Higgins which details the processes, tricks, and nuances to make tasty, nutritious, and healthy pickles in the comfort of your home. Making pickles at home not only gives us the satisfaction but also saves a ton of money - great in this economy. 

The book divided into three convenient parts for easy reading and learning is a detailed guide for the beginner and a great primer for those with experience. The first part titled Pickling and Fermentation for Beginners deals with the basic questions on how to get started, the science behind pickling, advancing the techniques, and finally a chapter dedicated on tips to create a signature preserves. "Pickling and fermenting offer plenty of benefits, allowing you to preserve some of the food your garden provides," writes Higgins in the introduction to pickling chapter. 

The second part is my favorite section as it details how to make amazing fermented vegetables and the essential tools, ingredients, and techniques. Also included are a few beginner friendly recipes to get started. The section on selecting vegetables for pickling is quite an eye opener, which is indeed the separation between great pickles and mediocre ones.

The last section is dedicated to Japanese Pickled Vegetables and details the different fermentation styles followed in Japan. The introduction also details the cultural significance of Japanese pickling. Different techniques like the Shiozuke, Nukazuke, Misozuke, Sugukizuke, among others are explained in brief detail in this section and provide an appreciation to the special Japanese techniques of fermentation.

Overall I think it is quite a voluminous book that spans across 492 pages of information, instruction, and advise to wannabe picklers and experienced fermentation experts.

Book Review: Swearing Cats Coloring Book For Adults

Cat lovers Coloring Book with a funny Twist

Back in the day coloring books were mostly aimed at children and contained images of nature, trees, cartoon characters, etc. Modern day coloring books are aimed at several niche markets and audiences. There are coloring books for adults, children, religious people, country based, thematic, etc. Several psychological studies have demonstrated the advantages and benefits of coloring as a therapeutic, focus improving, relaxing, and soul soothing practice for adults. 

The Swearing Cats Coloring Book for Adults, like the title says is a coloring book with a twist. Aimed at adults this book is themed after the friendly feline, but there is humor in each page. The expression on the cat's face, the caption, and the surrounding drawings all are designed to evoke a laugh, chuckle, or at least a smile from the user.

I like the presentation of this book, with a foreword that says how to prevent colors from bleeding through the page. The type of color ideal for the paper this book is printed on. There is also a QR code that will lead to coloring inspirations for those that are struggling to start. A page with several shapes and designs to test colors before digging into the actual book. 

With over 35 coloring pages this book will keep you occupied for a while. Every page is bound to evoke a smile, chuckle, or laugh. After coloring you can share it with friends and make them laugh too.

Book Review: Quick Crock Pot Recipes

Quick Crockpot Recipes: A Cookbook Filled with Effortless, Delicious Recipes Designed to Save You Time and Bring Comfort to Every Meal

Author: Willa West

Between work and commute I spend a lot of hours out of the house, which in turn results in eating out a lot. With advancing age and a need to eat more healthy, homemade meals I decided to make some changes. One of the first things I did was to get hold of some practical, easy, and tasteful recipes from different books. This book of crockpot recipes stood out as there was no intense involvement and I could place everything in the crockpot leave for work and by the time I am home the meal is ready and warm.

I have not used the crockpot a lot and was not very familiar with the benefits, use, and preparation. This book gives us details on how to use the crockpot, staples we need to be successful, focusing on nutrition, the benefits of crockpot, etc. The first three chapters focus solely on optimizing our gastronomic lives. Which lays a foundation for effective cooking and meal prep.

Being a vegetarian I was skeptical about the number of recipes this book would present for me. I was pleasantly surprised about the sheer variety of recipes that could be prepared straight or modified to suit my dietary requirements. I particular like the pasta and soup sections of the book. Pasta has been my go to food for a very long time. The recipes in this book such the Lemon Garlic Linguine make it even more tasteful. I have generally used the ready made soup mixes to make soups. This book empowers me with the knowledge to make soups without the high sodium premixes. Looking forward to living a more healthy life with home cooked meals.

Book Review - I want to feel how I felt when I met you

I want to feel How I felt When I met you

Author: Emily Grace Hart

The title itself throws light on a predicament most if not all modern-day couples in long term relationships feel like. Life has gotten competitive, complicated, and tough. The world is changing constantly, global inflation, political turmoil, social media, 24/7 news channels creating a sense of urgency and panic. All these are putting undue pressure on one of the basic human needs – companionship, love, and attachment. Couples that once felt passionately in love are trying to figure out where things went wrong and how the intensity of their feelings have gotten so dampened.

Neatly organized into three distinctive section I want to feel how I felt when I met you is a great guide to couples who are going through this dampened state of settling into their companionship. Written in a chatty, easy to read style with anecdotes and stories of couples going through this phase, this book provides several insights, ideas, and tricks for course correction and reignite relationships. The first section appropriately titled “Why Love Fades – Understanding the Hidden Forces That Change Your Relationship” sets the context on the science behind relationships. The chapters talk about early love, characterized by the dominance of two neurotransmitters dopamine and oxytocin. Chemicals that create a mesmerizing mix of passion, attachment, and obsession. Overtime serotonin, another neurotransmitter, takes over and creates a stable attachment situation making the couple feel safe, secure, and bonded to each other, writes Emily Grace Hart.

Putting it rather bluntly Hart reveals: “Most couples don’t realize when the shift from passion to routine begins. They expect it to be a dramatic event, some obvious moment when things change. But it rarely works that way. Emotional disconnection doesn’t happen all at once—it happens slowly, subtly, almost invisibly. And that’s exactly what makes it so dangerous.” Then goes on further to illustrate the same with real life examples of couples and then talks about how each couple fixed their relationship and reignited the passion for each other.

Part two titled How to Reignite Passion and Connection gives the reader a detailed ‘do-it-yourself’ style of techniques to revive the playfulness, fun, passion, and emotional connection, in a natural no-pressure style. Writing about the simple art of flirting in a long-term relationship, Hart emphasizes that flirting is “about bringing back playfulness and attraction” into the dynamic of couples.

The last part appropriately titled Mastering Love That Lasts Forever, Hart delves into the secrets of how to keep passion and connection alive throughout and do this without effort and naturally. The book also gives tips to couples to prevent the drift again and grow the relationship into a saga of passion.

The main strengths of this book are in its presentation and writing style. The presentation is almost conversational, casual, and chatty at the same time breaking down the complexities of emotions and feelings. Hart does not use superfluous language of euphemisms in her text, rather she is empathetic and relatable. There is no preaching in the book, rather it offers practical strategies for couples seeking to reinvigorate their relationships. The emphasis is on small daily actions rather than grandiose displays of affection. The focus is on steps to take to reconnect emotionally, physically, and psychologically and build lasting, fulfilling relationships.

Movie Review: Fist Fight

This movie depicts one of the greatest realities of today's America in a highly comical way. Written by Van Robichaux and directed by Richie Keen, Fist Fight (2017) is easily one of the most funny movies in recent times.  I had the opportunity to watch this movie when I got stuck in a long haul flight from California to Florida. Starring Ice Cube, Charlie Day, Tracy Morgan, Jillian Bell and Christina Hendricks, this movie is a laughter riot all the way from the beginning to the end.


It is the last day of school and students are not in any mood to study, in fact they are all set and prepared to play pranks on the teachers. On the management side the school board is looking to fire a bunch of teachers in a cost cutting move. In this chaotic scenario, the English teacher Andy Campbell, married father of one and expecting another child soon, inadvertently causes the dismissal of another teacher Strickland. An enraged Strickland challenges Campbell for a fistfight after school in the parking lot.


The rest of the movie is all about Campbell's efforts to get out of the fight and also be there for his daughter during her talent show, and his wife when she gives birth to their second child. The movie is presented in a hilarious way which makes anyone laugh through the movie.


I would definitely recommend watching with family and having a great time at it.