Category: DK Canada

Grilled Pizzas and Piadinas: Summer Living with DK Canada

Summer Living with DK Canada

Summer is just about here, we are finally getting warmer weather and the May long weekend has just passed by. Now what does this typically bring? If you are like our family it means lots of time spent outdoors, cooking on the grill and get togethers with friends. But sometimes you need to spice things up on the grill to keep it fresh and unique. If you are looking for new unique foods to cook on the grill, then Grilled Pizzas and Piadinas is for you. This book is full of recipes, ideas, suggestions and more just in time for the outdoor summer season.

Grilled Pizzas and Piadinas

About Grilled Pizzas and Piadinas

Chef Craig Priebe’s culinary creativity comes to life through his innovative Italian dishes. Focusing on his award-winning pizzas and piadinas, he uses a variety of ingredient combinations to deliver delectable meals right into the home cook’s kitchen.

Mouth-watering recipes for grilled pizza with meat, chicken, seafood, and vegetables comprise the first part of this book, followed by chapters on crispy grilled piadinas, fresh salads, and grilled desserts. A typical recipe of Priebe’s calls for smoky, thin, and crispy crusts and vibrant combinations of toppings such as grilled figs, Gorgonzola, and prosciutto.

Through quick and easy instructions for 75 recipes, full-color photographs, step-by-step techniques, and party menus, a beginner cook or a seasoned chef will be inspired to fire up the grill.

My Thoughts

We love grilling in the summer months, especially when you combine this with family and the pool. Out of habit sometimes the foods we grill can be routine and the same over and over. Sometimes I blame my husbands love of steak and chicken (he literally can eat this every day) but other times its just a lack of knowing what I can cook on the grill and not being adventurous enough to try new things.

Grilled Pizzas and Piadinas takes the guess work out of the way for you. The book contains 187 pages of party planning advice, recipes and all the gadgets you will need to become the boss of the grill. They spend about eight pages going over grills, grill care and maintenance, indoor grills, basic grilling tools and kitchen tools that you will need to make your pizzas. They also give advice on their preferred tools and even how to properly measures pantry items.

The recipes start with a basic grilled pizza dough with an alternative for a thicker crust variation that will be the base for every recipe that follows. Step by step instructions help guide you through the process of making the dough, which isn’t as easy as it sounds. I have made pizza dough a couple of times and sometimes it can come out too doughy or just not quite tasting right. This recipe makes a delicious pizza crust that your whole family will love.

The book also teaches you how to cook a pizza on a grill, which may seem obvious but honestly it wasn’t until I read this. They gave tips on how to figure out if your grill is too hot and what to do to avoid this. I have scorched pita breads on the grill in the past so it is helpful to know where and what to do if this happens.

The recipes are divided in sections by pizzas with meat/chicken/seafood/vegetables, piadinas, salads and desserts. Each recipe is easy to follow with simple instructions, ingredient list and with an introduction to the individual recipe with large, bold photographs following each recipe. My personal favourite recipe? The Verduran – mixed vegetables with olives and basil, yum yum!

If you are looking for new, fresh and exciting recipes to impress your guests – this book is the perfect recipe book for you. You will find plenty of new healthy ideas to suit a variety of dietary needs. You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Captain America: The Ultimate Guide to the First Avenger

DK Canada

How can you not love Captain America? He is one of my favourite Marvel super hero. He started off as a kind but small young man and with his bravery he turns into the ultimate hero for his country. In Captain America: The Ultimate Guide to the First Avenger we learn everything and anything there is to know about this special hero.Captain America: The Ultimate Guide to the First Avenger

About Captain America: The Ultimate Guide to the First Avenger

Follow Steve Rogers’ journey from the sickly and small Army volunteer to  leader of the Avengers as well as his biggest adventures, battles, allies, and foes. Marvel’s Captain America: The Ultimate Guide to the First Avenger focuses on some of the character’s most famous comic book arcs, starting from the 1941 debut of Captain America Comics  to modern day.

This book also features a foreword by renowned former president and chairman of Marvel Comics Stan Lee, Stan Lee, this book is the essential reading for any Captain America fan.

Our Thoughts

Well, our youngest so is the ultimate Captain fan, like seriously he wears his Captain costume everywhere. He was his brother’s school mascot, he plays at the park in his costume and if you are not careful you may just get a shield thrown at you as he practices his Captain throw. So I could not wait to see what he thought about the book.

Captain America: The Ultimate Guide to the First Avenger

So what did he think? He LOVED it! The book is in hardcover and is quite large, probably just smaller than a binder. The pictures were large, amazing and true to Marvel format. The inside facts were all new to us and we learned a lot about his character as he evolved over the years. You are able to watch as Captain starts from his humble but brave beginnings to become the saviour that America needed during this time period. We learn about his uniform, his shield, his loves, his support and we even learn how Captain changes from decade to decade as his character evolved.

The book is full of amazing facts and pictures that any Marvel fan and collector would love. Our son truly cherishes this book and will pop it out nightly so that we can read a few pages from it each night before he goes to bed. This is a definite must have for the Avenger and Captain America fan in your home!

You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

Disclosure: I received the above mentioned book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Hands on This March with Beaded Jewellery from DK Canada

Are you ready to get hands on this March? Perhaps you have always wanted to design and create your own jewellery? Well get ready because Beaded Jewellery from DK Canada is ready to help teach and guide you along this journey.

Beaded Jewellery Book Review

About Beaded Jewellery

Create your own style and make beautiful jewellery with Beaded Jewellery. Common beading techniques are clearly explained, with helpful tips on which colour to choose, what equipment you will need and advice on how to find the best beads.

Features 18 step-by-step projects to help you make stunning necklaces, earrings and bracelets that you can easily make at home, including beginner, intermediate and advanced projects to suit all abilities. All designs are by Hollywood’s hippest jewellery designer, Maya Brenner, whose pieces are worn by some of the world’s most fashionable people including Reese Witherspoon and Cameron Diaz.

From high fashion to street chic, make jewellery to suit any style with Beaded Jewellery.

My Thoughts

The Beaded Jewellery is the perfect introduction to making your own jewellery at home. The book goes into deep detail about common techniques, necessary tools and equipment and information on different beads. The book is divided into sections based on the type of jewellery you want to make (earrings, necklaces, bracelets) and are further divided into beginner, intermediate and advanced projects.

The instructions (and items to purchase list) were extremely easy to follow and had large pictures to accompany each step in case you become confused. The pictures were bright, clear and focused on the exact step you were at. She also includes helpful tips in case you want to change-up beads, combinations or techniques, as well as references to where in the book certain techniques are mentioned in further detail.

The book comes in a soft, paperback format which was perfect when I headed to our local craft store to pick up supplies. I could easily mark off pages for easy reference, pull it out and compare products. It was light so I never felt weighted down in store.

Here are my designs:

Beaded Jewellery Book Review

The book was fantastic, easy to follow with incredible designs that you will love to wear.

You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Maya Brenner’s jewellery has been featured in the press, including Glamour, InStyle, and Cosmopolitan, and Maya herself has appeared on the US television show Good Day Live’s “Style File”. Her jewellery is now sold across Europe and on her website, www.mayabrenner.com. Her celebrity clientele include Cameron Diaz, Reese Witherspoon and Madonna.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Learn About the World Around You in the Pocket of Your Hand #DKCanada

Pocket Genius DK Canada

Keep facts at your fingertips in this palm sized guide from DK Canada, Pocket Genius Earth.

Pocket Guide Earth, DK CanadaAbout Pocket Genius Earth

The prefect sized books for backpacks and school desk, DK Canada’s Pocket Genius series is  the ideal source for reference. Featuring essential information, full-color images, glossary, and top ten lists, this series of books are a brand-new type of encyclopedia for young readers.

A visual look at our planet, Pocket Genius Earth delves into Earth’s geology and geography, examining oceans, mountains, deserts, clouds, and more.

Pocket Genius Earth DK CanadaMy Thoughts

This palm sized book (literally palm sized!), has 150 pages full of images and information all about our home planet, Earth. It is divided into sections based on land, ocean, atmosphere and climate. It is further broken down in each of these sections such as lakes, volcanoes, tundra, grasslands, etc. The pictures in this small book are bright and stunning. You are guided across the pages visually and it feels as those this book is quite larger than the one you are holding. Some of my favourite images come from the Tundra and ocean section.

Both my son and I, learned a lot of new facts from this book, including that after a coral dies, its  hard skeleton remains and a new corals grow on it. Neat right? This book is full of facts like this and we had a really great time reading each section. This book will fit perfectly into your child’s backpack and desk, ready to pull out during those geography classes.

You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5Pocket Genius Earth DK CanadaThe Complete Series

  • Ancient Egypt
  • Ancient Rome
  • Animals
  • Bugs
  • Cars
  • Dinosaurs
  • Dogs
  • Horses
  • Human Body
  • Inventions
  • Mammals
  • Rocks and Minerals
  • Science
  • Sharks
  • Space

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Plant Based Cookbook

Food and Drink Boutique

Going vegetarian was an important decision for me but it has also been difficult to plan meals and keep up variety. It was also hard to explain my choices to family members and friends. Plant Based Cookbook makes the guess-work easy. It breaks down how to eat a plant-based diet and fantastic recipes to go along with it.

Plant Based Cookbook Food & Drink BoutiqueAbout Plant Based Cookbook

The health benefits of a plant-based diet are at your fingertips in this all-inclusive cookbook with 200 hearty vegetarian and vegan recipes, from basics such as stocks and sauces to appetizers, meatless mains, bakes and casseroles, grains and pasta, tofu, tempeh, and seitan, desserts, and more.

The Plant-Based Cookbook also provides nutritional information, tips on transitioning to a plant-based diet, making your favorite recipes meat-free, sources of protein, cooking techniques and tools, and advice for the newbie on easy-to-do plant-based cooking.

My Thoughts

A fantastic resource for those starting out on their journey to becoming a vegetarian and those who have already been on this path for a while. This cookbook will also be helpful for family members to understand the vegetarian diet and learn a variety of recipes to cook for their family members (it isn’t all about eating vegetables!).

The hardcover cookbook contains 200 recipes with plenty of different options to choose from, not a fan of a certain vegetable or bean – no worries! Turn the pages and you will find plenty of other options. The book is divided into sections from breakfast to sides to desserts and breads. She also includes easy substitutes in her recipes if you are not a huge fan of a certain fruit or vegetable. The photography is stunning in this cookbook, large bold images span each page that make your mouth water!

The only thing I wish was included in this book was a breakdown of the nutritional value. I could easily add the recipes into my phone app but having it ready would have been nice too.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Trish Sebben-Krupka is a chef, culinary educator, cookbook author, and freelance editor. She is the owner of Local Girl Makes Food, a personal chef and culinary education business catering to clients interested in vegan, vegetarian, and eco-friendly diets. She is a former corporate chef for the Viking Culinary Center and Carl Schaedel and Co., Inc., where she created original recipes and menus; taught culinary classes in home food preservation, plant-based cooking, and sustainable cuisine.

Disclosure: I received this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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