Feeding the Hungry Ghost: Life, Faith, and What to Eat for Dinner - A Satisfying Diet for Unsatisfyi

Feeding the Hungry Ghost by Ellen Kanner is about cooking great food, and savoring the experience of a good meal with family and friends. The recipes included are vegan, but that doesn't mean you have to be in order to enjoy them. Try the recipes, enjoy the stories, and have fun and truly enjoy food again.

Feeding the Hungry Ghost is a beautiful mixture of stories with recipes to feed your body and soul. This is a vegan book that reminds us that food is meant to be shared with family and friends, and enjoyed. Food is good and even better when it is bought locally when it is in season.

Although the author does stress going vegan, it is not something that is for everyone. However, everyone can enjoy the recipes and stories included in the book. Make some of the recipes for yourself and see if you like them, and want to incorporate them into your meals throughout the seasons.

Some of my favorite recipes included in the book:

* Lavender Tea

* Down and Dirty Rice

* Unconventional but Seductive Veggie Paella

* Moroccan Carrot Salad

I enjoyed reading this book and discovering some truly new and tasty recipes. If you like food (and honestly, who doesn't?), try this book and the recipes in it. I highly recommend it.

* Thank you to the publisher of Feeding the Hungry Ghost, New World Library, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

In all honesty, I tend to read recipes in a cookbook more than the book itself. That would be a mistake with this book. It really is a book about eating, the role that food plays in being happy and healthy (not self medicating with food, nurturing your soul with food and the process of creating serious food). A lot of the recipes feature ingredients that do not nurture my soul particularly well, but many do. I am not going to list the recipes I like because I really think you should read the book not jump to the food that speaks to me. This book is personal, comes across as authentic and encourages a healthy relationship with your food. It is also well written. What more can I say beyond "read this book."

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Kale chips rock. I am always interested in great cooking and this book delivered. Great ideas on food for the soul

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What a great book! This is somewhat of a self-help recipe book. It's not your typical recipe book and it's not meant to be. Ellen Kanner provides the reader with the most wonderful stories that surround the recipes and they blend so well to feed not just your body but your very soul. It's a fun read. The recipes are easy and inspiring. Although I am a cook, I believe this book will inspire anyone who reads it to take time to cook delicious food. Bringing back the ritual of breaking bread with those you want to be with is really quite easy and this book shows you that you can do that for yourself and those you are with in a way that does not consume a lot of time at all.

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This book has a wonderful story and great guide lines to learning to eat healthier. Plus fantastic recipes! Great read.

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Grow It: How to Grow Afro-Textured Hair to Maximum Lengths in the Shortest Time

I purchased this book back in Jan/Feb 2009. I was skeptical. I've been on my natural hair journey for 6years now. I felt like nothing she could say could possibly prove me wrong..well Miss Chicoro sure did!

Not only did I complete the reading in 24hrs (awesome read btw) but I also started implementing the process the first night! I threw away my shampoo and started co-washing. I learned about cleansing my hair and scalp into sections, using smoothing techniques both before and after detangling.

It took me 6 months to sit down and actually write this review. Why, because I want YOU to know that the information in here is golden. My hair has retained at least 4 inches since I've started w/ Chicoro's methods!!! It's healthy and strong and I LOVE IT!

Anyone who is hesitating on purchasing this book, don't. This is some solid, valuable information that I wish I had learned 6 years prior to my hair journey! Chicoro is a beautiful woman inside and out, and I am so thankful that she was willing to share her knowledge with all of us!

Happy natural journey,

Cinammon/NasdaqDiva

I have been trying to grow my hair most of my life. But it wasn't until around 1994, that I took it seriously to try and grow long hair. In that time I've read several books about natural hair & hair care -books like Lonnice Brittenum Bonner's Good Hair, Pamela Farrell's Let's Talk Hair, & Aubrey Hampton's Aubrey Organics Natural Hair and Skin Care. Chicoro's Grow It! will be added to this list.

A true hair book about hair care Grow It! is the first to demystify and codify the mindset, processes & techniques of growing LONG afro-textured hair.

This book doesn't try to push products on you. Instead, it's all about the process. About you gaining the knowledge, making the decision, & taking the steps to achieve your goals -lessons that honestly, can be extracted to achieve any goal in life. Chicoro breaks down her process into 6 simple steps -showing that growing healthy, long, afro-textured hair is not some far-off, lofty goal. It is real & obtainable.

About the only criticism I have of the book -the reason I gave it 4 out of 5 stars -is that we don't see enough pictures & diagrams throughout. Besides the cover & back cover, we don't get to see her hair. As a member of longhaircareforum.com, I've seen her lush, mane of hip length natural hair, & I've also seen evidence of the process she entails in her book working for her & others. She documents her journey here:

All of this is to say, the proof is in the pudding. It's one thing to talk about "growin' some hair". It's a "whole `nother thing" to have a head full of natural hair cascading down your back as evidence:). I'm glad she finally put down her words in book form. The world of hair care is better for it.

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i've been natural almost 10 years but about 6 years in there i had locs. i wish i'd had this book when i first went natural. chicoro does an excellent job of dispelling a widely held myth that black hair can't grow long!! of course i had long hair when my hair was loc'd but even i thought it seemed impossible for my hair to get long in its loose state.

the book lays out a well thought out plan that, if followed, will help you retain your hair. this is the key since breakage is the biggest enemy to longer lengths. no this book doesn't present any rocket science but it did help me reconsider/rethink some things. namely for me the concept of detangling with my fingers on dry hair and only wetting the hair with water, conditioner or oil if needed to further detangle. i always thought i had to have my hair sopping wet with conditioner while standing in the shower when detangling. this often lead to utter frustration and no doubt some breakage. the dry detangling before cleansing takes a while (the first time) but i did feel like i had more "control" of getting tangles out of my hair and loss less hair.

the rest of the topics were things that were a good reminders and some new tidbits of information i'd learned along the way from experience or the internet or other natural haircare books.

i would highly recommend this book especially for someone who is newly natural but even veterans can get something out of this. for the price it's totally worth it to help you grow your hair. as someone else commented there are no pictures or diagrams in the book but that didn't bother me one bit because you can find a plethora of natural hair pics online and chicoro does have her blog for all to see. i have several pages marked for reference. good job chicoro!

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I would have given this book 5 stars but I had to knock off 2 stars because:

There were no photographs inside the book. None. No drawing, no diagrams showing how to do some of the things the author recommended. Authors need to remember that for How to books, a picture is worth a thousand words.

There was no section on protective styles, that is, the kind of hairstyles that are best at protecting the ends of the hair. It would have been great to have pictures or drawing showing different types of protective styles and how to achieve them.

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OMG! What a wakeup call! My eyes have been opened! I've been natural for almost five years, experiencing growth that I never had while relaxed! I thought that because my hair is naturally curly and since I was no longer killing my hair with heat, that I did not have to do anything extra to take care of it! Once my hair achieved a length that I had never had, it started to break off due to the permanent, lighter hair color, lack of moisture and basically not protecting my ends. I did not think that I could incorporate Chicoro's methods into my daily routine (moisturizing, washing hair while braided, tying hair down at night with a satin scarf, protecting ends daily, etc.) because I thought that it would be time consuming. Once I started to practice these methods, it was not all that time consuming at all! To my surprise, I have experienced one inch of growth in six weeks! I'm excited about continuing this journey! Thanks Chicoro for your research, testimony and this book!

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Makeup: The Ultimate Guide

I own almost every makeup book created at the moment, and this is one of my favorites. Besides the photos being gorgeous, the tips and explanations are great and easy to replicate with some patience. I also like it gives step by step of the instructions for eyeshadow looks (almost 50+ pages of them)

Update: So i've had this book for a year and i still love it, i was able to move on from eyeshadow looks to the contouring section which is very detailed and helpful. For those who really want to upgrade their makeup skills, this book is a wealth of information in a variety of areas that you can build on. To date its one of the best beauty makeup books out there.

This book is a must have for your library. Thank you thank you Rae for doing a section on color theory!!! Yeah. Also big kudos for covering mature make up and a very detailed chapter on contouring. LOVE this book. I hate to say this but I wish it was longer. I hope she comes out with another book because I'd be buying it up real quick. Enjoy the video preview.

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This book is more inspiration than instruction. Yes, there are step by step instructions and sections on specialty issues, ie, oriental eyes, some makeovers of older women, but essentially the book assumes a certain level of proficiency. That being said, her contouring and highlighting photographs are well worth the price of the book. (Remember to blend.) There are some color charts and tips and at least this author isn't afraid to recommend false eyelashes.

The photographs are largely editorial with an emphasis on eyes. Again like couture, it is not for everyday wear but provides a creative impulse to integrate. I liked that she included the older ladies (also lovely model specimens) with assist to their issues. (I also thought it was a major cautionary tale about sun damage.) I would have like to see greater diversity especially regarding age and profession (non-models please). Yes, those fifteen year olds have pefect skin and are totally unblemished by either time or experience. No challenge there. But find the beauty in the imperfection and make it work.

Again a fun book to look at with some valuable tips and charts.

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So as a person of Colour (like Iman or slightly darker) I was more than disappointed to see that there was NOT even one Dark model. The darkest model was barely as dark as JLo. There was a chapter on Asian eyes with 4 looks. There was also a chapter on "Over 40s" with 5 looks. This was slightly helpful since my mother is over 40 and slightly lighter. They do have good tips and a eye colour chart which is probably the most usable thing for a person of dark skin (though the chart is more about eye colour than skin). The are 25 eye looks but not much lips (but more like 1 picture and some helpful tips). There is also a section on 10 minute makeovers with 6 looks. There are a FEW TIPS on foundation, contouring, highlighting, bronzing and applying false eyelashes. There are definitely lost of pictures though there is a step by step layout there is not much step by step explanation for a very novice learner but with practice (which is / will be needed) you will get the hang of it.

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I got this book at the library and decided against buying it. The reason had nothing to do with its content, but rather due to needs. This book is chalk full of detail and is an excellent guide, however it is NOT for beginners, and it is not for everyday looks for the most part. It is for dinner parties, or for someone who "plays" with make-up everyday. I found Jemma Kidd's "Masterclass" to be better for people like me who are familear with general make-up techniques and want to try some new looks and ideas but who aren't looking to do anything particularly "out-there" and aren't skilled at make-up, but have some general knowledge. Over-all could be a great book for you, but middle of the road everyday type gals like me it didnt suit...

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The Principles of Unarmed Combat

First off, I want to emphasize that this is the most detailed book I have ever read on the specific principles and factors which make up unarmed combat. It is also not a book you would want to read for recreation and pleasure. This is not a criticism of the book. This text was written like a college level text book. It has ten sections and over 50 chapters, as well as 351 pages in its 11 by 81/2 size format. In fact, it is impossible to intellectually absorb the amount of detail given in each section without studying this book with the same intensity you would give in a college physiology and kinesiology course. Though many life time students of the martial arts may be familiar with many of the concepts and principles, this book makes you think even more deeply on any preconceived ideas you may have on physical combat. This book also explodes some of the many myths concerning the value of certain martial art practices. In this respect, it deals with the reality of combat.

The ten sections in this tome include: The basic principles, body posture, movement and footwork, striking, defending against strikes, transitions, takedowns, ground fighting, miscellaneous topics and the psychology of combat. The illustrations are clear drawings showing the principles of a technique; however, in my opinion there should have been even more illustrations for this size text. However, this is the only real criticism I have of this amazing book.

If you truly desire to understand all the complex factors involved in unarmed combat, you will want to make this book part of your martial art and self-defense library. There is a store house of knowledge contained on the pages of this excellent book.

In conclusion, if you are a serious and dedicated student of any type of physical combat system you will want to study, and not just read this book.

Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Monadnock Defensive Tactics System)

Well I guess I should start off this review with a bit of my background so that you can fully understand and appreciate the depth of the review I am about to give on this book.

I have been a practicing martial artist for the past three decades and an instructor for 25 of those thirty years. I currently hold the rank of 4th degree black belt in the martial art of Taekwondo, not the sport version, as well as a 4th degree black belt in Karate. I have also spent a sizable portion of the past 15 years focusing more on self-defense and combatives techniques including; Krav Maga, knife combatives, firearms training, etc. During these past three decades I have worked in a variety of violence prone professions such as; eight years as a law enforcement officer, three years working at a state run mental hospital (and No, I wasn't a patient), worked various security jobs as a bouncer in various bars, nightclubs, concerts, and strip clubs. So in a nutshell, I have been around the block a few times and have seen more than my fair share of the dregs of society and the horrible things that people do to one another. And with that final thought, on with the review.

NOTE: This is a book that focuses on the more important aspect of principles and concepts over actual techniques, which as any knowledgeable proponent of the martial arts and self-defense will tell you is vastly more important than a particular punch, strike, kick, or joint technique.

This is one of the most thoroughly thought out and detailed books that I have ever seen concerning the various principles involved in various aspects of martial arts and unarmed combat. And while not perfect, I would have to say that it rates on a scale of 1 to 100 as probably 90% complete, and I would have rated it even higher had the author included a lot more illustrations and photographs to enhance the literary portion of this book instead of just having the few and sparsely placed computer images of a human body. So with that one small glitch in an otherwise outstanding book I feel that EVERYONE who is involved in the martial arts and self-defense field should own a copy of this book. It literally is that well done!

The author breaks the contents of this book down into ten major sections with numerous sub-sections under each section. Those ten sections are as follows:

1. The Basic Principles

2. Body Posture

3. Movement and Footwork

4. Striking

5. Defending Against Strikes

6. Transitions

7. Takedowns

8. Ground Fighting

9. Miscellaneous Topics

10. The Psychology of Combat

This book comes in at well over 300 pages and it is a full 300 plus pages of very sound information that can not be read in one sitting and it not intended to be read once and then put on the shelf to collect dust. The author fully intended to have the reader take this book and read one section at a time, numerous times, in order to slowly process the information and then incorporate it into your existing training regime. Like I stated earlier, I have been doing this for three decades and I learned a lot reading this book. Some of the information was new to me, while the vast majority was known, but not in as much detail as I previously thought I knew it. While there were some bits of information that I tended not to agree with completely, although that was far and few between.

The information provided in this book is applicable to anyone practicing any martial art or combative system anywhere in world. Granted some of the information may be more pertinent to your particular discipline than others, but it is all sound and all relevant even if it doesn't all directly address your particular style. For example; the sections on ground fighting and grappling may not be of rabid interest to a Taekwondo practitioner, but that doesn't mean that the information isn't relevant, especially if the Taekwondo practitioner suddenly found himself up against a wrestler or BJJ fighter.

I highly recommend this book without reservation or hesitation!

Shawn Kovacich

Martial Artist/Krav Maga Instructor

Author and Creator of numerous books and DVD's.

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This is a general book on principles for all unarmed fighting arts. If you want more techniques to be shown then do not get this book. However, if you want to know the why and how the purchase this product for your library.

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The Herbal Home Spa: Naturally Refreshing Wraps, Rubs, Lotions, Masks, Oils, and Scrubs (Herbal Body

This is a great book for all those interested in making their own skincare and bodycare products. The recipes are very easy to follow and all the products I've made have come out wonderfully. I have noticed a definite improvement in my skin. There is also a great reference guide to all the products that are used. I would defintely recommend this book to anyone, from the beginner to the advanced.

My skin is very sensitive and I am 56 years old. The facial steam is one of my favorites. The ingredients are easy to get at my health food store and are beautiful dried flowers, etc. I make and use the steam in a big pot and reheat it and use it the next 2 days before composting it. Do this especially before a big event. My skin looks so much better. The steam is such an easy, pretty gift to make. I bought 12 books to give as gifts and they are gone, so quickly.

My co-workers were talking about going to a spa for a seaweed wrap at mucho bucks. I brought in my last copy of the book for them to see the recipes instead. For a special party, get together to pamper yourselves.

Thank you Greta for opening up the opportunity to so easily age gracefully.

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There is nothing wrong with using the products in this book if you make one serving per use. If produced at this rate, you won't have to worry about bacteria. All of the ingredients are fresh and easy to combine, which is the whole point. The alcohol is used as an astringent which means you will need a moisturizer right after. All in all, this book was well written, easy to understand and worth the money. I buy books on a regular basis and would like to leave word of advice. All books aren't going to please everyone but if there are more good reviews than bad, it's generally worth giving a try and vice versa. Buy the book. You have nothing to lose, really.

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This is a very good book for the beginner like I am. This book has a chock full of very useful information without all the fancy pictures. Most spa books are built like magazines with colorful vivid pictures and not alot of information. This book is to the point and addresses many things and is not filled with fillers or useless junk information. It may not be as aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but it give you the information you want and need to learn about herbal spas. There are many great ideas in here that can easily be used to build your own unique custom gifts that are more personable that going to commercial stores. There is enough reference in here to build your own concoctions as well. I recommend this book for anyone who is interested in herbal spas.

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So many recipes, so little time! Whether you are pampering yourself or making gifts for friends, this book has easy to follow recipes for everyone. The ingredients are easy to obtain and recipes easy and fun to follow. Among the original recipes contained here are recipes for all natural bubble baths using gelatin. Ms. Breedlove gives a great overview of how to prepare your concoctions and a well thought out listing of ingredients and what they are for. A nice addition to my collection.

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