Another blast from the past as I decided to continue using the posts from January 2014 (’25’s calendar twin). This time, featuring temptation in little bits (pulses, I mean) as well as in books and more!

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Temptations in Little Bites

From Pulse

This review is from the 2014 post (updated to make it more readable, but no other changes)

My Thoughts

This book is a pleasure –  to read, to try out the recipes, and to just peruse. It is organized very well and has a ginormously wonderful collection of recipes that I am so eager to try out. Here is my piece-meal review of the book.

Nibbles, Dips and Purees

In ‘Nibbles, Dips and Purees’, she covers quick snacks like steamed edamame, the sundal – a favorite snack in our home (even with the kids) and in most South Indian Tamil homes, and roasted chickpeas (another favorite snack in India). She also includes spreads and dips like the ever-popular hummus in so many variations, and other purees that will make you wonder at the lip-smacking uses of the humble pulse. And even baby food – nourishing, healthy, wholesome.

Fritters, Pancakes and Patties

In ‘Fritters, Pancakes and Patties’, felafels (traditional and new wave varieties – beetroot and feta cheese, anyone? I know I am trying this out soon), flatbreads and pancakes from around the world (including the dosa and quesedillas), patties that have wonderful bean-based burgers

The S’ssss

‘Soups’ (lablabi), ‘Starters’ (like a delicious rich pate of butterbeans, tomato and pistachio, as well as  remoulades and stuffed peppers), ‘Salads’ ( protein rich salads of pulses and feta cheese among others), ‘Side Dishes’ (like the awesome new dish I discovered called the Turlu turlu as well as so many others I am going to try out) are other sections in this pulsing with recipes book.

Vegetarian Mains

The section ‘Vegetarian Mains’ includes dishes that speak to you through their ingredients. Like, the Tagine from Morrocco reminds me of a dish that we make for festive occasions; the warm colors of a roasted root vegetables with chickpeas spring out of the pages;  a lentil and nut loaf – this is one dish I would have not thought of to make using lentils but after the description and the recipe, I know I am trying this out soon; familiar recipes that are much-loved and often-cooked featured in this book make me feel proud of our culinary heritage – like the humble sambar from the south of India and the ever-popular chana masala or the usal; a pea and bean risotto to brighten up any day; and a tofu stir-fry to wow ; among other numerous dishes.

Desserts

Desserts using pulses – yes, while that initially surprised me, I immediately recalled the paruppu payasam varieties made in Tamil homes for many festive occasions – these are hearty, healthy, and yummy! The dessert recipes included here are some I have not tried yet but I am going to – soon – and all of them!

And the Rest

A Full Monty section featuring a whole bunch of recipes with ham, duck, pork, lamb and more, as well as a section on Basics and one for ‘Sauces, Salsas, and Seasonings’ round out this book.

Absolutely loved the very informative ‘ Check Your Pulse’ section at the end of the book – I discovered so much about the pulses I thought I was familiar with and discovered ones I did not know about at all

Rating: A

Disclaimer: Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this delicious book. The opinions here are my own.

This review goes towards the Foodies Reads Challenge I signed up for this year as well as the 2014 Women’s Challenge – Book 1

To Brilliant Bites

My Petite Thoughts

A shorter review this time! A truly petite one, I promise!

This book is full of brilliant bites, just like the title says. From Party Bites (Pad Thai Cups and Elote Bites are two such treats) and Holiday Bites (like Love Bug Bites and Monster Cookie Balls) to Breakfast Bites like Apple Fritter and Avocado Toast as well as Snack Bites (Frito Chili Pie Bites and Fro-Yo Bites), this has something for everyone!

Of course, we need Dessert bites (so much deliciousness here) and last but not least, there are Savvy Sips (including The Sage Bee or Merry Margarita?).

It is Love at First Bite (also the title of one of the introductory sections in the book!)

From a Top Ten List of Bookish Goals Then

The Top Ten theme at The Broke and the Bookish for the 2014 Jan week: Top Ten Bookish Goals For 2014 – not much different from my 2013 goals here

1. Work on my challenges – that covers many goals 
2. Read more – with my kids
3. Write more….
4. Update my book lists – TBR/completed/others – and link to reviews wherever they are
   (my blog/amazon/goodreads/brazenreads) and put it up on my blog. Add links on other book group lists I belong to
5. Start on the review of a book as soon as I am done reading it – at least a few comments/notes so I can work on it later – if I don’t then it just is not the same…
6. Leave more comments on book blogs
7. Find interesting bookish things – anything to do with books
8. I will not continue to read books if I find them uninteresting even after 33 pages. 
9. Visit the library more often
10. Have fun reading and blogging and reviewing and doing all that I have stated above

To a Top Ten List of Upcoming Reads Now

For this week’s theme of Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2025.

1. The Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Historical Literary Fiction | June 3, 2025)
2. Away by Megan E. Freeman (Dystopian Novels in Verse | 10 years and up | Feb 11, 2025)
3. Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life by Maggie Smith (Creativity Self-Help | April 1, 2025)
4. The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami (Political Fiction | March 4, 2025)
5. Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett (Fairy Tale Fantasy | Feb 11, 2025)
6. Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray (Historical African Fiction | Feb 4, 2025)
7. Last Twilight in Paris: A Novel by Pam Jenoff (Historical Fiction | Feb 4, 2025)
8. The Library of Lost Dollhouses: A Novel by Elise Hooper (Historical Fiction | Apr 1, 2025)
9. My Friends: A Novel by Fredrik Backman (Humorous Literary Fiction | May 20, 2025)
10. Shift: Managing Your Emotions–So They Don’t Manage You by Ethan Kross (Self-help | Feb 4, 2025)

And Now, the End of This Post

Dear reader, have you read any of the authors from the Top Ten list above? Do you have any of these books on your TBR? What about the cookbooks? Have you read them? Your thoughts? Any similar recommendations? Which ones would you pick first?