Karen Jean Matsko Hood's
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Halloween Delights Cookbook

Halloween Delights Cookbook – Paperback $19.95

LCCN: 2011923151 BISAC 1 CKB04200 BISAC 2 CKB077000 BISAC 3 CKB101000 BISAC AUD 01

About the Author: Karen Jean Matsko Hood is an internationally published author of numerous cookbooks, children’s books, poetry, and more.  A woman of wide interests, she, her husband, sixteen children, and foster children make their home in Greenacres, Washington.  Ms. Hood is currently working to complete her Ph.D. in Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University.  Websites:www.karenjeanmatskohood.com, www.karensblog.net, and www.karensbookblog.com.

Author’s Availability: Washington State and nationwide by arrangement.

Contact: Marketing and Sales Department

Phone: (509) 928-8700 or Fax: (509) 922-9949

Email: sales@whisperingpinepress.com

Website: www.whisperingpinepress.com, www.whisperingpinepressbookstore.com

Blog: www.whisperingpinepressblog.com

Whispering Pine Press International, Inc., 507 N. Sullivan Road Suite LL-5, Spokane Valley, WA 99037-8576 USA

Blueberry Delights is the latest installment in Karen Hood’s ever-popular Cookbook Delights series. Crammed with delicious recipes and interesting tidbits, graced with the delicate, sure touch of Hood’s poetry, this cookbook is a gem. Cooks of all experience levels and ambition will be thrilled with the variety of recipes that use the delicious blueberry in creative ways, all of them with well laid-out, easy-to-follow instructions. Particularly sumptuous are the recipes in which the berry is used for a savory rather than sweet effect, as in the Blueberry Basil Vinegar or the many mouth-watering main dishes like Pastrami-Spiced Beef with Blueberry Sauce. Other dishes, like the Blueberry Oven Custard Puff Pancake and Blueberry Cheesecake Fudge, promise to be decadent enough to make an impression at the fanciest occasions. There is even a recipe for blueberry wine!

As with all of Hood’s cookbooks, it is the extras that make Blueberry Delights truly stand out. At the beginning of the book, not only will you find a selection of Hood’s themed poetry, but information about identifying different types of blueberry, which will be invaluable for those who like to go berry-picking; tips about growing and cultivating blueberries in your garden; and a fascinating introduction to the berry’s history and folklore. Also present are the helpful metric conversion chart and glossary that will provide excellent assistance for less experienced cooks.

My family tried out the Blueberry Chicken Salsa Torte, Multigrain Blueberry Pilaf, and Oatmeal Blueberry Cookies. Both the torte and the pilaf were longer, more involved recipes than we usually make on a weekday, but both were well worth the extra effort. The torte was simply amazing, the blueberry salsa a bright, flavorful twist that added the perfect touch. The torte recipe is very versatile and will easily accommodate delicious additions like roasted red peppers and pico de gallo for those who want to add their own flair. Although listed in the Appetizer section, it would also make a fun lunch item. The pilaf was equally tasty, and the blueberries added a wonderful burst of flavor to the rice that had even my children (who generally don’t care much for rice) scraping their plates. The wild rice and wheat berries in the recipe also make it very nutritious,  a side dish that will please parents just as much as it will kids. The Oatmeal Blueberry Cookies that we had for dessert were quick and easy to make, and alot of fun for my kids to lend a hand. Adding a fruit other than raisins to an oatmeal cookie was a novel experience for my family, and it was a hit–we’ll definitely have to try it again with variations! As always, Karen Hood has produced another winner in her Cookbook Delights series.

Whispering Pine Press International, Inc.

Your Northwest Book and Gift Company

For Immediate Media Release

Valentine Delights Cookbook

A Collection of Valentine Recipes

Cookbook Delights Series

More than any other time of the year, St. Valentine’s Day fills our hearts and minds with special feelings of tenderness and appreciation for that special person in our lives. We enjoy doing something out of the ordinary that shows our loved one that we truly value them and are pleased with who they are.  In Valentine Delights Cookbook, author Karen Jean Matsko Hood presents her collection of more than 260 exciting Valentine recipes and some charming ideas on the subject to titillate the romantic and creative imagination in us all.  Inside, you will also find some fascinating reading regarding this special day’s history, folklore, symbols, and much more.  With recipes using readily available ingredients, Valentine Delights Cookbook will be a valued addition to any chef’s bookshelf.

Please visit our websites at www.whisperingpinepress.com, www.whisperingpinepressbookstore.com.  6 x 9, 324 pp., featuring a durable, full-color cover in a variety of bindings.  Whispering Pine Press International, Inc., Your Northwest Book and Gift Company © 2011.

Inside You Will Find:

Valentine’s Day Recipes

Valentine’s Day Language of Flowers

Valentine’s Day Symbols

Facts about Valentine’s Day

Valentine-Themed Poetry

Valentine’s Day History

Types of Valentines

Valentine’s Day Folklore

Index and Glossary

LCCN: 2011900697  BISAC 1 CKB042000  BISAC 2 CKB101000  BISAC 3 SEL009000  BISAC AUD 01

About the Author: Karen Jean Matsko Hood is the author of numerous cookbooks, children’s books, poetry, and more.  A woman of wide interests, she, her husband, sixteen children, and foster children make their home in Greenacres, Washington.  Ms. Hood is currently working to complete her Ph.D. in Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University.  Websites: www.karenjeanmatskohood.com and www.karensblog.net.

Author’s Availability: Washington State and nationwide by arrangement.

Contact: Marketing and Sales Department

Phone: (509) 928-8700 or Fax: (509) 922-9949

Email: sales@whisperingpinepress.com

Websites: www.whisperingpinepress.com, www.whisperingpinepressbookstore.com

Blog: www.whisperingpinepressblog.com

Whispering Pine Press International, Inc.

507 N. Sullivan Road Suite LL-5

Spokane Valley, WA 99037-8576 USA

Hood and Matsko Family Tree and Heritage is a great book for anyone interested in genealogy.  The Hood and Matsko families did research and discovered that they have descendants from Ireland, Germany, Great Britain, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia.  Through adoption their families are connected to Korea, Africa, and India, as well as other countries.  The Hood and Matsko families have traced their heritage back to 1786.  By following the success and methods of this family, it will encourage you to try the same pattern of discovery for your family heritage.  The book offers excellent tips and recommendations for anyone researching their family history.


Please visit our websites at www.whisperingpinepress.com, www.whisperingpinepressbookstore.com, and www.hoodandmatskofamilytree.com. 8½ x 11, 320 pp., featuring a durable, full-color cover in a variety of bindings.  Whispering Pine Press International, Inc., Your Northwest Book and Gift Company © 2011.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, we are right in the thick of huckleberry season, that marvelous time of year when the Northwest’s favorite berry is ripe and ready for the plucking!

Huckleberries are a delicious, blueberry-like fruit that can range in color from deep crimson to dark purple. Because huckleberry bushes yield a small amount of fruit compared to other berry bushes, they are rarely grown by farmers. Most huckleberries are handpicked in the wild and sold in local stores and farmer’s markets, or harvested for specific companies that use the berries to make syrups, jams, jellies, and other tasty treats. Many huckleberries grow in high elevations on the slopes of mountains. There are dozens of varieties, but the most sought after is the black huckleberry, which yields its sweetest fruit at elevations of 3000 to 6000 feet.

The huckleberry has great cultural significance for the local Native Americans: the Yakamas used them as a major food source for centuries, and still uses them in feasts and religious ceremonies today. For others in the Pacific Northwest, this berry is quite beloved, spawning numerous Huckleberry Festivals in small towns across the region. Even bears love these juicy, flavorful berries–so if you are out in a remote location looking for your own huckleberries to pick, be careful!

Once you have a gallon or two of huckleberries, what next? How to transform all those sweet berries into delectable treats that will delight you and your family… Luckily, we have just the thing! Huckleberry Delights is a wonderful cookbook full of delicious recipes that will help you make the most out of your huckleberries. Recipes have clear, simple directions and are accompanied by a collection of poems, folklore, and history that add to your enjoyment and knowledge. Huckleberry Delights comes in several formats, including a bilingual English-Spanish version, a Christian version with selected Bible verses, a large print edition, and a journal that can be used to record your own thoughts and recipes. To order this unique cookbook, click here.

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