Book Review: Super Easy by Ree Drummond (aka The Pioneer Woman)

Earlier this evening, I attended a book signing for The Pioneer Woman's latest cookbook: Super Easy.  The official release date isn't until tomorrow, but thanks to the signing event, I was able to get my hands on a copy today. I own ALL of her cookbooks, and I have to admit, this latest one might just be my new favorite. 

I own 5 of Ree's cookbooks (three of which I've gotten signed at Meet & Greet events) and thus far, the Dinnertime book is the one I've gotten the most use out of (especially the Vodka sauce recipe and Coconut Curry Shrimp).

Now that I've had a chance to peruse the Super Easy book, there are a bunch of recipes I'm itching to try. What I like about it is that the recipes incorporate some sensible shortcuts (pre-made sauces, spice mixes, frozen pre-cut veggies, etc.) that cut down on the prep time considerably, without sacrificing flavor. She's got everything from "Mug Omelettes" for a quick and easy breakfast to "Mug Cakes" for a speedy and satisfying dessert/late night snack. 

There's even a recipe that incorporates ramen noodles, and a "hamburger helper inspired" pasta and ground beef dish that offers all of the convenience of a pre-packaged meal without the usual preservatives. 

Super Easy is available tomorrow, but is already #1 on Amazon's bestseller list.  

Review: LuLaRich on Amazon Prime

I've been railing against Multi-level Marketing schemes for a long time now, so I was really looking forward to the LuLaRich series on Amazon Prime--and it did not disappoint!

There are 4 episodes that cover the rise and fall of LuLaRoe, an MLM company that sells some of the most hideous clothing I've ever seen. The leggings became a nationwide phenomenon in 2016, which has always been so hard to understand, given the garish, loud patterns that are the trademark of this brand, but this documentary helps shed some light on things. We meet DeAnne Stidham and her husband Mark Stidham, the founders of LuLaRoe, and follow their journey from scrappy self-made business owners to an MLM commission-based model that looks suspiciously like a pyramid scheme. 

A few takeaways: it is astounding how much money was made by those who got into the business early. The folks at the top of the pyramid received monthly bonus checks well into the six-figure range, and it's very hard to feel sorry for these folks when everything comes crashing down later. 

By far the most moving episode is episode 3, where they touch on the predatory nature of MLMs, and how they specifically target stay-at-home moms and women who feel guilty about not working full-time outside the home. One of things I dislike the most about MLMs is the emotional manipulation they engage in to recruit new victims: selling the promise of belonging to a "tribe" or a "sisterhood" in order to exploit the loneliness that many women feel when they've sacrificed their careers in order to raise their children. Meanwhile, these "friendships" with your upline are all a sham--the minute you stop selling product and earning them a commission, the people who have recruited you into their group inevitably turn on you, and ramp up the guilt. To me, this emotional pain is even worse than the monetary price that victims inevitably wind up paying.

Bottomline: stay away from MLM schemes. Steer clear of the weight loss programs that are starvation diets in disguise, the overpriced makeup, scented candles, essential oils, costume jewelry, cleaning products, hair regrowth serums--all you will wind up doing is alienating friends and family, losing money,  and feeling foolish once you realize you've been duped.

WATCH THE OFFICIAL TRAILER HERE: 

FDNY Memorial, St. Michael's Cemetery, Queens NY

 My husband and I visited St. Michael's Cemetery last week, which is home to this moving memorial to the NYC Firefighters who perished on September 11, 2001.  #NeverForget

Opinions are like...

Yes, I post about Oreos, and lots of other stuff, too. If seeing these occasional cookie reviews triggers you in some way, to the point that you feel compelled to Google the ingredients list and post a rant about how sugar is the devil, you may want to do a little more research.

REVIEW: Apple Cider Donut Oreos

 

I thought I had reached my saturation point with Limited Edition Oreo flavors, but these Apple Cider Donut Oreos are 100% worth a try. I'm pretty sure the cinnamon apple filling has crack in it!