July 2022 New Releases

(Posted on Tuesday, July 12, 2022)

Readers of our blog will remember that last month’s new releases touched on themes of introspection and nostalgia. This month, our new titles continue on that path and focus on meaningful reflection. Whether on the past, relationships, word choice, or actions, the midway point of 2022 is the perfect time for contemplation. 

As always, please leave us comments below or review this month’s books on your favorite platform; we love to hear from readers, and our authors do too!

Amplify Publishing

We’re kicking our July titles off with Reimagining Blue from Amplify Publishing. Written by former Aurora, Illinois, police chief Kristen Ziman, this captivating memoir shares details of Kristen’s life and upbringing, her time in the police force and the many challenges she faced, and her thoughts on the way forward for policing. 

Mascot Books

At Mascot Books, we’re releasing four new nonfiction titles. From a multigenerational story about a legendary Hungarian family, to one man’s account of his bond with his dog, to the life story of renowned NFL coach Mike Westhoff, this month’s memoirs are insightful, heartfelt, and incredibly honest. And topping things off, we’re releasing a guide that helps readers improve their writing and learn how to make words shine. No two stories are the same, but these four books show that we can always learn from each other’s journeys. 

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June 2022 New Releases

(Posted on Tuesday, June 7, 2022)

Often, our new releases find a serendipitous harmony. This month, many of our latest books revolve around introspection and reflection. Whether it is parents teaching their children about loss and sharing nostalgia for the past, or adults meditating on life or financial concerns—with so much going on in the world, everyone needs to step back and look inward once in a while. Take a moment now to explore our June releases from our Amplify Publishing. 

As always, please leave us comments or reviews of this month’s books; we love to hear from readers, and our authors do too!

Amplify Publishing

Women Wise: The Essential Guide to Financial and Lifestyle Decisions as We Age by Eleanor Blayney and Marjorie L. Fox is our latest Amplify release. This project is the culmination of a collaboration between financial experts Blayney and Fox, our Amplify team, and our CEO Naren Aryal. Finances can be challenging, especially as we age, but Fox and Blayney have created the essential guide to women’s financial decisions. As they say, “when it comes to retirement advice, one size does not fit all.”

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May 2022 New Releases

(Posted on Tuesday, May 3, 2022)

For many, May is a period of renewal and taking things slowly—when it isn’t quite summer yet, but you’re feeling the warmth of spring. The books below will keep readers occupied, entertained, and learning throughout the month and into the summertime. As always, please leave us comments or reviews of this month’s books; we love to hear from readers, and our authors do too!

RealClear Publishing

With the emergence of COVID-19 in 2020, healthcare has become one of the most salient issues in our country—both for everyday people and policymakers. And with that, questions continue to arise about how to navigate US healthcare and insurance plans. In his new book The Healthcare Labyrinth: A Guide to Navigating Health Plans and Fixing American Health Insurance, health plan expert Marc S. Ryan outlines how to navigate this complicated system and offers pathways to reform for our seemingly broken healthcare system.

Amplify Publishing

The discussion about healthcare continues with one of our Amplify titles, Cutthroat, although Dr. Steven J. Cyr approaches it from the perspective of a doctor trying to make things work within the world of big government healthcare. The three other Amplify books, The Waymakers, Why I Find You Irritating, and The Potentialist examine how individuals can succeed, despite hardships in their lives and work. The Waymakers looks at how people have been helped along the way and how future leaders can do the same for those who come after them. The Potentialist dives into individual potential and makes sure everyone has the tools to reach their full potential. And Why I Find You Irritating helps you navigate challenging relationships at work.      

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April Feature: Making It Delicious

(Posted on Friday, April 10, 2020)

Our April featured title is Making It Delicious by Chef Jamie Daskalis, a cookbook with an emphasis on Southern food, but with a twist! From fun spins on the classics to indulging your sweet tooth, Chef Jamie’s recipes star simple and fresh ingredients that encourage creativity in the kitchen. We promise you’ll find a new favorite dish within these pages! 

Chef Jamie Daskalis is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America with a degree in baking and pastry. She has worked in the restaurant business for more than fifteen years, and was recently awarded Chef of the Year by Grand Strand Magazine and The Myrtle Beach Hospitality Association. Chef Jamie is the owner and head chef of Johnny D.’s Waffles and Benedicts, one of the hottest breakfast spots in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A working mother of a child with special needs, she understands the importance of fast, affordable, and family-friendly food, and hopes that she can help families through this cookbook. 

An Interview with Chef Jamie

1. When creating recipes, what is the brainstorming process like? Is there a trial and error? 

When I create new dishes, sometimes it is something that I really think about, but more often than not, it is opening the refrigerator and pantry and grabbing a few things. I tend to cook every dish with the same attitude, simple. By simple, I mean, simple ingredients and simple techniques but never simple flavors. Cooking at home should not feel like a job in itself. Many of us work all day or are taking care of the kids and by the time it is time to eat, we are exhausted. That’s why when I put together the collection for Making It Delicious, I kept that in mind. I did not want my recipes to exhaust anyone. Some of the recipes are a little more time consuming and have more steps then others but sometimes you have more time and energy. I tried to give it a good balance. 

When I am doing a dish for a competition or event, I do tend to brainstorm a lot, sometimes too much.  If I am cooking for a special event, I always make a round of whatever I am going to serve to adjust any techniques or seasoning before getting to the main event. I need to know exactly what it is going to look and taste like before the event. I always try to make sure I have a salty, sweet, and crunchy component with all the dishes I make in competition. I find that I receive the best feedback if I can get all three on a plate. And of course, I always put together a little research and development team to give me feedback beforehand.  

2. Food tends to bring people together. Do you have a favorite moment of people bonding over a dish you made?

When I first moved to South Carolina, I met my friend Stephanie, who at the time was living across the street from me.  The first time I invited her and her husband over for dinner, I felt the need to show off a bit. So I prepared fresh homemade fried pork dumplings for an appetizer, a stuffed flank steak with veggies, and a fresh fruit tart for dessert. The rest was history and we have been best friends ever since. I am not saying we are best friends because of the food I cook, but it definitely gives me the edge!

3. Which of your recipes do you think is the easiest to make and which one is the most advanced?

I think that the breaded pork chops with the sauteed apples and risotto is the hardest.  Only because the risotto needs to be watched closely and at the same time you need to prepare the pork chops and apples. Now when I say hard, I don’t really mean hard, like you need a special skill set to prepare this recipe.  You just need to take a minute, read the recipe and get yourself ready to cook. I would have to say that one of the recipes I think is the easiest and is a favorite is the shrimp tacos with corn salsa. The shrimp cook up in a matter of minutes, and have great flavor because of the seasoning, and the jalapeno ranch can be prepared quick as well. The corn salsa takes a few minutes to prepare because of the chopping but it is easy and you end up with enough for 2 dishes.  There are a few other recipes that use corn salsa, so you can plan a second meal, or a snack with some chips.  

4. Which recipe is your favorite?

My favorite recipe in Making It Delicious is the Mediterranean meatball hero. It wins big over the rest for me because it reminds me of my mother. Throughout the years, she has made us these Greek meatballs and we ate a lot of them. When I was preparing for a big event, I decided I wanted to make a “gyro.” But since it was a tasting size serving, I decided to make a deconstructed “gyro” with meatballs  that mimicked my mother’s. I served it with a little dressed cucumber pico, but with Mediterranean flavors, a couple slices of pita bread, and my mother’s Tzatziki sauce. Needless to say the guests and the judges LOVED it and I took home the judges choice for my Mediterranean Meatballs. The best part of the night was that my mom was at the event to witness the win.   

5.   Cooking can be fun and creative, as you’ve shown. What advice do you have for people who now have more time on their hands and are looking for new ways to improve their cooking skills? 

I would tell them to keep it simple. You do not need to have fancy or specialty ingredients. Good quality proteins, fresh fruit and veggies, some salt and pepper, lemon and butter go a long way. You would be surprised how often I just use lemon to add a burst of acidity and freshness when finishing a dish. Cooking does not have to be complicated. If it is complicated it is not fun to me. I do not want to sit down to eat and be exhausted from cooking. 

I would also suggest picking up a few fresh herb plants and keeping  them by a window. And don’t forget to water them. Fresh herbs, to me, are the best way to add big flavor to any dish. If you always have them sitting on the window or in a garden you will be more inclined to use them. Purchasing them each time could be costly, and because of this you may pass on the opportunity. I always have basil, dill, rosemary, thyme, and mint growing at my house to use as I wish. 

Making It Delicious is a great kitchen tool to help you learn and understand that ingredients can and should be utilized in many different ways. This will help save you money and time at the grocery store. It has different recipes for sauces to keep handy, tips and tricks throughout the book, a quick red meat cooking guide, a temperature guide, tips to setting up a breading station and 98 recipes to help and teach you some new dishes. This cookbook was designed for the home cook in mind. I hope you love it!

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