by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 14, 2023 | Book Reviews
When I was told that I had PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) I was resigned to the fact that I will be fat for the rest of my life. Most information I find online tells me that it is a side effect of the condition, that it is hormonal, etc., etc. Knowing I am not alone does not make me feel better. I can’t believe that there is nothing I can do. I’m usually careful with what I eat but it does not seem to have any effect on my weight. I’m not losing weight but, thankfully, I am not gaining any either.
I came across this book called PCOS Diet Cookbook: Essential Guide for PCOS Insulin Resistance Diet with Delicious Recipes and Meal Plan to Boost Your Fertility by Dr. Archibald Johansson which not only provides information about PCOS but also suggests some good meals to help improve our health.
Personally, at my age, I am not at all concerned about fertility. I care more about losing weight and feeling good. I haven’t tried any of the recipes yet but since I do cook I can already tell that many of them would be delicious.
What bothered me though was that it lists the food to avoid includes processed food, unhealthy fats, soy products, dairy, and gluten. And yet some of the recipes include tofu and milk.
Aesthetically, the page format appears to be in long format (8.5×13 or 14) or probably half-short and most books just don’t come in that size anymore. In addition, someone should really come in and fix the layout. For the recipes, for example, most if not all of them don’t actually need to be more than a page long but they are because of the layout.
Content-wise, it is worth taking a look at. Aesthetically, it still needs a lot of work before publishing. This book is available at Amazon in paperback format for 11.99.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 13, 2023 | Bon Appetit
Every year, we always wish for the good health of our loved ones. One great way to do this is to try out new recipes that are more nutritious and share it with them.
You can offer nutritious meals to your family without compromising on taste. You can also shop for affordable ingredients at your nearby grocery. For more variety, pasta is a quick and easy ingredient you can turn into a filling meal. There are also endless possibilities with pasta or “pastabilities” that you can whip up every day.
Kick-off 2023 right with masarap, masustansya, and sulit dishes using a good quality ingredient like El Real Pasta. Here are some recipes that the whole family will enjoy:
Bet na bet na Pinakbet Pasta
Pinakbet is a Filipino ulam with pork and vegetables like squash, ampalaya, and tomatoes, which are all good sources of vitamins and minerals. You can change it up and make Pinakbet Pasta with El Real Healthy Pasta. The combination of crispy pork belly, hearty vegetables, and flavorful bagoong will give you a burst of flavor. See the full Pinakbet Pasta recipe here.
Spicy and creamy Healthy Laing Pasta
Add a spicy kick to your El Real Healthy Spaghetti by adding laing and chilis to it. The taro leaves used to make laing are known to be rich in vitamins A and C. For the sauce, it’s made with coconut cream to make it thicker and creamier. See the full Healthy Laing Pasta recipe here.
Go green with Pesto and Parmesan Macaroni
For a nutritious and filling macaroni dish, you can try making Pesto and Parmesan Macaroni. Made from basil, pesto is said to be a good source of vitamins, calcium, and iron, which makes it a great pasta sauce. Give your dish more flavor with some lemon juice and sour cream in the sauce, and top off your El Real Elbow Macaroni with chili flakes and parmesan cheese. See the full Pesto and Parmesan Macaroni recipe here.
Healthy Sardine Spaghetti for your dose of seafood
Fish like sardines are an excellent source of vitamins B-12 and D, and other nutrients. Sardines can make a great pasta dish when mixed with oil, garlic, and a little lemon juice on top of El Real Healthy Pasta. See the full Healthy Sardine Spaghetti recipe here.
Creamy Spinach Pasta for all ages
If you want a dose of iron and vitamins, you can try adding spinach to your meals. A delicious way of incorporating this into a pasta dish is by mixing it with cream and ricotta cheese. You’ll get a nice creamy sauce with hints of spinach with every bite of El Real Healthy Spaghetti or any type of El Real pasta. See the full Creamy Spinach Pasta recipe here.
Start the year right with sarap, sulit, at sustansya meals courtesy of El Real Pasta. You can now share nutritious pasta dishes that are also delicious with your loved ones, be it daily or on special occasions.
For more recipes, visit www.realpastabilities.com. For more information, follow www.facebook.com/iloveelreal.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 12, 2023 | Book Reviews
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett is probably one of the books I like to read over and over. I remember grabbing my copy sometime in the 90s and was quite excited to have Neil Gaiman sign my tattered copy when he visited here in 2010.
If you’ve read anything written by Neil Gaiman you already know how well he builds his characters, scenes, and weaves the story so that we find ourselves immersed in it. If you’ve read anything by Terry Pratchett you are already familiar with his funny bone and his penchant for puns and satire and putting his characters into comedic situations.
As I read I can tell the parts where each author put in their two cents and, I wouldn’t have thought it was possible, but the Gaiman-Pratchett collaboration works amazingly! It is so good that the story got translated into many formats including television and theater.
I love the argument about nature and nurture and how Adam was able to prove that his upbringing was a greater influence on who he was going to be and that his future is not written in stone. Aziraphale and Crowley are definitely important characters as it is their individual mess-ups that started the ball rolling, so to speak.
I hear that Good Omens, the television series, will have a second season so this will no longer be based on the book. Since Terry Pratchett passed away in 2015, I hope the production will consult with Neil Gaiman about where the story goes. Before the second season comes out I will surely read Good Omens again.
If you would like to read this story you can probably find a copy in your local bookstore but with a different cover, like the one based on the television series. You can also get a copy of the book on Amazon in several formats: Kindle, Audible, paperback, and hardcover.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 11, 2023 | Health and Wellness
Diabetes is among the highest causes of death in the Philippines, making early detection essential to avoid serious complications. Still, many Filipinos lack access to proper resources to get the care they need.
Due to this pressing concern, leading health app KonsultaMD makes it easier for patients to take the first step to better health through the Diabetes Screening package, the newest addition to its line of tailored health packages targeting illnesses prevalent among Filipinos.
“We recognize the difficulties many people experience in finding the right tools to address their health problems. So we are helping them take the first step in achieving a healthier lifestyle,” said Cholo Tagaysay, KonsultaMD CEO.
“This new offer is perfect for those who may be at risk of diabetes or are experiencing symptoms consistent with diabetes,” he added.
The all-in-one screening package includes convenient at-home lab tests necessary in screening for diabetes: FBS, CBC, CREA, Lipid Profile, Urinalysis, and HBA1C. It also has a free video consultation with a doctor for lab test interpretation.
The package comes with one-month unlimited Concierge access for a hassle-free service. Concierge is KonsultaMD’s VIP Service experience, where a customer representative will personally handle all appointments and bookings.
Those interested can avail of the Diabetes Screening Package for only Php 3,999 through the KonsultaMD app. Just input the code “KMDDiabetes” on the homepage to talk to a Concierge customer representative.
KonsultaMD offers accessible and affordable healthcare through its app. It provides 24/7 on-demand doctor consultations via chat, video, and voice as well as access to e-Medical documents, diagnosis services, and mental health support, among others.
Download the app at use.konsulta.md/kmddiabetes. To learn more about KonsultaMD, visit www.konsulta.md.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 10, 2023 | Book Reviews
I’ve been seeing Plain Jane by Celice Wylder pop up so often and I did add it a while back but I could not seem to start it. Part of it was because I wasn’t too keen on the cover art but another was because I read a book from Celice Wylder last year that I was not happy with.
Yesterday I decided to take the plunge and opened this book. I am so glad that I did as this is a jewel. The story is well written and probably the worst thing I could say about it is that the author would use terms like “bicep” or “clavicle” when she could just as easily say arm or collarbone. Jane is also always “strangling” Roman’s hair … last I check you can’t strangle hair – it has no neck.
That aside, though the story is riveting. It is a dark romance that breaks some shifter stereotypes that could be confusing. If you read on, though, you can forgive them and just enjoy the story.
From all the clues I expected more BDSM but I am still early in the story, only chapter 38 so far, so it could still manifest later. Roman has some hard nos that are frankly confusing but I am waiting to see how this story rolls itself out.
So far Plain Jane by Celice Wylder has 93 chapters and is still ongoing on Goodnovel. Since it is already going so much better than the other book I read (which I may review later) I’m one extremely happy camper.
If you are looking for a new story to read on Goodnovel, check out Plain Jane by Celice Wylder now.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 9, 2023 | Book Reviews
They say “don’t judge a book by its cover” but I can’t help it, I’m definitely judging. I don’t like the cover art because it is flat, the characters are tiny compared to the background, and they have no faces. Having said that, City Lights Starry Nights by Kimberly Readnour is supposed to be an age-gap romance in a small town in Indiana called Sugar Creek Falls. Aside from the fact that the age difference is briefly mentioned, the age gap is not apparent as Evie is a mature and level-headed woman despite being born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
What can go wrong will go wrong! Her problems began when her parents cut her off before she even graduated in an effort to force her to go home and assume her place in society. Evie, on the other hand, wanted to work and help people. No matter how many jobs she applies for and interviews for it seems she just isn’t hirable, which is quite strange. The best she could do was get a waitressing job and she even got fired from that.
Dr. Liam Seymour is the older brother of Evie’s best friend and has hang-ups and festering emotional scars. Being the doctor of a small town means that he knows everyone and everyone knows him so getting into a relationship is difficult without everyone knowing about it.
When I started reading this, I assumed it wouldn’t take too much time to read. For some reason, though, at times I found myself slogging through it. There were just some scenes that felt like it was taking too long to develop properly or get to the point. Perhaps it is just my frustration at Liam’s “should we – shouldn’t we” thinking every time he looks at Evie. Even to me, his hang-ups seemed irrelevant.
He wanted something casual, no problem. He’s into some light BDSM and wants a submissive in the bedroom … so long as he talks about it with Evie first and she is ok with it, I don’t see the problem. But that is probably his biggest hang-up.
The author promises HEA so we know it will get there. The journey is taking so long, though … or I am just impatient. There’s more to the story than just their romance. There’s a weird ex, grumpy old men to charm, storms to get through, and an antiquated scheduling system to figure out.
City Lights Starry Nights by Kimberly Readnour is book 1 of the Sugar Creek Fall series so I am anticipating a story for Ethan and also for Matthew and Ansley (Liam’s sister) since history was hinted at earlier in the book.
If you have a Kindle Unlimited account you can read this book for free on Amazon or you can purchase it for 3.99.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 8, 2023 | Book Reviews
For idealistic girls, Puppy Madness by Flora Ferrari is a “wish fulfillment” story. Most girls grow up dreaming of meeting the man of their dreams, falling in love at first sight, and living happily ever after. That’s essentially what this story delivers in a nutshell except for a few critical points.
First, Dominic is 21 years older than Danni. Second, Dominic is the father of Danni’s best friend Elizabeth. Dun dun dun DUNNN!
Danni’s been in love with Dominic for many years, ever since she was in high school but knowing that he is her best friend’s dad and the fact she was only 16 were great deterrents to her even seriously thinking about pursuing anything. Add to that the fact that she left the country with her mom so she didn’t get to spend time with Elizabeth for several years.
She returns to live and work in the U.S. now that she is 19 and finds herself living with Elizabeth and Dominic in their house. From the moment Dominic saw her he found himself instantly attracted, not realizing who she was.
Since this is not a shifter romance, it felt weird to read Dominic’s possessive mated bond thoughts and actions. I mean, he just laid eyes on her and he was already claiming her and thinking about having babies with her. Romantic for wolves, but kinda creepy for regular humans.
The story goes on to show how they both struggle to fight the attraction as they are both worried about Elizabeth. Ultimately, though, since the author promised a HEA we already know they will definitely end up together. As a reader, I felt the need to keep reading just to know when they will finally give in to their passions and decide that their forever can happen.
I think what bothered me the most though is the description of Dominic. He is only 40 but he is described as a well-muscled silver fox. I don’t know how fast Americans age but over here we don’t usually turn grey at 40. It doesn’t even match the cover art.
Puppy Madness by Flora Ferrari is a story from the A Man Who Knows What He Wants series. If this kind of story is right up your alley you can get it on Amazon for 0.99 and free with Kindle Unlimited.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 7, 2023 | Book Reviews
Lycan background image by Patrick Tatopoulos
Not everyone is into dark romance and His Dark Obsession by Moonlight Muse is that while also a shifter romance at the same time. I mean, it’s even in the title. But while the story is tagged as a dark romance, what makes it dark is the savageness of Prince Zedkiel (in general) and Evangeline’s uncertainty about their relationship. In addition, there may be some scenes that could be triggering so, be forewarned!
The story is fast-paced and written so well that I easily found myself immersed in the story. I admit to being impatient with how long it is taking Zed and Evangeline to get to the closeness I want, but that has more to do with my personality, not Moonlight Muse’s writing. I definitely cannot identify with Evangeline at the moment as her character is generally meek.
So far 50+ chapters have been written and the story just gets better and better. His Dark Obsession by Moonlight Muse is an ongoing story on Goodnovel. Click on the link to get brought straight to the story.
There are still a lot of secrets that have yet to be told and their romance still has a long way to go. I certainly hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 6, 2023 | Book Reviews
I feel like Claimed by my Billionaire Ex by Ruby Emhart is mistitled because even after reading the entire story I didn’t notice any “claiming” happening. It could also mean that I read so many paranormal books so “claiming” means something else to me entirely, lol!
I think the last line of the preview should be changed because it does not actually happen until the very end of the book so it is misleading and will not affect the story if it isn’t mentioned in the preview.
The best thing about this story is the POVs of Lucas. I think it would have been more interesting from his POV than from Olive’s. The author tries to give each character equal time to speak (so to speak) but I found Lucas’ POV more engaging and relatable.
What bothered me was that Lucas has a security firm whose company presumably employs hackers, why was it so difficult for him to trace Olive when she disappeared? Especially since she didn’t turn her phone off immediately and turned it on at predictable times since she called home. It just doesn’t make sense.
Also, Olive’s being hot and cold with her brother has me raising an eyebrow. After the revelation, I understand why, but until she knew of the deception … why? And where are their parents? Why does it seem like they are orphans?
Romance-wise, this story could probably do with more heat but the political intrigue, sex tapes, vote rigging, and hacking issues were interesting and made this an enjoyable book to read. Claimed by my Billionaire Ex by Ruby Emhart will be available on Amazon for only 0.99 on January 9, 2023, onwards. Pre-order if you think this is something you will be into.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 4, 2023 | Book Reviews
Alpha Zander by Vanessa Turner is a love story I would put in the young adult/teen section. It is set in high school where the main characters are both in their senior year.
Zander is the son of the current Alpha of the Charwood pack. He is popular and always has a bevy of she-wolves in his wake. Ashleigh is the daughter of the current Beta of the Liverpool pack and has been trained to replace her dad when the time comes.
Because of an old rivalry involving witches and spells and general misunderstanding, Charwood and Liverpool have been at each other’s necks for several generations. The school, though, is on neutral ground and they are forced to be civil to each other.
In V. Turner’s world, werewolves will not be able to sense their mate until both parties are at least 18 years old. While it is generally expected that they would wait for their mates, many wolves don’t. You can just imagine Zander’s dismay when he discovers that Ashleigh is his mate while he is making out with another she-wolf.
While there are events that happen to make this story more exciting, Alpha Zander by Vanessa Turner is essentially a love story and revolves around the evolution of Zander and Ashleigh’s relationship and the acceptance of their corresponding families and packs. It promises HEA with a cliffhanger on what will happen in the next book (which is actually quite intriguing).
This story is available on Goodnovel and possibly on other reading apps.
Add a spicy kick to your El Real Healthy Spaghetti by adding laing and chilis to it. The taro leaves used to make laing are known to be rich in vitamins A and C. For the sauce, it’s made with coconut cream to make it thicker and creamier. See the full Healthy Laing Pasta recipe 
For a nutritious and filling macaroni dish, you can try making Pesto and Parmesan Macaroni. Made from basil, pesto is said to be a good source of vitamins, calcium, and iron, which makes it a great pasta sauce. Give your dish more flavor with some lemon juice and sour cream in the sauce, and top off your El Real Elbow Macaroni with chili flakes and parmesan cheese. See the full Pesto and Parmesan Macaroni recipe 
Fish like sardines are an excellent source of vitamins B-12 and D, and other nutrients. Sardines can make a great pasta dish when mixed with oil, garlic, and a little lemon juice on top of El Real Healthy Pasta. See the full Healthy Sardine Spaghetti recipe 
If you want a dose of iron and vitamins, you can try adding spinach to your meals. A delicious way of incorporating this into a pasta dish is by mixing it with cream and ricotta cheese. You’ll get a nice creamy sauce with hints of spinach with every bite of El Real Healthy Spaghetti or any type of El Real pasta. See the full Creamy Spinach Pasta recipe 
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett is probably one of the books I like to read over and over. I remember grabbing my copy sometime in the 90s and was quite excited to have Neil Gaiman sign my tattered copy when he visited here in 2010.
I’ve been seeing Plain Jane by Celice Wylder pop up so often and I did add it a while back but I could not seem to start it. Part of it was because I wasn’t too keen on the cover art but another was because I read a book from Celice Wylder last year that I was not happy with.
They say “don’t judge a book by its cover” but I can’t help it, I’m definitely judging. I don’t like the cover art because it is flat, the characters are tiny compared to the background, and they have no faces. Having said that, City Lights Starry Nights by Kimberly Readnour is supposed to be an age-gap romance in a small town in Indiana called Sugar Creek Falls. Aside from the fact that the age difference is briefly mentioned, the age gap is not apparent as Evie is a mature and level-headed woman despite being born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
For idealistic girls, Puppy Madness by Flora Ferrari is a “wish fulfillment” story. Most girls grow up dreaming of meeting the man of their dreams, falling in love at first sight, and living happily ever after. That’s essentially what this story delivers in a nutshell except for a few critical points.
I feel like Claimed by my Billionaire Ex by Ruby Emhart is mistitled because even after reading the entire story I didn’t notice any “claiming” happening. It could also mean that I read so many paranormal books so “claiming” means something else to me entirely, lol!
Alpha Zander by Vanessa Turner is a love story I would put in the young adult/teen section. It is set in high school where the main characters are both in their senior year.
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