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My Mother’s Kitchen: A Novel with Recipes is an enchanting place filled with promise, change and good food. If the weathered walls of this magical room could talk they would tell the story of Meena and her childhood life. Each chapter depicts her spunk and youthful spirit. A visit to the local Fruit and Flower Show becomes an adventure as told by Meena. Her distress at finding out about her aunt’s dark secret or her joy of making a new friend are all told in her naïve, yet pure voice. Her mother is a central character in her life and it is no wonder that the kitchen is a special place of healing and rejuvenation, not only for Meena but for all the other strong women characters featured in this novel.
“It makes perfect sense that recipes should slip into a story about life and its richness. They do so effortlessly, as it should be. I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely book about food, culture, and family in India. Adding the food element has the effect of making it somehow universal.” -Deborah Madison, author of Vegetable Literacy and The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone.
“Meera Ekkanath Klein brings the rich flavors and the sumptuous tastes of India to life in her first book, My Mother’s Kitchen. Part cookbook, part fiction, it introduces American readers to a world rarely glimpsed in the West. Klein offers easy-to-follow recipes and lifts the veil that has often concealed Indian life. Her memories of India, where she was born and raised, lifts this book far above the ordinary. A must-read for mothers and daughters eager to try new spices. My Mother’s Kitchen paints a portrait of an ancient culture of rare beauty and mouth-watering food.”
-Jonah Raskin, author of Field Days, A Year of Farming, Eating and Drinking Wine in California.
This feel-good sequel to My Mother’s Kitchen: A Novel with Recipes is all about family, food, love and home.
Since the death of her husband three years ago, Meena’s mother has wanted to see her oldest daughter married and so she organizes Meena’s “seeing ceremony,” a ritual associated with arranged marriages.
However, eighteen-year-old Meena is not ready to be married and wants to leave her hilltop home in Mahagiri, south India, and attend college in California.
Luckily for her, the ceremony is a disaster and the marriage is called off.
After her four years in America, Meena returns home to learn her mother is facing a threat to her home and livelihood. Meena can avert this disaster by agreeing to an arranged marriage. How many ‘seeing ceremonies’ will Meena have to go through before finding the love of her life?
“Seeing Ceremony is a rich coming of age novel, full of myth and legend, romance and the heady tastes and scents of India. It is a love letter to both place and family—the ingredients that make home, home. Meera Klein is a natura born story teller—I felt as if I were sitting at the kitchen table as she told me this story—and Seeing Ceremony is truly a feast for ALL of the senses. A true delight.
-Louise Miller, author of The Late Bloomers’ Club and The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living.
Sunshine Clinic is a stand-alone conclusion to the heart-warming family saga that began with My Mother’s Kitchen and Seeing Ceremony.
Sunny Unnikrishnan grew up in Mahagiri under the long shadow of her older sister Meena and her strong-willed mother (Little Mother). Now, she is ready to become her own person. The newly qualified doctor finds a job as a village doctor, and she will have to overcome age-old practices and superstitions to win over the villagers.
Each day is a new adventure for Dr. Sunny, who finds support and friendship in unexpected places. The nuns at the regional Carmelite mission and a woman reputed to be a witch befriend the young doctor. Dr. Sunny’s life becomes complicated when she meets handsome Scotsman Callum MacPherson. Their tentative courtship is threatened when Callum’s ex-girlfriend, Ella, comes for a surprise visit. Callum will need the help of the entire community to win back Sunny.
“In Sunshine Clinic, we are inspired by the universality of experience in Meera Klein’s writing, as aromas of food and exotic landscapes nurture those who inhabit the world of Mahagiri, a fertile place of hope and renewal, the very qualities that define this wondrous book.” -James Ragan author of The Hunger Wall and Too Long a Solitude.
Award-winning author Meera Ekkanath Klein has combined her love of cooking and story-telling in this book about family bonds and love. This is the third book in the family saga, which started with My Mother’s Kitchen and its sequel, Seeing Ceremony.
If you are looking for an affordable family vacation, consider traveling to the Top 10 National Parks in the United States. National parks showcase the country’s diverse and spectacular landscapes, from the towering cliffs of Yosemite to the red rock canyons of Zion.
Domestic travel, as opposed to long-haul flights, contributes to sustainable tourism. Exploring national parks supports the local economy, benefitting nearby communities and fostering a sense of national pride. The Top 10 National Parks described in this book offer families a more accessible and cost-effective option. These parks are a rich tapestry of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and recreational opportunities, which make them a compelling choice for families.
So, experience these spaces that inspire awe and connection with nature. After visiting any of these Top 10 National Parks, your family will have a greater understanding of the importance of conservation, a deeper appreciation for the natural wonders, and lasting family memories.
About the author: Quentin Compass,40, has always been filled with wanderlust. His love of finding new places started in his early teens when his parents took him on a European adventure. The Top 10 National Parks: The Ultimate Family Bucket List of National Parks is his second book about traveling in the United States.
Compass enjoys hiking with his dogs or reading when he’s not traveling.
Venturing off the beaten path is a great way to explore lesser-known national parks. This book has ten hidden gems that offer a unique and enriching travel experience. Gather your family and friends and discover the tranquility and pristine wilderness away from the well-trodden paths. Visiting these lesser-known parks benefits the local communities surrounding these parks, making tourism a sustainable source of income and further incentivizing the protection of natural resources.
In essence, these ten parks provide an opportunity for a more meaningful and authentic travel experience for visitors. Instead of fighting crowds at Yosemite or Yellowstone National Parks, find untouched landscapes, rare biodiversity, and a deeper connection with nature by visiting these hidden havens.
About the author: Quentin Compass,40, has always been filled with wanderlust. His love of finding new places started in his early teens when his parents took him on a European adventure. He is the author of Hidden Havens: Explore 10 Lesser-known National Parks and Top 10 National Parks.
Compass enjoys hiking with his dogs, reading and traveling to adventurous places.
Sun Tzu’s The Art of War is an enduring classic that can be applied on the battlefield or boardroom.
Of course, business is not war, but when competition is fierce, and productivity is on the line, The Art of War is a blueprint for succeeding in business. The book emphasizes the importance of planning, knowing the enemy (competition), and achieving victory (success) through meticulous planning.
In The Art of War, Sun Tzu shares the secret to winning and the importance of strategizing. Sun Tzu’s guidelines can be converted to use in everyday business practices. Success on the battlefield or the boardroom depends on a unique combination of leadership, marketing, productivity, motivation, innovation, strategy, decision-making, and a successful mindset.
This book from Ancient China is still a well-known guide for those who want to compete effectively in the modern business world. Even though the original text is more than 2,000 years ago, many companies still use Sun Tzu’s tactics. This edition includes the following:
A supplemental essay on how to apply some of Sun Tzu’s wartime principles in business.
Examples of how successful and innovative businesses used Sun Tzu’s principles.
Readers will recognize many of the well-known quotes from this book. An example: “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”
A bold and striking new cover.
Easy-to-read font.
This slim volume is easy to carry and read.