Sunday, September 12, 2010

Dial H for Hitchcock by Susan Kandel

Dial H for Hitchcock  by Susan Kandel
This is the 4th book in the Cece Caruso mystery series. To catch you up to speed Cece is an author. She writes biographies about mystery authors. As she investigates these authors' lives, she steps into a mystery that could be right out of the pages one of the author's novels. 
For a mystery buff, like myself, this is fantastic. Its as though these long past authors are alive again and writing a new mystery. Yes after 4 books I can tell what is Kandel's style of writing from the various authors. But she does a fabulous job telling the stories in the dead authors way of doing it. The first book I read was actually the first in the series (that never happens, I normally find  book 2,3 or 6 first). Its called. I found it because I was doing random searches on Perry Mason on the internet. You might say I'm obsessed with Perry Mason. Since I am obsessed I just had to find and read a book called  'I Dreamed I Married Perry Mason'. It think it could have been better named, but I many not of found it if it had been. The book was wonderful. I had to find more. I then read all her others that were currently released. While waiting for 'Dial H for Hitchcock' I anticipated it so much it was worse for me than waiting for a Harry Potter book. I can't wait for her next book. I haven't heard what her next book is, but it can't come out soon enough.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Matta's Mexican Grill and Cantina

Matta's Mexican Grill and Cantina
I love Matta's food. I have been eating their food since I was a child. My parents have been eating their food since they were children. Back in 2007 Matta's main restaurant closed. The only way we'd could eat their food after that was going to the Matta's Grill on Higley (in Mesa, AZ). But the food was never quite the same. It tasted more like fast food (which it is) rather then the quality of a restaurant. 
Last month Matta's finally opened a new restaurant. It was opened at the Mesa Riverview complex. The restaurant is so well done inside. They did it in the Spanish architecture style, just like the old place. They also brought over from the old location the large sign, the stain glass, and many other artistic decor to decorate this location. 
The food was just as I remembered it. My husband had only ever eaten at the Grill location. I had feared that my emotional memories of eating at the original Matta's was influencing my memory of what the food actually tasted like. I worried that once the new restaurant opened and my husband tried it that he'd be disappointed by how it tasted. My fears were not justified. For just as it was as I remembered, my husband was overwhelmed by how wonderful everything tasted, even down tot he beans and rice. That made me so happy.   
I can't wait to go up to Mesa again just to eat at Matta's Mexican Grill and Cantina, mmmmm.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Fiber Bars

I've tried the Kellogg's brand, the Fiber ONE brand, and the Quaker Brand bars. Out of all 3 I like the Kellogg's the most (Peanut butter is my favorite). Quaker is still okay, but they are my least favorite.  I like that they are yummy snacks. They are low point if you do point counting. They taste almost like a candy bar without all those extra calories. Also I've become a huge fan of Fiber. (Sorry I don't have journal article references, without access through a college, finding the right journal articles are difficult). It has been understood for years that your body has to work hard (burn more calories) to digest fiber. Due to this and other factors, fiber helps keep your digestive system moving and healthier. I recently learned of a study (sorry I can't find the reference again) that's initial research shows that fat and fiber actually bind together causing you to pass more of the fat you eat. Also fiber allows me to reduce my point intake but increase how much food I eat while doing Weight Watchers. 
Between all 3 brands I tend to eat the actual Fiber ONE brand the most. This is because 1-They tend to be on sale more, and the taste difference isn't big enough to pay full price when something else is on sale. 2- Fiber ONE is available at Costco, and when I can purchase something at Costco, its the one I'm going to buy. I love buying in bulk.