Really Random Tuesday #84: Book Winners, and Roasted Chickpeas

Two winners!  Today I have a couple of book winners to announce. The winner of The Supreme Macaroni Company by Adriana Trigiani is Kimberly from Historical Fiction Obsession.  Congratulations, Kimberly! The winner of Deadly Errors by Allen Wyler is Marjorie.  Congratulations, Marjorie!  I hope you both enjoy your new books.

Thanks to everyone who participated in my book giveaways.  If you didn't win either book, please take a look at the other giveaways I have listed on the right side of my blog. 

I've slowed down my reviewing this summer, but I hope to post more reviews soon.  Thank you for your patience!

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I've made this yummy treat many times this summer.  I discovered (a version of) this recipe in Joy Bauer's newsletter.  They are easy to make, delicious, and healthy. 

Roasted Chickpeas

Ingredients:

• 16-oz can of chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans)
• Salt, plus favorite spices and herbs (fresh or dried)
• Cooking spray and/or olive oil

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400º.
• Rinse the chickpeas in a colander, then gently pat them dry.  Remove any loose skins.  I get organic garbanzo beans from Trader Joe's.  They are a great price.
• Place chickpeas on a small baking sheet (toaster oven size) that has been lightly-coated with cooking spray or olive oil.
• Season with salt and whatever spices and herbs you like.  I like to use pepper, oregano from my garden, and a maybe bit of fennel.
• Brush chickpeas with a small amount of olive oil, or spray some on.  I use a Misto to spray them lightly with olive oil.
• Roast them in the oven for about 40 minutes.  I set the oven timer for 40 minutes; after that I take a look and might roast them for a few more minutes. 
• Chickpeas are ready when they are browned but not burnt.  If you want them to be crunchy, be sure to dry them thoroughly. You might also need to keep them in the oven for a while longer.

Roasted chickpeas

These are really good.  Roasted chickpeas are a wonderful snack by themselves, and are also tasty in salads.

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Appearing on random Tuesdays, Really Random Tuesday is a way to post odds and ends--announcements, musings, quotes, photos--any blogging and book-related things you can think of.  I often announce my book giveaway winners in these posts.  Sometimes, like today, I also post a recipe.  If you have miscellaneous book news to gather up and are inspired by this idea, "grab" the button for use on your own blog, and add your link to the "master" Mister Linky on the Really Random Tuesday page.

Your comments are welcomed, as always. Thanks for reading!

Deadly Errors Giveaway

Seize the summer!  I hope that my readers, like me, have been enjoying the warmer temperatures, and a more relaxed pace this summer.  Some of you may have noticed that I've been away from my blog the last few weeks; I took a break from blogging while we traveled to various states and cities for my daughter's college tour.  We visited many schools, and also had the chance to get together with family and friends. 

Upon my return, Jillian from Astor + Blue Editions contacted me about hosting a giveaway for a medical thriller, and I'm excited to jump back into blogging with this giveaway.  To celebrate the upcoming release in September 2014 of the new thriller novel Deadly Odds by Allen Wyler, a renowned neurosurgeon who retired from medicine to devote himself to writing full time after publishing his first two medical thrillers, Deadly Errors (2005) and Dead Head (2007), I'm very pleased to host a giveaway for Deadly Errors.  According to Jillian, the premise of Deadly Errors "is frighteningly plausible--it begins with a billion dollar computerized medical record system causing lethal healthcare foul-ups, and the main character, Dr. Matthews, is swept up in a deadly suspense mystery."  I've only read a few medical thrillers, but this one sounds quite compelling.  The giveaway is open internationally (U.S./Canada, print copy or ebook; ebook edition elsewhere).

To enter the giveaway for Deadly Errors, simply leave a comment. 

For another chance at winning, become a follower of this blog, or let me know that you're already a follower. 

For an additional chance, post about this contest on your blog, Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter. 

For one more chance, mention a medical thriller that you enjoyed reading.  




Enter by 5 PM PDT on Monday, August 18. One winner will be selected randomly, and announced on Tuesday, August 19.  Best of luck!

Your comments are welcomed, as always. :)