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Life From Scratch
Life From Scratch: A Memoir of Food, Family, and Forgiveness | Sasha Martin
18 posts | 14 read | 20 to read
Witty, warm, and poignant, food blogger Sasha Martin's memoir about cooking her way to happiness and self-acceptance is a culinary journey like no other. Over the course of 195 weeks, food writer and blogger Sasha Martin set out to cookand eata meal from every country in the world. As cooking unlocked the memories of her rough-and-tumble childhood and the loss and heartbreak that came with it, Martin became more determined than ever to find peace and elevate her life through the prism of food and world cultures. From the tiny, makeshift kitchen of her eccentric, creative mother, to a string of foster homes, to the house from which she launched her own cooking adventure, Martin's heartfelt, brutally honest memoir reveals the power of cooking to bond, to empower, and to healand celebrates the simple truth that happiness is created from within. "This beautifully written book is both poignant and uplifting. Not to mention delicious. It's an amazing family tale that reminds me of The Glass Castle, but with more food. And not just any food: We're talking cinnamon raisin pizza." A.J. Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Biblically "Life From Scratch is an unconventional love story. This beautiful book begins with the quest of cooking a meal from every countrya noble feat of it's own!but then turns it into something far beyond a kitchen adventure. Be prepared to be changed as you experience Sasha's journey for yourself." Chris Guillebeau, author of The Happiness Pursuit From the Hardcover edition.
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cajunsyd
Mehso-so

This book didn‘t draw me in the way that many foodie memoirs have in the past but I can‘t quite explain why. I love the concept of making a dish from every country and the provided recipes all look great. Despite this it was just ok for me. Maybe after I make one of the recipes...

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cajunsyd
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Another topic down (non-fiction: food/drink)!

#LitsyReadingChallenge2017

Bklover You are doing waaay better than I am! I get distracted from my goals pretty easily! 7y
EchoLogical Way to go! 7y
cajunsyd @Bklover thanks and good luck on your challenges! 7y
37 likes4 comments
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cajunsyd
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I am getting hungry reading this book! The author periodically shares recipes that sound delicious. I will have to try at least one and post the finished product. The book also fulfills one of my Litsy bingo subjects! Win-win!

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SauerPatch
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Adding this to my TBR list this morning from a Goodreads deal. A book about international cooking? Sign me up! 🤓📕🍽 Plus, my list needs a little more nonfiction anyway. ☺️

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DebinHawaii
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Pickpick

I found the first part of this book about the author's difficult childhood after her mother handed her off to friends to care for & the death of her brother a downer, but it was well written & I really enjoyed the later half focusing on her blog & cooking project to cook from all 195 countries. Read for virtual foodie blogging book club & paired w/a Sri Lankan White Dal Curry from the author's website, inspired by the book. Review/recipe link👇🏼

DebinHawaii Link to blog post with my review & White Dal Curry recipe: http://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/2017/05/a-exotic-and-unique-white-dal-curry-f... 7y
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DebinHawaii
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Not a healthy lunch but I stopped at my other happy place (the local India market) on my way back from a meeting to grab a couple of ingredients for a dish inspired by this book for virtual foodie bookclub and had to get their samosas (always delish) and this interesting bright pink rose-flavored basil seed drink (too sweet).

TheNextBook I love Samosas!!! Those look so good. 7y
thehooksbookscorner Yummy samosas 😋 7y
mcctrish Okay, this book sounds awesome 7y
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EvieBee Deb, what island are you on? Book stores recs for Maui? (edited) 7y
DebinHawaii @TheNextBook Me too! I always have to get them when I go there. @thehooksbookscorner 😋👍 @mcctrish It was really interesting & lots of great food! @EvieBee84 I'm on Oahu. I don't know of bookstores on Maui anymore. Hawaii is not the greatest place for them. 😬 But I'll do some research & get back to you. 📚👍 7y
EvieBee Thank you, Deb! 💋 7y
107 likes1 stack add6 comments
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DebinHawaii
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Having an 'Oh s*%t!"! moment when I'm realizing how soon the end of the month is coming & I haven't finished this book for my blogger virtual foodie book club & figured out a dish to make along with a few other blogging due dates. ?Getting in a few chapters with today's breakfast (acai bowl & cold brew coffee with coconut milk) before digging into some work at the coffee shop. Gorgeous morning but will get hazy & humid. Happy Aloha Friday! ???

Cortg Good luck! 7y
Daisey I really enjoyed this book and have tried a couple of her recipes since then! 7y
Cinfhen Loved this book! 7y
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melbeautyandbooks That looks yummy! 😋 7y
MyNamesParadise Omg that fruit!!! 😍😍😍 7y
BethFishReads Oops. Good luck with finishing everything 7y
SaraFair Yummy pic!!! 7y
103 likes7 comments
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DebinHawaii
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A quick & tasty dinner in a bowl: romaine & grape tomato salad, with red curry dressing, brown rice, probiotic garlic dill kraut (got to work those fermented probiotic foods in) ?and local opah (moon fish) sautéed with garlic with my current read due at the end of the month for virtual foodie bookclub. Sometimes the low-effort random are the best.??

Cinfhen That certainly doesn't sound like "low effort" you're awesome!!! Loved this book!!! 7y
I-read-and-eat Looks so good! 😍 7y
BethFishReads Looks yummy 7y
107 likes1 stack add3 comments
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DebinHawaii
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It is truth universally acknowledged that when it's rainy & in the high 40s at night & I am anywhere near the guest bed at my sister's place, I will automatically fall asleep. With busy days of visiting, very little reading, Litsy time, or book-related things are happening this week. I did sneak my #hpchapteraday & a bit of this foodie memoir for book club in this morning. Happy Saturday Littens! I'm loving family time but I miss you. 💜#toocozy

Zelma Definitely looks cozy! We'll still be here; enjoy the family time! (edited) 7y
80 likes1 comment
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Daisey
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Wow! I'm not sure how I managed to complete so many books this month! I read some shorter poetry books for #nationalpoetrymonth, a few were graphic novels, and a few have been in progress for a while. The 4 across the bottom are my favorites completed this month, with The Children of Hurin & The Adventure of English being long reads while Burn Baby Burn & Life From Scratch were read just this month.

#AprilBookShowers #BestofApril #monthlystats

Bookworm83 So impressive!! I managed four books, but I keep telling myself summer break is only four short weeks away! 8y
Cinfhen Amazing 💗👏🏻👏🏻I completed 13.... (edited) 8y
Lmstraubie Well done! 👏👏👏 8y
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Daisey @Bookworm83 Thanks! I often read less in the summer time because I work for my dad and spend lots of time with my sister &I her family, including a niece and nephew that require much attention. Good wishes for those last four weeks! 8y
Daisey @Cinfhen @Lmstraubie Thank you! 😁 8y
Bookworm83 Thank you! You, too! Summer is my time with my little nephew, as well 🙂 (edited) 8y
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Daisey
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I finished the audiobook earlier this week and it was wonderful! Parts of Sasha's story are heartbreaking while other parts are inspirational. This morning I'm starting my #readathon by revisiting some of her stories and making her overnight crepes for breakfast.

#audiobook #nonfiction #readandeat

Daisey @Reviewsbylola They were delicious! 8y
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Daisey
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I've got a homemade roll and iced coffee for breakfast, along with Sasha's stories in my ears as I head to work this morning. I've also downloaded the ebook to see the recipes for each chapter, and I'll be checking out her website this weekend.

#audiobook #nonfiction

Daisey Sasha Martin's website Global Table Adventure with recipes from around the world http://globaltableadventure.com 8y
40 likes1 comment
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Redwritinghood
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#readathonmemoirs This memoir has the added bonus of some great recipes. The author relates her childhood growing up with a single mother who loved to cook.

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Miss_Kim
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The Epigraph! (Thanks to @DebinHawaii for giving me the correct word!)

DebinHawaii I need to get my copy of this one. 👍📚 8y
DebinHawaii And glad you are planning to join in with Cook the Books! 🍴📚😀 8y
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christineandbooks
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Which one to read for a nonfiction book about food? Both are memoirs... Anyone read either of these?

Suelizbeth "I seem to give a lot of books five stars, but the ones I've read recently deserve them. This was a wonderful, warm and tasty read. Although the author's childhood was a trifle hard to read about at times, the book ends with her having found the contentment that she sought. That makes the book sound simplistic, but it is a rich, complex read. I highly recommend it." My Goodreads review. 8y
christineandbooks @Suelizbeth Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I have heard just that about this book... 8y
Suelizbeth @christineandbooks You're welcome! 😄 8y
41 likes4 comments
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AWahle
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Pickpick

This is a true food memoir - the recipes truly connect to Sasha Martin's turbulent life. Not always an easy read, but I admire the spirit that kept her going through tough times. She describes food so beautifully you can almost smell the cinnamon and taste the roast chicken. The book interested me enough to check out her blog too. Gorgeous pictures & more stories to read. I'm looking forward to trying recipes from both the book and the blog.

BellaBookNook I reviewed this book for Netgalley and loved it. I still think of it often. 8y
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BellaBookNook
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Pickpick

Can a book make you fat?? I'm thinking this lovely food memoir just might tip my scale!!! I read this as part of the #readharder challenge. Love how she intertwines recipes into the story. It is definitely worth reading and the bonus is all the great recipes in the book and on her blog.

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