Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

I'm slowly making it through these long books. One is on audio and it's pretty fast but so so long even listening at 2.75 and it's going to take me at least until tomorrow to get it done. I'm reading the book version of a couple more that can be added but it might be saturday until I can get all my food items and meals updated again. I better have some good options in this long, long book!

So we are approaching the end of week 3 and we are almost finished with our reading.

If you finish longer books and have shorter books you can replace them with, please do so.

If you do not have shorter books to replace with then please do feel free to remove any of my 4's to make room for yours. We'll have to tweak our menu list accordingly.

We still have quite a few meals we can make.

Here's where we stand as of this minute

Possible Meals for--
Children: 29
Adults: 65
Pensioners: 42
Teens: 32

Fresh Meals that will expire with the end of this round: 32
Frozen (potential Carry Overs): 27
Desserts/Drinks: 11

What do you all think we should do in terms of the next meals we make?
Should we make any adjustments?

Remember FROZEN MEALS can be carried over to the next month
DESSERTS, DRINKS, COCKTAILS can be used anytime throughout the challenge.

Per QnA...
...each customer will only purchase 1 meal.
Re naming our meals...Well you may remember that adults give tips ; and they are more likely to do that with food that sounds appealing....

What is the most number of meals we're allowed per round?

I've been posting and leaving my most recent books until we decide our method of madness. If anyone at any time wants to use any of my books/words feel free. I have quite a few "vinegar" words saved.

I would be guessing at 80 since that's how many spaces there were...but we don't really know.

we do know...
All teams will get the same number of customers...but the 'type' will be randomized

It sounds like we can divvy things out though...I'm open to anyone else interpretation of the rules and the answers to the QnA

I would probably opt to add the vinegar to our fish n chips if we can as we get the bonus point for the vinegar.
Notice how I added 'water' to Jenny's tea at line 259 and 260...you can do the same to any fishnchips...we just have to change the menu item to 'with vinegar' and maybe revise the name of the item a bit.

I have to update my books this afternoon which I will do. I didn't have as much drinks and desserts as I wanted to have in my big books but I have some. I think we've done a pretty good job so far but I agree we can still make lots more meals. I would probably make some more children meals for sure. Some families may have 3-4 children. Maybe more frozen since they can be carried over and we don't really know what they are going to hand us just yet. Will these meals all require a drink of some sort? If so we may need more tea, coffee, and stuff. If there is still a spot left on the books read, I can totally read another chunky book maybe one that involves a restaurant or bar so I can get more drink/dessert options in there.

@Tammie, OK, I've just been waiting to make sure. I have plenty of books still to add their foods/SIO letters, etc. I don't want to create meals and they take up meals/points that someone else can do better for the points (did that make sense?). But I can add meals if you guys want me to and then you can decide to use them, change them, etc. Or I can wait and ADD foods to others' meals. What's the preference?

How about this...if you have books that allow you to make ANY...over 500 pgs, continue to hold off a few days. Anything less than 500 pages, lets get our meals made.

I wish I could predict what we'll need...frozen quiche might be good as that can work for all except pensioners...and it can be saved for next round, and adults can leave a tip if they like it which will help us preserve some of our fresh if we've made too much of that.

We're going to want more drinks and desserts...so we may end up moving things around a bit to create those.

Bottomline, I think as long as we stay fairly balanced, we should be OK for this first round.

Sound good??

one more comment regarding a fallacy I was operating under a few weeks ago...those min/max numbers on the 'menu totals chart' have nothing to do with what we need...they relate to the number of ingredients required only. At one point, I thought they related to the number of menu items we needed.

Jenny and Vicki...your 'Ham Salad' @223-225 needs to have at least 5 ingredients...so 'HAM' will not work...'HAMSALAD' could work though

Sounds good, my chores are taking me longer than expected but later this afternoon I can work on meals for my smaller books and make sure that I have squeeze out every single word out of those bigger ones.

Finished a long book last night and I'm going to update with all those words tonight. I didn't have to work as long as I thought I was going to have to so that helps alot. :)

If everyone could please finish your meals...If you don't have time, please let us know so someone else can work on them.

We don't have a significant strategy at this point other than to keep things balanced. We obviously earn more points with fresh meals but they'll also be waisted if we don't have the right customers/we don't earn the tips. I wish I knew better...just do the best we can.

I did leave a few empty spots on the fish n chips I created today and if someone has vinegar, remember we can add those to fish n' chips meals for 5 bonus points.

Thanks everyone!

Tammie wrote: "If everyone could please finish your meals...If you don't have time, please let us know so someone else can work on them.

We don't have a significant strategy at this point other than to keep thi..."
I am still soooo confused! Before I screw anything up, I need to put my food items on the Kitchen meals sheet, if it counts for 12 I can put 12 items? Those items will then be used to create meals?

Ann wrote: "Tammie wrote: "If everyone could please finish your meals...If you don't have time, please let us know so someone else can work on them.

We don't have a significant strategy at this point other t..."

Correct. Take a look at what some have already done. You don't have to make your meals by yourself either...some of your ingredients can be added to meals started by other team mates.

This is how I've been doing it.
1. put books on SS under books read tab...fill everything out. I've been skipping the spell - out column recently knowing I was going to have plenty of recipe words
2. Take a look at the SHOP FRONT tab. You'll note at the top-on the right, a chart labeled TOTALS CREATED. We want to try and create a balance of meals so we can feed our customers (we don't know anything about them other than the categories)
3. So once you know what you are going to make, you'll go back and forth between the BOOKS READ tab and our KITCHEN tab to create meals. Note the min/max reference. Each meal must have a minimum number of ingredients. Examples of ingredients are at the 'MEALS AND POINTS' tab. 2 menu items...TEA and FISH'NCHIPS must have certain ingredients. Everything else should just make sense.

I hope this helps...I'll be around most of today...so I'll check in often for anyone who has questions.

*Forgot a step
4. When you are done making your meal, it goes to the SHOP FRONT. The number you gave your meal will coordinate with the meal in the SHOP FRONT.

Just posted in main ->

Stevie Swinbourne - Restaurant Critic

Word has reached the infamous Swinbourne that there are some new restaurants in town and she will be checking them out when they open their doors on October 17 .

Swinbourne scores restaurants on a scale of 5 across the following categories:

* Names of the dishes served
* Ability to feed all customers
* Low food wastage
* Name and description of restaurant

This gives an overall score which will give you the option of certain additions to your meals to better attract Adult customers when you open in round 2.

Swinbourne Score

Score Round 2 Additions

17-20 You're the hottest place in town this week and everyone wants to try your meals. Now is the time to think about what your niche market is looking for to maintain your popularity
Meals with the word "ube", "watermelon", or "legume" in the text or title, or used as a spell-it-out will attract more adults for round 2

13-16 You're now on the list of places to try for young singles and DINKS. Keep up the great work, but perhaps get a bit more creative or reduce your waste for round 2 to increase popularity.
Meals with the word "mushroom", "bamboo", or "tumeric" in the text or title, or used as a spell-it-out will attract more adults for round 2

6-12 Now known as "cheap and cheerful" you attract families which mean messy children. Try some new, more popular, dishes to attract your target group for round 2.
Meals with the word "kale", "avocado", or "truffle" in the text or title, or used as a spell-it-out will attract more adults for round 2

0-5 Your chef quit. Try a new theme for round 2. Pensioners will be attracted to your restaurant, but you will need to work to get other groups in the door
Meals with the word "tuna", "soy", or "pumpkin" in the text or title, or used as a spell-it-out will attract more adults for round 2

Soooo...especially for 'current frozen and possible carryovers' we may want to beef these meals up/change names for a possible carryover to next round. I'm not sure if I even have any of these words in my books...will think on it but for those who haven't started creating yet...something to consider. Thoughts?

My work has gone crazy. I may need help finishing meals. I still have to go back and find all the words in one of my books. I haven't done my big ones yet and I haven't gone back and used up the last of some of the other books.

Hey guys if anyone wants to take my last spot which is “everland” you can. I didnt find a lot that is helpful so go right ahead

bamaace83 wrote: "My work has gone crazy. I may need help finishing meals. I still have to go back and find all the words in one of my books. I haven't done my big ones yet and I haven't gone back and used up the la..."

If no one has worked on your books by tomorrow morning, I will start then...will get as far as I can and if not done, someone please pick it up.

If anyone needs help looking up ingredients, let me know. As long as I can get it free on kindle, I'm glad to help with that too.

We could use some crust, curry and vinegar for sure :)

Thanks so much, I can probably pick back up tomorrow night. I didn't have those ingredients in my book that I just fixed but as long as I can get on KU or the library I can go back and check old books also. I "should" be home tomorrow night to help fix things and research.

OMG Ann...wow on the ingredients in Queen of Air and Darkness!! and Wall of Winnepeg...Geesh!

Lol, they had decent ingredients but The Gamble had much better. I really hope tomorrow night I can help to finish orders but tomorrow at work is another 8 plus hour day and Friday I have no idea yet. I work in a pediatric clinic and some days are totally busier than others. I'm like 20 years from retirement but we don't have kids so sometimes I ask my husband what salary do I absolutely need to make to pay for my habits?!? When he told me that I would probably need to get rid of sushi and Hobby Lobby to stay at home, I went pfft and I'm still at work.

Ann...you did well creating a ton of meals!!!

@line 304 wine won't work for this book as the min page count is 500 pages for alcohol creations. I suggest using this line to finish/correct your tea @ line 329 and 330...team must have water. Do you have 'water' in your books anywhere? I'm going to label this line the same meal number as your tea...you'll just fill in the rest...I'll leave it highlighted 'light pink'.

Tammie wrote: "Ann...you did well creating a ton of meals!!!

@line 304 wine won't work for this book as the min page count is 500 pages for alcohol creations. I suggest using this line to finish/correct your tea..."

ok thanks!!!!

Anna....I obviously didn't make much progress today...too busy with work. I can try again tomorrow or later tonight but don't want to be doing so if you are doing...just let me know.

thanks,

Ann...I moved your meals to the 'shopfront' this morning, but they need to be named...can you do that...something fun and creative.

ALL the end of this round is @ less than 48 hours. We need to wrap up. If there is still outstanding work, I'll be diving in tomorrow evening to finish...I'd prefer not to have to honestly beyond tweaking.

If any of you have time to take a look at our menu and make it sound even better per message 216, that would be wonderful!

Thanks all!

Tammie, I still have several books I can add but don't know if I should. I wasn't able to do much in the way of reviews this week so I wasn't sure if, since we can only do 80 meals (?), we still need more. I definitely have some things to add, such as vinegar to fish and chip meals, but I wasn't able to add those to the SS. I also could make meals but I was reading a lot of books between just under 200 (like 178, 189) pages to just under 300 pages and I remember someone commenting that we needed over 300 page books. Anyway, should I still add all that I can since I have today and tomorrow or is that pushing it?

I just got home from work so any help would be appreciated. I still have to find some supper and do a few things. I’m going to take my laptop to work tomorrow but it’s a pretty busy day but maybe I can do some.

Vicki wrote: "Tammie, I still have several books I can add but don't know if I should. I wasn't able to do much in the way of reviews this week so I wasn't sure if, since we can only do 80 meals (?), we still ne..."

Take a look Vicki...Shannon mentioned a few posts up that someone could take her Everland spot...so you are free to post a book that works there. We are already at over 100 meals. I wish I knew how many we need...wondering if we should beef some of the meals up and have less...I'm totally open to any suggestions.

I thought on some of the frozen...if we went at those that a few would likely be carry overs...that if we revised the ingredients a bit to fit some of the suggestions in post 216 we could be that much further ahead for the next round. Not sure if I'm making sense.

Jenny...haven't heard from you in a bit...where are you with your meal building??

Thanks much

bamaace83 wrote: "I just got home from work so any help would be appreciated. I still have to find some supper and do a few things. I’m going to take my laptop to work tomorrow but it’s a pretty busy day but maybe I..."

I still have a couple hours of work so it will be late this eve when I get to anything...tomorrow am is likely my best bet. RealtorWorld is kicking my but right now :)

I worked on adding ingredients to a few recipes to make them more flavorful.

Not sure, but more coffee and tea (2 or 3 ingredients), 2 or 3 fish n' chips

There's a few mushrooms out there that would be good with pasta...you could add to a current pasta or just include in another...these will be ideal carry overs for next round...see post 216

I found a curry word somewhere (underlined) that could be used for another of those.

I understand to get the book points, all books must be used at least once in a recipe.

I had to redo my words for one of my books and there were some unusual ingredients/foods so I'm posting them here in case you want to use them for any meals for flavor. The book is line 65 Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

tea 9, 38, 40; clams 13; shrimp 18, 38; honey 23, 67, 82; rice, vinegar 155; pork, mushrooms 16; cabbage 45; meat, lard, oil, beans 55; choy sum 208; oyster sauce 146, 176, 208; ginger 50, 52, 54, 55, 57, 285; sesame, bun 67; sticky rice 16, 39, 208; sausage 149, 155, 236, 237; butter almond 126; coconut, sesame seeds 173; jook 147 (a type of porridge)

I didn't even add all of them because we can only use 4 of the words, but I can look for more if we need anything in particular.

I am in the middle of Blood Destiny but I'm hitting the sack so I'll finish my books/foods tomorrow.

I've got my laptop and am going to try to work on this a little between patients. For my big books, am I going beverages/desserts over meals? That was my intention but just double checking before I start this.

We have a problem with one of the lines. So in my book Ugly Love lemon is only found once and it's in two lines 414 and 181 so we will need to replace that with lemon.

I found another one also in Graceling herbs is just there once and it's in lines 122 and 435. I haven't gone back to fix these yet.

I worked on making some more meals. I'll be back again in a little bit to try to work on some more. Thanks for helping me also. Sorry that my work week is crazy.

bamaace83 wrote: "I worked on making some more meals. I'll be back again in a little bit to try to work on some more. Thanks for helping me also. Sorry that my work week is crazy."

Good morning Anna...I overslept and now I'm super behind. Won't probably get back to the SS until tonight at some point...work has really picked up.

I am like Anna and don't want to mess up anything! I added some vinegar to meals 14, 51, 56, and changed the tab to F&C with Vinegar. Then I went to the Shop Front Tab and changed those tabs to F&C with Vinegar and made those all 5 items rather than 4. Hope that's all okay. Still working on other books/meals.

Vicki wrote: "I am like Anna and don't want to mess up anything! I added some vinegar to meals 14, 51, 56, and changed the tab to F&C with Vinegar. Then I went to the Shop Front Tab and changed those tabs to F&C..."

Cool...will have a look but that's exactly what I would have done.

I think I finished most of my books. I know we have to fix those couple things but I may need help figuring out how to fix those with words from other books. I think I may have a couple spare ingredients in a couple books that can beef up a meal. Anyone heard from Jenny? I haven't seen her around in a few days unless I'm not looking in the right places.

Awesome, thanks! My hubby is off today and I keep getting distracted. What time (other than ASAP) do I need to post all of my books/foods/meals?

Anna, Jenny hasn't posted on anything since Oct. 7 I believe. I PM'd her but haven't heard back yet.

When can we start reading for next round?

I PM'd her as well. Anything you all are wrapping up, please use some of Jenny's ingredients...just be sure to cross out what's been used so we don't have to go looking for what's available or not. I'll leave this be for a few more hours and check back to the SS then.
Right now...free game on using whatever is available.

Shannon wrote: "When can we start reading for next round?"

We can be reading for the next round now...we just can't finish anything until Sunday.

Once this round ends tomorrow afternoon, we'll have 2 days to wait on customers. Does anyone want to be involved with this step? We should probably have just one or 2 people do it...at least for this 1st go.

Ok sounds good!

I don't know how to cross things out either. I can probably use two of her words to replace those doubles I found earlier with my books.