Sunday, October 30, 2022
Review - It Starts with Us
AUTHOR: Colleen Hoover
RATING: ★★★★
Summary (from Goodreads): Before It Ends with Us, it started with Atlas. Colleen Hoover tells fan favorite Atlas’s side of the story and shares what comes next in this long-anticipated sequel to the “glorious and touching” (USA TODAY) #1 New York Times bestseller It Ends with Us.
Lily and her ex-husband, Ryle, have just settled into a civil coparenting rhythm when she suddenly bumps into her first love, Atlas, again. After nearly two years separated, she is elated that for once, time is on their side, and she immediately says yes when Atlas asks her on a date.
But her excitement is quickly hampered by the knowledge that, though they are no longer married, Ryle is still very much a part of her life—and Atlas Corrigan is the one man he will hate being in his ex-wife and daughter’s life.
Switching between the perspectives of Lily and Atlas, It Starts with Us picks up right where the epilogue for the “gripping, pulse-pounding” (Sarah Pekkanen, author of Perfect Neighbors) bestselling phenomenon It Ends with Us left off. Revealing more about Atlas’s past and following Lily as she embraces a second chance at true love while navigating a jealous ex-husband, it proves that “no one delivers an emotional read like Colleen Hoover” (Anna Todd, New York Times bestselling author).
REVIEW: With It Ends with Us being so near and dear to my heart, I couldn’t wait to dive into this book, and I'm so glad it didn’t disappoint. Atlas Corrigan is one of my favorite male characters of all time, and I really loved getting his point of view. He is still just as swoon-worthy as ever. (*happy sigh*) I also love how Lily’s character has evolved since the birth of her daughter, and I was very happy to see her take a bigger stand against Ryle in order to protect Emerson. As I stated in my review of It Ends with Us, I was in an abusive relationship for several years before I met my husband, so there are parts of both books that pierce my heart because there is such a deep connection and understanding of what Lily has been through. There were many times I had to put this book down, take a few deep breaths, and come back to it when my head was clearer. Don’t get me wrong, though - that’s not a bad thing. It just shows how wonderful Colleen Hoover is at what she does when she is able to immerse you in a story so profoundly that you feel everything her characters are going through. This is just one of the many reasons she’s at the top of my list of must-read authors. The only reason I didn’t give this book five stars is because there was a lot of repetition (or “filler”) from It Ends with Us. But that wouldn’t ever stop me from recommending it. If you enjoy Colleen Hoover, then you’ll fall in love with this book too, so by all means put it at the top of your reading list. You won’t regret it!
Saturday, October 29, 2022
Recipe - Vegetable Beef Soup
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- ½ cup onions minced, 1 medium onion
- ½ cup celery minced, 2 celery ribs
- 1 cup carrots cut in small coins
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 14 oz. canned petite diced tomatoes
- 2 bay leaves
- ¼ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon salt (add more to taste)
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup frozen corn thawed
- 1 cup frozen peas thawed
- 1 cup frozen green beans thawed
- 1 ½ cups elbow macaroni
DIRECTIONS: Stovetop Instructions: In a soup pot, heat olive oil. Brown ground beef over medium high heat for 10 minutes until no longer pink.
After 10 minutes, add onions, garlic, carrots and celery. Cook for an additional 5 minutes.
Add broth, tomatoes, spices and frozen veggies to the pot.
Bring to a boil for 5 minutes. After the soup has boiled for 5 minutes, add raw pasta. Reduce to a low simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes until pasta is cooked.
Once cooked, remove bay leaves and enjoy.
Crockpot Instructions:
In a soup pot, heat olive oil. Brown ground beef over medium high heat for 10 minutes until no longer pink.
After 10 minutes, add onions, garlic, carrots and celery. Cook for an additional 5 minutes.
Add sautéed meat and veggies to the crockpot.
Add broth, tomatoes, spices and frozen veggies to the crock pot base
Cook on high for 4-6 hours or low for 6-8 hours.
20 minutes before you’re ready to eat, cook your pasta per the package directions. Drain and add to the pot.
Remove bay leaves and enjoy.
Instant Pot Instructions:
Set your instant pot to sauté for 15 minutes. Add olive oil. Brown ground beef for 10 minutes until no longer pink.
After 10 minutes, add your onions, garlic, carrots and celery. Sauté for an additional 5 minutes.
Add broth, tomatoes, spices and frozen veggies to the instant pot.
Cover and set to sealing, Manual Pressure for 5 minutes. It will take the instant pot about 20 minutes to come to pressure. Once the soup has finished cooking, quick release the pressure.
20 minutes before you’re ready to eat, cook your pasta per the package directions. Drain and add to the pot.
Remove bay leaves and enjoy.
(Recipe and photo courtesy of The Clean Eating Couple)
Friday, October 28, 2022
Review - Nothing to See Here
AUTHOR: Kevin Wilson
RATING: ★★★★
Summary (from Goodreads): Kevin Wilson’s best book yet—a moving and uproarious novel about a woman who finds meaning in her life when she begins caring for two children with remarkable and disturbing abilities
Lillian and Madison were unlikely roommates and yet inseparable friends at their elite boarding school. But then Lillian had to leave the school unexpectedly in the wake of a scandal and they’ve barely spoken since. Until now, when Lillian gets a letter from Madison pleading for her help.
Madison’s twin stepkids are moving in with her family and she wants Lillian to be their caretaker. However, there’s a catch: the twins spontaneously combust when they get agitated, flames igniting from their skin in a startling but beautiful way. Lillian is convinced Madison is pulling her leg, but it’s the truth.
Thinking of her dead-end life at home, the life that has consistently disappointed her, Lillian figures she has nothing to lose. Over the course of one humid, demanding summer, Lillian and the twins learn to trust each other—and stay cool—while also staying out of the way of Madison’s buttoned-up politician husband. Surprised by her own ingenuity yet unused to the intense feelings of protectiveness she feels for them, Lillian ultimately begins to accept that she needs these strange children as much as they need her—urgently and fiercely. Couldn’t this be the start of the amazing life she’d always hoped for?
With white-hot wit and a big, tender heart, Kevin Wilson has written his best book yet—a most unusual story of parental love.
REVIEW: This was such a strange read…but in a good way. I mean, how often do you come across a plot that involves spontaneous combustible children? Yeah…not often. But the author somehow made these kids and the main character, Lillian, relatable. I was honestly kind of sad when I reached the end of the book because it felt like saying goodbye to a really screwed up family I invested a lot of time worrying about. I wish there had been an epilogue included so we could find out what happened to them. Overall, the story was very well written, and I would gladly recommend it, but I just wish there had been more “closure” in the ending.
Monday, October 24, 2022
Recipe - Easy French Toast
One of my favorite fall breakfast treats is French toast. YUM! I hope you like the recipe! Enjoy!
Macerated Berries:
- 2 cups diced strawberries
- ½ cup frozen raspberries, thawed, with their juices
- Pinches of cane sugar
French Toast:
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup almond milk, or any milk
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom
- Pinch of sea salt
- 8 1-inch slices ciabatta bread
- Coconut oil, for brushing
- Maple syrup, for serving
DIRECTIONS: Make the macerated berries: In a medium bowl, combine the strawberries, raspberries, and a few pinches of sugar. Set aside for 10 minutes for the berries to soften. Stir before serving.
Make the French toast: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cinnamon, cardamom, and salt. Dip each slice of bread into the mixture and set the soaked bread aside on a large tray or plate.
Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat and brush with coconut oil. Add the bread slices and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Reduce the heat to low as needed to cook thoroughly without burning. Serve with maple syrup and the macerated berries.
(Recipe and photo courtesy of Love and Lemons)
Monday, October 17, 2022
Review - The Island of Missing Trees
AUTHOR: Elif Shafak
RATING: ★★★★
Summary (from Goodreads): A rich, magical new book on belonging and identity, love and trauma, nature and renewal, from the Booker shortlisted author of 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World.
Two teenagers, a Greek Cypriot and a Turkish Cypriot, meet at a taverna on the island they both call home. In the taverna, hidden beneath garlands of garlic, chili peppers and creeping honeysuckle, Kostas and Defne grow in their forbidden love for each other. A fig tree stretches through a cavity in the roof, and this tree bears witness to their hushed, happy meetings and eventually, to their silent, surreptitious departures. The tree is there when war breaks out, when the capital is reduced to ashes and rubble, and when the teenagers vanish. Decades later, Kostas returns. He is a botanist looking for native species, but really, he’s searching for lost love.
Years later a Ficus carica grows in the back garden of a house in London where Ada Kazantzakis lives. This tree is her only connection to an island she has never visited - her only connection to her family’s troubled history and her complex identity as she seeks to untangle years of secrets to find her place in the world.
A moving, beautifully written and delicately constructed story of love, division, transcendence, history and eco-consciousness, The Island of Missing Trees is Elif Shafak’s best work yet.
REVIEW: What an interesting read! First and foremost, I must commend the author on the incredible amount of research that obviously went into creating this book. I loved learning about the history, folklore, and intriguing superstitions among the various nationalities represented in the story. Also, having the viewpoint of the fig tree was something new to me. I didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I did, but it was a welcome change from reading the viewpoints from the hero and heroine only. If you’re looking for something a little different from your normal reading material, then I would recommend this book. I’m glad I took a chance on it.
Friday, October 14, 2022
Recipe - Easy Chicken Enchilada Soup
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- ½ tablespoon garlic, minced (about 4 cloves)
- 1 cup bell peppers, chopped
- 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup jar enchilada sauce - low sodium
- 4 oz. can mild diced green chilis
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups chicken broth - low or no salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon oregano
- 1 15 oz. can black beans, drained & rinsed - low or no salt
- 1 cup frozen corn, thawed
DIRECTIONS: Optional but recommended: In a sauté pan, heat olive oil. Sauté onions and garlic for 4-5 minutes until cooked. Add bell peppers and sauté for an additional 3 minutes.
Add onion/garlic/pepper mixture to the crockpot base with raw chicken breasts, enchilada sauce, green chilis, water, broth, spices, beans and corn.
Stir together. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
Remove cooked chicken from the pot. Shred chicken with two forks. Add shredded chicken back to the pot.
Stir to combine & enjoy!
(Recipe and photo courtesy of The Clean Eating Couple)
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Review - Lessons in Chemistry
AUTHOR: Bonnie Garmus
RATING: ★★★★
Summary (from Goodreads): Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel–prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with—of all things—her mind. True chemistry results.
But like science, life is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later Elizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother, but the reluctant star of America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth’s unusual approach to cooking (“combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride”) proves revolutionary. But as her following grows, not everyone is happy. Because as it turns out, Elizabeth Zott isn’t just teaching women to cook. She’s daring them to change the status quo.
Laugh-out-loud funny, shrewdly observant, and studded with a dazzling cast of supporting characters, Lessons in Chemistry is as original and vibrant as its protagonist.
REVIEW: I didn’t know what to expect when I picked up this book, but I’m glad I gave it a chance. The main character, Elizabeth, is basically the female incarnate of Sheldon Cooper (from The Big Bang Theory) because their mannerisms and personality are very similar. I enjoyed learning about Elizabeth’s life, and I liked rooting for her as she overcame hardships and obstacles that would’ve been the undoing for most people. She’s a force to be reckoned with and quite empowering. As a believer, though, the criticism of religion and belief in God that was prevalent throughout the entire book was extremely tiring and left a bad taste in my mouth. If not for that, it would’ve been an excellent story. (On the other hand, it IS about scientists, so I probably should’ve expected as much). There’s also a bunch of different POV’s - including a dog’s - so it could be confusing at times. But if that sort of thing doesn’t bother you, then by all means put this book on your TBR list!
Sunday, October 9, 2022
Recipe - Chocolate Almond Bark
Need a sweet fall treat you can indulge in without the guilt? Here you go! Enjoy!
- 1/2 c. whole almonds
- 2 c. (16 oz.) dark chocolate, chopped or broken into 1” pieces
- Flaky sea salt
DIRECTIONS: Adjust an oven rack to center position and preheat the oven to 300°. Spread the almonds on a baking sheet and bake until lightly toasted, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool.
Line another baking sheet with parchment. Place the chocolate into a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the chocolate for 30-second intervals, stirring in between each interval until the chocolate is mostly melted with a few pieces still solid.
Continue stirring the chocolate until the last pieces have melted. (If all the chocolate was melted upon removal from the microwave, add a small piece of chocolate to cool the melted chocolate.)
Add the cooled almonds into the chocolate and stir to coat. Pour the chocolate-almond mixture onto the parchment-lined baking sheet into an even layer and gently tap the sheet against a counter to smooth the surface. Sprinkle with flaky salt. Place the sheet in the refrigerator until chocolate has hardened, 5 to 10 minutes.
Using a knife, break chocolate into shards. Store in an airtight container, refrigerated, for up to 4 weeks.
(Recipe and photo courtesy of Delish)
Monday, October 3, 2022
Review - Remarkably Bright Creatures
AUTHOR: Shelby Van Pelt
RATING: ★★★★
Summary (from Goodreads): Remarkably Bright Creatures, an exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope, tracing a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus.
After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she's been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.
Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn't dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors--until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.
Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova's son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late.
Shelby Van Pelt's debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.
REVIEW: What a sweet story! I was intrigued right from the start about Tova’s friendship with an octopus, and I absolutely fell in love with Marcellus. I worried the author would give him a sad fate, but I was very pleased with how it ended. For some reason I can’t quite put my finger on, the characters and writing style reminded me a lot of A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (which I also loved). Once I got into the story I couldn’t put it down. Tova and Marcellus’ friendship is so endearing and really tugs on the old heartstrings. I would happily recommend this book to everyone. It’s an incredible debut novel, and I look forward to reading more of this author’s work in the future.
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Recipe - Healthy Pumpkin Muffins
- 1 c. all-purpose flour
- 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
- 1 c. canned pumpkin
- 1/2 c. honey
- 2 large eggs
- 6 tbsp. butter, melted and cooled
- 1/4 c. Greek yogurt
- 1 c. toasted and chopped pecans
- 2 tbsp. sugar
DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 325° and line muffin tin with liners.
In a large bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Add pumpkin, honey, eggs, butter, and yogurt, and mix until combined. Fold in 3/4 cup pecans.
Divide batter into muffin liners, then top with remaining pecans and sugar. Bake until muffins are golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Let muffins cool in pan, then serve.
NUTRITION INFO: Per serving: 199 calories, 4 g protein, 23 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, 12 g sugar, 11 g fat, 4 g saturated fat, 192 mg sodium
(Recipe and photo courtesy of Delish)
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