DIRECTIONS: Add the cottage cheese and taco seasoning to a small food processor or mini blender. Blend until completely smooth. Heat a small skillet over medium heat and spray with oil. Add the tomatoes and garlic and sauté, stirring 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant. Add the cottage cheese mixture and stir until hot, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in pepper jack cheese and pickled jalapeño, until melted. Transfer to a serving bowl and top with remaining tomatoes and cilantro. Serve with chips or crudités.  

NOTES: This is best eaten the day you make it. If you’re making this for one or two, just divide the recipe. If you do have extra, you can refrigerate the leftovers. Can top with ¼ pound cooked ground beef to add more protein. For a thicker dip, use whole-milk cottage cheese. 

NUTRITION INFO: 1/4 cup (generous), Calories: 94 kcal, Carbohydrates: 3 g, Protein: 8 g, Fat: 5 g, Saturated Fat: 3 g, Cholesterol: 20 mg, Sodium: 353.5 mg, Fiber: 0.5 g, Sugar: 1 g

(Recipe and photo courtesy of Skinnytaste)

AUTHOR: Soraya M. Lane

RATING: ★★★

REVIEW: If you've read most of my reviews, then you already know that adding "librarian" to any title piques my interest, and I'm all in. Add a World War II setting, and I'm definitely going to read it. This is a beautiful story of two admirable women from very different backgrounds who form a close bond while trying to help Jewish refugees during wartime. Some of the situations and outcomes were predictable, but it still held my attention from beginning to end, which is a big plus for me. If I could go back and change one thing, I would read the print book or digital book instead of listening to the audiobook. The narrator was good, but her voice is very breathy (if that's a word) and dramatic, which unfortunately distracted me most of the time. I don't really know how to describe it, but on a positive note her accents are lovely. I would recommend the print and digital versions of this book to all, especially World War II historical fiction lovers like myself. 

(DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this title from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own). 

🍁  Snuggling under a warm blanket with a good book and a mug of hot chocolate with mini marshmallows. 

🍂  Wearing sweaters, jackets, and hoodies.

🍁  Visiting a local pumpkin patch with our grandchildren and drinking some apple cider while watching them having the time of their lives. 

🍂  Mosquitoes, horseflies, and other bothersome insects go back to Hades where they belong. 

🍁  Repainting and sprucing up my little free library when it’s cold so I don’t have to worry about being eaten alive by said mosquitoes, horseflies, and other bothersome insects. 

🍂  Decorating for fall, Halloween, and Christmas at home and at work. 

🍁  Planning a wedding for our youngest son. 

🍂  Celebrating our granddaughter’s sixth birthday in October. 

🍁  Watching sappy and always predictable holiday Hallmark movies. 

🍂  Did I mention hot chocolate with mini marshmallows?