Stacey's Favorite Books

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Thoughts on a Thursday...


Here's a word I picked because it was so interesting I couldn't imagine how you could pronounce it! Then it was a bonus that the sentence is from a novel...

phthisis \THAHY-sis\  , noun:
1. A wasting away.
2. Pulmonary tuberculosis; consumption.
At last Sister Hyacinthe began to speak of the immediate and complete cures ofphthisis, and this was the triumph, the healing of that terrible disease which ravages humanity…
-- Robert Hugh Benson, Lourdes
Apoplexy is no longer to be feared, but phthisis is there. Social phthisis is called misery.
-- Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

What's In Your Library Bag Wednesday?...

     Hi! It's Wednesday and we're back to What's In Your Library Bag Wednesday again? I took a break from the Jodi Picoult novel Between the Lines, cause it just wasn't grabbing me. Now, I have the new young adult novel Legend by Marie Lu. So far so good. It's another dystopian society novel like The Hunger Games. I was in a bit of a rut reading only these types of novels once I got hooded on The Hunger Games, but then I went back to my regular reading of vampires and werewolves for a break and now I am back again. I've only read a couple of chapters, but there are good likeable characters already, so I want to keep reading. I think one of the hardest things to do in this genre of book is to write something different. Many of the dystopian society novels are so similar in how the society runs that they are quite predictable. I thought the Birthmarked Trilogy by Caragh O'Brien was so good because it was unpredictable and threw twists and turns that were unexpected. I loved it and am on the waiting list for the third one to come out.
     But what I really wanted to talk about was how hard it is to not judge a book by its cover. My daughter tends to read realistic fiction, unlike me, but read the Percy Jackson series and loved it. I took this as a cue and started branching out in what I brought home to her. Mostly, I got a, "no way!! Why did you bring that home? You know I don't like that type of book." So, I went back to finding her realistic fiction. Then, once school started again, she asked me to bring home "that book that I didn't want to read earlier this summer..." i.e. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. I don't have any idea what sparked her interest to try again, but now she can't put the book down and is chomping at the bit for the rest of the series. That is like me. She hates to wait to read the next book when she finds a series she loves :)! So, what I'm really trying to say here is, don't discount a book that gets recommended to you on the first try or by the look of the cover or what you assume it is like. It's really hard to do. I was the same way with The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I didn't want to read it because it had aliens in it. I was told by enough people that I needed to read it that I finally bit the bullet so to speak and read it. One of my all time favorite books!!! Sometimes reading can surprise you!! Good books lurk around every corner!! Try a new one today!
   

Monday, August 27, 2012

Book Trailer Monday...

     A quick check in. I made Chocolate Lava cake in the Dutch oven  yesterday for my mom's birthday. It actually worked! Perfectly!! Yummy yum yum yum!!! All I actually did was make a chocolate cake and scoop a container of chocolate frosting in the center. Bake as directed. Voila!! Chocolate Lava cake that was sooo good!! Can't wait to make it again...perhaps with a different combination of cake and frosting...peanut butter lava? strawberry lava with white cake? The combinations could be endless....

     Now on to a book trailer for today....The wildly popular Debbie Macomber has a new book and a new series out that is based in her old very popular Cedar Cove series...See what you think...


Friday, August 24, 2012

From Our Recipe Box to Yours...

     This weekend is my Mom's birthday and she has requested some Dutch Oven cooking from me for her birthday supper. Included in her choices is Chocolate Lava Cake. I have made lava cakes for my daughter's birthday before, but they were in ramekins in the house oven. I tried to make lava cake for my mom once before, but failed. The cake was good, but it didn't have any lava. So, a challenge for my mom's birthday...
     I searched the internet for recipes for lava cake in a Dutch oven. The recipe that looks the easiest is actually for a slow cooker, but notations say it can be done in a Dutch oven. I'll include the recipe and then check in next week and let you know how it goes....

Slow Cooker Chocolate Lava Cake

Chocolate solves everything!   At least we think it does.   This warm and gooey dessert will even make camping on a rainy day cheery and bright!

Ingredients:
1 package devils food cake mix
3 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 2/3 cups water
1 package Jell-O Chocolate Flavor Instant Pudding Mix
2 cups cold milk
1 bag (12 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions:
Prepare cake mix into batter using eggs, oil, and water. Pour into slow cooker.
Prepare Jell-O Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix using milk. Pour this over cake mix in slow cooker. Sprinkle chocolate chips all over the top of the batter.
Cook in slow cooker on high setting for 2 1/2 to 3 hours until cake is moist but does not jiggle, and little volcanoes of chocolate appear on top. Serve with ice cream, whipped topping, or on its own for a special camping dessert.
Note: For best results use a liner so the cake doesn’t stick to your slow cooker.
If you don’t bring a crock pot, the cake can be made in a dutch oven as well. Prepare the ingredients as described above and pour into a well greased 6″ dutch oven. Cook with 10 coals on the top and 6 on the bottom for about 30-40 minutes. When it is done, it should be cooked all of the way around the edge. Enjoy!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

What's In Your Library Bag Wednesday?

     Hi. Welcome to the Wednesday edition of "What's In Your Library Bag"? I have something in my library bag, but I am struggling to get into it. I don't know what my problem is. I LOVE to read and the book Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and her daughter Samantha Van Leer has an intriguing plot line. The premise of the story is that characters in a fairy tale are real and that they live their lives in the book and every time a reader opens the pages they must get to their "place"s and "act out" the story as it is read. The prince in this particular fairy tale knows there is more life out there and he is tired of saying the same lines over and over. He doesn't want to go on a quest to free the beautiful princess that he has no feelings for whatsoever. He dreams of another life and a brown haired girl with honey colored eyes. So,right away there is a bit of fantasy that appeals to me and the idea of romance lingers making me want to read on and see what happens. Does he stay "stuck" in his story forever rescuing the princess? Does he find a way out and meet a brown haired honey eyed girl and fall in love? I just haven't been able to get any further into the story as of yet.
     The whole idea that her daughter came up with the idea and they wrote it together appeals to me, too. I love reading and I really enjoy writing, too. If my daughter ends up loving these things, I will be totally excited to share them with her. The idea of them writing a book together is just plain cool.
     Maybe once the excitement of getting back to school and into the groove of things settles down, I'll be able to really dig into this book. For now, it's slow going.
     You should stop in and check it out or try something else new. We'll be happy to help get you on the road to reading....
   

Friday, August 17, 2012

From Our Recipe Box to Yours...

     I know you are not supposed to pick a book by its cover, but it is truly hard to not take home a book to read when the cover appeals to me. The same goes for food. I was flipping around on the internet and saw this picture and then read the title, I just knew I should put it here and try it  myself...Check It out and see what you think...


Prep Time 
Cook Time 
Servings 6Difficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds Small New Potatoes
  • 1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • ½ teaspoons Kosher Salt
  • 1 whole Chipotle Pepper Packed In Adobo Sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Adobo Sauce
  • 1 clove Garlic
  • 1 Tablespoon Grated Lime Zest
  • 1 Tablespoon Fresh Lime Juice
  • 2 teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 2 Tablespoons Fresh Chopped Cilantro

Preparation Instructions

Note: Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce can be found canned in most major grocery stores (typically in the Mexican food section).
1. Preheat oven to 400°F. With a knife, slice the potatoes in half. Place the halved potatoes on a baking sheet. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the potatoes. Add salt and toss with your hands until the potatoes are thoroughly coated with oil and salt. Place in the oven for 30 to 35 minutes, stirring once, until golden and the potatoes can be easily pierced with a fork.
2. While the potatoes are cooking: Remove one chipotle pepper from the can and mince it (chop into small pieces). Place it in a large bowl. Using the adobo sauce that the peppers are packaged in, add 2 teaspoons of sauce to the minced pepper in the bowl.
3. Peel and mince the garlic clove. Add it to the bowl as well.
4. Next, add the lime zest, lime juice and 2 teaspoons of olive oil.
5. Whisk everything together until combined.
6. Once the potatoes are done and still hot, pour them into the chipotle lime dressing. Add cilantro and gently stir to combine, making sure every potato is covered. Plate and serve.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Thoughts on a Thursday...

Here's an interesting word to learn....


tawpie \TAW-pee\  , noun:
A foolish or thoughtless young person.
Do ye no hear me, tawpie? Do ye no hear what I'm tellin' ye?
-- Robert Louis Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Weir of Hermiston
You are just idle tawpies.
-- Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr, Profit and Loss

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Book Trailer... Tuesday??? And What's in Your Library Bag Early???

     Oh well, you don't care what day it is, hopefully. You only care that you get your book trailer fix, right? Well, I know you can watch your own book trailers, but it's infinitely more fun to see what might be here each week, isn't it??
     I haven't been reading much lately; can't really seem to get into anything. I had the book Then Comes Seduction by Mary Balogh on my headboard from the exchange shelf for whenever I was desperate for a book and didn't have anything else. Lately, since I haven't been interested much in reading, it seemed to qualify. Anyway, it's an historical romance, more specifically Regency Fiction which is really romance set in Regency England, the time period of balls and the ton and Dukes and Earls and all that. I've read this type of novel before and enjoyed it, however I usually choose Scotland as the setting in most of the historical romance I read. There's just something about a Scottish Highlander that appeals to me...
     The book trailer I have to share today is actually a snippet of the audio book for this particular book, so instead of an overview, you are getting a part of what the audio book sounds like...A new angle to try to hook you into reading/listening to this title.
     I listened to another trailer, an interview with the author and she said something I had never really thought about. She liked her novels, Regency Fiction, to Jane Austen, and Jane Eyre. You may remember that the library ladies read Jane Eyre together last summer. Now, I did finish this novel, but it is not one I would soon repeat. I find this ironic, because I am loving Mary Balogh and Then Comes Seduction. The female lead, Miss Katherine Huxtable, is fiesty and has a mind of her own, going against convention and what the ton may think of her. And the male lead, Jasper Finley, Earl of Merton, is witty and funny and doesn't care at all; he can do whatever he wants, he's an Earl after all. This combination makes for fast, witty repertoire, which I love. And they deny the romance through most of the novel giving quite an air of anticipation, because, after all, you know they will get together in the end. I think that is part of the allure of those type of romance. I don't read them all the time, but they do serve as something I read relatively often.
     So, here it is...give a whirl and see what you think..

Friday, August 10, 2012

From Our Recipe Box to Yours...

These are my daughter's favorite kind of doughnut...maybe our weekend treat? (from www.thepioneerwoman.com)


Homemade Glazed Doughnuts

Added by Ree on February 7, 2010 in BreadsSweet Rolls
Prep Time 
Cook Time 
Servings 18Difficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • Doughnuts
  • 1-⅛ cup Whole Milk, Warm
  • ¼ cups Sugar
  • 2-¼ teaspoons (one Package) Instant Or Active Dry Yeast
  • 2 whole Large Eggs, Beaten
  • 1-¼ stick Unsalted Butter, melted
  • 4 cups All-purpose Flour
  • ¼ teaspoons Salt
  • Shortening
  • GLAZE
  • 3 cups Powdered Sugar
  • ½ teaspoons Salt
  • ½ teaspoons Vanilla
  • ½ cups Cold Water Or Milk

Preparation Instructions

To Make the Dough:
1. Make sure milk is nice and warm, but not overly hot.
2. Add sugar to milk. Stir to dissolve.
3. Add yeast into a small bowl.
4. Pour milk/sugar mixture over yeast. Stir gently, then let sit for 10 minutes.
5. Melt butter in separate bowl until butter is almost melted. Stir to finish melting so butter won’t be overly hot.
6. Add beaten eggs to melted butter, stirring constantly to make sure the butter’s not too hot for the eggs.
7. Add the egg/butter mixture to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook.
8. With the mixer on 3 or medium-low speed, pour in the yeast mixture.
9. Allow the dough hook to stir this mixture for a couple of minutes, making sure it’s thoroughly combined.
10. With the mixer still going, add helpings of the flour mixture in 1/4 to 1/2 cup increments until all the flour is gone.
11. Stop the mixer, scrape the bowl, then turn the mixer on the same speed for five whole minutes.
12. After five minutes, stop the mixer and scrape the bottom of the bowl.
13. Turn on the mixer for 30 seconds.
14. Turn off the mixer and allow the dough to sit in the bowl undisturbed for 10 minutes.
15. After 10 minutes, transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl. Toss the dough to coat, then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place straight in the fridge.
16. Refrigerate dough for at least 8 hours, or overnight.
To Make the Doughnuts:
1. Remove bowl from fridge and turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface.
2. Roll out to 1/4 to 1/3-inch thickness.
3. Using a 3-inch cutter, cut as many rounds as you can, then roll out remaining dough and cut as much as you can, etc.
4. Cut holes out of each round using a 1 1/2-inch cutter.
5. Place both doughnuts and holes on a floured baking sheet.
6. Cover with large tea towel and place in a warm place in your kitchen; my kitchen is very drafty, so I have to briefly warm the griddle, then turn it off and set the sheets on top to keep warm.
7. Allow doughnuts to rise undisturbed for at least 1 hour; 1 hour 15 minutes if necessary. Doughuts should be visibly puffier and appear to be airy.
To Fry the Dougnuts
1. Heat plenty of vegetable shortening in a large pot until the temperature reaches 375 to 380 degrees—do not let it get hotter than 380 degrees! 375 is ideal; keep the thermometer in the pan to continually monitor.
2. One to two at a time, gently grab doughnuts and ease them into the hot oil. Allow them to cook 1 minute on each side; they will brown very quickly.
3. Remove doughnuts from the oil with a slotted spoon, allowing all oil to drip off.
4. Place doughnut immediately on several layers of paper towels. Count to five, then flip it over onto a clean part of the paper towels. Count to five, then flip it over again; the purpose, obviously, is to drain as much grease as possible before it soaks into the doughnut.
5. Repeat with remaining doughnuts and holes. The holes will cook more quickly than the doughnuts; about 30 seconds per side.
6. Allow doughnuts to slightly cool.
To Glaze
1. Mix all glaze ingredients in a bowl until completely smooth.
2. One by one, dip doughnuts into the glaze until halfway submerged. (Note: completely submerge doughnut holes, then remove with slotted spoon.)
4. Remove from glaze, then turn right side up on a cooling rack over a cookie sheet (to catch dripping glaze.)
5. Serve warm if possible, or room temperature.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Thoughts on a Thursday...

So here's an interesting word to know.....


clowd·er

  [klou-der]  Show IPA
noun
a group or cluster of cats.


Who knew??

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

What's in Your Library Bag Wednesday?

     So, here it is Wednesday again and I missed last Wednesday because I was on vacation in Michigan!! Have you all been able to vacation this summer? I hope so. Getting away is a needed part of what keeps us all going....
     My vacations are usually fun packed and without much time to read, but I did bring along some
CD-Books to listen to while we drove. It was somewhat of a challenge to find something that would appeal to ages 6 to 40 with 10, 13 and 39 in between. One of the titles I chose was Airborn by Kenneth Oppel. The whole family LOVED it!!! We were wanting to stay in the truck to get to the end of the chapter. A drive along the coast? No problem!! We've got the book to listen to!! Then when we finished it, the kids were disappointed that I hadn't grabbed the second book in the series. So, now I know what we are going to do in the evening before bed... listen to Skybreaker by Kenneth Oppel.
     The first thing that made the book so good was that it was a cast reading the story. We listened to The Hatchet by Gary Paulsen too, but that book only had the one reader and the kids weren't as entertained by it. Still a good story, but lacking a little bit. The second thing that made it a good book for us to listen to was that there was always lots of exciting things going on. You couldn't wait to get in the truck and listen to the next installment. This was actually the first time that an audio book worked really well for us. I think since my youngest is now 6 and more able to follow more of a story and the book had lots of action to keep my husband interested, my other two kids could just eat it up! Me, I love to read and listen, so just about any story is good for me. I will admit to liking the action best, though.
     The story...Matt Cruse, the main character, is a 13 year old cabin boy aboard the airship (good year blimp) Aurora. It begins with Matt spotting something in the sky from the Crow's Nest up top. From that subsequent daring rescue of a disabled hot air balloon to the scary take over of a pirate ship to the discovery of a new species on a remote island this novel is full of non-stop thrills. Kate DeVries is a young lady aboard the airship who gets tangled up in all the action right along with Matt. She is rich and sassy and she and Matt become close through their adventures...Ending with them both starting new adventures in their lives, the readers are left wondering if they will ever fly together again and where the ship will take them. Whatever happens, excitement will be sure to follow!!
     Stop in to the library and pick up your copy today and start your adventure...

Monday, August 6, 2012

Book Trailer Monday...

Here's another Hunger Gamesesque young adult novel to try...

This trailer really gets you, too....


Friday, August 3, 2012

From Our Recipe Box To Yours...

Here's an interesting way to eat up some of that zucchini that is growing so well in your gardens right now...Healthy too!


Grilled Zucchini Pizza Slices

Grilled Zucchini Pizza Slices photo
prep time:
10 minutes
cook time:
15 minutes
total time:
25 minutes
MorganMorgan Cargle
The topping options are endless here. Admittedly, this is not a pizza in the truest sense of the word, but if you’d like pizza flavors with a “crust” that’s gluten-free, low-glycemic, and low-carb, this is an idea you may end up liking

INGREDIENTS

  • large zucchini slices, cut 3/4 inch thick
  • olive oil, for lightly brushing both sides of pizza and oiling grill grate
  • pizza sauce of your choice
  • grated cheese
  • pizza toppings of your choice

DIRECTIONS

  • 1
    Oil the grill grates, then preheat grill to medium-high. (If using a broiler, it should be reheated as well.)
  • 2
    Cut zucchini into thick slices about 3/4 inch thick.
  • 3
    Grill the zucchini 7-8 minutes, or until there are some grill marks and it’s starting to be tender. (If the zucchini has a side that’s slightly larger, grill that first so it will be the “top.”)
  • 4
    Remove zucchini from the grill, putting them grilled-side up on a cutting board you can use to take them to the kitchen. Add sauce, cheese, and other toppings as desired.
  • 5
    Put loaded zucchini slices back on the grill and cook 7-8 minutes more with the grill lid closed. (Check them every few minutes to see when the cheese is melted and the toppings are lightly browned, especially if you’re using a broiler.)
  • 6
    Remove zucchini pizzas from grill and serve hot.

Zucchini Pizza Bites

Short Description
Cooking Time:20 minutes
Recipe Makes:
Calories:220
Grams of Carbs:25.2
Grams of Fat:9.8
Grams of Protein:14.1
Ingredients1 medium to large Zucchini
1/4 cup (34g) ATHENOS Tomato Basil Feta
4 tbsp (66g) Tomato Paste
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp (5g) Grated Parmesan Cheese
Sprinkle of Parsley 
InstructionsCut the Zucchini in half longwise. Scoop out the inside using a melon baller or tablespoon.

Chop any large zucchini pieces that you scooped out and place in a mixing bowl with the feta, tomato paste, garlic powder and oregano. Mix well to coat everything. The tomato paste and feta will start to combine.

Put the zucchini mixture back into the zucchini boats. Top with the parmesan and parsley. Bake for 25 minutes. Longer if you like a softer zucchini.

More ate Greenlitebites.com

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Thoughts on a Thursday...

How Many Different Ways to Say what I am doing while on VACATION!!!


fun   [fuhn]  1. something that provides mirth or amusement: A picnic would be fun. 2. enjoyment or playfulness: She's full of fun.

 mer·ri·ment   [mer-i-muhnt]  1. cheerful or joyful gaiety; mirth; hilarity; laughter. 2. Obsolete . a cause of mirth; a jest, entertainment, etc.

 gai·e·ty   [gey-i-tee] , plural gai·e·ties. 1. the state of being gay or cheerful; gay spirits. 2. Often, gaieties. merrymaking or festivity: the gaieties of the New Year season. 3. showiness; finery: gaiety of dress. 

pleas·ure   [plezh-er]  verb, pleas·ured, pleas·ur·ing. noun 1. the state or feeling of being pleased. 2. enjoyment or satisfaction derived from what is to one's liking; gratification; delight. 3. worldly or frivolous enjoyment: the pursuit of pleasure. 4. recreation or amusement; diversion; enjoyment: Are you traveling on business or for pleasure? 5. sensual gratification.


playful (ˈpleɪfʊl) — adj 1. full of high spirits and fun: a playful kitten 2. good-natured and humorous: a playful remark 'playfully — adv 'playfulness — n