Hey everybody and Happy Tuesday! It’s been a couple of weeks, but I’m participating in Top Ten Tuesday again.
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly post currently hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. It celebrates lovely lists, wonderful books and the bookish community. This week’s topic is Non-Bookish Freebie. Since it could be just about anything, it was a bit difficult for me at first, but I ultimately decided on Favorite Ingredients to Cook or Make Food With. I’m also defining “ingredient” very broadly here: as in anything used to make any kind of meal.
Anyway, without further ado, let’s get started! In no particular order, here are my ten favorite things to use whilst making food!
#1: Butter
Butter is fantastic. You can use it to grease pans, complement bread, as well as in cooking and baking.
#2: Brown Sugar
I didn’t know that brown sugar could be so versatile until recently. I used to mostly use it while baking, but I’ve discovered that it also has an excellent use in creating sauces or marinades.
#3: Onions
I add onions to a fairly decent amount of stuff that I cook. They just have a flavor that I love, and they complement most things very well.
#4: Tomatoes
Though I don’t use them nearly as often as onions, I still like how useful they can be. I mostly use the sauce or paste versions of them, but I also find small tomatoes to be excellent additions to salads and such.
#5: Cinnamon
I love cinnamon. Particularly in the fall, which is coming up. I’ve found that it’s mostly useful for baking or seasoning, but I also love how it’s a great scent for your house, too.
#6: Cream Cheese
Cream cheese is something else that I really love. I love putting it on bagels and bread, as well as dipping stuff into it. It’s also a great ingredient for baking – particularly cheesecake as well as some cookies.
#7: Eggs
You can put eggs in so many things. They’re great on their own, in whatever form you prefer to eat them, but they’re also great for baking.
#8: Milk
I love milk. It’s great for both baking and cooking, and the heavy cream version of it can be even better.
#9: Noodles
Noodles are awesome. I love using them in pastas, as well in stir fry.
#10: Bread
Bread is so useful. You can eat it on its own, or you can smooth stuff on it like butter and cream cheese. You can also toast it and add these things. It’s also crucial if you want a sandwich of any type.
Do you like to cook or bake? What are your favorite things to cook or bake with?
As always, thanks so much for reading, and I hope that you have an amazing day/night!
So, here I am! Back with another Reading & Recipes post; this time featuring contemporary fiction and cookies.
If you don’t know what Reading & Recipes is… Well, for this post, I’m going to be posting a recipe I used recently along with a picture of the finished product, as well as discussing a book I was reading the same day a little bit. Annnd that’s it, that’s pretty much the post.
Recent Recipe: Lemon Cool Whip Cookies
This one isn’t exactly an original, but I’ve been seeing Cool Whip Cookies a bunch of places online. And the recipes are all pretty much the same, no matter where you look. So I’ll just write what I did here.
INGREDIENTS:
one box of 18.25 oz cake mix (you can use any flavor you like – I just used lemon for mine)
one 8 oz container of cool whip
one large egg
some powdered sugar, for rolling
DIRECTIONS:
Mix the cake mix, cool whip and egg together.
Form into small balls (don’t make them too big or else they might stick and not come off the pan that great – don’t do what I did, lol). Then roll in the powdered sugar.
Bake at 350°F (176°C) for 10 to 12 minutes.
Cool on the baking sheet for a couple minutes before you remove them. Then, enjoy! (Yields around 24 to 36 cookies.)
As I mentioned above, it’s important to me that you know you can basically use any kind of cake mix that you’d like. I just decided to use lemon, ’cause lemon season is almost here, and I wanted to welcome spring. I’m planning on trying this recipe with chocolate cake mix eventually, and maybe even strawberry as well.
These cookies are soft and chewy, and the lemon flavor was sweet and strong. But not overpowering or tart. Also, make sure you roll them in powdered sugar really well as they’re pretty sticky as batter.
This smoldering enemies-to-lovers novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu puts a superstar global phenomenon and a hotshot young spy on a collision course with danger – and Cupid’s arrow – in an electric new series perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Nicola Yoon.
Meet Winter Young – International pop sensation, with a voice like velvet and looks that could kill. His star power has smashed records, selling out stadiums from LA to London. His rabid fans would move heaven and earth for even a glimpse of him – just imagine what they’d do to become his latest fling.
Meet Sydney Cossette – Part of an elite covert ops group, Sydney joined their ranks as their youngest spy with plans to become the best agent they’ve ever had. An ice queen with moves as dangerous as her comebacks, Sydney picks up languages just as quickly as she breaks hearts. She’s fiery, no-nonsense, and has zero time for romance – especially with a shameless flirt more used to serving sass than taking orders.
When a major crime boss gifts his daughter a private concert with Winter for her birthday, Sydney and Winter’s lives suddenly collide. Tasked with infiltrating the crime organization’s inner circle, Sydney is assigned as Winter’s bodyguard with Winter tapped to join her on the mission of a lifetime as a new spy recruit. Sydney may be the only person alive impervious to Winter’s charms, but as their mission brings them closer, she’s forced to admit that there’s more to Winter Young than just a handsome face…
Technically, I’m still reading this book – I’m only about 30% of the way through it, actually. This one’s been a bit slow going for me. I found the idea interesting, as well as a departure from Lu’s typical sci-fi, but it’s been difficult for me to get into, not to mention it isn’t what I usually read. I’m on the fence about DNF-ing it, so we’ll see what happens.
I’m not really gonna get into it, but this book has some of the same problems I had with the author’s Legend series. Mostly related to my suspension of disbelief. This book also has another big problem, however: I’m finding it kinda boring so far. But, like I said, we’ll see.
So what books have you been reading lately? What have you thought of them? What’s your favorite meal or dessert?
Thank you as always for reading, and I hope you all have an awesome day/night!
So, um, the title of this post is a little misleading. Technically, this is almost a “three weeks-ly” wrap-up. But that sounds dumb, so I’m still gonna call this a Weekly Wrap-Up.
Anyway, I haven’t really been too active on the blog this month. December is always a busier month for me, and to be honest, as much as I adore it, the holiday season stresses me out. Just a tiny bit. So I kind of took it easy this month. Sorry.
Anyway, let’s talk about the stuff I have done on the blog, since my last weekly wrap-up.
Wednesday 12/6: WWW Wednesday
Two and a half weeks ago, on Wednesday, I finally participated in another WWW Wednesday. WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words.
Two Saturdays ago, I participated in Spell the Month in Books for December 2023. Spell the Month in Books is a monthly post created and hosted by Jana @ Reviews from the Stacks.
Thursday 12/21: Birthstone Book Covers / Reading & Recipes
Two days ago, this past Thursday, I ended up double posting. The first post that I did was Birthstone Book Covers. Birthstone Book Covers is a monthly post created and hosted by Leslie @ Books Are the New Black.
The second post that I did on Thursday was a new thing that I thought up a few weeks ago. It’s called Reading & Recipes, and for it I showcase the thing I baked or cooked most recently and discuss the book I was reading at the time a little.
Friday 12/22: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries Review
Yesterday I finally, finally, finally posted my review for Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett. I absolutely loved the book and I gave it ★★★★★.
So yeah, I haven’t been all that active so far this December. I’m hoping to post more than I have been next week, but no promises. Also, I probably won’t be posting tomorrow or the next day, as they are Christmas Eve and Christmas, and I want to spend all my time with family and friends. Plus, I’ll probably be tired from holiday stuff. I’m already pretty boned now actually – I’ve been busy making a ton of cookies these last couple days! (Not to mention wrapping presents the day before that!)
And… that’s kind of it for this wrap-up. I don’t have as much to say this time, I know, but like I said: I’ve been busy the last few days. I’ll probably end up reading books I get for Christmas next (if I get books for Christmas), and then I’ll read something else.
But yeah, thank you all so much for reading, and I hope you have a fantastic day/night! Also, to everyone who celebrates, Merry Christmas!! 🎄❄️🔔🎁
Let me tell you something you don’t know about me: I love baking – and cooking in general. So I thought that I could combine it with some of my other loves, reading and blogging. (Also: double post!)
Before I continue though, I have to say that this post is slightly inspired by something I’ve seen YouTuber Cindy Pham do on her channel a couple of times. It’s called Cook & Book and she cooks herself dinner while talking about books she read recently and what she thought of them.
But Reading & Recipes is a little bit different. For one thing, there’s a huge difference in presentation between a video and a blog post. So for this thing, I’m going to be posting a recipe I used recently along with a picture of the finished product, as well as discussing a book I was reading the same day a little bit. Annnd that’s it, that’s pretty much the post.
So, I’ll stop blabbering and get on with it.
Recent Recipe: Spritz Cookies
The spritz cookies that I made last week. I used the tree shape and the snowflake shape, and decorated them with red and green sugar. 🙂
Confession(s): Even though I really enjoy baking, I’m not a genius. Nor do I have the will or the desire to spend time testing recipes (particularly baking ones) dozens of times. So I sought out Sally’s Baking Recipes and found this recipe. This is also my first time making Spritz Cookies, so I haven’t messed around with it or modified the recipe to my tastes yet, so the one I used was exactly the same.
And, I gotta say, this recipe is pretty awesome. The only thing that I’d really change is add waaayy less almond extract (like to about 1/8 of a teaspoon). I can’t stand it when sugar cookies taste too almondy. I’d also take the cookies out of the oven a minute or two early, cuz I like my sugar cookies nice and soft.
But yeah, other than my highly specific nitpicks, three cookies turned out very well. I’ll definitely be making them again!
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings, Book One of the Stormlight Archive begins an incredible new saga of epic proportion.
Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter.
It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars were fought for them, and won by them.
One such war rages on a ruined landscape called the Shattered Plains. There, Kaladin, who traded his medical apprenticeship for a spear to protect his little brother, has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes no sense, where ten armies fight separately against a single foe, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders who consider them expendable.
Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Like his brother, the late king, he is fascinated by an ancient text called The Way of Kings. Troubled by over-powering visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant, he has begun to doubt his own sanity.
Across the ocean, an untried young woman named Shallan seeks to train under an eminent scholar and notorious heretic, Dalinar’s niece, Jasnah. Though she genuinely loves learning, Shallan’s motives are less than pure. As she plans a daring theft, her research for Jasnah hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war.
The result of over ten years of planning, writing, and world-building, The Way of Kings is but the opening movement of the Stormlight Archive, a bold masterpiece in the making.
Speak again the ancient oaths:
Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before Destination.
and return to men the Shards they once bore.
The Knights Radiant must stand again.
So… Here’s the thing. I’m pretty sure – like 98% sure – that I’m gonna DNF this book. I just… don’t care for it for whatever reason. I don’t know what it is about some 800+ page books, but I just can’t get into them sometimes.
And the amount of scenes that use telling instead of showing grated on my nerves a little bit. That, and I really wasn’t too interested in the individual character plots. I don’t know, it was a bunch of little things, plus the fact that I’m having trouble getting into the book, plus the length of the novel. So I think I’m going to stop.
I really, really wanted to like this book. And I have oodles of respect for Brandon Sanderson. But I don’t think me and the Stormlight Archive were meant to be. Maybe someday I’ll try Mistborn…
So what books have you been reading lately? What have you thought of them? What’s your favorite meal or dessert? How about cookies, specifically?
Thank you as always for reading, and I hope you all have a fantastic day/night! Happy Holidays, as well, to anyone who celebrates!
Sooo… for Thanksgiving, I decided to do something a little different. Instead of a book review or a post about book covers or something, I’m going to be listing my favorite cookbooks. My top three specifically (in no particular order).
See, this is something y’all might not have realized about me (mostly because I’ve never mentioned it before, ever), but I love to cook and bake stuff. And what better way to celebrate today’s post? Ya know, since it’s a holiday about food and all. Anyway, here we go!
The Nerdy Nummies Cookbook by Rosanna Pansino
I have to make a confession. I haven’t made as much stuff from this book as I would’ve liked. And that’s on me. I’m a bit of a novice at baking certain stuff, particularly some of the pastry chef level stuff in here, so I’ve shied away from some of the more complex recipes.
But the ones that I have tried are delicious, and they’re some of the most ingeniously nerdy things I’ve ever seen. I love this cookbook.
Cookbook Description
The first cookbook from the creator and host of the internet’s most popular baking show, Nerdy Nummies: a collection of Rosanna Pansino’s all-time favorite geeky recipes as well as sensational new recipes exclusive to this book.
The Nerdy Nummies Cookbook is quirky, charming, and fun, featuring the recipes behind Rosanna Pansino’s celebrated, one-of-a-kind creations, as well as beautiful, mouthwatering photographs throughout. It is the perfect companion that you’ll turn to whenever you want to whip up a delicious treat and be entertained all at once. And best of all, these treats are as simple as they are fun to make! No need for costly tools or baking classes to create these marvelous delights yourself.
The Nerdy Nummies Cookbook combines two things Rosanna loves: geek culture and baking. Her fondness for video games, science fiction, math, comics, and lots of other things considered “nerdy” have inspired every recipe in this book. You’ll find the recipes for many beloved fan favorites from the show, such as Apple Pi Pie, the Chocolate Chip Smart Cookie, and Volcano Cake; as well as many new geeky recipes, such as Dinosaur Fossil Cake, Moon Phase Macarons, and the Periodic Table of Cupcakes. The Nerdy Nummies Cookbook showcases Rosanna’s most original and popular creations, and each recipe includes easy-to-follow photo instructions and a stunning shot of the finished treat in all its geeky glory: a delicious confection sure to please the geek in all of us!
Betty Crocker Cookbook [12th Edition] by Betty Crocker
Now this one is a classic. It’s a cookbook that almost everyone uses, and if they don’t own a copy of one of the editions, then they probably use some of the Betty Crocker recipes that are online. And hey, there’s a reason for that: these recipes work. Really well. (For me at least. I’ve never had a problem.)
Everything that I’ve made from these cookbooks has been delicious, and these recipes have been used by my family for generations. But why wouldn’t they? After all, these recipes are dependable and delicious.
Cookbook Description
Now available in a comb-bound format, the 12th edition of a trusted favorite, with everything the home cook needs to cook confidently, fully updated for a newer generation.
This is the book home cooks have come to trust; the 12th edition of the Betty Crocker Cookbook, with updated recipes, new photography, plus expanded and new chapters to meet the needs of today’s home cooks. With 1,500 recipes and variations, and more than 1,000 photos, this colorful new edition packs a punch. How-to step-by-step photos show rather than simply tell how to get great results. The new Technique features explain fully the concepts behind techniques such as braising, deglazing, and hot water–bath canning. A Make-Ahead feature shows how to make a batch of one item and use it various ways. And a Global Flavors ingredient ID introduces new ingredients by region. Now available in a convenient comb-bound edition, this classic is destined to be the most-used book in the kitchen.
Tasty Dessert: All the Sweet You Can Eat by Tasty
This one is one of my newer acquisitions, but it’s just as good as the others. Filled with simple and more complex dessert recipes alike, this is a decent baking book for most cooks out there. The desserts are gorgeous and delicious, and if that’s not a reason to absolutely love this book, then I don’t know what is.
Cookbook Description
75 sweet treats from Tasty to inspire, delight, and satisfy any level of home baker.
Ready to rise from baking newbie to MVP? Tasty Dessert gives you the lowdown on baking basics, from building a fuss-free pantry to mastering easy-as-pie twists on old favorites. You’ll stuff, layer, frost, and meringue your way to the cherry on top of pretty much every meal. If Confetti Birthday Soufflé, No-Bake 16-Layer S’mores Cake, and Sour Cherry Fritters don’t float your boat (are you feeling ok?), here are 75 recipes for any hankering, mood, or occasion, whether you’re jonesing for a sugar adventure with friends or having a late-night dessert emergency. Just don’t forget to save a piece of it for yourself.
So yeah, these are my favorite cookbooks. You’re probably noticing a bit of a theme already with just these three, but I like baking. And I’m a nerd. I haven’t included a star rating for all of these, not because they’re cookbooks, and this is different from what I usually review. No, it’s because they all get five perfect stars from me, and I felt it would be a little redundant.
I definitely recommend these for those who like cooking or baking, or if you’re a geek. They’re must-haves for your kitchen library.
Do you own any of these? Is the one you own the Betty Crocker? What do you think of their recipes? Thanks, as always, for reading with me, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving if you’re in America. Happy Holidays!
