The Looking Glass

Richard Paul Evans' The Looking Glass was definitely a quick and easy read. I finished it in a few hours. It is a heart-warming love story, which teaches us to love ourselves the way we are. The looking glass is a way to look at ourselves and see the beauty that others see in us that we take for granted.

Middlesex

Jeffrey Eugenides's Middlesex is a winner of the Pulitzer Prize, and when you read it, you can understand why. The novel is about a hermaphrodite, who tells the history of his generations, in order to understand who he/she is and how he/she became. The story covers three  generations, starting with his Greek grandparents in Turkey to Cal (their grandchild). It is very interesting not only to read about the life of each generation, but also what was happening in the world during these times. So, overall, I really enjoyed this book. I found it easy to get into, easy to follow, and I learned a lot of history as well.

Updated my book links

I have updated my book links to point to Amazon.com through a site called Zoundry. I have just started to use Zoundry's editor (called Blog Writer Beta). The links were created using the id (Zoundry ID?) assigned to American Cancer Society. What this means is, that my book links may earn commissions on purchases made at Amazon. Zoundry will be donating this to the American Cancer Society.

 

You can find out more information at Zoundry's web site. They have also set up an ID to aid the American Red Cross's International Response Fund.

 

Squash Cookies Anyone?

Yes - Squash cookies! Not kidding! During this past Thanks Givings, I had planned to bake some Pumpkin Cookies to take to work (at the YNH). I was in a rush and I thought I had all the necessary ingredients to make the Pumpkin Cookies. Well, little did I know that I had accidently picked up canned Squash instead of Pumpkin when I last did my round of groceries. Anyway, I went ahead with the Pumpkin Cookie recipe and substituted Squash for the Pumkins.

 

So, what is the verdict? It came out great! You should try it out! Actually, some of my friends did not believe when I told them its based on Squash. They all happily enjoyed the cookies assuming it was my usual Pumpkin Cookies. 

Cloud Nine

I enjoyed this book. Luanne Rice's Cloud Nine is a quick read, with a good plot. It is about a woman named Sarah Talbot who was diagnosed with a brain tumor and is currently in remission.

 

The book focuses on her quest to see her son who ran away to an island in Maine to live with his grandfather. Along the way, she touches many lives in different ways, and makes them all realize how lucky they are to be healthy and have people who love and care about them.

Judy Blume's Summer Sisters

Summer Sisters

By Judy Blume

 

Summer Sisters was a very easy and interesting read. Much of the story is very unpredictable. It is based on two girls who spend the summer together on an island with one of the girl's dad. Each summer you see them grow in their experiences with life and especially relationships. The way the book is edited is very interesting as well. At the end of each chapter there is a very short reflection from another character in the book to let you know how they are feeling about certain situations.

 

 

The Ranch

The Ranch by Danielle Steele

This book I am finding difficult to read. There is so much detail that you almost lose track of the plot. It is about three school friends meeting twenty years later, one is a housewife, one is a superstar, and the other is a doctor who began her own AIDS clinic.

If you enjoy a lot of detail, this is a good book to read. If you do not, I would not recommend it. I ended up skipping much of the book to find the storyline.

Interpreter of Maladies

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri, is a Pullitzer prize winner, and is a great and easy read. It is a book of short stories about love, based between India and America. In each story, the love situation changes dramatically. One story is about a couple who loves each other, another is about the pride one man has about an elderly woman who rents a room to him, and another is about a women who cherishes biblical items found in a new house which she and her hudband bought. This book also helps you to understand the Indian culture in each unique story. Overall, I really enjoyed it, and will be passing it along for others to read.

 

Next on my list is The Namesake by the same author. (I'll have to add it to my xmas wish list).

The Letter

Richard Paul Evans's The Letter is a great love story that occurs in the 1930s. It is the third book in a series, but I did not realize it until later. It is written so well that you are not missing any pieces in the story even if you have not read the first two. This book shows the power of love, although it is not a sappy romance. All of the characters are so different, yet in love they are the same. It really makes you appreciate all of the people around you. I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to all. Just be aware, this book is a tearjerker.

According to Amazon.com, The Letter, is the final episode of Richard Paul Evans's Christmas Box trilogy. The first two being The Christmas Box and Timepiece.

Blueberry Coffee Cake

(or "yummy" as my husband calls it)

Ingredients:
1 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. ground cinnamon 
1/2  cup butter or margarine

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder 
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract 
3/4  cup milk
1 and 1/2 cup fresh blueberries or cherries
1/4cup confectioners’ sugar for dusting
Pinch nutmeg

Method:
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a bundt pan well with cooking spray.
2. Make the streusel topping: Mix 1 cup brown sugar, 2/3 cup flour, cinnamon, and a pinch of nutmeg in a medium bowl. Cut in 1/2 cup butter; topping mixture will be crumbly. Set aside.
3. For the cake: Beat 1/2 cup butter in large bowl until creamy; add 1 cup white sugar, and beat until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla, and add a pinch of nutmeg. Whisk together 2 cups flour, baking powder, and salt; add alternatively with the milk to the creamed mixture, beating well after each addition.
4. Spread half the batter in the prepared pan. Cover with half of the streusel topping, then the berries. Then add remaining batter. Cover with streusel topping.
5. Bake for 45- 55 minutes, until deep golden brown. Remove pan to wire rack to cool. Invert onto a plate after cake has cooled, and dust with confectioners' sugar.

Enjoy!

I found this recipe online submitted by Debbie Rowe. I changed a few things. I added more milk and berries, as well as nutmeg. I also put half of the streusel inside, and the other half on the top.

Life of Pi

Life of Pi (by Yann Martel) is a great book! It has been a long time since I read a book where I really felt like the character. The first section of the book is a bit difficult to get into because there is a lot of theory about zoology and religion, but you can skip this section and go to the next without missing much. I have been recommending this book to everyone. It is about a boy who leaves with his family from India to Canada on a ship with some zoo animals. The ship sinks, leaving Pi and some of the zoo animals in a small rowboat. The story is about how he survives this journey. You will love this book!

The Five People You Meet in Heaven

This book by Mitch Albom teaches us a good lesson, but there is no suspense. There is no wondering what happens next; it is very predictable. It is a quick read, and I would recommend it to someone who wants a quick flight book.

Pumpkin Cookies

Ingredients:
4   cups flour
1.5 cups butter
2   cups Quick cooking oats
2   cups brown sugar
2   tspn baking soda
2   tspn cinnamon
1   egg
1   tspn salt
1   tspn vanilla
1   can  Pumpkin (solid,packed). Cindy uses 2 cans - its more gooey.
1   cup  chocolate chips
1   cup  raisins (optional - Cindy does not use this)
1   cup  chopped nuts (optional - Cindy does not use this)

 

1/2 pack M&Ms for decoration (optional - Cindy does not use this)

 

Method:

 

1) Preheat Oven to 300 deg F.
2) Grease cookie sheets.
3) Cream butter, sugar,egg,vanilla and pumpkin - Beat until light & fluffy.
4) Mix in dry ingredients - Beat in cup by cup. Mix all well.
5) Drop on cookie sheets by teaspoonfull. Leave space as they will spread out.

 

6) Bake 20-25 minutes (Cindy bakes for 18 mins on our oven) or until firm
   and lightly golden brown.

 

7) Remove from cookiesheets, cool on racks.

 

8) Optional: Decorate with M&M right away.

Sharing some of my favorite recipes

The recipes on this blog are some of my favorite recipes. Some are my own or my family's, and some are from various websites or cookbooks. Enjoy!

 

Will the Danish Girl hold my interest to the end?

Currently I am reading The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff. Based in the 1920s in Copenhagen, Paris, and Dresden, it signifies the true story of a Danish painter on his journey to becoming a woman. He is married to a California woman named Greta, who is extraordinarily supportive of her husband's transformation. The journey between husband and wife is exciting in the beginning, but very secretive among the public. Amazon gives this book four out of five star. Many people felt that this book was a page turner. I disagree. I am about one-third through the book, and still having a difficult time getting into it. I am finding that the book has nothing to look forward to. You may wonder if husband and wife will remain together after the transformation, and how friends will feel and act, but otherwise, there are no thrilling moments.
 - NurseAmore.