Library Loot

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.

Sense and Sensibility

I've been trying to read Sense and Sensibility for over a month now. Since I've seen the movie so many times, it's hard to read the book. I know what happens and I can recite a lot of the lines. I thought I'd take a page from Christine and try the graphic novel approach. 

The Rathbones

After reading about The Rathbones on Shoshanah's blog, I immediately put it on my library queue. I do enjoy sweeping family sagas.

What did you get this week?

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"So this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure how that could be."

pg 2 The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky 

A Great And Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

I picked up A Great And Terrible Beauty based on the name alone. And that cover didn't hurt. I didn't know too much what it was about. But when I found it was set in 1800's London and had magical elements, I assumed I would like it. Well sort of. I'm really torn on A Great and Terrible Beauty.
Gemma and her family live in India. But Gemma wants to move back to London. She longs to attend balls and meet other young men. Gemma does get to move to London but under unhappy circumstances. Off to Spence, where Gemma is going to receive instruction on how to be a proper lady.
I liked Gemma and her friends. After a while they really settle into themselves and feel very real. They are petty, mean, scared, and lonely. They truly feel trapped. Each of them long to make their own destinies but they need to fill the roles that society and their families place them in. Most of the book is these young ladies trying to twist their fate into something else. That's where the magic comes in. Without it, each lady would be resigned to her fate. There's this beautiful struggle between each of the young ladies and the world. In that way I look forward to the next book. The other stuff especially the story arc about the Order that wants Gemma didn't interest me as much.
Overall a good read. The story was interesting and it didn't take me long to read. I'll read the next in the series but I'm not in a hurry. Others who shared their thoughts on A Great And Terrible Beauty: Inhaling Books, InkBitten, Reading In Winter, and Confessions of  A Book Addict.
This was my eleventh book for the Historical Reading Challenge.

Awesome And Awkward Thursday

Awkward:

-Car’s got to in the shop again :( There’s a strange rattling noise under the car. No bueno.

-I’m totally addicted to Red Robin’s mushroom burger. So delicious. I've been there 3 times this month.

-I learned about Wordstock. I’d love to go but can’t this year. Now it’s on my list of events to go to like Comic Con. I will go someday.

Awesome:

-My PAX tickets came and I’m going with some friends. One of them has never been to PAX! Can’t wait.

-Speaking of PAX, I bought 2 new tshirts. This one and this one. I'm leaning toward the Buffy one. 

-Today’s my 5 year blog anniversary! Woo Hoo!

What's been awesome and awkward this week?

Library Loot

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.

The Perks of Being A Wallflower

After quoting a line from The Perks of Being A Wallflower on my FB pages, I decided it was time for me to actually read it. Yes, I've never read The Perks of Being A Wallflower.

Warbreaker
Another Sanderson book. Love the cover.

The Rithmatist
Reloot. More Sanderson.

Silver Linings Playbook

A coworker recommended Silver Linings Playbook, the movie tome. I try to read the book first so here it is.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette

I've been wanting to read Where'd You Go, Bernadette for awhile. When I saw it on the library shelf, I had to grab it.

Home Made Summer
I spotted this one in the newspaper under recent releases. It appears she also has 2 other books. I look forward to using a couple of summer recipes before it's over.

What did you get this week?

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"Bridget sat on the floor of her room with her heart pounding. On the carpet lay four envelopes, all addressed to Bridget and Perry Vreeland, all with Alabama postmarks."

 -pg 7 of The Second Summer of The Sisterhood by Ann Brashares

The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio

I've become a huge fan of Sarah Jio's books so when I heard The Last Camellia was out, I immediately put it on hold at the library. Overall, I loved The Last Camellia but was unhappy with part of the ending.
In 1940, Flora leaves New York for England. She tells her parents she got a job at the London Conservatory but she's really going to be a nanny. Well the nanny gig is cover while Flora seeks out a rare Camellia plant, The Middlebury Pink, for a fine flower thief. But Flora quickly finds herself wrapped up in mystery and romance.
In 2000, Addison and her husband are off to his parent's new summer home, Livingston Manor. Addison's got plenty of secrets and some of them are close to becoming exposed. Livingston Manor also has secrets. Will Addison be able to keep her secrets and expose Livingston Manor's secrets.
I enjoyed both Addison and Flora's stories. I loved how the wound up intertwining just like so many of Jio's other books. But I felt that Flora's story didn't get completely finished. Jio implies how it ended but I would have preferred it to be more fleshed out.
Overall, The Last Camellia was a wonderful story full of mystery and romance. I read it quickly in a day or two. Others who shared their thoughts on The Last Camellia: Bibliophile by The Sea, Life In The Thumb, The Literary Life of The Well Read Wife, Jenn's Bookshelves, and Write Meg.

Recent Book Purchases

I know, I know. I never buy books. I've recently decided to purchase some books as I've made a little bit of room on my bookshelves.

Rosie Thomas books are cheap when you order them on Amazon from the UK. I think each book was around $1 and the shipping was less that $4. I had to wait a while for them to arrive but now I have them! Yay!

Ashley and I had time to wander around Elliott Bay Bookstore the other day. And I actually walked out with some books:

Ashley recently read Room and suggested I read it too. It was on the Bargin book table so I decided to pick it up.

I read The Kitchen Counter Cooking School earlier this year and wanted to be able to reference it.

 I couldn't wait in the long queue at the library anymore for Eleanor & Park. Ashley is waiting for me to read it so she can borrow my copy. I'll be reading this one soon.

What books have you bought lately?

Awkward and Awesome Thursday

Awkward:

-I haven't gotten a pedicure yet this summer. I haven't been wearing sandals either.

-I'm kind of crazy for these fake Toms at Target. I rather buy these fake Toms than real ones. 

-My freezer is overstuffed. I need to make room in there. 

Awesome:

-Tai bought me this lego set. I can't wait to build it.

-Doing laundry is so much easier now that I got this laundry sorter. 

-A friend gave me a pair of Vibrams. I'm anxious to try them.

What's been awesome and awkward for you this week?

Library Loot

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.

I took a break from accumulating more library loot last week to read more of what I already had. I'm by no means caught up, but a few more holds came in this week anyway.

Wolverine: Ultimate Collection

While checking to see if the second volume of Stumptown was available at my library (it's not), I discovered Rucka had done a series of Wolverine graphic novels. I do like Wolverine so I decided to check it out. 

Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls

Reloot. I hope to actually read this time around.

The 30 day Guide to Paleo Cooking

Another Paleo cookbook. I starting to think that Paleo might be right for us. I made the garlicky brussel sprouts with eggs for breakfast over the weekend. Yum. 

What did you get this week?

Wedding Ring by Emilie Richards

After Julie posted about picking up the third in the Shenandoah Album series, I decided to check Wedding Ring out. I'm glad I did. A great story about love, loss, and family.
Tessa agrees to join her mother, Nancy, in assisting Tessa's grandmother, Helen, with cleaning out her home. Helen has become a bit of a hoarder and Nancy wants to move her mother to an assisted living facility. Helen refuses to leave the home she's lived in all her life. These three women decide to live together for the summer, sifting through Helen's memories. All three women think they share nothing in common but blood.
I immediately liked Wedding Ring. Tessa is grieving the loss of her daughter who was killed by a drunk driver three years ago. Tessa has dedicated her life to MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and lost sight of her marriage. Tessa's husband desperately wants a family again but Tessa can only see what she's lost. Nancy leads a charmed life. Married to a wealthy and influential man, Nancy believes she's left the country girl inside of her behind. But being back in her childhood home, Nancy starts to question who she is and who she has become. Helen has lived on this farm since she was born. Helen isn't interested in moving away, not from her memories or her regrets. When Tessa and Nancy rediscover an old quilt, these three women learn the have a whole lot in common.
The story weaves its way quietly and gracefully. I loved learning about quilts. I knew almost nothing about quilts before reading Wedding Ring. Also I loved the feeling of the country, Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. So peaceful and comforting.
Overall I enjoyed Wedding Ring. I admit that tears came to my eyes as the women's stories started to find their happily ever afters. I'll be reading more of this series. Others who shared their thoughts on Wedding Ring: Trashionista, Framed and Booked, and Book Talking.
This was my tenth read for the Mammoth Book Challenge.

July Book Tally

Hood by Stephen R Lawhead (490)
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell (323)
The Girl With Iron Touch by Kady Cross (384)
White by Rosie Thomas (372)
The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donelly (675)
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick (394)
This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper (352)
Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood (384)

Eight books total this month but some fantastic reads (Attachments, My Life Next Door especially).

Stats:

Fill In The Gaps YTD: 0 (None this month)

Historical Reading Challenge YTD: 10 (The Tea Rose)

Mammoth Book Challenge YTD: 9 (Hood and The Tea Rose)

Let Me Count The Ways Book Challenge: Pages read this month (3374), Pages read this year (21904)
Total books to date: 66

Clean Eating Corn Salad

If you are looking for a delicious salad to take to a potlock, look no further. This yummy corn salad makes a ton and so yummy!

I skipped the tofu as this was a side dish to some yummy ribs I made. It doesn't keep well so either reduce the amount you make or make it for a crowd!

Egg and Bacon Muffins

If you've been reading my blog for long, you've heard me mention my quest for alternatives to eggs, bacon, and toast for breakfast. I'll make french toast sometimes but I struggle to find delicious variations. So when I stumbled on Mrs Paleo's Breakfast of Champions, I was eager to find a morning to make them.
So good and fairly easy to make, always a plus in my book.

I added sauteed spinach and mushroom to the eggs but the variations are endless. Both Tai and I enjoyed them. I made corn pancakes to accompany our egg and bacon muffins. I'll definitely be making these again.

Weekend Cooking: Malibu Chicken Rollups

A couple of months ago, Trish and I had a short twitter conversation about Malibu Chicken. We both remembered it from Sizzler's growing up. And perhaps our moms had attempted to make it at home as well. Malibu Chicken sounded like a great meal idea so I took to the internets to find a good recipe. I didn't find just one recipe that I could use but several. I combined them to make my own recipe.

Malibu Chicken Rollups

6 thinly sliced chicken breasts
6 slices of ham
6 slices of swiss cheese
1 cup panko crumbs
2 tbs garlic powder
1/4 cup of shredded parmesan cheese
1 large egg

Heat oven to 375º. In a bowl combine panko, garlic powder, and parmesan cheese. Beat egg in separate bowl. Set aside.

Take one piece of chicken and place one piece of swiss cheese on top like this:

The lay a slice of ham on top:

Then roll the bundle carefully and secure with a toothpick. Repeat process with the rest of the chicken, swiss, and ham. You'll have six bundles like this:

Carefully dip each bundle in the egg then roll in the panko mix.

Bake on a foil or parchment lined cookie sheet for 25-35 minutes or until chicken is cooked and coating is golden brown.

Malibu chicken all cooked:

I also made a honey mustard sauce to go over the chicken. Combine mayo, yellow mustard, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and honey to taste. I usually start with 1/4 of mayo and 2 tbs of everything else until I get the right taste for me.
Pour honey mustard sauce over chicken:

A big hit here. Everyone loved the flavors. It's on our menu a few times a month now.

Do you remember the Malibu Chicken at Sizzler?



Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post.