Books I've Read Lately

I LOVE reading, but don't love sitting down and reading a book.  There is something sacred about actually reading a non-fiction book.  Novels on the other hand, I love to listen to on my ipod! 

Herrick District Library has a great website where you can check out audio books (and the books you read on like a nook thing).  They stay on your ipod until you delete them off.  Their selection of books is growing.  All you need is a library card from Herrick or one of the other many libraries in the Midwest collaborative library group.

Side note:  my favorite type of novel is young adult fiction.  I like the romance because it's cute and not hot and heavy.  I like the adventure.  I also like adult fiction including action/adventure and sci fi.

Here are some of the books that I've "read" lately:

The Hunger Games (series of 3) young adult fiction
These books were AMAZING!!  The characters are believable.  It is set in the future in a devastated US.  There is adventure and romance.  So so good! 

The City of Ember (series- I've read the first 2)  young adult fiction
The first book in the series is good.  The second wasn't quite as good.  There is a 3rd coming out at some point (hopefully soon) which I will read.  It also has a little romance and adventure.  It is also set in the future in a post trauma US.

Matched (series of 3; only 1 out)  young adult fiction
This book was SO GOOD!  I just finished it.  It is another book set in the future.  It has a feel like The Giver  and 1984.  They characters live in an utopian society where the officials match kids at age 17 with their future spouse to maximize genetic potential and minimize disease.  The surface is starting to crack and the main character is caught feeling like there is more to life than what the officials allow.

The Maze Runner (series...)  young adult fiction
This book was good until the end and then it was like "WHAT?"  I guess I should have seen it coming.  There is a second book that is out but not in the right format for my ipod on this site.  I'm looking forward to reading it and finding out what happens.  It is another book set in the future in a devastated US where people are trying to survive.

Need Pixies Series (3 books out and more to come)  young adult fiction
I HATED THIS SERIES.  The first book was good enough that I read the second.  Half way through the second, the main character does something in my opinion that was super stupid.  Then that played out a little and the book ended.  I wanted to see if she redeemed herself so I read the 3rd book thinking it would be the end of the series.  NO!  What a waste of my time!  It's about a girl and her problems with Pixies (think angry Tinkerbell).  There were were-animals too... werewolf, wereeagle, weretiger.  Weird!

Sunshine by Robin McKinley -young adult fiction
Robin McKinley is one of my favorite authors.  This book didn't disappoint.  It's about a girl and her problems with a vampire.  Very good.  :)

Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arther Conan Doyle
All of the Sherlock books are good.  Matt read them too. 

The Phantom of the Opera
Not like the movie.  It was good.  It would have been better if the guy who did the reading was better.

The Sky is Everywhere
Good book.  About a girl whose sister dies and then she juggles romances with two boys: her sisters boyfriend and a new boy.  It's about how she deals with death and falls in love.

Cloaked by Alex Flinn -young adult fiction
This was really good!  It's a twist on a few obscure fairy tales set in modern day.  It was really cute!  Good romance too.

Beastly by Alex Flinn -young adult fiction
This was really good too!  Similar to Cloaked in that it it is a twist on Beauty and the Beast set in modern day.  I'm anxiously awaiting reading the another of her books which I just downloaded.  :)

It's getting late so I'm going to cut it off in a minutes.  Another author that I like is Shannon Hale.  I've read all of her books that are on the site:  Book of a thousand days, Austenland, Goose Girl, and Princess Academy.

I'm currently reading Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland.  So far it's good!  (set in the 1890s)

If you know of any good books, I'm always looking for more!  I love a good novel.  :)

Chicken Broccoli Cobler

This meal has turned into a real favorite (for Matt and me).  I got the recipe at a church women's night and thought it looked easy.  Then when I started doing the big cooking days, I realized this would be a great freezer meal!  It is a little Christmasy with red & green veggies in it so if you need a Christmasy dish (in 8 months) give this a try.

Chicken Broccoli Cobbler
(Original recipe was half of this and said it feeds 4.  I double it and we get at least 10 servings)

6 cups broccoli florets (I use frozen and don't cook them at all.  Just cut them up a little if necessary)
6 cups of chicken or turkey, chopped
2/3 cup roasted bell pepper, chopped
2 jars Alfredo Sauce
3/4 cup sour cream
4 Tbsp white wine or dry sherry

topping:
1/2 cup butter
6 cups sourdough bread, cubed
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Divide butter, bread, and Parmesan cheese in half and place in freezer bags for topping.  (I put the cheese in a snack bag, wrap the butter in plastic wrap, and then throw the bread in a 1 qt zip top bag with the butter and bag of cheese.)

Combine broccoli and next 5 ingredients in a large bowl
Divide in half and place in gallon freezer zip top bags
Label, attach toppings and freeze

To Serve:
Thaw 24+ hours in the fridge
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Place in a 2 quart baking dish or 4 individual serving bowls
Bake 30-35 minutes (25 minutes for individuals)

So yummy and SO easy!  Enjoy!

Lucy being two...

I had to take a picture of this.  Makes me wonder how many other people who own this book have crayon drawings in it...  This may have been more of a terrible moment than terrific.  :P

Here are some pictures of Lucy rocking new socks, shoes, and skirt.

Fake smile = a little cheesy!

Lucy loves talking to Grandma on Skype.  Normally they talk while I am gone.  Lucy often sets up dinner and serves it to Grandma.  These pictures are from a few weeks ago:

Today, we told Lucy we were going to call Grandma on the computer and she asked if I was going bye-bye.  Oh dear!  I think she wanted me to leave!  We still had a great time talking to Grandma.  Oddly enough, she was not wearing pants today either...  What does Grandma think of us?! 

Yummy Potato Soup

One of my favorite recipes lately is a Potato Soup recipe from my sister-in-law, Heather.  It is super easy and really yummy!  (And freezes really well which is a must!)

Potato Soup

1 bag Redskin potatoes (5 lb bag)

1 bag celery cut up

1 cup onion, chopped (about 1 medium sized onion)

4+ cups chicken broth

1 tall half and half (what is that... a pint???)

2 cups Mexican cheese

1 package bacon, cooked and crumbled

salt, pepper, and parsley to taste

Wash and quarter potatoes (I cut them in smaller than quarters so they cook faster)

Add potatoes, onion, and celery to a large pot

Cover with chicken broth just to the top of the potatoes

Boil until the potatoes are soft

Smash potatoes in pot when they are still hot (I used a stick blender last time and it worked GREAT!)

Then add half and half, cheese, bacon pieces, salt, pepper, and parsley

Cool, divide into 3 gallon zip top bags, label and freeze

(Makes a total of about 12-15 servings)

To serve after freezing:

Thaw 25+ hours in the fridge

Reheat on stove top



Lucy's First Haircut

Lucy is close to 2 and a half years old, so I finally broke down and scheduled a hair cut for her.

Saturday, we headed to Body Perfections so that Cara's friend Kylie could cut Lucy's hair.  On the way there, I gave Lucy a pep talk about how cool it was going to be!

When we arrived, she was VERY quite!  The salon wasn't very busy which was good because the one other person there was getting her hair foiled and Lucy really like to watch.

Checking out the length

Before...

After!

In the end, Lucy hardly had any hair cut off. It looks really good! Maybe a little curlier now... We will see.

After the hair cut we went to Grammie's house to show off the new do!  Grammie had stuff out for Cara's wedding...

Hopefully this isn't what Lucy looks like when she gets older!