Confession: I don't love chocolate. I never have. (I hope you're still reading.) (Here's a picture of cake dripping in icing to keep you interested.) I was that weird kid at birthday parties who always asked for vanilla cupcakes while everyone else had chocolate frosting schmeared all over their faces. I once even lied and said I was allergic to chocolate just to get one of the three vanilla cupcakes brought in for a student who actually had...
In my last post, I recommended some perfect books for summer reading. I'm now pairing that list with the perfect summer salad. Does anyone else barely cook on the stove during summer? Because that’s me. While I love firing up the oven or having a bubbling pot on the stove during the cooler months, I loath being cooped up in the kitchen during warm weather. For one thing, our Cottage kitchen is adorable but poorly ventilated, so even with the...
I had a tough time thinking about what recipe to pair with You Think It, I'll Say It ; the stories are so varied, and all of them lead you into different places. And, aside from a small mention of raccoon stew (um, NO), food wasn't prominently featured in this book. However, there was one theme running through many of the stories that really spoke to me -- the one that characteristically appears in so many of Sittenfeld's works -- and that is...
Hey guys! So, I’m working on my manuscript this week, which means that I haven’t had time to do much reading. I started Unbury Carol by Josh Malerman, and I’m really loving it even though I’m only, like, five pages in. Josh Malerman wowed me last year when I finally read his 2009 novel Bird Box, and I’m totes excited for this new one from him. However, I had to take a break from it this week because I don’t like to read something by...
It's summertime, which means that although I will perpetually crave cake, I must concede that the best dessert on a hot, steamy night is a chilled one. Enter: Chocolate Espresso Mousse. This recipe goes along with my latest read, In a Cottage in a Wood. If you read my review, you'll know that there were not many cozy cottage suppers in this novel. Neve, the main character, doesn’t have a lot of money and is a bit of a mess, so she's not...
Hello, Tartlets. I'd like to introduce you to one of my husband's favorite desserts: Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake. Oh, my goodness. There is so much good food mentioned in The High Tide Club. Much like The Hideaway, this story draws on its Southern roots to tantalize your taste buds. Imagine sipping cocktails at sunset while overlooking the bay on summer evening; platters of crispy fried chicken and buttery biscuits heaped in front of you for...
What's the book-inspired recipe for Stray City? The recipe I’m pairing with Stray City, which is about the lesbian who has an affair with a man, is Roasted Acorn Squash with a Turkey Sausage, Craisin, and Brown Rice Stuffing. I chose it because it’s mainly a vegetarian recipe. But, like main character Andy, it sneaks a little meat in there. (HA! Sorry. I couldn’t help myself.) Since the book is set in a city full of vegetarians and...
As I was reading The Broken Girls, I was trying to think of what recipe the story would inspire me to make. Food doesn’t factor real well into the novel – at several points, one of the main characters eats packets of crackers in lieu of dinner. *shakes head sadly* I wanted a good, hearty meal to shake the chill of the dreary weather, both here and in the book, and since the story takes place in Vermont, I decided that maple syrup had to...
So, as much as I love huge, hearty breakfasts, Husband doesn’t really care for them. Most days, my/our breakfast consists of muesli with fresh fruit, which I do love, and sometimes an egg white and tomato sandwich on weekends. Healthy? Yes. Comforting and satisfying? Um….no. However, if pressed, I will admit that if I ate French toast and pancakes and bacon and sausage and ALL THE BREAKFAST CARBS every day like I sometimes dream I can, I...
Bring the flavors of 'Nawlins into your home with Creamy Cajun Shrimp.
Why is Creamy Cajun Shrimp the book-inspired recipe for The Hideaway? Though most of The Hideaway takes place in Sweet Bay, Alabama, the delicious city of New Orleans is a hugely influencing factor. So many 'Nawlins dishes mentioned in the book made my mouth water—chocolate pie, hummingbird cake (my favorite!), seafood gumbo. I loved the big, bold flavors when I was...
