A Well-Read Tart

A Food and Book Lover’s Blog

Simple Shepherd’s Salad (Recipe Inspired by THE JINN DAUGHTER)

Simple Shepherd's Salad is another book-inspired recipe for The Jinn Daughter. This classic Mediterranean/Middle Eastern side dish pairs super well with my Mushroom Shawarma Grain Bowls, and is a more traditional version of my Chickpea Shepherd's Salad.     Why I love Shepherd's Salad The reason I love Simple Shepherd's Salad is right in the name: it's simple.  This crisp, refreshing dish involves just a few ingredients: tomatoes,...

Chickpea Shepherd’s Salad (Recipe Inspired by BEAUTIFUL BAD)

We only have a few more days until it's officially fall, so I'm squeezing in one last summery recipe with this Chickpea Shepherd's Salad.     Why is Chickpea Shepherd's Salad the book-inspired recipe for Beautiful Bad? Although Beautiful Bad  was a DNF for me, it definitely delivered in one aspect: FOOD. Main characters Maddie and Joanna often met up to share a meal, even though they lived in different countries. Each time, they made sure...

Greek Chicken Orzo Salad (Recipe Inspired by CIRCE)

As I was making this Greek Chicken Orzo Salad, I realized something: for someone who doesn't really like mint, I sure am making a lot of recipes with mint these days. Mint is just so fresh tasting. It brightens up any savory dish with an unexpected zip, and it imparts a refreshing coolness to sweet desserts. Can you really blame me for over-using it this summer? Nope. I didn't think so. Spoiler alert: this Greek Chicken Orzo Salad contains...

Easy Ground Beef Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce (Recipe Inspired by MIDDLESEX)

The hardest thing about these Easy Ground Beef Gyros is figuring out how to pronounce them. Gyro. Is it "Jy-roh"? Or, is it "Guy-ro"? Maybe it's "Year-roh? I’ve been to Greece, and I still don’t know how to pronounce "gyro" correctly. (To be fair, I didn't see gyros on any menus there, so I didn't have the opportunity to inquire about its pronunciation). I think it’s the last one ("year-roh"), but please do NOT quote me on that. I have...