A Well-Read Tart

A Food and Book Lover’s Blog

Super Simple Mac and Cheese (Recipe Inspired by GHOSTS)

Tartlets, I'm coming at you today with my go-to Super Simple Mac and Cheese recipe. This is the version of mac and cheese that I make all. the. time. That is always in demand.   Why is Super Simple Mac and Cheese the book-inspired recipe for Ghosts? Main character (and single) Nina in Ghosts: A Novel cooks on her own more often than not. When you've had a long day of work, family obligations, friend drama, and relationship explosion, the...

Easy Mushroom Risotto (Recipe Inspired by GHOSTER)

Mushroom Risotto is my new make-at-home culinary obsession. (Much to my mushroom-hating husband's dismay.) Once you make this dish, you're never going to order risotto in restaurants again. There's no need to when you can make it better at home.    Why is Mushroom Risotto the book-inspired recipe for Ghoster? Well, this is awkward. I can't tell you why Mushroom Risotto is the book-inspired recipe for Ghoster. The inspiration for this dish...

Creamy Tomato Pasta [Recipe Inspired by A (NOT SO) LONELY PLANET: ITALY]

Hello, please meet my new best friend: Creamy Tomato Pasta. Because carbs are our friends, right? (If you disagree, please unsubscribe from this blog. #Kiddingnotkidding... )     Why is Creamy Tomato Pasta the book-inspired recipe for A (Not So) Lonely Planet: Italy? Creamy Tomato Pasta is the perfect meal when you're craving Italian food but don't want to go out to get it (or spend money on delivery fees). This book-inspired recipe for A...

Sunday Night Chicken Dinner (Recipe Inspired by FRIENDS AND STRANGERS)

Sunday Night Chicken Dinner, coming in hot! We’re talking pan-seared chicken smothered in a creamy tomato sauce and served over pasta. It’s perfect for a chilly February night with the snow falling outside and the wind howling at your door.   Why is Sunday Night Chicken Dinner the book-inspired recipe for Friends and Strangers? In Friends and Strangers, main characters Elisabeth and Sam quickly move beyond their employer-employee...

Creamy Pesto Pasta (Recipe Inspired by IN FIVE YEARS)

Creamy Pesto Pasta is another book-inspired recipe that was in the works long before I had a book to pair with it. Creamy pesto sauce, IMHO, is so much better than regular ol' pesto sauce. My favorite local Italian restuarant makes a version that's literally had me licking the bowl after I'd wolfed down all the pasta. ' Why is Creamy Pesto Pasta the book-inspired recipe for In Five Years? I've been angling to make my own version of Creamy...

One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta (Recipe Inspired by WOW, NO THANK YOU)

Ooey, gooey, cheesy goodness is coming your way in the form of One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta. I know we’re nearing the end of comfort food season, but after an especially trying 13 months, I think we’re allowed a little over-indulgence, don’t you? One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta is the exact warm, comforting, culinary hug you need in your life.     Why is One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta the book-inspired recipe for Wow, No Thank You? Imagine my...

Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings (Recipe Inspired by COSY)

There’s nothing like Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings to warm you up on a cold winter night! Okay, that gratuitously cozy-sounding first sentence was to coax you into reading the rest of this post after you glanced at the featured image. I’ll be the first to admit that these Chicken and Dumplings pics aren’t the prettiest examples of food photography to ever grace my blog. BUT! I guarantee you that this dish is one of the most delicious,...

Veggie Soba Noodle Bowls (Recipe Inspired by THE GRAVEYARD APARTMENT)

I'm feeling all the vegetarian vibes with these Veggie Soba Noodle Bowls. I thought I had a handle on quick, delicious dishes with my brie mac and cheese and mushroom thyme pasta, both of which use traditional pasta and cook up in about 20 minutes. However, it's soba noodles for the win when those hangry "I need to eat NOW!" cravings hit.     Why are Veggie Soba Noodle Bowls the book-inspired recipe for The Graveyard Apartment? I’d heard of...

Ratatouille Pasta (Recipe Inspired by RODHAM)

Ratatouille Pasta is the rescue recipe for anyone whose vegetable garden is still in zucchini and tomato overload.  *raises hand* This is the first year that Mr. Tart and I have managed to successfully grow our own vegetables. We've been in the Cottage for five years now, and we've completely failed at growing food for three of those. However, since quarantine's forced us to spend a LOT more time at home, we've been able to properly tend to the...

Salsa Verde Shrimp Pasta (Recipe Inspired by SUMMER RENTAL)

It's official: I'm welcoming in all things spring and summer with Salsa Verde Shrimp Pasta. This recipe was originally created to be a stand-alone. However, I dreamt it up while I was reading Summer Rental, and soon this flavorful dish was screaming to become the book-inspired recipe for this great summer read. Even though the ladies of Summer Rental are on a beach vacation, they're still on a budget, which means they do a lot of cooking at...