A Well-Read Tart

A Food and Book Lover’s Blog

Chai Latte Bars (Recipe Inspired by THE EVER AFTER)

These Chai Latte Bars are an ode to my best friend.    Why are Chai Latte Bars the book-inspired recipe for The Ever After? The recipe inspired by The Ever After had to be based around a latte. It had to. After all, that’s what started the story. Main character Josie was waiting for her husband to bring her a latte when she discovered the incriminating texts on his phone. If it weren’t for that fateful latte from Starbucks,...

Coconut Cupcakes (Inspired by THE COINCIDENCE OF COCONUT CAKE)

Hands down, this is the BEST coconut cake recipe you will EVER come across. During my years upon this earth, I have made the important discovery that coconut is a very divisive flavor. As a coconut lover (some may say fanatic), I can't fathom how anyone could despise this magical ingredient. One of my favorite treats growing up was a coconut FrozFruit popsicle that I would get from the snack bar at the town lake. That cool, creamy taste and...

Blueberry Almond Scones (Recipe inspired by THE ROAD TO LITTLE DRIBBLING)

While I didn't love The Road to Little Dribbling, author Bill Bryson's time in England did inspire me to make some delicious English treats. I'm a huge Anglophile, and I appreciated his enthusiasm for English culture with all its delightful quirks, gorgeous landscapes, and elegant teatime traditions. One of my favorite things to do in London is have afternoon tea at a luxury hotel. I try to visit a different tea salon each time, but I'm also...

Grilled Peaches with Cinnamon and Cream

Happy three-day weekend, all! I hope some of you managed your vacation time better than I did and have more than three days off to head to the beach, the mountains, or just your own backyard for some much needed R&R. Whatever your plans are for the holiday break, though, I'm sure there's going to be a BBQ in your future. Husband and I made these grilled peaches a few weeks ago, and they were so good that I just cannot keep the recipe to...

Howltown Blackout Cake (Recipe inspired by UNBURY CAROL)

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...

Easy Orange Almond Flour Cake

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...

Chocolate Espresso Mousse (Recipe inspired by IN A COTTAGE IN A WOOD)

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...

Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake (Recipe inspired by THE HIGH TIDE CLUB)

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...

Anniversary French Toast

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...