Fablehaven Review and June Book of the Month

Welcome back to Book Club!

If you haven't finished reading Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, no worries. Just come back and read my review later. There is a full week left in May, after all.

For the rest of you, here it is:

Fablehaven is a preserve for mystical creatures (fable=myth, haven=sanctuary). Of course, I knew that going into the story because I read the book description. However, our main characters, Kendra and Seth, did not know what they were getting into when they went to stay with their Grandpa and Grandma Sorenson. I was interested to find out how they would discover the true nature of their grandparents’ estate.

I found this part of the storyline a little disappointing. The “puzzle” was a bit simplistic. Kendra seemed to solve it without much effort, and boom! Grandpa let her in on a pretty heavy secret. It didn’t seem like much of a test, which was Grandpa’s objective in planning it. I can’t complain too much, though, since Kendra and Seth (at 13 and 11 years old) can still be considered children.

The governance of Fablehaven was explained well, I thought. It’s easy for a fantasy novel to set up an elaborate moral code that is hard to comprehend. Fablehaven’s “mischief for mischief” and “magic for magic” was both logical and easy to follow. (Of course, there is more to it than that--borders of where creatures can go, etc. These other rules aren't explained in this book. Maybe this will be cleared up in one of the sequels?)

There were a few parts of the book that I thought were predictable. As soon as something was stated to be unlikely, it happened (e.g. None of the creatures should have even gotten close to the kids' window, but all manner of creatures were right outside taunting them). That said, Kendra’s solution wasn’t completely see-through.

As the first book in a series, I appreciated that this book had a resolution, but the storyline was also set up for a sequel(s). This book could easily stand alone, but there were several elements within Fablehaven that I would be interested to learn more about—the creatures themselves, the nuances of the treaty, exceptions to rules (like Midsummer Eve), magical artifacts, other secret refuges, etc. I imagine the story will get richer as these are explained.

I thought it was clever that on the last page of my book were the words “drink the milk”—as if I had just read the Journal of Secrets. It was a surprise that enhanced the reading experience.

Overall, a fun read. Fablehaven is a piece of children's literature, and I think it is perfect for its intended audience.

Now for June:

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Mrs. Mike
by Benedict Freedman & Nancy Mars Freedman

From Goodreads: A moving love story set in the Canadian wilderness, Mrs. Mike is a classic tale that has enchanted millions of readers worldwide. It brings the fierce, stunning landscape of the Great North to life-and tenderly evokes the love that blossoms between Sergeant Mike Flannigan and beautiful young Katherine Mary O'Fallon.

From Amazon.com: Recently arrived in Calgary, Alberta after a long, hard journey from Boston, sixteen-year-old Katherine Mary O’Fallon never imagined that she could lose her heart so easily—or so completely. Standing over six feet tall, with “eyes so blue you could swim in them,” Mike Flannigan is a well-respected sergeant in the Canadian Mounted Police—and a man of great courage, kindness, and humor. Together, he and his beloved Kathy manage to live a good, honest life in this harsh, unforgiving land—and find strength in a love as beautiful and compelling as the wilderness around them… 

Once again, this book was brought to my attention via my friends, but they aren't the only ones who give this book rave reviews: It gets an average 4.12 star rating on Goodreads and 4.8 stars on Amazon.

For those of you who favor e-books, this one might be hard to find. I hear that it is out of print, but I was able to borrow a hard copy from my library without any problem.

Throw this book in your beach bag, and give it a read while you're out enjoying the sunshine. I know I will. See you next month!

My Favorite Cleaning Supplies

Cleaning. I know, I know: not the most exciting topic in the world.

But...

I love cleaning. Or rather, I love having clean things. Like, I really love it. Even so, I'm really not a clean freak. I am, however, really opinionated about which cleaners I use. Mostly because I have spent so many hours scrubbing and using mediocre products. Use the right product, and life becomes So. Much. Easier. I just didn't know what to buy. The madness stops here because I am letting you in on my most prized secrets: my favorite cleaning supplies. Here they are (in no real order):

Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner - Clinging Bleach Gel

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Make sure you get the clinging bleach gel kind. It's important. Mostly because it works 1,000,000,000 times better than the other kinds from Clorox. It's also my favorite compared to other brands. I like to scrub the toilet in the evening, right before going to bed. Here's the important part: after scrubbing, I let the cleaner soak all night. I've even been known, on occasion, to squirt the cleaner and just leave it overnight. No scrubbing. Just flush in the morning, and your toilet is sparkly clean. As it should be.

While we're on the subject of Clorox, let's get this out of the way...

Clorox Wipes - Orange Scent

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I love disinfectants of any kind because they put my mind at ease. I mean, really, what is the point of cleaning if you aren't getting rid of germs and bacteria? I especially love Clorox wipes. Any Clorox wipe will do, but the orange scent is my fave. These wipes are great on a multitude of surfaces, and they are just so darn convenient. Love 'em for every room.

DIY Floor Cleaner (as found on Pinterest)

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The picture has washing soda in it, but I use baking soda, like the description says.  It works great! I also add blue Dawn, which I maintain is the best liquid dish soap.

I love this floor cleaner. Love, love. It cleans really well without much scrubbing, and there is no film or residue left behind (which happens to be my biggest complaint with most commercial floor cleaners).    I have never had any problems with this solution, but my mom (who has a mop similar to this one) said that the baking soda tends to clog the spray head on her mop. I don't have a fancy spray mop, so I've never had a problem. A good old mop-and-bucket works just fine with this solution. I also like this as a multi-purpose solution. Mix up a bucket, and wipe down counters, sinks, etc.

Original (blue) Dawn Dish Soap

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My mom has always bought blue Dawn. It is a wonderful degreaser and cleanser. And it is cheap! Score! I learned during my college years that not all dish soaps are created equal. I tried a few too many duds before I realized that my mom bought Dawn for a reason. Ever since I figured out that Dawn is both awesome and affordable, I have never bought anything else. I use Dawn for dishes, but also for homemade cleaners like the one above. Dawn is also an excellent laundry pretreatment for oil/grease stains. Blue Dawn gets my recommendation 110%.

DIY Shower Cleaner (as found on Pinterest)

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This shower cleaner is bomb. Seriously. It gets rid of soap scum buildup like nothing else I've seen. I provided in-home care for an elderly man for some time, and one of the services I provided was home cleaning. I have no idea when his showers were cleaned before my employment with him, but I tried everything to get those glass doors transparent again. This cleaner finally worked--and worked well. It didn't take a lot of scrubbing, and those shower doors were shiny--no streaks left behind! The only problem I have with this cleaner is the smell. I hate the smell of vinegar, and this smells really strongly. But hey, it gets the job done.

Baking Soda

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Baking soda is another great multi-purpose cleaner. You can add it to homemade cleaners, like the floor cleaner above. You can also use it as a laundry additive--it really boosts your detergent's cleaning power in my opinion. Baking soda is awesome at getting rid of funky smells. Keep a box of baking soda in your refrigerator, and strong food smells won't linger. You can also sprinkle baking soda over carpet or furniture to rid them of odors. Just vacuum it up afterwards. I usually give the baking soda some time to work, maybe half an hour to an hour, before vacuuming. Baking soda is mildly abrasive, so you can also use it to scrub stubborn, grimy surfaces, especially in the kitchen.

Arm & Hammer Liquid Laundry Detergent plus OxiClean

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Love this stuff.  I have super sensitive skin, and changes in laundry detergent or fabric softener can be catastrophic. I used to use solely Tide, which is a great laundry detergent, but it is pricey. I was terrified to try anything else because of my past experiences (like hives covering my entire body). I finally gave Arm & Hammer a try because the box said it was dermatologist tested. And whaddaya know, no hives! I have been using it ever since. I prefer the liquid to the powder, and I really like the ones with OxiClean. My favorite scent is the one with the blue lid. I know there are lots of homemade laundry detergents out there, but I can't give you an opinion because I haven't tried them (see: fear of hives).

Playtex Living Gloves

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I like to wear gloves when I clean, especially if I am going to spend some time scrubbing. This is more of a personal preference than anything else. I just hate trashing my nails while cleaning, not to mention my skin. These particular gloves are a bit thicker than your average yellow rubber gloves. The extra thickness helps shield my hands from the heat of scalding water. The cuff is longer, too which means extra protection again. I have a pair for kitchen use and a separate pair for bathroom cleaning. (I labeled the bathroom pair with a Sharpie, so I don't get them confused. Because that would be grody.) The Playtex Living gloves are durable, they don't rip or tear like some other gloves I've tried. Seriously, they are the best.


What about you? What are your favorite cleaning methods/products?

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

I have been entering online giveaways for years. Nowadays I only enter the ones that require minimal effort - a comment, a like, etc. Finally my efforts have paid off: I won something!

I won a JJ Cole Caprice Diaper Bag. This one (below), to be exact.

hello, lovely

What is kind of funny about the whole thing is that I almost didn't bother entering because I don't have kids. 

A minor detail, to be sure.

Of course, I plan on having kids one day, and I fully intend on saving this bag until that time.

Anyways, I was super stoked to find out that I won. I also wanted to give some love to the blog that hosted this giveaway: Babes and Kids Review. I've been reading Babes and Kids since it started out on blogger (like my blog here :-)), and I am a big fan.

Tiffany is the mom behind the madness over at Babes and Kids. She is a rockstar reviewer. Tiff reviews pregnancy, baby, child, family, and fitness products (among others). Her opinions are candid and honest. Even though I don't have my own kiddos yet, her reviews have been helpful when buying for my baby niece. I have found that Tiffany's reviews are always true-to-life. In addition to great reviews, Tiffany hosts plenty of giveaways, so head on over!

Please enjoy this picture of my niece
because she is completely adorable.

Happy Mommy Day! (French Silk Pie Edition)

This is my present to my Mom this Mother’s Day: 

Just a small portion of my efforts.
The ♥ is because it was a labor of love.

I chopped, packaged, and froze approximately 6 pounds of onions. Weird gift? Maybe. But not if you know my dear Madre. My Mom despises fresh onions, or so she says. In reality, my Mom likes cooking with onions and does so frequently. What she hates is cutting them up--they make her eyes water terribly.

The aftermath. 

I would sympathize, but somehow I have the super-human ability not to tear up around fresh onion. And thus my somewhat odd Mother’s Day gift.

Anyways. Enough about onion.

Instead, let's talk about dinner. On Sundays my Mother hosts family dinner (including all of my siblings+spouses+children), and we invite 2 missionaries from our church. Lately, that means 10 people (11 if you count my niece, but she can't eat solid food yet).

This is sometimes stressful on my Mamacita, so my older brother and I decided we’d make dinner this week.  We're having a smorgasbord of butterfly shrimp, fresh spring rolls, quinoa salad, cantaloupe, cucumber, and a few other oddities added in. (We’re about pleasing people here, not making cohesive meals).

For dessert, I decided to make one of my specialties: French Silk Pie.

Mmm. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water (literally). My Mom looooves chocolate, so I thought this pie would fit nicely with our Mother’s Day dinner. French Silk Pie is a chocolate mousse pie that has a light and silky texture but rich, decadent flavor. It is a favorite of mine, for sure. This recipe in particular suits my mom because you cook the eggs, which isn't very common in this type of pie.

It takes some extra time and TLC to make this award-winning dessert, but the result is worth the effort. If you want to make it yourself, here is the recipe:

French Silk Pie 
Recipe adapted from Taste of Home

1 prepared pie crust*
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup butter
1 cup heavy cream
2 Tbsp powdered sugar
whipped cream (optional)
your choice of garnish (optional)

In a small saucepan, combine sugar and eggs. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches 160°. Remove from heat; add chopped chocolate and vanilla. Cool to 90°, stirring occasionally.   (This will take a little while, so go watch an episode of The Big Bang Theory. Or read a chapter of Fablehaven).

In a bowl, cream butter. Add cooled chocolate mixture and beat on high for 5 minutes.

In another bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add powdered sugar and continue to beat until stiff. Gently fold whipped cream into chocolate mixture. Once combined, spread into prepared crust. Refrigerate for 6 hours before serving (I usually shoot for overnight, if possible).

My unadorned pie

If you want to stop there and start eating, that is fine and dandy.

However, I like to top this with whipped cream because it looks pretty, and it counterbalances the richness of the filling. If I'm in the mood, I pipe the whipped cream on the pie with a fancy-dancy star tip. If I'm not in the mood, I just smear it on with a spatula.

I'm always in the mood for a little extra garnish, though. I think it gives this pie a little extra somethin' somethin'. Garnishes I have used in the past include miniature chocolate chips, chocolate jimmies, chocolate shavings (made using a chocolate bar and a vegetable peeler), and a chocolate drizzle. You can use whatever you like. My choice usually stems from what is already in my pantry.

whipped cream and chocolate curls

*You can use whatever kind of crust floats your boat. In the past I have used graham cracker, shortbread, chocolate wafer, and traditional pastry crust. You can even buy a pre-made pie crust if that makes you happy. This time around, I used a homemade traditional pastry crust. 

Pani Popo (sweet coconut buns)

Recently, a Samoan friend of mine told me about pani popo (or panipopo). Pani popo are sweet coconut buns. They are his mother's specialty. He has been away from his family for a little over a year, and he misses this traditional Samoan dessert. Apparently, he tried to create his own version, but it wasn't as good as his mom's.

Well, I decided to try my hand at making pani popo. I don't know if they measure up to my friend's mother's, but I think they turned out well. Pani popo have a delicate coconut flavor and mild sweetness. The buns have a little bit of chew (like a dinner roll) and a little bit of stickiness (from the coconut sauce). If you want to try something new, these are just the ticket. 

Pani Popo 

Recipe by Sara (stuff-by-sara.blogspot.com)

1 cup coconut milk
¼ cup sugar
½ cup butter, room temperature
2 eggs, room temperature
¾ tsp salt
4 cups flour
1 Tbsp yeast

1 can coconut milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbsp corn starch

Start by warming 1 cup of coconut milk. You want it to be about the temperature of a warm bath (not a hot bath). Combine warmed milk with yeast until yeast is dissolved. Add 1/4 cup of sugar, then wait 10 minutes for yeast to bloom (it should get foamy). Add butter and eggs, then flour and salt. Mix until a soft dough forms, then knead for about 5 minutes or until dough is smooth and elastic. Cover the dough, and let it rise until double.

Form into rolls, place in greased pan(s), and let rise again. (I used two 9-inch cake pans, but you can use whatever you like. Just not sheet pans, since the sides aren't high enough to accomodate the sauce that will be poured over the rolls.)

To make the sweet coconut sauce, combine 1 can coconut milk with 1/2 cup sugar. Whisk in cornstarch. Pour this mixture over the rolls until it comes about halfway up the sides of the pan. You might have some sauce leftover (but you can pour that over the baked rolls later).

Bake at 350º for 15-25 minutes. Turn the pani popo out onto a plate. The bottom of the rolls will be a little soggy, but the tops should be golden. Pour any remaining coconut sauce over the buns. Enjoy!