Edenbrooke Review (& Next Month's Book)

Let's cut right to the chase: Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson is a fanciful romance.

 As much as I hate to admit it, I am a sucker for a romance. For me, this guilty pleasure reaches its zenith in the midst of Lords and Ladies who spend the season in London and the rest of the year “in the country.”

Enter Edenbrooke.

It’s not deep or profound, but oh my, is it enjoyable. I didn’t want to stop reading. I really liked that this romance had just the right amount of intrigue without being vulgar or racy--a trait that can be hard to find in the romance genre.

The book begins with our two little love birds somewhat at odds with each other: “Philip Wyndam is an incorrigible flirt, and I did not like that about him. Not one bit” (p. 72).

But in the end, all is right: “…he kissed me again, and again, and whispered things too sublime to repeat, until I was thoroughly convinced he was madly in love with me, Marianne Daventry, a girl with no great figure, too many freckles, and a propensity for twirling. And then I knew I had met my match” (p. 247).  Ah [satisfied sigh].

How they get to this delicious end is the fun of it all. If you didn’t read Edenbrooke this month, put it on your to-read list. It’s a keeper. The real problem is that now I want a nice gentleman to woo me. (Pass that along if you know any. Gentlemen, that is.)


On to next month! The book I have selected for May is

Fablehaven
by Brandon Mull

From Goodreads: For centuries, mystical creatures of all description were gathered to a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic in a cynical world. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite ... Kendra and her brother Seth have no idea their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws give relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken, an arcane evil is unleashed, forcing Kendra and Seth to face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save her family, Fablehaven, and perhaps the world, Kendra must find the courage to do what she fears most.

Since last month's pick was a romance, I wanted a change of pace. Fablehaven is a fantasy novel and a New York Times bestseller. Several of my friends have read--and loved--this book. As always, I'll let you know my review at the end of the month. If you want to read this yourself, let me know what you think.

Here's to another adventure in reading!

Caramel Banana Cake

Today I spied some bananas that were awfully ripe. They were starting to get brown spots on them, even. I immediately thought that today was a day for banana bread.

And then, my thoughts turned decadent. I thought that I could easily adapt my usual banana bread recipe to become banana cake. Top it with frosting, and we've got dessert, folks. And not just any frosting, either. Cream cheese frosting. But the madness doesn't stop there. Oh no. I added toasted pecans for a little crunch and (because I couldn't help myself) a caramel drizzle.

Get in my belly!

Now you have great insights into my life as a fat kid. Moving on to the recipe...

Caramel Banana Cake
Recipe by Sara (stuff-by-sara.blogspot.com)

For the cake:
1 cup mashed bananas (about 3 medium bananas)
6 Tbsp butter
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/3 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp caramel sauce*

For the frosting:
2 Tbsp butter, room temperature
3 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
2 Tbsp milk or cream

1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Preheat oven to 350º.

In a large mixing bowl, combine bananas, butter, and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla.  Mix thoroughly.  In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add dry ingredients, and gently stir until just moistened. Pour batter into greased 8x8-inch pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes.

When the cake comes out of the oven, take a knife and poke several holes in it. Pour 1/2 cup caramel over the cake and let cool.

To make the frosting, whip butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and about a cup of the powdered sugar. Beat until creamy. Add powdered sugar and milk until the frosting reaches a spreadable consistency.

Spread cooled cake with frosting. Top with pecans, and then drizzle with remaining caramel sauce.

*I used jarred caramel sauce this time around, but you can use homemade if you prefer.

Cheddar & Chive Biscuits

Everyone loves the cheddar biscuits at a well known restaurant that I won't mention, but it's name is reminiscent of Crimson Crustacean. I adore those delicious biscuits, so I decided to try my hand at making a copy-cat version at home.

I started off with the obvious: cheddar cheese. I decided to stray a bit from the restaurant's version, and man, did I like what turned out. A hefty spoonful of chives later, and we've got cheddar and chive biscuits, but they're not a far cry from the famous Cheddar Bay Biscuits at Red Lobster. Whoops. I said it.

If you're interested, here's my recipe.

Cheddar & Chive Biscuits
Recipe by Sara (stuff-by-sara.blogspot.com)

2 cups flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
8 Tbsp butter
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp dried chives
3/4 cup milk

2 Tbsp butter
1/2 tsp dried parsley
1/4 tsp garlic powder
pinch of salt

Combine flour, baking powder, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, and 1/2 tsp salt. Add 8 Tbsp butter. Mix until crumbly. Add cheese and chives. Toss together. Add milk. Dough will be rather thick.

Drop by large spoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet. This recipe will make 10 to 12 biscuits. Bake in a 375º oven for 12-18 minutes.

Melt remaining 2 Tbsp butter. Add parsley, remaining garlic powder, and salt. Brush hot biscuits with butter mixture.

Enjoy at least one biscuit while it is still warm. Pat yourself on the back for making biscuits instead of going out to a pricey restaurant. Repeat.

Four on the Couch

I am one of the youth leaders for my church congregation. The youth love playing games, and I've got more than a few up my sleeve. Here is one of my favorites to play if you've got a fair-sized group (10-30). This is also great for young adults.

Four on the Couch (alternately known as The Couch Game)

1. Start by writing the names of everyone in the room on separate slips of paper.
2. Form a circle of chairs that includes one seat for each person playing, plus one empty seat.
3. Designate 4 seats in a row as “the couch.” This will be important later in the game.
4. Divide into teams. Girls vs. Boys works well, but any arrangement you choose will be fine. Make sure teammates are sitting every other chair, which means that each team will start with 2 people on “the couch.”
5. Have each person draw a slip of paper—the name you draw is your name for that round.
6. Whoever is to the left of the empty seat gets to call out a name. The person who drew that name gets up and sits in the empty seat, leaving an empty seat somewhere else in the circle. Whoever is to the left of the new empty seat calls out a new name, another person moves, etc.
7. The objective of the game is to get all four of your teammates on “the couch.” Once that happens, the game is over.

Have fun!

Me Talk Pretty One Day Review (and Next Month's Pick)

Let's start with Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. This wasn't really a winner for me, but several of my friends loved it.

I will admit that David Sedaris has a writing style that is amusing, but I still didn't think this book was as funny as it was purported to be. To be completely honest, I ditched it about 2/3 of the way through. It just wasn't a book that I wanted to keep reading.

Don't let my review stop you from reading it, though.  Like I said, everyone else I know who has read this quite enjoyed it.

On to next month. The book I have selected for April is

Edenbrooke 
by Julianne Donaldson

From Goodreads:

Marianne Daventry will do anything to escape the boredom of Bath and the amorous attentions of an unwanted suitor. So when an invitation arrives from her twin sister, Cecily, to join her at a sprawling country estate, she jumps at the chance. Thinking she’ll be able to relax and enjoy her beloved English countryside while her sister snags the handsome heir of Edenbrooke, Marianne finds that even the best laid plans can go awry.

From a terrifying run-in with a highwayman to a seemingly harmless flirtation, Marianne finds herself embroiled in an unexpected adventure filled with enough romance and intrigue to keep her mind racing. Will she be able to rein in her traitorous heart, or will a mysterious stranger sweep her off her feet? Fate had something other than a relaxing summer in mind when it sent Marianne to Edenbrooke.

This "Proper Romance" has a gotten great reviews on Goodreads (average 4.41 stars), Amazon (average 4.7 stars), and Barnes & Noble (average 5 stars).

I hope this book is more enjoyable than my other picks :-P

Happy Reading!

Lucky Leprechaun Punch

I know this is a bit late, but things have been crazy around my house lately! My darling sister gave birth to a beautiful baby, so I've been a little distracted.

isn't she sweet?

Even in the midst of baby-excitement, my family found a way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. My family likes to celebrate St. Pat's in style. We go all out with corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and lots of green food to accompany the traditional Irish fare.

This year, I concocted what I like to call "Lucky Leprechaun Punch." My brother-in-law said he would drink it everyday, so don't think you have to save this for next St. Patty's Day. You can break out this tasty beverage anytime you want! I think that kiddos would be especially excited over a vibrantly green refreshing drink.

Lucky Leprechaun Punch
Recipe by stuff-by-sara.blogspot.com

1 packet lemon-lime drink mix  (I used Kool-Aid)
1 can frozen limeade concentrate
3/4 cup sugar
1 quart water
2 liters lemon-lime soda (Sprite, 7-Up, Sierra Mist--whatever tickles your fancy)
1-2 cups ice

Combine all ingredients in a punch bowl or gallon-size pitcher. Stir to combine. Enjoy!

Jelly Surprise Muffins

I love muffins. My mom made muffins quite a bit during my growing-up years. We ate them for breakfast but also for snacks. Yesterday, I had a hankering for my favorite muffins.

They look pretty average, right? Wait until you bite into one.

Jelly! Yum!

The jelly center is baked right into these little beauties. My favorite is strawberry jam, followed closely by seedless raspberry. You can use whatever jam or jelly tickles your fancy.

Jelly Surprise Muffins
Recipe by Sara (stuff-by-sara.blogspot.com)

2 cups flour
¼ cup sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
¾ tsp salt
1 beaten egg
1 cup milk
½ cup oil
12 tsp jelly, jam, or marmalade

Preheat your oven to 350º F. Prepare your muffin pans by greasing them or lining each cup with paper liners.

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, mix egg, milk, and oil. Make a well in the center of the dry mixture, and pour in the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined. Be careful not to over mix, since that can give you tough muffins instead of the tender, delicious texture we're after.

Gently spoon batter into each muffin cup until it is about 1/2 full. Reserve the other half of the batter. Top each muffin with 1 tsp jelly or jam. Cover with remaining batter.

Bake at 350º for 20-25 minutes. Makes 12 muffins.

If you eat these little cuties warm, be careful of their jelly centers. They will be hot, so don't burn yourself!