Mostly Books

A Gift From The Sea

realityshowgirl — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:05:15 +0000

GIFTABLY GREAT
“The problem is … how to remain whole in the midst of the distractions of life; how to remain balanced, no matter what centrifugal forces tend to pull one off center; how to remain strong, no matter what shocks come.”
Doesn’t that just about sum it up? Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s meditations on motherhood, simplicity, and her place in the world ring as true today as they did more than fifty years ago. A contemplative tour de force.

A GIFT FROM THE SEA, by Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1955; Pantheon, 1991)

Mixed Berry Cobbler

realityshowgirl — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 10:25:20 +0000

Mixed Berry Cobbler

Ingredients

2 tablespoons whole-grain pastry flour
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon cold unsalted butter
1 package (12 ounces) frozen mixed berries
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Preparation

Preheat the over to 375°F. Place six 4-ounce ramekins or custard cups in a baking pan.

Whisk the flour and brown sugar in a small bowl. Cut the butter into small pieces, add to the bowl, and rub with your fingers until the mixture is crumbly.

In a medium bowl, combine the berries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice. Toss to mix. Spoon a half cup of the berry mixture into each ramekin. Sprinkle each with a half tablespoon of the crumbly dough.

Bake until the topping is golden and the berries are bubbly, about 30 minutes.

Makes 6 cobblers

Per cobbler: 83 calories, 16 g carbohydrates, 1 g protein, 2 g total fat, 5 mg cholesterol, 3 g dietary fiber, 1 mg sodium

A Babe In Ghostland by Lisa Cach

realityshowgirl — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:22:42 +0000

A Babe In Ghostland by Lisa Cach:

Megan Barrows has retired from a brief career as a ghost-busting phychic and now uses her sixth sense to fill her Seattle antiques store with objects with happy pasts. After once nearly having the soul sucked out of her by a maleovlent spirit, she prefers a quiet life.

Case Lambert is a real estate prospector who restors old houses, than sells them for profit. He has just bought a dilapidated manison so amazing that he wants to keep it for himself, but the house appears to be haunted. Seriously haunted. A few inquiries lead him to Megan Barrows.

Megan at first refuses to help, but Case is a master of persuasion. Moving into the mansion, they discover that one of the ghosts has a thing for Case–and there may be even more amorous spirits inside this veritable paranormal vortex. But it soon becomes clear that no one–dead or alive–can stop Megan and Case from ending up in each other’s arms….

page total update as of 1/6/2012

realityshowgirl — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:17:32 +0000

I am trying to read a total of 1,000,000 pages. I started this last year.

This year I read 198 books and 66,317 pages. I read an average of 334 pages out of each book. During the 365 days last year I read an average of 181 pages a day. When added to last 2010′s totals I read 118,331 pages and 361 books. On average I read 327 pages out of each book. Over the last 730 days I have read 162 pages each day. So I have to read 881,669 more pages to reach 1,000,000

The Books I read in December

realityshowgirl — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 04:54:29 +0000

Kissing Comfort Jo Goodman
Historical Romance
9/10
378 pages
Library

High Anxiety
Charlotte Hughes
Mystery
10/10
291 pages
Library

She Shoots To Conquer
Dorothy Cannell Mystery
9/10
294 pages
Library

Twlight Whispers
Barbara Delinksy
Fiction
8/10
416 pages
Audio book
Library

Eclipse
Stephanie Meyer
Paranormal
10/10
629 pages
Library

Once Upon A Time, There Was You
Elizabeth Berg Fiction
9/10
304 pages
Audio book
LIbrary

The Glass Lake
Maeve Binchy
Fiction
9/10
757 pages
Own

Derik’s Bane
MaryJanice Davidson
Paranormal Romance
10/10
292 pages
Library

Serendipity
Carly Phillips
Contemporary Romance
10/10
283 pages
Library

The Last Time I Saw You
Elizabeth Berg
Fiction
9/10
288 pages
Audio book
Library

Roses For Christmas
Betty Neels
Romance
10/10
219 pages
Library

The House Next Door
Anne Rivers Siddons
Fiction
9/10
356 pages
Library

A Night To Surrender
Tessa Dare
Historical Romance
9/10
372 pages
Library

Thief Of Hearts
Tess Gerritsen
Suspense
9/10
360 pages
Library

Broken Flower
V.C. Andrews
Fiction
9/10
422 pages
Library

Christmas Cookie Murder
Leslie Meier
Mystery
10/10
314 pages
Library

Glory, Glory
Linda Lael Miller
Fiction
8/10
287 pages
Library

Books Can Be Deceiving
Jenn McKinlay
Mystery
10/10
282 pages
Library

High Heels and Holidays
Kasey Michaels
Fiction
9/10
328 pages
Library

The Winter Rose
Jennifer Donnelly
Fiction
8/10
707 pages
Library

Heart Of The Tiger
Lindsay McKenna
Silhouette Romance
9/10
251 pages
Library

Murder Of A Creped Suzette
Denise Swanson
Mystery
10/10
252 pages
Library

Devoured By Darkness
Alexandra Ivy
Paranormal Romance
9/10
368 pages
Library

The Lion
Nelson DeMille
Suspense
8/10
448 pages
Audio book
Own

The Gemel Ring
Betty Neels
Harlequin Romance
9/10
187 pages
Library

Very Merry Mysteries
Various Authors
Fiction
10/10
469 pages
Library

Fantasy
Various Authors
Romance
9/10
373 pages
Own

A Hero For Dry Creek
Janet Tronstad
Inspirational
Romance
10/10
245 pages
Own

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

realityshowgirl — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 04:48:11 +0000

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Large hard pretzels are drizzled in chocolate for a decadent treat!

INGREDIENTS
12 large whole wheat pretzels
1 cup dark chocolate chips
waxed paper

DIRECTIONS
Melt chocolate in microwave for about 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds or so. Dip top half of pretzel in chocolate and place on waxed paper. Repeat with all 12 pretzels. Place in refrigerator to cool.
Makes 12 servings.

Number of Servings: 12

Nutritional Info
Servings Per Recipe: 12
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 169.7
Total Fat: 4.9 g
Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
Sodium: 59.1 mg
Total Carbs: 31.9 g
Dietary Fiber: 3.0 g
Protein: 3.7 g

Wife For Hire by Janet Evanovich

realityshowgirl — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:14:54 +0000

I finished my first book of 2012 on January 1st.

Wife For HIre by Janet Evonovich- Audio Book

Hank Mallone knows he’s in trouble when Maggie Toone agrees to pretend to be his wife in order to improve his rogue’s reputation. Will his harebrained sceme to get a bank loan for his business backfire one Maggie arrives in his small Vermont town and less the gossips take a look?

Maggie never expected her employer to be drop-dead handsome, but she’s too intrigued by his offer to say no…and too eager to escape a life that made her feel trapped. The deal is strictly business, both agree, unitl Hank turns out to be every fantasy she ever had.

My 2012 challenge reads for a to be read challenge

realityshowgirl — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 04:38:34 +0000

Original 12
Hero, Come Back Various Authors
The Last Detective Robert Crais- Currently reading
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Delivery Room Various Authors
The Knight Before Christmas Jackie Ivie
Candy Girl Diablo Cody
74 Seaside Avenue Debbie Macomber
Just A Tease Deirdre Martin
State Of Fear Michael Chrichton
Fulk The Reluctant Elaine Knighton
Dead End Dating Kimberly Raye
Ordinary Girl In A Tiara Jessica Hart
A Light In The Window Jan Karon

Alternatives
Between Sisters Kristin Hannah
The Scarlet Thread Francine Rivers
Forever Isn’t Long Enough Val Daniels
The Last Sin Eater Francine Rivers
On The Way To The Wedding Julia Quinn
The God Chasers Tommy Tenney
Wizard’s Daughter Catherine Coulter
The Surrender Toni Bently
Heart Of Courage Kat Martin
On What Gronds Cleo Coyle
Wyoming Brides Debbie Macomber
The Quilter’s Apprentice Jennifer Chiaverini

Cranberry-Apple Coffee Cake

realityshowgirl — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:08:39 +0000

Cranberry-Apple Coffee Cake Recipe

Quick Info:

Servings Contains Wheat/Gluten Contains Dairy Contains Egg

Vegetarian

Heart-Healthy

Diabetes-Friendly

Nutritional Info (Per serving): Calories: 257, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 112mg, Dietary Fiber: 3g, Total Fat: 8g, Carbs: 44g, Cholesterol: 25mg, Protein: 3g Carb Choices: 3

Prep Time: 45 mins

Cook Time: 50 mins

Rest Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 1 h 55 mins

Ingredients 1/2 cup(s) sugar, brown, light, packed

1 dash(es) cooking spray, to coat pan

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, ground

1/2 cup(s) cranberries, fresh or frozen, thawed, chopped

1 1/2 cup(s) apple(s), tart, finely chopped and peeled

1/2 cup(s) cranberry juice, or orange juice, apple juice

1 cup(s) flour, all-purpose

1/2 cup(s) flour, whole-wheat

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 cup(s) oil, canola

3 tablespoon butter, slightly softened

3/4 teaspoon lemon zest

3/4 cup(s) sugar, granulated

1 tablespoon sugar, granulated, for sprinkling

1 large egg(s)

3/4 cup(s) milk, lowfat (1%)

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray. 2. To prepare topping: Whisk brown sugar, cornstarch and cinnamon in a medium nonreactive saucepan until combined. Stir in cranberries, apple and juice. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring. 3. Continue to cook, stirring, until the mixture thickens and the berries soften, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool. 4. To prepare cake: Whisk all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl. 5. Beat oil, butter and lemon zest in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer, first on medium speed, then on medium-high, until well combined, about 11/2 minutes. 6. Gradually add 3/4 cup sugar, beating until the mixture is light in color and well blended. 7. Add egg and beat until the batter is smooth, about 1 minute longer. 8. With the mixer on low speed, beat in half the flour mixture until just incorporated. Gradually beat in milk and vanilla until just incorporated. Add the remaining flour mixture and beat until a smooth batter forms, about 1 minute, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. 9. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, spreading to the edges. Spread the topping in an even layer over the batter; do not stir. 10. Bake the cake on the middle rack until the top is puffed in places and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (the fruit topping will still be moist), 40 to 50 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar over the top. Transfer the pan to a wire rack; let stand until cooled to warm, about 20 minutes. To serve, run a knife along the edge of the pan, remove the pan sides and cut the cake into wedges.

Tender Savage by Iris Johansen

realityshowgirl — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 22:31:11 +0000

Lara Clavel knows that her mission to the war-torn Caribbean island of Saint Pierre is fraught with danger. But she is determined to rescue the imprisioned rebel under Ricardo Lazaro–if only to prevent her twin brother from rejoining his revolutionary army. What she doesn’t expct is the poweful attraction she feels for the legendary poet-warrior. Adn the heat is mutual. From the instant they meet inside the confines of his jail cell, Ricardo seems bound and determined to possess Lara. But is love possible with a man whose every waking moment is spent is the crosshairs of some would-be assassin’s rifle? Even after Ricardo is freed, Lara will find her feelings for him put to the ultimate test, as she fights to tame a savage rebel skilled in the arts of combat and seduction.