My Current Literary Obsession

Also titled, Hey, Look, a Blog Post That Actually Isn’t About Food!

So, yes, I’m obsessed with books and reading. If you’ve known me for all of ten minutes, you know this already! I learned to read early and I fell in love from the first word I read.

I also grew up in the library. Almost quite literally. My parents were avid readers and had me visiting the library multiple times a week when I was young. I spend hours at my local branch after closing as a kid, while my mom tirelessly volunteered with the library’s board and on various committees. I did service projects as a teenager cleaning up library storage, and worked summers at my local library all through college. I spent the past five years working for various book publishers. I’ve been surrounded by books my entire life and they’ve integrated their way into my personal and professional personalities with abundance.

I now visit my local libraries once or twice a week and I have long lists of hold items at each library system (there are three in my county).

Some of my favorite library tips:

-If a certain book has a long waiting list (yes, libraries have waiting lists), check out the large-print edition as there are hardly ever holds on them, or definitely fewer than regular print.

-You can check out CDs and audiobooks at libraries, and many of them are now offering MP3 downloads for audiobooks (yay!).

-Most libraries offer DVDs, VHSs, and various video games for rent, usually for very cheap (think $1 at most) or free (usually for a week or two’s rental).

-You can search for items and then place them on hold directly from your computer and have them sent to your local branch. The library will e-mail you when the items arrive and you can go pick them up when they're ready.

-Most also have free wireless Internet access.

I could go on and on, obviously!

This leads me into my most recent literary obsession! A few months back, one of my friends turned me on to a site called Paperback Swap, where you can post old books that you own and receive books from others. The cost is free, but shipping your books out to others is on your own dime (and fairly cheap, thanks to media mail).

At first, I wasn’t too sure about this site. I wondered why I’d use it since I had my faithful library services. But then I wanted a book that had long waiting lists at all three library systems that I frequent; I checked on Paperback Swap and found it! I am now a loyal user of both this site and my local libraries.

I also like using Swap Tree, a similar service to Paperback Swap but that also deals with CDs and DVDs.

Check ‘em out! I gotta get back to my book now.

A Chef's Fantasy

This little gadget is my current obsession to covet (besides the Kindle and the iPhone). I want one but don't want to spend the $$, go figure! But it's sooo pretty.

www.mydemy.com

Now, I gotta say that I really love my current recipe program, Cook'n with Pillsbury, but this little one is so cute and would certainly be easier than hauling my laptop into the kitchen every night. But I still have loyalty to Cook'n!

Chicken, Biscuits, 'n' Gravy Casserole

Wow, lots of recipes lately! I guess I am going through yet another foodie obsession. I promise I have some non-food related blogs lined up next!! Lots of stuff to post about. But, for now....

We LOVE to make this recipe. It's like a guilty pleasure. So delicious and so easy to make. It probably isn't the healthiest meal, but it's worth it. I've altered it a bit to fit our healthy needs. I usually serve with some sort of vegetable to make it better, too. We made this last night and had a side of steamed green beans with it; perfect!

Chicken, Biscuits, 'n' Gravy Casserole
Adapted from Every Day With Rachael Ray

1 rotisserie chicken
7 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 celery ribs, finely chopped
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup skim milk
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 cups Bisquick baking mix
1/2 cup reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese


1. Preheat the oven to 425°. Butter a large casserole dish. Pull the meat off the chicken, shredding it with your fingers or a fork into the baking dish.

2. In a large skillet, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter over high heat. Add the onion and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, about 6 minutes. Lower the heat to medium, sprinkle the flour into the skillet and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in the chicken broth, bring to a simmer and cook, stirring, until thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in 1/3 cup of the milk and simmer for 1 minute more. Remove the skillet from the heat, add the lemon juice, and add salt and pepper to taste. Pour the gravy over the chicken in the baking dish.

3. Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter with the garlic.

4. Stir together the baking mix, the remaining 2/3 cup of milk and the cheese. Drop tablespoonfuls of the biscuit mixture on top of the casserole and brush with half of the garlic butter. Bake until the biscuits are golden brown, about 25 minutes, brushing them once or twice with the remaining garlic butter.

Cinnamon Swirl Buns

I think I am newlywed nesting lately or something because all I want to do is bake! It's becoming bad for my waistline, but yummy for my tummy! Seriously, though, bad bad bad.

Last week I had an overwhelming desire to bake cinnamon rolls! This is something I haven't done since just after I met my husband when I attempted to make an old tried-and-true recipe for him...I've since blocked that memory out (literally, he had to remind me of it). I didn't exactly fail at it, I think the rolls came out well but hunger, me, and baking mishaps do NOT blend well!

So last week I was having this craving for fresh cinnamon rolls...and as fate would have it I stumbled across a new recipe posted by my beloved Smitten Kitchen. Score! My weekend plans were set!

This recipe is fabulous! My husband said it was better than Cinnabon, and that's high praise in this house. :) I probably wouldn't make them the same morning I want to eat them, since it does take a while for the dough to rise. We made them the day before and they were still delightfully delicious in the a.m.! YUM!

Sorry no photos for this one; we ate them too fast! But Smitten Kitchen has some beautiful ones (better than I'd take anyway!) in the blog post.

Cinnamon Swirl Buns with Cream Cheese Glaze
Adapted from Molly Wizenberg’s recipe in Bon Appetit, March 2008

Makes 18 buns. Note I did not say “servings”. That’s between you and your buns.

Dough
1 cup whole milk
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 1/2 cups (or more) unbleached all purpose flour, divided
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 1/4 teaspoons rapid-rise or instant yeast (from 2 envelopes yeast)
1 teaspoon salt
Nonstick vegetable oil spray

Filling
3/4 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
Pinch of salt

Glaze
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For dough: Combine milk and butter in glass measuring cup. Microwave on high until butter melts and mixture is just warmed to 120°F to 130°F, about 30 to 45 seconds. Pour into bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Add 1 cup flour, sugar, egg, yeast, and salt. Beat on low speed 3 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape down sides of bowl. Add additional 2 1/2 cups flour. Beat on low until flour is absorbed and dough is sticky, scraping down sides of bowl. If dough is very sticky, add more flour by tablespoonfuls until dough begins to form ball and pulls away from sides of bowl. Turn dough out onto lightly floured work surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, adding more flour if sticky, about 8 minutes. (You may also use a KitchenAid’s dough hook for this process.) Form into ball.

Lightly oil large bowl with nonstick spray. Transfer dough to bowl, turning to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, then kitchen towel. Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until doubled in volume, about 2 hours.

For filling: Mix brown sugar, cinnamon and pinch of salt in medium bowl.

Press down dough. Transfer to floured work surface. Roll out to 15×11-inch rectangle. Spread butter over dough, leaving 1/2-inch border. Sprinkle cinnamon mixture evenly over butter. Starting at the longer side, roll dough into log, pinching gently to keep it rolled up. With seam side down, trim ends straight if they are uneven (we baked them in a ramekin, incapable of discarding such deliciousness) cut remaining dough crosswise with thin sharp knife (a good serrated worked well here) into 18 equal slices (each about 1/2 to 3/4 inch wide).

Spray two 9-inch square glass baking dishes (an 8-inch square metal pan worked just fine, too) with nonstick spray. Divide rolls between baking dishes, arranging cut side up (there will be almost no space between rolls). Cover baking dishes with plastic wrap, then kitchen towel. Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until almost doubled in volume, 40 to 45 minutes, though yours, like mine, may take longer. Don’t skimp on the double-rising time.

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Bake rolls until tops are golden, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and invert immediately onto rack. Cool 10 minutes. Turn rolls right side up.

For glaze: Combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla in medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat until smooth. Spread glaze on rolls. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

This has long been one of my favorite recipes but I haven't made it in a couple of years. Dug it out this weekend when I needed a good dessert for a barbecue, and this was perfect!

This cupcake recipe can also easily be turned into a beautiful, two-layer carrot cake. And the frosting is to die for! I treat the raisins and walnuts optionally, and I usually use golden raisins. Yum!

I used my beloved KitchenAid mixer to make these; makes the process so easy. Bake and enjoy!

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Serves: 27

2 cups sugar
1 1/3 cups vegetable oil
3 eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour plus 1 tablespoon
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 pound carrots, grated
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped walnuts
Frosting:
3/4 pound cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pound confectioners' sugar, sieved

Preheat oven to 400. Line muffin pans with paper liners.

Beat sugar, oil, and eggs togetehr in bowl of an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment until light yellow. Add vanilla. In another bowl, sift together 2 cups flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.

Add dry ingredients to wet. Toss carrots, rasins, and walnuts with 1 tablespoon flour. Add to batter and mix well.

Scoop batter into muffin cups until each is almost full. Bake for 10 minutes, then lower the oven to 350 degrees and bake for 35 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool on wire rack.

For frosting, mix cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in bowl of electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment until just combined. Add sugar and mix until smooth.

When cupcakes cool, frost them generoulsly and enjoy!

Recipe from: The Barefoot Contessa

Get Drunk, Not Fat

I love this site! Such a great resource when you want a drink but not the calories. Add it to your phone for nights out!

Check it out: www.getdrunknotfat.com

Also, it's sister site for the low-budget alcoholics: www.getdrunknotbroke.com

Chocolate Chip Cookies

These were so easy to make and sooooo good. I think I ate about 5 cookies' worth of dough...oops. They were pretty dangerous to have in the house this weekend, when we already had Easter candy and chocolate and other treats, but I was itching to bake something new and these cookies definitely hit the spot! One of my new favorites. :)

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt or 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup walnuts or pecans, toasted and chopped

Adjust the oven rack to the top third of the oven and preheat to 300F. Line three baking sheets with parchment paper.

Beat the sugars and butters together until smooth. Mix in the egg, vanilla, and baking soda.

Stir together the flour and salt, then mix them into the batter. Mix in the chocolate chips and nuts.

Scoop the cookie dough into 2-tablespoon balls and place 8 balls, spaced 4 inches apart, on each of the baking sheets.

Bake for 18 minutes, or until pale golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.

Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Recipe from Smitten Kitchen (yum!).

Sales at Longs Drugs!

CVS is buying out all the Longs Drugs stores, and while this brings me great, great sadness as I am a lifetime lover of Longs, it also brings us good sales!

Longs has got to get rid of all their items that CVS doesn't sell so there are crazy markdowns anywhere from 25% to 75% off LOTS of stuff.

So while we mourn the loss of Longs (sniffle), know that there is at least a silver lining! I went by my local Longs this weekend and got some great deals. Still can't find some of my longtime loyal Longs items, but I'm gonna keep on searching.

Happy shopping!

Trash the Dress!

I am a blog slacker and wholly apologize for it. I do have a long list of stuff I want to post about in the coming weeks so stay tuned! I promise I will try not to let life get in the way again (how dare it!). :)

In the meantime, I have to gush again about how awesome Melissa McClure Photography is. I blogged about her way back in one of my very first posts, but she's so badass she deserves another mention!

In keeping with my obsession with all-things wedding, I just couldn't resist getting my bridal gown on for one last time (at least, I think it's the last time...but if I can find another excuse, I will!). My husband and I met up with Melissa at a nearby winery for a post-wedding trash-the-dress photoshoot and had such a blast playing around with her. She's is an absolute pro and her work really speaks for itself. Okay, I could gush forever, but check her out (especially her post on us!) and see for yourselves! (And while I didn't totally "trash" my dress, it did get pretty dirty!)

http://melissamcclure.net/

And, just 'cause I can't resist, here's one of my favorites!

Show Me the Money!

I'm a total nerd and love to read finance and money blogs. In case you share my same vein of dorkiness, here are my faves:

1. My Money Blog - I just like seeing how this guy invests and how he talks about it all over the Web. Actually, a very interesting read.

2. Get Rich Slowly - Lots of good articles relating to personal finance. I love reading this stuff! Learn a lot, too. :)

3. Make Love, Not Debt - A great "relationship finance blog," as the writer declares. Is it totally voyeuristic that I just like observing other people's money?

4. The Simple Dollar - The current entry about the evil costs of a honeymoon rings so true to me right now! I love what's written about it. It's so true!

5. Wise Bread - I fell in love with this one on the tagline alone: Living large on a small budget. I think that's my new personal motto. I've gotten some great ideas from this blog and just have fun reading it!

Enjoy!