Thankfully Reading Weekend -What Book Are You Thankful For?

I have been thinking about this question since it was posted. I think I finally narrowed it down to three books that I am truly thankful for. The list was quite extensive before I whittled it down to these three books which probably have had a huge influence on my becoming the reader I am today.

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

I fell in love with Ingalls family long before they became a tv show. I still keep a set of the series on my bookshelves.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

I so love this book. I have several different editions. I used to tell people I was named for Beth. I was not but a young girl can always fantasize, right?

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

I can't even tell you how many times I have read this. Such a strong spirit.

These are the books that I am thankful for. These are the books I read and reread over and over again.

Weekend Cooking- Betty Crocker-The Big Book of Slow Cooker, Casseroles & More

This is one of my go to cookbooks! I have made several recipes out of this cookbook. The ingredients used for the recipes are ones that are readily available, either in my pantry and in a regular grocery store. There are some great full page pictures in the cookbook but not every recipe has a picture. I love that each recipe has nutritional information listed at the bottom. That came in handy when my mom was living with us. She had sodium restrictions so it was nice to know how much sodium was in each serving. Some recipes that we have tried and loved include; New Potatoes and Spring Vegetables, Mixed Vegetable Bake, Apricot Glazed Carrots, Cheesy Potato Soup, Parmesan-Butternut Squash Gratin, and Ultimate Slow Cooker Potatoes. We have many more recipes we want to try in the cookbook. There is a moment's notice menu planner and a metric conversion guide in the book. This is a great cookbook for the everyday cook.

This is one of our very favorite recipes out of the book. My kids request these potatoes quite a bit. You could make these healthier also by using fat free or low fat milk, sour cream and cream cheese. This recipe comes from page 292 of Betty Crocker The Big Book of Slow Cooker, Casseroles & More

Ultimate Slow Cooker Potatoes

prep time: 15 minutes start to finish:1 hour 45 minutes 12 servings(2/3 cup each)

3 cups boiling water
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup sour cream
1 package(8 oz)cream cheese, cut into cubes
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 cups plain mashed potato mix(dry)
Gravy or chopped fresh parsley, if desired.

1. Spray 3- to 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In cooker, mix water, milk, butter, sour cream, and cream cheese with whisk until blended. Add garlic salt, pepper, and mashed potatoes(dry); mix just until blended.

2. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 1 hour 30 minutes, stirring once after 1 hour.

3. Before serving, stir potatoes. Serve immediately, or hold in slow cooker on Low heat setting up to 3 hours, stirring every 30 minutes. If Potatoes become too thick, stir in additional milk, a couple tablespoons at a time. Serve with gravy or sprinkle with chopped parsley.

1 serving: Calories 250; Total Fat 17g(Saturated Fat 11g; Trans Fat 0.5g); Cholesterol 50mg; Sodium 230mg; Total Carbohydrate 20g(Dietary Fiber 1g); Protein 5g EXCHANGES: 1 1/2 Starch, 3 Fat CARBOHYDRATE CHOICES: 1

Weekend Cooking is a weekly meme sponsored by Beth Fish Reads.
Weekend Cooking is a chance to share the food love. Be sure to check out all the yummy cooking posts on Beth's blog.

Thankfully Reading Weekend 2011 Edition! Kick-Off!

How was your Thanksgiving? I hope you all had a wonderful day! I am roasting a turkey today or tomorrow depending on when it thaws. It has been in our little fridge since Sunday! Apparently our little fridge is well insulated! We ate at my sister's yesterday. We like leftover turkey so I make one so we can enjoy turkey sandwiches all weekend. At some point I will be going shopping for our Christmas tree. I figure we will get it now and keep it outside or in the garden shed in some water. The kids have requested we get the tree before the wind chill falls below 0! It sounds like a good plan!

The time has come for the Thankfully Reading Weekend! Yay! I have a stack of books ready and will be starting shortly. I am keeping this readathon relaxed and won't be keeping track of pages or minutes read. Below is my stack of books. I won't get through them all. Two are half read, two are quick reads, and two are books I have been meaning to get to. I have been looking forward to this! Let the reading begin!

South of Superior by Ellen Airgood
How To Save a Life by Sara Zarr
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznik
The Winters in Bloom by Lisa Tucker
The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures by Caroline Preston
Exposure by Therese Fowler

Check out the kick off post here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am not cooking today which is nice. We will be eating at my sister's house. I will be cooking a turkey this weekend though. I can't pass up a good deal and I need to have some turkey leftovers to make my holiday complete. I am looking forward to a turkey sandwich on pumpernickel bread! Yum!

I am so thankful for all my family, friends, followers, fellow readers and book bloggers! I wish every one of you a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Check back tomorrow! The Thankfully Reading Weekend begins! I will be getting my stack of books together today!

Mailbox Monday November 21

It's Monday and we all know what that means! Mailbox Monday! This month Mailbox Monday is back home at Mailbox Monday hosted by Marcia. Thank you Marcia for creating MM! My wish lists wouldn't be the same without you!

It's Monday again! I am not sure how but Monday seems to roll around pretty quickly! I am finally feeling like a human being again. The dogs are doing better and life is much more normal here! I went on a cleaning spree this weekend to try and catch up around here. There is a Butterball thawing in our spare fridge. Christmas catalogs are filling my mailbox and we are already talking about where to purchase our Christmas tree. It feels like I just took last years tree down! This year has flown by fast! I can't believe the holidays are upon us!

I received two books last week. One is for review and the other I purchased with a lovely Barnes and Noble coupon. I can't let a good coupon go to waste!

This weekend I will be participating in the Thankfully Reading Weekend! I can hardly wait! I have two books going right now which I rarely do anymore. I can use some severe reading catch up time. Go on over and sign up!

This book I received for review from Pamela Dorman Books/Viking. It looks like a thrilling scandal!

The Darlings by Christina Alger

Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books (February 16, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0670023272
ISBN-13: 978-0670023271

A sophisticated page-turner about a wealthy New York family embroiled in a financial scandal with cataclysmic consequences.

Now that he's married to Merrill Darling, daughter of billionaire financier Carter Darling, attorney Paul Ross has grown accustomed to New York society and all of its luxuries: a Park Avenue apartment, weekends in the Hamptons, bespoke suits. When Paul loses his job, Carter offers him the chance to head the legal team at his hedge fund. Thrilled with his good fortune in the midst of the worst financial downturn since the Great Depression, Paul accepts the position.

But Paul's luck is about to shift: a tragic event catapults the Darling family into the media spotlight, a regulatory investigation, and a red-hot scandal with enormous implications for everyone involved. Suddenly, Paul must decide where his loyalties lie-will he save himself while betraying his wife and in-laws or protect the family business at all costs?

Cristina Alger's glittering debut novel interweaves the narratives of the Darling family, two eager SEC attorneys, and a team of journalists all racing to uncover-or cover up-the truth. With echoes of a fictional Too Big to Fail and the novels of Dominick Dunne, The Darlings offers an irresistible glimpse into the highest echelons of New York society-a world seldom seen by outsiders-and a fast-paced thriller of epic proportions.

This book I purchased after loving Selznik's book, Wonderstruck! Once I saw the movie trailer for Hugo, I knew I had to read it too. Selznik's book are treasures! The artwork is phenomenal! I included a page from the book so you can see just how wonderful the artwork in the book is!

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznik

Reading level: Ages 9 and up
Hardcover: 533 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press; First Edition edition (January 30, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0439813786
ISBN-13: 978-0439813785

Orphan Hugo Cabret lives in a wall. His secret home is etched out in the crevices of a busy Paris train station. Part-time clock keeper, part-time thief, he leads a life of quiet routine until he gets involved with an eccentric, bookish young girl and an angry old man who runs a toy booth in the station. The Invention of Hugo Cabret unfolds its cryptic, magical story in a format that blends elements of picture book, novel, graphic novel, and film. Caldecott Honor-winning author-illustrator Brian Selznick has fashioned an intricate puzzle story that binds the reader like a mesmerist's spell.

(The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznik, page 148 & 149)


I love this picture! A girl surrounded by books! It warms my heart!

What wonderful reads made their way into your home?

Just For Fun Reading Challenge 2012

It's that time of year again! The new reading challenges are starting to post for sign ups. I love a good challenge even though I am not always successful when participating. This one is one I signed up for this year and I highly recommend it! I have loved participating. Lori over at Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book is the wonderful hostess of this challenge. Read one book a month from your tbr pile or list. One book just for fun! Not for review! Just For Fun! That is it! Easy peasy! I have enjoyed reading books that have been waiting for me to read that I never seem to be able to get around to. I have been able to read books from my tbr pile and wish list.

This year Lori is hosting the challenge on Goodreads. Click on the button above or on the button on my sidebar or on Lori's name above to go to Lori's blog and get the particulars! Then go on over to Goodreads and sign up!

Thankfully Reading Weekend 2011 Edition!

I love a good read-a-thon and I can't think of a better thing to participate in while the turkey and goodies settle and while all the shoppers are out and about scoring their bargains! I am not a Black Friday shopper! The Thankfully Reading Weekend runs from from November 25 through November 27! I have tons of reading to catch up on so I will be there! Be sure to go on over to Jenn's Bookshelves and sign up! I participated last year and had fun. I love to spend Thanksgiving weekend being cozy at home, with my nose in a book. If you do too, join in on the fun!