Butterscotch Scones

I love scone batter.
I love adding melted butter to flour.

And I love using this thing to need dough. 

However, I wish I had better lighting in my kitchen for these photos. 

Unfortunately, I went a little overboard improvising and I hadn't baked in so long I wanted to cram everything I could into these scones.

They started with a simple scone batter, with a little less liquid because of the melted butterscotch chips and mashed bananas (I love banana butterscotch bread). However, that turned out to be too gooey and the scones wouldn't hold shape. So I added oatmeal for consistency. And then I noticed the blueberries in the fridge.

But they weren't scones any more... muffin tops perhaps? I couldn't cut the dough and transfer to the baking sheet. These were dropped on.

They tried to be too much, and they failed. I lost the sturdy scone I was going for. Still very tasty, but not in the to try again column.

I think a plain old scone with a butterscotch should be tried. 

Happy Birthday Mommy!

My Mom turned 60 this year, and Dad and I threw her a Sock-Hop themed surprise party. The best part, she was completely surprised, until she turned into the driveway and saw all of the cars.

There were chips, and the family's requisite clam dip, veggies, wings, brie, pulled pork, mac & cheese and a deli platter. I made have gone a little overboard. I may have sent enough food home with my cousin after the party for a second party. And Jess and I still ate leftovers all week.

My favorite was the cake:

I wanted it to look sort of like the invitation. Dancers on a checkerboard floor. I was really happy with how it turned out. The floor was piped on with chocolate icing, and the rest is a homemade vanilla marshmallow frosting. The main ingredient: Fluff.

I created a stencil for the dancers using a metal centerpiece and food coloring spray. The whole thing came together with the fabulous Jute Box candle (no it isn't a tombstone all you pessimists!)

The Lover's Dictionary

I love this book.


I love that the story was told successfully out of order.
I love when it repeated and honed in on different parts of the same event, adding just a little bit more information each time.
I love that I actually had to look up some of the words.
I love that I could see myself and my relationship in some of the definitions--it made it do much more real. I believe that this covered so many emotions and scenarios, others will experience this too.
I love the gender ambiguity of the main characters and how they were only known as "I" and "you".
I love the cover.

This was an intriguing, unique concept, masterfully accomplished. A beautiful love story, heartwarming even at its most depressing. This was a joy to read and can not only be read once.

Tessa Masterson Will Go to Prom by Brendan Halpin and Emily Franklin

I forget where I first saw the review for this book, but when I found it on Netgalley, I jumped. And then when I realized it was by the same authors as Jenna & Jonah's Fauxmance and was told in alternating chapters from the perspectives of Tessa and Luke, I was sure this would be another entertaining but predictable book. But I severely underestimated the authors. 

Tessa and Luke had been best friends for years. But, it wasn't until Luke asked Tessa to prom that she admitted to being a lesbian. So when Tessa bought a tux to take her girlfriend to prom, and Luke makes a misconstrued comment out of hurt to the school newspaper, Halpin and Franklin recreate the story of Constance McMillan.
The story was in the news a year or two ago--the school canceled prom rather than let two girls attend prom together, or encroach upon their first amendment right to do so.

Tessa Masterson Will Go To Prom is a wonderful, entertaining, and hopeful story about friendship. This book is sure to be a hit.

Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral

A delightful format for a graphic novel, Chopsticks
is told through photographs, drawings and images of the sort usually found in an art book.

This book begins with the disappeared of piano prodigy Glory and then jumps 18 months into the past to the beginning of her love story. The images are chosen well, thy truly allow the reader to feel the emotions of Glory and her boyfriend Frank as the struggle through the obstacles In their daily life and seek their only refuge-- each other. Theirs is a sweet and beautiful story, interspersed with pain and desperation. The emotions are raw and well-developed and certainly relatable.



The ending was the tiniest bit weak-- but not so far as to lessen my overall opinion of this book. A necessity for public libraries and anyone studying story through art.

It is my new obsession.

Ye Yucky Middle Ages

I ordered these two books from my library (thankfully in paperback) for the Teen Zone. There seem to be few reviews out on the Ye Yucky Middle Ages series, but I found one that said these books were for grades 5-8 and other that said grades 7-9. I figured they would be on the low end and entertain some of the six and seventh graders. But, I am a want-to-be Medievalist (that's what my undergraduate was) and I thought they looked fun and worth a try. 

I read through both of them, they do have some interesting information, but they are very much an introduction to the Middle Ages for someone who has barely heard of them, has never been to a Ren Faire, but does enjoy history. I think some sixth graders would like them, but I would give them out two fourth graders as well. They are entertaining, a bit silly and would be perfect non-fiction for the right kids. I send them down to the Children's room, where I am sure they will be checked out many times.

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

This was the audio book I listed to while making Banana Nut Caramel Brownies.

Lennie has just lost her sister, has never met her mother and doesn't even know who her father is. She is being raised by her Grandma and Uncle Big (the town lady's man). This is the story of how she begins to live again, how her family heals and how she finds love. It is a love story after all.

I wouldn't often associate the phrase "wordsmith" with lyrical prose rather than witty turns of phrase, but I was really impressed with the phrasing. You should read it just for that, if for no other reason. Or listen to it, I did.