The Thing About a Cookie Fail is the Cookies Still Taste Good!

How did my most recent batch of cookies turn out? Not like they were supposed to turn out!  These are my fail cookies. They are supposed to be cinnamon swirl cookies. The problem is I didn't realize the dough needed to be rolled really so when I cut the slices the pinwheels fell apart. Then I tried to squish them into swirls but it didn't work so well. They taste good, so there is that! Next year I will give these another go. 

Are you like me?  On the one hand, it's hard to believe Christmas is here. The month has flown by! On the other hand, it's been a very long year.  Mind you I am not complaining. Any day I am healthy is a good day for me.  

Once again this year we will be celebrating Christmas without a signature cocktail.  It always seems like it would be festive to have one, and Pinterest is filled with pretty looking drinks; but then when you get down to it, all those cocktail recipes require an investment in liquor and mixers that I don't have in the holiday budget and also, the cocktail will only make me sleepy and then I'll take a nap and then I won't be able to fall asleep at night.  I just had a thought, maybe next year, a signature mocktail. That I could maybe do. 

Speaking of next year, I am hoping next year we will be on the other side of the pandemic and able to gather throughout the season with friends and family near and far. If so we are most definitely having a holiday party. 

A Couple of Burritos or is it Cookie Dough?

 Cookie dough for sure! Yes, I am still baking Christmas cookies. The thing is that I bought a cookie making kit and then The hubs bought a whole bunch of cookie making supplies (i.e. semisweet chocolate chips, chocolate chunks, peanut butter chips, coconut, etc.) I am still working my way through everything.  My thought at this point is, to stop baking cookies. By that I mean, I am going to make the dough,  shape it into cookies, and then freeze it to bake next year. This way we can have fresh cookies on-demand as we forge through the rest of winter.

Where did I get such a great idea?  A cozy mystery!  In The Diva Runs Out of Thyme, the main character Sophie keeps frozen chocolate cookie dough on hand so she can throw a sheet of cookies into the oven whenever there is a cookie emergency.  Genius idea. 

Speaking of cozy mysteries, I just finished listening to Booked for Death by Victoria Gilbert. You can read my review below 

Booked for Death by Victoria Gilbert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm ready to book a vacation for me and the Hubs to Chapters! If you are a lover of mystery books, you really need to add this to your TBR pile. Charlotte is the new owner of a Bed & Breakfast she has inherited from her aunt. In a break from many murder mysteries, the murder doesn't take place in the first chapter. In this story you the reader get a chance to meet the characters and then someone dies, which allows you the fun of guessing who is going to get the ax and why.

In addition to the murder, there is a subplot about Charlotte's aunt and her potentially shady past that we get to delve into as the past and present connect.
Great news for those of you that don't need or want a romance in your cozy mystery. This book doesn't have a romance subplot. The reveal of the killer and their motivation takes place with all the suspects in a room together which fits very well with a mystery taking place at a book-themed B&B.

I enjoyed the setting, a book-themed B & B in coastal North Carolina, Charlotte is a retired teacher who is able to take all the patience she has developed from those years of teaching and put it to use managing the guests at her B& B and now solving a mystery. I look forward to seeing what other mysteries will take place in this series.

This book would make a really nice gift for anyone who likes to read mysteries. I listened to the audiobook which I borrowed from my local library. The reader for the book is Suzie Althens whose work I enjoy.


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Why Did I Buy Pie Crust? And Why You Should Read Mrs. Claus & The Santaland Slayings!

 Sometime in late October, I thought 2020 would be the year I made a pie from scratch, or rather the year I would buy premade crusts and then make the rest of a pie from scratch. I was thinking of pumpkin or sweet potato or apple.  I never got around to it, in part because I don't even like those pies that much.

Fast forward to now and I have pie crust that is going to expire in January and no desire to make any pie. I asked my Facebook group, Let's talk about food, beverages, books and more and a few members suggested quiche.  I didn't feel like doing a whole quiche so I looked around until I found an easy mini quiche recipe. What is nice about Add a Pinch's recipe is that it included instructions on how to start with a premade crust or you can use her recipe if you want make your own crust.   Here is the recipe

What I did was make 6 mini quiches with 3 eggs, 1/2 a cup of almond milk, and 1/2 a cup of mozzarella cheese for The Hubs who doesn't like much dairy.  Then I made 6 with 3 eggs 1/2 a cup of heavy cream and 3/4 cup of shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese.  In the almond milk quiches, I added bacon bits (fake bacon) and all the quiches have diced mushrooms, onion, and celery. 

 Here is one of my mini quiches served with a serving of shaved Brussel sprouts & spinach salad. The salad is tossed with olive oil/freshly squeezed lemon, salt, and pepper.  Using the premade pie crust is a very handy shortcut and if you prefer you can make the quiches crustless.  A nice weekend breakfast or lunch or brunch without spending a ton of time in the kitchen. 

Christmas week is here!  Do yourself a favor and pick up this holiday mystery, I know you will like it--heck judge it by its cover! 

 

Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings by Liz Ireland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I hope that Liz Ireland had as much fun writing this cozy mystery as I did reading it. Ms. Ireland takes the stories of Rudolph, Frosty, Santa so many of us grew up with and creates Santaland. April is the fish out of water, having married Santa himself just three months and is not used to the cold, or the expectations of being a Claus. Add to that the bizarre murder of an Elf, and the whisper campaign that Santa is the killer, and we are off on a wild ride.

Sometimes in the first cozy in a series, readers can be overwhelmed by the size of the cast of characters. Liz Ireland avoids that problem here, and I don't know how she manages to do it, but she gives each of the side characters enough time on the page that they are fully fleshed-out characters.

And for foodie fans, there is a wonderful Croquembouche scene. Good stuff!

If you like Christmas movies or Cozy Mysteries, you have to read this book!

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What to do with the ham bone? #leftovers

 I don't like split pea soup. The hubs likes it--a lot. So because I am a nice person, I tried to find a recipe that didn't involve having to soak peas overnight and was also a recipe I would be willing to try.  After some searching, I stumbled across this recipe and decided it was the one! 

Changes that I made: I added two extra cloves of garlic. I added some Mrs. Dash seasoning. I didn't add bay leaf and parsley. I added thyme. I used about 6 cups of water and 2 cups of vegetable broth.  The ham hock was a ham bone from a spiral sliced ham.

The hubs liked it and even I liked it! This is a hearty recipe with good flavor especially lovely to have as a meal on a cold winter afternoon. 

I think what I don't like about split pea soup is if the pea soup is mush.  If you like mush soup, then I would recommend cooking it for about 20 minutes past the recipe time. Turns out The Hubs really likes mush soup. So he is enjoying the leftovers today. Where do you stand on split pea soup? Mush or nah? 

While I was cooking I had This Christmas on in the background (it's streaming free on Hulu).  The movie has an excellent soundtrack which lends itself to being on while cooking or wrapping presents, etc. 

Next blog post I'll be sharing a recipe I found to use pie crust I had in the fridge and my review of the book Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings

Do You Listen To Books? Try the Audiobook Challenge 2021!

 Two weeks until the New Year. Are you planning to set goals? do resolutions? start a new eating plan?  

As a fan of planning in general, even though during the last two years most of my goals and plans have taken GIGANTIC detours, I'm still making plans and setting goals.  What can I say setting goals and making a plan to work on those goals makes me happy. 

If you are like me and you enjoy goals and plans to do things or try new things, you should consider joining me for the Audio Challenge by Caffeinated Reader & That's What I'm Talking About.   It's just for fun, and you might learn some new things or at least will have some adventures between your ears. 

Right now I'm listening to an audiobook I borrowed from my library on the Libby App. Yes that is right you can borrow books and listen to them on your phone. How cool is that? 

Right now I'm halfway through Booked For Death by Victoria Gilbert. 

I don't know how it will go, but my plan is to listen to a book a week. How about you? Do you listen to audiobooks?  If not, give it a try! 

Want to Get Away? Escape This Christmas

 Is it just me or is this month going rather quickly?  We are almost down to single digits on the advent calendar and there are only 16 days left of the year. 

I don't know about you, but I hope next year brings back the ability to safely be around other people. I miss live music, and free library programs, and sitting with friends at a restaurant. 

Thankfully we have our escapes, for me, that is reading and running and to a much lesser extent-- writing.  What I am working on right now is ramping up to the New Year by starting the day with an hour of writing Monday through Friday. I am hoping this low bar of writing will allow me to start the day off on a good foot and make progress in my stories.  This should also help me to blog consistently as well by using morning time to work on blog posts.  

If you are bummed because you won't be traveling this Christmas, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. You'll feel like you got to go to a cozy cabin in Park City, UT with a family as entertaining as The Griswolds. 

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A perfect holiday romance. This book has the right amount of snow and shenanigans. Chestnuts roasting by the fireplace and tension building under the Christmas tree. I was so happy that for a change the parents of the main characters were not only alive but also in good health. Not only that, but the characters have conversations and explain things.

Also even though the romance takes place over a short period of time, the characters involved have known each other for years so it is not far-fetched.

I can't think of anything I didn't like about this book.

Maelyn finds what she is looking for and it's so much more than a holiday romance.

If you are looking for a Christmas getaway, read this book!! 

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One Year Chemoversary! -Don't Call Me A Warrior

I was busy writing holiday cards and baking holiday cookies and neglected to post on the occasion of passing the one year mark of my last chemo treatment. 

December 5th was the last day I got Taxol.  Since then my body has rebuilt itself and hopefully, no random cancer cells are rummaging around. I still have some occasional numbness in my fingers.  I think I am still working on getting to full strength after all treatments. I know my memory is not as great as it was before chemo, I don't think that ever comes back, but I could be wrong. I hope my heart continues to do well and most of all that cancer doesn't return. 

This week I was able to virtually attend an amazing conference, The San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.  There are so many doctors and scientists all over the world working to find new safer treatments for all stages of breast cancer.  The best thing to do however is to avoid getting cancer in the first place, so to that end, I say get genetically tested around age 30.  If you carry a known inherited mutation, then you have time to decide if you want to do any preventative surgery or additional monitoring to avoid having cancer in your 40s, 50s, etc.  Once the cancer cat is out of the bag, then you are always at higher risk of it coming back or a new cancer showing up, and don't forget all impacts of side effects from treatments leading to new and not exciting, medical conditions. 

And so ends my PSA.  Here are some cookies--a feast for your eyes!   Now the warrior thing, personally I, and many other cancer people I talk to, aren't fans of the war/battle framing of disease.  We are all just people trying to live our best lives, if we could get in the ring and actually battle cancer and defeat it we would, but that's not how it works. 

I was thinking about better descriptive words for people who had/have cancer and I've come up with an idea for those of us who are out of treatment and hoping it never comes back.  

            * Call me a NEDder.  That's no evidence of disease. This is where I'd like to be for the next four decades! 

I hope you and yours stay cancer-free for all your days because cancer is extremely inconvenient, annoying, and not fun!  If you or anyone you know is looking for support check out:

A website for those with hereditary cancer risk

            

For Breast Cancer People, Caregivers and those who are worried about Breast Cancer

One on One Support from Imerman Angels

The #BCSM hashtag on Twitter

Happy December! The #12daysofcozies Are Here!

 I spent November with one goal, complete Nanowrimo.  That means writing 50,000 words during the month of November. It stands for National Novel Writing Month.  I've participated in it in the past, but I've never hit the 50,000-word goal. This year I did! Do I have a book ready to share?  No, I sure don't, I still have more to write to get to THE END.  Once I get there I will have to revise, revise, revise until it is something that I would dare to share!  

Now it's time for me to enjoy the holiday season!  Instead of writing as much this month, I'm doing more reading.  It's time for The Cozy Mystery Book Club's #12daysofcozies.  If you go on Twitter or Instagram and follow @cozymysterybookclub you can enter to win books every day through December 12th.  You can also sign up to receive daily emails and when you open your email you get a chance to win. 

And if you are looking for a book to start with I recommend Cheddar Off Dead by Julia Buckley! 
Cheddar Off Dead by Julia Buckley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoy Julia Buckley's writing so it is no surprise that I enjoyed this book. It's a great cozy and a perfect December read. This cozy has just the right amount of Christmas holiday in the mix. There is mouth-watering food talk and even a cookie making scene. Good Stuff. The setting of a small town near enough to a big city is a favorite setting of mine. There are quite a few potential killers which I like in a story, and there is a good sense of menace that fuels the amateur sleuth to keep trying to figure out the mystery.

If you like romance, I think you are in for a treat as well.

I always appreciate it when our protagonist doesn't put herself into foolishly dangerous positions. This is the second book in the series, I didn't read book one first, I read this book because I wanted a Christmas read and this book delivered!

****
One thing, which happens in too many mysteries, is that at the end (this isn't a spoiler) the killer is described as being unbalanced. I don't like when the killer in the book is presented as a rational person up to the climax, and then when the killer is revealed they are described as having crazy eyes for example. In mysteries, I prefer that the bad person is not portrayed as potentially mentally ill. I like a solid terrible greedy person who has complete disregard for anyone who gets between them and what they think they deserve.

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Is it too early for Christmas Mode? I say no!

That being said, I have to share some November content.  Here is my coffee station decked out for Turkey Day. The turkey has feathers on it and shows what youngest child was grateful for on a day long ago. - Family, Friends, School, and Home, I think it would be safe to say that she is still grateful for those same things and also Harry Styles, Dunkin Donuts coffee, and her Learner's Permit. 

The Hubs is grateful that Aldi's has these very quirky potato chips that he thinks tastes great. He is planning to go buy more as he finished his bag yesterday.  

And now a book review!  

Merry Scary Victorian Christmas: A Victoria Town Mystery Novella by Mollie Cox Bryan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Yes, I know it is only the beginning of November, but this year more than ever I'm ready for holiday reading. Bring on the tales of Christmas trees, scenes about making cookies, and a murder or two. This third book in the Victoria Town Mystery series is a nice read to kick off your holiday season.

Viv has more bad luck when it comes to being on the scene when someone meets an untimely demise. Someone is framed for the murder, but Officer Willoughy, clearly isn't falling for the framing. Viv uses her skills as a hacker to narrow down the list of suspects and a new character is introduced who offers a clue for Viv.

I enjoyed the book and getting to know Viv better. If you love a good Christmas mystery, pick this one up!

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When No One is Watching Review and A New Recipe

 

When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An excellent thriller! As I read I could not see any way out for Sydney and Theo--I had to keep reading to see where this story was going to go. I appreciated the history lessons interspersed in this fictional version of Brooklyn, I was very glad to see that Alyssa Cole included sources for more information on Weeksville, New Yor because I did not know of Weeksville and now I would like to learn more about its story.

The story was loaded with tension, the two Point-of-view characters were slowly unveiled as their lives were unraveling, and history lessons are shared with the readers who probably didn't learn any of this in school.

I'd love to see HBO make this book a limited series.

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This was my first time cooking Spaghetti Squash in the slow cooker. This recipe was easy to follow. I used ground turkey instead of ground beef. I added fresh basil, a couple extra garlic cloves and a tablespoon of Italian blend seasoning. I also added a pinch of sugar to offset the acidity of the tomatoes and I cooked tomato paste before adding it to the pot.  Here is a link to the recipe from Real Simple magazine: Slow-Cooker Ragu with Spaghetti Squash.

We will definitely have this again because the husband bought three spaghetti squash when they were on sale.