What to eat next...

Yummy...The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook...

Thanks to sweet Isabug, I have snacked on this wonderful Simon & Schuster recipe book from the bakery that didn't invent the cupcake but did put the cupcake on the celebrity A-list! 

At this very moment, my second batch of Magnolia's Vanilla Cupcakes is in the oven. All that remains of the first batch is the sad, lonely cupcake you see pictured here.  Its batch mates have gone to feed the homeless at Church Under the Bridge. Plus, the recipe for Vanilla Buttercream Frosting, which has been declared "the most delicious frosting ever" made twice as much frosting as expected so I needed to do something with it. 

I've made several items of deliciousness from the the Magnolia Bakery cookbook but as yet, the Magnolia's Vanilla Cupcakes and the Buttercream Icing have stolen the show!  If you don't work across the street from Magnolia Bakery, I highly recommend the immediate baking of your own batch of Magnolia's Vanilla Cupcakes and sitting down with a cup of tea to enjoy them and a tasty bit of dessert recipe reading.

J.D. Salinger, R.I.P.

Who knew he was still alive???   Seriously...

I was shocked to learn that he passed away yesterday. I never actually read Catcher in the Rye until after I graduated from college. I even called myself an English major...

"What I'm Reading Now"

This is our Book Club's February selection and I must say that it is a compelling book of an amazing friendship between a homeless, uneducated black man and a white upscale art dealer. It is a true story...no one could make this up. Each chapter is written in first person by either Denver Moore or Ron Hall, the authors and above described individuals. I have only read a third of the book thus far, but Mark Clayman, executive producer for "The Pursuit of Happyness" describes it as "a powerful example of the healing, restorative power of forgiveness and the transformational, life changing power of unconditional love."

Just finished this book for Book Club. Since this is my first posting on this site, and it is spur of the moment, I don't have anything intelligent to say except that it is a good read for historical/modern fiction. I am sending Isabelle back to NY with my copy. (they are making a movie of this book so read it before it comes out as the book is always better)

Incendiary

I finished Chris Cleave's Incendiary yesterday and I must say.. it took me through a roller-coaster of emotions. How's that for a blog-worthy vague description? But.. it really did.

It's really beautifully written and I would highly recommend it to all of you out there. By the end I was a little freaked out and there are a lot of scenes that really pull at your heartstrings, but I enjoyed reading it. A little detail: It's written in the style of a letter to Osama bin Laden from a woman who lost her son and husband in a terrorist attack. She's asking him why he did this to her and explaining the events that happened before and after. An interesting idea. I think it's a movie too- AGH!

Incendiary is by the same author that wrote Little Bee (Auntie G recommends) so I'm interested in checking that one out now.

I've gotten into the habit lately of reading books in one day and yesterday was no different. I think the experience of reading a book in one day and reading it over a long stretch of time is completely different. Would you agree? I can't decide which I like better...

This is the UK cover.. but you get the idea.

Resolution Books

I always think January is a great time to start a devotional reading for the year. Here are three books I've used in the past and would highly recommend from three of my favorite writers. Bread for the Journey by Henri J. M. Nouwen. Glimpses of Grace by Madeleine L'Engle, and May I Have This Dance by Joyce Rupp.

The first two by Nouwen and L'Engle have a daily passage pulled from one of their many wonderful writings. Chances are you've probably read something from both of them. The third book by Joyce Rupp is done on a calendar cycle of themes for each month. Each month begins with a poem, a reading and suggestions for meditation, prayer or journaling, creative art for the month as well as a daily scripture passage. I love Joyce Rupp. You will love her too.

And Happy New Year!

Make a resolution to read more books and post them here! xoxoxoxoxoxoxo