Used Bookstores Are Full of Treasures!

 

My family lives in a small town.  We are also avid readers.  We also enjoy a wide variety of hobbies from gardening, cooking, amature radio and rocketry.  Well a couple of weeks ago we were out of town and found ourselves in Half Price Books- a bookstore that has a little of everythinghttps://www.hpb.com/.  As I looked from knitting and sewing books, through the romance section I finally landed in the cookbook section.  Now I love a good cookbook -it can be baking, canning, crockpot recipes and on.  After checking out the collection I settled on a cookbook for my daughter.  Her first cookbook mind you.  It met all the right criteria- lots of color pictures of the recipes and as I flipped through I noticed many recipes that would fit our tastes.  The cookbook that made it home is The Taste of Home Cookbook All New Editionhttp://www.hpbmarketplace.com/Taste-of-Home-Cookbook-3rd-Edition-Best-Loved-Classics-and-All-New-Favorites-Bonus-Chapter-30-Minute-Light-Recipes-Taste-of-Home-Magazine/book/28926813?matches=25.

 

My daughter has been taking more of an interest in baking and cooking this summer and since I have a cookbook collection shouldn't she start one?  The first recipe she wanted to make is chocolate ganache tarts.  This recipe is out of the cookbook from Lorraine Caland

Ingredients:  1/2 cup softened butter

3 ounces cream cheese softened

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

2/3 cup heavy whipping cream

whipped cream, fresh raspberries, and confectioners' sugar optional

 

1.   In a small bowl, beat the butter and cream cheese until smooth; beat in flour.  Drop dough by scant tablespoons full into greased mini muffin cups; with well floured hands , press dough onto bottoms and up sides of cups.

2.  Bake at 325 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

3.  In a small saucepan, melt chocolate chips with cream over low heat; stir until blended.  Transfer to a small bowl; cover and refrigerate until firm.

4.  Beat chocolate mixture until soft peaks form.  Pipe or spoon into shells.  Garnish with whipped cream, raspberries and confectioners' sugar if desired.

 

My daughter's creation is pictured above.  They were delicious!

All in all if you are out and about I encourage you to go into a bookstore near you and flip open the cover on some books!

Moving Onward and Upward

Well it has been quite a summer!  I have posted a variety of pictures of our happenings.  They chart how I as a parent and my oldest are growing and moving forward. 

This top picture is on college move in day in August.  Our son is happily ringing the victory bell to indicate he is ready for college, more responsibility and we are to turn the reigns over (at least mostly) to him.  That day was not filled with tears on our part as our son was so excited-how could you be sad?  At this time he has had a week of classes, auditioned for choir and has started the rigors of college homework.

This picture was taken in our yard where we were munching on s'mores.  We were hoping to keep the mosquitoes at bay.  Much fun was had even if we were a little itchy later.  This summer meant looser rules, no homework and slowly saying goodbye to friends that were taking their next step whether it is in the military, employment or off to school. 

Graduation!  A day filled with emotion.  What a wonderful young man!

 This picture was taken just a couple days ago as my husband and I visited our son at college to bring up a few things forgotten in the initial move.  He seems to be thriving.  I try not to ask too many questions but continue to guide from my armchair.  Looking forward to seeing where the next steps will lead us...to be continued.