Saturday, May 17, 2014

#4.5: Read 25 New Books – Code Name Verity

Surprise, I read another book! A couple months ago I read Rose Under Fire, and when I realized it had a companion novel, I knew I had to read it.


"When 'Verity' is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn't stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she's living a spy's worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution. They'll get the truth out of her, but it won't be what they expect.

As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage, failure, and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from a merciless and ruthless enemy?

Harrowing and beautifully written, Code Name Verity is a visceral read of danger, resolve, and survival that reveals just how far true friends will go to save each other. The bondage of war will never be as strong as the bonds forged by the unforgettable friendship in this extraordinary tale of fortitude in the face of the ultimate evil"


Although it took me a while to get into this book, I really enjoyed it. The plot twist towards the end is so unexpected, and it broke my heart. I couldn't finish it fast enough, and I really recommend it. I really liked that I was able to delve a bit more into the world of Rose Under Fire. Two thumbs up, for sure.

Monday, May 12, 2014

#3.2: Make 20 Recipes From Pinterest – Snickerdoodle Waffles

Can you believe it's already May? Where does the time even go?

This past Sunday was Mother's Day. I had been putting off buying a gift for my mom all week, as I wasn't sure what she'd like, and I decided at the last minute to cook breakfast for her and the rest of my family (it's the thought that counts, right?). After scouring over the Internet for a bit, I found this recipe through Pinterest. Waffles are always popular at our house, so I thought these would be perfect.


Ingredients

2 cups flour
• 2 TB sugar
• 4 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cup warm milk
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 1tsp cinnamon

For the Topping

• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cinnamon


Preheat waffle maker.


Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.


Beat eggs in a separate bowl.


Pour in the melted butter…


...vanilla and almond extracts, and milk. Mix well.


Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients, and mix.


Add the cinnamon, and, once again, mix.


You're now ready to add to your waffle maker!


While the waffles are cooking, mix together the cinnamon and sugar in a dish.


Put the butter in a pan or on a plate. Make sure it's big enough to fit the waffles.


When a waffle is done, first dip it in the butter…


…and then in the cinnamon/sugar mix.


Voila! This recipe made 7 waffles with my waffle maker, but this can obviously vary depending on your waffle maker. 

The verdict? These were amazing! We polished them off throughout the day, and will definitely make them again sometime. It took about an hour and 15 minutes from start to finish, which may seem like a long time, but it didn't bother me. I enjoyed it and had a lot of fun.