Banned books- oh my!

Do you love to read as much as I do?   I mean, I love it, but usually just read my book at bedtime, (it helps me fall asleep).  Actually I read all the time if you count, reading in the bathroom, (magazines) reading at the dinner table-the newspaper, (I know, bad habit) reading while waiting (in line at the grocery, Doc, dentist etc)  reading facebook, reading text messages, read, read!!!!  And I still can't get enough!!!  I wish I could sit and read a full book in like a day like my sister in law Jenny (well she's busy too, but is a really fast reader).  But I think my problem is, after reading for so long, I kinda get antsie!!  I have to walk away from the book for a while and think about it, or savor it if its a really good one!  Oh man, there's nothing like a great book!!!  It becomes your best friend or lover for a while- you want it with you everywhere you go, you think about it all the time, and you just want to crawl in bed with it and spend hours devouring it!- (I know, nice analogy)      The hard part is- finding a really great book!!!   Some are page turners from the get go, some start kinda slow then build up to a page turner.  Some just don't get started, I lose interest!

Books I loved and thought were page turners-

1.' To kill a mockingbird'- classic and excellent!!  I recommend it when you grow up, you understand it better!
2.' Angela's Ashes', wow.....incredible story!!!
3. 'She's come undone', total page turner!
4. ' Mudbound'- starts from the get-go!
5. 'On the Island', loved it, simple, nice- a total chic book!
6. ' Gone girl', one word-Whoa!!!
7. 'Woe to Live on', beautifully written!! a classic!!
8. 'The Giver', one of my all time favs!!! 
9. 'A child called It', so sad, you will feel so blessed after reading this one!!
10.  My naughty side- 'Fifty shades of grey', yes I read it, yes I am a christian, but I am married and wouldn't recommend it to anyone who isn't!!!!

Right now I'm reading a book called 'In the woods'.
(I'll let you know what I think about it when I'm done!)

As you can tell, I'm very eclectic!!!  I read alot of different genres!  I don't read, horror, sci-fi, or anything with zombies or vampires!   I do love a great mystery though!!!

From Sept 25-Oct 2 it is ' Celebrating the freedom to read' week.  It is being promoted to read books that have been banned!  Believe it or not at one time or another "To kill a mockingbird" and "Harry Potter" are on this list!!  I believe we should  be able to read whatever books we want and decide for ourselves what we like and don't!   I do however believe we need to use our best judgement when letting our younger kids pick out books!!  They are labeled for a reason- children, youth, young adult, adult etc!!   Help them choose correctly.  But by all means as an adult read all the time, and if you feel like being a rebel- choose a book from the banned list, you might have a new favorite or it might open your mind to new ideas!!!

Goodreads- banned lists, click here 

Read on my friends!!!
PS...what are you reading right now?

Reading is sexy!!

Taco shells, they make the meal!!

When my mom made taco's back in the day, she made her own shells.  Oh she didn't make them from scratch, like from corn meal and such.  She fried the corn tortilla's into taco shells.   About 5 or so years ago I started doing the same thing. I'm so glad I used to help my mom fry shells, because it all came back to me!  I have to tell you, it makes our Mexican dinner so tasty!!!!  I know it's way easier to just buy already made shells, but it is SO worth it to make them yourself!!!  Just try it and taste the difference, I promise you won't go back!!!!

*(Trust me, we still have flour soft taco's for an quick Mexican dinner.)

Please always be super duper careful when using hot oil!!!!!  Always!!!

This brand is best! Try to find a 'thin' shell.

choose a pan to use just for oil. (I don't have a fry daddy)

fill pan with vegetable oil not even half way!!!!

you have to use a taco shell maker

**Purchase taco shell maker here!!

Only enough oil to just cover the taco shell maker!!!

taco maker opens, place shell inside

close shell maker and place in oil

fry for just a few seconds- count to 5

take out even before oil stops boiling.

Place shells in pan lined with paper towels

All done, ready to eat!!

Try these, they make eating taco's so much easier!!

*Order Taco shell holders here*

Angie

 

Karen's green thumb

My sister-in-law has the greenest thumb ever, I think she can grow anything!  She can probably even resurrect the plants I thought were goner's!!!  She not only has beautiful annuals & perennials but a wonderful lush garden!  I went over recently and toured her garden, let's just say it's been a good summer for the goods!!  Everything looks  healthy and colorful.  I would so love to have a garden  but have way to much shade in my yard- bummer!!  I've always thought it would be neat to go out and pick my dinner, right from my own backyard!  

Thank you Karen for letting me take pictures of your bounty and thank you for sending some home with me!

(pics taken with camera phone, so not as good of quality as my Canon)

Yellow squash

Popcorn, corn

Chocolate mint....oh the smell!!

Swiss Chard

Okra

Pumpkin patch

Lady bug landing pad

Red peppers

The best T. for BLTs!!

Eggplant....love that color!!

'Popcorn"

Attracts beneficial bugs, hummingbirds & butterfly's

Squash

cabbage

Pumpkin patch

Even her compost pile is pretty!

some strawberry plants and pumpkins

Angie

Kettle corn crack!

Wow.....I have a new addiction~ Angie's (great name) Popcorn!!!  Omg, it is so addicting I literally had to remove the (very large) bag from my sight and reach!!!  I have the 'classic kettle corn'- sweet and salty.  Mmmmm, so good, it's the perfect blend of salty and sweet!!  But I love kettle corn, always get it at the local festivals, and pretty much eat the whole dang bag myself!!!  I found this at Costco, not sure if they sell it at grocery stores,  but you can order it online.

There is a variety, like White Cheddar , Salted caramel (YUM) and Dark chocolate sea salt (for real)!!!!   And a bunch of others, those were just the ones that 'popped' out at me (pun intended).

Here's the link~Angie's popcorn

You will be addicted!!!

Angie

Kim's Daily Word~

While you’re waiting until God opens the next door, praise Him in the hallway!

 

a barn in Oklahoma

 

 Keep the faith, Jesus Loves you!

Angie

 

 

 

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

Translation- Garlic & Oil.  Simple title, simple recipe!  (well simple after translation).  This recipe has been made in my family for years!  My mom used to make this for the kids, but I loved it too!   It is so simple and healthy!!!  Garlic has to be one of the healthiest herbs of all mankind!!!  It is almost a miracle herb!!!  I have been told that my Sicilian great grandfather ate garlic plain, just ate cloves of it.  And in his 80's was told by a doctor that his heart was as healthy as a young man in his 20's. (that's what I've been told)  Nonetheless, garlic is great for your heart!!  And so many other things-

read about garlic here

Same with olive oil, so good for us!  It's not only wonderful to eat, but great for the skin.

read about olive oil here

Anyway, here's the family recipe!

1 pound thin spaghetti or angel hair pasta
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 or 2 cloves garlic, sliced thin (depends on how much garlic you like)
 garlic salt to taste ( I use about a teaspoon)
pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Parmesan cheese

While water is boiling and before you add noodles, put oil in pan over med heat. Add garlic, dried oregano and garlic salt. Stir oil frequently until it boils, (about 10 min) turn heat down to low and boil softly for just a few minutes.  Garlic should be golden color not brown!!!  Take off heat and finish noodles.  Pour oil mixture over noodles, enjoy!

sliced thin

add olive oil to cover bottom of pan

add garlic salt

add garlic and dried oregano

stir frequently

bring to a soft boil

turn heat down

add oil mixture to noodles

sprinkle with Parmesan cheese

Can't have Italian food without Italian bread!!!

Buon Appetito

Angie

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, Oh my gosh.....I found the best 'ice cream' ever!!!  It's in quotes because it's really frozen yogurt, but we still call it ice cream, it's like calling all carbonated products- coke or pop!  (because honestly, this one is that good)

We Love ice cream in this house, anytime of the year!!  I know that summer is closing in on us, but this momma will still be buying ice cream!  Anyway, the winner of the frozen yogurt catagory is.....
Kemps!!!

I LOVE this flavor, (peanut butter and chocolate are the most amazing duo of flavors ever made) but all of their ice-cream and frozen yogurt is awesome.  I haven't had a bad half gallon yet!

And the best part of this frozen yogurt is that it only has 130 calories for a 1/2 cup-
So if you are trying to watch the weight a bit, this has great chocolate flavor to satisfy your craving!  (geez, I sound like a commercial) 

**check out Kemps here**

Nutrition Facts

• Serving Size 1/2 Cup (65g)
• Calories 130
• Calories from Fat 40

Amount/Serving % Daily Value*

Total Fat 4.5g 7%

Saturated Fat 3g 15%

Trans Fat 0g

Cholesterol 10mg 3%

Sodium 70mg 3%

Vitamin A 6% Vitamin C 0% Vitamin D 0% Calcium 8% Iron 0%

Amount/Serving % Daily Value*
Total Carbohydrates 20g 7%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Sugars 15g
Protein 3g 0%							Angie ♥