Plain and Simple.

" Plain and Simple, A Woman's Journey to the Amish." This has been one of my favorite books for a very long time. It is the true story of a woman who goes to live with the Amish to find out about their way of life. She learns alot about simplifying her life in the end. I love reading about the simple, and sometimes not so simple lifestyle of the Amish, they have always interested me.

Crazy For Cookbooks

I have been enjoying cook books since I was very young, starting with the Betty Crocker For Kids book. Before I was married, it was always a dream to have my own baker's rack in my kitchen so I would have a place to store all of my cookbooks. More than actually cooking from them, I really just like reading all of the recipes. Since I started accumulating way too many books, I've had to limit myself to just collecting ones that are unique to me. I love food and cooking so much I'll definitely be sharing some of my favorite recipes from my collection.

"Doc Susie"

"Doc Susie", by Virginia Cornell. My husband bought me this book many years ago when he was on a snowmobile trip in Yellowstone. At first, I thought "ok" but then, when I read it, it has become a favorite. It is a true story of a Country Physician, Susan Anderson, M.D., who lived in the Colorado Rockies in 1900. She had many trials in her life, including health problems of her own. This is a story of an amazing and brave women!

Diana Barry's Favorite Raspberry Cordial

"But it isn't good manners to tell your company what you are going to give them to eat, so I won't tell you what she said we could have to drink. Only it begins with and R and a C and it's bright red color. I love bright red drinks, don't you? They taste twice as good as any other color." Anne of Green Gables (by L.M. Montgomery)

I just love Anne of Green Gables! I can watch the movies and read the books a dozen times over! With summer on the way I thought I would share the famous raspberry cordial recipe. Anne is given the chance to invite her best friend Diana for tea and plans on serving her favorite drink. Unfortunately, the drink ends up not being the raspberry cordial, but something else. You'll just have to read the book if you want to know the whole story!

Raspberry Cordial

2 packs of frozen unsweetened raspberries
1 1/4 cups of sugar
4 cups of boiling water
3 lemons

Place unthawed raspberries and sugar into a sauce pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring once in awhile, for 20-25 min. until all the sugar has dissolved.
With a potato masher, mash berries and syrup thoroughly.
Pour mixture into a wire strainer, extracting all the juice. Discard pulp.
Squeeze juice of 2 lemons into raspberry juice.
Boil 4 cups of water and add it to juice. Let the raspberry cordial cool, then chill it in the refrigerator.
When the cordial is ready to server, float a thin slice of lemon in each glass.

"The Persian Pickle Club."

"The Persian Pickle Club" by Sandra Dallas. This has got to be one of my all time favorites. Again, a book about quilters. This book takes place in the 1930's, one of my favorite times to read about, the Depression Era. I love reading about how, even in hard times, people can still have fun and enjoy life. This is the story of Queenie, a young farm wife, and her quilting group. It is also a mystery, and I love how all the women in the group ban together in hardtimes. I like to think that my "group" would do that for me too! This is a book I read over and over.

The Sugar Camp Quilt.

"The Sugar Camp Quilt" by Jennifer Chiaverini. I just finished this book and I loved it. This book takes place in the 1800's. It is about a family who hides and helps slaves escape to freedom. I have been reading all the books by Jennifer Chiaverini and each one has such a sweet story, and a lesson to be learned, not to mention how it makes me want to start quilting again. I loved all the history that was in this book as well. This was a fun read, and one I could NOT put down.

My Favorite Mystery Series

I love a good mystery and read several different series, but my favorite is the Hannah Swensen books by JoAnne Fluke. Hannah owns a cookie store in a small Minnesota town and always ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time and has a knack for solving crime. There are already 13 books out in this series, the Carrot Cake Murder being the most recent. The best part about these books is that they each contain several tasy recipes and I always devour these stories just as fast as I would eat a jar of cookies!

Used Book Stores.

"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers." ~Charles W. Eliot

If there is one thing I love almost as much as reading, it would have to be used bookstores! I love spending time in them, looking for a book on my list, or just one I didn't know about. I just found this darling little bookstore in Midway, Utah. It is called "Rebook". It is an old Victorian home, they have made it into the cutest little used bookstore! I just wanted to stay in here all day and sit in one of the cozy chairs and read away.

And, I even found one of the books I have been wanting to read. "A Lantern in Her Hand". I can't wait to read it, it sounds so good. I found another book and John found one he bought too! The owner was so fun to talk to, she too loves books, her name is Judith and she made me feel so welcome in her store. She hosts a monthly book group, and although I told her I didn't live around Midway, she insisted on getting my e-mail to invite me to their book group each month and let me know what they are reading. I have already gotten one invite. I may just go up there once a month to the book group!

Read All About It

I decided within minutes to do a blog about books since that is one of the things in life I am most passionate about. I hope to fill my blog with reviews of books I've read, ideas and anything and everything that has to do with a book. I hope other book lovers will contribute their thoughts and ideas as well.

ENJOY!