Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Book Review with a Recipe

Read any good books lately?
Well, if you know me well, you know I love to read.  Mostly what I call "fluffy" books.
Books that make me smile, mostly.
Especially books that speak to my heart and that I can relate to in my career ~ homemaking.
So, how could I not love a book with a picture of a homey little cottage on the front?


The picture is from the front of the book, The Tale of Holly How by Susan Wittig Albert.

 
It's book two of a series of eight from
The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter.
 
They're cute little tales with a mixture of characters of humans and their animals that can speak and reason.
It took a bit of getting used to, the animals talking, but it seems sort of natural after a while.
And the great part of each book is the recipes at the end!
I just had to try this one.
 
Sarah Barwick's Lemon Bars
 
 
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
grated zest of 1 lemon
1/2 cup lemon juice
2/3 cup butter
1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1 1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup old-fashioned oats
candied orange peel for garnish
 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9" x 13" pan.  Pour condensed milk into medium-sized bowl; stir in lemon zest and juice.  Set aside.  In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.  Add flour and baking powder in two additions, beating very well.  Mix in the oats.  Spread about two-thirds of this mixture evenly over the bottom of the pan, making a smooth, firm layer.  Pour milk-lemon mixture over bottom layer.  Spread remaining oat mixture evenly over lemon layer.  (This is easier if you "dot" it in place, then smooth.)  Bake for 30-35 minutes, until lightly browned.  Cool in pan; refrigerate for one hour.  Cut into 16 squares.  Decorate each square with a bit of candied orange peel.  Refrigerate.
 
 
And I must say that this is delicious!  The piece pictured above is being eaten as I type.  Yummy!
 
I'm currently reading book 3 of this series, and the more I read, the more I enjoy them.  They are very well written.  Here's a sampling of Ms. Albert's writing that I especially enjoyed (maybe because I have a little something in common with Parsley).
"Stop, Parsley!"  roared the badger, but in a kindly way, for he knew that it was Parsley's habit to talk all the way around a story or two or three times before she could manage to open the front door and step into it properly."
 
 
So, leaving you with that, I'm closing the door and stepping out of this posting.  :)
 

Oh, except to say this, the author has a wonderful website with such cute drawings, lists of her books, and even a free newsletter!  Hope you visit and enjoy it.  Now I'm stepping out again.  :)

 

7 comments:

  1. What a darling cover! I am going to have to check this author out. I have been told the Darling Dahlias series is good as well- cozy mysteries. Did you read book one of this series? Just looking at the website- looks to be nonfiction. Angela

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Angela! I did read book 1 of The Cottage Tales; "The Tale of Hill Top Farm." It is a fiction book but uses some "real" characters, like Miss Potter, and some of her animals. I've not read any other of Albert's books but might see if they're available at my library. Thanks for the tip! :)

      Delete
  2. I've read it! I liked it, too. I would like to read the rest. Very cozy!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Sherry! I love reading history and inspirational books. It's been a little while since I've read fiction. This book looks so sweet and her website is really adorable! Thanks for sharing! Have a nice week! Twyla

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Sherry,

    Those books sound like my kind of reading....and that recipe sounds great. I also eyed the pumpkin recipe in the post below this one. YUM!!

    Hope you are enjoying wonderful weather like I am.

    Hugs,
    Steph ♥

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a fun book and such a delicious looking lemon bar recipe! I look forward to giving it a try :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I read a lot of different books and like to mix it up. This would be one I would enjoy, too! Sweet hugs! (I posted my fox family a few days ago...hope you can stop by)

    ReplyDelete

I'm so happy you're leaving me a comment! ~ Sherry