Butterbeer...yum, yum!

Who doesn't love the Harry Potter series?  I'm kind of missing the series a bit, so I was checking out some of the attractions at Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando and I found out that the most popular food item sold was Butterbeer.  This got me really excited so I found a recipe and I'm going to try and make my own. I'll take pictures and let you know how it turns out, but for now I want to leave you with the recipe.

BUTTERBEER

Start to finish: 1 hour (10 minutes active)

Servings: 4

1 cup light or dark brown sugar

2 tablespoons water

6 tablespoon butter

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cider vinegar

3/4 cup heavy cream, divided

1/2 teaspoon rum extract

Four 12-ounce bottles cream soda

In a small saucepan over medium, combine the brown sugar and water. Bring to a gentle boil and cook, stirring often, until the mixture reads 240 F on a candy thermometer.

Stir in the butter, salt, vinegar and 1/4 heavy cream. Set aside to cool to room temperature.

Once the mixture has cooled, stir in the rum extract.

In a medium bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar mixture and the remaining 1/2 cup of heavy cream. Use an electric mixer to beat until just thickened, but not completely whipped, about 2 to 3 minutes.

To serve, divide the brown sugar mixture between 4 tall glasses (about 1/4 cup for each glass). Add 1/4 cup of cream soda to each glass, then stir to combine. Fill each glass nearly to the top with additional cream soda, then spoon the whipped topping over each.

 

Taken from:  http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2010/07/02/harry-potters-butterbeer-recipe-uncovered

Have anyone tried Butterbeer before?  I haven't, but I'm sure excited to make it!

Review of On The Edge by Angie Skelhorn

Book:  On The Edge
Author:  Angie Skelhorn

From Author:  ON THE EDGE , a novel marked to young females and adults alike. In today's society permeated with illicit and readily available drugs, "On The Edge," tells the story of despair, addiction and with the aid of witchcraft recovery. A story of redemption in which today's reader will find hope.  The death of Carm’s husband had a devastating effect on her. She spends many months in a downward spiral lost to drugs. Haunted by her dead husband and a witch name Gretchen’s penetrating insight and wisdom offers encouraging helpful guidance for Carm to make positive changes to her personal, professional and spiritual life. A tarot reading is preformed with purpose and intention that turns out to be more than entertainment.

This novel starts out with the death of Carm's husband to a devastating tornado that rips apart Carm's life.  She is a young women who is now alone and lost in the world.  She gets taken in by a teenage stranger who deals drugs as a way to survive.

This novel was raw with pain and loss.  The characters used drugs as a way to numb their memories of their painful and damaged lives.  As much as I don't agree with it, I know some people can find life overwhelming and they just want to get away for a while and they figure the only way to do that is drugs and alcohol.  I don't understand a lot of the decision that Carm and the other girls made throughout the novel, but then again I was never in their situations.

This novel was very choppy for me.  The writing wasn't smooth and pieces seemed to be missing.  Instead of reading a lyrical novel it felt as if I was getting Carm's story told by an outsider in more of a timeline format than a story.

The novel was a fast read, but really hard for me to get into because I felt I couldn't relate to any of it.

Overall I'd give this book ★★

Disclaimer:  I received this novel from the author for my honest review with no compensation

Review of The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

Book:  The Iron Queen
Author:  Julie Kagawa
Published by:  Harlequin Teen
Pages:  358

From Goodreads:  My name is Meghan Chase.  I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.  This time, there will be no turning back.

This is the third novel in The Iron Fey series and as much as I liked the first two novels, this one I fell in love with.  It was definitely the best book in the series so far.  The battle scenes were colossal with legendary fighting from all sides.  The love scenes were romantic and swoon worthy (make that double swoon worthy) and every page was heart-breakingly beautiful. 

One of the things that bothered me about the first two novels in the series is that I felt Meghan was whiny and a little self-centered.  She tended to only look out for herself and what she wanted.  In this book she grew so much as a character.  She was wise, caring, selfless, brave, and a hero.  She was simply amazing.  I felt so connected with her and really started to care about her.  When she laughed, I laughed and when she cried, I sobbed.

Of course, you can't forget about our favorite boys too.  Ash, I don't even think I have words to describe this boy.  I only wish that the author based him off a real person, because then I would know that soul mates existed.  And Puck, behind his boyish grin and court jester personality was a kind and thoughtful man.  He got dealt a rough hand but accepted it graciously...well almost, it still is Puck.

Julie Kagawa outdid herself with this novel and I must say if you haven't read it yet...go do it.

This novel definitely deserves ★★★★★

Review of What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

Book:  What I Saw and How I Lied
Author:  Judy Blundell
Published by:  Scholastic Press
Pages:  281

From Goodreads:  In 1947, with her jovial stepfather Joe back from the war and family life returning to normal, teenage Evie, smitten by the handsome young ex-GI who seems to have a secret hold on Joe, finds herself caught in a complicated web of lies whose devastating outcome change her life and that of her family forever.

This is a great coming-of-age story about a girl vacationing with her family on Palm Beach post WWII.  Evie is fifteen years old and wants to be an adult.  She's desperate to be grown up, but her mother just wants to keep her this sweet innocent little girl.  Evie meets a young man her stepfather had served with and instantly develops a crush that leads her into the deception, deceit, prejudices, and lies of the adult world where she so wants to belong.  Now that she stuck in the middle of all the drama she needs to try and figure out what happened and what her story is. 

Evie definitely grows a lot throughout this novel.  She starts out as this immature, naive little girl and grows in to a women with difficult choices to make.  Her relationships with all of the people she cared about in her life change drastically and she realizes that people are not always who you thought they were.   

This is a beautifully written novel that deals with some series issues.  It was nicely paced and very engaging with a touch of mystery.  

Overall I'd give this book ★★★ and 1/2 

Follow My Blog Friday

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View.

           My answer to this week's Follow Friday question: 

What is your favorite romance hero-type? Stereotype wise. Do you like the strong silent type or the brute macho man?

 

I like my romance hero-type to be a little cocky, arrogant, completely sexy, and very manly.  In literature, I don't care much for the sensitive type.  I think my perfect example would be Eric Northman from the Sookie Stackhouse novels.  Though he is not always the hero he is still my idea hero-type.  

 

Thursday's Name Game

Name:  Evelyn

Gender:  Female
Character From:  What I Saw How I Lied by Judy Blundell

Meanings and history of the name Evelyn:

• The original form was the Norman French female name Aveline, related to the Germanic Ava/Avia, of unknown meaning. In Latin 'avis' meant 'bird' so that has been attached for convenience, as has the French avelline from Latin avellana meaning 'hazelnut'. It has also been used as an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic Éibhleann meaning 'radiance' but this is coincidental attachment rather than true origin.

Personal Experience:

• I don't know anyone named Evelyn.  What about you?

Places name Evelyn:

• Evelyn, London, UK
• Evelyn, Ontario, Canada
• Evelyn, California, USA
• Evelyn, Michigan, USA
• Electoral district of Evelyn, an electoral district in Victoria, Australia

Famous real-life people named Evelyn: 

• Evelyn Nesbit, American model and vaudeville personality
• Evelyn Keyes, American actress who played Suellen O'Hara, younger sister of Scarlett, in the film "Gone With the Wind".
• Evelyn Ashford, American Olympic gold medalist in the 100 meter sprint, 1984
• Evelyn Margaret Ay, winner of the 1954 Miss America pageant

Evelyn in song, story & screen:

• Evelyn was the female lead played by Kate Beckinsale in the movie "Pearl Harbor."
• Evelyn (Evie) was the female lead played by Natalie Portman in the movie "V for Vendetta."
• Evelyn Salt was the female title character played by Angelina Jolie in the 2010 movie "Salt".

List adapted from www.babynamewizard.com


These are just some I know...what about you?

Review of Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Book:  Clockwork Angel
Author:  Cassandra Clare
Published by:  Margaret K. McElderry
Pages:  479

From Goodreads:  When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.  Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

I loved Clare's The Mortal Instruments series so I was excited to read another series by her.  I like novels set in past time periods and the thought of Shadowhunters in Victorian times was thrilling, especially when they were relatives of Jace.  

This novel was fast paced, and full of action.  There were twists, turns, and surprises in every chapter.  The action was thrilling,and nail-bitingly good with battles that left you cheering and gasping with shock on the same page.  The dialogue was witty and laugh-out-loud funny.  It has all the elements to make a great book.  

That being said, I did like this book.  However, I wasn't in love with it.  I can't pinpoint exactly what it was about this book, like I said it had everything to be a great book, but it just didn't do it for me.  

The one thing I really didn't like about this book was Tessa.  I feel as if Clare has a thing for writing whiny, self-absorbed female characters.  Tessa had a one track mind about helping her brother and didn't care at what cost it was to others.  I found myself often frustrated and exasperated by her character.

I did really like the rest of the characters though.  They were unique and interesting in their own ways.  Jem was sweet and kind while Will was dark and broody.  They both have secrets that this novel hints at but it's evident we will need to wait until the next book to figure out their secrets along with Tessa's.  

Again as the new trend in series happens to be, this book ends with a bit of a cliffhanger.  Good thing the next book comes out this August.  

Overall I'd give this book ★★★