Book Review - Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I gave this book five stars because it was a very enthralling book. I loved the story of Agnes and I really wanted to find out what what actually happened that fateful night. If you are looking for a fast paced book then look elsewhere. The draw to this book is not the adventure but the gradual unveiling of the truth behind the murders. I loved how the family Agnes was placed with interacted with her. Hannah has written a beautiful book and captures the essence of this time and place. You just about feel the cold snow, smell the dung fires and fell your belly hunger from not eating.

Hannah has drawn from real life sources and while a few characters are fictional, most of these people existed and lived how Hannah described. A very interesting read and I couldn't put it down. I am very keen to read Hannah's next book when it is written and released.

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Collins Booksellers Edwardstown Online Store

My bookshop now has an online store. So many wonderful books and products are on there and will be added in the future.

Go check it out!

http://collins-booksellers-edwardstown.myshopify.com/

Garden Treasures

Garden Treasures 

There are so many things that we usually chuck out that we can recycle or upcycle again, especially in the garden. These are some of the things that I use in my veggie and herb gardens. 

1) Toilet roll inserts – Those seemingly useless rolls that get chucked away when we change the toilet roll are fantastic for protecting seedlings. Just cut a toilet roll in half and bury it half way where you are planting then just pop a few seeds in the roll and fill roll loosely with dirt.

2) Pop Sticks – Great for marking out what vegetables are what. Just write on the sticks (after you’ve washed them) and stick it in the ground.

3) 1lt Milk Cartons – These are great for the greenhouse. Cut a milk carton in half and put a few holes in the bottom. Fill with potting mix (or garden dirt) and plant your seeds. When seeds are ready to transplant to garden you can just cut the carton and voila. The top of the milk carton can be used like the toilet roll inserts.

4) Egg Cartons – These can also be used to help seedlings sprout and they have the added benefit of just tearing away and you can plant them in the garden without damaging the roots.

5) Old cans – Just clean cans and drill a few small holes in the bottom. These can be used for gardens that are small or apartments.

There are more things that can be recycled/upcycled, you just have to use your imagination and the world will be your gardening oyster. 

           

Book Review - Reboot - Amy Tintera

Reboot by Amy Tintera
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A brilliant take on the zombie literature but with a twist.

This series is a duo. The first book ' Reboot' is due for release in Australia, June 2013.

After a virus and then war decimated the world, the surviours are rules by a organisation called HARC ( Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation) Food is scarce and so is medical treatment. When people die, if they have had the virus or even sometimes you hadn't, you may come back to life as a Reboot. The main character Wren is 178 - meaning she was dead for 178 minutes before she rebooted. This makes her one of the strongest Reboots in Austin. When you come back as a Reboot, you are stronger, faster, able to heal from wounds that would normally kill you and they are less emotional. The longer you were dead means the more powerful you become. Wren takes a chance on Callum a 22, and this starts a change inside her. She begins to question events that start to happen when the scientists start playing God with the Reboots.

A fantastic twist on the zombie genre as we get to read a story that isn't mindless killing (yet) and we get to see a different side to the undead. I am NOT a fan of zombies, I can not stand them. Saying that, I really enjoyed this book and am keen to see where the author takes it.

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Book Review - Pretty Girl Thirteen by Liz Coley

Pretty Girl Thirteen by Liz Coley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was both horrifying and fascinating. You really feel for Angie as she struggles to come to terms with alter egos that were made to help her survive her kidnapping. Not only do we see Angie grow, we see her dark depths and just how to human mind will go to cope with ordeals.

A very interesting read and i think this book will stay on with me for a very long time as I struggle myself to process what Angie went through. I have a little girl and this book really hit home about what some humans are like.

I believe that this book is not a young teenage book even though the character was 13 at the start of the book. It feels like a dark novel a 17+ would be able to cope with. Very intense and I really couldn't put it down!

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Hot Cross Buns - Awesome Style

Every time I've attempted to bake hot cross buns - they haven't turned out. I had nearly given up till I came across this recipe by author Michael Pryor. Michael writes fantastic novels for young adults, if you haven't read anything of his, check him out!! 

 

Anyways, I came across this recipe and it being Easter and all - decided to make them.

It is a bit time consuming, but then all good things are. These worked out perfectly!!! Soft and moist in the center, slightly crispy on the outside. Filled with a good dollop of real butter, they make a very tasty snack. I have eaten 3 1/2 so far (my daughter scored the other half) 

I did change the recipe a tiny bit to suit my tastes.

Ingredients

750g good bread flour. (I used ordinary plain flour)

100g butter, softened.

1 egg yolk.

2 tspn ground cinnamon.

1 tspn ginger, powdered

1 tspn ground nutmeg.

1 tspn ground allspice.

100g brown sugar.

Pinch salt.

2 sachets dried yeast.

2 cups of warm (not too warm) water. (I used 1 3/4 water 1/4 milk)

*If you want fruit in them, the add 2 cups*

Method

1) Mix together the flour, spices, salt, sugar, yeast, (fruit - if using) in a big bowl. Rub the butter through the flour/spice/yeast/fruit mixture till crumbly.

2) Mix water and egg yolk together and gradually add to the flour while mixing.

3) Combine everything together until it comes together. The mixture should start to come away from the sides of the bowl though you may need to add a little more flour at this stage.

4) Turn the mixture ball out onto a floured bench and knead for about ten minutes. The dough will begin to be shiny and elastic.

5) Wash out the bowl you used earlier and grease it with butter. Put the dough back in and cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Leave to rise. This will take a couple of hours, the dough should have doubled in size.Then punch the dough down and knead it a little.

6) Divide the dough in half. Take each half and form into twelve balls.

7) To bake the buns, put them into a slightly greased baking tin and leave the buns to rise. Let them double in size this will be about an hour.

8) Make a batter of flour and water, pop into a piping bag and paint crosses on the buns. ( I used a glad bag with the tip cut off)

9) Cook in a 200C degree oven for 25 minutes.

As Mr Pryor suggests

Serve with butter, not margarine, for best effect.

Seriously, these are worth the time to make them! Go give them a try!!

Tasty Tuna and Corn Muffins

Sorry I haven't written anything for awhile everyone. I have been a touch busy the last few weeks. Now I am back and will continue to post about my culinary adventures.

I made awesome muffins today. They were tuna and corn and they were so quick and easy to make. I found the basic recipe from the insert of the Adelaide Advertiser, then I added my own touches :D

Muffin Base

2 cups self raising flour

1/2 cups of shredded cheese

125g melted butter

1 cup of milk

1 egg

1 small can of tuna

1 small can of creamed corn

Salt and pepper

Tbsp soy sauce

Method:

Mix everything together and make sure not to over blend. It is perfectly okay to have lumps in the mixture. Spoon into muffin tins/muffin paper cups and bake at 180C for 20 minutes.

Seriously, why are you still read?? Go and bake my pretties :D :D

Written by Tarran J