Mmm...waffles

Like any normal young-ish people, Steve and I love breakfast. We love breakfast so much that it's a rare week when we don't have breakfast for dinner at least once. We also use breakfast night as one of our vegetarian dinners, which we try to do at least once a week. So in the end, we're killing two birds with our delicious breakfasty items. Our favorite breakfast item? Syrup. Closely followed by pancakes/waffles/pancake-waffle related items, but only because those things taste great with syrup. For this week's recipe I thought I would share the recipe we use for easy buttermilk waffles (with syrup). Enjoy!

Buttermilk Waffles
*adapted from America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook*

2 C. all-purpose flour
1 t. salt
1/2 t. baking soda
2 eggs, separated
4 T. unsalted butter, melted
1 3/4 C. buttermilk
Pinch cream of tartar

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda. 

Separately, whisk together the egg yolks and butter, then add in the buttermilk. With an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar together until stiff peaks form. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the buttermilk mixture. 

Stir together very gently until just incorporated. There should still be a few lumps in the batter. Fold the egg whites into the batter.

Using your waffle iron according to instructions, cook the waffles. If desired, keep warm in a 200 degree oven until all waffles are cooked. We have a half waffle iron, and this recipe makes about 6-7 half waffles. 

"Swallow Me Whole"

It's so rare for me to read something that doesn't feel like a repeat of something I've read before. Growing up as an avid reader, getting my bachelor's degree in English literature, my master's degree in library science, and planning to spend my professional life surrounded by books, I have read a lot. I even tried to pinpoint how many books I've read throughout my life, but I lost track somewhere around 400 (basically, I read A LOT). So it's not unusual for me to finish something and say, "yeah, that reminded me of *insert book title here*." The last time I really read a book that I felt was truly different from the rest was when I discovered Erin Morganstern's incredible debut novel The Night Circus. That is, until my friend and fellow librarian Patrick finally convinced me to read my first graphic novel. Patrick is our library's unofficial graphic novel/comics librarian and one of the masterminds behind the wildly popular Comics Fest in Durham (and author of his own blog: 741.5 and Then Some--gotta love Dewey Decimal jokes!) This year's Comics Fest featured award-winning author and artist Nate Powell and, after a strong recommendation from Patrick, I decided to read his Swallow Me Whole. 

I don't feel comfortable really reviewing this graphic novel because it's the first one I've ever read, and I don't know the first thing about them. However, I can tell you that it was the 2009 Eisner Award winner for Best Graphic Novel, and it was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. And I finished reading it in about 2 hours, which tells you I liked it enough to not put it down until the end. I had trouble when I first started with the text bubbles, (Which order do I read them in? Who is speaking now?) but I got over that quickly enough. I did not grow up reading comics as a child so I'm also not used to paying so much attention to the detail in the art. Once I really got going, though, I really got going. 

Swallow Me Whole is about stepsiblings Perry and Ruth. Perry has the annoying ability to see a tiny, creepy wizard who randomly appears to give him "missions," which often require him to draw for hours. Ruth obsessively collects insects and hears them speak to her at night. While Perry fights his psychological disorder throughout the novel, Ruth succumbs to her illnesses and the reader literally must watch as they overtake her life. Drawn in sharp black and white illustration with surprising emotion, this graphic novel forces readers to deal with the reality of mental illness and the death of loved ones. The words often blend into the background of the illustration so it often appears as though you're watching the story unfold instead of reading it. Powell really seems to know how to capture his audience and tease them with questions of reality. The whole concept of tiny wizards and goddess frogs is funny until the reader is forced upon the realization that those are the character's realities. 

Swallow Me Whole was a great graphic novel to begin with, and I am looking forward to reading more. Please leave me a comment if you have any suggestions for what I should read next! 

"Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper-Case Closed"

I'm sure most of you are thinking, "Great, thanks for choosing such a cheery and uplifting book to do your first book review on!" To you naysayers out there I have one thing to say: I have a thing for true crime, so get used to me throwing in some gruesome novels every once in awhile. I'm the girl who reads books about serial killers while watching Law and Order with the crime reports from the newspaper spread out in front of me. Okay, slight exaggeration. But at the moment, it's better than the unabridged journals of Sylvia Plath I was reading.

Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper-Case Closed was written by crime novelist Patricia Cornwell (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2002) after she discovered some shocking evidence about the "true identity" of infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper during a trip to London's Scotland Yard. Jack the Ripper terrorized the streets of London's East End during the fall of 1888 as he brutally murdered five prostitutes over a three-month period. London's Metropolitan Police were never able to capture the Ripper, and this serial killer has since become one of the most famous around the world. Conspiracy theorists and true crime-aholics alike have become obsessed with uncovering the identity of the Ripper, and Patricia Cornwell couldn't help but join the fray.

This book has been on my reading list for some time and after I ran across it on the shelves of the library I work at I couldn't help but check it out. I have read Patricia Cornwell's Postmortem, which I enjoyed, so I thought this book would at least keep me entertained. I really should have taken a hint from the long, awkward title Cornwell chose for her investigative report on the "true identity" of Jack the Ripper.

From the beginning this book made me roll my eyes every few pages. After studying numerous Ripper letters and the thin police reports that still exist in London's city records, Cornwell came to the conclusion that Jack the Ripper was actually Walter Sickert, a German-born actor and artist who studied under Whistler. Sickert was well-known for his wandering habits, his charm, his secret studios, and his sometimes violent paintings and sketches. Sickert also had some kind of genital defect that may or may not have left him mutilated as an adult, and all of these things somehow lead to the conclusion that Sickert was the Ripper of the East End. To be fair, I began reading this book as a skeptic, and it probably would have taken a lot to convince me. But honestly, the identity of the most famous serial killer in history has been unknown for almost 125 years and Cornwell said herself that the amount of evidence that exists from the crimes is dwindling to almost nothing. This book simply does not make a strong enough case.

Cornwell uses Portrait of a Killer to introduce some facts and inflate others. She takes reports from the doctors who examined the bodies of the victims and plays make-believe with what she thinks might have actually happened, because she obviously knows more than the ill-trained, inexperienced surgeons who were physically at the 19th century crime scenes. Granted, Cornwell probably does know more about forensic science and solving crimes than these doctors, as well as most of the detectives who worked for the Metropolitan Police in 1888. But Cornwell says herself in the book that the body is the most important piece of evidence in a homicide and without them, it appears that instead she insists on turning fact into fiction to prove Sickert was the Ripper. Cornwell also develops an annoying habit of explaining how the case could have been solved had Jack the Ripper committed his crimes in 2002. The author spends too much time distracting the reader away from the actual crimes with these anecdotes and exaggerations, and the book is not any better for it. 

Unfortunately, the book is also not any better because of writing skill or good editing. It sounds as though Cornwell sat down and started writing, and whatever she came up with they published. While there are several grammatical and spelling errors, the book just does not flow well. The chapters are mashed awkwardly together with titles that do not make sense. She jumps from one subject to another within the chapters, and as far as I can tell the only flow the book has is that she follows the murders chronologically. At best, Cornwell has managed to convince me that Sickert probably wrote a few of the Ripper letters. He also sounds like a terrible husband. Other than that, I can't say that this book has shed any more light for me on the Jack the Ripper mystery. If you are interested in a book about Jack the Ripper, The Complete History of Jack the Ripper by Philip Sugden has gotten excellent reviews. I have added it to my reading list and will perhaps do a review on it in the future, in comparison with Portrait of a Killer. 


Overall Grade: D

My First Sewing Project

I would like to introduce everyone to the newest member of our family. Steve and I get a little obsessive about who we add to our little household, so I'm confident that we will all get along nicely. Everyone, meet my Brother 60-stitch computerized sewing machine! 

I have been looking at machines for a few months in preparation of all this free time I keep mentioning. I've looked at a lot of different brands and models and talked to several people who have some sewing experience, and I've found that Brother is a great brand, especially if you're like me and you don't want to spend a lot of money. I found this one on Amazon at a great price, and I couldn't beat the great reviews it has gotten either. I was looking for something simple to use since I will be learning how to sew on this machine, but I also wanted a machine that would do some fancy things too (this one has quilting and buttonhole features). Basically, it's the perfect machine for me and I've been looking forward to having the time to play with it. I finally got to drag it out of the box this weekend. After carefully reading the instructions, Steve and I successfully threaded a bobbin and got the needle (automatically) threaded. After some high fives I got to work on my first project. As a graduation gift my mom and grandma (who are great sewers and the reasons I thought I should probably learn this skill) got me a bunch of sewing "haberdasheries" and "notions," so I was all set to go. I thought the most simple project for my new machine would be a summery table runner. I know the basics of hemming and pinning, and I really just wanted to learn how to sew in a straight line with the machine. To start the project, I cut the fabric (after washing it) down to size to fit our dining table. I didn't want the long part of the table runner to hang down the sides like most do on our table, so I decided to leave about two inches on both long sides of the runner. After cutting I was left with a strip of fabric about 3' x 1'. 

I pinned a one inch hem around the whole thing and got out the machine to finish the hemming. I know my cuts aren't straight and I got a little distracted from the stitching at times (that's what we get for babysitting a house full of dogs) so my hems aren't straight either. But it's the first thing I've ever really made on my machine, and I'm pretty happy with the results! I love how the fabric looks on our table and I'm really looking forward to my next project. 

Happy Mother's Day!

I realize I'm a few days late with this post, but I blame our friends in Arkansas for getting married and dragging us across the country (losers). However, we were able to see our mothers around Mother's Day, so we can't be too upset about that. For my mom I decided to make something this year now that I have a little more free time. Think of this as my first project in my new "Crazy Crafty" life. 

My mom has always loved singing me the song "You Are My Sunshine." For as long as I remember she would sing it on special occasions or when the mood struck, no matter how many eye-rollings she had to endure. I even got a recorded card singing it to me once. This song will always be associated in my mind with my mom, and when I saw some art pieces on Pinterest using the lyrics to this song, I knew it was a perfect idea for a gift. Mother's Day just happened to be the next convenient holiday. 

"You Are My Sunshine" painting on canvas

First I had to decide what I wanted the painting to look like. I already had the canvas and I knew I wouldn't be able to fit all of the words to the song on the canvas, so I decided to do the first half of the lyrics. I saw several different versions of the song on Pinterest, and the one I liked the best used different fonts and colors for the main words of the song. Instead of using stencils I decided to print off the words using different fonts from the computer and cut out the words. This took a lot more time because it was like creating my own stencils but I liked that I had a lot more say over which fonts I could use and how big the letters would be. From there, I traced the letters and painted them in using colors I thought fit the text. I picked out a nice sky blue for the background et voila! A lovely piece of art for my mom's sewing room. 

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! You're the best! 

From Your Little'Uns

I think I will always be that daughter who is twelve years old in her father's eyes, even though I passed that age a long time ago. While this can be difficult sometimes, especially as I moved halfway across the country from my family barely two years ago, it's nice to know that as I grow older I will still be someone's little girl. That is why I would like to dedicate this post to my father, who's celebrating his birthday today. I think it's important to celebrate the individuals in one's life, and in times like these when the basic rights of individuals are put into question it becomes even more important to step away from the issues and focus on those who make up your surroundings. So today my brother and I are going to tag-team this post to celebrate our dad.


Matt: It is my honor to contribute to my sister's post about our dad to celebrate his birthday. As the older brother of our family, my Dad's impact on me has been immeasurable. Growing up he was our leader and my mentor. We were very close and I believe had much in common. Even today we share interests in our relationship that I am thankful for. The bond we have now is not explained by chance but by love and experiences together.


Megan: My dad and I don't have much in common. I feel that this is important to our relationship because although he likes baseball and I like books, and he would prefer to be outdoors building something while I prefer to be indoors on the computer, we are still able to have lengthy conversations several times a week. The older I have gotten the more obvious it has become that even though he knows I don't care who won the game last night and I know he has no clue who Jeffrey Eugenides is we still share a bond that will never change and can never be broken, no matter how different we may be.


Matt: Back in the days when I was a Little Leaguer and Megan was playing with dolls my dad was an indestructible man who could do anything. From the handyman who provided for the family to coach who helped me to succeed to fishing guide for irreplaceable memories on the lake, his role in my life has been essential. I don't take the dad I had growing up, the one who loved and sacrificed for Megan and me, for granted. As time has gone by, the natural tendency to move on and experience life might have widened a gap in our relationship. With my dad, this has not been the case. Yes, I have ventured out like my sister, but he was managed to support me in a way I couldn't have asked for. So many times he drove hours to lend a helping hand or to visit. The dad I have as an adult is a little different from the one I had growing up. He's a little older and a little wiser. He hasn't lost his passion for creating and adventuring. He knows himself better, which has made him gentler and more patient.


Megan: My father is a man who has known loss and heartache, yet he stands out for his warm personality and great sense of humor. As his only daughter I have been able to see him grow more loving and carefree the older he has gotten, as if his experiences have allowed him to define what is truly important in his life (besides fishing, buying new trucks, and baseball season). He is a man who is dedicated to his children to the point of sacrificing things for himself in order to give us more. My dad still tells me he is proud of me, and he still brags to his friends about our achievements. Dear ol' dad risks his back every time our young cousins are around in favor of horsing around and is well known for telling "stories" (which explains why we believed in flying Ninja Turtles for so long) and playing practical jokes at work. He is creative and full of life, yet humble and willing to fall back in the crowd if only to give his children more room in the spotlight.


All of these things have made us proud to call you dad, and we are thinking of you from one side of the country to the other! This day and this post is for you, Dad! Happy birthday!

Welcome, welcome, to the 74th edition of my blog

Not having made a New Year's Resolution for 2012 because, honestly, I forget them by January 3 every year, I decided to make a Star Wars Day Resolution (May the Fourth Be With You!--celebrated with a little Return of the Jedi action). Spending most of my last semester of school on Pinterest (parents and teachers insert doing homework here) I discovered a lot of really great blogs out there. Which, of course, led me to think, "Hey! I can do that too! I know how to cook, and I want to be a craft maniac when I'm done with school!" 

All Hunger Games and Star Wars jokes aside, I've missed having the opportunity to have some quality me-time. Now that I've officially (and by that I mean in two days' time) graduated from graduate school I have some free time on my hands. And people, I haven't had free time since I was six. The last two weeks have been a little awkward for me as I insist that I have homework that needs to be turned in and papers that need to be written, only to find out that these elusive homeworks and papers DON'T EXIST. Stephen has been very patient with my crazy meandering throughout the house looking for things to do, and the words "stir crazy" have come to mind more than once. To alleviate said craziness we end up with this formula:

recent graduate+random amounts of free time+okay ability to write, bake, and create=blogging adventures

Let's see how it goes.