Books

I read the first "Fablehaven" last year and didn't love it. It was okay- it got better toward the end but I wasn't too excited to read anymore of them. But Jonah got bored last month and raced through the first 2 books in the series. I decided I would read them along with him. No small feat since he has all the time in the world and I have to forgo sleep in order to catch up. :) Anyway, we both really enjoyed them but I think that reading them together (for me at least) made it WAY more fun. The rest of the family would get annoyed as we joked about the satyrs and compared notes on Graulas and the Sphinx.

I have happy memories of my mom reading many of the books I enjoyed (Anne of Green Gables, A Wrinkle in Time, Stone Tables...) and it was fun to discuss them together. Curtis and I raced through Harry Potter together, cried about Dumbledore (well I did) and debated about Snape's allegiance. I plan to read many more with the kiddos but I'm thinking Curt and I need another series to read together. Unfortunately he's into this viking history series (violent and a bit of a downer IMO) and I prefer light fantasy or historical fiction (preferrably with a kick butt heroine). LOVED the first two "Hunger Games" books- hated the third. If anyone wants to talk I'm still mad about it.

I'm happy that the boys are picking up on our love for reading and since it's so dang hot in Texas we spent a lot of time this summer doing this...

FYI: Isaac's reading "The Boxcar Children" and Jonah is into the "Redwall" series

So my thesis statement is that reading is great but it's even better to read with family. Any suggestions?

Apricot Kolaches and Willa Cather

We read "My Antonia" for book club last month and I decided to make some kolaches for the discussion, as they were mentioned a few times in the book. My sister, Jenny, discovered these when I was a kid in Michigan. We made them several times and they were SO yummy. Last month when I went back to Michigan for a visit, my sister Lisa and I went into a bakery. ahhhh! Since leaving MI I have yet to find any bakeries half as good. (This is probably a blessing in disguise as I'm pretty sure I would LIVE there if there were any close to me.) The smells brought me back to my childhood. It helped that they had made fresh Pączkis (pronounced poonchkies) for fat Tuesday. YUM!

Anyway, here's the recipe for anyone interested. They're simple to make and not too sweet. I just used apricot jam instead of cooking up dried apricots.




Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened

6 ounces cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoons white sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup dried apricots

1 1/2 cups water

3/4 cup white sugar


Directions
To make Filling: Combine apricots and water in heavy saucepan and cook covered over medium heat for 10 minutes or until apricots are soft. Cook UNCOVERED 5 to 10 minutes or until most of the water has been absorbed.

Mash apricots, stir in 2 tablespoons of sugar and let filling cool. Set aside.


To make Dough: Cream butter and cream cheese until fluffy; add 3/4 cup sugar and beat well. Add flour and mix well. Shape dough into ball and chill 1 hour.
Turn dough onto well-floured surface, working with only half the dough. Roll into 1/8 inch thickness and cut into 2 inch squares. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon of apricot filling into the center of the square. Bring four corners to center, pinching to seal.


Bake at 400 degrees F for about 15 minutes. Optional - you may baste with butter halfway thru baking period.


Optional - drizzle LIGHTLY with powdered sugar/milk frosting if you desire sweeter kolaches.



FYI, I thoroughly enjoyed "My Antonia." I read it a few years ago and liked it even better the second time. I love Cather's descriptions of the Nebraska landscape. She can make grass sound beautiful! Her female characters were strong and she showed how critical their work was in farm life. There's more but I gotta sew.