Midweek Morsels: Chicken Enchilada Soup

I forgot a Midweek Morsels recipe yesterday, so here's a recipe today. Kristina's suggestion for this week is soups. Here's one of my all-time favorites:

Chicken Enchilada Soup

4 cans canned chicken (12.5 oz. size)
1 can white beans (48 oz. size)
1 to 2 medium onions, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 T olive oil
2 to 4 cans chopped green chiles (mild)
1/4 t. cayenne pepper
6 cups chicken broth
2 t. ground cumin
1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese



Cook in crock pot 5 to 6 hours on low. Serve with tortilla chips, cheese, avocado, sour cream and cilantro. Yummy!

It makes quite a bit, so alter as necessary for your needs. I've cut it in half and it's plenty for my family.

Booking Through Thursday: Too Much Information?

Booking Through Thursday

Suggested by Simon Thomas:
Have you ever been put off an author’s books after reading a biography of them? Or the reverse - a biography has made you love an author more?

I haven't read many author biographies, but even if I had and didn't like what I read, I don't think that it would make me not want to read their books. In fact, yes, I do think learning more about them would make me want to read their books more, especially if I hadn't heard of them before.

You know what really makes me want to read an author's book is feeling like I've gotten to know them personally, which is happening more and more with the amount of blogging authors have started to do (or vlogging as John Green does) or Twittering or making themselves available for books signings and such. When they let us be part of the whole writing process, of course we'll run out and buy the book when it's done. Some of them have really figured this out!

What might turn me off of an author is if they have really stand-offish behavior at something like a book signing. I haven't experienced this yet, but I've heard of it. That would make me really sad if I learned of my favorite authors being obnoxious to fans.... however, I'd probably still read their books.

Blog Improvement: Blog Post Bingo

Time to Improve the Blog some more! The assignment this time is to play Blog Post Bingo with the idea being going for blackout of course. Or, in other words, try to do all ten of these different types of posts in the next two weeks. Sounds fun to me.



A Link Post - share a series of links your readers might find interesting
A Short Post - less than 200 words
A List Post - simple as it sounds, a list of some sort
An Opinion Post - take an event, news, or another blog post and share your opinion on it
A Poll or Question Post - post a poll or ask your readers a specific question for feedback
A How-To Post - You’re an expert in something; big or small, share how to do it
A Long Post - more than 700 words
A Review Post - self-explanatory, I think
A Definition Post - show your expertise about a topic related to your blog
FREE SPACE - a type of post of your choice (that is not the same as one of the previous posts)

I've done quite a few of these types already, but we can't count pasts posts, so be looking for more of these to come, and a few kinds that I've never tried. Join us for the fun!

Speaking of blog improvement, remember a few weeks ago when the assignment was to come up with a new regular feature to our blogs? And I was moaning the fact that I couldn't think of something cool enough? Well, shortly thereafter, Raidergirl3 (An Adventure in Reading) approached me with what I think is going to be a really fun idea. It's called The Bookword Game, and she's explained it a bit here, but be sure to check out her blog tomorrow for more details and for the first round of the game. Then get your creative thinking caps on and join us for some fun word creation!

Review: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney

Book: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney

Genre: YA/J Fiction

Rating: A

For: Fun/ Book Fair

I don't have to do book talks at the book fair this week, but still, when I saw this book was going to be there, I borrowed it and read it in an hour or so.

For people familiar with these books, it's more of the same. Poor Greg stumbling through junior high trying to survive! And why some of the stuff he does and the things he thinks makes me laugh out loud, I don't know, but it does! I get why kids love this stuff. It makes them feel normal. It makes fun of the crazy things that go on at school and the crazy things they have to deal with at home. I think Jeff Kinney is a genius for being able to capture these emotions and portray them in such a simple, yet funny way.

Janury 2009 Recap

Amazing that the first month of the year is already over. Amazing.

Here's what I read this month:

1. The Reluctant Widow by Georgette Heyer: A girl on her way to being a governess ends up at the wrong house and then finds herself in the middle of mixed up craziness!

2. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte: The haunting story of Cathy and Heathcliff and their twisted passion for each other.

3. Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Mryacle: There's a huge blizzard on Christmas Eve! Three different stories on how three different groups of kids live through this storm of the century.

4. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman: The adventures of one boy who is raised by ghosts in the graveyard.

5. Taken By Storm by Angela Morrison: The love story of Michael and Leesie with all it's drama and intensity.

6. How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-Boyfriend by Janette Rallison: When one girl "dumps" her boyfriend because he won't support her twin's student government campaign, she learns that there's more to the story than meets the eye.

7. The Moon Below by Barbara Bickmore: Hallie helps to build up a thriving community in Australia.

8. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney: Gregory survives yet another year in junior high, barely.

9. The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison: When George meets the princess he has promised to marry to unit their kingdoms, he realizes she is not what he expected.

My favorites of the month: my re-read of Wuthering Heights, The Moon Below, The Graveyard Book, and Taken By Storm.

Running Total for All Books Read in 2009

JANUARY

1. The Reluctant Widow by Georgette Heyer
2. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
3. Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Mryacle
4. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
5. Taken By Storm by Angela Morrison
6. How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-Boyfriend by Janette Rallison
7. The Moon Below by Barbara Bickmore
8. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney
9. The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison

FEBRUARY

10. The Wednesday Letters by Jason Wright
11. The Hunt for Dark Infinity by James Dashner
12. The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
13. All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy
14. Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke

MARCH

15.Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
16.Pillage by Obert Skye
17.The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
18.The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Burrows
19.Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
20.Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson
21.Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
22. Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
23.The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

APRIL

24. The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer
25. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
26. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
27. Agnes Grey by Ann Bronte
28. The Monster in Me by Mette Ivie Harrison
29. The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

MAY

30. Blue Noon by Scott Westerfeld
31. The Secret Keeper by Paul Harris
32. My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison
33. Fablehave- Rise of the Evening Star by Brandon Mull
34. Wings by Aprilynne Pike
35. Just One Wish by Janette Rallison

JUNE

36. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
37. Beach Trip by Cathy Holton
38. Beastly by Alex Flinn
39. And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander
40. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

JULY

41. Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings
42. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
43. The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham
44. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
45. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
46. One Whole and Perfect Day by Judith Clarke
47. This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

AUGUST

48. The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
49. Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
50. Homer and Langley by E.L. Doctorow
51. Lily's Crossing by Patricia Reily Giff
52. The Asthonishing Life of Octavian Nothing Vol. 1 by M.T. Anderson
53. The Way he Lived by Emily Wing Smith
54. Gossamer by Lois Lowry

SEPTEMBER

55. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

56. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

57. Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison

58. A Poisoned Season by Tasha Alexander

59. Max by James Patterson

60. Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunnant

61. The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart

62. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

63. Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell

OCTOBER

64. The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

65. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

66. All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn

67. Black Angels by Linda Beatrice Brown

68. The Forever King by Molly Cochran and Warren Murphy

69. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseni

70. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days by Jeff Kinney

71. The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry

72. The Seer of Shadows by Avi

73. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

NOVEMBER

74. Fallen by Lauren Kate

75. The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks

76. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

77. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

78. Far World: Land Keep by J. Scott Savage

79. A Fatal Waltz by Tasha Alexander

DECEMBER

80. The Vampire Diaries Vol 1 and 2 by L. J. Smith

81. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

82. Hide and Seek by Wilkie Collines

83. Evermore by Alyson Noel

84. Walking Across Egypt by Clyde Edgerton

85. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

86. The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale

87. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

The Sunday Salon: Book Fair and other randomness

We set up the book fair last Friday, and one of the perks of running the book fair is being able to take home a couple of books to peruse beforehand in order to promote and push them once the fair starts. At first, I wasn't going to nab any, especially since this time I won't be doing book talks (cheers for Michelle!) but at the last minute, I couldn't help it and I grabbed the following:

The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies by Erin Dionne

Every Soul a Star by Wendy Mass

So today, maybe I'll have to time to read bits and pieces of these, or get drawn into one and even finish it.

Or maybe not. We'll see.

Another interesting thing to report, and some of you will laugh at this, but I got my first unsolicited book from a publisher this week! Cool, huh. I know, this is old hat to most of you big time bloggers, but I haven't been aggressive with getting my name on the lists to receive these things, so to just get one out of the blue made me grin.

The book is called The Vagrants by Yiyun Li. It looks very interesting, so hopefully I'll be able to fit it in the stack soon.

Exciting stuff coming up this week! Check Raidergirl3's blog at An Adventure in Reading, probably Wednesday, to find out about a fun game we've got planned for you all!

Wish me luck on the book fair this week. Luck that it's successful, luck that I'll have enough the energy, luck that my family is forgiving. You know, just luck that I'll manage to get to the end of the week in one piece!

Happy Super Bowl to some of you. Happy Reading to the rest!