Search This Blog

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Bread Pudding (Pain Perdu)

Ingredients: 9-12 slices of stale bread, 5 eggs, 1 1/2c sugar, 1 qt. milk, cinnamon.

Beat eggs and 1c. sugar together, then mix with milk. Spray 13 x 9 pan with cooking spray. Cube bread, then place in pan. Pour egg mixture over bread, then push bread down lightly, so it soaks up egg mixture. Sprinkle 1/2 cup sugar on top. Sprinkle cinnamon on top. Put pan in another pan of water, then bake at 350 degrees for 45min.-60 min. It's done after a knife is inserted and comes out clean.

Mom's Goulash

Ingredients: 1 jar of spaghetti sauce, 1 lb. ground beef, 1/2 lb. of sweet sausage, 2c. elbow macaroni half cooked, thyme, salt & pepper to taste.

Combine ingredients, then bake at 350 degrees for 40 min.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Genealogy Website

Check out my new website--It has lots of information on how to find French Canadian Ancestors! http://sites.google.com/site/juliesgenealogypage/

Brooklyn Rose

This is another historical novel by Ann Rinaldi. The main character is Rose Frampton, who has grown up on a remote island off the coast of South Carolina in the late 1890's. She marries a wealthy businessman and moves to Brooklyn, NY. She must learn to run a household, establish her independence, and acquaint herself with the ways of Yankees--all at the age of 15!

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Sarah's Ground

Another good novel by Ann Rinaldi...Sarah Tracy, tired of being shipped around and tired of being reminded that it's time to find a suitable husband, answers an ad to oversee Mount Vernon, family home of George Washington. Sarah becomes the mistress of Mount Vernon at the time of the Civil War. She manages to keep Washington's home out of t he war, but finds she can't keep love out of her heart.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

The Coffin Quilt

Another great book by Ann Rinaldi...The feud between the Hatfields and McCoys has gone on for generations. This novel is set in 1882 in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. Fanny McCoy has lived in fear ever since a dispute with the Hatfields over the ownership of some pigs set her family on a path of hatred and revenge. In 1882 when Fanny's sister runs off with Johnse Hatfield, the hatred between the two clans explodes. Will Fanny be able to stop the violence and will she be able to find her own way out of the hatred?

Monday, February 16, 2009

Calico Captive

Written by Elizabeth George Speare, who also wrote The Witch of Blackbird Pond, this novel takes place during the French and Indian War. In the year 1754, the stillness of Charlestown, New Hampshire, is shattered by the terrifying cries of an Indian raid. Young Miriam Willard, on a day that had promised new happiness, finds herself instead a captive on a forest trail, caught up in the ebb and flow of the French and Indian War. It is a harrowing march north. Miriam can only force herself to the next stopping place, the next small portion of food, the next icy stream to be crossed. At the end of the trail waits a life of hard work and, perhaps, even a life of slavery. Mingled with her thoughts of Phineas Whitney, her sweetheart on his way to Harvard, is the crying of her sister’s baby, Captive, born on the trail. Miriam and her companions finally reach Montreal, a city of shifting loyalties filled with the intrigue of war, and here, by a sudden twist of fortune, Miriam meets the prominent Du Quesne family, who introduce her to a life she has never imagined.

Cast Two Shadows

This is another EXCELLENT novel by Ann Rinaldi, which takes place during the American Revolution. Fourteen-year-old Caroline Whitaker is caught in the violent web of war--her Patriot father is imprisoned, her Loyalist brother Johnny is wounded, her best friend is hanged by the British before her eyes, and her sister is fast becoming the doxy of the cruel British officer who has commandeered their house...

Uglies/Pretties/Specials/Extras

These novels by Scott Westerfeld are set in a world where being normal is ugly. These books make one question what being "pretty" really means...Very good books!

Frozen Summer

This novel by Mary Jane Auch was an easy read. It's set in western New York. It's 1816 and Remembrance Nye and her family are enduring a cold, hard summer in their new home. There's barely any food, since Papa's crops were destroyed by the late frosts. Mem's mama finds it even harder to cope after she gives birth to baby Lily. Papa puts Mem in charge of caring for Mama and the baby. Though Mem tries to do her best, the worst happens: One stormy night Mama and Lily disappear.

Mine Eyes Have Seen

I thought this was a great book! Another great historical novel by Ann Rinaldi, based on the life of Annie Brown, the daughter of abolitionist, John Brown...Annie Brown thinks her famous father goes to far in the fight against slavery. For instance, he is planning a raid on government property and he's asked Annie to be his lookout. Annie's job is to keep her father's secrets. She has to keep suspicious people away and fend off their questions if they come too close. Annie doesn't want to lie, but she can't say no to her father. Like it or not, she 's involved in the plan. Even if it means losing her father--and losing the man she loves.

Carlota

I really enjoyed this novel by Scott O'Dell, which is set in the 1840s at the time of the Mexican War. ..Raised to take the place of her dead brother, Carlota can do anything that he could have done. She races her stallion, dives for gold and fights in battles between the Mexicans and Americans. Yet while she enjoys her freedom and pleasing her father, she wants more. She wants to be free to show feelings of tenderness and compassion. Her fathers thinks such feelings are shameful, so Carlota must defy him.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

An Acquaintance with Darkness

I just finished reading this novel by Ann Rinaldi. It takes place in Washington, D.C. Fourteen year old Emily is sent to live with her mysterious uncle just after Lincoln's assassination. Her best friend's mother is accused of being an accomplice of Lincoln's murderer! Worse still, her uncle may be involved in uglier business...If you're interested in Lincoln's assassination, this is a great book!

Monday, February 2, 2009

Google Earth

Google Earth has mapped the ocean. To check it out just download Google Earth (it's free) and click on an ocean.

New York History