R.I.P. XI Challenge-- Sign Me Up!

It's that time again!! Yes, the best time of the year (and I'm not talking about Christmas). The R.I.P. Challenge (R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril) hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings is back for it's 11th year and I couldn't be more excited. I'm not kidding when I say that I start planning as soon as the challenge ends-- I love it!

This is my sixth year participating and feel it's going to be one of my best reading stacks yet! I'm sharing what I've got on the R.I.P. TBR and the rules of the game for those who are interested in joining and want to learn more.

What is R.I.P.? 

It's an informal reading event from September 1st to October 31st where participants focus on the following genres:

Mystery
Suspense
Thriller
Gothic
Horror
Dark Fantasy

I'm shooting for Peril the First*:

*Read four books, any length, that you feel fit (the very broad definitions) of R.I.P. literature. It could be King or Conan Doyle, Penny or Poe, Chandler or Collins, Lovecraft or Leroux…or anyone in between. (Head over to Carl's site to learn more.)

Some potential reads to meet my goal of four full-length novels:

Click on the title to read the summary on Goodreads:

Listen to Me by Hannah Pittard, We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson, Florence & Giles by John Harding, Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm: A New English Version by Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm, and Philip Pullman (Editor), The Trespasser by Tana French, The Secret Rooms: A True Story of a Haunted Castle, a Plotting Duchess, and a Family Secret by Catherine Bailey, The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James, Affinity by Sarah Waters, The Hounds of Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle, Our Endless Numbered Days by Claire Fuller, The Wicked Boy: The Mystery of a Victorian Child Murderer by Kate Summerscale, The Asylum by John Harwood

As sad as it'll be to say goodbye to summer,  I can't deny that I'm pretty excited about the crisp autumn air and fun activities that come up this time of year. I mean how can you say no to activities like this...

*Note: I also have three posts of summer reviews that have been languishing in my draft folder this entire season. SHAME. They'll slowly be pushed out in the next couple of weeks.

Are you participating in the challenge?? If so, what's on your list? If not, what's your favorite thing to do during the fall?

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Dark Chocolate Fudgy Brownies for VDay

Following my last post on Valentine's Day, I'm going to introduce you to the most delicious brownies you'll ever taste that could also be the perfect little addition to your love notes. I'm totally serious when I say these are the best you'll ever taste. We can discuss this after you've made them. Deal?

It's been sometime since I've really craved something sweet; however, when I saw this recipe on Pinterest, I was determined to make it for a Valentine's Day treat and devour it myself. I'm big on honesty over here. I changed it up a bit because I LOVE dark chocolate and desired less chocolate chunks in the batter than the original recipe called for, but I've linked the original so you can try them either way. It really is a recipe that you could alter to your own liking without ruining the whole thing. So... enjoy!

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup dark cocoa powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Line a 9x9 baking dish with parchment paper.  (I don't actually own a 9x9 dish and didn't want to use my 9x13 for fear of really thin brownies so used a 9" pie dish instead. It works!)
Beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla in a stand mixer. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well between each addition.
Stir together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Mix in the baking soda.
Mix in the chocolate chips with a spatula.
Once a thick batter forms, scrape it into the prepared dish and spread evenly.
Bake for 25 minutes, until brownies begin to pull away from the side of the pan. *I pulled mine out just before so they'd be extra gooey, but that's your call.

*Recipe taken and adapted from somethingswanky.com

Let me be honest for a minute. My first approach to this recipe consisted of scooping the batter into the cutest little heart-shaped silicone molds so that you'd have many servings of little brownie treats to hand out. That whole plan, however, was thrown out the window when I found my heart-shaped cookie cutter in the utensil drawer while prepping. I thought I could get away with using it instead. And you can. Sort of. You can use a cookie cutter once the brownies have cooled completely. I, needless to say, did not wait. I only got one out before realizing I was being a greedy idiot and waited so that I could get three more out. Of course, I saved all the scraps and have been snacking on them since, but it was a little messy. If you're looking for more treats,  I'd say go with the molds, or stick to a pan and cut them out yourself. It's just prettier.

The drill... Bake > cool > wrap up all crafty like > snack on a few pieces > hand out to the one(s) you love!

 

And just like that, you've gone and outdone yourself without doing much at all. :)

 Cheers!

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Pretty Post for a Valentine

Yep, it's almost that time again... Valentine's Day is quickly approaching and the internet is bursting with creative DIYs and treats to consume! I may not be the biggest fan of the holiday of roses and chocolates and diamonds, but I love the cute cards and fun recipes that come out around this time of year and wanted to share my own picks for the day.

Note: Now that I've relocated to an area where the sun rarely shines, and there's no shortage of snow, I am almost completely convinced that this holiday was created in some tundra like town in order to add some color, and provide a little reminder that love is not lost, in order to make it through winter. Yes, this may be a bit dramatic but cabin fever is setting in. Send help.

I have a major weakness for handmade cards with quirky messages, bright colors, and cute packaging. Seriously. I have a collection. I'm like you're grandmother minus the Hallmark situation. So, if you're like me and want to spread a little love without emptying your bank account, simply pick up one of these ridiculously cute cards and make someone's day!

ArthursPlaidPants

ohgoshCindy

CarlyReedDesigns

thelittlecanoe

atiliay

1canoe2

emilymcdowelldraws

witandwhistle

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A Post: Blondies for Your Valentines

I'm not actually a huge fan of the holiday that pushes candy (I'm ok with the chocolate) and roses and diamonds. However, I am a big fan of the pretty little cards that you can find at places like here, here and here. And baking treats like those you see above... I'm sorry, but also not sorry because they are delicious!

I snagged this recipe from one of my favorite foodie sites, Simply Recipes:

Things you'll need:

• 1/2 cup of butter, melted
• 1 cup of tightly packed dark brown sugar
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup of all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup of butterscotch chips (I added chocolate chips, too.)

To make:

1 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly butter and flour an 8X8 pan. Whisk together the melted butter and sugar in a bowl.

2 Add the egg and vanilla extract and whisk.

3 Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt, mix it all together. Add the butterscotch chips or other mix-ins.

4 Pour into the pan (I poured mine into individual silicone cups) and spread evenly. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool. Cut into squares and serve.

(Gooey goodness)

So, what are your plans for the holiday? Any treats you'd like to share?! I'd love to see them!

Happy Valentine's Day, bookworms!

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A Review: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

Another RIP VII selection down! Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was very different than I had imagined. While I didn't think it was going to much like the movie, I didn't think it would be so completely different from the adaptation. A story I watched before reading, I can safely say (and still maintain my credibility) that watching the movie is really all you ever need to do in this case.

Ichabod Crane is a poor school teacher living out of a suitcase in the homes (or barns) of his pupils' parents. Fervent about his career, and certainly about tales of the supernatural, Ichabod lives a seemingly content life. When the hand of a local lady, who's just reached the ripe age of 18 and is as "plump as a partridge" (oh yeah), is in need of a husband, Ichabod jumps at the chance to woo her. There's also a pesky headless horseman to contend with and so goes the story.

Ichabod's physical appearance is fun to think about. The sing-songy style that Irving weaves just makes me think he's a little silly looking, with long legs and arms that appear to defy the presence of bones and joints and things that make one human, bounding along. Perhaps a goofy grin with gem-like eyes and a droopy costume that's dirty from all the barn living. His lady friend, Katrina Van Tassel, is a certified knockout with boundless hips and a bust to match. Add hair the color of milk, or honey, or a little of both and suddenly you've got Marilyn Monroe+, but maybe a little more homely. We know what Irving was after... The passage is oozing with sexuality in the best way. We get it. This is Ichabod's chance for a life of love and abundance (in more ways than one).

But all wouldn't be right in the world if Ichabod didn't have some stiff competition. His rival, Abraham "Brom Bones" van Brunt, just proves that fratitudes have always existed. Ok, I know, I'm relying on stereotypes here, but it's completely appropriate. Some things never change. The guy's got guns and I don't mean the type that you purchase with appropriate identification. No, I'm talking big, muscly arms and a bad boy reputation to match. He should be wearing a ripped, black tank with long, healthy locks. That's the caricature I created in my head anyway.

Note: I'll give it to Irving, for a reader that doesn't get lost in the language often, he had me conjuring up so many different things.

To avoid spoilers to those that will be reading this title in the future, I'll just say that the conclusion was possibly the most disappointing ending I've ever read in my entire life. Ok, maybe that's an overstatement because I wasn't too invested in the story, but he could have created a million other endings that would have been infinitely better than what was published.

It has elements of the supernatural that probably would have been great as stand alone stories, perfect for the approaching holiday, but the short story on the whole was more silly than spooky.

RIP VII: 3 of 7 completed. 
Classics Challenge: 2 of 50 completed.

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