Beer Bread Recipe

My family loves this recipe for Beer Bread. I don't remember where we first found it. It was somewhere on the internet. Here's the recipe:

3 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
12 oz can or bottle of beer
1 stick of butter, melted (I only use half of a stick)

Mix the dry ingredients together. Add the beer and combine. The batter will be very thick! Pour into a greased loaf pan and then pour the melted butter on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Enjoy with your favorite bowl of soup!

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

I can't believe how long it has been since I posted a book review. I've been spending a lot of time working on craft projects for Christmas gifts, so I haven't been reading very much. I was on the library wait list for Cleopatra's Daughter for over a month. It was definitely worth the wait! Here's a summary from Amazon:

The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony’s revengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome; only two– the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander–survive the journey. Delivered to the household of Octavian’s sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian’s family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts.

This book was so good! I loved it just as much as Michelle Moran's other book, Nefertiti. I loved Selene; she's a much better character than Nefertari from The Heretic Queen. I was a bit surprised that Marc Antony and Cleopatra died so early on in the book. I liked that this book takes place in Rome as opposed to Egypt. It made it a lot more interesting. I really hope that Michelle Moran writes another book soon. She's an amazing author! Everyone should read Nefertiti, The Heretic Queen, and Cleopatra's Daughter.

5 out of 5 stars!

Time for a Face Lift

I have decided to make some changes to this blog. I stopped reading as quickly as I used to so I wasn't updating as much as I was hoping. I will be adding some more content that isn't just book related. I plan to add cooking and baking posts as well as craft posts. These are some of my favorite things to do. I hope all of you enjoy these changes!

I will begin this overhaul with a cooking related post. Here's a recipe I just came up with for Cream of Broccoli Cheese Soup:

1/2 stick butter
1/4 cup diced onions
3 tablespoons flour
5 - 6 cups milk (I used skim)
1 package frozen broccoli (I used the steam in the bag kind)
2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
garlic, salt and pepper to taste

Melt the butter in a pot. Add the onions and cook until they are clear. In the meantime, cook the broccoli according to the instructions. Add the flour to the butter and onions one tablespoon at a time, whisking constantly. Add the milk and continue to whisk until the butter and flour mixture is incorporated. Add the cooked broccoli and the cheese. Add as much spice as you'd like. Stir until the cheese is melted and the soup is hot. Enjoy!
This would probably serve 3 - 4 people.

I didn't measure as I made this so the measurements are my best guess. I would serve this with some homemade bread, rolls or biscuits. Perfect for a cold night!

I hope you guys enjoy this new format.