So, we went to the library yesterday, (yes, I'm a little late on writing this) and I got a few books, one of which is a super-awesome action-packed manga comic about .... wait for it..... cooking!

Yes! The best manga for Lizzy. so, I tried to read the other books first, just to torture myself, but of course, that did not work at all. So I devoured it in three seconds, (I know you're probably thinking "what kinda mom is Dwija??" but I DID get some not manga...) and discovered that there were RECIPES IN THE BACK! Lizzy heaven! It turns out that chocolate macaroons are the most delicious, most awesome, most EASY and SIMPLE and QUICK recipe ever!!!! mmmm, yes. This book was made in Japan, so everything's measured in grams. Uh oh. So I hopped online and found a grams - tbsp calculator, looked up substitutes for almond meal, and got cooking!

So, the substitute for almond meal is coconut flour and an egg, or you can put almonds into a coffee grinder.

 

alright.41/2 tbsp butter (room temperature)

3 1/2 tbsp cake flour (all purpose would work just fine though!)

3 1/2 tbsp almond meal (or 3 1/2 tbsp coconut flour and an egg)

4 tbsp cocoa powder

3 tbsp powdered sugar

whisk the butter (and egg, if you're using coconut flour) in a small bowl, and if you're using the egg, it won't mix in very well, but that's okay. It's like trying to mix oil and vinegar. Stir all of the other ingredients into a bigger bowl and then add the butter (and egg). mix. then roll them into one inch spheres, and bake them on a cookie sheet for 13-15 minutes. 

I had all of this written down on a sheet of scratch paper so I wouldn't get anything on the library book, but my mom threw it away (I cannot be-LIEVE it.) so I had to paw through the trash to find it. 

Whatever works.

They are the most delicious things in the world. and the go EXCELLENTLY with the brown drink of happiness (coffee).

As you can see, this photo was very craftily designed. And took with a very high quality 20$ camera. Oh yeah.

It also goes well with breakfast. (If your mom says it's okay :)

Oliver!

http://hpami.org/I have no book to review this fine Wednesday, so I'm going to give you a review on a play called Oliver! On Saturday, after dinner Katy, my mom and I got into the car, and drove (after much turning around) to Comstock Community Auditorium to see Oliver!.  We settled into our seats and after hearing the "No Food and No Photography," warnings the lights dimmed and the curtain went up... and the play started. When the opening scene singing started I braced myself for the worst. But it never came. The singing was fabulous! The play was humorous and quality. The light design was ingenious, and the costumes were great. The orphan's clothing was especially good because of all the little details. The pants were slightly too short, and the the sleeves were too. The sets were awesome! the main structure could be used as a house, the London bridge, and much more (it's a three hour play, what do you expect?). The lighting... how can I even explain? In the scary scene, everyone was a silhouette, to make it all the more scarier! when the curtain went down, I joined everyone in screaming: "It can't be over!" again and again. and I plan to keep that special ticket to Oliver! all my life. It was the best play ever.

What We're Reading Wednesday: Akiko and the Intergalactic Zoo

 It's Wednesday again, and now it's time to choose a book for WWRW. I know what your thinking, "Why don't you choose a book before today?" and yes, I'm supposed to, but I don't. Logic.  Well anyway, after amounts of searching, I found a library book called "Akiko and the Intergalactic Zoo." I know, it sounds like one of those books about a handsome thirteen year old boy who's humble and unrealistic, and, coincidentally, he has a girl sidekick who has a crush on him. Sound familiar?

 Well THIS book's not. This is actually the fifth book in the series, and earlier she goes on a mission to rescue the prince of planet Smoo. Anyway, it's about a girl in fifth grade (yes fifth grade! No teeny teen gal nonsense) who, after all the stress of rescuing a prince gets to go on vacation to the Intergalactic Zoo. Of course, it's definitely non realistic, but that's my kinda thing. I already have enough of realistic things, so I love to bury myself into fantasy books. I don't want to give it away, (who am I kidding you're all grownups, you're never going to read it!) but the vacation turns to an adventure, with surprises everywhere , but it doesn't go over-the-top. So I think this book is really good, and recommend it to every kid of ages 8 - 12. (yes, it's that good!I've been reading it since I was eight, and still am!)

Theme Thursday: Barns

Hi all, today is that day again. In other words it's Thursday. This Thursday's theme is barns, and I wish I could just send y'all a photo of my house, but I wasn't sure I could convey the message. Well anyway, here are some REAL barns...

(I took these out the window of the passenger seat of our mini van on our way from our home school partnership with my mom's camera.)

That Paul...

Today I was doing my math when Paul said, "Lizzy, you shouldn't tip in your chair"

Me: you shouldn't tip in your chair.
Paul: I'm not!
Me: You will. At lunch and dinner.
Paul: I don't tip in my chair at lunch.

The Black Stallion by Walter Farley

Well, you see, I once decided that I would read all of the horse books in existence, (meanwhile writing a few as well) and I happened to stumble upon The Black Stallion. As soon as I opened the front cover I was delighted to see that Walter Farley had written a whole series of Black Stallion books! In fact it was so big a series there were twenty one of them! So I checked them all out, only to find that I loved the first one, liked the second, was OK with the third, and didn't even read the rest. You know the saying: "First time's funny, second time's silly, and third time's a spanking." So, if you're like me, and you want to read all of the sappy horse books in history, I'll save you the trouble: If it's a series, only read the first ones.

In the book, young Alexander Ramsey is shipwrecked on an inhabited island with a wild stallion. The way the author writes takes you inside Alec's mind without going into the first person. In almost all the books you can find, the first words are boring, and they encourage you to stop reading. Well, that is if you don't read The Black Stallion. It's entertaining from the very start, introducing the characters without being bland, witch is a pattern I see in a lot of books.

So again, if you like horses and you happen to be a kid, I highly recommend The Black Stallion.

I'm thankful

I'm thankful for baseballs, bears, babies, and bikes. Books and boats.

I 'm thankful for pink pj's,yellow chickens ,blue eyes and red merles .

I'm thankful for furry blankets and family ,cristmas and cats ,love and lakes.I'm thankful.