Taco...Wednesday?

Thank you to this posts guest columnist Talia!

I don’t really feel like having tacos today…said no one EVER.

Taco Tuesday is a staple in our household, and it inspired me to expand the definition of what ‘Taco Tuesday’ typically means and test out a new Mexican-style recipe. After taking a stab at these Crunchwraps for the first time, we were hooked, and Taco Tuesday quickly turned into Crunchwrap Tuesday. While this recipe has a lot of moving parts, especially living with one vegetarian and one carnivore in the household, the end result is worth every minute.

The other good news about this recipe is that you can stack your Crunchwrap with whatever fillings you like (basically any toppings you would put on a taco could work in your wrap) and make modifications depending on your dietary restrictions. In the same breath, you can choose not to include certain toppings that aren’t to your taste.

 

Here is what I put in ours…

Daisy Jones & The Six

★★★★☆ (4.5/5)

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid was a book I was extremely excited to get started on: it was a Reese’s Book Club pick, I loved the last book I read by Reid, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and my Pittsburgh friends gave it raving reviews. Additionally, I’m a sucker for anything musically inclined, especially if it’s set during the 60’s or 70’s. So I was ready for a great ride! Let me tell you – I have a lot of thoughts on the book, but it did not disappoint.

First and foremost, I love the format of the novel – I loved it from the start, and it only developed further as I got to the end of the book. The novel is told in an interview format, with the main characters retelling their accounts for their time in/around Daisy Jones and the Six. The way the story is told from the perspective of each character really develops your understanding of their perspectives of the inner workings of the band and sets a really strong foundation for character building.

The Clockmaker's Daughter

★★☆ (2.5/5)

The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton is a tough one for me to review. It felt like the perfect October read when I started – beautiful cover, mystery, some dark/ghost themes – but I honestly struggled to get through to the end. I usually love Kate Morton and even though she is a little formulaic, and I try to read her new releases whenever they come out. This one, unfortunately, was probably my least favorite so far.

The story takes place over the course of 150 years, with general character/perspective shifts over time, but consistent input from Lily Millington throughout. It centers around Birchwood Manor, a house that is seemingly under the protection of old, sacred magic but also has a dark past. We hear about it from its origins, to the purchase by artist Edward Radcliffe, all the way to the summer of 2017 when unsuspecting Elodie Winslow uncovers some secret connections to the house that draw her into the mystery surrounding it (and plenty of characters in between).

When Life Gives You Lemons...

★★★★★ Lemon Curd Tart

Alright, this one’s short going to be but sweet (literally!). We somehow managed to get a late start to the new season of Great British Bake Off this year (one of our all time favorite shows). If you haven’t had the pleasure of watching this show, please do yourself a favor and get on board; it’s seriously the most feel-good show of all time. True amateur bakers competing in a contest for nothing more than their own pride in their passion is really wholesome TV. While I’m sure they get Instagram followers and some endorsements if they make it far enough in the competition, the camaraderie between the contestants and their honest, simple love for baking feels genuine and is truly a pleasure to watch.

Last year while watching the show I had a real “Hey, I can do that!” moment and decided I would put the seemingly decorative Kitchen Aid mixer from our wedding registry to work. Dozens of meringues and cookies later, and with the new season of GBBO on air, it was time to step up my game and take on something a bit more complicated. While this is by no means my own recipe (credit: @FoodNetwork & @InaGarten) here’s my attempt at a simple Lemon Curd Tart. Spoiler alert: it’s delicious.

Far From the Tree

★★★★ (4/5)

Back to back Book Nerd posts mean you’re in for 100% less funny (me) and 100% better quality (haha!) .... time for a brand new review on another lovely book.

I don’t often delve into YA reviews because I feel like the genre can get a little over done- every young reader posts, the themes tend to be similar, and I don’t feel like I have a leg to stand on with booknerd opinions. But still, let’s just say that to YA true form, this gave me 100% of the feelings and I have yet to recover so I'm giving it a try.

Let’s hope this review breaks the mold!

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

★★★★☆ (4.5/5)

I need to preface this recap with a warning that this was one of my all time favorite books of 2019, so I have a lot to say. Let's do this dance!

I have been begging every person (including Cook Nerd - first book he's ready since 2001) to read this since the moment I picked it up. I came across this when I was at one of my favorite bookstores in Boston with my mom (shoutout to @brooklinebooksmith and @bethbrooks314), as a staff pick which described it as a "wild ride" and "fun mystery". Wow - I did not know what kind of "fun, wild" ride I was in for.