Tuesday Talk: Top 2018 Reads Edition

It's the first Tuesday Talk of 2019!  Linking up with Erika and Ashley HERE 

This is the fun linkup when we get to talk about anything and everything so here it goes....

Since I never did a recap of the books I read in 2018, I thought I would share them with you today AND list my Top 5 for faves.....

Here is what my reading looked liked last year (The Titles in Bold Red are my Top 5 for the year and I will share some thoughts below:

January-  The Matchmaker by Elin Hilderbrand

                A Stranger In The House by Shari Lapena

      The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

          Night Road by Kristin Hannah

Feburary-     The Blue Bistro- Elin Hilderbrand

                    Mrs. Fletcher- Tom Perrotta

March-          Truly, Madly, Guilty- Liane Moriarty

        Class Mom- Laurie Gilman

                 

April-          The Family Next Door- Sally Hepworth

                  Girl Wash Your Face- Rachel Hollis

May               The Flight Attendant- Chris Bohjalian

June          The Identicals- Elin Hilderbrand

July              The Perfect Couple- Elin Hilderbrand

               The UnDomestic Goddess- Sophie Kinsella

August         Sophia of Silicon Valley- Anna Yen

                  All We Ever Wanted- Emily Giffin

September   When Life Gives You Lululemons- Laura Weisberger

October     The Other Woman- Sandie Jones

             Confessions Of A Domestic Failure- Bunmi Laditan

November        Wild Talk- Dani Antoinette

December     An Island Christmas- Nancy Thayer

  

Night Road- Kristin Hannah

This was heart-wrenching and yet so compelling and I felt that this story was preparing me on how to raise my kids during those high school years...how your mistakes can lead to their mistakes and how to deal with the aftermath and tragedy...ugh...anyway, I could not put this book down and really learned some things that I hope I remember in a few years!

The Blue Bistro- Elin Hilderbrand

Since Elin is my favorite author anyway, this one isn't a surprise.  When I went to visit her and meet her last year in Boston, someone from the crowd asked her what her favorite book was that she wrote and this was the one.  I remember getting home and being more motivated than ever to finish the Winter Street Series (especially around the holidays) so I could start The Blue Bistro ASAP.  It was everything and more...it had the Nantucket backdrop that is so craved in her stories...it had the quintessential love story that I need AND it all took place in a restaurant and her descriptions of food and the island fare are second to none so it had everything I needed.  This was definitely by favorite Hilderbrand novel thus far!

  

Sophia Of Silicon Valley- Anna Yen

This friends...was my favorite book of the year...I was so sad when it was over.  I saw myself in Sophia as a young professional...it made me flash back and reminded me of my "Workaholic Ways"....I laughed...I cried and I devoured this book.....I still reminisce about it and that is how I know it was my favorite of the year!

The Other Woman- Sandie Jones

This was a thriller with a MAJOR TWIST at the end...never saw it coming....so so good and exciting to read and I love when stories incorporate weddings (my fave of all time)...highly recommend!

Confessions of a Domestic Failure- Bunmi Laditan

OH friends I laughed throughout this one....so cute...a little far- fetched in spots but loved listening to this narrative and it reminded me of all the things we beat ourselves up about as wives and moms.....how so many people can make us feel imperfect on line and in real life....and how we can overthink those things...I was laughing because some of the blogger characters in this story remind me of some bloggers I have read too and it is just too funny to read  some of the similarities!

There ya have it!  My reads for 2018 and my top picks!  I hope you get some new ideas from my list.  I get so many wonderful reading tips from you.  Happy Reading!

Recipe Wins and a Note/Edit on My 2017 Book Review

After reviewing my 2017 Book Review post yesterday, I realized I completely left an entire book out!

I read two books in November and would say those two books were in my top three for the year.

I forgot to mention the book Shattered.  I have since edited the post to include it and you can read about it HERE 

So, on to some recipe wins for winter.  They work if you are eating clean or following a Ketone type plan.  Regardless, they are delicious and the men in my house are enjoying them too!  (Rob gets worried when he sees me trying a new diet/plan but his concerns were quickly put to ease after he indulged in these two recent recipes.

I wanted to share them with you of course! 

First....

White Chicken Chili

Ingredients

1 lb chicken*

1.5 cups chicken broth

2 garlic cloves, finely minced

1 4.5oz can chopped green chiles

1 diced jalapeno

1 diced green pepper

1/4 cup diced onion

4 tbsp butter

1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

4 oz cream cheese

2 tsp cumin

1 tsp oregano

1/4 tsp cayenne (optional)

Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions
 
*In large pot, season chicken with cumin, oregano, cayenne, salt and pepper

*Sear both sides over medium heat until golden

*Add broth to pot, cover and cook chicken for 15-20 minutes or until fully cooked

*While chicken is cooking, melt butter in medium skillet

*Add chiles, diced jalapeno, green pepper and onion to skillet and saute until veggies soften

*Add minced garlic and saute additional 30 seconds and turn off heat, set aside

*Once chicken is fully cooked, shred with fork and add back into broth

*Add sauteed veggies to pot with chicken and broth and simmer for 10 minutes

*In medium bowl, soften cream cheese in microwave until you can stir it (~20 sec)

*Mix cream cheese with heavy whipping cream

*Stirring quickly, add mixture into pot with chicken and veggies

*Simmer additional 15 minutes

*Serve with favorite toppings such as: pepper jack cheese, avocado slices, cilantro, sour cream

Notes

*I used a rotisserie chicken as I often do.  It really makes dishes so much easier and it is oh so delicious.  It also didn't take as long to cook- I warmed it in the stock for about 10 minutes 

Next is.....

Deconstructed Pizza Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes (do not use petite dice)
• 5 links (19.5 oz.) uncooked turkey Italian sausage
• 2 tsp. + 2 tsp. olive oil
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
• salt and fresh-ground pepper to taste
• 8-12 oz. fresh mushrooms, washed and cut into thick slices
• 1 1/2 cups grated Mozzarella cheese
• 15 slices pepperoni, cut in half 

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400F/200C. Spray an 8 inch x 11 inch glass casserole dish with non-stick spray or olive oil.
2. Pour the diced tomatoes into a colander placed in the sink and rinse with cold water. Let tomatoes drain a minute or two, then spread them out on paper towels to dry (or blot dry with another paper towel on top.)
3. While tomatoes dry, heat 2 tsp. olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan, squeeze the sausage out of the casing, and cook sausage over medium-high heat until it’s nicely browned, breaking it apart as it cooks.
4. While sausage cooks, wash mushrooms, pat dry, and slice into thick slices.
5. When the sausage is done make a layer of sausage in the bottom of the casserole dish and top with the drained tomatoes, spreading them out over the top of the sausage. Season with dried oregano, salt, and fresh-ground black pepper. 
6. Rinse out the pan if needed, then heat the other 2 tsp. of olive oil over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot add the mushrooms and cook, stirring a few times, until all the liquid is released and the mushrooms are starting to brown. Layer the mushrooms over the sausage-tomato mixture.
7. Cut pepperoni in half. Sprinkle the grated Mozzarella over the top of the casserole and lay the pepperoni pieces on top of the cheese, spacing them evenly so the whole top is covered with pepperoni.
8. Bake about 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and starting to brown. Serve hot.

 Let me know if you try these recipes and what you think!

 

Book Review

I actually met one of my New Year's goals in 2017 and that was to read one book/month.  I actually exceeded this goal- barely - but glad I did.

I am keeping the same goal for 2018 even though I should probably up it.  I just want to be realistic with my schedule and I still want to get excited to read.  It is one of my favorite outlets!

Here are the books I read in 2017 and a few thoughts on them.  As you will see, it was a big Elin Hilderbrand year.  This year will probably follow suit as I make it through all of her books 1 by 1.  I know we can also plan for 2 new books of hers to come out this year too.

On a side note, I really wish Jennifer Weiner would write another adult novel again.  She has had some recent success with a childrens' novel and we haven't seen a story from her in quite some time.  

Okay, I digress, back to my 2017 reads.

January

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena 

 Fantastic- such a quick read- so suspenseful and what a twist in the end- incredible!

February

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

My first Liane Moriarty novel- slow to start but once I was engaged, there was no putting it down.  I love stories about suburbia and couples and families- they are actually my favorite and this one did not disappoint!

March

When Food Is Love by Geneen Roth

 This was a self-help kind of purchase and very disappointing.  I thought I would learn something and get some tips on self control and it was all about the author and her personal struggles and really depressing.

April 

There were two books this month!  You can probably tell I was tired of winter and ready for some summer inspiration!

Summer People by Elin Hilderbrand

 Awesome story about a widow and her family and quality time spent at their beach house on Nantucket.  Love all of the descriptions of the different places in Nantucket and the memories they made.

The Rumor also by Elin Hilderbrand

 This was one of my faves of her thus far.  Oh so steamy and the descriptions of the main character's garden and yard were incredible.  It was suspenseful and another awesome story about a couple and their family.

May

Everything We Keep by Kerry Lonsdale

This was recommended to me by fellow bloggers and they did not steer me wrong.  It was such a suspenseful and different kind of story for me to read.  I read it quickly and it kept me on my toes.


June

Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand

This was a bit different from Hilderbrand's other novels.  Yes it still was set in Nantucket, however, it was a thriller that was very similar to the real life Bernie and Ruth Madoff story. 

July

Everything We Left Behind by Kerry Lonsdale

This was the follow up to Lonsdale's Everything We Keep and at the time it came out, I was trying to get into Right Behind You- a thriller recommended by blogging friends.  Well, I could not get into it- it was so drawn out and boring SO this was my perfect excuse to drop that book and start this one immediately.  It was, however, the biggest reading disappoint of the year for me.  Just a let down and I kept waiting for more to happen- deeper characters- interesting story- nope...just blah.


August

The Surfing Lesson by Elin Hilderbrand

This one was a short story and all I really had time for during our busiest month of the year. I flew through it and what I really enjoyed most about it, was that it was based on characters from her novel, Beautiful Day.  It is fun when you already recognize the characters and can jump into a story quickly.  Perfect summer read!


September

The Silent Wife by A.S.A Harrison

This was one of my top picks of the year.  It reminded me of The Girl On The Train which was my favorite book two years prior- so suspenseful- such twists- so so good.  Sadly the author has passed away, however, there are plans for a motion picture and I will be first in line!


October

Foul Play At The Fair by Shelley Freydont

This was a cute and quick little read and a perfect book for the fall.  It was a murder mystery set in a quaint town during their fall festivals- so fun.  Another recommendation from my blogging friends.


November

There were two books this month as well- and two of my favorites of the year!

First.... 





Class Mom by Laurie Gelman

Friends?  This one is definitely in the top three of the year- I laughed SO HARD.  I can thank my blogging friends for this one too.  If you have been a class mom or a volunteer for your PTA or even if you are just another parent, you need to read this- you will HOWL.  I LOVED it.  Another funny story in suburbia and written by the famous producer "Gelman's" wife Laurie- I wish they would make a movie-read it TODAY :)

Next was...

Shattered- A True Story of a Mother's Love, A Husband's Betrayal and a Cold-Blooded Texas Murder by Ann Rule

Oh my word friends.  This was recommended by you.  Before I started my December reads, I wanted to get another book in because I was on a roll.  I found it saved in my Kindle and I never put it down.  I was shocked with the fact that I had never heard about this story.  It was so similar to the Lacey and Scott Peterson story which was everywhere too!  The most chilling part was reading the afterword by the author and when she wrote that she had interviewed thousands of people for similar stories over the years and you always end up hearing something negative about someone- she said when she interviewed people about Belinda Temple, she never heard one negative word.  She brought joy to anyone's life she touched- everyone loved her- such a tragedy but made me want to be more like her and live my life trying to bring happiness to everyone I touch for sure.




December

So this was the month I binge-read (is that even a thing?) so I could enjoy Elin Hilderbrand's Winter Street Series AND do it during the Christmas season.  These books carried me through the crazy holiday season and our trip to Florida for cheer and I finished the last one at the end of the month- FTW!  Beautiful stories about the Quinn Family and their lives surrounding their family inn on Winter Street in Nantucket.  So here they are in order.....

Winter Street

Winter Stroll

Winter Storms

Winter Soltice

Daily Devotionals

In addition to a monthly book, I also read daily devotionals that help give me strength.  This year, I read the following and recommend them all!

Jesus Always

Jesus Today

and Trusting God Day By Day

In 2018, I have already started my new reading.

January's Book is The Matchmaker by Elin Hilderbrand (yes her again!) ;)

and the daily devotionals I have chosen for this year, thanks to you are

Jesus Lives

and 

Sacred Reading

I welcome all of your suggestions....please keep them coming...I appreciate all of the inspiration and welcome your stories and reviews.  Happy New Year!