Rainbow Cake Pops

This was my first time making cake pops, and let me just state for the record that it's a ridiculous amount of work considering your return. It took me about 3 hours from start to finish, and it only made 10 pops. That being said, they were tootin' tasty (and made for a great Instagram picture)! If you've never made cake pops before either, the link at the bottom of the post leads to the original recipe, which has a video that shows you the steps. A couple of things I learned the hard way: 1) Don't overcook the chocolate or you'll never be able to get it to coat the pop. 2) If you don't have a cake pop holder (I sure don't), the holes in a basic kitchen colander are just the right size to hold the lollipop sticks while the chocolate is hardening.

Ingredients: 
Cake
1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 egg
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup milk
Rainbow food coloring
Cake pop filling & coating
100 grams white chocolate chips (about 3.53 ounces for our non-metric friends)
65 grams whipping cream (about 2.29 ounces)
300 grams white chocolate chips, melted (about 10.58 ounces)
Rainbow sprinkles
Lollipop sticks

Directions:

1.  Cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract, egg, and salt, and mix to combine. In a separate bowl, combine flour and baking powder. Add to the wet mixture in 2 additions, alternating with the milk. Divide the batter into 6 bowls and add a different color of food coloring to each. (I found that 3-4 drops of food coloring got a good, strong hue.) Pour the batter into a cupcake tin lined with cupcake liners, making sure to not mix the colors. Bake at 350 F for 15 minutes, then cool completely. 
2. Weigh 60 grams (2.11 ounces) of each color of cake and crumble them into individual bowls. Pour 100 grams (3.53 ounces) of white chocolate chips and whipping cream into a small pot and set to medium heat. Stir constantly until the chocolate has melted, then divide evenly between the cake. Stir until cake is fully coated in the chocolate mixture.
3. Place a sheet of plastic wrap on your cooking surface and stack small disks of each color of cake on top of each other in the order of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple). Wrap the plastic wrap around the cake and shape into a ball. Remove the plastic wrap and place the cake pops on a plate lined with plastic wrap. Place in the freezer until firm, about 20 minutes.
4. Dip the lollipop sticks into some melted white chocolate and stick one into each cake pop. Return the cake pops to the freezer for the chocolate to set, about 5-10 minutes. Dunk the cake pops into the melted chocolate, gently tapping the lollipop stick to remove any excess chocolate. Sprinkle some rainbow sprinkles onto the top of the cake pops, then stick into a cake pop holder and transfer to the fridge for the chocolate coating to fully set, 10-15 minutes.

Source: Tastemade

Wildflower - Alecia Whitaker

Bird Barrett never thought she would be picked up by a professional music label and asked to contract for her own album. Then again, she never thought her family would sell their home and tour the country in an RV as a bluegrass band for the majority of her life, but that's exactly what happened after the death of her younger brother. When her dad comes down with a cold right before a gig, she's chosen to replace him as the lead singer. Unbeknownst to her, a scouting agent is part of the crowd and he's drawn to her emotional and relatable style of singing. He approaches her after the show and expresses interest in acquiring her for one of the most well-known labels in country music. Ecstatic about the potential impact on her career, Bird accepts an offer to perform at the famed Bluebird Cafe. There, however, she is approached by yet another talent agent, this time from an obscure, unheard of label, who promises to make her a star without the rigorous terms set out by the other label. Drawn to the comfortable feel of the company, she decides to go with the smaller label and soon begins work on her first album. This not only dissolves her family's touring band but also affects her relationship with her long time crush (and her brother's best friend), Adam. As Bird rises to fame, she struggles to cope with her sudden popularity and the negative impact it seems to be having on her relationship with Adam and her brothers.

First things first - I was predisposed to dislike this book for two reasons. Number 1: I just acquired 10 or 11 Agatha Christie books and have been desperately trying to find a home for them on my already heavily laden bookshelves, so if I hated this one, I could get rid of it and have that much more space. Number 2: After reading the clip on the back cover, I was almost positive it was going to be some sickeningly sappy love story. On one hand, it wasn't quite as bad as I expected; I finished the whole thing within a couple of hours. On the other hand, pretty much the only reason I pushed through it is because I'm a sucker for the glitz and glamor life, which is basically the back half of the book. If you've ever seen the Partridge Family (and I regret to say that I have), you might notice a strong resemblance in this story. In fact, it basically goes from the Partridge Family to Taylor Swift in about 2 chapters flat. In addition to that, the ending is so abrupt that you might find yourself headed to the nearest doctor's office for whiplash. After spending the entire novel cultivating her relationship with the object of her crush, the whole thing is resolved in 2 pages and 1 phone conversation. There aren't really any sub-plots to engage your attention, and it doesn't have any elements of other genres except the romance. Overall, while it's something that I may pick up at the library to read once, it's not something I'll be keeping on my shelf.

Pros:

• Quick read (couple of hours at most)
• Easy read (no Plato-style language or ideas here!)
• Interesting (and probably accurate) look behind-the-scenes of music videos

Cons:

• Typical, over-simplified plot
• Story resembles a cross between the Partridge Family and the rise of Taylor Swift
• Abrupt ending

Mermaid - Carolyn Turgeon

Who doesn't love mermaids? Glittery tails, gorgeous hair (despite the high salt content of the sea), a free workout every time you move... what more could you want? Except maybe clam bras. Those are also on the list. Unless you're a mermaid in this book, then no clam bra for you. Okay, moving on now.

Lenia, princess of the merpeople, has always dreamed about her 18th birthday, the only time that she'll be able to surface and see the human world. Once, mermaids interacted with the surface frequently, but when they started getting caught in the human's nets, the royal family decreed that mermaids would only be able to visit once on their 18th birthday. Lenia has always been intrigued by the humans, especially because of stories her grandmother told about their souls; while mermaids gradually dissolve into foam and fade from the world, humans have something that lives forever. When her 18th birthday comes, Lenia is excited to surface and learn more. Once she reaches the human world, however, she is horrified to witness a ship struggling against a terrible storm. She thought dying would be a beautiful thing, with the souls leaving their owners like a bright light, but instead, she watches men convulse and struggle to get air under the water. And then she sees him, standing on the prow of the ship as it goes down, and she knows she has to save him. She rescues him from drowning and swims for miles to find dry land for him, singing to him the whole way. When she reaches a beach, she realizes the she can do nothing else to help the unconscious sailor, so she gets the attention of a girl standing on a turret nearby. Certain that he will be cared for, Lenia returns to the sea, but her heart stays above with the handsome sailor she rescued. Once below, her love for the sailor consumes her and she enlists the help of a sea witch to once again venture to the surface. The price, however, is her tail, her tongue, and her voice. Additionally, if she fails to marry the man, she will turn to foam the day after he marries another. She decides to risk it all to return to the man she loves.

Margrethe, the daughter of the king of the North, is in disguise at a convent to avoid attack from the Southern warriors. While taking a breath of fresh air, she sees the impossible; a mermaid surfaces carrying an incredibly handsome man. She rushes down to assist and promises to care for the man, then watches as the mermaid swims away. While the convent cares for the wounded man, she keeps him company, eventually falling in love with him. Unbeknownst to her, he is the son of the king of the South, her father's sworn enemy. After he leaves, her father learns that his enemy's son had infiltrated his daughter's hiding place and he rushes her home, eager to begin war preparations against the South for their treachery. When Margrethe realizes that the love of her life is in danger, and that her father is rushing down the road of destruction, she decides to take matters into her own hands; she will go to the South and offer her hand in marriage to once again unite the kingdoms. Margrethe and Lenia converge in the South, each one desperate for the Prince's love, but neither getting what they had expected.

Let me start off by saying I wanted to love this book. I really really did (for obvious mermaid reasons). In general, I liked it; the plot was exciting and intense, and I loved the similarities to the original tale. But, that being said, there were just too many holes in the plot that pulled me out of the story. Exhibit 1: Lenia falls in love with the Prince on sight, which I may have been able to forgive if the exact same thing hadn't supposedly happened to Margrethe. Whether I was supposed to believe that she loved him because of his affiliation with Lenia or his dashing good looks or what-have-you, it just didn't click for me. Furthermore, she leaves the safety of her kingdom and stakes her life on her love for this virtual stranger, leaving her (admittedly irrational) father in the dust. And the same thing happens to Lenia! Exhibit 2: I don't want to give away part of the plot so I'll try to generalize; Lenia is told by the sea witch that the transformation from mermaid to human is permanent, but this comes into question at the end of the book, and she retains some mermaid-esque traits with regards to one particular plot twist. (No spoilers for you!) Overall, the main characters' actions just seemed so rash and immature that I had a hard time staying immersed in the book. If you can forgive the whole "love at first sight" trope, you'll probably enjoy it. If you can't, you might still enjoy it, just try to push it to the back of your mind.

Pros:

• Mermaids!
• Interesting twist on the classic
• Fast-paced and keeps your attention

Cons:

• Ill-informed decisions all around
• "Love" is eventually reduced to something closer to "intimate relations" *cough cough* 
• Somewhat annoying (but admittedly minor) story discrepancies

Now, because I absolutely hate ending things on a negative note, I present to you my all time favorite GIF (jif or ghif, no judgement here). Don't take a sip of anything before looking unless you want it coming out of your nose!

The Season - Sarah MacLean

I LOVE historical fiction, and one of my favorite time periods to read about is the Regency Era. There's something completely enchanting about the London Season, when girls of a marriageable age attended balls in beautiful gowns in hopes of finding a husband. Slightly less enchanting is the manner in which women were often paired with undesirable partners solely to move up on the social ladder, but a girl can still dream. Anyhow, this is one such enchanting novel.

Alex is making her debut for the Season this year, but one thing sets her apart from many of her hopeful counterparts; she has absolutely no desire to marry. In fact, she believes the whole thing is ridiculous. The headstrong Alex finds the expectation to be the perfect lady burdensome at best and is irritated (and intimidated) by her inability to discuss important things like politics. Additionally, growing up in the presence of four jocular males has had the unfortunate side effect of causing her to speak her mind without thinking of the consequences. The only people she feels comfortable with outside of her immediate family are her two best friends, Ella and Vivi, and Gavin, her brothers' closest friend and her confidant. But that was before the mysterious death of Gavin's father. Now, he has inherited the title of Earl of Blackmoor and the responsibilities that go with it. Whether it's the Season or Gavin's new title, something has affected their relationship, changing it from familial to something more intimate. As they struggle to cope with these new (and not entirely unwelcome) feelings, a shocking discovery comes to light regarding the so-called accidental death of Gavin's father. Soon, Alex, Gavin, Ella, and Vivi are mixed up in a life-threatening plot that could have devastating national consequences.

The fact that I chugged through this book without stopping should indicate the level to which I love and adore it, but in case that doesn't speak for itself, I'll explain. First off, I love Alex's character. She goes against the grain of society in an inadvertently determined way and she's not willing to settle for the norm. She's intelligent, witty, and amusing, but she doesn't always think things through, which, I have to admit, grated on my nerves a little bit. Second, have I mentioned the Season yet? Beautiful balls, stunning ballgowns, man-hunting... what's not to love?! Finally, Gavin is pretty much what every girl dreams of, except for the occasional annoying incident. Pretty much the only real problem I had with the book was how she rushed into the conspiracy, knowing that people's lives were being put at risk. Even with that, it's definitely a book I would want to add to my collection!

Pros:

• London Season!!
• Forbidden romance (I know, I know, so typical. But give it a chance!)
•  Mystery AND romance AND historical Easter eggs

Cons:

• You say "life-threatening danger", Alex says "I'm on it! Never mind the impact on my entire family, my two closest friends, and the love of my life!"
• Plot seemed a little rushed with regards to the relationship between Alex and Gavin
• Snobby debutantes who think they can get whatever they want just because they're beautiful

Sloppy Joes

Remember when your mom used to make Sloppy Joes with Manwich, the sickeningly sweet canned sauce you'd add to ground beef? Yeah, me too. It was awful. It made me never want to touch anything remotely resembling Sloppy Joes again. That was before I discovered the Pioneer Woman, the queen of home cooking. She's got a recipe for pretty much everything you could ever want, and that includes Sloppy Joes. Once again, home cooking wins against processed, store-bought food!
 
Ingredients:
2 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 large green bell pepper, diced
1/2 large onion, diced
5 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 cups ketchup
2 TBSP. packed brown sugar
2 tsp. chili powder, or more to taste
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes, or more to taste
Worcestershire sauce to taste
Tabasco sauce to taste
Salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
8 kaiser rolls
2 TBSP. butter

Directions:

1.  Brown ground beef in a large pot over medium-high heat, then drain off the fat.
2. Add in green pepper and onion. Stir, then add minced garlic, ketchup, and 1 cup water. Stir to combine, then add brown sugar, chili powder, mustard, red pepper flakes, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, salt, and pepper. Stir again, then cover and simmer over medium-low heat for 20 minutes.
3. To serve, spread the kaiser rolls with softened butter and brown them on a griddle or skillet. Spoon the meat mixture onto the bottom roll, then top with the other half.

Source: The Pioneer Woman

A Matter of Heart - Amy Fellner Dominy

Abby Lipman has it all: she's the best female swimmer in her school, is about to swim for the Olympic qualifier, and dates the best (not to mention, most attractive) male swimmer on the team. Abby's father was once in her shoes, but a freak accident ended his swimming career before it had even started. Consequently, she swims for both of them, fulfilling her ongoing dreams and the ones he never got to live out. When she passes out after a meet, her coach sends her to the doctor for permission to swim again, where she is devastated to learn that she has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), an enlargement of the heart that jeopardizes her future. She is immediately prescribed a heart-slowing drug which, despite potentially saving her life, destroys her ability to swim competitively. In addition to not being able to race, her boyfriend decides that there's not room in their relationship for HCM and breaks it off. With the qualifier swim coming up, Abby decides to continue her training against the advice of her doctors and peers, but she didn't count on being under the watchful eye of Alec, a team member who she previously looked down on. As the two grow closer, Alec urges Abby to stop risking her life for swimming. When she can no longer lie to herself about her chances of winning while on the medication, she makes an impossible decision: she's going to win that meet or die trying, and that means taking herself off of the meds behind her parents' backs. This life-changing decision has huge consequences for her, but will the qualifier swim be her last one, or will she come to her senses in time to save her own life?

I received this book from my monthly Bookcase Club Box, which, by the way, is a really awesome service available for book-lovers. When I first picked it up, I was certain it was going to be your typical sappy romance novel, but I guess that goes to show you that you really can't judge a book by its cover. I couldn't put it down! The constant suspense caused by her continuing her training with HCM keeps you turning pages to find out what's going to happen, and you can't help but sympathize with her as you watch not only her dreams but also her father's crash and burn. That being said, I found her character a little annoying because she was legitimately going to put her life in danger just to swim a race, not to mention lying to pretty much everyone about what was going on. I eventually decided that her actions were due to her age and the shock of the diagnosis, so it wasn't a huge obstacle while I was reading.

 In addition to being a good novel in general, it's also informative; Dominy talks about HCM briefly at the end of the book. HCM is a real disease that affects 2 in 500 people, especially athletes, killing most of them before they've even been diagnosed. The realistic nature of the condition makes the story even more poignant, and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book are donated to a heart foundation.

Pros:

• A can't-put-it-down page turner!
• Realistic and relatable storyline
• Good character development

Cons:

• Main character can be a little unlikable when making rash decisions
• Parents' characters seem a little underdeveloped off the bat
• Typical teenage drama (some directly attributable to HCM diagnosis)