What I'm Reading Now...

So I finally finished reading The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown thanks to a couple flights & a long layover I had recently. It was....good. Not great, just good. I had heard from multiple people that it was sooooo good & a "you-can't-put-it-down" type of book like The DaVinci Code. I disagree. It was definitely not bad but nothing that I need to read again. I really like that it took place in Washington, DC though because I knew just about all the places they were exploring, etc. Yay DC! I was anticipating finishing the book on the airplane (and then what would I do??) so I bought another one at the airport bookstore.

Now, it doesn't really matter to me WHAT bookstore I'm in - I could always stay for hours. When I go to 1/2 Price Books, I have to allow myself an entire afternoon because I can't just go in with one book in mind and walk right back out. And even though I had many books waiting for me back home, I got caught up in the wonderfulness that was the bookstore & just had to get another! I saw lots that looked good (and LOTS more that looked terrible), but I kind of wanted something different & something that took me to a different time & place. As you may know, I really like SciFi books - magic, worlds that are created by the author, mystical creatures...all that mature stuff that you would expect a law school graduate/beauty queen/27 year-old to like! HA. 

The book that I chose is not science fiction, but I feel like it has almost the same effect. It takes the reader to a different world because of the time period with different types of characters than a book set "today." So, I chose...

The Other Boleyn Girl

by Philippa Gregory

I'm really excited to start this one (ends up I didn't finish my first book on the plane because I fell alseep!), but I am also excited to FINISH this one because then I can see the movie! I know everyone knows the rule - "don't see the movie til you've read the book" - right?? That goes for ALL books that are made into movies. I would say 99.9% of the time, books are better! Oh and it doesn't hurt that Eric Bana is in the movie... yummy!

I still have other books on my shelf too that I'm excited to read - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (started it twice...couldn't get past 30 pages, we'll see) & Tea Rose (recommended by my Boost). I'm making it a point starting......NOW to read a little each & every night. Challenge accepted!

Happy Reading!

XOXO

Snickerdoodles

I hadn't baked in a while, so by request of BBE, I made Snickerdoodles! Just the name is so fun, right? I usually think these cookies are kind of boring, but since it was a request I complied :) I did some searching around in my cookbooks and on some different websites to find a good recipe. The one I decided on is on one of the cooking blogs I really love - {Lovin From the Oven.} Not only have I really liked all the recipes I tried from this blog, but what drew me to this particular recipe is that it was kind of revamped to where she tried others & combined them to make this one great! All the work is done :)

So from her to me to you guys, Snickerdoodles that are sure to delight!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

For rolling:

• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars with

an electric mixer on high speed. Add the egg and vanilla and

beat until smooth.

2. In another bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda, and

cream of tartar.

3. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix well.

4. Preheat oven to 300 degrees while you let the dough rest for

30 to 60 minutes in the refrigerator.

     **I left the dough in the fridge for about an hour, & it was still pretty sticky. I don't know if leaving it even longer would do anything though

5. In a small bowl, combine the sugar with the cinnamon for the

topping.

6. Take about 2 1/2 tablespoons of the dough and roll it into a

ball. Roll this dough in the cinnamon/sugar mixture and press it

onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Repeat for the remaining cookies.

7. Bake the cookies for 12 to 14 minutes and no more. The cookies

may seem undercooked, but will continue to develop after they are

removed from the oven. When the cookies have cooled they should be

soft and chewy in the middle.

      **I baked the first batch just like she said in her recipe (for 12 minutes to be safe!), but they were too mushy. I put them in for 2 more minutes but still not happy with how they turned out. The second  batch I baked at 325 for 13 minutes - perfect! Could just be an oven thing, but 14 minutes at 300 left them too mushy & they didn't continue cooking afterwards enough for my liking! {Picture below}

Makes about 16 cookies.

These are the first batch right when they came out

This is after they had been sitting a while. You can see they're kind of flat

Left = First Batch, Right = Second Batch

Second Batch is thicker & overall better :)

The reason for so many pictures?? I know everyone knows what batter looks like when you mix it...but I got a new camera for Christmas! So, yes I do take every opportunity I can to use it :)

Enjoy these yummy Snickerdoodles!!

XOXO,

Ashley

Hmmm...decisions, decisions

So I'm trying to figure out another background/header/etc for my blog, but I'm at a standstill. I just don't really like anything! So I just have to say, please excuse the mess that is happening right now & bear with me. I went back & forth between Vday theme, trying to find something neutral that I won't have to change every month, to whatever this green stuff is right now. Ha. Anyway. I will find something soon. Until then, check out these blogs that were recommended to me recently. They're both fashion blogs, & I just LOOOOVE them!!

Love Maegan & Capitol Hill Style

xoxo