Review & Recipe #3: 13 Reasons Why & Spin Dip



I started a new meme here where I will be posting mini reviews  on the 1st of every month along with a recipe I've created or found that relates to the book.  To join me, add the image above to your post and link up below.


Sorry I'm a little late this month!


Mini Review:
My cousins let me borrow this one and said it was fantastic.  What they forgot to mention was that it is also really depressing and kind of frustrating.  It wasn't a two boxes of tissues-ugly crying- way, but it was more upsetting that this girl took her life and then blamed everyone else and no one saw the signs to help her.  

The main character clay was so sweet and I loved that it was in his perspective listening to the tapes the girl left behind.  The way the story went back and forth between how he was reacting to the tapes and the story of the girl's life was so fast paced I couldn't find a place to stop.  Which means I basically read this book in a day.  It's pretty short so it wasn't hard.  

I thought it was a pretty realistic story.  When I was in high school one of my classmates hung himself.  I didn't really know him well.  Never had classes with him or anything, but it still really bothered me.  After reading this, I wondered how his friends and other people in his life felt after he was gone.  Did he leave them any explanation?  This happens more than it should and I think it's great the author took the time to write something to get teens to start recognizing the signs of depression.  He might have saved someone's life.

Recipe:

Spinach Artichoke Dip / Stuffed Mushrooms

If you're going to read something as sad as Thirteen Reasons Why, you're going to need some comfort food.  This snack is pretty healthy, but tastes even better than Applebee's Spin dip!  You won't need to bust out the elastic sweatpants for these  

When cooking for my sister's Bridal Shower I accidentally used up all the Spinach when making the spin dip.  I needed a gluten free option for one of the guests so I took the spin dip and stuffed some mushrooms with it and they ended up being a big hit.  So whether you're looking for a fun dip during game nights or a grain free option this recipe will not disappoint.

Ingredients:

1 (13 oz) jar of artichoke hearts
1 bag frozen spinach
1 clove garlic
1/2 cup greek yogurt (plain)
1/2 cup light mayo
2/3 cup parm cheese
4 oz mozzarella cheese
1 bag pita or tortilla chips 
1 pkg. of mushrooms
salt and pepper

1. Preheat oven 375 degrees.
2. Microwave the spinach until it's soft. (1 min or 30 seconds)
3. Throw the spinach, artichoke, yogurt, and mayo in the food processor until it's finely ground.
4. Mince the garlic and throw it in too.
5. Add the mozzarella and parm cheese and salt/pepper to taste.
6. Once it's all blended you can either bake it in a pan for 20-25 mins or...

7. Wash mushrooms and cut out center stem.
8. Fold in Feta cheese to the spin dip and stuff the dip into mushrooms.
9. Place on tray and bake for 10-15 minutes.


Review & Recipe #2



I started a new meme here where I will be posting mini reviews  on the 1st of every month along with a recipe I've created or found that relates to the book.  To join me, add the image above to your post and link up below.



Mini Review:

Can someone please explain to me why I waited this long to read this book? Seriously, if you haven't read this book drop whatever you're doing (well finish reading my review first) then go get this book.  It was so action packed and had such a scary realistic dystopian world I literally could not put it down.  

So much happens in this book yet it only takes place within a few days.  I loved Ember's character.  While she's stupid at times and puts herself in unnecessary danger, she's also really good at getting herself out of it.  And Chase was the dark brooding hunk that is just a teen trying to figure out his life in the middle of a crazy post war world.  

Breaking Point just came out and it's taking everything in me not to just go spend money and buy it right this second.  That's how you can tell I love a book...when I'm willing to just go buy the book right away!  Seriously go read it!  
Mexican Lettuce Wraps

Recipe:

This meal seems so intricate, much like Article 5, but underneath the wraps it's actually quite simple and enjoyable!  My cousin and I love to get together and try to make healthy recipes out of ones we already have.  One day we raided the pantry and came up with this version of a mexican layered dip that my family has made for years.  It's healthy and obnoxiously delicious.

Ingredients:
1 can refried beans
4 tbs. plain greek yogurt (or you can use sour cream)
1/2 pkg taco mix
1 cup cheddar cheese (I used reduced fat cheese)
1/3 cup onion chopped
1/3 cup tomato chopped
1/3 cup black beans
1/3 cup corn
1 cup ground turkey
1 head of lettuce (I like Iceberg for this)

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. On the stove brown the ground turkey until cooked.  Stir in the taco seasoning.
3. Add to the pot: onion, black beans, corn and stir till mixed. 
3. In a 9in pan layer refried beans, greek yogurt, meat mixture, tomatoes, cheddar cheese.
4. Bake for 10 minutes or until cheese starts to bubble.
5. Serve on lettuce (or if you want to be a little unhealthy chips work great too!)  
6. Sit back and relax while everyone praises your delicious cooking.




Passion For Bookish Fashion #1



I spend way too much time on Pinterest looking at cute outfits.  And one day I found a dress that reminded me of a character in a book I was reading.  I decided to start a feature where I could put together outfits that remind me of characters in books I'm reading!





Samantha meets Jase one summer and it changes her life.  She grows into the person she wants to be instead of the perfect version of a daughter her mom wants her to be.  

But one thing that never changes is her cute & comfy fashion sense.  After coming home from a long day lifeguarding she likes to throw on a dress with flip flops. I picked simple yet elegant accessories because although she comes from money I feel like she wouldn't flaunt it.  Finally I picked a watch because she's always punctual and on time. 

Dress  Purse  Earings  Flip Flops Bracelet 


I could totally see her chilling on a blanket with Jase on her roof star gazing and makin out after a day at the beach.

What do you think?  
Can you see Samantha wearing this?



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