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By The Social Frog, on September 2nd, 2010
Even though it’s usually a mistake (grin) … do movies made out of books make you want to read the original?
Honestly, when I hear about a movie being made out of a book, I usually cringe. Half the time I decide to read the book first, before I see the movie. Then when I see the movie all I am is very critical, especially if the movie is very different from the book which has been the case over the last few years. Simply put the movie is never as good as the book. I also hate when they now do the book movie-tie-ins. No thanks. I want the original, untouched story.
By The Social Frog, on September 1st, 2010
Welcome to another edition of my weekly column Baking With The Social Frog!
If you are interested in baking with me every week, put the button in your post linking to my blog. Make sure to leave a link in the comments section so I can come see what you have baked this week! Or just come by and check out what I have made and get a yummy recipe.
This week it is a favorite of my husband and also a fall time favorite, Pecan Pie!
Pecan Pie
Ingredients:
Pie Crust Recipe:
2 cups Flour
2/3 cup Shortening
6 tablespoons Cold Water
Pinch of salt
Cut the shortening into the flour, add the salt then add the cold water, form into ball.
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3/4 stick Unsalted Butter
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1 1/4 cups packed Light Brown Sugar
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3/4 cup Light Corn Syrup
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2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
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1/4 teaspoon salt
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3 large Eggs
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2 cups Pecan Halves (1/2 pound)
Instructions:
- Add brown sugar, whisking till smooth. Remove from heat and whisk in corn syrup, vanilla, and salt. Lightly beat eggs in a medium bowl, then whisk in corn syrup mixture.
Let me know if you make this Pecan Pie or tell me your variation on it! Come back again soon, this column is here every Wednesday so stop by for some more recipes and share some if you would like as well.
By The Social Frog, on August 31st, 2010
How I miss my brothers already, it’s been only one full day since they left but I miss their presence in our home. This picture is of my brother Joel, we are pretty close and spent the whole time they were here, together.
Joel loves making things out of modeling clay, before he came to visit I had only seen a few pictures of some things he has made over this past year. He also did a big claymation project at school, it is awesome.
While here I bought him some clay and asked him to make me a few things, he made me a vase with red roses & a tree frog!
I especially love the frog. I just love frogs in general and I think he did a great job on it. I am wishing I had bought him the clay you bake, so that it will last semi-forever but Joel loves to use regular clay, so I am afraid when I move, these two trinkets might not make it.
By The Social Frog, on August 30th, 2010
I honestly HATE saying goodbye, it always feels so permanent to me. I knew the time would come when I would have to say goodbye to my brothers. I am very happy I had 3 weeks with them. Jacob took off for almost a week to visit someone so it was a little less time with him.
Joel and I had a great time together. We always try to do some sort of project or something together when he is here. This year though it seemed as if everything we had planned on doing together, did not work out for one reason or another. The important thing was that we were together.
We enjoyed lots of movies. I took them to the theatre twice to see The Expendables & then Joel to see Inception. Two very good movies, although I enjoyed Inception the most. We went to the ocean a few times, got many sunburns, enjoyed many slushies from Sonic. Wet N Wild was an awesome thing to experience with them too!
It was over to soon, it always is. Their flight left at 7:30am. We got there just a tad late, I guess not late but it was a bit of a rush to get through security, so our hugging time was short. As always, I tell myself I am not going to cry, that THIS goodbye is not forever. Well I cried. I can’t wait to see them again and my other family members, just don’t know when that will be and that is what makes parting so hard. I am blessed.
By The Social Frog, on August 29th, 2010
Yesterday, Saturday we planned and surprised my two brothers by taking them to Wet N Wild in Orland. I’ve always wanted to go but never got the opportunity to so I was excited as well.
The weather was not to happy looking all the way down to Orland, about a 3 hour drive from where I live. It was early morning so we had hope the weather might turn around a bit. I will say that all day it looked stormy and like it was going to rain. However, it did not rain till we started to leave the water park at 7:30pm.
It was so much fun, I even went on slides I refused to go on,lol. Daniel kept telling me how boring I am, I am not boring..I just know what I like and sometimes I don’t like stepping out of my comfort zone, we are all this way to some degree.
The ones I ended up going out turned out to be really fun or duds, fun wise. My favorite things to do were the Wave Pool & the Lazy River. After a while the boys took off and went on some more of the same slides and I just wanted to relax.
It was worth the drive and I am glad we went. There were tons of people there though but surprisingly the lines were not to bad, nothing like at any of the Disney parks. I think the longest we waited in a line was 40 minutes, maybe. The weather ended up being our friend though because it made it cooler than it normally would but through those dark and grey clouds, Daniel & I still got a sunburn.
After the water park we were starving and Jacob wanted steak so we headed over to Sizzler’s and had a pretty nice dinner although the price tag gave me a shock,lol.
I am sad to say my brothers are leaving us tomorrow to go back home and I will miss them like crazy!
By The Social Frog, on August 27th, 2010
If you would like to participate, just click the button!
Welcome to this weeks edition of Aloha Friday!
My Question This Week Is:
Did you, or do you have eggs in your home that have been recalled?
My Answer Is:
Yes, in-fact when I woke up Thursday morning I found the brand of eggs we buy was just put on the list. So I checked the dates & numbers and found we had to throw the eggs out. I was not to thrilled as I had just recently bought them and I baked some yummy brownies with them on Wednesday too. If you are not sure if your eggs have been recalled you can find out HERE.
By The Social Frog, on August 26th, 2010
If you’re not enjoying a book, will you stop mid-way? Or do you push through to the end? What makes you decide to stop?
Well several years ago I would have stopped reading the book, especially if I was bored out of my mind and took me forever just to read 1 page. These days though, I read all the way to the end, even if I am hating it. I feel it is important to read the book from beginning to end, you might give up to soon sometimes or later regret that you did not find out what happened next.
I believe that if you do book reviews it is very important to finish the book no matter what, especially if you are reviewing it for a publisher or author. What use to make me decide to stop was being bored with the storyline, the characters, the way it might have been written. It could have been anything. I feel more accomplished now that I read all books till the end.
By The Social Frog, on August 26th, 2010
Under The Christmas Tree by Robyn Carr
Genre: Romance
ISBN: 978-0778328377
Published: September 29, 2009
Pages: 336
Publisher: Mira
Synopsis
When the folks of Virgin River discover a box of adorable puppies under the town’s Christmas tree they call on local vet Nathaniel Jensen for help. But it’s his budding romance with Annie McCarty that really has tongues—and tails—wagging!
My Thoughts
Under The Christmas Tree is part of a Novella called “That Holiday Feeling”. It is a very nice, short but sweet edition to the Virgin River series. It might be about 100 pages. I have been excited to read it since it takes place during Christmas.
Annie is a busy hair dresser with no time for love or the desire to trust someone again. While visiting some family for the holidays in Virgin River there was a box of puppies found under the towns massive Christmas tree.
Jack called Nate, the area vet who normally takes care of livestock to take a look at the pups. Not only does he check out the pups but Annie as well. They both share the burden of making these pups healthy and somewhere in the middle find each other.
I felt this book was a wonderful edition to the series although the time span for a romance was very quick, it could also happen. You could go without reading this book or read it as a standalone as it does not seem to tie into the other books very much or characters, just a few select like Jack & Preacher. I highly recommend it as a nice Christmassy read.
By The Social Frog, on August 25th, 2010
Welcome to another edition of my weekly column Baking With The Social Frog!
If you are interested in baking with me every week, put the button in your post linking to my blog. Make sure to leave a link in the comments section so I can come see what you have baked this week! Or just come by and check out what I have made and get a yummy recipe.
This week it is a nice chocolaty simple pleasure. Good for a snack for when kids come home from school too! Brownies!! Makes these with or without nuts or even candy bits too.
Hershey’s Best Brownies
Ingredients:
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2 sticks Butter or Margarine
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2 cups Sugar
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2 teaspoons Vanilla
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4 Eggs
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3/4 cup Hershey’s Cocoa Powder
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1 cup Flour
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1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
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1/4 teaspoon Salt
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1 cup Chopped Nuts or Candy Bits (optional)
Instructions:
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Heat oven to 350. Grease 13×9x2-inch baking pan. *NOTE* I used a 9×9 pan for thicker brownies.
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Place butter in microwavable safe bowl, 2 minutes on high or until butter is melted. Add sugar & vanilla, stir. Add eggs one at a time and beat well. Add cocoa, beat well till blended. Add flour, baking powder and salt, beat well.
- Bake 30-50 minutes depending on size of pan or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.
Let me know if you make these Hershey’s Best Brownies or tell me your variation on it! Come back again soon, this column is here every Wednesday so stop by for some more recipes and share some if you would like as well.
By The Social Frog, on August 24th, 2010
Paradise Valley by Robyn Carr
Genre: Romance
ISBN: 978-0778326649
Published: April 01, 2009
Pages: 416
Publisher: Mira
Synopsis
Marine corporal Rick Sudder is home early from Iraq—his tour ended abruptly on the battlefield. The carefree boy is gone, replaced by a man who believes his future is as bleak as his mirror image. But can the passion and commitment of a young woman who has never given up on him mend his broken body and shattered heart?
As the people of Virgin River rally around Rick, another recent arrival tests the tightly knit mountain town’s famous welcoming spirit. Dan Brady has a questionable past, and he’s looking for a place to start over. He’d like it to be Virgin River…if he can find a way in. But he never expects to find it in the arms of a woman who was as much an outcast as himself.
For a favorite son returned from war and an outsider looking for a home, Virgin River offers them a chance to make peace with the men they once were…and to find the dreams they thought they’d lost.
My Thoughts
This is book #7 in the Virgin River series. Muriel lands another movie deal and Walt can not seem to handle her Hollywood lifestyle but at the same time Muriel does not make it out to be a big deal and she invites Walt to visit her on location.
Meanwhile Abby and Cameron decide that they need to stick together and do what is right for the babies but what they seem to figure out is that it’s more for them than just the babies. Abby’s ex comes out of nowhere which sends her into labor and sends her ex away in shock.
Ricky has been gone a while, doing a tour in Iraq which has had Jack and Mel on edge for a long time, knowing how dangerous it is. Sadly they find out some not so good news and their friendships are tested, there is pain, suffering and finding out that sometimes you need the ones you are trying to push away.
This is another great continuation in this series, as I’ve said before, the more books I read in this series, the more the characters develope and you become attatched to thier lives. I was not disappointed with this book and I highly recommend the whole series. This is not a stand alone book and the other books should be read before you pick this one up.
By The Social Frog, on August 23rd, 2010
Today is my 3rd Blogoversary! I can’t believe it has been that “long”. I’ve had so many blog issues over these three years that I’ve lost count. I still have to put back up more of my old posts but I will soon be upgrading Wordpress again so that’s why I have not yet. It never ends,lol.
It has been wonderful, I have made several blog friends over the years, many I talk to on a regular basis and I look forward to making more friends in the blogosphere in the next coming years.
Thanks for coming back and reading, some people need to comment more though,lol. I appreciate all that come by even if you don’t comment. I nearly passed up my Blogoversary because I have been busy with my family visiting & enjoying every minute of it.
If you would like to, you can read my very first post written on August 23rd, 2007 HERE.
Happy Blogoversary To Me 
By The Social Frog, on August 21st, 2010
Daniel has duty this weekend so I had to take the boys out myself today and we decided upon the beach…it’s Florida after all. The weather was so iffy on the way out, and it always seems to look like rain these days.
Right as we were about to get to the beach, it rained, just a little and that’s all we saw of rain the entire time we were there, although it threatened it a few times but it was sunny almost the whole time, made the boys happy.
The ocean was refreshing in the hot sun! I don’t know about anyone else but I tend to look around alot when I am swimming, like stare to see if I see anything, you know…like a fin or something. People might think I am crazy for doing so but I did see a shark fin.
I calmly told the boys. It was pretty far out and seemed to be just beyond the first sand bar. I did not get out of the water, nor did I tell the boys too. I felt as long as I kept an eye out and we stayed where we were, there should be no issues. I saw it a few more times then it must have swam out and away.
Later on while we were swimming we spotted dolphins just on the other side of the sandbar as well, there were 3 of them. Before anyone asks, the fins were very different so this is why I am perfectly sure what I saw earlier was a shark. I figured it was feeding time and the tide was bringing them in closer. After a time, they also swam away.
I pretty much think it just about useless using sunscreen around here, although the thought does not stop me from using it anyways. I still got a nice little burn even after putting it on several times over the hours we were there.
The three of us had a great time. Not sure if we will head back to the beach again while the boys are here, their time is dwindling and Jacob is going to visit a friend for the coming week. We shall see what the week has in store for us.
By The Social Frog, on August 20th, 2010
Temptation Ridge by Robyn Carr
Genre: Romance
ISBN: 978-0778312901
Published: Reissued Edition, July 2010
Pages: 400
Publisher: Mira
Synopsis
Shelby McIntyre has big plans—plans that include finding Mr. Right. Her dream man will have a clean-shaven jaw, creases in his pants and hopefully and advanced degree. What she gets is rugged Luke Riordan.
At twenty-five, after five years as her mother’s caregiver, it’s time for Shelby to experience freedom and adventure. Time for travel, college and romance. But when she visits Virgin River, she runs into Luke Riordan, decidedly not whom she has in mind.
A handsome Black-hawk pilot, Luke exited the army after twenty years, four wars and having been shot out of the sky three times. At thirty-eight he’s tough and jaded. His major was in one-night stands, with a minor in commitment avoidance.
Technically, these two are all wrong for one another. But sometimes what you want and what you need are two different things…two very good things.
My Thoughts
This is the 6th book in the Virgin River series. As the story continues on we meet Shelby & Luke. Shelby is Walt’s niece who had been taking care of her ailing mother instead of putting her in a nursing home. After her mother passes, she is looking for a break and some rest and peace in her life.
Luke was in the military, he flew Black Hawks and seen many wars and he needed an escape, he bought some old cabins in Virgin River to restore, then he’s move along to another project. When he meets Shelby, his plans just might change, and hers too!
Also introduced to the plot is Abby, going through a odd divorce and a one night stand that takes her to Virgin River to get away from it all. Little did she know the one thing she was running from was knocking at her door.
I am enjoying the character developments through all the books. This one was a little heavy on cheesy intimacy and I did roll my eyes a few times but the story was great and I highly recommend it. Remember this is not a stand alone book, so you should read the other 5 books before picking this one up.
By The Social Frog, on August 19th, 2010
Bookish Questions
1. Favorite childhood book? The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
2. What are you reading right now?
Temptation Ridge, Book 6 in the Virgin River series by Robyn Carr
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
Our library is tiny, so as of last year I’ve been reading on my Kindle, although I still read DTB from time to time.
4. Bad book habit?
None since 98% of my reading is done on my Kindle, maybe I read too many books now!
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
Nothing since I don’t use it.
6. Do you have an e-reader?
Yes, I do my Kindle and I also have an iPad that I sometimes read my Kindle books on as well.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
I prefer to read only one book at a time so I can fully focus on it.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
Yes & no. Yes because I do book reviews sometimes for authors and publishers but getting my Kindle increased my reading as well.
9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)
The Last Child by John Hart
10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?
The Passage by Justin Cronin
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
I try to read at least several book a year that oare out of my comfort zone. Reading The Passage was my latest, it is not the usual book I would read but I loved it.
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
Memoirs, Biographys, Series.
13. Can you read on the bus?
Yes, and I have before.
14. Favorite place to read?
On my comfy couch.
15. What is your policy on book lending?
Well I will allow some family members to and I expect the book returned unless I say otherwise. No bending pages, laying the book wide open to pull on the spine. I don’t really lend books now since I’ve gotten a Kindle but I still have tons of DTB in the house that I can lend.
16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
In the past I had, not often though.
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
Never
18. Not even with text books?
Nope
19. What is your favorite language to read in?
English
20. What makes you love a book?
A great plot and characters that develope over time.
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
If the story is a page turner, has a great plot or characters.
22. Favorite genre?
Pretty much fiction
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
Classics
Favorite biography?
I guess it is kind of a biography, The Time Of My Life by Patrick Swayze
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
Yes, a long time ago
26. Favorite cookbook?
I love my Cake Bibles!!!
27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
Misconception It is non-fiction
28. Favorite reading snack? Pretzels or Fish crackers
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
I can’t say I’ve have this happen.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
Sometimes, not to often though. That’s why I love reading book reviews as well.
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
I feel it is a good thing as long as it’s honest. If every single review I wrote was perfect I would think I would have no credibility.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?
Italian
33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
The Passage due to it’s massive 800 pages!!!
34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
Right now, it would be any book over 500 pages since i just recently finished The Passage,lol.
35. Favorite Poet?
I do not have a favorite.
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
When I did use the library, it was 6 or less.
37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?
Several times
38. Favorite fictional character?
Mel from the Virgin River series by Robyn Carr
39. Favorite fictional villain?
Do not have one.
40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?
Anything that takes place on a beach, near one or Cape Cod, anything beachy I guess is great for vacation reading.
41. The longest I’ve gone without reading.
5-6 Months
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
There have been so few and a long time ago that I do not remember.
43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
When I am reading and there is a movie on that I am not watching.
44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
To many to list honestly. One being My Sisters Keeper!
46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
I think Maybe $60
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
I don’t do that.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
If I start a book, I finish it. There has only been like 4 times I have not finished a book and it was due to being incredibly boring.
49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
On my Kindle, I do. I have them in Collections.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
I always have kept my books, if I wanted someone else to have a book, I’d buy it for them.
51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
One because it is so huge and I need a little break from 800+ books
52. Name a book that made you angry.
The book: I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced
53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
The Passage, only because it was out of my reading comfort zone.
54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
Rooms: A Novel
55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading? Not sure I have a favorite.
By The Social Frog, on August 18th, 2010
Welcome to another edition of my weekly column Baking With The Social Frog!
If you are interested in baking with me every week, put the button in your post linking to my blog. Make sure to leave a link in the comments section so I can come see what you have baked this week! Or just come by and check out what I have made and get a yummy recipe.
This weeks recipe is a wonderful end of summer treat and a great way to use some strawberries that are on sale. So if you have some strawberry lovers, Strawberry Shortcake will be a nice sweet treat.
*NOTE*
I have used a special pan for these. Feel free to use whatever you would like. I have used “Cook’s Choice”: The Better Baker Gourmet Bowl Maker.
Strawberry Shortcake
Ingredients:
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2 cups Flour
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1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
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1/4 Teaspoon Salt
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2 sticks Unsalted Butter, softened
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1 1/2 cups Sugar
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3 large Eggs, at room temperature for 30 minutes
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1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
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1/2 cup Whole Milk, at room temperature
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Strawberries
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1/3 cup Sugar to mix with Strawberries
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Cool Whip
Instructions:
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt. Beat together butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer, until light and fluffy. 3 minutes in stand mixer or 5 minutes with electric mixer. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture and milk alternately in small batches, beginning and ending with flour.
- Bake 25 minutes or until golden brown or baked completely. Cool in pan 10 minutes, remove and cool completely before adding filling.
- When ready to serve, fold chopped strawberries into cool whip and fill center of cake. Serve immediately.
Let me know if you make this Strawberry Shortcake or tell me your variation on it! Come back again soon, this column is here every Wednesday so stop by for some more recipes and share some if you would like as well.
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