Loaded M&M Oreo Cookie Bars

These loaded cookie bars have been one of my go-to recipes for years. Quick, easy, and absolutely delicious, they have literally never not been a crowd pleaser. You can technically play around with what cookies/candy you use, but I've never bothered; why try to beat perfection? As always, my most sincere apologies for my frankly appalling photography skills. I would've given it another go, but sadly they had all disappeared within 24 hours. Look on the bright side: you'll never have to wonder if it's AI this way!

 Ingredients: 

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), melted
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 TBSP. vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 18 Oreo cookies (I use birthday cake)
• 1/2 cup M&Ms

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray, and set aside. 
2. Melt the butter in a large microwave-safe bowl, about 1 minute on high. 
3. Let cool slightly to keep the egg from scrambling, then add egg, brown sugar, and vanilla. Whisk until smooth. 
4. Add the flour and stir until just combined - don't overmix!
5. Stir in Oreos, then turn batter out into prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula. 
6. Evenly sprinkle M&Ms over the top, lightly pressing them down with your finger or a spatula. 
7. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until top is set and edges are slightly firm. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs, but no batter. 
8. Allow bars to cool in pan for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving.

Source: Averie Cooks 

Harry Potter Lovers, Rejoice!

    This week marked a very exciting release that I have been absolutely itching to get my grubby little mitts on. But before we get to that, I feel obligated to provide some backstory as to how this all came about and why there's a bit of controversy. If you're not familiar with MinaLima, it's the graphic design studio that came out of the work of Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima, who worked together to design some of the most iconic products and props from the Harry Potter movie franchise: the Marauder's Map, the packaging and advertising for the Weasley's joke shop, even the Hogwart's acceptance letter. Following the movies and the creation of their studio, MinaLima partnered with publishers to create some truly stunning editions of popular books... including Harry Potter. 

    I can't even begin to come up with a good metaphor to explain the absolutely wild coolness of having the original movie designers create special editions of the books themselves. The first three books in the series were released by Scholastic between 2020 and 2023 and then... nothing. Not even a peep about the Goblet of Fire. Fan theories ran rampant as to why there wasn't any news, everything from dementors to lack of interest in the pricier versions. And then, suddenly, the news came and it wasn't what anyone was expecting. 

    In mid-2024, MinaLima announced that they weren't being commissioned to continue the work on the Harry Potter series and people were devastated, myself included. For one thing, having an incomplete or mismatching set of books is one of my biggest bookish pet peeves and it looked then like there weren't going to be any more of this specific special edition. Aside from that, these versions are just so fun that it was really disappointing thinking we wouldn't get to see how the rest of them would turn out. I'm sure it was equally as disappointing for MinaLima; I imagine it would be like having someone snatch your baby out of your arms and then announce that someone else would be raising your child and you had to watch. Which, by the way, is exactly what happened. 

    Earlier this year, Scholastic announced that the line of "interactive" Harry Potter editions would continue... but under a completely different artist. Despite the sadness that MinaLima wouldn't get to keep working on the project, I have to say I was still very excited at the prospect of the remaining books being redone. I will definitely continue to keep an eye out for the latest MinaLima productions and it's on my bucket list to visit one of their storefronts. For now, however, we can either take what we can get or stop at the first three volumes that were released as a sign of solidarity; sadly, it appears I am not principled enough for the latter, so you will probably not be surprised to learn that this post is about the entire set that's been released to date.

    Enough tragic backstory, let's talk about the books themselves and why they deserve a spot on your shelf. First off, these are nice books. Clothbound hardcover, gilt gold designs on the spines, beautiful illustrations on the covers... they really are stunning. Just from the outside, you almost wouldn't even be able to tell that Goblet of Fire was a completely different illustrator as they all line up pretty well. The coolest part of these editions, though, is the insides. Almost every single page in each book has some kind of artwork on it, whether it's a full-page illustration or a border or just a little corner picture. Do you know how much work it would take to have a unique piece of art for every page over four Harry Potter books? Me neither, but I know it's a LOT. I'm so left-brained that it blows my tiny little mind imagining how they can even come up with that much detailed artwork, but they somehow manage to tie all of the illustrations to what's going on in the story at that time. You could honestly just flip through the book and look at all the pictures and it would be just as good as reading it. 

    But wait, there's more! As if the gorgeous covers and insane amount of fun artwork weren't enough, these editions are like busy books for adults. Pop-ups, pull-outs, pieces that move and rotate and flip up - you name it, they've got it. Sure, it's fine to read about the Herbology class where they re-pot the baby mandrakes, but it'd be even more fun if you could pull one out of a pot by its leafy little top. And yeah, you can use your imagination to visualize the Dark Mark appearing over the crowd after the Quidditch World Cup... or you could pull down the flap and watch a 3D one magically pop up. There are several of these interactive pages in each book that, again, tie directly to what's happening in the story at that time. It really adds an extra element to the already enjoyable experience of reading. 

    To summarize, if you or someone you love has been diagnosed with Harry Potter Fan Syndrome, you need these bad boys. They're fun, they're beautiful, and they suck you into the story even more than books already tend to do. Yes, they're a little pricier than your standard paperback, but these editions have brought me so much joy over the past few years that the investment is totally worth it. And hey, rumor has it they're going to continue to produce the other books in the series, so with any luck, no incomplete sets! 

Lochs & Legends - Andy the Highlander

    Scotland is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the U.K. and for good reason: brooding castles, stunning scenery, and friendly locals attract millions of visitors every single year. But beneath the charming surface of quaint villages and castle ruins lies a troubled history and a rich tradition of folklore that often gets overlooked by the average tourist. Andy the Highlander, a Scottish native, looks to change that in this book. 

    From the majestic capital city of Edinburgh to the islands of the Outer Hebrides, Andy takes you on a journey across Scotland while sharing some of the country's colorful past, local myths, and personal anecdotes he's picked up in his time as a tour guide. Who are the Blue Men of the Minch? How did the Jacobite Uprising affect Scotland's culture? Why is there a memorial to Bobby the Dog in Greyfriars Kirkyard? Aren't you cold in that kilt?! Andy covers everything from tiny details about the marks on a fireplace in a specific castle to the countrywide impact of historical events and just about anything you can imagine in between, which makes for an entertaining and informational read.

    Scotland is my #1 bucket list item, so I like learning about it in preparation for (hopefully) someday getting to visit. Back when I still had Instagram, I actually followed Andy the Highlander and really enjoyed his content. He's passionate about his work and has an absolutely astounding amount of knowledge on a huge range of topics, which makes sense given what he does for a living. Despite that, the summary above really doesn't capture the extent of what you can pick up from his book. Which monarch was at which castle when and why, which cemeteries are haunted and by whom, why is that pub called that, what are the most important historical sites and best castles in Scotland, where did tartan and Harris Tweed come from, how to avoid the midges... the list is endless, but in a good way. I read the book and promptly purchased the audiobook (Scottish accents, anyone?) and I'm still catching things on the second go-around that I missed the first time. Speaking of the audiobook - highly recommend even if you're more of a visual learner as it's nice to hear the correct pronunciation of things.

    If you've spent any amount of time researching Scotland's history (or watching certain very popular shows based in Scotland), you'll know that, like most countries, she's had her share of wars and bloody conflicts. Despite the heaviness of some of the material, Andy manages to pay his respects to some of the major tragedies and misfortunes - which should never just be glossed over or forgotten - and then jump over to less serious things without it seeming gauche. You really get the best of both worlds: you get to learn about some of the important events that shaped the country and then get a million and one interesting little factoids that still tie back to the culture as a whole. Additionally, there's so much visual detail given that it often feels like you're actually on a tour in the various locales. The whole book is basically a love letter to Scotland. If you weren't interested in visiting before, I think you would be hard-pressed to stay that way after reading descriptions of the insanely beautiful landscapes, the warmth and resilience of the Scottish people, and the excitement with which he shares his knowledge.

Pros:

• An absolute treasure trove of knowledge, local and national
• Feels like you're on a tour with Andy himself
• He has a wicked sense of humor and isn't afraid to use it 

Cons:

•  Idiots like me would really benefit from a pronunciation guide
• Really REALLY makes you want to go to Scotland, but you can't yet #brokepeoplelife
•  Definitely going to need a part 2 for all the locations he didn't make it to yet

 Final rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Apple Pie with Salted Caramel Sauce

    It's starting to get cooler around here and that means it's officially pie season, a.k.a. prime Dean Winchester season! I was flipping through a Supernatural cookbook and found this positively scrumptious-looking recipe for apple pie. The original recipe called for store-bought pie crusts, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it; Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry raised me better than that, so I scrounged up a dough recipe from Ye Olde Internete instead.

    Now, I haven't baked a pie in a long time and I've never made my own dough or done a lattice, so I'm going to save you some heartache by sharing what I learned from doing this. Number one is to keep your dough as cold as possible and avoid working it as much as possible to keep the butter from melting and make it easier to deal with. I did my best, but the lattice took me way longer to figure out than I anticipated and everything was looking a little squishy by the time I finished. 

    The next time I make this - and I don't know why I didn't think of doing this before because I literally just watched someone do it on the Bakeoff - I would leave the bottom part of the pie in the fridge to stay cool, construct the lattice on a piece of parchment paper, then add the fruit to the pan and just slap the pre-built lattice on top. That minimizes the amount of time it's just sitting out ruining all your lovely flaky pastry. Similarly, make sure your apples are totally cooled down before throwing them in the pie. You would think that would be obvious, but you would say the same thing about making sure your oven is on the right temperature, which I also managed to not do. In my defense, it was a very trying day. Despite the challenges, this was a huge hit and it was gone by the next day. I guess that gives me an excuse to make another to test out the above revisions!

Ingredients:

For the pie crust

• 2 1/2 cups flour, plus more to dust
• 1/2 TBSP sugar
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 lb cold unsalted butter (2 sticks), diced into 1/4" cubes
• 7-8 TBSP ice water

For the pie filling

• 2 TBSP butter
• 5 lbs assorted apples (I used a 3:1 mix of Honeycrisp and Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4" thick
• 1/2 cup plus 1 TBSP sugar, divided 
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 TBSP cornstarch
• 3 TBSP apple cider
• 1 TBSP lemon juice
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 TBSP milk

For the salted caramel sauce

• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup loosely packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp coarse sea salt (or to taste)
• 2 TBSP water (optional)

Directions:

Make the pie crust:

1.  Place flour, sugar, and salt into a bowl and whisk to combine. Add diced cold butter and lightly toss to coat, then use a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the flour until the mixture looks coarse and crumbly, with pea-sized butter crumbles. 
2. Add the water 1 TBSP at a time and stir with a firm spatula after each addition. Stop adding water when you see large clumps forming. Press a piece of dough between your fingertips; if it doesn't stick together, add water a teaspoon at a time until it does. Don't add too much water or overmix as this will make the dough sticky and difficult to roll out.
3. Transfer dough to a clean work surface and gather into a ball. It shouldn't be smooth, so don't knead the dough. Divide in half and flatten to form 2 disks. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. 

 Make the pie:

1.  Preheat the oven to 375 F. 
2.  Melt the butter over medium heat in a heavy saute pan or Dutch oven. Add apples, 1/2 cup of the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg and saute for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples start to soften. Sprinkle the cornstarch over the mixture, stir, and add the apple cider. Saute for another 5 minutes until the apples are soft, but not mushy. Remove from the heat and allow to cool, then stir in lemon juice. 
3. Roll out one of the chilled dough disks to fit a 9-inch pie pan and transfer it to the pan, making sure the dough lays flat to the bottom and sides. Return the pan to the fridge while making the top crust. To make a lattice for the top, roll out the second disk slightly larger than first and cut into 12 strips a little under an inch wide. Transfer the fruit mixture to the pie pan. Working quickly, place 6 of the strips vertically on top of the fruit mixture. Fold every other strip back almost all the way back to the edge of the pie, then place a strip horizontally across them. Replace the 3 strips that were folded back, then fold the other 3 strips back almost to the horizontal strip you just placed and lay another strip across them. Repeat 3 more times until the pie is covered, then trim any excess dough and crimp the edges. 
4. Combine the egg and milk in a small bowl. Brush the top crust with the mixture, then sprinkle with the remaining 1 TBSP of sugar. 
5. Bake for about 40 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Set aside to cool while you make the caramel sauce.  

Make the salted caramel sauce:

1. In a medium saucepan, combine butter, cream, and sugar. Heat over medium-high until the sugar is melted, then reduce the heat to a simmer. 
2. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often. You want the caramel to be golden brown, but not burned, so keep a close eye on it as the colors starts to change. 
3. Remove the caramel from the heat and add salt to taste. The sauce will thicken as it cools; if a thinner consistency is preferred, add 1 or 2 TBSP of water to thin it out. Cool slightly, then drizzle on top of pie before serving.

Sources: "Scarecrow Apple Pie" and Salted Caramel Sauce from "Cu's Best Banana Pancakes", Supernatural: The Official Cookbook. Pie dough recipe from Natasha's Kitchen.

Meeting Shelby Van Pelt

    Our local library hosted an author night with none other than Shelby Van Pelt, author of the now wildly popular book Remarkably Bright Creatures. If you haven't read it yet, you should go add it to your TBR right now. It's the story of a lonely old aquarium cleaner and an equally lonely old Giant Pacific octopus that somehow manage to bridge the gap between species and become friends. Oh and by the way, part of the story is told from the perspective of Marcellus the octopus. I've recommended a lot of books to friends over the course of my life, but I've never gotten weirder looks than when I open with "okay so there's this old lady and an octopus and the octopus is trying to help her understand what happened to her son." Ironically, I am 100% sure I gave the same look when my friend was recommending the book to me, so I guess everyone has to have "The Moment" when it comes to this one. It works, trust me.

    How a relatively small library managed to snag such a big name is a complete mystery to me, but I was so excited when I heard she was coming because I adored the book. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll have your heart ripped out 3 or 4 times along the way... it's a great time! Although I loved her work, I didn't know much about Van Pelt herself. Actually, I didn't really know anything about her at all. For all I knew, this was her 27th book and she'd be one of those people who are really tired of being on book tour and couldn't care less about what you thought of it. After hearing her talk and meeting her, I can now confidently say I'm a fan of both her and her work.

    The event was absolutely packed - standing room only packed (if you don't have very generous friends who saved you a seat) - and I ended up having to park a block away because there were so many people in attendance, but it was totally worth it. She talked about her writing process, the inspiration behind the main characters, the highs and lows of taking it to a publisher, and her experience getting to see her story come to life as it's currently being adapted for a Netflix movie that's set to release next year. 

    Despite her success from what I learned is her debut novel, I was struck by how humble and down-to-earth she is. She didn't shy away from discussing the insecurities she had throughout the whole process and attributed a lot of her success to luck. My Octopus Teacher, a nonfiction documentary about a filmmaker's friendship with an octopus, was coming out right around when she was pitching her book; it may very well have contributed to getting her foot in the door, but she modestly downplayed the novel itself despite having just told us about the years and years of effort and constant revisions that had gone into it. I think the 200+ people in attendance would happily set her straight on the luck question.

    Aside from being so approachable, she is absolutely hilarious. Upon walking in past a giant banner of her face, her first words were "wow, I've never felt so in touch with my pores before." The rest of the talk was peppered with octopus jokes and humorous stories, which made the whole experience so much more fun. She's also just a great speaker in general and really knows how to hold a room. My most favorite thing that I learned about Van Pelt, though, is that she used to be a numbers girl before she traded it for her writing career. She was so open and genuine about her struggle to figure out what she wanted to do; as someone who is in the exact same boat, right down to being an accountant (for now), it was so inspiring to see someone who had taken their dream and run with it all the way to a successful outcome. 

    After her talk, she took a few questions and then you could line up to get your book autographed if you wanted. Obviously, we wanted. We only had to wait about half an hour to get up to the front of the line and even though it was late and she'd talked to a LOT of people at that point, she was still so friendly and nice. When I mentioned being an accountant who was trying to figure out life and also enjoyed writing, she was super warm and offered a couple nuggets of wisdom while she was signing - and can I just say kudos to her for being able to multitask because this girl could NEVER. She also had a bunch of absolutely adorable octopus stickers you could grab and, although I didn't realize it at the time, she drew a little Marcellus in my book next to her autograph! There may or may not have been actual squealing when I got home and saw it.

    Overall, it was a super fun and informative event. They always say not to meet your heroes, but I guess that doesn't count if you don't realize they're your hero beforehand. We had a great time learning more about her and hearing about the book and, if I had to guess, I think it would've been hard not to have a great time. It's a different kind of experience when you get a bunch of people in a room who all care a lot about a specific thing, whether it's a book or a comic con or a sport. You're all there to nerd out over a common interest and it creates a special atmosphere that you can't get just anywhere. When you throw in that the person everyone is there to see is way cool and obviously cares about her fans, it takes it to a whole new level.

    TLDR: read Remarkably Bright Creatures and, if you ever get the chance, meet Shelby Van Pelt! Also please look at the Mini Marcellus she drew because he is so insanely cute it's almost criminal.

 

Quote of the Day

I recently stumbled across this quote in a book and it's really stuck with me. As my 30th birthday creeps closer and closer, I've been thinking a lot about where I am in life and all the things I want to do. It's scary to consider making big life changes; in fact, it can be so overwhelming that you decide to just stay in your little comfort zone and quietly put your dreams away in the back of a closet where you won't have to think about what could've been. But this quote is a reminder that sometimes you just need to take the first step and things will work themselves out better than you ever could've imagined. 

Star of the Morning - Lynn Kurland

    Morgan of Melksham is not your average shield maiden. An uncanny swordsman with a hatred of all things magic, she makes her living as a sword-for-hire negotiating petty battles between the local lords. Raised by mercenaries and later dumped at an orphanage when she became too much work, Morgan had a difficult life until the lord of the orphanage, Nicholas, took her under his wing. With no knowledge of her past, Nicholas is the closest thing to a father she has and when he asks her for a favor, she feels obligated to grant it. Despite that, even she balks a little when she learns what the quest is: the king of Neroche has mysteriously lost his magic and she must take him an enchanted blade that will help keep the kingdom safe against the schemes of an evil mage until it can be restored. With her three mercenary companions as backup, she sets out on her journey.

    Meanwhile in Neroche, Adhemar, the king himself, starts his own quest. The magic in his sword, a bastion of power for every king before him, no longer responds to him and he needs to find a wielder for its sister sword to protect the realm. At the urging of his archmage, Miach - who is also his youngest brother - he travels through the land incognito looking for someone worthy to bear the sword. After months of fruitless searching, he finds himself in Melksham, a small island known for nothing more than sheep and squabbles over water rights. It's the last place he would've expected to find a wielder, but when an encounter with Morgan goes awry, he decides to travel with them for a bit on the way back to Neroche. 

    Morgan is not impressed with Adhemar; another dolt given the king's name by hopeful parents, he's demanding, boastful, and his swordplay isn't nearly as impressive as he seems to think it is. In fact, it's almost as if he's relying on an extra bit of something that simply isn't there. Despite her best efforts, he insists on traveling with them as they make their way north, which, unfortunately for her, requires a sea journey. One crippling bout of seasickness later, they reach the mainland, but Morgan's troubles are just beginning. Nightmares of terrible deeds plague her sleep every night, they're attacked by strange, monstrous creatures on the road, and she can almost hear the enchanted blade buried in her pack singing to her. Still trying to shake off her illness from being at sea, it's hard enough just to put one foot in front of the other every day. 

 

    As if that wasn't bad enough, Adhemar's brother shows up to check on him, but she soon learns that Miach is nothing like his prideful older brother. Although he has magic of his own and almost no interest in swordsmanship, his quiet, steady attentiveness and wry sense of humor remind her of Nicholas and she finds herself spending more and more time with him. For the first time in her life, she starts to let her walls down. But Miach, falling harder for Morgan every day, is becoming increasingly convinced that successful completion of their mission will ruin her life. He dreads the day she finds out who he truly is and desperately struggles to balance his duty to the kingdom with his love for her. As they get closer to Neroche, it becomes apparent that her mysterious past is drawing her to a role she has no desire to fulfill and she loses more of herself the closer they get. The fate of the realm is in her hands, but it may just cost her everything she knows and holds dear.

 

    I've been in a bit of a reading slump for a couple of weeks and I just haven't been able to start anything new, so I finally decided to go back to an old favorite. Everyone that reads has those books they revisit again and again like a security blanket and this is one of mine. I love absolutely everything about this story. Morgan is a fiercely independent warrior as a result of her past and has a hard time letting her guard down even with Nicholas and her friends, who obviously care for her and are very protective even though she doesn't seem to want or need it. She knows what her strengths are and plays to them... until she gets dragged into this adventure that's so far outside the norm, it makes her start to question everything she knows about herself. Then Miach comes along. 

 

    As Morgan herself says, he's like a comfortable pair of boots. He gently teases her without asking her to change, cares for her when she's ill or injured on more than one occasion, runs with her when she needs to get away, and comforts her when she has nightmares and the weight of the quest starts to bring her down. In exchange, she gives him loyalty, affection, and companionship that isn't angling for a go at his power or position as archmage. Some of their interactions are positively swoon-worthy and seeing their relationship develop - and how it gradually changes their characters individually - is one of my favorite parts of the book. 

 

    My other favorite part is the nonstop banter between just about all of the characters. Morgan and her other mercenary friends, Adhemar and Miach, Morgan and Miach, and even random side characters all share in the banter. It's made even funnier given that one of the companions recognizes both Adhemar and Miach for who they really are and spends the whole novel trying not to spill the beans, not to mention Miach - an absolutely terrible liar - trying to cover up that he knows more than he should if he really were just a simple farmer. That's not to say that the whole novel is just funny or just a romance, though; these elements are woven through an action-packed plot with pitched battles, heated arguments, side quests, frustrating dilemmas, and even a couple genuinely heartbreaking scenes, especially near the end. I think it's difficult to successfully combine all of these things in a way that doesn't seem over the top or disingenuous, but this book does it and does it very well.  

Pros:

• Banter for DAYS
• The most perfect romance ever??
•  World building = *chef's kiss*

 Cons:

• Nothing
• Zilch
• Nada

Final rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fall Is Coming...

    Ah, fall. That glorious season of crisp air, cozy flannels, and soups galore. Sure, it only lasts for about 6 seconds, but who are we to complain? As they say, "don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened". Here are the top 5 signs you might be sliding into the fall season, despite your best efforts to stop the year from going any faster.

1. The pumpkin spice epidemic begins to sweep across the nation. I would be less salty about this if I liked pumpkin spice, but, sadly, that gene must've skipped me.
   
   
2.  Hobby Lobby has replaced 98% of their fall decor with nutcrackers, Santas, bizarre Christmas ornaments, and enough Elf on the Shelf merchandise to haunt your dreams until the end of days. Haven't purchased your fall stuff yet? Too bad! You should've started shopping when everything was being put out at the beginning of the summer. 
   
   
3.  The trees are starting to put their summer outfits in the back of the closet and replace them with their fancy autumn leaves. 
   
   
4.  It's 50 degrees in the morning and 90 degrees in the afternoon. Good luck trying to dress for the weather!
   
   
5. Ads for Halloween costumes are slowly infiltrating everything you know and love. Who's coming up with these "Sexy Jabba the Hutt" costumes anyway??

Bonus content: this tweet that lives in my head rent-free. Because we're nothing if not classy here in 'Merica.