Category: Food

May’s Top Books

  1. The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim
    This is the newest book is the Rick Riordan Presents series. It focuses on Korean mythology and a girl’s profound love for her adopted sister. I love Riley and her hilarious antics, but also how caring and kind she is. Her imaginative way of solving problems is so creative and I love how she is ready to do anything it takes to get Hattie (her sister) back. The plot twists are also super cool and I can’t wait to read the next book.
  2. The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman
    This was definitely one of my favorite books of this year. It is a fictional novel set in India, told in the point of views of 4 siblings, all very different. Vira is the maharani trying to live up to her mother, Riya is a Raven, going against her own sister, Ronak makes a deal to get him out of the nation, and Kaleb is in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. I love the way that these 4 stories merge together and form one. They are all such brave characters who carry big burdens. The plot twists are also great, and I can’t wait for the next book.
  3. Princess in Practice by Connie Glynn
    I loved the second book in the series. Ellie, Lottie, and Jamie are back to stop another plan by the Leviathan. This time, new friends are introduced an old friends are back at it again. More people come to know of the scheme and they gain many close allies. I really enjoyed this book and how everyone interacted (especially Lottie and Ellie). It’s such a fun book and I t0tally recommend this series to you!
  4. A Whole New World by Liz Braswell
    This is one of the books in the “Twisted Tales” series. This book is a spin on Aladdin, asking this question. What if Aladdin had never found the lamp? I loved the way Aladdin and Jasmine were developed and how we got to see more of the story from this point of view. They are both so caring and kind, which we can see when they interact with others. I enjoyed this book so much and I can’t wait to read the next ones!
  5. The Unmapped Sea and The Long-Lost Home by Maryrose Wood
    These were the last two books in this 6 book long series. Penelope and her pupils are so bright and kind. The story is so beautiful and I love the way that Penelope takes care of them. Both books are so adventurous and the way that Penelope has fun with the Incorrigibles is heartwarming. I especially loved the last book for all the secrets that are revealed and how everything starts to fit into place.

The Riordanverse

This is an essay that I wrote for my English class on a book you should read, or in my case, some series of books that you should read!

The Riordanverse is a term that people use to describe 5 series of books that all take place in the same universe and are all written by the same person, Rick Riordan. It has Greek, Norse, Roman, and Egyptian mythology. The 5 series are Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the Heroes of Olympus, Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, the Kane Chronicles, and the Trials of Apollo.

I reach for the latest book in the series, the series that grants me all comforts, that helps me when I’m at my lowest lows. The book falls into my lap and just the sight of seeing the bookmarked page is solace. I snuggle into the covers deeper and pick up the book, which is a portal waiting to be activated from the moment I begin to read. Tumbling through the portal, clutching my book, I am transported into a world where Egyptian, Greek, Norse, and Roman mythology is real. As I wander through the world, I can sometimes see other readers, who have all benefited in one way or another from reading the books in the Riordanverse, whose journey right now started when they laid eyes on a page that started with ‘Look, I didn’t want to be a half-blood.’ I strongly believe that you should read all the books in the Riordanverse.

I’ve met so many people who share the same interests as me. They all agree that these books are absolutely amazing (amazhang if you want to be a true fan). I’m guessing that you don’t want to be the only one who doesn’t agree with this. When I’m with them, I love nerding out over the books and discussing them down to the very last detail. I can also make a ton of jokes with them, that only we would understand (one example is the “dam” joke used in The Titan’s Curse and another would be “Nobody” as used in The Sea of Monsters.

These books encourage diversity, featuring gay, bisexual, pansexual, genderfluid, Muslim, black characters and many, many more. These characters can easily connect with anyone, something that I find truly beautiful. The characters encourage you to be yourself and to not listen to people who try to bring you down. Normal people, like you and I will most definitely find a “spirit character” who embodies them and is a huge role model and inspiration . My personal spirit character is Annabeth Chase, an amazing girl who’s incredibly smart.

Lastly, you’ll learn so much about the different types of mythology and the different worlds. I used to never know anything about the Egyptian and Norse gods while I barely knew the Greek and Roman ones. Now, I’m an absolute whiz in all 4 subjects, all because of reading the books in the Riordanverse. There are so many books, from the Percy Jackson series to the Trials of Apollo series. The fun never stops, and if you finish reading all 21 books, there are add-ons stories that are just as good as the main plot. I also love rereading these books. I never get tired of how fun they can be and the whimsical imagination of Rick Riordan.

The book ends, and I laugh through my tears. Characters have died, been brought back to life, and above all, the protagonists have won. The portal closes and I find myself sitting on my bed, The Serpent’s Shadow in my hands. I look at the book, inspecting it closely, before hugging it to my chest. I walk over to my bookshelf and take a step back. Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Kane Chronicles, The Heroes of Olympus, Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, and finally The Trials of Apollo. All of these beautiful books are arranged, showing off their splendor. Reading all of them was a wild ride, full of ups and downs, hopelessness and giddy excitement. I smile again faintly. Now, all that’s left to do is to reread them, again and again and again.

Recipe: Homemade Empanadas

I recently made empanadas for one of my projects. They turned out really well, so I thought I would share the recipe with you!

Ingredients:

Dough:
  • 4 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter , room temperature
  • 1 egg , beaten
  • 2 Tablespoons oil
  • ¾ – 1 cup warm water
Filling:
  • mozzarella
  • cherry tomatoes cut in half
  • pesto

Recipe:

Dough:
  1. Add the salt and flour to a bowl and combine.
  2. Add the butter and egg and stir well.
  3. Add the oil and water and stir until it starts to come together.
  4. Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover.
  5. Let it rest at room temperature for an hour or put it in the fridge, taking it out 20 minutes before using.

Assembly:

  1. Divide the dough into a few pieces. Roll each piece into a circle.
  2. Use a round template to cut the dough into circles.
  3. Place about 2 tomato slices, a dollop of pesto, and a sliver of mozzarella on one side of the empanada.
  4. Fold the empanada over, so that it’s a semi circle
  5. Pinch the edges together or pinch them, then seal the ends by crimping them with a fork .
  6. Place empanadas on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush with egg wash and bake at 375° for about 30-35 minutes.

April’s Top Books

Here are my top book of April!

April’s Best Books:

  1. Circe by Madeline Miller

    As you know, I love Greek mythology, so when I heard of this book, I was really excited to read it. I was captivated from the moment I started reading. Circe is so brave and I love the way that we were able to see both the soft, motherly side of her and the hardened warrior side. I love the way the author took the tale of Circe, who is usually one of the villains, and made her the best type of heroine. She’s brave and strong, but just like humans, has to work up to getting there. I learned about heroes that I had never heard about or seen before and how certain villains had formed. This was such a great book and I can’t wait to read another book by this author!
  2. Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan

    Echo is a spell-binding tale of three musicians, who are connected by their deep love of music and a harmonica…… The book starts out with Otto, a young boy playing Hide and Seek. While playing, he meets three sisters (Eins, Zwei, and Drei) whom he has read about. Suddenly, he becomes entangled with a prophecy, a promise, and a harmonica. The book cuts to Friedrich, a young boy living in WW2. He loves to play harmonica, especially a special one with an 𝓜 written on it. His tale ends with a shocking cliffhanger, and we get introduced to another character, Mike. This tale is also set during WW2, but that isn’t focused on. Mike also encounters this special harmonica, and like the previous scene, ends with a bang. The last character we meet is Ivy, a girl who lives during WW2. She loves playing the harmonica, and happens to have a special one with an 𝓜 painted on it (yes, it’s the same harmonica). As the others do, it ends shockingly. The end is such a good tie-up and I enjoyed it a lot. I totally recommend it to you!
  3. Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls by Kaela Rivera

    Cece Rios is a young girl who has been “cursed” with a water soul, which isn’t very accepted in the community where she lives (Tierra del Sol, or Earth of the Sun). One day, her sister gets kidnapped by a Dark Criatura. Cece knows that the only way to get her back is to become a bruja, a witch, but when she sees how the criaturas that the brujas command are treated, she knows that she can’t be a full bruja. Instead, she pretends to be one, and lets her criaturas do the work. I loved the final battle, and how Cece realized that her “curse” was actually a blessing. This book was so good and I think that you should read it!
  4. The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James by Ashley Herring Blake

    Sunny has just gotten a heart transplant, and she has a list of everything she wants to do with her new heart. Then one day, she meets a girl named Quinn. Quinn and her instantly connect and they do everything together. She also meets her mother, who she hasn’t seen in a long time and a bond forms between them. While Sunny navigates all of this, she also is figuring out her feelings about other girls. I love how this book includes so many feelings, and how fun it is in some parts. It’s such a great book!
  5. Paolo Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia

    This book was about Mexican mythology. Paolo Santiago has always grown up hearing her mom’s tales about La Llorona and other mythological figures, but never believed them. Once her friend Emma suddenly disappears, she realizes that maybe her mom’s stories are more than stories. I loved reading about her adventures and how she rose up to the challenge of defeating La Llorona. She’s such a brave character and I love how her friends inspire her. I also love her attitude. I can’t wait to read the next book!
  6. How to Become a Planet by Nicole Melleby

    This touching story about depression and how it feels is so heartwarming. Pluto is a girl who has been diagnosed with depression. She doesn’t have any good friends, until one day she meets Fallon, who wants to help her. Fallon and Pluto bond soon enough and are great friends, even on days when Pluto isn’t feeling the best. While also wondering if she should live with her mom and dad, working with her tutor (who shares the same last name as Christa McAuliffe), and dealing with friend problems, Pluto is such a great character. Even through her ups and down, her good and bad days, I loved reading about her life and how she adjusts to living with depression.
  7. Undercover Princess by Connie Glynn

    I loved this first book in the series! Lottie is such a fun and bright character and I love her relationship with Ellie and Jamie. The plot was amazing and I loved how the character were developed and the background information for each of them. Every part of the book was well thought out and I loved making the connections between different parts. This is the first book in the series and I can’t wait to read the others.

Top books of January: click here
Top books of February: click here
Top books of March: click here

Z: Zomorod Yousefzadeh

Zomorod Yousefzadeh is a character from It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas.

Zomorod is an Iranian young girl who now lives in the US. She’s moved back and forth between Iran and the US many times, but wants stability. She’s kind and tried to help other people a lot. She’s also very thoughtful and helpful, while still being full of sass and humor. She’s such a great character!

This is a post for the A-Z April Blogging Challenge 2021. You can read the other posts here.

Y: Yumi Chang

Yumi Chang is a character from the book Stand Up, Yumi Chang! by Jessica Kim.

She loves comedy and dreams of being a stand-up comedian. While she has faults, she tries to fix them. I love how heartfelt and true she is, both to herself and to others. She is such a great character and I loved reading about her.

This is a post for the A-Z April Blogging Challenge 2021. You can read the other posts here.

X: Xan

Xan is a character from The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill.

Xan is a witch who has been living in the forests for 5000 years. Xan saves the abandoned babies that the townsfolk abandon, sometimes willingly, sometimes not. When Xan meets Luna, she knows that she can’t give her away, so she feeds her the moon, instead of stars. Xan does her best to help Luna, and though she makes some mistakes, is a kind and loving “grandmother”. I love how she helps Luna and how kind she is. Xan is such a great character!

This is a post for the A-Z April Blogging Challenge 2021. You can read the other posts here.

W: Wilhelmina Silver

Wilhelmina Silver is a character from Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms by Katherine Rundell.

Wilhelmina is brave and strong and I love how crazy she can be. She loves being rough, but learns other ways of being her throughout the book. She is such an amazing character and I loved reading about her.

This is a post for the A-Z April Blogging Challenge 2021. You can read the other posts here.

V: Vivian Cohen

Vivian or Vivy Cohen is a character from Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen!

Vivy is an autistic girl who loves playing baseball. Because of her condition though, she hasn’t been able to play on a team before. But when she gets recruited for the team and her favorite baseball player, VJ Capello, starts writing her back, she feels like nothing can bring her down. After a few nasty incidents, though, Vivy is put on the sidelines, but nothing can stop her from being on the team again. I love how smart and brave Vivy is and how she doesn’t let anything else come in her way. She’s such a great character!

This is a post for the A-Z April Blogging Challenge 2021. You can read the other posts here.

U: Ulysses

Ulysses is a character from Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo.

Ulysses is a squirrel with superpowers. When he gets sucked into a vacuum, he gets “born anew”. He has limited flying abilities and has super strength. He also can understand English words and write poetry. I loved watching his and Flora’s friendship blossom and the way that they work together. They have such an amazing relationship and the way they work together is immaculate. Ulysses is such a sweet character and I really enjoyed reading about him.

This is a post for the A-Z April Blogging Challenge 2021. You can read the other posts here.