lists – Page 4 – The Mint Girl Blog

My Grandma’s Chocolate Recipe

When I was in India, my grandmother showed me how to make a quick and easy chocolate. The recipe was so simple, yet delicious. Now, back in the US, I decided to try it out again. It turned out really well, so I decided to share it with you!

3/4 cup sugar
1 cup milk powder
2 1/2 tsp cocoa powder
1 tbsp butter
Water

Grease a plate with a bit of butter.
Sieve the milk and cocoa powders together.
Soak the sugar in a bit of water, then bring it to a boil to dissolve the sugar. Keep on heat until it reaches a one-string consistancy.
Turn off the heat and add the butter and milk and cocoa powders.
Stir.
Once fully incorporated, pour into the plate and let it set.
Enjoy!

What’s a recipe you love!

My Top Books of March

Here are my top books of March!

Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf
I really enjoyed this book! The last time Najwa went to a Scrabble tournament, her best friend, Trina died. Now, she’s finally worked up the courage to go again. But when Trina’s Instagram starts loading with new posts and someone pretending to be Trina messages Najwa, she knows she has to solve the mystery of who killed Trina. This was such an amazing book and I really enjoyed it. The plot was amazing and the mystery was well-written.
Just Roll With It by Veronica Agarwal and Lee Durfey-Lavoie
This book was so amazing. Maggie is starting middle school this year. She’s so nervous about the school year and it doesn’t help that there’s a monster in the lawn that none of the adults seem to see. She’s also had a hard time making decisions, but her lucky dice helps with that. I loved Maggie’s journey and the illustrations were so cute. There’s also a ton of diversity, which makes this book a great read.
Twelfth by Janet Key
I loved this book so much. Maren is sure she won’t enjoy theater camp, or anything connected to her sister again. But as she goes through the camp and meets new people, she gets drawn up into the search of a diamond ring. With her friends by her side, she goes through a scavenger hunt-like puzzle, with clues alluding to the camp’s play-Twelfth Night. I really enjoyed the story and the mystery that was told along with it. It’s such a diverse and beautiful story and I enjoyed it a lot.
One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus
This is a really amazing book. Simon, the owner of the biggest gossip blog in their school, died in detention because of peanut oil coating his cup. There were only four people who could have done it- Bronwyn, Addy, Nate, or Cooper. All of them were in detention for something they didn’t do and Simon planned to publish an entry about all of them the next day. So, it had to be one of them. But as they tell their stories, it becomes clear. There’s another part to this mystery. This book was so well-written and I can’t wait to continue the series.
The Bookshop of Dust and Dreams by Mindy Thompson
This book was absolutely amazing. Poppy’s family owns one of the many magical bookstores, created to keep the Light in favor and the Dark out. But when her brother’s best friend dies in war, it creates an open door for the Dark to come in. Soon, he’s corrupted, changing everything in Poppy’s life as she discovers secrets and new stories. This was such a great book and I totally loved the plot and the characters.

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here

My Top Books of February

The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo
This is a collection of works set in the Grishaverse with different folktales from Kerch, Ravka, Zemeni, and Fjerda. I loved all of the stories and the way that they tied into the actual books themselves. The stories were unique and fun and so were the different characters that we got to experience. Some of my favorite stories were Ayama and the Thorn Wood, The Too-Clever Fox, and The Soldier Prince. Each story was beautifully written and I loved the illustrations too.
The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy by Anne Ursu
This book was so lively and entertaining. Marya is a young girl who doesn’t feel loved by her parents. Her brother, Luka, gets all the attention because he’s a sorcerer. Or at least, everyone thinks he is. But when Marya ruins her brother’s sorcery test, she’s sent to the Dragomir Academy for Troubled Girls where she finds many secrets and friends. I loved the plot and the way that the story flowed. I really enjoyed the characters and the way that the book progressed.
Ellen Outside the Lines by A.J. Sass
I loved this book so, so much. Ellen and her best friend Laurel are going to Barcelona for a school field trip. Ellen has a full plan of what to do, but that all dies out when her teacher announces a scavenger hunt. Laurel’s been put on a team with all her friends, except for Ellen. And Ellen is all alone with new teammates. I really enjoyed the way this story evolved and grew. I also really loved the diversity, with nonbinary, gay, and lesbian characters. I love this book so much!
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
I really loved this murder mystery! Indian Island is the most fashionable place and all that anyone’s talking about. So when 8 people get an invitation to go, they jump at the chance. When they get there though, the owner is missing and then, suddenly their secrets are exposed and they start dropping off, one by one. The story is told well and I definitely got fooled more than once. I really enjoyed the plot and the characters a lot. It was a great read!
Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart
This was a really sweet book about a bipolar boy and a transgender girl. Lily knows that she’s a girl. But that’s hard when you were born a boy. Her mom and sister understand, but it doesn’t seem like her dad gets how she feels. Dunkin has just moved with his mom and he’s torn between Lily or the basketball guys. I really enjoyed this book and all the diversity it had. This is such a great read!

My Top Books of January

My first top book post of 2022! Here are my top books of January.

Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo
This was such a great book! It ended the Grishaverse series and was part of the King of Scars duology. This book told the story of Nikolai, Zoya, and Nina. Nikolai, the king of Ravka, has to figure out how to defeat the Fjerdans with little to no weapons or money. He also has to figure out his feelings for Zoya when he should be marrying a princess. Zoya, Nikolai’s general, is trying to adjust to her new life with a dragon inside of her. She keeps forcing herself to forget her feelings for Nikolai, even when he admits he reciprocates them. Nina, Nikolai’s spy, realizes that the best thing for Hanne is to win a man but she won’t accept it. I love their journey and the twists and turns that you’ll never forget. I totally recommend this series to you.
The School for Whatnots by Margaret Peterson Haddix
This book was so interesting! I loved the characters and the plot. Max’s life changed when his best friend, Josie, leaves him a note, telling him that “No matter what anyone says, I’m real,” Soon after, Max learns what whatnots are. They’re robots, built to look and act like humans to surround the rich kids and make them feel protected. Max refuses to believe this and starts searching for Josie. There are so many twists which I never saw coming and I loved the narration style. This is such a great book!
Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce
I really enjoyed this book and the mysteriousness of it all. Myrtle is such a lively character and I enjoyed the way she went about solving the murder. It was written in such a way that you could figure out the mystery with Myrtle and it all made sense in the end. This is such a great book and I loved it a lot. I totally recommend it to you.
Operation Do-Over by Gordon Korman
This book was so good! I loved Mason and the way we got to see his character in two different times. Mason and Tyrus were the best of friends until Ava. Now, they never talk. One day, Mason wakes up as his old self and he knows it’s a chance to have a do-over. I loved this book and the plot. The ups and downs were perfect and the whole thing was spectacular. This is such a great book!
When Did You See Her Last? by Lemony Snicket
This is part of the All the Wrong Questions series. I really liked the book and the mysteries that came along with it. Lemony Snicket is an apprentice to S. Theodora Markson. They’re investigating the disappearance of Cleo Knight, though all the adults seem to give up too early, not seeing the missing pieces. Lemony and his friends, Ellington and Moxie, try to solve the mystery. I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

I hope you enjoyed my top reads!

Butter Chicken: A Recipe

I love butter chicken. It’s a comfort food and I always feel at home when eating it. Whenever I go out to Indian restaurants, I always order butter chicken (or paneer) and naan (though I do try new things). Butter chicken is something I’ll always come back to and I love it a lot.

Ingredients:

2 lb of boneless skinless chicken tenders, cut into big cubes
2 tbsp yogurt
1/2 tbsp oil
3/4 tsp salt
around 1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp garam masala
2 small cloves of mashed garlic
3 tbsp butter
1 onion, sliced
3 large cloves of mashed garlic
1 inch mashed ginger
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp paprika
8 oz. canned tomato sauce
2 tomatoes, pureed
1/2 cup heavy cream
dried fenugreek (kasturi meethi)

Directions:

To marinate the chicken, add the yogurt, oil, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp garam masala, and the small cloves of garlic. Mix well, then add the chicken and coat it with the marinade. Cover and let marinate for 30 minutes.
Set Foodi to the Saute mode on hot. Add the butter and once it starts melting, add the onions. Saute until the onions start browning.
Add the large cloves of garlic (mashed) and the ginger (mashed). Also add 1/2 tsp of garam masala and the sugar. Cook for around a minute, stirring often.
Add the marinated chicken, paprika, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp cayenne. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring often.
Add the tomato sauce and the pureed tomatoes and mix well. Put the pressure cooker lid on the Foodi and pressure cook on high for 4 minutes. Make sure it’s set on seal.
Release the pressure, then add the heavy cream and the fenugreek.
Enjoy!

22 Things I Look Forward to in 2022

Here are 22 things I’m looking forward to in this new year!

The School For Good and Evil movie
This is a movie that is going to be coming to Netflix based on the popular School for Good and Evil book series. I’m really excited to watch it!
Traveling more
Trying a new theme on my Instagram
Performing more Bharatanatyam
Learning more Mohiniattam items
Attending more book events
Improving my writing skills
Attending my school’s dance event
Expanding my Ninja Foodi cooking skills
Discovering new authors
(Hopefully) being a leader in 8th grade
In our school, leaders lead lessons in homeroom 2 times a week. I’ve heard that leadership class and leadership camp (which you take to become a leader) is really fun.
Creating a project in my MUN class with my friends
Discovering more mythological tales
Visiting the library more frequently
Solve a New York Times crossword by myself
Spending more time with family (fingers crossed)
Trying more crafts
Fun projects in my Texas History class
Playing around with online designing
Start biking more
Trying new cuisines
Discover/Play new board games

December’s Top Reads

Here are my top books of December!

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
I love this series so much. Clary Fray is a tennager when she realizes that she sees things that others don’t. She meets Jace, Isabelle, and Alec, the other Shadowhunters. I loved their adventures and there were so many lot twists that shocked me. This is such a great book and I loved reading it so much. I totally recommend it to you!
The Secret Series by Pseudonymous Bosch
I read the second and third books in this series (If You’re Reading this, it’s Too Late and This Book is Not Good for You). Cassandra and Max-Ernest are such great characters and I enjoyed the involment of a new character, Yo-Yoji. this stories are great and I loved the storytelling style. I love this series!
The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
I am in love with this series. In this book, Avery continues her adventures with the Hawthorne Brothers. There are so many secrets revealed and a whole new land is discovered. I really, really enjoyed the plot and the characters. I totally recommend this book to you!
Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
I really enjoyed this book! In this book, Shiori, the only one with magical powers in her kingdom, gets cursed by her stepmother, Raikama. Her brothers turn into cranes and Shiori, without a voice, sets out to save them. I loved the story and the plot! This is the first part of a duology based on the fairytale, “The Wild Swans,”.
The Verdigris Pawn by Alysa Wishingrad
I loved this book and the way it invented a game that worked so well with the book. When Beau meets Cressi, he finally sees the true ways of his father and the ones before him. He realizes that he has to take control of the king, but before he can do that, he needs his ace and his pawn. I loved this story so much!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here
Top Books of March: click here
Top Books of April: click here
Top Books of May: click here
Top Books of June: click here
Top Books of July: click here
Top Books of August: click here
Top Books of September: click here
Top Books of October: click here
Top Books of November: click here

I really enjoyed talking about my top reads of each month! Do you think I should continue this next year?

Cranberry Orange Loaf

This year, I decided to make a Christmas themed bread. I tried this very quick and delicious recipe that worked very well. It tasted great and was perfect for a Christmas special. I really loved the loaf and decided to share it with you!

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup sugar
zest of an orange
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
1 Tbsp fresh orange juice
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup chopped cranberries

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a loaf pan.
Mix the flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar, then set aside.
In a seperate bowl, stir the orange zest, buttermilk, oil, eggs, orange juice, and vanilla together.
Slowly combine the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
Add the cranberries and stir until just combined.
Pour into the pan and bake for 55 minutes.
Enjoy!

What’s your favorite Christmas recipe?

November’s Top Books

Here are my top books for November!

The House on Hoarder Hill by Kelly Ngai and Mikki Lish
This is a great story about 2 kids who are determined to find out the mystery behind the disappearance of their grandma, Rose. Hedy and Spencer are at their grandpa’s house while their parents are on vacation. They get a mysterious message (Find Me) setting them off on their crazy adventure with piano-playing ghosts, mischievous paintings, and a very friendly bear rug and a glorious deer head. I loved the story and the way it progressed. This is such a great book!
Much Ado About Baseball by Rajani LaRocca
This book is about friendship, but it has so many other great themes coursing through it. Trish has just moved to a new town and is finding it hard to make new friends and fit in. So she joins the baseball team, hoping to meet someone new. There, she sees Ben, who she met and beat at the Math Puzzler Championships last year. Ben doesn’t want to be on the team, but when he sees Trish, he knows that he can’t quit and be embarrassed by her again. I love what happens next and the way that Shakespeare’s works are tied in. This is a great book!
Amber and Clay by Laura Amy Schlitz
This is definitely one of my favorite books this month. It tells the story of Melisto and Rhakos, two very different children, yet very similar. The story is told in many different points of view, with different types of storytelling for each. There are also “exhibits” which show items from a long time ago. I loved how the author incorporated these items into the story. This story flows so well and I loved watching the plot move along. I definitely recommend it to you!
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
This is the prequel to the Hunger Games. It follows Coriolanus Snow, the antagonist in the original series, when he is young, 18 years old. He has been assigned to mentor a tribute for this year’s Hunger Games, a tribute from District 12, the worst district. He meets Lucy Gray this way and is enthralled by her, especially her voice. I loved following the events of the story and the way the plot continued. The characters are written very well and it was great to see how the characters grew into who they are in the actual books. I love this book!
The Name of This Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch
This book’s storytelling style is unique, with the author keeping many things closely guarded. The two main characters, Cass and Max-Ernest go on a quest to rescue their friend when he is kidnapped by Ms. Mauvis and Dr. L. They go to the Midnight Sun, where strange things are happening. I loved their adventure and the way the story was told. It was very unique and I enjoyed it a lot. I totally recommend this book to you!

Category: lists