Fabulous Reads: 4 Fall Favorites

Y'all, just experience my first book club last night and whoa, I have been missing out! Great friends, conversation & refreshments, I'm hooked! It inspired me to share my top 4 reads for fall.

Top 5:

1. Upstairs at the White House 
2. Same Kind of Different as Me
3. The Enchanted April
4. The Boys in the Boat 

Upstairs at the White House by J. B. West

Summary of book: J. B. West worked in the White House for 28 years and witnessed the inner workings of the President, their first ladies and their families. This book is a fascinating glimpse into the historical happenings of the presidencies and into the first families personal lives. It is tasteful and inspiring. 

Rating: 5

Book feel: Nice evening wind-down
My additional comments: This is a wonderful book. Not only did it give insight to several presidents but I also walked away with some inspired but practical ideas for my own life.

Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall & Denver Moore

Summary of book: Denver Moore was working as a sharecropper (what is described in the book as a modern-day slave) in Louisiana in the mid 1900's. Ron Hall was a major money making art-dealer in Dallas. How did their lives intersect? Ron and his wife Debbie started volunteering at a homeless shelter, where they met Denver. Your life will be blessed mightily by reading this redemptive story. 

Rating: 5

Book feel: Intense but rewarding & Can't put it down, lost sleep to read it
My additional comments: 

The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim 

Summary of book: This is a classic novel written in 1922 by an Australian-born British novelist. The writing can be slow at times but her style grows on you and then charms you completely, as does this book. Set first in England then moving to Portofino, Italy, the book tells of 4 women who come together to vacation in Italy, despite the fact that they are complete strangers. 

Rating: 3

Book feel: Nice evening wind-down
My additional comments: If you're already ready for winter to end, this book will remind you of the warmth of spring and summer that is to come!

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

Summary of book: This book features Joe Rantz, an Olympic rower with humble beginnings. It is an incredible story of the 1936 Olympic rowing team, where the team came from and educates the reader on the sport of rowing. If you like stories like Seabiscuit, you will love this story.

Rating: 4

Book feel: Nice evening wind-down
My additional comments: Nice evening wind-down

Here are the details on my rating information :)

Rating scale:

1 - I stopped reading it before I finished it 

2 - I would not recommend it & wish I hadn't spent my time reading it either 

3 - It was a good read but I wouldn't read it again 

4 - I'm confident recommending it as a good read to anyone

5 - I'm still thinking about it months later & would read it again & potential buy it 

Book feel

Beach read (easy & delightful, not much focus needed) 

Can't put it down, lost sleep to read it
Nice evening wind-down

Intense but rewarding 

Informational but boring

Spinach, Chicken & White Cheese Lasagna

Wow, wow and wow! This dish is both easy and delicious and might have just stolen the title of my favorite lasagna, even above a homemade red sauce lasagna (& that's a big deal because that's one of my favorites to make and eat).

The best thing about this recipe is it makes a 9x13. If you're a smaller family like us, you only need one 8x8 and with this recipe, you get 2! One for now and one to freeze for later (or share with someone else!)!

Seriously y'all, this is soooo good. You can also sneak in some extra veggies very easily. 

Spinach, White Cheese and Chicken Lasagna

9 whole wheat lasagna noodles (not oven ready)

1/2 c butter

1 whole onion

2 yellow squash, chopped 

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 c all-purpose flour

1 t salt

2 c chicken broth

1 1/2 c milk

4 c shredded mozzarella cheese, divided in half 

1 c grated Parmesan cheese, divided in 1/2

1 t dried basil

1 t dried oregano

1/2 t ground pepper

2 c ricotta cheese

2 eggs 

2 c cooked, cubed chicken (I buy the oven rotisserie chicken that's already off of the bone from Costco. Seriously delicious & tender meat. 

1 package chopped frozen spinach, thawed & drained 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Bring a pot of water to boil. Once boiling, add noodles and cook for about 10 minutes. 

Meanwhile, in a large pot, melt butter and then cook the onion and squash for about 8 minutes, then add garlic and continue to cook until veggies are tender.

Add flour & salt to the veggie mixture & stir well.  

Add milk & chicken broth to the veggie/ flour mixture. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly & boil for 1 minute. Next, stir in 2 c mozzarella cheese & 1/2 c Parmesan & melt. Then add herbs. Remove from heat & set aside.

Mix chicken, ricotta and 2 eggs together. 

Now, for the layers! These instructions are for the 9x13 pan: 

Prepare pan(s) & spread 1/3 of milk/cheese/onion mixture on the bottom of pan. 

Next, lay noodles on top.

Then, spread all of the chicken/ricotta/egg mixture on top of the noodles. 

Spread 1/3 more of milk/cheese/onion mixture on top.

Repeat noodles then milk/cheese/onion mixture. Top with remaining 2 cups of mozzarella cheese. 

Bake in oven, uncovered, for 35-40 minutes until cheese is melted, slightly browned and the lasagna is bubbling. Let sit for about 5 minutes. 

Apple Cider Sweet Potato Chicken Chili

Y'all, I was inspired by a recipe I found online to make a chili with Apple Cider! Of course, I started to add my own twists to the recipe and thought I would share it here!

Apple Cider Sweet Potato Chili

3 chicken breasts (optional)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 onion, chopped
1/2 bell pepper, chopped (any color will work)
4 celery stalks, chopped
1 can Great Northern Beans, drained & rinsed
1 can Light Red Kidney Beans, drained & rinsed
1 sweet potato, peeled & chopped into small pieces
2 1/2 cups apple cider
3 cups chicken broth
1 t chili powder
1 t kosher salt
1/2 t black pepper, ground
1/2 t paprika
1/4t cayenne

1. Heat olive oil in large pot over medium heat. Add onions, garlic and peppers, cook until onions are translucent. After cooked, put mixture in a bowl. 
2. In same large pot, fill with water and bring to a boil. 
3. Chop chicken into small, bite size pieces and add to boiling water. Cook for about 7 - 10 minutes, until chicken is cooked through. 
4. While the chicken is cooking, drain & rinse beans and add to the bowl with the onion mixture. Also add chopped celery and sweet potato to this mixture. 
5. Once chicken is cooked, drain. 
6. Add onion mixture, cubed chicken pieces, chicken broth, apple cider and remaining ingredients (herbs) to the large pot. Bring to a boil.
7. Once pot is boiling, turn down on simmer and let thicken (about 30 minutes to 1 hour). 
8. 1/2 way through cooking, smash 1/3 of the beans onto the side of the pot, this will help to naturally thicken the chili.