Jennifer Sommer
Contact me
  • "Jen"reflecting
  • Book Reviews
    • Children's Book Reviews >
      • 2015
      • 2014
      • 2013
      • 2012
      • 2011
      • 2010
      • 2009
      • 2008
      • 2007
      • 2006
      • 2005
      • 2004
      • 2003
      • 2002
      • 2001
      • 2000
      • 1999
      • 1998
    • Young Adult Book Reviews >
      • 2014
      • 2013
      • 2012
      • 2011
      • 2010
      • 2009
      • 2008
      • 2007
      • 2006
  • Published Articles
  • Autographs
  • Contact Me

No Romaine? No Problem!

11/22/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
It's Thanksgiving and I've already prepared my menu and bought my ingredients. Then the romaine lettuce warning comes out. I throw away my romaine. Now what? I go to the grocery and the produce shelves where the lettuce usually sits is virtually empty! Well, there are 3 sad looking bags of shredded iceberg. I grab one of them. What else can I find? I think about the packaged salads but they are also gone. No, wait. There is one Asian mix and one Asiago Kale that has brussels sprouts, kale, and radicchio in it. I grab that one. What can I add? I grab a tub of baby arugula. The tiny leaves are a similar size to the ones in the kale mix.
I head to the dairy section and find a tub of blue cheese. In the nut section I find a package of pecans. I head back to produce. I think I need something fruity. A pear. Good. And what's this? It's a container called Juicy Gems - fresh pomegranate arils. I think back to my trip to China last Christmas. Definitely in season and they'd be pretty. I grab one of those. I also grab a bottle of raspberry walnut dressing. I think I'm good to go!


Read More
0 Comments

Paul Hollywood's Chocolate and Cherry Loaf

11/15/2018

8 Comments

 
Picture
I am a huge fan of the British Baking Show.​ To me, it is the perfect example of how a show can both inspire bakers and demonstrate how competition doesn't have to be nasty. In fact, the bakers not only often help each other, but cheer each other on. Plus, there is no prize money. Simply the honor of being the final baker is enough. Of course they get that fabulous cake plate and beautiful bouquet as well. And there is none of that sappy story line of what one will do with the money once one wins. No forced drama.  It's a pleasure to watch. The outdoor tent in some beautiful England location is charming. No Hollywood stages anywhere! There was even a challenge where the final bakers had to go outside to a firepit to bake pita. Fantastic! The judges give tips on how to fix the various problems that occur. The bakers are eager to learn and benefit from the advice. Over ten weeks, the bakers become friends we cheer and worry for. When a season ends, I mourn until another season finally airs. As an American, I have learned so much from watching this show, and I've learned quite a bit of British lingo as well. 
The good news is that the judges occasionally have specials in which they demonstrate some of their prized recipes. This one is a chocolate and cherry loaf recipe Paul Hollywood featured in a Christmas special. And it is delicious!


Read More
8 Comments
    Picture
    I am a writer of Children's and Young Adult books. I received my MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN, and am an active member of SCBWI. I also have my MLS in Library Science with an emphasis on children and happily worked as a Children's Librarian for nearly 20 years. One of my favorite activities was reading books aloud to kids, especially to school-aged kids. Like the kids, I enjoy having stories read to me, so I listen to many of my books on audio and serve on audio judging committees.
    Another favorite activity is creating fun snacks for library programs, friends, and family. I do that a lot and continually search for more ideas.
    I have a very large Russian Blue mix cat named Bosley from the shelter, and a rescue dog named Prince Albert. He's a Cavapoo, which means he's part Cavalier King Charles and part poodle, and adorable. I am married and live in Dayton, Ohio with my husband Rod.
    Picture
    You can find more detailed information about me by clicking the link below:
    View my profile on LinkedIn
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013

    Categories

    All
    ALA Youth Media Awards
    Alumni Weekend
    American Library Association
    Audie Awards
    Brandon Marie Miller
    Characterization
    Chocolate Bombs
    Christmas Cooking
    Cinquains
    Cookie
    Corona Virus
    Debut Author
    Dia De Los Muertos
    Easter
    Enhancing Books With Activities
    Fantasy
    Fox Stories
    Fun Snacks
    Gardening
    Gatlinburg Fires
    Halloween
    Hamline
    Harold Underdown
    Highlights Founders Workshops
    Holiday Distractions
    Holiday Treats
    Illustrator Notes
    Karen Cushman
    Katherine Kellgren
    Kathy Wiechman
    Keila Dawson
    Kerrie Logan Hollihan
    Kirby Heyborne
    Late Bloomer Award
    Libba Bray
    Mad Scientists Lab
    Marcus Sedgewick
    Mary Kay Carson
    NaNoWriMo
    Nature Bootcamp
    New Year's Resolutions
    Non-fiction
    Octopus Capers
    Odyssey Awards
    Peter Jacobi
    PiBoIdMo
    Picture Books
    Pizza
    Redhot Carolinas Conference
    Robert F. Sibert Award
    SCBWI
    Showing
    Soups And Stews
    Steve West Interview
    Submissions
    Summer Listens
    Tara Lazar
    Techniques For Revealing Physical Emotion In A Story's Narrator
    Teen Books
    Telling
    Thanksgiving
    The King Cake Baby
    Thoughts On Halloween
    Trends
    Understanding ABC Books
    Valentine's Day
    Vocabulary
    Writing Areas
    Writing Conferences
    Writing Craft
    Writing In Dialect

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly