Holly Cupala's Blog, page 44

Book Cooks: Homemade Dog Shampoo from Joan Holub

So today we're making a major departure, not in theme but in content (as in, don't eat today's recipe). Joan Holub, author of over 120 books for children and whose latest is SHAMPOODLE(!), is on scene to give us her signature homemade dog shampoo recipe. Take it away, Joan!

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You can buy dog shampoo from a pet store or your vet. But if you're trying to stretch a dollar and want to be sure there aren't any harsh detergents or perfumes in your pooch's shampoo, you can make it at home instead....

Book Cooks: White House Chef secrets from Julie Hyzy

Today's recipes are a bit of a departure for the Book Cooks series - while the rest of the cooks have been authors or illustrators for children or YA, today's featured recipes come from Julie Hyzy, author of the White House Chef series for adults. The first two, State of the Onion and Hail to the Chef, offer up some tasty secrets, the third, Eggssecutive Orders, will dish up even more in January. Julie says:

Writing these White House Chef novels is a blast because I'm learning so much about...

Book Cooks: Elliot's Zucchini Brownies from Jen Nielsen

I'm excited to welcome another 2010 debut author in Jen Nielsen, who shares brownie-gobliny-goodness with us just in time for all of the goblin warriors in your household. Jen says of her debut middle grade novel:

It all starts on Halloween night, when young Elliot Penster chases off some bullies who are attacking a girl in a brownie costume. A very realistic brownie costume. Okay, not a costume at all. Little does Elliot know by his eleventh birthday he will be named the King of the...

Book Cooks: Nesselrode Pudding from Janet Fox

It's a pleasure to welcome another 2010 YA debut historical fiction author, Janet Fox to Book Cooks. In FAITHFUL, Maggie Bennet is a society girl living in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1904. Her mother disappears and is presumed dead; her father hides behind his grief. On the pretense of searching for Maggie's mom, her dad takes her to Yellowstone National Park in June of that year and then reveals…well, that's part of the mystery!

Here's Janet, with a recipe inspired by her novel:

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The hotel...

Book Cooks: Goat Cheese Pizza from Megan Frazer

I'm happy to welcome Megan Frazer, YA author of the recently released SECRETS OF TRUTH AND BEAUTY for the Book Cooks series - I have to agree with Megan (and Owen) here: everything does taste better with goat cheese. Don't you agree?

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In Secrets of Truth & Beauty, Dara goes to live on a goat farm with her sister Rachel, who is a terrific cook. The first meal they share is an eggplant and aubergine terrine. I would love to share the recipe, but here's my confession: I made up the dish. I ju...

Book Cooks: Amethyst Road Pear Tart by Louise Spiegler

A warm welcome to Louise Spiegler, author of The Amethyst Road, a young adult fantasy richly layered with secrets, songs, and social justice. When I asked Louise for a recipe to represent The Amethyst Road, here is what she said:

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I love books that describe what the characters are eating, and I notice that I tend to linger a bit over this when I write. I was trying to come up with a recipe that connected with The Amethyst Road, and strangely enough, though I realized that I mention food qu...

Book Cooks: Dalia's Kubbeh Soup by Anna Levine

We are embarking upon the last week of Book Cooks here at Brimstone Soup. I had such a huge response from authors and illustrators wanting to share their cooking creativity that we'll be doubling up all this week with scrumptious (and sometimes scary) goodies from all of your favorites.

We begin with Anna Levine, award-winning YA author whose latest, Freefall, asks the question, What would your life be like if military service were compulsory and not voluntary?

Anna's offering, Kubbeh, is a tra...

My Teen Read Week Tribute!

All day today, readergirlz is hosting a plethora of amazing YA author contributions for our 24-hour Teen Read Week Tribute!

Check out quotes and videos from Ellen Hopkins, Deb Caletti...ok, so you already know I love them...but how about John Green, E. Lockhart, Sarah MacLean, Lisa Schroeder, Holly Black, Mitali Perkins, Sonya Sones...not to mention the amazing and hardworking team of readergirlz divas, Justina Chen, Lorie Ann Grover, Melissa Walker, and Dia Calhoun!

...And me. Here is my firs...

Teen Read Week Gala! Dia Calhoun and Sylvia Engdahl!

It's been a wild Teen Read Week celebration over at the readergirlz blog, and it culminates tonight at the TRW Gala, where Dia Calhoun (AVIELLE OF RHIA) hosts pioneering sci-fi author Sylvia Engdahl (ENCHANTRESS FROM THE STARS) for one final night of fabulous rgz LIVE! chats! Prizes! Swag! Don't miss it. 6pm PST/9pm EST.

Plus, all day today, readergirlz is running our 24-Hour Teen Read Week Tribute, with contributions from your very favorite YA authors - Ellen Hopkins, Lauren Baratz-Logsted, K...

Book Cooks: Three Courses from Lara Zeises

Ok, so I knew going into this that Lara Zeises, author of a number of fantastic YA books and now-available THE SWEET LIFE OF STELLA MADISON is a gourmand, in addition to being a beloved YA author. So it shouldn't surprise me that she gave me not one but three delicious recipes for the Book Cooks series. How could I choose? I couldn't. So I present all three, in thanks to Lara and her generosity. Voila, a whole weekend of meals!

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Nancy's Spicy Pumpkin and Sausage Soup

INGREDIENTS

1 lb. fresh ...