Jennifer Moorman's Blog, page 19

Cooking Through Fiction: Extraordinary Apple Pop-Tarts

Extraordinary — (adjective) beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly exceptional, remarkableI am a lover of words (a logophile). I can admit to being so nerdy that I am saddened when a word (especially hundreds of words in a language) dies. The Oxford English Dictionary labels these words obsolete. I bet thousands of words are thinking, Man, I hope I don’t become obsolete—oh, no, there goes hugger-mugger! Hugger-mugger was a real, usable word once. Feel free to bring it back. It means “to act...

Cooking Through Fiction: Extraordinary Apple Pop Tarts

Extraordinary — (adjective) beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly exceptional, remarkableI am a lover of words (a logophile). I can admit to being so nerdy that I am saddened when a word (especially hundreds of words in a language) dies. The Oxford English Dictionary labels these words obsolete. I bet thousands of words are thinking, Man, I hope I don’t become obsolete—oh, no, there goes hugger-mugger! Hugger-mugger was a real, usable word once. Feel free to bring it back. It means “to act...

Cooking Through Fiction: Snicket's Chicken Pesto Pasta

There are likely many different types of TV watchers, but I’m going to talk about two kinds today. Type 1: watches TV and doesn’t talk about what’s happening on TV; and Type 2: watches TV and incessantly asks questions about what’s happening on TV. I’m Type 2 (to everyone’s annoyance around me). What can I say? I can’t help it. I ask a lot of questions.And my questions aren’t always valid. Sometimes there’s a real gem of a question in there, but mostly, I ask questions such as “Why is she wea...

Cooking Through "The Baker's Man": Forget-Me-Not Cookies

There are several legends surrounding the naming of the flower Forget-Me-Not, each one romantic and lovely in its own way. In one German legend, it is said that as God was naming all of the plants, one tiny blue flower did not want to be overlooked, so the flower called out, “Forget me not, Lord.”Another legend says that wearers of the flower would not be forgotten by their lovers. A medieval legend tells of a knight and his lady who walked along a riverside. The knight leaned down to pick fo...

Cooking Through Fiction: Blackberry Sunrise Scones

There are many reasons to move to Midnight Gulch, Tennessee. One reason is because the whole town smells like waffle cones, courtesy of Dr. Zook’s Ice Cream Company. Who doesn’t love the warm, vanilla scents of baking waffle cones?Felicity Pickle and her family arrive in Midnight Gulch in their van, the Pickled Jalapeño. They’re each looking for something; Felicity wants a home more than anything. She also wants a friend, but that’s not easy when you see words everywhere the same way others s...

Cooking Through "The Baker's Man": Ooey Gooey Butter Cake

The American writer Anais Nin said, “Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country.” In one of the final chapters of The Baker’s Man, Anna has reached a point in her life when she must riffle through the mess and find her dreams. It’s time she tossed them into space.Anna is lucky enough to have people around her who love her and support her. She has friends and family, and she even has the whole town...

Cooking Through Fiction: Stubborn Chicken Pie

If you had a train ticket to any place, where would you choose to go? Unfortunately, seventeen-year-old Avery Ross doesn’t have much of a choice concerning her destination. Due to a scribbling of obscenities on her forehead, she’s sent across the country to North Dakota. She’s probably wondering what I’m wondering: Does anyone actually live in North Dakota? I’m kidding. I know at least five people who call ND home.Avery’s punishment involves working at her aunt’s boarding house, but is it rea...

Cooking Through Fiction: Frankenstein's Cake

When most people hear the name Frankenstein, they immediately imagine the monster depicted in the movies. The tall, grotesquely built lump of flesh given life by whom….? Victor Frankenstein.Frankenstein isn’t the monster stitched together with human remains; he’s the monster’s creator. After reading the novel many times and even watching the movies, I think people are right in thinking that Frankenstein is the monster in Mary Shelley’s novel, but only if they’re referring to Victor.He becomes...

Cooking Through "The Baker's Man": Forbidden Forest Butterbeer Cake

Mystic Water loves celebrating the holidays, and with Halloween just around the corner, Anna O’Brien has created loads of Halloween treats perfect for the season.During Halloween, books containing spooky stories and haunted fictional tales are checked out of the local library, and you would be hard-pressed to find your favorite. Every copy of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets has been checked out, and one copy sits on the counter of Bea’s Bakery. Anna used it as inspiration for her late...

Cooking Through Fiction: Van Ripper Olykoeks

In The Wishing Thread, the Van Rippers live in Tarrytown, and they don’t live there unnoticed. In fact, there are some who say they are angels and some who say they’re swindlers. Why? Because the Van Rippers are thought to be able to weave magic into their yarn designs.Need a new job? Maybe you could ask them for a new sweater to wear to an interview. But beware—in order to receive this gift, you’ll have to relinquish something very precious to you. What, might you ask? Only you can answer th...