Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2022 Weekly Check-Ins
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Week 2: 1/6 - 1/13
Honey crisp apple and natural peanut butter=the best snack.Does anyone watch Ted Lasso? There is an episode with eating peanut butter right out of the jar.
Mod
yes! Like on LOST, when Charlie asks Claire what she misses, and she says peanut butter, she just wants a whole jar of peanut butter. (And, to be honest, it is only just now occurring to me how unlikely it is that an Aussie and a Brit would be happy to find a jar of peanut butter. I guess the American writers didn't think of that? Or maybe it was just a weird pregnancy craving Claire had.)
I have been giving my dog antibiotics, I stick the pill in a little lump of peanut butter and put that in her bowl, and then I take a spoonful of peanut butter for myself and just eat it, because it smells so good I have to have it. My kids seem to think this is gross, but it's so good!! And I'm not double-dipping the spoon back into the jar or anything, THAT would be gross.
Nadine in NY wrote: "M wrote: "When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain - For a book with a Tiger on the Cover/In the Title. After Empress of Salt and Fortune, I have the HIGHEST hopes for this. I think Nghi Vo may be one..."Yeah, reading the description of it, I feel like it might not be as strong, but I really can't complain when it's a short book and I'm listening to it. At the very least, no matter what, it'll fill one of the hardest prompts I've had to hunt for, so I'm just going to take it.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Shannon wrote: "I am a peanut butter addict (I actually discovered one that's made with honey in it!) and now I just want to sit down and eat a jar of peanut butter..."yes! Like on LOST, when Ch..."
Once I am done having my peanut butter, I let my dog lick the spoon. I may leave a little extra for him.
I love peanut butter, too! Though I do choose the smooth option instead of the ones with chunks cuz *shudders*. It's still not 100% smooth, but there are no chunks so score! But in combination with our jam? That's still a no go, no matter how intrigued I am.Maybe I'll one day try it when I'm home alone and no one can judge me and if it's terrible I can pretend it never happened xD
Also that palm oil one sounds vile indeed!
I suppose I should do a proper post. Work has been so busy, it's easier just to pop in to talk about peanut butter.Finished
I only finished one book this week. That's because I am reading and listening to long books.
A Holly Jolly Diwali for book set during a holiday. It actually covers 2 Diwalis and a Christmas.
Currently reading:
Stalingrad
The Life of Charlotte Brontë
Lethal White on audio
QOTW:
The Golem and the Jinni did not need a sequel. It was perfect as is. Why do authors not just apply their time and talents to a totally new book?
Otherwise, agree with Ready Player One and some others mentioned that I can't remember now.
Carmen wrote: "I love peanut butter, too! Though I do choose the smooth option instead of the ones with chunks cuz *shudders*. It's still not 100% smooth, but there are no chunks so score! But in combination with..."It's so interesting having these discussions because I can't think of any reason peanut butter and jelly/jam would be gross...it's a perfect combo of salt and sweet! But I'm American and grew up with it, so I'm obviously biased.
Some other options: peanut butter and honey sammiches or peanut butter and banana (sometimes throwing in some honey). OR a grilled peanut butter sandwich (like a grilled cheese but with peanut butter instead).
Also, a sliced apple and peanut butter is one of my all-time favorite snacks.
Shannon, i love all the things you mentioned haha. Also I make my own grape jelly, and anyone whos had it says it's as good or better than anything they've bought in a jar. Love a good pb&j with it :D
I admit I eat the Jif smooth all the time. I don't like chunks in my peanut butter, it's textual. And it's what i grew up with, so it's what i think peanut butter should taste like. I know it's not the "real" healthy stuff, but that stuff always feels thick and gluey to me.
Sheri wrote: "Shannon, i love all the things you mentioned haha. Also I make my own grape jelly, and anyone whos had it says it's as good or better than anything they've bought in a jar. Love a good pb&j with ..."
Healthy peanut butter is also messy, the oil spills all over the place. And when it gets towards the bottom it has usually run out of oil and is just a hard unusable glob. But I love how it tastes. Would love to hear any tips on dealing with natural peanut butter that people have.
Shannon wrote: "I am a peanut butter addict (I actually discovered one that's made with honey in it!) and now I just want to sit down and eat a jar of peanut butter..."Also a peanut butter addict and not the healthy kind, although the healthy stuff is still tasty.
PB & J sandwiches are the best. Although the best combo is smooth Kraft peanut butter and Welch's grape jelly.Also love peanut butter with apples or bananas, or peanut butter and dill pickles.
Milena wrote: "Honey crisp apple and natural peanut butter=the best snack."I agree! It's so delicious!
Shannon wrote: "It's not a book but I did just think of a sequel that 100% SHOULD NOT exist: Love Never Dies, the sequel to Andrew Lloyd Weber's Phantom of the Opera.WHY?? Why go and undo everything from the fir..."
AHHH! I didn't know that this had happened and I agree it is wrong!
Shannon wrote: "It's not a book but I did just think of a sequel that 100% SHOULD NOT exist: Love Never Dies, the sequel to Andrew Lloyd Weber's Phantom of the Opera.WHY?? Why go and undo everything from the fir..."
AHHH! I didn't know that this had happened and I agree it is wrong!
Weird question, but has anyone else ever tried dipping Oreo cookies in peanut butter? They're not healthy by any stretch of the imagination, but they remind me a little of the Girl Scout Tagalong cookies.
K.L. wrote: "Weird question, but has anyone else ever tried dipping Oreo cookies in peanut butter? They're not healthy by any stretch of the imagination, but they remind me a little of the Girl Scout Tagalong c..."Yes I watched the Lindsay Lohan parent trap movie and tried dipping oreos in peanut butter but it's not my thing.
Shannon wrote: "Carmen wrote: "I love peanut butter, too! Though I do choose the smooth option instead of the ones with chunks cuz *shudders*. It's still not 100% smooth, but there are no chunks so score! But in c..."..because peanut butter isn't salty? is it?? I don't qualify peanut butter any further than 'peanut butter' and 'creamy' xD now I'm tempted to stick a spoon in just to try, hahah! Watch me eat a sandwich tomorrow to try it ahjsdkfl
Peanut butter and banana is good though!!
Shannon wrote: "It's not a book but I did just think of a sequel that 100% SHOULD NOT exist: Love Never Dies, the sequel to Andrew Lloyd Weber's Phantom of the Opera."OMG yeesssssss!
It was so literally unwatchable. We left at intermission. Not only actively terrible with the plot and characters, but also dull. I love that people started calling it Paint Never Dries.
Meanwhile, Skippy Natural Smooth 4eva! Nothing to apologize for, it's perfectly healthy too, and since when does liking chunky make you more sophisticated or something? 🤣
Milena wrote: "Would love to hear any tips on dealing with natural peanut butter that people have."
I used to get peanut butter you would grind to order in the store, made from honey roasted peanuts. I found it to separate less and be easier to deal with than jarred natural PB.
Mod
The hard unusable glob is like play-doh, PERFECT for wrapping around a pill for my dog!!
Or, you could roll it in balls and just eat it.
Mod
I've eaten Nutter Butters with Hershey bar pieces (and it's amazing), but I never thought to try Oreos with peanut butter. I will try it, next time we have Oreos!
I love how we have come onto peanut butter and jelly here. I like jam of all kinds, but I must confess I can't stand peanut butter - which is strange because I like peanuts!
Mod
My peanut butter is made from peanuts & salt. Peanut butter without salt added is blahyuck. It's not salty like a potato chip is salty, but it's not sweet.
Mod
Not strange - texture is just as important as taste! I like roast peanuts & peanut butter, but I hate boiled peanuts. I like apple sauce, but I won't eat apples.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Carmen wrote: "..because peanut butter isn't salty? is it??..."My peanut butter is made from peanuts & salt. Peanut butter without salt added is blahyuck. It's not salty like a potato chip is sa..."
I shall return tomorrow after having eaten a peanut butter sandwich. Critically. xD It does qualify as savory here though!
Mod
My peanut butter is made from peanuts & salt. Peanut butter without salt added is blahyuck. It's not salty lik..."
Important research must be done!!!
yeah, I like tons of tomato based sauces and such, but eating a raw tomato is absolutely disgusting for me. And even in sauces and stuff, if the chunks sneak in while i'm eating other stuff I can ignore the texture. but if I have big chunks of tomato left over, those are getting left. So squishy. bleh. Preferences are weird!
QOTW: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory did not need a sequel. I finished Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator this week, and I was left with the thought: "The 1970's were . . . weird." Really doesn't have the same charm and wit as the first.Also, Little Women did not need a sequel.
Yeah don’t know why they’d use a waterfall from Upstate NY for a book that’s really set in Georgia. But as I said they’ve changed the location to Washington State and actually film near Vancouver. Weird. I actually love peanut butter. Can eat it by the spoonful. Just don’t like it on toast or sandwiches. My eldest loves peanut butter sandwiches and peanut butter on toast for breakfast. He’s 33 now and has loved it since he was a little kid of around 3. I used to have Kraft peanut butter but now I have one that’s only peanuts.
peanut butter and 'hagelslag' or 'vlokken' (little pieces of chocolate)... aaahhh.... I'm no chocolate fan, but oh, the peanut butter...
OKAY. I HAD MY SANDWICH. Thoughts: it was good, it’s been too long, I should have them more often
Conclusion: if I really focus I pick up on a salty undertaste as it were, and I really liked it! I still wouldn’t call it salty, but maybe salty-ish? 😂
Still undecided on the jam combo, but one day when no one can judge me I’ll give it a try, haha!
(Also Harmke… you can have all the hagelslag/pindakaas combo you want 😂😂 I do love hagelslag (I don’t like chocolate either) but that’s a combo I’ll be skipping, haha! My ex used to put chocopasta with hagelslag ‘double chocolate’ 😅)
Mod
Wow. I just looked those up and I now demand to know why they are not readily available on the US market. I want vlokken and hagelslag too!!!!! (King Arthur does have fairly decent chocolate jimmies, but from what I just read, they aren't as good as hagelslag.)
In my humble opinion hagelslag is superior to vlokken! If laws allow, I’d be more than happy to send you some!
Currently reading: The Thursday Murder ClubAfter a strong start in week one, I read about half what I planned to this week. On the bright side, I can't read the next book until my copy arrives at the local library, so I don't mind stretching this one out a bit. Luckily my timetable allowed for a couple of weeks margin for error, so I'm still on track to hit my target this year. How long that remains the case, we will see...
1/50
Mod
That is a kind and generous offer! But it looks like Amazon has got me covered.
so, other than sprinkling over peanut butter on toast, or putting on ice cream, what else could I consider doing with either the hagelslag or vlokken?
Nadine in NY wrote: "Wow. I just looked those up and I now demand to know why they are not readily available on the US market. I want vlokken and hagelslag too!!!!!"I guess there will be webstores for Dutchies in the USA who miss their favorite food? It'll probably be highly overprized. Or just wait. We exported our 'stroopwafels' recently, so maybe hagelslag is coming your way too!
Nadine in NY wrote: "Carmen wrote: "In my humble opinion hagelslag is superior to vlokken! If laws allow, I’d be more than happy to send you some!"That is a kind and generous offer! But it looks like Amazon has got ..."
Yay for Amazon in this case!
Honestly, it's great on its own and doesn't *need* anything else! Like just on bread (I'm partial to white bread or soft buns) with butter (it needs to stick haha!) is MWAH. Doesn't need anything more than that in my opinion, and that's how it's marketed as well! but who knows, maybe you'll find a brilliant new combo haha!
Nadine in NY wrote: "Carmen wrote: "In my humble opinion hagelslag is superior to vlokken! If laws allow, I’d be more than happy to send you some!"That is a kind and generous offer! But it looks like Amazon has got ..."
Ice cream, cake, you can use it like any sweet/chocolate topping.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Okay, so you do have jelly, but it's only used for savory dishes. And it sounds like grape is not commonly used?..."Pretty much. We don't really have grape flavoured things in general except for grapes and wine.
Milena wrote: "Would love to hear any tips on dealing with natural peanut butter that people have..."We just give ours a good stir every time we use it and don't end up with too much dry stuff. But you can also stir in some peanut oil with the dry stuff and it should turn back into peanut butter texture.
We do share the peanut butter with our dog though, so if it goes too crusty she can just eat it.
Checking in a few days late. I finally got boosted! The night-of and the whole next day was awful. My lymph node in my armpit is still swollen and my shot-arm hurts but other than that the pain has subsided. The effects were not as bad as the second shot but still had muscle aches and I was so tired. I think I slept 14 hours. I want to jump in on the peanut butter conversation, has anyone tried powdered peanut butter? It comes in a powder and you add water to make it the consistency of standard peanut butter. It is weird, but good. Also - as a snack as kids we got "peanut butter spoons" where my mom would scoop peanut butter onto a spoon and that would be our snack.
Finished:
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders (A book about the Afterlife). I can see why there are so many mixed feelings about how this book is written. It was confusing at first but then it started making sense. I highly recommend finding a video of George Saunders online - that really helped me figure out what was going on.
Continuing:
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley (A book about a party). This is taking me so long to read - the plot is just dragging out. I am about 150 pages in and something really exciting needs to happen soon.
Starting:
Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker (A book that fulfills a past prompt: A book with a subtitle). This one just came in on Overdrive from the library so I will start this one soon.
QOTW:
I am so disappointed about One of Us Is Next since I loved the first book so much. I bought it but now am hesitant to read it. No sequels pop out at me as being unnecessary, but I am new to reading series (I never really have before) so if I think of one I will definitely come back.
Mod
Oh no, I've never tried powdered peanut butter, and I never will, because water soluble peanut paste is a violation of the rules of the universe.
Also - as a snack as kids we got "peanut butter spoons" where my mom would scoop peanut butter onto a spoon and that would be our snack.
That is so cute!!
Mod
Thoughts: it was good, it’s been too long, I should have them more often
Conclusion: if I really focus I pick up on a salty undertaste as it were, and I really liked it!..."
That was excellent research!! :-)
Hey so totally enjoyed my peanut butter and grape jelly sandwich for lunch today! It had been a while and it’s all your fault check in people. Thank you.Powdered peanut butter rehydrated tastes the same as the stuff in the jar.
Peanut butter and chocolate is the ultimate pairing to me.
Nadine in NY wrote: "That was excellent research!! :-)"
Thank you, thank you!
Nadine in NY wrote: "I've eaten Nutter Butters with Hershey bar pieces (and it's amazing), but I never thought to try Oreos with peanut butter. I will try it, next time we have Oreos!"I'll have to give the Nutter Butter/Hersey combination a try! That sounds really good!
If you ever make Smores, I highly recommend replacing the Hersey bar with a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. I tried it while on a camping trip with some friends and couldn't believe how tasty it was!
Katelyn wrote: "I am so disappointed about One of Us Is Next since I loved the first book so much. I bought it but now am hesitant to read it."I read One of Us Is Next last year, and I thought it was pretty good. I would agree that the first book didn't actually need a sequel, but I enjoyed reading it. I actually ended up reading the whole book in a single afternoon.
Before Christmas I made those chocolate oatmeal no bake cookies but a slightly different recipe with peanut butter. They were pretty good but not everyone else thought so.
Posting late, because I finally finished a book.On what would have been his 93rd birthday, I read Letter from the Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr. Wow! What an amazing book to start 2022 with. Deceptively short, at 32 pages, it has more depth than I've found in 500 page books.
ATY prompt: A book that uses all five vowels in the title and/or author's name
Popsugar prompt: A romance novel by a BIPOC author
I know someone is going to get mad about the PS prompt, but under what other prompt can I put it? I argue that it's a love story either between Martin and the Church (who let him down by mischaracterizing him) or Martin and America (who let him down constantly). He still loved both to the end.
I also finally got a copy of A Slow Fire Burning from the library. Unfortunately, I had to restart at the beginning, but I'm pretty pleased at how much I've been able to read in only 2 days, with all the other books I'm juggling.
ATY - 1/52
PS- 1/35
Series - 0/13
Clearing my TBR list: 1/40
Currently reading:
Eragon - about 55% done
Insurgent - about 2/3 done
City of Fallen Angels - about 3/4 done
A Slow Fire Burning - I had read about 60%. Currently, almost 1/3 done.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Not strange - texture is just as important as taste! I like roast peanuts & peanut butter, but I hate boiled peanuts. I like apple sauce, but I won't eat apples."Haha...I am the opposite. Hate roasted peanuts, love boiled peanuts and love peanut butter (used to eat crunchy as a kid, now I like creamy). I will eat apples but, am picky about it and I don't like apple sauce (unless it is my homemade one, which has both white and brown sugar and cinnamon). That jarred apple sauce is just GROSS.
Also, More on Peanut butter:
I use the PB powder in smoothies. It adds a nice background flavor of peanut butter...I use jam/jelly or honey in my sandwich...I have eaten a PB and banana (made famous by Elvis) before and I liked it...peanut butter toast is good too but it's extra sticky...apples dipped in peanut butter are good too. And of course I have also eaten peanut butter straight out of the jar...as a meal once. Hahahaha, what being young and broke will do to you.
Also, no one has mentioned "ants on a log" (celery, peanut butter and raisins) no raisins for me please.
Oh but here's a weird one...as much as I like peanut butter, I hate hate hate peanut butter cookies (except Nutter Butters, love those).
People and their tastes, we are a weird bunch.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
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Okay, so you do have jelly, but it's only used for savory dishes. And it sounds like grape is not commonly used?
Most of the time, on toast, I'm using apricot preserves (ok, it's actually a triple fruit preserves made by Wegmans, with apricot, peach, and passion fruit, and it's unreasonably good on my homemade bread when toasted), or my homemade strawberry jam, but when I'm making "thumbprint" cookies, I like to use black raspberry jelly, it sets better on the cookie than preserves do. And every once in a while, I really like grape jelly on toast.