Cheesy Summer Squash Casserole [RECIPE]

Cheesy Summer Squash Casserole
Turn your summer harvest into a tasty side dish with our Cheesy Summer Squash Casserole.
(Photo by Jathan Fink, Jadeworks Entertainment)

We love summer! One reason for this is that we adore the bounty of fresh produce that is in season. One vegetable that always seems to grow well is squash. Over the years, many items in our garden have yielded less than satisfactory results, but we never seem to have a shortage of squash. And since hot summer days aren’t conducive to eating heavy meals, we’re always looking for tasty ways to prepare the summer harvest, and this is one dish that’s a real crowd pleaser! So instead of bringing the prerequisite baked beans, cole slaw or potato salad to the next neighborhood barbecue, try serving up this cheesy summer squash casserole instead. We guarantee your friends will be asking for the recipe. Enjoy! Continue reading “Cheesy Summer Squash Casserole [RECIPE]”

‘Allie and Bea’ Make Us Believe in the Power of Friendship [REVIEW]

Catherine Ryan Hyde's ALLIE AND BEA
An unlikely duo, Allie and Bea are destined to become as unforgettable as Thelma and Louise.
(Photo courtesy Lake Union Publishing)

A senior citizen down on her luck. A teenage girl with nowhere else to turn. Two people at opposite ends of life find themselves in the worst situations possible. But out of their dismay, an unlikely friendship is born. Meet Allie and Bea, the two remarkable heroines of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s triumphant new novel. Continue reading “‘Allie and Bea’ Make Us Believe in the Power of Friendship [REVIEW]”

Pack Your Bags and Visit Some ‘Novel Destinations’ [REVIEW]

Heather in Concord MA
We love traveling to “novel destinations,” just like we did on this excursion to Concord, Massachusetts, former home to the Alcott sisters, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. (Photo by Jathan Fink, Jadeworks Entertainment)

Greg Iles’ Natchez. Mark Twain’s Mississippi River. John Steinbeck’s Salinas. Heather and I love to travel, and oftentimes our wanderlust takes us to places we have only encountered in books. There is something inspiring about walking in a favorite writer’s footsteps, seeing where he lived, or exploring a place that ignited his creative spark and ultimately fueled the imaginations of countless readers. If this type of travel appeals to you, then you’re going to love National Geographic’s new book, Novel Destinations!   Continue reading “Pack Your Bags and Visit Some ‘Novel Destinations’ [REVIEW]”

Six Literary Haunts Every Bibliophile Should Visit [PHOTOS]

Shannon Mckenna Schmidt
Shannon Mckenna Schmidt, co-author of National Geographic’s Novel Destinations, shares six of her favorite literary haunts.

Warning: Novel Destinations may inspire wanderlust. But rest assured, whether or not taking to the road is in the cards right now, the book offers an entertaining armchair journey. Rather than simply guiding readers to famous writers’ homes and haunts, Novel Destinations shares intriguing, little-known stories about the wordsmiths and the places where they lived, wrote, drew inspiration, and ventured themselves. Here are some of my favorite literary travel tales. Continue reading “Six Literary Haunts Every Bibliophile Should Visit [PHOTOS]”