As an avid reader who also loves to spend time in the kitchen, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been inspired to try cooking something I read about in a book! Here I share recipes for dishes I’ve tried that were featured in books.

Blue Castle Berry Crumble
Valancy Stirling is one of my all-time favorite book heroines. She’s shy but secretly sassy, sweet and vulnerable, and has the guts to break out

Watercolors and Blueberries to Brighten Your Winter
I hate winter! About this time every year, the grey skies and shivery weather start to get to me. Instead of venturing out, I prefer

Paris is Calling–Now I Want a Cartoon Rat to Cook For Me
I’ve been having a blast looking up photos of Paris lately. They’re everywhere and easy to find, which reinforces my belief that Paris

Butterbeer Copycat Recipe
My kids and I love the Harry Potter books and movies. They’ve been an important part of childhood for my girls (both have dressed as

Bird’s Nest Pudding from “Farmer Boy”
I just had to share a fun recipe for a baked apple dessert called “bird’s nest pudding” that I recently discovered. Before I do, though,

Dinner and Dessert: Lasagna with Triple Chocolate Cupcakes
These recipes are inspired by two middle grade novels: Sticks and Stones by Abby Cooper and Out of Tune by Gail Nall. (See my 6/26/17 blog

Shakespeare Festival Tarts–Copycat Recipe
OK, I promised that I’d share a copycat recipe for the wonderful tarts they sell at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, IF I ever found one. Well,

Elizabethan Pastry, Please!
I grew up in Cedar City, Utah, a small town known for its fantastic Shakespearean Festival. If you’re ever passing through Southern Utah on I-15

Croque Chocolat Banane (or Chocolate Banana Panini)
This is my very first post for the recipe portion of my website: “Cooking by the Books.” The cooking section is for fun experimentation preparing the foods