I like reading. Always have, probably always will. It started with easy stuff, like Nancy Drew and the Animorphs. (Not that Nancy Drew and the Animorphs aren’t awesome.) Then my third-grade teacher gave me Watership Down by Richard Adams. I almost always list that one on my favorite books list because it convinced me that I could read outside of the children’s section.
Then I began to roam through several genres. I liked mysteries, fantasy, and science fiction best. Nowadays I’m reading lots of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Er, that and YA fiction, historical romances, and categories with particularly ridiculous titles and/or summaries. Due to my college courses, I’ve also discovered a fondness for medieval literature and literature of the Indian diaspora. I’ve kept one trait: I hate reading series out of order. I’ll do it if I have to, but I much prefer to read without skipping. (Sybil is trying to corrupt me, but I’m resisting.) But I’ve discarded another trait: I will put books down. If I’m not into it, why waste my time? I have a ton of books to read and not a lot of free time. (Okay, since I graduated and am now looking for a job, I have free time at the moment.)
My first romance was some book my mom left lying around, which is a dangerous thing to do around a voracious book reader. If s/he is bored, s/he will pick your book up and read it no matter how lame it sounds. I’ll admit that I’m still embarrassed by some of the book covers and titles. If I’m reading in public (on the bus, in a waiting room, etc.), then I’m likely to hold my hands very strategically over any cover with naked/half-naked people.
In December 2010 I graduated from UT-Austin. I find it extremely strange to no longer be a student. It does give me time to do things, however. I ask people who know more about that stuff than me to help perfect my resume and cover letters. I read. When I’m not reading, I’m watching movies (anything from a guilty pleasure to arthouse fare), hanging with friends, listening to music (the louder the better), or running (often in the house). I draw. I write. I edit. I talk about food – making food, eating food, food other people eat, food I’d like to eat. I can be a little pretentious, but I’m fun to hang out with if you like puns and homemade baked goods.
Here’s a recipe for my famous Holiday Spice Double Chocolate Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookies, adapted from this Smitten Kitchen recipe:
Ingredients:
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (homemade, if possible)
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground clove
1 cup quick-cooking oats
6 ounces butterscotch chips
2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest
6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips (mini morsels preferred)
6 ounces dark chocolate baking chocolate, chunked (Ghirardelli preferred)
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter. Add sugars, salt, vanilla, and almond, then beat well (approx three minutes). Stir in eggs, one at a time. Sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove in a separate bowl. Add half of the flour mixture to liquid mixture on low. When just mixed, add the second half. Stir in oats, orange zest, butterscotch chips, and chocolates. Drop tablespoons of dough onto the cookie sheets. (They don’t spread much, but they do spread.) Bake 10 to 12 minutes. Cool on rack.
