Celebrating independent bookstores and libraries! Thank goodness for these wonderful spaces for book lovers and communities as a whole. Please share your favorite indie bookstores! Also recapping some April reads and sharing excitement of upcoming books.

Follow me on Instagram to see the mouthwatering meals I’m making and amazing books I’m reading. You can order this book, or any book, using my Bookshop link!

Artwork by @stephanieilana

Editor: Alex Schmitz

Song: Clementi Piano Sonatina Op. 36 No. 3 in C Major

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do you do when the truth isn’t something people want to hear, and which some are actively denying? That is one of many questions facing Harry in the fifth installment of the Harry Potter series, Order of the Phoenix. In this episode, I enter the Great Hall with Laura from Mugglecast to serve up the emotional core of the story, shifting dynamics at Hogwarts, and the ways Harry and his friends begin to push back when the system fails them. Expect plenty of thoughts on authority, trust, and why this book hits differently on a reread—plus, of course, some fun along the way.

Recipe: for the gingersnaps! You weill need: ½ cup of softened butter, ½ cup of brown sugar (white sugar for a crispier cookie), an egg, ½ cup of baking molasses, 2 cups of flour, ½ teaspoon salt. 1.5 tsp baking soda, 1.5 tsp ground ginger, ½ tsp cloves, and ⅓ cup of granulated sugar. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and molasses until well combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, ginger, and cloves. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until combined. Chill the dough in the refrigerator, covered, for 2-3 hours. Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Roll the dough into roughly 1-inch balls, roll in the granulated sugar, and place on the baking tray. Bake for 12 minutes and allow to set on the tray for 4-5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Small Business Spotlight: If you’re in or near Essex County in NJ, you must check out The Order! Located in downtown South Orange, this cafe serves up brunch with fresh, seasonal ingredients and is clearly owned by Potterheads. Dine on “The Dumbledore” - a breakfast option featuring lots of goodies.

Curious to hear more from Laura? Check out Mugglecast for LOTS of Harry Potter coverage spanning every topic you can think of! You can also hear her talk about current events and life on Millennial.

Artwork by @stephanieilana

Editor: Alex Schmitz

Song: Clementi Piano Sonatina Op. 36 No. 3 in C Major

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kicking off season five with a trip to the faerie lands of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas—a story that proves one questionable decision in the woods can turn your world upside down. That goes for the characters and the readers. I’m joined by That Team Rhysand Guy, Jon, for a talk about fairy tale vibes, dramatic world-building, suspiciously charming characters, and why communication could solve at least 60% of the problems in this book. Whether you’re a longtime ACOTAR fan or just getting into romantasy, this is the podcast for you!

Book Recommendations: By the Book by Jasmine Guillory, The Kindred’s Curse Saga by Penn Cole.

Recipe: Test your culinary skills with this delicious beef ragu!

Find Jon on Instagram to see more of his booky thoughts and Rhysand love!

Artwork by @stephanieilana

Editor: Alex Schmitz

Song: Clementi Piano Sonatina Op. 36 No. 3 in C Major

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.