• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Joy the Baker
Joy the Baker
  • Cookies
  • Bread
  • Cakes
  • Pies
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Cookies
    • Birthday Cake Recipes
    • Biscuits
    • Muffins
    • Cupcakes
    • Drinks
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Fruit
    • Nuts
    • Buttermilk
    • Chocolate
    • Vanilla
    • Holiday
    • Healthy
    • Gluten-Free
    • Vegan
  • Blog
    • Baking 101
    • Tips
    • Beyond the Kitchen
    • Let It Be Sunday!
    • New Orleans
  • Camp Joy

A Bit Of Book Nostalgia

January 26, 2014 by Joy the Baker 50 Comments

hustle
statement necklace mr & mrs glasses ny notebook
jtb cranberry cake cat dish towel drip mugs
gold french press candle jtb vanilla salt

I’m loading my iPad up with books, audiobooks, and podcasts in preparation for my long flight to and from Uganda. Long long flight.  For one reason or another, I’ve downloaded a lot of personal classics: books that I take comfort in.  I guess it’s the literary version of comfort food like tater tots for me.  I feel so out of my element traveling this far from home and it feels good to be grounded in stories that remind me of growing up.  Here are a few of my favorites.  What did you read growing up?  My favorite part of book posts is when you share what you love.  Happy Sunday!

If you’ve ever driven through the center of California then you understand John Steinbeck.  He’s my boo.  He’s my everything.  Of Mice and Men •• sealed the deal for me when I was young then East of Eden destroyed me in the best way possible.

To Kill A Mockingbird •• There is not one piece of this story that is out of place.  It’s perfect.

Remember the first time you cried about a mouse in a book?  It was Flowers For Algernon ••.  Remember the first time you cried about a mouse in a movie?  Fievel in An American Tail.  Sorry.

If I ever have a daughter, I think I’m going to slip this book onto her desk when she’s 11 years old and quietly back away. Judy Blume says it all Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret  ••.  Also Freckle Juice might come in handy.

 Lafcadio •• Shel Silverstein had some major sparkle-magic in his day, boooy did he! I have a soft spot for his books because I learned how to read with them.  They stay feeling special.
Watership Down ••  Bunnies make us cry.
The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe •• This book gave me a whole new appreciation for my grandmother’s armoriors.  CS Lewis is one of my favorite authors on faith.  Till We Have Faces is beautiful.

A Light In The Attic •• The poems in this book are about being curious, being young, and being human.  It’s perfect.

The Witches •• I read Roald Dahl growing up and knew I wanted to be a writer.  His granddaughter Sophie Dahl is author to one of my favorite cookbooks.  Runs in the family, I see.

I still can’t believe that Memoirs of a Geisha •• was written by a man.

Flowers In The Attic ••  I’ve never been good at reading scary stories.  This book proved it.

A Widow For One Year •• John Irving knows how to create characters that we care about.  I still think about his people.  Crazy.

Have a happy Sunday, my friends!

 

 

 

 

 

Previous PostNext Post

Categories: Beyond the Kitchen

Previous Post: « 2014: Showing Up
Next Post: Creamy Avocado Hummus »

Reader Interactions

All Comments
I Made This
Questions
  1. Long Distance Baking

    February 6, 2014 at 10:58 pm

    I remember my mom reading me To Kill a Mockingbird…and actually enjoying it! Of course I also loved the entire Narnia series, but I may love The Magician’s Nephew even more than The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe! There’s a few on this list I haven’t read…I need to change that!

    Reply
  2. Caitlin O'Reilly

    February 2, 2014 at 12:54 am

    Oh my gosh, Fievel, yes! I bawled my eyes out and still would I think…

    Reply
  3. Ketchum Idaho restaurants

    January 29, 2014 at 3:04 pm

    I never really thought you have this huge collection of old story books.
    I was thinking maybe you could share some recipe books too?

    Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

RELATED POSTS IN Beyond the Kitchen

Baking 101: How To Read A Recipe

Welcome to the wonderful world of baking where flour, butter, and our collective sweet tooth’s (teeth? teeth’s??) come together to create an absolute mess in our kitchens. Dirty every dish, I say! In the name of cookies, of course. Whether you’re a seasoned baker, or just tying up the apron strings for the first time,…

Read More

You Have To Make Karlee’s Peach Butter

I have the same regret every September: I didn’t eat enough summer peaches. It never fails. Every July I take peaches for granted. They’re stacked high at the grocery store and though they never do, I think they’ll last forever.  I throw a mega watermelon in my cart, grab a bag of cherries, and head…

Read More

My 5 Best Pantry Organization Tips

Friends, hi! You know Virgo season is hitting hard this year when even I take to the pantry with new canisters and labels.  Virgo season would have us holding ourselves to our highest standards and I’ve taken that on, and I’ve taken it personally. I’m working with two pantries these days. In the Houston kitchen…

Read More

Primary Sidebar

Fresh baked emails, delivered to your inbox

Receive recipes from Joy the Baker and updates on events at The Bakehouse.

HI! I’M JOY!

Welcome! This has been my little corner of the internet since 2008!

I’m a baker, photographer, cookbook author and teacher.  I live laugh love in New Orleans. 

MORE ABOUT JOY AND THE TEAM

BOOKS + Magazines

2023 CAMP JOY SUMMER ZINE – get it here!

JOY THE BAKER 2022 SUMMER MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2021 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2020 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

HOMEMADE DECADENCE

OVER EASY: SWEET AND SAVORY RECIPES FOR LEISURELY DAYS COOKBOOK

JOY THE BAKER COOKBOOK

MY FAVORITE CAMPING GEAR

SHOP MY FAVORITE GEAR HERE! 

joy the baker on facebook joy the baker on twitter pinterest-social instagram-socialbloglovin-social

DRAKE ON CAKE

Passionate from miles away since 2015.

CHECK IT OUT ON INSTAGRAM

Drake on cake instagram.

 

BREADS YOU’LL LOVE

close up of strawberry shortcake recipe with soft whipped cream

Dad’s Biscuits Make The Best Shortcake

jambalaya buttermilk biscuits in a row

Smoked Sausage Jambalaya Buttermilk Biscuits

inside of warm cinnamon roll on plate

How To Make The Best Single Serve Cinnamon Roll

LET’S MAKE COOKIES!

a stack of white chocolate macadamia nut cookies with a bite taken out of the top one with milk

Classic White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

wider shot of lemon bars stacked on a plate with a bite taken out of one lemon bar

My Favorite Classic Lemon Bars Recipe

completed recipe close up shot of a blondie so the toasted almonds, chocolate chips, and sea salt can be seen

My Best Classic Blondie Recipe

Footer

Instagram

joythebaker

📚Baker, author of books, lover of butter
🎂Creator @drakeoncake
📝Inquiries megan@underscoretalent.com

joythebaker
Chai-Spiced Sugar Cookies #taylorsversion made wit Chai-Spiced Sugar Cookies #taylorsversion made with an old sugar cookie recipe I made back in 2009 (like whaaat?) and a boatload of warm autumn spiced @taylorswift added to the dough.⁣
⁣
This cookie recipe explodes on my site every September and for good reason. We’re fall girlies and we love a little nutmeg glaze. ⁣
⁣
Find the full recipe linked in the profile! Xo
I don’t know what it is about this year, but I j I don’t know what it is about this year, but I just need more light-hearted fun, more hugs, more breakfast made by mom, and more coffee walks in the sand. Let’s do autumn now, nice and steady.
🥯🥯 for the weekend, babes! Save this no-yeas 🥯🥯 for the weekend, babes! Save this no-yeast bagel magic for your Sunday morning. ⁣
⁣⁣
Two Easy No-Yeast Bagels⁣⁣
1/2 cup self-rising flour⁣⁣
4 tablespoons greek yogurt (plus a teaspoon or two more if needed)⁣
1 large egg, beaten for egg wash⁣⁣
1/3 - 1/2 cup grated gouda or gruyere⁣⁣
Everything bagel seasoning⁣⁣
3 tablespoons baking soda with 2 cups of boiling water. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray the paper lightly with nonstick spray. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
In a small bowl, use a firm spatula to work together the flour and yogurt. Add a few teaspoons of yogurt if it feels dry and knead into a cohesive ball for 5 minutes or so. Sprinkle with a bit more flour if it gets overly sticky. Cover with a damp paper towel and gather your toppings. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Divide dough in two and roll each piece into a roughly 8-inch rope. Bring the ends around and pinch into a circle. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Sprinkle the bottom of the prepared pan with grated cheese in two spots.  Pour boiling water over the baking soda and float each bagel in the water for 20 or so seconds.  Use a slotted spot or spatula to transfer the bagels on top of the cheese.  Brush lightly with egg. Sprinkle with more cheese and everything bagel seasoning. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Bake for 20 - 22 minutes until deeply golden and bubbling.  Allow to cool for 10 minutes before slicing and smearing with cream cheese.
The secret to really great muffins is eating them The secret to really great muffins is eating them warm, with a big smear of butter and a sprinkle flakey sea salt. ❇️ This goes for any muffin but is especially delicious on these a Vegan Carrot Zucchini Harvest Muffins because they have so many veggies they’re basically a salad. ❇️ Full recipe linked in the bio! Xo
This fall the ultimate chocolate chip cookie is pa This fall the ultimate chocolate chip cookie is packed with oats, @guittardchocolate baking wafers, and candy coated chocolate pieces from @traderjoes. ✌️ It’s the perfect weekend bake, babes! Full recipe linked in the profile!
Once September hits it’s all cozy couch dinners Once September hits it’s all cozy couch dinners starting with this creamy tomato Marry Me Chicken. Disclaimer: this chicken has yet to get me hitched. Full recipe linked in the bio, bbs! Xo
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Joy the Baker
All rights reserved. Violators will be whupped and sent to bed with no dessert · Privacy Policy

Scroll Up