A Well-Read Tart

A Food and Book Lover’s Blog

Orange Blueberry Muffins (Recipe Inspired by ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE)

These homemade Orange Blueberry Muffins are WAY better than anything you’re going to find at a bakery. If I do say so myself. (And I do). You may remember my Instagram post when I declared I had found the BEST muffin recipe ever. Ever since then, the urge to make an orange blueberry version has been overwhelming. This book-inspired recipe for Eleanor Oliphant is Complete Fine is admittedly a bit of a stretch to be truly “book-inspired."...

Cinnamon Roll Cake (Recipe Inspired by CHRISTMAS SHOPAHOLIC)

Wanna know a secret? Cinnamon Roll Cake was originally supposed to be, well...cinnamon rolls. This book-inspired recipe for Christmas Shopaholic was born out of a failed attempt to make Sticky Buns for another book review. Nothing goes as main character Becky plans on Christmas Day in Christmas Shopaholic, and Cinnamon Roll Cake fits right into that theme, making it the perfect recipe to pair with this book. Cinnamon Roll Cake is for those of...

Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal

Yes, I’m aware it's the wrong time of year for anything pumpkin​-​flavored​,​ but bear with me​ as I introduce you to this Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal​. ​​I posted a photo of this breakfast on my IG a few weeks ago, and it was surprisingly well-received. So, it got me thinkin'... Many of my book-inspired recipe plans have been derailed because of what I can(‘t) get from the grocery store these days. But, as luck would have it,...

Cinnamon Raisin Scones

Cinnamon Raisin Scones are a celebration of all things cinnamon. And, who couldn't use a little celebration right now? Mr. Tart loves cinnamon. LOVES it. He'll try pretty much anything cinnamon-flavored, including those weird, special edition Oreo cookies and KitKat bars they keep churning out. He frequently requests my Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake, and I've even gotten him to like cinnamon in savory dishes, like these Pomegranate Meatballs a...

Pantry Staples Recipes: A Coronavirus Meal Planning Survival Guide

Hello, Tartlets! We interrupt our regularly scheduled book review and book-inspired recipe posts to bring you this specially curated list of Pantry Staples Recipes, designed to help you figure out what the heck to cook each day while you're spending 24/7 with those you love...with, um, rather limited resources. My grandmother always kept a well-stocked pantry and freezer in her basement. Whenever I would visit her, we would go downstairs and...

Chocolate Chip Cornbread Muffins (Recipe Inspired by AN UNWANTED GUEST)

I felt a little bad for the characters in An Unwanted Guest. I mean, yes, obviously: half of them end up murdered in cold blood, which is rather upsetting. But, let's not overlook another, perhaps just as crucial problem plaguing the paying guests: THEY DID NOT GET ALL THE FOOD THEY WERE PROMISED. I think we can all agree that a chief component of any "weekend getaway" is gorging yourself on the delicious meals lavished upon you by an attentive...

Cheese Scones (Recipe Inspired By THE ENDLESS BEACH)

Holy. FREAKIN. Cow. These cheese scones are amazing. Jenny Colgan is the woman who inspired me to make scones. I had been smack in the middle of The Café by the Sea, reading about how Flora was making scones from her mother’s recipe book, when I was suddenly overcome with the need to make scones myself. From scratch. For the first time. At 6AM on a Saturday. That is what this woman’s writing does to you. Colgan’s wonderfully descriptive...

All Day Apple Butter

Not going anywhere for awhile? No, this is not a recipe for homemade Snickers bars. But, this is a recipe for All Day Apple Butter, which, you may have already surmised, will take you all day to make. We’re talking 10-12 hours, people. However, there’s only about 30-40 minutes of active cooking time, and the rest is all passive time until you’re ready to blend and jar the finished product. So, winter storm have you holed up inside? Make...

Blueberry Almond Scones (Recipe inspired by THE ROAD TO LITTLE DRIBBLING)

While I didn't love The Road to Little Dribbling, author Bill Bryson's time in England did inspire me to make some delicious English treats. I'm a huge Anglophile, and I appreciated his enthusiasm for English culture with all its delightful quirks, gorgeous landscapes, and elegant teatime traditions. One of my favorite things to do in London is have afternoon tea at a luxury hotel. I try to visit a different tea salon each time, but I'm also...

Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake (Recipe inspired by THE HIGH TIDE CLUB)

Oh, my goodness. So much good food mentioned in The High Tide Club. Much like The Hideaway, this story draws on its Southern roots to tantalize your taste buds. Imagine sipping cocktails at sunset while overlooking the bay on summer evening; platters of crispy fried chicken and buttery biscuits heaped in front of you for lunch; a chocolate cake tucked into a wicker basket for a midnight picnic on the beach. SIGN. ME. UP. For all of it. And I...