A Well-Read Tart

A Food and Book Lover’s Blog

Lemon Spinach Basmati Rice (Recipe Inspired by FORGOTTEN SISTERS)

As you read earlier this week, Tartlets, Lemon Spinach Basmati Rice is another book-inspired recipe for Forgotten Sisters. While this side dish would work great with a bunch of different main courses (see below), I absolutely love it served with Baked Sea Scallops.   Why do I love Lemon Spinach Basmati Rice? If you’ve made my Halal-Inspired Chicken and Rice, you know how delicious basmati rice can be. The grains fluff up individually and...

Baked Sea Scallops (Recipe Inspired by FORGOTTEN SISTERS)

Tartlets, I’m bringing you recipe 1 of 2 today for Forgotten Sisters: Baked Sea Scallops. You’ll see in the photos below that they’re served with Lemon Spinach Basmati Rice, and the recipe for that dish will post later this week.   Why are Baked Sea Scallops the book-inspired recipe for Forgotten Sisters? So much in Forgotten Sisters revolves around water and the sea. The sisters in the book are obsessed with The Little Mermaid, which...

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad (Recipe Inspired by THE CLOISTERS)

This book-inspired recipe for The Cloisters is an amalgamation of all my lunchtime favorites. We're talking Chicken Caesar Wraps with hearty pieces of white meat chicken. We're talking Caesar Salads with creamy, dreamy dressing. We're talking cool and refreshing pasta salads.  What's a girl to do when she can't decide what to have for lunch? You have it all with Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad.    Why is Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad the...

Savory Thyme and Caraway Biscuits (Recipe Inspired by HAMNET)

I’m gonna be honest with you, Tartlets: I’m not sure that these Savory Thyme and Caraway Biscuits turned out exactly like they’re supposed to. But, I thought they were really tasty. And Mr Tart thought they were really tasty. So, I decided to bite the bullet (or biscuit) and give you these savory bundles as the book-inspired recipe for Hamnet.   Why are Thyme and Caraway Biscuits the book-inspired recipe for Hamnet? I decided to make...

Simple Tomato, Corn, and Torn Basil Salad (Recipe Inspired by OLD COUNTRY)

We're keeping it short n' sweet with this Simple Tomato, Corn, and Torn Basil Salad, Tartlets.  As you saw earlier this week, this salad was served up with my Grilled Rosemary Balsamic Steaks. This side dish is another Old Country book-inspired recipe that pays homage to cooking with fresh, homegrown ingredients.   A Simple Salad... Just like with the grilled steaks, rustic is the name of the game when it comes to making Tomato, Corn, and...

Chilled Seafood Salad (Recipe Inspired by WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING)

My herby, tangy, and refreshing Chilled Seafood Salad is the perfect dish for a light summer meal. I don't know about you, but once June rolls around, all I can think about is having an icy glass of lemonade, reading lots of books instead of working, and wishing I lived by the beach instead of in the mountains. And this year, after my adventures in Charleston where I ate ALL THE SEAFOOD, I just wasn't ready to let go of that shellfish state of...

Sally Lunn Buns (Recipe Inspired by THE OTHER BENNET SISTER)

It’s hard to believe that these Sally Lunn Buns came out of my kitchen. But, they did, and they're freaking perfect. In case you don't remember, I suck making yeasted bread. Like, really suck at it. I mean, I've done it, with mixed results. There was the Fig and Pepper Bread, which turned out surprisingly great, and then the Cinnamon Rolls-turned-Cinnamon Cake, which, while delicious, obviously didn't go quite as intended. There are a few...

Caprese Farro Salad (Recipe Inspired by MUSICAL CHAIRS)

The Summer of Salads continues with make-ahead marvel Caprese Farro Salad. While my Arugula Salad with Watermelon and Feta is a perfect appetizer for your fancy dinner party, you’ll want to haul along a container of Caprese Farro Salad to your next BBQ or neighborhood potluck. One of the things I loved about Musical Chairs was the mood that it sets: think hot, lazy summer days along the breezy Connecticut coast; guests coming and going from a...

Arugula Salad with Watermelon and Feta (Recipe Inspired by THE MAIDENS)

Freshen up your summer with Arugula Salad with Watermelon and Feta! Honestly, summers are made for salads. Mr Tart and I practically live on them during the hot, humid months. Mainly because we live in New Jersey, where summertime = tons of local, fresh produce, but it’s also because we want to spend as little time cooking over a hot stove as possible. This book-inspired recipe for The Maidens is a tribute to the “watermelon and salty Greek...

Smothered Chicken and Broiled Broccolini (Recipe Inspired by MEG & JO)

Say hello to your new comfort food dish: Smothered Chicken and Broiled Broccolini. This book-inspired recipe for Meg and Jo was an easy pick. One of the things I loved about this novel is that it contains no shortage of delicious food. At one point, Jo March is asked to make “family dinner” for the restaurant crew where she works, and she whips up a Southern staple of smothered chicken, cornbread, and collard greens. I swear my eyebrows shot...