Five WWII Books {Five on Friday}

Yesterday was World Book Night and as a giver for the fourth year I had a great time giving out books! I gave the majority to moms and dads on the school ground. They are the worst culprits for saying they have no time to read. Everyone I talked to say they would try there best to start reading despite their “busy” schedules.

I say “busy” because we are all busy. It’s all about our priorities and where I appreciate that reading a book isn't everyone’s first priority I do believe it is a past time that everyone should attempt whenever they can.

In my last post I am running a giveaway for a copy of my World Book Night book Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts by Mary Gibson. So, head over there and enter all you have to do is follow the instructions in the rafflecopter gadget. *Giveway Closed

I have read all of these books! I laughed and cried and lived in another time in different ways with each of these books. I couldn't recommend them more! 

Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts is about life and love in England during WWI. If you’re looking for something to read after such a great book then here are my five WWII recommendations. If you haven’t read Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts but are interested in fictional and non-fictional books on WWII these are worth a look!

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

synopsis: (from the front flap) ***HERE IS A SMALL FACT*** You are going to die 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier. Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall. . .

The Story Teller by Jodi Picoult

synopsis: For seventy years, Josef Weber has been hiding in plain sight. He is a pillar of his local community. He is also a murderer. When Josef decides to confess, it is to Sage Singer, a young woman who trusts him as her friend. What she hears shatters everything she thought she knew and believed.

As Sage uncovers the truth from the darkest horrors of war, she must follow a twisting trail between terror and mercy, betrayal and forgiveness, love - and revenge.

Life after Life by Kate Atkinson

synopsis: What if you had the chance to live your life again and again, until you finally got it right? During a snowstorm in England in 1910, a baby is born and dies before she can take her first breath. During a snowstorm in England in 1910, the same baby is born and lives to tell the tale.

What if there were second chances? And third chances? In fact an infinite number of chances to live your life? Would you eventually be able to save the world from its own inevitable destiny? And would you even want to? Life After Life follows Ursula Todd as she lives through the turbulent events of the last century again and again.

Clara Vine series:

synopsis - Black Roses: 1933. War is in the air. And in Berlin one woman is torn between love, loyalty and duty… Clara Vine is young and ambitious, and determined to succeed as an actress. A chance meeting in London leads her to Berlin, to the famous Ufa studios and, unwittingly, into an uneasy circle of Nazi wives, among them Magda Goebbels.

synopsis - The Winter Garden: Berlin. 1937. The city radiates glamour and ambition. But danger lurks in every shadow… Anna Hansen, a bride-to-be, is a pupil at ne of Hitler’s notorious Nazi Bride Schools, where young women are schooled on the art of being an SS officer’s wife. Then, one night, she is brutally murdered and left in the gardens of the school.

synopsis – A War of Flowers: August, 1938. Paris is a city living on its nerves and the threat of war hangs heavy as a distant thunderstorm on a summer’s day…With war becoming increasingly likely, Clara is approached by an undercover British operative, Guy Hamilton, who askes her to perform a task for her country: to befriend Eva Braun, Hitler’s girlfriend, and to pass on any information she can gather.

The Endless Steppe (non-fiction) by Esther Hautzig

synopsis: Esther Rudomin was ten years old when, in 1941, she and her family were arrested by the Russians and transported to Siberia. This is the true story of the next five years spent in exile, of how the Rudomins kept their courage high, though they went barefoot and hungry.

I had a great World Book Night! I love talking about books with readers and non-readers alike and I love sharing the gift of books. However I am always looking for new book recommendations! If you have any book reviews on your blog please link up here! They can be old or new and they can be fiction or non-fiction. It can be a cookbook or children’s book. Any book review can be linked up! 

The only rules are: Please only link up to 5 different posts and please visit and comment on the link before yours! If you want to visit and comment on more then that please do! And if you have a minute please share this linky on any of your social media sites! It is optional not a must! If you tag me (@unitedcakedom) on twitter or instagram I will try my best to like/retweet/comment!


notes: images were used from amazon and synopsis' were taken from the back and front flaps of the books. If you didn't see my previous post on World Book Night check it out here! I bought all of these books except A War of Flowers which was given to me in a giveaway. All opinions are my own! 

Broken Heart Custard Tarts for World Book Night

“This book is a gift. You can keep it or pass it on, but we think you should try it. Because everything changes when we read.” (Quoted from the back of a World Book Night edition) Everything does change when you read. Books can take you places you've never been and give you experiences you never dreamed of! 

It’s World Book Night and it is the fourth year I have been chosen as a book giver! As World Book Night is a day that encourages children to read, World Book Night is a night that encourages young adults and adults to read. Each year there are about 20 titles that givers can ask to give away. This year was full of books I have already read and made it really hard to list my top three choices.

When I got the email that informed me that I was to give Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts by Mary Gibson I was thrilled. I had read it over last summer and really enjoyed it. The characters are real and the atmosphere is set to a pre-war England 1911; Mary Gibson makes you feel like you’re there. You feel for Nell and the other Custard Tarts as they get through what really were tough times.

In celebration of this book I made my very own custard tarts. I used custard powder just to stick with the theme of the book. The girls were called custard tarts because they worked at a factory that packaged powdered custard! Then I topped them some demera sugar and caramelized it so that you had to “break” through it to eat the tart. The heart shaped tart tins gave a nice touch too!

Broken Heart Custard Tarts:

Pastry: 225g plain flour; 110g unsalted butter, chilled and cubed; 80g golden caster sugar; 1 large egg; to make: Rub the butter into the flour before adding the sugar and egg. Bring the dough together with your hands and form a ball. Wrap in cling film and chill for a minimum of 30 minutes. Grease your tart tins. Roll out the chilled pastry on a lightly flour dusted surface. Cut out pieces of the dough and line each tart tin. Prick with a fork and chill in the fridge again for 20-30 minutes. Heat the oven to 170C. Line and fill each tart with parchment paper and baking beans. Blind bake for 12 minutes or so. Take out the baking beans and bake for a further 10-15 minutes until the tart case is lightly browned. Leave to cool down while you make the custard. 

Custard:

Bird's Custard Powder; to make Follow instructions on package for 1 pint of custard. Helpful hint that you pour the warmed milk onto the custard paste and add more or less sugar according to taste.

To Finish:

12-18 tablespoons of demera sugar

Fill each tart with custard and leave a little rim of tart case. Sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons of sugar onto each tart and then put under a hot grill for a few minutes until it starts to turn golden or use a blow torch to melt the sugar into a nice hard topping. Enjoy! 

As a lover of books I like to find ways of sharing that love! I have already given out more then half of my books this morning to friends and complete strangers! But I have set aside one of my copies to give to one of my readers! Just follow the instructions on the raffelcopter gadget below! It’s only open for a week so enter now!

a Rafflecopter giveaway *giveway closed 

notes: I was chosen as a World Book Night giver. World BookNight is an annual celebration of reading and books that takes place on the 23^rd of April. The giveaway is only for me to spread the love of reading further then I can do by giving them out to people in my community. Which I also love doing!
If you liked this post then you might like: My Summer Reading List, My Spring Reading List, World Book Night posts one, two, and three! Wonka Bars, Forgotten Pudding, Zebra Cake, Huffkins, Pop Cakes

World Book Night 2014: The Recruit by Robert Muchamore {review & giveaway} *closed

This is my 3^rd year as a World Book Night giver.

I have mentioned before that I have a love affair with books. I have this idea in my head that books have answers to questions we would have never thought to ask.

I have found a whole community of people who enjoy reading, but I also encounter those who say they don’t. There are others who would like to read more, but have other priorities.

The whole point of World Book Night is to target those in the later group(s).

This year I was given The Recruit (a CHERUB novel) by Robert Muchamore. It’s the first in a series about a young man who at first gets into a bit of trouble only to be recruited into a top-secret branch of the government.

I hadn't read the book before I collected my box of books from a local library. So, before I gave them out I had a read.

It’s very cleverly written and entertaining for most ages, starting from about 10 years old! It kept me reading late into the night! I really enjoyed the main character and might have to see how he gets on in the following books - there are a total of 12!

On the day of World Book Night (23, April) I took just over a third of my books on the school run. I gave them to parents to read and to parents who I knew had a pre-teen or young adult at home who needed to be encouraged to read.

I also gave a couple of copies to my English teacher friends to share with students they thought might need encouragement to read more.

And I have one copy left to share with my United Cakedom readers!

Follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter and one reader will be chosen by random! As World Book Night has “world” in it, entries can be from anywhere!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please share this giveaway with someone who doesn't read a lot and encourage them to enter! Or just enter for them! Or if you can't wait that long go find your self a copy! 

Oh, I almost forgot! All the World Book Night books include a recommendation from the author! Plus more resources on other books and World Book Night! Also a bonus when you've just finished a great book and don't know where to look next!

notes: Check out the official UK & Ireland World Book Night page if you are interested in being a giver next year or for more information. These books were provided by The Reading Agency for World Book Night and I was chosen as a giver. Please see my contact/policy page for further information. Check out my past World Book Nights here & here. I place this competition on Prizefinder: Win competitions at ThePrizeFinder.com

Wonka’s Nutty Crunch Surprise {belated World Book Day treat}

These were made originally for World Book Day, but I didn't make them in time for the big day.

That big day was March 6^th, but I think it’s important to encourage children to read any and every day of the year!

Growing up I was always in a low reading group. We were never told, but we weren't clueless, we knew all knew where we stood. 

As an adult I think it's weird that I was in a low reading group. I just remember reading all the time. Always before bed, I'd curl up with a book and I still do!!

I can only speculate, but I hated reading out loud. It really wasn't my thing. I hated the attention, everyone listening and if I made a mistake or stumbled on a word I didn't want to be singled out. 

It's funny how things change or stay the same over time, I am not so worried about things like reading out loud, but  my love of books has not changed!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was one of the first chapter books I remember reading. I took it out of the school library - if I remember correctly there was also a waiting list for it.

I used to pretend that I was Charlie. The Charlie who was already running the factory, I mean who wouldn't want a chocolate factory??

I know I do! And while making these bars, I sorta felt like I did!

Wonka’s Nutty Crunch Surprise

200g milk chocolate, broken up

50g butter

75ml golden syrup

165g digestive biscuits, finely crushed

75g flaked almonds

25g rice cereal

Line and grease an 8 in square cake tin. Melt the chocolate with the butter and golden syrup in a heatproof bowl over a simmering pan of water. Stir until completely melted. Gently fold in the biscuits, almonds, and cereal to the melted chocolate. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and press down with a spatula until smooth. Then cool in the fridge before cutting into bars.

Nutty Crunch:  

50g flaked almonds, finely chopped

100g granulated sugar

2 tbsp water

Place the sugar and water in a small saucepan, Leave on low until the sugar has dissolved. According to the recipe you want increase the heat and wait for it to caramelize.

However, I had my burner on the lowest heat and twice the sugar mixture seized up and crystallized before it turned a caramel color. I used a pastry brush to keep crystals forming on the sides of the pan, but it didn’t seem to make a difference.

The third time I just included the chopped almonds to basically make sugar coated almonds and worked with it. Set them aside to cool.

Chocolate Coating

200g milk chocolate

to finish: Melt it using the method above.

Lay the cut bars on a sheet of grease proof paper, using a table spoon gently spoon the melted chocolate over the bar then sprinkle the sugared almonds on top. Repeat until all bars are chocolaty and nutty!

They were super good, because just like rocky road when you mix sweet and salty things you can never fail! These would be great for a picnic or just an after school treat! 

notes: The recipe was adapted from Roald Dahl’s Completely Revolting Recipes and other tasty treats! Next month I’ll be taking part in World Book Night (April 23^rd) again, which is encouraging young adults and adults who don’t read a lot. I cannot wait to collect my books and give them out!!

Slo-Mo Cupcakes!! Judge Dredd {World Book Night}

World Book Night has finally arrived!! 

World Book Night is a celebration of books and reading that sees 20,000 volunteers (that's me!) give specially chosen and printed books to spread a passion for reading in their communities. 

This year I am giving Judge Dredd: The Dark Judges by John Wagner! It's the first time a graphic novel has been chosen as a title to giveaway! I'm very excited that I was chosen to give it out this year! Here's a synopsis: 

They came from Deadworld – twisted, ungodly versions of Judges with enough power to destroy the world! 

Led by the cadaverous super-fiend Judge Death, Judges Fear, Fire & Mortis share a chilling ethos – as only the living can break the law, all life is a crime! 

The fearsome foursome are intent on bringing their brand of justice to Mega-City One. Only Judge Dredd and Psi-Division’s finest telepath Cassandra Anderson can stop them from committing a Mega-City massacre!

So, to celebrate I made Judge Dredd inspired cupcakes! If you have seen the movie, released last year, you will know that Slo-Mo is the name of the narcotic featured in the film. The only high you'll get from these cupcakes is a sugar high! Or well a caffeine high as well! At least these aren't going to get you in trouble with the Judges.

the inside of the cupcakes

The cupcakes are made of espresso, chocolate, and caramel cake and caramel and espresso buttercream frosting. For all three I used recipes from The Hummingbird Bakery Cake Days, I just halved each of the recipes. Then I layered them in the cupcake cases and swirled the frosting! 

What is better then reading and eating cupcakes?? That is a trick question, there is nothing better then a book and a cupcake! Happy World Book Night!! 

notes: World Book Night - Judge Dredd: The Dark Judges; Judge Dredd 2012; adapted from Hummingbird Bakery Cake Days.

World Book Night Monday, 23rd April, 2012!!

first look

I was chosen to be a book giver for this year World Book Night!! It has nothing to do with baking, but it does have to do with my first love! Books!!! This blog started because of my obsession with books! So, in a way it does make sense for me to talk about it here!  

Out of a very generous list of books I chose I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith.

It was a few years ago I came across this apparently well known title. I thought it couldn’t have been that well known, as I hadn’t heard of it before!! On Pages of the Mind (the book blog I started with my sisters) I wrote my initial thoughts on the book. Now that I have the opportunity to actually give people physical copies of the book I cannot find the words to express how much I love this book!! I hope those I share it with will love it like I do!!

all labelled - ready to go

If you have read this book before please leave me a comment and tell me what you thought of it. If you have not read this book please leave me a comment and tell me why you want to read it. I have decided to give 2 away on this blog to anyone in the world! The 2 will be chosen randomly from the comments below! World Book Night has been a huge success and all my books are claimed or given away!! Happy Reading!!!

For everything to do with World Book Night visit the official site!