Quick-Prep Stuffing Casserole with Shredded Meat

1/2 c. canned green beans

1/2 cup corn (canned or frozen)

    (for fresh carrots:  cut small & microwave in 1 T. water for 2-3 minutes before adding)

If desired:  finely chopped celery and onion

2 c. shredded pork or chicken

1 box stuffing mix

1 can cream soup

broth (as needed)

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix all ingredients, but use just 1/2 of the stuffing mix

Add a little broth if it looks dry.

Dump into a greased casserole dish

Sprinkle the remaining dry stuffing mix over the top.

Cover and bake 25 min.

Then uncover and bake another 10 min.

Crockpot Pork Tenderloin

• 2-pound pork tenderloin

• 1 large onion, sliced

• ½ cup chicken or beef broth (or water with bouillon)

• 1–2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

• 1 teaspoon garlic (jarred is fine)

• ½ teaspoon black pepper

• ½ teaspoon paprika

• Optional: a little thyme or rosemary

Directions

1. Put the sliced onion in the bottom of the crockpot.

2. Lay the thawed tenderloin on top.

3. Pour in the broth and Worcestershire sauce.

4. Add garlic and seasonings over the pork.

5. Cover and cook on LOW for approximately 3–4 hours, or until the center reaches 145°F.

6. Remove and let rest for 3 minutes before slicing.

Important: Pork tenderloin is quite lean. Unlike pork shoulder, it does NOT benefit from 8 hours in the crockpot. It can become dry and overcooked.

After 4 hours of high, then low, it was almost overcooked....shredded easily and moist, it's now in the fridge cooling, let's see if it stays moist.

A suggestion

Since you enjoy baked onions and potatoes, you could serve this with an air-fried potato and onion. The crockpot juices will also make a nice sauce to spoon over the pork.

And save the leftovers! Thinly sliced pork makes wonderful sandwiches.

Egg Fried Rice

 Ingredients

     4-6 eggs

     2 cups cooked rice

     Frozen carrots, leftover vegetables, chicken, pork, bacon , onions, etc.

     Soy sauce

     A little oil (a drop of toasted sesame oil?)

Scramble eggs, then add remaining and stir fry until everything is hot.

Freezes really well.

Inexpensive and filling.

Crustless Quiche

6 eggs
½ cup milk
      Mushrooms, onions, spinach, leftover veggie, bacon bits.....
      A little shredded cheddar
      Salt, pepper, seasoning
Mix everything, pour into a greased pie dish, bake at 350°F for 35–45 minutes. Makes several meals. Refrigerates and freezes well.

Old-fashioned Stovetop Vanilla Custard

 

Ingredients:
     4 eggs
     2 cups milk
     ⅓ cup sugar (you can use a little less)
     1 teaspoon vanilla
     A pinch of salt
     Nutmeg or cinnamon 

Directions
     Whisk eggs, sugar, and salt together in a medium saucepan.
     Gradually whisk in the milk.
     Cook over LOW to medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or whisk.
     Continue until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. It should reach 160°F for egg safety.
     Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
     Pour into little bowls or cups.
     Sprinkle with nutmeg.
     Refrigerate until cold.
Important: Don't let it boil! High heat can scramble the eggs.
        Makes approximately 4 servings.

For Chocolate Custard:
         Whisk in 2 tablespoons cocoa powder and a little extra sweetener.
For Banana Custard:
          Slice half a banana into the finished custard.
For Berry custard
          Add fresh blueberries or sliced strawberries.

60. The Sixth Faction by Veronica Roth

listened on Audible - purchased, didn't want to wait forever

528 pgs.

2026
YA Dystopia
Finished 10/31/2026
Goodreads rating: 4.07
My rating: 4
Setting: Dystopian America....midwest?

My comments: It was fun reading about DIVERGENT characters again, and nice to read a good dystopian novel.  This one was told in three voices - Triss, Four, and Caleb, which was interesting.  As anticipated, it ended with a huge cliffhanger, and the ending happened so fast that it was a bit confusing.  Entertaining, and like visiting an old friend.

Goodreads synopsis: The worldwide sensation as you’ve never seen it before. Step into a bold new Divergent series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth.

Beatrice Prior stands on the brink of a decision every person in her world must make: five factions, five futures, five lives.

She has a plan: she's going to make the bravest choice, and leave Abnegation behind to join Dauntless, even though it means leaving her family behind.

But when tragedy strikes at her Choosing Ceremony, everything changes—her world, her plans, even Beatrice herself.

Her ensuing decision thrusts her into the crosshairs of an underground rebellion, and into the path of a boy with secrets as dangerous as her own—a boy with only a number for a name.

One choice will change everything.

59. My Name is Emily Ray by Michele Dominguez Greene

listened on Audible

268 pgs.

2025
Adult Murder Mystery
Finished 010/27/2026
Goodreads rating: 4.39
My rating: 4.25
Setting: Contemporary LA/Redondo Beach area

My comments: Fast-moving, frustrating story with a few clever surprises thrown in here and there.  Two more books, so far, in the series.  Yup, I'll continue with it....

Goodreads synopsis: Emily Ray. Josie Vance. Danica Hansen. Three girls with one thing in they were all seven years old when they were abducted.

When young Josie Vance vanishes from Cove Park, California leaving behind her light-up sneakers, Special Agent Emily Ray leads the investigation to find her. She is the very best at finding abducted children. Twenty-eight years ago she was one of them.

As she leads the hunt, the kidnapper sends a drawing. It depicts a little girl in pink leggings, standing before a brick house, clutching silver balloons. The address scrawled in the background is identical to where Emily was held captive.

Along with a hair clip and a faded children's book, the clues spark a chilling realization: Her abductor may still be alive.

To find the missing girl, Emily must unearth the past she buried. But with every step, she fears the case is not just about saving one child, but confronting the man who's returned to destroy the life she's painstakingly rebuilt from the ashes.

Are you ready for your next keep-you-up-all-night page-turning thriller? Be prepared to find yourself utterly addicted to the Special Agent Emily Ray series. Perfect for fans of Noelle W. Ihli, A.J. Rivers and Jess Lourey.

58. The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni

listened on Audible (Kindle Unlimited) and read on Kindle

448 pgs.   (11:41)

2018
Adult HF/CRF-y
Finished 10/26/2026 
Goodreads rating: 4.45
My rating: 5
Setting: Burlingame, CA 1950s to 1990s, perhaps.....

My comments: This was an entertaining, memorable story that I read on my Kindle and listened to occasionally, spreading it out over a bit of time before finishing.  Most books I couldn't do that with, but most of what happened in this story was pretty unforgettable.  I think I'll remember Sam and his story for a long time to come.

Goodreads synopsis: Nominee for Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction (2018)

Sam Hill always saw the world through different eyes. Born with red pupils, he was called “Devil Boy” or Sam “Hell” by his classmates; “God’s will” is what his mother called his ocular albinism. Her words were of little comfort, but Sam persevered, buoyed by his mother’s devout faith, his father’s practical wisdom, and his two other misfit friends.

Sam believed it was God who sent Ernie Cantwell, the only African American kid in his class, to be the friend he so desperately needed. And that it was God’s idea for Mickie Kennedy to storm into Our Lady of Mercy like a tornado, uprooting every rule Sam had been taught about boys and girls.

Forty years later, Sam, a small-town eye doctor, is no longer certain anything was by design—especially not the tragedy that caused him to turn his back on his friends, his hometown, and the life he’d always known. Running from the pain, eyes closed, served little purpose. Now, as he looks back on his life, Sam embarks on a journey that will take him halfway around the world. This time, his eyes are wide open—bringing into clear view what changed him, defined him, and made him so afraid, until he can finally see what truly matters.

2026/2027 Reading/Book Challenges

Let's Read and Review some books that I've been ignoring!

Newbery Awards to read

2026 ATY (Around the Year) Goodreads Challenge
2027 ATY (Around the Year) Goodreads Challenge 

2026 Book Girls Reading Challenge Bingo
          October - Banned Books

How Many Recent NEWBERY Award Winners Have I Read?

Answer:   Nowhere near enough!

2026  All the Blues in the Sky - Renee Watson  4.38  MG/Verse/CRF
2025 The First State of Being - Erin Entrada Kelly 4.04  MG/SciFi/HF/TT
2024 The Eyes and the Impossible - Dave Eggers  4.23  MG/AnimalFant
2023  Freewater - Amina Luqman-Dawson   4.16   MG/HF
2022 The Last Cuentista - Donna Barba Higuera  4.04  MG/SciFi   cag:4
2021  When You Trap a Tiger - Tae Keller   4.13    MG/Fant
2020  New Kid - Jerry Craft
2019  Merci Suárez Changes Gears - Meg Medina
2018  Hello, Universe - Erin Entrada Kelly
2017 The Girl Who Drank the Moon - Kelly Barnhill
2016  Last Stop on Market Street - Matt de la Peña    cag: 3.5
2015  The Crossover - Kwame Alexander
2014  Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated 

               Adventures - Kate DiCamillo
2013 The One and Only Ivan - Katherine Applegate
2012  Dead End in Norvelt - Jack Gantos
2011  Moon Over Manifest - Clare Vanderpool
2010  When You Reach Me - Rebecca Stead      cag: ??
2009  The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman
2008 Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices 

          from a Medieval Village - Laura Amy Schlitz    cag: 5
2007 The Higher Power of Luck - Susan Patron
2006  Criss Cross - Lynne Rae Perkins
2005 Kira-Kira - Cynthia Kadohata
2004 The Tale of Despereaux - Kate DiCamillo
2003 Crispin: The Cross of Lead - Avi        cag: 1
2002  A Single Shard - Linda Sue Park
2001 A Year Down Yonder - Richard Peck
2000  Bud, Not Buddy - Christopher Paul Curtis
1999 Holes - Louis Sachar                  cag: read
1998 Out of the Dust -  Karen Hesse
1997  The View from Saturday - E. L. Konigsburg      cag: read
1996  The Midwife’s Apprentice - Karen Cushman    cag: read/5
1995 Walk Two Moons - Sharon Creech     cag: read/4
1994 The Giver - Lois Lowry      cag: read/5
1993 Missing May- Cynthia Rylant                cag: read/3
1992 Shiloh - Phyllis Reynolds Naylor      cag: read/4
1991 Maniac Magee - Jerry Spinelli
1990 Number the Stars - Lois Lowry        cag: read/5
1989 Joyful Noise: Poems for 

           Two Voices - Paul Fleischman    cag: read/5
1988 Lincoln: A Photobiography - Russell Freedman
1987 The Whipping Boy - Sid Fleischman
1986 Sarah, Plain and Tall - Patricia MacLachlan   cag: read/5

2027 ATY (Around the Year) Reading Challenge on Goodreads

 This looks really interesting and fun.  There are lots of suggestions on each "listopia" link.  Will look for possibilities, then complete when I read a book.

Goodreads INTRO Page 

THE 52 TOPICS OF THE 2027 ATY READING CHALLENGE

1. A book with the letters A, T, & Y in the title thread listopia
          Exit Party - Mandel
          The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell - Dugoni
          The Dictionary of Lost Words - Williams
          The Calamity Club - Stockett
2. A book that fits your favorite prompt that did not make the 2027 list thread listopia
          Farenheit 451 - Bradbury
4. A book related to ice thread listopia
          The Frozen River - Lawhon
          The Last Cold Place - de Gracia (NF!!!)
5. Rickrolled! A book with one of the following words - Never, Gonna, Give, You, (or) Up - in the title thread                           listopia
6. A book by an author whose initials appear consecutively in the alphabet thread listopia
         Liane Moriarty
7. A book set in a place you love thread listopia
          Tucson/Arizona
          Maine
8. A book found on the NPR Books We Love Guide (https://apps.npr.org/best-books/#view...) thread                                            listopia
          Broken - X Fang (Pict Bk)
          Atmosphere - Taylor Jenkins Reid
          The Correspondent - Evans
          Circe - Miller
          The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne - Curie
          Cloud Cuckoo Land - Doerr
9. A book with a main character who isn’t human thread listopia
          Circe - Miller
10. A book that is at least 27 years old thread listopia
11. A book including a rivalry or feud thread listopia
          The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics -                  Brown (NF!!!)
12. A book with fruit, vegetables or flowers on the cover thread listopia
13. A book nominated for any award that begins with the letter N thread listopia
14. A book featuring a heist, con, fake, or trickery thread listopia
15. A book with a character in a creative field thread listopia
16. A book in translation thread listopia
17. A book related to an "-ology" thread listopia
18. A book with the name of any color in the title thread listopia
19. A book with dots, spots or circles on the cover thread listopia
20. A book by a well-known author whose work you’ve never read thread listopia
21. A book set in Asia thread missing listopia
22. A book that fits at least two other prompts on this year's list thread listopia
23. A book that counts as speculative fiction thread listopia
24. A book that takes place in, on, or near an ocean thread listopia
25. A book with an "-ing" word in the title thread listopia
26. A book with a female villain, criminal, or wrong-doer thread listopia
fla27. A book that fills the 27th prompt from a previous ATY52 list thread listopia
28. A book with trees on the cover thread listopia
29. A book set in a capital city thread listopia
30. A book that transports you somewhere you've never been thread listopia
31. Four books that spell a word using the first letter in each of their titles thread
32. Four books that spell a word using the first letter in each of their titles
33. Four books that spell a word using the first letter in each of their titles
34. Four books that spell a word using the first letter in each of their titles
35. A book that is selected randomly thread
36. A book featuring a prophecy or premonition thread listopia
37. A book set in one of the 27 countries that are members of the European Union thread listopia
38. A book with a stormy cover thread listopia
39. A book related to Dolly Parton thread listopia
40. A book by an author who has more than one book on your TBR thread listopia
41. A book set in a non-urban landscape such as a desert, forest, or mountain range thread listopia
42. A book in which someone is missing or has been kidnapped thread listopia
43. A book related to spooky, scary, or skeletons thread listopia
44. A book with a winged creature or thing on the cover thread listopia
45. A book involving investigation thread listopia 
46. A book that is next in a series you've been reading thread listopia
47. A book with a castle, palace, or other grand edifice thread listopia
48. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2025, 2026, or 2027 thread 2025                        listopia 2026 listopia 2027
49. A second book for your favorite prompt thread
50. A book relating to flight thread listopia
51. A book published in 2027 thread listopia
52. A book with a door, window, gate, pathway, or entrance on the cover thread listopia
3. A book related to fire thread listopia

2026 ATY (Around the Year) Reading Challenge on Goodreads

I've just joined the 2027 ATY Challenge, so in the meantime I think I'll work on the 2026 challenge, see if any of the books I've read this year fit any categories, and see what books I might read for the rest of this year that might fulfill any of the requirements.

Goodreads INTRO Page 

THE 52 TOPICS OF THE 2026 ATY READING CHALLENGE
The prompts are roughly separated by month and each is followed by a link to its respective discussion thread and listopia.

1. A book from a genre that starts with A, T, or Y: Thread Listopia
      YA:  The Book of Ivy (#1) Amy Engel, 2014 (4)
2. A book with a primarily red, green or blue cover: Thread Listopia
           Her Deadly Game (#1 Keera Duggan) Robert Dugoni, 2023 Audible (4)
3. A book that fits a prompt suggestion for this year that did not make the list: Thread Listopia
4. A book by a new-to-you author: Thread Listopia
          A Solitude of Wolverines (#1 Alex Carter) - Alice Henderson, 2020 (3.75)
5. A book you want to read because of something you read in 2025: Thread Listopia
6. A book related to blood, sweat, or tears: Thread Listopia
7. A book with a character who appears in more than one book: Thread Listopia
          Storm Tide(#16 Mike Bowditch) - Paul Doiron, 2026 (3.5)
8. A book set in Africa, Asia, or Australia: Thread Listopia
          Gone by Midnight (#3 Crimson Lake) - Candace Fox 2019 Chirp (5)  5/29
9. A book with a number, ordinal, or iterative numeral in the title: Thread Listopia
         First Sign of Danger (#4 Casey Duncan/Haven's End) - Kelley Armstrong, 2026 Libby (4.5) 4/27
10. An award winning book: Thread Listopia
11. A history or historical fiction book: Thread Listopia
        1.  Candle Island (1970s coast of Maine)
        2.  Murder on the Red River (#1 Cash Blackbear) Marcie R Rendon (1970 ND/MN state line)
        3.  Girl Gone Missing (#2 Cash Blackbear) Marcie R. Rendon (1970 ND/MN state line)
        4.  Sinister Graves (#3 Cash Blackbear) - Marcie R. Rendon, 2022 (   "     )
        5.  Keeper of Lost Children - Sadeqa Johnson, 2026 (4.75)
        6.  The Sunflower House - Adriana Allegri, 2024 (5)
        7.  The Women of Arlington Hall - Jane Healey, 2025  (3)
        8.   By Any Other Name - Jodi Picoult, 2024 (5)
12. A book with cover text that is NOT black or white: Thread Listopia
           Dead of Autumn (#1 Alexa Williams, Carlisle, PA) 2021 Aud (3.5)
          Anatomy of an Alibi - Ashley Elston, 2026 Audible (4.5) 1/25
           A Solitude of Wolverines (#1 Alex Carter) - Alice Henderson, Audible (3.75)  3/13
13. An author's second/sophomore book: Thread Listopia
14. A book related to a painting by Vincent Van Gogh: Thread Listopia
15. A book you've wanted to read for a long time: Thread Listopia
16. A book featuring a character with a similar occupation to one of the Clue/Cluedo characters: Thread Listopia
17. A book set in the wellness or beauty industries: Thread Listopia
18. A book with a location in the title: Thread Listopia
              The Arizona Triangle - Sydney Graves, 2024 Audible (4.5) 4/8
19. A book related to yesterday: Thread Listopia
          Candle Island (1970s coast of Maine)
20. A book related to today: Thread Listopia
          Birding with Benefits - Sarah T. Dubb, 2024 Libby (3)
21. A book related to tomorrow: Thread Listopia
          Across the Universe (#1) Beth Revis, 2011 Libby (4.75)9/30
22. A book by a Korean or Korean-diaspora author: Thread Listopia
23. A book with a road trip or long journey: Thread Listopia
          The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth - Barbara O'Neal, Audible (4) (3/17) 
24. A book that is either frothy or gothy: Thread Listopia
25. A book from the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list: Thread Listopia
26. A book with a Z in the title and/or author name: Thread Listopia
          Amazing! - Kate Evans, 2026 Kindle (2) 8/21
27. A nonfiction book: Thread Listopia
28. A book related to a resistance, rebellion, or revolution: Thread Listopia
29. A vacation book: Thread Listopia
30. The most recently published book by an author and a book from that same author's backlist: Frontlist Book: Thread Listopia
31. The most recently published book by an author and a book from that same author's backlist: Backlist Book: Thread Listopia
32. A novella of 100-250 pages: Thread Listopia
33. A book with an Indigenous character or author: Thread Listopia
             Murder on the Red River (#1 Cash Blackbear) - Marcie Rendon 2017 (4)
           Girl Gone Missing (#2 Cash Blackbear) Marcie R. Rendon, 2019 (4)
             Sinister Graves (#3 Cash Blackbear) - Marcie R. Rendon, 2022 (4)
34. A book with a window on the cover: Thread Listopia
35. A book where all or part of the action takes place in a library, a museum, a school, or another public building: Thread Listopia
36. A book with a primary character who is a woman over 40: Thread Listopia
          Mad Mabel - Sally Hepworth, 2025 Libby (5) 5/12 
37. A book that includes a science topic: Thread Listopia
38. A book that's part of a series: Thread Listopia
           Ironwood (#2 Catalina Island) Michael Connelly, 2026 Libby (4) 7/18
39. A book connected in some way to the "Queen of Crime", Agatha Christie: Thread Listopia
40. A book that has a punctuation mark in the title: Thread Listopia
41. A mystery or true crime book: Thread Listopia
42. A book set in an isolated location: Thread Listopia
43. A book involving survival: Thread Listopia
44. A book with a symbol of death on the cover: Thread Listopia
45. A book connected to "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen: Thread Listopia
46. A book that is not a novel: Thread Listopia
47. A book with "this", "that", "these", or "those" in the title: Thread Listopia
48. A book with something edible in the title: Thread Listopia
49. A second book for your favorite prompt: Thread No listopia
50. A book with a bird on its cover: Thread Listopia
51. A book published in 2026: Thread Listopia
        1.  No One Knew (#2 Noelle Marshall) (3.5)
        2.  Anatomy of an Alibi - Ashley Elston (4.5)
        3.  Detour - Jeff Rake (5)
        4.  First Sign of Danger (#4 Haven's Rock) (4.5)
        5.  The Price of Honey - Liane Moriarty, 34 pgs. (2026)
        6.  The Roommate
        7.  You'll Miss Me When You're Gone
        8.  The Line
        9.  Storm Tide(#16 Mike Bowditch) - Paul Doiron, 2026 (3.5)
        10.  Our Perfect Storm - Carley Fortune, 2026 Libby (4.5)
        11.  Ironwood (#2 Catalina Island) Michael Connelly, 2026 (4)
        12.  The Shippers
        13.  Keeper of Lost Children - Sadeqa Johnson, 2026 Libby (4.75)
         14.  A Dark Path - short story by Linda Castillo, 2026 Libby (3.5)
52. A book related to the name of one of Santa's reindeer: Thread Listopia