Pairing Lemon Blueberry Granola with 'Carrie Soto Is Back' by Taylor Jenkins Reid, alongside a refreshing Blueberry Lemon Fizz cocktail, creates a perfect balance of flavors and emotions. The granola's zesty and sweet notes match the dynamic journey of Carrie Soto in the novel, a story of returning to one's former glory and challenging personal limits. The Blueberry Lemon Fizz, a vibrant cocktail, complements the granola and enhances the story's themes of zestfulness and renewal, making it an ideal choice for a book club gathering.
Ingredients
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup sliced almonds or chopped walnuts
- 1/2 cup dried blueberries
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/4 cup coconut oil or melted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, sliced almonds or chopped walnuts, lemon zest, salt, and ground cinnamon (if using).
- Combine the Wet Ingredients: In a small saucepan, heat the honey or maple syrup and coconut oil or butter over low heat, stirring until melted and combined. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Mix and Coat: Pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until the oats and nuts are well coated.
- Bake the Granola: Spread the granola mixture evenly onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the granola is golden brown and fragrant.
- Add the Blueberries: Once the granola is baked, remove it from the oven and let it cool completely on the baking sheet. Stir in the dried blueberries after the granola has cooled.
- Store and Serve: Transfer the granola to an airtight container and store it at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Enjoy your Lemon Blueberry Granola with yogurt, milk, or as a crunchy snack.
Carrie Soto Is Back
In this captivating new novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, tennis legend Carrie Soto is ready to reclaim her title as the greatest of all time, facing her most formidable rival yet. It's a story about love, determination, and the sacrifices we make for success.
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “An epic adventure about a female athlete perhaps past her prime, brought back to the tennis court for one last grand slam” (Elle), from the author of Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones & The Six, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo “A heart-filled novel about an iconic and persevering father and daughter.”—Time “Gorgeous. The kind of sharp, smart, potent book you have to set aside every few pages just to catch your breath. I’ll take a piece of Carrie Soto forward with me in life and be a little better for it.”—Emily Henry, author of Book Lovers and Beach Read ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Time, NPR, PopSugar, Glamour, Reader’s Digest Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular. But by the time she retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Grand Slam titles. And if you ask Carrie, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father, Javier, as her coach. A former champion himself, Javier has trained her since the age of two. But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning player named Nicki Chan. At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked “the Battle-Axe” anyway. Even if her body doesn’t move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever. In spite of it all, Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season. In this riveting and unforgettable novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells her most vulnerable, emotional story yet.
Discussion Questions
- What role does determination play in Carrie's comeback?
- Discuss the relationship Carrie has with her father and its impact on her career.
- How does the novel explore the concept of legacy in sports?
- In what ways does Carrie's relationship with fame evolve throughout the book?
- What does Carrie's journey tell us about perseverance and resilience?
- How do secondary characters like Carrie's coach or rivals contribute to the narrative?
- Explore the theme of sacrifice in Carrie's life. What does she sacrifice for success?
- How does the author use the sport of tennis as a backdrop for broader life themes?
- Discuss the media's portrayal of Carrie throughout her career in the book.
- What lessons can be learned from Carrie's approach to both her personal and professional challenges?
Authors:
Taylor Jenkins Reid
ISBN: 9780593149070
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Published Date: 2022-08-30
ISBN: 9780593149070
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Published Date: 2022-08-30
Blueberry Lemon Fizz
A refreshing cocktail that perfectly complements the zesty and sweet notes of Lemon Blueberry Granola. The Blueberry Lemon Fizz combines fresh lemon juice and blueberry puree with a splash of sparkling water for a vibrant, uplifting drink.
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh blueberries, plus more for garnish
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons simple syrup
- Sparkling water
- Ice
Instructions
- In a blender, puree the blueberries and lemon zest until smooth.
- Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher.
- Stir in the lemon juice and simple syrup.
- Fill glasses with ice, pour the blueberry lemon mixture halfway, then top with sparkling water.
- Garnish with fresh blueberries and a lemon slice on the rim of each glass.