(Dolen Perkins-Valdez, hardback). From the title you might think this is a book about the s-x word. It’s not. By a long shot. But the story, set in about 1852, is about a black slave woman, and her somewhat misguided “love” for her master. About the children she bore him, under the eagle eye of the master’s wife. But it’s all tied together with a yearly journey made to a place called Tawawa House, a rural inn of sorts in southern Ohio (a free State), that for some years allowed white slave owners to stay at the resort in rustic cottages with their black slaves, as couples. This place existed, according to the author’s afterword, and finally closed because some of the regulars (white couples who stayed in the main house) didn’t fancy this concubine business going on out in the woods. It’s about Lizzie’s relationships with the other slave women, about their desire to run to safety through the local underground, about them secretly meeting some free blacks, finding out more about abolition, and about the hardships all these black mistresses endured, and how little their lives were valued. A real stunning book. (I was sent this book as a perk from Harper Collins – because I had mentioned The Help. No strings attached – I could choose to mention this book, or not, here on my blog. I’m glad to because it’s a very good read.)
(Jamie Ford, on my Kindle). A poignant story about a Chinese-American, growing up in Seattle at the beginning of World War II. Henry falls in love with a young Japanese girl before her family is interned in a relocation camp. It a very secretive relationship because his parents would highly disapprove. The story goes back to the 40’s and forward to the 1980’s when Henry is in his 50’s and his wife (not the Japanese woman) has just died of cancer. The story pulls you in from the first page, especially when some artifacts are found in the basement of an old hotel which contain personal belongings from several Japanese families who were suddenly taken away back in 1942. You can see where it’s going, can’t you? I heard criticism of this book that it was just a little bit contrived. Halfway through I’m enjoying it very much.
(Kathryn Stockett on my Kindle, an excellent read); 
by Jetta Carleton (Kindle edition, eh); 
by Susan Richards (Kindle edition, good book); 
by Sally Gunning (Kindle edition, very good read)
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(Mario Batali & Gweneth Paltrow); 
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It was some months ago that this cake was served at one of my book group meetings. A friend, Ann H. brought the cake to our get-together. Just about everybody went nuts over it, and Ann kindly forwarded the recipe to many of us in the group who wanted it. It’s not a difficult cake to make – actually I’d say this is a VERY EASY cake to bake, even with the nice glaze on it. It’s moist. It’s not as dense as a pound cake, but it’s somewhat reminiscent of one. I served it, actually, with a drizzle of heavy cream on top (probably not more than about 2 teaspoons per serving).
The cake is a fairly standard recipe – eggs, flour, fat (in this case shortening – I used non-hydrogenated – but you could certainly substitute unsalted butter). The cake has almond extract in it, added in at the end. You could probably use a hand mixer, but I used my stand mixer. Once baked, you prepare a melted sugar-butter-water glaze with just a tad of almond extract in it. The glaze is spooned or drizzled all over the cooling cake. I poked holes in the cake so it would get down inside, but mostly the glaze stays on the outside and just absorbs into it slightly. The cake is tender (although not really soft), and very tasty. We all enjoyed it very much. And thanks to Ann H. for the recipe – she said it was given to her by a friend. I hunted on the internet and found no other cake even similar.
Almond Buttermilk Cake
Recipe By: From a friend in one of my book groups, Ann H.
Serving Size: 12
CAKE:
1 cup shortening — (I used the non-hydrogenated)
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon almond extract
GLAZE:
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
4 ounces unsalted butter — chopped into small pieces
1 teaspoon almond extract
1. CAKE: Preheat oven to 325. Cream the shortening and sugar until thick and smooth. Add eggs, one at a time and beat thoroughly.
2. To the cup of buttermilk, stir in the 1/2 tsp baking soda. To the 3 cups of flour add salt and stir well.
3. Add the milk and flour mixtures alternately to the shortening/sugar until mixed in.
4. Add the almond extract and stir in well. Pour into a greased bundt pan and bake for 55-60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Don’t overbake. Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 15 minutes. Invert the cake onto a flat plate or platter. Allow to cool for about 15 minutes more.
5. GLAZE: Meanwhile, in a small saucepan combine the sugar, water and butter. Bring to a boil and simmer for no more than one minute. Remove from heat and stir in the almond extract. Allow mixture to cool for 10-15 minutes, then gently spoon (drizzle) the syrup over the cake. You’ll need to do this about 10 times to use up all the glaze. As the glaze cools it becomes more syrupy. You can also poke holes all over the cake so the glaze will ooze into the cake a bit more.
Serving Ideas: I served this with a drizzle of heavy cream over each slice. It could also be served with whipped cream, creme fraiche, clotted cream, ice cream. And I think freshly sliced strawberries would be a lovely addition.
Per Serving: 544 Calories; 27g Fat (44.1% calories from fat); 6g Protein; 71g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 92mg Cholesterol; 188mg Sodium.
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A year ago: Avocado Cheese Roll
Two years ago: Mashed Potatoes with Mascarpone Cheese
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