Here are the tastingspoons players. I’m in the middle (Carolyn). Daughter Sara on the right, and daughter-in-law Karen on the left. I started the blog in 2007, as a way to share recipes with my family. Now in 2023, I’m still doing 99% of the blogging and holding out hope that these two lovely and excellent cooks will participate. They both lead very busy lives, so we’ll see.
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BOOK READING (from Carolyn):
Under the Java Moon, by Heather Moore. Sometimes these WWII books are tough to read. This is a true story (written as fiction, though) about a few Dutch families who are taken prisoner on Java Island, by the Japanese. Certainly it’s a story about unbelievable deprivation and sadness, but also about resilience too. Not everyone survives, as you could guess, but you’ll be rooting for young Rita who takes on so many responsibilities far beyond her 6-year old’s abilities. I read this because a dear friend of mine’s husband (now deceased) was in the Army during WWII and spent a lot of his duty in Indonesia and had horrific stories to tell about the weather and environment (awful!). A period of his life he liked to forget. The book certainly brings that period and place to the forefront. I’m glad I read it.
Never in a million years would I have picked up Blind Your Ponies, by Stanley Gordon West. If I’d read the cover or flap that the bulk of the story is about basketball, I’d have put it back on the shelf. But oh, this book is – yes, about basketball, but it’s about a place in time in Montana, a few decades ago, when a tiny town supported their high school team. It’s about a dream. About the town who believed in them. About a tall young man who comes to lives in the town, and his deliverance, really, from a pretty awful background as he plays basketball, when he’d never played before. It’s about relationships, marriages, families and about how this little team makes it. Such a great story and SO glad I read it.
A Girl Called Samson, by Amy Harmon. I’m a fan of anything written by Harmon, and this one delivered as all her books do. 1760, Massachusetts. Deborah Samson is an indentured servant but yearns for independence. From being a rather tall, skinny kid (a girl) to faking it as a young soldier (a young man) in the Continental army. You’ll marvel at her ability to hide her true self. It’s quite a story. She’s thrown into the worst of situations in the war and comes through with flying colors. You’ll find yourself rooting for her and also fearing mightily that she’s going to either get killed, or be “found out,” by some of the men. Riveting story beginning to end. There’s a love interest here too which is very sweet.
On Mystic Lake, by Kristin Hannah. This is a book Hannah wrote some years ago, and tells the story of a woman, Annie, who finds out (on the day their daughter goes off to a foreign land for an exchange quarter) that her husband is in love with another woman and leaves her. Annie, who has been the quintessential perfect corporate wife, is devastated. She felt blind-sided. She cries and wallows, but eventually she returns home to her small town, where her widowed dad lives, in Washington. There she runs into many people she knew and at first feels very out of place. Slowly, she finds the town more welcoming and she helps a previous boyfriend, now widowed with his young daughter. A connection is there. Annie has to find herself, and she definitely does that. Her husband rears his head (of course he does!) after several months, and Annie has to figure out what to do. I don’t want to give away the story. Lots of twists and turns.
The Vineyard, by Barbara Delinsky. A novel with many current day issues. Husband and wife own a vineyard in Rhode Island. Husband dies. Widow soon (too soon) marries the manager, a hired employee, much to the consternation of her two grown children. Widow hires woman as personal assistant (much of the book comes from her voice) and she gets entangled into the many webs, clinging from the many decades the winery has tried to be successful. Really interesting. Lots of plot twists, but all revolving around work of the vineyard. Cute love story too. It wouldn’t be a Delinsky book without that aspect.
Consequences, Penelope Lively. I’ve always loved this author’s writing style. Have read many of her books. This one follows a rather dotted line family, the women, as they grow through worn-torn London and England. There’s poverty and both major events and minor ones that send the story’s trajectory in new directions. Riveting for me. Lively won the Booker Prize for Moon Tiger, her most famous book.
Below Zero, C.J. Box. Mystery of the first order. A Joe Pickett novel (he’s a game warden in Wyoming) with a family member thought dead is suddenly alive. Or is she? Joe’s on the hunt to find out. I don’t read these books at night – too scary. I love his books, though.
Consolations of the Forest: Alone in a Cabin on the Siberian Taiga, by Sylvain Tesson. I’m not sure what possessed me to read this book. About a late 30s guy who seems to crave solitude; he’s offered a 11×11 cabin in the cold/frozen Siberian outback, on a huge lake that freezes over in winter. Here’s a quote from the book: “A visit to my wooden crates. My supplies are dwindling. I have enough pasta left for a month and Tabasco to drench it in. I have flour, tea and oil. I’m low on coffee. As for vodka, I should make it to the end of April.” Vodka plays large in this book. Tesson (who is French, with Russian heritage) is a gifted writer, about the wilderness, the flora and fauna, about the alone-ness, the introspection. Mostly he ate pasta with Tabasco. No other sauce. Many shots of vodka every day. Drunkenness plays a serious role too – what else is there to do, you might ask? He lived there for about a year. I’d have lasted a week, no more.
The Auburn Conference by Tom Piazza. Another one, given my druthers I’m not sure I’d have picked up. For one of my book clubs. Excellent writing. 1883, upstate NY. A young professor decides to make a name for himself and puts on an event, inviting many literary luminaries of the day (Mark Twain, Frederick Douglass, Herman Melville, Forrest Taylor and a romance novelist [the outlier] Lucy Comstock). Part panel discussion, part private conversations, the author weaves a tale of discord, some moderate yelling, some rascism and much ridicule of the romance novelist. Also some words of wisdom, maybe not from the authors you’d have expected. Unusual book.
As Bright as Heaven, by Susan Meissner. 1918. Philadelphia. About a young family arriving with the highest of hopes. Then the Spanish Flu hits and dashes everything. You’ll learn a whole lot about that particular virulent flu and the tragic aftermath. Really good read.
Hour of the Witch, by Chris Bohjalian. Boston, 1662. A young woman becomes the 2nd wife of a powerful man, a cruel man. She determines to leave him, something just “not done” back then. Twists and turns, she’s accused of being a witch. Story of survival, and a redeeming love too.
My Oxford Year, by Julia Whelan. At 24, a young woman is honored with a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford. She’s older than most of her fellow classmates, and as an American, doesn’t fit in very well. She’s left a good job back home, but determines to try to work some for the political campaign job she’s left, and also do the work for her Oxford scholarship. She meets a professor. Oh my. Such an interesting book. I loved learning about the culture of Oxford, and there’s a fascinating romance too, somewhat a forbidden one with said professor.
Madame Pommery, by Rebecca Rosenberg. I love champagne. Have read a number of books over the years (novels) about the region (and I’ve visited there once). This is real history, though in a novelized form. Madame Pommery was widowed, and determined she would blaze a trail that was not well received (no women in the champagne business for starters). And she decides to make a different, less sweet version. She’s hated and reviled, but sticks to her guns, veering away from the then very sweet version all the winemakers were producing. Fascinating story.
The Wager, by David Grann. A true tale of shipwreck, mutiny and murder back in the 1740s. Not exactly my usual genre of reading, but once I heard about the book, I decided I needed to read it. This is a novelized version of the story, based on the facts of an English shipwreck, first off Brazil, then later off Chile. Of the men, their struggle to survive (and many didn’t). Yes, there’s murder involved, and yes, there’s mutiny as well. Those who survived stood trial back in England many years later. Riveting read.
Before We Were Yours, by Lisa Wingate. 1939. A shantyboat in the backwaters of the Mississippi River. A 12-year old girl is left to care for her younger siblings when her mother is taken ill. A mystery ensues, and soon officials chase these youngsters to take them into an orphanage, one that became infamous for “selling” the children, weaving wild tales of their provenance. Dual timeline, you read about a successful young attorney who returns home to help her father, and questions come up about the family history. Fascinating read. You’ll learn about this real abominable woman, Georgia Tann, who profited by her “sales.”
The Vaster Wilds, by Lauren Goff. This tells the story of a young servant girl, in the aftermath of the starvation in Jamestown, the beleaguered town that virtually disappeared because the people weren’t prepared for the harshness of survival in those days. She escapes before the demise of the town and heads west, with nothing but the clothes she’s wearing. She survives longer than you might think, and encounters a lot of interesting experiences and people. Very interesting historical read.
Lady Tan’s Circle of Woman, Lisa See. Historical fiction, from 1469, Ming Dynasty, China. Based on the true story, however, about a young woman mostly raised by her grandmother who is a well known physician. Her grandfather is a scholarly physician, her grandmother, more an herbalist, or like a pharmacist of the day. Tan eventually marries into a family and is immediately subjugated by the matriarch, who won’t allow her to practice any of her healing arts. Quite a story, and also about how she eventually does treat women (women “doctors” were only allowed to treat women) as a midwife and herbalist. You’ll learn a whole lot about the use of flowers and herbs for healing and about the four humors.
Winter Garden, by Kristen Hannah. Quite a story, taking place in Washington State with apple orchards forming a backdrop and family business. Two sisters, never much friends even when they were young, return home to help care for their ailing father. Their mother? What an enigma. She took no part in raising them, yet she lived in the home. She cooked for the family, but rarely interacted. Yet her father adored his wife, their mother. How do they bridge the gulf between each other and also with their mother. Another page turner from Kristen Hannah.
Trail of the Lost, by Andrea Lankford. Not my usual genre. This is nonfiction, about Lankford who has plenty of credentials for rescue services, and is an avid hiker herself, determines to try to find some missing people who have disappeared off the face of the earth on the Pacific Crest Trail. It’s about how rescues work, everything from the disconnect between active citizens who want to help, and seemingly the unwillingness of authorities to share information. Not exactly a positive for law enforcement in this book. Really fascinating. There are hundreds of people who have disappeared off various long hike trails in the U.S. This is about four who were hiking (separately and at different times) on the PCT.
Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin. I’ve never been a “gamer.” Not by any standard definition, anyway. Not like people who really get into games, adventure, killers, etc. And this book isn’t a game .. . but it’s a novel (and a great story, I might add) about how these games come into being. How they’re invented, how they morph. First there were two college students, then a third person is added, and they end up creating a wildly popular game. A company is born. And it goes from there. Mostly it’s about the people, their relationships, but set amidst the work of creating and running a gaming company. Not all fun and games, pun intended.
Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt. Oh gosh, what a fabulous book. It’s a novel; however, much of the story is about the intelligence of octopus. In particular this one, Marcellus, who lives in an aquarium in a fictitious town in western Washington State. More than anything the book is about relationships, not only Marcellus with a woman (of a certain age) who cleans the aquarium at night, but the various people in this small town.
Trust, by Herman Diaz. This novel is an enigma in so many ways. It’s a book, within a book, within a book. About the stock market crash back in 1929, but it’s about a man. Oh my. It’s really interesting. This book won the Pulitzer. That’s why I bought it.
Cassidy Hutchinson is a young woman (a real one) who works in politics or “government.” She’s worked for some prestigious Washington politicians, and ended up working for Trump. The book is a memoir of her short spin working at the highest levels, and obviously at the White House. She worked under Mark Meadows and suffered a lot of ridicule when she quit. Truth and lies . . . when she couldn’t live with herself and subvert the truth. Enough, gives you plenty of detail leading up to and after the January 6th uprising. She testified to Congress about what she knew. Really interesting. I almost never read books about politics because I think many (most?) of our elected politicians succumb to the lure of power and forget who they work for, us, the public.
Becoming Dr. Q, by Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa, MD, is an Associate Professor of Neurosurgery and Oncology at Johns Hopkins University. This is his memoir about how he went from being a penniless migrant from Mexico to one of the world’s most renowned experts in brain tumors.
The Invincible Miss Cust, by Penny Haw. In 1868 Ireland, a woman wasn’t allowed to attend veterinary school, much less become a veterinarian. It took years of trying (to the horror of her aristocratic family) and finally someone took her under their wing, she enrolled using a pseudonym (a name not revealing her gender). This is a true story of Aleen Isabel Cust, who did just that.
Her Heart for a Compass, by Sarah Ferguson (yes), the Duchess of York. I was pleasantly surprised as I read this book that it wasn’t the usual romantic romp – there’s more to this story than you might think. Ferguson utilizes some of her family ancestors as real characters in the book. Sweet story but with lots of twists and turns.
Someone Else’s Shoes, by Jojo Moyes.Nisha, our heroine, is a wealthy socialite. She thinks her life is perfect. At the gym someone else grabs her gym bag, so she grabs the similar one. Then she finds out her husband is leaving her and he’s locked her out of their high-rise apartment. She’s penniless. No attorney will take her on. She has nothing but this gym bag belonging to someone else (who?).
The Eleventh Man, Ivan Doig. What a story. Ben, part of a Montana college football team in the 1940s, joins the service during WWII. So do all of his eleven teammates. After suffering some injuries in pilot training he is recruited by a stealthy military propaganda machine. His job is to write articles about his teammates as they are picked off at various battle theaters around the Pacific and Europe. Ben goes there, in person, to fuel the stories. Ivan Doig is a crafty writer; I’ve read several of his books, my favorite being The Whistling Season.
Wavewalker, by Suzanne Heywood. Oh my goodness. A memoir about a very young English girl who goes off with her besotted and narcissistic parents and her brother on a years-long sailing journey supposedly following the route of James Cook. A very old, decrepit 70-foot schooner. Four people, 2 sort-of adults and 2 children. Sometimes a helper or two. A seasick mother. A dad who is driven to the extreme, whatever the damage he creates. She spent 10 years aboard.
Claire Keegan wrote Small Things Like These. It’s won a lot of awards, and shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Takes place in Ireland. Some profound questions come up in this novella, about complicity, about restitution. There’s a convent nearby, and attached one of those places young girls were sent if they found themselves “in the family way,” and about how the church helped, supposedly, by taking the children and placing them in homes, without consent. It’s ugly, the truth of the matter. Really good read.
Nicholas Sparks isn’t an author I read very often because his books are pretty sappy, but daughter Sara recommended this one, The Longest Ride. It begins with Ira (age 93), stuck in his car as it plunges off the edge of a road, and it’s snowing. As the hours tick by, he reminisces about his life.
The Neuroscientist Who Lost Her Mind, by Barbara Lipska. Interesting that I’ve read two books recently about the brain (see Doctor Q above). This is a true story about a woman, a neuroscientist, who developed a metastatic melanoma in the brain.
The Price of Inheritance, by Karin Tanabe. This is a mystery, of sorts. Our heroine is an up and coming employee at Christie’s (auction house). In bringing a large collection of expensive art to auction, she makes a misstep about the provenance of a desk. She’s fired. She goes back to her roots, takes a job at a small antique store where she used to work.
The Covenant of Water, by Abraham Verghese. Did you read Cutting for Stone, years ago, by this author? Such a good book, so I knew I’d enjoy this one, and oh, did I!. The book takes place in a little known area of southern India, and chronicles a variety of people over a few generations, who inhabit the place.
Finding Dorothy, by Elizabeth Letts. My friend Dianne recommended this book to me, and it was so special. Loved it beginning to end. It’s based on the story of 77-year old Maud Gage Baum (her husband Frank Baum wrote The Wizard of Oz).
The Bandit Queens, by Parini Shroff. It’s about a young Indian woman, Geeta, as she tries her best to make a living after her husband leaves her. Yet the community she lives in, thinks Geeta murdered him.
Attribution, by Linda Moore. We follow art historian Cate, as she struggles to succeed in her chosen field against sexist advisors. She finds what she thinks is a hidden painting.
The Measure, Nikki Erlick. Oh my goodness. This story grabbed me from about the third sentence. Everyone in the world finds a wooden box on their doorstep, or in front of their camper or tent, that contains a string. Nothing but a string. The author has a vivid imagination (I admire that) and you just will not believe the various reactions (frenzy?) from people who are short-stringers, or long-stringers.
The Book Spy by Alan Hlad. True stories, but in novel form, of a special Axis group of men and women librarians and microfilm specialists, sent to strategic locations in Europe to acquire and scour newspapers, books, technical manuals and periodicals, for information about German troop locations, weaponry and military plans of WWII. I was glued to the book beginning to end. Fascinating accounts.
A Dangerous Business, Jane Smiley. What a story. 1850s gold rush, story of two young prostitutes, finding their way in a lawless town in the Wild West. There’s a murder, or two, or three, or some of the town’s prostitutes, and the two women set out to solve the crime.
Storm Watch, by C. J. Box. I’m such a fan of his tales of Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett’s adventures catching criminals. Loved it, just like I’ve loved every one of his books.
Defiant Dreams, by Sola Mahfouz. True story about the author, born in Afghanistan in 1996. This is about her journey to acquire an education. It’s unbelievable what the Taliban does to deter and forbid women from bettering themselves.
Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. This is fairly light read, a novel – but interesting, about the meaning behind many flowers.
The Rome Apartment, by Kerry Fisher. Such a cute story. Maybe not an interesting read for a man. It’s about Beth, whose husband has just left her, and her daughter has just gone off to college. Beth needs a new lease on life, so she rents a room from a woman who lives in Rome.
All the Beauty in the World, a memoir by Patrick Bringley. Absolutely LOVED this book. Bringley was at loose ends and accepted a job as a guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. He’d been a journalist at The New Yorker magazine, but after his brother was ill and died, he needed refreshing. After his training at the museum, he moves from room to room, guarding the precious art, and learning all about the pieces and the painters or sculptors.
The Queen’s Lady, by Joanna Hickson. I love stories about Tudor England, and this one didn’t disappoint. Joan Guildford is a lady in waiting to Queen Elizabeth. Oh my goodness are there twists and turns.
Once in awhile I’m ready to read another Louise Penny mystery. This time it was World of Curiosities. Usually I’d write something wonderful regarding “another tome about Three Pines.” Not going to say it this time. Three Pines becomes a sinister place. Murders (many).
Over the years I’ve read many of Jodi Picoult’s books. This, her newest, or very new, is called Mad Honey. Oh, my. This book is beyond Picoult’s usual borders, but then she always writes edgy books. That’s her genre. This one is written with a co-author, a woman who is gay (I think) and also a trans-gender.
Philippa Gregory is one of my fav authors. Just finished her 3rd (and last, I think) in the Fairmile series called Dawnlands. If you scroll down below you’ll find the 2nd book in the series, Tidelands. Very interesting about English history, but about the same families from the first book in the group. Loved it, as I loved all of them.
Am currently reading Rutherfurd’s long, long book, Paris. I love these involved historical novels about a place (he’s written many about specific places in the world). It’s a saga that goes back and forth in time, following the travails of various people and families, through thick and thin. Some of it during the era of the King Louis’ (plural, should I say Louies?). Very interesting about some of the city’s history and royalty.
Although this book says A Christmas Memory, by Richard Paul Evans, it’s not just about Christmas. A young boy is the hero here, but really an older widower man who lives next door plays a pivotal part of this book.
Wish You Were Here, by Jodi Picoult. Another page-turner. I loved this book. A thirty-something woman, about to take a trip with her boyfriend, when Covid breaks out. Covid plays a major role in this book, beginning to end. She decides to go anyway as her boyfriend is a doctor and cannot leave. She ends up on a remote Galapagos island, and you go along with her – with people she meets, the life she leads, the isolation she experiences, the loneliness she feels, but the joy of nature is a sustaining aspect.
Not everyone wants to read food memoirs. When I saw Sally Schmitt had written a memoir, titled Six California Kitchens, I knew I wanted to read it. I met Sally a few times over the years when I visited Napa Valley, and bought some of her famous pickled items, chutneys, jams, etc. She was the original chef at The French Laundry, before it became truly famous by Thomas Keller.
Being a fan of Vivian Howard (from her TV show), when I saw she’d written another book, I knew I should buy it. This Will Make It Taste Good is such an unusual name for a cookbook, but once you get into the groove of the book, you’ll understand. What’s here are recipes for some “kitchen heroes” she calls them. They’re condiments. They’re food additions, they’re flavor enhancers.
As soon as it came out, I ordered Spare, by Prince Harry. I’ve always been interested in the Royal Family.
Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri. Usually I don’t seek out short stories. I might have purchased this book without realizing it was. There aren’t that many stories – each one gets you very ingrained in the characters. I love her writing, and would think each story in this book could be made into a full-fledged novel.
A Lantern in Her Hand, by Beth Streeter Aldrich. A very interesting and harrowing story of early pioneer days in the Midwest (Nebraska I think); covered wagon time up to about 80 years later as the heroine, Abbie Deal, and her husband start a family in a small town.
The Messy Lives of Book People, by Phaedra Patrick. From amazon’s page: Mother of two Liv Green barely scrapes by as a maid to make ends meet, often finding escape in a good book while daydreaming of becoming a writer herself. So she can’t believe her luck when she lands a job housekeeping for her personal hero, mega-bestselling author Essie Starling, a mysterious and intimidating recluse.
Four Seasons in Rome by Anthony Doerr. I’m a fan of this author and relished reading his book about a year in his personal life, with his wife and very new, newborn twins. Doerr was given an auspicious award – a year of study in Rome, with apartment and a stipend. There are four chapters, by season.
Kristin Hannah’s Distant Shores is quite a read. Some described it as like a soap opera. Not me. Interesting character development of a couple who married young. She put her own career/wants/desires aside to raise their children. He forged ahead with his life dreams. The children grow up and move on. Then he’s offered a huge promotion across the country. She’s torn – she doesn’t want to be in New York, but nothing would get in the way of his career.
Oh, William! by Elizabeth Strout. Lucy Barton is divorced. But she’s still sort of friendly with her ex. It’s complicated. Out of the blue he asks her to go on a trip with him to discover something about his roots.
Tidelands, by Philippa Gregory. It tells the tale of a peasant woman, Alinor (an herbalist and midwife), who lives barely above the poverty level, trying to raise two children, during the time of great turmoil in England, the rancorous civil war about Charles 1.
Read Reminders of Him, by Colleen Hoover. A page turner of a story. A young woman is convicted of a crime (young and foolish type). Once released her sole purpose is to be a part of her daughter’s life.
The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty. Oh my goodness. The wicked webs we weave. How in the world did the author even come UP with this wild story, but she did, and it kept me glued. Sophie walked away from her wedding day, and always wondered if she made the wrong decision.
Very funny and poignant story, Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont, by Elizabeth Taylor (no, not that one). Mrs. Palfrey, a woman of a certain age, moves into an old folks’ home in London. It’s a sort of hotel, but has full time elderly quirky residents.
For one of my book clubs we read Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus. This book is so hard to describe. Elizabeth is a wizard at chemistry and struggles to be recognized for her intelligence and research. She meets a man at her company who is brilliant too. They make quite a pair. They have a child, then he suddenly dies. Her work isn’t taken seriously, so she leaves her employment and becomes an overnight phenom on a cooking show where she uses the chemical names for things like sodium chloride, etc. You go alongside her struggles, and her raising of her daughter. LOTS of humor, lots to discuss for a book club.
Horse. Oh my, is it a page turner. Loved it from the first page to the last. Sad when it ended. It’s a fictional creation but based on a real racehorse owned by a black man, back in the 1850s. Technically, the story is about a painting of the horse but there are many twists and turns. If you’ve ever enjoyed Brooks’ books in the past, this one won’t disappoint.
The Book of Lost Names, by Kristin Harmel (no, not Hannah). Certainly a little-known chunk of history about a woman who becomes a master forger during WWII to help get Jewish children out of France. Not easy to read, meaning the difficulty of anyone finding the means and place to DO the forgery and right under the noses of the Nazis. Really good read.
Liane Moriarty’s first novel, Three Wishes, follows the travails of adult triplets, so different, yet similar in many ways. Two are identical, the third is not. So alike, and so not. It takes you through a series of heart-wrenching events, seemingly unrelated, but ones that could bring a family to its breaking point and test the bonds of love and strength.
Recently I’ve read both of Erin French’s books, her cookbook, The Lost Kitchen, and since then her memoir, Finding Freedom. About her life growing up (difficult) about her coming of age mostly working in the family diner, flipper burgers and fries (and learning how much she liked to cook). Now she’s a very successful restaurant entrepreneur (The Lost Kitchen is also the name of her restaurant) in the minuscule town of Freedom, Maine. She’s not a classically trained chef, but she’s terrifically creative. See her TV series on Discover+ if you subscribe.
Jo Jo Moyes has a bunch of books to her credit. And she writes well, with riveting stories. Everything I’ve read of hers has been good. This book, The Girl You Left Behind, is so different, so intriguing, so controversial and a fascinating historical story. There are two timelines here, one during WWI, in France, when a relatively unknown painter (in the style of Matisse) paints a picture of his wife. The war intervenes for both the husband and the wife.
Eli Shafak’s Island of Missing Trees. This book was just a page turner. If you’ve never read anything about the conflict in Cyprus (the island) between the Turks and the Greeks, you’re in for a big history lesson here. But, the entire story centers around a fig tree. You get into the head/brain/feelings of this big fig tree which plays a very central part of the story. You’ll learn a lot about animals, insects (ants, mosquitos, butterflies) and other flora and fauna of Cyprus.
Also read Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty. Ohhh my, such a good book. I couldn’t put it down. Whatever you do, do not read the ending before you start the book. I’ve never understood people who do this. The book chronicles the day a mom just ups and disappears. The grown children come back home, in panic. The dad isn’t much help, and he becomes the prime suspect of foul play. There is no body, however.
If you’d like a mystery read, try Dete Meserve’s The Space Between. It’s just the kind of page-turner I enjoy – a wife returns to her home after being away on business for a few days, to find her husband missing and what he’s left for her is an unexplained bank deposit of a million dollars, a loaded Glock in the nightstand, and a video security system that’s been wiped clean.
Read Alyson Richman’s historical novel called The Velvet Hours. Most of the book takes place in Paris, with a young woman and her grandmother, a very wealthy (but aging) woman who led a life of a semi-courtesan. Or at least a kept woman. But this grandmother was very astute and found ways to invest her money, to grow her money, and to buy very expensive goods. Then WWII intervenes, and the granddaughter has to close up her grandmother’s apartment, leaving it much the way it had been throughout her grandmother’s life, to escape the Nazis. Years go by, and finally answers are sought and found. An intriguing book, based on the author’s experience with an apartment that had been locked up similarly for decades, also in Paris.
Susan Meissner is one of my favorite authors. This book, The Nature of Fragile Things tells a very unusual story. About a young Irish immigrant, desperate to find a way out of poverty, answers an ad for a mail order bride.
Also read Rachel Hauck’s The Writing Desk. You could call this a romance. A young professional, a writer of one successful book, has writer’s block. Then she’s asked to go to Florida to help her mother (from whom she’s mostly estranged) through chemo. She goes, hoping she can find new inspiration.
Also recently finished The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish. The book goes backwards and forwards in time, from the 1600s in London with the day-to-day lives of a group of Jews (who had to be very careful about how they worshiped) to current day as an old house is discovered to hold a treasure-trove of historical papers.
Colleen Hoover has written quite a book, It Ends with Us: A Novel, with a love story being the central theme, but again, this book is not for everyone – it can be an awakening for any reader not acquainted with domestic violence and how such injury can emerge as innocent (sort of) but then becomes something else. There is graphic detail here.
Nicolas Barreau’s novel Love Letters from Montmartre: A Novel is very poignant, very sweet book. Seems like I’ve read several books lately about grieving; this one has a charming ending, but as anyone who has gone through a grave loss of someone dear knows, you can’t predict day to day, week to week. “Snap out of it,” people say, thinking they’re helping.
Another very quirky book, that happens to contain a lot of historical truth is The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World: A Novel by Harry N. Abrams. Set in Japan just after the tsunami 10 years ago when 18,000 people died. At a private park miles away, some very special people installed a phone booth, with a phone (that didn’t work) at the edge of the park, and the survivors of the tsunami began wending their way there to “talk” to their deceased loved ones. Very poignant story.
No question, the most quirky book I’ve read of late, a recommendation from my friend Karen, West with Giraffes: A Novel by Lynda Rutledge. Back in the 1930s a small group of giraffes were brought across the Atlantic from Africa to New York, destined for the then-growing San Diego Zoo. The story is of their journey across the United States in the care of two oh-so-different people, both with a mission.
Could hardly put down Krueger’s book, This Tender Land: A Novel. Tells the harrowing story of a young boy, Odie, (and his brother Albert) who became orphans back in the 30s. At first there is a boarding school, part of an Indian (Native American) agreement, though they are not Indian. They escape, and they are “on the run.”
Just finished Kristin Hannah’s latest book, The Four Winds: A Novel. What a story. One I’ve never read about, although I certainly have heard about the “dust bowl” years when there was a steady migration of down-and-out farmers from the Midwest, to California, for what they hoped to be the American Dream. It tells the story of one particular family, the Martinellis, the grandparents, their son, his wife, and their two children.
Also finished reading Sue Monk Kidd’s recent book, The Book of Longings: A Novel. It is a book that might challenge some Christian readers, as it tells the tale of Jesus marrying a woman named Mary. I loved the book from the first word to the last one. The book is believable to me, even though the Bible never says one way or the other that Jesus ever married. It’s been presumed he never did. But maybe he did?
Jeanine Cummins has written an eye-opener, American Dirt. A must read. Oh my goodness. I will never, ever, ever look at Mexican (and further southern) migrants, particularly those who are victims of the vicious cartels, without sympathy. It tells the story of a woman and her young son, who were lucky enough to hide when the cartel murdered every member of her family – her husband, her mother, and many others. It’s about her journey and escape to America.
Also read JoJo Moyes’ book, The Giver of Stars. Oh gosh, what a GREAT book. Alice joins the Horseback Librarians in the rural south.
Frances Liardet has written a blockbuster tale, We Must Be Brave. I can’t recommend this book highly enough. Although the scene is WWII England, this book is not really about the war. It’s about the people at home, waiting it out, struggling with enough food, clothing and enough heat.
William Kent Krueger wrote Ordinary Grace. From amazon: a brilliantly moving account of a boy standing at the door of his young manhood, trying to understand a world that seems to be falling apart around him. It is an unforgettable novel about discovering the terrible price of wisdom and the enduring grace of God. It’s a coming of age story.
A Column of Fire: A Novel by Ken Follett. It takes place in the 1500s, in England, and has everything to do with the war between the Catholics and the Protestants, that raged throughout Europe during that time, culminating in the Spanish Inquisition.
My Name Is Resolute by Nancy Turner. She’s the author of another book of some renown, These is my Words:
The Shepherd’s Life: Modern Dispatches from an Ancient Landscape by James Rebanks. This is a memoir, so a true story, of a young man growing up in the Lake District of Northern England, who becomes a shepherd. Not just any-old shepherd – actually a well educated one. He knows how to weave a story.
My blog's namesake - small, old and some very dented engraved silver plated tea spoons that belonged to my mother-in-law, and I use them to taste my food as I'm cooking.
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Posted in Travel, on December 21st, 2010.
As part of our walking tour of Christchurch, we walked to one end of town and visited the spectacular Botanic Gardens. They’re open to the public – free – and it’s a huge place. We were so impressed with the Gardens. Of course, it’s springtime in New Zealand right now, so the trees and shrubs, ground cover and grasses were just at their peak of bright green and growing.
Posted in Desserts, on December 20th, 2010.
Sorry I don’t have a photo of the whole cake. This was from a cooking class with Phillis Carey, and it was phenomenal. This may have been my favorite item from a double-whammy cooking class my friend Cherrie and I went to. Two cooking instructors, both teaching recipes for a full meal. Our portions, of course, weren’t huge. Just enough to get a sufficient taste, but oh, were we ever full when we walked out of that class!
We watched Phillis make this torte – it’s a light-as-a-feather sponge cake with chocolate chips that sink to the bottom. And flavored with amaretti (the almond-flavored Italian meringue cookies), and whipped cream flavored with the liqueur, Amaretto. The cake is mostly like any other sponge cake (where you whip up the whites and gently fold them into the egg-rich cake batter). This one just has the cooking crumbs folded in too, plus the chocolate chips. Don’t use chop-up-yourself chocolate in this – you need to use ready-made chocolate chips. And do slice it with a serrated knife, okay? Don’t refrigerate the cake – it’s okay to make it one day ahead. It also freezes well. You’ve gotta make this cake if you enjoy almond flavorings. And chocolate.
Recipe By: From a cooking class with Phillis Carey, 12/2010
Serving Size: 8
NOTES: Cake can be doubled, using same pan; just increase baking time. If you can’t find amaretti cookies, use any kind of almond-flavored cookie and crumble it up finely. Cake freezes well. Can be made the day before, but cover and leave at room temp. Don’t refrigerate the cake.
unsweetened cocoa powder for dusting springform pan
1 cup unsalted butter — softened
3/4 cup sugar
5 whole egg yolks
1/2 cup Amaretti di Saronna cookies — crumbled
1/2 cup flour
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips — (don’t use your own chopped chocolate)
6 whole egg whites
1 pinch cream of tartar
sifted powdered sugar for garnish
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons Amaretto
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and dust with unsweetened cocoa powder, shaking out any excess. Cut a circle of parchment paper and place in bottom of pan.
2. Using a mixer, cream butter with sugar until very fluffy and almost white in color. Beat in yolks one at a time, blending well after each addition. At low speed gradually add Amaretti crumbs and flour. Fold in chocolate chips.
3. In a completely clean and dry bowl beat egg whites (yes there is one more egg white used than egg yolks used) with cream of tartar until stiff peaks form. Stir 1/4 of the whites into the cake batter to lighten it some, then gently fold in the remaining whites. Spread in prepared pan and bake 35-40 minutes or until cake tests done and pulls away from the edge of the pan. The chocolate chips will sink to the bottom.
4. Cool cake in pan on a rack for 30 minutes. The cake will shrink some. Loosen edges of cake and remove springform rim. Turn cake over onto a rack and remove springform bottom and allow to cool (upside down) completely. To serve, invert cake right side up onto a serving platter and dust generously with powdered sugar. Use a serrated knife when cutting the cake.
5. Whip heavy cream with sugar until peaks will hold shape, then gently add Amaretto. Serve slices of cake with a mound of whipped cream on the side. May decorate with fresh raspberries if desired.
Per Serving: 651 Calories; 45g Fat (61.4% calories from fat); 8g Protein; 56g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 236mg Cholesterol; 70mg Sodium.
A year ago: Zov’s Lentil Salad
Two years ago: Seafood Bisque
Three years ago: Almond Custard
Posted in Appetizers, on December 18th, 2010.
The toasted baguette slices have been rubbed with an orange – the skin – and the orange peel/oil sticks to the rough edges on the bread. At left is a mound of curd ricotta (it’s whole-milk ricotta that still has some of its curds intact) with a mixture of orange honey and truffle oil on top – and some cracked pepper.
If you need an appetizer that you can make ahead, here’s an easy one. It does require just a bit of last-minute assembling, but it’s not difficult or time consuming. The original recipe for this came from Locanda Verde Restaurant in TriBeCa in NYC. How Diane Phillips (cookbook author and cooking instructor) got it, I don’t know. Maybe there’s a cookbook out? Ah yes, there is: Andrew Carmellini, the chef/owner of the restaurant has written a cookbook: Urban Italian: Simple Recipes and True Stories from a Life in Food
The appetizer is a subtle tasting one – mild, actually. Understand what I’m saying here – it hasn’t got blowout flavors, but it has lovely nuances of orange. And softness from the ricotta. And a bit of umami from the truffle oil. Give it a try over the holidays. But I wouldn’t serve it along side an appetizer with huge flavors – that would overpower this one. Make it the appetizer of the evening. I’d serve it with Prosecco, that light Italian sparkling wine. Or champagne, of course. Or serve it as an appetizer for a brunch with a mimosa!
Recipe By: From a cooking class with Diane Phillips, 12/2010
Serving Size: 8
NOTES: Try to find whole milk ricotta that’s still in its soft-curd form available at some specialty Italian markets. Use regular grocery store whole milk ricotta if you can’t find the other.
1 whole baguette — (about 24 slices)
2 large navel oranges — skin scrubbed of any wax
2 cups ricotta cheese — whole milk only
1/2 cup honey — orange blossom
1/4 cup white truffle oil
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1. Preheat oven to 400°. Arrange baguette slices on baking sheet lined with a Silpat, foil or parchment paper. Bake baguettes until crisp.
2. Remove bread from oven and rub the orange skin on the baked slices. Some of the orange oil will transfer to the bread. Store cooled baguette slices airtight and at room temp for up to 2 days.
3. In a small decorative bowl stir the ricotta. In a second small bowl combine the honey and truffle oil. Sprinkle the top with freshly ground black pepper and drizzle this mixture over the ricotta cheese. Serve baguette slices alongside. If you prefer a more spicy mixture, add more pepper.
Per Serving: 403 Calories; 16g Fat (36.2% calories from fat); 12g Protein; 53g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 31mg Cholesterol; 398mg Sodium.
A year ago: Apple Raisin Custard Cake
Two years ago: Spiced Peaches
Three years ago: Chicken and Dumplings (oh, is this yummy)
Posted in Travel, on December 17th, 2010.
Back to some travel stories . . . After spending several days in Sydney, some folks left for home and 8 of us went on to New Zealand. Having never been there and having seen little more than photos of the Milford Sound and plenty in travel books, I didn’t know what to expect. So I shot a few photos from the air. There is some haze, but what’s visible there is green. And more green. And more green. Darker green, lighter green, lakes and water. Lovely.
Christchurch isn’t exactly a huge city – a small city, I’d say. We stayed in a hotel right smack dab in the middle of town so it was easy to walk anywhere.
There was a big earthquake in Christchurch in September and it did some damage to older structures. A unique thing about New Zealand is that the island is right on top of two Tectonic plates, so the island is very prone to earthquakes. But this 2010 one was quite serious. There were no injuries, partly due to NZ’s extremely strict building codes. I remember reading about it in September, that structural damage was minimized because the country has insisted on earthquake-proof codes for both commercial buildings and homes.
In the picture above you can’t see any damage – they’d repaired what minimal problems there were, but just a few blocks away here’s what we saw:
This is an old church – Presbyterian I think – that was built long before civil engineers knew what to do to build more earthquake resistant structures. They expected to be able to repair this church, but meanwhile they have props surrounding the building to keep it from crumbling even more.
Here’s a sculpture (no, it’s not earthquake damage) in a small Christchurch park – it’s to honor and commemorate 9/11 and it’s a loose replica of some of the girders and beams from the World Trade Center, showing the one that looks similar to a Christian cross.
We criss-crossed our way all around Christchurch. It’s a quaint little city and easy to get around in. And we were quite impressed with all of their parks. Just like the Aussies, the NZlanders set aside more than ample (at least by American standards) park lands for everyone to enjoy.
Here’s another photo of an older Christchurch building with props holding it up. Holding it in place. I loved the striking phone booths there. I don’t know if it’s a national thing, or just in Christchurch, but the phone booths are somewhat similar to British ones. Cute. Red.
We’re losing phone booths here in this country. What with cell phones so readily available, one can be hard pressed to even find a phone booth here in the U.S.
Here, at right, was a sign we saw somewhere in Christchurch showing two of the indigenous birds (kiwi and uhm. . . what is that other bird?). Kiwi birds are not exactly cute. They’re flightless, though. Did you know that most larger birds in Australia and New Zealand are flightless? Because those two countries were not destroyed during the Ice Age, the animals lived through it – they are almost prehistoric and they don’t have predators. Hence their wings have, through evolution, been lost. We never saw a live kiwi while we were there, sad to say.
Here’s a little something to give you a laugh. In New Zealand no one refers to one’s derrier as buns. Instead, they’re sweet rolls or sandwiches. Our guide, Marilyn, pointed out this little cafe sign, saying that she really did, but didn’t understand it, why Americans always think it’s so funny!
Sure enough, we all laughed.
Christchurch has a very efficient rail system – considering that it’s a small city, we were all impressed.
This trolley car seems like it’s right out of the 1940’s or so, doesn’t it?
Both Australia and New Zealand have plenty of Victorian style homes. I tried to take a whole lot of suburban home photos from our different rides around cities in both countries, but all of them were blurred. This one, this cute little, narrow Victorian, was just a few blocks from downtown Christchurch. I just thought it was adorable. Not that I’d want to live in one, but this happened to be a particularly attractive Victorian.
By the time we had walked for a couple or so miles around the city and the Botanical Gardens (a post about that tomorrow or the next day), we passed this sign about Ron Mueck, a well-renowned Australian sculptor. A few of our group went to the museum to see the display. The woman you see there (a photo of the sculpture) is a Maori (pronounced mao-ree, and say it real fast). Those who went, exclaimed over the exhibit. The sculptures are very life-like and life-sized too. Amazingly life-like, apparently. Dave’s legs were really hurting him after our long walk, so we didn’t ever get back to see the exhibit.
This photo (right) is from Wikipedia, and shows one of Mueck’s most famous sculptures.
I’d think that would be eerie to be in a museum and come upon that head sculpture!
We did take a bus tour one day. I took a dozen pictures of the Christchurch skyline from the ridge we were on here. Christchurch doesn’t have any particular landmarks, to speak of. But it was so clear and pretty. That’s ocean off in the distance.
And here’s a photo of Marilyn, our wonderful guide. She was speaking there, about the building behind her – Christ’s College – Canterbury, just adjacent to the Christchurch Botanical Gardens.
We watched lots of students walking in and out – all wearing their school (required) uniforms. Much like in Britain.
I think it’s at Oxford, in England, where they’re all required to wear the black flowing robes. Am I right?
There is a stream that meanders through part of Christchurch. I don’t remember its name, but it was so lovely. Made for some good picture-taking.
I mentioned in my earlier post (while we were ON the trip) that we had some fantastic Indian food in Christchurch. It may have been the best Indian food I’ve ever had. It was that good. One of the couples from our trip went with us – they’re from the Midwest and had never had Indian food – period. It was right on Cashel Street – one of the main streets of Christchurch, with the cutest name – The Last Train to India. I had a lengthy conversation with our waiter about different dishes they made – we had butter chicken, some onion kulcha, a lamb dish, another chicken dish, some delicious pilaf rice, and I asked for a vegetable dish. He brought lentils. Now I wouldn’t ordinarily have ordered a carb billed as a “vegetable,” but when it came, what could I say? And oh, was it delicious. For me it may have been the star of the dinner. It was black lentils in a kind of brown gravy. A rich, thick, silky gravy. I asked the waiter to write down the name of this dish – he did, but now I can’t find the little snip of paper it was on. Darn! I remember he said it was a “truck stop” kind of lentil dish – nothing fancy. It was just so, so good. At the end we ordered some ice cream – I think it was coconut. Came out in a kind of log shape. It was delish too. I’d be eating at this restaurant once a week if it were in California! It’s a long flight for an Indian dinner, sadly!
Posted in easy, Veggies/sides, on December 16th, 2010.
I know, I know. Most people don’t like Brussels sprouts. But I do, my DH does, and this is such a simple and delicious way to serve them. If you don’t like cooked cabbage, well, then there may be no hope for you. Just skip this recipe.
What this is, is EASY. You halve the Brussels, then cut into thinner yet slices, cook them in a bit of olive oil, add water and butter and cook for just a very few minutes. Then you add in some toasted pine nuts. See? I said it’s easy. And quick. Well, unless you need to toast pine nuts first – it’s faster to do them in a small dry frying pan (nonstick), but you’ve got to watch them very, very carefully. Once they’ve warmed up in the pan, they can go from normal raw to burned in a matter of about 15 seconds or less. This recipe came from Phillis Carey.
Recipe By: From a cooking class with Phillis Carey, 12/2010
Serving Size: 6
1 pound Brussels sprouts
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup pine nuts — toasted
1. Cut off stems, then halve Brussels sprouts lengthwise. Cut lengthwise into thin (1/8 inch) slices.
2. Heat oil in large skillet over medium high heat. Add sprouts; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Saute until brown at edges, about 6 minutes. Add water and butter and continue cooking until most of the water has evaporated and sprouts are tender but still bright green, about 3 minutes.
3. Toss in the toasted pine nuts and serve immediately.
Per Serving: 135 Calories; 11g Fat (70.8% calories from fat); 4g Protein; 7g Carbohydrate; 3g Dietary Fiber; 10mg Cholesterol; 18mg Sodium.
A year ago: Cranberries – everything you’ve always wanted to know about them
Three years ago: Gulliver’s Creamed Corn
Posted in Travel, on December 15th, 2010.
Surely I didn’t know much about the Sydney Opera House when we visited that city. Oh course, I knew of it, having seen countless pictures of the outside over the years. I knew we were going to have a tour of the facility, and that I’d likely get some nice photos of it. I knew where it was located in the harbor. With its unique architecture. But I was unprepared for the splendor of it. The majesty of it. The beauty of it. Plus the awe I felt viewing the inside of it too. And the music? Oh my goodness. Was I impressed!
On the tour we learned a lot about the architecture – and more specifically about the Danish architect, Jorn Utzon, himself. He was a johnny-come-lately with a hand-sketched design (no professional drawings or blueprints at all). We learned about how much money it took to build the House (initially it was projected at 3 million – it eventually cost 103 million), and so many more years than planned to complete it. And about how the city removed the architect toward the end of it, although they did abide by his original plan. Many people in the city were outraged at the costs involved. The architect never submitted a construction estimate – he was merely the designer. Once selected he worked furiously to make the design work. Unfortunately he died in 2008, never having seen his completed masterpiece.
Fortunately, the one free night we had in Sydney there was a performance by the Sydney Symphony. Weeks ahead I’d purchased (online) two tickets for $92 apiece, when there were no more than a handful of seats left. The interior of the Opera House is the color you see in the photos.
In the top picture you can see where we were seated, about 6-7 rows from the back wall! (You’re not supposed to take photos inside the concert hall, but lots of people were doing it, so I took one without flash.) The bottom photo was taken on the tour we did, in front of the orchestra area. The clear spheres above are acoustical additions to assist the musicians to hear one another. Seated as we were (for the concert) as high as we were, we anticipated we might not get the best sound. Not so – it was superb. The concert itself, called Arabian Nights, was without a doubt, the most beautiful classical concert I’ve ever heard. Probably because of the magic of the Sydney Opera House. The symphony musicians were exceptional. The first violin played several solo parts – he was amazing! We heard music from Spartacus (the ballet) by Khachaturian, a piano concerto by Saint-Saens, and the capstone of the evening was Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade – Symphonic Suite, Opus 35.
Here’s one more photo taken outside, but we were standing in between some of the shells. The design is quite remarkable. Go online to read more (see link up top).
Posted in Travel, on December 14th, 2010.
Sydney Bridge is just beautiful. Striking looking. Graceful. We saw it in bright sunshine, clouds, rain and darkness. Now just picture yourself climbing up the top. It’s done, and several in our group did it. Here’s a photo where you can see the climbers:
See those little matchsticks? People. In safety gear, hooked onto the bridge (there have been no accidents since they’ve been offering this treat to excitement-seekers). Four in our group went on the climb and said it was glorious. Not difficult (the guide pauses frequently for story-telling and to offer time for photographs). I guess the views were spectacular. It takes several hours to do it (including all the suiting-up time prior to the start of the climb). Maybe next time I go to Sydney I’ll do that.
There’s a more expansive view of the city. You can barely see the Opera House just to the left of the bridge. Then the city proper further left, obviously.
Further out is the entrance to Sydney Harbor – the headlands off in the distance. It was a spectacular day for photos – not even a hint of muck in the air. I don’t think Australia has smog anyway.
There’s a photo of Bondi Beach. And did you know it’s pronounced bond-eye, not bondee as I’ve always heard it. Bondi is an aboriginal word. I think it means something like blue water, or sandy beach, or similar! It was a lovely day there too with some people sunbathing on the beach. We savored a nice latte as we enjoyed the sunshine.
I must say the Aussies know how to make some mighty good coffee (strong) and coffee drinks. We had lattes in lots of places in both Australia and New Zealand. They were all great.
The clouds were spectacular that day as we took a harbor cruise. This was just before the darker clouds moved in and dumped some rain on us, but it was short-lived.
There’s a photo I took of my DH Dave as we sat enjoying our coffee at Bondi Beach.
One of the other major sites in Sydney is Darling Harbour, or the Circular Quay. At one end you can see the harbor but it’s an area developed prior to the Olympics held in Sydney some years back. People thought it would be an eyesore after the Olympics had come and gone, but it’s a huge tourist attraction and a gathering place for the locals too. Mostly it’s restaurants, but there’s also an IMAX theater, and some shops too. There’s a park, an area for buskers or entertainers to do their thing, a green grassy area, some fountains. Also the Sydney Aquarium and the Maritime Museum. It’s a HUB of activity. We had one mediocre meal there, and another fantastic meal there. I want to return to Sydney. Some day.
Posted in easy, Veggies/sides, on December 13th, 2010.
Wouldn’t you think a carrot is just a carrot? Wrong. A roasted carrot takes on a delicious caramelized exterior – it brings out the sugar in carrots. Just succulent as can be. I think I could eat a plate full of these. And they’re SO easy. I mean it. Slice carrots (on a diagonal), toss with fresh thyme, oil and salt and pepper, roast with a few dots of butter for about 20-30 minutes and you’ll have just the best carrots ever. How quick is that? I have roasted carrots before, but the combo with fresh thyme (my favorite herb) just gave it better dimension. Make these, okay? The recipe is from Phillis Carey, my favorite cooking diva.
Recipe By: From a cooking class with Phillis Carey, 12/2010
Serving Size: 6
2 pounds carrots — medium sized, peeled, cut on deep diagonal in 1/2-inch pieces
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Toss carrots, oil and thyme in a large bowl. Season well with salt and pepper. Spread in a single layer on a large parchment-lined baking sheet; dot with butter.
3. Roast carrots until tender and light golden, stirring occasionally, 20-40 minutes (depends on the thickness of the carrots).
Per Serving: 113 Calories; 6g Fat (49.1% calories from fat); 1g Protein; 14g Carbohydrate; 4g Dietary Fiber; 8mg Cholesterol; 48mg Sodium.
A year ago: a photo of my kitchen Christmas décor
Two years ago: Apricot Thyme Cookies
Three years ago: Hot Buttered Rum
Posted in Travel, on December 11th, 2010.
Not being much of a horticulturist, I know only that the left one is a ginger flower. They’re just pretty and I enjoyed looking at them. The picture at left is the outdoor lobby at the Sea Temple Resort where we stayed in Port Douglas, Queensland. What a place. Gorgeous, with huge pools, and a lovely restaurant. We had probably the nicest rooms on the entire trip at this resort. But it was hot and muggy, like Hawaii.
I’ve forgotten what these flowers are called as well. But they were hanging everywhere on the grounds of the Sea Temple Resort.
Cape Douglas is a major jumping-off point for tours of the Great Barrier Reef. And unfortunately I won’t be sharing any photos of that since I didn’t go (I get seasick and Dave didn’t want to carry the camera).
The day the group went to the GBR I took a local bus into town, shopped and had lunch. And blogged and emailed. Dave wasn’t as impressed with the Reef as he’d expected (but then, he didn’t dive or snorkel either one) but he did go on a glass-bottomed boat.
After spending two nights at the Resort, we bussed on up to Daintree National Park. Which entails boarding a small ferry, crossing the Daintree River, then proceeding on a curvy road further north into the park and along the edge of the rainforest. There are some residents of Daintree, but not many. One family purchased a plot of land that did host orchards, but the eco-heads decided it wasn’t appropriate to have a commercial orchard there, inside a rainforest, so they had to shut down the commercial side of fruit growing. Instead they lead rainforest tours, which we did. It was hard enough trying to walk in the rainforest (with all the vines, creepers, tree roots, rocks, crevices) but for Dave to do it with artificial legs was a monumental task. Yet he did it, by holding onto my shoulders with each step forward.
One of the elusive animals in the rainforest is the cassowary (a bird). They’re as tall, or taller than an adult human. The photo at left is a statue, near the entrance to the park, in case we didn’t see one, which we didn’t. The right photo is a sign right on the narrow highway about drivers being cautious, not running over a cassowary. The prehistoric birds live in very few places in the world and are endangered, I believe. One lives in and around the resort where we stayed – he’s not a pet – just that the resort environs are his territory. He tolerates the human encroachment on his territory. Unfortunately, he was not to be viewed!
On our rainforest walk (in the filtered sunshine) we saw all kinds of interesting flora including the large tree at left. We were told its variety, but I didn’t write it down – it’s deadly poisonous. It has all kinds of other rainforest lore about it – none of which I remember! And on the right you can see a palm tree (fan palm, I think) in its journey to find sufficient light. The stem on that particular palm was about 40-50 feet long and it had finally found a place where it could attempt to grow straight up and catch some rays.
More scenery from within the rainforest, clockwise top right: Dave standing in front of one of the old trees near the front door of the resort. They just constructed an elevated pathway around both sides of it; a stick bug – the bug is pointing upward at about 12:05 (his head) and his tail is at about 12:35. The body of the stick bug is slightly darker color than the branches on which he was clinging; a view from the small river boat we cruised on, in and around the swamps and mangroves; one of the wider rainforest paths we walked.
More rainforest scenes: the pool at the resort – looks just like a natural rainforest pool, doesn’t it?; a view of the Daintree Tea Plantation. Hard to believe some folks actually started a tea plantation there some years back. I bought some of the tea – it’s okay. Nothing particularly unusual about it; and lastly a view from the river cruise of the mangroves. Note the light green color of the water.
A view from the narrow highway within the rainforest looking out at the blue Pacific.
And here we have a Lamington. Marilyn, our guide, kept telling us about Lamingtons, and finally at Daintree they had them on a dessert tray. As the story goes, way back when the British were truly ruling Australia, Lord Lamington, then Governor of Queensland, went to visit somewhere. The cook had no dessert to serve him. But the cook had some leftover white cake. And chocolate. And coconut. Small pieces of cake were cut, dipped it on all four sides in melted chocolate, then sprinkled liberally with chopped coconut. A dessert was born, and it’s a favorite among the Aussies. I can’t say that it did anything for me . . .
Posted in Beef, on December 10th, 2010.
Oh my, was this delicious. What’s there not to like about tender, juicy beef tenderloin? And succulent roasted mushrooms? The recipe is from a cooking class with Phillis Carey – such simple sounding fare, but just over the top delicious, I must say. It’s all made in the same pan and if you’ve timed your dinner just right, it all comes together perfectly. You need a good meat thermometer and a good roasting pan (not a rimmed cookie sheet) and you’re in biz.
You use the center third or so of a whole beef tenderloin. Now, I know buying a beef tenderloin is dear, but you’ll get ample meals out of it. This is just that middle portion (2-3 pounds or so) which will make an elegant dinner party extra special.
Do buy good mushrooms – you want the variety of oyster and shiitake as well as the crimini ones too. The mushrooms are so good when pan roasted, especially nestled up next to a beef tenderloin. If you want to serve a larger crowd, this recipe can be adapted to roasting a whole tenderloin – just increase the herb rub accordingly and fold the tapered end under so it doesn’t over cook. The baking time will be the same, just make more of the brandy sauce to go with it.
Recipe By: From a cooking class with Phillis Carey, Dec. 2010
Serving Size: 6
BEEF:
2 cloves garlic — minced
1 tablespoon fresh thyme — minced
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary — minced
1 large shallot — minced
2 1/4 pounds beef tenderloin — center cut
6 ounces pancetta
Salt and coarsely ground black pepper
MUSHROOMS:
6 ounces oyster mushrooms
6 ounces shiitake mushrooms — stemmed, halved
12 ounces crimini mushrooms — halved
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup shallots — finely chopped
2 cloves garlic — minced
1 tablespoon fresh thyme — chopped
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary — chopped
SAUCE:
3/4 cup beef broth
3 tablespoons brandy
1 tablespoon unsalted butter — chilled
1. BEEF: Mix garlic, thyme, rosemary and shallot in small bowl. Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper, then rub herb mix over. Place beef in a roasting pan (center). Overlap pancetta slices on top to cover the meat. May be refrigerated up to this point for up to 24 hours.
2. MUSHROOMS: About an hour ahead mix mushrooms, olive oil, shallots, garlic and fresh herbs in a large bowl.
3. ROASTING: Preheat oven to 450°. Roast the beef for 15 minutes. Remove the pan just long enough to pour the mushroom mixture around the outside of the beef. Insert a meat thermometer in the center of the beef. Return pan to oven and roast for about another 10-15 minutes, or until the meat thermometer registers 120° (medium rare) or at the most, 125°. Stir the mushrooms once during the roasting time. Transfer beef to a warmed platter, surround it with the roasted mushrooms and tent the platter for about 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
4. Meanwhile, place roasting pan across two burners on the stove. Add broth and brandy to the pan; bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits. Remove from heat and using a flat whisk, add the cold butter. Season with salt and pepper. Serve these juices over the beef and mushrooms.
Per Serving: 776 Calories; 53g Fat (61.9% calories from fat); 45g Protein; 29g Carbohydrate; 5g Dietary Fiber; 146mg Cholesterol; 1022mg Sodium.
A year ago: Pork Mini-Roast with Memphis Rub
Three years ago: Chocolate Steamed Pudding
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