Get new posts by email:

Archives

Currently Reading

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.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

BOOK READING (from Carolyn):

The Concubine, by Norah Lofts. Over the years I’ve read several books about the wives of Henry VIII. All quite fascinating. This one is all about Anne Boleyn. It’s historical fiction, in that the author gives a voice to all the characters, including Henry himself. Henry waited years upon years to have his way with Anne (she holding him off because he still was very married to Catherine of Spain). There’s one tidbit of insight (true? who knows?) that once Henry finally bedded Anne, he was quite disappointed with the act, and barely bothered to visit her bed except to his need for a son, each time equally disappointed (with the act). Such an interesting sideline to the fated life of Henry (and Anne), wanting nothing more than a son to succeed him. Henry did marry Anne Boleyn, but then beheaded her 2 years later, claiming she’d been an adulterer. Many people of the time called Anne The Concubine, hence the title. No one knows for sure whether she was or she wasn’t an adulterer. Made for a good read.

Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark. Oh my goodness. One of the best books I’ve read in a long, long time. I love nothing better than being engrossed in a book, so much that I can’t wait to get back to it. This book takes place in Maine, in some previous decades, and revolves around the friendship between two women and their families. This fictitious area, called Fellowship Point, was purchased by a small group of like-minded couples, as a place to spend the summers raising their children. There was a special land grant for this property, and as these two matriarchs reach old age, their purposes are at odds. The book covers so many subjects (let alone the beauty of the Maine landscape, which plays large) including reflections on aging, writing, land stewardship, family legacies, independence, and responsibility. Secrets are kept and then revealed. I guarantee you’ll be intrigued once you begin the first page.

On Mystic Lake, Kristin Hannah. One of Hannah’s earlier books. Another one I could hardly bear to stop reading. A woman sees her young adult daughter go off to school. In the next breath her husband tells her he’s in love with someone else and leaves. She’s nearly off her hinges. Grief? Yes. Disbelief? Yes. Eventually she retreats to her hometown in Washington State, hoping for some peace and understanding. She meets someone. Well, read the book.

A Wild and Heavenly Place by Robin Oliveira. A very different historical novel about the Pacific Northwest in its very early days. In the fleeting days of youth, in Scotland, a boy and a girl fall in love. The girl, with her family move to America, to some unknown place in Washington Territory. It takes years, but the boy makes his way to America too, to find her. Wishing doesn’t always make the best bedfellows. There is great plenty (coal) and great hardship (from the unforgiving land and equally unforgiving landlords of the coal industry). Very interesting history; liked the book a lot.

The Women, Kristin Hannah. Obviously I’m a fan of Hannah’s writing. She tackles some very difficult subjects, and this one is no different. During the Vietnam War, gullible Americans like me, believed what was delivered via media that there were no women in military service in Vietnam. Not true. Although this book is fiction, it delves deeply into the harsh environment of the nursing corps (and doctors too) who did their best to patch up the thousands of soldiers who could possibly be saved after the ugly battles. Another book I could hardly put down. It also covers PTSD, not only in the badly wounded soldiers, but the doctors and nurses who were bombed and lost lives too. The book is an eye-opener and one every American should read.

The Map Colorist by Rebecca D’Harlingue. Who knew there were such map-coloring artists back in the 1600s. And to find a woman doing it was unheard of. I was very intrigued by the actual art involved, and in this story she had to hide behind her mother’s skill because a young person simply couldn’t do the job, so the publishers thought. Her skill comes to the fore as she begins working with a wealthy man in her Dutch neighborhood. Very intriguing story. D’Harlingue is a very good story teller.

The Paris Novel, Ruth Reichl. Such a cute book – I devoured it. As much for the story as the occasional descriptions of food. Stella receives an unlikely inheritance from her mother – a one way ticket to Paris. The time is right and she goes. Wandering the streets she spots a vintage Dior gown hanging in a consignment store. The store owner insists she try it on, and then insists she buy it and wear it for a night of new adventures. Next stop: oysters at Les Deux Magots. There she meets an octogenarian and her real adventure begins. Hold onto your seat as Stella’s life takes on wings. So cute. A little bit of magical thinking, but plausible and fun from beginning to end. Loved it and could hardly put it down.

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle. Amazon tells it best: “Where do you see yourself in five years? Dannie Kohan lives her life by the numbers. She is nothing like her lifelong best friend—the wild, whimsical, believes-in-fate Bella. Her meticulous planning seems to have paid off after she nails the most important job interview of her career and accepts her boyfriend’s marriage proposal in one fell swoop, falling asleep completely content. But when she awakens, she’s suddenly in a different apartment, with a different ring on her finger, and beside a very different man. Dannie spends one hour exactly five years in the future before she wakes again in her own home on the brink of midnight—but it is one hour she cannot shake. In Five Years is an unforgettable love story, but it is not the one you’re expecting.”

The Paris Daughter, Kristen Harmel. Never ceases to amaze me how authors can come up with a different take on a war novel. Riveting. Two young women meet in a park is Paris in 1939. Elise and Juliette and Juliette’s very young daughter. Elise must run as she’s Jewish, but she entrusts her baby to her friend Juliette. At the end of the war Elise returns to Paris to try to find her daughter. Oh, what a wicked web we weave sometimes. You’ll hang onto every new revelation in her journey to find her daughter.

Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo. This book almost defies belief, but it’s a true story. In 1848, an enslaved Black couple, she fairer skinned, him dark skinned, manage to escape bondage by posing as a white woman with her slave (not husband). They journey from Georgia by various means, mere feet from the slave traders trying to find them, with ingenious methods of disguise. They’re handed from one “underground railroad” home to another, in between taking public transportation. Their goal: freedom in Philadelphia. Yet once they get there they don’t feel free, so they continue their journey northward. What a story. Another one every American should read. This book has been given many awards; so worth reading.

The Tiffany Girl by Deanne Gist. Such an interesting story. Flossie Jayne, a student at the Art Institute in NYC, is asked to help THE Mr. Louis Tiffany, finish the very elaborate glass chapel at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, when the glassworker’s union goes on strike. Many women were employed (when it was thought they couldn’t possibly have the strength to cut glass), working day and night, to finish the work. This is Flossie’s story, of the people she meets, and foists off, but always with her eye on the dream, succeeding in the art of cut glass design. Very interesting story. If you’ve ever admired Tiffany glass lamps and other decor items, you’ll enjoy learning more about what’s involved in making them.

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki. Ah, to live within the life of the rich and famous. This is a book of historical fiction, but is very much the story of Marjorie Merriweather Post. Her life. Her goals. Her daughters. Amazon notes: “Presidents have come and gone, but she has hosted them all. Growing up in the modest farmlands of Battle Creek, Michigan, Marjorie was inspired by a few simple rules: always think for yourself, never take success for granted, and work hard—even when deemed American royalty, even while covered in imperial diamonds. Marjorie had an insatiable drive to live and love and to give more than she got.” Her life wasn’t all sweetness and light. She was a survivor, had a good solid head for business, and married several times. Her life was very Oprah-esque, with fresh flowers in abundance every day, dripping with jewels and custom clothing. But she also knew how to scrimp and remake herself. Fascinating read. Wish I could have met her and  had tea (one of her favorite things).

Fox Creek by William Kent Kreuger. A Cork O’Connor Mystery. Kreuger is known for his love of the land. I’ve been a fan of his work for a long time. This one is new. This one weaves Indian territory and mores with a murder mystery. Very riveting as any mystery should be.

Chenneville, Paulette Jiles. From Amazon: Union soldier John Chenneville suffered a traumatic head wound in battle. His recovery took the better part of a year as he struggled to regain his senses and mobility. By the time he returned home, the Civil War was over, but tragedy awaited. John’s beloved sister and her family had been brutally murdered.” This is the story of his dogged, relentless journey to find and kill the killer. Grip your seat as he weathers some very treacherous adventures. Really good read, rugged outdoors kind of story. I’ve loved Jiles’ writing ever since I read News of the World by her. She’s a really good story-teller.

The Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala. Oh my goodness. From Amazon: In 2004, at a beach resort on the coast of Sri Lanka, Sonali Deraniyagala and her family—parents, husband, sons—were swept away by a tsunami. Only Sonali survived to tell their tale. This is her account of the nearly incomprehensible event and its aftermath.” I’ll tell you, this is a very hard book to read. The writer, the victim, tells you in intimate detail what happened at the time, immediately after, and then recounts months by month and a loooong time after her journey of grief. She barely functions. Wishes she’d been swept away too. Harrowing account of the facts and the journey of living again.

The Art of Resistance by Justus Rosenberg. From amazon: Unlike any World War II memoir before it. Rosenberg, has spent the past seventy years teaching the classics of literature to American college students. Hidden within him, however, was a remarkable true story of wartime courage and romance worthy of a great novel. Here is Professor Rosenberg’s elegant and gripping chronicle of his youth in Nazi-occupied Europe, when he risked everything to stand against evil.” His parents sent him off to Paris early on to go to school, from Danzig (which likely saved his life), but he becomes the hunted, and eventually part of the underground. Gripping book; well worth reading.

The Royal Librarian by Daisy Wood. A little bit of a reach, but believable nonetheless. A young woman, an accomplished librarian from Austria in 1940, is sent to Windsor to sort the centuries of valuable books, maps and treasures of the Royal Family. She believes she’s on a mission for British intelligence. She very distantly befriends Princess Elizabeth. Years later her sister unearths documentation about her sister, and she undertakes a journey of discovery too. You’ll learn a lot about Windsor Castle, even what they did during the Blitz. Lots of intrigue. Very sweet book and interesting since I love books about the Royal Family.

Long Time Gone by Charlie Donlea. If you watch any crime shows, you know how important DNA is these days. Here is a mystery that comes from familial DNA, in a framework of a current day research project. The protaganist is a fellow (woman) preparing to be a medical examiner. She’s assigned a project regarding DNA, requiring her to submit her own. She knows she was adopted, but nothing more. Oh my, stand by as this book unfolds with drama within nearly every page. Could hardly put it down. Her life is threatened and she doesn’t know who is friend or foe.

A Most Intriguing Lady, by Sarah Ferguson with Marguerite Kaye. Sarah Ferguson, yes, that Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has now written her second novel. About a very astute young woman who deftly avoids the marriage mart, but comes from the ton. She wants to “do” something with her life other than be a companion to her aging mother. Plenty of characters, some intrigue, a love interest, cute story, you know how it will end, but good reading nevertheless. I liked Ferguson’s first book better, Her Heart for a Compass.

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.

 

Tasting Spoons

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.

Scroll down to the bottom to view my Blogroll

Posted in Pork, on September 28th, 2024.

Can’t take credit for the photo – I didn’t take one of this recipe I made (below). But it was just so good, and I want to make it again and again. Recipe is from Mary Ann Esposito. If you’re of a certain age you may remember her cooking show in the early days of cooking shows. She’s Italian and she cooks nothing but Italian.

This is such a simple and easy recipe. I made it according to her recipe with the exception of adding some dried oregano. The sausages are nestled into the lentil mixture and when it’s done, you just serve a big ladle full of lentils in a wide bowl and add a sausage on top. I also simmered the lentils and sausage on the stovetop rather than baking in the oven. Either way it works.

printer-friendly PDF and MasterCook file (click link to open recipe)

Lentils and Sausage

Recipe: Mary Ann Esposito
Servings: 6

1 1/2 cups dried lentils
1 1/2 pounds Italian sausage links — sweet, or hot or a mixture
1/4 cup pancetta — diced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large leek — white part only, cut into thin rings
2 ribs celery — diced
1 large carrot — peeled and diced
2 cloves garlic — peeled and minced
1 tablespoon dried oregano — (not in original recipe)
1/2 cup dry red wine
2 cups tomatoes — coarsely chopped or a 15 ounce can, chopped
5 cups low-sodium beef broth — or vegetable stock
Salt and pepper to taste

NOTES: Alternately you can simmer the lentils on the stovetop until they are just tender, about 25 minutes, adding the sausage links within that time, about 15 minutes.
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Pour the olive oil into a heavy-duty oven to table pot and brown the sausage along with the pancetta over medium high heat. Transfer the sausage and pancetta to a dish and set aside.
3. Sauté the leek, celery and carrot in the pan drippings until they soften. Stir in the garlic and cook until it softens.
4. Raise the heat to high, and pour in the wine; allow it to come to a boil. Lower the heat to simmer and stir in the tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the lentils. Return the sausage and pancetta to the pan and cover the mixture with the vegetable or beef stock.
5. Cover the pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until most of the liquid has evaporated.
6. Serve directly from the pan or a lipped serving platter.
Per Serving (I don’t understand how this can contain so much sodium – has to be the sausage and the pancetta): 619 Calories; 34g Fat (50.8% calories from fat); 32g Protein; 42g Carbohydrate; 7g Dietary Fiber; 85mg Cholesterol; 1169mg Sodium; 6g Total Sugars; trace Vitamin D; 81mg Calcium; 6mg Iron; 990mg Potassium; 353mg Phosphorus.

Posted in Soups, on July 29th, 2024.

Yes, I know it’s summer; but I eat soup year ’round.

This is a post from Sara. This is one of my very favorite soup recipes (well… as of today). It has everything I love about soup; flavorful broth, bite-sized meat and lots of veggies.  It also freezes and reheats well.  I’ve made a few adjustments for my tastes.  I prefer the flavor of lean pork and hint of yam or sweet potatoes vs. the russet potatoes that are traditional.  This soup is a complete meal.  Another benefit for my lifestyle.  I love to cook but the cleanup… not so much.  This is a one pot dish.

I began my obsession with Albondigas when my mother-in-law made it years ago.  I was hooked after my first spoonful.  She’s Hispanic and I wanted to learn how to make some of her family favorites to pass on to my children. We will talk tamales another time….

It takes about an hour from start to finish.  I start with making the meatballs. To reduce dirty dishes, I mix the meatball ingredients in a large bowl then make the meatballs and set them to one side of the bowl.  I also prefer smaller meatballs so mine are probably 1/2″ rather than the traditional 3/4″. I roll all the balls and set the bowl aside. Then I use one of my biggest cutting boards and chop all the veggies, onion, garlic.

I cook the broth with tomatoes and tomato sauce then add the carrots and sweet potatoes (or yams). Let it simmer for 10 mins.  Add all the meatballs at once. They tend to stick together in the bowl so gently stir them after adding to the broth. You want to separate the meatballs but not break them apart.  Cook another 10 mins. Lastly, add the zucchini for 5 mins.

What’s GOOD:  This is a hearty and flavorful soup that has all my favorite components; meat, veggies and sweet potatoes.

What’s NOT:  The meatballs are a bit time consuming with rolling the smaller size.  And the total time is about an hour.

Printer-friendly PDF and MasterCook file (click link to open recipe)

* Exported from MasterCook *

Albondigas Soup with Pork Meatballs

Servings: 6

1 pound ground pork — lean pork if possible
1/2 cup cooked white rice
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 large egg
1/4 cup cilantro — chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 cup onion — chopped
1 teaspoon minced garlic
3 carrots — (peeled, quartered and sliced)
1 1/2 cups sweet potato — or yam, peeled, chopped
6 cups low sodium chicken broth — or bone broth, or use beef if preferred
15 ounces canned diced tomatoes
8 ounces tomato sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 large zucchini — (quartered and sliced)
1/4 cup cilantro — chopped, for garnish
salt and pepper to taste

1. Meatballs: Place the ground pork, cooked rice, garlic, egg, cilantro, cumin, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Mix until thoroughly combined. Roll the meat mixture into 1/2 inch sized meatballs. Place the meatballs on a plate or tray. You can make the meatballs larger, but with the smaller size you’ll have more meatballs per portion, and the 1/2″ meatball is just a nice mouth full.
2. Soup: Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and carrot and cook for 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the potatoes, chicken or bone broth, tomatoes, tomato sauce, cumin and oregano to the pot. Bring to a simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Drop the meatballs into the soup and simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
4. Add the zucchini and cook for 5 minutes more. Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and serve.
Per Serving: 251 Calories; 7g Fat (25.3% calories from fat); 25g Protein; 24g Carbohydrate; 5g Dietary Fiber; 76mg Cholesterol; 554mg Sodium; 8g Total Sugars; trace Vitamin D; 94mg Calcium; 3mg Iron; 1048mg Potassium; 308mg Phosphorus.

Posted in Vegetarian, Veggies/sides, on July 5th, 2024.

Elevate a simple vegetable to “four star” status with this preparation.

If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, you might recall several years ago (March of 2020 to be exact, just when Covid began – it was announced while I was on that trip) I went on a driving vacation to California’s Central Coast. While there I had lunch at a restaurant in San Luis Obispo (with friends) and was blown away by a chilled soup I ordered – a cauliflower soup with a topping of pine nuts, raisins and capers. Once home I did an internet search and discovered a recipe at Serious Eats that was served as a vegetable – the florets roasted and with the vinaigrette poured over.

It was my guess at the time, that the chef at the restaurant had served the veggie the night before at their dinner service and repurposed it the following day as a soup with the vinaigrette as a garnish on the top.

Since then this recipe, or a variation of it, has appeared in dozens of places. Most of them without the caper vinaigrette. The Italians perfected using cauliflower with pine nuts and raisins. But the vinaigrette just adds a pizazz to it. I was pretty sure I’d like it just because I really have enjoyed the soup combo (have made it 3-4 times since 2020).

The preparation is quite simple. I made the vinaigrette ahead of time and kept it in the frig overnight. I was having a big birthday gathering. The cauliflower had to be chopped into florets, tossed with EVOO and roasted for about 15-17 minutes, turning them over once during the baking time. Onto a platter they went and the vinaigrette is poured over it. I didn’t use all of it, just most of it. I thought we were ready to sit down, but no, we weren’t, so the cauliflower had cooled to room temp by the time we ate, but it was delicious anyway. I had a little bit leftover and ate it cold, straight from the frig the next day and it was every bit as good!

What’s GOOD: everything about this dish is good. Loved the sweet (raisins) to acidic (capers) and the various textures (pine nuts, parsley). Altogether wonderful dish. This one’s a keeper.

What’s NOT: nothing really  – the vinaigrette is easy to make. I did a mis en place so once I started it was easy to finish.

printer-friendly PDF and MasterCook file (click link to open recipe)

* Exported from MasterCook *

Roasted Cauliflower With Pine Nut, Raisin, and Caper Vinaigrette

Recipe: Adapted slightly from Serious Eats
Servings: 4-6

1 head cauliflower — trimmed and cut into florets
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil — divided
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons capers — rinsed, drained
1/4 cup pine nuts — toasted
1/4 cup golden raisins
2 tablespoons parsley — chopped finely

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 475°F (260°C). Toss cauliflower with about a third of the olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. You may do this on the foil-lined rimmed baking sheet you’ll use for roasting. Roast until cauliflower is tender and deeply browned on both sides, about 17 minutes total, flipping cauliflower with a thin metal spatula halfway through roasting. Insert a sharp knife into the stem of the cauliflower to test. Do not over bake.
2. While cauliflower roasts, combine in a small jar the remaining olive oil, vinegar, honey, mustard, capers, pine nuts, raisins, and parsley. Shake well to distribute mustard. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. Taste for balance of oil to vinegar and add more vinegar if needed, or oil.
3. Transfer cooked cauliflower to a serving platter and drizzle most of the dressing on top. You may have leftover vinaigrette – use it on a salad at a later time. Serve immediately. Cauliflower is also good served at room temp, so can be made about 30 minutes ahead.
Per Serving: 288 Calories; 26g Fat (78.1% calories from fat); 2g Protein; 14g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 0mg Cholesterol; 117mg Sodium; 11g Total Sugars; 0mcg Vitamin D; 18mg Calcium; 1mg Iron; 214mg Potassium; 72mg Phosphorus.

Posted in Beef, Pork, on June 28th, 2024.

The last recipe from the meatloaf cook-off. This one was the winner.

It’s kind of funny – Dianne was convinced her Turkey Meatloaf with Swiss Cheese would win the cook-off, hands-down. We made four meatloaves – one from Erin French’s dad, my favorite with a sweet/sour topping, Dianne’s turkey meatloaf, and on a whim, Dianne decided to make this one, with Italian sausage (along with ground beef too) in it and has grated Mozzarella on top. We served them with creamy mashed potatoes.

Note that she used parchment inside the pan, and it really helped getting it out of the pan, ready for slicing and serving.

Meatloaves, in general, have some similar ingredients – the beef or pork or turkey (the protein), bread crumbs, an egg or two, probably onion, and then it’s up to you. Herbs? Sauce inside? Grated cheese? In this case, there’s some diced up red bell pepper, Italian-style bread crumbs, an egg, some grated Parm, dried oregano and red pepper flakes. In this one you add some jarred pasta sauce IN the meatloaf and the remainder is spooned over the top, then the grated Mozzarella added during the last 5 minutes of baking.

What’s GOOD: well, as I mentioned, this one won the cook-off .. . everybody loved the texture of the meat (the mixture of beef and Italian sausage) and the pasta sauce on the top too, and the gooey Mozzarella as well. Altogether delicious meatloaf.

What’s NOT: not a thing. Really delicious meatloaf.

printer-friendly PDF and MasterCook file (click link to open recipe)

* Exported from MasterCook *

Italian Meatloaf with Mozzarella Topping

Recipe: An original from my friend Dianne Y.
Servings: 8

1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 pound sweet Italian sausage
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion — chopped
1/2 cup red bell pepper — diced
3/4 cup bread crumbs — Italian style
1 large egg
2 tablespoons Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese — grated
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 cup pasta sauce — jarred, tomato based
TOPPING:
1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese — grated

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. In a skillet heat olive oil. Add chopped vegetables and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until soft, but not browned. Set aside to cool slightly.
3. In a large mixing bowl combine meats, spices, egg, Parmesan, bread crumbs, oregano, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Then add HALF the pasta sauce. Add the cooked vegetables. Mix with your hands until the egg is thoroughly incorporated and vegetables are evenly spread through the mixture. Try not to overmix.
4. Place the meatloaf mixture in a loaf pan or form a long rectangle on a parchment-lined sheet pan. Add the remaining pasta sauce on top.
5. Bake for 30-45 minutes. Remove from oven and top with grated Mozzarella cheese. Place back in oven for 5 minutes, until cheese is melted. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes before cutting into slices.
Per Serving: 226 Calories; 11g Fat (45.3% calories from fat); 18g Protein; 12g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 71mg Cholesterol; 482mg Sodium; 3g Total Sugars; trace Vitamin D; 117mg Calcium; 2mg Iron; 385mg Potassium; 212mg Phosphorus.

Posted in Fish, on June 21st, 2024.

Oh so delicious – salmon with a fresh grapefruit sauce with shallots.

My friend Linda visited me for a weekend out at the desert, and we usually share the cooking responsibilities. She made this. It’s a little hard to SEE the grapefruit, but it’s on top of the salmon. She used ruby red grapefruit (segments) which were added at the end after the shallots were cooked. The sauce also contains fresh ginger, honey, cayenne and freshly squeezed lemon juice. The recipe comes from Ellie Krieger (Food Network), from her book, The Food You Crave. Linda had made this before and knew how much she liked it. I loved it. Neither of us are supposed to eat grapefruit (when you’re taking cholesterol meds you’re supposed to avoid grapefruit) but we both agreed, it was just for this one meal. I absolutely LOVED the fresh basil on top. Basil seems to have a natural affinity with grapefruit. Who knew?

Chef’s Tip:
Salmon – never cook
it beyond 125°F

The salmon was baked in the oven at 350°F. Linda told me that a friend of hers (I think he’s a chef?) told her that salmon should be served when it reaches 125°F internal temp. Usually fish is cooked to 140°F. I’ll just tell you – this salmon was spot-on cooked to perfection – and I’ll never cook any salmon past 125°F again!

While the salmon baked we made the sauce – which was so simple to do. I cut the supremes from one of the grapefruits and then we made the sauce with the juice we squeezed from the second one and from the rinds, some ginger, honey and a pinch of cayenne. Reduce it by about half, then add lemon juice and season with salt. Just before serving add in the grapefruit segments and pour over the salmon. Then garnish with the chopped basil.

What’s GOOD: everything about this dish was delicious. I’d definitely make this again, and it’s certainly nice enough for guests too. The tiny bit of honey adds a lovely sweetness. Of course, the grapefruit has some sugar too. When the sauce reduces, it makes a lovely thicker (not really thick) sauce. Altogether wonderful.

What’s NOT: nothing, really, except making sure you can find ruby red grapefruit. I suppose you could make it with regular grapefruit but it wouldn’t be quite so pretty.

printer-friendly PDF and MasterCook file (click link to open recipe)

* Exported from MasterCook *

Roasted Salmon with Shallot-Grapefruit Sauce

Recipe: Ellie Krieger, The Food You Crave
Servings: 4

4 salmon fillets — skinless (5 to 6 oz each)
1/4 teaspoon salt — plus more to taste
2 whole ruby red grapefruits
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 tablespoon minced shallot
1 teaspoon fresh ginger — peeled and grated
2 1/2 teaspoons honey
1 Pinch cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons fresh basil — thinly sliced

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Season the salmon with the salt, place in a baking dish, and roast until just cooked through, about 15-18 minutes. Use an instant read thermometer and remove fish when it reaches 125°F.
2. While the salmon is cooking, prepare the sauce. Cut ONE of the grapefruits into sections by cutting off the top and bottom of the fruit, then standing it on one end and cutting down the skin to remove the woolly white pith and peel. Then, with a paring knife, remove each segment of fruit from its membrane and cut the segments in half. Set the segments aside. Juice the other grapefruit and set the juice aside.
3. In a medium skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook, stirring until softened, about 2 minutes. Add the ginger, grapefruit juice, honey, and cayenne and bring to summer. Cook until the sauce is reduced by about half, about 10 minutes. Add the lemon juice and season with salt. Right before serving, toss the grapefruit pieces and basil into the sauce.
4. Place the salmon on a serving dish, spoon the sauce over it, and serve immediately. Asparagus makes a nice side dish with the salmon.
Per Serving: 563 Calories; 17g Fat (28.5% calories from fat); 81g Protein; 17g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 293mg Cholesterol; 343mg Sodium; 12g Total Sugars; 0mcg Vitamin D; 74mg Calcium; 2mg Iron; 1883mg Potassium; 1145mg Phosphorus.

Posted in Chicken, on June 14th, 2024.

Remember, we had a meatloaf cook-off awhile back? This was Dianne’s recipe – it’s her family’s favorite.

That’s cubes of Swiss cheese poking out of the top – Dianne said her family loves to get a serving where there is a cube of melty Swiss in one bite. The cheese is cut into 1/2″ cubes and mixed in with the ground turkey (plus egg, bread crumbs, milk, ketchup, a little bit of dry onion soup mix and also a bit of soy sauce). Dianne cautions: do not overmix the meatloaf mixture. It’s formed into a log and placed in a loaf pan and patted down – hers was a ceramic one. She recommends pushing any exposed Swiss cheese down into the loaf – but you can see, they pop up during baking!

Just so you know, this cold meatloaf makes wonderful sandwiches. Dianne gave me a big chunk of it (see at top of sandwich at right) that I took home and I made several sandwiches over the course of a week. With some mayo, ketchup and lots of lettuce for crunch.

The recipe is Dianne’s own – I think she started with someone else’s recipe, but then she began adding her own touch to it and this meatloaf has been her family’s favorite for a looong time. Her grandkids ask for it when they visit. As I type this Dianne is in Germany visiting one of her daughters (and family), and I’m sure she was asked to make this while she was there. I wonder if it’s hard to buy ground turkey in Germany? I’ll have to ask her about that!

This makes a nice, firm meatloaf – you might think using ground turkey, that it would be soft, but the additions (egg, bread crumbs) make it much more sturdy. Not as firm as one made with ground beef or pork, but it was relatively easy to slice when it was hot. And it’s firm when slicing for sandwiches.

What’s GOOD: for one, this meatloaf is a lot healthier for us than the traditional ones. It has excellent flavor (that soy sauce adds umami flavor, but you can’t taste it) with the onion soup mix and Swiss cheese cubes. And it makes great sandwiches.

What’s NOT: nothing that I can think of. This is a good meatloaf – don’t expect it to taste like a beef meatloaf – you might be disappointed.

printer-friendly PDF and MasterCook file (click link to open recipe)

* Exported from MasterCook *

Turkey Meatloaf with Swiss Cheese

Recipe: An original recipe by my friend Dianne Y.
Servings: 8

1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
1 large egg
3/4 cup bread crumbs — Italian style
1/3 cup milk
1 cup Swiss cheese — diced in 1/2″ cubes
3 tablespoons ketchup
2 1/2 tablespoons dry onion soup mix
2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. In large bowl add all meatloaf ingredients and mix with your hands until combined. Do NOT overmix it!
3. Form mixture into log to fit into a 9×5 loaf pan or place into a 2 quart casserole dish. If possible, push any exposed cheese cubes down into the meat.
4. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Note: this meatloaf makes great sandwiches.
Per Serving: 313 Calories; 17g Fat (49.6% calories from fat); 28g Protein; 12g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 111mg Cholesterol; 704mg Sodium; 2g Total Sugars; trace Vitamin D; 319mg Calcium; 2mg Iron; 319mg Potassium; 392mg Phosphorus.

Posted in Salad Dressings, Salads, on June 7th, 2024.

A recipe from Sara . . . this is now on regular rotation at her home. Really tasty, slightly sweet dressing that’s ideal for serving on a salad with beets.

Sara made this salad one weekend when we were at the desert house – so refreshing. The little package of beets from Trader Joe’s, the ones that are already cooked and vacuum sealed – just buy one or two and keep them refrigerated until you need them.

This salad above was composed of arugula, fresh goat cheese (crumbled from a log of it), Persian cucumbers, fresh avocado, walnuts, beets, and some orange segments. And then the dressing.

Sara had a similar dressing at a restaurant and knew it contained maple syrup, so she devised the recipe herself – white wine vinegar, EVOO, the maple syrup and some Dijon mustard. Oh, and a dash of salt and pepper too. You can pour the dressing and toss the salad, but it’s so pretty when it’s composed as you see above in the salad bowl – the arugula peeking out from the edges, and then all the other ingredients piled up here and there. Drizzle the dressing over it all and then people can scoop what they’d like to have. Or mix it all up . . . your choice.

What’s GOOD: the combo of the salad ingredients (beets, walnuts, goat cheese, avocado, cucumbers, orange segments on a bed of arugula) is just perfect. The dressing is just slightly sweet – a perfect complement to the salad. My advice: double the recipe so you have some dressing leftover for another salad.

What’s NOT: only if you don’t have that package of Trader Joe’s beets on hand!

printer-friendly PDF and MasterCook file (click link to open recipe)

* Exported from MasterCook *

Maple Vinaigrette

Recipe: Sara’s recipe she devised after tasting a similar one at a restaurant
Servings: 6

1/3 cup EVOO
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard — heaping
salt and pepper to taste

1. Combine ingredients in a small jar; shake well before serving on salad.
2. Ideally serve this on a green salad that also contains sliced beets (not pickled), goat cheese, walnuts and avocado.
Per Serving: 38 Calories; trace Fat (0.2% calories from fat); trace Protein; 9g Carbohydrate; 0g Dietary Fiber; 0mg Cholesterol; 2mg Sodium; 8g Total Sugars; 0mcg Vitamin D; 15mg Calcium; trace Iron; 33mg Potassium; 1mg Phosphorus.

Posted in Salads, on May 31st, 2024.

In a way it’s sad that Jell-O salads aren’t a regular on our tables anymore. This one is SO good.

Laugh with me here: I grew up in the era of Jell-O salads, I’ve always loved them. And let me tell you, when you serve them now, they’re usually gone in a flash. They have a bad rap – because of all the sugar in the mix. I have made them with the sugar-free version. Can’t say that they taste the same, and they have fewer flavors of sugar-free.

Recently two friends and I put on a luncheon that was a trip into our past, to the 50s and 60s. I’ve already posted the appetizer, the olive-stuffed cheese balls, and I will also post the wild rice casserole I made too. My friend Linda (I have two Linda friends who cook, one local and one about 50 miles away), the one who lives locally, made her version of this salad, combined a little with mine. My version uses cream cheese instead of cottage cheese. I like them both. Both had canned, drained crushed pineapple. Mine used to have mini-marshmallows on top, though I don’t make it that way anymore. Too sweet. Both recipes contained chopped pecans. My recipe used 7UP for the liquid – part water to dissolve the mix, then 7UP for the remainder of the liquid. You can use diet jell-o and diet 7up if you’d like to.

When Linda and I were starting to serve, I thought about making it just like we did back in the day, with a lettuce leaf underneath (that would get soggy and rarely was eaten) and with a tiny dollop of mayo on top with a maraschino cherry. We all chuckled about that last, the maraschino cherry.

What’s GOOD: love this salad. Tangy from the 7UP (just a little) and the creamy texture from the cottage cheese. Flavorful from the drained pineapple too. And can’t forget the pecans that add texture. Linda told me this is her husband Larry’s very favorite salad, bar none. He always asks for it during the holidays.

What’s NOT: just that you may want to make this the day ahead as it needs several hours of chilling time.

printer-friendly PDF and MasterCook file (click link to open recipe)

* Exported from MasterCook *

Lime Jell-o Salad with Pineapple

Recipe: An ancient recipe from the 1960s
Servings: 8

3 ounces Jell-O Gelatin Dessert, Lime
8 ounces crushed pineapple — drained
3 ounces cottage cheese — or cream cheese
1 cup boiling water
1 cup 7UP — chilled, if possible
1 cup marshmallows — tiny ones (optional) [we didn’t use them]
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Garnish: a tiny dollop of mayo and a maraschino cherry

1. Add boiling water to Jell-o to dissolve. Allow mixture to cool some before continuing. Stir in the cottage cheese. If using cream cheese, use a whisk to distribute it evenly.
2. Add 7-up, pecans and marshmallows (if using). Allow to cool to room temp, then pour into a mold (round ring mold or a ceramic square-ish dish) and refrigerate until set, 3-6 hours, or overnight.
3. Cut into servings and dollop with mayo and a maraschino cherry.
Per Serving: 205 Calories; 5g Fat (21.7% calories from fat); 3g Protein; 39g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 1mg Cholesterol; 106mg Sodium; 31g Total Sugars; 0mcg Vitamin D; 23mg Calcium; trace Iron; 78mg Potassium; 39mg Phosphorus.

Posted in Fish, on May 24th, 2024.

Ooooh, lovely shrimp in a tasty herb butter. Divine.

One day a couple of months ago I was going to my daughter Sara’s home in San Diego. I had a couple of hours to kill before they got home, so Sara suggested their local library. Great idea. Went immediately to the cookbook section and found 2-3 newer cookbooks I wanted to peruse. I took several photos from pages in the books. This was one of them, from Melissa Clark’s newest book, Dinner in French.

I don’t eat much shrimp – it’s a shellfish, like scallops, crab, lobster, etc. and I’m supposed to be careful how much of those critters I eat. I’m not allergic to them like my grandson is. Thank goodness! Anyway, I had a big bag of lovely shrimp in the freezer and was happy to make the whole batch.  My  friend  Linda T and I enjoyed this over Easter  weekend.

The shrimp need to be shelled and deveined, though very little debris was contained in them.

But first, you need to make the herb butter. It contains parsley, fresh tarragon, garlic, pepper and lemon zest, along with the butter. That was done in the food processor and set aside until I needed it. Have everything ready to go (table set, water poured, wine glasses ready) before you begin cooking as it comes together quite quickly.

Into a big pan you add some of the herb butter, then the mushrooms. Leave the mushrooms fairly large. I don’t know that I would have jumped to mixing shrimp and mushrooms, but they were good, and the mushrooms swimming in the herb butter was awfully good too. Anyway, once the mushrooms are mostly cooked you add the shrimp, along with more herb butter. I used it all because I made a bigger batch. Shallots are added and some dry white wine. The recipe calls for Pernod. I’m not a fan of it (a licorice liqueur), so didn’t use it. I didn’t have any, anyway! Pernod is very (veddy) French, which is why Melissa Clark added it to this recipe. Substitute more white wine if you choose not to use Pernod. At the end garnish with parsley, tarragon, chives and lemon juice.

I didn’t end up with much juice at the bottom, so there wasn’t much in which to swipe the little torn bread pieces she recommends you serve with it. But there is some, which is also flavored with the herb butter.

What’s GOOD: Linda and I both enjoyed it. There is lots of garlic in it – which is good in my book! Loved the flavors with the fresh herbs, both in the herb-butter and the garnish.

What’s NOT: nothing really – easy meal to fix once you get the herb butter done. Make that a day ahead if you prefer.

printer-friendly PDF and MasterCook file (click link to open file)

* Exported from MasterCook *

Shrimp and Mushrooms with Garlicky Herb Butter

Recipe: Melissa Clark, Cooking in French
Servings: 5

HERB BUTTER:
2 tablespoons parsley — chopped, plus more for garnish
1 tablespoon fresh tarragon — or basil, chopped
1 tablespoon Pastis — such as Pernod (I did not use this)
2 large garlic cloves — grated or minced
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
6 tablespoons unsalted butter — at room temperature
SHRIMP:
12 ounces oyster mushrooms — chopped, 1″ pieces, or button/cremini mushrooms, left fairly large
1/4 teaspoon sea salt — plus more as needed
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 large shallots — thinly sliced
2 pounds large shrimp
2 tablespoons dry white wine
2 tablespoons Pastis — such as Pernod [I did not use this] or substitute more white wine
GARNISHES:
2 tablespoons parsley
2 tablespoons fresh tarragon — or basil
2 tablespoons fresh chives — chopped lemon juice, to taste
torn baguettes or rice, for serving

1. HERB BUTTER: in a small food processor or blender combine parsley, chives, tarragon, pastis, garlic, salt, pepper and lemon zest and pulse well. Add butter and process until you have a smooth, green-flecked paste
2. In large skillet heat 2 T of herb butter over med-high heat. Stir in mushrooms and cook until liquid has cooked off and mushrooms are breowned and crispy, 8-12 minutes. Try not to disturb the mushrooms as they cook – the less stirring means the browner they will get. Season mushrooms with salt and pepper. Add shallots and cook until they are tender and translucent, 3-5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium.
3. Add shrimp to skillet and season with salt and pepper. Add wine, pastis (or Pernod, if using) and another 2 T of herb butter and cook, stirring until shrimp are just pink, 3-7 minutes. Stir in another tablespoon or two of herb butter and more salt to taste. Any extra herb butter may be frozen. Transfer mixture to a hot platter and scatter parsley, chives and tarragon on top. Drizzle with lemon juice and serve with baguette chunks or rice to soak up the sauce.
Per Serving: 289 Calories; 16g Fat (50.0% calories from fat); 28g Protein; 8g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 265mg Cholesterol; 1161mg Sodium; 1g Total Sugars; 1mcg Vitamin D; 129mg Calcium; 2mg Iron; 578mg Potassium; 541mg Phosphorus.

Posted in Cookies, on May 17th, 2024.

Oh so good, peanut butter cookies but with added chopped peanuts.

Some weeks ago my friend Linda T visited me at the desert, and she’s always so sweet to bring something along. These cookies, this time. We ate several of them over the weekend, and I stuck the remainder of them in the freezer. As I’m writing this, last weekend my daughter Sara and her husband John were at the desert house and she found those cookies in the freezer and told me today they just plain disappeared. All gone. I loved them, and so did they.

The recipe comes from America’s Test Kitchen, although Linda altered the recipe just slightly, by adding more chopped peanuts in the finished cookie dough. She thought they needed more. These were just right, IMHO. These aren’t like the traditional peanut butter cookies that are lighter colored and more sandy in texture. These are chewy and crunchy all at the same time, and certainly peanut-buttery.

Just so you know, the finished cookies are fragile – They were in perfect condition when Linda arrived, but as they sat on the counter for a day, and the bag got moved, a couple of them broke apart. So, when freezing them (which I did) lay the bag flat with no cookies bending.

What’s GOOD; these are certainly strong on peanut and peanut butter flavor. Very chewy and crunchy. Not the typical sandy-style peanut butter cookie you may be used to. A keeper.

What’s NOT: nothing that Linda said to me – she followed the recipe to a T except for the addition of more chopped peanuts.

printer-friendly PDF and MasterCook file (click link to open recipe)

* Exported from MasterCook *

Chewy Peanut and Peanut Butter Cookies

Recipe: Adapted from America’s Test Kitchen
Servings: 24

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour — (71/2 ounces/213 grams)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon table salt — be careful, peanut butter is often salty and cookies may not need additional salt
1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar — packed
1 cup creamy peanut butter — do not substitute crunchy peanut butter
2 large eggs
4 tablespoons unsalted butter — melted and cooled
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup dry roasted peanuts — unsalted, finely chopped

Note: To ensure that the cookies have the proper texture, use a traditional creamy peanut butter in this recipe; do not substitute crunchy or natural peanut butter. The recipe was developed with Skippy Creamy Peanut Butter. For the best results, be sure to weigh the flour, sugar, and peanut butter. You can substitute light brown sugar for dark, but your cookies will be lighter in color.
1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Line two 18 by 13-inch rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together in medium bowl.
2. In large bowl, whisk sugar, peanut butter, eggs, melted butter, honey, and vanilla until smooth. Add flour mixture and stir with rubber spatula until soft, homogeneous dough forms. Stir in peanuts until evenly distributed.
3. Working with 2 tablespoons dough at a time (or using #30 portion scoop), roll dough into balls and evenly space on prepared sheets (12 dough balls per sheet). Using your fingers, gently flatten dough balls until 2 inches in diameter.
4. Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until edges are just set and just beginning to brown, 10 to 12 minutes, rotating sheet after 6 minutes. Let cookies cool on sheet for 5 minutes. Using wide metal spatula, transfer cookies to wire rack and let cool completely before serving. Cookies are fragile even after cooled.
Per Serving: 148 Calories; 5g Fat (29.9% calories from fat); 4g Protein; 23g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 16mg Cholesterol; 149mg Sodium; 16g Total Sugars; trace Vitamin D; 21mg Calcium; 1mg Iron; 77mg Potassium; 17mg Phosphorus.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...