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. 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):
Music of Bees, Eileen Garvin. Absolutely charming book about a woman in midlife, lonely, who raises bees, also makes unlikely friends. Heart-warming and very interesting about beekeeping.
A Postcard from Paris, Alex Brown. Really cute story. Dual time line, 1940s and present day about renovating an old apartment in Paris, things discovered.
Time of the Child, Niall Williams. Oh such a good book. Very small village in Ireland, 1960s. A baby is left on the doorstep. The town all whispers and helps. I listened to an interview of the author, which made me like him and his books even more.
Sipsworth, Simon Van Booy. If you like animals you’ll swoon. An old woman who really wants to die finds a tiny mouse in her house and befriends it and finds a reason to live. Utterly charming book.
The Forger’s Spell, Edward Dolnick. True story. For seven years a no-account painter named Han van Meegeren managed to pass off his paintings as those of Johannes Vermeer.
If You Lived Here, You’d be Home by Now, Christopher Ingraham. Could hardly put it down – about a journalist who takes on a challenge to move to small town in Minnesota and write about it. He expects to hate it and the people and place, but he doesn’t. Absolutely wonderful true story.
The River We Remember, William Kent Kreuger. 1950s, Minnesota. A murder and the aftermath. Could hardly put it down. Kreuger has such a vivid imagination and writing style.
How the Lights Gets In, Joyce Maynard. An older woman returns to New Hampshire to help care for her brain-injured son. Siblings and family, lots of angst and resentments.
The Filling Station, Vanessa Miller. Every American should read this book. A novelized retelling of the Tulsa massacre in 1921. Absolutely riveting.
The Story She Left Behind, Patti Callahan Henry. Love this author. Based on a true story. A famous author simply vanishes, leaving her husband and daughter behind. She had invented a mystical language no one could translate. Present day, someone thinks he’s solved the riddle, contacts the family. Really interesting read.
The Girl from Berlin, Ronald Balson. Love anything about Tuscany. An elderly woman is being evicted from a villa there, with odd deed provenance. Two young folks go there to help unravel the mystery. Loved it.
The Island of the Colorblind, Oliver Sacks, M.D. Nonfiction. The dr is intrigued by a remote Pacific island where most of the inhabitants are colorblind. He also unravels a mystery on Guam of people born with a strange neurological problem. Medical mysteries unveiled. Very interesting.
The Bookbinder, Pip Williams. Post 1914 London. Two sisters work at a bookbindery. They’re told to not read the books. One does and one doesn’t. One has visions beyond her narrow world; the other does not. Eventually the one gets into Oxford. Lovely story.
The Paris Express, Emma Donoghue. 1895 on a train to Paris, a disaster happens. You’ll delve into the lives of many people who survived and died in the crash.
A Race to the Bottom of Crazy, Richard Grant. This is about Arizona. Author, wife and child move back to Arizona where they once lived. Part memoir, research, and reporting in a quest to understand what makes Arizona such a confounding and irresistible place.
The Scarlet Thread, Francine Rivers. A woman’s life turned upside down when she discovers the handcrafted quilt and journal of her ancestor Mary Kathryn McMurray, a young woman who was uprooted from her home only to endure harsh frontier conditions on the Oregon Trail.
A Place to Hide, Ronald Balson. 1939 Amsterdam, an ambassador has the ability to save the lives of many Jewish children. Heartwarming.
Homeseeking, Karissa Chen. Two young Chinese teens are deeply in love, but in China. Then their families are separated. Jump to current day and the two meet again in Los Angeles.
North River, Pete Hammill. He always writes such a good story. A doctor works diligently healing people from all walks of life. His wife and daughter left him years before. One day his 3-yr old grandson arrives on his doorstep.
A Very Typical Family, Sierra Godfrey. A very messed-up family. Three adult children are given a home in Santa Cruz, Calif, but only if the siblings meet up and live in the house together. A very untypical scenario but makes for lots of messes.
Three Days in June, Anne Tyler. The usual Anne Tyler grit. Family angst. This wasn’t one of my favorites, but it was entertaining and very short.
Saved, Benjamin Hall. Author is a veteran war reporter. Ukraine, 2022, he nearly loses his life to a Russian strike. Riveting story – he survives, barely.
Grey Wolf, Louise Penny. Another Inspector Gamache mystery in Quebec. She is such an incredible mystery writer.
All the Colors of the Dark, Chris Whitaker. A missing person mystery, a serial killer thriller, a love story, a unique twist on each. Could hardly put it down.
Orbital, Samantha Harvey. Winner of 2024 Booker Prize. I don’t usually like those, but I heard the author interviewed and she hooked me. This is not a normal book with a beginning, a story and an end. It’s several chapters of the day in the life of various astronauts at the ISS (Int’l Space Station). All fictional. She’s been praised by several real astronauts for “getting it” about space station everyday life.
The Blue Hour, Paula Hawkins. An island off Scotland. Inaccessible except when the tide is out. Weird goings on. An artist. A present day mystery too.
Iron Lake, William Kent Krueger. A judge is murdered and a boy is missing. Riveting mystery.
Tell the Wolves I’m Home, Carol Ricks Brunt. 1980s. A 14-yr old girl loses her beloved uncle. Yet a new friendship arises, someone she never knew about.
Four Treasures of the Sky, Jenny Zhang. 1880s, a young girl is kidnapped in China and brought to the United States. She survives with many hurdles in the path.
The Boy Who Fell out of the Sky, Ken Dornstein. Memoir, 1988. The author’s brother died in the PanAm flight that went down in Lockerbie, Scotland. A decade later he tries to solve “the riddle of his older brother’s life.”
Worse Care Scenario, T.J. Newman. Oh my. Interesting analysis of what could/might happen if a jet crashed into a nuclear plant. Un-put-downable.
Song of the Lark, Willa Cather. Complicated weave of a story about a young woman in about 1900, who has a gifted voice (singing) and about her journey to success, not without its ups and downs.
Crow Talk, Eileen Garvin. Charming story which takes place at a remote lake in Washington State, about a few people who inhabit it, the friendships made, but also revolving around the rescue of a baby crow.
The Story Collector, Evie Woods. Sweet story about some dark secrets from an area in Ireland, a bit magical, faerie life, but solving a mystery too.
A Sea of Unspoken Things, Adrienne Young. A woman investigates her twin brother’s mysterious death. She goes to a small town in California to figure it out, to figure HIM out.
The King’s Messenger, Susanna Kearsley. 1600s England, King James. About one of his trusted “messengers,” and his relationship with a young woman also of “the court.” Lots of intrigue.
In the Shadow of the Greenbrier, Emily Matchar. Interesting mystery in/around the area of the famous resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
Isola, Allegra Goodman. Hard to describe, survival story on an island in the 1600s.
Save the Date, Allison Raskin. Rom-com, witty, LOL funny. Clever.
The Sirens, Emilia Hart. Numerous time-lines, Australia. Mysteries abound, nightmares, abandoned baby, weird allergies.
Red Clay, Charles Fancher. LOVED this book. Mostly post-Civil War story about the lives of slaves in Alabama during Reconstruction.
Stars in an Italian Sky, Jill Santopolo. Dual time line, 1946 and recent time. Love stories and a mystery.
Battle Mountain, C.J. Box. Another one of Box’s riveting mysteries. Love his descriptions of the land.
Something Beautiful Happened, Yvette Corporon. A memoir of sorts in Greece, tiny island of Erikousa, where the locals hid Jews during WWII. All elusive stories told by the author’s grandmother.
The Jackal’s Mistress, Chris Bohjalian. 1860s Virginia, about a woman who saves the life of a Union soldier. Really good story.
Song of the Magpie, Louise Mayberry. Really interesting story about Australia back in the days when it was mostly a penal colony. Gritty strength of a woman trying to thrive with her farm.
The Boomerang, Robert Bailey. A thriller that will have you gripping the book. About a lot of secrets surrounding the president (fictional novel, remember) and his chief of staff and about cancer. A cure. Such a good story.
Care and Feeding, Laurie Woolever. Really interesting memoir of a woman driven to succeed in the restaurant business. She worked for Mario Batali and then Anthony Bourdain. Gritty stories.
Everything is Tuberculosis, John Green. Maybe not a book for everyone. A real deep dive into the deadly tuberculosis infection, its history. I heard the author interviewed and found the book very interesting.
The Book Lovers Library, Madeline Martin. Fascinating read about Boots’ drug stores’ lending library. And the people who worked in them.
The Arrivals, Meg Mitchell Moore. LOL funny, about a middle-aged couple whose children (and their various family members) return to the family home and the chaos that ensues.
My Life as a Silent Movie, Jesse Lee Kercheval. About grief. A big move to Paris, finding herself a new life with a new set of real blood family.
Escape, Carolyn Jessop. Another memoir about a woman really in bondage in Utah, Mormon plural marriage.
hddonna
said on April 18th, 2018:
Hmmm. Maybe I’ll make this to take to the dulcimer club picnic this Sunday!
It’s very different, Donna. I really liked it – a lot. Don’t cut up the mushrooms ahead of time, though. . . carolyn t
hddonna
said on April 23rd, 2018:
This went over very well at our dulcimer club picnic. We ended up with six salads, three of them spinach, all delicious, but this one stood out because it was so unusual. I liked it because it had a subtle sweetness from the dressing and the raisins, crunch from the seeds and nuts, savoriness and saltiness from the bacon, and a touch of the unexpected from the grilled artichokes, all of which complemented the earthy spinach and mushrooms. Bearing in mind your advice about the mushrooms, I held off prepping them as long as I could, but had to slice them a couple of hours ahead. They were just fine, though–I didn’t notice any discoloration. After I made it, it struck me that there are no alliums of any kind–that’s quite unusual in my experience. I wondered if I’d miss them, but this was perfectly satisfying without–good to have in my repertoire, as I have a new friend who can’t eat onions. I’m glad Tarla shared it and you passed it on, as without your commentary, I’m not sure this would have gotten more than a passing glance from me–I’d have thought it a bit odd with the combination of mushrooms and artichokes with raisins. When you endorse a recipe, I’ve found I can trust your judgment.
Awww, Donna! Thank you. I’m so happy it was a hit at your event. I think this would make a great side salad for a barbecue – carbs and greens all in one dish. . . carolynt
hddonna
said on April 23rd, 2018:
I would consider this very low carb. The only things I would have to count against my carb allowance would be the raisins and the dressing, because of the added sugar. I couldn’t begin to eat as much as a sixth of the recipe, so I doubt if the carb count would be very high. (My dietician told me I didn’t have to keep track of the low-carb vegetables, so I consider the spinach and mushrooms “free.”) Trouble is, I crave starchy foods so would still want a small potato or some bread with this.
I understand! I’ve just ordered a book, after listening to a doctor give a talk about it (his book). It’s kind of revolutionary ideas about dieting, all of it relating to the state of our intestinal tract, and the kinds of food we put into our bodies. Book is called Dr. Gundry’s Diet Evolution. I’m only 30 pages into it, but it’s really different stuff, backed up by studies all over the world. About limiting just about any white food (although that’s not the focus), and almost no grains at all. And no sugars, of course. He limits dairy (except yogurt), and limits meat also, but tells you to load up on veggies, but only some kinds of veggies. Haven’t gotten to the nitty-gritty yet. . . carolyn t
hddonna
said on April 24th, 2018:
You’ll have to let me know what you think when you’ve finished the book. Studies notwithstanding, I doubt if I have what it takes to follow so many stringent guidelines. Don’t you think Michael Pollan says it well; “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants”? (Not sure if that’s an exact quote, but close enough, I think.) Fortunately, though I love my carbs and it’s a constant struggle to resist them, I also love vegetables and don’t care for sweet beverages, so that’s a start. A deep interest in food–being a “foodie”, I suppose–makes it difficult, but loving to cook and enjoying new foods and lots of variety helps a lot. (My most recent cookbook is Ottolenghi’s “Sweet,” of all things! Am now trying to resist baking from it!)
I’ve also just started “The Tuscan Child,” which I see you’ve reviewed over to the left.
Yes, I liked Tuscan Child – kind of different, in some respects than some WWII history. As for the diet book, so far he’s recommending eating mostly raw food, but cooked is okay too (raw is his choice) and he makes either lunch or dinner a salad with lots of veggies. And he recommends tricking our genes by skipping a meal on a regular basis, but not the same meal and not the same day of the week. I don’t know if I’ll go that far. Salad dressings are fine as long as they’re made with EVOO (and he has a few other oils that are okay, but definitely not corn oil). He recommends nuts and seeds as snacks. Some fruit meet his “okay” but not all. My yogurt breakfast fits fine in the diet, but all foods with sugar, flour, grains are out. And he doesn’t okay dairy in coffee. I don’t think I can go there – he says soy half and half is fine, or almond milk. Not for me. He’s fine with almost all meat in small quantities, and as you progress on his 3-part plan, you reduce the amount of animal protein. And he recommends a pre-biotic, a product that he sells. He used to recommend some brand name pre-biotic, but they upped the price, so he decided to produce his own. It’s a long explanation about how/why we aren’t supplying our gut/intestinal tracts with the right kind of protection. Everything he says makes good sense. He doesn’t like most veggies in the nightshade family, although in the book bell peppers are okay and onions. Not eggplant, though. Have only read another 20+ pages of the book. Too many other things needed doing today. . . .carolyn t
hddonna
said on April 25th, 2018:
Sounds much too drastic for me!
Yes, I understand the sentiment. I’m trying it out. I never seem to stick to diets for very long; which is my problem! And this diet isn’t the greatest for a food blog writer!! And I’m certainly not changing my blog emphasis to eating more vegetarian, or raw food! So I’ll just see how it goes. If it works, then I’ll have some motivation to stick with it. . . carolyn t
Toffeeapple
said on April 25th, 2018:
Like you, I dislike raw Spinach and, in particular, the baby stuff. Real Spinach is a big, gutsy leaf with a good flavour and I enjoy eating that.
I am not so sure of the wisdom of using powdered sugar and imagine that honey would be a good and wholesome alternative, I would like that on real Spinach I think.
Well, it probably would not matter, either way about the sugar/honey. It certainly wouldn’t use much honey, since it’s more concentrated. . . carolyn t