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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.

 

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.

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Posted in Veggies/sides, on August 13th, 2012.

feisty_green_beans

Extraordinary green beans might be a more apt name. Oh my gosh were these delicious! You know when you’re reading my blog and I write “make this,” I really mean it? Yup! Make this!

I made a big pot of these beans for our big family birthday celebration recently. And I’ll tell you, discounting one particular young man in the crowd who doesn’t like vegetables, everybody ate these, including the young children. Everybody loved them. Many went back for seconds, and the last one who did was very dismayed to find one tiny bean left. She was most disappointed. Normally 2 pounds of green beans would be sufficient for 12 people. Nope. If I’d had 3 pounds, I think they’d all have been eaten!

Okay, so what makes them different? Well, first it’s the numerous spices – paprika, cumin, coriander, curry powder (but you’d never, ever know there is curry powder in it – curry just adds something to the mixture of complex seasonings), bay leaves, garlic. Maybe it’s the white wine? Maybe it’s the crème fraiche in it (2/3 cup in the 12 servings)? The almonds add lovely crunch (I didn’t take the time to toast them as I should have). Oh, and maybe it’s the golden raisins in there too. I read about this recipe over at Heidi Swanson’s blog, 101 Cookbooks. But she said the recipe came from Anna Getty’s Easy Green Organic.

First off, though, I must say that I altered the recipe slightly. Firstly, intentionally, I cooked the green beans for more than one minute – instead of really crunchy they were still just slightly crunchy. I didn’t add the tofu called for, as I was making this as a side dish. I also reduced the amount of paprika (instead of hot, I used the half sharp and used half the quantity even, of that), and put in just an itty-bitty pinch of red pepper flakes. With young children in our group, I was sure they wouldn’t like a lot of heat. And even so, making a double batch of these, with 1/2 tsp of half-sharp paprika and the tiny pinch of chile flakes, it was plenty warm. I liked the warmth – it was just right in my book. I also used less golden raisins and perhaps a little less of the crème fraiche too, but not by much. So, the recipe below has my modifications. If you want the original, go to Heidi’s blog above. In any case, PLEASE make this. Your taste buds will be richly rewarded.

What I liked: the subtle seasonings – you might think they’d be overpowering, but they were not in the least. You’re aware of seasonings, but that’s all. It has lots of complex flavors. I see why Heidi ate them as an entrée (with tofu). Loved the texture contrasts too (nuts and raisins). Overall, an outstanding dish.

What I didn’t like: nothing at all! Worth making. Just have everything out and ready (I didn’t, so there was a bit of scrambling for things at the last minute). My daughter-in-law Karen was helping with the stirring at the last and I did the running for golden raisins and almonds and crème fraiche. Please make this, though. Okay?

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Feisty Green Beans

Recipe By: 101 cookbooks, but she got it from Anna Getty’s Easy Green Organic.
Serving Size: 6
NOTES: She suggests using a white wine that you’d want to drink after opening. I used vermouth because that’s all I had available. And for those of you looking to speed things up, you don’t need to slice the green beans, but it was a good call, the sauce gets into all the nooks and crevices. Off the charts fantastic green beans. Reduce hot paprika and/or crushed red pepper flakes if you don’t like the heat.

1 pound green beans — thinly sliced (see photo)
1/4 cup golden raisins
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 whole garlic cloves — thinly sliced
1/2 medium yellow onion — finely diced
3 whole bay leaves — or use 1/4 tsp ground bay leaves
1/3 cup white wine — (I used vermouth)
1/4 teaspoon hot paprika — (I used half-sharp paprika – a medium in spiciness – and this is half what the original recipe called for)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes — (use a very small amount)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup crème fraîche — or sour cream
1/4 cup sliced almonds — toasted
1/3 cup cilantro — finely chopped
salt and pepper to taste (it may not need any)

1. Cook the green beans in a pot of well-salted boiling water for about 2-3 minutes, until they’re just barely cooked. Drain and dunk in ice-cold water to stop the cooking. Drain again and set aside.
2. In a small bowl cover the raisins with scalding hot water for five minutes, drain and set aside.
3. Heat your largest skillet over medium heat. When the pan is hot, add the oil, onion, and bay leaves. Cook for 5 minutes, or until the onions are cooked; add the garlic during the last minute. When the mixture starts to brown just a bit, add the wine and cook until it has mostly evaporated. Carefully remove the bay leaves. Stir in the paprika, cumin, coriander, curry powder, salt, crushed red pepper flakes. Stir in the raisins and cook until heated through, a minute or so. Add the butter and green beans and stir until the butter has melted. Remove from heat and stir in the crème fraiche, then most of the almonds and most of the cilantro. Taste and add more salt and some pepper if you like. Serve topped with any remaining almonds and cilantro.
Per Serving: 179 Calories; 12g Fat (61.1% calories from fat); 4g Protein; 14g Carbohydrate; 3g Dietary Fiber; 19mg Cholesterol; 193mg Sodium.

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