Books for March

Book group discussed The Cat's Table last week.  This was my recommendation.  
In the early 1950s, an eleven-year-old boy boards a huge liner bound for England – a ‘castle that was to cross the sea’. At mealtimes, he is placed at the lowly ‘Cat's Table’ with an eccentric group of grown-ups and two other boys, Cassius and Ramadhin. As the ship makes its way across the Indian Ocean, through the Suez Canal, into the Mediterranean, the boys become involved in the worlds and stories of the adults around them, tumbling from one adventure and delicious discovery to another, ‘bursting all over the place like freed mercury’. And at night, the boys spy on a shackled prisoner – his crime and fate a galvanizing mystery that will haunt them forever.
Really enjoyed the book.  It was a nice light read for the month of February.   The food was good.  Lot's of salads, curry rice and veggies, dessert. 
For April we are reading Moloka'i.  Looking forward to it!

 

Cutting for Stone

I finished Cutting for Stone last week.  Really great book and worth the investment.  It does take a bit to get into it and it is not a quick read. 
" Marion and Shiva Stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful Indian nun and a brash British surgeon at a mission hospital in Addis Ababa. Orphaned by their mother’s death in childbirth and their father’s disappearance, bound together by a preternatural connection and a shared fascination with medicine, the twins come of age as Ethiopia hovers on the brink of revolution. Yet it will be love, not politics—their passion for the same woman—that will tear them apart and force Marion, fresh out of medical school, to flee his homeland. He makes his way to America, finding refuge in his work as an intern at an underfunded, overcrowded New York City hospital. When the past catches up to him—nearly destroying him—Marion must entrust his life to the two men he thought he trusted least in the world: the surgeon father who abandoned him and the brother who betrayed him."

Our book group had a great discussion with this book.  Lot's of conversation on the relationship of the boys with their father, step father, their mother and the woman who betrays them.  Also, good questions about the medical issues in the book.  Probably the most conversation we've had on a book.
Next up...  The Cat's table.

French Macarons- the first attempt

Last week I attempted the French Macaron.
http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/almond-macarons.aspx



Egg whites

 

Lemon curd



I used the recipe on Fine Cooking partly because there is a video with it and it was pretty easy to follow.
I have always been intimidated by the Macaron.  I had heard it was difficult and that it takes ton's of practice.  I think for a first attempt they came out pretty good.

Couple of things- almond flour is expensive!  13.99 for a lb.  Also, I could not get the darn things flat!  Mine kept puffing up.  They look like little hamburgers.  But the taste was pretty darn good.  I did a lemon curd in the middle of half and a Chocolate Ganache in the other half.  I took them to work and everyone gobbled them up.  I would give them a B- for a first attempt.  It definitely got me inspired to try again.  This time with some color and flavor. 
I found this blog that has some helpful hints on making Macarons   http://www.eatlivetravelwrite.com/2011/04/how-to-make-macarons-whats-working-for-me-right-now/

I'm going to try her suggestions on piping them and see if that works.  Based on her writing, it appears it takes most people a few trys. 



Could not get them flat!



The finished product.  A little hamburger with Chocolate Ganache

Beautiful Ruins

Finished reading Beautiful Ruins last week.  Really enjoyed it! The story takes us to Italy, LA, Edinburgh and eventually Seattle.  It includes some Hollywood royalty, Liz Taylor and Richard Burton, some humor, love and sadness.  It was a quick read and I would highly recommend it.   Plus it made me want to travel to Italy!    Richard Burton is a fascinating character.  When I look at his photo's I don't think he was particularly attractive but he had charisma.  On the screen he was powerful.  This book felt like a movie to me.  It was very visual and I kept picturing all of the characters.  I'm curious if they have optioned it be make a movie which would be fun because it is about making movies.
I'm almost finished with Cutting for Stone.  Much tougher read but really enjoyable. 

2013

WOW!  how did 3 months go by.  I have been terrible at updating the blog and am going to shoot to get on a regular schedule again.
I finished my run after Thanksgiving.  It went really well.  Didn't break any records but I finished.  Now I've signed up to do another half marathon with some friends from work.  It's not till June so I'm taking a bit of a break.  But not too long.  I need to start training again by end of February.
Couple of New Years resolutions ;

• Go back to Yoga!
• Try a new recipe every week
• pay down the credit cards
• update the blogs - burger and this one- regularly.

That's not too bad.  All completely within reach.
I should probably add- don't eat so many pastries.  I have a new project at work with La Boulange.  I'm eating a ton of pastries.  At this rate I will need to increase the yoga and exercise or buy new pants.  Have to start limiting the goodies when I'm in the market. 
Love the project.  It is all the things I enjoy- food, Paris, craziness!  It's going to be a great year.

Finished the half marathon!

Pastries!

STOP!