Sunday morning

Starting a new book today- A Gentleman in Moscow.  Perfect Sunday for pumpkin bread, a French press of Tribute Blend and a good read!

where has the summer gone!

How can it possibly be the end of August?

I've had a pretty good reading summer .  I kicked it off with my trip to Hawaii at the beginning of June.  I  read 3 books on the beach and started a 4th.

House at the Edge of Night- great family sage set in Italy.  I really liked it but it was divided into 4 parts each told of a different generation of the family.  I liked some of the stories better than others.  But overall I'd give it a strong 4 stars out of 5.  Maybe even 4.5.  Interesting stories, great characters, lovely setting but just a bit long.

Dear Mr. Knightly - this is definitely a retelling of Daddy Long legs.  I really liked it because it was hopelessly romantic.  Not very realistic but fun and a fast read.  perfect for the beach.  4 stars as a beach read.  probably 3 stars if you are looking for a solid read.

Lizzy and Jane-  I love almost anything remotely related to Pride and Prejudice.  So of course this fits the bill.  It is the story of 2 sisters who have been separated physically and emotionally.  Elizabeth goes to Seattle to take care of Jane while she goes through chemotherapy and they heal their relationship and themselves.   I really enjoyed the relationship, the little touch of romance and the Seattle setting.  4 stars.

The last 2 were both written by Kathrine Reay.  I have now got to read the Bronte Plot and A Portrait of Emily Price.  They are on my list for this year!  plus she has a new one coming out in November called The Austen Escape.  Also on my list.

I enjoyed these 2 so much that i re watched the PBS Pride & Prejudice series.  All 6 hours.  Love me some Mr. Darcy!

Also in Hawaii, i started the Netflix series call Anne with an E.  It is a retelling on Anne of Green Gables.  SO GOOD!  i watched the first 4 eposides on the flights to and from Hawaii.  I watched the remaining 3 at home.  Can't wait for season 2.  Those books were never my favorite but i did love the disney series that ran in the 90's.   They did an exceptional job of updating it and yet sticking to the heart of the novels.  

Also, started watching the Handmaids Tale on Hulu.  Watched the first 3 with Francesca.  it kind of freaked me out!!  To close to where we are headed as a country.  I still need to watch the remaining 7 eposides.  Yikes.  Maybe i should re-read the book too.

Okay.  that is the start of summer update.  Not much cooking happening but I do have a few things to post next time related to books AND food.
Below are the photos of my scenery while reading!  #luckygirl

Book of Speculation and Crab Cakes

Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler

This is a debut novel by the author and I think she did a great job!
The story goes back and forth between the current day in Long Island Sound and a traveling circus in the 1700's.  Simon, in the current day, is about to lose his house, literally.  It is falling into the ocean and he can't afford to repair it.  He is dealing with some dramatic family history where the women in the family seem to all drown themselves.  He receives a book in the mail which turns out to be a circus log.  From there we are introduced to the circus and his ancestors.  The women can hold their breath for long periods of time and do a mermaid act.
The stories each have drama and take you along for the ride.  I actually liked both stories which is unusual because typically I love one or the other.  Simon's sister comes into the scene and he is worried that she will follow in her mothers footsteps of drowning.  But Simon can also hold his breath for up to 10 minutes.   Without giving too much away, I'd say that I enjoyed the circus scenes and also kept wondering what was going to happen to Simon.  In the book, horseshoe crabs play a major role.  They are absolutely weird fascinating animals.  They also kind of freak me out.   We use to find the empty shells on the beach when i was a kid.  I read that they date back  450 million years ago.  They are considered to be living fossils.


The author has a food blog :)
ieatbutter.tumblr.com.


I finished the book and decided to make crab cakes.  I love crab cakes and kind of just made up a recipe.
I went to Trader Joe's and found a can of Lump Crab meat.
I drained the crab
added an egg
2 Tbsp Mayo
3 green onions chopped up
1/2 cup of Italian seasoned bread crumbs
 Parsley flakes
Garlic salt

I fried them in a skillet with just a little bit of vegetable oil.

I took some Mayonnaise and added lemon juice (1 full lemon)
and a tiny shake of Cayenne pepper.

They taste delicious!  I added a spinach salad with some orange peppers and mushrooms and feta cheese.  YUM!

2017! A new beginning

Wow!  I started this blog a few years ago and then ditched it.  At the time it didn't seem so important because i had only some family members following me and i figured i could just talk to them by phone.
But, it is 2017 and I'm feeling the urge to tell some stories and share some love.  I figure even if i just post once a month, it will be a chance to talk about the books I've been reading and the food I've made.

I've set a goal of 2 books a month.  PLUS i am in 2 book clubs which means I'm reading a couple of books just to keep in the club.   Let's see if i can stick with it.  If you decide to follow- Thank you and welcome.  You'll keep me inspired.
Here we go.....

The Postmistress

I finished up the Postmistress last weekend but didn't get around to my food until this weekend.  I had heard an interview with the author of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society author - Annie Barrows, and she had recommended it.   Right away I put it  on my "To read " list.

I have mixed feelings on it.  It is the story of 3 women during WW2.  Emma- newly married to a doctor in a Cape Cod town.  Iris- The Postmistress and Frankie- a war correspondent.  I liked hearing their stories but wanted more.  I felt like the majority of the story was with Frankie who was witnessing the earlier parts of the war in London and in France.  But I wanted more about Iris and Emma.  The story is set up as a Postmistress who makes a decision to not deliver the mail. that is a bit of a stretch.  She holds one letter.  Overall I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5.  With the potential of being a 4.5 if the other stores had been built out more.   
I made Scones because so much of Frankie's time is in London.  just like the book, I'd give them a 3.5 out of 5.  I tried a new recipe and changed it up a bit.  They are cheddar/parmesan buttermilk scones.  They turned out ok but need a little more umph!  not enough cheese or something.  A fine scone but I think next time I'll add a hint of chili powder or something.   
3 cups of flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 tbls of cold unsalted butter
1 cup of shredded cheddar
1/2 cup of shredded parmesan
1/4 cup chives
1.5 cups of buttermilk.

add the flour, baking powder and butter to a food processor or use your hands to mix until cornmeal texture.  add cheese, chives  and buttermilk. 
Roll out and cut into 8 triangles.
brush with egg.  Bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes.

the finished product

in the oven

Like I said, a perfectly good scone but next time I'm taking the cheese up a level to something more exiting like Gouda or adding some chili powder for a pow! 

I also did canning for the first time!  A friend gave me a big bag of plums from her tree.  I cut them up and cooked them with some cherries and sugar.  It only made 4 jars!  it was so many plums so I thought I'd get about 10 jars but that didn't happen.  I guess it won't be the Christmas gifts for everyone at work like I was planning but it will be good for the family!

Late Summer

Hard  to believe the summer is almost over.  I know that Labor day is considered the end of the season but we still have a few weeks of warm weather so I don't want to let it go yet.  I do love summer.  Vacation time is when I typically get my reading done. This year,  my family vacation didn't allow a lot of reading time.  I had to suffice with the long airplane ride there and back.  I did have a few days in Hawaii that count.
So here is what I read this summer ;
Mr Penumbra's 24 hour Bookstore-  this was a book group book so I will let you check out the notes on our blog.  Really enjoyed this one.  Fun, fast and kept me guessing. (check out our book group blog with the link below.- Beehive book group)
Behind the Beautiful Forever's- Also a book group book.  Really interesting.  this is about the community in Mumbai India that lives near the airport in the slums.  Hard to believe folks can survive this way but they do.  Some folks found it inspiring .  I found it a bit depressing.  But really well written and one of those I would not have read had it not been for book group.
Off the Menu and Hotshot- Both light weight reads that are perfect for vacation.  Off the menu about a chef and her dog and a new love in her life.  Hotshot a suspenseful romance with a beautiful girl and a hotshot detective.  all fluff but fun fluff.

The last one is the one I cooked for.  Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen.  I just adore Anna Quindlen.  I've followed her career and have read everything she has written.  Her books are smart and well written.  This one really spoke to me.  It is the story of a woman in the middle of her life who isn't sure what is next.  She was a well known photographer earlier in her life but now isn't sure what to do.  She is short on cash and has rented out her NY apartment and moved to the middle of nowhere to figure it all out.  It is the story of finding love late in life and sometimes heading in a different direction then you thought you would go.  I really enjoyed it.  I appreciated that the entire book wasn't a love story and that love didn't happen overnight.  I thought the main character was flawed which made her interesting.   One of the reviews I read called Anna's work comfort food.  in this case I agree (not all of hers are comfortable , some  take you by surprise).  This one felt good.  Maybe I related because I'm of that age or maybe it was nice to read something that showed there is more after middle age. 

In the book there is mention of lasagna.  I love lasagna.  Also one of those things in life that makes you feel good.  true comfort food.  I choose lasagna for those reasons. 
What I like about making lasagna is that you can do whatever you want.  The only rules are noodles and cheese.  For this one I made the typical lasagna but added some zucchini.  Nothing fancy here but I believe the more cheese the better.
Noodles
Sauce (I admit I used a jar- Prego- I use to make my own but found it better to take a jar and doctor it up with some spices and such.  In this case I added some oregano and garlic)
mushrooms
zucchini
lots of cheese- I used a mix of parmesan, mozzarella and provolone
lots of ricotta cheese- the more the better.  just coat that thing with Ricotta!   
I didn't cook the veggies because I kind of like the zucchini still being firm.  Since I didn't add meat in this one, the zucchini gave it some texture.
Assemble and bake.  Nothing easier.  I always teach my nieces and nephews how to make lasagna because even a kid can do it and it gives them a dish to make.
Bake until bubbly 
Eat it while reading a good book and feel warm inside!


the finished product

Summer is here!

Summer has officially begun in Seattle! We don't start to heat up until July so for us to have a few days in the 80 prior to the 4th of July, it's a big deal! I always read a couple of light weight chick lit books during the summer. It's just fun and perfect for the beach. While I was in Hawaii recently I read 2 books on the beach. Life is a Beach is by Claire Cook, the author of Must Love Dogs and Goodnight June by Sarah Jio. Both were fun and the right choice for the sitting in the sun. Life is a Beach is about 2 sisters trying to figure out their life. The main character is living over her parents garage and can't figure out her relationship with her artist boyfriend. Her sister is married and overworked with kids and isn't very happy. Yadda, Yadda, Yadda. By the end the relationship is figured out and the sisters are headed in the right direction. Not sure there is a lot of beach in the book except that they live near the beach and the one sister makes jewelry from beach glass.

 Goodnight June is set in Seattle. I've read 3 of the authors other books and really enjoy that they are all set here in places I know. This one is about a woman who inherits a children's bookstore in Green lake and must decide between saving it and her childhood memories or going back to her high powered job in NYC. Of course there is some baggage with the store and her childhood and a handsome restaurant owner next door. I really enjoy her books because they mix mystery, romance and local color well. What I dislike is that the characters fall madly in love within a week. Really. How often do men say they are willing to sacrifice their entire life to help the woman they just met? Just wish the romance didn't happen so fast. But, really fun read and loved the tie into books especially a classic like Goodnight Moon. I'd recommend both for some light reading.
The 4th of July was Friday and I made Cherry Pie and French Vanilla Ice Cream. Delicious. Went to a friends house where we had ribs, corn on the cob, potato salad and ice cold beer. afterwards we watched fire works on the roof top. overall a fun evening. The cherry pie was pretty easy. I have to admit that i didn't make my own crust. I don't have my big food processor (it's in storage) and it is hard to make without a food processor. So, I used Pillsbury dough that I rolled out. But the filling was all mine!
Here is the recipe;

• 3 cans of tart cherries in water (not the pie filling! i use Oregon Fruit products Red tart Cherries. find them with the canned fruit section)
•   4 Tbls cornstarch
•   1 1/4 cup sugar
•   1/8 salt
• 1/4 vanilla extract

  Drain one can of cherries. use the juice from the other 2 cans. Mix fruit, cornstarch, sugar, salt, vanilla in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat for about 10 minutes or until thickened. Stir regularly. Let cool. Preheat oven to 425. pour filling into prepared pie crust. trim the edges of the pie crust. cut strips into a 2nd piece of pie crust to create a lattice top. drip the stips over the top and press around the sides with a fork or crimp with your fingers. Brush top with a egg white and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake for 20 minutes and then lower temperature to 350 and cover the edges with foil or a pie crust shield (I bought one at Sur La table) and bake for another 30 minutes or until brown and bubbly. Serve and enjoy!

lattice pie top



cheery pie filling

 

finished Cherry Pie



 

Pie!

Songs of Willow Frost

Our book group choose Songs of Willow Frost for the May/June book. This is the 2nd book from Jamie Ford. I was excited to read it because it is set in Seattle and I always love reading books with a little local flair. I found the story to be so sad. A Chinese -American orphan in the 1940's is looking for his mother. The story goes back and forth between his search and her early struggles that caused her to give him up. Really well written and interesting. But not a book to read if you are already a little depressed. I gave it 4 stars out of 5 mainly because it is a story that moves quickly, keeps you interested and leaves an impact on you. I often think how difficult life must be for immigrants even today as they try to fit into our culture. But back then it was much much worse. A few years back I read a book called Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok. That was one of the best books I've read about the struggles of fitting into a new country. The hardship for that young girl and for that family stuck with me for a long time. They live in extreme poverty in the US and work in a factory. It is modern day which is jarring as I sometimes forget that things haven't changed as much as we want to believe. I haven't really cooked much in the way of Chinese food. I joke with a friend at work that until I went to college I thought all Chinese food was Chow Mien in a can. I decided to create a Chinese Chicken Salad. I don't really think that is at all Chinese! I looked up the history of Chinese Chicken salad and it said it was a Western Dish inspired with Asian ingredients hence the name. I think the only thing Chinese about my version is the fried won-tons! But here it is; 1 bag of Cole slaw mix a few leaves of green lettuce Red pepper Green onions Sugar Snap peas Cucumber Peanuts wontons Chickens I bought a roasted chicken and picked it off the bone so I didn't have to do the entire thing from scratch. For the fried wontons, I bought a pack in the grocery store and fried then in a little bit of canola oil. Just enough to get them dark. I made a dressing with a little bit lemon juice, white vinegar, Asian sesame oil, sugar and salt. Pretty simple recipe and I made enough for me to have for lunch most of the week. Of course after 3 days, I was done with it. Super simple and super good. But not really super Chinese!

the finished product