Wednesday, February 24, 2016

One of my Faves

There are just some dishes that are almost perfect, and it doesn't matter if it doesn't come out exactly the same every time you make it.  Tonight's supper was one of these - Thai Curry.  The first time I made it, 8 or 9 years ago, I slavishly followed a recipe. But it's become an internalized recipe -- like meat loaf, or pot roast, or arroz con pollo--- so I just go with what's in my pantry.  Of course, there are some ingredients I have to have:  coconut milk, basil, curry paste, etc.  But I can use whatever veggies I have on hand, and I can use shrimp or chicken.  Tonight's  dish was a basic Thai Curry with Shrimp.





Ingredients Used:

1 tbs canola oil
1 tbs red curry paste (can use green curry paste)
1 onion, sliced vertically
2 small cloves garlic crushed
1 tbs fish sauce
1 tbs grated fresh ginger (can substitute dried, or even ginger juice)
1 red bell pepper sliced thinly
1 small summer squash sliced
2 cans unsweetened low fat coconut milk
1 thinly sliced Thai chili
5-6 thinly sliced kaffir lime leaves (I buy them on line -- they keep forever in the freezer)
fresh (frozen) basil, roughly chopped - about 1/4 cup
2-3 tbs lime juice  (if I don't have fresh lime, I used the juice in the plastic lime)
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup frozen cut green beans
1/2 lb thawed frozen shrimp (I buy 2 lb bags of shrimp that's already peeled and cooked)
Fresh cilantro - 1/4-1/2 cup chopped

Heat oil in a large skillet.  Add sliced onion and curry paste.   Cook for about 3 minutes, until onions start to soften.  Add garlic, fish sauce, and ginger.  Cook for about a minute.  Add fresh veggies, coconut milk, chili,  lime leaves, basil, and lime juice.  Cook for about 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings.  You may need to add more lime juice or chili paste.  Cook until veggies have softened a bit, and then add peas, beans, and shrimp.  When it's heated, add cilantro, reserving some for the top of individual servings.

Serve over rice (I like sticky rice, but you can use any kind you like!).


If anyone had told me when I was first starting out as the meal provider for my family, that Thai curry would become a staple, I would have thought they were nuts.  I hadn't even had Thai food.  Now Thai cuisine is one of my favorites. In fact, if I had to choose one cuisine to eat, it would be southeast Asian.  It certainly helps that the ingredients necessary can mostly be found in my rural grocery store nowadays.  Though I'd really like access to fresh lemongrass.  I sometimes put lemongrass paste in my curry, but I didn't have any tonight!


Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Review: The Tapestry In The Attic

The Tapestry In The Attic The Tapestry In The Attic by Mary O'Donnell
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I picked this up at the library last week, knowing that it was part of a series. However, there was no indication that it was #18 in the series! I found out later only by checking it out at Amazon. Anyway. This is a simple story: The members of local needlework club agree to participate in staging a play at the newly opened town cultural center. Annie, who lives in an old house she inherited from her grandmother, finds a gorgeous tapestry in her attic which she agrees can be part of the stage set for the play. The tapestry is stolen, and a mysterious accident injures one of the participants in the play. Since this is a "cozy" mystery, all's well that ends well.

The plot was overly simple, and it was pretty clear from the start, who the bad guy was. I also found the frequent Christian messages distracting. Some authors (Jan Karon, for example) do it well because it's woven seamlessly into the story. In this book, I felt that the narrative was interrupted by the "Christian message" break, just like a commercial break on TV. I doubt I'll be reading others in the series.

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Monday, February 22, 2016

Review: Summer Island

Summer Island Summer Island by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Update: I re-read this book and had absolutely no recollection of every having read it before! That hasn't ever happened before. Usually something in the first few chapters nags at me, and then I go check my Goodreads account to see if it's because I've read it before. Not even a twinge this time. My previous review stands - no new insights.

I like relationship books, especially when the plots revolve around mending broken ones. Norah Bridges is a radio/newsprint relationship advisor who's estranged from her younger daughter Ruby, and has a fragile relationship with her older daughter. When a career-destroying crisis occurs, Norah and Ruby are forced to confront each other and themselves. As in most Kristin Hannah books I've read, there's a happy ending. I think the appeal of her books is that the characters she develops seem to be real people, and their situations are realistic.

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Saturday, February 20, 2016

Review: The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop & Cafe

The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop & Cafe The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop & Cafe by Mary Simses
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm not sure why this is compared to The Guernsey
Literary and Potato Peel Pie because there is nothing at all similar. This is an enjoyable, predictable cozy romance, perfect for a lazy afternoon. When her grandmother dies, Ellen goes to a small coastal Maine town to deliver a letter from her grandmother to her former boyfriend. Ellen is engaged to be married to a high powered lawyer, but events in the small village interrupt those plans. After I finished reading the book I had a hankering for clam chowder and blueberry muffins, so that's proof the writer was successful in describing the meals the heroine enjoyed!

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Friday, February 19, 2016

Review: Off Season

Off Season Off Season by Anne Rivers Siddons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's been quite a while since I've read Anne Rivers Siddons. I haven't read a book of hers that I haven't liked, and this was no exception. And like the others I've read, I couldn't put it down today, and didn't get any work done! Lilly's beloved husband of almost 40 years, Cam, has died suddenly. Despite the objections of her children, Lilly decides to spend the summer alone at Edgewater, the family cottage on the coast of Maine. Lilly's almost idyllic summer childhood was spent at Edgewater, until a tragedy changed her family's life. She didn't return until she met Cam, and then their family spent their summers there. While at Edgewater, Lily relives her past and as she reflects on her life, she comes to terms with her grief, and makes some startling discoveries. Lily often calls Edgewater's setting luminous and numinous, and that's how I would describe Siddons' writing in this novel. The ending was fitting, with a bit of twist I hadn't expected. A very satisfying book!

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Review: Dead In The Water

Dead In The Water Dead In The Water by Ann Granger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The only reason it took so long to read this book is that when I started it, I realized that it was book 4 in the series and I hadn't read #2 and #3 yet. So I took it back to the library. Then I had to wait until it was available again.

Courtney Higson's body is found in a flooding river. Once it's determined that she was murdered, Jess Campbell and Ian Carter investigate. The pool of suspects is a local writing club, but none of the evidence supports that. Meanwhile Carter is dealing with his ex-wife and his inability to see as much of his daughter Millie as he'd like.

I enjoyed this cozy-ish mystery, although I felt that the ending was rather rushed.

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Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Review: Speaking in Bones

Speaking in Bones Speaking in Bones by Kathy Reichs
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I think the series has run out of steam. I had a hard time staying interested in this installment, mostly because I am tired of Temperance Brennan's indecision about Ryan, and her continuing penchant for running off into danger on her own. In this book, a young woman named Cora Teague appears to have gone missing, although no one has officially reported her as such. A websleuth has approached Brennan about the cold case, and convinces her to nose around. When Brennan takes another look at some unidentified bones, and then some additional bones are found, the investigation intensifies. As usual Brennan's life is threatened, but eventually the case is solved in an unexpected fashion.

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Sunday, February 14, 2016

Review: A Spool of Blue Thread

A Spool of Blue Thread A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I don't think I've ever read Ann Tyler before, and I don't know why. I thoroughly enjoyed this story about the Whitshank family. Red and Abby Whitshank have raised their family in a home built by Red's father for a wealthy client. When the home gets too big for the original family, his father, Junior Whiteshank, purchases the home which becomes a focal point for the story. The Whitshanks consider themselves a loving, perfect family, and from the outside that's what they look like. In reality, it's not perfect, and there is a great deal of anger and jealously carefully compartmentalized. From Junior's feeling of entrapment to his grandson's nonconformity with family expectations, each member of the family struggles to balance reality with their family myths. The plot isn't linear, and time jump reveals new insight into why the characters behave as they do. I don't usually like nonlinear narratives, but this time it really works. The book is sad and funny at the same time, and captures the reality of family relationships quite well.

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Thursday, February 11, 2016

Review: All the Stars in the Heavens

All the Stars in the Heavens All the Stars in the Heavens by Adriana Trigiani
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The book had an interesting premise - a historical fiction depicting the love affair between Loretta Young and Clark Gable. But that's about all it had. The story was never given any depth. It read as a summary of events, and it was unclear who the focus character was meant to be. The book began with Alda, a young postulant in a San Francisco convent, who is released back into the world to become Gretchen "Loretta" Young's assistant. Had the author continued the story with Alda as the core character, I think it would have been a vastly more engaging story. Instead, the narration bounced around, and it was very hard to stay engaged with the recitation of facts presented by the author.

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Review: Thin Air

Thin Air Thin Air by Ann Cleeves
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ann Cleeves has convinced me that I need to go visit the Shetland Islands. Her depiction of the environment and lifestyle make this area come alive. As far as the plot of this installment in her series, it was as interesting as usual. A English visitor to the area disappears, and her body is later discovered posed on a beach under a cliff. As Jimmy Perez and his team investigate, they discover that local folklore is involved with the murder. Jimmy is finally beginning to emerge from his grief over Fran's murder, and members of team worry that some of the case details may cast him back into the depths. I also really like how Cleeves has developed the characters, adding realistic depth and growth.

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Review: A Siege of Bitterns: A Birder Murder Mystery

A Siege of Bitterns: A Birder Murder Mystery A Siege of Bitterns: A Birder Murder Mystery by Steve Burrows
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Dominic Jejeune is the new DCI at the Saltmarsh constabulary. He comes with an unwanted reputation as a boy wonder, which makes his new colleagues very suspicious of him. He's immediately confronted with the suspicious death of a nationally known environmentalist who lives in the area which is renowned internationally as prime birding territory. Jejeune is a birdwatcher, and he believes that the victim's murder is tied to birding life list. Apparently the victim has spotted the first sighting ever of an American bittern in the Norfolk saltmarshes. His investigation leads to more death, and involves him in local politics, much to his dismay.

I enjoyed this first book in the series, and look forward to reading more. I especially liked the birding information.

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Review: The Handsome Man's Deluxe Café

The Handsome Man's Deluxe Café The Handsome Man's Deluxe Café by Alexander McCall Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wish Mma Ramotswe was a real person! I'd love to have a cup of red bush tea with her. Once again her wisdom and generous heart are shared with those she meets, resulting in good outcomes for all.

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Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Review: The Maestro Wore Mohair

The Maestro Wore Mohair The Maestro Wore Mohair by Mark Schweizer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A perfect afternoon on the beach read! I even attracted some attention with my hearty guffaws in a couple of places. Just imagine, a new St Barnabas ministry, Sarah's Snuggery led by the intrepid Kimberly Walnut who has now earned her doctorate in Christian formation. Then add in Helen Pigeon's valuable Fainting Goats, a candidate for rector of the church who not only plays the trumpet badly, but wears latex gloves while serving Communion, a newly discovered 30 year old skeleton, and a few other goodies, and you're all set for an enjoyable read.

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Friday, January 29, 2016

Review: The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine

The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine by Alexander McCall Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I just can't figure out why I enjoy visiting with Mma Ramotswe as much as I do. The plots are very simple, there is no violence, no "action" to speak of, just a calm,gentle, simple story. Mma Ramotswe is manipulated into taking a holiday by her co-director Grace Makutsi and her husband, Mr. J.B.L. Matakoni. She reluctantly agrees, and then has a very difficult time trying to decide what to do. Gossiping at tea with her Gabarone acquaintances doesn't interest her, and it doesn't take very long to clean her cupboards and mend clothing. So instead, she rescues a young boy from unpaid servitude, and agrees to help Mr. Polopetsi on a case that Grace has assigned him. Along the way we visit the orphan home where we enjoy tea and fruit cake along with the conversation between two good friends, and once again, Violet Septhoro is vanquished. As always, Mma Ramotswe's great heart, her kindness, and her wisdom shine through. I love this series!

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Thursday, January 28, 2016

Review: Along the Infinite Sea

Along the Infinite Sea Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It's the mid-1960's and Pepper Schuyler, unmarried and pregnant, has just sold a rare antique Mercedes that she's restored and is meeting the new owner, Annabelle Dommerich. Annabelle tells her that the car had originally belonged to her husband, and she whisks Pepper away to her Florida home. As the two women become friends, they share their secrets. The story is told in tandem narration. Annabelle, a minor French princess, has a clandestine affair, and marries when she becomes pregnant. Her story, which takes place in France and Germany as WWII is developing, involves a Nazi general, a Jewish resistance fighter, a prison break, and a desperate flight across Europe. Pepper's story unfolds as she recalls her misguided affair with her boss, a married and prominent politician. The two women become friends as they recognize parallels in their life stories.
I enjoyed this novel, and liked both protagonists. I was surprised on some levels by the ending, but after reflection, decided it made a much better ending than the one I thought I wanted.

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Monday, January 25, 2016

Review: Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule

Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule by Jennifer Chiaverini
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I found this book boring. It had potential, but it just didn't work for me. The biggest problem was the Madame Jule's story. While there are plenty of historical resources available to create a novel based on Julia Grant's life, there is next to none about Jule. Because of this, Jule's story is very thin, and feels like an afterthought. It felt as thought the author didn't know what to do with her. Since Jule's entire story was imaginary, I think the novel would have been better served with the two main characters resolving their conflicts with each other in person.

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Thursday, January 21, 2016

Review: The Storm of the Century: Tragedy, Heroism, Survival, and the Epic True Story of America's Deadliest Natural Disaster: The Great Gulf Hurricane of 1900

The Storm of the Century: Tragedy, Heroism, Survival, and the Epic True Story of America's Deadliest Natural Disaster: The Great Gulf Hurricane of 1900 The Storm of the Century: Tragedy, Heroism, Survival, and the Epic True Story of America's Deadliest Natural Disaster: The Great Gulf Hurricane of 1900 by A.L. Roker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very readable account of the 1900 hurricane which destroyed the city of Galveston, Texas. I was familiar with the event ( from a well-researched fictional account of the storm by Susan Wittig Albert), but I learned some fascinating details. This was the kind of nonfiction that drove my husband crazy. I kept interrupting his evening with "Listen to this!" and "Did you know?" questions. What I found especially interesting was the history behind the development of meteorology and the US Weather Bureau. I also had had no idea of how advanced the Cuban meteorologists were, nor of the US political machinations that were to blame for the lack of the warning. I was also really interested by the fact that the Cuban weather service was founded by the Belen Jesuits. My father attended Belen for his entire schooling! My only complaints about the book are that it needed a map for reference, and the few pictures were so small that it was hard to see detail.

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Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Knitting Content

I just finished a cuddly warm shawl called Squall Line which was featured in the Fall 2015  issue of Interweave.  I started it in November and finished while I was watching Downton Abbey on Sunday night.  I used Malabrigo Merino Worsted (purchased at Webs) in the colorway Polar Morn, and it took almost every bit of five skeins.  Although my husband might disagree  ( a few curse words may have been uttered during the knitting of this), I did enjoy the process.  I learned a few things too.  I'd never knitted an edging perpendicular to the body before, and I figured out a short cut for a short cable cross preceded by a yarn over at the very start of a row.  I made ample use of life lines and stitch markers, and there may have been a section of the body pattern that I knit and frogged multiple times because I kept missing a yarn over or I skipped a row on the chart.  The charts were very small, so I enlarged them, and I did some color coding to help me keep track of where I was on the chart.

All in all I am CONTENT with  my shawl.







Monday, January 18, 2016

Review: Everything Under the Heavens

Everything Under the Heavens Everything Under the Heavens by Dana Stabenow
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I wanted to give this book more stars because there were things I really liked. But for me, the biggest problems were the cliff-hanger ending and the fact that I felt too removed from the characters. I loved the premise and the settings. After 20 years of teaching about the Silk Road, I was excited to read a novel that is based on the caravan life. As a piece of historical fiction, it is very well-researched, and I appreciated the details about food, clothing, and geography. I didn't connect with the characters very well; the narration felt too remote. By that I mean it felt like the narrator was completely outside the story, telling me a story about things that happened to other people. I didn't feel like I was in the story with Johanna and Jaufre. I liked the basic plot but it needed to slow down, and build the tension more carefully. The surprise attacks were too out of the blue - a little foreshadowing would help. The ending was extremely abrupt, made more so because I was reading an ebook where it's much harder to be aware of how close to the end of the book you are. I will read the following installment because the plot's premise is interesting, and I do enjoy the author's ability to evoke setting.

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Sunday, January 17, 2016

The Gifts of Retirement

1.  The ability to put chores off.  For most of my adult life, Saturdays and Sundays were the chore days - laundry, grocery shopping, errands, cleaning, bookkeeping for the business, etc.  I have the Timehop app on my iPad and I have been noticing how many weekend entries were focused on all those chores plus the grading and lesson planning my teaching job required.  I'd go back to work Monday morning feeling stressed and tired because I never seemed to have time to do nothing on the weekends.  And never mind trying to do many of the chores of daily living during the week.  It's a real luxury to have the ability to postpone doing things like laundry or vacuuming because I can do it tomorrow if I don't get to it today.

2.  The gift of not having to be out of the house by a certain time every weekday morning.  I don't sleep much later than I did when I was working, but it's such a joy to be able to enjoy a second cup of coffee most mornings (when I don't head out to a 7 am water class!) and take my time with the morning routine.  I'm usually showered and dressed by 7:30 which feels like the middle of the day, compared to the "out the door at 6:30 am" of the past, but if I want to lolligag around the house I can.

3.  That moment of joy when I realize again, (almost daily) that I am retired.  I am still amazed on Sunday afternoons, when I start thinking about the work week ahead, and all the things I didn't get done, and then have that "Glory, Hallelujah" moment when I remember, it doesn't matter.  Vacation isn't ending!

4.  The joy of being able to watch shows that are on at 10 pm IF I choose to watch.  Or to stay up late reading.  What a gift!

5.  The gift of alone time.  I never realized how little alone time I had.  My husband is not retired (yet) so he is at work a good part of the day.  I also go to exercise class two or 3 times a week, and I attend a weekly Bible study.  I've also started to volunteer as a Meals on Wheels substitute driver.  But in between, I have some blocks of uninterrupted alone time.   I don't necessarily do anything exceptional then --- I read, I might watch General Hospital (I can't believe I got myself hooked on that again.  The last time I was addicted was before I went back to work fulltime.  I used to nurse my kids and watch it!  Luke and Laura!!), I color, I sit and knit on the deck in nice weather and bird watch.  But it is so refreshing.


The surprising thing to me about my retirement is that I truly do not miss my former life as a teacher.  While I taught, I loved it.  I did it well, and gave my heart and soul to it.  But it was time to say goodbye to that life, and I have no regrets.  And I am continually surprised by that.

Review: Murder on a Girls' Night Out

Murder on a Girls' Night Out Murder on a Girls' Night Out by Anne George
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the "Southern Sisters" cozy mystery series. Set in Birmingham, Alabama, the protagonists are Patricia Ann, a retired school teacher, married to the same man for many years, and her sister Mary Alice, who's on her 4th husband. They are as different as chalk from cheese in both physical attributes and personality. Mary Alice impulsively buys a road house. The former owner, who has stuck around to help with the transition, is found murdered in the club's wishing well. The two sisters, along with a supporting cast of former employees, including Bonnie Blue Butler, go to work solving the mystery. Despite the gruesome murder, it's a lighthearted and at time humorous book. One of my favorite lines: "You called Fred to tell him Jed said Ed was dead?" I liked the way the sisters' relationship is portrayed. It's realistic, showing their frustration and exasperation with each other's foibles, as well as the deep bond of love they share. I am looking forward to reading more of the series.

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Saturday, January 16, 2016

Pinterest to the Rescue!

I was in the mood for a hearty vegetable soup this morning, and went to my SOUPS board on Pinterest where I'd saved a recipe for minestrone.

Here is a link to the original recipe, from Little Spice Jar, which I followed pretty closely.

I used chicken broth instead of vegetable broth, and since I knew we wouldn't be eating it that day, I cooked the pasta separately, rather than in the soup itself.  I used tiny elbows since I couldn't find ditalini in any of my local stores.  I just put the pasta in the bottom of the soup bowl and ladled hot soup over it.  Yummy!



Thursday, January 14, 2016

Review: The Inn

The Inn The Inn by William Patterson
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I rarely read horror books, but thought I'd try a different genre just to change things up. I wish I could say this was good, even if horror isn't my thing. But this was just plain silly. Annabelle Wish and her husband James Devlin have left NYC to take over the Devlin family bed and breakfast in a remote town in the Massachusetts' Berkshires. Annabelle is recovering from a drug addiction, as well as severe PTSD. As a child her stepfather tortured her by locking her in a closet and convincing her that a tiny blue demon would eat her. Once at the inn, Annabelle discovers that there are very disturbing family secrets that threaten her mental and physical well-being. And then, the town ne'er do-well is found murdered in the woods nearby, and his body is missing an arm. It's eerily similar to murder at the inn many years previously. Next, a inn guest goes missing, and then a workman, hired to do some inn renovation disappears. All in the space of a day or two. At the same time, Annabelle starts seeing the blue demon from her childhood all over the house, and strange noises are emanating from the fireplace in the parlor and in the walls. Needless to say, there are a few more deaths, and many more blue demons, before the final confrontation, which takes place during a raging blizzard. The resolution was abrupt; almost as if the author had written himself into a corner and had no idea how to get out of it. I'm glad I didn't spend any money for this one!

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Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Review: Stars of Fortune

Stars of Fortune Stars of Fortune by Nora Roberts
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I don't mind books in which the protagonist(s) are imbued with unusual gifts, or in which the plots revolve around magic, but this one was over the top. Since this is the first book in a trilogy, I assumed there would be three main characters, all with a similar problem, and that each character would find his or her soul mate. In Stars of Fortune, there are 6 characters, 3 women and 3 men, of course, and they are all destined to search for three stars hidden by ancient gods. They need to find the three stars before the evil goddess finds them and destroys the world. Each of these characters are special. There's a seer, a wizard, a mermaid, an immortal, a lycan, and a time traveler. Like all of Nora Roberts' trilogies, at the end of the novel part of the problem is solved, and one couple is united. While the book held my attention, the formulaic plot annoyed me, and I just had a really hard time suspending my disbelief for the course of the novel. I probably won't read the next two.

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Monday, January 11, 2016

Review: Tricky Twenty-Two

Tricky Twenty-Two Tricky Twenty-Two by Janet Evanovich
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this installment, and laughed out loud in a few places. Stephanie Plum is back! This time the plot involves bubonic plague, catfishing, and a frat house. Plus, Morelli has decided to break up with Stephanie. Or has he? As usual there are donuts, fried chicken, viewings at the funeral home, destroyed cars, Ranger rescues, and ruined outfits. Stephanie even discovers her mother's hidden depths!

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Sunday, January 10, 2016

Review: Winter Stroll

Winter Stroll Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I didn't realize this was a sequel to a previous book, but the first chapter pretty much summarized the first one. This was a very short book, covering one weekend in the life of the Quinn family. I am assuming that the character development occurred in the previous book, as there was none in this one. It almost read as perhaps an epilogue for the previous book. I just didn't get into this book at all.

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Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Review: A Question of Inheritance

A Question of Inheritance A Question of Inheritance by Elizabeth Edmondson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the sequel to A Man of Some Repute, and continues the story of Selcechester Castle. Now the the 17th Earl is dead, the title is settled on Gus Mason, a widowed professor from America. He arrives with his teenaged daughters, and none of them are too excited at the prospect of living in the drafty old castle. The protagonists from the first book, Hugo and Georgia Hawksworth, and Freya Wyrton are all present. It's Christmas and the house is full. Even disgruntled and erstwhile Sylvia has arrived with an art dealer and purported fiance in tow. Soon the shenanigans begin when Gus experiences some near fatal accidents. Then one of the Castle's guests meet an unfortunate end. All is well at the end of the book, and there is room left open for a continuation.

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Sunday, January 3, 2016

Review: The Whistling Season

The Whistling Season The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When widowed Montana farmer Oliver Milliron looks for a housekeeper, he's drawn to an advertisement which states the applicant, Rose Llewellyn, "can't cook, but doesn't bite." She's hired, and arrives in the small Montana settlement of Marias Coulee with her brother Morris. The story covers autumn 1909 to spring 1910, and is narrated by Paul Milliron, Oliver's eldest son. The Llewellyns settle into life on the prairie, though it is clear that the life is foreign to them. Morrie becomes the schoolmaster of the one room schoolhouse where Paul represents one half of the 7th grade. Morrie teaches with passion and creativity despite his lack of credentials, and captures the attention of his students with his stories and astronomy lessons centered on Hally's Comet which arrives in 1910. This is a delightful story, providing a picturesque account of life on the frontier. Paul's voice is authentic, and often humorous, as he tells the story of this pivotal year in his life through flashbacks. The lessons he learns with Morrie follow him to adulthood and help him make a difficult decision. The writing is terrific too, evoking the harsh environment and its beauty. I was really sorry that I finished the book!

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Thursday, December 31, 2015

Review: Death Comes To Kurland Hall

Death Comes To Kurland Hall Death Comes To Kurland Hall by Catherine Lloyd
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was the third, and I think, final installment in Lucy Harrington and Major Kurland's story. It's a cozy story, totally predictable, but fun. This particular plot was a bit convoluted, with several deaths, and several secrets unveiled, but Lucy and Major Kurland come to the inevitable ending you know was going to happen in volume 1. Not quite Georgette Heyer quality, but a good imitation.

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Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Christmas 2015


Now that our boys are adults, Christmas passes quietly and this year was no exception.  Elder Son spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with us, and we enjoyed our traditional meal on Christmas Eve -- Swedish meatballs.
In a break from tradition, we enjoyed bacon and waffles for breakfast instead of pound cake and coffee.


 And in another break with tradition I cooked a turkey for Christmas which fell completely apart when I took it out of the roasting pan. Still very moist, but it just fell apart.  Made it easy for cutting all the meat off the bone.  We all enjoyed our gifts --- for the first time ever, my husband asked me for a list, and then went and got everything on it!  (It was a small list --- biggest item on the list was a wooden cutting board.)

It was definitely an unusually warm Christmas!  In the 60's°!  Here I am enjoying the sunshine on our deck.



Even the bees were confused!


Then the busy time started.  I had the brilliant idea of hosting an open house on Sunday.  It was great!  I always overestimate how much food I should prepare, and so we are still dealing with leftovers both from the turkey and the party.

I made mushroom turnovers at my husband's request:



And I made Brie Bites:




Of course there were finger sandwiches, chips, dip, shrimp cocktail,  cheese and crackers, and punch, beer, wine, and soda.



The party was a huge success, and people stayed to chat which was wonderful.   Of course, Monday morning I was in a fog of exhaustion, but it was the good kind of exhaustion.

We are having friends over for New Year's Eve dinner, but it's going to be really low key.
I think I'm done cooking for the year too!

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Review: As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust

As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Once again Alan Bradley delights me. Flavia de Luce has been, in her own words, banished to the wilds of Toronto, Canada and to the rigors of her mother's former boarding school. On her first night, a mummified corpse falls out of her bedroom chimney. As she investigates, Flavia discovers some astounding information about her mother, and the reasons she's been sent to Canada.

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Review: The Cantor Wore Crinolines

The Cantor Wore Crinolines The Cantor Wore Crinolines by Mark Schweizer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Humorous, but not one of the best in the series. It felt a lot like Haydn's detective story --- lots of similes, hyperbole, and deus ex machina involved. A very quick read.

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Sunday, December 27, 2015

Review: Unfamiliar Fishes

Unfamiliar Fishes Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An interesting read, but not as good as The Wordy Shipmates. Vowell describes the disintegration of traditional Hawaiian culture over a period of just under 125 years, from the first European contact in 1778, hastened by American missionaries, and aided by the Hawaiians themselves, and ending with annexation at the end of the Spanish-American war. It's a pretty sad story. Her personal biases come through loud and clear, often with her trademark humor. I was surprised to learn that much of Maui was desert-like, and that finding fresh water was often difficult.

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Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Review: The Rumor

The Rumor The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I haven't read an Elin Hilderbrand I haven't liked, and this is no exception. Hilderbrand is really good at capturing the atmosphere and ambience of a place and time, summer on Nantucket.

Madeline, successful novelist, is struggling to find an idea for her next novel, while her best friend Grace is falling in love with her gardener. Both women are long married, with families who are very close, so close in fact, that Grace's son and Madeline's daughter are dating. Grace's husband is struggling financially and is desperate to make some serious money. Mix in the community's penchant for rumor and gossip, and watch the sparks fly!



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Monday, December 21, 2015

Cabbage and Beet Soup

Sunday's  main meal of the day was soup!

I don't follow a recipe as such, so this is just a general guideline to be adapted to your taste.  It's one of those recipes that quantity doesn't matter either.


Basic Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef
1 medium onion chopped
1 large can of diced tomatoes and their juice
1 small can tomato paste
4-6 cups beef broth  approximate
1/2 a head of cabbage sliced and chopped
1/3 cup cider vinegar (quantity is flexible based on your tastes)
1/3 cup sugar (quantity is flexible based on your tastes)

Can also add:
2-3 carrots sliced
V-8 instead of tomato paste
celery chopped
other root veggies you want to use up - Last night I needed to use up some beets, so I cut up about a pound of golden and red beets into bite-size chunks and added that.


Directions:

Brown the ground beef and add the onions while it's browning.  Drain the beef if there's too much fat.  Add all the rest of the ingredients except vinegar, sugar, and cabbage.  Bring to a boil, and simmer for about 20 minutes, and any root vegetables you've added are tender.  Add the cabbage and begin to add the sugar and vinegar, tasting until you get the right amount of sweet/sour tang.  Simmer another 20 minutes or so.

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Review: Rack, Ruin and Murder

Rack, Ruin and Murder Rack, Ruin and Murder by Ann Granger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this second entry into this series. Monty Bickerstaffe is the owner of Balaclava House, which has gone to the rack and ruin of the title. He's almost 80, almost crippled with arthritis, and he lives happily alone in his decrepit home until one day, he discovers a body sitting on the sofa in his living room. Not only does he not know who the corpse is, but he also has no idea that a bedroom on the second floor of his home has been used regularly. Jess Campbell investigates the suspicious death, aided by Ian Carter, her superintendent. This was a cozy read, with likable characters and a bit of a twist at the end.

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Saturday, December 19, 2015

Review: Last Bus to Wisdom

Last Bus to Wisdom Last Bus to Wisdom by Ivan Doig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Donal Cameron, 11 years old, lives with his grandmother on a ranch in Montana. When his grandmother needs a serious operation, she sends him to live temporarily with his great aunt Kate in Wisconsin. Life in Wisconsin is difficult, and eventually he's sent back to Montana. That's the set up for the novel about life and the power of imagination. Most of the book takes place on "the dog bus" otherwise known as a Greyhound bus. In part one of the novel, it's 1951 and Donal sets off to Wisconsin armed with an ancient wicker suitcase, a pair of beaded moccasins, $30, a possibly stolen arrowhead, and his autograph book. Donal has a ready imagination and can whip up a story faster than a Kitchenaid whips cream. His interactions with the various passengers run the gamut - often humorous, and sometimes dangerous. He sees the bus trip as a way to garner signatures for his autograph book. Once he reaches his great aunt's home, he has to deal with the trials of learning canasta and staying in his aunt's good graces. He makes a friend of his uncle Herman, who has the talent of being able to name a beer just by tasting it. When Donal is sent back home to Montana, he is joined by his uncle who has had it with Kate's ironfisted control of his life. And that leads into part 2 of the novel which is the story of their journey to see the West. Donal discovers that there's more to Herman than a former cargo ship boilertender on disability. The pair experience the dishonesty of fellow humans as well as their generosity. This book is a quest adventure, as Herman seeks to experience the Wild West, and Donal wants to find a place he can call home. It's also quite humorous. I stayed up till after 1 am to finish this book.

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Thursday, December 17, 2015

Review: Kitchens of the Great Midwest

Kitchens of the Great Midwest Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was an interesting read, and definitely made me hungry while I was reading it. It's unusual in that although the central character is Eva Thorvald, much of the book is more about the people she comes in contact with than with her directly. Eva's mother abandons her shortly after birth, and her father Lars has a fatal heart attack shortly thereafter. Eva is raised by her aunt and uncle. Although greatly loved, she doesn't fit in. And in a way another major character is food. . Each chapter in the book focuses on a pivotal food experience in Eva's life which form her into chef of great renown. The ending of the book closes an open circle in one respect, but also left me with questions.

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Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Sittin' and Stewin'

Actually while I may be actually sitting down while I type this, it's the first time all day.    After getting some laundry going, I headed out to a big box store to try and find some stocking stuffers for my husband and elder son, and to buy some golden raisins, dates, and apricots for the fruit cake I am hoping to make tomorrow.  I was not particularly successful in finding the stocking items, but I did manage to get the dried fruit.  I also managed to buy some shampoo and unmentionables for me, and Lindor White Chocolate Peppermint Truffles.  I also finally found a hand held pencil sharpener for my colored pencils.  I am destroying the electric sharpener with them.

When I got home, I put together this beef stew/soup for dinner tonight (and lunches for the next few days!)



I didn't follow a recipe; I just put it together from what's in the larder.  Exact quantities don't matter, and the veggies can be changed up.  In fact, I will probably throw in some left over veggies from last night's dinner (originally frozen mixed vegetables - peas, carrots, corn, and lima beans) shortly before serving.


A Beef and Beer (!) Stew

1.25 lb lean stew beef
flour to coat beef pieces
1 tbs olive oil
2 medium onions,  chopped in 1 inch pieces
2 sweet potatoes, chopped into 1 inch pieces
1 small celeriac root, chopped into 1 inch pieces
2 garlic cloves crushed
2 potatoes, chopped into 1 inch pieces
1 very large parsnip, sliced 
1 bottle dark beer (I used a Sam Adams chocolate bock)
1 large can diced tomatoes
3 bay leaves
1 tsp marjoram
1 tsp bouquet garni
1 tsp beef soup base (a bouillon paste)
salt and pepper

Heat olive oil in Dutch oven.  Lightly coat beef pieces in flour and brown in hot oil.  Add onions and cook for about 1 minute.  Add beer, all the veggies, the tomatoes, and the seasonings.  Cover and simmer for about 40  minutes or until veggies are done.  Adjust seasonings to your preference.