Wordless Wednesday 483
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Reading, Thinking, Photographing
What
would you do if you closest friend--your soul sister, your true
family--were lost at sea and presumed kidnapped by notorious pirates?
Elizabeth Barnabus disguised herself as a man and set sail on a whaler
to find her.
Afternoon sun rendered every colour dazzling: the green and black of the Company flag, limp at the masthead; streaks of orange rust on the white-painted deck housing; the calm ocean, a teal blue; blood blossoming from the carcass of the whale.—The Queen of All Crows by Rod Duncan (Angry Robot, 2018, opening lines)
Winter is the time for hearty soups, beans and rice, and rich beefy stew. And while I did cook many of those kinds of dinners this month, we also had a few really good, and easy, chicken dinners.
The one I'm sharing today is from a 2014 Eating Well magazine and was incredibly quick and easy to make and delicious. I'm not normally a big fan of chicken thighs, but these came out great.
I made a couple of changes to the recipe method, and I share my directions here. This meal is on the table in about 40 minutes. It's hard to beat that for a busy weeknight.
I served this with a tossed salad, and it was perfect for the two of us. You could make this on a sheet pan, as suggested by Eating Well, or in a standard baking dish, which is what I did.
Note: the photo comes from Eating Well (Sept./Oct. 2014), and all rights remain with them. Visit the magazine's website for the original recipe.
Paprika Chicken Thighs with Brussels Sprouts
Little known fact: I was one of those nerdy kids who loved September
because it meant the start of a new school year. Even though I'm
*&^%# years past my last college exam, I still love to learn.
These days, I turn to nonfiction to get my dose of, "Hey! I didn't know
that!" moments. I've fallen a little behind in my nonfiction reading
this month, but here are 8 books at the top of my list.
Have you ever been at a crossroads in your life? When Louisa Clark is given a choice of sticking with the familiar or taking a chance on new experiences, she decides to listen to the voice of a dear, departed friend and accepts a job that will take her far from home.
It was the mustache that reminded me I was no longer in England: a solid gray millipede firmly obstructing the man's upper lip; a Village People mustache, a cowboy mustache, the miniature head of a broom that meant business. You just didn't get that kind of mustache at home. I couldn't tear my eyes from it.—Still Me by Jojo Moyes (Pamela Dorman Books, 2018, opening lines)
Thank
goodness for a little milder weather over the weekend. Even though I
didn't have much time to get out and enjoy it, I was happy to see some
of the snow melt.
Although I am a lifelong Vikings fan,
my husband grew up in the Philadelphia area, and I've been living in
Pennsylvania for ages, so it was easy to cheer on the Eagles to their
Super Bowl chance. Now I'm really looking forward to February: Super
Bowl Sunday and then the Olympics!
I'm just entering my
busy editing season, so I'm again very grateful for audiobooks. I
finished four (one was only an hour!) and started another.
Tomorrow I'm giving away a copy of JoJo Mayes's new book, Still Me,
to someone with a USA mailing address. I'm in the middle of reading (in
print) Louisa's adventures in New York, and I'm loving every minute.
What I Listened To
Continuing on with J. D. Robb's Eve Dallas series, I listened to Vengeance in Death.
In this one, murder comes very close to home: the victims are all
people Eve's husband, Rourke, knew during his misspent youth. What's
worse, the killer is trying to make it look like Rourke's friend and
right-hand man Somerset is to blame. Eve and her police team, with some
help from Rourke himself, must solve this one quickly. In some ways this
book is a transition story: Eve and Rourke's relationship begins to
solidify, we learn more about Somerset and Rourke's past and why they're
devoted to each other. We're also introduced to a new character: police
techy Ian McNab. I'm guessing we see more of him in future books. As
always (phew!) Susan Eriksen is the narrator of the unabridged
audiobook (Brillance Audio; 11 hr, 19 min). Eriksen is super with this
series, nailing Eve's blend of toughness and fragility. I'm sure I'll
soon run out of insightful things to say about her performance, but I
doubt I'll stop enjoying it. (bought)
My next audiobook could possibly be one of my favorite books in a long time, and will likely make by 2018 top ten list. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
(St. Martin's Press, Feb. 6). In the 1970s a struggling family moves to
Alaska after Ernt is bequeathed a homestead from a fellow Vietnam POW
who didn't make it home. The three of them arrive in a VW bus totally
unprepared to face the harsh landscape. With the help of their
neighbors, Cora, Ernt, and their 13-year-old daughter, Leni, prepare for
the long winter. But Cora and Leni have more to fear than grizzlies and
the cold, Ernt, suffering from undiagnosed PTSD (not well understood
back then), has a hair-trigger temper and takes his furry out on his
wife. The small community is aware of the abuse, but the courts in the
70s aren't supportive of beaten women. The tension and foreboding are
perfectly built, and my heart went out to Leni, a girl who grew up too
fast and little room to think about herself. Hannah's novel is much more
than a story about domestic violence, it is also a love story to stark
and beautiful Alaska. Those who live in the northern wilderness must be
ever vigilant because their land is unforgiving. You may be able to
survive one mistake, but rarely two; let your guard down for a second
and all could be lost. The unabridged audiobook (Macmillan Audio) was read by Julia Whelan,
who is brilliant. She gave each person a distinct voice and so
beautifully worked the pacing that I could barely turn off the book. My
full audiobook review will be available through AudioFile magazine, but
don't miss this one.
Spin: The Rumpelstiltskin Musical is an audiobook original that I just loved. What a fantastic production of storytelling and singing with a full cast
led by Jim Dale. This short audiobook (Harper Audio, 1 hr, 28 min) is a
delight, and you and your family will be singing along with
Rumpelstiltskin in no time. The story itself is a fun update to the
original tale, and I loved the young king and his stepsisters (because
every fairy tale must have stepsisters!). This is an audiobook to share
with your kids, especially on a rainy or cold day or a short driving
trip, but it's also perfect for adults. Each member of the full cast of
performers is wonderful. You'll feel as if you were at the theater and
will be spellbound from start to finish. The story has some grim (ha!)
moments, but remains lighthearted and the contemporary elements will
make you smile. The transformation of the stepsisters is a delight, and
you'll love getting to know what drives Rumpelstiltskin to make his
bargain with the poor girl who is tasked with spinning straw into gold. Spin
gets my highest recommendation, and I truly hope the production team,
Hvam Audio and Sammy Smile Music, is planning more modern musical fairy
tales. (review copy)
I also listened to Timekeeper by Tara Sim.
This is a genre-blending novel that contains elements of alternate
history, steampunk, and speculative fiction and has a gay protagonist.
In a different sort of London, 17-year-old Danny is a clock mechanic,
which is a much more important position than it is in our world. Time is
a living thing, and unless the mechanics keep the big clock towers
running smoothly and in sync, human lives would be chaos. Danny is the
youngest master clock mechanic ever, but he seems to have a natural
talent for steadying time and helping the world flow smoothly. But ever
since he was a victim to a violent accident--one of the clocks he was
working on exploded--he's been a little nervous at work. When a second
explosion kills a mechanic, it's clear that someone is out to sabotage
time. Danny has a vested interest in solving the crimes and figuring out
how to restore fatally broken clocks: his father, also a clock
mechanic, has been stuck in time, trapped in a town with a destroyed
clock tower. Without the powerful clock, the townsfolk must live the
same moment over and over forever. Besides the mystery of the broken
clocks and warped time, Danny is learning to live with being openly gay,
experiences his first love, and discovers something surprising about
time itself. A promising start to a new trilogy that features diversity
and solid world building in a fresh setting. The unabridged audiobook
(Forever Young Audiobooks; 8 hr, 48 min), was read by Gary Furlong.
It took me about 30 minutes to warm up to his performance, but then it
clicked for me. Furlong did a good job distinguishing among characters
and picking up on their personalities and ages--for both males and
females. I also appreciated that both Furlong's delivery and Sim's
writing presented Danny's sexuality in a matter-of-fact manner: no
stereotypes here. The book is complex and a little difficult to explain
without spoiling the surprises, but I definitely recommend this first in
series. (bought)
Just in time for post holiday eating, I received Lindsay Maitland Hunt's cookbook Healthyish from Abrams as part the Abrams Dinner Party.
I love the concept of this cookbook, which offers a realistic perspective on eating for good health. While the dishes include whole grains and vegetables without processed foods, they don't shun a little bacon or cheese.
It's also reassuring that the recipes have been tested by real cooks, and the final dishes have regular people appeal. Most of the recipes are accompanied by a photograph, and all come with tips, clear instructions, and international measures.
The majority of the recipes in Healthyish are weeknight friendly and use a minimum of equipment, making cleanup easy. And the food is just so darn pretty to look at. You can get a hint from the photo on the cover, and even my own photographs (to the right, below) make dinner look yummy.
As I'm writing, I'm laughing at myself because I really hadn't planned on writing a review. I was just going to share a recipe for a pork and squash dish we really liked. But as I was composing the introduction, I seemed to have fallen into review territory. Ooops.
Then when I started flipping through Healthyish to find that pork recipe, I stumbled on what may be the most genius recipe of all. I live under a rock, so perhaps this will be not be news to you, but it was earth-shattering to me. Hunt has a recipe for a single chocolate and peanut butter cookie. Whoa!
You know how sometimes you wish you had a little something to go with your tea, but you don't want to actually bake and you don't then want to stare at all 36 cookies? Well, here's a single cookie you could be eating about 10 minutes after you had the thought.
I can't eat peanuts but I know this would work with a nut butter substitute, and the blurb for the recipe assures me that almond butter works just fine too. Oh and no oven required, so it's perfect for summer too.
Since I've kind of written a review, I'll finish by saying that, although I like many of the recipes in Healthyish and plan to continue exploring it, it's not going to be as heavily used as The Dinner Plan. I would recommend Lindsay Maitland Hunt's cookbook for cooks who need a little inspiration for tasty meals (breakfast through dessert) that are nutritious but that don't go cross the line into the too austere. Vegetarians will find a number of good recipes, but should probably look before they buy.
Here's the photo of the single-serve cookie and the recipe. Click on the image to enlarge it. Enjoy!
There's something about long winter nights that say crime fiction to
me. Maybe it's because these books tend to draw me in completely and beg
to be read in one long go, testing my solving abilities and sometimes
making me get up to double-check that the doors are locked. This week
I'm featuring 12 mysteries and thrillers, all written by women and
published this month, to get you through snowy evenings. You'll
recognize some of the titles, but I hope you find a few new books too.
Argh! This is pretty much my slowest reading week ever. I didn't have a lot of time for pleasure reading because my editing work ramped up as my clients returned to their offices after the holiday break.
In addition, instead of reading after dinner, we've been working on a jigsaw puzzle and playing a lot of rummy. Both are fun and take our minds off the news of the world.
I'm still reading The Hazel Wood, a fairy tale / contemporary fantasy, and The Six, about the Mitford sisters.
I finished my reread (via audiobook) of The Burning Page by Genevieve Cogman. I've come to appreciate Susan Duerden's performance of this series. I think because I read the books first, I needed to get used to Duerden's style and characterizations, which didn't match what was in my head. Now, however, I'm thinking that I'll go ahead and listen to the newest entry, The Lost Plot, instead of reading it in print. In case you missed any of my earlier reviews, this is an adult speculative fiction series that includes a fresh take on fae and dragons and involves a powerful library, alternate worlds, time bending, a little steampunk, lots of action, and mystery. The books are published by Roc (an imprint of Penguin Random House) and the audiobooks are from Audible Studios.
On television, we watched the Netflix original Godless. I highly recommend this dark miniseries set mostly in the mining town of La Belle, New Mexico in the 1880s. The town is run by a group of bad-ass women who took charge after the men died in a major mine accident. The story revolves around Frank Griffin (played by Jeff Daniels), the ultimate bad guy in a generally lawless land, and mystery man Roy Goode (Jack O'Connell), who shows up one night on a ranch outside of town, wounded and alone. The plot eventually connects the townswomen, Griffin, Goode, and a few lawmen. The series includes quite a bit of violence, a little romance, a twist or two, good character development and a satisfying ending. It's a complete story in seven episodes and feels almost like a novel. The acting and filming are great, and you'll recognize many of the actors (Michelle Dockery, Tantoo Cardinal, Sam Waterston). Don't miss this one (if you can handle the blood and guts). Here's the trailer (warning--adult language):
If you eat food, here in America or around the world, you should watch the new Netflix documentary series Rotten, which takes a hard, cold look at the food industry. The films examine more than your usual topics of pesticides, disease, and cleanliness--they also explore fraud, theft, global contamination, scams, the rise of allergies, and more.
The six documentaries in season 1 cover honey, allergies (peanuts), garlic, poultry, dairy, and fish. The films aren't for the faint of heart. You may find hard to trust any food source besides a local farmer . . . if you can find one. I watched the first two episodes of Rotten and can already recommend that you watch too.
Episode 1, "Lawyers, Guns & Honey," starts out explaining how bees make honey and then turns to the business of honey production and packaging. The primary focus of the documentary is on one of the largest food frauds in U.S. history, which involved tampered honey from China, which entered the country via a global network of shippers and sellers, which was meant to hide the honey's origins. I had no idea there was such a thing as bee hive theft (there is) and wasn't aware of the effect almond farms have had on beekeeping and on bee health. The film also mentions colony collapse and highlights the problems faced by family-run honey producers and packagers.
The second episode, "The Peanut Problem," examines the rise of food allergies in the last two decades. Because a peanut allergy is the most common food allergy, the documentary is focused on it. You may think this is a U.S. problem, but allergies are on the rise worldwide. The impact is felt at home and especially at restaurants. Although many restaurants do their utmost to protect their customers, some either don't care or don't understand the risks. No one really knows what has triggered the rise in allergies: is it antibiotics, our changing gut flora, the way we grow food, or something else? The good news is that researchers believe there will be a cure for food allergies in the near future.
It's just two weeks into the new year, and my reading list is already
overflowing. As you know, I enjoy books from many genres, but I will
always have a soft spot for speculative fiction, especially fantasy.
January is bursting with so many great books for those of us who like to
venture into different worlds that I had a hard time narrowing down my
choices for today's post. Featured here are the 8 books at the top of my
speculative fiction reading list this month. Which titles have you
read? Which January releases have I missed?
The
best part about the cold, cold weather is the need to stay inside,
which means more time to do fun things. We've been working on a jigsaw
puzzle, playing lots of rummy, and catching up on a few television
shows.
I also managed to finish three books. I'm still reading The Six and have started The Hazel Wood, both in print. I'll be starting a new audiobook today, but I haven't decided what I'll listen to yet.
I received a couple of gift cards for Christmas (neither for a bookstore), and I'm having fun trying to decide what to buy.
What I Read Last Week
Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore (Kathy Dawson Books, Sept. 2017): I was hesitant to read Jane, Unlimited
because I didn't love Cashore's Graceling series, but after reading a
couple of reviews, I decided to give it a try. I wanted to read this
novel in print (apparently there are a couple of helpful maps in the
book), but I was about 10th on the library waiting list, so decided to
listen to my review copy of the audiobook instead. Here's the basic
premise: Jane is invited to spend some time at a friend's family mansion
on a private island. Upon arrival, she enters the foyer and meets
several people and the dog, after which she decides to go with Ivy, a
staff member, to explore the house. As the two young women move through
the many rooms, Jane observes some strange goings-on and gets involved
with some of the owners' drama. After a few days, Jane is once again
newly arrived at the house and leaves the foyer with a different person.
This happens five times, making the book (as one reviewer said -- I
forget who) a kind of pick your own adventure story. I thought the novel
was fun, and I enjoyed seeing how a seemingly benign decision (whom to
befriend) determined Jane's experience at the mansion: will she be
caught up in magic, in solving a mystery, or in a love affair? Good
reading if you can buy the premise. Rebecca Soler performed the
audiobook (Listening Library, 14 hr, 37 min) with good pacing and clear
characterizations. She verges on the theatrical, but that approach fits
the novel well. Note, though, if you listen to the book you'll miss out
on the maps, I think the maps would have made me like the book even
more.
Wonder Valley by Ivy Pochoda
(Ecco, Oct. 2017): This novel starts out with a bang: In 2010, a naked
man is spotted running against traffic on the 101 during LA's morning
rush (or stalled) hour. This sets off a series of events that have their
roots in the heat of the California desert, four years earlier. The
novel is made up of the interwoven stories of a handful of diverse
people who have a brief shared experience at an isolated ranch run by a
cult healer in 2006. We meet teenage twin boys, a college student who
lost her tennis scholarship, two drug dealers, earnest cult followers, a
street artist just released from juvie, and others both on the ranch
and in the city. Although there is action (and some disturbingly violent
scenes), Wonder Valley is an intense character study of people
trying to find their way in the world and learning to live with the
choices they made, whether intentional or not. It takes a while for the
story to develop and to learn how the characters' lives intersect, but
my attention never wavered. The audiobook (Harper Audio; 10 hr, 40 min)
is read by Will Damron. My first take on his performance was that
it was too singsong-y, but quite quickly I began to appreciate his
approach, which emphasizes the rhythm of Pochoda's prose. (My full
audiobook review will be available through AudioFile.)
Very, Very, Very Dreadful by Albert Marrin
(Knopf Books for Young Readers, Jan. 9). This year marks the 100th
anniversary of the great flu pandemic, which killed more people
worldwide than any disease ever recorded in human history. I've always
been fascinated by this disease and its concurrence with World War I.
People who lived through both must have felt as if death were everwhere.
I've read a couple of other nonfiction books by Marrin and love his
approach to history. Although he writes for tweens or young teens,
Marrin's work is in no way childish. Very, Very, Very Dreadful
explores the complex factors that lead to the pandemic, discusses how
flu viruses attack the human body and why that particular strain of flu
was so deadly, and traces the virus's journey across the globe. He also
makes it clear how vulnerable we are to another such deadly outbreak --
the question is not if it could happen again but whether we can save
more lives when it does happen. Politics, war, trade, religion, and
contemporary medical practices all played a part in the spread of the
flu, and the flu, in turn, affected them. The book is illustrated with
maps, historic photos, and more. It's hard to imagine whole cities
brought to their knees and the sheer number of people who died. As some
of the soldiers in the trenches realized, their families, despite being far from the cannon fire
and mustard gas, were daily
facing more death than they were. Highly recommended for readers of all ages. I listened
to about an hour of the audiobook (Listening Library; 5 hr, 44 min) so I
could keep reading while running errands. Jim Frangione's
expressive performance was engaging, and I especially loved how his
performance was in tune with Marrin's style: the book may be accessible
to young readers, but the material is serious and adult.
I don't know about you, but I like to spend the week between Christmas and New Years getting organized. This year, as I was going through my books, I found a few cookbooks I really wanted to share with you but didn't--for whatever reason.
Before I find room for these cookbooks on my real or virtual bookshelves, I wanted to give them a moment in the limelight.
I'm starting today with three titles that are at the top of my to-try list. Let me know if you've explored any of them. Each cookbook has lots of promise, so I hope you find at least one to add to your wish list.
Homegrown by Matt Jennings (Artisan, Oct. 17, 2017): Jennings has made a name for himself in the food world, catching the eye of the James Beard committee and Food & Wine, among others. He's currently located in Boston and is chef/owner of the brasserie Townsman. I'm always a bit hesitant to pick up a cookbook by a restaurant chef because I'm worried the recipes will require fancy tools, professional ovens, and/or expensive ingredients. Thus I was relieved to see that Homegrown's recipes are pretty straightforward, in a contemporary creative cook kind of way. The dishes are modern takes on the flavors of New England and most look doable for experienced cooks. Jennings includes tips and notes, full-page photographs, and even lists needed equipment (like a meat thermometer or a springform). The book is arranged by the source of the main ingredient (dairy, farm, orchard), and each section includes a "feast"--a complete meal to show off New England's best ingredients. Note there are (as can be expected) a number of seafood recipes, and there are also a handful of game dishes. Three recipes: Evie's Pub Cheese (for snacking), Maple-Lime Grilled Chicken Legs (with a bean salad on the side), Summer Tagliatelle ("like a BLT sandwich dressed in pasta's clothes").
Packed: Lunch Hacks and Recipes to Squeeze More Nutrients into Your Day by Becky Alexander and Michelle Lake (Nourish, Feb. 14, 2017): If you've been following Weekend Cooking, then you know I'm on a never-ending quest for easy, healthful lunch ideas. I don't know why I have breakfast and dinner nailed, but I've always had a problem with lunches (except leftovers, of course), especially meals my husband can take to work. Alexander and Lake to the rescue! Their nutritious, easy, cost-effective, and "realistic" ideas are just what I need. The recipes, complete with packing and serving tips, are very appealing and come together quickly (though you may want to prep or cook on Sunday). I particularly love the section on "fork-free meals," which includes dips and nutritious sandwiches. If you're on a special diet (paleo, vegan, GF), you'll find recipes to suit you, though you should probably borrow Packed before you buy. Besides the recipes, you'll also find "healthy hacks" to make your lunch hour more enjoyable. I was relieved that most of the recipes require no microwave (but you'll want a couple of wide-mouth thermoses for the soup) and use everyday ingredients. Probably best suited to adults or teens. Three recipes: Pear, Hazelnut & Goat Cheese salad (perfect for fall); Coronation-ish Chicken Sandwich (curry flavors); Creamy Wild Mushroom Soup (store-bought mushrooms & almond milk).
Texas Slow Cooker by Cheryl Jamison (Harvard Common Press, Sept. 12, 2017): You might be surprised to learn I'm a huge fan of the slow cooker, considering I own three pressure cookers. Well, I also own a slow cooker or two as well. Jamison is a veteran cookbook author, and clearly knows her way around a recipe and how to get the most out of a slow cooker. Besides solid advice on how to buy the right machine for your needs, she also suggests four must-have items: specific baking dishes and a 3-inch ring biscuit cutter (for use as pan stand). The recipes take you from breakfast to dessert and absolutely have a Southwest, Tex-Mex attitude. I was looking through the starters and snack section, which I think would be great for any casual get-together (especially those dips and wings). As you might expect, Texas Slow Cooker has a number of chili recipes, but you'll also find German meatballs and creole flavors. More unusual ingredients are game and goat, but most of the peppers and spices are readily available in a good grocery or via mail order. As the entire USA is experiencing freezing weather and our friends in the other hemisphere are starting to think twice about turning on the oven, this cookbook would be a welcome addition to almost any kitchen. Three recipes: Chicken Breasts with Chipotle Cream (cheesy goodness), Chile Relleno Casserole (no stuffing or frying required), Praline Bread Pudding (need I say more?)
Are you as excited as I am that we're just 10 days away from season 2 of Masterpiece's Victoria? I wasn't the only one who loved the first season; 16 million people watched the PBS premiere!
In order to celebrate the return of Victoria--and thanks to the nice people at Masterpiece on PBS and WGBH Education in Boston--I'm happy to be able to offer two of my readers a copy of Daisy Goodwin and Sara Sheridan's beautifully illustrated official companion book Victoria & Albert: A Royal Love Affair (St. Martin's Press).
Here's the publisher's summary:
The official companion to the second season of the PBS/Masterpiece drama Victoria by award-winning creator and screenwriter Daisy Goodwin.The book is full of gorgeous photos from the show and includes interesting facts, quotes from Victoria's letters, and more. If you love the show, you'll love the book. Take a look at the tie-in trailer:
More than 16 million viewers watched the first season of the Masterpiece presentation of Victoria, created and written by Daisy Goodwin—the highest-rated PBS drama in twenty years, second only to Downton Abbey. But what happened after the queen married her handsome prince? Did they live happily ever after, or did their marriage, like so many royal marriages past and present, fizzle into a loveless round of duty?
This all-new companion book by Daisy Goodwin and Sara Sheridan transports us to the private world of Victoria and Albert. Though first cousins, they could not have been more different: Victoria was impulsive, emotional, and capricious, Albert cautious, self-controlled, and logical. But together they forged a bond with each other and with their people that would change the world. Drawing on letters and diaries and fresh insights into royal history, this gorgeous book charts the constant ebb and flow of power within the couple’s surprisingly ardent and modern marriage.
Sumptuously illustrated and full of rich insider detail, Victoria & Albert takes us behind the scenes of the magnificent TV drama, including fascinating, in-depth information on the actors, the props, and the costumes--and bringing an extraordinary royal marriage even more fully to life.
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