Weekend Cooking: The Magazine Edition

In the dark ages of the pre-Internet world I subscribed to just about every single food and cooking magazine that was available in the States. I also bought cookbooks like a maniac.

After I joined (and in fact helped moderate) a UseNet group (!!!), I started relying more and more on the web for finding new recipes. As we entered the modern era of blogs, websites, and Pinterest, I stepped back from magazines.

Then, early in my blogging career, I won a subscription to a digital magazine service. I forget what it was originally called, but it became Texture. For a small monthly fee, I had access to hundreds of magazines, though I primarily read the food and cooking titles. Tons of my more recent favorite recipes came from this service.

Well, all things have their end, I guess, and Texture sold out to Apple News+. For a slightly lower fee, I could continue my magazine subscriptions. I was willing and signed up for a trial month. I don't have too many gripes about Apple, but the interface for reading magazines in Apple News+ is the worst. Food magazines are missing the recipe indexes, there is no quick navigation or slider get to where you want to be, and finding recipes became totally frustrating. I canceled my subscription.

I didn't think I'd miss my magazines, but I really, really do. Enter RBG Digital, Flipster, and my libraries. Thank you, thank you. I can now read most of the magazines I'm used to: Cooks Illustrated, Eating Well, Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, the Food Network, and many more. Only one of my favorites is missing from the several libraries I belong to.

That magazine is Rachael Ray Every Day. Frankly, I'm not at all a fan of her show (is it still on???), but I always find at least one great recipe in her magazine every month. Why isn't she hooked up with the library? Fortunately, I found another workaround. For only $5 a year I bought a digital access only subscription. Even if I find only a single recipe in each issue, it's well worth the price, but my experience with Ray's magazine tells me I'll get my money's worth and more.

This week's hit recipe is a funny one: it's the overhauled sloppy Joe recipe from the May/June issue of Cook's Illustrated, which I checked out of the library. This recipe is so darn easy and quick and was truly delicious. Sometimes you just want to have comfort food, and this week called for it. I served our sloppy Joes in brioche buns from Wegman's (I was too lazy to bake my own), but it'd be fine on regular hamburger buns or even over rice, pasta, or a gluten-free alternative.

Add some fresh veggies from the farmer's market, pickles, and a summer salad and you're good to go. We drank wine, but I think beer would have been a better choice.  The photo shows my meal prep and I forgot to record the finished product. Ooops!

I was unable to find an online source for the original recipe, but I did find a version in which the ingredients have been cut in half to make a meal for two. If you want to make the same recipe I did, simply double the ingredients for 1 pound of meat, which makes enough filling for four sandwiches.

I checked the linked recipe against the one in the magazine, and it's exactly the same. Note too that this is one of those rare occasions when I actually followed the directions step by step. Shocking, right? That proves how much I trust America's Test Kitchen.

Go forth and be sloppy . . . you won't be sorry you gave these Classic Sloppy Joes a try.

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Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

NOTE: Mr. Linky sometimes is mean and will give you an error message. He's usually wrong and your link went through just fine the first time. Grrrr.
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7 Crime Fiction Picks: The Shallow Edition

I often judge a book by its cover. Yeah, admit it, you do too. I’m also big into escape reading (see last Friday’s post). Thus today’s mystery/thriller round-up is heavily into the covers and all about getting lost in someone else’s problems. Hello, summer; I welcome your long days of reading on the porch (on the deck, by the pool, on the beach, on the train, in the cabin . . .).

I Want to Go There

I’m in love with the cover of Bone Deep by Sandra Ireland (Gallery Books, June 11). I downloaded an eGalley of this psychological thriller set on a semi-isolated estate because of it. The plot involves a baker, a writer, an unlikely assistant, supposed accidents, and long ago deaths. I’ve already started it and I’m hooked. Can you sense a theme? I was absolutely drawn to the cover photo of The Perfect Plan by Bryan Reardon (Dutton, June 18) and was also swayed by the comp to The Marsh King’s Daughter, which I really liked. This one involves a kidnapping, brothers, politics, and a hidden past and is set in Delaware. Anyone ready for a walk around the pond?

Show Me Your Face

It’s so typical of crime fiction to hide the face of the women on the covers. Is it because we’ll guess the ending if we could see their faces? (That’s a joke, folks.) I picked Dear Wife by Kimberley Belle (Park Row; June 35) because it involves a missing woman, new identities, secrets, and possible crimes. Plus, Belle wrote the very popular Three Days Missing. We get a better glimpse of the woman on the cover of The Starter Wife by Nina Laurin (Grand Central; June 11) but still can’t quite ID her. This one revolves around a supposed drowning, a second wife, an unreliable narrator, and a past that comes back to haunt. Laurin is a sure bet for suspense. Even historical mysteries get into the Who’s that woman? act, as seen on the cover of Jennifer Ashley’s Death in Kew Gardens (Berkley, June 4). This third in a series set in Victorian London features Chinese tea, a murder, government officials, and a downstairs cook. Lots of fun and well-researched period details.

Deceptively Attractive

At first glance the dragonfly and bright flowers on the cover of Her Daughter’s Mother by Daniela Petrova (Putnam; June 18) look pretty. But a closer look shows the wilty petals and hints at something darker. Set in New York City, this thriller features a stalker, obsession, and fertility alternatives. Oddly, this too is comp’d to The Marsh King’s Daughter. I love the fun cover—including the kitties!—on Kate Carlisle’s The Book Supremacy (June 4, Berkley), but appearances can be deceptive. This cozy mystery series, set in San Francisco, features twisty multiple murders that always have a bookish theme. If you like light mysteries, I strongly recommend Carlisle, one of my go-to authors.

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Wordless Wednesday 536

In My Garden, 2019

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: My Uneven Reading Week

My fingers are crossed, but I think we may be seeing the end of the monsoon season. This past weekend was beautiful, and I managed to get outside and work in my gardens. They aren't the best they've looked, but I think the flowers are happy for the improvement.

The good weather couldn't have been better timed because a friend was in town, visiting from England. We were invited to lovely afternoon cookout, which was the perfect way to reconnect and relax.

I didn't get much reading finished this week, mostly because I had to bail on two -- yes, two -- of my books. One I ditched fairly early on, but the other I stupidly hung in there for way too long. Fortunately, I managed to finish one audiobook and made good progress on print books.

Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee by Jeff Zentner (Crown Books for Young Readers, Feb. 2019). This young adult novel is about two best friends struggling to balance their teenage loyalties and dreams with the realities of their after-high-school opportunities. Josie and Delia have spent two years as hosts of a weekly fright night, which shows raunchy horror flicks on local-access television. They've had some success with their on-screen banter and intermission acts, and their show has been syndicated to several other local-access stations across the country. As their senior year ends, their future as TV co-hosts comes into question. A cute boy, an invite to a horror com (think Comic Com, except for horror movies), and family issues leave Delia and especially Josie with tough decisions.

Zentner nails this story. The girls were easy to connect with, their dilemmas seemed realistic, and the conclusion was satisfying. I loved the humor and quick dialogue but was also heartbroken for the girls as they dealt with the first steps of becoming adults and faced the consequences of their choices. Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee has good crossover appeal to older readers, and I fully recommend it. Note that I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Listening Library; 10 hr, 20 min) read by Sophie Amoss and Phoebe Strole, who blended well together and delivered on the full range of emotions. See AudioFile magazine for my audiobook review. (Review copy provided by the publisher; audiobook provided for a freelance review)

I gave Ancestral Night by Elizabeth Bear (Gallery, March 2019; Simon & Schuster Audio, 16 hr, 48 min) more than a fair chance. This first in a new space opera series has garnered much praise. In the far future, Haimey Dz and her partner Connla Kurucz (male) fly a space salvage ship, collecting debris that has been left behind by all kinds of sentient species. When trying to score big, they uncover a secret and catch the attention of space pirates and the universe authorities. The entire story is told from Haimey's point of view (supposedly her diary), which is full of introspection and angst. I wish I knew why I devoted 10 hours of my life to this audiobook. There was too much "being in Haimey's head" for me, which consisted mostly of her wondering if she was doing the right thing, missing her friends, tweaking her emotions, ruminating over her upbringing, and reviewing her one big failed relationship. I guess I kept thinking something or other would happen. Sigh. Narrator Nneka Okoye did a fine job delivering Haimey's inner voice, but in the end, I had to say good-bye. (audiobook copy provided by the publisher)

Fortunately, I didn't spend much time at all with The Wolf Connection: What Wolves Can Teach Us about Being Human by Teo Alfero (Atria, June 25). This book was compared to Clarissa Pinkola Estés's Women Who Run with the Wolves and with Sy Montgomery's The Soul of an Octopus. Who could resist downloading a review copy? I pretty much jumped at the chance to read this. I wish I had paid closer attention to the publisher's summary, because I quickly realized this was not a book for me. On the other hand, it may be the perfect book for you. I was looking for a study about animal behavior, but what I got was the story of a program that helps heal people and guide them to a fuller life through a connection with these amazing animals. I support any program that can help people move past trauma while at the same time preserve Native American lore and can further our understanding of wolf behavior. It just wasn't the book I was expecting to read this week, and so put it aside. I may return to The Wolf Connection later in the year, now that I understand what it's all about. (digital copy provided by the publisher)

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Weekend Cooking: Recapping the Abrams Dinner Party 2018-2019

As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, I've now finished introducing you to the entire food and drink list published by Abrams Books since fall of last year. I've felt very privileged to have been invited to the Abrams Dinner Party and thrilled to have shared my experiences with their cookbooks over the last year.

Abrams is already looking forward to next year, and they've recently posted the application form for the 2019-2020 edition of the Abrams Dinner Party. If you're interested in having a seat at the table next year, be sure to fill out the form, which is found on the Dinner Party website.

I encourage all of you to fill out the application. On the website, you'll find testimonials from some of this year's guests, including one from me. Abrams makes it so easy to spread the word about their cookbooks, and--in case you're wondering--they expect Dinner Party members to be honest about their opinions. This is not a paid gig, but you will receive all the food and cooking books Abrams will publish next year.

Just for fun, I thought I'd recap some of the Abrams cookbooks I reviewed this year. I received 13 titles from Abrams to share with you, and I can honestly say there were no misses in this batch. Naturally, I related to some cookbooks more than others, but I wasn't disappointed in any of them. Each was beautifully designed and fully met the expectations of its audience. My favorite photo of the year, the Fairy Toast recipe from The Power of Sprinkles by Amirah Kassem, is shown above.

Instead of using the publisher's images of the cookbook covers, I took pictures of my personal copies so you could see the sticky notes marking recipes that I've made or that I plan to make. Yeah, I should buy stock in those things. Note that the links lead to my full reviews.

Cookbooks That Surprised Me

I admit I was feeling a little neutral when I found Cali'flour Kitchen by Amy Lacey and Pescan by Abbie Cornish and Jacqueline King Schiller in my mailbox. Don't get me wrong, we love cauliflower and eat it quite often. We also eat fish and are what I think is now called flexitarians, meaning we eat about 50 percent vegetarian. I was worried that I wouldn't find enough recipes in these books to suit our tastes and needs.

Boy was I wrong--big time! Once I began looking through and reading the cookbooks, I found tons of appealing recipes. I was excited to learn how to make our own cauliflower rice (saving money and controlling ingredients) and was amazed at all the ways cauliflower can be transformed to mimic other ingredients. As for Pescan, well, I fell in love with an awesome bean, pesto, and grilled shrimp dish and discovered our new favorite way to eat carrots. As you can see, I found way more than just two recipes to add to my repertoire.

Cookbooks That Are More Than They Seem

Based on just the titles, you might think you know exactly what both Icing on the Cake by Tessa Huff and Homemade Christmas by Yvette Van Boven are all about. So did I. But the truth is that each of these books offers home cooks so much more than just cakes and holiday cheer. All you have to do is start flipping through them to get the picture (and, yes, they are full of gorgeous photos!).

Icing on the Cake turns out to be an accessible instruction cookbook on how to decorate cakes, pies, cookies, cupcakes, and more. Photographs and lots of hand-holding give you confidence to make the prettiest desserts on the buffet table. Hey, if I can make a lattice crust slab pie, so can you! The bonus of Homemade Christmas is that the recipes aren't not just for Christmas. Instead the book contains dozens of appealing dishes for fall through the first spring thaw. I learned new ways to serve Brussels sprouts and made a delicious pear salad, super yummy potatoes au gratin, and one of our new favorite rice salads.

My Three Favorites

It was really hard to pick my top three cookbooks from this past year's Abrams Dinner Party titles. I still feel bad that I didn't include The Modern Cook's Year by Anna Jones, because I've cooked out that book a ton. Instead I went with three that will keep us company all summer and the ones my husband was particularly fond of. Yeah, I had to pick the meat and pizza cause it's always good to bring a smile to the family dinner table.

BBQ&A by Myron Mixon has totally upped our grilling smarts. As I said in my full review, we just can't get enough of the spice rubs and sauces. I don't think I'll ever go back to buying grocery store BBQ sauce; the homemade versions in this book are just too good (and too easy to make) to pass up. We feel as if we've barely scratched the surface of this book.

One of the major hit recipes of the Abrams Dinner Party season is found in The Bacon Bible by Peter Sherman, and I shared that relish in my review. I'm not quite sure I'll ever be tempted to make my own bacon from scratch, but I sure am glad to have recipes for bacon-infused cocktails, soups, salads, burgers, chilis, and more. We've loved every single thing we've made so far. And that apple-bacon relish! Swoon!

We love, love, love making our own pizza from scratch. We often grill it, but sometimes bake it in the oven. Thus it should come as no surprise that Genuine Pizza by Michael Schwartz made it to my favorite list. What you might be surprised about is that this book contains the other major hit recipe of the year. And it's not pizza. It's the small-batch recipe for chocolate chunk cookies. As the Dinner Party guests discovered, these cookies can be stuffed with pretty much any kind of chocolate or chocolate candies that float your boat. I'm making some tomorrow!

Finally, I want to take this moment to thank Abrams for inviting me to the Dinner Party. I have so many more recipes to try and to share with you, and it's all thanks to the good people at Abrams Books. If you're interested in joining the fun, be sure to visit the Dinner Party website and fill out the application form. You never know, there may be a seat at the table with your name on it.

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Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

NOTE: Mr. Linky sometimes is mean and will give you an error message. He's usually wrong and your link went through just fine the first time. Grrrr.
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5 Books about Ourselves and Our World: June Nonfiction

A few days ago I was involved with an email conversation with a blogger friend of mine about the path our reading lives have taken in the last couple of a years. We were in agreement: we find ourselves turning more and more to escape reading (with some nonfiction thrown into the mix) and less and less to heavy, deep books. Coincidentally, I saw a similar conversation between two other blogger friends on Twitter just yesterday.

Perhaps it's the political climate or perhaps it's 11 years of blogging. I don't have the answer, but I'm happy to know that I'm not alone. Today's post is all about June's nonfiction that I still plan to read. I've made some headway on some of these, and hope to have fuller thoughts soon.

Childfree by Choice by Amy Blackstone (Dutton, June 11): This look at "redefining family" is written by a research sociologist and professor who is herself, child free by choice. Blackstone's book (and her research) explores why choosing not to be a parent is still controversial, how that choice affects a couple's relationship to their extended families and friends, and what it all might mean for our world at large. Spoiler: she sees many positives. Granted, you might dismiss her as defending her own lifestyle choice, but Blackstone backs up her conclusions. You can get a sense of her work and her humor on her popular blog, We're {Not} Having a Baby. Why I want to read this: I'm drawn to Childfree by Choice for a couple of reasons. First, I too am child free, mostly by choice and somewhat by failing to choose. Second, I'm interested in the author's academic viewpoint, which I suspect will differ from some of the more popular (trade) reporting on what it means to opt out of parenthood.

Giants of the Monsoon Forest by Jacob Shell (Norton, June 11): This is a kind of ethnography written by a geology professor about the relationship between humans and elephants in Burma and India. Most of us have two visions of elephants: wild and roaming the African savanna or serving the tourist industry in southeast Asia or perhaps doing tricks in a circus. In fact, elephants of the southern Asian rain forests have had a long relationship with humans, similar to the Western idea of humans and horses. They work with and for people, and develop lifelong attachments to their riders. In this book Shell introduces to the forests, the elephants, and the people who bond with them and we learn how even though the Asian elephant is not bred to be domesticated, these intelligent animals nonetheless help humans and at the same time may save an ecosystem. Why I want to read this: I jumped at the chance to read Giants of the Monsoon Forest first and foremost because I have a lifelong interest in animal behavior. In fact, my undergraduate thesis was on nonhuman primate behavior. I also have a love of elephants that I inherited from one of my grandfathers, who liked all things elephant.

The Ice at the End of the World by Jon Gertner (Random House, June 11): This book, written by a journalist, focuses on Greeland's melting ice sheet and its implications for our future. Did you know there were entire branches of science devoted to studying ice cores and that Greenland is one of the places to go if ice is your thing? Ice cores reveal not just Earth's history--climate, creatures, polutants--but they also hold keys to our future. Gertner talks about the island's transformation from hostile wilderness to major scientific  laboratory and then introduces us to contemporary scientists who are racing the climate-change clock to recover as much data as possible before Greeland's trillions and trillions of tons of ice melt into the sea. In addition, he gives us perspective on what it means now and what it will mean for younger generations when Greenland at last turns primarily green. Scary and fascinating stuff. Why I want to read this: If you follow my blog then you know I love nonfiction about the cold regions of our world, so The Ice at the End of the World seems a good fit for me. I'm of course interested in climate change and the fate of our planet, And, finally, I've met one of the leading ice core scientists (he's the husband of a woman I know through fiber arts), and I've been curious about his and his colleagues' work for years.

The Way Home by Mark Boyle (June 11, Oneworld): This modern-day Walden story, set in Ireland, is written by a former businessman. Most off-the-grid memoirs have an element of wacky about them, but Boyle's experience of living without electricity (and thus without the internet) in a house he build himself follows in the footsteps of Thoreau. He's no isolationist, either, and his story is as much about life in rural Ireland as it is about reconnecting with self and nature. It's my understanding that is also an account of living without money (or very little of it), which has both benefits and risks (though healthcare is less of a worry in Ireland than it is in the United States, though I digress). Why I want to read this: I realize it wouldn't be the life for everyone, but when I was younger, I was drawn to the homesteading idea The Way Home describes a similar experience. I also like the fact that Boyle is not a cultist; he's just a guy who found a way to live with less in a world that always seems to want more, whether that's money, things, or connectedness.

One Giant Leap by Charles Fishman (Simon & Schuster; June 11): This history of how we went from a president's speech to a moon landing in less than decade is written by a journalist. Perhaps in this day and age of technology, the idea that United States successfully landed two men on the moon isn't all that shocking, but at time when color television was definitely not in every household, it was a pretty amazing accomplishment. Fishman gives us the backdoor look at the people, technology, and politics behind the moon landing. We visit the research laboratories, learn about how space suits where made, and discover the engineering behind the Apollo program. It's a story of invention and bravery and everyday acts of devotion to the project. Why I want to read this: I grew up with the manned space program and still remember watching the moon landing on our family's (black-and-white) television. I'll never stop being fascinated with space. This is the 50th anniversary of the first human to have walked on the moon and this book is just of many that tell the story.

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Wordless Wednesday 535

The Continental Divide, 2019

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: 2 Novels for Armchair Travels

Hello from rainy central Pennsylvania. We've had so much rain, I'm wondering if I'll ever get my gardens in shape for the summer. I mean it's already June 17!! Yikes.

In happier news, I've been kind of absent lately because we were in Colorado last week to attend the wedding of the daughter of our close friends and found family. The weather there was beautiful, the wildflowers were out, and we could see the snowy the Rockies (we were slightly east of them). The wedding itself was perfect and we were so happy and grateful to have been there.

The downside, of course, is coming home and taking care of all.the.things. We had a family issue (all is fine now) and I was not quite where I wanted to be work-wise. By skipping some of my reading and listening time and working through the weekend, I can now (as of Sunday night) say I'm busy but in good shape. Phew!

I never get enough reading time when I'm out of town because I'm more interested in exploring and enjoying the outdoors. I did however finish one print book and one audiobook. Yep. That's about it. Oh well; every week (or two weeks!) can't be a stellar reading week.

Pariah by W. Michael Gear (DAW, May 14). As you know, I'm a fairly recent convert to science-fiction, and the Donovan trilogy is an example what I'm loving about this genre. Oh, but wait! Did I say trilogy? Ummm, apparently there are going to be more than three books, at least that's my impression after finishing Pariah. Anyway, the short take on the main plot is that there is a small colony of Earthlings trying to colonize a new planet. They been cut off from the rest of the human worlds for a while, so they've had to adapt their cultural norms to new circumstances. But when first one and now two ships suddenly appear, life as we know it on Donovan begins to change. So what we have are culture clashes and differing opinions of how to inhabit or live in a new world. Many of the issues faced by our heroes are those faced by Western colonizers on Earth as they "discovered" the Americas, Australia, and other places. Because, of course, Donovan is not without inhabitants. And how the humans treat the native life--both plants and animals--shows that some of us haven't learned much over the centuries. Anyway, we have bad guys, good guys, people in between; we have native creatures; we have social / cultural questions; and we have lots of action, seeing as Donovan is not a paradise, even if it can support human life. Gear is great at world building, character development, and believable social interactions. Recommended series. (Thanks to the publisher for a finished copy)

Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips (Knopf, May 14): I don't think I've ever read a book set on the Kamchatka peninsula before, but I hope this won't be my last virtual visit. This book is a little hard to explain because it's kind of a genre bender. It starts off with the disappearance of two sisters, aged 8 and 11, who do the one thing we're always told not to do: accept a ride from a stranger. From there, the mystery/thriller aspects are always in the background but don't always take center stage. Instead, the chapters that follow read almost like linked stories, each one focusing on different woman or girl whose life is somehow affected by the kidnappings. A teen loses her best friend because of family differences over how to stay safe. A woman is haunted by the fact that she's pretty sure she was a witness but can't remember enough details. A family begins to wonder if the daughter/sister they thought ran away a few years earlier might have actually also been a victim. The mother of the girls can't move forward. And we meet other women suffering from other losses and troubled relationships. Along the way we learn of life on the northern peninsula and the differences between city life, village life, and native (first peoples) life and the gap between the rich and poor and between those who grew up in the USSR and those who remember only modern-day Russia. Phillips doesn't forget about the sisters and doesn't let us forget either, and so the snapshots of life in another place do come around again to remind us that the story is driven by the fate of the girls. A book I'm going to think about for a while. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Random House Audio; 11 hr, 15 min) wonderful read by Ilyana Kadushin. My audiobook review will be available from AudioFile magazine, but I can tell you that I was totally taken in by Kadushin's portrayals of the various women and girls. The only problem with the audiobook edition is that you won't have a copy of the map or cast of characters. (review copy provided for a freelance assignment)

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Weekend Cooking: Tasting Table by Geoff Bartakovics and Todd Coleman

Have you heard of the Tasting Table website? I hadn't until I received a copy of their new cookbook Tasting Table Cooking with Friends by Geoff Bartakovics and Todd Coleman (Flatiron, May 7) to review.

The book is organized by menus that will take you through the seasons and help you celebrate the every day as well the holidays and special events. The idea is that each guest can bring a different dish to the party or you and your friends can cook together in the same space.

As the authors say, the "dishes [within a specific menu] don't require the same tools or appliances at the same time," which makes sharing the kitchen with others easy. Of course, you as the host could make all the food yourself. It just depends on your skills and comfort with team-tag cooking.

Each menu includes adult beverages, appetizers, sides, a main, and a dessert. The introduction to each menu indicates the size of the dinner party, which varies from 6 to 10 guests (I think). To make it even easier to accommodate cooks of different experience, each recipe comes with a skill level rating, so you can assign dishes without stressing anyone out.

I've made several of the recipes from Tasting Table and all came out just fine, and I'm looking forward to trying them again. We made the pan bagnat (see scan from the book; with olive tapenade, pepperoncini, and tuna), we ate Mediterranean chickpea pasta salad for lunches (yum), made rye-thyme lemonade (so refreshing), served baked oatmeal with blackberries for Mother's Day (we used blueberries), and gobbled up the slow-cooked Filipino adobo (pork, sesame oil, garlic).

Several more recipes are marked to try, like grilled chicken thighs in green sauce, chocolate cardamom cake, and chorizo nachos.

As you might have noticed, I've mentioned specific dishes, not menus. That's because I'm not a good match for menu cookbooks. I own quite a few of these cookbooks, but I rarely actually make the suggested dinners from appetizers to desserts. On the other hand, I've discovered many a dish that I've served over and over from such cookbooks.

If you're unsure of what to serve with what, a cookbook like Tasting Table could be a godsend. It could also come in handy for family gatherings, reunions with good friends, and at shared vacation rentals.

The menus range from drinks and snacks to cookouts, dinner and a movie, festive feasts, and formal occasions. The recipes are fresh and reflect new millennium tastes (as the subtitle implies: "Recipes for Modern Entertaining"), but be warned that the dinners are meat heavy. Only one menu is specifically for vegetarians, though each one does include vegetable dishes.

For an idea of what the Tasting Table is all about, you can check out their website. My strong recommendation is to find a copy Tasting Table by Geoff Bartakovics and Todd Coleman at your library. I'm very happy to own the cookbook because I've had great success with the recipes, but I'm not quite sure a menu cookbook is for everyone.

When I served the following recipe to Mr. BFR, he tasted it and then said, "This salad is spring in a bowl." I couldn't agree more.

Crispy Snow Peas with Radishes, Feta, and Tahini Dressing
Serves 6 to 8
Skill level 2

• 2 tablespoons tahini
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon honey
• 1 garlic clove, finely grated
• Kosher salt and finely ground black peper
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 pound snow peas, trimmed, strings removed, and halved
• 1 bunch radishes, thinly sliced
• 1 bunch scallions, sliced (about 1/4 cup)
• 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled 

In a large bowl, whisk together the tahini, lemon juice, honey, garlic, 1 tablespoon water, and season with salt and pepper. While whisking, drizzle in the oil and whisk to combine.

Add the snow peas, radishes, and scallions to the bowl with the tahini dressing. Toss to coat. Add the feta cheese and gently mix to combine. Serve.

NOTE: Scans and recipe are used in the context of a review. All rights remain with the original copyright holders.

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Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

NOTE: Mr. Linky sometimes is mean and will give you an error message. He's usually wrong and your link went through just fine the first time. Grrrr.
_______

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Starting from Page 1: Which June Book Is for You?

It's been a really long time since I've done a Starting from Page 1 post (as in a few years), but so many of my June books have great opening sentences, I just had to revisit this feature.

Today I share the opening lines from 9 general fiction books published this month. All of them caught my eye, and I'm not quite sure which to read first. (Okay, that's a little bit of a lie, because I think I know what I'll be reading next. Can you guess?)

Just for fun, I'm giving you the bare minimum information for each title. Based only on the first lines, which ones are calling your name?

FKA USA by Reed King (Flatiron); dystopian; humor; comp'd to everything from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy to Wizard of Oz!

" 'There,' Jared Lee, the first of my two and a half friends, pointed past the stubby line of waste-treatment plants. 'Right there. See? Refugees.' "

How Could She by Lauren Mechling (Viking); set in New York and Toronto; 21st-century issues

"Geraldine considered her grapefruit."

Lifelines by Heidi Diehl (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt); set in Oregon & Germany; family, relationships, motherhood

"Louise was a passenger in her own car."

The Summer We Lost Her by Tish Cohen (Gallery); comp'd to two of my favorite books: Deep End of the Ocean & Map of the World

"It was one of those things that never should have happened--the kind you turn over, splay open with pins, and examine at intervals for the rest of your life because it will never, ever cease to matter."

A Family of Strangers by Emilie Richards (Mira); sisters; buried past; redemption

"What do alligators dream about?"

The Islanders by Meg Mitchell Moore (William Morrow); a beach read set on Block Island

" 'It was disconcerting, to see a man cry like that,' said Bridget Fletcher"

The Tenth Muse by Catherine Chung (Ecco); mathematics; family history & secrets

"There is nothing as intriguing as a locked door."

This Is Home by Lisa Duffy (Atria); set in Boston; coming of age

"The year I turned ten, my father shot the aboveground pool in our backyard with his police-issued pistol."

The Great Unexpected by Dan Mooney (Park Row); aging; friendship; maintaining independence

" 'Miller,' Joel whispered across the space between their two beds. 'Why aren’t you dead yet?' "

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Wordless Wednesday 534

Colorado Wildflowers, 2019

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Weekend Cooking: Maacher Jhol (Movie)

As you know, I love a good foodie movie, especially one that has some depth. Maacher Jhol (2017; written and directed by Pratim D. Gupta) hit all my buttons.

A famous Paris chef is called back to his native India when his mother falls ill. Dev hasn't been back home for over a decade, when he left his engineering job and arranged marriage--without his father's blessing--to enter the Cordon Bleu to learn to cook.

After years of hard work, Dev (played by Ritwick Chakraborty) owns several restaurants and is a celebrity chef. His success in France, however, came at the expense of lots of unfinished business back home, which he must face upon his return.

On one level Maacher Jhol is a light family drama, but on other levels it's a commentary on Bengali culture, feminist issues, and marriage. Oh and there are some incredible scenes of Dev making several variations of fish curry.

The movie also stars Paoli Dam, Mamata Shankar, and Arjun Chakraborty. I thought the acting was believable, and I loved the street scenes in Paris and the open market in India.

One thing to know is that the movie is subtitled. You'll hear French, English, and Bengali and perhaps other Indian languages as well. I'm not always a fan of subtitles, but I had no issues with this movie. All in all I liked the food references and the empowering message.

Here's the trailer.

Maacher Jhol is currently streaming on Netflix.

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Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

NOTE: Mr. Linky sometimes is mean and will give you an error message. He's usually wrong and your link went through just fine the first time. Grrrr.
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3 Recommended Books + Travel Reading

I've had a crazy spring. Between travel, my lace workshop, and the holiday, I feel as if I haven't worked a full workweek since mid-April. It's all a lot of fun, but I'm really ready to just say no to squeezing five days' worth of work into only three or four.

On Monday, I shared my thoughts on some of the audiobooks I've listened to lately. Today are brief musings on some of the print and digital books I've read or am still reading.

How Not to Die Alone by Richard Roper (Putnam, May 28): I'm a huge fan of quirky premises and characters, so I pretty much knew I'd really enjoy this novel. Andrew works for the government, trying to track down the next of kin when a person dies alone without any obvious clues to friends or family. He's a loner and is mostly okay with that. There's only one hitch: his work colleagues think he's a happily married man with two kids. Even that's okay . . . until he meets the new employee, that is. Peggy reawakens Andrew's ability to connect with others, but how will he be able to reveal all his secrets? Fun and different with characters that are easy to root for or boo at. (print copy provided by the publisher)

Time Museum Volume 2 by Matthew Loux (First Second, June 11): This is the second entry in the Time Museum series starring a group of kids who work at a natural history museum. This isn't your usual museum though, it's a portal to different worlds and different time periods. Each member of the youthful squad has a unique skill, and together they manage to get out of scrapes. In this installment they are sent to the French court of 1778, where they have to correct a glitch in time. The fun starts when the squad is given a new instructor--none other than Richard Nixon. The series is geared to a middle grade audience and is filled with action, humor, good art, a recurring bad guy, and (a little) young love. The time loop theme was sometimes hard to follow, but I still liked the story and artwork and seeing how the kids are maturing and learning to work as a team. (digital copy provided by the publisher)

The Weather Machine: A Journey Inside the Forecast by Andrew Blum (Ecco; June 25): I've always been interested in the weather and forecasting, and since moving to same county that houses AccuWeather's headquarters, my interest has only increased over the years. I've been reading this book slowly (a chapter every few days) and haven't finished yet. I've learned a lot about the history of forecasting, the science of meteorology, and the technology that drives them. The weather is one area in which countries throughout the world freely share knowledge and data. Blum visits weather stations, talks to weather experts, and tells us about the art and science behind the daily forecast. Try to imagine living in the days before the telegraph or telephone, when major storms could hit at any time, giving you absolutely no warning or time to prepare. Fascinating stuff. (digital copy provided by the publisher)

And here's what I've loaded onto my phone for listening and onto my tablet for reading as I get ready for yet another trip.

• The Shepherd's Hut by Tim Winton (Picador, June 11): a kind of coming-of-age story set in Australia. This is my first Winton novel, and I have high hopes for this book, which has won much praise. (print review copy)
• With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo (HarperTeen, May 7): The author, the food aspects, and the message to trust one's talents all call to me. Also part of #WeNeedDiverseBooks (digital review copy)
• Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips (Knopf, May 14): This is a totally new setting (Kamchatka) for me and promises to be a combo thriller and community story. (audiobook freelance assignment)
• Ancestral Night by Elizabeth Bear (Gallery; March 5): Now that I know I like science fiction, I thought I give this much, much, much praised first in a new space opera series a try. (audiobook review copy)

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Wordless Wednesday 533

Chives, 2019

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Sound Recommendations

I have two wall calendars in my house--one in the kitchen and one in my office--and I forgot to flip them over to June until late Sunday afternoon. Oops! I think I'm in denial; not because we're already almost halfway through the year but because I have some travel coming up this week and I feel as if I were totally unready.

This is not true, since I've carefully managed my work schedule and have most of my suitcase packed already. Still, I always think there's something I've forgotten. Fortunately, Mr. BFR has my back, and he's been running errands and doing everything I don't have time for.

I missed last Monday's review post because . . . well, I don't know why. Just one of those things. I've decided to divide my reviews into two posts this week. Today is all about what I listened to. Later in the week, you'll find my reviews of books I read in print (or digital).

Summer Listening

Drawing Home by Jamie Brenner (Little, Brown; May 7): I really enjoyed this thoughtful summer read set in Sag Harbor. The premise is deceptively simple: A famous artist dies suddenly, leaving his estate to a twelve-year-old girl who shared his love of drawing. The artist's agent, the girl, and the girl's divorced parents all have different reactions to this totally unexpected windfall. What makes this book a little different is Brenner's sensitive depiction of young Penny's OCD and how her relationship with the cool kids at school changes once she is perceived as rich. Other story lines include the mother's mixed feelings about the inheritance and the agent's regrets for paths not taken. Although I pretty much figured out the course of the plot early on, that didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying the story and rooting for the characters as they grew and changed over the course of a summer. Recommended for those who like some depth to their beach reading. The unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 12 hr) was read by Karissa Vacker whose soft, expressive delivery well matched the tone and pace of the story. (digital and audiobook review copies provided by the publisher.

Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand (Little, Brown; June 18): What's a summer without Hilderbrand? I always love the way she brings Nantucket to life and the way she creates vivid characters and family drama. This summer's story takes place in 1969, is set in both Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, and is about four generations of a Boston family who spends every summer together on Nantucket. This year, just as things are changing in America, the family too is facing upheaval. Hilderbrand explores how the draft for Vietnam, Chappaquiddick, the civil rights movement, student demonstrations, the moon landing, and the women's movement begin to crumble the traditions and beliefs of the older generations. Although Hilderbrand herself wasn't born until halfway through that summer, she captured the mood of the era perfectly. I could especially relate to 13-year-old Jessie, who is learning some of the tough lessons of growing up at the same time she's just beginning to see the adults in her family for who they really are. Another don't miss summer read from Elin Hilderband. The unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 12 hr, 6 min) is brilliantly read by Erin Bennett, who is *the* voice of Hilderbrand's books. She perfectly captures the characters personalities and emotional arcs. (digital and audiobook review copies provided by the publisher)

Continuing Series

Queenslayer by Sebastien de Castell (Orbit; May 21): This is the fifth book in the Spellslinger series, which I've been describing as a fantasy with a Wild West feel. In this outing our outlaw hero, Kellen, unthinkingly and by mistake commits an act of treason, which is punishable by death. The young queen, however, takes a liking to him and grants him his life in return for his service. Meanwhile, Kellen gets caught up in a plot to overthrow the throne and must figure out whom to trust and which side to support. He also has some further dealings with his estranged family and is beginning to grow up. Lots of action, a few twists, and good humor kept me glued to my earbuds. The unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 13 hr, 4 min) was read by Joe Jameson. I love Jameson's comedic timing and consistent characterizations. His performance of this series is brilliant. (audiobook in personal collection)

A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen (Berkley; 2009): This is the second book in the Royal Spyness series, set in 1930s England, at a time when the noble families are trying to hold on to their estates in a changing society and falling economy. When the queen asks Lady Georgie if she'll house and entertain a young Bavarian princess, the only possible answer is yes. The problem, however, is that Georgie has little money and no domestic servants. With help from her friends and family, Georgie's pretty sure she can manage to host the innocent girl and her lady companion. What she hadn't counted on was a princess who wants to party hearty without regard to her reputation, a complaining chaperone, and few murders. A fun mystery with some clever nods to the real royal family. Put this series on your escape reading list. The unabridged auidobook (Audible Studios; 8 hr, 57 min) was read by Katherine Kellgren who creates a ton of believable accents and keeps the story moving. (audiobook in personal collection)

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Weekend Cooking: BBQ&A with Myron Mixon

Have you heard of Myron Mixon? He's one of the BBQ kings of the South. His website says he's "The winningest man in BBQ," and he has the trophies to prove it.

We grill out all year round and have even have developed our own fish rub. But truth be told, everything we do on the grill was learned through trial and error (lots of error), and we've mastered only the basics.

Because we've always talked about upping our BBQ game, I was thrilled when Myron Mixon's BBQ&A (written with Kelly Alexander) appeared on my doorstep, thanks to Abrams Books and the Abrams Dinner Party.

There are a few things that make BBQ&A stand out for me. First is the format, which indeed consists of a series of questions, then answers, and then a few recipes to put the techniques into action.

The questions range from how to get a spice rub to stick to your chicken to what cuts of meat to buy and how to get a smokey flavor when you don't own a smoker. I haven't read through the entire cookbook yet, but we've already implemented some of Mixon's tips and tricks, and our BBQ IQ has definitely jumped up to a new level.

Another plus to BBQ&A is that you don't have to own a smoker or a fancy grill. You can grill over coals or gas, and some recipes either were developed for the kitchen oven or can be adapted for indoor baking.

I especially love the variety of spice rubs, glazes, sauces, and so on that can be used in so many ways. For example, I made the meat rub (recipe given below) for a flank steak dinner, and then used the same rub for Mixon's potato salad (you heard me right) and then for his cheeseburgers. All three recipes earned a giant thumbs up.

Then I mixed up a batch of Mixon's chicken rub for grilled skin-on, bone-in chicken breasts, which were some of the best grilled chicken we've ever had.

We made two different BBQ sauces (one for the flank steak and one for the chicken), which were delicious as mopping sauces, as dipping sauces, and for leftover meat sandwhiches.

Mixon's macaroni and cheese, which didn't have any spice rub in it, was the side dish for our grilled BBQ flank steak, and my husband thought it was delicious and a total keeper.

Vegetarians won't find much in BBQ&A, but if you like pork, beef, poultry, and fish, you'll find a lot of inspiration and many delicious dinners ahead. I'm really looking forward to exploring all the different rib recipes because what's a summer without way too many BBQ rib dinners?

I also have a chicken wings recipe marked and at least one for shrimp. Finally, I was even inspired to use some of the leftover chicken rub for a sheet-pan dinner from a different cookbook, and I don't think I'm ever going to back to basic seasoning.

You'll be hearing a lot more about this book as the summer progresses . . . I dare you to resist getting your own copy of BBQ&A by Myron Mixon--whether from the store or from the library.

Here's the promised meat rub (shown in the photo above right, along with one of the BBQ sauces).

Meat Rub
This rub is a good basic rub for almost any food you want to smoke. You can use it as a jumping-off point or a template, then once you've mastered it, you can use the basic formula to create your own rubs.

• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 tablespoons mustard powder
• 2 tablespoons onion powder
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper

In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients. Stir to combine thoroughly. You can store this rub in an airtight container indefinitely, but it'll begin to loose its strength after about 3 months--and if I had any left after 6 months, I'd make a new batch.

BFR'S NOTES: I made a half batch of this spice rub and cut down on the salt a bit.

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Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

NOTE: Mr. Linky sometimes is mean and will give you an error message. He's usually wrong and your link went through just fine the first time. Grrrr.
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