Weekend Cooking: The Essential Air Fryer Cookbook by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough

If you're in the United States, happy Thanksgiving weekend, and I'm guessing that yet more food is the last thing on your mind. Instead you're wondering what to do with all those leftovers.

On the other hand, no matter where you live, it's now officially the holiday season. Christmas is in 26 days, Hanukkah in 23 days, and Kwanzaa in 27 days. Yikes! Please don't let me know that you've already decorated, have addressed your holiday cards, and have finished shopping. I couldn't handle it.

One of my own early holiday gifts this year was being accepted into the Voracious Ambassadors Program. Voracious is the food and cooking imprint from Little, Brown, which is part of the Hachette Book Group. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to sharing terrific Voracious cookbooks with you over the coming year. Thank you, Voracious!

As with any books I receive for review, whether part of a formal program or because I'm a blogger and freelancer, you can always count on my honest thoughts. That said, you should know that I'm picky about who I collaborate with, and I say yes to only those companies I know will be a good match for me.

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Do you own an air fryer? I don't, but I've thought about whether one would be a good addition to my kitchen. I've been hesitant because we're not big fans of fried food (except for really good french fries). However, now that I've looked through Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough's newest cookbook, The Essential Air Fryer Cookbook (Voracious, Nov. 19), I may be changing my mind.

I had no idea that you could make "regular" food in an air fryer or that you could even use one to bake a cake. Why would I care about using something besides my oven for cake? Think August without air-conditioning . . . Yeah. I'm pretty much never turning on my big oven during the dog days of summer.

I was surprised to find that besides cakes, cookies, and fruit crisps, you could use the appliance for not only meat, fish, and vegetarian main dishes but also for side dishes, appetizers, and even sandwiches. The Essential Air Fryer Cookbook contains (as the cover indicates) more than 300 air fryer recipes.

Before I get into the specifics of the cookbook, I want to say a few words about Weinstein and Scarbrough. They have been nominated for a James Beard Award and write for Cooking Light, America's Test Kitchen, and Weight Watchers. This means they not only know what they're talking about but they also understand that many of us want recipes that fit in a healthy lifestyle. If you want to know more about them, visit the Bruce and Mark website (where you'll also find some recipes).

Now for more on The Essential Air Fryer Cookbook. Here are some of the many features I love about this cookbook:

• Each recipe is already scaled to fit the three popular sizes of air fryers, so you don't have to do the math.
• Almost every recipe comes with tips for how to serve the food you just made in the appliance.
• Each recipe is tagged by skill level, vegetarian, gluten free, and number of ingredients.
• The recipes sound appealing, include a range of flavors, and have general appeal.
• The beginning of the cookbook contains important tips and tricks for those who are new to the air fryer world (thank you!).

Although I couldn't try any of the dishes, I am very impressed with the layout of the recipes, the easy step-by-step directions, the newbie guidance, and the serving suggestions.

Recommendation: If you are new to the air fryer world, Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough's The Essential Air Fryer Cookbook looks like the perfect place to start learning. If you receive an air fryer for the holidays, buy this book. If you are giving an air fryer as a gift, include this book in the package. If you have no idea what an air fryer can do, then take a look at the range of delicious-sounding recipes in The Essential Air Fryer Cookbook, and you might be surprised.

Please let me know in the comments if you have an air fryer and if you're glad you bought one. Or if you don't own an air fryer, let me know if you're thinking of buying one.

Here's a video of one of Weinstein and Scarbrough's recipes:

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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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Wordless Wednesday 545

Wild Turkeys, October 2019

Hit the full-screen option to see the video. (Note: I'm a little shaky with the camera and I don't know why the sound is so low.) Happy Thanksgiving to all my USA friends.

For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

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Today's Read: Just Watch Me by Jeff Lindsay

What's a successful professional thief with a silent conscience to do after he's already pulled off the most audacious burglary ever? Riley Wolfe has an idea: Why not steal the prize diamond of the very heavily guarded crown jewels of Iran?

Here's the beginning of the story about our new favorite anti-hero:

It was supposed to be almost spring. It didn't feel like it. Not if you were standing outdoors on the brand-new Nesselrode Plaza. A hard and bitter wind with a cold edge to it blew across the wide open space of the plaza. Nobody was surprised. This was Chicago, the Windy City. It was tough to be shocked when it lived up to its name.

—Just Watch Me by Jeff Lindsay (Dutton, Dec. 3, p. 1, ARC)

Quick Facts

• Setting: Chicago, New York, and elsewhere, contemporary times
• Circumstances: Riley Wolfe may be a thief, and sometimes a murderer, but he has his standards. The greedy, selfish one-percenters need to be brought down a peg or two, especially those who prey on the unwashed masses. Despite his questionable morals, Wolfe isn't all bad . . . after all he loves his mother and has a complex relationship with his ex-lover art forger, who sometimes helps him pull off his capers. Wolfe also has skills: he's a master of disguises, can scale the sides of tall buildings, is extremely patient and thorough, and can remain cool-headed under stress. Although Wolfe hasn't yet been caught, he isn't totally off the radar: FBI agent Frank Delgado is dead set on catching him red-handed. Can Wolfe pocket the $15 million diamond before Delgado cinches the net?
• Genre & themes: thriller, caper, suspense
• Gleaned from reviews: The plotting is supposed to be very tight with few clues to how the book is going to end. Riley Wolfe is one of those bad guys you can't help but root for. I haven't started Just Watch Me, but it's on my December list.
• Something to know: Jeff Lindsay is the author behind the Dexter Morgan character (inspiration for the Showtime series Dexter); he's no stranger to creating a good anti-hero.
• Audiobook information: Read by the author (Penguin Audio; 12 hr, 22 min).
• Acknowledgments: Thanks to the publisher for the review copy of Jeff Lindsay's Just Watch Me.

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Weekend Cooking: Women on Food by Charlotte Druckman

Today I have a different kind of food book for you. I thought about waiting to write about Charlotte Druckman's Women on Food (Abrams, Oct. 29) until I had finished reading the entire book, but changed my mind.

Here's why. This is a book to savor, to dip into, and to read a bit here and a bit there. I didn't want to ruin my enjoyment by rushing through the pages. At the same time, I wanted to make sure you were aware of this wonderful collection of food writing because it would make an awesome holiday gift.

So what's Women on Food all about? It's a little hard to explain because it's a compilation of essays, photos, drawings, snippets, thoughts, memories, conversations, and interviews from and with more than 100 women involved in the food world. As the book cover says, the women are writers, chefs, critics, television stars, and eaters, and each one has definitive opinions about their relationship with food, cooking, and eating.

This hodgepodge scrapbook-like collection includes a series of essays like Sadie Stern's on her true thoughts about M. F. K. Fisher and Dorie Greenspan's thoughts about good cookies (including a recipe). The interviews and conversations are insightful and down to earth. From them we learn, for example, the role that family played in Nigella Lawson's career and the surprising first real job held by FoodLab's Davida Davidson (not in food!). There's even a fun foodie horoscope and some beautiful photographs.

My favorite sections, however, are the ones that start with a prompt. What follows each is close to 50 short responses on topics like

• The Truth about My Mother
• Cook This, Not That! What is a type of food you wanted to cook and were told you couldn't--or were made to feel as though you couldn't . . . and you're pretty sure it's because you're a woman?
• The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread (in food)

One of my favorite prompts is the one titled "A Toast! What is a good thing to put on toast?" The answers range from Chandra Ram's "Please. Name one thing that isn't good on toast. I dare you" to Sofia Perez's explicit "Tomato, olive oil, and Iberico ham." I love all the answers, but that's probably because I agree with Ram.

Finally, you might ask, Who are the women who contributed to Women on Food? Some you've heard of, like Julee Rosso and Deb Perelman. Others may be new to you (or maybe just me), like restaurant owner Ning (Amelie) Kang and freelance writer Naomi Tomky. I loved hearing the voice of each of these women and am happy to have a whole fresh batch of food lovers to learn from.

Charlotte Druckman's Women on Food is one of my favorite food books of the year. I love food writing in general, and the frank honest voices collected in this volume sing to me. I was inspired, I laughed, I cried, I sighed, and I still have at least half of this 400-page book left to read. As I said at the beginning, Women on Food would make a great gift, but you'll want a copy for yourself as well.

Thanks so much to Abrams Books and the Abrams Dinner Party for the copy of Women on Food.

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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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Gift Giving 2019: 3 Great Books for Family Reading

Okay, so how did it get to be the holiday season already? Seriously, it's crazy. But I know some of you are already searching for the perfect book gift for your young readers, and today I have three recommendations.

Each is perfect for any time of the year and deserves a permanent place on your bookshelves, but each is also a great gift idea for whatever holiday you plan to celebrate next month. (Thanks to Media Masters and the publishers for the review copies.)

Into the Deep: An Exploration of Our Oceans by Wolfgang Drever (Prestel Junior, Oct. 8) is beautifully illustrated by Annika Siems. I love serious nonfiction that is geared to younger readers because curious children want to know about the real world. Any kid who is drawn to books about science isn't interested in being talked down to. I was relieved to see that Dreyer, a marine biologist, introduces middle grade readers--and the whole family--to the wonders of the ocean in an engaging way, without making the text too simplified. The book starts out by talking about the tiniest of creatures: plankton. Did you know that some plankton are plants and some are animals? Dreyer's technical text (for example, all about oxygen in the water) is explained and expanded by Siems's detailed and clarifying drawings, which show both marine photosynthesis and how gills work. Dreyer works his way up in size from krill to whales and down in feet from surface life to the ocean bottom. Along the way we learn about  bioluminescence, meet horror-movie-worthy sea creatures, and discover how both prey and victim use camouflage as tools for survival. I had never heard of the ocean floor dwelling tripodfish, but both the illustration and the description caught my attention. Another thing I won't forget: what happens to a whale's carcass when it dies. A note on the art: all the incredible illustrations are oil paintings, some of them "in a really large format," which were photographed for inclusion in the book. Young or old, this is a fantastic book to read and then read again and again.

What's Cooking at 10 Garden Street?: Recipes for Kids from around the World written and illustrated by Felicita Sala (Prestel Junior, Sept. 24). Although the format of this book will remind you of a picture book for very young children, the text and recipes are geared to middle grade readers and beyond. Although I envisioned the story as taking place in New York, the setting could be any big city in any country in world. In fact, the author lives in Italy and the book has appeared in both French and English. The premise is simple: in an older apartment building (see the cover illustration), the members of each family are busy making a meal that reflects their heritage.  On one side of each spread, we see inside one of the apartments as men, women, or children are prepping, cooking, or tasting a dish. Mister Ping makes stir-fried soy broccoli while his nephew taste-tests, Signora Lella makes spaghetti al pomodoro while her cat plays with yarn, Jeremiah makes peanut butter cookies while listening to Tom Waits, and elderly Mrs. Greenpea bakes up some mini quiches. On the facing page is an illustrated recipe so you and/or your kids can make the featured dish. You'll find directions for how to make tomato-y salmorejo, black bean soup, coconut dahl, Mediterranean-inspired meatballs, and much more. I love the expressive drawings, the global recipes, and how the people represent a range of ages and ethnicities. The very last page shows all the tenants gathered together around a large dining table that is set up in the backyard. Everyone is sharing the wonderful food.

Encyclopedia of American Indian History & Culture by Cynthia O'Brien (National Geographic, Oct. 29). I love National Geographic books because I can trust their research, plus their photographs, art, and informative graphics always make the subject matter come alive and grab my attention. This may be advertised as a kids' book, but it's perfect for both adults and teens too. This book features about 160 American Indian tribes (out of many more hundreds) currently living in North America. The book is divided into regions that cover the continent from the Arctic to southern Mexico. Topics include time lines highlighting thousands of years of history, terminology (such as the definition of matrilineal), religious ceremonies, technology, everyday life, contemporary issues (like Standing Rock), and loss of traditional lands. O'Brien and the National Geographic team found historic photographs, drawings, and archaeological artifacts, which are shown alongside images of the ways contemporary American Indians have managed to preserve or revive their spiritual, cultural, and artistic traditions. Not all is romantic: the book discusses the impact of European contact and expansion, the loss of lands, the spread of disease, the introduction of Western religions, and battles and broken treaties. Because this is an encyclopedia, it is not the kind of book you or your kids will read in one sitting. I recommend starting with the region where you live; you might be surprised at how much you'll learn. This would make a wonderful gift for anyone who wants to know more about the people who lived and thrived in North American long before all of us immigrants arrived on its shores.

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Quick Update!

Just a quick note today to let you know that all is fine with me. I'm in a bit of a work crunch, which is eating into the time I have for blogging. I will, however, have a book post up on Friday and then a Weekend Cooking post up on Saturday.

All should be back to normal next week.

In the meantime, I have a fun interview with audiobook narrator Michael Kramer scheduled to post tomorrow over at the AudioFile Magazine blog. Click the link to find all my audiobook blog posts for the magazine.

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Weekend Cooking: Somm 3 (Documentary)

I really enjoyed the documentaries Somm, which followed four men on the quest to earn their master sommelier diplomas, and  Somm: Into the Bottle, which told us 10 stories about wine from different perspectives.

Somm 3, directed by Jason Wise (2018), has two main threads: a blind taste testing of Pinot Noir held in New York with a group of some of the best wine experts from around the world and a gathering of three wine gurus who hold a different kind of tasting in Paris.

The documentary starts off with some discussion of the yeas and nays of blind tasting: what is the value and why? Wise then goes on to talk about the Judgment of Paris, which was the famous blind taste testing held in 1976 when--to the shock of the world--two California wines beat the best of the French vineyards. At the time, blind tastings were not very common.

Somm 3 then takes us to New York, where master sommelier Dustin Wilson (whom we met in the earlier films) hosts a different kind of judgment day, in which he asks some of the current best tasters in the world to gather for a blind tasting of six red wines. This time, all the wines are Pinot Noir/Burgundy and were made in the United States, France, Australia, and Chile (I think). Wilson asked his guests not to identify the wines but to simply pick their top three.

It was interesting to listen in as the tasters discussed the wines and then to see their reactions when the winning wines were revealed. This exercise again showed that more affordable New World wine (if you consider $50 a bottle affordable) holds up well to the esteemed French Burgundy, which is often well outside most people's wine budget.

Meanwhile Somm 3 introduces us to the three wine greats. First up is Jancis Robinson, a British wine critic and writer who has never been in the wine business. She has, however, written some of the most important books about wine we have, is a master sommelier, and is very well respected.

Second, we meet sommelier Fred Dame, who has one of the best palates in the world. He is well know for winning awards for developing impressive restaurant wine lists. Third is Steven Spurrier, the man behind the famous Judgment of Paris. Together these three shaped the modern wine industry and our relationship with wine. They meet up in Paris, each bringing along the wine that changed their lives, that gave them that ah-ha moment when they saw what wine could be and turned their life's attention to the drink.

It was amazing that they could find the exact wine that made them who they are today . . . they probably drank many people's yearly salary in that sitting. As they shared those wines with each other, they talked about why that wine means so much to them and whether it held up after such a long cellaring.

Then Wilson served them the top three winners from the New York experiment, had them blind taste the wines, and asked their opinions. Very interesting results!

One of the overriding themes of Somm 3 is how blind tastings, ratings, and critics have changed the wine business over the last 40 years or so. Still, the final lesson is always to drink what you like, find a critic whose tastes are similar to yours, and trust your instincts.

Somm 3 will appeal to wine lovers of all kinds. I hope this isn't the final documentary in the series, I would love to see more from Jason Wise about the wine world. Here's the trailer:

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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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11 Picks for Speculative Fiction Fans

Here at Beth Fish Reads I try my best to provide book news for a range of reading tastes. Last week I was all about true stories, so this week I’ve taken a 180. The books featured today are not only fiction but have some fantastical elements. Most are set in fully imaginary worlds, but one takes places in the bleak future and a couple are based in contemporary times.

Here are 11 November books that caught my eye. The summaries are from the publisher, and I’ve included the first line and audiobook information as well. Speculative fiction lovers have a lot to be grateful for this month.

Note: All books were provided (digital, print, or audio) by the publisher; some first lines are from advance reader copies.

Life and Limb by Jennifer Roberson (DAW, Nov. 5) The first installment in a new urban fantasy with a western slant on Armageddon.

Gabe Harlan, ex-con biker, and Remi McCue, Texas cowboy, are informed—no, commanded—by a higher power that they must form a partnership, bound by blood and bone, to help save the world. Complete strangers one moment, they have now been thrust together, conscripted into heaven’s army-on-earth. While Remi is willing to believe in such things, to Gabe, newly released from prison, it makes no sense that heaven would count on humans when it has angels in its armory.

First line: “His voice was rich, a much loved, clear baritone, as he handed his seven-year-old grandson a gun.” Audiobook: Read by Kevin Stillwell (Audible Studios; 10 hr, 57 min).

The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White (Delacorte Press, Nov. 5) This first in a trilogy offers a fresh look at Guinevere and her role at Camelot.

Princess Guinevere has come to Camelot to wed a stranger: the charismatic King Arthur. With magic clawing at the kingdom’s borders, the great wizard Merlin conjured a solution—send in Guinevere to be Arthur’s wife . . . and his protector from those who want to see the young king’s idyllic city fail. . . . To keep Arthur safe, Guinevere must navigate a court in which the old—including Arthur’s own family—demand things continue as they have been, and the new—those drawn by the dream of Camelot—fight for a better way to live.

First line: “There was nothing in the world as magical and terrifying as a girl on the cusp of womanhood.” Audiobook: Read by Elizabeth Knowelden (Listening Library; 10 hr, 51 min)

Sisters of Shadow and Light by Sara B. Larson (Tor Teen, Nov. 5) The story of two sisters living in a fairy-tale world.

Zuhra and Inara have grown up in the Citadel of the Paladins, an abandoned fortress where legendary, magical warriors once lived before disappearing from the world—including their Paladin father the night Inara was born. On that same night, a massive, magical hedge grew and imprisoned them within the citadel. . . . For fifteen years they have lived, trapped in the citadel, with little contact from the outside world . . . until the day a stranger passes through the hedge, and everything changes.

First line: “The night my sister was born, the stars died and were reborn in her eyes.” Audiobook: Read by Caitlin Kelly (Macmillan Audio, 14 hr, 42 min)

Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw (Simon Pulse, Nov. 5) A dark fantasy set near a haunted woods lightened by elements of romance.

Rumored to be a witch, only Nora Walker knows the truth. She and the Walker women before her have always shared a special connection with the woods. And it’s this special connection that leads Nora to Oliver Huntsman—the same boy who disappeared from the Camp for Wayward Boys weeks ago—and in the middle of the worst snowstorm in years. He should be dead, but here he is alive, and left in the woods with no memory of the time he’d been missing.

First line: “Never waste a full moon, Nora, even in winter, my grandmother used to say.” Audiobook: Read by Emma Lysy and Mark Turesky (Audible Studios; 10 hr, 16 min)

Fate of the Fallen by Kel Kade (Tor, Nov. 5) An epic fantasy full of adventure and friendship.

Everyone loves Mathias. Naturally, when he discovers it’s his destiny to save the world, he dives in headfirst, pulling his best friend, Aaslo, along for the ride. However, saving the world isn’t as easy, or exciting, as it sounds in the stories. The going gets rough, and folks start to believe their best chance for survival is to surrender to the forces of evil, which isn’t how the prophecy goes. At all. As the list of allies grows thin . . . they must decide how to become the heroes they were destined to be or, failing that, how to survive.

First line: “ ‘Why?’ Mathias said as he stared down at the back of his best friend’s head.” Audiobook: Read by Nick Podehl (Macmillan Audio; 12 hr, 33 min)

Day Zero by Kelly deVos (Inkyard Press, Nov. 12) Set in the near future, a story of survival after organized violence ends life as we know it.

Seventeen-year-old coder Jinx Marshall grew up spending weekends drilling with her paranoid dad for a doomsday she’s sure will never come. . . . Now that her parents are divorced, she’s ready to relax. But all that disaster training comes in handy when . . . a pattern of violence erupt[s] all over the country. . . . In a desperate attempt to evade paramilitary forces and vigilantes, Jinx and her siblings . . . make a break for Mexico. . . . But if they can survive, will there be anything left worth surviving for?

First line: “I will save the world.” Audiobook: no information

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (Doubleday, Nov. 5) Stories come alive in an underground world where time is fluid and people are not what they seem.

Zachary Ezra Rawlins is a graduate student in Vermont when he discovers a mysterious book hidden in the stacks. As he turns the pages, . . . he reads something strange: a story from his own childhood. Bewildered by this inexplicable book and desperate to make sense of how his own life came to be recorded, Zachary uncovers a series of clues—a bee, a key, and a sword—that lead him . . . through a doorway to an ancient library hidden far below the surface of the earth. What Zachary finds in this curious place is more than just a buried home for books and their guardians—it is a place of lost cities and seas, lovers who pass notes under doors and across time, and of stories whispered by the dead.

First line: “There is a pirate in the basement.” Audiobook: Read by Dominic Hoffman and others (Random House Audio, 18 hr, 37 min)

Eight Will Fall by Sarah Harian (Henry Holt BYR, Nov. 26) A dark adventure fantasy with battles, monsters, and forbidden magic

In a world where magic is illegal, eight criminals led by rebellious Larkin are sent on a mission to rid their kingdom of monsters. Descending into an underground world full of unspeakable horrors, Larkin and her crew must use their forbidden magic to survive. As they fight in the shadows, Larkin finds a light in Amias, a fellow outlaw with a notorious past. . . . But as the beasts grow in number and her band is picked off one by one, Larkin is forced to confront a terrible truth: They were never meant to return.

First line: “Beneath Larkin’s glowing lantern, luminite shimmered like fish scales in the darkness of Ethera Mine.” Audiobook: Read by Lauren Fortgang (Macmillan; 10 hr, 15 min)

Unnatural Magic by C. M. Waggoner (Ace, Nov. 5) A standalone historical fantasy with strong female characters who hope to forge peace in their land

Onna Gebowa is determined to become a great wizard. She can write the parameters of a spell faster than any of the young men in her village school. But despite her incredible abilities, she’s denied a place at the nation’s premier arcane academy. . . . Tsira is a troll who never quite fit into her clan, despite being the leader’s daughter. She decides to strike out on her own and look for work in a human city. . . . Trolls have lived alongside—and been revered by—humans for generations, but now it appears they’re being targeted by a sinister sorcery. And Onna and Tsira both begin to devote their considerable abilities into figuring out how to stop the deaths before their homeland is torn apart.

First line: “Onna Gebowa always liked numbers.” Audiobook: Read by Shiromi Arserio (Blackstone; ~14 hr)

Blood Heir by Amélie Wen Zhao (Delacorte Press, Nov. 19) The start of an epic fantasy series with elements of mystery, political intrigue, and corruption

In the Cyrilian Empire, Affinites are reviled. Their varied gifts to control the world around them are unnatural—dangerous. And Anastacya Mikhailov, the crown princess, has a terrifying secret. Her deadly Affinity to blood is her curse and the reason she has lived her life hidden behind palace walls. When Ana’s father, the emperor, is murdered, her world is shattered. Framed as his killer, Ana must flee the palace to save her life. And to clear her name, she must find her father’s murderer on her own. But the Cyrilia beyond the palace walls is far different from the one she thought she knew.

First line: “The prison bore a sharp resemblance to the dungeons of Anastacya’s childhood: dark, wet, and made of unyielding stone that leaked grime and misery.” Audiobook: Read by Emily Woo Zeller (Listening Library; 13 hr, 57 min)

Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean (HMH BYR, Nov. 6) Set in a world where women battle for power and shape-shifters are despised

Each generation, a competition is held to find the next empress of Honoku. The rules are simple. Survive the palace’s enchanted seasonal rooms. Conquer Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Marry the prince. All are eligible to compete—all except yokai, supernatural monsters and spirits whom the human emperor is determined to enslave and destroy. Mari has spent a lifetime training to become empress. Winning should be easy. And it would be, if she weren't hiding a dangerous secret. Mari is a yokai with the ability to transform into a terrifying monster. If discovered, her life will be forfeit.

First line: “Breathing in the dark, and not her own.” Audiobook: Read by Hanako Footman (HMH, 9 hr, 52 min)

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Today's Read: Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee

If the boys are supposed to be doing some harmless flirting, how come Mila feels so uncomfortable? How come no one seems to understand that she doesn't like to be randomly hugged? Sadly, Mila is not the only seventh-grade girl who has had a #MeToo moment.

Here's how her story starts:

Every day that September, the four of us escaped outdoors. The weather was warm (a little too warm for fall, if you thought about it), and the cafeteria smelled gross, like melted cheddar cheese and disinfectant. So when the bell rang for lunch, we each grabbed something fast--a container of yogurt, a bag of chips, an apple--and ran out to the blacktop, where you could play basketball or run around, or just talk with your friends and breathe actual oxygen for thirty minutes.

—Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee (Aladdin, 2019, p. 1 advance reviewer copy)

Quick Facts

• Setting: contemporary times; middle school
• Circumstances: After Mila is unexpectedly caught in a group hug by some boys at school, she becomes the target of unwanted contact: bumps, hugs, shoulder squeezes. She doesn't feel comfortable but doesn't know what to do. Some of her friends blame her for being a baby or for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Others wonder why she doesn't recognize flirting when she sees it. Even her best friend thinks Mila is blowing things out of proportion. To Mila the boys' behavior is not acceptable, but when she tries to talk to one of the teachers, she is told "boys will be boys." It isn't until she joins a karate class that Mila gains self-confidence and the courage to stand up for herself when others won't stand by her side.
• Genre & themes: middle grade story about an important contemporary issue told in a realistic and sensitive way; themes of self-respect, boundaries, consent, friendship
• Some thoughts: This book is an important conversation starter. Mila's situation is age realistic and believable as are the reactions of her friends, teachers, and family. Karate won't be the answer for every girl, but finding a safe haven and a self-esteem-building activity can be empowering. Girls are never too young to learn that they are in charge of their own personal space and that there's a huge difference between harassment and flirting, between unwanted contact and consent. The short chapters and large font make this an easy-to-read story, and Mila's inner thoughts nicely express her confusion and unhappiness.
• Resources: the Simon & Schuster website includes a reading guide and activity sheet geared to libraries, teachers, and book clubs.
• Acknowledgments: Thanks to the publicist for the review copy of Maybe He Just Likes You.

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Weekend Cooking: Baked Ziti

Hello everyone! This week I have a very short and sweet post. When you're reading this, I'll be at my annual fall lace-making workshop / retreat. My traditional contribution is to make a pasta dinner on Saturday night.

This year, I'm going bold by making a recipe I've never made before. Well, let me back up. I've made many versions of baked ziti over the years, but I don't have any particular go-to recipe. So the other day I did an internet search and found the recipe I'm sharing here. If you have a favorite recipe, please share!

I picked it because it got a ton of 5 stars and over 200 positive comments. Fingers crossed that my friends will like it.

The recipe says you can assemble the dish ahead ahead and bake later, but because made the casserole two days early, I was worried about the noodles getting too mushy or absorbing all the sauce.

So I decided to go ahead and bake it and then just reheat it Saturday. Fortunately, I'm cooking for friends and I'm not too concerned about trying to impress anyone. If it's dry, well, then, I learned something. We'll eat it anyway. Plus someone else is making a salad and we'll have plenty of baked goods for dessert.

The recipe comes from Simply Recipes. Because the website says you can't use their photos without prior written permission, I'm using a random baked ziti photo I found on the internet. I forgot to photograph my own pan of baked of ziti, and I don't want to unwrap it since it's all ready to go into the cooler for my trip.

Baked Ziti
from Simply Recipes
Serves at least 8

• 1 pound ziti pasta
• Extra virgin olive oil
• 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 large jar of marinara sauce (about 24 oz)
• 1 heaping cup of ricotta cheese
• 1/2 pound of mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package instructions. When cooked, drain and toss with a little olive oil to prevent the noodles from sticking.

Brown the meat over medium-high heat. When brown, drain most of the grease. Add the onion and cook until softened. Add the garlic and spices and cook for about 1 minute. Add the marinara sauce, mix well, and bring to a simmer.

Preheat the oven to 350F.

Spread a thin layer of sauce over the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Dot with about half the ricotta. Stir a ladle full of sauce into the noodles and then put into the pan. Top with the remaining sauce. Dot the top with the remaining ricotta. Sprinkle on the mozzarella and then the Parmesan. Bake for about 20 minutes until the cheese has melted and the sauce is bubbly.

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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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11 Picks for Nonfiction November

November brings us a lot of things, from cooler weather to pumpkin pies and turkeys. In the book-reading world, it’s also popularly known as nonfiction month. Whether you’re official participating in Nonfiction November or are just interested in what’s new, here are my choices from this month’s releases. (all copies—print, digital, and/or audio—provided by the publisher)

Science and Animals

My Penguin Year: Life among the Emperors by Lindsay McCrae (William Morrow; Nov. 12). Written by a BBC award-winning photographer and documentary filmmaker, this memoir recounts the year McCrae spent in Antarctica in the company of 4,000 emperor penguins. Illustrated by gorgeous photographs (see the cover) and drawings, this memoir gives us a rare look at these large penguins and their Antarctica home, not only describing the behavior of the birds throughout the seasons but also giving us insight in how climate change is affecting the penguins’ future. “An unforgettable narrative account that is poised to become a classic of nature writing.” Audiobook: Read by the author (HarperAudio; 7 hr, 28 min).

Beyond the Known: How Exploration Created the Modern World and Will Take Us to the Stars by Andrew Rader (Scribner; Nov. 12): Written by a mission manager at SpaceX who knows as much about history as he does about the possibilities of the future, this book looks at the various ages of discovery, including the exploration of the physical world we live in, discoveries made through scientific inquiry, and—of course—our fascination with space. “Told with an infectious zeal for traveling beyond the known, [this book] illuminates how very human it is to emerge from the cave and walk toward an infinitely expanding horizon.” Audiobook: Read by the author (Simon & Schuster Audio; 11 hr, 14 min).

Snow: A Scientific and Cultural Exploration by Giles Whittell (Atria; Nov. 19): Written by the chief leader writer of the London Times, this book is about all things snow: how it forms, why each snowflake is unique, how many snowflakes fall each second across the globe, and our relationship with it—both fun (skiing) and deadly (avalanches). Scientific snowy facts and figures are balanced with fun trivia and Whittell’s evident passion for and curiosity about the white stuff. “An eye-opening and charming book that illuminates one of the most magnificent wonders of nature.” Audiobook: no information.

Women’s Stories

The Girl in the Photograph: The True Story of a Native American Child, Lost and Found in America by Byron L. Dorgan (Thomas Dunne; Nov. 26): Written by a former U.S. senator, this is at once the story a single American Indian woman as well as a look at hundreds of years of neglect and lies from the U.S. government. American Indian youth have slipped through the safety nets—for example, 33 percent live in poverty and the teen suicide rate is more than double the national rate. When Dorgan met young Tamara in 1990 at Standing Rock Indian Reservation, he became more resolved than ever to make a difference. “Readers will fall in love with this heartbreaking story, but end the book knowing what can be done and what they can do.” Audiobook Read by Peter Berkrot (Dreamscape; 6 hr, 3 min).

Carrie Fisher: A Life on the Edge by Sheila Weller (Sarah Crichton; Nov. 12): Written by an award-winning journalist and best-selling author, this biography gives us insight into Fisher’s life both on and off the screen. Weller relies on firsthand accounts to tease out the truths of Fisher’s roots, her acting career, her relationship with her mother and daughter, her short marriage to Paul Simon, her successful writing career, and her tough battles with bipolar disease and drug addiction. The biography “is an affectionate and even-handed portrayal of a woman whose unsurpassed honesty is a reminder of how things should be.” AudiobookRead by Saskia Maarleveld (Macmillan Audio; 13 hr, 19 min).

Conversations with RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Life, Love, Liberty, and Law by Jeffrey Rosen (Henry Holt; Nov. 5): Written by a law professor and legal journalist, this book reveals almost thirty years of conversations with the long-time Supreme Court justice. Rosen reveals Ginsburg’s thoughts on constitutional law (abortion, cases she disagrees with), contemporary cultural issues, personal life philosophy, and the Supreme Court. “These frank exchanges illuminate the steely determination, self-mastery, and wit that have inspired Americans of all ages to embrace the woman known to all as ‘Notorious RBG.’ ” Audiobook: Read by Peter Ganim and Suzanne Toren (Macmillan Audio; 6 hr, 55 min).

Wild Life: Dispatches from a Childhood of Baboons and Button-Downs by Keena Roberts (Grand Central; Nov. 12): Written by a woman who grew up sometimes in Botswana and sometimes in the affluent Philadelphia suburbs, this is a memoir of Africa, private school, and trying to use African bush skills to fit in with American teen culture. Blending descriptions of life in Africa (adventure, danger, oppressive heat) with memories of negotiating mean girls and field hockey games in Philly, Roberts paints a realistic picture of both her selves and recognizes how each informed the other and led her to pursue a public health career. “By turns heartbreaking and hilarious,” this is “the story of a daring but sensitive young girl.” Audiobook: Read by the author (Hachette Audio; 9 hr, 42 min).

Highway of Tears: A True Story of Racism, Indifference, and the Pursuit of Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls by Jessica McDiarmid (Atria; Nov. 12): Written by a Canadian journalist, this book looks into a series of murders of Indigenous women and girls that took place along a remote section of highway in British Columbia. McDiarmid interviewed the victims’ families and friends, providing an insider’s look at the effects of racist violence while connecting these murders to thousands of similar cases throughout Canada, This book explores “how systemic racism and indifference have created a climate in which Indigenous women . . . are overpoliced yet underprotected.” Audiobook: Read by Emily Nixon (Simon & Schuster Audio; 9 hr, 58 min).

History

The Ship of Dreams: The Sinking of the Titanic and the End of the Edwardian Era by Gareth Russell (Atria, Nov. 19): Written by a historian and novelist, this book places the tragedy of the Titanic into the wider context of a rapidly changing and modernizing world. “Using previously unpublished sources, deck plans, journal entries, and surviving artifacts,” Russell focuses on six very different first-class passengers—including a countess, an actress, and a business tycoon—detailing their fates and showing how their lives signaled a turning point in history, technology, commerce, and politics. The book includes many black-and-white and color photographs. Audiobook: Read by Jenny Funnell (Simon & Schuster Audio; 15 hr).

The Golden Thread: How Fabric Changed History by Kassia St. Clair (Liveright; Nov. 12): Written by a journalist, this book looks at the history of fabric from the very earliest fibers made by cave dwellers to the fabrics that protect astronauts and clothe today's elite athletes. St. Clair takes a deep historical look at fabric, connecting it to early human migrations out of temperate climates as well as later trade routes (The Silk Road), which connected East and West. The book offers “insights into the economic and social dimensions of clothmaking” and dispels “the enduring, often demeaning, association of textiles as ‘merely women’s work.’ ” Audiobook: Read by Helen Johns (John Murray; 11 hr, 26 min).

Family Papers: A Sephardic Journey through the Twentieth Century by Sarah Abrevaya Stein (Farrar Straus & Giroux; Nov. 19): Written by an award-winning historian, this is the story of a large Sephardic family and how they were affected and scattered by the fall of the Ottoman Empire and later almost wiped out by the Holocaust. Basing her research on the family’s abundant correspondence and papers, including various documents and photographs, Stein recounts the joys and sorrows of a family struggling to keep their connections intact while surviving political unrest and forced immigration. Through these papers, Stein tells “not only [the family’s] history, but the history of Sephardic Jews in the twentieth century.” Audiobook: no information.

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Today's Read: Isle of Blood and Stone by Makiia Lucier

Imagine that when you were just an infant, your father, the royal mapmaker, disappeared on the same day that two young princes of your island kingdom were ambushed by an enemy army and never seen again. Now, almost two decades later, you discover secret maps and a related riddle that may shed light on what happened on that horrible day. Could your father and the princes still be alive?

The book opens innocently enough:

The outing had been planned on a whim; an afternoon lesson up in the hills, away from the smoke and stink of the city. Antoni hauled himself over the ledge and caught his breath—Saint Mary, he had grown soft—then reached down and instructed the child below to hold fast. When Bartolome's small hand grasped his, Antoni swung him up onto the rocks by side.

Prince Bartolome landed on his knees with an Oof before scrambling to his feet. He was seven, tall for his age, dark hair pulled back in a queue. The boy looked around with an expectant air, but as he surveyed the area—a flat hilltop covered entirely in black rock, barren of even a single bush or shrub—his anticipation quickly turned to bewilderment.

—Isle of Blood and Stone by Makiia Lucier (HMH, 2018, p. 1 [Prologue])

Quick Facts

• Setting: a fictional island kingdom with a Renaissance Mediterranean feel
• Circumstances: Although Elias's father disappeared years earlier, the son has followed in his father's footsteps both in the trade of map making and in befriending the royal family. When he and his friend the young new king, Ulises, discover some mysterious maps that offer clues to who their true enemy is, they set out, along with Ulises's cousin Mercedes, to discover what really happened to the princes and to Elias's father. Their quest takes them on a journey over the seas and to distant lands and back home again. Along the way they discover some answers, find more puzzles, outwit enemies, fight beasts, and solve mysteries.
• Genre & themes: action adventure with hints of fantasy and mystery; themes of friendship, secrets, betrayals, family, loyalty, and maybe even a little romance; written for a teen audience
• Early thoughts: From the first scenes, I was impressed with Lucier's world-building skills and how quickly I connected with the characters and their universe. I'm only about a quarter of the way in, but I'm invested in the trio's fate. Both the main characters and the secondary players are fully developed with believable personalities and motivations. Oh, and I love books that include maps, and Isle of Blood and Stone doesn't disappoint.
• Other things to know: The book is the first in a duology and won starred reviews and much praise. I can see why. The second book came out in August, so no waiting to see what happens! You can find a copy of the map and a discussion guide at the author's website.
• Acknowledgments: Thanks to the publisher for the review copy of Isle of Blood and Stone.

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Weekend Cooking: Oaxaca by Bricia Lopez

It's been a long time since I lived in the American Southwest, but I've never stopped craving family-style Mexican dishes. Don't get me wrong, I love almost all of the Tex-Mex and popular Americanized Mexican food most of us are familiar with: tacos, spicy beans, enchiladas, burritos, and guacamole. Mexico, however, is a big country and regional and family cuisine varies greatly and consists of way more choices than many Americans think.

Thanks to  the Abrams Dinner Party, I received a copy of Brica Lopez's Oaxaca (Abrams, Oct. 22), a cookbook that gives us a look at authentic Mexican cooking. I could barely wait to dig in and get cooking.

I didn't know who Lopez was, and I was unfamiliar with her family's LA restaurant Guelaguetza, but her parents won a James Beard Award and their menu is known for staying close to the true cuisine of Oaxaca, using local ingredients and cooking techniques.

Oaxaca contains a mix of simple dishes and more complex recipes, but everything is accessible to cooks who like to experiment. The beginning of the cookbook provides plenty of information about ingredients, techniques, and equipment, so if you aren't familiar with something in a recipe, be sure to check the front of the book and the recipe introduction. The recipes are very clearly written, and I didn't have any trouble making any of the dishes I tried.

The range of recipes in Oaxaca may surprise you. You'll find familiar refried black beans, but you'll also discover Oaxacan chicken soup, scrambled eggs with cactus, lamb barbacoa, black bean toast, and rice pudding with candied garbanzos. Another thing that may surprise you is that not everything is heavily spiced with hot peppers.

The first things I made from Oaxaca were old standards: black beans (which I served with rice) and guacamole. I don't really use recipes for these dishes, but I wanted to taste Lopez's versions. In a word? Yum! The cookbook offers a few ways to make black beans, I picked the one that uses pork feet -- but I left out the pork because I wanted to make mine vegetarian.

Then I decided to make something I was totally surprised to find in a Mexican cookbook: Papa Istemena (baked, isthmus-style mashed potatoes). I don't know why I was so surprised, because potatoes are, of course, native to the Americas, but, well, I don't really think of baked potato casserole as being a Mexican dish. I'm so glad I gave this recipe a try, because it was delicious! Lopez tells us to peel the potatoes before mashing, but we always leave the skins on. The only other change I made was to use sour cream instead of the Mexican crema, because I couldn't find the crema at my local stores. These potatoes, which include peas and carrots, would make a great buffet dish and would be welcome at any holiday dinner. I plan on making them often.

The only downside to Oaxaca is that some of the ingredients are hard for me to find here in small-town central Pennsylvania. On the other hand, I was able to find suitable substitutions and will likely take a shopping list with me next time I'm a city.

I need to mention the gorgeous photographs found throughout Oaxaca. Almost every recipe is accompanied by a full-page color photo of the finished dish, but you'll also find photos of Lopez's family, authentic ingredients, and the people and places of Oaxaca. It's truly a beautiful cookbook.

If you're curious about family-style Mexican eating or recipes from a James Beard Award-winning restaurant, then you'll get a lot of use out of Brica Lopez's Oaxaca. Less ambitious cooks and vegetarians may want to flip through the cookbook before buying it, though both categories of cooks will find appealing recipes. As for me, I have a number of dishes marked to try, including beef soup, some of the moles, a number of chicken dishes.

I never drink enough water, so I thought I'd give one of Lopez's aguas a try. This cucumber drink is so refreshing and makes water interesting. I love the color and bet this would be especially good on a hot summer's day. Oh, and I can attest that it is really good with a shot of vodka in it.

Agua de Pepino
Cucumber Water

Serves 6

• 8 cups (2 L) filtered water
• 1 1/2 cucumbers (1 pound/455 g), skin on
• 1/4 cup (13 g) fresh mint
• 1/4 cup (50 g) sugar
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) freshly squeezed lime juice

Pour 4 cups (1 L) of the water into a blender with the cucumbers, mint, sugar, and lime juice. Blend until smooth and pour through a double-mesh strainer [I used cheesecloth]. Add the rest of the water and mix well. Serve over ice.

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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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