Hi everyone!
I joined Christie, Jan, Barb and Laila for part of their hike on the South Boulder Creek Trail on Saturday morning. I left them part way to head over to my CPR class and they apparently continued on for a great 4 mile hike.
Book Report:
Terri read and enjoyed a book that I had recommended to her - The Mezuzzah in the Madonna's Foot by Trudy Alexy - this is an amazing account of Jews who survived the Nazis and World War II.
Book Description
Acclaimed in the Progressive's "Best Reading of 1993," these thrilling and harrowing firsthand stories of survivors and their rescuers vividly reveal the secret history of the Jews who found asylum from Hitler's Final Solution under Franco's Fascist regime.
Cass told us about a book that she just loved - she read it with her Spanish Book Club and it is due out in the English version in just a few months. The title is La Isla de los Amores Infinitos by Daina Chaviano. Apparently, Amazon is taking advance orders. Unfortunately, the review on Amazon right now is only available in Spanish!
I am on the last few pages of a wonderful new historical novel by Geraldine Brooks - People of the Book. She weaves a fascinating story about the journey throughout history of a precious and sacred Jewish manuscript, the Sarajevo Haggadah. It is both historical fiction and somewhat of a mystery/detective story.
Amazon.com
Amazon Significant Seven, January 2008: One of the earliest Jewish religious volumes to be illuminated with images, the Sarajevo Haggadah survived centuries of purges and wars thanks to people of all faiths who risked their lives to safeguard it. Geraldine Brooks, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of March, has turned the intriguing but sparely detailed history of this precious volume into an emotionally rich, thrilling fictionalization that retraces its turbulent journey. In the hands of Hanna Heath, an impassioned rare-book expert restoring the manuscript in 1996 Sarajevo, it yields clues to its guardians and whereabouts: an insect wing, a wine stain, salt crystals, and a white hair. While readers experience crucial moments in the book's history through a series of fascinating, fleshed-out short stories, Hanna pursues its secrets scientifically, and finds that some interests will still risk everything in the name of protecting this treasure. A complex love story, thrilling mystery, vivid history lesson, and celebration of the enduring power of ideas, People of the Book will surely be hailed as one of the best of 2008. --Mari Malcolm
I am enjoying a new cookbook that I got recently - Alice Waters, of Chez Panisse http://www.chezpanisse.com/ fame, has written a wonderful book called The Art of Simple Food. Waters has been promoting and preparing organic, seasonal and local foods for many years. Chez Panisse is her fabulous restaurant in Berkeley, California. Jack and I were so lucky to have dined there many years ago. The book is a primer on preparing simple, uncomplicated foods, emphasizing the freshest ingredients. It is a perfect gift for both the newest and most experienced home cook. Check out the recipe below that we had last night!
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. The delicious dishes described in the latest cookbook from Chez Panisse founder Waters, such as a four-ingredient Soda Bread and Cauliflower Salad with Olives and Capers, are simple indeed, though the book's structure is complex, if intuitive. After a useful discussion of ingredients and equipment come chapters on techniques, such as making broth and soup. Each of these includes three or four recipes that rely on the technique described, which can lead to repetition (still preferable to a lack of guidance): a chapter on roasting contains two pages of instructions on roasting a chicken (including a hint to salt it a day in advance for juicy results), followed by a recipe for Roast Chicken that is simply an abbreviated version of those two pages. The final third of the book divides many more recipes traditionally into salads, pasta and so forth. Waters taps an almost endless supply of ideas for appealing and fresh yet low-stress dishes: Zucchini Ragout with Bacon and Tomato, Onion Custard Pie, Chocolate Crackle Cookies with almonds and a little brandy. Whether explaining why salting food properly is key or describing the steps to creating the ideal Grilled Cheese Sandwich, she continues to prove herself one of our best modern-day food writers. (Oct.)
Website of the Week: a great used book site - www.alibris.com
Podcast of the Week: The Get it Done Guy - A Quick and Dirty Guide to Work Less and Do More - http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/default.aspx
Vocabulary Word of the Week - Emeritus
Emeritus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Emeritus (pronounced /ɨˈmɛrɨtəs/) is an adjective that is used in the title of a retired professor, bishop or other professional. Emerita (/ɨˈmɛrɨtə/) was used for women, but is rarely used today. The term is used when a person of importance in a given profession retires, so that his or her former rank can still be used in his or her title. This is particularly useful when establishing the authority a person might have to comment, lecture or write on a particular subject.
The word is typically used as a postpositional adjective but can also be used as a preposition adjective. It is frequently capitalized when it forms part of a title. The word originated in the mid-18th century from Latin as the past participle of emereri meaning to "earn one's discharge by service". Emereri itself is a compound of the prefix e- (a variant of ex-) meaning "out of or from" and merēre meaning "earn". The word is always associated with the title, not the name, of a person. For example, "Professor Emeritus of Mathematics Alex Robertson".
Emeritus does not imply that the person must be retired from all duties of his or her previous title.
Cooking and Dining Report:
A lot more cooking has been happening around here this week, now that the cook is healthy again!
From Fine Cooking Magazine, we had Seared Flank Steak with Shallot-Mustard Sauce - a great, quick cooking and tasty dish - http://www.taunton.com/finecooking/recipes/flank-steak-shallot-mustard.aspx
Last night we had a great recipe from The Art of Simple Food for Linguine with Clams- her basic recipe is for a white sauce but I tried one of her variations using fennel and tomato sauce - really interesting flavor:
Wash well under cold water, 2 pounds small clams (I used Littleneck)
Heat a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Heat in a heavy-bottomed pan: 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
When hot, add 1 medium fennel bulb, chopped fine. Cook over medium heat until almost soft, about 5 minutes, then add the clams, 5 finely chopped garlic cloves, pinch of dried chile flakes and 1/2 cup tomato sauce (I used marinara sauce). Cover and cook over medium high until the clams open, about 6 or 7 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook 3/4 pound of linguine according to package directions in the boiling salted water.
Once the clams have opened, stir in 1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley and 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil.
Drain the noodles well, toss with the clam sauce and more salt, if needed, and serve.
Two other cooking projects today - one is Crisp Roast Chicken prepared according to Cook's Illustrated technique for most crispy chicken. That turned out great - we enjoyed it for dinner tonight.
"For best flavor, use a high-quality chicken, such as one from Bell & Evans. Do not brine the bird; it will prohibit the skin from becoming crisp. The sheet of foil between the roasting pan and V-rack will keep drippings from burning and smoking."
INGREDIENTS
1 whole chicken (3 1/2 to 4 1/2 pounds), giblets removed and discarded
1 tablespoon kosher salt or 1 1/2 teaspoons table salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1. Place chicken breast-side down on work surface. Following photos above, use tip of sharp knife to make four 1-inch incisions along back of chicken. Using fingers or handle of wooden spoon, carefully separate skin from thighs and breast. Using metal skewer, poke 15 to 20 holes in fat deposits on top of breast halves and thighs. Tuck wing tips underneath chicken.
2. Combine salt, baking powder, and pepper in small bowl. Pat chicken dry with paper towels and sprinkle all over with salt mixture. Rub in mixture with hands, coating entire surface evenly. Set chicken, breast-side up, in V-rack set on rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate, uncovered, for 12 to 24 hours.
3. Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Using paring knife, poke 20 holes about 1 1/2 inches apart in 16- by 12-inch piece of foil. Place foil loosely in large roasting pan. Flip chicken so breast side faces down, and set V-rack in roasting pan on top of foil. Roast chicken 25 minutes.
4. Remove roasting pan from oven. Using 2 large wads of paper towels, rotate chicken breast-side up. Continue to roast until instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of breast registers 135 degrees, 15 to 25 minutes.
5. Increase oven temperature to 500 degrees. Continue to roast until skin is golden brown, crisp, and instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of breast registers 160 degrees and 175 degrees in thickest part of thigh, 10 to 20 minutes.
6. Transfer chicken to cutting board and let rest, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Carve and serve immediately.
The other cooking project is in the oven right now and will be our dinner tomorrow night - it looks and smells promising! From Fine Cooking Magazine, Slow-Cooked Pot Roast with Mustard and Horseradish Gravy. I am not preparing it in a slow cooker but rather in a dutch oven in a very slow oven. http://www.taunton.com/finecooking/recipes/slow-cooked-pot-roast-mustard-horseradish-gravy.aspx
Well, that's all for now - have a terrific week!
Love,
Susan
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Saturday Morning Walkers - February 20, 2008
Hi everyone!
Sorry for the delayed and abbreviated edition - I've been sick for the last several days but finally feeling better. I did get to our Saturday morning walk and coffee but that was the last time I ventured out of the house until this morning. We walked around North Boulder and ended up at Breadworks for coffee.
Book Report:
Barb and her book group read The Tender Bar, a memoir by J.R. Moehringer, a Pulitzer Prize winning writer for the Los Angeles Times
Amazon.com
"Long before it legally served me, the bar saved me," asserts J.R. Moehringer, and his compelling memoir The Tender Bar is the story of how and why. A Pulitzer-Prize winning writer for the Los Angeles Times, Moehringer grew up fatherless in pub-heavy Manhasset, New York, in a ramshackle house crammed with cousins and ruled by an eccentric, unkind grandfather. Desperate for a paternal figure, he turns first to his father, a DJ whom he can only access via the radio (Moehringer calls him The Voice and pictures him as "talking smoke"). When The Voice suddenly disappears from the airwaves, Moehringer turns to his hairless Uncle Charlie, and subsequently, Uncle Charlie's place of employment--a bar called Dickens that soon takes center stage. While Moehringer may occasionally resort to an overwrought metaphor (the footsteps of his family sound like "storm troopers on stilts"), his writing moves at a quick clip and his tale of a dysfunctional but tightly knit community is warmly told. "While I fear that we're drawn to what abandons us, and to what seems most likely to abandon us, in the end I believe we're defined by what embraces us," Moehringer says, and his story makes us believe it. --
Laila continues exploring Indian writers with The Twentieth Wife by Indu SundaresanAmazon.com
In The Twentieth Wife, first-time novelist Indu Sundaresan introduces readers to life inside a bejeweled, dazzling birdcage--the world of the Mughal Court's zenana, or imperial harem. Her heroine exercises power in the only way available to a woman in 17th-century India: from behind the veil. At the age of 8, Mehrunissa (the name means "Sun of Women") has already settled on her life's goal. After just one glimpse of his face, she wants to marry the Crown Prince Salim. And marry him she does, albeit some 26 years later, after overcoming the opposition of her family, an ill-starred early marriage, numerous miscarriages, and the scheming of other wives. The story's gothic trappings have a basis in fact. As Sundaresan writes in her afterword, the historical Mehrunissa exercised far more power than was usually allotted to an empress, issuing coins in her own name, giving orders, trading, owning property, and patronizing the arts. (Curiously, the book ends just as Mehrunissa is ascending to the throne as empress, dwelling on her years of powerlessness and struggle rather than those of her enormous political influence.) Although the empress was fabled in her time, we know next to nothing about the woman herself. Unfortunately, Sundaresan does little to flesh out this intriguing figure. Despite the vivid historical detail, the reader remains more aware of the author's presence--and her own contemporary take on women's issues--than of her characters' inner lives
Jan recommends a DVD called Yesterday.
Product Description
Yesterday- A spirited and happy young mother living in a remote village in South Africa's Zululand - doesn't have an easy life. A heart-breaking film
Website and Podcast of the Week - www.nextbook.org - Nextbook is a Jewish cultural organization that produces an online magazine, a book series and cultural events. I don't think you have to be Jewish to appreciate some of their offerings. Check it out.
Vocabulary Word of the Week - catachresis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Catachresis (from Greek κατάχρησις), which literally means the incorrect or improper use of a word -- such as using the word decimate (e.g., "they were severely decimated") mistakenly for devastated -- is a term used to denote the (usually intentional) use of any figure of speech that flagrantly violates the norms of a language community. Compare malapropism.
Catachresis is often used to convey extreme emotion or alienation, and is prominent in baroque literature and, more recently, in the avant-garde.
Cooking and Dining Report - nothing from our house this week but Jexy made a very successful dinner on their weekend away in the mountains of California.
From Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa, she made Linguine with Shrimp Scampi - http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_32175,00.html
She served it with Arugula with Parmesan - http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_32175,00.html - both of these recipes are from the Barefoot Contessa Family Style Cookbook.
An upcoming event to mark on your calendar:
The 60th Annual Conference on World Affairs is scheduled for April 7 through April 11. This is a world-renowned event hosted each year by the University of Colorado. "The Conference on World Affairs was founded in 1948, originally as a forum on international affairs. CWA expanded rapidly to encompass the arts, media, science, diplomacy, technology, environment, spirituality, politics, business, medicine, human rights, and so on. Roger Ebert, who holds a record of thirty-seven consecutive years of participation in the CWA, refers to the event as “the Conference on Everything Conceivable.” Every seminar and event is absolutely free - check out the schedule and list of participants! http://www.colorado.edu/cwa/information.html
I hope that all of you stay well - enjoy the rest of the week!
Love,
Susan
Sorry for the delayed and abbreviated edition - I've been sick for the last several days but finally feeling better. I did get to our Saturday morning walk and coffee but that was the last time I ventured out of the house until this morning. We walked around North Boulder and ended up at Breadworks for coffee.
Book Report:
Barb and her book group read The Tender Bar, a memoir by J.R. Moehringer, a Pulitzer Prize winning writer for the Los Angeles Times
Amazon.com
"Long before it legally served me, the bar saved me," asserts J.R. Moehringer, and his compelling memoir The Tender Bar is the story of how and why. A Pulitzer-Prize winning writer for the Los Angeles Times, Moehringer grew up fatherless in pub-heavy Manhasset, New York, in a ramshackle house crammed with cousins and ruled by an eccentric, unkind grandfather. Desperate for a paternal figure, he turns first to his father, a DJ whom he can only access via the radio (Moehringer calls him The Voice and pictures him as "talking smoke"). When The Voice suddenly disappears from the airwaves, Moehringer turns to his hairless Uncle Charlie, and subsequently, Uncle Charlie's place of employment--a bar called Dickens that soon takes center stage. While Moehringer may occasionally resort to an overwrought metaphor (the footsteps of his family sound like "storm troopers on stilts"), his writing moves at a quick clip and his tale of a dysfunctional but tightly knit community is warmly told. "While I fear that we're drawn to what abandons us, and to what seems most likely to abandon us, in the end I believe we're defined by what embraces us," Moehringer says, and his story makes us believe it. --
Laila continues exploring Indian writers with The Twentieth Wife by Indu SundaresanAmazon.com
In The Twentieth Wife, first-time novelist Indu Sundaresan introduces readers to life inside a bejeweled, dazzling birdcage--the world of the Mughal Court's zenana, or imperial harem. Her heroine exercises power in the only way available to a woman in 17th-century India: from behind the veil. At the age of 8, Mehrunissa (the name means "Sun of Women") has already settled on her life's goal. After just one glimpse of his face, she wants to marry the Crown Prince Salim. And marry him she does, albeit some 26 years later, after overcoming the opposition of her family, an ill-starred early marriage, numerous miscarriages, and the scheming of other wives. The story's gothic trappings have a basis in fact. As Sundaresan writes in her afterword, the historical Mehrunissa exercised far more power than was usually allotted to an empress, issuing coins in her own name, giving orders, trading, owning property, and patronizing the arts. (Curiously, the book ends just as Mehrunissa is ascending to the throne as empress, dwelling on her years of powerlessness and struggle rather than those of her enormous political influence.) Although the empress was fabled in her time, we know next to nothing about the woman herself. Unfortunately, Sundaresan does little to flesh out this intriguing figure. Despite the vivid historical detail, the reader remains more aware of the author's presence--and her own contemporary take on women's issues--than of her characters' inner lives
Jan recommends a DVD called Yesterday.
Product Description
Yesterday- A spirited and happy young mother living in a remote village in South Africa's Zululand - doesn't have an easy life. A heart-breaking film
Website and Podcast of the Week - www.nextbook.org - Nextbook is a Jewish cultural organization that produces an online magazine, a book series and cultural events. I don't think you have to be Jewish to appreciate some of their offerings. Check it out.
Vocabulary Word of the Week - catachresis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Catachresis (from Greek κατάχρησις), which literally means the incorrect or improper use of a word -- such as using the word decimate (e.g., "they were severely decimated") mistakenly for devastated -- is a term used to denote the (usually intentional) use of any figure of speech that flagrantly violates the norms of a language community. Compare malapropism.
Catachresis is often used to convey extreme emotion or alienation, and is prominent in baroque literature and, more recently, in the avant-garde.
Cooking and Dining Report - nothing from our house this week but Jexy made a very successful dinner on their weekend away in the mountains of California.
From Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa, she made Linguine with Shrimp Scampi - http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_32175,00.html
She served it with Arugula with Parmesan - http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_32175,00.html - both of these recipes are from the Barefoot Contessa Family Style Cookbook.
An upcoming event to mark on your calendar:
The 60th Annual Conference on World Affairs is scheduled for April 7 through April 11. This is a world-renowned event hosted each year by the University of Colorado. "The Conference on World Affairs was founded in 1948, originally as a forum on international affairs. CWA expanded rapidly to encompass the arts, media, science, diplomacy, technology, environment, spirituality, politics, business, medicine, human rights, and so on. Roger Ebert, who holds a record of thirty-seven consecutive years of participation in the CWA, refers to the event as “the Conference on Everything Conceivable.” Every seminar and event is absolutely free - check out the schedule and list of participants! http://www.colorado.edu/cwa/information.html
I hope that all of you stay well - enjoy the rest of the week!
Love,
Susan
Saturday Morning Walkers - February 11, 2008
Hi everyone!
Actually starting to write this edition on Sunday morning, February 10 sitting in Libby and David's gorgeous new apartment in Brooklyn. The floor to ceiling windows in the living room/dining room/kitchen area have an incredible view across the East River of the New York skyline, featuring the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building.
I arrived here on Friday morning following my first experience on a “red-eye” from Denver to New York. Jack had been in New York all week on business and I was meeting him here. In between naps on Friday, David and I went to lunch at a funky little place here in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, The Egg. I had a yummy grilled cheese sandwich on 5 grain bread (healthy, huh?) and David had a amazing looking cheeseburger. Here’s a review - http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/egg/
When Jack arrived at the apartment at the end of the day, we headed out for dinner at a tiny little French bistro in Long Island City which is just minutes away in Queens. I had heard about Tournesol after listening to the audiobook memoir,Julie and Julia by Julie Powell. In an interview, Julie Powell, who lives in Long Island City, was asked about her favorite restaurant and she talked about Tournesol. I mentioned that to Libby and it turns out that it is one of David’s favorite spots. We were not disappointed! Libby had skate with cauliflower gratin, David had braised lamb with ratatouille, Jack had steak frite with béarnaise and I had flounder with ratatouille. Check out this review - http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/tournesol/
Saturday morning, we were up early and out for a walk to the dog park with Violet, Libby and David’s Black Russian Terrier. We had a wonderful waffle breakfast back at the house and then headed out for a ride around Brooklyn so I could see the apartment building and neighborhood, Flatbush, that my aunt and uncle lived in when I was a kid. Our family has strong roots in Brooklyn and I spent a lot of time there when I was growing up on Long Island. It was a nostalgic tour for me. We had intended to visit the Brooklyn Museum (the 2nd largest museum in NYC) but got sidetracked when we ventured into the aircraft museum at Floyd Bennett Field. It turned out to be a fascinating personal tour of this hangar filled with restored aircraft led by a very sweet volunteer, Tony.
The highlight of the afternoon was pizza at a little joint called Di Fara Pizza on Avenue J in the Midwood section of Brooklyn - Mandy's dad, Martin went to Midwood High School. Dominic DeMarco has been making every pizza there for the last 40 years, always assisted by a family member. Check out the review: http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7381047/
We had big plans for Saturday night - a before theatre dinner at a wonderful seafood restaurant on West 43rd and Ninth Avenue called Esca. It was a delicious meal and the service was impeccable. We even got to chat with Chef David Pasternack. http://www.esca-nyc.com/.
Following dinner, we enjoyed a terrific play at the Music Box Theatre on 45th Street. It was The Farnsworth Invention starring Hank Azaria. This play by West Wing's creator, Aaron Sorkin, deals with the invention of television and the conflict between RCA founder David Sarnoff and inventor Filo T. Farnsworth. The actor who played Farnsworth, Jimmi Simpson, was outstanding.
When I left off writing on Sunday morning (I'm now back home on Monday night and trying to catch up!), we were getting ready to head out for brunch at the same restaurant that David and I had lunch in on Friday, The Egg. Great breakfast, especially the cheese grits and homemade sausage. Jack had oatmeal which was filled with pears, raisins and figs - looked yummy!
We'll skip the book reports and other cooking reports for this week - I have started Geraldine Brooks new novel, People of the Book and am already hooked. More later.....
Website of the Week - http://www.fictionnationonline.com/ - book review site
Podcast of the Week - http://www.dongenova.com/shows_podcast.html - All You Can Eat podcast - about food and wine
That's all for now.....
Love,
Susan
Actually starting to write this edition on Sunday morning, February 10 sitting in Libby and David's gorgeous new apartment in Brooklyn. The floor to ceiling windows in the living room/dining room/kitchen area have an incredible view across the East River of the New York skyline, featuring the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building.
I arrived here on Friday morning following my first experience on a “red-eye” from Denver to New York. Jack had been in New York all week on business and I was meeting him here. In between naps on Friday, David and I went to lunch at a funky little place here in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, The Egg. I had a yummy grilled cheese sandwich on 5 grain bread (healthy, huh?) and David had a amazing looking cheeseburger. Here’s a review - http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/egg/
When Jack arrived at the apartment at the end of the day, we headed out for dinner at a tiny little French bistro in Long Island City which is just minutes away in Queens. I had heard about Tournesol after listening to the audiobook memoir,Julie and Julia by Julie Powell. In an interview, Julie Powell, who lives in Long Island City, was asked about her favorite restaurant and she talked about Tournesol. I mentioned that to Libby and it turns out that it is one of David’s favorite spots. We were not disappointed! Libby had skate with cauliflower gratin, David had braised lamb with ratatouille, Jack had steak frite with béarnaise and I had flounder with ratatouille. Check out this review - http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/tournesol/
Saturday morning, we were up early and out for a walk to the dog park with Violet, Libby and David’s Black Russian Terrier. We had a wonderful waffle breakfast back at the house and then headed out for a ride around Brooklyn so I could see the apartment building and neighborhood, Flatbush, that my aunt and uncle lived in when I was a kid. Our family has strong roots in Brooklyn and I spent a lot of time there when I was growing up on Long Island. It was a nostalgic tour for me. We had intended to visit the Brooklyn Museum (the 2nd largest museum in NYC) but got sidetracked when we ventured into the aircraft museum at Floyd Bennett Field. It turned out to be a fascinating personal tour of this hangar filled with restored aircraft led by a very sweet volunteer, Tony.
The highlight of the afternoon was pizza at a little joint called Di Fara Pizza on Avenue J in the Midwood section of Brooklyn - Mandy's dad, Martin went to Midwood High School. Dominic DeMarco has been making every pizza there for the last 40 years, always assisted by a family member. Check out the review: http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7381047/
We had big plans for Saturday night - a before theatre dinner at a wonderful seafood restaurant on West 43rd and Ninth Avenue called Esca. It was a delicious meal and the service was impeccable. We even got to chat with Chef David Pasternack. http://www.esca-nyc.com/.
Following dinner, we enjoyed a terrific play at the Music Box Theatre on 45th Street. It was The Farnsworth Invention starring Hank Azaria. This play by West Wing's creator, Aaron Sorkin, deals with the invention of television and the conflict between RCA founder David Sarnoff and inventor Filo T. Farnsworth. The actor who played Farnsworth, Jimmi Simpson, was outstanding.
When I left off writing on Sunday morning (I'm now back home on Monday night and trying to catch up!), we were getting ready to head out for brunch at the same restaurant that David and I had lunch in on Friday, The Egg. Great breakfast, especially the cheese grits and homemade sausage. Jack had oatmeal which was filled with pears, raisins and figs - looked yummy!
We'll skip the book reports and other cooking reports for this week - I have started Geraldine Brooks new novel, People of the Book and am already hooked. More later.....
Website of the Week - http://www.fictionnationonline.com/ - book review site
Podcast of the Week - http://www.dongenova.com/shows_podcast.html - All You Can Eat podcast - about food and wine
That's all for now.....
Love,
Susan
Saturday Morning Walkers - February 3, 2008
Hi everyone!
As I write this today, Jack and I are watching Michelle Obama, Caroline Kennedy and Oprah Winfrey and yes, Maria Shriver (pretty gutsy!) speak at the rally for Barack Obama at UCLA. It is so energizing and motivating - I just want to remind all of you who have the opportunity to vote on Tuesday in a primary or a caucus to please do that and become a part of this historic election.
Yesterday, Mary led us on our "first Saturday of the month" walk and meeting at Caffe Sole. Mary, Christie, Andrea and I missed the rest of you but we had a lovely walk and talk.
Book Report:
I finished two books that have been mentioned on the blog before but they are definintely worth repeating.
Jenn shared with me a wonderful coming-of-age novel by Jim Lynch, The Highest Tide.
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. The fertile strangeness of marine tidal life becomes a subtly executed metaphor for the bewilderments of adolescence in this tender and authentic coming-of-age novel, Lynch's first. As a precocious, undersized 13-year-old living on the shore of Puget Sound, in Washington State, Miles O'Malley has developed a consuming passion for the abundant life of the tidal flats. His simple pleasure in observing is tested and complicated over the course of a remarkable summer, when he finds a giant squid, a discovery that brings him the unwelcome attention of scientists, TV reporters and a local cult. Meanwhile, Miles's remote parents are considering a divorce; his best friend, Florence, an elderly retired psychic, is dying of a degenerative disease; his sex-obsessed buddy, Phelps, mocks his science-geek knowledge; and his desperate crush on Angie Stegner, the troubled girl next door, both inspires and humiliates him. Events build toward the date of a record high tide, and Miles slowly sorts out his place in the adult world. While occasionally Lynch packs too much into a small story, this moving, unusual take on the summers of childhood conveys a contagious sense of wonder at the variety and mystery of the natural world.
I listened to an audio version of the memoir Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet. This was a recommendation from Jeff who had seen a show on the Discovery Channel which featured Tammet, called Brainman.
Tammet is one of only a handful of autistic savants and this is a unique opportunity to learn about this phenomenon from his own perspective.
From Audible.com
One of the world's 50 living autistic savants is the first and only to tell his compelling and inspiring life story and explain how his incredible mind works.
Worldwide, there are fewer than 50 living savants, those autistic individuals who can perform miraculous mental calculations or artistic feats. (Think Dustin Hoffman's character in Rain Man.) Until now, none of them has been able to discuss his or her thought processes, much less write a book. Daniel Tammet is the first.
Tammet's problems were apparent from childhood. He was shunned by his classmates and often resorted to rocking and humming quietly. Yet he could memorize almost anything, and his math and language skills were astonishing. By high school, Daniel was diagnosed as autistic, and he began to discover his own superhuman abilities: calculating huge sums in his head in seconds, learning new languages in one week, and memorizing more than 22,000 digits of pi.
With heart-melting simplicity and astonishing self-awareness, Born on a Blue Day tells Daniel's story: from his childhood frustrations to adult triumphs, while explaining how his mind works. He thinks in pictures. He sees numbers as complex shapes: 37 is lumpy like porridge; 89 reminds him of falling snow. Today, Daniel has emerged as one of the world's most fascinating minds and inspiring stories. His brain has amazed scientists for years, and everyone will be moved by his remarkable life story.
Website of the Week: www.savethechildren.org - check out their great campaign for Valentines Day to raise money to end poverty among children - kids can make small donations and send valentines.
Podcast of the Week: http://www.cspan.org/podcast/ - many of our favorite shows from TV's C-span, including Booknotes and Road to the White House.
Vocabulary Word of the Week - savant
sa·vant (s-vänt)
n.
1. A learned person; a scholar.
2. An idiot savant.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[French, learned, savant, from Old French, present participle of savoir, to know, from Vulgar Latin sapre, from Latin sapere, to be wise; see sep- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Cooking and Dining Report:
I've got some great recipes to share - this week was Jack's birthday and I enjoyed preparing this dinner - all the recipes are from Fine Cooking Magazine:
Arugula Salad with Blood Oranges, Fennel & Ricotta Salata - http://www.taunton.com/finecooking/recipes/arugula-salad-blood-oranges.aspx?LangType=1033&ac=fp
Steak au Poivre - http://www.taunton.com/finecooking/recipes/steak_au_poivre.aspx
Creamy Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes - http://www.taunton.com/finecooking/recipes/creamy_mashed_potatoes.aspx
Chocolate-Espresso Mini Souffles - http://www.taunton.com/finecooking/recipes/chocolate-espresso-mini-souffles.aspx?LangType=1033&ac=fp - important note - there is an error in the list of ingredients - it should be two eggs separated, not one.
One other "keeper" of a recipe is Bucatini in a Spicy Tomato Sauce with Crisped Pancetta - also from Fine Cooking. I couldn't find bucatini but spaghetti worked just fine. http://www.taunton.com/finecooking/recipes/bucatini-spicy-tomato-sauce-crisped-pancetta.aspx
That's all for now - once again, don't forget to vote this Tuesday if your state is part of Super Tuesday.
Love,
Susan
As I write this today, Jack and I are watching Michelle Obama, Caroline Kennedy and Oprah Winfrey and yes, Maria Shriver (pretty gutsy!) speak at the rally for Barack Obama at UCLA. It is so energizing and motivating - I just want to remind all of you who have the opportunity to vote on Tuesday in a primary or a caucus to please do that and become a part of this historic election.
Yesterday, Mary led us on our "first Saturday of the month" walk and meeting at Caffe Sole. Mary, Christie, Andrea and I missed the rest of you but we had a lovely walk and talk.
Book Report:
I finished two books that have been mentioned on the blog before but they are definintely worth repeating.
Jenn shared with me a wonderful coming-of-age novel by Jim Lynch, The Highest Tide.
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. The fertile strangeness of marine tidal life becomes a subtly executed metaphor for the bewilderments of adolescence in this tender and authentic coming-of-age novel, Lynch's first. As a precocious, undersized 13-year-old living on the shore of Puget Sound, in Washington State, Miles O'Malley has developed a consuming passion for the abundant life of the tidal flats. His simple pleasure in observing is tested and complicated over the course of a remarkable summer, when he finds a giant squid, a discovery that brings him the unwelcome attention of scientists, TV reporters and a local cult. Meanwhile, Miles's remote parents are considering a divorce; his best friend, Florence, an elderly retired psychic, is dying of a degenerative disease; his sex-obsessed buddy, Phelps, mocks his science-geek knowledge; and his desperate crush on Angie Stegner, the troubled girl next door, both inspires and humiliates him. Events build toward the date of a record high tide, and Miles slowly sorts out his place in the adult world. While occasionally Lynch packs too much into a small story, this moving, unusual take on the summers of childhood conveys a contagious sense of wonder at the variety and mystery of the natural world.
I listened to an audio version of the memoir Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet. This was a recommendation from Jeff who had seen a show on the Discovery Channel which featured Tammet, called Brainman.
Tammet is one of only a handful of autistic savants and this is a unique opportunity to learn about this phenomenon from his own perspective.
From Audible.com
One of the world's 50 living autistic savants is the first and only to tell his compelling and inspiring life story and explain how his incredible mind works.
Worldwide, there are fewer than 50 living savants, those autistic individuals who can perform miraculous mental calculations or artistic feats. (Think Dustin Hoffman's character in Rain Man.) Until now, none of them has been able to discuss his or her thought processes, much less write a book. Daniel Tammet is the first.
Tammet's problems were apparent from childhood. He was shunned by his classmates and often resorted to rocking and humming quietly. Yet he could memorize almost anything, and his math and language skills were astonishing. By high school, Daniel was diagnosed as autistic, and he began to discover his own superhuman abilities: calculating huge sums in his head in seconds, learning new languages in one week, and memorizing more than 22,000 digits of pi.
With heart-melting simplicity and astonishing self-awareness, Born on a Blue Day tells Daniel's story: from his childhood frustrations to adult triumphs, while explaining how his mind works. He thinks in pictures. He sees numbers as complex shapes: 37 is lumpy like porridge; 89 reminds him of falling snow. Today, Daniel has emerged as one of the world's most fascinating minds and inspiring stories. His brain has amazed scientists for years, and everyone will be moved by his remarkable life story.
Website of the Week: www.savethechildren.org - check out their great campaign for Valentines Day to raise money to end poverty among children - kids can make small donations and send valentines.
Podcast of the Week: http://www.cspan.org/podcast/ - many of our favorite shows from TV's C-span, including Booknotes and Road to the White House.
Vocabulary Word of the Week - savant
sa·vant (s-vänt)
n.
1. A learned person; a scholar.
2. An idiot savant.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[French, learned, savant, from Old French, present participle of savoir, to know, from Vulgar Latin sapre, from Latin sapere, to be wise; see sep- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Cooking and Dining Report:
I've got some great recipes to share - this week was Jack's birthday and I enjoyed preparing this dinner - all the recipes are from Fine Cooking Magazine:
Arugula Salad with Blood Oranges, Fennel & Ricotta Salata - http://www.taunton.com/finecooking/recipes/arugula-salad-blood-oranges.aspx?LangType=1033&ac=fp
Steak au Poivre - http://www.taunton.com/finecooking/recipes/steak_au_poivre.aspx
Creamy Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes - http://www.taunton.com/finecooking/recipes/creamy_mashed_potatoes.aspx
Chocolate-Espresso Mini Souffles - http://www.taunton.com/finecooking/recipes/chocolate-espresso-mini-souffles.aspx?LangType=1033&ac=fp - important note - there is an error in the list of ingredients - it should be two eggs separated, not one.
One other "keeper" of a recipe is Bucatini in a Spicy Tomato Sauce with Crisped Pancetta - also from Fine Cooking. I couldn't find bucatini but spaghetti worked just fine. http://www.taunton.com/finecooking/recipes/bucatini-spicy-tomato-sauce-crisped-pancetta.aspx
That's all for now - once again, don't forget to vote this Tuesday if your state is part of Super Tuesday.
Love,
Susan
Saturday Morning Walkers - January 27, 2008
Hi everyone!
Some of the walkers - Mary, Barb, Andrea and Laila (hope I haven't left anyone out) - walked out in Lafayette on Saturday and met up with Chris at Cino's Cafe. I am sorry I missed being with all of you but I did have a wonderful day at the Tattered Cover Writers Respond to Readers event. I was happy to have met up with Lynda Parker, an old friend of Chris', and a few of her friends. They graciously invited me to have lunch with them which was just lovely.
Book Report: I'd like to tell you a little bit about each of the writers that participated in the event. I wasn't familiar with any of them and hadn't read even one of their books prior to the event. I generally do try to read at least one of the books but it really doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the presentations if you haven't gotten to do that. This was an eclectic collection of four bright, witty and entertaining young women who shared their personal stories, their writing process and readings from their books.
Tahmima Anam is a first-time novelist who was born in Bangladesh. Her novel, The Golden Age, portrays a family in East Pakistan caught up in the Liberation War of 1971 fighting for their freedom to become Bangladesh. This is the first novel in what will become a trilogy following this family prior to the war, during the conflict and finally in contemporary Bangladesh.
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. The experiences of a woman drawn into the 1971 Bangladesh war for independence illuminate the conflict's wider resonances in Anam's impressive debut, the first installment in a proposed trilogy. Rehana Haque is a widow and university student in Dhaka with two children, 17-year-old daughter Maya and 19-year-old son Soheil. As she follows the daily patterns of domesticity—cooking, visiting the cemetery, marking religious holidays—she is only dimly aware of the growing political unrest until Pakistani tanks arrive and the fighting begins. Suddenly, Rehana's family is in peril and her children become involved in the rebellion. The elegantly understated restraint with which Anam recounts ensuing events gives credibility to Rehana's evolution from a devoted mother to a woman who allows her son's guerrilla comrades to bury guns in her backyard and who shelters a Bengali army major after he is wounded. The reader takes the emotional journey from atmospheric scenes of the marketplace to the mayhem of invasion, the ruin of the city, evidence of the rape and torture of Hindus and Bengali nationalists, and the stench and squalor of a refugee camp. Rehana's metamorphosis encapsulates her country's tragedy and makes for an immersive, wrenching narrative
Samantha Hunt has written a novel based on the life of scientist and inventor, Nikola Tesla - The Invention of Everything Else. She did impeccable research into the entire life and work of Tesla, but the focus of the novel is on the later years of his life spent living in the classic Hotel New Yorker in New York City.
Book Description
A wondrous imagining of an unlikely friendship between the eccentric inventor Nikola Tesla and a young chambermaid in the Hotel New Yorker where Tesla lives out his last days From the moment she first catches sight of the Hotel New Yorkers most famous resident on New Years Day 1943, Louisa -- obsessed with radio dramas and the secret lives of the guests -- is determined to befriend this strange man. As Louisa discovers their shared affinity for pigeons, she also begins to piece together Teslas extraordinary story of life as an immigrant, a genius, and a halfhearted capitalist. Meanwhile, Louisa-faced with her fathers imminent departure in a time machine to reunite with his late wife, and pleasantly unsettled by the arrival in her life of a mysterious mechanic (perhaps from the future) named Arthur -- begins to suspect that she has understood something about the relationship of love and invention that Tesla, for all his brilliance, never did. The Invention of Everything Else luminously resurrects one of the greatest scientists of all time, Nikola Tesla, while magically transporting us -- la Steven Millhauser and Michael Chabon -- to an early twentieth-century New York City thrumming with energy, wonder, and possibility.
Min Jin Lee was born in Korea and immigrated with her family to Queens, New York when she was 7 years old. Her first novel, Free Food for Millionaires, features characters based on her experiences growing up in New York.
From Publishers Weekly
In her noteworthy debut, Lee filters through a lively postfeminist perspective a tale of first-generation immigrants stuck between stodgy parents and the hip new world. Lee's heroine, 22-year-old Casey Han, graduates magna cum laude in economics from Princeton with a taste for expensive clothes and an "enviable golf handicap," but hasn't found a "real" job yet, so her father kicks her out of his house. She heads to her white boyfriend's apartment only to find him in bed with two sorority girls. Next stop: running up her credit card at the Carlyle Hotel in New York City. Casey's luck turns after a chance encounter with Ella Shim, an old acquaintance. Ella gives Casey a place to stay, while Ella's fiancé gets Casey a "low pay, high abuse" job at his investment firm and Ella's cousin Unu becomes Casey's new romance. Lee creates a large canvas, following Casey as she shifts between jobs, careers, friends, mentors and lovers; Ella and Ted as they hit a blazingly rocky patch; and Casey's mother, Leah, as she belatedly discovers her own talents and desires. Though a first-novel timidity sometimes weakens the narrative, Lee's take on contemporary intergenerational cultural friction is wide-ranging, sympathetic and well worth reading
Heidi Julavits is a journalist, author and founding editor of The Believer Magazine, a literary journal. She has written three novels, the latest of which is The Uses of Enchantment. I have to admit that I did start listening to this book on my Ipod but lost interest part way through. After hearing Heidi yesterday, I am now interested in picking it up again.
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. On November 7, 1985, Mary Veal, 16, a not especially distinguished upper-middle-class girl, disappears from New England's Semmering Academy. A month later she reappears at Semmering, claiming amnesia, but hinting at abduction and ravishment. The events in Believer editor Julavits's third, beautifully executed novel take place on three levels: one, dedicated to "what might have happened," is the story of the supposedly blank interval; another is dedicated to the inevitable therapeutic aftermath, as Mary's therapist, Dr. Hammer, tries to discover whether Mary is lying, either about the abduction or the amnesia; and the present of the novel, which revolves around the funeral of Mary's mother, Paula, in 1999. There, Mary feels not only the hostility of her sisters, Regina (an unsuccessful poet) and Gaby (a disheveled lesbian) but Paula's posthumous hostility. Or is that an illusion? This structure delicately balances between gothic and comic, allowing Julavits to play variations on Mary's life and on the '80s moral panic of repressed memory syndromes and wild fears of child abuse. While Julavits (The Effect of Living Backwards) sometimes lets an overheated style distract from her central story, as its various layers coalesce, the mystery of what did happen to Mary Veal will enthrall the reader to the very last page.
Website of the Week: http://www.depthperception.org/ - when we were having lunch yesterday, we talked about forming women's groups. Lynda told us about friends of hers who have developed a format for facilitating a women's group (could be a men's group also). Check out this website for more details on what they are doing.
Podcast of the Week: http://legallad.quickanddirtytips.com/ - part of the Quick and Dirty Tips series - short, succinct podcast answering common legal questions.
Vocabulary Word of the Week - diatribe
Pronunciation: diatribe
\ˈdī-ə-ˌtrīb\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Latin diatriba, from Greek diatribē pastime, discourse, from diatribein to spend (time), wear away, from dia- + tribein to rub — more at throw
Date:
1581
1archaic : a prolonged discourse2: a bitter and abusive speech or writing3: ironic or satirical criticis
Cooking and Dining Report:
Not much cooking going on here this week but here's the recipe I'm using tonight for Linguine with Clam Sauce from Fine Cooking Magazine:
Serves two to three.
ingredients
24 littleneck clams
6 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1/3 cup dry white wine
5 Tbs. finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus a few whole leaves for garnish
3 large cloves garlic, minced
Kosher salt
8 oz. linguine or spaghettini (I like De Cecco, Due Pastori, and Rustichella d’Abruzzo brands)
Freshly ground black pepper
how to make
Scrub the clams under cold water and set aside. In a heavy 3-qt. saucepan, heat 3 Tbs. of the oil over medium heat. Add the pepper flakes and cook briefly to infuse the oil, about 20 seconds. Immediately add the wine, 2 Tbs. of the chopped parsley, and half of the minced garlic. Cook for 20 seconds and add the clams.
Cover and cook over medium-high heat, checking every 2 minutes and removing each clam as it opens. It will take 5 to 6 minutes total for all the clams to open. Transfer the clams to a cutting board and reserve the broth. Remove the clams from the shells and cut them in half, or quarters if they’re large. Return the clams to the broth. Discard the shells.
Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until it’s almost al dente, 6 to 9 minutes. Don’t overcook.
While the pasta is cooking, heat the remaining 3 Tbs. olive oil in a 10- or 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the remaining 3 Tbs. chopped parsley and the rest of the garlic and cook until the garlic is just soft, about 1 minute. Set the skillet aside.
When the pasta is done, reserve about 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water and then drain the pasta. Add the pasta, the clams, and the broth the clams were cooked in to the skillet. Return to low heat, toss the pasta in the sauce, and simmer for another minute to finish cooking it, adding a little of the pasta water if you prefer a wetter dish.
Taste for salt and add a large grind of black pepper. Serve immediately, garnished with the parsley leaves.
From Fine Cooking 88, pp. 69
Have a great week ahead!
Love,
Susan
Some of the walkers - Mary, Barb, Andrea and Laila (hope I haven't left anyone out) - walked out in Lafayette on Saturday and met up with Chris at Cino's Cafe. I am sorry I missed being with all of you but I did have a wonderful day at the Tattered Cover Writers Respond to Readers event. I was happy to have met up with Lynda Parker, an old friend of Chris', and a few of her friends. They graciously invited me to have lunch with them which was just lovely.
Book Report: I'd like to tell you a little bit about each of the writers that participated in the event. I wasn't familiar with any of them and hadn't read even one of their books prior to the event. I generally do try to read at least one of the books but it really doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the presentations if you haven't gotten to do that. This was an eclectic collection of four bright, witty and entertaining young women who shared their personal stories, their writing process and readings from their books.
Tahmima Anam is a first-time novelist who was born in Bangladesh. Her novel, The Golden Age, portrays a family in East Pakistan caught up in the Liberation War of 1971 fighting for their freedom to become Bangladesh. This is the first novel in what will become a trilogy following this family prior to the war, during the conflict and finally in contemporary Bangladesh.
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. The experiences of a woman drawn into the 1971 Bangladesh war for independence illuminate the conflict's wider resonances in Anam's impressive debut, the first installment in a proposed trilogy. Rehana Haque is a widow and university student in Dhaka with two children, 17-year-old daughter Maya and 19-year-old son Soheil. As she follows the daily patterns of domesticity—cooking, visiting the cemetery, marking religious holidays—she is only dimly aware of the growing political unrest until Pakistani tanks arrive and the fighting begins. Suddenly, Rehana's family is in peril and her children become involved in the rebellion. The elegantly understated restraint with which Anam recounts ensuing events gives credibility to Rehana's evolution from a devoted mother to a woman who allows her son's guerrilla comrades to bury guns in her backyard and who shelters a Bengali army major after he is wounded. The reader takes the emotional journey from atmospheric scenes of the marketplace to the mayhem of invasion, the ruin of the city, evidence of the rape and torture of Hindus and Bengali nationalists, and the stench and squalor of a refugee camp. Rehana's metamorphosis encapsulates her country's tragedy and makes for an immersive, wrenching narrative
Samantha Hunt has written a novel based on the life of scientist and inventor, Nikola Tesla - The Invention of Everything Else. She did impeccable research into the entire life and work of Tesla, but the focus of the novel is on the later years of his life spent living in the classic Hotel New Yorker in New York City.
Book Description
A wondrous imagining of an unlikely friendship between the eccentric inventor Nikola Tesla and a young chambermaid in the Hotel New Yorker where Tesla lives out his last days From the moment she first catches sight of the Hotel New Yorkers most famous resident on New Years Day 1943, Louisa -- obsessed with radio dramas and the secret lives of the guests -- is determined to befriend this strange man. As Louisa discovers their shared affinity for pigeons, she also begins to piece together Teslas extraordinary story of life as an immigrant, a genius, and a halfhearted capitalist. Meanwhile, Louisa-faced with her fathers imminent departure in a time machine to reunite with his late wife, and pleasantly unsettled by the arrival in her life of a mysterious mechanic (perhaps from the future) named Arthur -- begins to suspect that she has understood something about the relationship of love and invention that Tesla, for all his brilliance, never did. The Invention of Everything Else luminously resurrects one of the greatest scientists of all time, Nikola Tesla, while magically transporting us -- la Steven Millhauser and Michael Chabon -- to an early twentieth-century New York City thrumming with energy, wonder, and possibility.
Min Jin Lee was born in Korea and immigrated with her family to Queens, New York when she was 7 years old. Her first novel, Free Food for Millionaires, features characters based on her experiences growing up in New York.
From Publishers Weekly
In her noteworthy debut, Lee filters through a lively postfeminist perspective a tale of first-generation immigrants stuck between stodgy parents and the hip new world. Lee's heroine, 22-year-old Casey Han, graduates magna cum laude in economics from Princeton with a taste for expensive clothes and an "enviable golf handicap," but hasn't found a "real" job yet, so her father kicks her out of his house. She heads to her white boyfriend's apartment only to find him in bed with two sorority girls. Next stop: running up her credit card at the Carlyle Hotel in New York City. Casey's luck turns after a chance encounter with Ella Shim, an old acquaintance. Ella gives Casey a place to stay, while Ella's fiancé gets Casey a "low pay, high abuse" job at his investment firm and Ella's cousin Unu becomes Casey's new romance. Lee creates a large canvas, following Casey as she shifts between jobs, careers, friends, mentors and lovers; Ella and Ted as they hit a blazingly rocky patch; and Casey's mother, Leah, as she belatedly discovers her own talents and desires. Though a first-novel timidity sometimes weakens the narrative, Lee's take on contemporary intergenerational cultural friction is wide-ranging, sympathetic and well worth reading
Heidi Julavits is a journalist, author and founding editor of The Believer Magazine, a literary journal. She has written three novels, the latest of which is The Uses of Enchantment. I have to admit that I did start listening to this book on my Ipod but lost interest part way through. After hearing Heidi yesterday, I am now interested in picking it up again.
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. On November 7, 1985, Mary Veal, 16, a not especially distinguished upper-middle-class girl, disappears from New England's Semmering Academy. A month later she reappears at Semmering, claiming amnesia, but hinting at abduction and ravishment. The events in Believer editor Julavits's third, beautifully executed novel take place on three levels: one, dedicated to "what might have happened," is the story of the supposedly blank interval; another is dedicated to the inevitable therapeutic aftermath, as Mary's therapist, Dr. Hammer, tries to discover whether Mary is lying, either about the abduction or the amnesia; and the present of the novel, which revolves around the funeral of Mary's mother, Paula, in 1999. There, Mary feels not only the hostility of her sisters, Regina (an unsuccessful poet) and Gaby (a disheveled lesbian) but Paula's posthumous hostility. Or is that an illusion? This structure delicately balances between gothic and comic, allowing Julavits to play variations on Mary's life and on the '80s moral panic of repressed memory syndromes and wild fears of child abuse. While Julavits (The Effect of Living Backwards) sometimes lets an overheated style distract from her central story, as its various layers coalesce, the mystery of what did happen to Mary Veal will enthrall the reader to the very last page.
Website of the Week: http://www.depthperception.org/ - when we were having lunch yesterday, we talked about forming women's groups. Lynda told us about friends of hers who have developed a format for facilitating a women's group (could be a men's group also). Check out this website for more details on what they are doing.
Podcast of the Week: http://legallad.quickanddirtytips.com/ - part of the Quick and Dirty Tips series - short, succinct podcast answering common legal questions.
Vocabulary Word of the Week - diatribe
Pronunciation: diatribe
\ˈdī-ə-ˌtrīb\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Latin diatriba, from Greek diatribē pastime, discourse, from diatribein to spend (time), wear away, from dia- + tribein to rub — more at throw
Date:
1581
1archaic : a prolonged discourse2: a bitter and abusive speech or writing3: ironic or satirical criticis
Cooking and Dining Report:
Not much cooking going on here this week but here's the recipe I'm using tonight for Linguine with Clam Sauce from Fine Cooking Magazine:
Serves two to three.
ingredients
24 littleneck clams
6 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1/3 cup dry white wine
5 Tbs. finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus a few whole leaves for garnish
3 large cloves garlic, minced
Kosher salt
8 oz. linguine or spaghettini (I like De Cecco, Due Pastori, and Rustichella d’Abruzzo brands)
Freshly ground black pepper
how to make
Scrub the clams under cold water and set aside. In a heavy 3-qt. saucepan, heat 3 Tbs. of the oil over medium heat. Add the pepper flakes and cook briefly to infuse the oil, about 20 seconds. Immediately add the wine, 2 Tbs. of the chopped parsley, and half of the minced garlic. Cook for 20 seconds and add the clams.
Cover and cook over medium-high heat, checking every 2 minutes and removing each clam as it opens. It will take 5 to 6 minutes total for all the clams to open. Transfer the clams to a cutting board and reserve the broth. Remove the clams from the shells and cut them in half, or quarters if they’re large. Return the clams to the broth. Discard the shells.
Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until it’s almost al dente, 6 to 9 minutes. Don’t overcook.
While the pasta is cooking, heat the remaining 3 Tbs. olive oil in a 10- or 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the remaining 3 Tbs. chopped parsley and the rest of the garlic and cook until the garlic is just soft, about 1 minute. Set the skillet aside.
When the pasta is done, reserve about 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water and then drain the pasta. Add the pasta, the clams, and the broth the clams were cooked in to the skillet. Return to low heat, toss the pasta in the sauce, and simmer for another minute to finish cooking it, adding a little of the pasta water if you prefer a wetter dish.
Taste for salt and add a large grind of black pepper. Serve immediately, garnished with the parsley leaves.
From Fine Cooking 88, pp. 69
Have a great week ahead!
Love,
Susan
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Saturday Morning Walkers - January 20, 2008
Hi everyone,
It was my turn to lead our walk this morning but due to the freezing temperatures and icy sidewalks, I made the executive decision for us to have a nice leisurely breakfast at Maries instead of walking. Jan, Barb, Mary, Christie, Laila and I stayed warm, cozy and well-fed.
Book Report:
Jeff told us about a book that he just read and really liked - Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet - Here's what Jeff had to say, "Tammet is an autistic savant with Asperger's syndrome who was featured on a Discovery Channel program called "Brainman". Anyhow it is his autobiography and is fascinating. It looks at how he struggled growing up and how his condition affects how he sees the world. I could not put it down and finished the relatively short book within two days. Check it out."
From Publishers Weekly
This unique first-person account offers a window into the mind of a high-functioning, 27-year-old British autistic savant with Asperger's syndrome. Tammet's ability to think abstractly, deviate from routine, and empathize, interact and communicate with others is impaired, yet he's capable of incredible feats of memorization and mental calculation. Besides being able to effortlessly multiply and divide huge sums in his head with the speed and accuracy of a computer, Tammet, the subject of the 2005 documentary Brainman, learned Icelandic in a single week and recited the number pi up to the 22,514th digit, breaking the European record. He also experiences synesthesia, an unusual neurological syndrome that enables him to experience numbers and words as "shapes, colors, textures and motions." Tammet traces his life from a frustrating, withdrawn childhood and adolescence to his adult achievements, which include teaching in Lithuania, achieving financial independence with an educational Web site and sustaining a long-term romantic relationship. As one of only about 50 people living today with synesthesia and autism, Tammet's condition is intriguing to researchers; his ability to express himself clearly and with a surprisingly engaging tone (given his symptoms) makes for an account that will intrigue others as well.
Barb's book group is reading The Tender Bar, a memoir by J.R. Moehringer
Amazon.com
"Long before it legally served me, the bar saved me," asserts J.R. Moehringer, and his compelling memoir The Tender Bar is the story of how and why. A Pulitzer-Prize winning writer for the Los Angeles Times, Moehringer grew up fatherless in pub-heavy Manhasset, New York, in a ramshackle house crammed with cousins and ruled by an eccentric, unkind grandfather. Desperate for a paternal figure, he turns first to his father, a DJ whom he can only access via the radio (Moehringer calls him The Voice and pictures him as "talking smoke"). When The Voice suddenly disappears from the airwaves, Moehringer turns to his hairless Uncle Charlie, and subsequently, Uncle Charlie's place of employment--a bar called Dickens that soon takes center stage. While Moehringer may occasionally resort to an overwrought metaphor (the footsteps of his family sound like "storm troopers on stilts"), his writing moves at a quick clip and his tale of a dysfunctional but tightly knit community is warmly told. "While I fear that we're drawn to what abandons us, and to what seems most likely to abandon us, in the end I believe we're defined by what embraces us," Moehringer says, and his story makes us believe it.
Two suggestions from Jan - She is working her way through Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.
About the Author
Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the huge international phenomenon, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, and The Sunday Philosophy Club series. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and he was a law professor at the University of Botswana and at Edinburgh University. He lives in Scotland, where in his spare time he is a bassoonist in the RTO (Really Terrible Orchestra).
She is also reading Avoid Boring People, a memoir by scientist James D. Watson - I believe that Jan recommended avoiding this book!
From Booklist
In this memoir, Watson shows by example how to get to the top and stay there. Spanning his boyhood interest in birds to his resignation from Harvard University in 1976 to his leadership of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Watson's reminiscences encompass his claim to fame—cocredit for deducing DNA's structure in 1953––but focus on his ambition and his conduct of academic politics. He exhibits candor and indulges in gossip, qualities that contributed to the controversy surrounding his account of the DNA breakthrough (The Double Helix,1968) and that enliven this example of the academic memoir, not a genre renowned for excitement. Through arch character sketches, light self-deprecation, and a comic penchant for appraising the behavior and physique of the human female, Watson swings between his scientific aims and the resistance he perceived in Harvard's biology department to molecular genetics. Following each chapter, he appends "manners" derived from his experiences, which in the aggregate amount to making one's mark early and demanding commensurate perks thereafter. In angular and opinionated prose, Watson proves as engaging as ever. Taylor, Gilbert
Laila recommends Ganga: A Journey Down the Ganges River by Julian Crandall Hall.
Book Description
The Ganges has always been more than just an ordinary river. For millions of Indians, she is also a goddess. According to popular belief, bathing in “Mother Ganga” dissolves all sins, drinking her waters cures illness, and dying on her banks ensures freedom from the cycle of death and rebirth.
Yet there remains a paradox: while Ganga is worshipped devotedly, she is also exploited without remorse. Much of her water has been siphoned off for irrigation, toxic chemicals are dumped into her, and dams and barrages have been built on her course, causing immense damage. Ganga is in danger of dying—but if the river dies, will the goddess die too?
Website of the Week: http://bookmooch.com/ - Bookmooch is another book swap site like the Paperback Swap site I mentioned a while back. You earn points for books you give away and use them to "buy" books from other members. They also give you the opportunity to donate your points to different charities who need books - that is totally optional but a nice feature.
Podcast of the Week: NPR: It's All Politics - http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_detail.php?siteId=5495231 -
Vocabulary Word of the Week - kerfuffle
From World Wide Words:
A commotion or fuss.
You will most commonly come across this wonderfully expressive word in Britain and the British Commonwealth countries (though the White House spokesman Ari Fleischer used it in January this year). It is rather informal, though it often appears in newspapers. One of the odder things about it is that it changed its first letter in quite recent times. Up to the 1960s, it was written in all sorts of ways — curfuffle, carfuffle, cafuffle, cafoufle, even gefuffle (a clear indication that its main means of transmission was in speech, being too rarely written down to have established a standard spelling). But in that decade it suddenly became much more popular and settled on the current kerfuffle. Lexicographers suspect the change came in response to the way that a number of imitative words were spelled, like kerplop and kerplunk.
In those cases, the initial ker– adds emphasis, as it does in other words, perhaps onomatopoeic but perhaps also borrowing the first syllable of crash. But we know kerfuffle was originally Scots and it’s thought that its first part came from Scots Gaelic car, to twist or bend. The second bit is more of a puzzle: there is a Scots verb fuffle (now known only in local dialect), to throw into disorder, dishevel, or ruffle. No obvious origin for it is known and experts suspect it was an imitative word. It is probably linked with Scots fuff, to emit puffs of smoke or steam, definitely imitative, which in the late eighteenth century also had a sense of going off in a huff or flying into a temper.
Some specialists think kerfuffle is also related to the Irish cior thual, confusion or disorder. It seems to be a minority opinion, though.
New this week: DVD recommendation - Jan saw Wit, an HBO adaptation of a very powerful and moving story starring Emma Thompson as a woman facing terminal cancer. You can check out the review and details at http://www.hbo.com/films/wit/.
Cooking and Dining Report:
Some good cooking going on in North Boulder this past week - Monday night we had book group at Janet's house and she made her delicious Spicy Shrimp in Coconut Milk - http://www.recipezaar.com/22164 - even someone like me who doesn't generally like coconut really loves this dish.
I helped out with the appetizers and made Butternut-Squash Brushcetta, a recipe from 'Imo Restaurant in New York City which appeared in New York Magazine - http://nymag.com/nymetro/food/inseason/10442/ - it was very interesting and I would make it again but next time I would splurge and get the already peeled and diced butternut squash you can get at Whole Foods.
I also made some very fun bite-size Crabmeat-Avocado Quesadillas with Mango Salsa (you could certanly use regular salsa) I also served them with sour cream - these were from Fine Cooking Magazine - http://notasgoodasporkcracklins.blogspot.com/2005/08/crabmeat-avocado-quesadillas.html
For dinner one night this week, we had Michael Chiarello's Italian Meatloaf - Jack loved it! - http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_35425,00.html - it is just chocked full of some wonderful ingredients.
A great quick and casual recipe for lunch or a light dinner - FontinPanino di Prosciutto e a from Giada de Laurentiis - http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_25162,00.html
A hearty soup hits the spot for a winter Sunday dinner - this is a recipe from the classic Silver Palate Cookbook - Minnestrone with Sweet Sausage and Tortellini - http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Fields/2190/eats/minestr.htm - I used turkey Italian sausage instead of the pork.
Health Alert - Here's a tip that Rae forwarded to me regarding recognizing strokes:
RECOGNIZING A STROKE Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps, STR . Read and Learn!
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke .
Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simp le questions:
S * Ask the individual to SMILE.
T * Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)
(i.e. It is sunny out today)
R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE o f these tasks, call 999/911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher
That's all for now - have a great week ahead! Jack and I are looking forward to the Tattered Cover Writers Respond to Readers event next Saturday - I'll have a full report.
Love,
Susan
It was my turn to lead our walk this morning but due to the freezing temperatures and icy sidewalks, I made the executive decision for us to have a nice leisurely breakfast at Maries instead of walking. Jan, Barb, Mary, Christie, Laila and I stayed warm, cozy and well-fed.
Book Report:
Jeff told us about a book that he just read and really liked - Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet - Here's what Jeff had to say, "Tammet is an autistic savant with Asperger's syndrome who was featured on a Discovery Channel program called "Brainman". Anyhow it is his autobiography and is fascinating. It looks at how he struggled growing up and how his condition affects how he sees the world. I could not put it down and finished the relatively short book within two days. Check it out."
From Publishers Weekly
This unique first-person account offers a window into the mind of a high-functioning, 27-year-old British autistic savant with Asperger's syndrome. Tammet's ability to think abstractly, deviate from routine, and empathize, interact and communicate with others is impaired, yet he's capable of incredible feats of memorization and mental calculation. Besides being able to effortlessly multiply and divide huge sums in his head with the speed and accuracy of a computer, Tammet, the subject of the 2005 documentary Brainman, learned Icelandic in a single week and recited the number pi up to the 22,514th digit, breaking the European record. He also experiences synesthesia, an unusual neurological syndrome that enables him to experience numbers and words as "shapes, colors, textures and motions." Tammet traces his life from a frustrating, withdrawn childhood and adolescence to his adult achievements, which include teaching in Lithuania, achieving financial independence with an educational Web site and sustaining a long-term romantic relationship. As one of only about 50 people living today with synesthesia and autism, Tammet's condition is intriguing to researchers; his ability to express himself clearly and with a surprisingly engaging tone (given his symptoms) makes for an account that will intrigue others as well.
Barb's book group is reading The Tender Bar, a memoir by J.R. Moehringer
Amazon.com
"Long before it legally served me, the bar saved me," asserts J.R. Moehringer, and his compelling memoir The Tender Bar is the story of how and why. A Pulitzer-Prize winning writer for the Los Angeles Times, Moehringer grew up fatherless in pub-heavy Manhasset, New York, in a ramshackle house crammed with cousins and ruled by an eccentric, unkind grandfather. Desperate for a paternal figure, he turns first to his father, a DJ whom he can only access via the radio (Moehringer calls him The Voice and pictures him as "talking smoke"). When The Voice suddenly disappears from the airwaves, Moehringer turns to his hairless Uncle Charlie, and subsequently, Uncle Charlie's place of employment--a bar called Dickens that soon takes center stage. While Moehringer may occasionally resort to an overwrought metaphor (the footsteps of his family sound like "storm troopers on stilts"), his writing moves at a quick clip and his tale of a dysfunctional but tightly knit community is warmly told. "While I fear that we're drawn to what abandons us, and to what seems most likely to abandon us, in the end I believe we're defined by what embraces us," Moehringer says, and his story makes us believe it.
Two suggestions from Jan - She is working her way through Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.
About the Author
Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the huge international phenomenon, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, and The Sunday Philosophy Club series. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and he was a law professor at the University of Botswana and at Edinburgh University. He lives in Scotland, where in his spare time he is a bassoonist in the RTO (Really Terrible Orchestra).
She is also reading Avoid Boring People, a memoir by scientist James D. Watson - I believe that Jan recommended avoiding this book!
From Booklist
In this memoir, Watson shows by example how to get to the top and stay there. Spanning his boyhood interest in birds to his resignation from Harvard University in 1976 to his leadership of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Watson's reminiscences encompass his claim to fame—cocredit for deducing DNA's structure in 1953––but focus on his ambition and his conduct of academic politics. He exhibits candor and indulges in gossip, qualities that contributed to the controversy surrounding his account of the DNA breakthrough (The Double Helix,1968) and that enliven this example of the academic memoir, not a genre renowned for excitement. Through arch character sketches, light self-deprecation, and a comic penchant for appraising the behavior and physique of the human female, Watson swings between his scientific aims and the resistance he perceived in Harvard's biology department to molecular genetics. Following each chapter, he appends "manners" derived from his experiences, which in the aggregate amount to making one's mark early and demanding commensurate perks thereafter. In angular and opinionated prose, Watson proves as engaging as ever. Taylor, Gilbert
Laila recommends Ganga: A Journey Down the Ganges River by Julian Crandall Hall.
Book Description
The Ganges has always been more than just an ordinary river. For millions of Indians, she is also a goddess. According to popular belief, bathing in “Mother Ganga” dissolves all sins, drinking her waters cures illness, and dying on her banks ensures freedom from the cycle of death and rebirth.
Yet there remains a paradox: while Ganga is worshipped devotedly, she is also exploited without remorse. Much of her water has been siphoned off for irrigation, toxic chemicals are dumped into her, and dams and barrages have been built on her course, causing immense damage. Ganga is in danger of dying—but if the river dies, will the goddess die too?
Website of the Week: http://bookmooch.com/ - Bookmooch is another book swap site like the Paperback Swap site I mentioned a while back. You earn points for books you give away and use them to "buy" books from other members. They also give you the opportunity to donate your points to different charities who need books - that is totally optional but a nice feature.
Podcast of the Week: NPR: It's All Politics - http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_detail.php?siteId=5495231 -
Vocabulary Word of the Week - kerfuffle
From World Wide Words:
A commotion or fuss.
You will most commonly come across this wonderfully expressive word in Britain and the British Commonwealth countries (though the White House spokesman Ari Fleischer used it in January this year). It is rather informal, though it often appears in newspapers. One of the odder things about it is that it changed its first letter in quite recent times. Up to the 1960s, it was written in all sorts of ways — curfuffle, carfuffle, cafuffle, cafoufle, even gefuffle (a clear indication that its main means of transmission was in speech, being too rarely written down to have established a standard spelling). But in that decade it suddenly became much more popular and settled on the current kerfuffle. Lexicographers suspect the change came in response to the way that a number of imitative words were spelled, like kerplop and kerplunk.
In those cases, the initial ker– adds emphasis, as it does in other words, perhaps onomatopoeic but perhaps also borrowing the first syllable of crash. But we know kerfuffle was originally Scots and it’s thought that its first part came from Scots Gaelic car, to twist or bend. The second bit is more of a puzzle: there is a Scots verb fuffle (now known only in local dialect), to throw into disorder, dishevel, or ruffle. No obvious origin for it is known and experts suspect it was an imitative word. It is probably linked with Scots fuff, to emit puffs of smoke or steam, definitely imitative, which in the late eighteenth century also had a sense of going off in a huff or flying into a temper.
Some specialists think kerfuffle is also related to the Irish cior thual, confusion or disorder. It seems to be a minority opinion, though.
New this week: DVD recommendation - Jan saw Wit, an HBO adaptation of a very powerful and moving story starring Emma Thompson as a woman facing terminal cancer. You can check out the review and details at http://www.hbo.com/films/wit/.
Cooking and Dining Report:
Some good cooking going on in North Boulder this past week - Monday night we had book group at Janet's house and she made her delicious Spicy Shrimp in Coconut Milk - http://www.recipezaar.com/22164 - even someone like me who doesn't generally like coconut really loves this dish.
I helped out with the appetizers and made Butternut-Squash Brushcetta, a recipe from 'Imo Restaurant in New York City which appeared in New York Magazine - http://nymag.com/nymetro/food/inseason/10442/ - it was very interesting and I would make it again but next time I would splurge and get the already peeled and diced butternut squash you can get at Whole Foods.
I also made some very fun bite-size Crabmeat-Avocado Quesadillas with Mango Salsa (you could certanly use regular salsa) I also served them with sour cream - these were from Fine Cooking Magazine - http://notasgoodasporkcracklins.blogspot.com/2005/08/crabmeat-avocado-quesadillas.html
For dinner one night this week, we had Michael Chiarello's Italian Meatloaf - Jack loved it! - http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_35425,00.html - it is just chocked full of some wonderful ingredients.
A great quick and casual recipe for lunch or a light dinner - FontinPanino di Prosciutto e a from Giada de Laurentiis - http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_25162,00.html
A hearty soup hits the spot for a winter Sunday dinner - this is a recipe from the classic Silver Palate Cookbook - Minnestrone with Sweet Sausage and Tortellini - http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Fields/2190/eats/minestr.htm - I used turkey Italian sausage instead of the pork.
Health Alert - Here's a tip that Rae forwarded to me regarding recognizing strokes:
RECOGNIZING A STROKE Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps, STR . Read and Learn!
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke .
Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simp le questions:
S * Ask the individual to SMILE.
T * Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)
(i.e. It is sunny out today)
R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE o f these tasks, call 999/911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher
That's all for now - have a great week ahead! Jack and I are looking forward to the Tattered Cover Writers Respond to Readers event next Saturday - I'll have a full report.
Love,
Susan
Saturday Morning Walkers - January 13, 2008
Hi everyone,
It has been a busy week here - Jexy and Jacob came in for a short visit. I loved having them here but Jacob was disappointed that we didn't have any significant snow. We didn't make it to the Oatmeal Festival yesterday - had a nice lazy morning here before they headed to the airport. Some of our walkers did get together for a walk on the Aquarius Trail - sorry I missed you all. Next week, with any luck, we can meet for a walk at the labyrinth before our Saturday walk - I'll keep you posted.
Book Report:
I'm in the middle of two books at the moment - I'm listening to a novel by one of the upcoming presenters at the Tattered Cover Writers Respond to Readers event. It is The Uses of Enchantment by Heidi Julavits. I'm definitely hooked by the "mystery" story, not sure how I feel about the main character, Mary.
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. On November 7, 1985, Mary Veal, 16, a not especially distinguished upper-middle-class girl, disappears from New England's Semmering Academy. A month later she reappears at Semmering, claiming amnesia, but hinting at abduction and ravishment. The events in Believer editor Julavits's third, beautifully executed novel take place on three levels: one, dedicated to "what might have happened," is the story of the supposedly blank interval; another is dedicated to the inevitable therapeutic aftermath, as Mary's therapist, Dr. Hammer, tries to discover whether Mary is lying, either about the abduction or the amnesia; and the present of the novel, which revolves around the funeral of Mary's mother, Paula, in 1999. There, Mary feels not only the hostility of her sisters, Regina (an unsuccessful poet) and Gaby (a disheveled lesbian) but Paula's posthumous hostility. Or is that an illusion? This structure delicately balances between gothic and comic, allowing Julavits to play variations on Mary's life and on the '80s moral panic of repressed memory syndromes and wild fears of child abuse. While Julavits (The Effect of Living Backwards) sometimes lets an overheated style distract from her central story, as its various layers coalesce, the mystery of what did happen to Mary Veal will enthrall the reader to the very last page
The other book was recommended to me by Jen. It is a lovely coming of age story with a focus on a young boy who is immersed in the world of the sea and sea life. I've just gotten started with it but I am enjoying it already. It is The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch.
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. The fertile strangeness of marine tidal life becomes a subtly executed metaphor for the bewilderments of adolescence in this tender and authentic coming-of-age novel, Lynch's first. As a precocious, undersized 13-year-old living on the shore of Puget Sound, in Washington State, Miles O'Malley has developed a consuming passion for the abundant life of the tidal flats. His simple pleasure in observing is tested and complicated over the course of a remarkable summer, when he finds a giant squid, a discovery that brings him the unwelcome attention of scientists, TV reporters and a local cult. Meanwhile, Miles's remote parents are considering a divorce; his best friend, Florence, an elderly retired psychic, is dying of a degenerative disease; his sex-obsessed buddy, Phelps, mocks his science-geek knowledge; and his desperate crush on Angie Stegner, the troubled girl next door, both inspires and humiliates him. Events build toward the date of a record high tide, and Miles slowly sorts out his place in the adult world. While occasionally Lynch packs too much into a small story, this moving, unusual take on the summers of childhood conveys a contagious sense of wonder at the variety and mystery of the natural world.
Website of the Week - www.besttripchoices.com - interesting site that I heard about that assists you in planning just the right trip for your personality. I haven't used it yet but you might want to check it out.
Podcast of the Week - http://wamu.org/programs/dr/08/01/10.php#18142 - do check out this interview that Diane Rehm has with Pulitzer Prize winning author, Geraldine Brooks. Brooks has a new novel just out called People of the Book. It sounds like a fascinating story of the survival of the Sarajevo Haggadah, one of the earliest Jewish volumes to be illuminated with images. I can't wait to read it! You can either listen to the interview streaming it from your computer or subscribe to the podcast. As I told you before, Diane Rehm is one of my favorite interviewers.
Vocabulary Word of the Week - Haggadah
The Haggadah (IPA: [həˈgɑdə]) (Hebrew: הגדה) contains the order of the Passover Seder. Haggadah, meaning "telling," is a fulfillment of the scriptural commandment to each Jew to "tell your son" about the Jewish liberation from slavery in Egypt, as described in the book of Exodus in the Torah.
Cooking and Dining Report -
Best meal around here this week was Spaghetti and Meatballs - that was Jexy's request for her belated birthday dinner - I did a combination of Ina Garten's recipe and Giada de Laurentiis recipe. Basically I used Ina's sauce with Giada's turkey meatballs. Check out the recipes - they're both terrific. Whole wheat spaghetti works just fine with these hearty sauces. I particulary like the Bio Nature brand.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_34023,00.html - Ina's Real Meatballs and Spaghetti
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_22338,00.html - Giada's Penne with Turkey Meatballs
Dinner tonight was an old favorite - Beef Tenderloin Quesadilla - Jack and I had this years ago at the Inn of the Anasazi in Santa Fe and it is definitely a popular one in our house. We've even done it with chicken and shrimp. The recipe calls for mango salsa but I've mostly used regular tomato salsa and that works well.
Beef Tenderloin Quesadilla - Serves 6 - steak can be prepared and grilled hours ahead.
Spice Mix:
1 T ground cinnamon
1 T paprika
1 T sugar
1 T ground coriander
1 T kosher salt
1/2 t cayenne pepper
1 pound beef tenderloin
2 T spice mix
6 flour tortillas
2 cups Asadero or Jack cheese, shredded
1 cup Mango salsa
1. Mix all spice ingredients together in a small bowl. Then, slice beef into 6 equal size pieces and coat in spice mix. Saute or grill until rare. Let cool and cut into thin strips and set aside.
2. Heat each tortilla lightly and lay flat on table. Sprinkle grated cheese on half of the tortilla.
3. Divide sliced meat evenly on top of grated cheese. Spread 1 tablespoon salsa over beef. Sprinkle remaining cheese over beef and salsa.
4. Fold other half of tortilla over to form half-moon shape. Lightly grill over low heat, 2 minutes on each side until contents are heated and cheese inside is melted.
5. Cut into 4 triangles and serve with salsa and sour cream on the side.
Enjoy!
Well, that's all for now. Have a great week!
Love,
Susan
It has been a busy week here - Jexy and Jacob came in for a short visit. I loved having them here but Jacob was disappointed that we didn't have any significant snow. We didn't make it to the Oatmeal Festival yesterday - had a nice lazy morning here before they headed to the airport. Some of our walkers did get together for a walk on the Aquarius Trail - sorry I missed you all. Next week, with any luck, we can meet for a walk at the labyrinth before our Saturday walk - I'll keep you posted.
Book Report:
I'm in the middle of two books at the moment - I'm listening to a novel by one of the upcoming presenters at the Tattered Cover Writers Respond to Readers event. It is The Uses of Enchantment by Heidi Julavits. I'm definitely hooked by the "mystery" story, not sure how I feel about the main character, Mary.
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. On November 7, 1985, Mary Veal, 16, a not especially distinguished upper-middle-class girl, disappears from New England's Semmering Academy. A month later she reappears at Semmering, claiming amnesia, but hinting at abduction and ravishment. The events in Believer editor Julavits's third, beautifully executed novel take place on three levels: one, dedicated to "what might have happened," is the story of the supposedly blank interval; another is dedicated to the inevitable therapeutic aftermath, as Mary's therapist, Dr. Hammer, tries to discover whether Mary is lying, either about the abduction or the amnesia; and the present of the novel, which revolves around the funeral of Mary's mother, Paula, in 1999. There, Mary feels not only the hostility of her sisters, Regina (an unsuccessful poet) and Gaby (a disheveled lesbian) but Paula's posthumous hostility. Or is that an illusion? This structure delicately balances between gothic and comic, allowing Julavits to play variations on Mary's life and on the '80s moral panic of repressed memory syndromes and wild fears of child abuse. While Julavits (The Effect of Living Backwards) sometimes lets an overheated style distract from her central story, as its various layers coalesce, the mystery of what did happen to Mary Veal will enthrall the reader to the very last page
The other book was recommended to me by Jen. It is a lovely coming of age story with a focus on a young boy who is immersed in the world of the sea and sea life. I've just gotten started with it but I am enjoying it already. It is The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch.
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. The fertile strangeness of marine tidal life becomes a subtly executed metaphor for the bewilderments of adolescence in this tender and authentic coming-of-age novel, Lynch's first. As a precocious, undersized 13-year-old living on the shore of Puget Sound, in Washington State, Miles O'Malley has developed a consuming passion for the abundant life of the tidal flats. His simple pleasure in observing is tested and complicated over the course of a remarkable summer, when he finds a giant squid, a discovery that brings him the unwelcome attention of scientists, TV reporters and a local cult. Meanwhile, Miles's remote parents are considering a divorce; his best friend, Florence, an elderly retired psychic, is dying of a degenerative disease; his sex-obsessed buddy, Phelps, mocks his science-geek knowledge; and his desperate crush on Angie Stegner, the troubled girl next door, both inspires and humiliates him. Events build toward the date of a record high tide, and Miles slowly sorts out his place in the adult world. While occasionally Lynch packs too much into a small story, this moving, unusual take on the summers of childhood conveys a contagious sense of wonder at the variety and mystery of the natural world.
Website of the Week - www.besttripchoices.com - interesting site that I heard about that assists you in planning just the right trip for your personality. I haven't used it yet but you might want to check it out.
Podcast of the Week - http://wamu.org/programs/dr/08/01/10.php#18142 - do check out this interview that Diane Rehm has with Pulitzer Prize winning author, Geraldine Brooks. Brooks has a new novel just out called People of the Book. It sounds like a fascinating story of the survival of the Sarajevo Haggadah, one of the earliest Jewish volumes to be illuminated with images. I can't wait to read it! You can either listen to the interview streaming it from your computer or subscribe to the podcast. As I told you before, Diane Rehm is one of my favorite interviewers.
Vocabulary Word of the Week - Haggadah
The Haggadah (IPA: [həˈgɑdə]) (Hebrew: הגדה) contains the order of the Passover Seder. Haggadah, meaning "telling," is a fulfillment of the scriptural commandment to each Jew to "tell your son" about the Jewish liberation from slavery in Egypt, as described in the book of Exodus in the Torah.
Cooking and Dining Report -
Best meal around here this week was Spaghetti and Meatballs - that was Jexy's request for her belated birthday dinner - I did a combination of Ina Garten's recipe and Giada de Laurentiis recipe. Basically I used Ina's sauce with Giada's turkey meatballs. Check out the recipes - they're both terrific. Whole wheat spaghetti works just fine with these hearty sauces. I particulary like the Bio Nature brand.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_34023,00.html - Ina's Real Meatballs and Spaghetti
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_22338,00.html - Giada's Penne with Turkey Meatballs
Dinner tonight was an old favorite - Beef Tenderloin Quesadilla - Jack and I had this years ago at the Inn of the Anasazi in Santa Fe and it is definitely a popular one in our house. We've even done it with chicken and shrimp. The recipe calls for mango salsa but I've mostly used regular tomato salsa and that works well.
Beef Tenderloin Quesadilla - Serves 6 - steak can be prepared and grilled hours ahead.
Spice Mix:
1 T ground cinnamon
1 T paprika
1 T sugar
1 T ground coriander
1 T kosher salt
1/2 t cayenne pepper
1 pound beef tenderloin
2 T spice mix
6 flour tortillas
2 cups Asadero or Jack cheese, shredded
1 cup Mango salsa
1. Mix all spice ingredients together in a small bowl. Then, slice beef into 6 equal size pieces and coat in spice mix. Saute or grill until rare. Let cool and cut into thin strips and set aside.
2. Heat each tortilla lightly and lay flat on table. Sprinkle grated cheese on half of the tortilla.
3. Divide sliced meat evenly on top of grated cheese. Spread 1 tablespoon salsa over beef. Sprinkle remaining cheese over beef and salsa.
4. Fold other half of tortilla over to form half-moon shape. Lightly grill over low heat, 2 minutes on each side until contents are heated and cheese inside is melted.
5. Cut into 4 triangles and serve with salsa and sour cream on the side.
Enjoy!
Well, that's all for now. Have a great week!
Love,
Susan
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Saturday Morning Walkers - January 6, 2008
Hi everyone!
Well, I'm pleased to say that the "walkers" got back on track yesterday! Barb gathered us - Jan, Laila, Mary, Jackie and me - at Caffe Sole and then we took a walk on one of our old familiar routes around Viele Lake - it turned out to be quite challenging due to the high winds but we managed to get back to Caffe Sole in one piece and enjoyed catching up after all the holiday festivities. We set up our schedule for January walks - Barb will lead on the 12th, Susan on the 19th and Jan on the 26th.
Forgot to remind you all last week so I apologize for how last minute this is - The Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver is hosting their annual Writers Respond to Readers event on January 26 and tomorrow (Monday, January 7) is the DAY to call for reservations. Here's the message I received with instructions on how to get reservations
Writers Respond to Readers 2008
Heidi Julavits, Tahmima Anam, Min Jin Lee, and Samantha Hunt will be our guest authors at this annual event designed for members of book clubs. Tattered Cover Book Store Historic LoDo Saturday, January 26, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Tickets are $50 per person.
Reservations will be accepted by PHONE ONLY on Monday, January 7, 2008, beginning at 9:00 am (not before, please). Please call 303-322-1965, ext. 2739 and leave a message with your name and telephone number. We wi l l conf i rm your reservation by phone and request payment in full by credit card. Space is limited and we can accept no more than two reservations per phone call
I do want to acknowledge Mary for her "chutzpah", determination and fortitude as she participated in the Polar Plunge at the Boulder Reservoir on New Year's Day! Mary joined Jan's daughter, Jill, and some of her friends - Jan did record this amazing feat and I hope to have a picture soon that I will post on the blog site. The Polar Plunge is a fundraiser for the Alzheimer's Association of Colorado.
Do check out my review of The Cornbread Gospels Cookbook from Workman Publishing - it appears below in the Cooking and Dining Section of the blog.
Book Report:
Mary enthusiastically recommends The Deed of Paksenarrion, a science fiction/fantasy trilogy in one volume, by Elizabeth Moon.
From Powell Books..
Synopsis:
Never in our experience has a new author burst upon the sf/fantasy field to such immediate enthusiastic recognition as Elizabeth Moon with her fantasy trilogy, Sheepfarmer's Daughter, Divided Allegiance, and Oath of Gold. Now at last we are able to offer all six hundred thousand words of The Deed of Paksenarrion in a single trade edition. Note that because of its size the complete Deed of Paksenarrion will probably never be offered in a mass market edition.
Jan listened to the audiotape of Steve Martin's new memoir, Born Standing Up. I have heard a couple of interviews with him about the book and it does sound wonderful.
Amazon Book Description
At age 10, Steve Martin got a job selling guidebooks at the newly opened Disneyland. In the decade that followed, he worked in Disney's magic shop, print shop, and theater, and developed his own magic/comedy act. By age 20, studying poetry and philosophy on the side, he was performing a dozen times a week, most often at the Disney rival, Knott's Berry Farm. Obsession is a substitute for talent, he has said, and Steve Martin's focus and daring--his sheer tenacity--are truly stunning. He writes about making the very tough decision to sacrifice everything not original in his act, and about lucking into a job writing for The Smothers Brothers Show. He writes about mentors, girlfriends, his complex relationship with his parents and sister, and about some of his great peers in comedy--Dan Ackroyd, Lorne Michaels, Carl Reiner, Johnny Carson. He writes about fear, anxiety and loneliness. And he writes about how he figured out what worked on stage.
This book is a memoir, but it is also an illuminating guidebook to stand-up from one of our two or three greatest comedians. Though Martin is reticent about his personal life, he is also stunningly deft, and manages to give readers a feeling of intimacy and candor. Illustrated throughout with black and white photographs collected by Martin, this book is instantly compelling visually and a spectacularly good read.
Rae and her book group read Small Island by Andrea Levy. Rae said she would never have selected this for herself but she loved it and really encouraged me to read it and so I will!
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. After winning the Orange Prize and the Whitbread Book of the Year Award, Levy's captivating fourth novel sweeps into a U.S. edition with much-deserved literary fanfare. Set mainly in the British Empire of 1948, this story of emigration, loss and love follows four characters—two Jamaicans and two Britons—as they struggle to find peace in postwar England. After serving in the RAF, Jamaican Gilbert Joseph finds life in his native country has become too small for him. But in order to return to England, he must marry Hortense Roberts—she's got enough money for his passage—and then set up house for them in London. The pair move in with Queenie Bligh, whose husband, Bernard, hasn't returned from his wartime post in India. But when does Bernard turn up, he is not pleased to find black immigrants living in his house. This deceptively simple plot poises the characters over a yawning abyss of colonialism, racism, war and the everyday pain that people inflict on one another. Levy allows readers to see events from each of the four character's' point of view, lightly demonstrating both the subjectivity of truth and the rationalizing lies that people tell themselves when they are doing wrong. None of the characters is perfectly sympathetic, but all are achingly human. When Gilbert realizes that his pride in the British Empire is not reciprocated, he wonders, "How come England did not know me?" His question haunts the story as it moves back and forth in time and space to show how the people of two small islands become inextricably bound together. Agent, David Grossman. (Apr.)
I finished listening to the audio version of Ann Patchett's new book, Run. Andrea recommended it several weeks ago. Patchett is a gifted storyteller who creates characters that are so engaging. It was definitely one of those books I just didn't want to come to an end. If you want to read the review again go to http://www.amazon.com/Run-Ann-Patchett/dp/0061340634/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199658440&sr=1-1
Barb received a book recommendation from her friend Pamela and the author is someone that they both went to school with! Here's Barb's mesage to me:
"This comes from a very dear friend who lives in MA. I went all through school (starting in kindergarten) with Hank Kisor. He was also, for many years, the book editor and literary columnist for the Chicago Sun Times. He has written 3 (?) mystery novels and Pamela just finished reading the latest, Cache of Corpses".
Here's Pamela's review:I read Hank Kisor's book -- splendid -- loved the imagery, language, plot(s), history, characters, dialogue, prepositional phrases ... glad I had already taken a course on GPS. I read each night -- going slowly -- didn't want it to end, but today, I wanted to know how it was going to come out. I read 3 hours till I finished it;
Website of the Week - for those of you working mom's (at home or at the office!) and for those of you wanting to support the young mom's in your life, this is a great site to share - www.mommytrackd.com. Very hip and entertaining as well as informative.
Podcast of the Week - Tony Kahn's radio production called Blacklisted which tells the story of his experience as a young boy enduring the McCarthy era of blacklisting that affected his father and entire family. It is a fascinating story portrayed by some first-rate actors like Ron Liebman and Stockard Channing - http://www.wgbh.org/article?item_id=3625029
Vocabulary Work of the Week - from Hank Kisor's book - fulminate
From the Free Dictionary Online:
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun 1. fulminate - a salt or ester of fulminic acid
fulminate of mercury, fulminating mercury, mercury fulminate - a fulminate that when dry explodes violently if struck or heated; used in detonators and blasting caps and percussion caps
salt - a compound formed by replacing hydrogen in an acid by a metal (or a radical that acts like a metal)
Verb 1. fulminate - criticize severely; "He fulminated against the Republicans' plan to cut Medicare"; "She railed against the bad social policies"
rail
denounce - speak out against; "He denounced the Nazis"
2. fulminate - come on suddenly and intensely; "the disease fulminated"
come along, appear - come into being or existence, or appear on the scene; "Then the computer came along and changed our lives"; "Homo sapiens appeared millions of years ago"
3. fulminate - cause to explode violently and with loud noise
blow up, detonate, explode, set off - cause to burst with a violent release of energy; "We exploded the nuclear bomb"
Cooking and Dining Report:
Cookbook Review: I was asked to review a new cookbook published by Workman Publishing - The Cornbread Gospels by Crescent Dragonwagon. I haven't done a lot of cornmeal cooking or baking myself but I sure do enjoy eating it and was certainly inspired to try some of the recipes in this delightful book. I find that some of my favorite cookbooks are the ones that have a very personal tone. This collection of recipes from family and friends is really a celebration of this very American staple. I was inspired to go out and get a cast-iron skillet which seems to be a requirement for making really wonderful cornbread. So far, I have made the Dairy Hollow House Skillet-Sizzled Cornbread, Simple Corn Muffins and the Lentil Soup with Garlic and Greens (yes, there are "go-with" recipes, as well). The soup was perfect for a cold winter night, chocked full of lentils, carrots and spinach. It went so well with the cornbread. I did have some assistance with the corn muffins - my young friends, Lauren and Evan, helped me make these mini-muffins - they turned out great and were great fun for the kids to make. I plan to continue working my through the book and will keep you posted on the recipes - I'm especially eager to try some of the more international recipes.
Here's the recipe for the Dairy Hollow House Skillet-Sizzled Cornbread http://www.relishmag.com/recipes/view/34087/dairy-hollow-house.htmlYou can order the cookbook from Amazon.
New Year's Eve - Jack and I celebrated with an early dinner at Frasca here in Boulder - www.frascafoodandwine.com. Even at 5:45, they had a full house. The food was amazing but it was a pretty pricey fixed price menu. The food on Frasca's menu is based on the Friuli-Venezia Giulia area of Italy. We started off the evening with a Salumi course of Prosciutto San Daniele, Speck and Mani Salme Toscano. For the Antipasti, Jack had the Shaved Beef Salad with Roasted Romaine Lettuce and I had Escolar (a mild white fish) "Conserva" with Fingerling Potato and Pickled Green Tomato Juice. For the Primi course, Jack had the Gnocchi with Poached Maine Lobster and Montasio "Crema" and I had Butternut Agnolotti with Baby Spinach and Brown Butter. For the Secondi course, I had the Brioche-Crusted Roasted Colorado Lamb Saddle and Jack had the Grilled Maine Scallops. Dessert was a Valencia Orange and Fangipane Tart with Frozen Yogurt Gelato and just in case, we were still hungry, some hand-made Chocolates. Ho-hum - just another dinner out - not!!! So much for resolution to lose weight in 2008!
Some other recipes to share:
Two winners from Cook's Illustrated's The Best Make-Ahead Recipe - with Baked Chicken Fennel, Tomatoes, and Olives and Onion-Braised Beef Brisket - both were delicious! Here's the link to the Brisket - http://www.cooksillustrated.com/recipe.asp?name=&recipeids=1989. I can't find the chicken recipe on-line - if you'd like it, let me know and I'll get you a copy in word once I enter it into my computer.
I tried something today that has been intriguing me for some time - an Apple Crostata. The recipe is from Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa - http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_21686,00.html. It is a very rustic, free form apple "creation" and my version is quite rustic and free-form and tastes great! The crust is tender and flaky, similar to my rugelach dough.
I do enjoy these winter weekends of cooking. We're getting ready for a visit from Jexy and Jacob. They arrive tomorrow. Jexy is celebrating her birthday today and we will continue the celebration once she gets here. We'll probably go to Trattoria Radda tomorrow night but she has requested meatballs and spaghetti for her birthday dinner which we'll have on Tuesday. I have other dinner plans in the works and will report on those next week.
Last but not least - I'm pretty pleased and excited about the results of the Iowa Caucus - if you missed Barack Obama's speech that night, you should definitely check it out on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqoFwZUp5vc.
Have a great week!
Love,
Susan
Well, I'm pleased to say that the "walkers" got back on track yesterday! Barb gathered us - Jan, Laila, Mary, Jackie and me - at Caffe Sole and then we took a walk on one of our old familiar routes around Viele Lake - it turned out to be quite challenging due to the high winds but we managed to get back to Caffe Sole in one piece and enjoyed catching up after all the holiday festivities. We set up our schedule for January walks - Barb will lead on the 12th, Susan on the 19th and Jan on the 26th.
Forgot to remind you all last week so I apologize for how last minute this is - The Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver is hosting their annual Writers Respond to Readers event on January 26 and tomorrow (Monday, January 7) is the DAY to call for reservations. Here's the message I received with instructions on how to get reservations
Writers Respond to Readers 2008
Heidi Julavits, Tahmima Anam, Min Jin Lee, and Samantha Hunt will be our guest authors at this annual event designed for members of book clubs. Tattered Cover Book Store Historic LoDo Saturday, January 26, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Tickets are $50 per person.
Reservations will be accepted by PHONE ONLY on Monday, January 7, 2008, beginning at 9:00 am (not before, please). Please call 303-322-1965, ext. 2739 and leave a message with your name and telephone number. We wi l l conf i rm your reservation by phone and request payment in full by credit card. Space is limited and we can accept no more than two reservations per phone call
I do want to acknowledge Mary for her "chutzpah", determination and fortitude as she participated in the Polar Plunge at the Boulder Reservoir on New Year's Day! Mary joined Jan's daughter, Jill, and some of her friends - Jan did record this amazing feat and I hope to have a picture soon that I will post on the blog site. The Polar Plunge is a fundraiser for the Alzheimer's Association of Colorado.
Do check out my review of The Cornbread Gospels Cookbook from Workman Publishing - it appears below in the Cooking and Dining Section of the blog.
Book Report:
Mary enthusiastically recommends The Deed of Paksenarrion, a science fiction/fantasy trilogy in one volume, by Elizabeth Moon.
From Powell Books..
Synopsis:
Never in our experience has a new author burst upon the sf/fantasy field to such immediate enthusiastic recognition as Elizabeth Moon with her fantasy trilogy, Sheepfarmer's Daughter, Divided Allegiance, and Oath of Gold. Now at last we are able to offer all six hundred thousand words of The Deed of Paksenarrion in a single trade edition. Note that because of its size the complete Deed of Paksenarrion will probably never be offered in a mass market edition.
Jan listened to the audiotape of Steve Martin's new memoir, Born Standing Up. I have heard a couple of interviews with him about the book and it does sound wonderful.
Amazon Book Description
At age 10, Steve Martin got a job selling guidebooks at the newly opened Disneyland. In the decade that followed, he worked in Disney's magic shop, print shop, and theater, and developed his own magic/comedy act. By age 20, studying poetry and philosophy on the side, he was performing a dozen times a week, most often at the Disney rival, Knott's Berry Farm. Obsession is a substitute for talent, he has said, and Steve Martin's focus and daring--his sheer tenacity--are truly stunning. He writes about making the very tough decision to sacrifice everything not original in his act, and about lucking into a job writing for The Smothers Brothers Show. He writes about mentors, girlfriends, his complex relationship with his parents and sister, and about some of his great peers in comedy--Dan Ackroyd, Lorne Michaels, Carl Reiner, Johnny Carson. He writes about fear, anxiety and loneliness. And he writes about how he figured out what worked on stage.
This book is a memoir, but it is also an illuminating guidebook to stand-up from one of our two or three greatest comedians. Though Martin is reticent about his personal life, he is also stunningly deft, and manages to give readers a feeling of intimacy and candor. Illustrated throughout with black and white photographs collected by Martin, this book is instantly compelling visually and a spectacularly good read.
Rae and her book group read Small Island by Andrea Levy. Rae said she would never have selected this for herself but she loved it and really encouraged me to read it and so I will!
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. After winning the Orange Prize and the Whitbread Book of the Year Award, Levy's captivating fourth novel sweeps into a U.S. edition with much-deserved literary fanfare. Set mainly in the British Empire of 1948, this story of emigration, loss and love follows four characters—two Jamaicans and two Britons—as they struggle to find peace in postwar England. After serving in the RAF, Jamaican Gilbert Joseph finds life in his native country has become too small for him. But in order to return to England, he must marry Hortense Roberts—she's got enough money for his passage—and then set up house for them in London. The pair move in with Queenie Bligh, whose husband, Bernard, hasn't returned from his wartime post in India. But when does Bernard turn up, he is not pleased to find black immigrants living in his house. This deceptively simple plot poises the characters over a yawning abyss of colonialism, racism, war and the everyday pain that people inflict on one another. Levy allows readers to see events from each of the four character's' point of view, lightly demonstrating both the subjectivity of truth and the rationalizing lies that people tell themselves when they are doing wrong. None of the characters is perfectly sympathetic, but all are achingly human. When Gilbert realizes that his pride in the British Empire is not reciprocated, he wonders, "How come England did not know me?" His question haunts the story as it moves back and forth in time and space to show how the people of two small islands become inextricably bound together. Agent, David Grossman. (Apr.)
I finished listening to the audio version of Ann Patchett's new book, Run. Andrea recommended it several weeks ago. Patchett is a gifted storyteller who creates characters that are so engaging. It was definitely one of those books I just didn't want to come to an end. If you want to read the review again go to http://www.amazon.com/Run-Ann-Patchett/dp/0061340634/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199658440&sr=1-1
Barb received a book recommendation from her friend Pamela and the author is someone that they both went to school with! Here's Barb's mesage to me:
"This comes from a very dear friend who lives in MA. I went all through school (starting in kindergarten) with Hank Kisor. He was also, for many years, the book editor and literary columnist for the Chicago Sun Times. He has written 3 (?) mystery novels and Pamela just finished reading the latest, Cache of Corpses".
Here's Pamela's review:I read Hank Kisor's book -- splendid -- loved the imagery, language, plot(s), history, characters, dialogue, prepositional phrases ... glad I had already taken a course on GPS. I read each night -- going slowly -- didn't want it to end, but today, I wanted to know how it was going to come out. I read 3 hours till I finished it;
Website of the Week - for those of you working mom's (at home or at the office!) and for those of you wanting to support the young mom's in your life, this is a great site to share - www.mommytrackd.com. Very hip and entertaining as well as informative.
Podcast of the Week - Tony Kahn's radio production called Blacklisted which tells the story of his experience as a young boy enduring the McCarthy era of blacklisting that affected his father and entire family. It is a fascinating story portrayed by some first-rate actors like Ron Liebman and Stockard Channing - http://www.wgbh.org/article?item_id=3625029
Vocabulary Work of the Week - from Hank Kisor's book - fulminate
From the Free Dictionary Online:
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun 1. fulminate - a salt or ester of fulminic acid
fulminate of mercury, fulminating mercury, mercury fulminate - a fulminate that when dry explodes violently if struck or heated; used in detonators and blasting caps and percussion caps
salt - a compound formed by replacing hydrogen in an acid by a metal (or a radical that acts like a metal)
Verb 1. fulminate - criticize severely; "He fulminated against the Republicans' plan to cut Medicare"; "She railed against the bad social policies"
rail
denounce - speak out against; "He denounced the Nazis"
2. fulminate - come on suddenly and intensely; "the disease fulminated"
come along, appear - come into being or existence, or appear on the scene; "Then the computer came along and changed our lives"; "Homo sapiens appeared millions of years ago"
3. fulminate - cause to explode violently and with loud noise
blow up, detonate, explode, set off - cause to burst with a violent release of energy; "We exploded the nuclear bomb"
Cooking and Dining Report:
Cookbook Review: I was asked to review a new cookbook published by Workman Publishing - The Cornbread Gospels by Crescent Dragonwagon. I haven't done a lot of cornmeal cooking or baking myself but I sure do enjoy eating it and was certainly inspired to try some of the recipes in this delightful book. I find that some of my favorite cookbooks are the ones that have a very personal tone. This collection of recipes from family and friends is really a celebration of this very American staple. I was inspired to go out and get a cast-iron skillet which seems to be a requirement for making really wonderful cornbread. So far, I have made the Dairy Hollow House Skillet-Sizzled Cornbread, Simple Corn Muffins and the Lentil Soup with Garlic and Greens (yes, there are "go-with" recipes, as well). The soup was perfect for a cold winter night, chocked full of lentils, carrots and spinach. It went so well with the cornbread. I did have some assistance with the corn muffins - my young friends, Lauren and Evan, helped me make these mini-muffins - they turned out great and were great fun for the kids to make. I plan to continue working my through the book and will keep you posted on the recipes - I'm especially eager to try some of the more international recipes.
Here's the recipe for the Dairy Hollow House Skillet-Sizzled Cornbread http://www.relishmag.com/recipes/view/34087/dairy-hollow-house.htmlYou can order the cookbook from Amazon.
New Year's Eve - Jack and I celebrated with an early dinner at Frasca here in Boulder - www.frascafoodandwine.com. Even at 5:45, they had a full house. The food was amazing but it was a pretty pricey fixed price menu. The food on Frasca's menu is based on the Friuli-Venezia Giulia area of Italy. We started off the evening with a Salumi course of Prosciutto San Daniele, Speck and Mani Salme Toscano. For the Antipasti, Jack had the Shaved Beef Salad with Roasted Romaine Lettuce and I had Escolar (a mild white fish) "Conserva" with Fingerling Potato and Pickled Green Tomato Juice. For the Primi course, Jack had the Gnocchi with Poached Maine Lobster and Montasio "Crema" and I had Butternut Agnolotti with Baby Spinach and Brown Butter. For the Secondi course, I had the Brioche-Crusted Roasted Colorado Lamb Saddle and Jack had the Grilled Maine Scallops. Dessert was a Valencia Orange and Fangipane Tart with Frozen Yogurt Gelato and just in case, we were still hungry, some hand-made Chocolates. Ho-hum - just another dinner out - not!!! So much for resolution to lose weight in 2008!
Some other recipes to share:
Two winners from Cook's Illustrated's The Best Make-Ahead Recipe - with Baked Chicken Fennel, Tomatoes, and Olives and Onion-Braised Beef Brisket - both were delicious! Here's the link to the Brisket - http://www.cooksillustrated.com/recipe.asp?name=&recipeids=1989. I can't find the chicken recipe on-line - if you'd like it, let me know and I'll get you a copy in word once I enter it into my computer.
I tried something today that has been intriguing me for some time - an Apple Crostata. The recipe is from Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa - http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_21686,00.html. It is a very rustic, free form apple "creation" and my version is quite rustic and free-form and tastes great! The crust is tender and flaky, similar to my rugelach dough.
I do enjoy these winter weekends of cooking. We're getting ready for a visit from Jexy and Jacob. They arrive tomorrow. Jexy is celebrating her birthday today and we will continue the celebration once she gets here. We'll probably go to Trattoria Radda tomorrow night but she has requested meatballs and spaghetti for her birthday dinner which we'll have on Tuesday. I have other dinner plans in the works and will report on those next week.
Last but not least - I'm pretty pleased and excited about the results of the Iowa Caucus - if you missed Barack Obama's speech that night, you should definitely check it out on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqoFwZUp5vc.
Have a great week!
Love,
Susan
Saturday Morning Walkers - December 30, 2007
Hi everyone!
One last blog entry for 2007! Sorry I missed sending out a blog last week. Like all of you, we've been busy and on the move over the holidays. I'll give you some of the highlights of our trip to LA along with our usual reports.
We had a great visit with Jexy, Joe and Jacob. We arrived on the 20th in time to pick Jacob up from kindergarten at the Odyssey Charter School and then spent a little time there with him on Friday morning. He is thriving there and we are so impressed with the kindergarten program.
I'll talk more about some of the food highlights but I did want to mention a couple of special things about our trip. On Saturday, Jex and I stopped in to visit her friend, Christine Moore's fabulous new candy and pastry shop called Little Flower Candy Shop in Pasadena. Christine is a highly regarded pastry chef and candy maker whose flavored marshmallows and caramels can be found in the finest shops. Christine just opened up her own retail shop earlier in December. If you're lucky enough to be in the area, be sure and stop in for a cup of coffee, a sweet treat and a visit with Christine. Even if you don't live in California, you can enjoy these delectable morsels by ordering online from www.littleflowercandyco.com.
We had a "field trip" on Sunday to the Skirball Cultural Center to see the Noah's Ark exhibit. What a fantastic experience! We all enjoyed it so much. If you're ever in LA, with kids or not, the Skirball Center is a must-not-miss! http://www.skirball.org/.
Book Report:
I read The Wholeness of a Broken Heart by Katie Singer - this is a first novel and is a warmhearted and sentimental look at a multigenerational Jewish family from their beginnings in the Old Country to their eventual settlement to Cleveland. I am so drawn to books like this - there's a strong sense of the familiar as I relate to these different family member.
From Publishers Weekly
Singer's first novel brings fresh energy, style and perception to a familiar formula as she traces four generations of Jewish women from Eastern Europe to modern America. Young writer-teacher Hannah Fried is disturbed and mystified when her doting mother, Celia, suddenly and brutally rejects her. She seeks an explanation from her grandmother Ida, her estranged father, and photographs locked in an old trunk in Ida's attic. Family history begins with two great-grandmothers: Channa, for whom she was named, and Leah, a Latvian peasant girl married to a widower with five children. Leah's daughter, Raisl, saves her brother Moshe from the czar's army by sleeping with a Cossack who helps Moshe escape to America.
He becomes Moe, a successful, cold-hearted businessman, married to Ida, who cannot prevent him from abusing their daughter, Celia. Celia, in turn, grows up emotionally disconnected to all except her own daughter, Hannah.
Maternal love, sacrifice, the breaking and mending of family ties, loss and reinvention A common themes in Jewish sagasAare woven together here in personal narratives, including heart-wrenching passages from Channa's stillborn daughter, Vitl, and Leah's ghost. The individuality and authenticity of each voice springs from Yiddish proverbs, old country syntax and an endearing practical idealism. Singer even captures with precision the varied multicultural voices of Hannah's writing students.
Well-defined characters, emotion (but not sentimentality) and compassion (not pseudo-psychology) set this account of the survival tactics of Jewish families apart from similar tales. Focusing on mother-daughter and grandmother-granddaughter relationships, Singer has written a novel filled with authentic human feeling, humor and hope.
Joe and Barbara talked about Frank McCourt's third memoir, Teacherman, during Christmas dinner and then Cass mentioned it as a book that inspires her as a teacher. I've added it to my list of "must-reads".
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. This final memoir in the trilogy that started with Angela's Ashes and continued in 'Tis focuses almost exclusively on McCourt's 30-year teaching career in New York City's public high schools, which began at McKee Vocational and Technical in 1958. His first day in class, a fight broke out and a sandwich was hurled in anger. McCourt immediately picked it up and ate it. On the second day of class, McCourt's retort about the Irish and their sheep brought the wrath of the principal down on him. All McCourt wanted to do was teach, which wasn't easy in the jumbled bureaucracy of the New York City school system. Pretty soon he realized the system wasn't run by teachers but by sterile functionaries. "I was uncomfortable with the bureaucrats, the higher-ups, who had escaped classrooms only to turn and bother the occupants of those classrooms, teachers and students. I never wanted to fill out their forms, follow their guidelines, administer their examinations, tolerate their snooping, adjust myself to their programs and courses of study." As McCourt matured in his job, he found ingenious ways to motivate the kids: have them write "excuse notes" from Adam and Eve to God; use parts of a pen to define parts of a sentence; use cookbook recipes to get the students to think creatively. A particularly warming and enlightening lesson concerns a class of black girls at Seward Park High School who felt slighted when they were not invited to see a performance of Hamlet, and how they taught McCourt never to have diminished expectations about any of his students. McCourt throws down the gauntlet on education, asserting that teaching is more than achieving high test scores. It's about educating, about forming intellects, about getting people to think. McCourt's many fans will of course love this book, but it also should be mandatory reading for every teacher in America. And it wouldn't hurt some politicians to read it, too.
Website of the Week: www.thefaithclub.com - this is the site based on the book, The Faith Club: A Muslim, A Christian, A Jew by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver and Priscilla Warner. I haven't read the book but I heard one of the authors on a recent interview and was so intrigued by the story of these three women from very different cultures and traditions who come together in search of peace and understanding.
Podcast of the Week: Jackie recently recommended the American Public Media's Speaking of Faith broadcast with Krista Trippet. It is available as a podcast and the most recent one features Naomi Rachel Remen, author of that wonderful book, Kitchen Table Wisdom. http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/podcast/podcasthelp.shtml
Vocabulary Word of the Week: Resolution
Resolution
Main Entry:
res·o·lu·tion
Pronunciation:
\ˌre-zə-ˈlü-shən\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English resolucioun, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French resolucion, from Latin resolution-, resolutio, from resolvere
Date:
14th century
1: the act or process of resolving: as a: the act of analyzing a complex notion into simpler ones b: the act of answering : solving c: the act of determining d: the passing of a voice part from a dissonant to a consonant tone or the progression of a chord from dissonance to consonance e: the separating of a chemical compound or mixture into its constituents f (1): the division of a prosodic element into its component parts (2): the substitution in Greek or Latin prosody of two short syllables for a long syllable g: the analysis of a vector into two or more vectors of which it is the sum2: the subsidence of a pathological state (as inflammation)3 a: something that is resolved b: firmness of resolve4: a formal expression of opinion, will, or intent voted by an official body or assembled group5: the point in a literary work at which the chief dramatic complication is worked out6 a: the process or capability of making distinguishable the individual parts of an object, closely adjacent optical images, or sources of light b: a measure of the sharpness of an image or of the fineness with which a device (as a video display, printer, or scanner) can produce or record such an image usually expressed as the total number or density of pixels in the image
synonyms see courage
Cooking and Dining Report:
One of the highlights of our California trip was a visit to the brand-new Whole Foods in Pasadena - Jack, Jexy and I spent a couple of hours there on Friday, including lunch at one of the many "restaurant" options right in the store. Pretty amazing place with lots of wonderful options for creating outstanding meals.
Another interesting stop was to the Home Girl Cafe for breakfast one morning. The history of this place is quite interesting. It is one of the ventures of Home Boy Industries, begun by Father Greg Boyle in East L.A. where Jexy and Joe work at Roosevelt High School. Father Greg has been hugely instrumental in providing support and opportunities for at-risk young men and women in the neighborhood. We went to the new cafe near Chinatown which is a very attractive and inviting space. Unfortunately, we had some major service issues which were hard to overlook but we would certainly give it another chance. Check out the website for Home Boy Industries - http://www.homeboy-industries.org/index.php
One of the meals that we made was Giada de Laurentiis' Cioppino - an Italian stew chocked full of fresh shellfish from the Whole Foods seafood department. This is so impressive and surprisingly easy. It would make a great New Years Eve or Day dinner. We served it with a Caesar Salad and a loaf of Ciabatta bread - nothing better! http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_32499,00.html
Christmas Eve - we shared Cincinnati Chili with Jexy and Joe's friends - we made it with ground dark meat turkey this time and it turned out great - the recipe is posted on the November 5, 2006 entry of the blog. Go to http://cookinandbookin.blogspot.com/ and search for Cincinnatti Chili.
Christmas dinner was a traditional turkey done with a dry salt brine - delicious and moist - we used the technique that the LA Times recommended last year. We did a very tasty dressing (outside the bird) with a recipe for Ciabetta Stuffing with Chestnuts and Pancetta from Giada de Laurentiis - http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_29172,00.html
Wishing all of you a very healthy and happy 2008. I plan to keep on blogging and hope you'll continue to enjoy as well as contribute to these entries and pass them on to your friends. I'm excited about an opportunity I have been given to review a brand-new cookbook put out by Workman Publishing. The book was waiting for me when I arrived home the other day and I'm hoping to try out some of the recipes over the next week. Check out their website http://www.workman.com/ - they publish a variety of books and calendars.
Love,
Susan
One last blog entry for 2007! Sorry I missed sending out a blog last week. Like all of you, we've been busy and on the move over the holidays. I'll give you some of the highlights of our trip to LA along with our usual reports.
We had a great visit with Jexy, Joe and Jacob. We arrived on the 20th in time to pick Jacob up from kindergarten at the Odyssey Charter School and then spent a little time there with him on Friday morning. He is thriving there and we are so impressed with the kindergarten program.
I'll talk more about some of the food highlights but I did want to mention a couple of special things about our trip. On Saturday, Jex and I stopped in to visit her friend, Christine Moore's fabulous new candy and pastry shop called Little Flower Candy Shop in Pasadena. Christine is a highly regarded pastry chef and candy maker whose flavored marshmallows and caramels can be found in the finest shops. Christine just opened up her own retail shop earlier in December. If you're lucky enough to be in the area, be sure and stop in for a cup of coffee, a sweet treat and a visit with Christine. Even if you don't live in California, you can enjoy these delectable morsels by ordering online from www.littleflowercandyco.com.
We had a "field trip" on Sunday to the Skirball Cultural Center to see the Noah's Ark exhibit. What a fantastic experience! We all enjoyed it so much. If you're ever in LA, with kids or not, the Skirball Center is a must-not-miss! http://www.skirball.org/.
Book Report:
I read The Wholeness of a Broken Heart by Katie Singer - this is a first novel and is a warmhearted and sentimental look at a multigenerational Jewish family from their beginnings in the Old Country to their eventual settlement to Cleveland. I am so drawn to books like this - there's a strong sense of the familiar as I relate to these different family member.
From Publishers Weekly
Singer's first novel brings fresh energy, style and perception to a familiar formula as she traces four generations of Jewish women from Eastern Europe to modern America. Young writer-teacher Hannah Fried is disturbed and mystified when her doting mother, Celia, suddenly and brutally rejects her. She seeks an explanation from her grandmother Ida, her estranged father, and photographs locked in an old trunk in Ida's attic. Family history begins with two great-grandmothers: Channa, for whom she was named, and Leah, a Latvian peasant girl married to a widower with five children. Leah's daughter, Raisl, saves her brother Moshe from the czar's army by sleeping with a Cossack who helps Moshe escape to America.
He becomes Moe, a successful, cold-hearted businessman, married to Ida, who cannot prevent him from abusing their daughter, Celia. Celia, in turn, grows up emotionally disconnected to all except her own daughter, Hannah.
Maternal love, sacrifice, the breaking and mending of family ties, loss and reinvention A common themes in Jewish sagasAare woven together here in personal narratives, including heart-wrenching passages from Channa's stillborn daughter, Vitl, and Leah's ghost. The individuality and authenticity of each voice springs from Yiddish proverbs, old country syntax and an endearing practical idealism. Singer even captures with precision the varied multicultural voices of Hannah's writing students.
Well-defined characters, emotion (but not sentimentality) and compassion (not pseudo-psychology) set this account of the survival tactics of Jewish families apart from similar tales. Focusing on mother-daughter and grandmother-granddaughter relationships, Singer has written a novel filled with authentic human feeling, humor and hope.
Joe and Barbara talked about Frank McCourt's third memoir, Teacherman, during Christmas dinner and then Cass mentioned it as a book that inspires her as a teacher. I've added it to my list of "must-reads".
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. This final memoir in the trilogy that started with Angela's Ashes and continued in 'Tis focuses almost exclusively on McCourt's 30-year teaching career in New York City's public high schools, which began at McKee Vocational and Technical in 1958. His first day in class, a fight broke out and a sandwich was hurled in anger. McCourt immediately picked it up and ate it. On the second day of class, McCourt's retort about the Irish and their sheep brought the wrath of the principal down on him. All McCourt wanted to do was teach, which wasn't easy in the jumbled bureaucracy of the New York City school system. Pretty soon he realized the system wasn't run by teachers but by sterile functionaries. "I was uncomfortable with the bureaucrats, the higher-ups, who had escaped classrooms only to turn and bother the occupants of those classrooms, teachers and students. I never wanted to fill out their forms, follow their guidelines, administer their examinations, tolerate their snooping, adjust myself to their programs and courses of study." As McCourt matured in his job, he found ingenious ways to motivate the kids: have them write "excuse notes" from Adam and Eve to God; use parts of a pen to define parts of a sentence; use cookbook recipes to get the students to think creatively. A particularly warming and enlightening lesson concerns a class of black girls at Seward Park High School who felt slighted when they were not invited to see a performance of Hamlet, and how they taught McCourt never to have diminished expectations about any of his students. McCourt throws down the gauntlet on education, asserting that teaching is more than achieving high test scores. It's about educating, about forming intellects, about getting people to think. McCourt's many fans will of course love this book, but it also should be mandatory reading for every teacher in America. And it wouldn't hurt some politicians to read it, too.
Website of the Week: www.thefaithclub.com - this is the site based on the book, The Faith Club: A Muslim, A Christian, A Jew by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver and Priscilla Warner. I haven't read the book but I heard one of the authors on a recent interview and was so intrigued by the story of these three women from very different cultures and traditions who come together in search of peace and understanding.
Podcast of the Week: Jackie recently recommended the American Public Media's Speaking of Faith broadcast with Krista Trippet. It is available as a podcast and the most recent one features Naomi Rachel Remen, author of that wonderful book, Kitchen Table Wisdom. http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/podcast/podcasthelp.shtml
Vocabulary Word of the Week: Resolution
Resolution
Main Entry:
res·o·lu·tion
Pronunciation:
\ˌre-zə-ˈlü-shən\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English resolucioun, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French resolucion, from Latin resolution-, resolutio, from resolvere
Date:
14th century
1: the act or process of resolving: as a: the act of analyzing a complex notion into simpler ones b: the act of answering : solving c: the act of determining d: the passing of a voice part from a dissonant to a consonant tone or the progression of a chord from dissonance to consonance e: the separating of a chemical compound or mixture into its constituents f (1): the division of a prosodic element into its component parts (2): the substitution in Greek or Latin prosody of two short syllables for a long syllable g: the analysis of a vector into two or more vectors of which it is the sum2: the subsidence of a pathological state (as inflammation)3 a: something that is resolved
synonyms see courage
Cooking and Dining Report:
One of the highlights of our California trip was a visit to the brand-new Whole Foods in Pasadena - Jack, Jexy and I spent a couple of hours there on Friday, including lunch at one of the many "restaurant" options right in the store. Pretty amazing place with lots of wonderful options for creating outstanding meals.
Another interesting stop was to the Home Girl Cafe for breakfast one morning. The history of this place is quite interesting. It is one of the ventures of Home Boy Industries, begun by Father Greg Boyle in East L.A. where Jexy and Joe work at Roosevelt High School. Father Greg has been hugely instrumental in providing support and opportunities for at-risk young men and women in the neighborhood. We went to the new cafe near Chinatown which is a very attractive and inviting space. Unfortunately, we had some major service issues which were hard to overlook but we would certainly give it another chance. Check out the website for Home Boy Industries - http://www.homeboy-industries.org/index.php
One of the meals that we made was Giada de Laurentiis' Cioppino - an Italian stew chocked full of fresh shellfish from the Whole Foods seafood department. This is so impressive and surprisingly easy. It would make a great New Years Eve or Day dinner. We served it with a Caesar Salad and a loaf of Ciabatta bread - nothing better! http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_32499,00.html
Christmas Eve - we shared Cincinnati Chili with Jexy and Joe's friends - we made it with ground dark meat turkey this time and it turned out great - the recipe is posted on the November 5, 2006 entry of the blog. Go to http://cookinandbookin.blogspot.com/ and search for Cincinnatti Chili.
Christmas dinner was a traditional turkey done with a dry salt brine - delicious and moist - we used the technique that the LA Times recommended last year. We did a very tasty dressing (outside the bird) with a recipe for Ciabetta Stuffing with Chestnuts and Pancetta from Giada de Laurentiis - http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_29172,00.html
Wishing all of you a very healthy and happy 2008. I plan to keep on blogging and hope you'll continue to enjoy as well as contribute to these entries and pass them on to your friends. I'm excited about an opportunity I have been given to review a brand-new cookbook put out by Workman Publishing. The book was waiting for me when I arrived home the other day and I'm hoping to try out some of the recipes over the next week. Check out their website http://www.workman.com/ - they publish a variety of books and calendars.
Love,
Susan
Saturday Morning Walkers - December 16, 2007
Hi everyone,
It is starting to feel a bit like last winter with these back to back snowfalls - not nearly as extreme, but enough to keep the Saturday Morning Walkers inside drinking coffee. Yesterday, Christie, Andrea, Laila, Mary, Barb, Jan and I stayed warm at the Dragonfly Cafe in Louisville.
Book Report:
Andrea recommends John Grisham's first non-fiction book The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town - sounds like a chilling story of an innocent man wrongly convicted of a crime.
Amazon.com
John Grisham tackles nonfiction for the first time with The Innocent Man, a true tale about murder and injustice in a small town (that reads like one of his own bestselling novels). The Innocent Man chronicles the story of Ron Williamson, how he was arrested and charged with a crime he did not commit, how his case was (mis)handled and how an innocent man was sent to death row. Grisham's first work of nonfiction is shocking, disturbing, and enthralling--a must read for fiction and nonfiction fans. We had the opportunity to talk with John Grisham about the case and the book, read his responses below. --Daphne Durham
Andrea's son Scott read and recommends Cormac McCarthy's novel, The Road.
From Publishers Weekly
McCarthy's latest novel, a frightening apocalyptic vision, is narrated by a nameless man, one of the few survivors of an unspecified civilization-ending catastrophe. He and his young son are trekking along a treacherous highway, starving and freezing, trying to avoid roving cannibal armies. The tale, and their lives, are saved from teetering over the edge of bleakness thanks to the man's fierce belief that they are "the good guys" who are preserving the light of humanity. In this stark, effective production, Stechschulte gives the father an appropriately harsh, weary voice that sways little from its numbed register except to urge on the weakening boy or soothe his fears after an encounter with barbarians. When they uncover some vestige of the former world, the man recalls its vanished wonder with an aching nostalgia that makes the listener's heart swell. Stechschulte portrays the son with a mournful, slightly breathy tone that emphasizes the child's whininess, making him much less sympathetic than his resourceful father. With no music or effects interrupting Stechschulte's carefully measured pace and gruff, straightforward delivery, McCarthy's darkly poetic prose comes alive in a way that will transfix listeners.
Website of the Week: www.Shelfari.com - this is another site to catalog books you've read and share them with others in the online community. It is similar to www.librarything.com which I use and really like. Check them both out.
Podcast of the Week: http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_detail.php?siteId=4985903 - NPR's Morning Edition's Holiday Story of the Day
Vocabulary Word of the Week - apocalyptic
Main Entry:
apoc·a·lyp·tic
Pronunciation:
\ə-ˌpä-kə-ˈlip-tik\
Variant(s):
also apoc·a·lyp·ti·cal \-ti-kəl\
Function:
adjective
Date:
1663
1 : of, relating to, or resembling an apocalypse 2 : forecasting the ultimate destiny of the world : prophetic 3 : foreboding imminent disaster or final doom : terrible 4 : wildly unrestrained : grandiose 5 : ultimately decisive : climactic
— apoc·a·lyp·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
Cooking and Dining Report:
Restaurant recommendation from Barb - the new Sobo restaurant in the Table Mesa Shopping Center (in the strip facing Broadway) - hip and trendy has arrived in South Boulder!
No website yet but here's a brief description that I found - "SoBo Bistro opened recently in South Boulder's Table Mesa Shopping Center. They use organic, sustainable and local ingredients where possible to create new American dishes. The official address is 657 South Broadway, but that's not as important as knowing which shopping center it is in; 303-494-SOBO.'
Restaurant recommendation from Jack and Susan - in Littleton, Cafe Terracotta, a lovely cafe that we went to this morning with Mae (Jack's mom) for breakfast - it is a very warm and charming place with a great menu - they do serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. http://restauranteur.com/cafeterracottalittletoncom/
Some recipes to share - I made this recipe from Pino Luongo and Mark Stausman, Fresh Pasta with Meatballs and Mushrooms - so tasty and just a bit different from the usual spaghetti and meatballs. Note that I didn't use the pasta they suggest, I used store-bought spaghetti and I also used panko breadcrumbs. http://pinoluongo.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/fresh-pasta-with-meatballs-and-mushrooms/
Libby and David had a wonderful birthday dinner party last night - here are a few of the yummy dishes she served to her friends:
Emeril Lagasse's Lobster Roll - http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_20191,00.html
Ina Garten's Sagaponack Corn Pudding - http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_23371,00.html - Libby described this as decadent and when you see the list of ingredients, I'm sure you'll agree!
Spinach Balls with Mustard Sauce - a Wadle family favorite - I found the original recipe at this site - http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,191,157163-243193,00.html
A Random Tip! If you still have packages to mail out, a couple of suggestions to avoid the long lines at the post office or the mail box stores - there's a postal sub-station at the Ace Hardware Store at the BaseMar Shopping Center at Baseline and Broadway - the store is usually empty!
Also, there are a couple of obscure mailbox stores - I go to one at the Lucky's shopping center at Quince and Broadway - they're just never crowded.
For those of you who live outside of Boulder, I'm sure there must similar places in your neighborhood.
We're pretty excited about heading out to L.A. this coming Thursday to spend Christmas with Jexy, Joe and Jacob. We'll also be with Joe's mom, Barbara and her husband, Morrie for Christmas Day.
I'll try to check in with you all next week but not sure that will happen.
Enjoy the holiday - stay healthy and safe!
Love,
Susan
It is starting to feel a bit like last winter with these back to back snowfalls - not nearly as extreme, but enough to keep the Saturday Morning Walkers inside drinking coffee. Yesterday, Christie, Andrea, Laila, Mary, Barb, Jan and I stayed warm at the Dragonfly Cafe in Louisville.
Book Report:
Andrea recommends John Grisham's first non-fiction book The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town - sounds like a chilling story of an innocent man wrongly convicted of a crime.
Amazon.com
John Grisham tackles nonfiction for the first time with The Innocent Man, a true tale about murder and injustice in a small town (that reads like one of his own bestselling novels). The Innocent Man chronicles the story of Ron Williamson, how he was arrested and charged with a crime he did not commit, how his case was (mis)handled and how an innocent man was sent to death row. Grisham's first work of nonfiction is shocking, disturbing, and enthralling--a must read for fiction and nonfiction fans. We had the opportunity to talk with John Grisham about the case and the book, read his responses below. --Daphne Durham
Andrea's son Scott read and recommends Cormac McCarthy's novel, The Road.
From Publishers Weekly
McCarthy's latest novel, a frightening apocalyptic vision, is narrated by a nameless man, one of the few survivors of an unspecified civilization-ending catastrophe. He and his young son are trekking along a treacherous highway, starving and freezing, trying to avoid roving cannibal armies. The tale, and their lives, are saved from teetering over the edge of bleakness thanks to the man's fierce belief that they are "the good guys" who are preserving the light of humanity. In this stark, effective production, Stechschulte gives the father an appropriately harsh, weary voice that sways little from its numbed register except to urge on the weakening boy or soothe his fears after an encounter with barbarians. When they uncover some vestige of the former world, the man recalls its vanished wonder with an aching nostalgia that makes the listener's heart swell. Stechschulte portrays the son with a mournful, slightly breathy tone that emphasizes the child's whininess, making him much less sympathetic than his resourceful father. With no music or effects interrupting Stechschulte's carefully measured pace and gruff, straightforward delivery, McCarthy's darkly poetic prose comes alive in a way that will transfix listeners.
Website of the Week: www.Shelfari.com - this is another site to catalog books you've read and share them with others in the online community. It is similar to www.librarything.com which I use and really like. Check them both out.
Podcast of the Week: http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_detail.php?siteId=4985903 - NPR's Morning Edition's Holiday Story of the Day
Vocabulary Word of the Week - apocalyptic
Main Entry:
apoc·a·lyp·tic
Pronunciation:
\ə-ˌpä-kə-ˈlip-tik\
Variant(s):
also apoc·a·lyp·ti·cal \-ti-kəl\
Function:
adjective
Date:
1663
1 : of, relating to, or resembling an apocalypse 2 : forecasting the ultimate destiny of the world : prophetic 3 : foreboding imminent disaster or final doom : terrible 4 : wildly unrestrained : grandiose 5 : ultimately decisive : climactic
— apoc·a·lyp·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
Cooking and Dining Report:
Restaurant recommendation from Barb - the new Sobo restaurant in the Table Mesa Shopping Center (in the strip facing Broadway) - hip and trendy has arrived in South Boulder!
No website yet but here's a brief description that I found - "SoBo Bistro opened recently in South Boulder's Table Mesa Shopping Center. They use organic, sustainable and local ingredients where possible to create new American dishes. The official address is 657 South Broadway, but that's not as important as knowing which shopping center it is in; 303-494-SOBO.'
Restaurant recommendation from Jack and Susan - in Littleton, Cafe Terracotta, a lovely cafe that we went to this morning with Mae (Jack's mom) for breakfast - it is a very warm and charming place with a great menu - they do serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. http://restauranteur.com/cafeterracottalittletoncom/
Some recipes to share - I made this recipe from Pino Luongo and Mark Stausman, Fresh Pasta with Meatballs and Mushrooms - so tasty and just a bit different from the usual spaghetti and meatballs. Note that I didn't use the pasta they suggest, I used store-bought spaghetti and I also used panko breadcrumbs. http://pinoluongo.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/fresh-pasta-with-meatballs-and-mushrooms/
Libby and David had a wonderful birthday dinner party last night - here are a few of the yummy dishes she served to her friends:
Emeril Lagasse's Lobster Roll - http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_20191,00.html
Ina Garten's Sagaponack Corn Pudding - http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_23371,00.html - Libby described this as decadent and when you see the list of ingredients, I'm sure you'll agree!
Spinach Balls with Mustard Sauce - a Wadle family favorite - I found the original recipe at this site - http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,191,157163-243193,00.html
A Random Tip! If you still have packages to mail out, a couple of suggestions to avoid the long lines at the post office or the mail box stores - there's a postal sub-station at the Ace Hardware Store at the BaseMar Shopping Center at Baseline and Broadway - the store is usually empty!
Also, there are a couple of obscure mailbox stores - I go to one at the Lucky's shopping center at Quince and Broadway - they're just never crowded.
For those of you who live outside of Boulder, I'm sure there must similar places in your neighborhood.
We're pretty excited about heading out to L.A. this coming Thursday to spend Christmas with Jexy, Joe and Jacob. We'll also be with Joe's mom, Barbara and her husband, Morrie for Christmas Day.
I'll try to check in with you all next week but not sure that will happen.
Enjoy the holiday - stay healthy and safe!
Love,
Susan
Friday, December 14, 2007
Saturday Morning Walkers - December 9, 2007
Hi everyone!
Well, we've had a pretty snowy weekend here in Boulder - it didn't stop us from venturing out on Saturday morning for breakfast at Panera's but we didn't walk any further than the new Anthropologie store a few doors down the sidewalk at the 29th Street Mall. What a terrific turnout we had! We were so delighted to see Jackie and Annette along with "regulars", Barb, Jan, Andrea, Christie, Mary, Laila and me. I do have lots to share with you this week. First of all, as you all know, I really promoted online and catalog shopping last week. As a nod to my daughter, Libby and her livelihood, I should also encourage you all to hit the outlet malls for great deals this season, especially from J. Crew's Factory Stores. As some of you may know Libby is an executive vice-president in charge of J. Crew's Factory Stores.
On Saturday night, Jack, Jan and I went to see and hear Naomi Klein, a journalist with Nation Magazine, speak about her latest book, The Shock Doctrine. Jack is currently reading it and strongly recommends this book. He considers some of her ideas pretty revolutionary and important to consider. She was an outstanding speaker - smart, strong and clear. I particularly appreciated the fact that she's not just another "angry" liberal who just screams criticism that really can't be heard. She's clearly done her homework and presents some fascinating ideas to think about. Please check out her website http://www.naomiklein.org/shock-doctrine
Book Report:
I'm wondering if any of you ever read Reservation Road by John Burnham Schwartz. It is coming out shortly as a movie and I'm eager to see it. It was a gread read.
Amazon.com
"Explain this to me: One minute there is a boy, a life thrumming with possibilities, and the next there are marked cars and strangers in uniform and the fractured whirling lights. And that, suddenly, is all the world has to offer." This is the voice of Ethan Learner, a college professor who has just watched his 10-year-old son, Josh, die in a hit-and-run accident on a silent Connecticut road.
John Burnham Schwartz's Bicycle Days (1989) received favorable reviews but seemed very much an autobiographical first novel. His second fiction, Reservation Road, however, is a book that resists genres: a tragedy where all the characters are flawed and none are entirely guilty; a thriller where the killer, Dwight, wants to be caught but is too laden with self-loathing to turn himself in; and an experimental novel where the narrative jumps gracefully among three perspectives.
In the opening pages Schwartz establishes strong connections between fathers and sons. Moments before the accident Ethan watches his son standing precariously close to the curb; he sees possibilities in Josh, a shy boy whose musical gifts indicate a sensitivity that is no less present, though more mature, in his father. At the same time, Dwight and his son, Sam (also 10), are rushing home from an extra-innings Red Sox game where Dwight tries to rebuild the fragments of attachment left after a bitter divorce. Schwartz reveals depth in simple gestures--a hand, for example, placed in a hand, only to be self-consciously pulled away. Dwight drives on after hitting Josh, though he slows in a moment of hesitation in which Ethan hears him calling "Sam" or "Sham"--he's not sure which. Out of grief, and with only scattered clues, Ethan begins his quiet pursuit of the killer, a pursuit that fuels the novel to its poetic conclusion. In Reservation Road, John Burnham Schwartz has crafted a lasting work of literature, a page-turner that's also a rich character study. --Patrick O'Kelley
Laila recently read Don't Let's Go the the Dogs Tonight, a wonderful memoir by Alexandra Fuller. This is her story of growing up a white girl in Africa. Our book group read this and just loved it.
From Publishers Weekly
A classic is born in this tender, intensely moving and even delightful journey through a white African girl's childhood. Born in England and now living in Wyoming, Fuller was conceived and bred on African soil during the Rhodesian civil war (1971-1979), a world where children over five "learn[ed] how to load an FN rifle magazine, strip and clean all the guns in the house, and ultimately, shoot-to-kill." With a unique and subtle sensitivity to racial issues, Fuller describes her parents' racism and the wartime relationships between blacks and whites through a child's watchful eyes. Curfews and war, mosquitoes, land mines, ambushes and "an abundance of leopards" are the stuff of this childhood. "Dad has to go out into the bush... and find terrorists and fight them"; Mum saves the family from an Egyptian spitting cobra; they both fight "to keep one country in Africa white-run." The "A" schools ("with the best teachers and facilities") are for white children; "B" schools serve "children who are neither black nor white"; and "C" schools are for black children. Fuller's world is marked by sudden, drastic changes: the farm is taken away for "land redistribution"; one term at school, five white students are "left in the boarding house... among two hundred African students"; three of her four siblings die in infancy; the family constantly sets up house in hostile, desolate environments as they move from Rhodesia to Zambia to Malawi and back to Zambia. But Fuller's remarkable affection for her parents (who are racists) and her homeland (brutal under white and black rule) shines through. This affection, in spite of its subjects' prominent flaws, reveals their humanity and allows the reader direct entry into her world. Fuller's book has the promise of being widely read and remaining of interest for years to come. Photos not seen by PW. (On-sale Dec. 18)Forecast: Like Anne Frank's diary, this work captures the tone of a very young person caught up in her own small world as she witnesses a far larger historical event. It will appeal to those looking for a good story as well as anyone seeking firsthand reportage of white southern Africa. The quirky title and jacket will propel curious shoppers to pick it up.
Jackie has two recommendations, both non-fiction:
Martha Beck's, Finding Your Own North Star - Martha Beck is a life-coach and author who is often featured in O Magazine. Rae and I read her first book, a memoir called Expecting Adam, about the birth of her Down's Syndrome child. I think that Rae did a workshop with her and was very impressed.
From Publishers Weekly
A fixed point in the sky that helps mariners stay on course, the North Star emerges as a symbol for realizing one's true potential in this cheerful and perceptive but too-long book. Though her navigational metaphors lose force with repetition, Beck's voice is light, down-to-earth and refreshing. Having found her way on her own journey from academia (she was a professor and researcher at Harvard Business School) to becoming an author (of Expecting Adam, a warmly received memoir about the birth of her Down's syndrome baby), Beck currently consults with clients on redirecting their lives. She teaches that each individual has a core personality that encompasses one's desires, emotions and preferences, which is sometimes blocked by a social self that responds to external influences and cultivates survival skills. By far the most fascinating material is on how to read warnings from the essential self: low energy, lapses into illness, forgetfulness, addictions, Freudian slips and mood swings. She advises steering toward the correct path by eliminating negative influences and practicing elaborate self-esteem exercises. A section on navigating change weighs the book down while suggestions for dealing with serious emotions like grief and anger are somewhat breezy. In the end, however, the numerous self-quizzes, exercises and chances to laugh will allow many readers to overlook these weaknesses. (Mar.)Forecast: Given the success of Expecting Adam and Beck's freelance contributions to Mademoiselle, Real Simple and Redbook, the author is likely to shine in a constellation of media venues and has a solid shot at capturing the imaginations of self-help seekers.
Mehmet Oz', Healing from the Heart - an early book from Dr. Oz, Oprah's favorite doctor which presents his approach to medicine from both Eastern and Western traditions
From Library Journal
Oz, a noted cardiovascular surgeon and director of the Complementary Care Center at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City, relates his experiences in combining complementary medicine with more traditional treatments. Today, his scientific approach is setting the standard for measuring outcomes and benefits of various complementary healing modalities in pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative cardiac surgery patients. His multidisciplinary team of nurses, energy healers, and various health practitioners continues to integrate and investigate the roles of music therapy, hypnotherapy, nutrition, massage therapy, yoga, and therapeutic touch in allopathic medicine. Not since Norman Cousins's Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient (LJ 9/1/79) has the patient's mind-body healing potential been so eloquently described.
Website of the Week - http://www.charitynavigator.org/?gclid=CNW_7L7rk5ACFRk0awod7EGI_g - Charity Navigator site enables you to check on all of those requests for donations you receive.
Podcast of the Week - http://thepenguinpodcast.blogs.com/podcast/2007/09/penguin-podcast.html - Interview with Naomi Klein of the Shock Doctrine.
Vocabulary Word of the Week - Shock according to Naomi Klein
"A state of shock is, by definition, a moment when there is a gap between fast-moving events and the information that exists to explain them. Yet as soon as we have a new narrative that offers a perspective on the shocking events, we become reoriented and the world begins to make sense again."
Cooking and Dining Report:
Libby had a dinner party this weekend and served a wonderful artichoke recipe from Giada de Laurentiis of the Food Network - Artichoke Gratinata - http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_36675,00.html
I made a recipe for Grilled Flank Steak with Shallot and Red Wine Sauce and Cracked Potatoes from Amy Finley, the most recent winner of the Next Food Network Star contest. I loved it!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_75395,00.html - Grilled Flank Steak
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_75394,00.html - Cracked Potatoes
Judy sent me a recipe that she liked from Fine Cooking Magazine - Israeli Couscous with Saffron, Toasted Pine Nuts and Currants - you can easily make this dish an hour or two in advance, let it sit at room temperature and gently reheat it before serving (hold off adding the pine nuts until the last minute)
4T extra virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, cut into 1/4 inch dice (1 1/4 cups)
4 scallions, thinkly sliced (white and green parts kept separate)
30 saffron threads (about 1/8 t), lightly toasted and crumbled
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
Kosher salt
2 medium cloves garlic, finely chopped
Generous pinch ground cinnamon
1 3/4 cups Israeli couscous
1/3 cup pine nuts
1/3 cup currants, soaked in warm water until tender and then drained
3 T chopped fresh fla-leaf parsley
Heat 2 T of the oil in a 10 inch straight-sided saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, scallion whites, saffron, red pepper flakes, and a generous pinch of salt. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is tender and golden brown, 7 - 8 minutes. Stir in the remaining 2 T oil, the garlic anc cinnamon and continue to cook for 1 minute more. Add the couscous and 1 1/2 t salt and stir constantly until the couscous is lightly toasted (the color will turna light brown), 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
In a small saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil over high heat. Add the water to the pan with the couscous, sitr to combine, cover, and cook at a simmer over medium-low to low heat until the couscous is tender and has absorbed all of the liquid, about 10 minutes.
Add the pine nuts, currants, and parsley and toss to combine. Season to taste with more salt if necessary. Transfer to a platter or distribute among individual plates, sprinkle the scallion greens on top, and serve.
Hope you'll try one of these recipes - enjoy!
Have a good week - take a moment over these next days leading up to the holidays to sit quietly, take a breath, and count your blessings.
Love,
Susan
Well, we've had a pretty snowy weekend here in Boulder - it didn't stop us from venturing out on Saturday morning for breakfast at Panera's but we didn't walk any further than the new Anthropologie store a few doors down the sidewalk at the 29th Street Mall. What a terrific turnout we had! We were so delighted to see Jackie and Annette along with "regulars", Barb, Jan, Andrea, Christie, Mary, Laila and me. I do have lots to share with you this week. First of all, as you all know, I really promoted online and catalog shopping last week. As a nod to my daughter, Libby and her livelihood, I should also encourage you all to hit the outlet malls for great deals this season, especially from J. Crew's Factory Stores. As some of you may know Libby is an executive vice-president in charge of J. Crew's Factory Stores.
On Saturday night, Jack, Jan and I went to see and hear Naomi Klein, a journalist with Nation Magazine, speak about her latest book, The Shock Doctrine. Jack is currently reading it and strongly recommends this book. He considers some of her ideas pretty revolutionary and important to consider. She was an outstanding speaker - smart, strong and clear. I particularly appreciated the fact that she's not just another "angry" liberal who just screams criticism that really can't be heard. She's clearly done her homework and presents some fascinating ideas to think about. Please check out her website http://www.naomiklein.org/shock-doctrine
Book Report:
I'm wondering if any of you ever read Reservation Road by John Burnham Schwartz. It is coming out shortly as a movie and I'm eager to see it. It was a gread read.
Amazon.com
"Explain this to me: One minute there is a boy, a life thrumming with possibilities, and the next there are marked cars and strangers in uniform and the fractured whirling lights. And that, suddenly, is all the world has to offer." This is the voice of Ethan Learner, a college professor who has just watched his 10-year-old son, Josh, die in a hit-and-run accident on a silent Connecticut road.
John Burnham Schwartz's Bicycle Days (1989) received favorable reviews but seemed very much an autobiographical first novel. His second fiction, Reservation Road, however, is a book that resists genres: a tragedy where all the characters are flawed and none are entirely guilty; a thriller where the killer, Dwight, wants to be caught but is too laden with self-loathing to turn himself in; and an experimental novel where the narrative jumps gracefully among three perspectives.
In the opening pages Schwartz establishes strong connections between fathers and sons. Moments before the accident Ethan watches his son standing precariously close to the curb; he sees possibilities in Josh, a shy boy whose musical gifts indicate a sensitivity that is no less present, though more mature, in his father. At the same time, Dwight and his son, Sam (also 10), are rushing home from an extra-innings Red Sox game where Dwight tries to rebuild the fragments of attachment left after a bitter divorce. Schwartz reveals depth in simple gestures--a hand, for example, placed in a hand, only to be self-consciously pulled away. Dwight drives on after hitting Josh, though he slows in a moment of hesitation in which Ethan hears him calling "Sam" or "Sham"--he's not sure which. Out of grief, and with only scattered clues, Ethan begins his quiet pursuit of the killer, a pursuit that fuels the novel to its poetic conclusion. In Reservation Road, John Burnham Schwartz has crafted a lasting work of literature, a page-turner that's also a rich character study. --Patrick O'Kelley
Laila recently read Don't Let's Go the the Dogs Tonight, a wonderful memoir by Alexandra Fuller. This is her story of growing up a white girl in Africa. Our book group read this and just loved it.
From Publishers Weekly
A classic is born in this tender, intensely moving and even delightful journey through a white African girl's childhood. Born in England and now living in Wyoming, Fuller was conceived and bred on African soil during the Rhodesian civil war (1971-1979), a world where children over five "learn[ed] how to load an FN rifle magazine, strip and clean all the guns in the house, and ultimately, shoot-to-kill." With a unique and subtle sensitivity to racial issues, Fuller describes her parents' racism and the wartime relationships between blacks and whites through a child's watchful eyes. Curfews and war, mosquitoes, land mines, ambushes and "an abundance of leopards" are the stuff of this childhood. "Dad has to go out into the bush... and find terrorists and fight them"; Mum saves the family from an Egyptian spitting cobra; they both fight "to keep one country in Africa white-run." The "A" schools ("with the best teachers and facilities") are for white children; "B" schools serve "children who are neither black nor white"; and "C" schools are for black children. Fuller's world is marked by sudden, drastic changes: the farm is taken away for "land redistribution"; one term at school, five white students are "left in the boarding house... among two hundred African students"; three of her four siblings die in infancy; the family constantly sets up house in hostile, desolate environments as they move from Rhodesia to Zambia to Malawi and back to Zambia. But Fuller's remarkable affection for her parents (who are racists) and her homeland (brutal under white and black rule) shines through. This affection, in spite of its subjects' prominent flaws, reveals their humanity and allows the reader direct entry into her world. Fuller's book has the promise of being widely read and remaining of interest for years to come. Photos not seen by PW. (On-sale Dec. 18)Forecast: Like Anne Frank's diary, this work captures the tone of a very young person caught up in her own small world as she witnesses a far larger historical event. It will appeal to those looking for a good story as well as anyone seeking firsthand reportage of white southern Africa. The quirky title and jacket will propel curious shoppers to pick it up.
Jackie has two recommendations, both non-fiction:
Martha Beck's, Finding Your Own North Star - Martha Beck is a life-coach and author who is often featured in O Magazine. Rae and I read her first book, a memoir called Expecting Adam, about the birth of her Down's Syndrome child. I think that Rae did a workshop with her and was very impressed.
From Publishers Weekly
A fixed point in the sky that helps mariners stay on course, the North Star emerges as a symbol for realizing one's true potential in this cheerful and perceptive but too-long book. Though her navigational metaphors lose force with repetition, Beck's voice is light, down-to-earth and refreshing. Having found her way on her own journey from academia (she was a professor and researcher at Harvard Business School) to becoming an author (of Expecting Adam, a warmly received memoir about the birth of her Down's syndrome baby), Beck currently consults with clients on redirecting their lives. She teaches that each individual has a core personality that encompasses one's desires, emotions and preferences, which is sometimes blocked by a social self that responds to external influences and cultivates survival skills. By far the most fascinating material is on how to read warnings from the essential self: low energy, lapses into illness, forgetfulness, addictions, Freudian slips and mood swings. She advises steering toward the correct path by eliminating negative influences and practicing elaborate self-esteem exercises. A section on navigating change weighs the book down while suggestions for dealing with serious emotions like grief and anger are somewhat breezy. In the end, however, the numerous self-quizzes, exercises and chances to laugh will allow many readers to overlook these weaknesses. (Mar.)Forecast: Given the success of Expecting Adam and Beck's freelance contributions to Mademoiselle, Real Simple and Redbook, the author is likely to shine in a constellation of media venues and has a solid shot at capturing the imaginations of self-help seekers.
Mehmet Oz', Healing from the Heart - an early book from Dr. Oz, Oprah's favorite doctor which presents his approach to medicine from both Eastern and Western traditions
From Library Journal
Oz, a noted cardiovascular surgeon and director of the Complementary Care Center at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City, relates his experiences in combining complementary medicine with more traditional treatments. Today, his scientific approach is setting the standard for measuring outcomes and benefits of various complementary healing modalities in pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative cardiac surgery patients. His multidisciplinary team of nurses, energy healers, and various health practitioners continues to integrate and investigate the roles of music therapy, hypnotherapy, nutrition, massage therapy, yoga, and therapeutic touch in allopathic medicine. Not since Norman Cousins's Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient (LJ 9/1/79) has the patient's mind-body healing potential been so eloquently described.
Website of the Week - http://www.charitynavigator.org/?gclid=CNW_7L7rk5ACFRk0awod7EGI_g - Charity Navigator site enables you to check on all of those requests for donations you receive.
Podcast of the Week - http://thepenguinpodcast.blogs.com/podcast/2007/09/penguin-podcast.html - Interview with Naomi Klein of the Shock Doctrine.
Vocabulary Word of the Week - Shock according to Naomi Klein
"A state of shock is, by definition, a moment when there is a gap between fast-moving events and the information that exists to explain them. Yet as soon as we have a new narrative that offers a perspective on the shocking events, we become reoriented and the world begins to make sense again."
Cooking and Dining Report:
Libby had a dinner party this weekend and served a wonderful artichoke recipe from Giada de Laurentiis of the Food Network - Artichoke Gratinata - http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_36675,00.html
I made a recipe for Grilled Flank Steak with Shallot and Red Wine Sauce and Cracked Potatoes from Amy Finley, the most recent winner of the Next Food Network Star contest. I loved it!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_75395,00.html - Grilled Flank Steak
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_75394,00.html - Cracked Potatoes
Judy sent me a recipe that she liked from Fine Cooking Magazine - Israeli Couscous with Saffron, Toasted Pine Nuts and Currants - you can easily make this dish an hour or two in advance, let it sit at room temperature and gently reheat it before serving (hold off adding the pine nuts until the last minute)
4T extra virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, cut into 1/4 inch dice (1 1/4 cups)
4 scallions, thinkly sliced (white and green parts kept separate)
30 saffron threads (about 1/8 t), lightly toasted and crumbled
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
Kosher salt
2 medium cloves garlic, finely chopped
Generous pinch ground cinnamon
1 3/4 cups Israeli couscous
1/3 cup pine nuts
1/3 cup currants, soaked in warm water until tender and then drained
3 T chopped fresh fla-leaf parsley
Heat 2 T of the oil in a 10 inch straight-sided saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, scallion whites, saffron, red pepper flakes, and a generous pinch of salt. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is tender and golden brown, 7 - 8 minutes. Stir in the remaining 2 T oil, the garlic anc cinnamon and continue to cook for 1 minute more. Add the couscous and 1 1/2 t salt and stir constantly until the couscous is lightly toasted (the color will turna light brown), 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
In a small saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil over high heat. Add the water to the pan with the couscous, sitr to combine, cover, and cook at a simmer over medium-low to low heat until the couscous is tender and has absorbed all of the liquid, about 10 minutes.
Add the pine nuts, currants, and parsley and toss to combine. Season to taste with more salt if necessary. Transfer to a platter or distribute among individual plates, sprinkle the scallion greens on top, and serve.
Hope you'll try one of these recipes - enjoy!
Have a good week - take a moment over these next days leading up to the holidays to sit quietly, take a breath, and count your blessings.
Love,
Susan
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