Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld

Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld was amazing! I have enjoyed all of her books prior to this one, and couldn't wait to crack it open.  Psychic identical sisters and an earthquake in St. Louis...what more could you ask for?

Deviled Potato Salad

3/4 c mayonnaise
3 Tablespoons cider vinegar
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 lb. cooked small potatoes (quartered)
2 hard-boiled large eggs, chopped
3/4 cup diced sweet onion
3/4 cup diced celery
Paprika to taste

Whisk together mayo, vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt and pepper in a large bowl.  Stir in pot., eggs, onion and celery.  Serve sprinkled with paprika.

Gourmet June 2007

The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan was extremely "engaging" (sorry, I couldn't resist). Sullivan introduces you to 4 different couples that are very different from each other in temperament, social class, time of life and time period.  We learn about their lives, relationships and histories...and end up wanting more.  A 5th story follow Frances Gerety, who spent her career working on ad copy for diamonds. I am dying to read Sullivan's other 2 books: Maine and Commencement.

Many of you have seen this on Pinterest.  I had to try it, and it did come out pretty good!  I liked that it was easy, pretty healthy, and THE WHOLE FAMILY ate it!  So that counts as a good recipe in my book!  It's definitely worth a try!

I got it from the blog Apron Strings, who credits adapting it from Martha Stewart.

ONE POT WONDER TOMATO BASIL PASTA

Serves 4 to 6 as an entree

12 ounces linguine pasta
1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes with liquid ( I used fresh)
1 large sweet onion, cut in julienne strips
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
2 large sprigs basil, chopped
4 1/2 cups vegetable broth (I used chicken)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Parmesan cheese for garnish

Place pasta, tomatoes, onion, garlic, basil, in a large stock pot. Pour in vegetable broth. Sprinkle on top the pepper flakes and oregano. Drizzle top with oil.

Cover pot and bring to a boil. Reduce to a low simmer and keep covered and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes or so. Cook until almost all liquid has evaporated – I left about an inch of liquid in the bottom of the pot – but you can reduce as desired .

Season to taste with salt and pepper , stirring pasta several times to distribute the liquid in the bottom of the pot. Serve garnished with parmesan cheese.

Its been a long time...

I have not posted in a long time, but I am hoping to get back into the swing of things.  I have been reading up a storm and have many good recommendations.  Today I will offer up Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight.  A mix between Gone Girl, Dare Me and Defending Jacob.  It is a suspenseful, fast read that alternates between regular prose, facebook posts, texts and emails/IMs. 

 

 

 This recipe was clipped from the ProJo a while back.  The entire family loved it.  Great summer salad!

 

Southwestern Coleslaw

 14 oz. bag coleslaw mix

1 cup canned black beans (rinsed and drained)

1/4 cup fresh cilantro

1 medium tomato diced

1/2 medium red onion, diced

1 jalapeno pepper, diced

1 avocado, diced

1/2 cup fresh lime juice

2 Tablespoons rice vinegar

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin.

 

Place coleslaw mix, beans, cilantro, tomato, onion, jalapeno and avocado in large salad bowl and mix.  Whisk together remaining ingredients in separate bowl and toss. 

When Life Gives You OJ by Erica Perl is another nominee for the RI Children's Book Award this year, and one of my favorites.  It is about a ten year old Jewish girl who moves from Brooklyn to Vermont so her family can live with her newly widowed grandfather, Ace.  Zelly desperately wants a dog, and Ace comes up with a plan to help her.  I loved the hilarious grandfather who uses all the Yiddish words and phrases I remember from my own grandparents.
Grades 3 and up.

I saw this recipe on Pinterest, it is from the "Eclectic Recipes" blog.  I doubled the sauce.

Cashew Chicken Recipe

Ingredients:

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken, chopped
8 cloves garlic
1 cup cashews
1 bell pepper, diced (optional)
4 tablespoons Hoisin sauce
8 green onions, sliced
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons corn starch
3/4 water or chicken stock
2 tablespoons olive oil
kosher salt and pepper
steamed white rice

Directions:

1. Cook white rice according to package directions. Preheat large skillet or wok over low heat. Add olive oil, garlic and cashews to skillet. Saute over low heat until garlic becomes golden, but don't let the garlic brown, or it will become bitter.
2. Salt and pepper chicken. Add chicken to skillet and cook until chicken is no longer pink. Add cornstarch to a small bowl with the water and mix well. Add cornstarch and water to chicken. Then add hoisin sauce and vinegar. Simmer for 5 - 10 minutes, until sauce has thickened. Just before serving, add green onions and serve with rice.

 

marty mcguire

I apologize for such a long time between postings!  I have been crazy busy, and was not able to add photos to my blog the last few times I tried.  But now it is all working again. Phew!

marty mguire by Kate Messner is a delightful book for 1st-4th graders.  I read it because it is up for the Rhode Island Children's Book Award this year, and I always love a strong female heroine!  This is what they refer to as a "school story", or realistic fiction that takes place in school.  In this book the hijinx that Marty gets into put her in a similar category with Clementine, Junie B. Jones and my old favorite Ramona.  Kids will love it.

Slaw...I don't know about you, but I love a good slaw.  This one is from a popular RI restaurant, and for years I had tried to replicate it without success.  I finally asked the waitress, and the chef was more than happy to come out and tell me what was in it!  I don't have measurements...just eyeball it!

green cabbage
red cabbage
carrots
fresh herbs (cilantro definitely, and then whatever you have)
EVOO
white balsamic vin.or rice wine vin.
honey
shallots
lime/lemon
ginger
soy sauce
Frank's hot sauce
Goulden's mustard
sugar
scallions

The Paladin Prophecy

The Paladin Prophecy by Mark Frost.  This book is Jason Bourne meets Percy Jackson.  Great fun, great twists and surprises!  I think it will be a new YA hit this year.

Thank you to my aunt Elaine for introducing me to this delicious recipe from Cooking Light.  Made it last night and the family loved it (until my 10 year old noticed some salmon "skin" and

Salmon with Maple Syrup and Toasted Almonds

Ingredients

• 6 (6-ounce) salmon fillets
• Cooking spray
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup maple syrup

• 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 teaspoons sliced almonds, toasted

Preparation

Preheat oven to 425°.
Place fillets in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Combine sugar, syrup, soy sauce, mustard, and black pepper; pour sugar mixture over fillets. Cover with foil; bake at 425° for 10 minutes. Remove foil; sprinkle the fillets with almonds. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Serve with sugar mixture.

Photo:Katie Hosford
Cooking Light website
 

Fantastic book and Oreo Brownies

Love, love, loved this book!  John Green is amazing.  After reading The Fault in our Stars this summer I had to get my hands on some MORE JOHN GREEN!  There is a wee bit o'sex (of the oral kind) so, for those who are squeamish about it-maybe don't give this to your tweeners, wait until they are in high school?

Sooooo yummy and sooooo easy.  Make any brownie batter, spoon a little bit into well greased muffin tins (or use cupcake papers), put an oreo on top, and finish with another spoonful of batter.  Mmmmm!