citivolus sus

January on the Gulf Coast

2012-01-31T19:22:00.000-06:00

You know you're on the gulf coast when it's January and you are running your a/c in the car on the way home from work at 7:00pm.

Embrace the Highland Warrior - Anita Clenney

2012-01-28T16:22:00.000-06:00

Summary: When the powerful demon that left Shay for dead discovers her empty grave, he comes seeking retribution, believing she possesses an ancient book he has sought for centuries. Knowing she can't fight the demon alone, Shay returns to her clan and the Scottish Warrior who betrayed her…the only man she's ever loved, where she discovers that betrayal isn't always what it seems. Sometimes it's far worse. (Source: Anita Clenney website)

Comments: This books takes place chronologically within days of the end of Awaken the Highland Warrior. There are a few new characters, including the female lead Shay, her aunt Nina and her aunt's slightly crazy cousin Matilda. We also meet Cody McBain's brothers, Marcus and Lachlan. Shay has returned home, reluctantly, to Virginia and her childhood home which is on the same property of her former best friend, Cody McBain. Why is he her former best friend? Well, because nothing in her life is what it seems and Cody, the one person she trusted above all others, had betrayed her. Apparently, there are many many secrets within the Connor Clan, and we find out about them in this book.
The premiss is still interesting, that warriors battle daemons here on earth to protect humans, but I'm concerned about the loss of three dimensionality in a couple of characters. A character from the first book in this series I found believable, if annoying at times, Faelen, seems to become a caricature of himself and it is disappointing. Faelen and his wife Bree seem to do little more than constantly disagree with each other. I realize that their relationship is challenging because of his insistence that women should be protected (read: have no fun or adventure), but it's a bit much. I liked them better in the first book - individually and as a couple. Shay and Cody are obviously to be a couple in this story, but there are hurdles to cross before that can happen. Oh, and there are vampires too. Cody seems the most real character and I can see how the relationship will work with Shay. Shay's aunt Nina is also believable, but Matilda pushes the boundaries of reality in what I think was meant as comic relief, but it reminds me of Miss Bates in Emma when she prattles on which were the parts of Emma that I tend to skip over.
Overall, I find the plot interesting, but some characteristics of the author still bother me - especially repeating remarks over and over. In the first book (review here) it was the litany of things Bree had done for Faelen after she rescued him. In this one, the repeated concept that Shay perceived that people were hiding things from her. It's true. They were. You don't have to beat us to death with it.
I realize it sounds like I'm complaining a lot, but that's partly because I think these stories have real potential. My biggest hope is that there will be a book for Ronan, probably my favorite character from the first novel that makes an important appearance in this book as well. Somehow he is linked to Bree and I think Shay also. I want to know what's going on there.

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie - Jennifer Ashley

2012-01-19T18:22:00.000-06:00

Summary: The year is 1881. Meet the Mackenzie family--rich, powerful, dangerous, eccentric. A lady couldn't be seen with them without ruin. Rumors surround them--of tragic violence, of their mistresses, of their dark appetites, of scandals that set England and Scotland abuzz. The youngest brother, Ian, known as the Mad Mackenzie, spent most of his young life in an asylum, and everyone agrees he is decidedly odd. He's also hard and handsome and has a penchant for Ming pottery and beautiful women.
Beth Ackerley, widow, has recently come into a fortune. She has decided that she wants no more drama in her life. She was raised in drama--an alcoholic father who drove them into the workhouse, a frail mother she had to nurse until her death, a fussy old lady she became
constant companion to. No, she wants to take her money and find peace, to travel, to learn art, to sit back and fondly remember her brief but happy marriage to her late husband.
And then Ian Mackenzie decides he wants her. (Source: Jennifer Ashley website)

Comments: What an interesting story. While this might be considered a spoiler, I don't think it technically is because everyone will figure this out right quick, that the hero has Apsberger's Syndrome. Ian Mackenzie can't look you in the eye or understand when you make a joke and only applauds at the theatre because everyone else is doing it. But he can play any piece of music he hears, can remember entire conversations in tact and is a wizard with numbers. He can't lie nor can he love. He's not capable of it.
Beth Ackerley has seen many sides of the world. She is raised by her gently-born mother, but has to deal with her alcoholic father who pretends to be French gentry whose dissolute life leads to the family's poverty. Beth has always figured out how to make her way in the world - one way or another and been a good, upright person. She's engaged to another man when she first meets Ian. A man only interested in her after she inherited money from her former employer.
Ian is as engaging as he is frustrating. He's definitely one of the most unique characters I've read recently. Beth is very alive and certainly not some wilting flower. Once again, there is an interesting family dynamic and as you meet Ian's three brothers, his sister-in-law, and nephew, plus the servants that take care of the Mackenzies - oh, and their dogs too. Hart is the eldest and current Duke of Kilmorgan - he's a shrewd politician and business man and does not have a heart. Then there is Cameron who is excellent with horses and Mac who is a painter. Mac's estranged wife Isabella becomes friends with Beth in Paris. Daniel, Ian's nephew, is Cameron's fifteen year-old son by his psycho first wife. The family, while they might fight amongst themselves, become fiercely loyal to each other when attacked from the outside as is the case in this book.
A murder of a game girl brings back memories of another murder that Hart and Ian are linked to and Inspector Fellows is certain they are involved and it's only the Duke's position and money that have kept them free. A bit of a terrier, Fellows isn't going to let go of the Mackenzies this time.
This book is for mature audiences - but I just sort of skipped through a good bit of that. That said, the family is interesting, the servants too, the story is a good solid story and moved with a nice rate of speed. I look forward to reading the other books in this series and seeing what happens to the rest of the brothers.

Quiche

2012-01-12T17:22:00.000-06:00

16 oz mozzarella, shredded
2 pkg frozen chopped spinach, 9 oz each, thawed and squeezed dry
1 can evaporated milk
1 bunch scallions
8 oz mushrooms (probably should be 16 ozs.), sliced
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 piecrusts, blind baked for 8 minutes

I keep finding pieces of exploded chestnut.... ah Christmas

Heat oven to 450 degrees.
Saute scallions (or any onion you like) in a little olive oil. Add the mushrooms and a pinch of salt. Saute until the mushrooms release their water and start to dry. Add the spinach and turn off burner. Use burner heat to further dry spinach. Place all in a large bowl to cool for a few minutes.
In a small bowl, slightly beat two eggs. Add the eggs, the evaporated milk and mozzarella to the large bowl.

For the pie crust, blind bake at 450 degrees for 8 minutes and reduce the heat to 425 degrees. Fill pie shells with quiche mixture. Bake for 20 minutes, turn pies and bake 20 to 25 minutes more. Let cool before slicing.

Bench Notes: Any green is a likely substitute. Kale would probably be good and frozen broccoli is good also. I use the frozen spinach because it's easy and available - I almost always have the ingredients or some variation of them on hand. Swiss can substitute for mozzarella or add some cheddar or parmesan to either of the good melters.

One day, I'm going to be ambitious and make this for the crust...

I saw a crust that Cook's Country used for their Onion and Bacon tart and thought it will work for my quiche too.

Crust (based on Cook's Country "No Fuss Crust")

makes 1 crust, so make 2 for amount of filling above

1 c all purpose flour

1/2 c Parmesan cheese, finely grated

1/4 t salt

6 T unsalted butter, softened

2 oz cream cheese, softened

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk flour, Parmesan, and salt in bowl. Beat butter and cream cheese with a mixer until smooth, Set speed to low, add flour mixture to cream cheese mixture, and mix until dough forms large clumps. Flatten dough into 6-inch disk and transfer to center of 9-inch pie pan. Press crust from center out and up the edges of the pie pan and crimp edges. Refrigerate dough for 20 minutes, then freeze until firm, 10 minutes or so.

Awaken the Highland Warrior - Anita Clenney

2012-01-12T17:07:00.000-06:00

Summary: Mis-adventurous historian Bree Kirkland discovers a one hundred fifty year-old warrior buried in a crypt behind her house. But Faelan, the warrior, isn't dead. When this chauvinistic Scottish Warrior awakes, he has no choice but accept the help of this modern-day woman who's rescued him, but she's more fearsome than the demon trying to kill him. If he's not careful, she'll uncover every secret his clan has bled and died to protect. (Source: Anita Clenney website)

Comments: Warriors have a secret - they hunt and destroy demons, keeping humans safe. Having been locked away for one hundred and fifty years does not change that, but the world around Faelan has changed quite a bit and he must learn to adjust to a modern world with airplanes, automobiles, and computers, as well as modern women who have a mind of their own.
What do I like about this story? I like the premiss, the idea of time travel, of course making Faelan s hot property is required, just as making Bree beautiful and intelligent - I especially like the fact that she's an historian. I liked quite a few of the minor characters, Ronan and Orla in particular - for very different reasons - Ronan because he was the most three dimensional of the minor characters and Orla because she was prim and prissy and very annoying - and nothing like her daughter.
What didn't I like? I dislike the conventional heroine who is beautiful and intelligent, but a clutz. It's used too often and does not ring true to me. I also have issues with things that didn't seem to be explained in the text in a couple of late scenes things happpened that were odd enough that I took notice, but were never explained in the end. I also got tired of two things Faelan apologizing all the time and the repeated list of everything that Bree did for Faelan that his should be grateful for... she woke him, feed him, helped him find his family ... etc. You do not have to beat your reader over the head.
I will certainly read Ms. Clenney's future books, but hope she fixes a few things.

If He's Dangerous - Hannah Howell

2012-01-09T18:22:00.001-06:00

Summary: When Lorelei Sundun first finds Sir Argus Wherlocke in her garden, she's never heard of the mysterious Wherlocke clan-or their otherworldly abilities. That changes the moment she watches Argus - the most tantalizing man she's ever seen - disappear before her very eyes. What she's witnessed should be impossible. But so should falling in love with a man she's only just met . . .
Pursued by a madman intent on harnessing the Wherlockes' talents as weapons, Argus meant to seek help from his family, not to involve a duke's lovely daughter in the struggle. But now, the enchanting Lorelei is his only hope for salvation-and the greatest temptation he's ever faced . . . (Source: Hannah Howell website)

Comments: Well, the tables turn. Instead of a Wherlocke/Vaughn heroine, we get a Wherlocke hero in Sir Argus Wherlocke. He's brooding, handsome, and mischievous. Lady Lorelei is the member of a large family 13 brothers and 3 sisters. Several of Argus' family are in the story as well, including, Lady Olympia Werlocke, Baroness of Stryke Hall, Lord Iago Vaughn, Baron of Uppington, Lord Sir Leopold Wherlocke, Baron of Starkly, and Sir Bened Vaughn. Several of the children from Peneople's story and the Werlocke warren also are in this story, including Argus' two sons, Darius and Olwen.
There is on aspect of the story, beyond Argus' ability to make people say things just by looking at them, that goes against the time it's set - Lorelei's father Roland, Duke of Sundunmoor, is very permissive. It's couched in intelligence and good humor, but he allows for things that I think most men of his time would not allow. Although, he is very involved in his own little world, and doesn't realize that he has a guest on his estate for a week. His long time friendship with his butler Max is delightful, as is his relationship to his other children and other friends and family.
Overall, I enjoyed these books because of the large family dynamic. The variety of the Werlocke and Vaughn gifts is interesting. The gifts have limitations, but prove to be more than a curiosity. I don't know if there are more plans for future books, but I'd be interested in one that include Leo or Bened as the hero.

True Meaning to Song Lyrics

2012-01-07T16:22:00.000-06:00

One of the funniest posts I've read in a while. You have to be the right age though.

Deciphering the True Meanings of Song Lyrics - Jeffrey Goldberg

Jeffrey Goldberg is a national correspondent for The Atlantic and a recipient of the National Magazine Award for Reporting. Author of the book Prisoners: A Story of Friendship and Terror, Goldberg also writes the magazine's advice column.

I imagine ...

2012-01-06T20:21:00.000-06:00

... that Edward Rochester could sound like Tom Waits. Just a thought.

Listen to "Somewhere" from Blue Valentine by T. Waits and see what you think.
Sigh.

Christmas Cooking - Chestnuts

2012-01-06T16:22:00.003-06:00

We tried something we have never done before. The very last thing we did on Christmas Eve was roast chestnuts in the oven. So I dutifully put x's on about 25 chestnuts that I bought at the grocery store. Probably not the best place to source chestnuts, but I don't know
where else to get them in our neck of the woods.
I carefully laid them all with the x up on the baking sheet and slide them into a 425 degree oven for the estimate time of 25 minutes.

What's left of a chestnut

We are sitting around enjoying snacks and drinks as the chestnuts roast - that is until the first one exploded. It looked like sawdust inside the oven - thank goodness for an self-cleaning oven.

Is this what they are supposed to look like?

So, figuring they were probably done now, I took them out of the oven and left them on the stove top to cool a little before we made an attempt at peeling them. We all gathered around to look at them and test the temperature by trying to pick them up (unwise at this stage of the game), when the next one exploded all across the kitchen. Needless to say, I quickly covered the rest with a dish towel. I thing we give it an A for excitement. I, personally, didn't care for them. That said, I may have had bad ones and not known it, but I assume that they are an acquired taste, like boiled peanuts - you either like them or you don't there's no in between.

Christmas Cooking - Sausage and Cheese Balls

2012-01-06T04:22:00.001-06:00

It isn't Christmas unless we have sausage/cheddar balls. I love the fact that they freeze well and I can have them again in a couple of weeks with no real work involved at all. I like mine the same way I like a sausage biscuit - with grape jelly. So that's what I do. Growing up, my dad liked mustard with his sausage balls - to each, his own.

Sausage & Cheese Balls

3 cups Bisquick® mix
1 pound hot bulk pork sausage
4 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (16 ounces)
1/2 cup milk
spicy mustard / grape jelly, for dipping

Heat oven to 350ºF. Lightly grease bottom and sides of jelly roll pan. Stir together all ingredients, using hands or spoon. Shape mixture into 1 inch balls. Place on pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until brown.
Immediately remove from pan. Serve warm with sauce for dipping.

Bench Notes: I just line a pan with foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray for easier clean up. And use your hand to mix - it's the only way this will work.

Christmas Cooking - Cheese Straws

2012-01-05T18:22:00.001-06:00

This is a new recipe for me this year. That said, I'm usually pretty terrible with puff pastry - I think it's the defrosting. No, really I do. Somehow I can't get that right. Either I take it out and it's still too frozen or I take it out and it sticks together and I have a terrible time with it.

Cheese Straws
Credit: Ina Garten
2 sheets (1 box) frozen puff pastry (such as Pepperidge Farm),
defrosted overnight in the refrigerator
Flour, for dusting
1 extra-large egg
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1 cup finely grated Gruyère cheese
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Roll out each sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured board until it is 10- by 12-inches. Beat the egg with 1 tablespoon of water and brush the surface of the pastry. Sprinkle each sheet evenly with 1⁄4 cup of the Parmesan, 1⁄2 cup of the Gruyère, 1⁄2 teaspoon of the thyme, 1⁄2 teaspoon of the salt, and some pepper. With the rolling pin, lightly press the flavorings into the puff pastry. Cut each sheet crosswise with a floured knife or pizza wheel into 11 or 12 strips. Twist each
strip and lay on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until lightly browned and puffed. Turn each straw and bake for another 2 minutes. Don't over bake or the cheese will burn. Cool and serve at room temperature.

Bench Notes: I used cheddar instead of Gruyere and did not use extra salt. I also used a little cayenne on about half the straws - just to see if we would like it.
Imperative that you flour the knife or pizza wheel.

If He's Wild - Hannah Howell

2012-01-05T16:22:00.001-06:00

Summary: She sees his face everywhere… Lady Alethea Vaughn Channing is haunted by a vision of a man in danger-the same man who she has seen in dreams time and time again. She doesn't even know his name, and yet she feels the connection between them, knows she is the only one standing between him and disaster.
…Yet They Have Never Met
But rakish Lord Hartley Greville is capable of protecting himself, as he has proven more than once in his perilous work as a spy for the crown. If he's to carry out his duty, he'll need to put aside the achingly beautiful woman with the strange gift. And yet, when Alethea's visions reveal a plot that could endanger children, Hartley will not be able to ignore the destiny that binds them together-or resist the passion burning between them… (Source:Hannah Howell website)

Comments: It bares repeating that I still can't stand the titles of these books. I enjoyed this book a good deal, especially the inclusion of more of the Werelocke/Vaughn family members and returns of those who have made appearances in the previous two books in varying degrees. There is a central story of how Alethea needs to warn Hartley about her vision and an additional subplot of finding Hartley's missing niece and nephew that has boats going back and forth to France. We come to realize some in the Werelocke and Vaughn men work secretly for the British government to protect king and country. I keep harping on the family interest in these stories and how I enjoy them because so many times family or friends of the main characters seem to be an afterthought. There is again, in this book, strong, intelligent female characters that are independent, but not hoydenish.
I would certainly recommend reading these books in order. It certainly helped with this book since many characters from the others were spoken of or appeared in this story as well. Again, a for adults only book. Now on to what appears, though I hope not, to be the final Werelocke book.

Christmas Cooking - Pecan Tassies

2012-01-03T16:22:00.000-06:00

Pecan Tassies are vital to Christmas for me. I make them throughout the winter and into the early spring, but never summer. I'm not sure why.

Pecan Tassies

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 lg eggs
2 cups brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups pecans, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat cream cheese and butter until blended, add flour and mix to incorporate and pat into disk, cover with plastic and chill for at least an hour.
Lightly beat eggs, add sugar and vanilla, stir in pecans Press dough by teaspoon into mini muffin cups, fill with pecan sugar mixture to within 1/4" of top of dough cups. Bake 25-28 minutes.

Bench Notes: I think this was originally from a Southern Living magazine, but could
not swear on that. Either way, I can make them in my sleep, I've been making them for so long - at least since about 1987. Forever ago.

If He's Sinful - Hannah Howell

2012-01-01T08:22:00.000-06:00

Summary: It is whispered throughout London that the members of the Wherlocke family are possessed of certain unexplainable gifts. But Lord Ashton Radmoor is skeptical - until he finds an innocent beauty lying drugged and helpless in the bedroom of a brothel. The mystery woman is Penelope Wherlocke, and her special gift of sight is leading her deep into a dangerous world of treachery and betrayal. Ashton knows he should forget her, yet he's drawn deeper into the vortex of her life, determined to keep her safe. But Penelope is no ordinary woman, and she's never met the man strong enough to contend with her unusual abilities. Until now... (Source: Amazon)

Comments: Still hate the title of these books - groan. They are stupid enough to make people think the story is stupid fluff. But it's not. Perhaps I should go into the business of helping people title their books. Sigh.
That said (again!). This was another interesting story about the Wherlocke and Vaughn families and their unusual ability. Penelope Wherlocke has the ability to see ghosts and speak to them and finds when she's kidnapped and drugged in a brothel, that there are plenty of ghosts there. I won't go into the kidnapping etc. as it would be a spoiler, but it's plenty believable when you meet some of Penelope's step-family. Peneolpe is the daughter of nobility, but keeps ten boys, her two half brothers by her father's affairs and either others who are the by-blows of her cousins and uncles, in an only barely semi-respectable area of London. She's older sister and mom to the boys and they love her fiercely. Lord Ashton Pendellan Radmoor finds her intriguing as well.
The sort of odd things the Werelockes and Vaughns can do are just on this side of believable - sort of and certainly are interesting. The other thing I enjoyed about the book is another set of strong female characters and strong family bond of both the Werelockes and the Radmoors. While the stories are falling into a pattern, it's a pleasant one that is enjoyable. This book introduced a number of characters that are interesting that I'm hoping to see more of in the future. For mature audiences.

Christmas Cooking - Crostini with honey, bleu cheese & pears

2011-12-31T16:22:00.003-06:00

Another repeat favorite. It's probably again, one of the easiest things to make and I like it because, while I'm allergic to raw apples, I can still eat raw pears, a worthy substitute.

Crostini with Honey, Bleu Cheese & Pears

1 small pear
4 oz bleu cheese
1-2 Tbs milk
16 slices of french baguette, toasted
2 Tbs honey

Peel and core pear, and cut into 1/4 inch wedges. Combine bleu cheese and milk, stirring well. Spread baguette with cheese mixture, top with pear, and drizzle with honey. Serve.

Mixing Bleu Cheese & Cream

Bench Notes: I tend to use firm Bartlett pears, but Anjou works as well. Betting Seckel would work as well. Since I had heavy cream on hand, I used it instead of milk. I made this for our pre-wedding party too. The honey used was a gift from a student whose grandfather has an apairy near Blountstown, Florida.

Bond with Me - Anne Marsh

2011-12-31T16:22:00.000-06:00

Summary: Fallen angels… They rule Moscow's seedy underworld, promising untold pleasure to the females who dare to mate them. That promise — and Brends Duranov's own raw sexual power — has hopefuls mobbing the velvet rope outside his elite club G2's.
But Mischka Baran has no intention of hooking up with one of the Fallen. Not even after Brends gives her an unforgettable taste of the sin and seduction he can deliver with those wicked lips. She's after information, not a stint as some Goblin's toy of the month. What she
doesn't know is that with a sadistic killer carving up his brethren, Brends is playing for keeps, hunting the one woman whose bloodline can end the mayhem, whose bond can restore his lost wings. (Source: NetGalley)

Comments: Okay, someone should put a warning label on books like these - jeez - hotter than the 4th of July in Florida. The premiss is decent, the Dominion, were kicked out of heaven by Michael, yes, the Archangel, for committing murders that they did not do. Once fallen they are not human, but goblin, although they are not bad to look at and willing to make women very, um, satisfied. Someone is killing women who at a distance are related to keep the fallen angels from finding their soul mates and their potential way back into heaven. Had potential, but just not my cup of tea.

Christmas Cooking - Lawn Party Sandwiches

2011-12-30T16:22:00.001-06:00

So what's on the menu for this weekend - well, as it is my favorite thing to do, there is no meal, just a menu of appetizers. We'll start with one of my favorites - Lawn Party Sandwiches - super simple ham/cheese sandwiches. I made these for the first time for our pre-wedding party at the Highland Lake Inn.
Here's the original recipe from Southern on Occasion: A Companion to Inspire Gracious Living by The Junior League of Cobb-Marietta, Inc. The recipe is in the "A Tisket, A Tasket" section - if that don't make you sick... and below are my adjustments.

Lawn Party Sandwiches
1 c butter, softened
3 Tbs poppy seeds
1 onion, grated
1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbs Dijon mustard
2 (12 oz) packages white party rolls
1/2 pounds cooked ham
5 oz shredded Swiss cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, mix together butter, poppy seeds, onion, Worcestershire sauce and mustard.
Slice rolls in half horizontally and set aside tops. Spread bottoms with the butter mixture. Top with have and Swiss cheese. Replace tops. Arrange rolls in a single layer in a medium baking dish. Bake in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes, until rolls are lightly breowned and cheese is melted.

Bench Notes: July 2002, February 2006, April 2009, 23 Dec 11
Made half recipe; added 1/2 tsp of Bourbon smoked black pepper; used Bourbon smoked Worcestershire sauce, 6 slices each of ham and cheese, used a shallot instead of onion, no poppy seeds.

Christmas Cooking - Hot Reuben Dip

2011-12-29T16:22:00.002-06:00

This is a new recipe for me, but it's been in my stack for a good while. I was trying to have an appetizer dinner for us on Friday, so that I can continue cooking for Saturday and Sunday - jeez how Christmas snuck up on me. We like Reuben sandwiches, especially the recipe from America's Test Kitchen - it's a total winner.

Hot Reuben Dip
1 cup Swiss cheese, shredded
1/2 pound corned beef, chopped
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup sour cream
2 Tbs ketchup
2 Tbs spicy brown mustard
1/2 cup sauerkraut, drained
1 pkg of rye cocktail bread squares

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, mix 1/2 cup of Swiss cheese with all the ingredients excepting the bread squares. Place the mixture in a baking dish and sprinkle the top with the rest of the Swiss cheese. Heat in the oven until bubbly, about 20 minutes. Turn on the broiler and brown top. Serve with bread squares.

Bench Notes: I substituted Chili sauce for the ketchup. I toasted very thin pumpernickel bread instead of using rye.

Evolution of the buffet

2011-12-28T21:22:00.001-06:00

This is how I roll on Christmas Eve... ever since I was about 11, I decided that Christmas Eve, which was a huge thing in my family, was to be an appetizer party. All finger food and snacks, no sit-down meal, just eat and mingle. Ergo, my life as an event planner fit well into this, but it's still at the heart of my Christmas Eve meal. Which also means there will be excellent left overs for Christmas day. Cool.
So here's how it goes (steady as she goes):

Christmas Cooking - Sweet Potato Biscuits

2011-12-28T16:22:00.000-06:00

A perennial fall/winter favorite and popular everywhere I take them. The biscuits themselves are great but then you make it into a true appetizer and/or breakfast treat. I got the idea of this from a caterer I worked with. He serves sweet potato biscuits with turkey and cranberry sauce that was sweet and hot. My twist, is probably not original, but very popular. Fill the sweet potato biscuits with salty ham and a horseradish mayo. It's fabulous.

Sweet Potato Biscuits
original from Emeril Lagasse

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
12 Tbs unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
1 cup mashed sweet potato
1 cup pecans, finely ground
1/3+ cup heavy cream

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Mix the flour, baking powder , baking soda and salt together. Add the butter and work it into the flour mixture with your fingers or in a food processor, until the mixture looks like wet sand. Add sweet
potatoes and pecans. Add cream until a dough forms. Flour the working surface and press dough out until it's about 1/2 inch thick. Using any size biscuit cutter and cut biscuits. Place on baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes or so.

Sweet Potato Biscuit w/ham and horseradish mayo

One batch of sweet potato biscuits
1/3 pound deli ham, any type, thinly sliced
2 Tbs horseradish
2 Tbs mayonnaise

Split the sweet potato biscuit, add desired about of ham on bottom of biscuit, In a small bowl, mix horseradish and mayonnaise, adjusting the taste to your liking. Spoon the horseradish/mayo mixture on top half of biscuit.Replace the top of the biscuit. Serve warm or room temperature.

Bench Notes: make sure baking powder is fresh. You can either bake or boil the potatoes. Boiling seems fast and I do that skin oon and peel after they have cooled. It's pretty easy. You can sub half and half for heavy cream, but I wouldn't. I use a smaller (two bite) size biscuit cutter for appetizers, and a larger one for breakfast biscuits.

Christmas Cooking - M&M Cookies

2011-12-27T16:22:00.007-06:00

This was a staple at Christmas growing up and though I am a strange bird and don't really care for chocolate, these are really good cookies. I don't make them every year, but decided to bake these this year for a change. This always makes me buy crisco - I don't use it for anything else. This recipe is from my mom and I have no idea where it originally came from, but didn't bother to look either because this just works.

M&M Cookies

1 cup crisco
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cups M&M, plain

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together, crisco and both sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, and incorporate. Add vanilla. Beat to combine.In a small bowl whisk flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the crisco mixture in two batches, incorporating completely. Add M&Ms, mix in by hand. Spoon onto baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes or until golden.

Bench Notes: These are colorful cookies that balance nicely with the chocolate, a soft cookie that is not too sweet. These are easy to put together as you do not need to wait for butter to become room temperature. Have never tried with peanut M&M.

If He's Wicked - Hannah Howell

2011-12-27T16:22:00.002-06:00

Summary: She saves his life...For Chloe Wherlocke, it all begins with a vision - a glimpse into the future that foretells a terrible plot against Lord Julian Kenwood and his newborn son. Chloe's psychic gift allows her to save the child from certain death, but the earl remains in grave peril...But when he steals her heart...Julian Kenwood knows someone is trying to kill him and he suspects his scheming wife and her lover are behind the plot. But Julian is shocked when Chloe, a captivating, dark-haired stranger, warns him that sinister forces are indeed at hand - and exposes a devastating secret that changes his life forever...Will she resist - or surrender? As Chloe reveals her plan to save Julian, neither can deny the attraction that grows each moment they're together. Chloe knows the highborn earl could never love her as she loves him. But when danger strikes closer than ever, Chloe must risk everything - or lose Julian forever...

Comments: First, I hate the title of this book and the three others that follow it. That said, it was an interesting story. The Wherlockes and their cousins the Vaughns have gifts. Chloe Wherelocke has visions, which come in handy to save Julian Kenwood's son. Julian's evil wife and crazed Uncle are out for his land, title, and money. They plot to get Julian removed from the picture in a variety of ways including leaving his newborn son to die. Lovely couple them. But Chloe Wherelocke has seen a vision and knows she must protect little Anthony.

I like that this story line includes something so different as someone having visions, but makes it unpredictable, and sometimes not helpful. My favorite part of the story is the entire Wherelocke/Vaughn clan. This generation, of Chloe and Lord Sir Leopold Wherelocke and Bened Vaughn, are connected to each other and take care of each other largely because their parents made bad marriages and left behind children to broken families. There is some romance of course, because who can resist a man that's spent the past year drinking himself into a stupor and rutting around like a goat because his beautiful, but evil wife, is cheating on him. This is also a mature readers only book, though not over the top in that way.

The story is interesting and different, the pacing is good, the characters are well developed. I appreciate the creation of strong, rational, thinking female characters - I'm thinking not only of Chloe, but also Julian's mother and aunt. I'm looking forward to the next book to see what else this family has to offer - to me they are the most intriguing part of the story.

Christmas Cooking - The candy calendar

2011-12-26T19:44:00.000-06:00

Winter, it is thought, is a good time to make candy - at least in my little part of the world. But apparently, that is not the case in the past few days. Winter, in north Florida is a blessed time of low humidity. Great for candy making (horrible for my hair which craves humidity to make it slightly wavy and not static electricity-driven nightmare). I will gladly suffer bad hair for some time making candy, but the gods of humidity do not agree with me. So, I can't make candy. The humidity is at a low point at present, but it's still 54% humidity and rising with a 100% chance of rain tonight and part of tomorrow. Hopefully, this will clear as the week goes on and I can get into vanilla taffy, toffee, and chocolate dipped pretzels (a total favorite). Damnation, I want vanilla taffy - aka crack, because, yes, if the police saw it, they would think it was crack - totally looks like it - and is easily as addictive. A recipe from my mom's mom. Outstanding. Not sure I'm going to share.

Christmas Cooking - Cheddar-Hot Pepper Jelly Thumbprints

2011-12-26T16:22:00.001-06:00

This is a recipe I've made a couple of times because it is a cool vehicle for one of my favorite things in the world - hot pepper jelly. Every late summer / early fall, I make hot pepper jelly. It's just stupidly good and easy to make and to tweak as you go along, so rather than serving the hot pepper jelly and cream cheese with crackers, I use this recipe, especially for the holidays. I call mine hot pepper jelly as opposed to jalapeno jelly since I tend to use a combination of Tabasco and cayenne peppers with usually a jalapeno or two thrown in.

Cheddar-Hot Pepper Jelly Thumbprints

Yield: about 40

6 oz sharp or extra sharp white cheddar 

1/2 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese (2 oz) 

1/2 cup butter, softened 

1 egg yolk 

1 cup all-purpose flour 

1 egg white 

1 Tbs water 

1 1/4 cups pecans, chopped 

1/3 - 1/2 cup hot pepper jelly.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In food processor, mix cheese and butter until well combined. Add youk and 1/4 tsp black pepper and process until combined. Add flour, pulse several times until a dough forms, set aside. In a small bowl combine egg white and water. Place pecans in a shallow dish. Shape dough into 3/4-inch balls. Roll balls in egg white, then in pecans. Place 1 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Use your thumb to dent the center. Bake 15 minutes or until the cookies are lightly brown in color. Press any puffed center down with a spoon. Transfer to a rack and cool. Just before serving, place a small bit of jelly in the centre of the thumbprints.

Bench notes: Unfilled cookies can be store in the fridge for three days and in the freezer for three months (just don't forget they are there). I made them the first time for Thanksgiving 2005.

Christmas Cooking - 2011

2011-12-26T16:03:00.000-06:00

My Initial List

Over the last few days and during the next few days, I'm going to be posting my Christmas Cooking for 2011. This is the easiest and best way for me to document what works and what doesn't and what people thought of everything. It will be helpful for 2012. Enjoy!

Winter Solstice

2011-12-21T18:22:00.001-06:00

Well, it's here - the shortest day of the year and that can only mean one thing. Tomorrow the days will FINALLY start getting longer. I, for one, cannot wait. I know it's not terribly rational, but even at one minute a day it means that in a few days, maybe a week or a little more I won't be coming home from the office in the dark. Hallelujah!

What I'm learning...

2011-12-13T18:22:00.001-06:00

About writing is that you don't have to be great at everything to get published. I've been reading quite a few varied and different types of stories and I think I must just be a born editor. I find all kinds of little things that just make me nuts. And I have to stop and go back
and reread things - it's making me nuts because it does take some of the fun out of reading. I wonder if this has something to do with the fact that I now read more on by (beloved) Kindle than a printed book. Books can be produced faster by going to an electronic format, so perhaps more slips by. Or maybe people need better editors. Or maybe I'm too picky and need to just relax and go with a story. I just can't seem to do it.
Case in point, use of groan worthy phrases such as, "this was a look he could die in." All together now - groan. Or an element in the story that never gets explained such as, a letter that someone steals but no reference is ever made of it again - why not - did you just forget while writing? That's what I'm thinking has happened.
I must just be too picky, or perhaps, I should change careers and become an editor.

Caveat - this does not refer to any books I've written about on this blog (at the present time).

According to Jane - Marilyn Brant

2011-12-08T18:22:00.000-06:00

Summary: It begins one day in sophomore English class, just as Ellie Barnett's teacher is assigning Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." From nowhere comes a quiet 'tsk' of displeasure. The target: Sam Blaine, the cute bad boy who's teasing Ellie mercilessly, just as he has since kindergarten. Entirely unbidden, as Jane might say, the author's ghost has taken up residence in Ellie's mind, and seems determined to stay there. Jane's wise and witty advice guides Ellie through the hell of adolescence and beyond, serving as the voice she trusts, usually far more than her own. Years and boyfriends come and go - sometimes a little too quickly, sometimes not nearly fast enough. But Jane's counsel is constant, and on the subject of Sam, quite insistent. Stay away, Jane demands. He is your Mr. Wickham. Still, everyone has something to learn about love - perhaps even Jane herself. And lately, the voice in Ellie's head is being drowned out by another, urging her to look beyond everything she thought she knew and seek out her very own, very unexpected, happy ending. (source: Amazon)

Comments: Would I like to have Jane Austen's thoughts in my head? After reading this book, the answer is no. I can't keep up with my own thoughts, much less having another person's in there too. I'm glad I read the book, but it was a bit long and I wonder about a 30 something year old woman who still thinks about anything that happened in high school. I bet she's on Facebook all the time too, but that's just my little prejudice - high school should be forgotten because, dear lord, we were stupid then. The list of boyfriends Ellie racks up is pretty impressive, especially her Russian musician (his sex drive was a character of its own) and somehow she, mostly, can remain friends with the guys, after a little time goes by. The secondary characters, if given enough page time, are pretty well drawn and believable. The music references were all spot on and I really enjoyed them. Perhaps a little long, but a interesting read. This book is for mature audiences.

Recipes

2011-12-04T16:22:00.001-06:00

I've been collecting recipes since about forever and I have lots of different ways that they are stored and I change those ways every few years. Right now, I have a folder on my computer where everything is saved and I print all my recipes and put them in plastic sleeves and into a binder - yes, it's geeky beyond repair. That said, I've noticed that when I go to make my paper copy of a recipe to print out, I do a lot of editing to them getting rid of extraneous words that just really don't seems necessary for anyone with any level of common sense and who has spent at least, I don't know, a couple of hours around the kitchen making dinner. And no, that does not include nuking something or as the MotH* thinks, reheating pizza.
What do I do my biggest hatchet job on? Descriptions of things that are on the recipe. Do I really need a header for "Ingredients?" I don't think so, I'm pretty aware that a list of things at the beginning of a recipe is the ingredients. Do I really need a header for "Directions" or for that matter, do said directions need to be numbered? Um, No.
I do usually add one thing to the recipe - the website that it came from. I think giving credit is a good thing, sometimes that's not possible, especially if it's a recipe that I've been making so long that I don't use a recipe anymore I just know how to do it - like my pasta sauce, but they all start somewhere. My new favorite recipe is from Mario Batali, but I'm already made
several changes and it will be up here soon. Alterations included.

*Man of the House

Forever and a Day - Delilah Marvelle

2011-12-02T16:22:00.001-06:00

Summary: Roderick Gideon Tremayne, the recently appointed Duke of Wentworth, never expected to find himself in New York City, tracking down a mysterious map important to his late mother. And he certainly never expected to be injured, only to wake up with no memory of who he is. But when he sees the fiery-haired beauty who's taken it upon herself to rescue him, suddenly his memory is the last thing on his mind.
Georgia Milton, the young head of New York's notorious Forty Thieves, feels responsible for the man who was trying to save her bag from a thief. But she's not prepared for the fierce passion he ignites within her. When his memory begins to return, her whole world is threatened, and Roderick must choose between the life he forgot and the life he never knew existed… (source: Netgalley)

Comments: Lovely lovely story. Granted, this is for mature audiences, it is a great story of overcoming adversity and not giving in or giving up on someone you love. Georgia is bright, hard working and tenacious. Robinson, as Tremayne is known through most of the book, is
honest, steadfast, and true. One of my favorite parts of the story is Tremaye's relationship with his father and via that - Georgia's relationship with him too. While dictated by the control of English society, his father does care about Tremaye's future life and happiness - that was very refreshing. Georgia's family, the Forty Thieves, at least the ones we meet seem sincere, esp.her adopted son Matthew. It's a bleak picture of slum life for Irish immigrants in the 1830s, but a fun read. This is the first book I've read by this author.

The Mischief of the Mistletoe - Lauren Willig

2011-12-01T18:22:00.003-06:00

Summary: Arabella Dempsey's dear friend Jane Austen warned her against teaching. But Miss Climpson's Select Seminary for Young Ladies seems the perfect place for Arabella to claim her independence while keeping an eye on her younger sisters nearby. Just before Christmas, she
accepts a position at the girls' school in Bath. She hardly imagines coming face-to-face with French aristocrats and international spies...
Reginald "Turnip" Fitzhugh - often mistaken for the elusive spy know as the Pink Carnation - has blundered into danger before. When Turnip and Arabella find a beautifully wrapped Christmas pudding with a cryptic message, they are launched on a Yuletide adventure that ranges from the Austens' modest drawing room to the awe-inspiring estate of the Duke of Dovedale and an elaborate Christmas celebration.
Will they find poinsettias or peril, dancing or danger? Is it possible that the fate of the British Empire rests in Arabella's and Turnip's hands in the form of a festive Christmas pudding?

Comments: Perfect for a winter read (even though it's not terribly cold here now). The story of the unassuming, but practical Arabella Dempsey and the handsome, rich, but slight quirky Turnip Fitzhugh is a lovely addition to the Pink Carnation pantheon. It's very interesting how this story folds into the Temptation of the Night Jasmine which of course, leads to The Betrayal of the Blood Lily. The back cover quotes "Pride and Prejudice lives on" and while I agree there is a classic quality to them, but it is not the best analogy I think. These have more mystery, more romance (read: almost sex), and are quite funny. Austen has a dry wit. It's just not quite a fair way to describe the books. I do tend to like the female characters, but Turnip is downright adorable. We all know some guy like him, blessed in the looks department which is good because he's a few tools short in the shed. Lovely story and a quick read for the holidays.

Austenland - Shannon Hale

2011-11-18T16:22:00.001-06:00

Summary: Jane Hayes is a seemingly normal young New Yorker, but she has a secret. Her obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, is ruining her love life: no real man can compare. But when a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-crazed women, Jane’s fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become realer than she ever could have imagined.

Decked out in empire-waist gowns, Jane struggles to master Regency etiquette and flirts with gardeners and gentlemen—or maybe even, she suspects, with the actors who are playing them. It’s all a game, Jane knows. And yet the longer she stays, the more her insecurities seem to fall away, and the more she wonders: Is she about to kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?

Comment: I had heard of this book before, but the premiss seemed a bit far fetched (where did that phrase come from?). Who would want to spend real time in Regency England? I like reading about it - at least Miss Austen's version of it, but I sure the heck wouldn't want to live it. Plus just the stigma of being lame enough to go to Austenland? I'm just not there. That said, I enjoyed the book. It was quirky and fun and had all the important parts necessary; scheming mother, brooding handsome stranger, competitive women, plus a normal nice guy. While the premiss did seem a bit out there, it's written in a believable manner so I got over that part. Jane - let's see - she's a strange girl, but in the best possible way - I liked her.

Further Comment: In looking for a picture of the book cover, I have just discovered what, I'm sure, the rest of the Jane Austen world knows - that this is being made into a movie - and even better JJ Feild will be in it. Ah, Mr. Tilney.

Love at Absolute Zero - Christopher Meeks

2011-11-17T16:22:00.000-06:00

Summary: Gunnar Gunderson is a physicist who teaches at University of Wisconsin who work relates to getting to absolute zero - it's his holy grail. As he earns tenure, he decides he needs to take control of his person life - which means finding a wife in three days. That's all the time he can spare away from his research.

Comments: There was just something so hopeless naive about Gunnar that I had to read the book. It's not just romance, it's not all science, but it certainly is about life and how we, mostly, stumble our way through it. I could say more on this, but I don't want to give up too much of the story. It is a bit of an unusual pick for me, but I really enjoyed it. Gunnar is dense, brilliant, goofy and hopeless all at the same time - that why you need to read the book.

I'm prepared to be annoyed

2011-11-06T16:22:00.000-06:00

until the time changes back. I hate the time change in winter, though it's still fall here. It's just so depressing. Sigh.

A Poisoned Season - Tasha Alexander

2011-10-30T04:22:00.000-05:00

Summary: London's social season is in full swing and Victorian aristocracy can't stop whispering about a certain gentleman who claims to be the direct descendant of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. But he's not the only topic of wagging tongues. Drawing rooms, boudoirs, and ballrooms are abuzz with the latest news of an audacious cat burglar who has been systematically stealing valuable items that once belonged to the ill-fated queen.
Light gossip turns serious when the owner of one of the pilfered treasures is found murdered, and the mysterious thief develops a twisted obsession with Lady Emily Ashton. It will take all of Emily's wit and perseverance to unmask her stalker and ferret out the murderer, while faced with a brewing scandal that threatens both her reputation and her romance with her late husband's best friend, the dashing Colin Hargreaves.

Comment: Lady Emily Ashton is smart, modern, maybe too much so. She has a gift for sorting out problems, but that gift gets her involved in all sorts of trouble that cause notice among the ton. She's independent and encourages her female friends to be so too, which means certain families avoid her altogether. Ms. Alexander has created a real character with Emily Ashton, but her secondary characters are good as well. Charles Berry, the pretender to the non-existant French throne, is despicable, Ivy, remains her innocent self, and Margaret plans a deception to get her parents to allow her to go to Oxford. Emily's friend Cecile, along w/Brutus and Caesar, is an instigator in the best possible ways for Emily. Of course, there is Colin Hargreaves, handsome, an operative for the home office, and Emily's love interest - but will she finally agree to marry him?
There is a largely looming character over the whole novel - the season. What it means to women and, to some degree, to men. How gossip can change your status, how an innocent misstep can too. And if you have a conniving mother, how you could end up marrying some one you hardly know and don't like instead of the one man you truly love.

The Convenient Marriage - Georgette Heyer

2011-10-29T16:22:00.001-05:00

Summary: Horatia Winwood is simply helping her family - When the Earl of Rule proposed marriage to her sister Lizzie, Horatia offers herself instead. Her sister is already in love with someone else, and Horatia is willing to sacrifice herself for her family's happiness. Everyone knows she's no beauty, but she'll do her best to keep out of the Earl's way and make him a good wife. And then the Earl's archenemy, Sir Robert, sets out to ruin her reputation ...
The Earl of Rule has found just the wife he wants - Unbeknownst to Horatia, the Earl is enchanted by her. There's simply no way he's going to let her get into trouble. Overcoming some misguided help from Horatia's harebrained brother and a hired highwayman, the Earl routs his old enemy, and wins over his young wife, gifting her with a love that she never thought she could expect.

Comments: I have an intrinsic problem with this story. Why would Rule accept Horatia as a substitute for her sister Lizzie. Lizzie is the eldest, she's beautiful, and has a lovely personality. Charlotte, the middle daughter, reminded me of Mary Bennet of Pride and Prejudice. Horatia is not beautiful and not rich and she stutters - quite a bit, so what the heck is the appeal? I guess the idea that she will leave Rule to run his live as he sees fit without an interference from Horry (hate the nickname by the way), but really having the Massey (ie. his mistress) is enough to let him over look a seventeen year-old with a stutter? I just can't buy this part of the story.
That said, Horatia, now married has a grand time for herself - basically she's become a club girl - out all night with all sorts of people, gambling, drinking and living it up. Rule seems not to mind until she strikes up a friendship with his enemy Sir Robert Lethbridge. Lethbridge, at one time, was interested in Rule's sister Louisa. The surrounding characters, including Horatia's brother Pelham, Captain Edward Heron, Lizzie's eventual husband and Pelham's friend Pomeroy are well written and quite hysterical in the search for a missing piece of jewelery that could indite Horatia. If you can suspend reality to get past why Rule would want to marry Horatia, this is a very interesting and fun story.

Caroline Bingley by Jennifer Becton

2011-10-21T17:22:00.000-05:00

Summary: When Charles Bingley and Mr. Darcy made proposals of marriage to the Bennet sisters at the end of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Caroline Bingley was both distressed by her brother's choice of bride and humiliated by Mr. Darcy's rejection of her. And she made her objections known.
Now banished from her brother's household, Caroline must return to her mother's home in the north of England until she can make amends with both Bennet sisters. Desperate though Caroline may be to return to polite company, she absolutely refuses to apologize to Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and instead, she seeks an alternative route back into society in the form of Mr. William Charlton, heir to a barony.
Through her connections with Mr. Charlton's sister Lavinia, Caroline begins to infiltrate the household in the hopes of securing the gentleman and his title for herself. However, she must also contend with her vexing emotions regarding Mr. Patrick Rushton, a once-wealthy
landowner, and the meddlesome opinions of Mrs. Rosemary Pickersgill, the companion sent by her brother.
When all that Caroline has ever dreamed of attaining--an ancient family name, a title, and a home of her own--is finally within her reach, will she grasp for it even if it means disregarding the workings of her own heart? Or will she cast off the trappings of society and give herself to true love?

Comments: Ever wondered what happened to Caroline Bingley after the end of Pride & Prejudice? Yeah, right, me either. I felt the same way about Charlotte Lucas, and Jennifer Becton changed my mind about that. I purchased this book three days ago and planned to read it as soon as I finished the three others I had going at the time. After the first few pages of Ms. Becton's story, those other books - including a Georgette Heyer - were set aside for Caroline Bingley.
She's haughty, snide, ugly and has been dismissed from Charles' favor and sent to the far north and her mother's home. She has been disappointed by Darcy, and Charles is furious with her over her treatment of Jane and Elizabeth Bennet. She's embarrassed and tries to hide this all from her mother, her traveling companion Rosemary Pickersgill, and her old friend Lavinia Winton. She quickly forms designs on Lavinia's brother, Mr. Charlton, despite rumors of his reputation, because one day he will be a baron and it would be a fine thing for Caroline to be his baroness.
While there are a few characters from Pride & Prejudice, Ms. Becton created a world of her own with Mr. Rushton, Rosemary Pickersgill and Mr and Mrs. Newton, Caroline's mother and her new husband the bridge-building engineer. The characters are smart and engaging and it's fun to watch Caroline realize that those around her are possibly more shrewd than she ever thought. The plot is intriguing and moves quickly, but not so fast that you don't get to know the characters. I've read Ms. Becton's other novel, Charlotte Collins and short story, Maria Lucas. In a very different vain, I've read Ms. Becton's Absolute Liability and and looking forward to future works in her Southern Fraud Thriller Series. I can't wait to see what Ms. Becton does next.

Jane Austen Made Me Do It - Edited by Laurel Ann Nattress

2011-10-10T18:22:00.001-05:00

Summary: If you just heaved a contented sigh at Mr. Darcy's heartfelt words, then you, dear reader, are in good company. Here is a delightful collection of never-before-published stories inspired by Jane Austen - her novels, her life, her wit, her world. Regency or contemporary, romantic or fantastical, each of these marvelous stories reaffirms the incomparable influence of one of history's most cherished authors. (Source: Cover)

Comments: This was a delightful set of short stories that were inspired, by some way or another, by Jane Austen. I would love to comment on each story, but I shall limit myself to the ones that caught my attention and piqued my interest. All the stories were enjoyable, but some had that little quirk that really made me think or laugh. Laurel Ann Nattress has created a volume that will have something (more than one something, of that I'm sure) for everyone.
I'd say I've read texts by half of these authors before, so it was the comfort of the familiar with the interest in the authors unknown, until now, to me. One, now, to the stories.
What would Austen do? by Jane Rubino & Caitlen Rubino-Bradway is one of the funnest stories I've read in a while. Parents being brought to school because their child is too good? I guess Miss Austen has that effect on people. It's contemporary, it's funny, it's irreverent. I
loved it and they are new authors to me.
Jane Austen and the Mistletoe Kiss by Jo Beverly Can a widow find love? Will she be willing to try again. This one just might because one of her neighbors is none other than Miss Austen. A lovely story with a lovely family that I would like to see expanded into a full book. Again, a new author to me.
Nothing less than a Fairy-land by Monica Fairview is the lovely continuation of Emma in which Mr. Knightly moves into Hartfield, much to the consternation of Mr. Woodhouse. How can Emma reconcile her father to the situation. It's one of the most unexpected turns.
It's really really hard not to just keep adding books, but I'll suffice with just a few more.
The Love Letter by Brenna Aubrey The author who until now was unpublished. She's the contest winner and gave a great modern Persuasion rendition that I particularly enjoyed as I work with a number of physicians.
A Night at Northanger by Lauren Willig. An author I have read many many times and have enjoyed greatly takes on modern ghost hunting in Northanger Abbey. It's an hysterical take on modern television and modern society. Great fun.
Heard of You by Margaret C. Sullivan (aka Mags) An author and blogger that I adore has written a back story of the meeting of Admiral Croft and Sophy Wentworth. It's charming, but I am shocked that Mags didn't write about Henry Tilney - that said, a lovely story that I wouldn't mind seeing more of.
Okay, I have to stop at some point. So many great stories - which will all be available tomorrow. If you like Jane Austen you will enjoy these stories.

The Hanover Square Affair - Ashley Gardner

2011-10-09T16:22:00.001-05:00

Summary: Meet Captain Gabriel Lacey-in an extraordinary series of Regency-set mysteries. Cavalry captain Gabriel Lacey returns to Regency London from the Napoleonic wars, burned out, fighting melancholia, his career ended. His interest is piqued when he learns of a missing girl, possibly kidnapped by a prominent member of Parliament. Lacey's search for the girl leads to the discovery of murder, corruption, and dealings with a leader of the underworld. Lacey faces his own disorientation upon transitioning from a soldier's life to the civilian world, redefining his role with his former commanding officer, and making new friends--from the top of society to the street girls of Covent Garden. (Source: Amazon)

Comment: I cannot remember how I stumbled into this book, but I'm certainly glad that I did. I'm pleased to see that there are several more in the series. I'm looking forward to reading them all. Captain Gabriel Lacey is my kind of guy. So let's proceed to why I liked this story. It was intriguing, with fully developed characters and in a time period I enjoy. Lacey is honest, has integrity, and isn't afraid to help the helpless. He's been wounded, both physically and psychologically, but uses neither as a crutch. He's also got the evil of a temper... not one I would want to be on the wrong side of, to be honest.
There are strong secondary characters, some of whom, I'm still not sure of their intentions. Lucius Grenville is a charming man-about-town, a trend leader, and a good friend to Lacey. Marianne Simmons, Lacey's slightly needy and slightly tart-ish, upstairs neighbor, is an actress who is constantly stealing from him and attempting to find protectors to keep her company. Louisa Brandon, wife of his former Colonel Aloysius Brandon, who is Lacey's very close friend and sometime confidant. The three have known each other for more than twenty years. Mr. Denis, is a strange person who has the ability to acquire things for others. But why does he want Lacey?I look forward to the next story, A Regimental Murder.

Jane Austen in under a minute

2011-10-08T16:22:00.000-05:00

Okay, some might find they sacrilege, but I find it hysterical. Jane in under a minute. Here.

Powder and Patch - Georgette Heyer

2011-09-26T20:22:00.000-05:00

Summary: For her, he would do anything...
Plainspoken country Philip Jettan won't bother with a powdered wig, high heels, and fashionable lace cuffs, until he discovers that his lovely neighbor is enamored with a sophisticated man-about-town.
But what is it that she really wants?
Cleone Charteris sends her suitor Philip away to get some town polish, and he comes back with powder, patches, and all the manners of a seasoned rake. Does Cleone now have exactly the kind of man she's always wanted or was her insistence on Phillip's remarkable transformation a terrible mistake?
Comments: This is an interesting premiss and give Heyer a great amount of opportunity to show off her skills of language and her use of details in both person and place. Heyer's writing is always amusing. "A while back I spoke of the three gentlemen who built their homes round Little Fittledean. Of one I said but little, of the second I spoke at length and to the tune of one whole chapter. It now behooves me to mention
the third gentleman, who chose his site on the outskirts of the village, some two miles from Jettan's Pride and to the east." There is an interesting dynamic better Sir Maurice and his son Phillip, it was rather a good one and I enjoyed it. It was also nice to see that Sir Maurice cared so much for Cleone as well. I enjoyed this book, with the exception of the sappy ending which is predictable, but just a click over the top for me. Perhaps this is because I just read The Toll Gate, which is not sappy in the least.

Two of my favorite writers ... together

2011-09-25T19:22:00.000-05:00

news from the Guardian newspaper...
"Like deft, elegant, Golden Age-ish detective fiction? Like Pride and Prejudice? Then have I got news for you. On November 3, Faber is publishing Death Comes to Pemberley: a crime novel set in Jane Austen's universe by none other than PD James.
"The year," runs the press release, "is 1803, and Darcy and Elizabeth have been married for six years. There are now two handsome and healthy sons in the Pemberley nursery, Elizabeth's beloved sister Jane and her husband, Bingley, live within seventeen miles, the ordered and
secure life of Pemberley seems unassailable, and Elizabeth's happiness in her marriage is complete. But their peace is threatened and old sins and misunderstandings are rekindled on the eve of the annual autumn ball. The Darcys and their guests are preparing to retire for the night when a chaise appears, rocking down the path from Pemberley's wild woodland, and as it pulls up, Lydia Wickham, an uninvited guest, tumbles out, screaming that her husband has been murdered." How about that? "

The Toll Gate - Georgette Heyer

2011-09-21T17:22:00.000-05:00

Summary: It takes a lot to unnerve Captain John Staple, a man with a reputation for audacious exploits and whimsical nonsense. But when he finds himself mired on the moors on a dark and stormy night no less - John hardly expects to find a young frightened boy who's been left alone to tend a toll gate house.
Never one to pass up an adventure, John decides to take up residence in Derbyshire as a gatekeeper until he can find the lad's father. But as John investigates the suspicious disappearance, he begins to unravel a far more complex mystery. And at its center is a woman ... the very one to tame John's reckless spirit.

Comments: John Staple is a unique man. Finding a poor child being a gate keep for his disappeared father, he stops, stays, and tries to sort out what is going on. Just because it needs to be done. This book is unlike any Georgette Heyer I've read before. It's way more of a
mystery than a romance. The couple in question get married with no real conflict about three quarters of the way through the book, but don't get to be together immediately. The mystery is what are Henry Stornaaway, cousin of Nell Stornaway and grandson of Sir Peter, and Mr. Coate up to - because it must be something to be at Kellands when it's dead boring - which it is most of the time.
The heroine is logical, the hero is, well, a rare breed of man and the secondary characters, from highwayman to Bow Street Runner to 7 year-old boy are well drawn and believable.
Great read - Up next Powder and Patch.

Happy Birthday Agatha Christie!

2011-09-15T17:29:00.000-05:00

I am in the process of reading all of Agatha Christie's mysteries. The goal was to do it in order, but I've already messed that up, so I'm keeping to the published date order as much as possible.

Questions:
Who is your favorite - Poirot or Miss Marple? Poirot, and a nod to Inspector Battle.

Favorite Book (so far)? Chimneys

Thoughts on Hastings... Love him. He keeps Poirot's overlarge ego in check.

Agatha Christie and the Doctor

Favorite reference to Agatha Christie..."The Unicorn and the Wasp"episode of Dr. Who that explains what happens in those 11 missing days. Great stuff that.

Joanna Trollope to rewrite Jane Austen

2011-09-13T19:12:00.001-05:00

From the Guardian Book Section
"From Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy to Emma Woodhouse and Mr Knightley, Jane Austen created some of the most enduring romances in literary history. Now, publisher HarperCollins is hoping it has dreamed up another marriage made in heaven, commissioning Joanna Trollope to write a contemporary reworking of Austen's novel, Sense and Sensibility.

The pairing is the first in a what the publisher has dubbed a "major" new series, in which it will team modern authors with Austen's six novels, asking them to reimagine the books in a contemporary setting. The project is the latest addition to the current vogue for Austen
remixes, which have ranged over recent years from the unexpected success of Seth Grahame-Smith's zombie mash-up Pride and Prejudice and Zombies to erotic fiction author Mitzi Szereto's X-rated Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts."

Must say that being a contemporary writer, I had no idea who Joanna Trollope was... go figure. I can't wait to see who HarperCollins contracts with to rework Persuasion.

Coffee Cake

2011-09-13T18:07:00.002-05:00

I tend to enjoy recipes by Alex Guarnaschelli. She seems relatively normal for someone on Food Network and I've had good success with the things I've tried before that she has created (or I assume she's created). I've been needing something good for breakfast, and since I still have this fear (unrealistic, I realize) of yeast, I've avoided breakfast breads so coffee cake seems to be a decent alternative. So here goes.

You can get the recipe here.

September 11, 2001

2011-09-11T07:45:00.002-05:00

It is difficult - this tenth anniversary of the tragic murder of innocent Americans and other nationalities that were either in the Pentagon, in the Trade Center or on one of the planes used as weapons. Everyone remembers where they were, when it seemed like just one horrific thing after another kept happening, and it's doubtful those memories will ever fade.
I was immediately very busy. My chancellor wanted an event for the next day to honor the victims and responders, and to mourn those we had lost at our university. It was my first real event in a job I had been on less than two weeks. Hell of an initiation, but it kept my mind off things going on in the world. We had deliveries of tables, chairs, podiums, speakers to engage, oh, and a capital campaign gala to cancel. It sounds superficial and it was, but it helped to be busy.
I don't think I really had a good idea of how much of an impact this had on me until late in the night. The Boy and I had gone to a restaurant that we were already quite the frequent customers because I knew there were no TVs in the restaurant. Later, I noticed how quite it all seemed. No flights over head, few cars. It was eerie. It was a very sad time. And it made me very very angry. Ten years doesn't make it any less sad, but hopefully, we, as a people and as a country, have learned something about ourselves and what we hold dear.

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy - Abigail Reynolds

2011-09-10T14:22:00.000-05:00

Summary: Elizabeth marries Darcy despite her dislike of him because she's caught in a kiss that she didn't expect at Rosings Park.

Comments: Boy, I had a hard time with this book. In the end, I liked it a lot and I'm not an easy person to convience, but it took a a little time. The whole idea that Elizabeth Bennett would marry Darcy when she didn't even like him seems such a strange premiss to me, but I guess the social conventions of the time dictated it. The fact that Darcy wouldn't realize that she was marrying him under durress - is he really that blind, but then again, men are dense - I mean even today. That said, I let those things go and still had one other issue with the story. The miscommunication and mistakes and bad feelings of the characters take the majority of the book. I kept thinking, stop already with the troubles between Darcy and Elizabeth. This is mostly my personality because I like happy endings (and this one was), but it took some work to get there. I'm a sap, I realize it. But there it is.
I enjoyed some of the minor characters quite a bit. Bingley and Georgianna, were delightful. Bingley actually gets angry at Darcy, which is something I never thought I would see. But it was justified and refreshing. I have to admit, I could do without the detailed description of sex, but I don't care for that in any book. Just not my thing. While elements of the story, for example Elizabeth learning to ride, were engaging and believable, I think ultimately I never was able to divest myself of the idea of the marriage being wrong that caused real disquiet while reading.

The Betrayal of the Blood Lily

2011-09-07T17:22:00.000-05:00

Summary: Penelope Deveraux never imagined she'd be spirited off to India to give the scandal of her hasty marriage time to die down. As Lady Frederick Staines, Penelope plunges into the elaborate court intrigues of the Nizam of Hyderabad, where no one is quite what he seems. In a strange and exotic country where a dangerous spy called the Marigold leaves venomous cobras as his calling card, there is only one person she can trust.
Captain Alex Reid has better things to do than play nursemaid to a pair of aristocrats. Unfortunately, Penelope seems to have the uncanny ability to draw out the deadly plans of the Marigold and put herself in harm's way. With danger looming from local warlords, treacherous court officials, and French spies, Alex realizes that an alliance with Lady Staines may be the only thing standing in the way of a plot designed to rock the very foundations of the British Empire. (source: book cover)

Commentary: I enjoyed this installment of the Pink Carnation series by Lauren Willig. Penelope is a bit like me, the cynic, the critical one, the tom boy even perhaps. She's the only one of Ms. Willig's female characters that could handle the trip to, and living in, India. The rest are way too girly for this. As mentioned previously, Penelope gets herself trapped in a marriage that leaves her with less than the best prospects. Freddy Staines, really, ah, that's too bad (Call me "old thing" one more time and I'll...). Thankfully, based on the plot line we know his number will come up.
Alex Reid, on the other hand, is a hero's hero. If Penelope can trust him enough to figure out what is going on. And what is going on? Not sure at the beginning, because there are too many members of the Hellfire Club involved and suspicious dealings with the locals that don't seem to be above board. And, Alex's boss has married a local woman which brings him - and Alex - into question with British officers. Penelope suspects Alex of just about everything. Probably over reaching at that point, but being new to the area, who is to say.
Eloise and Colin seem to still be managing their lives together - so far. Somehow, I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop in their relationship. Perhaps it's too much Bridget Jones' Diary in me, but ... I'm cautious. Not sure, but, this was an excellent story. Liked the cover of this book the best some how. Lovely really.

Carrot Cake

2011-09-04T16:22:00.000-05:00

One of the Boy's favorite cakes is Carrot Cake. I've been making it from the same recipe for what seems like eons. For his 18th birthday I made this favorite. I thought I'd try cupcakes, but ended up being a little behind in the schedule so, it's a cake instead of cupcakes. It will still taste amazing, as it always does, but I really did want to try cupcakes. I'll put that in the file for the future.
The recipe I received from a friend, so I don't know its origins (this was back way before I started to care about that kind of thing, so I apologize in advance). I have made a few changes to the methodolgy and a small change in ingredients. That said, this is an amazing recipe for Carrot Cake. I've put half recipe ingredients in parentheses because often I don't do the full two layer cake, but just one for a quick cake.

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour (1 1/4)
2 tsp. baking soda (1 tsp.)
1 tsp. salt (1/2 tsp.)
2 tsp. cinnamon (1 tsp.)

Mix these all together in a bowl and have ready when the time comes. Easy.
1 1/2 cups of butter, unsalted (3/4 cup)
1 cup granulated sugar (1/2 cup)
1 cup brown sugar, lightly packed (1/2 cup)
2 tsp. vanilla (1 tsp.)
3 eggs (1 egg)
Put butter and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix until all incorporated. Add vanilla and mix in. Add each egg, one at a time and mix until incorporated. Now you're ready for the flour mixture. Add it in heaping spoonfulls, but make sure it is mixed in before adding more. Stop the mixing and scrape the bowl often to not have bits of flour in the bottom of the mixing bowl.
2 1/2 cups of carrot, grated on the large hole of box grater (1 1/2 cups)

1 cup raisins (1/2 cup)
1 cup nuts, chopped I'm a fan of walnuts, but this is optional esp. if you're allergic. (1/2 cup)
Toss all this in the batter and mix, on low, until combined. Divide mixture into two 9" cake pans that have been sprayed w/Baker's secret (great stuff, that). Bake for approximately 30 mintues, rotate and bake for 25 or so more - checking towards the end. Use the toothpick test to verify doneness. Let cook on a rack while you consider the frosting (do I sound like AB?).
2 8 oz. bars cream cheese, softened (8 oz.)
1/2 cup butter, unsalted, softened (1/4 cup)
juice from one large lemon, strained (wing it, whatever tastes good)
2 tsp. vanilla (1 tsp.)
3 cups powdered sugar give or take (1 1/2 give or take)
Mix cream cheese and butter together, add everything else (and lemon zest if you like) and mix slowly until the sugar is incorporated.

Once cake is cool, frost as you see fit. Pretty simple as things go, but w/a decent amount of prep and around an hour in the oven this isn't something you rush. But it's well worth the time you put in. Enjoy.

The Temptation of the Night Jasmine

2011-09-03T11:22:00.001-05:00

Summary: After five years abroad, Robert, Duke of Dovedale, has returned to England to avenge the murder of his mentor. To uncover the murderer's identity, he must infiltrate the infamous secret Hellfire Club. But the Duke has no ideas that even more difficult challenge awaits him - in a mistaken, romantic-minded young lady.
Charlotte Lansdowne wistfully remembers the Robert of her childhood as a valiant hero amoung men. Too aware of his own flaws, Robert tries to dissuade Charlotte from her delusions, even as he finds himself drawn to her. When Charlotte takes up a bit of espionage - investigating a plot to kidnap the King - Robert soon realizes that she is more than the perfect partner in crime. Caught in a dangerous game full of deadly spies and secret rites, Robert and Charlotte must work together to reveal the villain ... and confront their true love. (source: book cover)

Comments: I have to admit this book, starting out, was my least favorite so far. Charlotte was, again, at the beginning, annoying and amazingly childish. She's just about too much to take. Robert is obsessed with getting revenge for his mentor to the point that he would join the Hellfire Club, which would seriously put his reputation in danger, but he does it anyway. Charlotte's time as a Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen is an interesting idea. Henrietta and Penelope make an appearance as well as Miles which gives us some continuation of the plot line from the previous books. Penelope is acerbic, perhaps even more than ever and makes a terrible mistake that will cost her. At a certain point in the book Charlotte is forced to stop being such a baby and grow up, and thankfully, she does which makes for a much more enjoyable story.
The story between Eloise and Colin is still moving forward as well and doing so rather nicely which means something bad is bound to happen. Up next, Betrayal of the Blood Lily.

Croque Monsieur

2011-09-01T18:22:00.001-05:00

Ready for the broiler

Croque Monsieur
3 tbs butter, unsalted
4 tbs all-purpose flour
2 cups milk (or thereabouts)
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
pinch of fresh grated nutmeg
1 lb Fontina, grated
1/4 c Parmesan, grated
Dijon mustard
1/2 lb ham, sliced thin
10 slices of firm white bread (remove crust or not, as you like)

First toast the bread - in the oven. It takes about 5 minutes at 375 and then flip for 3 minutes more.
Mornay Sauce - melt the butter, once the butter is bubbly, add flour and cook together for a few minutes to cook off the flour taste. Add a small amout of the milk first and stir in, let it cook for a bit. Then add the rest of the milk. You can heat the milk and this process will go quicker, but I never bother to do that. It's the same method I use for making macaroni and cheese. You have to heat this over medium heat and it requires pretty much constant stiring so you don't burn the mixture. But given a few minutes, it will thicken until it coats the back of a spoon. Once this is accomplished, remove it from the heat and add about 8 ozs. of Fontina and all the Parmesan. You could use Gruyere, which is more traditional, or as I have before, use a combination of Fontina for melt-ability and cheddar for flavor. Set aside.
Now assemble the sandwich. Take once piece of toasted bread and coat with Dijon mustard, add a slice or two of ham, a little grated cheese and top with another piece of bread. Then do the fun thing - top sandwich with the mornay sauce and top with a little more grated cheese.

Sure, it's white on white, but it taste amazing.

Now for the finish - heat the sandwiches in the over for a few minutes in the oven, that I'm sure you left at 375 degrees. If you want to broil to get the cheese on the top brown and bubbling - go for it.

Peril at End House - Agatha Christie

2011-08-30T05:22:00.000-05:00

Summary: Perched on the rocky cliffs of the Cornish coast, the imposing structure known as End House looms over the quiet hotel where retired detective Hercule Poirot is vacationing. Though the house is intriguing, its reckless young mistress, Nick Buckly, is even more so. She has narrowly escaped a recent series of life threatening accidents, and something tell the Belgian sleuth that these so-called accidents are more than just coincidences or a spate of bad luck. Someone is trying to do away with poor Nick. But who? And what is the motive? In his quest for answers, Poirot must delve into the dark history of End House. The deeper he gets into his investigation, the more certain he is that the killer will strike again. And this time Nick may not escape with her life (Source: Book Jacket)

Comments: Another stunner by Agatha Christie. In reading her books in order (although, I might be out of order at this point, must check), I've started to see some patterns that I find interesting. First, many many references to those books of detective fiction her characters mention. It's quite amusing, if you think about it. It's a self-referential parody and I just love to see it, especially, when voiced by her imminent detective M. Poirot. Other themes, such as Hastings having implicit trust of military men. It's repeated in many stories, but sometimes he's right and largely, he's wrong. Poirot does not exclude anyone from review based on their title, wealth, or status. He's rather democratic in that way. This was indeed a page turner, read in a day (it's way to damn hot outside), and I didn't see the end coming, so I won't spoil that for anyone else. Empathetic characters, some drug dealing, a murder, and Poirot and Hastings, what more could you need?

Eggs Benedict & um, Ribs. Really?

2011-08-29T18:22:00.000-05:00

One of the reasons, or perhaps the only real reason, I write in blog form is that it makes it easy for me to find things again. No matter if it's a name of a plant and when I planted or when it typically blooms or what I thought of a book (ie. should I read it again) or some recipe that I like and make often. This is the place that I can have both the words and pictures together. I'm hoping that eventually I will not need all my recipe books or garden journals, but can use this blog to keep up with things. Right now, it's serving its purpose. I needed the recipe I used to make hollandaise sauce to make Eggs Benny (too cutesy?), and guess where the easiest place to find it was? Right here. Just what I wanted.
I cannot even think about how many times I made this recipe after first reading it in Cook's Country magazine - I stopped trying long ago to keep up with it, but it is just amazing to me that something that seems so complex can be made simple and still amazingly flavorful.
But you know, America's Test Kitchen has this way about them. I've read for about a hour this evening regarding ribs. I would like to cooks some on the grill next weekend and so I'm reading several parts of The Cook's Illustrated Guide to Grilling and Barbecue: A Practical Guide for the Outdoor Cook this evening. I'm trying to decide between the Texas Beef Ribs, the Baby Back Ribs, and the Short Ribs. Oh and BONUS, I found what I think will be my recipe of choice for German Potato Salad (chapter on sides). Lucky me. That's just one of my favorite things in the entire world. I really have no idea why that is, but it is. Right now, the Texas Beef Ribs are seriously in contention. That may change when I get to the store and look at costs, but what will be, will be. Looking forward to some ribs, with garlic bread, and german potato salad next weekend. Lucky me.

Midnight Riot

2011-08-29T17:34:00.000-05:00

Summary: Probationary Constable Peter Grant dreams of being a detective in London's Metropolitan Police. Too bad his superior plans to assign him to the Case Progression Unit, where the biggest threat he'll face is a paper cut. But Peter's prospects change in the aftermath of a puzzling murder, when he gains exclusive information from an eyewitness who happens to be a ghost. Peter's ability to speak with the lingering dead brings him to the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, who investigates crimes involving magic and other manifestations of the uncanny. Now, as a wave of brutal and bizarre murders engulfs the city, Peter is plunged into a world where gods and goddesses mingle with mortals and a long-dead evil is making a comeback on a rising tide of magic.

Comments: This is the first book by Ben Aaronovitch featuring Peter Grant, who is a charming character if there ever was one. He's funny, snarky, and gets easily sidetracked, but does eventually make sense of the strange world he finds himself in. His mentor, well, more accurately his master, is Thomas Nightingale, the epitome of the British gentleman, always dressed to the nines. Oh, and he's a wizard. When Peter asks if he's like Harry Potter, the reply was "No, I'm not a fictional character." Very dry humour this.
The magic-ness of the books seems to fit into our world without much problem. Oh, some people protest, but most don't seem phased that their are gods and goddess wearing real clothes, driving mini Coopers, just hanging out. The river gods/goddesses take on a good bit of the book and it's a creative plot device. This is not my typical type of book, especially when babies get tossed out of the (closed) second story window and die, but thankfully, Aaronovitch does not go overboard with the gore. I'm looking forward to spending time with Peter and
Nightingale and what every uncanny they come up with.

The Seduction of the Crimson Rose

2011-08-28T09:22:00.000-05:00

Summary: Determined to secure another London Season without assistance from her new brother-in-law, beautiful Mary Alsworthy accepts a secret assignment from Lord Vaughn on behalf of the Pink Carnation: to infiltrate the ranks of the dreaded French spy the Black Tulip before he and his master can stage their planned invasion of England. Every spy has a weakness, and for the Black Tulip that weakness is black-haired women - his "petals of the Tulip." A natural at the art of seduction, Mary easil catches the attention of the French spy, but Lord Vaughn never anticipates that his own heart will be caught as well. Fighting their growing attraction, impediments from their past, and, of course, the French, Mary and Vaughn find themselves lost in the shadows of a treacherous garden on lies ... (source: book cover)

Comments: So Mary Alsworthy loses her lover to his sister in the last book (The Deception of the Emerald Ring), and instead gets her own book and to my great pleasure Lord Vaughn. Mary, beautiful, intriguing, poor, and still pretty ticked at her sister and brother-in-law. To get away from them is most important and to have a season to find another man willing to marry a beautiful, but penniless woman. So she agrees to help the Pink Carnation via Lord Vaughn, whom no one, not even me, trust is truly what he says he is. Mary turns from spoiled girl into a calculating woman. And Vaughn, well, he's just Vaughn, as black and silver as he's ever been and as he always will be. Enigma. One of the things I like about the series is there is very little real time between them in both the worlds. Eloise and Colin are still circling around each other as she studies into his family history and hopes to get into his future. The story was well written. Ms. Willig has done another solid job of keeping up with this series.

Hurricane Irene

2011-08-26T17:41:00.000-05:00

At least it's not coming towards us - for a change!

I feel bad for all in the sights of this storm, knowing all to well what people are doing - or should be doing. Since there hasn't been a hurricane to hit the NYC general area since 1985, I have an idea most people in the area haven't been through a hurricane in the city before or been through one ever. This made me think about all the notes I made after going through Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and Hurricanes Dennis and Katrina in 2005. Everyone knows to put away the patio furniture and buy batteries, but some of the odd lessons learned (and since forgotten) are here.

Things to do:
Mow the grass - yes, it takes time and fuel, but cleaning up after a storm in 6"+ grass is a hassle that can be avoided by a mow before the storm hits.
Make sure you know who in the neighborhood has a pool. It's very useful if you run out of water to flush toilets.
Shave your legs before the storm hits - you won't want to do it when the only water is cold and if you don't it will get on your nerves.
Buy Beer - or your spirit of choice before the put out a "state of emergency" which limits the sale of alcohol.
Wash all the dishes, ie. run the dishwasher.
Wash all dirty clothes - cleaning up after the hurricane you will change clothes several times a day. Wash.
Run the disposal w/a lemon half or bleach.

Things to have in the house:
Food - that's a given. You will tire of peanut butter much sooner than you expect, so stock up on anything that might hold well and sound good to you when totally starving after taking tree limbs to the kerb.
Fresh Fruit is great when it's hot and you've been moving limbs to the kerb all day (see a theme here?). Mandarin Oranges are great for this too.
Water - for you and your pets. And enough to brush your teeth with too. If you can't drink the water, you shouldn't brush your teeth with it either.
Toilet Paper, enough said.
Paper Plates - lots of them.
Trash Bags - again, lots of them - it could be weeks before household garbage is picked up.
Propane or Charcoal - or both

Things to know:
Segregate your trash such as a can for just cans and empty water bottles - those can wait for pick up, but food, etc. in another that has to go out ASAP (ie. when trash pick up starts some month after the storm - not kidding about that).
Distributions Centers are usually determined prior to a storm, so check ahead or listen to the local radio station. If all stations are down, be on the look out for police or National Guard units – they can direct you. The lines will be long, but get in them – designate someone for each day. Look at it this way; you'll be in the cool air conditioning of your car – take a book or magazine – read as the line creeps along. And stock up on anything you can. I used to look at the lines after hurricanes and say, "why didn't those people buy ice before the storm?" Well, they did, but ice melts fast in the summer in the south. You need ice almost daily. Sure, you could buy it, but to be honest, you'll need that money for other things. Take the ice. Take the MREs. Take what you can, but not more than you'll need.
The National Guard walking down your street with M16s is a comforting feeling when there is no light for in any direction.
Police escorts – aren't just for presidents and governors. The police will provide escorts for utility vehicles and debris removal. Be aware and let them do their job. It will help you in the long run.

Most importantly, realize that everyone is in the same situation you are in and yes, it sucks. You'll get to know your neighbors better - in good ways mostly and you'll have a story to share with everyone else that went through it too.

And Only to Deceive

2011-08-26T17:16:00.000-05:00

Summary: Emily agreed to wed Philip, the Viscount Ashton, primarily to escape her overbearing mother. Philip's death while on safari soon after their wedding left Emily feeling little grief, for she barely knew the dashing stranger.
But her discovery of his journals nearly two years later reveals a far different man than she imagined - a gentleman scholar antiquities collector who apparently loved his new wife deeply. Emily's desire to learn more of her late husband leads her through the quiet corners of the British Museum and into a dangerous mystery involving rare stolen artifacts. To complicate matters, she's juggling two very prominent and wealthy suitors, one of whose intentions may go beyond matrimony into darker realms .... (source: book cover)

Comments: This is the first book I've ready by Tasha Alexander and I enjoyed it quite a bit. The approach was rather novel in that the lead character, Lady Ashton doesn't fall in love with her husband until after he is dead - more is the pity. the mystery of the stolen works of art is clever and intriguing. Lady Ashton's mother is a nightmare - I'd do almost anything to get away from that hyper-critical harpy. That said, the "good" guy versus "bad" guy was easy to spot (in my opinion), but still well written. You do feel genuine empathy for Lady Ashton when she realizes, albeit to late, what she had. I'm looking forward to more books involving Lady Ashton.

Apothecary's Daughter

2011-08-20T15:40:00.000-05:00

Summary: Lillian Haswell, brilliant daughter of the local apothecary, yearns for more adventure and experience than life in her father's shop and their small village provides. She also longs to know the truth behind her mother's disappearance, which villagers whisper about
but her father refuses to discuss. Opportunity comes when a distant aunt offers to educate her as a lady in London. Exposed to fashionable society and romance--as well as clues about her mother--Lilly is torn when she is summoned back to her ailing father's bedside. Women are
forbidden to work as apothecaries, so to save the family legacy, Lilly will have to make it appear as if her father is still making all the diagnoses and decisions. But the suspicious eyes of a scholarly physician and a competing apothecary are upon her. As they vie for village prominence, three men also vie for Lilly's heart.

Comments: Written by Julie Klassen, I have no idea why I purchased this - I must have read something somewhere because it was on my kindle. I really enjoyed the story and I learned a good bit about something (apothecaries) that I knew virtually nothing. I liked the the prologue and epilogue were in the first person while the rest of the book is not. The book did stretch a bit at the end being slightly more drawn out than I would have preferred, but the story is very interesting. I enjoyed the Elliots, France, Dr. Graves, and Mr. Shuttleworth - they were all thought through and very believable. Lillian is a lovely heroine, but seems to get more than her share of troubles - almost to the point of exhaustion for the reader.

The Deception of the Emerald Ring

2011-08-17T09:22:00.002-05:00

Summary: Harvard grad student Eloise Kelly has gotten into quite a bit of trouble since she's been spying on the Pink Carnation and the Black Tulip - two fo the deadliest agents to saunter the streets of nineteenth-century England and France. Not only has she been unearthing secrets that will rearrange history, but she's been dallying with Colin Selwich and looking for a romantic adventure all her own. Little does she know that she's about to uncover another
fierce heroine running headlong into history.
In June 1803, Letty Alsworthy attempts to prevent her sister's midnight elopement - only to be accidentally whisked away herself. The scandal forces her into a hasty marriage with Geoffrey Pinchingdale-Snipe, who then decamps immediately to help the Pink Carnation quash a ring of Irish rebels led by the Black Tulip. Not to be outdone, Letty steals away to the Emerald Isle herself, ready to lean a thing of tow about espionage - and never imagining she might lean a few things about love along the way (Source: Book Cover).

Comments: Another very satisfying read by Lauren Willig, The Deception of the Emerald Ring has an interesting twist to the secret elopement. We have met Geoffrey Pinchingdale-Snipe from the two previous books and heard of his literary poems dedicated to Mary Alsworthy, Letty's sister. When Geoffrey finds himself kissing the wrong sister, a wedding is quickly arranged. Poor Letty, obliged to marry where she does not want to and the mortification of it being her sister's lover. And to add insult to injury, he leaves the afternoon of their wedding for Ireland. Letty, determined not to be embarrassed further by his desertion, follows him to Ireland.
It seems the French want to stir up trouble in Ireland to distract England long enough for a French invasion. There are certainly enough rebels in Ireland to go around, and the notorious Black Tulip as well. And then there is my favorite character Lord Vaughn. The jury is still out on him - is he a good guy or a bad guy. One day we may find out. Jane Wooliston is there of course, flirting mightily with Geoffrey as the charming, Gilly Fairley - a blonde of course while they secretly exchange information on the Irish rebels and their weapons caches.
So who is the Black Tulip? Is it Lord Vaughn? He certainly seems to fit the bill, but perhaps too well. Very very enjoyable read. Next up. The Seduction of the Crimson Rose.

Happy Birthday Georgette Heyer

2011-08-16T17:24:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to the woman that epitomizes Regency Romance. With her detailed knowledge of the period, she deftly and humorously weaves a tale complete with romance, intrigue, suspense, wit, and humor. Her characters are realistic and thankfully flawed. Her first novel, the Black Moth, was written when she was just 19 years old. This was the first book of Mrs. Heyer that I read and I was hooked. Her list of Georgian and Regency Historical Romance is just about a mile long and I've worked my way though about half. So far nothing as replaced my top pick yet (The Devil's Cub), but there are plenty of books to be read.

Now, to celebrate Mrs. Heyer's birthday, all her ebooks at on sale for $1.99 until 21 August. I have some shopping to do.

The Masque of the Black Tulip

2011-08-09T17:26:00.000-05:00

Summary: Modern-day graduate student Eloise achieved the academic coup of the century when she unmasked one of history's greatest spies, the Pink Carnation, who saved England from Napoleon. But now she has a million questions about the Carnation's deadly French nemesis, the Black Tulip. And she's pretty sure that her handsome on-again, off-again crush, Colin Selwick, has the answers somewhere in his archives. When she finally comes across an old codebook, Eloise discovers something jucier than she ever imagined: an unlikely pair who were hot on the trail of the Black Tulip and had every intention of stopping him from killing the Pink Carnation and bringing down England. But what they didn't know was that while they were trying to find the Tulip - and stumbling upon something like love - the Black Tulip was watching them... (Source: Book Cover)

Comments: This is the second in the Pink Carnation series by Lauren Willig and continues closely on the heels of the first book in the timeline of both the contemporary story and that of the Napoleonic era. Again the duel stories are both interesting and lively - one thing in particular that I like is that the contemporary story is told in first person, while the story of the spies et al is in third person. It's refreshing and creates some tension in each story when the change occurs.
This is largely the story of Lady Henrietta Selwick (younger sister of the Richard, Purple Gentian in the first book) and her friendship with Jane Wolliston. It's hard to say more than that w/out spoiling the first book, so ...
I love to read books in order and don't want to ruin that for anyone, so if you read below this point - there be spoilers ahead - you've been warned.

Jane Wolliston is the Pink Carnation, a unassuming girl that no one seems to notice, but who, with her formidable friend Miss Gwen, have slowly created havoc in the French government. Jane communicates via code to Henrietta and she passes the information off to the home office via Miles Dorrington, the dashing best friend of her brother Richard (ie. the Purple Gentian). One of my favorite characters, and thankfully, he will be in future books, is Lord Vaughn. He's a mysterious one and slightly devious and who knows who's side he's one,
but I like him. The phrase "mad, bad, and dangerous to know" comes to mind.
I also find the story of Eloise and Colin very intriguing, possibly the result of training as an (art) historian as well. I understand the hunt involved in doing research - that in fact was always my favorite part. What could I find that no one else had quite found. Might also
explain my enjoyment of mysteries as a genre in general. Either way, onward and upward. Up next The Deception of the Emerald Ring.

Um, maybe not so much

2011-08-09T17:19:00.000-05:00

I had one of those days in reading blog recently. A day when there were just way too many things listed that sounded terrible, at least to me.

Cajun Brownies with Potato Chips - I'm not even sure how to process this one. Curiosity, Revulsion, or just plain yuck.

Butterbean Gravy - I had to read that twice. Yuck.

Deconstructed Club Sandwich Salad - one look was all it took. I'll pass.

Jellyfish - gross. too look at, to think about, to contemplate eating - that's just over the top to me.

Corn, Tomato, and Potato Curry - I like all the components and I like curry, but that just doesn't sound like an appetizing combination to me.

Guess it shows we all like and dislike different things.

Secret History of the Pink Carnation

2011-07-24T13:14:00.000-05:00

Summary: The year is 1803, and feisty Amy Balancourt will do anything to join the cause of her hero, the Purple Gentian, and his fellow spies, who once tried to save her father from French revolutionaries. But first she must find the mysterious Purple Gentian - without getting sidetracked by the advances of Lord Richard Selwick, a dashing yet dubious man who by all appearances has defected to the enemy. What Amy doesn't know is that Richard's true goal is to ferret out Napoleon's plans for invading England while keeping his true identity
a secret. But who could concentrate on saving Europe with Amy's decolletage invading this thoughts? Unfortunately, Amy is clearly an impediment to his mission - especially when one of the many lives at stake is her very own... (source - back cover)

Comments: This is really two stories in one. The first is of the historian that is looking to find out who, exactly, is the Pink Carnation, and the second is of the lives of Amiee de Balancourt and Richard Selwick during that tumultous year of 1803. Both stories, I have to say, succeed, though much more print space is given to Amy and Richard, rightfully so.
I have this unconscious habit of coming up with questions during reading. So was the Scarlet Pimpernel real - was Sir Percival Blakeney? Must look this up. Shall do now ... one moment please. Nope not real - I have read Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel, but just had to double check. Too bad, I do love that character. Okay, on the to characters in the book, Lord Richard Selwick, lovely, charming, smart. Uh, not much else to say. And his mother the Marquess of Uppington, I totally love her early in the book and even more so towards the end of the story. She is not one to be taken lightly. Very amusing read. I am looking forward to reading the next book, "The Masque of the Black Tulip"

Food Trends

2011-07-24T13:04:00.000-05:00

What's up with whoopie pies? First it was cupcakes, hell, in fact, they are still the rage in some places. Then it was French macaroons, but only for a little while because no matter how many cute colors they could come in, they were difficult to make. Then cake pops which are/were over the top cutesy and now whoopie pies.
What about simple things, like, um, cookies. I'd like to read a food blog or magazine without any of the following:

cupcakes
whoopie pies
cake pops
popsicles
red velvet cake
red velvet whoopie pies...

That would be nice, just simple foods instead of food trends.

Gay Go Up and Gay Go Down

2011-07-24T13:00:00.000-05:00

"Gay Go Up, and Gay Go Down" by Anonymous. Public domain. One of my favorite poems with my favorite of all in orange. I guess it's more a child's rhyme, but the last bit is a tad creepy.

Gay go up, and gay go down,
To ring the bells of London town.
Bull's eyes and targets,
Say the bells of St. Marg'ret's.
Brickbats and tiles,
Say the bells of St. Giles'.
Halfpence and farthings,
Say the bells of St. Martin's.
Oranges and lemons,
Say the bells of St. Clement's.
Pancakes and fritters,
Say the bells of St. Peter's.
Two sticks and an apple,
Say the bells at Whitechapel.
Old Father Baldpate,
Say the slow bells at Aldgate.
You owe me ten shillings,
Say the bells at St. Helen's.
Pokers and tongs,
Say the bells at St. John's.
Kettles and pans,
Say the bells at St. Ann's.
When will you pay me?
Say the bells at Old Bailey.
When I grow rich,
Say the bells at Shoreditch.
Pray when will that be?
Say the bells at Stepney.
I am sure I don't know,
Says the great bell at Bow.
Here comes a candle to light you to bed,
And here comes a chopper to chop off your head.

Father's Day

2011-06-19T17:53:00.000-05:00

There are times when you forget that you are fortunate. That's happened a good bit of late, but one thing I am fortunate in is my father. Fred is just the best. He's older now and without my mom, but he's resilient. He's happy, learning new hobbies, hanging out with the dog, and likely watching too much TV, but it's great fun to talk to him. He's had and unremarkable, but yet still interesting life. He always told us we could be anything we wanted to be - even though, heaven forbid, we were girls. He taught me how to pour concrete, change brake pads and oil, how to shoot and never failed to threaten any of my high school boyfriends. That's just Fred. I've very fortunate indeed.

Bering

2011-06-18T19:57:00.000-05:00

I love you Bering
Oh, yes I do.
I don't love anyone as much as you.
When you're not with me, I'm blue.
Oh, Bering, I love you.

Well ...

2011-06-01T17:58:00.000-05:00

It's been a little over a week and I still miss my friend. I miss his woo woo when I came home and his play bow and his sphinx pose and the way he liked ice cubes. I think the MotH may be right. No more dogs. It's just too hard. Now, I'm going to stop dwelling on this and write about something else for a little while. Until missing Bering doesn't hurt as much.

When sorrows come

2011-05-23T23:50:00.000-05:00

When sorrows come,
they come not single spies,
But in battalions.
~Shakespeare
~Hamlet

I can't believe the world is this ...

2011-05-22T23:52:00.005-05:00

... cruel.
My baby Bering. He just stopped being. I hate everything. I would give almost anything to ... well, there is nothing I can do - nothing anyone could do, but that doesn't make me hate this much less. Fuck it all to hell.
My poor baby Ber.
I want to throw things, and strangle anyone around, and I don't know - fuck fuck fuck it.
My poor baby. What am I going to do? My heart breaks in places I didn't know existed.

My sweet baby - Bering.

May

2011-05-18T18:02:00.000-05:00

Bering

May must be the cruelest month. I know T.S. Eliot said it was April, but he's wrong. I used to think that it was August because it's so damn hot and humid in August, but I have revised my decision and have labeled May as the "winner" in this contest. My poor sweet Siberian Husky went from being perfectly normal (for him) to perfectly blind in less than a week. There was nothing anyone could do to stop it or fix it.

Now he wanders the house like he's lost and it's just about more than I can take. It's so unfair and so very very sad. I know life isn't fair. I say that all the time, especially to the Boy, but somehow this seems hateful. It's not like we can explain anything to him or to let him know we're going to take care of him. Damn. I'm sad, but I'm also angry.

He's so stressed right now and running into things and getting stuck in places, not knowing how to get out. We read that this will improve over time, but right now, watching him circle and wander is one of the saddest things I have ever seen. Such beautiful blue eyes, but of no use.

Spring Garden Update

2011-05-08T15:52:00.000-05:00

We're about to go head-long into summer. The fact that we were able to have the windows open last week, was a real shock, but it didn't last long and now it's starting to feel like the end of spring. These were some final spring blooms before the daylilies took off last week. Photos of those and the easter lilies coming up soon.

bottle brush

Spirea 'Henry Waterer'

And the clematis jackmanii was at its best yet. I've never had this many blooms. It's been in the ground for only two years though. I'm very pleased with the way it looks, esp. in contrast to all the pale pink roses around it.

The Big Four

2011-05-05T23:33:00.000-05:00

The Big Four

Summary: Hercule Poirot has had his share of intruders - yet none more peculiar than the emaciated stranger covered in mud who stumbles into the detective's apartment, shouts half-crazed warnings about "the Big Four," and dies. But not before plunging Poirot into a crazy netherworld of international intrigue, secret weapons, kidnapped physicists, underground laboratories, hairbreadth escapes, and an employee from a local insane asylum who's all too eager to let the baffled Belgian in on the sinister secret of "the Big Four." (source: book cover)

Comments: You know, one of the things that I'm finding as I read Ms. Christie's mysteries, besides the excellent writing and very interesting stories, is how very funny she is. Not in a laugh out loud way, but in a subtle, Austen-like way - a barb here and there, some turn of phrase that makes fun of something - often of fiction and mysteries themselves. Rather a charming characteristic, I find.
Hastings has returned from Argentina to surprise Poirot in England and the two get mixed up in some very serious business that reminds me of The Secret Adversary, the second book by Ms. Christie. That the poor gentleman, Mayerling, that stumbled into Poirot's room was a victim of "persecution mania" reminded me of how much terms change over time, just like the use of "brain fever" something no one would write about now.
Poirot, of course, never changes. He's the same egotistical little man that he ever was. As an example, early on the discovery of the existence of the Big Four ...
"No Hastings, Number Four has left no trace, and he knows it. His visit we may call a reconnaisance. Perhaps he wanted to make quite sure that Mayerling was dead, but more likely, I think, he came to see Hercule Poirot, and to have speech with the adversary whom alone he must fear.
Poirot's reasoning appeared to me typically egotistical, but I forbore to argue."
Just as words have changed over time, so have considerations of gender. When Hastings thinks of Madame Oliver, the great physicist, "It has always seemed to me extraordinary that a woman should go so far in the scientific world. I should have thought a purely masculine brain was needed for such work." We see the time period very clearly and thankfully, it is a different world we live in now.
I am glad Ms. Christie leaves the French text in (just as it is in Jane Eyre as well). It helps me get my little grey cells going on remembering or sorting out the particulars of the language. It seems likely that Poirot comes from the southern part of Belgium given that he speaks French and refers in the book to the town of Spa which, indeed, exists and is also in the French speaking part of the country.
I enjoyed this book very much. The sharp, quickly-moving chapters were succinctly written and moved the story at a very fast pace, but also developed the characters as well. There are times that I have to look up words, such as, dyspepsia - chronic pain in the upper abdomen. And other terms that I'm not up on such as the Ruy Lopez opening in chess - it's also called the Spanish opening or Spanish game, named for the 16th century Spanish bishop and chess player, Ruy Lopez de Segura.
Poirot can be a real sentimental, especially when Hastings risks his life (and others) to save Poirot from making a enormous mistake ... "You like not that I should embrace you or display the emotion, I know well. I will be very British. I will say nothing - but nothing at all. Only this - that in this last adventure of ours, the honours are all with you, and happy is the man who has such a friend as I have!"
But he's also a little on the practical side as well ... "That is possibly true enough," admitted Poirot. "I hope that they will not succeed in massacring Hastings also, that is all. That would annoy me greatly."

That's Poirot for you. Just love him, and Hastings too. Up next, The Blue Train.

Charlotte Bronte

2011-04-21T23:42:00.000-05:00

Today is the birthday of Charlotte Bronte. She was born in Thornton, Yorkshire, England in 1816. Her father was a minister and she was the third of six children. I am currently re-reading Jane Eyre (again), so this seems telling for me. Even though I know how the story is going to turn out, it's still so heart-breaking. I'm at the point where Jane Eyre is teaching at her little school in Morton. So. very. sad.
But when I think of Charlotte Bronte's life, it's also full of sadness. Her mother died of cancer when she was five years old and she and her two older sisters, Maria and Elizabeth were sent to a horrible boarding school (Lowood, anyone?), both Maria and Elizabeth contracted TB and died in 1825. Charlotte worked as a governess for families in Yorkshire and lived on the moors.
Jane Eyre was published in 1847 and seems obviously to reflect on her time in boarding school and her time as a governess. It was published under the name of Currer Bell, a name used along with others, Ellis and Acton Bell, when she and her sisters published a book of poetry in 1846.
Unfortunately, shortly after Jane Eyre was published, her other siblings died. In 1854 she married her father's curate and became pregnant soon following, but died of complications to the pregnancy in 1855.
It seems like such a sad life to me. Horrible boarding school, tuberculosis, siblings dying, being a governess. How did she manage to write about such love and hope? How did she write about such fidelity to ones self? It makes Jane Eyre, the novel, seem so much more than I ever considered. Knowing the back story makes it all the more painful, but at the same time more wonderful.

Silent in the Grave - Deanna Raybourn

2011-04-17T16:22:00.002-05:00

Summary: To say that Lady Julia met Nicholas Brisbane over her husband's dead body is not entirely accurate. Edward -- it should be noted -- was still twitching upon the floor.
Lady Julia Grey is a London aristocrat with a wildly eccentric family and a husband she does not love. When her husband dies, she discovers that Edward was the target of menacing notes. Enlisting the help of detective Nicholas Brisbane, Julia begins to sleuth for clues to unravel the mystery of Edward's death. As she does so, she discovers that she has more in common with her unconventional family than she would like to admit, and also finds herself increasingly attracted to Nicholas, a man with a few mysteries of his own. (Source: Bookreporter.com)

Comments: This is the first book written by Ms. Raybourn that I have read and I must say, I will be reading others in the future. It's narrative is first person, which I enjoy, but which unfortunately many writers cannot manage. Ms. Raybourn does the first person very well. The author has created some real characters with Lady Julia Grey, her iconic father, Earl March, her older sister Portia and most especially with Nicholas Brisbane. The reference to Henry Dashwood and the Hellfire club I found most interesting as I had just read about that in another book of fiction, Suspense and Sensibility, or, First Impressions Revisited, by Carrie Bebris with the notation that a Mr. Francis Dashwood (1708-1781), did indeed exist, as did the Hell-Fire Club. And we think the victorian age is so prim and proper - what an illusion.
I am really looking forward to reading more of Ms. Raybourn's works in the future. In fact, the next one in the series is on its way now.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

2011-04-09T16:22:00.000-05:00

Summary: In the village of King's Abbot, a widow's sudden suicide sparks rumors that she murdered her first husband, was being blackmailed, and was carrying on a secret affair with the wealthy Roger Ackroyd. The following evening, Ackroyd is murdered in his locked study, but not before receiving a letter identifying the widow's blackmailer. King's Abbot is crawling with suspects, including a nervous butler, Ackroyd's wayward stepson, and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Cecil Ackroyd, who has taken up residence in the victim's home. It's now up to the famous detective Hercule Poirot, who has retied to King's Abbot to garden, to solve the case of who killed Roger Ackroyd - a task in which he is aided by the village doctor and narrator, James Sheppard and by Sheppard's ingenious sister, Caroline. (source: book jacket)

Comments: My saga of reading Agatha Christie's mysteries in order continues with The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. I have to admit, I have read this before, it has been some years, and I still remember who was the murderer because it was such a shock the first time. That said, I did not remember any of the circumstances surrounding the murder or the plots twists. This gave me a very good opportunity to look at the clues against the murderer while reading the story. How were they inserted into the plot and what would I remember once Poirot put it all together in the end. Ms. Christie is subtle when it comes to adding clues and really nothing is as it seems often times. If the book jacket is to be believed, this book is the mystery that made Ms. Christie a household name. I can believe that considering how shocked I was by the murderer.
Ms. Christie created, to my mind, two of the most annoying women in this story; Caroline Sheppard, the nosy, insinuating, gossip and Mrs. Cecil Ackroyd, the money grubbing, constantly complaining sister-in-law of the deceased. While both are annoying, reminding me somewhat of Mrs. Bennett in Pride and Prejudice, at least Caroline was useful to Poirot and in her own way rather intuitive about the other characters in the story.
Some of Caroline's running commentary directed at her maligned brother James regarding their new neighbor M. Poirot:
"I can't make it out at all," she said in an aggrieved voice. "I borrowed some garden tools the other day, and he was most polite, but I couldn't get anything out of him. I asked him point blank at last whether he was a Frenchman, and he said he wasn't - and somehow I didn't like to ask him anymore."
I began to be more interested in our mysterious neighbor. A man who is capable of shutting up Caroline and sending her, like the Queen of Sheba, away empty must be something of a personality.
Here's a typical example of Mrs. Ackroyd when she is talking about one of the servants, "No more I do. She's - odd. There's something different about her from the other. Too well educated, that's my opinion. You can't tell who are ladies and who aren't anymore."*
Sheppard himself was a country physician with a level of tact and diplomacy that his sister greatly lacks. He was, as he stated himself, "I played Watson to his Sherlock,"* but more correctly he played the role of Captain Hastings in this mystery.

David Suchet as Hercule Poirot

Hercule Poirot is one of my favorite characters in literature. I really enjoy his persnickety character and his little grey cells. He's always dapper and charming. I do wonder what made Ms. Christie create a Belgian detective because one of my favorite parts of this book is the beginning when his name is mispronounced as Porrott. And someone always thinking him French (see above) and his disgusted reaction to it - funny. It does seem odd to me that Poirot has "retired" and lives at King's Abbot to tend his vegetable garden this early in the series of books (the book was published in 1926) , but we'll see how this progresses. I'm greatly looking forward to my next Christie Mystery - another Poirot story - The Big Four.

*p. 170
**p. 163

Coming this Sunday to a PBS station near you

2011-04-09T15:27:00.000-05:00

Upstairs, Downstairs
A new version. I cannot wait. With all the success and interest in Downton Abbey this year, to have another period series to follow is a real treat. I never watched the original. I must have been too young, but am greatly looking forward to this. Keeley Hawes is a great talent and takes the role of Lady Agnes Holland. Ms. Hawes was wonderful in one of my favorite British shows Spooks (MI-5) as Zoe Reynolds. She was also in one of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time, Death at a Funeral (British original) where she played opposite her husband Matthew Macfadyen. Sir Hallam Holland is played by Ed Stoppard who was in the recently aired, Any Human Heart. Interestingly, Jean March who played Rose Buck the housekeeper in the original Up/Down, will return in this version to help staff the house through her Buck of Belgravia staffing agency.
Check out the PBS site.

Watch the full episode. See more Masterpiece.

As if you had never read it before

2011-04-08T08:22:00.001-05:00

Sigh.

Wouldn't it be cool if you didn't already know all of Miss Austen's books by heart? You could read everything like it was the first time you ever read it.
You wouldn't know that Darcy would come back to Pemberley a day early and by chance meet Elizabeth again.

Just lovely

You wouldn't know that Mr. Knightley would issue one of the most garbled offers of marriage ever to his lovely friend. It was sweet, but not terribly articulate. But you know, we'll manage. He's just too lovely.

I can listen no longer in silence.

You wouldn't know that Wentworth was still violently in love with Anne after all those years or anything about the hastily penned letter. Is there anything more romantic that that letter? - I think not.

Just so perfect

You wouldn't know the excitement of Elinor when she realizes that Edward is unmarried. It's so damn happy and heart breaking and wonderful at the same time. Jeez. Miss Austen loves to torture us, but in a romantic satisfyingly way.

Sometimes it takes a while

You wouldn't know how resolute Fanny Price could be or what a correct judge of character she had. How she believed in her true love for Edmund. How his father came to realize what a wonderful thing he had done and what a exceptional "daughter" he had. What a true joy for them all

What a hero!

You wouldn't know that Henry Tilney is uniformly charming either. He has to be one of the best of Miss Austen's characters. He's beyond charming and just adorable and, yes, I would love to have a brother like that, especially if I were picking fabric for new gowns. He may sound shallow, but he is not and he falls for the young girl that innocently falls for him first - how can he not. Simple story - love, at almost, first sight. He also has dogs - a good quality in any man.

Wouldn't it just be something to read them again for the first time, without seeing certain actors in your head and the parts they played. Or of hearing certain music associated with the films? You would have to create your own image of Mansfield Park or Longbourn or Pemberley as you read what little information you are given about them.

Mrs. Allen

Jane Bennet - yes, an angel

You would have to decide how etheral was Jane Bennet or Emma Woodhouse or how dour was Lady Catherine and how silly was Mrs. Allen.
Wouldn't it be great? Indeed, it would.
I wish I could do it again.

Emma - pretty, but ...

Soft Polenta with Asparagus, Prosciutto, Garlic and Scallions

2011-04-07T18:22:00.000-05:00

Okay, sad but true, I've never made polenta before. If I have, I don't remember it. I had no idea how easy it was. This recipe and variations of it will be on my menu rotation. The original recipe was from Mario Batalia, but I made changes to it - I just can't help myself. He called for 5 cups of water, but all the other recipes for firm polenta said 3.5 cups of liquid for 1 cup of polenta. I went in the middle and did 4 cups of water and that worked well, the polenta was soft, but not runny. I also cut my asparagus. This doesn't seem like a knife-needed recipe so I cut them. I used more garlic that 3 cloves, but that's just because the cloves were small. I doubled the prosciutto and halved the spring onions. The lemon, to me, is absolutely required. It makes all the difference in the dish.

Soft Polenta with Asparagus, Prosciutto, Garlic and Scallions
4 cups water
1 pound asparagus, trimmed, and cut into bite-sized pieces
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup mascarpone cheese
6 Tbs butter, divided
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
6 slices of prosciutto, julienne
1 bunch scallions or spring onions, slices
juice and zest of one lemon

Bring water to boil in a saucepan. Add asparagus and cook until tender, about 30 seconds to one minute. Remove from water and hold in a bowl until needed. Return water to a boil and whisking constantly, add the cornmeal. Stir until thick. Remove from heat, stir in
mascarpone cheese, cover and sit aside.

In a saute pan, heat 4 Tbs of butter until foaming over medium heat. Add garlic, onion, and prosciutto and saute until the onions are wilted. Add asparagus and lemon juice and zest. Add remaining butter to make a sauce. Taste and season with salt. To serve, place polenta in a soup plate, top with onion/asparagus mixture. Serve with grated Parmesan on the side.

Evaluation: The consistency of the polenta was just what I wanted. I think the Parmesan was helpful as I didn't salt the polenta very much not knowing how much salt the prosciutto would bring to the party. Lemon - absolutely necessary. I might cut back on the amount of the asparagus to balance it a bit more with everything and likely double the amount of prosciutto. I think this presents lots of opportunities to change ingredients, such as half some cherry tomatoes or some sliced mushrooms with garlic, use some spinach - changing the sauteed ingredients as different vegetables come into season.

Guinness Brownies

2011-04-07T07:22:00.002-05:00

Finished

We were talking about brownies at work the other day and I mentioned my Guinness Brownies. The Boy loves these and the MotH enjoys them as well, I think. They are based on Grace Neill's Chocolate and Guinness Brownies (from The New Irish Table), but I've changed the chocolate ratio and the amount of Guinness. I don't care much for chocolate, so I really make these for others to enjoy, but I will always have at least one. The are rich and chocolate flavored without being super sweet, which we all enjoy. Will you like them if you don't like Guinness, um, yes. I, on the other hand, happen to think that Guinness is one of the most sublime things on this lovely little planet. That, I'm sure, stems from the fact that I started drinking beer in England and had many (many) Guinness drafts at many (many) pubs across the Midlands and in London. They always say, "the alcohol cooks out," and in this case that is true (as opposed to rum cake - yuck), so no worries there. Just a rich, chocolate, coffee-ish, flavor and and excellent smooth texture for a simple (really) brownie.
Notes: there are a few sips of Guinness more than a cup in a bottle - enjoy.
Also, based on today, it is not easy to sift anything with the windows

My favorite!

open and the winds blowing. I'm covered in cocoa. ugh.

Flour and chocolate - sigh.

Here 'tis:
4 eggs
3/4 cup superfine sugar (take the same amount of granulated sugar and whir it up in the food processor, or not as you prefer)
4 oz. bittersweet chocolate
4 oz. semisweet chocolate
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa
1 cup Guinness Extra Stout (not Guinness draught - my preference anyway)

Preheat oven to 375˚F. In a mixer, blend eggs and sugar until light and fluffy. In a medium sauce over low heat, melt chocolates and butter (you can chop if you want, but it pretty much melts all the same anyway) stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and add to egg mixture. Mixing to combine.
Sift flour and cocoa together and mix into chocolate mixture. Whisk in Guinness a little at a time, until incorporated. Pour into prepared 8" x 8" pan (coat w/cooking spray or butter, either works). Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out of the center almost clean (key word there, almost). Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.
You can dust with confectioners' sugar, but I usually prefer not to. Your call.

Roses

2011-04-06T17:00:00.001-05:00

Bookish pet peeves

2011-04-04T14:22:00.000-05:00

This post about bookish pet peeves got me thinking. What are my pet peeves about books?

Library books - I would love to be able to check out and read books at the library, but try as I might, I can't. So many people who check out books smoke that, because of my allergies, I can't read them. I can bring them home, but can't get them read because as soon as I open them it's impossible to breathe without sneezing. That just irritates me, literally and figuratively.
Books in a series - I inevitably get a book that's part of a series, but is not the first book in the series. I hate that. I like to read stories in the order in which they are written, so finding myself in the middle is rather annoying because I then put that book off until I can start the series in the proper way.
Mysteries that can't be solved - A mystery should be able to be solved by the reader if they pay close enough attention to the clues provided. There shouldn't be some unknown clue that you find out about as the mystery is revealed. That's cheating.
People that think you're a snob because you read classics - What's wrong with reading Austen, Bronte, Dickens, or whoever? That does not make me some kind of elitist. I just like reading different things and the classics are high on my list.
People who don't use a bookmark, but leave the book open upside down - That's just not good for the book and it never closes properly again. It makes me slightly nuts when I see it. Use a sticky note or a piece of paper or something.

First of the Month - April

2011-04-03T17:22:00.000-05:00

Wisteria - 1 April 2011

The changes that take place between March 1 and April 1 are always impressive. It now truly looks like spring and I for one say, yipee! The blooms are almost gone from the wisteria, which is sad, but worth it for the few weeks it is covered in purple flowers. The bald cypress now has leaves, so it no longer looks quite so sad and the river birches have new lime green leaves. The oak has done its typical shedding of leaves for spring, odd I realize, but true none the less. It looks a little forlorn, but is starting to get new lime green leaves as well. The weather is wonderful, hardly an humidity and temps in the mid to high seventies. Not too shabby. Here's to April.

Oak - 1 April 2011

River Birch - 1 April 2011

Bald Cypress - 1 April 2011

River Birch #2 - 1 April 2011

Camellia - 1 April 2011

Oxford English Dictionary - additions (groan)

2011-04-01T17:22:00.007-05:00

Okay - I used to think the OED was a paragon of virtue, but, um, no more. This article, explaining the muffin top and other items, and lists some of their favorites (?) added to the Oxford English Dictionary. I've listed some of my "favorites," so to speak.

Babycino. A drink of hot milk that has been frothed up with pressurized steam, intended for children.
Eton mess. A dessert consisting of a rough mixture of whipped cream, pieces of meringue, and fruit, typically strawberries.
Flat water. Ordinary tap or bottled drinking water, as opposed to sparkling water.
Mac1. Macaroni, as in mac and cheese.
Nom nom. Used to express pleasure at eating, or at the prospect of eating, delicious food.
Sammich. A sandwich (I’m jonesing for a pastrami sammich.)

Babycino - okay, sure, let's get them hooked on the idea of caffeine really really early. Jeez. Flat water? Really, how about still water. That I've heard of. Eton Mess - duh, it's hard to believe this hasn't made the OED before now. Who doesn't know what Eton Mess is? That said, it's not that big of a deal. Why is it in the OED? Mac1 - sounds like the name of a rapper or something. What kind of tool uses this phrase? W-ever.

Nom nom - that's what a baby says - how L.A.M.E. And Sammich, that's just insulting to anyone's intellect or gay or both.

Here's to wishing all this was an April Fool's joke.

It's that day

2011-03-27T19:20:00.000-05:00

A day that I look forward to and a day I dread at the same time. It's the day the air conditioner is turned on. This is about typical, but it means spring is certainly over. There may still be a few days we can open the windows up and not be uncomfortable, but not many. We have enjoyed weeks with the windows open which is great for the electric bill, not so great for my allergies though. So I like the cheapness of having the windows open, but dislike the way it makes me feel. Consequently, I dislike this day since the a/c is an electricity hog, and like this day as it will make it much easier to breath.

Blood, Bones, & Butter

2011-03-27T17:22:00.001-05:00

It's inevitable, I suppose, that when a new book comes out about cooking or more specifically, being a chef in a restaurant, and the road one takes to get there, it appears on tons of blogs to the point that I'm uninterested. Such is the case with the recently released, Blood, Bones & Butter: The inadvertent education of a reluctant chef, written by Gabrielle Hamilton, owner of the East Village restaurant, Prune.
In all likelihood, I will enjoy this book, but I won't get anywhere near it right now. Too much hype for my taste.