Bookish Review: Sunshine

This book was recommended by my friend S. It reminded me a bit of the series upon which True Blood is based, but I enjoyed it more. It's set in a world where vampires, witches, were-animals, and other mystical creatures are real, and humans are fighting for survival against the dark creatures, particularly vampires. Rae (aka Sunshine) is abducted by vampires, and manages to escape alive--which never happens. In the process, she makes a tentative friendship with a vampire--which also never happens. The vampires aren't likely to let her go easily, and the ppolice in charge of keeping the vampires in check aren't either--since no one escapes vampires and Sunshine did, they want her help. Rae just wants to make cinnamon rolls.

The book is enjoyable and funny. There's not much sex in it, but a few sexual situations (parennts of vampire-loving teens, just wanted you to be aware). The book is clearly a set=up for a series. Vampire fiction fans should enjoy this one.

Cookish: What's for dinner?

Several years ago, my dear friend the Free Market Mommy made portobello sandwiches for dinner one night when I was visiting--so delish! And very easy. So, I'm going to give a general outline of how to create your own.

Ingredients
portobello mushrooms (1 per person)
cheese slices (1 per mushroom. I recommend provolone)
olive or veg oil
bread or buns (I used multigrain toast, but they're also tasty on hamburger buns)
lettuce
mayo
mustard (I used creole, but you can use your favorite)
salt and pepper

What to do.

Use a spoon to remove the stems and gills from the portobellos. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, with enough oil to coat the bottom. (Or use a grill pan, ora real grill, or a George Foreman grill--you get the idea.) Cook the mushrooms for a few minutes per side, seasoning with salt and pepper once they are cooked (the salt will draw out a lot of juices, so they will cook faster if you salt them after cooking instead of before). Once they're about ready, top each with a slice of cheese (the provolone works well because the slices are round, like the mushrooms) and heat until melted. (You can cover the pan to speed the melting.) If you're using sandwich bread, toast it. spread one slice with mayo & mustard, top with a lettuce leaf, and your cheesy 'shroom. Top with the other slice of bread, cut it in half, and enjoy your sammie!

Bookish Review: The Memory Keeper's Daughter

I had heard a lot about The Memory Keeper's Daughter (maybe you have, too?) before reading it, but it was again a situation where I had beard a lot of positive buzz, but I didn't really know what the book was about.

The book is well-written, but it is a tough read--it focuses on how a lie and a secret can poison a marriage and destroy lives. Not exactly a light read, but it does have a hopeful ending, so hang in there.

Dr. David Henry tells his young wife that their son is born healthy (true), but that his twin sister died shortly after birth ( a lie). When the baby girl was born, he recognizes that she had Down's Syndrome and orders his nurse to take her to an institution. The nurse absconds with the baby instead, unable to leave the baby at the institution. His wife drops into a depression, and he lies to her for the rest of their lives together, eventually poisoning the marriage so completely that they get a divorce.

The book is an interesting examination of what secrets and lies (under the guise of "protecting" someone) can do to a relationship, as well as a look at how people with Down Syndrome were treated in the 1960s-1980s.

Bookish Review: Chocolat

I am a big fan of the movie version of Chocolat, so I finally decided to pick up the book. The book has the same magical feel as the movie, and the early chapters seem to follow it pretty closely. There are some differences, including that the kangaroo called Pontouf in the movie is a rabbit named Pantoufle in the book. Also, Roux has a different romantic involvement than in the book and the ending is not quite as concrete or quite as happy. Overall, I enjoyed the book, which tells the story of Vianne Rocher and her daughter and how they use their own brand of magic and chocolate to turn a small French town on its ear. I must say, though, that I like the movie better. I'm a sucker for a tidy, happy ending--what can I say?

Uncookish: Snack Review

I found the 3 Musketeers Truffle Crisp bars on clearance at Target (which leads me to believe that they may be phasing out this candy bar), so I decided to try it out. As you may know, 3 Musketeers markets itself as having fewer fat/calories than a usual candy bar. This new twist on the classic bar maintains the lightness of the original and consists of a crisp bar at the bottom, which has a texture more like a meringue cookie than the shortbread cookie you'd kind in a Twix, with a chocolate "truffle" topping, which is a bit thicker than the usual 3 Musketeers filling, and the whole thing is dipped in chocolate. I found it to be tasty and light, with a nice texture. I think one bar could be a satisfying treat, as long as you're not too hungry, and if you eat just one bar (there are two in the package), it's less than 100 calories. Not a bad deal.

Bookish Review: Water for Elephants

I really enjoyed this book. Before I read it, I knew it was critically-acclaimed and was being made into a movie, but I didn't really know anything about the plot. The book is told mainly in flashback, as the protagonist (now living in an assisted-living facility) looks back on his life working as a veterinarian with a travelling circus. Gruen works in interesting details about circus life, including unusual but true stories. The book also weaves a nice love story as our hero falls for the beautiful horseback performer--and she with him, but whoops! she's married. And her husband isn't exactly stable. The book is evocative and interesting. I recommend it highly, and I look forward to seeing what the movie is like, though I am already unsure about the casting.

Cookish: What's for dinner?

Mom's Pasta Salad

So my momma makes awesome Italian pasta salad, despite being not even a little bit Italian. I am going to include her recipe below, and then list my changes below that.

1 bag/box rainbow rotini (16 oz)

1/4 head broccoli, chopped

1/4 head cauliflower, chopped

Parmesan cheese

1 package pepperoni, sliced

garlic powder

1/2 large onion, thinly sliced

1 can artichoke hearts, drained

1 jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained, marinade reserved

1 bottle Wishbone Italian dressing

Boil the pasta. Two minutes before the pasta is done, add the broccoli and cauliflower to the pot. When pasta is done, drain. Chop the artichoke hearts. Coat the pasta and veggies with cheese while hot. Add garlic powder. When cool, add the rest of the veggies & pepperoni and add the dressing.

My changes: I leave out the onion and the pepperoni. I also use a whole head of broccoli and a whole head of cauliflower to up the veggie quotient. I also add a few chopped carrots and chopped sun-dried tomatoes and sliced black olives. I used the sun-dried tomatoes that come in a package, not the ones in the jar. They're a little salty, so I chop them pretty small. I also add everything together--except the dressing--while it's hot. I add about half the dressing while its hot--mainly because I always want to eat it, even while it's hot. Then I let it cool and add more as needed. I also use reduced-fat, store brand Italian dressing because I am cheap!

I love this pasta salad. It makes a really large amount, so it's great for a picnic or potluck, but I love it so much that I always eat way more than I should. Leaving out the pepperoni, it will make vegetarians happy, and if you've got vegans in the crowd, I guess you can leave out the cheese--but what a shame that would be!