Greetings from the sad, sad land where the Patriots are no longer in contention for the Super Bowl.
It's been a culinary weekend here at Scout Camp, starting with marinated steaks, lemon mousse, and roasted butternut squash. Unfortunately I cannot write about any of those things since none of them are part of The Great Experiment, but let me assure you that they were very, very good.
This weekend's Nigella (semi-)triumph was the African Drumsticks, which are essentially just marinated chicken legs. However, the marinade was delicious; Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, mustard, apricot jam, ginger and some onion (chopped with gratifying efficiency in my sexy new chopper).
The recipe indicates that the chicken can marinate overnight, so we let it do just that, and it came out perfectly-- totally succulent and flavorful. In fact, the only criticism we both had was that it could have used a little more spice. Will have to try to remember that for the next round.
And apologies to Lady Liberty. We were so busy devouring, the idea of photography was completely lost.
Oh, and thanks to Boy Scout, who is dutifully cleaning up the mayhem I left in my wake while I write this entry.
Happy MLK Day!
17 January 2011
13 January 2011
In Which Thoroughly Obsessed Thursday Reads Warrior by Zoe Archer, Becomes Obsessed
There was a very precise “ohholyshit, what have a stumbled on to here?” moment that came relatively early on in Warrior by Zoe Archer. This is that moment:
It comes on page 97 of the adventure involving Gabriel Huntley, Thalia Burgess, and the Blades of the Rose, a secret society tasked with guarding the Sources of all of the world’s magic.
When Gabriel accidentally witnesses a murder near the docks in London, he feels honor-bound to deliver a message carried by the dead man and intended for Thalia Burgess’ father, who happens to reside in outer Mongolia. Gabriel has literally just retired from the army and has yet to establish himself back at home, and so has very little trouble jumping on a boat and journeying to the other side of the world.
What he discovers once there is that a) he has a serious thing for Burgess’ daughter (natch) and b) magic actually exists here on Earth. These are not simultaneous happenings, but they take place close enough to one another.
Because Burgess is injured, it’s Thalia who has to set out to protect the Source (of magic) located in Mongolia, and despite warnings that his work there is done, Gabriel decides to tag along for the ride.
I don’t think I can stress enough how much I LOVED this book. I loved Thalia; she’s headstrong and not at all proper, but doesn’t see the need to defend herself or the way she has been raised on the edge of the map. She’s had her heart broken, but survived, and doesn’t try to fight her attraction to Gabriel on principle. In addition, as the quote above demonstrates, she has a rather badass sense of humor.
As for Gabriel, he’s an alpha (oh boy, is he ever) but he’s not a raging butthole. And that is awesome. He’s super proud of Thalia and all of the things that make her less-than-normal (she’s not shocked by his language, can shoot a rifle like nobody’s business, etc.) and is protective of her in a reasonable and not at all psychotic way.
Here is what I really like though: this book represents the perfect, flawless combination of my two favorite genres, which are fantasy and romance. All I could think while I was reading this was “This is like The Enchanted Forest Chronicles! With hot sex!” There aren’t any moments of “Um... that’s awkward and makes no sense” in either direction-- in the fantasy or the romance. It’s books like this that make be feel like a seriously inferior writer of fiction, because I know I’m never going to write anything half as awesome. Or even have an idea that is half as awesome.
Warrior is the first book in the Blades of the Rose series, and before the end of the book we got to make the acquaintance of three more Blades... and look at that! There are three more books to order!
I. Cannot. Wait.
“Gabriel made a face. ‘Dried mutton and horse sweat? Even enlisted men were fed better. It’s grounds for mutiny.’
‘I hope not,’ Thalia answered. ‘Flogging is so time consuming.’”
It comes on page 97 of the adventure involving Gabriel Huntley, Thalia Burgess, and the Blades of the Rose, a secret society tasked with guarding the Sources of all of the world’s magic.
When Gabriel accidentally witnesses a murder near the docks in London, he feels honor-bound to deliver a message carried by the dead man and intended for Thalia Burgess’ father, who happens to reside in outer Mongolia. Gabriel has literally just retired from the army and has yet to establish himself back at home, and so has very little trouble jumping on a boat and journeying to the other side of the world.
What he discovers once there is that a) he has a serious thing for Burgess’ daughter (natch) and b) magic actually exists here on Earth. These are not simultaneous happenings, but they take place close enough to one another.
Because Burgess is injured, it’s Thalia who has to set out to protect the Source (of magic) located in Mongolia, and despite warnings that his work there is done, Gabriel decides to tag along for the ride.
I don’t think I can stress enough how much I LOVED this book. I loved Thalia; she’s headstrong and not at all proper, but doesn’t see the need to defend herself or the way she has been raised on the edge of the map. She’s had her heart broken, but survived, and doesn’t try to fight her attraction to Gabriel on principle. In addition, as the quote above demonstrates, she has a rather badass sense of humor.
As for Gabriel, he’s an alpha (oh boy, is he ever) but he’s not a raging butthole. And that is awesome. He’s super proud of Thalia and all of the things that make her less-than-normal (she’s not shocked by his language, can shoot a rifle like nobody’s business, etc.) and is protective of her in a reasonable and not at all psychotic way.
Here is what I really like though: this book represents the perfect, flawless combination of my two favorite genres, which are fantasy and romance. All I could think while I was reading this was “This is like The Enchanted Forest Chronicles! With hot sex!” There aren’t any moments of “Um... that’s awkward and makes no sense” in either direction-- in the fantasy or the romance. It’s books like this that make be feel like a seriously inferior writer of fiction, because I know I’m never going to write anything half as awesome. Or even have an idea that is half as awesome.
Warrior is the first book in the Blades of the Rose series, and before the end of the book we got to make the acquaintance of three more Blades... and look at that! There are three more books to order!
I. Cannot. Wait.
11 January 2011
In Which I Review Unlawful Contact by Pamela Clare
This book made me really, really happy.
It’s not an awesome book, but it’s a good one, a solid one, one that bridged the gap between the DNF Pamela Clare and the “hey, this is pretty good” Pamela Clare.
Not surprisingly, this book sits squarely between the two in the Denver iTeam series.
Sophie Alton is the reporter on the iTeam who covers prisons, prisoners, all things jailbird-y. She’s been writing a series of stories about Megan, a recovering heroin addict and new mother, who has cleaned up her act while on parole, and is seeing her child for the first time since the baby was born in a prison hospital.
The bad news: it seems Megan took off with her kid during the “supervised” visit (ha).
The worse news: Sophie is lured to jail to interview Megan’s brother Marc Hunter (yep, he’s doing life for murdering a fellow DEA agent... a misunderstanding, natch) and he takes her hostage in order to escape from jail and find Megan, who he believes to be in a reasonably extreme amount of danger ("Mortal danger?" "Is there any other kind?").
The good news: It so happens that Marc Hunter is the mysterious bad boy known as “Hunt” from Sophie’s high school days, you know, the guy she gave her virginity to right before he left for the army.
OK. So the plot is not the strong suit in this one. Fortunately the characters and their relationship are. Over time, you see, neither Marc nor Sophie have forgotten That Night, and Marc happened to know exactly who he was luring to the jail, even if Sophie doesn’t recognize him until later.
There were plenty of times when I wanted to roll my eyes at things happening in this book. The whole lusting-after-the-captor thing is pretty played out (and ruined forever in both the good and bad way by Judith McNaught’s Perfect), but there were small ways in which this was redeemed. For example, for the last half of the book when Marc and Sophie are on the run together she is with him by choice, his having let her go, as promised, as soon as he was safely away.
It was also helpful that there was very little melodrama about “trust” and Sophie questioning whether Marc was a “good guy” or a “bad guy.”
The entire time he’s out, Marc is looking for his sister. And like a man who has been in prison for six years and separated from his sister for years before that, he has no effing idea where to look. There’s no magical connection, no “guy inside” who gave him clues and a road map-- Marc is literally at a loss, and so does what is reasonably the best thing he can do to find the information he is looking for.
I liked Sophie and Marc’s relationship a lot. They both have very fond memories of their one night together, and while the lead-up to that night is certainly abrupt, I didn’t doubt that that single memory would sustain him through prison, and her through various disastrous romances (and no, Sophie did not remain celibate in memory of his singularly amazing wang).
The twists were not so twisty, and the stuff peripheral to Sophie and Marc was occasionally annoying. But this was a solid romance with a (nearly) coherent plot, featuring neither a TSTL heroine nor a raging douchebag hero (At some point they’re arguing about her lack of discretion while they’re hiding out and he says “This isn’t about me controlling you; it’s about staying safe.” See?? He all but announces he’s not a douchebag).
All-in-all, I’m very glad to have read this book. It bridged a gap that needed to be bridged, and really made me excited to read Pamela Clare again.
It’s not an awesome book, but it’s a good one, a solid one, one that bridged the gap between the DNF Pamela Clare and the “hey, this is pretty good” Pamela Clare.
Not surprisingly, this book sits squarely between the two in the Denver iTeam series.
Sophie Alton is the reporter on the iTeam who covers prisons, prisoners, all things jailbird-y. She’s been writing a series of stories about Megan, a recovering heroin addict and new mother, who has cleaned up her act while on parole, and is seeing her child for the first time since the baby was born in a prison hospital.
The bad news: it seems Megan took off with her kid during the “supervised” visit (ha).
The worse news: Sophie is lured to jail to interview Megan’s brother Marc Hunter (yep, he’s doing life for murdering a fellow DEA agent... a misunderstanding, natch) and he takes her hostage in order to escape from jail and find Megan, who he believes to be in a reasonably extreme amount of danger ("Mortal danger?" "Is there any other kind?").
The good news: It so happens that Marc Hunter is the mysterious bad boy known as “Hunt” from Sophie’s high school days, you know, the guy she gave her virginity to right before he left for the army.
OK. So the plot is not the strong suit in this one. Fortunately the characters and their relationship are. Over time, you see, neither Marc nor Sophie have forgotten That Night, and Marc happened to know exactly who he was luring to the jail, even if Sophie doesn’t recognize him until later.
There were plenty of times when I wanted to roll my eyes at things happening in this book. The whole lusting-after-the-captor thing is pretty played out (and ruined forever in both the good and bad way by Judith McNaught’s Perfect), but there were small ways in which this was redeemed. For example, for the last half of the book when Marc and Sophie are on the run together she is with him by choice, his having let her go, as promised, as soon as he was safely away.
It was also helpful that there was very little melodrama about “trust” and Sophie questioning whether Marc was a “good guy” or a “bad guy.”
The entire time he’s out, Marc is looking for his sister. And like a man who has been in prison for six years and separated from his sister for years before that, he has no effing idea where to look. There’s no magical connection, no “guy inside” who gave him clues and a road map-- Marc is literally at a loss, and so does what is reasonably the best thing he can do to find the information he is looking for.
I liked Sophie and Marc’s relationship a lot. They both have very fond memories of their one night together, and while the lead-up to that night is certainly abrupt, I didn’t doubt that that single memory would sustain him through prison, and her through various disastrous romances (and no, Sophie did not remain celibate in memory of his singularly amazing wang).
The twists were not so twisty, and the stuff peripheral to Sophie and Marc was occasionally annoying. But this was a solid romance with a (nearly) coherent plot, featuring neither a TSTL heroine nor a raging douchebag hero (At some point they’re arguing about her lack of discretion while they’re hiding out and he says “This isn’t about me controlling you; it’s about staying safe.” See?? He all but announces he’s not a douchebag).
All-in-all, I’m very glad to have read this book. It bridged a gap that needed to be bridged, and really made me excited to read Pamela Clare again.
10 January 2011
In Which Monday Menu Mayhem Makes Beef, Takes Pictures!
And a Merry Monday to us all!
I sincerely hope that wherever you are, you had a pleasant weekend, and that you're keeping warm. Here in the Northeast we're gearing up for another snowstorm (Nope... it's not getting old yet! Ask again in March), and I'm hoping for a(nother) snow day, because they seem to make me very productive.
On to the Mayhem! As requested by the Her Ladyship, the lovely Lady Lalib (why is alliteration so much fun?!) here is a photo of the latest Nigella recipe, Carbonnade a la Flamande (Beer Braised Beef Casserole), produced yesterday with staggeringly positive results:
Note the use of Our (barf) new Dutch oven! (She needs a name, by the way! Suggestions in the comments section, please).
Once again, this selection began with the frying of bacon, which is really The Only Way to start cooking something. The only note I would have for this recipe by way of criticism, though, would be that the fat definitely needs to be drained from the bacon before continuing with the next step. Some fat is desired, but the end result has what I would consider to be too much.
At any rate, fry some bacon, add some onions, make a broth involving beer, mustard, and brown sugar (Guinness was most readily available), chuck in the oven for 3 hours and voila!
Most definitely serve with noodles (Ziti was the only thing we had...) and you have yourself a rockin' Sunday dinner, with leftovers to spare.
The best part of this meal for Boy Scout and his traumatized kitchen (the kitchen is always traumatized when I visit...) it all gets made in one dish! Hooray!
I sincerely hope that wherever you are, you had a pleasant weekend, and that you're keeping warm. Here in the Northeast we're gearing up for another snowstorm (Nope... it's not getting old yet! Ask again in March), and I'm hoping for a(nother) snow day, because they seem to make me very productive.
On to the Mayhem! As requested by the Her Ladyship, the lovely Lady Lalib (why is alliteration so much fun?!) here is a photo of the latest Nigella recipe, Carbonnade a la Flamande (Beer Braised Beef Casserole), produced yesterday with staggeringly positive results:
Note the use of Our (barf) new Dutch oven! (She needs a name, by the way! Suggestions in the comments section, please).
Once again, this selection began with the frying of bacon, which is really The Only Way to start cooking something. The only note I would have for this recipe by way of criticism, though, would be that the fat definitely needs to be drained from the bacon before continuing with the next step. Some fat is desired, but the end result has what I would consider to be too much.
At any rate, fry some bacon, add some onions, make a broth involving beer, mustard, and brown sugar (Guinness was most readily available), chuck in the oven for 3 hours and voila!
Most definitely serve with noodles (Ziti was the only thing we had...) and you have yourself a rockin' Sunday dinner, with leftovers to spare.
The best part of this meal for Boy Scout and his traumatized kitchen (the kitchen is always traumatized when I visit...) it all gets made in one dish! Hooray!
6 January 2011
In Which Thoroughly Obsessed Thursday Discovers Scott Pilgrim
I’m not sure which came first: Wanting to read Scott Pilgrim, or wanting to watch the movie. If I’m being honest, I think the chicken came before the egg; the only reason I was aware that there was a series of graphic novels about Scott Pilgrim was because I knew that there was a movie being made that starred Michael Cera as the titular slacker-in-waiting.
There are some who have beef with Michael Cera, and to them I say “I get it.” But I have been smitten with the kitten since 2004 when my mother gave me the first season of Arrested Development for Christmas. In my eyes, George Michael Bluth can do no wrong, and you’re really not going to convince me otherwise. So don’t try.
I should also mention that at this time it would take an absolute act of Peter Jackson to get me into the movie theater. It’s expensive, it’s sticky, and, much like television, I don’t have time to adhere to someone else’s schedule. On Demand and iTunes rentals are my friend.
So last week in the midst of the Christmas chaos my baby brother brought me his copy of Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life and then proceeded to ask me every single day if I had read it yet. And then I finally did. And then I watched the movie.
The series is seven novels long, one (I assume?) per “ex” (NOT “ex-boyfriend”) that Scott has to defeat to maintain his “going out” status with his newly discovered soulmate, Ramona Flowers. Admittedly I should have read all of them before watching the movie, which does indeed encompass all of them.
First, the graphic novel review, with the qualifier that I am no Great Reader of Graphic Novels: I thought it was charming, easily read, and very funny. There were times when I was laughing out loud. According to my brother (who, as the only reader of Scott Pilgrim I know personally, shall henceforth be known as The Expert) it does better on subsequent readings (“you see more”) and I don’t doubt him for a second. I was charmed by Scott, despite the fact that he is a huge loser who really needs to do something with his life, dammit.
Next the movie review, because this is my blog and I can review anything I want: The movie is good, if not great, and a respectable transference of graphic novel sensibilities to the large screen (or in my case, the small screen of my laptop). Michael Cera is Michael Cera-y, and this did not offend me (though Candy was not so impressed when she reviewed both at SmartBitches back in August). Again, I didn’t read all of the novels, so I had not really had an opportunity to fully form Scott Pilgrim in my head. As in the novel, my favorite character was Scott’s gay roommate (with whom he shares a bed... without conflict!... I can’t tell you how awesome I think this is) Wallace Wells played by Kieran Culkin, and unlike in the novels, I had a full appreciation for Anna Kendrick’s Stacey Pilgrim, Scott’s super-annoying/awesome sister.
So now my brother is happy, we have something to talk about, I have more things added to my TBR shelf (Ha ha. Ha. I laugh so I don’t cry), and I crossed one of the many movies on my Don’t Forget to Watch This At Some Point List.
Yeah... it’s a good day.
There are some who have beef with Michael Cera, and to them I say “I get it.” But I have been smitten with the kitten since 2004 when my mother gave me the first season of Arrested Development for Christmas. In my eyes, George Michael Bluth can do no wrong, and you’re really not going to convince me otherwise. So don’t try.
I should also mention that at this time it would take an absolute act of Peter Jackson to get me into the movie theater. It’s expensive, it’s sticky, and, much like television, I don’t have time to adhere to someone else’s schedule. On Demand and iTunes rentals are my friend.
So last week in the midst of the Christmas chaos my baby brother brought me his copy of Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life and then proceeded to ask me every single day if I had read it yet. And then I finally did. And then I watched the movie.
The series is seven novels long, one (I assume?) per “ex” (NOT “ex-boyfriend”) that Scott has to defeat to maintain his “going out” status with his newly discovered soulmate, Ramona Flowers. Admittedly I should have read all of them before watching the movie, which does indeed encompass all of them.
First, the graphic novel review, with the qualifier that I am no Great Reader of Graphic Novels: I thought it was charming, easily read, and very funny. There were times when I was laughing out loud. According to my brother (who, as the only reader of Scott Pilgrim I know personally, shall henceforth be known as The Expert) it does better on subsequent readings (“you see more”) and I don’t doubt him for a second. I was charmed by Scott, despite the fact that he is a huge loser who really needs to do something with his life, dammit.
Next the movie review, because this is my blog and I can review anything I want: The movie is good, if not great, and a respectable transference of graphic novel sensibilities to the large screen (or in my case, the small screen of my laptop). Michael Cera is Michael Cera-y, and this did not offend me (though Candy was not so impressed when she reviewed both at SmartBitches back in August). Again, I didn’t read all of the novels, so I had not really had an opportunity to fully form Scott Pilgrim in my head. As in the novel, my favorite character was Scott’s gay roommate (with whom he shares a bed... without conflict!... I can’t tell you how awesome I think this is) Wallace Wells played by Kieran Culkin, and unlike in the novels, I had a full appreciation for Anna Kendrick’s Stacey Pilgrim, Scott’s super-annoying/awesome sister.
So now my brother is happy, we have something to talk about, I have more things added to my TBR shelf (Ha ha. Ha. I laugh so I don’t cry), and I crossed one of the many movies on my Don’t Forget to Watch This At Some Point List.
Yeah... it’s a good day.
5 January 2011
In Which I Review Explosive by Beth Kery
The first thing I said when I finally put this book down was “Hmmmmm.” And honestly, now, almost twenty-four hours after finishing, I’m still not quite sure what I think of it. I certainly think that the review that initially prompted me to read it (posted on DearAuthor.com) is fair. But I have a little more I would like to add.
I’m going to have to break this down, because it’s the only way I’m going to be able to fully articulate my feelings.
THINGS I LIKED ABOUT THIS BOOK:
I really, really like the heroine. The amount of trouble I have had recently, trying to find a heroine who is neither ridiculously dumb or fantastically annoying, Dr. Sophie Gable was a lovely change of pace. She was capable, smart, and reasonably resourceful. While she was definitely the submissive partner in her sexual exploits with Thomas Nicasio, she was in no way overpowered in other aspects of their interaction. There were plenty of moments where she could have gone all TSTL, but she resisted, and I really appreciate that.
I liked the plot. I liked that Thomas and Sophie had been exchanging covert glances and flirty exchanges for quite some time before he showed up on the dock of her lakeside vacation home with no memory of the preceding twenty-four hours.
I like that this memory lapse at once complicates their initial romantic encounters and is resolved reasonably and without heavy-handed, unlikely explanation.
THINGS I DISLIKED ABOUT THIS BOOK:
The advancement of the plot. The fact that Thomas’ adoptive father was under investigation for being the mafia ringleader in Chicago, Thomas’ actions and reactions to the events unfolding around him, and the reasons he shows up at Sophie’s to begin with are all very, very interesting and make for a compelling story.
My problem arises from the fact that the middle quarters of the book are painfully repetitive. Thomas wants Sophie. Sophie wants Thomas. Thomas and Sophie have kinky sex, after which Thomas starts to question the reasons he’s there, and he leaves on a walk (car ride, run, etc.) Thomas comes back. Thomas wants Sophie. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Jane at Dear Author compliments the author on the lack of repetitiveness in the sex scenes, and I have to say that I agree. There is a lot of sex, and none of it feels warmed over or boring (in fact, if nothing else, the sex is the exact opposite of boring). But at a certain point the sex starts to seriously impede the story, or at least gets in the way of what could have been a really excellent romantic suspense novel.
Also, I didn’t really like Thomas. He’s all head-trauma’d and tormented-with-good-reason, and so I totally understand and accept that he was kind of a douchebag. The lack of easement into or out of the story, though, meant that I didn’t really get to know him as a real-life person, which makes their abrupt HEA even abrupter.
Overall this was a good book, worth reading, but not worth keeping on The Shelf. I think I would have liked it better as a novella, but that is neither here nor there. Will certainly keep an eye out for Beth Kery in the future.
I’m going to have to break this down, because it’s the only way I’m going to be able to fully articulate my feelings.
THINGS I LIKED ABOUT THIS BOOK:
I really, really like the heroine. The amount of trouble I have had recently, trying to find a heroine who is neither ridiculously dumb or fantastically annoying, Dr. Sophie Gable was a lovely change of pace. She was capable, smart, and reasonably resourceful. While she was definitely the submissive partner in her sexual exploits with Thomas Nicasio, she was in no way overpowered in other aspects of their interaction. There were plenty of moments where she could have gone all TSTL, but she resisted, and I really appreciate that.
I liked the plot. I liked that Thomas and Sophie had been exchanging covert glances and flirty exchanges for quite some time before he showed up on the dock of her lakeside vacation home with no memory of the preceding twenty-four hours.
I like that this memory lapse at once complicates their initial romantic encounters and is resolved reasonably and without heavy-handed, unlikely explanation.
THINGS I DISLIKED ABOUT THIS BOOK:
The advancement of the plot. The fact that Thomas’ adoptive father was under investigation for being the mafia ringleader in Chicago, Thomas’ actions and reactions to the events unfolding around him, and the reasons he shows up at Sophie’s to begin with are all very, very interesting and make for a compelling story.
My problem arises from the fact that the middle quarters of the book are painfully repetitive. Thomas wants Sophie. Sophie wants Thomas. Thomas and Sophie have kinky sex, after which Thomas starts to question the reasons he’s there, and he leaves on a walk (car ride, run, etc.) Thomas comes back. Thomas wants Sophie. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Jane at Dear Author compliments the author on the lack of repetitiveness in the sex scenes, and I have to say that I agree. There is a lot of sex, and none of it feels warmed over or boring (in fact, if nothing else, the sex is the exact opposite of boring). But at a certain point the sex starts to seriously impede the story, or at least gets in the way of what could have been a really excellent romantic suspense novel.
Also, I didn’t really like Thomas. He’s all head-trauma’d and tormented-with-good-reason, and so I totally understand and accept that he was kind of a douchebag. The lack of easement into or out of the story, though, meant that I didn’t really get to know him as a real-life person, which makes their abrupt HEA even abrupter.
Overall this was a good book, worth reading, but not worth keeping on The Shelf. I think I would have liked it better as a novella, but that is neither here nor there. Will certainly keep an eye out for Beth Kery in the future.
3 January 2011
In Which We Introduce Monday Menu Mayhem
Greetings, salutations, and the Happiest of New Years!
If you're anything like me, you've spent the last two weeks celebrating, recovering, sleeping, celebrating, and recovering again. And also, admiring some pretty badass Christmas presents.
But you probably didn't spend two weeks trying to come up with an awesome new regular blog feature that would a) be awesome and b) add to the awesomeness of this blog. Or I don't know, maybe you did. Recommendations may be left in the Comments section.
Firstly and foremostly, we have a new look (hooray...?) and you'll notice handy dandy labels at the bottom of all of the posts. Want to see all of our reviews? Want to read posts from back in the day when we didn't know what we were doing? Want to verify that we continue to not know our ass from our elbow? Look no further.
NOW THEN. When I'm not reading or writing or running around like a lunatic, I like to cook. I like to cook a lot. I got a new KitchenAid, a new All-Clad frying pan, and a new Star Wars apron for Christmas (AHHHHH!) in addition to the joint, couple-y purchase of a Dutch oven with a certain Boy Scout.
Needless to say, there is a lot of cooking in my future.
What I also got though, was the newest Nigella Lawson tome, Nigella Kitchen: Recipes From the Heart of the Home. I love this book. I love the obscene way she writes (I mean, really... she writes cooking like Kresley Cole writes sex), I love that she totally contradicts herself (recipe calls for boneless chops, recipe introduction says she herself uses bone-in all the time...), and I love that the recipes are fabulously do-able, without excessively weird ingredients or overly fussy health stipulations.
This is the way I like to cook.
So Boy Scout looks through the book (Since we're at a commitment level where it's what... one-fourth his anyway? Still mostly mine, but living in his house so... yeah. "Ours.") and decides that he loves it too. And that "we" need to make all of the recipes, Julie & Julia style.
And for those wondering, by "we" he means: "mostly you." Meaning me.
And I think this is not a bad idea.
SO. Every Monday morning, we shall have a report on the Menu Mayhem that ensued over the weekend or the previous week. I'll review the recipe, the ease, the deliciousness, and the mayhem. Because yes. When I cook, there is mayhem.
What better way to kick off the experiment than on a cold January Sunday, with a recipe that uses both the new frying pan and the new Dutch oven? I can think of nothing more appropriate. So into the oven went the Pork and Apple Hotpot, a glorious amalgamation of apples, onions, bacon (which to me always indicates a winning recipe), pork chops, and apple roux-thingy that came out three hours later as the perfect Sunday meal (with leftovers!)
This first time I tried hard to stick to the recipe (not a strong suit of mine unless baking), but next time we have definite additions in mind. Like mustard in the roux. And a little cognac "for flavor." And definitely more sear-age on the pork chops. Definitely.
OK then. New feature... featured. Boy Scout, perhaps you'd like to comment on the leftovers...?
If you're anything like me, you've spent the last two weeks celebrating, recovering, sleeping, celebrating, and recovering again. And also, admiring some pretty badass Christmas presents.
But you probably didn't spend two weeks trying to come up with an awesome new regular blog feature that would a) be awesome and b) add to the awesomeness of this blog. Or I don't know, maybe you did. Recommendations may be left in the Comments section.
Firstly and foremostly, we have a new look (hooray...?) and you'll notice handy dandy labels at the bottom of all of the posts. Want to see all of our reviews? Want to read posts from back in the day when we didn't know what we were doing? Want to verify that we continue to not know our ass from our elbow? Look no further.
NOW THEN. When I'm not reading or writing or running around like a lunatic, I like to cook. I like to cook a lot. I got a new KitchenAid, a new All-Clad frying pan, and a new Star Wars apron for Christmas (AHHHHH!) in addition to the joint, couple-y purchase of a Dutch oven with a certain Boy Scout.
Needless to say, there is a lot of cooking in my future.
What I also got though, was the newest Nigella Lawson tome, Nigella Kitchen: Recipes From the Heart of the Home. I love this book. I love the obscene way she writes (I mean, really... she writes cooking like Kresley Cole writes sex), I love that she totally contradicts herself (recipe calls for boneless chops, recipe introduction says she herself uses bone-in all the time...), and I love that the recipes are fabulously do-able, without excessively weird ingredients or overly fussy health stipulations.
This is the way I like to cook.
So Boy Scout looks through the book (Since we're at a commitment level where it's what... one-fourth his anyway? Still mostly mine, but living in his house so... yeah. "Ours.") and decides that he loves it too. And that "we" need to make all of the recipes, Julie & Julia style.
And for those wondering, by "we" he means: "mostly you." Meaning me.
And I think this is not a bad idea.
SO. Every Monday morning, we shall have a report on the Menu Mayhem that ensued over the weekend or the previous week. I'll review the recipe, the ease, the deliciousness, and the mayhem. Because yes. When I cook, there is mayhem.
What better way to kick off the experiment than on a cold January Sunday, with a recipe that uses both the new frying pan and the new Dutch oven? I can think of nothing more appropriate. So into the oven went the Pork and Apple Hotpot, a glorious amalgamation of apples, onions, bacon (which to me always indicates a winning recipe), pork chops, and apple roux-thingy that came out three hours later as the perfect Sunday meal (with leftovers!)
This first time I tried hard to stick to the recipe (not a strong suit of mine unless baking), but next time we have definite additions in mind. Like mustard in the roux. And a little cognac "for flavor." And definitely more sear-age on the pork chops. Definitely.
OK then. New feature... featured. Boy Scout, perhaps you'd like to comment on the leftovers...?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)