peacefulreader

28 Days of Things I Love; #4

I love curling up with a good book!

I love the words that I learn the sentence structure, the descriptions. I fall head over heals in love with characters. Claire Marvel by John Burnham Schwartz is a perfect example of good writing and memorable characters. I wanted to get home every day just to read another paragraph, another chapter yet not too fast lest the end come to quickly.

As a young girl I loved curling up in my room and reading the day away. Today is no different-I squirrel away moments to read as I make dinner, while I wait in line, as I eat lunch at work and especially while I soak in a quiet bath. I read with my two older children as they moved into middle school age and now read religiously with my youngest. I’m ~~slightly~~ interested in ebooks yet I know I will always journey with a book in my hand. I celebrate the printed word, especially stories as marvelous as Claire Marvel!

One quote:

I began to close the bag, then changed my mind. “Want a Life Saver?”
She cocked her head skeptically. “Depends on the flavor.”
“Butter Rum,” I said.
Brightening, she nodded-a girlish bounce of her head that sent a thrill through me. I peeled the damp foil back so she could take one.
“I forgot how good these are.” She was rolling the candy noisily around her tongue. (5)

I love this scene as it introduces both Claire and Julian. In this moment standing in the rain she holds a yellow umbrella and he is soaked. Their relationship in the beginning throes seems picture perfect except Julian hesitates unsure of himself and she waits expectantly. Oh-the thrill of a good book! This one is a keeper.

Weekend Cooking; Adzuki Beans

(Photo Credit)

In December I reviewed Moosewood Restaurant; Cooking for Health which I’d checked out from the library. When I had the book I wrote down a few recipes and hoped that I might get the book for Christmas. I bought the ingredients for one of the recipes using adzuki beans because I’d never heard of them. Luckily I found them in bulk at my local organic store and it seemed like a sign. Well, you know how things go. I had those adzuki beans in a canning jar and it was the holiday season and the days got away from me. I never made the recipe but still had the beautiful beans staring at me every time I opened my dry storage cupboard.

Last week I got inspired to use them but realized I hadn’t copied down the original recipe. I did what everyone does; I googled a new recipe and this is what I found at Healthy Green Kitchen, a new foodie blog for me! Winnie at HGK credits Ree Drummond (do I even have to say it…Pioneer Woman) for her recipe. I made them and we’ve been eating them all week in different easy meals.

Beans

adapted from The Pioneer Woman Cooks by Ree Drummond
Serves 8-10

ingredients:

*4 cups dried aduki beans (or pinto or another type of beans)
*4 slices organic uncured bacon, sliced into 1 inch pieces- optional; bacon lends a nice smoky saltiness but you can leave out for vegetarian beans
*filtered water
*1 teaspoon course sea salt or to taste
*1 teaspoon black pepper or to taste
*1 teaspoon garlic powder or to taste
*1 teaspoon chili powder or to taste

directions:

1. If not using aduki beans, it’s best to soak your beans overnight in a large pot covered with water. After they have soaked, drain them and rinse several times. If you are using the adzuki beans just go ahead and use them.

2. Place rinsed beans and bacon in a large pot on the stove. Pour water over the beans to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer.

3. Skim any foam that might rise to the top while cooking, and add additional water (or stock), if there does not seem to be enough liquid.

4. Cook until the beans are tender, about 1 1/2 hours (or as long as 3 hours for pinto and other beans).

5. Add the sea salt (don’t add too much if you’ve used stock) and pepper, plus the seasonings I mentioned (or others that you like) to taste. You can serve these in whole wheat or corn tortillas with the toppings of your choice: think grated raw cheese, fresh salsa, guacamole, organic sour cream, etc. Or have some in a bowl with a side of cornbread (I made a pretty good gluten-free one that you can see in the top picture). Fresh chopped tomato, cucumber, red pepper, and sliced avocado are also wonderful additions.

6. My favorite healthy way to eat these, though, is this: chop some collard greens very fine, add some olive oil and fresh lime juice, and mix with the beans, veggies, and salsa. Top with some green onions and minced cilantro- yum yum yum!

The first night we had them with brown rice, chopped tomatoes, a little curry sauce and whole wheat wraps. In the middle of the week I had them on top of a green salad while my children ate pasta. Last night I turned the last of them into my food processor with a little water, fresh squeezed lime juice and a few diced tomatoes with juice and created a refried bean consistency. We had soft shell small tacos using the beans as our base with freshly shredded mozzarella, avocado, tomatoes, and green lettuce from our co-op. The beans were delicious! My kids didn’t even realize they were eating the leftover beans re-purposed!

Adzuki beans are flavorful and very useful as you don’t have to soak them at all. If you can find them in bulk-give them a try.

This post is linked to Weekend Cooking hosted at Beth Fish Reads. Pop over and see what other food-related bloggers are cooking up!

28 Days of Things I Love; #3

I love milk and cookies!

It is my favorite dessert. I’ve even ordered it in a restaurant. I prefer really good homemade chocolate chip cookies but others will suffice. I like to dunk into a mini-coffee mug instead of a glass because I don’t need a lot of milk and the cookies fit better. The only brand of store bought cookies we buy are Matt’s, which have the same ingredients on the package as what I use in the kitchen. Just thinking about it makes me want to dunk a coupla’ cookies!

This dessert was a favorite of my dad’s and I can still see him at the head of our kitchen table with some of my mom’s cookies lined up ready for dunking. His second favorite dessert was chocolate cake in a bowl of milk. Yep. I love that also. Just perfect. Milk and cookies. Milk and chocolate cake. Ahhh.

When I googled an image for this post Jana’s blog, Milk and Cookies, came up repeatedly! No wonder I love reading her sweet blog.

Here’s hoping you have many cookies to dunk this month!

Thank you to my old friend Stanley for feeding my cookie dunkin’ love all through our Denver days!

28 Days of Things I Love; #2

I love my handsome husband!

We’ve raised a family together and we still enjoy each other’s company. He sends me sweet texts during the day. He makes me hand-crafted cards for special occasions. I’ve saved them all. He smiles when he sees me at the end of the day, whether it is 4:00 or 11:00 pm. He makes dinner on his day off. He works really hard on projects for both home and work. He is very creative and lends his energy to many of my teaching projects. He “puts” up with all my whims and truly tries to make me happy.
He is the perfect husband for me.

(He is a prisoner to his phone)

January Recap

Not a blowout month of reading but I’m good with it (seven total books) but several were breathtakingly beautiful. I started and ended the month off with fantastic books. I’ve only reviewed three of my Jan. books and I have to work on this. I don’t have to write about every book I read~I really only want to share the amazing book-the books I want you to read or the books to stay away from.

I do plan to write reviews still for Sing You Home (Dec.), The Book of Three (great fantasy) and Claire Marvel, which was as amazing as The History of Love.

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu. 312 pages. 2011.
emma and me by Elizabeth Flock. 292 pages. 2004.
Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult. 466 pages. 2011
Bigger Than a Bread Basket by Laurel Snyder.
The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander. 1964.
The Geranium Farm Cookbook by Barbara Cawthorne Crafton
Claire Marvel by John Burnham Schwartz. 2002.

One book, emma and me, counted for my TBR Pile Challenge hosted by Roof Beam Reader and of course, the cookbook, counts toward my 2012 Foodie Challenge hosted by Joyfully Retired.

Exciting News Flash: I was asked by Lisa and Margo to participate in Kidlit Celebrates Women’s History Month for March. I am writing about one of the very first feminist, Joan of Arc, for a March 17th post. I was honored and thrilled to be asked to participate in this jubilee of special women!

My laptop is on it’s last leg but as long as I stay plugged in I seem to be okay. I started off January blogging every day and couldn’t continue when a bug crept in damaging major parts of my only 3-year-old laptop. Sad how things don’t last even a medium amount of time. We truly are a “throw-away” society, which makes me want to throw up a little.

Happy Reading.

28 Days of Things I love; #1

image courtesy of vintagechica

#1 On the first day of February I offer up my children’s sunshine-filled peaceful moments.

I deeply love my children all the time but I am very nearly giddy when they get along, showing mutual respect and kindness for each other (not the terms they would use.) This morning in the bathroom was an example of this or when Teenage Boy helps Groovy Girl with her homework. There are many more times when he is big brother mean to her and she sobs little girl sobs and maybe those times make me appreciate the camaraderie that can occur. Life is rocky-I hope they can learn to count on each other.

Happy February!

Weekend Cooking; The Geranium Farm Cookbook

by Barbara Cawthorne Crafton & 10,000 Geranium Farmers

(2006) 136 pages

At our church Christmas Bazaar we have a beautiful book table with used books from our members. It is a wonderful way to share and recycle the books we have read all year. We are a well-read and well-fed congregation as recipe books take up an entire table.

This year a had this one in my stack and my intention was to give it to my mother as she is a true cookbook collector. I read through it one night though and fell in love with the uncomplicated recipes. I love to read through the vignettes interspersed throughout the book as well. I loved this quote from one

Baking Friday Afternoon

I could hardly believe my ears: Rosie requested that we bake a pie on Friday afternoon. Always say yes when your teenager wants to do something with you-anything this side of legality. It could be years before it happens again. (48) ~ Barbara Cawthorne Crafton

Words of wisdom there!

I’ve made these two recipes from this book so far-both excellent.

Curried Olive Spread

1 block of cream cheese, light or otherwise
1 cup pitted, chopped green salad olives (more or less to taste and you can use exotic olives if you prefer)
1 T. curry (more or less to taste)

Cube the cream cheese, then put cheese and olives in a food processor. Blend until mixture is slightly lumpy. Stir in curry. Can be served immediately, but sitting in the fridge for an hour or so allows the flavors to blend. Serve with crackers, celery sticks, or toasted bread squares.

My grandmother gave me this recipe when I entered the working world. She told me there would be many occasions where I would be expected to bring an appetizer to a dinner, and this one was quick, easy, and tasted delicious. After all, she mused, working women were busy and didn’t have all day to create fabulous food...(108) ~ The Rev. Laurie Brock, Mobile, Alabama

Can’t resist grandmother advice either! I served this dip with a loaf of my fresh homemade bread. The dip made enough for leftovers and I’ve been eating that as a snack with gluten-free crackers all week.

Corn Spoon Bread

1 cup (organic) milk
1 T. (unsalted) butter
1 cup cornmeal
1 can creamed corn
2 eggs, separated
1 T. (sea) salt
1 T (freshly ground) black pepper

Scald the milk in a saucepan. Melt the butter into the milk. Add the cornmeal and cook until thick. Stir in the creamed corn. Beat the egg yolks with the salt and pepper. Stir the yolks into the corn mixture. Beat the egg whites to stiff peaks. Fold the egg whites into the corn mixture. pour into a well-greased quart baking dish. Bake at 350* for 50 minutes to 1 hour or until a wooden skewer inserted int eh middle comes out clean. Serves 6-8
This is a favorite recipe of mine from my Indiana childhood. ~The Rev. Gerald W. Keucher, New York, NY (123)

I have a thing about creamed corn-a childhood food memory-so this appealed to me on that level. I made it for a church potluck and by the time I made it through the line it was gone, bowl scraped clean just as it should be at a potluck.

Link for Geranium Farm. This post is linked to Beth Fish Reads Weekend Cooking meme. Drop over and see what she is dishing about and many other food-related posts.

In other family news our new refrigerator has been ordered but is back-ordered. My hope is that it arrives somewhere in the vicinity of the first two weeks of Feb. Back order seems to happen with all appliance purchases now.
I’m reading Claire Marvel by John Burnham Schwartz – beautifully written, taking many post-it’s to mark my favorites.
I watched Burlesque last night and loved it-don’t know why it took me a year. Cher and Christina Aguilera were wonderful. I watched Eat, Pray, Love also yesterday and while it dragged in spots was uplifting to me. Made me savor my own loves. So decadent to watch two movies in one day-it was a “free” day in a way.

emma and me by elizabeth flock + A Giveaway!!

emma and me (2004)

elizabeth flock

292 pages

I don’t even know where I picked this book up – it does have a second hand sticker on it- but one that I don’t recognize so I can only presume the book has had a history before it fell into my waiting hands. I love it when a book finds you at just the right moment in your life.

The opening sentences slam you:

“The first time Richard hit me I saw stars in front of my eyes just like they do in cartoons. It was just a backhand, though-not like when I saw Tommy Bucksmith’s dad wallop him so hard that when he hit the pavement his head actually bounced. I s’pose Richard didn’t know about the flips I used to do with Daddy where you face each other and while you’re holding on to your daddy’s hands you climb up his legs to right above the knees and then push off, through the triangle that your arms make with his. It’s super fun. I was just trying to show Richard how it works. Anyway, I learned then and there to stay clear of Richard.” (9)

As a reader I was stunned and sad but pulled in by this little voice of eight-year-old Carrie. The abuse she suffers at the hands of her stepfather and her mother’s neglect are juxtaposed around her original family story; one where happiness played an important role and her father was kind and playful. Flock twists the story from Toast, NC to a tiny mountain town where Carrie meets several unusual characters that see right through her family’s struggles. I can’t give you any more details so when you read it the story can unfold and surprise you.

I loved Flock’s writing style and would enjoy reading more of her work. Carrie’s voice will stick with me for a long time to come. Because this book has already been through several readers I want to keep it traveling along. I will send this book to one lucky reader leave me a comment about one striking childhood memory and I will pick one unique answer. Include your email and I will get the book to you quickly!

This book is on my TBR Pile Challenge and the first book I’ve read on my list. Lisa from Books Lists Life encouraged me to read it and it was a perfect book to start with- Thanks Lisa! I hope the rest of my choices thrill me as much as this one did!

*the book does have some pencil marking in it from a child’s drawing hand-this amused me as the story is about a child, it is only on the first few pages and does not interrupt the story in any way but thought I should mention it in case you are one of those paperback book swap people who like pristine books.*

Creepy Bugs

It’s been over a week and my computer has been violently ill. It wouldn’t let me get on our wireless and it was acting just plain loco! The frustration was high when my men were still surfing with their sleek Apples! Ugh.

Lucky I have a wonderful techie friend who’s taken it home to restore it. He confirmed the buggy diagnosis. It seems to be going around as I got a quirky tweet from a friend who thought she’d been hacked-which is how it started for me right before Christmas.

When you haven’t bloged for awhile it feels weird to come back-a little like calling an old friend after a long time. I miss Pinterest and Facebook but really miss my blogging friends!

Some life updates:

-Read emma and me by Elizabeth Flock and Sing Me Home by Jodi Piccoult.
-new refrigerator is backordered but at least ordered.
-today was an awesome SNOW DAY, allowing me to get holiday decorations put correctly back.
-cooked many wonderful meals that I’m anxious to post.

I’m typing on my son’s IPad and hope to have my healthy computer back some time next week.
In the meantime have a peaceful day wherever you are!

This is all it takes for me.

A few weeks ago my husband and I decided we needed to amp up the idea of date night in our relationship. What with kid activities, his many plays and meetings and my school life we some times don’t see each other much in a week. He sent me a text the other day and asked me out on a date and we went today for an early dinner at local sushi restaurant. We each had a salad, several sushi rolls and I had a glass of wine and he, a beer.

Because we like to be efficient we stopped pre-date at the running store downtown to pick up the sneakers he had ordered me for Christmas. After the date I had to stop at our local library to pick up a book for one of my student book clubs. My husband reminded me as we were going in that we had a time limit to get home to the kids.

Within 5 minutes in the library I was able to pick up this stack:

1. Fever; 1793-this is the book I needed for one of my students.
2. The Palace of Laughter by Jon Berkeley
3. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
4. The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
5. The Creative Family by Amanda Blake Soule
6. The Parents We Mean To Be by Richard Weissbourd

Two, Three and Four were all very close to where I looked for Anderson, Laurie Halse and the last two just because I happened passed a display of parenting books. Wow. Just think if he’d given me 10 minutes.

All in all-two errands and a nice dinner made for a lovely night out and we were home by 6:30 with a pizza for the kids. Hope your day was blissful too.