7 Quick Takes, Volume 11

--1--

Earlier this week I finished Michael Pollan's fascinating book, The Omnivore's Dilemma.  I wrote a review of it on Goodreads, check it out!  I was thinking of publishing the entire thing here (seeing as it's a book about food and all), but this post is long enough already.  You'll have to settle for a link.

   

And now that I've finally finished The Omnivore's Dilemma and Outlander, I'm finally able to move on to other books.  Last week I read The Help.  If you're one of the six people on the planet who still hasn't read it, let me tell you, it's fantastic.  (I want to cook something out of there but I was so absorbed in the story that I didn't take the time to bookmark and take note of the food.  A good excuse to read it again, right?)  After that I started a book called Adam and Eve After the Pill:  Paradoxes of the Sexual Revolution, by Mary Eberstadt.  It's a very interesting, factual analysis of how Western society has evolved over the last fifty or so years, and how our casual attitudes about sex and the widespread use of birth control has led to societal ills that most people--with the possible exception of Pope Paul VI--couldn't have foreseen.  I'm making my way through that one slowly (and carefully--I'm sure you'll hear more from me about that one, in a non-judgmental way, of course) while I devour Room by Emma Donoghue.  I started that one yesterday and I can hardly put it down.  It's written from the perspective of a five-year-old boy who has been imprisoned with his mother in a tiny room by a psychopath since the day he was born, and that little room is the only world he knows.

I have lots of other books on my to-read list.  I'd better hurry up and read them because once school starts I won't have much time for books.

--2--

For my husband's birthday recently we made coconut cake.  I had planned to devote an entire blog post to it, but I made a kind of "shortcut" version; when I finally get around to making one from scratch I'll share all the juicy details.  I'll call it "Incredibly Deadly Cake," because Lemony Snicket's The Reptile Room (one of the reptiles being The Incredibly Deadly Viper, which isn't deadly at all) inspired it.  Meanwhile, here's a plain old Coconut Cream Cake, brought to you by Duncan Hines.

COCONUT CREAM CAKE

Ingredients:

1 pkg. Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Classic White Cake Mix

1 (3.4-oz) pkg. coconut cream instant pudding and pie filling (I couldn't find instant so I used the Cook & Serve version instead, and it worked just fine)

4 large eggs

1 cup water

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/3 cup flaked coconut

1 can store-bought vanilla frosting

1 1/3 cup flaked coconut for topping

Baking Instructions

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour two 9" round cake pans.

2.  For cake, combine cake mix, pudding, eggs, water, and oil in large bowl.  Beat at low speed with electric mixer until moistened.  Beat at medium speed for two minutes.  Stir in 1/3 cup coconut.  Divide into pans.

3.  Bake at 350 degrees for 32 to 37 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool following package directions.

4.  Fill and frost cake.  Sprinkle with remaining coconut.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.

(adapted from Duncan Hines Dot Com)

So that's my "fast-food" version.  It was a huge hit.  I hope soon to make, in the spirit of The Omnivore's Dilemma, a "slow-food" version; i.e. from scratch.  And maybe I'll try a gluten free variety, too.

--3--

I know I've been deviating these last several months from the main theme of this blog; namely, Nicholas Sparks.  I'm tempted to rename it to more accurately reflect what I've been doing here lately.  Maybe I'll call it Cooking Nick's and Other People's Books Too:  A Book Lover's Food Blog, Especially Nicholas Sparks.  Hmm, that's too long.  I'll study on it a while.

I did manage to make something from The Lucky One recently; a simple and delicious ratatouille.  Check it out here.

--4--

Besides chomping through one book after another this summer (plus getting to see Gavin DeGraw AND Foreigner in concert)  I've gotten myself COMPLETELY hooked on One Tree Hill.  I know I've mentioned that before; but let me tell you, now that I'm nearing the end of Season Three, I'm not ashamed to admit that I LOVE it.  It feels kind of like being hooked on a daytime soap opera.  If you love Nicholas Sparks, One Tree Hill is right up your alley.  And the first eight seasons are streaming on Netflix; I'm sure it won't be long before the ninth and final season is available as well.  I stayed up way too late watching it last night because they killed off a major character and I was so shocked I kept on watching.  A couple of episodes later I finally switched off the iPad I've mostly been watching it on and lay awake thinking about it and when I finally got to sleep it invaded my dreams.

Maybe during the school year I'll make my way through the fourth season at a normal pace.  After all, there will be many other shows I'll be watching too--Person of Interest, Once Upon a Time, The Amazing Race, Dancing With the Stars; and maybe that new J.J. Abrams show Revolution.

For your entertainment, here are some photos from the amazing Foreigner show we attended last Friday night:

That's the Colonial Forge High School Choir on stage singing "I Wanna Know What Love Is" with the band.  An incredible moment.

Our friend Glenn took the next four pictures, with my phone through his binoculars.  He's such a talented photographer; that's why, seventeen years ago, we had him videotape our wedding.

And since I failed to get a t-shirt at the Gavin DeGraw concert, I was darn well going to get one this time.

--5--

Now for a bit of Catholicism:  Today is the feast day of St. Lawrence.  Why would I mention this in a food/cooking blog, you ask?  Well, it's kind of morbid, actually, but quite entertaining:

Lawrence was one of the seven deacons of the Church of Rome, who along with Pope Sixtus II and other deacons, was executed in 258.

The Prefect of Rome, a greedy pagan, thought the Church had a great fortune hidden away. So he ordered Lawrence to bring the Church's treasure to him. The Saint said he would, in three days. Then he went through the city and gathered together all the poor and sick people supported by the Church. When he showed them to the Prefect, he said: "This is the Church's treasure!"

In great anger, the Prefect condemned Lawrence to a slow, cruel death. Lawrence was tied on top of an iron grill over a slow fire that roasted his flesh little by little, but Lawrence was burning with so much love of God that he almost did not feel the flames. In fact, God gave him so much strength and joy that he even joked. "Turn me over. "I'm done on this side!" And just prior to his death, he said, "It's cooked enough now." Then he prayed that the city of Rome might be converted to Jesus and that the Catholic Faith might spread all over the world. With that, he went to His heavenly reward. (source)

St. Lawrence is the patron of comedians, cooks, restaurants, librarians, brewers, butchers, and wine growers.  And lots of other things, too.  Fitting for a blog about food and books, don't you think?

--6--

I'm told that today is National S'mores Day.  Which reminds me, I still haven't told you about the new fire pit we bought at the beginning of the summer.  Now we can roast marshmallows and make s'mores right on our back deck!

(My gluten free version:  marshmallows and chocolate atop a Pamela's Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookie.  If I put one on top it would be too sweet.)

--7--

It's been a while since I've shared Nick's more entertaining posts on Twitter, so let me present STELLAR SPARKS TWEETS:  THE OLYMPICS EDITION!

I think a lot of women would be happy if i had a movie coming out with Ryan Lochte. #Olympics

Sometimes, I think every Olympic event should have an average person competing, just for reference.

It's great when Olympic commentators say "He wants to take home the gold today" because it really helps me understand the sport.

My tweet critiquing NBC's tape-delayed Olympic coverage will be available for reading in a few hours.

And this non-Olympic one:

If I ever get taken in for questioning, I hope there's no Algebra.

Check out Nick's Twitter page for more like this, as well as updates on the filming of Safe Haven!

Have a wonderful weekend, and be sure to visit Conversion Diary for many more Quick Takes!

7 Quick Takes, Volume 5

--1--

I finally got some herbs planted on my deck! One thing I love about summer is cooking with fresh basil, parsley, thyme, and mint. I think I'll make some mint tea this weekend.

--2--

Strawberry season is pretty much over, and I used some of the last local berries to make strawberry pink lemonade. I made it last New Year's when we had our A Walk To Remember party, and it was good; but this batch was heavenly.

--3--

Look what I happened upon the other day in the paperback section of my grocery store:



Sometimes a new cover design on one of Nick's books means there is a movie coming out in the near future. Alas, I'm afraid that isn't the case for this one. I guess the publisher decided it was time The Rescue had a fresh new look.

The guy looks a little like Ben Affleck, from the back...and the girl, hmmm....

That gives me an idea--Who would YOU cast in a movie version of The Rescue?

--4--

Last weekend some dear friends had a cookout to celebrate the end of the school year. I brought the stuffed mushrooms I made for The Wedding, and they were a huge hit!

--5--

I've started reading Stieg Larsson's The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. It has kind of a slow beginning, but I've been assured by several people that once the story gets going it's hard to put down. I'll let you know how I like it; and if it's good maybe I'll try to read the whole trilogy this summer. In between re-reading Nick's books, of course.

--6--

Last week Larry graduated from the eighth grade! There was a Mass and graduation ceremony at church for all the eighth graders at the Catholic school. And a reception and a party, and plenty of cake for everyone.

--7--

Stellar Sparks Tweets (posted by @SparksNicholas on June 6, 2011)

Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.

Word to the wise: If someone invites you to their wedding, it's bad form to say, "Sorry I can't make it, but I'll come to your next one."

--------------------------------------------

We're having a picnic on Saturday (my family doesn't know that yet, tee hee) and I'll be making chicken pesto sandwiches. And I haven't forgotten about that barbecue recipe; it's next on my Cooking Nick's Books to-do list. Have a fabulous weekend!

And be sure to check out Jen Fulwiler's Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes!

7 Quick Takes: Where I've Been for the Last Month

It's the end of the school year, and between my job at our parish preschool and trying to keep up with the end-of-the-year events at the boys' school, I've hardly had time to cook or read much of anything (except for reading a chapter a day of Rick Warren's book, A Purpose Driven Life, which I mentioned in my latest post over at Musings of a Catholic Mom). Consequently this blog has had to take a back seat for a while. Here's a rundown of some of the adventures we've had over the last month (some of which are slightly relevant to this blog, at least):

--1--

On Mother's Day, my husband and boys cooked me dinner. They've been doing this for the last several years; in the past they have traditionally made Stromboli. Since I've been gluten free for the past few months, they needed to come up with something different.

They went to the store and brought home brie with walnuts and caramel for an appetizer,

steak, corn-on-the-cob, and potatoes. The steak and corn were cooked on the grill, of course!


For dessert: Flourless chocolate mousse cake.




--2--

Our neighborhood sits on what used to be a quarry years ago, and is now a wooded subdivision surrounding two small lakes. I think our yard must have been where all the trash was dumped, because we are constantly digging up bits of broken glass and porcelain. One Saturday while admiring a Nehi bottle Joe had pulled from the dirt a few years ago, Curly and Moe decided to see what other treasures they could dig up.


(OK, the Nehi bottle is the one Joe found. Curly and Moe dug up the rest.)


--3--

A group of middle school kids from our church attended the annual Junior High Bash for the diocese at one of the Catholic high schools. I went along as a chaperone. The kids played on bouncy stuff, ran around, ate pizza, heard some fantastic music and inspirational talks, and attended Mass in the gym. After Mass, Father Z, the chaplain of the high school, caused quite a stir when he drove the "Popemobile" through the throng of cheering kids. A good time was had by all.

Father Z made many references to our friend Iron Man during his homily.


A ladybug I watched as we lounged around on the grass.


OK, OK, I know it was just a golf cart with a picture of Blessed(!) Pope John Paul II in back...


--4--

A vendor was selling morel mushrooms at our local farmers' market, and I decided to bring some home. After browsing the Internet for ways to cook them (because morels can make you sick if eaten raw) I found this recipe:

Morels (bunches of 'em)
Butter/Margarine (3-4 tbsp's)
Frying Pan (non-stick is good...iron skillet is better)
Flour (1/2 cup or so)
Salt/Pepper to taste.

Directions:

Melt butter/margarine in frying pan (don't overheat it!!!!!)
Coat Morels in flour (either in gallon ziplock bag that has flour in
it or using a plate covered in flour)--coat the cleaned morels well with
flour.
Sautee mushrooms (gently) in butter/margarine.
Salt and pepper to taste.
Eat.

(source)

There are a ton more recipes for morels where that came from. In fact, one recipe suggested soaking the morels in water for several hours before cooking them, so I did that. Supposedly this would draw out some of the toxins that could make someone sick who ate them raw.

I sliced the morels lengthwise before coating them in gluten-free breading


They looked and tasted a little like fried oysters. Yum! Too bad morels are only in season for a short time. Until next spring...

--5--

May is the season for fresh strawberries,

sugar snap peas (we didn't even cook them; they were so crunchy and sweet I didn't want to ruin them!)

and peas. That's a hunk of homemade butter I bought from a Mennonite family that sells meat and eggs that they raise on their farm, and baked goods that are to die for. Lately I've been scarfing down their coconut macaroons, because to my immense delight, they're gluten free.

--6--

A parent of one of the kids at our parish preschool came in one day with two good-sized plastic posts of mint for me and for the teacher I work with. A close friend of said parent, a grandfather of one of the other kids and a native of Cuba, seemed quite excited about this, and began to describe to us how to make mojitos with our new mint plants. Yeah, baby!

I replanted it into one of my own pots. I've heard mint grows pretty big; I probably should have used a bigger one. This weekend, I'm hoping to get some basil and maybe some thyme to add to the little herb garden on my deck.

--7--

I've been following Nicholas Sparks on Twitter for a while now, and lately he's posted some tweets that have made me laugh out loud. Therefore I'm now launching my "Stellar Sparks Tweet of the Week" feature right here with these two gems:

R.I.P. #osama--if you were still alive today you'd be drowning.

(posted May 2, right after Osama bin Laden was killed and buried at sea)

And on May 29 Nick posted this:

Advice from my parents: "People never really grow up. They just learn how to act in public."

Oh! and Nick likes to tweet updates about his progress writing his new book, The Best of Me, due to come out this fall. He's almost finished with it. Click here for a sneak peek!

On Sunday I'm making a two-layer vanilla cake with sour cream frosting to finish up our journey through The Wedding, and by this time next week (hopefully) this blog will be back in full swing. I've got some fun projects planned for the next book, True Believer; one of which is leaving me slightly stumped, and I'm thinking seriously of asking Nick himself for advice. Not that there would be a chance in heck that he'd actually respond, and I'm sure I'll come up with something on my own, but still...a girl can dream...

Check out Jen Fulwiler's Conversion Diary blog for more Quick Takes!