Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Jacket blurb: God is dead. Meet the kids.

Fat Charlie Nancy's normal life ended the moment his father dropped dead on a Florida karaoke stage. Charlie didn't know his dad was a god. And he never knew he had a brother.

Now brother Spider's on his doorstep -- about to make Fat Charlie's life more interesting... and a lot more dangerous.

August's book group book.

I read and reviewed this book back in 2010 (before I found Goodreads - SciFi with Paprika ), although I "read" this as an audio book the first time.

This was just as enjoyable the second go around, Neil Gaiman's books are like that. Just enjoyable.

Premise of the book is Fat Charlie Nancy is just your average bloke, living in an average flat, working an average job at the Graham Coates Insurance Agency, and is engaged to the lovely Rosie. While planning the guest list for his forthcoming nuptials, Rosie makes him call his Father who lives in Florida. Fat Charlie is stunned to discover he died and the funeral is the next day. Everything begins in Florida.

Of course I'm over simplifying the plot. A mere paragraph would not do this book justice. It's a delightfully woven tale of the beginning, of Spider and Tiger, of stories and of revenge, written only like Neil can write.

Go read it.




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Recipe Review from 8/20/2017

This week was a blur of work stuff for both the Husband and I, which meant getting home late a few more nights than usual.   He had a regional team meeting where the group rented an AirBnB house and prepped their own meals.  Because he was the only one who didn't have to travel the group gave him their leftovers.  Meal plan was easily tweaked to account for this, and it means only one recipe to review. 

The Meal Plan from last week:
Sat (L) fish tacos   (S)  regular tacos
Sun (L)  regular tacos (S) Sweet Pot and Red Lentil curry
Mon (yoga) leftovers
Tues (CISMA mtg) leftovers
Wed - unexpected leftovers
Thurs (yoga) - the unexpected leftovers
Fri - last of the unexpected leftovers


Sweet Potato and Red Lentil Curry  (Ckgn Lght, Sept 2017)  vegetarian, gluten free
Oh my gosh!  A great tasting Indian inspired meal doesn't get any easier than this!  Don't let the ingredient list put you off,  it's mostly spices, very little chopping, and letting the slow cooker work it's magic.  

I will note, I had to make the onion "relish" on the stove since I don't have a microwave.   Don't skip this or the cilantro if you can help it!  Those two flavors really brought the whole dish together and were surprisingly tasty!

Last note - I subbed basmati rice for brown rice.   With the rice, this easily made enough for 8 servings.  I did end up freezing half for another time.

Highly recommended! 

4 cups peeled, cubed sweet potato (about 2 medium)
3 1/2 cups water, divided

photo from cookinglight.com

2 cups dried red lentils
2 cups low-sodium fat-free vegetable broth
3/4 cup finely chopped white onion
3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste (such as Thai Kitchen)  this is not spicy!
2 teaspoons garam masala
2 teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger
2 teaspoons ground turmeric 

Cooking spray
1 tablespoon sugar, divided
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
1 cup canned light coconut milk

Onion "relish"

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup very thinly sliced red onion

4 cups hot cooked brown rice
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves

1) Place sweet potato, 3 cups water, and next 7 ingredients (through turmeric) in a 5- to 6-quart electric slow cooker coated with cooking spray. Add 1 teaspoon sugar, salt, garlic, and tomato paste; stir well to combine. Cover and cook on low 8 hours. Turn off heat; stir in coconut milk. Let stand, covered, 5 minutes.

2) Combine remaining 1/2 cup water, remaining 2 teaspoons sugar, and vinegar in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave at high 2 minutes or until boiling. Add onion to vinegar mixture; let stand 20 minutes at room temperature. Drain. 

3) Place 1/2 cup rice in each of 8 shallow bowls. Top each serving with 1 1/4 cups lentil mixture, 2 tablespoons red onion mixture, and 2 tablespoons cilantro. 

No Second Chance by Harlan Coben

No Second Chance by Harlan Coben

My rating: 4 of 5 stars






Read as an audio book.

One thing I've learned about Coben's stand alone books is, while they are somewhat formulaic, *I* still have to read/listen to the last disk first in order to enjoy the book. Only then can I get through the CD's without throwing them out the window in sheer agitation. Kudo's to the author for being able to illicit that kind of response. Not the kind of response *I* particularly enjoy, but, there it is.

To greatly simplify: Dr. Mark Schneider awakes in the hospital. Last thing he remembers is eating a granola bar over the sink. He finds out he was shot, left for dead, and saved by the paramedics. But this comes at a price: his daughter is missing, his wife is dead, and his drug-addict sister is wanted and missing.

Larry, his best friend and a respected lawyer, warns him not to talk to the police. Mark doesn't heed that advise and finds himself suspect number one despite his assertion of innocence. A kidnapping ransom finally appears at the father-in-laws house, and from there, everything spirals out of control.

Convoluted? Completely. This plot spans nearly two years. Believable? Mmmm.... yeah. For the most part.

A few items popped out at me as I was listening:

• The phrase "I don't understand" is overused to the point of redundancy.  I would dearly love to see a phrase count for "I don't understand" in one of Coben's books.  Makes me cringe to even hear it now.  
• At one point in the book, someone was explaining DNA testing to Mark.  He made a comment about not understanding DNA - he's a DOCTOR.  How could he not understand at least the rudimentary aspects of DNA? 
• I really disliked Reagan and Tickner (Bob and Lloyd).  It felt to me as if they latched on to one theory and refused to acknowledge anything else (perhaps that's what agents/detectives do IRL?  To be a bit snarky, Harry Bosch doesn't, Davenport doesn't...).   Then they latched on to a different theory to the exclusion anything else, except for the possibility of theory one.  I think this was intended to add to the dramatic tension the book; it only added to my annoyance.  

Overall an engaging read, one that pulls the listener in and kept me happily occupied (especially once I knew the ending) during my commute. I find Mr. Coben's observations on society fascinating: he's always dropping these very insightful little nuggets about people's habits and outlooks.

Recommended if you like Coben. Not a bad book to start with if you haven't yet dabbled in his stand alone books.


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Recipe Review from 8/14/2017

 And the pictures I was going to post last week!

Temperance River

Carlton Peak from below

View of the North Shore

This weekend we went to the Carlton County Fair.  I was trying to remember the last time I went to any county fair and I came up with 19 or 20 years ago, shortly after we moved up here.  We've been trying to get to the Carlton Co. Fair for a while now, and we actually had the weekend free (that and I was home and not at Worldcon).

What was surprising was this find:

Seriously, how many county fairs have a STEAM TRAIN on display!  How cool is that?!

And I made a couple of notable meals last week.  Enjoy!

The Meal Plan for the week:
Sat (L) Hiking!  (S) Fried chicken
Sun (L)  Folks place     (S) leftover chicken
Mon (yoga)  Shawarma Bowls
Tues -  Kale and Sausage pasta
Wed (Trap shooting)  leftover shawarma bowls
Thurs (yoga) pasta
Fri - tacos with leftover pork from pasta

Lunches - hummus sandwiches, carrots, cherries


Chicken Shawara Bowls  (Ckng Lght, Sept 2017)  gluten free
AWESOME!   I really liked this, especially the sauce.   Now, I did prep my chicken and farro the day before to save some time, especially since I wasn't using a rotisserie chicken but one of my own.  The flavors are great, this would make the perfect lunch or picnic meal with some pita bread, kalmata olives and feta. 

My changes: 

• I swapped zucchini for cucumber because I don't like cucumber
• I used smoked paprika because I was out of regular
• I didn't bother cutting the cherry tomatoes 
• I used pearled farro that I had cooked the day before (I would have NO idea where to get prepared farro)  it only took about 20 minutes to cook up a batch.  It was about 1 1/4 cup dried farro. 

photo from cookinglight.com

12 ounces skinless, boneless rotisserie chicken breast, shredded (about 3 cups)
2 teaspoons olive oil
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon cumin, divided
1/8 teaspoon paprika
1/2 cup plain 2% reduced-fat Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon tahini (sesame seed paste)
1 teaspoon minced garlic   (skipped)
1 (8.5-oz.) pkg. precooked farro  

(I used 1 cup regular pearled farro, and pre-cooked night before)
2 cups chopped English cucumber  (I subbed zucchini)
2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
1 (15-oz.) can unsalted chickpeas, rinsed and drained
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (skipped)
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1. Place chicken and oil in a large bowl; toss to coat. Combine 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon cumin, and paprika in a bowl. Add spice mixture to chicken mixture; toss to coat.

2. Combine remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, remaining 1/4 teaspoon cumin, yogurt, lemon juice, tahini, and garlic in a small bowl. Set aside. 

3. Heat farro according to package directions. Place 1/2 cup farro in each of 4 bowls. Top each serving with about 3/4 cup chicken mixture, 1/2 cup cucumber, 1/2 cup tomatoes, about 1/3 cup chickpeas, and 2 1/2 tablespoons Greek yogurt mixture. Top with parsley and black pepper.

Kale, Sausage and Tomato Pasta (Ckng Lght, Sept 2017)  

Simple, expedient, tasty.  Flavors are well balanced, this uses fall produce, and the ww spaghetti adds a nice nutty background note to the dish. The only thing I would recommend is gently "popping" the tomatoes while cooking.  I smooshed some on my plate and ended up wearing tomato seeds.

Recommended if you need a quick weeknight meal.

photo from cookinglight.com

8 ounces whole-wheat or multigrain spaghetti
6 ounces mild pork Italian sausage
2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
4 cups coarsely chopped stemmed curly kale
1 pint small cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes
2 tablespoons unsalted tomato paste
3/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 ounce Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, shaved

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain in a colander over a bowl, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking liquid.

2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add sausage; cook 5 minutes or until browned, stirring to crumble. Remove sausage from pan.

3. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add pepper and garlic; cook 30 seconds. Stir in kale and tomatoes; cover, and cook 6 minutes or until tomatoes soften and wilt, stirring occasionally. Push kale and tomatoes to outer edges of pan. Add tomato paste to center of pan; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually add reserved 1 cup pasta cooking liquid, stirring constantly. Stir in sausage and salt. Add pasta to pan; cook 3 minutes, stirring to coat. Top with cheese.

From Ckng Lght:  3 Ways to Speed Up Pasta Sauce 1. Skip canned tomatoes and use fresh. They'll burst and break down in minutes, and you won't have to wait for excess liquid to reduce.
2. Cook the tomato paste in the pan for a full minute before adding liquid to caramelize and concentrate the tomato flavor in the sauce.
3. Add the starchy pasta water to the pan, and stir vigorously to emulsify with the oil and tomato paste for a thickened sauce that clings.

Apocalypse Codex by Charles Stross (Laundry Files #4)

The Apocalypse Codex by Charles Stross

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Jacket Blurb: For outstanding heroism in the field (despite himself), computational demonologist Bob Howard is on the fast track for promotion to management within the Laundry, the supersecret British government agency tasked with defending the realm from occult threats. Assigned to External Assets, Bob discovers the company (unofficially) employs freelance agents to deal with sensitive situations that may embarrass Queen and Country.

So when Ray Schiller—an American televangelist with the uncanny ability to miraculously heal the ill—becomes uncomfortably close to the Prime Minister, External Assets dispatches the brilliant, beautiful, and entirely unpredictable Persephone Hazard to infiltrate the Golden Promise Ministries and discover why the preacher is so interested in British politics. And it’s Bob’s job to make sure Persephone doesn’t cause an international incident.

But it’s a supernatural incident that Bob needs to worry about—a global threat even the Laundry may be unable to clean up…

Premise of the book is after a regular mundane management training session, Bob has been temporarily assigned to External Assets department as a test of his abilities, though he doesn't know that. Bob is assigned to oversee two outside contractors in Denver, Colorado (USA) while they investigate one Raymond Shiller and the Golden Promise Ministries. Something is quite fishy about Mr. Shiller but nobody can quite put their finger on what. Once on the ground in the States, it's only a matter of days before everything goes absolutely pear shaped and Bob's worst nightmare becomes a reality.

I'll say upfront, you have to read the first three in the series. Not a stand alone book.

And I'll also say upfront, this was so much better than the Fuller Memorandum. I almost walked away from this series after Fuller Memorandum, but a couple of friends indirectly managed to talk me into continuing the series (they just finished The Delirium Brief, #8).

I enjoyed this book - it's classic Bob being Bob and managing to scrap through despite a lack of resources and support. The story clips along, it kept me engaged, and I really liked the supporting characters of Persephone and Johnny.

It was also an interesting look at how another country [via the author] views Evangelical Christianity. I don't know how true this is, but I've heard at panels at various science fiction conventions, that Sci Fi is one of the few genre's that explores the concepts of religion. Apocalypse Codex takes that exploration a step beyond, perhaps, but still, an interesting thought.

Ultimately, when all was said and read, I enjoyed the book enough that my faith was restored in the series and I'll go get the next.



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Recipe Review from 8/7/2017

This past week we hiked from Temperance River to Britton Peak on the Superior Hiking Trail, not once, but TWICE!  We volunteered to be Hike Leader and Naturalist for this segment waaayy back in February or March.  I like to know what trail conditions are before we head out with a group of people, so we went up the Wednesday before the hike with the dogs and timed the drive, the shuttle and the hike.

The we went back sans dogs (SHT asks no dogs on Guided Hikes) on Saturday for the event itself.  We had about 30 people for a glorious Saturday morning, with some familiar faces and many new-to-guided hikes attendees.  Temperatures hovered right about 75* (warmer on the rock faces), with a slight breeze, and clear skies.  I marked time at 3.5 hours by the time I got off the trail as "Sweep", just a half hour longer than when we hiked on Wednesday.  Most excellent! 

Pictures coming!  Phone is not talking to the internet this morning...

The Meal Plan:
Sat (L)  shish-k-bobs and corn on the cob  (S)  Fish sandwiches
Sun (L)  Fish sandwiches (S)  Chicken Enchiladas
Mon (yoga) leftover enchiladas
Tues - leftover enchiladas
Wed (hiking)  Corn, tomato and basil salad
Thurs (yoga) leftover enchiladas 
Fri - leftover corn salad

Lunches - hummus sandwiches



Blackened Grouper Sandwiches (Ckng Lght June 2017)  vegetarian option**

My notes: For a vegetarian option, skip the bun and serve open face on the lettuce and tomato with the sauce on the side.

I used tilapia for this dish - I'm not even sure I could get grouper in my corner of the world.  I also forgot I was out of paprika so I pulled out a jar of Penzey's Northwoods seasoning - it has the paprika, salt and pepper, plus thyme, rosemary, garlic, and chipolte.   Close enough plus I can use something I have on hand.

These do come together quickly, I thought they tasted as good or better than fish sandwiches I've eaten in restaurants, and I would make these again.  Recommended!


1 teaspoon paprika  (I used 2 tsp Penzey's Northwoods seasoning)
3/4 teaspoon black pepper

photo from cookinglight.com

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
4 (6-oz.) grouper fillets
2 tablespoons canola oil
1/4 cup canola mayonnaise
1 1/2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
1 tablespoon grainy mustard
1 tablespoon unsalted ketchup
4 (2-oz.) whole-wheat hoagie rolls, split**
4 romaine lettuce leaves
8 plum tomato slices

1. Preheat broiler to high with oven rack 8 inches from the heat.

2. Combine paprika, pepper, and salt in a small bowl. Rub spice mixture evenly over fillets.

3. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add fillets to pan; cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side.

4. Combine mayonnaise, relish, mustard, and ketchup in a bowl. Arrange rolls, cut sides up, on a baking sheet; broil 1 minute or until toasted. Spread mayonnaise mixture over cut sides of rolls. Top bottom halves of rolls with lettuce, tomato, fillets, and top halves of rolls.

Roasted Chili Verde Chicken Enchiladas  (Ckng Lght, June 2017)  gluten free
This dish is going to take a bit of time, expect that going in; there really isn't much in the way of short cuts here so plan on this being a weekend dish.  The link and magazine note this as being 1:30, it took me probably closer to 2:30 - but I'm including prep in that and clean-up.   

I didn't want to heat up the house any warmer than it already was, so I did part of my prep on the grill.  I charred the veggies, then grilled a portion of the meat because my Dutch oven isn't large enough to properly sear 4lbs of thighs. 

And that was my second modification - I used two whole chickens (+/- 2.5lbs ea - my chickens were on the smallish side), cut-up.  I grilled the breasts and legs, and seared the thighs in a large sauce pan (again, amount of meat).  Because I used a whole/cut-up chicken, it did take a tich longer to shred the meat. 

I also didn't split the dish into two, but cooked it (on the grill) in a 9x13 pan.  

End result?  Very tasty and a nice change from the usual El Paso Enchilada sauce.   Best part?  Supper is ready for the next several nights - LOVE the leftovers!  

Cooking spray

photo from cookinglight.com

2 pounds tomatillos, husks removed
4 poblano chiles, halved lengthwise, ribs and seeds removed
1 large yellow onion, quartered
6 garlic cloves
1 cup firmly packed fresh cilantro leaves and stems
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1 teaspoon black pepper, divided
2 tablespoons olive oil
8 bone-in, skinless chicken thighs (about 4 lb.)
16 (6-in.) corn tortillas
6 ounces reduced-fat Mexican blend cheese, shredded (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup plain 2% reduced-fat Greek yogurt
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1. Preheat broiler with oven rack 6 inches from heat. Coat a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Place tomatillos, poblanos, onion, and garlic on prepared baking sheet. Broil for 12 minutes, turning vegetables after 6 minutes, until well charred. Let stand 5 minutes. Scrape mixture and any accumulated juices into a blender. Add cilantro leaves and stems, cumin, and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and black pepper; process until smooth.

2. Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high. Sprinkle chicken with remaining 1/2 teaspoon each salt and black pepper. Place chicken in a single layer in Dutch oven, meaty sides down. Cook until browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

3. Pour tomatillo mixture into Dutch oven. Bring to a boil over medium-high. Cook until sauce thickens slightly, 3 to 5 minutes. Return chicken to Dutch oven; reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until a thermometer inserted in thickest portion registers 165°F, 12 to 15 minutes. Place chicken on a plate; let stand 5 minutes. Set aside 2 cups tomatillo mixture. Shred chicken and return to Dutch oven; discard bones. Toss meat to coat.

4. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 2 (11- x 7-inch) baking dishes with cooking spray. Spread 1/4 cup reserved tomatillo mixture in the bottom of each dish. Spoon 1/4 cup chicken mixture into each tortilla; fold into thirds, and arrange in dishes (8 enchiladas in each). Spread 3/4 cup reserved tomatillo mixture over enchiladas in each dish. Sprinkle each with 3/4 cup cheese. Coat 2 pieces of aluminum foil with cooking spray, and cover each dish. Follow freezing directions, or continue to step 5.

5. Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes, until heated through. Remove foil. Increase heat to broil. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes, until cheese is golden and bubbly. Top each serving with 1 tablespoon yogurt and 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro.

Magazine Notes:  How-To FREEZE: Cover dish with heavy-duty aluminum foil or an airtight lid. Freeze up to 2 months. THAW: Remove foil; reserve. Place dish in microwave. Microwave on MEDIUM for 20 minutes, until thawed. REHEAT: Cover dish with reserved foil. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes, until cheese is melted and a thermometer inserted in center registers 160°F. Remove foil during last 5 minutes.

Corn Tomato and Basil Salad (Ckng Lght, June 2017)  gluten free, vegetarian

I modified this a fair amount:

• I used 1 pint small cherry tomatoes (whole) instead of cutting up regular tomatoes  (putzy)
• I grilled 4 ears of corn (makes about 2 cups) instead of eating raw
• I skipped the parsley (I was out)
• I used some green onions instead of the shallot (had the green onions in the fridge)
• I used a Roasted Garlic infused olive oil
• and I added 2 andoullie sausage links, grilled and cut up, to make my resident carnivore happy

This was very good!  I was concerned that there was too much dressing for the amount of food, but it turned out okay, maybe a tich much for my tastes, but still good.  This would be great as a side for just about any grilled meal, or, as a dish in its own right.  As I noted above, I added two sausage links for The Husband.  Added a nice zing!

Recommended! 

2 large ripe heirloom tomatoes, cored and cut into 1-in. dice, or 1 diced heirloom tomato and 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

photo from cookinglight.com

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced flat-leaf parsley
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon grainy mustard
1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon white miso  (I used 1 tsp red)
1 medium shallot, peeled and minced
2 cups fresh yellow and white corn kernels
1/4 cup shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano (about 1 oz.)
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
12 fresh basil leaves, torn into small pieces

1. Place tomatoes in a large bowl. Sprinkle with salt; let stand 30 minutes at room temperature.

2. Combine oil and next 6 ingredients (through shallot) in a pint jar. Seal jar; shake 30 seconds or until blended.

3. Add vinaigrette, corn, cheese, chopped parsley, and basil to tomatoes. Toss gently to combine; serve immediately.

Golden Prey by John Sandford (Davenport #27)

Golden Prey by John Sandford

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Jacket Blurb:  The man was smart and he didn’t mind killing people. Welcome to the big leagues, Davenport. Lucas Davenport’s first case as a U.S. Marshal sends him into uncharted territory, in the thrilling new novel in the #1 New York Times-bestselling series.

Thanks to some very influential people whose lives he saved, Lucas is no longer working for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, but for the U.S. Marshals Service, and with unusual scope. He gets to pick his own cases, whatever they are, wherever they lead him.

And where they’ve led him this time is into real trouble. A Biloxi, Mississippi, drug-cartel counting house gets robbed, and suitcases full of cash disappear, leaving behind five bodies, including that of a six-year-old girl. Davenport takes the case, which quickly spirals out of control, as cartel assassins, including a torturer known as the “Queen of home-improvement tools” compete with Davenport to find the Dixie Hicks shooters who knocked over the counting house. Things get ugly real fast, and neither the cartel killers nor the holdup men give a damn about whose lives Davenport might have saved; to them, he’s just another large target.

Read as an audio book.

Premise of the book is - a drug deal money heist that left five people dead, including one little girl, results in a cross-country man hunt for the perpetrators and culminates in a massive shoot out in Texas.

Seriously, that's it.

And I enjoyed it - hey! It's Davenport.

We are introduced to some new characters, Ray and Bob. They aren't Jenken's and Shrake, but I think they will do quite well. Their characters offered a nice counter-point to Davenport running solo, but yet avoided the whole permanent partner thing.

The antagonists were quite the varied bunch, from Darling and Poole, to Court and Soto, Dora Box, even Rosie and Annie. Killers, all of them, some nastier than the others. I kinda wonder if we won't be seeing three of the above in a future book? I won't say who, don't want to spoil the fun.

My only criticism was with the shoot-out - I kept wondering why nobody called in a helicopter? We had nearly every single law enforcement agency present, I KNOW the Border Patrol has helicopters, so...why didn't anyone call one in and just put a spotlight on the perps?

Recommended if you've read the first 26 in the series, because by this point, you are invested in wanting to know what Davenport is going to do next.



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Recipe review from 7/29/2017

Kepler update!  

He's getting to be a big boy!  About half the size of Andy-dog now, or about 30lbs.  His chewing has gotten better, he gets mouthy when he's hungry or wants attention so that's an improvement over All. The. Time.  He LOVES his swimmy-pool, digging in the garden with Mom, eating woodchips/bugs/frogs/rocks/raspberries/blueberries/chicken poo and anything else that might taste good.  Early indications are he loves riding in the car.  He's a sweetie, even when he's playing "keep away". 

Almost 5 months old now!

And lots of tasty recipes this week! 

The Meal Plan from week of July 29:
Sun (L)  Corn cakes   (S) Tortellini and squash
Mon (yoga)  leftovers
Tues:  Grouper/tilapia sandwiches
Wed: Leftovers
Thurs (yoga)  brats
Fri: Leftovers

Lunches - cheese sandwiches because I didn't have the time to make the hummus.


Corn Cakes with Bacon and Tumeric Dressing  (Ckng Lght, June 2017) gluten free; vegetarian option

I made these as written (I KNOW right?) and these were really good.  Don't skip the "dressing" - it totally pulled the dish together.    I served these along side a salad for a light lunch. 

I will admit, I did have some apprehension when I dolluped a ladle of "batter" into the pan.  I seriously thought, "No way is this gonna work.  This is going to be a disaster...".  Much to my very great surprise,  it worked!  I had little corn cakes!

My one complaint is this was touted in the magazine as a 30 minute recipe - plan on an easy 45 minutes.  I added up the times noted below: 8 minutes for the bacon, 2 minutes for corn, 10 minutes rest, 5 minutes rest = that right there is 15 minutes and it doesn't include prep or that I could only cook about 4 at a time (at 2 minutes per side).   How could you not include prep in with the time factor??
 
Anyway, most excellent - recommended. 

2 center-cut bacon slices, chopped**   (Could be optional)
2 3/4 cups fresh corn kernels (about 4 ears)

photo from cookinglight.com

1 1/4 cups finely chopped yellow squash
1/4 cup chopped green onions (white parts only)
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup plain yellow cornmeal
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3/8 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt (not Greek-style)  (I used Greek-style)
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric

1. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium. Add bacon; cook, stirring often, until crisp, about 8 minutes. Drain on paper towels; reserve drippings in skillet.

2. Increase heat to medium-high. Add corn and squash to drippings; cook until lightly charred and al dente, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl; cool 10 minutes. Add onions, eggs, cornmeal, pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and cooked bacon to corn mixture; stir to combine. Let mixture stand 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Stir together yogurt, maple syrup, turmeric, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Set aside. 

4. Heat skillet over medium. Drop batter by 1/4-cupfuls into skillet, flatten slightly with a spatula, and cook until firm and browned on each side, about 2 minutes per side. Serve with turmeric-yogurt mixture.

Tortellini Salad with Zucchini and Peas  (Ckng Lght, June 2017)  vegetarian

I have mixed thoughts on this dish:  it's easy to assemble, the flavors are definitely "summer",  and you can use produce from the garden.  Butttt...I wasn't wild about the way the zucchini was prepped for this (or in my case, the summer squash).  It was incredibly awkward trying to eat the tortellini and peas with these long limp planks of squash.  They just don't mesh well on the fork.  Medallions would have been SO much better and easier to cook. 

Other than that complaint, I liked the flavors of this dish and it's ease in prep.  Perfect for a mid-week meal with a side salad.  

1 (9-oz.) pkg. refrigerated whole-wheat 3-cheese tortellini (such as Buitoni)
2/3 cup frozen peas

photo from cookinglight.com

2 medium zucchini (I used 1 medium summer squash)
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind plus 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Small fresh basil leaves (optional)

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; add peas for the last 6 minutes. Drain, and cool 10 minutes; place pasta and peas in a medium bowl.

2. Using a vegetable peeler, shave zucchini into ribbons.

3. Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in a medium skillet over medium. Add garlic; cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds. Remove from heat. Add zucchini; stir constantly until zucchini is slightly softened, about 1 minute. Add zucchini mixture to tortellini mixture in bowl.

4. Combine rind, juice, salt, pepper, and remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil. Drizzle over tortellini mixture; toss gently to coat. Sprinkle with basil, if desired.

Southwest Roasted Potato Salad  (Aberdeen's Kitchen Blog)  vegetarian, gluten free

A friend passed this recipe along and I knew this was a "must try".  This was very tasty and a nice alternative to a more "traditional" mayo/mustard based potato salad.  I made this as a side for brats.

And, as usual, I did a modification:  I grilled this.  I assembled as directed below, tossing everything but the corn together.  I split into two foil packets, fired up the grill to 400*, and tossed'm on.  I rotated the packets every 10 minutes to ensure even cooking and no burning.  I think I cooked for about 40 minutes?   Corn was also cooked for 40 minutes.   Pulled everything off and assembled.

The dish was well received - though the Husband and I agreed that the spices were too subtle for the amount of food.  I would definitely increase both the cumin and the ancho pepper. 

Photo from Aberdeen's Kitchen Blog

Recommended! 

2 lbs baby red potatoes, halved  (I did a medium dice)
1 corn on the cob, husk on  (I cooked separately) 
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 orange bell pepper, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
½ teaspoon cumin  (1 tsp)
¼ teaspoon ancho chili pepper powder (1/2 tsp)
1 tablespoon coarse salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon fresh dill, minced + extra roughly chopped to garnish
Green onion, thinly sliced to garnish
3 tablespoons olive oil

Preheat oven to 400˚F.

Toss potatoes, bell peppers, cumin, ancho chili pepper, salt, pepper, minced dill, and olive oil until coated on a roasting pan. Spread the vegetables out into a single layer, leaving an empty space for the corn on the cob. Place the corn on the cob, husk still on, in the empty space.

Put the pan on a middle rack in the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the corn on the cob and set aside. Put the pan back in the oven and cook for another 30 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
While vegetables continue to cook, remove the husk from the corn and slice off the kernels.

When the potatoes are tender enough to be pierced with a fork, remove the pan from the oven. Stir in the corn kernels and add the remaining fresh dill and green onion to garnish.

 

No Man's Land by David Baldacci (John Puller #4)

No Man's Land by David Baldacci

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jacket Blurb:
Two men. Thirty years.

John Puller's mother, Jackie, vanished thirty years ago from Fort Monroe, Virginia, when Puller was just a boy. Paul Rogers has been in prison for ten years. But twenty years before that, he was at Fort Monroe. One night three decades ago, Puller's and Rogers' worlds collided with devastating results, and the truth has been buried ever since.

Until now.

Military investigators, armed with a letter from a friend of Jackie's, arrive in the hospital room of Puller's father--a legendary three-star now sinking into dementia--and reveal that Puller Sr. has been accused of murdering Jackie.

Aided by his brother Robert Puller, an Air Force major, and Veronica Knox, who works for a shadowy U.S. intelligence organization, Puller begins a journey that will take him into his own past, to find the truth about his mother.

Paul Rogers' time is running out. With the clock ticking, he begins his own journey, one that will take him across the country to the place where all his troubles began: a mysterious building on the grounds of Fort Monroe. There, thirty years ago, the man Rogers had once been vanished too, and was replaced with a monster. And now the monster wants revenge. And the only person standing in his way is John Puller.

Read as an audio book.

They changed the narrator between book three and book four! ARRRGGH!

Premise of the book is Jackie Puller went missing 30 years ago, a mystery or crime that was never solved. Now, 30 years later, John Puller Jr. is given a letter to read from a former neighbor, accusing John Puller Sr. of murdering his wife. What comes to light, is Puller Sr. was actually stateside the day his wife went missing, not overseas like everyone previously thought. As John starts to investigate the disappearance of his Mother, he begins realize there is a bigger, more dangerous threat behind everything he thought was true.

This is classic John Puller/David Baldacci plot. Something small and innocuous slowly begins to blossom into a somewhat implausible, slightly over the top conspiracy. And darn if I don't enjoy it anyway.

Things that made me roll my eyes - the antagonist was one heck of a nasty woman. Almost too much so. This is where some questionable plausibility started to creep in.

The author continues to spell out exactly what kind of weapon Puller pulls out when in a confrontation. I still don't need it described every. single. time. Just say "Puller pulled out his gun/service pistol/weapon/etc and move on, please.

Given the grief Robert gave John at the beginning of the plot, I didn't get quite the resolution between the two I had hoped for: as in Robert admitting he was wrong when telling John he should back off the case.

Things I appreciated in this book: Puller didn't automatically fall into bed with Veronica when she shows up on his proverbial doorstep. *She* walked away from him, and he's still a bit resentful about that. This wasn't something resolved even half way through the book and I liked that tension between Knox and Puller.

Not every one who is bad, is actually a bad guy. I enjoyed Paul Roger's character a lot - a conflicted, abused, military secret who's trying to stay under the radar and mostly succeeds.

The antagonist is one heck of a nasty woman, not something you find in military mystery thrillers all that often.

Robert is back as a strong, but distant, supporting character.

Puller makes mistakes and I appreciate seeing that written into the story (won't give away particulars), what's even better is he admits when he makes a mistake - he's not a super CID officer, he's just very good at what he does.

John Puller Sr. getting to hear his wife's voice again made my eyes a bit moist. Well written. Bravo!

Overall, I thought this was a very enjoyable and engaging commute read. Recommended if you've read the first three in the series.



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