Sea of Rust by C. Robert Cargill

Sea of Rust by C. Robert Cargill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Read as an audio book.

This was interesting and engaging. A "meaning of life" story though the eyes of robots/artificial intelligence's; a story of survival, friendship, mortality and having a soul.

I'll start with the narrator - well done performance. Each character had its own "voice", and while I didn't agree with all the accents, it worked for the purposes of the story and nothing grated on my nerves.

The story is about Brittle, a former care-giver robot who is now scavenging parts from The Sea of Rust - an area roughly in former Ohio that has become a desiccated, deserted desert. The world has been decimated by the robots in their quest to eradicate humans - which they did, along with all biological life on the planet. Now robots try and eke out an existence while avoiding the battle between the One World Intelligence's who are systematically uploading robots to their mainframes (or some such) creating basically a hive mind. Brittle, fighting for her own survival and facing imminent parts failure is caught up in a quest for a third World Mind who wants to ensure the survival of AI's.

Things I quite enjoyed - it's all robots. All sorts of different robots struggling for survival in various means and ways. The plot just rolls along and the reader rolls along with it. It made for a very enjoyable commute - no shouting in the car, no pounding of fists on the steering wheel, just an engaging story.

A handful of things seemed incongruous and didn't quite work for me: the frequency Brittle swore using "fuck" and "shit". In a future world, I would have expected a robot to use it's own terminology. There were all these little enclaves of robots, yet no robot was manufacturing parts for other robots?

It was emphasized that robots really couldn't overwrite - so to speak - their base programming. Yet Brittle seemed to have no problem not giving a crap about anyone but herself. That seemed a bit incongruous with her programming.

The last think I'll talk about is the robots refering to themselves as "people" or "persons" - human terminology. Early in the story Brittle used the term "citizen", which seemed more apropos for AI's living in an AI world. There were other instances similar to that and combined, threw me out of the flow of the story.

Overall, an easy to listen to story that kept me engaged, held interesting concepts, and had a good performance by the narrator. Recommended.

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Recipe review from 6/1/2020

This was a lazy week meal-wise.  A while back the Husbands co-worker had given him/us a jar of canned venison. We picked tacos - fried up some onions, added the venison, cooked until the liquid had evaporated and topped with avocado, cilantro, queso fresco, and pico de gallo.    And, feeling ultra-lazy, I ended up grabbing a couple take-n-bake's.   Though, I'll note, it wasn't my week for cooking a pizzas on the grill.  Kinda burnt both.  Sheesh.

And a small irony - I have two rhubarb desserts to review this week.  Me. Reviewing two desserts. When I usually don't review any.   Enjoy!  We certainly did. 

So many beautiful pots!  Garden center in Tucson, AZ

The Meal Plan:

Sat (L)  sandwiches  (S) sweet potato hash

Sun (L)  sandwiches (S) leftovers

Mon - venison tacos

Tues - take n bake pizza

Wed - venison tacos

Thurs - venison tacos

Fri - take n bake co-op pizza

Sour Cream Rhubarb Coffee Cake (A Farmgirl's Dabbles blog)

I've had my fair share of rhubarb desserts over the years, and I think this one has just moved into the number one spot.  Outstanding.  Simply outstanding.  Moist, perfect amount of sweetness, perfect amount of rhubarb, and a lovely crackly crust on top.  We went "decadent" and served with some whip cream.   This would be perfect for a picnic, a potluck, tea/coffee social, oh, heck it's just perfect anytime.  Recommended!

Makes a 9x13 pan.

3 c. all-purpose flour
1-1/2 tsp. baking soda

Photo from A Farmgirl's Dabbles

1 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. kosher salt
3/4 tsp. cinnamon, divided
3 large eggs, separated
1/2 c. unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 c. sugar, divided
1 T. pure vanilla extract
2 c. sour cream (I used 1 cup sour cream, 1 cup greek yogurt)
2-1/4 c. thinly sliced rhubarb, divided


Preheat oven to 350° F. Very lightly spray a 9" x 13" baking pan and line the bottom with parchment paper, letting the paper extend over the long sides of the pan - if you want to be able to remove the whole cake from the pan for cutting. Otherwise just lightly spray a baking pan and forgo the parchment paper. Set pan aside.

In a small to medium sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of the cinnamon. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat egg whites until stiff. Gently transfer whipped egg whites to a separate bowl and set aside.

Return bowl to stand mixer (no need to wash the bowl first, just get as much of the egg whites out as possible) and add butter and 1-1/2 cups of the sugar; cream together for two minutes. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla. Alternately mix sour cream and flour mixture into butter mixture in 2 additions each. Mix until batter is incorporated and smooth - it will be very thick. Gently fold in whipped egg whites until incorporated. Then fold in 2 cups of the rhubarb.

With a rubber spatula, spread batter into bottom of prepared pan, smoothing the top. Sprinkle top of batter with remaining 1/4 cup of rhubarb. Then run the spatula very lightly over the top of the batter to gently press the exposed pieces of rhubarb into the batter just a bit, leaving rhubarb pieces exposed as much as possible.

In a small dish or cup, combine remaining 1/2 cup of the sugar and remaining 1/4 teaspoon of the cinnamon. Sprinkle mixture evenly over top of batter.

Place pan in oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a tester inserted into center of cake comes out clean. Remove to cooling rack to cool completely. Store on the counter for up to a couple days. To keep that crackly sugar topping's crisp texture, do not cover the pan.

Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp (modified from Cooks Country)

The Husband and I had my Folk's out to our place for an early Father's Day picnic:  grilled steak and shrimp, green bean ceasar salad (also from Cooks Country), rustic bread and a rhubarb crisp.  The lovely thing about many rhubarb desserts is they are quick to assemble and can be made ahead of time.  Which this was. 

You will need an oven-safe 10" skillet for this OR start on the stove and put into a 9x9 greased pyrex pan to finish in the oven. 

My modifications - I used dark brown sugar because that's what I have on hand, and I added a 1/4 to 1/3 cup of chopped walnuts to the topping mixture.  This does come together very quickly - if you can serve it warm, fantastic, but it was also delicious at room temp.  Recommended!

Serves 6.

Topping: ¾ cup (3¾ ounces) all-purpose flour
½ cup panko bread crumbs

Photo from cookscountry.com

¼ cup packed (1¾ ounces) light brown sugar
½ teaspoon table salt
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Filling:
1 pound fresh rhubarb, trimmed and cut into ½-inch pieces, or frozen rhubarb, thawed and cut into ½-inch pieces (3½ cups)
12 ounces fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped coarse, or frozen strawberries, thawed and chopped coarse (2 cups)
1 ¼ cups packed (8¾ ounces) light brown sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
⅛ teaspoon table salt


RECIPE NOTES:If using frozen strawberries, there's no need to thaw them completely; you can chop them as soon as they're soft enough. If using frozen strawberries and frozen rhubarb, you may need to increase the stovetop cooking time by up to 4 minutes. Depending on the amount of trimming required, you may need to buy more than 1 pound of rhubarb to ensure that you end up with 3½ cups. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

FOR THE TOPPING: Whisk flour, panko, sugar, salt, and cinnamon together in bowl. Add melted butter and stir until no dry spots of flour remain and mixture forms clumps. Refrigerate until ready to use.

FOR THE FILLING: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Toss all ingredients in large bowl until thoroughly combined. Transfer to 10-inch ovensafe skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until fruit has released enough liquid to be mostly submerged, rhubarb is just beginning to break down, and juices have thickened, about 8 minutes. Remove skillet from heat.

Squeeze topping into large clumps with your hands. Crumble topping into pea-size pieces and sprinkle evenly over filling. Bake until topping is browned and filling is bubbling around sides of skillet, about 20 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes. Serve.

Recipe Review from 6/1/2020

We are apparently in a bit of drought in my corner of the world.  Rain seems to literally slide north and south of us - I can see the clouds in both directions, we watch the storms split as it approaches Duluth and re-form heading back over Wisconsin.  Lake Superior is obviously doing something to make this happen.  In the meantime...we're watering the garden every night. 

Happiness is lots of little violets 
photo from scifiwithpaprika.blog

Two new recipes this past week - kinda three, but I don't know that learning how to make chickpeas in the instant pot is really a recipe.  More technique perhaps?  Anyway, the butter chicken I reviewed last week, chickpeas for the chickpea dish are on this week. 

The Meal Plan:

Sat (L) Leftovers   (S) butter chicken

Sun (L) chickpea dish  (S),  butter chicken

Mon - butter chicken

Tues - brats and broccoli salad

Wed - butter chicken

Thurs - brats

Fri (off) (L) out   (S) hash

Chipolte-Cheddar Sweet Potato and Ham Hash (modified from Eating Well, May 2020)

Oddly, I can't find this recipe on the Eating Well website, so I don't have a link or a photo. 

This was good - it's quick, it has some versatility (I subbed breakfast links for the ham) and can be Sunday breakfast or Tuesday dinner.  I did have to cook this in two batches, as my "large" pan, wasn't quite large enough. 

I will note, this really only serves two.  It seemed like a lot in the bowl but as the potato cooks down and it became rather small portions.  So if you are planning on a meal for four, or want leftovers,  bumping up amount the potato and meat might be necessary. 

Serves 2-3

1 1/4 lb sweet potato, scrubbed and peeled (if desired), and shredded

5 scallions, sliced, divided

1 cup diced boneless ham steak (I used chopped sausage links)

1 tbsp chopped chipolte pepper in adobo sauce

1/4 tsp salt

4 tsp canola or avocado oil (I used grapeseed)

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

4 large eggs

1. Mix sweet potatoes, 4 scallions, ham, chipolte and salt in a large bowl.

2. Heat 2 tsp oil in a a large cast iron or non-stick pan over medium-high heat.  Reduce heat to medium and add the hash, spreading in an even layer. Cook, turning occasionally, until the sweet potatoes are soft and starting to brown, 8-10 minutes.  Drizzle the remaining 2 tsp oil around the edge and tilt the pan to help the oil flow under the hash.  Reduce heat to low and sprinkle the hash with cheese.  Cover and cook until the cheese is melted, 2-4 minutes. 

3.  Meanwhile, in a separate pan, cook the eggs as desired - fried, scrambled, poached  (I poached mine).  Serve eggs on top of hash. 

Chickpea and Pita Salad with Yogurt and Mint  (Milk Street Fast and Slow cookbook)

I made the Simple Chickpea recipe for chickpeas for this dish.  This was my first time using dried chickpeas; I've always used canned.  Easy, convenient, and I can store in the basement rather than the already (overfull) freezer.  But I've had enough people enthuse about using dried that I thought I would give it a try.

Okay...we might be on to something here.  Using Milk Street's recipe that includes aromatics such as bay leaf and garlic, these cooked up nicely and had a lovely flavor. 

The Chickpea Salad

The recipe blurb states this is a variation of Levantine fatteh, "...which is made with stale pita bread and often eaten for breakfast."   They use pita chips and I had it for lunch/supper.   I couldn't find whole milk yogurt as the recipe called for, so I used Greek.  Even mixed with the tahini sauce, the dressing was quick thick because of that, more like a dip. but we went with it and actually ate the leftover pita chips dipped in the mixture.  Yum!   

I liked this recipe a lot and can see making it over the summer when temps start to climb.  I strongly recommend this cook book if you have an instant pot or slow cooker. 

The Rest of the Robots by Issac Asimov

The Rest of the Robots by Isaac Asimov

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jacket Blurb:

ROBOTS
Mechanical servants, doing the jobs too hard--or too boring--for men to handle. They brought mankind into a new age of freedom and leisure. And every robot was completely incapable of harming a human being. So...why did men hate and fear them?

In THE REST OF THE ROBOTS, Isaac Asimov--author of a whole library of science fiction and fact--explores the fascinating future of men and their metal slaves in dramatic detailed stories of high imagination and wonder.

If you have read any of Issac Asimov's Robot books, this is a most engaging companion book. It's been decades (literally) since I've read any Asimov, so this was an interesting selection to read from a historical scifi perspective and a literary viewpoint.

From a historical scifi perspective it's looking at the birth of "robotics" and how humans would fear them. Well...the fear of robots in modern life hasn't been anywhere near what was portrayed, but then how can you compare a Roomba or Alexa to an AL-76?

From a literary standpoint, it's definitely a book of its time and the portrayal of women (Dr Susan Calivin included in this) doesn't meet today's norms. Does this bother me? No, I'm looking at a book and it's author through the lens of nearly 70 years. The 1940's and 50's had vastly different expectations than 2020.

The book is divided into three subgroups: The Coming of Robots, The Laws of Robotics, and Dr. Susan Calvin. I don't say this very often about short story compilations, but I enjoyed every single selection.

If one is interested in a historical look at one of the founding fathers of science fiction and comparing to where we are today. this would be a good book to pick up. Recommended.

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Recipe Review from 5/25/2020

It was a busy week for both the Husband and I, so a heavy reliance on leftovers.  I truly love leftovers.  Make once, eat several times.  A little prep, a little clean-up.  More time to relax. 

Celebrating Andy's Forever Home month

The Meal Plan (this covered Memorial Day weekend)

Sat (L) out with sister (S) brats

Sun (L) leftover brats(S) Low Country Boil with family

Mon (Off) (L) leftovers (S)  Mexican chicken bowls

Tues - leftover chicken bowls

Wed - leftover chicken bowls

Thurs - take n bake pizza

Fri - butter chicken

Lunches (me) hummus sandwiches and fruit, (husband) regular sandwiches and fruit

Crockpot Mexican Chicken Bowls (Clean Food Crush Blog)

This is one of those super simple meals - chop, plop, and walk away.  Come back and assemble for dinner.  This is also super versatile - serve this over polenta or rice, add your favorite toppings or skip toppings.  Have some Frito's scoops handy to scoop up deliciousness.  It's really up to you. 

I made this mostly as written - I didn't use organic corn, I subbed pinto beans for black beans, and I used a can of diced tomatoes instead of crushed.  With toppings, I think I got three meals for two.  Highly recommended.

Serves 5-6

photo from CleanFoodCrush.com

1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 large lime, juiced
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp smoked paprika
sea salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste (I used 1/4 teaspoon of each)
15 oz jar crushed tomatoes with juice (I subbed 1-15 oz diced tomatoes)
15 oz black beans, pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1.5 cups frozen, organic corn
1 cup chicken bone broth
4 oz diced green chiles
1 small yellow onion, diced
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced

Optional/Suggested toppings:
a small bunch of chopped cilantro leaves, to garnish
2 ripe avocados, diced to garnish
2-3 jalapenos, sliced
2 green onions, sliced
shredded cheese
plain Greek yogurt

Add all the ingredients except for the toppings to the bowl of your crockpot.

Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 4-6 hours.

Once the chicken is cooked, remove from the slow cooker and shred it using forks.

Return chicken to the slow cooker, gently stir everything together and cook for an additional 30 minutes.

Divide the Mexican chicken among 4-5 bowls and top with diced avocado, jalapenos, green onions, shredded cheese, Greek yogurt and lots of cilantro.

Butter Chicken (Milk Street Fast and Slow)

This cookbook was just released back in April, so I'm trying to be considerate of a new release and not post the recipes.  I HIGHLY recommend this cookbook if you have an IP or slow cooker.

Okay, disclaimer over. This was a most excellent version of butter chicken.  I didn't realize until I assembled this that there are only 2 tbsp of dairy in the entire dish.  Seriously - 2 tbsp of butter.  No heavy cream.  Now, the downside is if you are allergic to cashews, this won't work for you as there is a cup of pureed cashews used as thickener.  

I will admit, I had my doubts with the quantity of seasonings used - something like 1/4 cup of garam masala and several tsp of cumin.  But honestly, trust Milk Street, they know what they are doing and the flavor balance was spot on.

I did make some basmati rice to accompany the butter chicken (It's Indian! It needs basmati rice!) and purchased some naan.  I know we'll get about four meals for two out of this. 

I recommend the cookbook.  I HIGHLY recommend this dish. 

Night Shift Dragons by Rachel Aaron (DFZ #3)

Night Shift Dragons by Rachel Aaron
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Jacket Blurb: They say family always sticks together, but when you’re your dad’s only lifeline and the whole world—humans, dragons, and gods—wants you dead, “family bonding” takes on a whole new meaning.

My name is Opal Yong-ae, and I’m in way over my head. I thought getting rid of my dad’s bad luck curse would put things back to normal. Instead, I’m stuck playing caretaker to the Great Dragon of Korea. That wouldn’t be so bad if he wasn’t such a jerk, or if every dragon on the planet wasn’t out to kill him, or if he was my only problem.

Turns out, things can always get worse in the DFZ. When a rival spirit attacks my god/boss with the aim of turning the famously safety-optional city into a literal death arena with Nik as his bloody champion, I’m thrust onto the front lines and way out of my comfort zone. When gods fight, mortals don’t usually survive, but I’m not alone this time. Even proud old dragons can learn new tricks, and with everything I love falling to pieces, the father I’ve always run from might just be the only force in the universe stubborn enough to pull us back together.


Read as an audio book.

Book three in the Detroit Free Zone series featuring Opal Yong-ae. This series straddles the fence between being YA and a more mature read. Though even that observation is subjective when compared against other YA books. But, in my humble opinion, this could tumble either way.

I picked this one up because I needed something that was escapism, I didn't have to think about the plot, and I could just zone out to on my commute. This book begins where book number two - Part Time Gods - concludes. Opal and her Father have been in hiding for the past eight weeks with the help of the DFZ, Opal is continuing her Shamanic training, but the Great Youg is not healing as a dragon should. Opal makes a poor decision (surprised anyone?) and our cast of characters is off and running.

I basically enjoyed this latest installment. The supporting characters keep me coming back (Opal...not so much), the plot(s) are engaging enough if not sometimes built on poor decisions by the main character, and the world building is interesting. Detroit - who writes about a future Detroit?!?

What drops this from a four or five star review to a solid three is the repetition. So. Much. Repetition. I don't know if this comes across on the written page, but I know that a nine hour book could - nay should - have been six, if there wasn't so much repetitious dialog. And I'm referencing both internal dialog and vocal. I fully admit to hitting the "skip ahead" button more than a few times.

The other item that dropped my star rating was Opal's flip-flopping emotions. One moment it was "We can kick some Arena God ass!" and the next sentence would be, "We're doomed, this is it, the end of everything we've worked for...". I would have been pulling at my hair with both hands if I hadn't been driving.

This is not a stand-alone book. As I noted above, book three begins right where book two leaves off. There are some interesting and engaging aspects that keep me coming back, and there are a couple of aspects that drive me a bit batty. Recommended with some reservations.

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Recipe Review from 5/18/2020

Well, we fell behind getting the recipes posted last week so this is catch-up.   Enjoy!

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, N. Dakota

The Meal Plan:
Sat (L) leftover catfish stew (S) Glazed meatloaf
Sun (L) general leftovers (S) meatloaf
Mon - meatloaf
Tues (Husband out) me - Olive Garden take-out
Wed (Husband out) me - leftover Olive Garden
Thurs - meatloaf oops, ate the extra on Mon leftover olive garden instead
Fri -leftover Olive Garden

Lunches - hummus sandwiches

Glazed Meatloaf (modified from Cooks Country)

I had a hankering for meatloaf.  I had everything on hand but a pound of ground beef.  Easily added to Friday's grocery shopping list and I was set. 

A couple of modifications to this recipe:  I don't own an 11 cup food processor so everything was done by hand.  I swapped out ketchup for some chili sauce I had in the fridge - I LOVE the flavor of chili sauce so I recommend going with that.  I did add some leftover green pepper in the fridge - perfect place to use it up.

I had my doubts about the whole broiling bit (mostly because I don't have good luck broiling things), but it worked well and I had a lovely thick glazed on top.  When all was said and cooked, this was good.  This hit the spot, I had plenty of leftovers for the week (serves 8 would be a good estimate), and this would be perfect for family or informal company.   Highly recommended.

Serves 6-8.

Glaze
1 cup chili sauce

photo from cookscountry.com

¼ cup packed brown sugar
2 ½ tablespoons cider vinegar
½ teaspoon hot sauce

Meatloaf
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped fine
1/2 green pepper, chopped fine
2 garlic cloves, minced
⅔ cup Saltine crackers, crushed (about 17 crackers)
⅓ cup whole milk
1 pound 90-percent lean ground beef
1 pound ground pork
2 large eggs plus 1 large yolk
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon dried thyme
⅓ cup finely chopped fresh parsley
Salt and pepper                                                                                 


MAKE GLAZE
Whisk all ingredients in saucepan until sugar dissolves. Reserve ¼ cup glaze mixture, then simmer remaining glaze over medium heat until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Cover and keep warm.

COOK VEGETABLES
Line rimmed baking sheet with foil and coat lightly with cooking spray. Heat oil in nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Cook onion until golden, about 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Transfer to large bowl.

PROCESS MEAT (I don't have a food processor, so I smashed saltines in a ziploc bag, then combined everything by hand).
Process saltines and milk in food processor until smooth. Add beef and pork and pulse until well combined, about ten 1-second pulses. Transfer meat mixture to bowl with cooled onion mixture. Add eggs and yolk, mustard, Worcestershire, thyme, parsley, 1 teaspoon salt, and ¾ teaspoon pepper to bowl and mix with hands until combined

BROIL
Adjust oven racks to upper (about 4 inches away from broiler element) and middle positions and heat broiler. Transfer meat mixture to prepared baking sheet and shape into 9- by 5-inch loaf. Broil on upper rack until well browned, about 5 minutes. Brush 2 tablespoons uncooked glaze over top and sides of loaf and then return to oven and broil until glaze begins to brown, about 2 minutes.

BAKE

Transfer meatloaf to middle rack and brush with remaining uncooked glaze. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake until meat loaf registers 160 degrees, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer to carving board, tent with foil, and let rest 20 minutes. Slice and serve, passing cooked glaze at table.

Sweet Cream Biscuits with Strawberries  (Edible Austin magazine, Mar/Apr 2020)

This magazine arrived with our Texas wine club shipment and several recipes popped out at me.  As grocery shopping day was imminent, and all really needed was berries and whip cream, this was a go.  A very tasty recipe, pretty easy to assemble, and made enough for 8-12 servings.  Which, honestly, was a bit much for two of us, even after I served some to my Folks.

One teeny observation, there was no salt in the biscuit recipe and I could tell almost immediately.  I recommend adding a small amount just to help all the flavors behave.  

Recommended!

photo from edibleaustin.com

 large biscuits or 12 small

For the strawberries:

1/2 c. granulated sugar

1/4 c. water

2 T vanilla bean past or 1 whole vanilla bean pod, seeds scraped

1 lb strawberries, trimmed and diced

For the  biscuits:

3 c. all-purpose flour

4 t. sugar

1 T. baking powder

1/4 t. baking soda

1/4 - 1/2 tsp salt (not in original recipe, but I thought after, they really needed a bit of salt)

2 c. plus 1/4 c. heavy whipping cream.

1/4 c. turbinado sugar,

Homemade whipped cream option:

1 1/2 c. heavy whipping cream

Assemble the strawberries:

In a large heat-proof bowl, combine the sugar and water.  Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between until the sugar is completely dissolved.  This can also be done on the stove-top over low heat.  Allow to cool.  Add the vanilla paste (or vanilla bean seeds) and strawberries.  Set aside.

Assemble the biscuits:

Preheat the oven to 450* an line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. 

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder baking soda (and salt).  Whisk together.  Gently stir in 2 cups of the cream into the flour mixture until a soft dough forms.  Be careful not to overmix. 

Drop dough onto prepared baking sheets.  Brush with the remaining 1/4 cup heavy cream and sprinkle evenly with turbinado sugar.  Bake for 10-12 minutews or until the tops are golden brown an sugar has caramelized.  Allow to cool slightly and transfer to a cooling rack.

Assemble the whip cream:

Vigorously whisk the heavy cream (by hand, with a hand mixer, or use a stand mixer) in a large bowl until stiff peaks form.  Whisk in a few tablespoons of the strawberry sugar liquid adjusting to taste.

Assemble the biscuits:

Gently split each biscuit with a fork and top with a dollup of cream and spoonfuls of tablespoons of the strawberries, draining off the liquid.

Recipe notes: Biscuits will keep in an airtight container for up to one day.  To serve the next day, refresh biscuits in a 350* over for 3 minutes.  You can perpare the straberries up to two days in advance, and we recommend using any leftover syrup for cocktails or lemonade.

Broccoli and Cashew Salad (modified from Julia's Album blog)
I had this pinned for a while and decided this would be a good accompaniment alongside grilled brats over the weekend. Something different than potato salad at any rate.   Because I decided to make this at the last minute there was no way I was getting a ripe pear, so I skipped, which was kinda a bummer.  I also don't care for onion in my salad so I skipped.  Cashews get sprinkled on top before serving so I don't end up with soggy cashews.  Very off-putting. 

All-in-all, this was good.  The dressing was runnier than I care for, but the flavors were all there.  I also forgot to add my cashews when I served the leftovers.  Argh!  If you're adding a pear, you'll need to plan in advance so your pear has time to ripen a bit.  Recommended.

Serves 6-8 (I had closer to six servings)

Creamy Salad Dressing:

photo from juliasalbum.com

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream, kefir or Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup honey , softened or warmed up
1/4 teaspoon salt

Salad:
5 cups broccoli florets , chopped into small bites
1 apple , cored and diced
1 pear , cored and diced
1/4 cup red onion , diced
1 cup cashews , toasted or roasted
1 cup dried cranberries

In a large bowl, combine together chopped broccoli, diced apple, diced pear, diced red onion, cashews (toasted or roasted) and dried cranberries.

In a small bowl, stir together mayonnaise, sour cream (or kefir or Greek yogurt), lemon juice, honey, and salt. Note that honey should be soft and runny, warm it up if needed, so that it mixes easily. Whisk the ingredients until well combined and smooth. Add salt if needed.

Add the dressing to the broccoli salad and stir everything together.
Top with cashews before serving.

Recipe Review from 5/11/2020

I love leftovers.  I love being able to make a pot of something on the weekend or a easy weeknight, and it's ready in the fridge for the rest of the week.   There's an immensely satisfying feeling of being able to come home from work, plop the bags down, and either have dinner on the table (compliments of the Husband) or dinner can be on the table in 15 minutes.  Leftovers are a wonderful thing.  

Just two notable recipes for this past week.  The salmon packets are a long standing go-to.  I'll have to see if I've posted the recipe in a past year.

Tucson Botanical Gardens photo from scifiwithpaprika (C) 2020

The Meal Plan:
Sat (L) Out (S) Lentil and Chorizo Stew
Sun (L) leftover stew (S) catfish court bouillon
Mon - leftover catfish stew
Tues - leftover lentil stew
Wed - leftover catfish stew
Thurs - salmon packets (repeat)
Fri - leftovers

Lunches - hummus and cheese sandwiches (me) lox on bagles (him)



Slow-Cooker Lentil and Chorizo Stew (modified from Cooks Country)
A great recipe that is so incredibly easy - chop, plop, walk away.  This had a little zing! to it, so if you aren't compatible with heat, maybe skip the cayenne.  One cup of lentils doesn't look like it's going to be nearly enough, but trust the quantities, it was perfect.  This would be good with corn bread, rustic bread, or even naan.  Recommended!

Serves 4-6

photo from cookscountry.com

4 cups chicken broth
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
8 ounces Spanish-style chorizo sausage, sliced ¼ inch thick
1 cup dried brown lentils, picked over and rinsed
1 onion, chopped fine
2 carrots, peeled and chopped fine
½ cup dry white wine
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 sprigs fresh thyme  (I used 1 tsp dried thyme)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
½ teaspoon table salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 bay leaf

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cook until lentils are tender, 5 to 6 hours on high or 7 to 8 hours on low. Discard thyme sprigs and bay leaf. Serve.

Cooks Country Recipe Tip: For the best results, use a dry-cured Spanish-style chorizo in this recipe. If Spanish-style chorizo is unavailable, you can substitute Portuguese linguiça sausage.



Catfish Court Bouillon (modified from Kevin Belton's New Orleans Celebrations)
I liked the simplicity of this.  At first glance this seems like a complicated recipe with a huge ingredient dish, but it's really not complicated.   While the bacon was cooking, I prepped the onion, peppers, celery and garlic.  While those were browning I prepped the parsley, jalepeno and tomatoes.  Into the pot! Add everything else, bring to a boil and simmer.   Time to clean up and make the rice!   Catfish goes in, set the table, and wa-la!  Dinner is served and the kitchen is basically clean.

The flavors in this are wonderful - little bit of heat (and I do mean just a little), sweetness from the Trinity, catfish isn't overwhelmed by everything else, and the nutty rice (I used brown rice).   Leftovers were just as tasty as day of, maybe even a bit better after the flavors married.

Recommended.

Serves about 6 with rice (I had three meals for two)

4 strips of bacon, chopped
2 cups chopped onion
2 cups chopped green bell peppers
1 cups diced celery
2 tbsp minced garlic
1/2 cup chopped parsely
1 tsp dried thyme
1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
2 cups diced tomatoes
2 tbsp "Dry Roux Flour"  (flour that has been 'cooked' or 'baked' a head of time to a lovely golden brown or even dark brown color)
4 cups seafood or chicken broth 
2 bay leaves
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp hot sauce
2 lbs catfish fillets, cut into 1-2" cubes
4 cups cooked long-grain white rice
1 cup sliced green onion (I did 4 scallions)

My notes - I baked/cooked the 2 tbsp flour earlier in the day on the stove.  Kevin does have recipe where you bake something like 8 cups of flour for part of a day in the oven, but I only wanted enough for this recipe. 

In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, brown bacon about 5 minutes.  Remove the bacon and drain on a paper towel.   Reserve 1 tbsp of the bacon grease.

Add the onions, bell peppers, and celery to the Dutch oven and saute until browned.  Reduce the eat and add the garlic, parsley, thyme, jalapeno, and tomatoes.  Stir to incorporate and add the Dry Roux Flour and stock.  Stir the mixture and add the bay leaf, Creole seasoning, salt, pepper and hot sauce.  Cover, bring to a boil, and cook at a simmer for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat and add the catfish.  Cover and let stand for about 10 minutes. 

Serve with the rice. 

Recipe review from 5/4/2020

Meal plan went out the window this past week when the Husband had to do some remote field work and was gone two nights.  With just me bumping around the house, I didn't need to make everything that had been planned.     I did get to enjoy some comfort food favorite's though - fried egg sandwich on soft bread and grilled cheese sandwiches.  Yummy. 

Glacier, St.Mary's Lake   scifiwithparika (C) 2020

The Meal Plan
Sat (L) Take Out (S) take n bake pizza
Sun (L) molettes (S) pasty with veggie
Mon - leftover molettes
Tues (Husband gone for work) leftover molettes  fried egg sandwich
Wed (Husband gone for work)  cupboard scrounge/grilled cheese sandwiches
Thurs - Lentil and Chorizo Soup  leftover molettes

Fri - pasty with veggie

Lunches - hummus sandwiches and soup

Easy Waffles (Martha Stewart)
The picture promoting the recipe online, and the picture I saved from pinterest, are not the same waffle.   From my Google search, I thought I had picked a basic waffle recipe that would work in my Belgian waffle maker.  After assembling , I would say that this recipe is better for the small waffle irons (like the picture below).

Other than waffle iron appropriateness, these were tasty enough.  I did add a splash of almond extract because I love the subtle flavor it lends.   *I* probably won't make this recipe again - only becuase my Belgian waffle iron wasn't the right implement. 

photo from marthastewart.com

1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
2 large eggs
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
Maple syrup and butter, as desired, for serving


Preheat waffle iron according to manufacturer's instructions. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk milk and eggs; pour over flour mixture, and whisk gently to combine (don't overmix). Gently whisk in butter.

Following manufacturer's instructions, cook waffles until deep brown and crisp. (For a standard waffle iron, pour a generous 1/2 cup of batter into center, spreading to within 1/2 inch of edges, and close; waffle will cook in 2 to 3 minutes.) Serve warm, with maple syrup and butter, as desired.

 Molettes (Milk Street TV show)

Because I'm finishing this posting nearly a week late, and I don't have my cookbook sitting in front of me, this is going to be a recipe call out.   I have the 2020 version with all three seasons of Milk Street TV show represented.   I would almost advocate for buying the seasons separately if possible, because my binding has already broke and ripped due to the size and weight of this lovely cook book.

From this I made "Molette's", from Oaxaca if memory serves.   As the recipe is presented, it's a black bean puree (using canned black beans for convenience, if you wish), that is spread on a nice crusty slice of artisinal bread that's been drizzled with olive oil and toasted.  This is topped with pico de gallo, mozzarella cheese, and avocado.

I modified only a tiny bit and used hoagie buns that I toasted, so a bit more sandwich like and less "bruchetta".  Simply put, these were pretty awesome.  I also got something like three - four meals out of one recipe (two meals for two of us, two meals with just myself).    I also made my own black beans rather than using canned.  Canned would be fine and a definite time saver.    Recommended!

Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch (Peter Grant #2)

Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Jacket Blurb:  The song. That’s what London constable and sorcerer’s apprentice Peter Grant first notices when he examines the corpse of Cyrus Wilkins, part-time jazz drummer and full-time accountant, who dropped dead of a heart attack while playing a gig at Soho’s 606 Club. The notes of the old jazz standard are rising from the body—a sure sign that something about the man’s death was not at all natural but instead supernatural.

Body and soul. They’re also what Peter will risk as he investigates a pattern of similar deaths in and around Soho. With the help of his superior officer, Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, the last registered wizard in England, and the assistance of beautiful jazz aficionado Simone Fitzwilliam, Peter will uncover a deadly magical menace—one that leads right to his own doorstep and to the squandered promise of a young jazz musician: a talented trumpet player named Richard “Lord” Grant—otherwise known as Peter’s dear old dad.

Read as an audio book. Will be June 2020's scifi book group selection. I jumped the gun a little bit...

I enjoyed this selection quite a bit - I mean, who wouldn't? There were Jazz Vampires. A very cool concept executed in a delightful way.

This does pick up where Midnight Riot left off: Leslie is sequestered with her family and on leave while the doctors try and fix her face and throat, Nightengale is slowly recovering from being shot in the shoulder, and we learn more about the enigmatic Molly and Peter's father, "Lord Grant". Some new characters make an appearance - the lovely Simone and, ah the police detective whose name I completely forgot. I hope we'll see the good detective in future books.

I was engaged with the plot and sub-plots from the moment I hit "play" to the very end. This just rolled right along and took me with. There are several quite enjoyable plot twists, I loved the humor, and the history aspect in this one really fleshed out the world building.

My one teeny complaint with the book was the ending(s). The first big plot reveal hit rather abruptly, a bit out of left field (was pretty awesome), but was kinda like...okay..., then the rest got a bit garbled from there. Still quite enjoyable, but parts felt disconnected from the overall story.

Bottom line - I will be reading the next one in the series.

Recommended if you like urban fantasy with a twist of jazz.



View all my reviews

Recipe Review from 4/26/2020

Happy May!

Gardens are looking good this past week.  I've been able to get into most beds and do some significant weeding.  My peony bed is going to need an overhaul, just too much grass got in and everything is going to have to be dug out.   So it goes  Spring project with a very tiny window.  

from a couple years ago    photo by scifiwithpaprika(C)2016

Several good recipes last week, and an attempt at making my own pie crust. 


The Meal Plan
Sat (L) Leftovers (S) Hoisin-Glazed Pork Ribs
Sun (L) Chicken Tagine (S)  Leftover pork ribs
Mon - leftover chicken
Tues (donate blood) leftover ribs
Wed - leftover chicken
Thurs -pasty? fried egg sandwich and fruit (for one)
Fri - pasty/leftover chicken

Lunches - quiche and fruit

Two more new recipes from the book this past week. I did forget to take pictures, not my forte - picture taking right when we're sitting down to eat is not a priority.

Butter-Toasted Steel Cut Oats with Apples        Serves 6
Premise is you toast some butter till brown and nutty, stir in the oats and spices and stir till fragrant, add the water and cook.  I did make this recipe in the morning and I will say this about the cookbook - the recipes come together in the time given. This was 35 minutes start to finish and most of it hands off.

This does turn out creamy right out of the pot. I/we were both a little surprised at the lack of flavor in this, it was very muted and the apples flavor hardly came through at all. Could have been my apples - they were from the co-op. Would I make this again? Yes, except I would perhaps bump up the apples and add some cinnamon. I did have leftovers and I baked to re-heat.

Chicken Tagine with Squash and Spinach         Serves 4-6
Noting, I got 4 meals for 2 people so 8 servings with Israeli couscous. I used some frozen squash from last years garden bounty, which I had thawed ahead of time. In hindsight, I perhaps should have just left frozen, because my squash rather...disintegrated. Which was fine, I guess, as it just thickened the overall mixture. I served with Israeli couscous because I LOVE Israeli couscous.

This is nicely seasoned, a balanced combination of brothy and stew-like, and not heavy

Quiche Lorraine (modified from Eating Well, April 2020)
I made this for lunches for the week and I modified to make it vegetarian, which probably means it's not "quiche lorraine" anymore. I subbed half a diced green pepper for the bacon (I had the green pepper in the fridge), I subbed a shallot for the onion (again, in the fridge), and I used Swiss instead for Gruyere because it was less expensive.

What more can I add? It's a quiche. I enjoy quiche - great for breakfast, lunch or dinners. Not sure I would make this recipe again, I prefer the Moosewood version a bit more.

photo from eatingwell.com

1 (9 inch) prepared whole-wheat pie crust
4 ounces thick-cut bacon (about 2 slices), cut into 1/2-inch pieces
I subbed 1/2 green pepper, diced
1 cup thinly sliced onion  (I used 1 shallot)
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 ½ cups whole milk
¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground pepper
1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese (I used Swiss Cheese)


Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Pierce bottom and sides of pie crust with a fork. Bake for 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.

Meanwhile, cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove to a clean plate with a slotted spoon.   [Heat skillet over medium-high heat.] Add onion to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Scrape the onion into the crust.

Whisk eggs, milk, nutmeg, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Sprinkle the bacon and half the Gruyère over the onion, then pour the egg mixture over the top. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Set the pan on a baking sheet.

Bake the quiche until the top is golden brown and the filling is set, about 40 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving.


Homemade Pie Crust (Gimme Some Oven)
I have decided to learn how to make my own pie crust. "Everyone" says it's super easy, my sister can do it...I should be able to do it. My one caveat - I would prefer no shortening. Butter or lard only. Since I don't have lard on hand, butter it is.

So we started with this recipe. First observation: the flour to butter ratio doesn't seem right. When I weighed my flour according to the direction, I had one cup. One cup of flour to one half cup butter. Hm.  I went with measuring.  Second observation, this baked up more like a puff pastry or a croissant, a very light crust, heavy on the butter flavor.  I have mixed thoughts on that.  Third observation, it did re-heat okay in the microwave at work.   Crust was a little rubbery, but not too bad.   A function of the microwave I suspect.

So while not what I would consider a success, not a failure either.  I'll be looking for a different recipe. 

photo from Gimme Some Oven

1 1/4 cups (150 grams) all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons granulated sugar (optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (115 grams) cold unsalted butter*, diced into 1/4-inch cubes
1/4 cup ice water

Mix the dry ingredients: Combine the flour, sugar (optional) and salt in a large mixing bowl or a food processor. Whisk or pulse briefly until combined.

Cut the butter into the dry ingredients: Sprinkle the diced butter evenly over the dry ingredient mixture. If working by hand, use a pastry cutter or two forks to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the butter is evenly dispersed into pea-sized (or smaller) bits. If using a food processor, briefly pulse the butter and dry ingredients together 5 to 7 times until the butter is evenly dispersed into pea-sized (or smaller) bits, then transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl.

Add water: Sprinkle the dough evenly with the ice water. Use a spatula to quickly mix the water into the dough until it is evenly combined, and the dough begins to form moist clumps. (If the dough is not sticking together, you can add 1 or 2 more tablespoons of water to help it clump.) Try not to overmix the dough.

Form a dough ball: Using your hands, quickly pack the dough into a ball (like you’re packing a snowball).

Then flatten the ball into a 3/4-inch thick disk.

Wrap and chill the dough: Wrap the dough disk tightly in plastic wrap, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 3 days, until ready to roll out and use.