Mediterranean Chicken

Happy Monday friends.  Today was my first day back to work after a week off.  The week off was much needed.  I did a lot of thinking and soul searching.  I began to read, again, from the beginning.  Brene Brown's Daring Greatly. 

I think that this time around I might actually finish it.  I came to realize that a lot of my problems that I had this past month was from me withdrawing myself from human connection.  I finally today just summoned up my courage and asked for what I needed.  Only time will tell if things will improve the way that I want them to, but I feel better for putting myself out there.

Ten things to do!

Ten things I’m going to do this weekend in order to feel like a real human being again.

1. Paint my toe nails
2. Finish a book
3. Visit the library 
4. Bake cookies 
5. Bake a yogurt cake and serve with fresh strawberries 
6. Watch back episodes of Grey's Anatomy
7. Start a knitting project
8. Take down velentine's decorations
9. Put up birthday month decorations
10. Remember that tomorrow is the first day of the best month of the year.  

2013 in review

I know that 2013 is not yet at a close, but it is getting quite close.  As with every year I did not accomplish everything that I had planned, but life is more than things we plan on a list.  And while I did not get to see the Mutter Museum I did get to visit New Orleans.  I did not cook as much, but I earned a master's degree in education and started a teaching job.

Another Random Book List

This is something I've seen on FaceBook lately. 

15 Books:"Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen books you've read that will always stick with you, for whatever reasons. This isn't your top 15 canon or even books you'd necessarily recommend, just books that have made their mark on you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes."

I wonder how truthful people can be when I see lists with Tolkien and Dante on them.  Not that these books are not wonderful, but can a person really be honest about something like this.  If they can be honest does the fact that the answers are being put on display for the world or at least that person's world alter the answers in any way.  Unfortunately, this is not something that can be answered in any objectionable way.  So alas I will present to you my friends my list of books.

1. Daughters of the Grail by Elizabeth Chadwick.  This book has stuck with my for many reasons.  It was purchased by my grandmother for me to read while we were on vacation in Reno visiting my cousin.  I read it while I was still young and impressionable (before high school). I believe this book led me to love fantasy.  I thank this book for allowing my to love Tolkien.
   
2. Girl Interrupted by Suzanna Kayson.  This book is on this list not for it's own merits, because I read it long after I had abandoned my teenage drama queen self, but for the fact that this is the only book that I have enjoyed the movie more than the book.  I found the book to be too fragmented between flashbacks and the present, I could not follow in the book format.  This is an easy thing for filmmakers to make clear to the audience.
   
3. The Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys.  To tell you the truth I do not remember much about this book now.  I read it thirteen years ago, but I do remember that this is the first book that I had read and had BIG thoughts about.  During the discussion we had in my English class I had wonderful, enlightened things to say about this book.  It was the first time I realized that I wasn't stupid.  That I was actually someone who had opinions and could disseminate information.  This was a turning point in my education.
   
4. The Bone Lady by Mary H. Manhein.  Many years ago, after I had my educational turning point, I wanted to become a doctor.  A medical doctor.  During this time in my life I read this book.  It was my first introduction to Forensic Anthropology.  And while I fully admit that I decided to major in Anthropology after watching the show "Bones" this book is the reason I was even interested in the show in the first place.  
   
5. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Raoch.  This list would not be complete without my favorite book.  The book that my friends when I recommend it to them never really look at me the same way again (maybe that's why I've stopped recommending it).  This book I read near the same time as the bone lady and further cemented the fact that I am a bit morbid.  That I am fascinated with the process of death.  On a side note I'm still holding out hope for a freeze-dried funeral and a tree to fertilize when I'm dead, but I don't think my husband would be able to carry out my wishes.  
   

Wow, this is hard.  I really cannot think of more books.  I could get a little meta an start extolling my love of Tolkien (which I do!), or how much Harry Potter changed me (while I do love me some Potters I don't feel their place on this list).  I could tell a lovely story about Dante's Inferno and how my husband was enjoying the book until he discovered that it rhymed.  I could put Lolita on this list and tell how horrified I was after I read it that it is the one book in my entire life I've thrown away in the garbage, hidden in a bag so no one would find it. This would also be the case with the last Twilight book, where I stopped reading it when Jacob imprinted on the baby and  had to wait a whole year to calm down before I could continue.  I could also tell a story about Black Beauty and how it was the book that led me to discover how books can transport you to another place.  A place where nothing from your real life intrudes. To this day I can always tell how stressed out I am in life by the amount of books I devour. I guess everyone has a coping mechanism and my just includes a giant stack of books.  In general, books change my life.  From the bodice rippers that are easily devourable to food memoirs I do not want to consider a life without books.  Here is my newest haul from the Library.  I have already finished the three Hunger Games books and I only picked the books up on Saturday.  

Fall Reading List

Today is the first day since early September that I feel like I can breath.  I feel like I'm able to get back into my own skin.  Today, I cleaned my pantry, kitchen, and dinning room.

Today

Today...

Books

There is so many materials to be made and one of them is a collection of at least 130... yes that's One hundred and thirty... photographs from around the world.  I was able to get a good deal on this book from Amazon and my friend Melissa and I are going to cut it up for our geography materials!

I feel a little bad about cutting up such a beautiful book, but it's for a good cause. 

 And I'm excited to read the Happiness Project!

Rumblings and ramblings about...

There are rumblings in my head.  

When there is an absence of money in my life that is when I want to buy things the most. 

Interesting phenomena. 

I also have to keep in mind that we are going to be moving back to the West Coast at the end of next July. 

 I do not want to have tons of items to pack up and move the 3,000 miles home.  

 My remedy is to not put myself further into debt, but to make elaborate wish lists.  

Of course most of this list will be books.  I love books and I miss my library, especially the cook books.

The Smitten Kitchen 

Image

Books -n- stuff

I'm on the look out for these books:

Sara and the Door

Summer Reading

So, as many of you know (since I keep talking about it) that I'm moving and getting rid of things.  Here are all the books I'm offering to anyone who wants them.  But there are books I'm still not willing to part with before I read them.  Here is the one I starting reading last night.

Book Wish/Must Have List

Okay, so I know that you are not tired of my lists of things.  Right?

I know your not, because I'm not!

Here is my new book list:

And I never say no to someone giving me a book.  (totally not a hint).

Also I think I'm giving up my no buying book New Years resolution.
I think I've learned my lesson.  But also we are going to be very poor when I start school in the Fall and will not be able to buy any books. So, for this summer I'm going to get a few that I've been wanting for some time.

For Pleasure:

The Hunger Games

Catching Fire

Mockingjay

If I stay

A Good Day

I'm finally done with my class.  I do not generally stress over classes, but this one (the first class in two years) threw me for a loop this past month.  

But not today.

Today, was the last day of class.  I'm free.

I can start planning for our big move.  So much to do, so little time.  

Today, I walked around down town for an hour.  

Wondered into a used book store and found one of the books I need for school for only $3.00.  What a steal.  I picked up a couple more Montessori books while I was there and they were inexpensive.

After that I walked up Seven flights of stairs.  Nothing like stairs to make you feel really out of shape.

And to round out the day, I finally had enough energy to clean the house while listening to Joy the Baker Podcast

I haven't done this for awhile.  I've been very busy.  

So strange as it sounds.  This makes me very happy!

Today, the kitties and I listened to...

Episode 45: Like Nobody's Blaziness

Episode  46: Tiers of Tears

50 WOMEN GAME CHANGERS #7 Madhur Jaffrey: The Best Eggplant Ever

Birthday Recap

I am truly blessed.

Life has granted me some great friends and family.  

I just wanted to thank everyone for all the birthday wishes.

And...

Presents.

From my dear friend M who moved far away I received this fabulous book on Corset making.  

50 WOMEN GAME CHANGERS #6 Marcella Hazan: Fettuccine al Limone

It's time to move on to some Italian and Marcella Hazan.

Marcella is another fabulous cookbook author that until the advent of Gourmet's 50-Women Game Changers article I had never heard of.

As per my new years resolution I not purchasing books.  So, I took myself down to the local library and picked up a couple of books.

The first is for some light reading.

The second is a cookbook.

Marcella's Italian Kitchen

For dinner last night Alex and I made pasta for Marcella's

Fettuccine al Limone

 

 pg. 96

Pasta

Ingredients:

• 3 large eggs
• about 2 cups of flour

Directions:

• Pour the flour onto a work surface.
• Shape it into a mound, scooping out a deep hollow in its center.
• Break the eggs in the hollow.

• Beat the eggs lightly with a fork as though you were making an omelet.
• Draw some of the flour over the eggs, mixing it, a little at a time, until the eggs are no longer runny.
• Draw the sides of the mound together, pushing to one side any flour you think may not use.
• Work the mixture of flour and eggs with your fingers and the palms of your hands until it is well amalgamated.
• If it is still too moist, work in more flour as needed.
• Put the egg flour mass to one side and scrape the work surface clean of all loose or caked bits of flour and of any crumbs of dough.
• Wash your hands and dry them.
• Knead the dough for at least 8 minutes.

• Roll the ball of dough through the pasta machine.
• Let rest for 10 minutes.

• Use the broad cutters on the machine to make fettuccine.
• Let dry.

Fettuccine al Limone

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup of heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• The grated peel, but none of the white pith beneath, of 4 lemons
• Fettuccine
• 1/2 cup freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano

Directions:

• Choose a skillet or saute pan large enough to accommodate the cooked fettuccine later.
• Put in the butter and cream and turn on the heat to high.
• When the cream begins to boil, add the lemon juice and stir thoroughly.
• Add the grated lemon peel.
• Continue stirring while you reduce the cream to half its original volume.
• Do not reduce it completely because that fettuccine will be tossed with it later in the pan and absorb it all.
• Turn off the heat.
• Drop the pasta into a pot of abundant boiling salted water.
• When cooked, but still quite firm to the bite, drain, transfer to the pan with the lemon sauce, turn on the heat to medium, and toss the fettuccine thoroughly in the sauce for 15 to 20 seconds.
• Transfer all the pasta and sauce from the pan to a warm serving bowl.
• Add the grated cheese, toss two or three time, then serve at once with additional grated cheese on the side.  

50 WOMEN GAME CHANGERS #5 MFK Fisher: Tarte a la Tomate

MFK Fisher.

She is a super famous cook and author.  Long before I started on this little journey down Gourmet magazines 50-women game changers, I read The Gastronomical Me.  Currently, I'm reading another of her fabulous books An Alphabet for Gourmets.

Up next on my reading list is her To Begin Again.  I just love reading her prose.  She transports me to a time where I was not alive.  A time when not even my mother was alive, but for some reason I feel nostalgic for this time in American history.

For this weeks 50-women recipe I'm making 

Tarte a la Tomate
From The Cooking of Provincial Franese



pg 50

Pate Brisee

Ingredients:

• 6 tablespoons chilled butter, cut into 1/4 inch bits
• 2 tablespoons chilled vegetable shortening
• 1 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 to 5 tablespoons ice water

 

 Directions:

• In a large, chilled mixing bowl, combine butter, vegetable shortening, flour, and salt
• Working quickly, use your fingertips to rub the flour and fat together until they blend and look like flakes of coarse meal.
• Pour 3 tablespoons of ice water over the mixture all at once, toss together lightly and gather the dough into a ball.
• If the dough seems crumbly, add up to 2 tablespoons more ice water by drops.
• Dust the pastry with a little flour and wrap it in wax paper.

• Refrigerate it for at least 3 hours or until it is firm.
• Remove the pasty from the refrigerator 5 minutes before rolling it.
• If it seems resistant and hard, tap it all over with a rolling pin.
• Place the ball on a floured board or table and, with the heel of one hand, press it into a flat circle about 1 inch thick.

• Dust a little flour over and under it and roll it out - from the center to within an inch of the far edge.
• Lift the dough and turn clockwise, about the space of two hours on a clock, roll again from center to the far edge.
• Repeat - lifting, turning, rolling - until the circle is about 1/8 inch thick and 11 or 12 inches across
• If the pastry sticks to the board or table, lift it gently with a metal spatula and sprinkle a little flour under it.

• Butter the bottom and sides of a 8 to 9-inch false-bottomed quiche or cake pan on more than 1 & 1/4 inch deep.
• Roll the pastry over the pin and unroll it over the pan, or drape over the rolling pin. 

• Lift it up and unfold it over the pan.

• Gently press the pastry into the bottom and around the sides of the pan, being careful not to stretch it.
• Roll the pin over the rim of the pan, pressing down hard to trim off the excess pastry.
• With a fork, prick the bottom of the pastry all over, trying not to pierce all the way through.

• Chill for 1 hour 
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees
• To keep the bottom of the pastry from puffing up, spread a sheet of buttered aluminum foil across the pan and press it gently into the edges to support the sides of the pastry as it bakes. (I didn't have any aluminum foil and I used wax paper and pinto beans to keep my dough in place)

• Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 10 minutes, then remove the foil.
• Prick the pastry again, then return it to the oven for 3 minutes or until it starts to shrink from the sides of the pan and begins to brown.
• Remove it from the oven and set it on a wire cake rack to cool.

Tarte a la Tomate

Ingredients:

• 1 pate brisee pastry shell
• 1 pound Gruyere cheese, cut in thin slices
• 2 or 3 large tomatoes, cut in 1/2-inch slices
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried basil 
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons melted butter

 

 Directions:

• Sprinkle the tomato slices generously with salt, and place them on a cake rack to drain for about 1/2 hour

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees 
• Arrange the cheese slices, slightly overlapping, in the bottom of the pastry shell. 

• Place the drained tomato slices side by side on top.

• Sprinkle with a few grindings of black pepper, the basil, and the grated Parmesan cheese.

• Dribble the melted butter over the tomatoes and bake in the upper third of the oven for 25 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the top of the pie is lightly browned.
• Served hot or warm

50 WOMEN GAME CHANGERS #4 Martha Stewart: Chocolate Mousse

Today I listened to Joy the Baker Podcast.

Episode 30:  Take it Easy

Episode 31: Beanbag

While making a 50 women game changers in food recipe for number 4 on the list.

Martha Stewart.

Currently, I'm reading her unauthorized biography Just Desserts.

I don't really have an opinion about her "domestic empire", but I do like to look at her ideas.

Like it or not Martha Stewart is here to stay.  She is part of our American culture for better or worse.

Now from her cookbook, "The Martha Stewart Cookbook: Collected Recipes for Every Day", I have made...

Chocolate Mousse I (pg 406)

Ingredients:

• 6 ounces semisweet chocolate
• 1/4 pound unsalted butter
• 3 eggs separated
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 3/4 heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

• Melt chocolate with butter (this is where a double boiler would come in handy)

• Transfer to a mixing bowl and set aside to cool

• When chocolate mixture has reached room temperature, add the egg yolks and stir well
• Beat the egg whites to soft peaks.
• Beating continuously, add the sugar until stiff peaks are formed 

• Whisk a small portion of egg white into the chocolate mixture to lighten it.
• Gently fold in the remaining egg white

• Whip the cream with the vanilla until stiff 
• Fold it into the chocolate mixture carefully 

• Spoon mixture into individual containers (martini glasses?  Wine glasses?  Parfait dishes?)
• Chill