Friday 4/21: What are you reading?

[charlatti]

What are you reading this week? 

QOTW: Tell us about your favorite food, or something delicious you ate recently. Bonus points for recipes.

[travella]

I finished We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter and Perfect Little World by Kevin Wilson. I feel like both books lacked in character development so I found both merely ok. I just started Fractured by Catherine McKenzie last night. This is the third time I've checked it out. I've put it aside for other books too many times... It's time to read it.



Qotw: I eat this almost every week. I think I almost eat it too often though because it's getting old. thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/roasted-vegetable-minestrone/

[cole]

This week I finished Gulag Voices by Anne Applebaum and Cruel Crown by Victoria Aveyard. Last night I started Pro: Reclaiming Abortion Rights by Katha Pollitt.

QOTW: it's not my all time favorite, but since the weather is starting to get nice, I love cooking out on the grill for dinner and having grilled chicken or steak, corn on the cob, and asparagus.

[snshne322]

I'm reading And I Darken. I'm not loving it at about 15% in. I need to give it more than 15 minutes at a time to really judge though. I don't like any of the characters and I feel like there's so much backstory so far and not enough of what the blub tells us it's about.

I'm listening to Charley Davidson #10. I'm really enjoying this series.

QOTW: My favorite food is french fries. I'm a simple creature.

[rainbowchip]

I'm reading Hard Eight (#8 of the Stephanie Plum series). I find these books kind of dumb but I cannot stop because a lot of my friends have recommended them.

QOTW: I could eat this everyday. www.firsthomelovelife.com/2014/07/bacon-mushroom-chicken-pasta.html

[ufcasey]

Read last week
Taking Turns by J.A. Huss - romance; 3 stars; I was liking this up until chapter 37 and then it got kind of weird
Kisscut (#2 in series) by Karin Slaughter - mystery/thriller; 3 stars; these books are just too disturbing and graphic for me. I'm not reading any more from her.
Shield of Thunder (#2 in series) by David Gemmel - historical fiction; 4.5 stars; I liked this second book more than the first! Love when that happens!
Lonen's War by Jeffe Kennedy - PNR; 2.5 stars; didn't realize it was a series and the plot didn't move forward enough to make me interested in reading any more of it

Did Not Finish
Demon From the Dark by Kresley Cole - PNR; 1 star; I like her YA series Arcania Chronicles, but this is her second PNR book I have read and both I hated, so no more of those from her!

Currently reading
Beyond Innocence (#6 in series) by Kit Rocha - romance; these books are soooo smutty but I still highly enjoy them because they also have enough plot. Usually.
Devil in Spring (#3 in series) by Lisa Kleypas - historical romance; still very early on, but I like it so far

QOTW
I think cheese should be it's own required food group. Must have 2 servings a day. Also, I do not cook. Willingly anyways.

[ufcasey]

Apr 21, 2017 12:57:17 GMT -5 cole said:

This week I finished Gulag Voices by Anne Applebaum and Cruel Crown by Victoria Aveyard. Last night I started Pro: Reclaiming Abortion Rights by Katha Pollitt.

QOTW: it's not my all time favorite, but since the weather is starting to get nice, I love cooking out on the grill for dinner and having grilled chicken or steak, corn on the cob, and asparagus.

I requested that my library get this book, but so far no dice. I'm interested in seeing how much you like it or not. It may sway me to buy it instead of patiently waiting for my library. Or not.

[monkeyfeet]

I just finished News of the Workd and seem to be in the minority thinking it was just ok. Starting Things Fall Apart for my IRL book club.

I love some good clam chowder!

[mrspez07]

I set aside the Romanov Sisters and picked up The Art of Crash Landing by Melissa DiCarlo. So far I like it, it's one of those narratives you aren't really sure how it's going to play out.

QOTW: garlic bread. I don't eat it nearly often enough though.
I had a cheesy potato dish a neighbor brought for Easter that was super yummy that I could have eaten way more of that day and for leftovers.

[Vespasia]

Currently reading the Nix. It's fine but I'm considering dumping it for something else. The beginning was great but it's been stuck on the main character's childhood for a while now and I just don't give a damn. 

QOTW: I made this last weekend and it was fantasic www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/charred-caprese-sandwich  I had made it before so this time I didn't add in all the vinegar (too strong) and just mixed the tomatoes, mozzarella, shallots, and herbs all together before putting it on the bread. Much easier. Next time I would drain that mixture a bit because the tomatoes release a lot of juices. 

[abs]

Currently re-reading A Court of Mist and Fury. Still love it.

QOTW: Hm. I love food. I'm constantly looking forward to my next meal. I guess the best thing I have eaten recently was bacon wrapped scallops and a filet with peppercorn sauce on our last date night.

[sassypants]

I'm between library holds so I just finished Alice In Wonderland and have moved on to Through the Looking Glass.

QOTW: It's hard to narrow down! I like to cook, though, so I'm always trying new stuff. I just bought an Instant Pot and I'm not sure what to make it it that won't feed an army. There's only two of us! Hmm. Oh! I make this recipe out of my I Love Trader Joe's Cookbook called The Best Pasta Kevin Ever Had and it's delicious although rather unhealthy. It's ziti with a vermouth cream sauce and andouille sausage, bacon, collards, and burrata or ricotta. Sinfully delicious!

[charlatti]

I'm reading Indelible by Adelia Saunders. Someone here recommended it and thank you to whoever that was -- it's really good so far and finally jolted me out of my book slump.

Qotw: We're planning to go to our favorite pho place tomorrow. It's so, so good. Unrelatedly, I make pretty darn good bread. I often do the no-knead method: 1/2 tsp yeast, 1tsp salt, 1 1/2 c water, 3-4 c flour. Mix it all up to a shaggy dough, let it hang out overnight. Lightly knead in enough flour to make it not sticky, let it rise a few more hours. Bake in a foil covered Dutch oven at 450 for 30 minutes then uncovered for another 15-20 minutes.

[minzy]

I read A Court of Thorn and Roses this week and have moved on to A Court of Mist and Fury. I don't usually read this kind of book but am entertained.

I barely cook but can make scallops, which are one of my favorite foods.

[cole]

ufcasey I'll definitely let you know my thoughts after I finish!

[Nonny]

I finished The Underground Railroad this past week. It was good, but I can see why it caused such a mixed response from people, and I was totally expected it to be more within the sci-fi realm.  I'm currently fighting the urge to stop reading The Mistress of the Vatican, because I'm not particularly enjoy it (it's a major slog and frankly the nonsense inside of the Catholic church is more appalling than it is interesting).  But it's a book club book, and the last time this person picked a book she also picked something shitty that I didn't finish, so I don't really want to do that again.  (Although last time it was short stories and I read >50% of them so I could still participate in the discussion.)

QOTW:  My favorite thing to eat is cheese, but since you asked for recipes, I feel the fanciest when I make pork schnitzel with Emmental cheese baked spaetzle* and homemade applesauce**.  The schnitzel is time consuming, but that blog has excellent instructions on timing how long to cook them.

*Make the spaetzle as directed, add to a greased casserole dish, and butter it with a couple tablespoons of butter, shred 7-8 oz of Emmental or Swiss and mix the shredded cheese with the spaetzle; bake covered at 350 for about 25-30 minutes until the cheese is nice and melty - this traditionally has caramelized onions in it, but why would I ruin tasty cheesy pasta with onions?

**I don't have a precise recipe for this, I search for good applesauce apples (because I can never remember which ones to buy), and then throw an assorted (2-3) variety of peeled and chopped apples in a pan with a little water, and about tablespoon each of lemon juice and cinnamon, and cook until it's soft and saucy.  I leave mine chunky, but will adjust with more cinnamon and vanilla sugar if the apples weren't sweet enough.

And this is my husband's favorite soup recipe that I make - Sausage, Potato, and Spinach Soup - I use spicy ground Italian sausage that doesn't need to be removed from a casing (because who wants to de-case sausage?), double the garlic, and double the potatoes (2lbs), which lets me use a full 3 cans of chicken broth instead of having a random ~6 oz of broth leftover.  I find that I don't need to adjust the other seasonings at all when I make the aforementioned changes, but I do also use the full amount of optional red pepper flakes, so if you don't like things spicy you might need to tweak the other seasonings. 

[mrspez07]

Apr 21, 2017 14:09:15 GMT -5 Vespasia said:

Currently reading the Nix. It's fine but I'm considering dumping it for something else. The beginning was great but it's been stuck on the main character's childhood for a while now and I just don't give a damn. 
 

That book could have used an editor, but if you stick it out, I thought the last 1/3 or so was really good and almost made up for the wordiness in the section you are in.

[Vespasia]

Apr 21, 2017 20:56:21 GMT -5 mrspez07 said:

That book could have used an editor, but if you stick it out, I thought the last 1/3 or so was really good and almost made up for the wordiness in the section you are in.

My library loan expires in 2 days and there's a wait list but I'll give it another chance later!

[MrsAxilla]

I finished A Court of Thorns and Roses and am onto the next. Still love! The third one better not disappoint - lol!

QOTD: something delicious I had recently was a grapefruit double IPA. It tasted like summer!

[sarahsays]

I'm still plodding through David Blight's Race and Reunion. A great topic, but Blight uses 10 words where 2 will do.

I also finished Orwell's Road to Wigan Pier this week for British history. It was pretty good.

I can't wait until summer break when I'll have time to read for pleasure again. I do plan on quick rereads of ACOTAR and ACOMAF before the new book gets here.

QOTW: I don't have a favorite food - I love it all! I have been really into Greek salads lately, though.

[ally]

I finished All By Myself, Alone by Mary Higgins Clark I enjoyed it.  I started The Map Thief by Heather Terrell, it is fine.

This week I also figured out how to get books to my Nook from the public library.  I tried years ago and was unsuccessful, but I think I have it now.  I just to finish what I am reading to try it out.

QOTW:  I have a few favorites.  But, a recipe we return to again and again is this: www.myrecipes.com/recipe/ginger-shrimp-pot-stickers-with-spicy-peanut-dipping-sauce

[spedrunner]

Currently Reading:

Attached:  The New Science of Adult Attachment  Really enjoying this so far! Discusses the different types of attachment styles we fall under in adulthood and how they play out in our relationships!

What She Knew by Gillian Macmillan. Also really enjoying. Suspenseful. 8 year old boy goes missing

The Likeness by Tana French.  This is currently sitting on my nightstand. Each time I go to pick it up, I fall asleep  lol

QOTD:  My everyday food is Oatmeal and nut butter. I love love love this warm gooey combination so much.  Recently I had the MOST fabulous Crepe at Beau Monde in Philly.  It had chicken, mushrooms, asparagus, cheese in a lovely, light crepe. OMG ! Delicious. I could easily live of this 

[pandora89]

Currently reading The One That Got Away by Leigh Rimes and the Romanov Sisters.

I finished Find Me by JS Monroe and did not like it at all.

[rootbeerfloat]

In the last week, I read Everything We Keep by Kerry Lonsdale, which was fine for a vacation read, and A House for Happy Mothers by Amulya Maladi about Indian surrogates, which I enjoyed.

[dorothyinAus]

I'm reading The Romanov Sisters. I hope to be finished by Tuesday; I'm on Chatter 16, so I think I'll make it, though with the time difference I know I'll be late to the discussion. I'm pretty excited about it; this is my favorite time period in history and I have already read a lot about the period.

QOTW: My project this year is to try all the recipes in my cookbooks I have thought about trying but never had, so we're having a lot of new-to-us recipes this year. In going through my cookbooks, I found I had over 3900 recipes to try, so it's going to be an ongoing project. The best thing I have eaten lately has been the Sautéed Spinach I got with my Poached Eggs at a local cafe. Seriously, I could have that every day and never get tired of it! The best thing I've made lately was actually Toad-in-a-Hole with vegetarian sausages (the Yorkshire Pudding type, not eggs fried in toast). I know, it's not fancy, but it was really, really good. I served it with fried eggs and a carrot & raisin salad that I added a shredded apple to and it was excellent.

[darnkatz]

Just finished reading Life's Work: A Moral Argument for Choice by Dr. Willie Parker, which was incredible. I'm currently reading A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea by Dina Nayeri, which is beautiful and heartbreaking. Also reading Sorry to Disrupt the Peace by Patty Yumi Cottrell.

We're having chicken gyro salad tonight. I'm making fresh pita. One of my favorite meals.

[frog]

I'm reading Egg and Spoon by Gregory Maguire. I think it's almost a Prince and Pauper retelling set in Russia. I am enjoying it, but like all his books, it takes a bit to get into.

[sassypants]

Apr 23, 2017 11:55:18 GMT -5 darnkatz said:

Just finished reading Life's Work: A Moral Argument for Choice by Dr. Willie Parker, which was incredible. I'm currently reading A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea by Dina Nayeri, which is beautiful and heartbreaking. Also reading Sorry to Disrupt the Peace by Patty Yumi Cottrell.

We're having chicken gyro salad tonight. I'm making fresh pita. One of my favorite meals.

Would you be willing to share your fresh pita recipe? I love good pita!

[charlatti]

Apr 23, 2017 2:36:09 GMT -5 dorothyinAus said:

.

QOTW: My project this year is to try all the recipes in my cookbooks I have thought about trying but never had, so we're having a lot of new-to-us recipes this year. In going through my cookbooks, I found I had over 3900 recipes to try, so it's going to be an ongoing project.

I love this idea -- I need to do something similar. I have so many cookbooks and recipes but we always have the same stuff.

[darnkatz]

Apr 23, 2017 18:12:06 GMT -5 sassypants said:

Apr 23, 2017 11:55:18 GMT -5 darnkatz said:

Just finished reading Life's Work: A Moral Argument for Choice by Dr. Willie Parker, which was incredible. I'm currently reading A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea by Dina Nayeri, which is beautiful and heartbreaking. Also reading Sorry to Disrupt the Peace by Patty Yumi Cottrell.

We're having chicken gyro salad tonight. I'm making fresh pita. One of my favorite meals.

Would you be willing to share your fresh pita recipe? I love good pita!

Oh, sure! I actually meant to link it, so thanks for the reminder. Here you go!