September 2015 Finds

My last batch of watermelon granita, in which I achieved the perfect balance of taste and texture.

Summer’s wrapping up and a lot has been going on. We went to a mega-huge concert, are 99.9% done with the kitchen remodel we started over a year ago, and pushed through some big time family drama. But enough of that! Because I’ve been reading some really good books, watching some entertaining movies and tv shows, and cooking up some tasty meals.

Here are my finds for September.

What To Read
I tore through Chelsea Cain’s whole Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell series in a matter of weeks. There are six, and they’re all good. I was so sad the series ended, but then I read her newest novel, One Kick, and I can tell this series is going to be just as good, so I’m not quite so sad anymore. Then I enjoyed Jessica Knoll’s Luckiest Girl Alive (you know, the book everyone’s been raving is “the next Gone Girl”). I also finished the last two of John Verdon’s Dave Gurney series of four novels. I love to balance my crime/thriller diet with quality nonfiction, and On Hearing Of My Mother’s Death Six Years After It Happened by Lori Schafer really helped me cope and not feel so lost during a recent tough time. And I just finished Jon Ronson’s So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed, and it was ah-maze-ing — it’s a must read for anyone who uses social media even a little bit.

What To Watch
I’m so very happy Netflix picked up Longmire for another season, because that show just keeps getting better and better. Bonus–now that it’s on Netflix, the episodes are longer, and the show itself seems a little bit grittier, which makes it even better. I also binged on Grace and Frankie, which was very good. On HBO Now, I got completely caught up on Veep and my husband enjoyed Hard Knocks. Also caught Wild, which was just as perfect as the same-named book by Cheryl Strayed. I bought Dark Places, based on the same-named novel by Gillian Flynn, and while it was not as good as the book, it was very good. Then I finally got around on watching Amazon’s Transparent, and it was just as good as everyone’s been telling me. AMC’s Fear The Walking Dead has been a pleasant surprise, especially since I found the first episode boring. It’s nowhere near The Walking Dead, but then again, what is? And thanks to Hulu’s genius picking up of The Mindy Project, I don’t have to give up one of my fave sitcoms.

What To Cook
I’ve made this recipe for Cauliflower Rice Burrito Bowls twice in the past few weeks. It’s so easy, and SO good (and it passed the husband test). I’ve recently been getting into meatball making. They’re pretty easy to make, and they’re the perfect addition to most meals–two or three can even make for a great lunch. My recent foray into meatball making started with a recipe for Green Curry Meatballs with Creamy Coconut-Basil Sauce. The whole recipe was wonderful, but next time I think I’ll skip the sauce (could be because I had trouble finding coconut cream so I used full fat canned coconut milk) and instead of noodles I’ll make coconut rice.  I also spent the summer perfecting my granita technique. Watermelon isn’t in season anymore, so I’ve been researching winter granita flavors, so hopefully I’ll be able to continue my frozen treat streak.

Here’s to a fall full of good food, great books, and captivating TV shows/movies.

August Already?

Broiled s’mores!

I really tried to get a post up during the month of July. But then, toward the end of the month, I stumbled across the most engrossing thriller series, and, well, what can I say? I love to read!

The series, written by Chelsea Cain, is about a flawed investigator, Archie Sheridan, and a beautiful female serial killer, Gretchen Lowell, and their relationship. I can’t remember where I heard about this series, but now you, my dear reader(s), can thank ME when you too get addicted to the books! I was able to get the first, Heartsick, from my local library’s ebook lending program. I flew through that one in less than 48 hours and immediately bought the second, Sweetheart, because the only other book in the series at the library was #5 (there are 6, fyi). Started Sweetheart yesterday and I’m already halfway through, so I just stockpiled bought the rest and checked out #5 from the library. I figure at the rate I’m reading them, I need them readily available.

I’ve also been watching some good stuff (Lifetime’s UnReal, a scripted drama about a reality show along the lines of The Bachelor, is still one of my faves). I ventured out to the movies to see Trainwreck and give my gal Amy Schumer support for making such a funny, real film. USA’s Complications is good, and, surprise surprise, I enjoy procedural crime shows like TNT’s strong lineup of Major Crimes, Rizzoli & Isles, Murder In The First, and their true crime drama Cold Justice. For some reason (misplaced loyalty?) I’m still struggling through HBO’s True Detective, but it is a definite struggle–I feel like my time would be better spent re-watching last season. Lastly, the film Dark Places, based on Gillian Flynn’s same-named novel that is CRAZY good, just came out, and I immediately bought the movie and expect to watch it in the next few days. With a cast including Charlize Theron, Christina Hendricks, and Andrea Roth, I figure it’s going to be really good. If it’s even half as good as the book, it will be money well spent.

In addition to what has developed into a weekly watermelon granita habit, I’ve also tried my hand at banana ice cream, which even passed the husband test. My food processor has been earning its keep this summer, that’s for sure! It’s too hot to brew beer during the summer, so my husband has been brewing kombucha, and we’ve also been trying our hand at cold press coffee. Oh! And on a recent quick vacation, I perfected oven-made s’mores, as you can see from the above photo. (My advice–don’t heat the chocolate up, just add it after the marshmallows are toasty from the broiler!)

Here’s hoping the last few weeks of summer are full of more good books, TV and movies, with some tasty treats sprinkled throughout.

June Finds to Start the Summer

Watermelon Granita–YUM!

I can’t believe it’s officially summer! I’ve been cooking, reading, watching and swimming, and so far, it’s been superb.

What To Watch

Major Crimes on TNT continues to balance entertainment and emotion. (I was a huge fan before Kyra left, and an even bigger one now.)

Murder In The First on TNT is off to a strong start, and the arc this season seems more compelling to me that last season’s.

Proof on TNT has potential. Anything Jennifer Beals is involved in I will watch (r.i.p. The L Word).

Complications on USA seems intriguing. Granted there has only been one ep so far, but I’m in…for now, anyway. (Ditto for Mr. Robot, which looks amazing and will hopefully deliver.)

UnReal on Lifetime (that’s right, Lifetime!) is AWESOME. A ‘reality show’ that makes fun of reality shows? I was in before it even aired. And the cast? Perfection.

I’ve already raved about my subscription to HBO NOW, and I continue to love it. True Detective just started, and I’m along for the ride, although I think I need to stop trying to connect it to last season and just enjoy it for what it is. I can’t say enough good things about HBO documentaries. Two I recently watched and highly recommend are Southern Rites and The Last Patrol.

Over on Netflix I’ve been working my way through the new season of Orange Is The New Black (I’m almost finished–one ep t go for the new season!).

As for network tv, ABC’s new The Astronaut Wives Club is off to a strong start, imo, and no one was more surprised than I that I even liked it. And one of my favorite summer shows, Rookie Blue, starts up again this week.

And I actually went to a movie theater again recently to see Love & Mercy, which was really sad and really good.

What To Read

Jefferson Bass’s The Body Farm continues to be a great thriller series, and I recently finished both Bones of Betrayal and The Bone Yard.

For those missing zombies and The Walking Dead, I highly recommend Raising Stony Mayhall by Daryl Gregory. I’m also catching up on the work of one of my favorite authors, Curtis Sittenfeld, so I recently read Sisterland. It was very good, but Prep remains my fave of hers so far. Lastly, I stumbled across Angel Killer by Andrew Mayne via Amazon Prime when it was on sale for 99 cents, and WOW. Really good! So good I’ve already pre-bought the sequel that’s out next month.

What To Eat

Lots of good stuff lately, but here are the standouts:

Vietnamese Chicken Sandwiches

Spaghetti With Cauliflower, Capers and Lemon

Kale Cobb Salad (I used turkey bacon, omitted the egg and turkey meat.)

Greek Salad Club This is a go-to for me during the summer. I often modify it, using naan instead of pita bread.

(Chicken) Bahn Mi Pizza I sometimes cheat and use turkey lunch meat, and although I have made this with pizza dough, I often use naan and it’s even better.

Watermelon Granita–this was AMAZING. And SO easy! I plan to make Strawberry Granita next.

I hope your summer’s off to a superb start!

May (You Enjoy These) Finds

Somehow, April slipped by me. I had a birthday, we had a family medical scare, and in between all that, there were two old(ish) cats to tend to, dinners to make, laundry to do, kitty litter to sweep, (e)books to read, stuff to watch on screens big and small, and a gym to get my butt to almost daily. The good news is, it’s been so long since I’ve been here that I have lots of good stuff to share with you!

Food Finds

• In early April, I made this Carrot Orzotto recipe I found in Better Homes and Gardens, and I’ve made it a couple of times since, because it’s SO good (and easy). Just thinking about it makes me want to make another batch.
• This Cooking Light Green Curry Stew with Potatoes and Cauliflower is super quick and really tasty.
• I made Rachael Ray’s Huevos Rancheros Salad on Cinco de Mayo, and this is a favorite of mine during the summer, because although it uses the oven, it’s only a broil and only for a few minutes.
• Somehow I recently stumbled across this Good Housekeeping Chicken Enchilada Casserole recipe, and I’m so glad I did because it’s yummy.
• I’ve never cooked with rhubarb before, so I bought some to make this recipe for Strawberry-Rhubarb Bites I found in Self. I can’t find the recipe online, but this one looks close enough.

Film/TV Finds

• I signed up for HBO NOW, and I am so glad I did. I spent a week watching The Jinx at the gym–allotting myself one episode per day, only at the gym, which was some great motivation, I tell ya. Might not have been the best place to watch it, though, since I was often either trying to shield unsuspecting folks from graphic crime scene photos, or scoffing at the screen and shaking my head in disbelief at how crazy Durst is. (The above video is used to perfection during the intro/credit roll.)
• I also watched the first season of Bloodline on Netflix, and it was very, very good.
• After I finished The Jinx, I stumbled across The Imposter on Netflix. Um, yeah. Take my word for it and don’t watch those docs back to back or you’re gonna have weird dreams.

Book Finds

I have really been picking some good reads lately, if I do say so.

• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel is the perfect thing to chase the post-TWD blues away
• Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult is the best thing for elephants since, well, Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
• True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa by Michael Finkel is a great companion (though unrelated) to The Jinx
• You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz is a great mystery novel about marriage
• A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara is one of the most beautiful, stunning novels I have ever read (and I read–A LOT). I read a good portion of this book at the gym, but I ended up finishing it while I was home, which was good, because this book left me sobbing hysterically. It’s tragic, but it’s also so beautiful.
• Lastly, I just saw a piece making the FB rounds today, and it is too important not to share. So stop whatever you’re doing, take a few minutes, and read Split Image by Kate Fagan.

May you enjoy these finds as much as I have!

End of March Finds for Eyes & Ears

I just saw It Follows (in the theater, no less, which is kind of a big deal for me, as I can count on one hand the number of movies I’ve seen in the theater in the last eight or so years). And I finally got around to watching Nightcrawler recently. Damn! SO good. Both films were similar in that the cinematography and music really sold the films (I had a similar reaction to Drive back in 2011). I also just finished binge-ish watching Bloodline on Netflix (I had to limit my viewing to two eps per day because the material is SO depressing).

I’ve been on a bit of a hot streak as far as reading is concerned. It started with In The Blood by Lisa Unger (Beautiful Lies is another great one by the same author). Then there was a trifecta of books written by (new to me) authors, including The Girl on The Train by Paula Hawkins, Because She Loves Me by Mark Edwards, and Birthdays For The Dead by Stuart MacBride. Turning back to tried and true favorite authors, I also recently read The Secret Place by Tana French, Hush, Hush by Laura Lippman, and Us by David Nicholls. All three are my favorite works to date by each respective author. For those who don’t care for thrillers, Us is the only “light” read of this bunch (and one that made me LOL several times, I might add).

My walks have been dedicated to podcasts lately, and there have been some good ones. Criminal consistently delivers, and I particularly enjoyed the most recent installments, “Final Exit” and “Poster Boy.” I dug into the archives of Death, Sex & Money recently and found the gem “Living Alone And Liking It. Sometimes.” And, quite surprisingly (to me), I’ve been enjoying Freakonomics Radio, particularly “What You Don’t Know About Online Dating,” and “When Willpower Isn’t Enough.”

Happy reading, listening and watching. Oh, and happy Spring!

Early(ish) February Finds

I originally intended to stop by here and share what I’m cooking, reading, watching and listening to at least once a week, but alas, life has other plans. But as “they” say, better late than never!

I have been cooking my ass off lately. Between a small gathering hosted at my house a couple of weeks ago, my regular weeknight dinner making, and doubling up a couple of times a week to help a friend-family out while they deal with some serious health issues, I have been in the kitchen a LOT.

Here’s what I’ve been making:

Quick Coq au Vin, a dish I love, love, love. There was just enough left over for almost a whole meal, so I made it work by making a batch of brown rice and topping it with the leftovers.

Kielbasa & Swiss Spaghetti Squash Casserole, which I modified slightly by using England’s Best liquid egg whites and Tofurky Kielbasa (even my non-sauerkraut-loving husband likes this dish).

Spaghetti with Avocado Sauce, which sounds odd but is in fact damn delicious! I see this as a simple summer meal this year.

And remember that small gather I mentioned? Well, I was tasked with feeding seven people food that would “pair well with beer.” I went with Pesto Penne with Green Beans and Potatoes, which is ridiculously easy to make and, because of the potatoes, goes a long way to feed a crowd. To simplify, I used store-bought pesto. For dessert, I made Chocolate Dump Cake, a recipe my husband adores. This time, I must have not let it cool enough to pop out of the pan properly, resulting in a cake mess, but it still tasted yummy and many a dinner party guest asked for slices to go, which I obliged. My husband has decided that I need to make this cake at least once a month so as not to get rusty. 🙂

And as for the friend-family I’m double-duty cooking for, I made Chunky Tomato Soup and Mac & Cheese with Leeks and Ham. The former recipe I stuck to, and the latter I modified with Almond milk (instead of whole), Cremini mushrooms (versus white), ham deli meat, no nutmeg (not a fan), and about half the cheese called for. I also left out the Tobasco, because I was cooking for a kiddo, and I hoped that he *might* eat the pasta, despite the leeks.

I’ve been reading a lot, as usual. I’m currently juggling three books–Those Across the River by Christopher Buehlman (so far, so good), Yes Please by Amy Poehler (highly recommend for Amy Poehler fans), and Bringing Adam Home: The Abduction That Changed America by Les Standiford (struggling to finish this one, as it’s a dry read). I’m also watching some, including Better Call Saul (which makes me I feel like I need a Breaking Bad refresher course) and VH1’s Hindsight, which I absolutely adore. I also recently watched the film A Walk Among The Tombstones, which is Liam Neeson doing what he does best. Since it’s based on a book, I’m sure I will be reading it in the near-ish future.

Happy reading, watching and eating.

Early January Flick Finds

I finally got around to watching two movies I’ve been meaning to see for quite a while now.

The first, Lone Survivor, was an intense Peter Berg work based on the book by the same name. This is a tragic, sad film, and I don’t feel like I need to say “spoiler alert” when I say this, because the title pretty much says it all. I’ve been told the book is even better than the film, and I plan to read it because the film was crazy good. (For those who enjoy Lone Survivor, I highly recommend Peter Berg’s The Kingdom.)

I also finally got around to seeing Dallas Buyers Club, and what an amazing story that was. Now I finally get what all the Oscar fuss was about!

Lastly, while it’s not technically a “flick,” I just watched the first episode of VH1’s new scripted series Hindsight. Oh. My. Goodness. I thought I was obsessed with the 80s, but this is the first time I’ve felt a pang of nostalgia for the 90s! Hindsight has the charm of 13 Going On 30, but set in the Friends era. And speaking of the best sitcom ever, the entirety of Friends is up on Netflix. If you haven’t ever seen it, drop everything and watch it now, particularly Season 5, which IMO is the best season of them all.

Happy watching!