A New Way To Use Mint - Greek Lentil Soup : The Essential New York Times Cookbook

My trusty mini sow cooker

I bought this mini slow cooker for myself about six months back so I could cook oats overnight. I’ve cooked oats maybe once, but that’s only because I’ve found so many other uses for it. It came in really handy last week for Craig Clairborne’s 1977 recipe for Greek Lentil Soup.

I picked this one out of many that sounded good because it helped use up some of my flourishing mint plants from the back yard. I’ve never had mint in soup before, and I have to say it was nice. The fact that this was a vegetarian soup was a big plus too since my daughter is vegetarian, and I am halfway there. This would have been good with some crusty bread, but it was also fine with some cornbread from a box mix.

There were a bunch more good looking soup recipes I want to try, but it’s time to move on to salads.

Note: This recipe is part of a long look at Amanda Hesser’s 2010 The Essential New York Times Cookbook. See all posts here. Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Carefully Constructed Soup: The Essential New York Times Cookbook

Garden Minestrone from 1973 was the most fun soup to cook ever. You start by layering a huge pot full of tomatoes, zucchini, romaine lettuce (!), peas, beans, and herbs, and then browning the whole thing. Only then do you stir and it magically becomes a delicious stew. No broth added!

The recipe called for the whole thing to be done in a glass casserole dish so you can dump it out later, but I did it in my crockpot. The presentation sounds amazing, but it was a weeknight and we had 30 minutes to eat then get to 4 different places. I served this over polenta with chicken sausages just to bulk it up a little, but I would have been completely happy with just the veggies.

Note: This recipe is part of a long look at Amanda Hesser’s 2010 The Essential New York Times Cookbook. See all posts here. Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

It's Soup Week! The Essential New York Times Cookbook

I had some terrible not-covid bug last week that had me not feeling like cooking at all. But now I’m back among the living recovering and what a great time to start soup week. Actually, it will be soup weeks because I’m behind so I’ll be cooking soup the rest of this week into the next. What great timing!

I’m excited for this chapter. Soup is my favorite meal since the days when my mom used to make me non stop Lipton cups of noodles. Hesser says soups have changed the most in 100 years, and I’m wondering if they’ve changed even more since 2010. I guess I’ll have to shell out for the updated cookbook if I want to know.

Some soups looked great but I had to take them off the list because there was just too much cream involved, but there were quite a few that I can’t wait to make. Soup week!

Note: This recipe is part of a long look at Amanda Hesser’s 2010 The Essential New York Times Cookbook. See all posts here. Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Friday Night Guacamole: The Essential New York Times Cookbook

I made the Grilled Onion Guacamole way back on May 5th (of course) but am just getting around to talking about it now. It was so good though, don’t wait for a special occasion to make it. I ate it for dinner before I went and picked up my son at the movies and then spent the whole ride home talking about it. It was that good. My son, a teen aged male, went all in for that conversation and finished the guac when he got home.

I wasn’t sure if the grilled onions would be weird, but I liked them quite a bit. This was from a July 4th feature of food your would eat in Texas circa 1993, and based on this I’d really like to see the whole article.

Note: This recipe is part of a long look at Amanda Hesser’s 2010 The Essential New York Times Cookbook. See all posts here. Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Passive Aggressive Quotation Marks: The Essential New York Times Cookbook

I knew my husband would like this 1970’s Chinese Meatball recipe. Hesser cracked me up by mentioning in the comments that they were more “Chinese” than Chinese. Ah, food of my youth!

The recipe in the book made about 100 of these so I only made 1/4 but kept the sauce recipe as is because we love sauce. Also it called for frying the meatballs and then cooking the sauce separately. Last week was over scheduled beyond my ability to cope so I just baked them and then cooked them with the sauce in my slow cooker. Big thumbs up from the fam, although I thought the sauce was a little too vinegary.

Note: This recipe is part of a long look at Amanda Hesser’s 2010 The Essential New York Times Cookbook. See all posts here. Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Who Wouldn't Make Something Called Eggs Suffragette? The Essential New York Times Cookbook

My first recipe from the snacks chapter was called Eggs Suffragette. I love this title from a 1909 article about eggs.

They weren’t bad to make and tasted pretty good. My kids won’t eat pre-cooked eggs so I made the batch for myself and ate them all week for breakfast or lunch. Then in the spirit of my eggs I made plans to vote because what the heck is going on? Thank you suffragettes for your sacrifices and your delicious stuffed eggs.

Note: This recipe is part of a long look at Amanda Hesser’s 2010 The Essential New York Times Cookbook. See all posts here. Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Show Us Your Books May 2022

Pat Conroy’s house in Beaufort, South Carolina

I was away for last month’s Show Us Your Books so this is two months worth of reviews. I’ve been on a roll lately so there’s some good ones here that you all probably ready years ago.

Five Stars

The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne - I‘ve had this book on my TBR for years and I‘m glad I finally read it. Every emotion was contained in this book, and I easily gave it five stars.

Sandworm by Andy Greenberg - Wow! If you want to know why everyone got really scared about cybersecurity about a month ago read this book. I‘m going to have to read it again just to make sure I caught everything.

Four Stars

The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy - This was an impulse read because I spent some time in Beaufort, SC last month. I‘m really glad I read this sweeping, epic story of the Wingo family. It was a bit too drawn out in some places, but overall an excellent read. I might have to read it again now that I know what happens in the end.

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver - This was a re-read for me. I still love this book although I forgot how long it takes the ending to come. I think Kingsolver does a masterful job of developing the voices of these girls, and that really comes out in the audiobook.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford - I‘m ever so slowly chipping off the books that have been on my TBR the longest. This one, added in 2016, I almost skipped because it‘s yet another WWII book. I appreciated the different spin on this one though, and liked the background about jazz on the West Coast. I‘m glad I finally got to it.

American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson - I really liked this book about a Cold War federal agent who also happens to be an African American woman.

Pride: A Pride and Prejudice Remix by Ibi Zoboi - These modern Austen retellings set in different cultures than the original British versions really work for me.

Three Stars

Indemnity Only by Sara Paretsky - I was blown away by this series when I first read it in the 90‘s so I thought I‘d give it a re-read this year. I still like VI and her tough as nails crime fighting ways.

Hell and Other Destinations by Madeline Albright - I enjoyed this memoir about Albright‘s career after being Secretary of State. I didn‘t/don‘t know a lot about her, but she seemed very funny and smart. I‘d like to read more of her books.

Dead Dead Girls by Nekesa Afia - This dragged some in spots, but the time period and setting made up for it.

This post is linked to Show Us Your Books and Quick Lit.

Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Hors Doeuvres, Snacks, And Small Dishes: Chapter Two The Essential New York Times Cookbook

I was excited about this chapter because I’ve been wanting to make more snacks, but also disappointed because Amanda skipped her usual chatty intro and just slapped a timeline in here.

After reading through I can see why. The New York Times is decidedly short on snacks. I had to read through twice just to find three things I felt like cooking and eating.

It was during this chapter when I came up with my rules for this little project:

1. I need to stay within my usual grocery budget.

2. Not too many ingredients that I’ll never use again. (A few experiments here and there are fine.)

3. No all day cooking projects. I need food I can throw together and serve.

One more note: when I was looking up this book on amazon I realized there’s an updated version. I’m sticking with the 2010 though because I love the early 2000’s food scene and snobbery. Plus this is the version my library has, and I feel like a modern cookbook would have too much Covid inspired sourdough in it.

Note: This recipe is part of a long look at Amanda Hesser’s 2010 The Essential New York Times Cookbook. See all posts here. Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

My Ideal Hot Buttered Rum: The Essential New York Times Cookbook

I have searched for years for the perfect Hot Buttered Run recipe and I think I have found it. Hesser’s recipe, from the 1984 article “Spirits: Rum For All Seasons” was amazing. It was easy to make and smelled so good. Plus I had a reason to use up all of those whole spices I bought last year for one single recipe. Thank you Amanda!

I made this last Friday night after a long, long week and took it to bed with a good mystery. If you can tell me a better way to spend a Friday night I would be surprised.

This is the last recipe I made (for now) from the drinks section, and I think this book is probably worth buying based on this chapter alone. I can’t wait to move on to the next one!

Note: This recipe is part of a long look at Amanda Hesser’s 2010 The Essential New York Times Cookbook. See all posts here. Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Mint Juleps Are Not For Me

I thought I knew better than everyone else who told me not to plant mint in my yard because it would spread. Guess what? The mint spread. Oh well, there are worse problems to have, particularly when you like to cook.

I tried to solve my mint “problem” by making mint juleps from The Essential New York Times Cookbook, but truthfully all the mint in the world isn’t going to hide the taste of bourbon. Sorry Amanda Hesser and the state of Kentucky.

On to the next recipe!

Note: This recipe is part of a long look at Amanda Hesser’s 2010 The Essential New York Times Cookbook. See all posts here. Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Judge All You Want Amanda Hesser, I Love Smoothies

“And then we discovered the smoothie, and artfully - and often deliciously, repackaged shake.”

— The Essential New York Times Cookbook by Amanda Hesser

This quote by Amanda Hesser cracked me up. It is true that we were all drinking smoothies for a while like they were the key to good health and slimness. Still, when your kid has an 8 am soccer game and you want to bring your breakfast with you is there anything better? Hesser featured an honey-orange banana smoothie from an article on hangover cures in the Essential Cookbook, and it was perfect. I didn’t have a hangover on the day of my daughter’s 8 am soccer game, but when you’re in your 40’s aren’t they really the same thing? Anyway, disguised milkshake or not I highly recommend this easy to make smoothie for the sidelines, when you have a hangover, or just any old time really.

Note: This recipe is part of a long look at Amanda Hesser’s 2010 The Essential New York Times Cookbook. See all posts here. Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Drinks, Cocktails, Punches, and Glogg - The New York Times Essential Cookbook

I love a cookbook that acknowledges that drinks are part of the meal, and, of course, Hesser does not disappoint. This is a very thorough drinks section. My only complaint? So many of the recipes involved alcohol mixed with milk or cream, something that makes me shudder.

There are fun things in here too though. The onset of the smoothie. Iced coffee obsession. Gourmet hot chocolate. Possible solutions to the mint problem I have going on in my garden.

This week I’ll share what I made!

Acknowledgements and Introduction - The Essential New York Times Cookbook

I’ve read a few books by Amanda Hesser and I’ve always enjoyed her style. So, I loved this section about the process of creating a collection of recipes that spanned 150 years. In it she dishes about her husband’s irrational hate of biscotti (he despises its unfriendly crunch) and what it was like to test thousands of recipes while pregnant with twins.

My favorite part was the amazing timeline. It was interspersed throughout the section and it contained mind blowing tidbits about food history in the US. (I am so happy I live in a time when I can get Florida strawberries.)

Today I learned: meats cook 2 times as fast as they did 100 years ago because the way we raise them now makes them more tender. Sorry vegetarians for grossing you out; I found that fascinating.

This is going to be fun!

The Essential New York Times Cookbook by Amanda Hesser

I grew up near Boston in a home where you could be forgiven for anything except rooting for a New York sports team. I’ve stayed true to my father’s wishes even though I probably still follow Max Scherzer’s career more than he would like. Dad never told me not read read The New York Times though, and over the years I’ve developed a real love for their food section.

Until all of their recipes went behind a paywall.

I was so, so very happy when I found out Amanda Hesser published a doorstop of a cookbook in 2010 that contains the most noteworthy recipes from the 1850’s to the early 2000’s. And my library had it! For free! Take that New York Times paywall. (Yes I know I should be willing to pay for good content. I’m just in a mood. So many subscriptions taking tiny chunks of my paycheck every week. I’ve had enough.)

You guys, I love this book. I know it’s been around for 22 years now, but it’s new to me, and it’s fabulous.

I’ve been reading a bit of it each night, and even though time and budget constraints keep me from cooking everything in this book, I’ve enjoyed reading the story behind each and every recipe. For the month of May I’m going to be all about this book, so expect to see a lot of it here!

Food and Lit: Greece

Last month I fell in love with beef stew. Beef Stifado is going on my regular cooking list for the rest of my life. Honestly, it’s been a long winter, but if it stays just a little longer the silver lining would be another chance to make this delicious stew. It was so tender and flavorful. I might need to make some more tonight. Delicious. I love #FoodAndLit

I read Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy. This was a good book, but probably not the best window into Greek culture. Sometimes it the lit that wows you and sometimes it’s the food. You never know.

Next month we eat and read from Cuba!

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

Bookish Silver Linings

A cozy cat snoozing by an open book.

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve posted. I’ve been busy at work and haven’t been feeling well. It’s cold outside. And my kids are each playing two sports. I couldn’t think of anything to write about. Still I hate to let this little blog fall silent.

Then I started thinking that even though the weather is terrible at least I have had extra time to spend reading under blankets with a cat or two. Even though I’ve spent all my free time driving kids places or waiting for them to come out of places where I was to pick them up I’ve had plenty of time for audiobooks and reading in the car. Work has needed me to come back to the office, but that has given me time on the train to read even more. There’s always a silver lining, and for me that usually involves a book.

Show Us Your Books March 2022

The vibe I’m going for doesn’t exactly resemble real life!

Two days in a row I’ve overslept and I’m running behind on everything. Here’s my slap dash Show Us Your Books post for the month of March!

Five Stars:

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng -- I stayed up way too late reading this book. It was heartbreaking in all the best ways, and completely changed how I reacted to one one my kids’ less than stellar report cards.

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn -- I really loved this WW2 code breaking novel. The ending was perfect. This was the first book I read last month, and a great way to get things started.

Four Stars:

Miss Buncle's Book by D.E. Stevenson -- A book about a woman who wrote a book about a woman writing a book. This was just so clever and unexpected. I really enjoyed it.

A Blizzard of Polar Bears by Alice Henderson -- I‘m really loving this series about vegetarian biologist badass Alex and her adventures defending wildlife. I can‘t wait for the next one.

And The Band Played On by Randy Shilts -- This book about the AIDS epidemic was a powerful read in its own right, but absolutely infuriating when read against the backdrop of everything we‘ve gone through in the past two years. I was under the gun to get this finished for a work book club- I will come back to it in a few years for a more careful read.

Three Stars:

I Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O'Farrell -- This book was a little uneven, but the first and last chapters took my breath away.

Watching You by Lisa Jewell -- This got mixed reviews from my book group. I thought it was fast paced and it kept me guessing even if there wasn’t much to talk about with the group.

This post is linked to Show Us Your Books and Quick Lit.

Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Food And Lit: Cooking and Reading From Argentina

Empanadas and salad

Last month on Litsy we cooked and ate from Argentina. I didn’t cook as much as usual last month, but did get a chance to try air frying some empanadas. They weren’t as good as at a restaurant, but they were still good. The kids liked them.

The real star of the month was the YA novel Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez. My daughter’s love of soccer has me reading anything I can about it, and I really liked this story about a young woman in Argentina trying to break free of her family’s expectations.

Next month we head to Greece!

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Thrilling Books That Take Place In The Great Outdoors

I love thrillers where the characters are fighting against each other but also natural elements. It adds such tension when someone has to fight their enemy and mother nature at the same time.

Do you like these books too? Here are a few of my favorites.

The Alex Carter series by Alice Henderson features a badass heroine who saves the earth while fighting the bad guys. I’ve really enjoyed both books in this series so far, and am looking forward to the next one.

The River by Peter Heller had my heart in my throat the whole time. A book about buddies on an easy paddle in Canada quickly turns to life and death as they flee wildfires and killers.

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King — Baseball can’t solve all your problems, but it sure can help a lot as Trisha found out when she had the bad luck to get lost in the woods.

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Two Books Inspired By The Dionne Quintuplets

In 1930’s rural Canada five babies were born at once and captured the curiosity of the world. The Dionne Quintuplets were a reality show before there was such a thing as reality shows. They starred in movies and were visited by celebrities like Shirley Temple and Amelia Earhart. A viewing platform was built so that the public could watch them play outside. Their fame brought in huge amounts of money, a lot of which couldn’t be accounted for later. Then they grew up and people forgot about them.

I had never heard of them until I read Louise Penny’s book How The Light Gets In. This is my favorite book in my favorite series, but it took me a few reads to catch on that Penny’s Ouellet quintuplets were based on a true story. When I saw the cover for The Quintland Sisters by Shelley Wood I knew I had to read it based on my love of Penny’s book. This is another worthwhile read. The main character got on my nerves a little, but the back story is just so darn fascinating.

If you’re looking for a fiction rabbit hole to fall down you can’t go wrong with these two. I promise you many hours of wikipedia research will follow!

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!