Mary 90: My Very Best Recipes by Mary Berry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Having been a fan of Mary Berry’s for quite a while, I’ve gleefully settled in to watch many of her shows. When this book was published I found myself wishing for a copy.
My Kindle copy is a wonderful way to settle in with a cuppa to read not only recipes and tips and tricks but some history, too. The photos are wonderful – not just food but friends and family.
This collection is perhaps the cream of the crop. Mary’s favorites. And for those who wonder, there is are conversion charts in the back and she does provide measurements that non British cooks can use.
No excuses! 😀
Mary does what she has always done; provide solid information and instruction along with a sure guiding hand for those who might be a little overwhelmed. She makes cooking and baking easy.
This is my only Mary Berry cookbook. Am I tempted to see what else she has in store? You bet!
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Mid Summer Reset / Recap
Not long ago, perhaps mid July, I mentioned to a friend that we had entered the mid Summer point. Said friend replied that ‘summer’ tends to last until end of September – focusing only on weather and seasons. Me? I was looking at the calendar and realizing that school would be restarting at the end of August and Labor Day wasn’t that far off. Perspective.
The summer heat arrived after fits and starts. I was reminded that if I had wanted to live in a perpetually hot climate I could have moved to Palm Springs… or Tulsa… Needless to say, that was not my intention but here we are. Also noting that Tornado Alley has been shifting. You can learn more by clicking HERE.
As you might have noticed the Reading Table has been busy again. I admit I would love to have authors who publish regularly, not to mention books available each month, but reality has shown that to not be something controllable. At least one of my regular reads has expressed what I term boredom with their series… I get it, I do, but … dang!
That being said, I have come across some new to me authors and some returning favorites that have been welcomed.
I’m a long time fan of Lindsey Davis’ Marcus Didius Falco and Flavia Albia series set in Rome from A.D. 69 or so and carrying through to what I assume (sorry) to be the death of Emperor Domitian. She hasn’t said (as far as I know) but that is my guess. Thanks to Falco, I developed an interest in the Roman Empire and began doing a lot of armchair traveling and learning. It has been a fascinating field of study.
Pompeii: Out of Time is one of those projects that combine the best of the scientist(s) and the imagination (actors). I was pleased to find several of the folks I studied were in the project helping to explain based on their field of study. There is a lot to study. Check out the preview:
Pompeii and its’ people is more than we thought. More complicated. More diverse. More interesting.
Don’t Forget the Reset
I am in the process of reviewing watch lists, reading lists, favorites, etc. I don’t know about you but I have accumulated a lot of things I want to do <cough> ‘later’ and we all know how that works out. So, in the interest of the Reset, I am reviewing all that and making decisions on what I want to keep and what I want to discard.
It is astonishing to find things that I thought would be high on the list only to discover it was forgotten or overlooked for other things that really captured my interest.
Sound familiar?
Granted with the weather being less than hospitable now is a good time to catch up with those lists but honestly am I the only one who finds other things I’d rather check out?
Here’s to August and the beginning of preparation for a return to school, cooler weather, and a chance to recharge.
From The Reading Table: Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library
Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I am a long time fan of the video versions of Mrs. Christie’s works but, for me, reading the actual books drove me crazy. The audio versions were, and are, much enjoyed and appreciated.
When I came across this audiobook I decided to give it a try. It seemed like the perfect combination of cozy with just enough Christie to be interesting.
I wasn’t wrong.
I consider this a good entry point for folks who might want to learn more but aren’t really ready to dive into the original texts. There’s just enough background from the Christie canon to connect the dots while the actual story is peopled with interesting characters and a layered mystery.
For a while I was afraid I had a version of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd on my hands but, thankfully, not. Instead what I found was an interesting trail of bread crumbs that finally finished with some clever plot twists and turns.
It is well worth the listen, or the read.
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From The Reading Table: Murder in Purple and Gold
Murder in Purple and Gold by Lindsey Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The return to Rome by Flavia Albia and company brought an adventure that not only provided an escape from potential family upset (Pregnant? Me?) … (Where’s our stuff? And where is Rhodan?) and added an unexpected investigation into the murder of a driver from the Circus Maximus.
I have to admit I really enjoyed this installment. The many layers provided necessary relief while the mystery was mostly confusing until the later chapters when clarity arrived.
Recently I watched some tours of the Circus Maximus in Rome which were useful reading this adventure.
Davis does an interesting job stringing story arcs across several books. She also does an admirable job tying things and people back to earlier books both in the Flavia Albia series but the Marcus Didius Falco series.
Long time fans of the series should enjoy this one.
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Freezer Biscuits Make Great Meals
Yes, I know we are in the middle of yet another heat wave. And, yes, I know no one wants to heat up their kitchen when it is so warm. But, when you have your pantry and freezer well stocked, you can make great meals any time of the year.
Good frozen biscuits can be just the right extra for those mornings you want a little treat but aren’t interested in making them from scratch. And, if you are like me, a rolled biscuit often comes out … let’s just say I don’t need more roof tiles. 😉
When Stacey posted the following recently it made me sit up and take notice. I am always on the lookout for cozy comfort foods to make in my Instant Pot and this one … Yum!
The great thing with her recipes is that she offers options if you don’t have an Instant Pot or other small appliance.
The odd thing about hot summer days and cool meals is that sometimes you want something just a bit more … cozy … which usually means warm. This one checks that box.
From The Reading Table: Spade & Archer…
Spade & Archer: The Prequel to Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon by Joe Gores
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I’ve listened to the Old Time Radio show, Sam Spade, for years. It is one of my favorites. Howard Duff did a great job of bringing Spade to life.
When I came across Spade & Archer recently I thought I might give it a try after seeing many glowing reviews. They were right.
Scott Brick, who I have listened to on many adventure series, almost made me think I was hearing Howard Duff again in the role.
The story is well thought out and each section ties perfectly with what preceded it. Honestly, I had times when I thought I was familiar with a particular story line. I particularly appreciated the way every location was made to feel real.
I enjoyed learning more about the back stories and how Spade seemed to know everyone everywhere. While Effie, that amazing secretary, did not sound like the Effie I’d heard for years, I found I enjoyed this version very much. That lady has a head on her shoulders!
I strongly urge you to give this one a try and to give the old radio series a try, too.
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A Bit Old School Maybe But Still A Favorite Tool
I grew up using paper maps. Yeah, I know, very Old School. But a map is one of those magical tools that invites you to explore. My dad always had the latest Rand McNally atlas in the house and we would spend hours following the interstate highways seeing where they went and what we could find to visit as we drove through.
When I moved to Los Angeles, one of the first things I did was get my very own copy of the Thomas Guide. It was an atlas of the Los Angeles and Orange Counties. A wealth of information, a valuable tool, a reliable resource.
Thomas Guides were the one thing you needed to have in your vehicle. With that guide you could go anywhere in the area and get home on your own.
Now I know lots of folks swear by GPS systems but I have had far too many instances (my own and other folks) where that system failed. In my own case one will lead you to my door while another will take you on a wild goose chase. And that is when they are working. We all know the Internet never, ever goes down and there is service everywhere, right? /s Paper maps can be the one tool you need to make sure you get home.
Old school tools can often still be reliable even when it might be ‘easier’ to use a GPS. And you can spend hours browsing, planning, dreaming your next adventure.
Speaking of Old School Tools, AllRecipes recently did a piece on Route 66. It is a wonderful read, but I particularly liked Samantha Brown’s comment about actually finding Route 66. Click HERE to read more.
Happy Adventuring!
Treasures from The Mother Road (Route 66)
Being the child of parents who loved to travel via the highways, I’ve no idea how many times I’ve traveled Route 66 over the years. While most of my trips have been in the cab of a pick up truck, I’ve ridden it in the camper on the back of the truck, in the back seat of the family station wagon and, if memory serves, in a relative’s camper van.
The Mother Road is a magical place. Filled with history if you care to look, most places don’t tend to shout in your face about all that has happened wherever you happen to be. The people can be amazing, too.
For those of us who loved Disney’s Cars movies, those films contain more than a bit of the bounty of treasure in those out of the way places.
When you get down to it, travel by vehicle is the only way to truly see and appreciate the out of the way, the quiet, the quaint, the treasure of the open road. It isn’t always easy or even comfortable at times – I’ve ridden across Death Valley in the summertime. Without an air conditioner. Once was more than enough. Thanks… Hey, I’ve been traveling for decades. 😀
One thing has always been certain, every stop along the way will provide you interesting things to see, to eat and enjoy. All you have to do is give them a try.
AllRecipes recently posted an article on How the Mother Road Became America’s Collective Home Kitchen. It is fascinating reading and there are quite a few recipes I’d love to try.
Mandy In The Making over on YouTube has an ongoing series, 50 Plates in 50 States, that has been a pleasure to watch. Mandy is sampling iconic dishes from each state in her own kitchen. Granted not every dish is to everyone’s taste but I know there will be many surprises that could easily become regular entries on the home menu rotation.
Enjoy!
Summer Recipes
If you have been around here very long, you will know I am a fan of Bisquick. I find it a useful tool to make a wide variety of recipes without having to keep a lot of ingredients on hand. AllRecipes posted their 30 Best Bisquick Recipes list and I was excited to see what was on the list. Click HERE to check it out.
Some are old favorites while others are new to me. I love the variety of cobblers but am blown away by the main dish ideas. Which ones are you going to try?
It Is A Balancing Act
Consumption, conspicuous or not, can be either a good partner or a wicked master depending upon how each of us manages it.
The old phrase, ‘Keeping up with the Joneses’, can, and often is, detrimental not only to the household budget but the household mental state.
I think there is something to be said for shopping seasonally, taking advantage of lower seasonal prices, being very intentional regarding trends – as in do I really need to be doing this or … ? None of us lives in spaces that can hold every thing we could possibly imagine and I would go so far as to say that the majority of us don’t have the financial resources to afford every thing available. Many, however, tend to operate on the idea (?) that those realities don’t apply to them.
Have you noticed that there seems to be this cottage industry around uncluttering? I see that going hand in hand with another cottage industry that tells us we Must Buy This [ fill in blank ]. And while I applaud the idea where when one item comes in another goes out, the reality is often not quite so…accurate.
Stuff, like rabbits, tend to multiply.
On the Other Hand…
Buying seasonal foods is often cheaper and – added bonus – the flavor is better. Couple that with the anticipation of those first of season berries or fruits or veg and the meal could exceed more expectations than you thought it might.
Staycations might sound dull but how many of us look up one day and realize that we have never checked out the local national park or gone to the lake, beach, whatever? Even in smaller towns there are locations easily accessed that could provide a welcome get away – many that out of town/state tourists know all about but somehow were overlooked by us.
As we tackle higher fuel and food prices it behooves us to take stock of what we are spending and look at our options. What have we not been doing? Where have we not been going? What have we been dreaming about but keep putting off? That quiet picnic with all the good food might be more accessible than we thought. Gatherings with friends and family could be even better as huge pot lucks.
While the idea of doing without can be depressing, maybe we need to just adjust our attitude a bit. Find a way to make it more exciting, if not interesting.
The balancing act could be the way we look at what we are doing and why we are doing it and make a change here and there. Just to see what we think. Who knows? It could becomes the best thing we do all Summer!