BLTS-BLT + Salmon

Had this for lunch in STL this weekend-Delicious!

Ingredients:

• salmon filets (will be "shredded"
  
• olive oil
• sea salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• tomatoes, sliced 1/4-inch thick
• 2 cups American field greens, washed and dried
• 8 slices, medium thickness, cooked applewood smoked bacon
• melted butter
• Bread of Choice (whole wheat!)
  

Preparation

1. Brush the Salmon with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
2. Grill the salmon over a medium hot flame until desired doneness is reached. (or poach)
   
3. Toast bread/butter.
4. Crumble the salmon or leave as a filet (but I prefer crumble)
   
5. Place the lettuce on the bun, followed by the tomato and bacon. Top with Bacon, then Salmon. Spread on a spicy chipotle or a parmesan sauce for extras.
   

We are a biking family

Well we have decided to make a healthy change in our lives. Casey recently starting cycling about a month ago. He has a Scott Sportster P55, that he just absolutely adores. See above. He's already lost 10lbs and is doing great.

So of course, I was somewhat guilted (joking, joking Casey - sort of) in getting a bike as well so we ended up going today and finding one I really liked. My only stipulation was that the bike had to be a lovely color. I was satisfied and so I made the purchase. I ended up with a Specialized Vita.

We now are just trying to get Miss Sarah on the wagon.

I rode only a mere pathetic 4 miles today. However, I was tired and puked and felt like I got a good workout.

I'll keep you posted on the progress.

Consumption

Surprise surprise. I had a positive TB test. Do I really think it's a true positive? No, not really. I honestly think my nursing student messed up the test. However, it measured 11mm, with 10mm being the cut off, so I got to go to the wonderful health department and have a chest x-ray.

The nice people at the health department told me that they'd be calling me in a few weeks if I needed to come in and get some drugs. However, if they don't call, consider it good news and go on my merry way. I don't know this for sure but I figure I will be getting a phone call and be placed on isoniazid just because of being in the health care field. We shall see. To be continued.

We Win

Our paper is being published - pending revisions. Hooray.

Crash Sweet Potatoes

Recently I found this recipe on Tasty Kitchen. We finally got around to making it tonight. I think all three of us really enjoyed it.

However, a few comments about the recipe. One, find something better than a bowl to smush these little guys because it was a pain in the butt. Second, it says the prep time is only 10min and the cook time is 30. Well the cook time is more like 50 since you have to boil, wait 10 min and then cook so plan accordingly.

What you'll need:

• 2 whole Medium To Large Sweet Potatoes
• ½ teaspoons Kosher Salt
• 2 quarts Water
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 2 Tablespoons Melted Butter
• 1-½ Tablespoon Light Brown Sugar
• ½ Tablespoons Kosher Salt
• ½ teaspoons Ground Cumin
• ½ teaspoons New Mexico Chili Powder (We used regular)
  
• ½ teaspoons Smoked Sweet Paprika
• ¼ teaspoons Onion Powder
• ¼ teaspoons Chipotle Chili Powder (And here we used Ancho chili powder)
  
• ⅛ teaspoons Granulated Garlic Powder
• ⅛ teaspoons Fresh Ground Black Pepper

Directions:

Peel the sweet potatoes and slice about 1 ¼ inches thick. Add ½ teaspoon salt to water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add potato slices and simmer for about 12 minutes, or until somewhat softened. Remove carefully to a wire rack and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.

Line a large, heavy sheet pan with parchment paper. Using a flat-bottomed bowl, slightly mash each potato slice, taking care that they stay intact. Drizzle each slice with a mixture of the butter and oil, using half of the mixture.

Blend the topping ingredients (sugar and all the spices) together really well with a fork, making to sure to get the sugar completely incorporated.

Sprinkle the slice evenly with a total of half the topping ingredients. Make sure you avoid getting the topping on the sheet between the slices if possible—it will burn and smoke before the potatoes are done.

Gently turn over each slice, drizzle with the remaining butter/oil mixture and sprinkle with the remaining seasonings.

Roast at 375° for 20 minutes, carefully flip each slice and return to oven for about 10 minutes more. Serve hot.

And lastly, thanks to Donalyn Ketchum for this tasty recipe!

Story For The Week

A friend of ours posted on facebook last week about a ridiculous encounter he had with the sales clerk at Borders. It was just too funny to not pass it along:

As he approached the counter to purchase his items the sales clerk asked him for his email address. You know, for point ans coupons and such. He replied: "Junipero and 17 in roman numerals". After staring at her keyboard far longer than expected she replied, "I'm sorry sir, but we don't have roman numerals on this keyboard".

Wow.

Beneath a Marble Sky-John Shors

From Others: In Beneath a Marble Sky, readers enter a realm rife with contrasts; where love turns into betrayal; where war collides with beauty; and where the visions of a commoner inspire the dreams of a princess. Richly authentic, superbly written, this extraordinary work of historical fiction immerses one within ancient India's finest and darkest days.

Set at the height of the Mughal Empire, Beneath a Marble Sky recreates the remarkable lives of those responsible for the Taj Mahal's existence. From the famous lovers who inspired it, Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, to the architect who designed it to the man who sought to destroy it, Beneath a Marble Sky recounts the stories of those who oversaw the rise of the world’s most famous building.

From Me: I will definitely come back and write more about this one, but all you need to know for now is that I love, love, love this book. It was beautifully written, kept my attention from page 1, and I have every intention of re-reading it (as soon as I finish the other 400 books on my to-read list!).

Heaping Healthy Spaghetti

Emily recently bought us the "Deceptively Delicious" cook book and we love the ideas but not all of the recipes work for people on the go (or better, aspiring, but not-quite-getting-it chefs). This is a modified/simplified version of spaghetti:

Ingredients:
1. Spaghetti Sauce (whatever strikes your fancy)
2. 1-2 cups chopped carrots
3. 1-2 cups chopped broccoli
4. Parmesan Cheese
5. 1- 1 1/2 lbs 93/7 hamburger meat
6. whole wheat spaghetti noodles

Directions:
1. Blend carrots and broccoli together (blender or food processor) and set aside.
2. Cook Noodles per directions, drain.
3. Empty spaghetti sauce into a mixing bowl and stir in the broccoli and carrots. (You cannot taste the veggies!)
4. Cook meat, rinse, drain, and add to the sauce.

If you want to add more veggies to the mix, I would suggest yellow squash and/or bell peppers. The taste of the veggies is dulled if not eliminated in the sauce so little ones and picky eaters will never suspect. In the cook book she recommends adding the broccoli to the sauce and mixing the carrots with the meat by making meatballs, your choice!

Carbonara Farfalle with Zucchini and Sausage

This recipe is quick and easy, most difficult task is prepping sausage & bacon (whew!).
Ingredients:

• 5 tablespoons olive oil
• 5 small zucchini, chopped (minced for picky eaters)
  
• 2 onions, minced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 (16 ounce) package farfalle pasta
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• salt to taste
• freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Optional: Add Bacon (cooked and pieced) and/or Sausage
Directions:

1. Heat oil in large skillet over medium high heat. Add zucchini, and saute quickly until golden. Remove and set aside.
2. Add onion and garlic to the pan, and saute until golden. Stir in cream; increase heat, and boil until sauce is reduced by one third.
3. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain.
4. Add noodles, zucchini, 1/2 cup cheese, and salt and pepper to the cream sauce. Toss thoroughly until heated through. Serve immediately with additional grated parmesan cheese. (Add meat(s) here).

Weeds

While we've been trying to stretch Dexter season 4 out for as long as we can, we've picked up a new show to fill in the space between Dexter episodes. Weeds.

I can say I wasn't so sure I was going to like this show when I heard about it, but by episode 2 we were pretty much hooked. It's really pretty funny. Also another plus is that seasons 1 to 5 are on Netflix instant queue. Fabulous!

Basically, if you don't know, it's about a widow who takes up selling pot to support her family after her husband passes. It's classified as a dramedy but I consider it more of a comedy. The episodes are only 30min each so I sugget if you have Netflix just give it a few episodes and see if you like it.

Freddy and Fredericka by Mark Helprin

From others: Helprin's first novel in a decade is a satire that finds the hapless and maligned heirs to the British throne sent on a mission to re-colonize America... a task that involves everything from naked parachuting to impersonating dentists.

From me: This book is essentially a parody of a future king and queen of England. I do have to say that it was a bit long for what is was, but none the less I found the book a rather humorous page-turner. There was just enough historical significance in the book to peak my interest in the beginning ( I have a deep love for historical fiction) but plenty of antics to keep any reader interested-I was never bored with the book.

I would not venture to say that anything sentimental or enlightening might be gleamed from his book, but in turn, anyone could always use a break from enlightenment for a good laugh. Highly recommended.

Bacon Wrapped Jalapenos

This recipe is almost too simple for how good it is. The only ingredients you need are: jalapenos, cream cheese, and bacon.

Directions:

1. For spicy food lovers simply slit the side of the jalapeno and insert cream cheese by hand or with an injector. For the timid, slice the jalapeno in two, scrap out the seeds and replace with cream cheese.

2. Cook bacon separately and then wrap around the jalapeno securing it with a toothpick.

3. Broil in the oven for 15-30 minutes or until the cream cheese begins to brown. Grilling the jalapenos is best and only takes 5-15 minutes depending on the size of the jalapenos.

I recommend using ranch or a chipotle aioli to dip the jalapenos in, but that are excellent on their own!

Oryx and Crake

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

Rating- 5 out of 5

Synopsis from B&N: Humanity here equals Snowman, and in Snowman's recollections Atwood re-creates a time much like our own, when a boy named Jimmy loved an elusive, damaged girl called Oryx and a sardonic genius called Crake. But now Snowman is alone, and as we learn why we also learn about a world that could become ours one day.

From me: This is a favorite of mine. It's very much a dystopian novel. I had to read this book for my literature class in college and was instantly enamored with the story as well as the characters. I don't always know what to say about the book without giving too much away so I'll just say a few things. It's a very quick read that pulls you in within the first chapter and also you will NEVER look at chicken nuggets the same. After reading this I couldn't eat them for a while.

Current Covet

We recently discovered Dexter. I've had seasons 1 and 2 sitting in a drawer for well over a year, so during last month when I had more free time than anyone needs I decided to watch them. By episode 3 of the first season I was hooked. Less than a week later I was rushing out to buy season 3. Sadly that only lasted a few days.

So now I'm patiently waiting until Tuesday when season 4 is released.

When season 4 is over and we're stuck waiting probably close to 9 months for season 5, I'll probably take up reading the books. Hopefully they're as interesting as the show.

To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill A Mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee

In my opinion, there is no need for a synopsis here. I am adding this review to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this wonderful book.

From Me: I am not sure anyone could say anything negative about this novel. Anyone can relate to this book. Harper Lee explores so many facets of life and human nature, but she does it in such a way that she invokes the reader's emotions with the story line. I believe that what makes her book so powerful is the focus on one man's struggle to prove his innocence and his resilience in doing so despite a hopeless situation.

Reading this book for a third time in law school I have a new appreciation. I am not sure anyone could say anything negative about this novel. Anyone can relate to this book. Harper Lee explores so many facets of life and human nature, but she does it in such a way that she invokes the reader's emotions with the story line. I believe that what makes her book so powerful is the focus on one man's struggle to prove his innocence and his resilience in doing so despite a hopeless situation.

Reading this book for a third time in law school I have a new appreciation for the book. Atticus Finch is often hailed by attorneys and legal scholars alike as the model lawyer, a hero to ethics. Although Atticus provides an excellent model for both character and attorneys, I beleive he is cheated by many who do not recognize his human frailty. Atticus is no civil rights leader, simply an attorney trying to provide a fair trial to his client. Atticus makes many missteps along the way, but in the end he makes a difficult choice to protect his children that illuminates his character.

The Help

The Help
Author: Kathryn Stockett

Description: Southern whites' guilt for not expressing gratitude to the black maids who raised them threatens to become a familiar refrain. But don't tell Kathryn Stockett because her first novel is a nuanced variation on the theme that strikes every note with authenticity. In a page-turner that brings new resonance to the moral issues involved, she spins a story of social awakening as seen from both sides of the American racial divide.

From Me: I was scared and excited to pick up this book. Every time such a hype is made over a book I end up disappointed-but not this time. This is a beautifully written book, it held my attention from the first page to the last, and I would have read on another 300 pages if the author had allowed it.

The book is placed in 1960's Jackson, Mississippi. The Civil Rights movement is just underway and its currents are reaching Jackson faster and faster. Each chapter has a different narrator, t ...more I was scared and excited to pick up this book. Every time such a hype is made over a book I end up disappointed-but not this time. This is a beautifully written book, it held my attention from the first page to the last, and I would have read on another 300 pages if the author had allowed it.

The book is placed in 1960's Jackson, Mississippi. The Civil Rights movement is just underway and its currents are reaching Jackson faster and faster. Each chapter has a different narrator, typically one of the maids. The story focuses on the lives of several black maids and their experience waiting on white families. The story is much deeper than that, though. The story deals with love, loss, anger, frustration, courage, fear, hate, parent-child relationships, the strong, the weak, and of course, the crazy.

One of the many main characters, Miss Skeeter, is a young unmarried white woman. Her mother desparately wants her to get married, she is constantly shocked by her bridge club's racist comments, and is on a mission to become and writer and to find out the truth about her childhood maid, Constantine's leaving.

The other most significant character is Abeline, a black maid. The story begins and ends with her journey. We find out quickly she is a praying woman, the she lost her son when he was 24, and that she feels lost to the world after losing her son. She and Miss Skeeter join up to create a dialogue exposing the maid-family relationship in Jackson.

I could go on and on about the characters, but it is best to just read the book. At the very least it is a moving story with many curiousities.

Garlic and Basil Hummus

Compliments of: Tastebook.com

-1 can CHICK PEAS / GARBANZO BEANS
-1 juiced & zested LEMON
-2 – 3 TBL TAHINI paste/dressing
-2 cloves GARLIC
-EVOO
-Handful BASIL
-S&P

Drain / rinse chick peas and put into blender/processor. Add lemon juice and zest, garlic, basil, tahini sauce, S&P.Pulse a few times to combine ingredients. Turn on low and slowly stream EVOO until texture is creamy. Refrigerate and serve. Best with pita or tortilla chips, but our favorite is fresh veggies.

For similar recipes and a lot more go to www.mealswithmaria.com!

The God of Small Things

The God of Small Things
Author: Arundathi Roy

Description: In her first novel, award-winning Indian screenwriter Arundhati Roy conjures a whoosh of wordplay that rises from the pages like a brilliant jazz improvisation. The God of Small Things is nominally the story of young twins Rahel and Estha and the rest of their family, but the book feels like a million stories spinning out indefinitely; it is the product of a genius child-mind that takes everything in and transforms it in an alchemy of poetry. The God of Small Things is at once exotic and familiar to the Western reader, written in an English that's completely new and invigorated by the Asian Indian influences of culture and language.

From Me: This book was a quick read, but I believe I may need to reread it. Roy apparently has a great affinity for verbosity and word-smithing. Not that I do not enjoy a good word-smither, it keeps me guessing about the intentions of the author. As is often the case, however, excessive word-smithing and description leaves me confused about what I just read. Nevertheless Roy has a fascinating writing style and a is quite good at plot twists. The end is not only shocking but saddening.

Good Story:

"A date which will live in infamy" -no, not FDR, but Emily N. Stilwell

Explanation:

So, one day, Casey, Emily's boyfriend, came home from work with very interesting news. It turns out that it is actually not the author of the quote who gains credit for the work, but actually just whatever random individual is first heard repeating it.

Turns out that earlier that day his friend used a quote by Winston Churchill in regular conversation. When Casey commented that such was a quote from Winston Churchill, the friend responded that "well I heard it from my friend Jane so I'm going to keep quoting her on it".

Later that day Casey opened up an email from the friend and after the signature line it read, "attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference"- Jane Doe. I know, I know, you are thinking to yourself, "but Sir Winston said that!". Doesn't count, Jane said it to Joe and so Joe will forever quote Jane.

The Hot Zone

The Hot Zone by Richard Preston

4.5 out of 5

Maybe because completely and utterly convinced a virus is going to wipe us clean or just because I just find viruses really interesting, but I did love this book oh-so-much.

While it reads like fiction, the scary thing is that this book is actually true. Completely terrifying but yet you can't quite seem to pull away.

Both arising from Africa, the book describes two hemorrhagic fevers, Ebola and it's much less terrifying but still scary sister, Marburg virus.

While I don't have too much to say on the book besides the fact that I flew through it and really liked it, I'd say it's a must read for any fan of viruses, outbreaks, or even fans of post-apocalyptic fiction. I know I wish I had my "blue suit" ready.

Atlas Shrugged

Atlas Shrugged
by Ayn Rand

This book is long and daunting but well worth the read.

Ayn Rand is an objectivist (obvious, obvious). Although this book discusses many themes like business, self-preservation, the evasiveness and permeation of human nature, etc. I believe that the book is largely about how creativity is the heart of human nature and that if it is stifled we will fail as a society but where we cultivate it we will thrive.

This book is long and daunting but probably one of the most influential but overlooked books of the 20th century.

My only dispute with Ayn Rand is with her interpretation of the title. In the book she eludes to the idea that the title is meant to signify indifference. I, on the other hand, think the book is better served by a different interpretation of the title. To say that "Atlas shrugged" means that the world is "shaken", as Atlas holds the world steadily upon his back. In this book I believe that the world is shaken by the regression and progression of freedom and creativity at different stages (all contingent on those able to suppress or cultivate freedom and creativity).

Spicy Honey-Glazed Chicken-Pioneer Woman

Prep Time: 5 min Cook Time: 10 min

* 4 whole Chicken Breasts
* 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
* 2 teaspoons Garlic Powder
* 2 teaspoons Chili Powder
* 2 teaspoons Ancho Chili Powder
* 2 teaspoons Salt
* 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
* 1 teaspoon Cumin
* ½ cups Honey
* 2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
For preparation instructions see: http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/recipes/main-courses/healthy-spicy-honey-glazed-chicken/

The Notorious Mrs. Winston

The Notorious Mrs. Winston by Mary Mackey
Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0

Description: With the nation on the verge of civil war, Claire Winston becomes a crusading abolitionist. But she takes an even greater risk when she finds herself in love with John Taylor, her husband's nephew. As much as John loves her, his devotion is to the Confederacy-and to the rebellious fighters known as Morgan's Raiders.

Separated from him by the war, Claire boldly travels across the war-torn country in search of her lover. Disguised as a male soldier, she suddenly finds herself drafted by none other than General Morgan himself, swept up in the greatest guerilla raid in American history-and caught between her loyalty to the Union and her love for John.

From Me: An excellent read. I have always enjoyed civil war themed books, and this was one of the most well researched and written that I have encountered. Typical chic-lit, Claire is miserable in her marriage, she falls in love but it is forbidden, and then, of course, things straighten themselves out. Though predictable I did enjoy the story and of course I enjoyed the historical tidbits slipped in here and there by the author.