Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Break to slobber over new books

I'm officially on a strict budget, now that we've put Kiddo's spring tuition on the plastic rectangle of debt doom, but I've received a bunch of ARCs, in the past couple of weeks, and had a bit of a splurge at Off-Square Books in Oxford during last weekend's quickie vacation.


Top to bottom:

Freddy and the Popinjay by Walter R. Brooks - purchase
Sea Change by Aimee Freedman - swap
The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley - from Wm Morrow for review
Baker Towers and News from Heaven by Jennifer Haigh - from Harper for review
The Real Jane Austen by Paula Byrne - from Harper for review
House of Earth by Woody Guthrie - another Harper book, which I'm struggling to get through.  There's a 28-page sex scene, if I counted right . . . maybe longer.  Yeeurgh.
Why Grow That When You Can Grow This? by Andrew Keys - a Twitter prize win from Timber Press (very exciting as we're really looking forward to working on the garden areas at our new house in the spring)


Top to bottom:  

Death in the Afternoon by Ernest Hemingway - purchase
Maps & Legends: Reading and Writing Along the Borderlands by Michael Chabon - purchase
On Wings of Eagles by Ken Follett - purchase
Classic Garden Plans by David Stuart - purchase
Not pictured:  The 13 Clocks by James Thurber, which I already mini-reviewed (purchase) and Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution (purchase), which my husband has already stolen (but at least I cooked something, first)

At the back:

A copy of the latest Oxford American: The Southern Music Issue (with CD - purchase)

The dish I cooked:


I think it's called "Macaroni and cauliflower cheese bake," but don't quote me on that.  One thing I learned, last night:   I'd forgotten I am a am not a strict recipe-follower (it's been a long, long time since I cooked from scratch).  I had a feeling the recipe was going to be a little too bland with mostly cheese and parsley in the sauce, so I added a little dry mustard and then threw on some paprika when I took my first bite and confirmed that it was still pretty bland.  Next time, I think I'll add some white onion.  Regardless, this is a nice recipe for kids because it's hard to distinguish the cauliflower from the macaroni, taste-wise, since they're boiled and baked in the sauce together.  Great way to sneak in the cruciferous veggie if you've got kids who aren't too good about eating their vegetables.



©2012 Nancy Horner. All rights reserved. If you are reading this post at a site other than Bookfoolery and Babble or its RSS feed, you are reading a stolen feed. Email bookfoolery@gmail.com for written permission to reproduce text or photos.

16 comments:

  1. I'm really looking forward to Haigh's NEWS FROM HEAVEN. That is next on my list.

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    1. Oh, good. We tend to like the same books, so I'm happy to hear that. Jennifer Haigh is new to me and I'm really looking forward to News from Heaven, too. I tend to love short stories.

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  2. What a fun selection of books! I love getting review copies in the mail when I'm on a budget - it's such a treat!

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    1. I think those are pretty fun piles, too! :) It's really a gift to be able to read and review advance readers, isn't it? I appreciate them very much. There are quite a few that I didn't get into, this year, and I need to do a post on those. I have some gathering to do.

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  3. What a great load of books, happy reading :)

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    1. Thanks, Sam! Fun times ahead, for sure! :)

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  4. I've been searching for a good mac and cheese recipe since it's both Scott and Elle's favorite (WHY?????) but I have troubles with them being bland as well. But I just don't want to use that hunk of velveta--you know? Cauliflower. Yum!! though the only way it gets eaten at our house is roasted with some salt and pepper.

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    1. It's hard to find a really flavorful mac and cheese recipe, isn't it? We've tried several, over the past year, and most have just been boring (and, yes, ick to the Velveeta -- I'm so over that). We all liked this, although I would like something more to spice it up. If you're talking people who enjoy bland food and a great way to sneak in cauliflower, the Jamie Oliver recipe is perfect. But, I'm personally going to set some aside and add cooked onion and a bit more paprika, next time. We'll have to play to see what everyone loves. Huz loved the mildness, Kiddo wanted more cheese and I craved some spice. There has to be a happy middle ground, right? LOL

      I don't think we've ever roasted cauliflower. That sounds terrific!

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  5. We got a few of the same books. Have tissues handy when you read The Promise of Stardust.

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    1. Uh-oh. tissue requirement. I'll save TPoS till after Christmas. Thanks for the warning!

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  6. Were I to try to sneal Cauliflower past anyone around here I'd have to blend it to a pulp and mix in the cheese sauce! lol

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    1. The cauliflower really does taste just like the rest of the macaroni, in this recipe. You could sneak it past anyone. Kiddo didn't even notice it and he's particular about his mac and cheese!!

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  7. Lots of good books there! Perfect for reading over the holidays.

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    1. Exactly! I'm already enjoying some delicious holiday reading. :)

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  8. Enjoy all of your new books, Nancy!!

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