This and that~

I just received (and started) Food Whore, a novel of dining and deceit by Jessica Tom.   I keep two or three different books going at the same time and started this one right out of the envelope in which it arrived.  I am half way through it and I have to say I really like it. It is like Ruth Reichl used to write before she became so sad.  I am also starting Breach of Promise by Perri O'Shaugnsessy. (This series is written by two sisters under one name as Perri O'Shaugnessy. I like their work.)

As I mentioned Brooks brought me a cookbook when he came home for a long week end from The Citadel.  Pat Conroy's Recipes and Stories of my Life.  This book is not a beauty but I am finding it very readable and it is providing some good kitchen hints to say nothing of the recipes.  It is not a coffee table looker, however.

Hints from the cookbooks I mentioned:

ints:se as little water as possible when cooking vegetables.  Avoid violent boiling. Always add hot water, not cold,  to vegetables to avoid toughness. (That's a surprise to me.)

A damp paper towel or terry cloth towel brushed downward on a cob of corn will remove every strand of corn silk.  Yea.  I'm trying that one.

Catsup will flow out of the bottle evenly if you first insert a drinking straw, push it to the bottom of the bottle, then remove.

Store mushrooms and string beans in a brown paper bag in the refrigerator...not in plastic.



Now this looks like fall.  What a lovely picture from La table de Nana. I think it is the variety and size of the tomatoes with the touch of parsley. Anyone would love to settle down with the Sunday paper and one of these.

Have you tried Kale chips?   Easy and delicious over the top of a pizza before serving, on a sandwich before eating, on a salad at the last minute...crisp as chips.  Olive oil, kale, salt, pepper, oven about 20 minutes or until crisp.  (Beth eats this delight like potato chips with less guilt.)