Nigella Lawson

Nigella is an English chef whose book I happened across in the cooking section a while back. Last night I sat down and read the entire thing. She is a charming, old-world soul reminiscent grandmotherly wisdom, though she is quite young. To read her life story go to

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1336420.stm

Anyway, the book I picked up is Nigella Bites, which is also the name of her cooking show. There are stories intertwined in her cookbooks. Where she picked up the recipes, why she altered them the way she did, who makes them differently and how. She has published at least a couple of other cookbooks including the dessert recipe collection How to be a Domestic Goddess, which is next on my list to read.

She has an online listing of most of her recipes at www.nigella.com but to experience her wit and charm and class you really must read the writings in her books.

Mediterranean Gourmet Night

We had about 13 people come to our first of many dinner parties.
Adrienne & Paul brought Greek salad paired with Chianti
Becki & John brought stuffed mushrooms with a white wine and a pumpkin couscous dessert with a grape "honey" paired with a port
Kate & Andrew brought a lamb roast (it stole the show) and a Greek white wine
Elaine brought hummus and a red wine
Ray & Pat brought Chicken Cacciatore with Chianti
Kelly & Glen brought a Chicken salad with peppers and olives with a dry white wine
Dollye & Walker made Chicken Schwarma, Baklava, Tabbouleh & Challah bread paired with a french white wine. Next month will be Irish food, on St. Pat's.

dinner party

1. Mediterranean--check
Others:
Korean-Becki
Cuban
Mexican (Elaine)
Chinese
Indian
Italian
French
German
English
Scottish (for Tony)
Irish
Swiss (fondue)
Japanese
Carribean
Cajun
Tex-Mex

Madeline L'engle

I'd also like to pick up a Madeline L'engle book to read. I was never required in school to read A Wrinkle in Time....oddly enough.

One to read...

A book that I've been meaning to read is 32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny by Phillip Done. This is personal account and life lessons from teaching third grade. It is supposed to a be very inspirational and funny account of being a teacher. This is officially added to my list of 'need to read' books.

The Monks of New Skete

a dog training book. This was written by a group of monks who spend their days, among other things, by training German Shepherds. This is a very informative books that described in great detail how to do a variety of tasks ranging from potty training to following commands, to being led on a leash. I have read many books on this subject as well as watched a DVD and video and read hours of online information. This is by far the most straightforward, calm and collected approach to ensuring that your dog becomes the obedient, well-trained puppy that we all wish we had. Truffle is a wild hair, in more than one way, and only time will tell if she is picking up on any of these training methods. She seems to want to be obedient and wants to please us, it is that we need to use the same terms consistently so that she will be able to understand by association what we mean and what we are wanting from her.

Starting with Stories

by Pam Schiller. A great teacher resource for promoting literacy and accomodating various learning styles. Incorporates numerous ideas for teaching certain books and using these books to bring out the best learning in the children.

Snow Truffle

Wicked

by Gregory Maguire. Delightfully funny and hilariously witty. Can't wait until the show comes to Dallas so we can go and see it. I'm sure it's smashing.

1776

by David McCullough. Just started listening to this one. The narrarator is also the author and I usually can't listen to elderly men with low toned mono-syballic voices for too long without getting bored. I was hoping to learn some history from this one, hope it gets more interesting.

The Tenth Circle

by Jodi Picoult. Jodi Picoult is a highly requested author. I recently read an article in The Writer magazine about her writing style. She chooses topics that are current issues and makes the characters in the story have to consider these issues. She never really comes out and says her opinion, she just presents the 'what if...'. This story is about a girl who gets raped, then the young man accused of raping her is found murdered. The mother of the girl is having an affair, the father has no idea. The daughter is a cutter. Once you get past all of the depressing family issues, you see a family wanting and trying, despite all odds, to stay together. This is the heart of the book and is worth the read and worth the thought.

The Undomestic Goddess

by Sophie Kinsella. I've started borrowing books on cd from work to listen to on my way to and from school. The first one I listened to was this book. Witty and mindless troubles and romance. The story has some unexpected twists in the last couple of chapters, other than that it pretty much follows an expected plot path. It is funny although vulgar at some times.