Book Review: Ruined: A Novel by Paula Morris

Another book review ~ by Sara

So what might you read after you read a fluffy but pleasing fantasy romance? Well, I chose a tween ghost story set in post-Katrina New Orleans. I'm talking about Ruined: A Novel by Paula Morris. The premise is a girl is uprooted from her New York life to go live with her aunt and cousin in New Orleans while her father is on a business trip. Rebecca, our girl, does not fit into her new school because she is an "outsider," and the story really gets moving when she sneaks into the local graveyard one night, following the popular kids. There she meet her first friend in the area, Lisette. You guessed it - Lisette is a ghost and is part of the mysterious curse afflicting the local community.

I had wanted to read this book since I stumbled on it while flitting around Amazon. I thought the cover was just the right amount of creepy and pretty. Plus, who doesn't like a ghost story? In this case, the ghostly elements were reached quickly and moved along at a good clip. The characters were likeable if a little lacking in dimension, and the story was good if a little predictable. As with many ghost stories, the ghost was the best part. Lisette's story was-by far-the most interesting. It helped that I wasn't just handed Lisette's story. I was introduced to the other players in the community first and got an idea of how their value system works. Strangely, the values were more complicated by history than simply by socioeconomic factors. In addition to the expected parts of the story, the author manages a tidy insertion of some New Orleans history. For the most part, this history was slipped into the narrative with very few ripples, and I only occasionally felt like the author was trying to tell me this or that. It was a nice change of pace from vampires, werewolves, wizards, and the more urban things that go bump in the night.

I would recommend Ruined: A Novel--with a couple of warnings. This ghost story is not very chilling. The scenes involving danger are either far in the past or presented in a way that leads you to believe nothing bad will really happen. On the positive side, at least for me, the teen angst and "coming of age" elements often found when your lead is sixteen and interested in a boy are happily limited. This book is very suitable for a younger reader or anyone with squeamish sensibilities. For light reading, this is an excellent choice. If you want to be scared, try something else.

Book Review: Bewitched and Betrayed by Lisa Shearin

Another book review by ~S

So, I have been slacking in my whole need to tell everyone what I'm reading. Part of this is because my letterboxing hobby has become an obsession but the main reason is that I found my own reviews to be too much whining about how I'd fix the book. I wanted to talk about a book I really liked. Finally, I finished a book I really enjoyed. Of course, it's the fourth in a series about a woman who accidentally gets herself linked to a magic stone which steals people's souls, who is torn between two men, and who has a horde of pirate relatives. Go ahead. . . guess what book??? Of course I'm talking about the Raine Benares series by Lisa Shearin, and I just finished Bewitched & Betrayed.

I liked this book-mainly--because the characters are enjoyable. I am interested in everyone from Raine, to her pirate family, to her 934 year old Elven father now residing in the 20 year old body of a new guardian, to her Goblin cohorts. Every character feels real and seems motivated by something you can understand - not just "because it is the right thing to do." I am looking forward to meeting the sneaky older cousin banker in the next book! Additionally, there's enough plot issues (political games goblins vs Elves, what to do with the big bad rock, how to keep your friends and family safe, etc.) that there's always something going on. That being said, I also like that the political intrigue doesn't take over the story but works in harmony with the other problems. This is a nice change from novels where you learn about the last ten generations of the family and know how they will act (nobly usually) based on this information. What a snore.

Finally, I also like this book due to the love triangle which has been building since Mycheal hit the scene and Tam kissed Raine into not forgetting him. Raine finally makes a decision in this book. I--for one--was rather surprised by her choice. I was mildly disappointed that some information revealed about her choice seems to be due to the need to make sure we all know this relationship is the only choice and will totally work out. The information came out of nowhere (no foreshadowing) and seemed a stretch to me. Then to justify it by saying that as a Benares Raine would have known about this secret group? Really? However, I still appreciated that a choice was needed and the repercussions of said choice were reasonable based on the history of the relationships. How's that for vague and not a spoiler. . . .

Anyway, I really enjoyed Bewitched & Betrayed. In fact, I've liked the entire series although I wasn't completely sold after the first book, Magic Lost, Trouble Found. I will also admit that this is not serious fantasy or a series requiring you to think too much about it. It is pure, fluffy enjoyment. If that's not for you, take a pass on this one. However, for a good time, call 1-800-Raine-Benares. And yes, I am definitely looking forward to the next book.

Book Review: Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde

another book review brought to you by ~S

So, you may be wondering what I've been reading lately. I know I have. Well, I just finished Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde. As someone who love, love, loves his Nursery Crimes books and liked the Thursday Next books (although I have to admit I was a little sick of everyone except Pickwick by The Well of Lost Plots - Plock!). I am sad to report that Fforde appears to have sacrificed characterization and story for cleverness. In short, Shades of Grey is the post-apocalyptic story of Eddie Russet, a man born into a world ruled by a Colortocracy who is trying to follow the myriad of rules established by Munsell after the "Something That Happened" and gain status through the strength of his ability to see the color red since most people have the ability to see only one color in varying degrees. Unfortunately, Eddie's curiosity and need to ask questions cause him to be banished to the Outer Fringes and impede his traditional rise in society.

One thing is sure; Shades of Grey is definitely clever. As usual, Fforde's world building is absolutely complete. You get a remarkable glance at where the society has been as the list of things which have been "put beyond use" through leapbacks become longer and longer. I'm simply not sure what I would do with only The Word of Munsell and Racy novels to read??!? The use of color (or lack thereof) as a basis for social structure is well thought out and VERY thorough. Complimentary colors don't interact and can't marry. A purple heading toward the blue end will have to marry the redest mate he or she can find to purple up their progeny. Additionally, there are witty inclusions of current pop culture. I, personally, liked the Oz references such as the almost genetic fear of flying monkeys. Someone I know was enthralled by the inclusion of a line from Point Break and keeps trying to decide whether he'll keep a Badly Drawn Map from Parker Brothers somewhere safe just in case. These connections are a happy little shocks but simply don't make up for the lack of likeable characters or the somewhat boring, revolution based plot.

I know that some will simply accuse me of not being clever enough to understand all the allusions and social commentary. Of course, I'm not sure how that is possible as you are beat about the head and ears with them. Color influenced singles ads? Somewhat silly tourist attractions like the rabbit? Oh ha ha. . . how astutely satiric. Additionally, the pacing of this book is incredibly slow. 400 pages is - wait for it - four days. Oh yes, it's another aspect of the satirization but it makes reading the darn thing nearly painful. I will admit that the pace picks up at the end of the book making me like Shades of Grey far better on page 325 than I had at page 300. Finally, the biggest sin for me was the fact that the characters were nasty, naïve, stupid or so stereotypical in their behavior that I found no value in them, their activities, or their opinions. I couldn't care less what happened to them. In fact, I would say reboot EVERY CHARACTER in the book. It also makes me sad because this would have been a phenomenal book if I could have found any reason to root for Jane or Eddie as they try to bring down the Colortocracy.

Again, I'm sure someone out there just thought to themselves that I have no experience with absurdist works or suspension of belief and clearly would have appreciated this book with a bit more education. I'd just like to remind you that I have a masters in English Lit. I have been down the absurdist path (Camus, Kafka, Ionesco, Albee, Beckett) and even enjoyed some of it in a mostly intellectual way. However, these days I'm reading for pure enjoyment not for the betterment of my intellect or the haughty I'm-smart-enough-to-read-this-and-get-it enjoyment. I mean, I'm not sure there's anyone out there that would read The Metamorphosis for fun (although I might be willing to read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and am willing to read Lamb for fun)?? I wish Shades of Grey fit into a more low key (low brow???) group of satires. . . ones that include interesting characters and a humor that is funny-possibly laugh aloud funny--instead of just cutting and bleak. I would posit some of Terry Pratchett's and Christopher Moore's works in that group. . . a group I actually want to read.

So, will I read the next book? Maybe but probably only in paperback. Would I recommend this book? Well maybe. I would recommend Shades of Grey if (1) you're not a character driven reader or (2) you want to brag to your friends about the deeply intellectual satire you read. Mostly, though, I really wish Fforde had taken the time he used on this book and written a third Nursery Crimes tale instead.

Book Review: 100 Cupboards by N. D. Wilson

Another book review by ~S

This time I thought I would be reviewing an adult novel, but what I'm working on just isn't that interesting. In fact, it's just sitting in The Stack waiting for me to get back to it. Instead, I zipped through 100 Cupboards by N. D. Wilson. Some might speculate it's the large print and only 320 pages but I think it's because--once the action got going--I wanted to find out what was in all of the cupboards.

In 100 Cupboards, Henry York is sent to stay with his Aunt Dotty, Uncle Frank, and three girl cousins (Penelope, Henrietta, and Anastasia) when his parents are kidnapped while biking in Columbia. He moves into an attic room and discovers one of his walls is covered with cupboards when a bit of the plaster comes loose revealing the first of the doors. Once Henry removes the plaster, he sets out to open the doors. He is only sort of successful. One of the cupboards he opens emits a pleasant, earthy smell and sounds of rain and wind. A different cupboard opens into a mailbox. There's also the black door which makes Henry sick when opened by his partner in hi-jinks, Henrietta. What finally happens with the cupboards kept me turning pages right up to the end. Ultimately, the cupboards deliver fantasy and terror as well as some violence. . . everything you could hope for from a tale of magic.

While the magic cupboards are clearly front and center, I also got a good slice of Henry's life. I learned about Henry's relationship to his parents and with his Aunt, Uncle, and cousins. I developed a sense of how a small town functions. The flavor really comes through in the exchanges between Uncle Frank and Billy regarding the locked door to Grandpa's bedroom and the problems with pride in whether or not to pay someone for something as simple as opening a locked door. I also enjoyed Henry leaning to play baseball, getting his first taste of soda, and owning his first (and probably only if his parents have anything to say about it) pocket knife. Finally, I really liked the relationship between Henry and Uncle Frank. I thought quite a bit about buying tumbleweeds off the internet (well, I actually wondered what Oregon item I could easily collect and bundle to sell on the internet). It's these quiet intrusions of real life which made the story so complete, and the contrast makes the magical bits that much more alluring.

The downside. . . well, you don't get to find out what's in all of the cupboards or possibly where they all go. The bits and pieces-especially the ruined ballroom-hint at what might be found. I was also a little disappointed by how lacking in imagination Henry and Henrietta were. They got mysterious mail but didn't seem able to speculate on what the letters were discussing. I found that weird since-in my experience-even children from very sheltered homes are able to imagine what things mean and don't just dismiss them as nonsensical. My final complaint is that you only meet TBE (The Big Evil) at the end of the book. For someone plotting destruction and domination, there's not much to her until she's suddenly in the house and knows all about the family and town―even Henry who has only been there a short time. Additionally, characters aware of TBE just fall before her without much resistance. I think I would have preferred a little more building up of TBE and a better sense of her evil tendrils slowly escaping her cupboard prison.

Once again, I am looking forward to the next book, Dandelion Fire: Book 2 of the 100 Cupboards. I assume I'll also really want the third book which was just released January 26, 2010 (The Chestnut King: Book 3 of the 100 Cupboards). 

So many books yet so much time taken away from reading by work and sleep. . . what's a girl to do?

Moss is green and so is croach

If you live in Oregon, particularly in the valley or forested regions, you're familiar with moss.

We've got moss on the roof, on the sidewalk, in the lawn, on the trees, on the street, in between the patio pavers. It's everywhere.

Kinda reminds me of the croach in Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series. 

But the croach is kinda creepy as you would learn if you read the series. Check it out.

Book Reviews: Hound of Rowan and The Second Siege by Henry Neff

Another book review by ~S

Have I mentioned that I also read a lot of YA/kid's sci-fi and fantasy??? Well if not - surprise - I do. After finishing off Harry Potter and being stuck between books of my newest favorite series (Fablehaven by Brandon Mull - go find it if you haven't started reading this series yet), I needed something else. I read a snippet from somewhere heralding The Hound of Rowan: Book One of the Tapestry by Henry Neff as the next Harry Potter. So, I read it and was somewhat disappointed. Sure, there was a school for gifted children in the States, magic appeared to be physical or mental but not necessarily both, there was Euclidean soccer, each child bonded with a magical creature, and the objective of the school was to train agents to protect the world from evil. Mostly it seemed a bit like a knockoff of Harry Potter and reminded me too much of the Bartimaeus trilogy by Jonathan Stroud. I found The Hound of Rowan slow and just not that interesting. That being said, I just finished The Second Siege: Book Two of the Tapestry, and I am very happy that I forged ahead in this series.

So, why is The Second Siege better??? Well, the first reason has to be that Max McDaniels and David Menlo finally seemed real to me. I actually liked them. Maybe that's because they were away from the student woes of the first book or maybe they were depicted as more mature. Who knows? All I do know is that I finally cared what happened to them. Second, the pacing of this book was much better. Things actually happened. Astaroth, the demon villain, was on the move, and his actions broke down societies and caused apocalyptic conditions the world over. Since I kept trying to push this book into a storyline I was more familiar with, I spent a lot of my reading time wondering how there would/could be a happy ending. I hate to break it to you but there was not a happy ending (although that made me happy so I guess I got a happy ending). Finally, I think I liked The Second Siege because it finally found its own voice. I stopped seeing reflections of other books and-while the comparisons are still valid-I finally stopped feeling like I knew what was coming. Intertextuality is one thing, but without some spark of the unknown, a book is soooo not worth it.

Since it's me, I have to mention my big complaint in The Second Siege. I feel that Neff used some shortcuts to avoid things he didn't feel like describing or possibly to shorten the text. For example, there's a missing month or so where Max trains in the land of the Sidh. I would like some details about what the "break him" training entailed and possibly about how training in a different culture helped/hurt Max. Also, what about some of the gaps in information about Max's fighting? The machine producing the scenario wouldn't reveal what happened? How is that possible and why wasn't anyone more concerned? I am willing to speculate that these shortcuts may be fleshed out in the following books, so I'm not counting them against the author. . . yet. I'll just have to see how it goes in book three.

After disliking The Hound of Rowan, I am surprised but happy to say I would recommend The Second Siege. Of course, this means I am recommending the whole series since the background from The Hound of Rowan is needed to fully delight in the action of The Second Siege. I am looking forward to The Fiend and the Forge: Book Three of the Tapestry which is coming out September 28, 2010.  However, I am not putting the hardback on my "must have" list since I have to admit the descriptions I've read of the plot make me a little nervous that it's going to be a "filler" book (you know, the ones in the middle of a series which meander around and are just an excuse to show new characters and locales without really doing much for the story arc). I will be waiting for the paperback though.

Here's to hoping the gap between hardback and paperback isn't a long one!

Book Review: Must Love Hellhounds by Ilona Andrews, Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh and Meljean Brook

Another book review.... by ~S

Ri-i-i-ght, so I've been told that I might need to provide a little more introduction to my fabulous (adjective added by me) meanderings about books. While I am really a character driven reader and could-in some ways-care less about the plot (yes, we're back to my need for witty banter), I am willing to try and give the people what they want. So this week's book is Must Love Hellhounds, a compilation including novellas by Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh, Meljean Brook, and Ilona Andrews. Except for Harris' offering, these stories are all Urban Romantasy and based in the worlds already established by the authors as far as I can tell. Harris' story is fantasy and had the weakest connection to her other novels. My overall opinion is favorable, and I am not sorry I spent some of my book budget to purchase this book.

Now let's be serious. . . I bought this collection for the story by Andrews, Magic Mourns, as I love-love-love her stories. I was unsure what to expect but was very happy to have a story that came in after Magic Strikes and was about Raphael and Andrea taking care of a supernatural problem while Kate is recovering. While the story felt somewhat contrived, I enjoyed learning a bit more about both Raphael and Andrea. Was it mind blowing? Would I have cared so much if I weren't a fan of the Kate Daniels books? No. Was I far more interested in Kate's recuperative reading choices and who could dispose of Persephone's apples? Was I okay with using this as a quick fix until Magic Bleeds comes out? Oh yes and I was even grateful. It's just too bad that Andrews couldn't have written an Edge story and this story and then connected with maybe Mark Del Franco and Linnea Sinclair rather than Harris and Singh to round this compilation out. 

My second choice was Brook's Blind Spot where the leads attempt to solve a kidnapping. In the past I had avoided her books since they keep being described as erotic. I have to admit I am opposed to books considered erotic. Don't get me wrong. . . I don't prudishly care that they're on bookshelves. I just know I don't care to find the leads using the "c" word or discussing their love interest's rosebud of an asshole (authors-you know who you are). Nor do I need multiple pages of thrusting, completion, and descriptions (often fruit based) of nipples. In this case, I was pleasantly surprised. The sexual situations didn't overtake the story, the characters, or act as the major motivation for the action. Plus, in this story, I (finally) developed a deep affection for Sir Pup, the actual hellhound. I'll also point out that I enjoyed this story enough that I am considering trying one of Brook's Guardian novels - even though I am usually opposed to angel/vampire/demon stories (sorry Singh). 

Now to discuss the remaining stories... 

I wasn't too excited to read them, but hey, they were in the book, and it was on my book stack conveniently located next to my bed. I started with Harris' story, The Britlingens Go to Hell, because the description on the back cover appealed to me more than the remaining story. The good news for me was that this was not a story propelled by the success of Sookie Stackhouse (Surprise, surprise—I strongly dislike the books and the TV series although I do like Harris' Harper Connelly books). It was also nice that the story focused on the problems of traveling in hell to retrieve a stolen object. The romance was limited to learning who Clovache is "knocking helmets" with and learning Batanya connects with their supernaturally endowed client, Crick. The bad news: it was kind of boring, Lucifer wasn't exactly the Prince of Evil, and hell could have been anywhere - perhaps some bad S&M club? I was simply unmoved. 

This stayed the case as I read Singh's story, Angel's Judgment. I had never read her novels and was pretty sure I wasn't interested in a story about angels and vampires. Yeah for me, I was right. I didn't care. Now, I'm not saying it was a bad story or that the search for the mysterious killer was poorly thought out. Mostly, I just didn't like any of the characters enough to care how the story resolved. The story could have been any story about a rogue vampire and sexy hunters. The hunky hero gets together with the spunky heroine.  What a shock.

So, my overall judgment?

A 50% love of hellhounds is not half bad.

::

Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Berkley Trade (September 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425229599
ISBN-13: 978-0425229590
Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 1 inches

Book Review: The Drowning City by Amanda Downum

Another book review by ~S

Do you ever feel like an author has written their books out of order? I'm feeling that way about Amanda Downum's The Drowning City. I wanted a book with a well developed magical premise, a decadent landscape, and a strong female lead. Unfortunately, this book simply didn't deliver.

The magic is clearly stone based but it is unclear why some people have access to that and some don't or why certain stones work in certain ways. Also, the magical creatures are almost completely unexplored. Nakh are evil water spirits.  Oka-a-a-a-y, where did they come from? Were they always a problem or did the building of Symir in the delta they called home cause the problem? Why mention them if it could have been any generic evil spirit?

The places -from countries to neighborhood- were confusing and didn't have enough personality to set them apart. For example, Jadewater was different from Merrowgate or the Floating Garden how exactly?  Selfali versus Sivahra? They are supposed to be different but really felt very similar. Mostly, I have to say why not political factions in the same country?

As for the characters, I liked them enough to finish the book but had some issues with Isyllt. She acted in ways which were deeply inconsistent with the little I figured had to be true about her. Why would Kiril send her to do this job unless she was a trained and competent political agent? After reading this book, I'm thinking it may be because she is extremely lucky. She lucked her way into a revolution. She also slept with a possible agent of the enemy because he seemed intriguing (apparently one drunken pity party was enough to resolve Isyllt's feelings for Kiril??), and she learned very little about the people she was supposed to be manipulating to her advantage. Lucky she wasn't killed . . . probably. Trained and competent . . . not so much.

Okay, so I wasn't a huge fan of the book but I am asking for book two and first no less? Well, this may be based on my hopeful reading of the blurb for book two, The Bone Palace, at the end of The Drowning City. The Bone Palace appears to take Isyllt home and lets her do her thing on home soil. This should give the reader (and more importantly ME) a better understanding of what drives Isyllt, why we should side with Kiril rather than anyone else, and possibly provide a stronger background to explain more about the way magic works. If so, I have a feeling I will like Isyllt more and care more about the overall state of her world.

In general, I guess I support saving the overthrow of government until we understand why we would want to . . . but then, I'm just silly that way.

Cookbooks and Kids

I received four cookbooks in December.

Ratio: The Simple Codes Behind the Craft of Everyday Cooking

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl

The Joy of Pickling by Linda Ziedrich

The Joy of Jams, Jellies, and Other Sweet Preserves by Linda Ziedrich

I love cookbooks.

I actually received two copies of The Pioneer Woman Cooks.

One of the unexpected bonuses since then has been my kids' interest and involvement in cooking.

I proposed to my clan that they should take part in making our nightly dinner, which the majority of the time is still a sit down affair at the dining table. I suggested they use The Pioneer Woman Cooks as their guide. I figured the easy step by step process with pictures would work well.

Success!

My three kids have teamed up 3-4 times since then to make some wonderful meals.

First off, the boys made Comfort Meatballs.


(Ignore my messy kitchen. I do.)

Next up was my daughter and middle son who made Linguini with Clam Sauce. Oh...So...Good.

Then the two youngest again, with my aid, to make Simple, Perfect Enchiladas. I must say that the sauce recipe is a brilliant touch.

And finally, my middle pretty much solo'ed making the Lasagna.

I am so happy and proud and rested.

Thank you Ree!

Book Review: Soulless by Gail Carriger

by ~S

Okay, I admit it. . . I read a lot of what I'm affectionately calling Urban Roman-tasy (and what my family less affectionately calls Vampire Porn). There is a lot out there right now, and I've discovered that I'm becoming a little impervious to it. Oh, I still have authors I snap up (Ilona Andrews and Mark Del Franco for example) but there are some that are just boring me into playing DS before bed rather than reading. So, it was with hesitation that I picked up Soulless by Gail Carriger (okay, I actually got it for Christmas so I really had very little to do with the picking up part).

I wondered how bad Victorian-noir, urban fantasy could be. The answer was not bad at all. I read the darn book in three sittings, and it was a first novel (normally full of problems and pacing issues thereby causing me to read it while reading a more steadfast novel). I loved the main character Alexia Tarabotti. . . a big girl who loves food. . . how can you go wrong?? Additionally, there was my required banter, a fashion loving, gay vampire, and a prior introduction of the leads in an incident involving a hedgehog. I can hear you all thinking about walking away or going to Amazon to read more rational reviews, but don't quit reading before I gush a little about Carriger's history and inclusion of the preternatural. Not your average human and not connected to the werewolf/vampire community either but easily a necessary part of the overall dynamic. . . or so you will believe after reading Soulless. Part of me still wonders if Carriger developed the preternatural before she started the book or after she needed a fabulous way to bring the two leads to a hands-on meeting of the minds.

Now that I've pushed what I like about the book, I will admit there is a little first novel jitter obvious in the text. The author reminded me way too often that Alexia is half-Italian, has a large nose and a dusky complexion, and is a big girl. I understand those components played into Alexia's world view and social status--another large part of this novel--but I don't think I forgot that between say chapters 8 and 10 or even 8 and 12. That being said, it didn't slow down my reading or ruin my feelings about this book. I have happily added book 2, Changeless, to my list of must have books, and I am looking forward to March 2010.

New Year....New Stuff

The countdown has begun...

For a night out with friends.
For a Wii extravaganza.
For 2010

That's the New Year.
....
Here's the New Stuff.

A good friend has agreed to do a book review for the blog. (I hope she'll keep them coming.)

~S is my go-to girl for new book ideas and music trivia.

She's smart.
She's sassy.

We'll just call her...

 ~S.

Her first book review will be posted soon for Soulless by Gail Carriger.

Happy New Year!

Queue

Queue, queue, queue.

I love this word. It reminds me of a children's book I used to read (or rather show) to my kids when they were young. Animalia by Graeme Base.

Quivering Quails Queuing Quietly for Quills
Two Tigers Taking the 10:20 Train to Timbuktu
Great Green Gorillas Growing Grapes in a Gorgeous Glass Greenhouse
.
Anyway. Enough of that.

The movies I have in the queue for this month are an odd assortment.

Holiday Inn
On the Town
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
Grease
Fiddler on the Roof

See what I mean.

::

I Love Me Some Pork Carnitas

I love me some tasty Mexican food and I love me these carnitas.

Pork Butt
Lard
Oranges
Salt and Pepper
and a Dutch Oven

This is all you need to make the best pork carnitas around.

I have a weak spot for caramelized savory dishes. These carnitas are little nuggets of delicious goodness.

Serve warm on a corn tortilla with a little fresh guacamole and a touch of cilantro and lime. Ah, bliss.


Give it a try.


Recipe by: Zarela Martinez
Cookbook: Food From My Heart


Pork Nuggets


1/4 to 1/3 cup lard, or vegetable oil 
4 pounds lean boneless pork butt, cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste 
Zest of 1 or 2 oranges, finely chopped or slivered 
3/4 cup fresh orange juice 

In a large, heavy Dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid, heat 3-4 tablespoons of the lard or oil over high heat until almost smoking. Add about one third of the pork (just enough to fit in one layer.) Season lightly with salt and pepper and scatter one third of the orange zest over it. Reduce the heat to medium-high and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionallly and adjusting the heat as necessary, until the pork is browned and crisp on all sides, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the meat to a large bowl and reserve. Cook the remaining pork in two batches in the same manner, adding another 1 or 2 tablespoons of lard if necessary. 

Drain off the excess fat from the Dutch oven; return the browned meat to the pan, add the orange juice and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring frequently to coat the meat on all sides. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, until the liquid reduces to a syrupy glaze, 10 to 15 minutes. While the orange juice is reducing, preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Bake, tightly covered, until the meat is very tender but chewy, about 40 minutes.

Drain off the excess fat that has accumulated and serve the carnitas hot, with hot flour or corn tortillas and any kind of salsa.

Yield: 6-8 servings

Salud!

Diner Love - Court Street Dairy Lunch

I love me a good diner.

After a quick stroll through Bush Park I've been known to mosey over to Chad's or White's for breakfast. For a mid-week downtown bite, Court Street Dairy Lunch is a favorite spot. I can always count on a familiar face behind the counter.

Recently, I heard an interesting story on the radio. It was an interview with Candacy A. Taylor who has written the book, Counter Culture: The American Coffee Shop Waitress.

As noted from her website, Taylor Made Culture;

"The waitress project features women who have been dishing out everything from eggs to insults for up to 60 years. They are among the healthiest, most vibrant, hardest working women in the US. They have raced to our tables, quarreled with the cooks and brought humor and culture to the American roadside dining experience. Despite the social stigma of being ‘just a waitress,’ this multimedia project tells the stories of women who enjoy what they do. Although waitressing is hard work, these lifers say the job keeps them feeling younger, sharpens their minds, and fulfills their desire to make meaningful human connections with their regular customers."

The book was published in September 2009.   ~ Annie Bloom's Books ~

Wonderful photo essay via The New Yorker.

Next time I visit my favorite diner, Court Street Dairy Lunch, I'll be reminded of the importance of leaving a good tip to the familiar faces behind the counter. They've been serving me since my first visit over 25 years ago.

I'll take a Ranch burger with fries and a vanilla milkshake please. Thousand on the side.

Sick Day

Sick Days are no fun.

At our house, TV is off limits when under the weather. Sick days involve lounging in bed or on the couch, drinking lots of tea and reading.

Hmmm, that actually sounds pretty good except for the SICK part.

The View Point Inn as a Birthday Destination

This last spring I was lucky enough to be part of the thirteen year birthday celebration for a wonderful girl I know, Em. Specifically, she is my college roommate's eldest daughter.

Now, in 2009 most thirteen year old's are familiar, if not briefly obsessed, with the Twilight series of books by Stephenie Meyer. (Em was no exception. I myself was no exception and I'm not thirteen anymore.)

Em's mother organized a wonderful night at The View Point Inn. This Inn was used in the filming of the movie adaptation of Twilight, specifically for portions of the prom scene.

We stayed the evening in The Roosevelt Suite, a beautiful two-room delight. The oldies read and chatted while the youngies played music and games, perused magazines and munched on junk food. As it was a suite, there was ample room for separation of us oldies from the youngies. What thirteen year old wants to hang out with her mom and friends?

The Inn is near enough to Troutdale that we were able to brave the winding road down to I-84 and head over to McMenamin's Edgefield for dinner and a pint (for the oldies of course) at the Power Station Pub and Theatre.

In the morning, we were served brunch in a beautiful dining area, adjacent to a great room with a lovely fire. Brunch was outstanding. I enjoyed the Dungeness Crab Benedict but eyed the wonderful looking Crown Point Burger from afar. Perfect.

Em's sister El, ordered tea and a few sides, including fruit, english muffin, and yogurt with granola. It was presented beautifully on a tray with tea service. What a delight.

The view, for which The View Point Inn is likely named, overlooks the Columbia River and is amazing. Why don't you see for yourself.

Sassy Beans

I've got a weakness for pickled vegetables. So, when I received a big bag of green beans I knew I had to track down a recipe to pickle them.

I adapted a recipe I found from the wonderful blog :food in jars:. This site is inspiration. The recipe in question, was itself adapted from another source. So Easy to Preserve.

I cleaned, prepped, measured and cut the beans and then packed them in the jars. Now, the packing part was a little crazy making cause my green beans weren't particularly straight.

Due to my orderly nature (issues, I know) I had to have them perty. But then due to my frugal nature (issues, I know) I couldn't waste the extra bits. So, in the end, I had a variety of prepped jars.

Here is the recipe.

Pickled Green Beans (aka Dilly Beans)

2 pounds green beans, trimmed to fit your jars
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 teaspoons dill seed (not dill weed)
4 cloves garlic
2 1/2 cups white vinegar (5%)
2 1/2 cups water
1/4 cup pickling salt (use a bit more if you’ve only got kosher)

Prep your canning pot by inserting a rack to keep your jars off the bottom of the pot, place pint jars in (wide-mouth pints work best here. A 12 ounce jelly jar is also nice, as it’s a bit taller than a standard pint and makes for less trimming) and fill it with water. Bring to a boil to sterilize while you prepare the rest of your ingredients.

Wash and trim your beans so that they fit in your jar. If you have particularly long beans, your best bet is to cut them in half, although by doing so, you do lose the visual appeal of having all the beans standing at attending.

Combine vinegar, water and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. While it’s heating up, pack your beans into the jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace (distance between the tops of the beans and the rim of the jar). To each jar, add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 clove of garlic and 1 teaspoon dill seeds.

Pour the boiling brine over the beans, making sure to leave that 1/2 inch headspace. Use a plastic knife to remove air bubbles from jar by running it around the interior of the jar. Wipe the rims and apply the lids (which have been sitting in a small saucepan of water at a mere simmer for at least ten minutes in order to soften the sealing compound) and rings.

Process for 5 minutes in a boiling water bath (remember that you don’t start timing until the pot has come to a roiling boil).

These beans want to hang out for a least two weeks before eating, to thoroughly develop their flavor.

The beans were finished on the 13th and we're now 2 weeks out. Drum roll, please......

They're delicious. They still retain a snap and the cayenne has added a delightful sass.

I now dub them Sassy Beans.

Swiss Chard Pie

I'm amazed by the power of social networking.

Just today I was searching the internet for a local Sunday Farmer's Market with no luck. I logged into FB and noted an old high school chum had posted a link to her friends' website with the notation that they would be selling their veg at a local farmer's market.

This is how I found you Pitchfork and Crow. Cute website and lovely veg. Their noted recipe for Swiss Chard Pie was my inspiration for dinner.

Of course I tweaked it a bit. The recipe below only varies slightly from the original.

I used a no roll pie crust recipe and adjusted the amounts to my liking for one pie.

Swiss Chard Pie

1/2 onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

2 tablespoons butter

1 small bunch Swiss Chard (6-7 leaves)

6 eggs

1 cup shredded cheese

1 teaspoon salt

pie crust

~

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Brown onion and garlic in butter. Trim and chop chard, add to pan, and cook until wilted. Beat eggs in a bowl; mix in cheese, salt, and chard mixture. Pour into pie crusts.

Bake until knife inserted into center comes out clean, 30-40 minutes.

.

Recipe adapted from the excellent book: From Asparagus to Zucchini: A Guide to Cooking Farm-Fresh Seasonal Produce, Third Edition

Durzo Blint - I love that name

My son reads incessantly.

Incessantly.

The latest fantasy series which consumed his time is from Brent Weeks - The Night Angel Trilogy. Now, I'm not one to let my kids read alone, so I usually pick up and read their leftovers. I really enjoyed this one. Great scope.

Durzo Blint. I love that name.

Today, at a birthday party for a two year old, the auntie pulled "The Way of Shadows" out of her purse. I let her know that I, and my son, had read and enjoyed the book. She let me know that the author was a friend of hers. Wow!

I can't wait to tell my son. He'll be excited...or maybe not. He is 15.