November 30, 2011

What Are You Reading?


I’m always tentative to talk about what I‘m reading. I think our taste in books, like art perhaps, is subjective. What one person may like, another may not. Not because the book isn’t good or bad or worth reading at all, it’s simply because it doesn’t fit that person at that moment, and that’s okay. Best seller lists tell us what’s hot, but I’m not always a big fan of reading what the masses are reading either. Or maybe I’ll add a book to my list, but I won’t read it for a long time….until I’m ready, and when I want to read about that particular subject or get immersed in its story. I didn’t read The Help until it was in paperback, and even then I waited a while. It’s now one of my favorite books.

I also like to read stories that relate to what’s happening in my life at the time. When I’m on vacation, I read stories that take place in the summer, preferably on a beach. When I need to escape, I like to read stories about faraway places I’ve never visited. And when I’m trying to improve my writing, or learn something new, I want to read books that will help sharpen my skills.

Right now, for instance, I’m reading The Christmas Note. It’s a story about two women who find one another and become friends when they both really need one. Its message is reminding me of the importance of friendship and reaching out to those in need during a time of year when needs are so great. (I read The Christmas Secret this time last year.)

Every Last One, by Anna Quindlen, is a heart-breaking novel but beautifully written. You will cry and cry some more.

I finally read The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan last month. After I saw the movie FIVE and then made my mammogram appointment, it just kind of fit. I need to know what I need to know and burying my head in the sand is not going to cut it.

And then there are times when I just want to read good writing, although food did play a part in these two particular titles. I like the Best Writing series, so I dug into The Best Food Writing of 2011, and chased it down with Will Write for Food. Both of them were delicious.

Bringing home a pile of books from the bookstore or the library puts a big smile on my face. I’ve just purchased Regis Philbin’s new book, How I Got This Way, and I’m looking forward to reading about his life and about the people who have helped him become who he is today. Sticking with the whole “Live” theme for a moment, his daughter, Joanna Philbin has written a trilogy that my oldest daughter raved about. And if you are a 40 or 50 something woman who is experiencing a different kind of change, I can’t recommend Kathie Lee Gifford’s book, Just When I Thought I'd Dropped My Last Egg, more. Some of her essays are laugh out loud funny.

My BFF is not a fan of any book that makes her cry. For her, reading is a complete escape from reality and must include a least one bodice ripping scene. This used to bother me to no end. I never understood how she couldn’t, wouldn’t read the books I was reading. I gave her a copy of Eat, Pray, Love and she gave it back. She loves the Twilight series and I think they need to remain on my daughter’s bookshelf, not mine. We don’t like the same taste in music or movies either—go figure.

The other day, I tried to remember just how many books I’ve read this past year. Some days I wish I’d kept a journal. Especially on the days I would get another book from the library and realized I’d already read it—years ago! Oops. Then again, I’m one of those people who re-reads books. Some of my family and friends think this is a complete waste of time. But I can’t wrap my brain around that either. Why wouldn’t you want to read a book you thoroughly enjoyed again and again? And so it goes…

Other titles on my nightstand: Three Weeks with My Brother, Writing Life Stories, a few more Christmas stories, and my wish list of other books that will take me well into the new year.

November 18, 2011

A Little Reminder

I’m not much of a collector. I don’t scrapbook, and my family photos….well, let’s just say they’re tucked away in a box for safe-keeping. I prefer to keep my memories alive by taking a picture (stored on the computer of course) and writing down the days and weeks events in my many notebooks. But just the other day, as I was getting ready to put away a few of my purses and bags in the basement, I reached into one of the pockets and found a few reminders of my life. You see, I like to store ticket stubs, notes, cards, and other little mementos in the pages of a book, in my wallet, my journals, and in the pockets of purses and bags I know I’ll reuse. I get to relive those moments when my hand touches the date or brushes up against words that have been scrawled across the page. They bring a smile to my face. Whenever I’m feeling blue, I know I can reach into my purse, or take a book off the shelf and pull out a few pieces of paper that will instantly cheer me up or have me thinking about a place where hands were held and laughter was shared.
And when I gift a book to someone else, I like to write a little note inside to mark the occasion, so they, too, can find a little surprise that will put a smile on their face.

November 17, 2011

Vintage: Bringing Back the Relish Tray

Some holiday dishes defy time—the green bean casserole and Jell-O molds are two that come to mind. But when I was thinking about Thanksgiving meals past, I had forgotten all about the relish tray. Every holiday required the hostess to bring out her divided glass dish and fill it with the savory treats she had “put up” the previous harvest. Pickled and preserved vegetables were simply set out to sate the guest's appetite while waiting for the big meal. It was the proper thing to do after all.
I, too, have a relish tray. It’s a pretty crystal glass dish that was given to me as a wedding gift. Something I don’t think too many modern brides would bother registering for today. In fact, my quick research showed EBay as the only place you could actually find a relish tray today. That and your grandmother’s pantry perhaps.
So what do you do with it? Simply set out any divided dish, or make one yourself using hollowed out cabbages and peppers, then fill it with pickles (sweet gherkins, butter, dill), olives (black, pimento-stuffed green), cheeses, carrots, cucumbers, deviled eggs, even nuts—a sort of modern crudité, if you will. The contents are as varied as our family traditions themselves.
I plan to dust off my dish this Thanksgiving and Christmas. Maybe I’ll even spice things up a bit and add some stuffed olives into to the mix.

November 11, 2011

Pumpkin Bread

When I was in my Jr. High home economics class, I learned how to make pumpkin bread. I brought the recipe home and made some for my family, and my Dad was hooked. From then on in, I had to make pumpkin bread at least every Thanksgiving (and Christmas and Easter). When my parents moved to Florida some years back and we no longer spent holidays together, I've surprised my Dad with a loaf or two in the summer, just because.

That particular recipe has since disappeared, but I found a good substitute that I have adapted as my own. Here it is.

Pumpkin Bread

2/3 cup vegetable shortening
2 and 2/3 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 16-oz. can of pumpkin
2/3 cup water
3 and 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 and a 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
Cinnamon for dusting

1. Grease two loaf pans. (I use Pam) and heat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix shortening and sugar together in a large bowl.
3. Add eggs, pumpkin, and water.
4. Blend in flour and other dry ingredients. Mix thoroughly, but don't over mix.
5. Pour batter into the two loaf pans and dust with cinnamon.

Bake at 350 for about one hour.

November 4, 2011

Thanksgiving Table Settings




From sophisticated to whimsical and everything in between, your Thanksgiving table can be as beautiful and festive as the examples I've gathered here.

1. This gorgeous bouquet groups together ladyslipper orchids, ranunculus, dahlias, and red calla lilies. Learn how to make these adorable turkey pops here. Display them in bowls filled with walnuts.

2. Pears and pumpkins tied with ribbons and mixed in among bowls of nuts, pine cones, and pomegranates makes a simple, yet lovely decoration. Steal this idea too.

3. Raid the supermarket and your backyard for just about anything. Dried grasses, leaves, berry branches, fruits, nuts....nature's bounty always works.

4. Use more natural elements to create place cards and break out the Christmas decorations or costume jewelry to embellish napkins. (Use pretty dish towels instead.) You can even hot glue acorns onto twine to create an inexpensive napkin ring.