Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates

Fierce invalids Home From Hot Climates, by Tom Robbins, reminded me how much I enjoy his writing--so quirky, so irreverent, so provocative. I now think I've read all of his books, but I am motivated to Google to make sure! I chose this book because Robbins is Katie Jo's boyfriend's favorite author and I was racing through the library on my way to the airport! I'm glad!

A Paris Christmas - Immoveable Feast by John Baxter

A neighbor who knows I love food and traveling decided this book would be perfect for me. And it is a fun book. It's basically the story of the preparations and planning for Christmas dinner by an Australian man who is mararied to a French woman. The best parts were the descriptions of the cheeses, breads, and wines of Paris. Warning... don't read this book if you're trying to diet! I found I couldn't read it without having the urge to nibble on something.

Foggy Goggles

Okay now. I'm in the Blog. Took me awhile to get here, but finally am. Ric and I just saw Slumdog Millionaire and loved it. Dreamt about it last night. We are way behind in movies. Leave for Costa Rica tomorrow, February 1. Will give a review when we get back. Love, Foggy Goggles

Baby Mama

Maybe I was just bored. Or maybe I was just in the mood for a good laugh. But I decided to rent Baby Mama last night. And while it certainly was not one of the recently announced Oscar nominations, it made me laugh out loud. Tina Fey (aka Sarah Palin) is funny and really creative and plays the same basic character she plays on 30 Rock. But Amy Poehler is hysterical. Steve Martin also has a small role and is, as always, quirky and fun. So will this movie make you think and change your life? No way. But it might make you giggle and we all need that. - June

The Year of Fog

If we really want to document all the books we read, I guess that means we also write an entry on those books that just aren't that great. I recently read The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond. If only I could eliminate 200 of the 400 pages, I think it would be a great story. Within the first 10 pages of the book, Abby looks away for a moment and her fiance's 6-year-old daughter disappears on the beach. The rest of the story covers the search for the little girl and the effect all of this has on Abby and her fiance. This was the good part. But the author also brought in all the dysfunction in Abby's family when she was a child. And spent chapters discussing the concept of memory as Abby struggled to remember the details of the day Emma disappeared. OK. So I skipped all of this stuff and just wanted to find out what happened to the kid. If you can edit while you read, it's not a bad book. On the cover, it says the Washington Post gave it an A. I'd have to go with a C. -June

Damages

Is anyone watching DAMAGES? It is truly the best televison series I have ever seen. Stars Glen Close as a shrewd lawyer and fascinating character. She is awesome.
It is on Wednesday at 9 pm Central time on FX. The second season just started last week. GO for it, girlfriends! Carla

Favorite quotes

We may be lost, but we're making good time.

I have two words for you..... Be Have!

favorite Christmas gift

This year, one of my colleagues learned that Oprah Winfrey had purchased the rights for anyone to download 8 superb musical selections without charge. My friend purchased inexpensive CD's at the Dollar Store, dubbed the tapes and wrapped in re-cycled paper. She estimated the total cost to be 23 cents per gift. She presented them three weeks before the holiday for us to enjoy. The gift was thoughtful and appreciated by those who knew of the need to watch expenses. Yeah Oprah, yeah friend. Dr.J

Honey-Fried Chicken

Not long after Greg retired, I came home one night to find that he'd seen a recipe he wanted to make, gone to the store and bought the ingredients, and had it waiting for me when I arrived. Now he found this recipe in the Wall Street Journal. Who knew they even had recipes in that paper? Imagine all the Wall Street types sitting around reading recipes. Maybe that's the whole problem with the economy! Anyway, we'd never made Fried Chicken before then. We'd spent our lives baking, broiling, and grilling chicken in the never-ending attempt to be healthy. So imagine my surprise with Fried Chicken! But there it was, waiting for me, and it was wonderful! We've had it several times since then, so tonight when we made it, I decided to share it with you.

Honey-Fried Chicken

1 chicken (we use just bonless, skinless breasts and thighs)
1/2 C honey
2 T raspberry or red wine vinegar
1/2 C flour
2 T whole wheat flour
2 t cayenne powder
2 eggs
1/4 C buttermilk
oil
salt & pepper

Place chicken in a large plastic bag. Stir the honey and vinegar together and pour into the bag and toss to coat chicken. Seal bag and let chicken marinate at least 2 hours and no more than 12 hours in the fridge.

Combine flours and cayenne in a wide shallow bowl. Whisk the eggs and buttermilk in another bowl. Drain the chicken. Dip it in the egg mixture, season with salt and pepper, and dredge in the flour-cayenne mixture.

Pour oil to a depth of 1 inch in a large heavy skillet and heat over med-high heat until temp is 300 degrees (we use a candy thermometer because the honey can burn if it gets too hot). Drop chicken in oil for 5-6 minutes on each side.

So what did you have for dinner tonight?

-June

june is teaching me

at this very moment june is getting me up to speed. ain't we great! tillie

Sara's Key by Tatiana DeRosnay

Mother's friend loaned us the book saying she couldn't put it down and had read it in 2 days. Not to be outdone, Mother also read it in 2 days but didn't comment (a rarity since she just read aloud the product descriptions and prices of the mattresses, box springs and frames she bought 14 years ago--she was cleaning out files). Well, I may have been showing off (I don't trust my motives these days) but I read the book in 5 hours--start to finish without stopping. This is the author's first novel and another novelist wrote, "This is a remarkable historical novel a book that brings to light a disturbing and deliberately hidden aspect of French behavior toward Jews during World War II. Like Sophie's Choice, it's a book that impresses itself upon one's heart and soul forever." I don't know about forever, but it is haunting and I think you'll be glad you read it!

AND please treat yourselves to "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society!" I think both June and Deb recommended it, too.

The Women - the Movie

I hadn't read or heard anything about this movie so feared that, despite a cast of women whose performances I generally like, it might be disappointing at best. However, I really enjoyed it and think you will, too! Meg Ryan is still too cute (she can't help it), but how can you go wrong with a cameo by Bette Midler? And Cloris Leachman is her usual fine self, as is Annette Benning (who actually looks her age). I have trouble with Grace being anyone besides Grace, but Jada Smith was pretty funny--especially in the final scene. It's definitely a "chick flick." In fact, I don't recall even one man in the film unless you count extras on the sidewalks of New York!