Friday, February 25, 2011

For anyone who likes Agatha Christie or similar books, check out the 2010 Agatha Award Nominees at Malice Domestic. Here's the basic information:

The Agatha Awards honor the "traditional mystery." That is to say, books best typified by the works of Agatha Christie as well as others. For our purposes, the genre is loosely defined as mysteries that:

  • contain no explicit sex
  • contain no excessive gore or gratuitous violence

Friday, February 18, 2011

Cooking is something that I just love (when other people do it :-). If someone invites me to a meal at their home or to go to a restaurant, that pretty much makes my day. Oddly, I enjoy reading recipes. Perhaps I envision myself creating a great feast? Well, there's no telling what the future will bring!

Are you a foodie? I think you will appreciate the ambrosial book Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel. Set in Mexico in the early 1900's, it is a time when everyone has their place in the family. As the youngest daughter, Tita is expected to spend her life caring for her mother. When young Pedro comes to ask for her hand in marriage, he is told he must marry Tita's sister instead. In order to remain close to Tita, Pedro accepts this. Having been practically raised in the kitchen by their cook, Tita creates magical meals, literally pouring her emotions into them - including a wedding cake that has surprising effects on the guests! Structured in twelve chapters, January to December, Like Water for Chocolate uses magical realism to tell a story of a family, love, and the power of food.

Recipe bonus: Quail in Rose Petals

Thursday, February 10, 2011

How do you celebrate Valentine's day? Flowers? Chocolates? A romantic dinner in Paris followed by a leisurely stroll to the Eiffel tower where you go up to the top and share a kiss? Perhaps you are looking for inspiration or just love to read about love. Here are some Valentine's collections (and a few movies) for the romantic in YOU!

Bitten by Cupid with stories by Lyndsay Sands, Pamela Palmer and Jaime Rush
Cupid Calling featuring Stacy Brown, Karen L. King and Patricia Waddell

Valentine's Day is Killing Me with MaryJanice Davidson, Leslie Esdaile and Susanna Carr