book club - Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan

 2020-32

 

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Lucie glanced covertly at the people seated around her.  She loved checking people out and making up stories in her mind about them.

 

painted rocks

 Spotted this Spring on a walk - 

book club - Summer of '69 by Elin Hildebrand

 2020-31

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"But name calling is for the weak. Actions are for the strong.  Got it?"

Being responsible for her own happiness, she has realized, is a lonely proposition.

She squeezes Jessie's hand, and for the first time ever in her life, Jessie understands that her mother is real.  It is a revelation.  Her mother is a human being who feels pain - sadness, loneliness, confusion.  Jessie thought all grown-ups lived in a different atmosphere, one that was like a cool, clear gel.  

i made an omelette!

I've watched a few episodes of Selena and Chef on Crave, and it's a pretty fun show.  The premise if you haven't seen it is that professional chefs teach a non chef how to cook - over video chat.  Truly a made for a pandemic tv show.

I've had a couple of favorite episodes, but the episode with Chef Ludo Lefebvre was the top for me, because now I know how to make a real omelette.

When I was a kid my mom had one of those omelette pans that was 2 separate sides and hinged in the middle.  I don't think it really gave her the results she wanted, because I don't remember her using it a ton, but I do remember not being very excited about omelette breakfasts because the outside of the omelettes were always browned, and I HATE eggs that are cooked so long they brown.  Hate hate hate.  And because of that I never made them at home or ordered them at restaurants.  

But!  The recipe he showed Selena cooked quickly and didn't brown and I was so interested to try it, so I did, the very next morning.

You guys, making an omelette is so easy.  So easy!!!!!  I made 3 practically perfect omelettes in almost no time at all.

My favorite part might have been the filling - boursin cheese, which we happened to have in the fridge, yay, a cheese that the chef called something like "the velveeta of France."

 I've made them a few times now and they turn out lovely every time.  

If you've never tried to make one before you should!

Ludo Lefebvre's omelet recipe at Bon Appetit

Ludo Lefebvre's youtube video 

Spotted Sign

 

book club - The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

 2020-30

 

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"Men are weak, but women are not.  We aren't afforded that luxury."

I was never a religious person, although I hoped the afterlife existed; all those artists and warriors and thinkers and lovers seemed awfully wasted if their only point was to kiss the earth once and leave.

"It's unrealistic to expect to find peace in the arms of someone else if you can't find it within yourself."

"A person is always the hero in their own story, and thus an unreliable narrator."

my favorites in october

 Did I have any true favorites in October?  No.  But I'll take this opportunity to share some photos and stuff.

First - a bunch of stuff I listened to/watched on my phone while I worked.  I'm still working from home, and working weekends, and it gets lonely in the basement.  Sometimes it's nice to hear talking, although I'm sure when I go back to the office I'll be inwardly furious each time someone talks near me.

 

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Some baking and cooking that happened - 

Tomato Relish, to use up some of the tomatos ripening in the basement with me while I work

Buns!

Rice Krsipy Treats made with Mars Bars instead of marshmallows and then topped with chocolate

CLT bagels for breakfast

Apple Muffins

Thanksgiving dinner, including broccoli rice casserole from Pioneer Woman

And Thanksgiving dessert!  Pumpkin Roll cake and David Lebovitz's chocolate mousse 

New tea, which came with a pretty little scoop that made me happy