Recipe: Meatloaf Meatballs

For the past few weeks I’ve been browsing through and admiring my new acquisition: The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by Deb Perelman of the www.smittenkitchen.com. It is amazing! And I would absolutely recommend it to anyone.

I’ve been following Deb’s website for awhile now, and have often found her recipes to be creative but at the same time very manageable. Using everyday ingredients, and often inspired by familiar dishes, with support of amazing photography and fun prefaces Deb puts an new spin and inspires many of her readers, myself included.

Book Review: Outlander

Outlander (Outlander #1)
Diana Gabaldon

Release Date: June 1, 1991

Book Description:
The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon--when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach--an "outlander"--in a Scotland torn by war and raiding Highland clans in the year of Our Lord...1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into intrigues and dangers that may threaten her life...and shatter her heart. For here she meets James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, and becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire...and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

Amazon US | Goodreads

Review:
What a story!

I just finished this novel a few days ago and am surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I’ve been hesitant to pick it up even though many have recommended it to me and it has great reviews and a devout following (from what I hear). It’s been on my TBR list for awhile and I admit I have avoided reading this for quite some time, but I am very glad that I gave it a chance.

Recipe: Braised Pork Ribs with Red Sauce

I enjoy cooking, a lot. I guess, my mom was an inspiration in that. She is an amazing cook and everything that comes from her kitchen is incredible. I have learned a lot from her over the years, but have since also added a few of my own tricks and twists.

For the past few years I have started to experiment more with food I cook, stepping away from the familiar fair into things that are new to my family’s table. I’ve been following various different food blogs and food magazines, and even picked up a few new cookbooks along the way. Inspiration comes in many different forms, and even though I don’t always follow the recipes to a tee, they often serve as a perfect base for some new creations in my kitchen. Whether it is learning of new ingredients and ways of using them, to new methods of cooking, or even new ways of presenting something (because we love our food with eyes first) the food blogs are the wealth of new ideas. I’ve been contemplating sharing my own cooking experiments on the web before, but have never quite gotten to it. Apparently, all one needs is a snow day and a bit of inspiration…

The inspiration for this dish came from a Pappardelle wide cut pasta, braised pork sugo from Tomasso Tratoria in Southborough, MA. It was an incredible, melt in your mouth braised meat in rich sauce, with a compliment of pasta. So, here’s my take on the dish – hubby and I approved!

Braised Pork Ribs with Red Sauce
Makes 6-8 servings

Book Review: Building From Ashes

Building From Ashes (Elemental World #1)
Elizabeth Hunter

Release Date: October 19, 2012

Book Description:
For a thousand years, powerful earth vampire Carwyn ap Bryn has served others. God. His family. His friends. But tragedy and loss disrupt his peaceful existence, causing him to question everything he has committed his eternity to.

Brigid Connor has known about vampires since they rescued her from a painful childhood. But not even their vast elemental power can save her from the demons that torment her.

As loyalties are tested and new paths are forged, a lurking danger slowly grows in the Elemental World. Carwyn and Brigid will learn that even secrets revealed can come back to haunt you when you least expect it.

A continuation/spinoff of the Elemental Mysteries series. The timeline in this books stretches from BEFORE A Hidden Fire starts (so you see a little character history) until AFTER A Fall of Water finishes. As I’m sure lots of you could tell, Carwyn had quite a few things going on in his life that didn’t make it into Gio and Beatrice’s story. So Building From Ashes explores that storyline and also sets up the Elemental World for some new adventures...

Amazon US | Goodreads

Review:
The first book of the Elemental World series tells the life stories of Carwyn ap Bryn, a thousand year-old vampire priest and Brigid Connor, the young woman who has lived among vampires, since they rescued her from her parents' abusive home. From their early years (individually) to their growing relationship, and a few glimpses of the Elemental Mysteries storyline mixed-in – Building From Ashes is a great companion novel.