Recipe: Tomato Jam & a BLT Sandwich

So here’s a nice twist on the usual BLT sandwich: bacon, lettuce and tomato jam sandwich with goat cheese. I’ve had something similar while I was away in Ottawa and the idea of it has been following me ever since – I had to make it home, but first I needed tomato jam! After searching the web for various tomato jam recipes I found a few and took them to my kitchen, to experiment and here’s what I came up with. [If you are not up for making your own tomato jam, try a store-bought variety instead, but I would highly recommend trying this fun BLT.]

Tomato Jam
Makes 2 cups

Adapted from Food52

Ingredients:
2.5 - 3 lbs tomatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 half bell pepper, diced
½ cup brown sugar
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp ground coriander
¼ tsp ground cumin
¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
2 tbsp champagne vinegar
Juice of ½ lemon

Book Review: A Study in Darkness

A Study in Darkness (The Baskerville Affair #2)
Emma Jane Holloway

Release Date: October 29, 2013

Book Description:
When a bomb goes off at 221B Baker Street, Evelina Cooper is thrown into her Uncle Sherlock’s world of mystery and murder. But just when she thought it was safe to return to the ballroom, old, new, and even dead enemies are clamoring for a place on her dance card.

Before Evelina’s even unpacked her gowns for a country house party, an indiscretion puts her in the power of the ruthless Gold King, who recruits her as his spy. He knows her disreputable past and exiles her to the rank alleyways of Whitechapel with orders to unmask his foe.

As danger mounts, Evelina struggles between hiding her illegal magic and succumbing to the darker aspects of her power. One path keeps her secure; the other keeps her alive. For rebellion is brewing, a sorcerer wants her soul, and no one can protect her in the hunting ground of Jack the Ripper.

Amazon US | Goodreads

Review:
Egalley courtesy of Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey Spectra via NetGalley in exchange for fair and honest review.

As the name would suggest Evelina Cooper’s second turn takes on a much darker tone as mysteries abound and our heroine lends herself into a series of unfortunate events. In an attempt to protect her family, her honor and place in society, as well as one dashing pirate, Evelina signs her freedoms away unto the hands of none other than Gold King himself. Exiled to the dark streets of the Whitechapel Evelina must become a spy for the Gold King in order to unmask his enemy, but what she uncovers might be even more sinister than the brewing war among the steam barons.

Around the Web #10

Allegiant

Guess what? The wait is over and Allegiant (Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth has finally arrived! I was eagerly awaiting it myself, and am savoring my read, but the response to the last chapter of the Divergent saga has been varied, and often harsh. As I gathered from the storm of Twitter comments and other social media outlets, an important character death at the conclusion of the series upset a lot of people. So, here are a few articles on the series, and Allegiant in particular, as well as Veronica’s response to reader reaction.

Here is all I'm going to say: strong reader reactions, whether negative or positive, are completely fine with me.
— Veronica Roth (@VeronicaRoth) October 24, 2013

Physical threats are NOT fine with me, but we all know that already.
— Veronica Roth (@VeronicaRoth) October 24, 2013

TV Series Review: The White Queen

The White Queen
A STARZ Original Miniseries Event

Original Run: BBC One June 16, 2013 – August 18, 2013/STARZ August 10, 2013 – October 19, 2013

About the Series:
The White Queen is a riveting portrayal of one of the most dramatic and turbulent times in English history. A story of love and lust, seduction and deception, betrayal and murder, it is uniquely told through the perspective of three different, yet equally relentless women - Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret Beaufort and Anne Neville. In their quest for power, they will scheme, manipulate and seduce their way onto the English throne.

The year is 1464, before the Tudor dynasty ruled the country, and war has been ravaging throughout England over who is the rightful King. It is a bitter dispute between two sides of the same family, The House of York and The House of Lancaster.

The House of York's young and handsome Edward IV is crowned King of England with the help of the master manipulator, Lord Warwick "The Kingmaker." But when Edward falls in love with a beautiful Lancastrian commoner, Elizabeth Woodville, Warwick's plan to control the throne comes crashing down.

A violent, high-stakes struggle ensues between Elizabeth, her most fierce adversary, Lancastrian Margaret Beaufort, and Anne Neville, the pawn in her father's power game - each woman vying for the crown.

STARZ

Review:
Manipulation is the name of the game! The White Queen miniseries event has come to an end this past weekend with an epic battle and a promise of the new King and the new reign. It was a great run for the series, which kept me thoroughly entertained and waiting for the Saturday night each week to get more of these ferocious ladies, all vying for the power, their men, and of course the coveted throne of England.

New Releases: October 2013

New Releases: October 2013

October has been an incredible month full of exciting new releases. So I thought I’d share a few that made my ever-growing to-read shelf. Which books made yours?