a collection of tried and true
This current Dutch best seller takes place entirely while two couples are out to dinner. The story unfolds as the evening goes on regarding the trouble the couples sons are in and unfortunately becomes more and more ridiculous as well. A fun book but not great.
PJH Rating: ***1/2
Courtney, Grace and Sophia were at Waldameer on Wednesday so Jack and I decided to meet Claire at Melt for dinner. We went to the one on Cedar and Taylor. I think there are 4 Melts now in Cleveland. Jack got the above lovely, I had the chicken parmesan which was great and Claire got the smokey russian. We all could only eat half as they are humongous. Very good though and a cool place to go.
…and down in beautiful Erie, PA:
A British family goes on vacation in the country with extended family who they don’t see often. Told from 8 different point of views. Not engaging or well written but slogged through it. Very disappointing as Haddon’s “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night…” is one of my favorites.
PJH rating: **1/2
We have made this twice in the past two weeks. Made two pies yesterday for Jack’s birthday that were gone in 15 minutes. Both times I also threw some blueberries in also. I made regular pies instead of the mini pies in the recipe and the strussel topping is y u m m y.
Peach Pie
adapted from America’s Test Kitchen via http://www.mimis-kitchen.blogspot.com
2 1/2 lb peaches, peeled pitted and sliced about 7 cups
1 to 1 1/4 cup sugar
3 to 4 tablespoons corn starch (I used 4 as peaches were ripe and juicy)
1 Tablespoon instant tapioca (I didn’t use this)
Juice and zest of one lemon
Pinch salt
Freshly grated nutmeg
Toss the sliced peaches with lemon juice and zest, 1 cup of sugar, 3 tablespoons cornstarch and 1 tablespoon tapoica, salt and nutmeg. If your peaches are tart add up to 4 tablespoons more sugar. If they are very juicy add an additional tablespoon cornstarch. Divide filling among 4 mini pie tins or 1 nine inch pie pan lined with unbaked pie crust.
Strussel Topping
Adapted from America’s Test Kitchen
1 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon fine ground cornmeal.
pinch salt
6 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
.
In a small bowl, mix all of the dry ingredients together. Drizzle with the melted butter and stir with a fork until roughly combined.
Cover pie(s) with streusel topping and bake in a preheated oven at 425 degrees for 25 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 degrees and continue baking until the juices are bubbling and the crust is golden brown, about 25 minutes longer. Cool before serving.
A young woman living on a farm in North Carolina discovers a body in the mud that at first turns into a woman like her but then turns into a man for her. The couple marries, has children and lives on the farm.
PJH rating: ***
Courtney and I went to Taste of Tremont yesterday afternoon as it finally cooled off some and we had the afternoon free. Although it was our first time there it was the 11th annual event where they close all of Professor Street and all the Tremont restaurants, bars, churches and others sell small portions of food and drinks. We went early and there were already thousands of people there. Great food, great bands, lots of different beer gardens and great people watching. We didn’t eat much. We had some crispy fried asian shrimp with a sweet dipping sauce and then even though there were gourmet delights of every kind I couldn’t resist the stuffed cabbage and pierogi from the Croatian church. They were perfect – no rice just meat and 1 cheese and 1 kraut pierogi. Lots of stuff going on in the neighborhood. Claire is possibly looking to move down there – I hope she does so we have a good excuse to go more often.
It has been a busy week and a half…hurray for summer
