Whatcha Reading? I See You Everywhere by Julia Glass

I See You Everywhere by Julia Glass

This book pretty much blew my socks off. It is the story of two sisters told in their voices. Each chapter flips from one sister's perspective to the other with years passing in between. I loved how casual comments revealed events from the intervening years. I felt like a detective starting each chapter trying to figure out what had happened. This is not a book you could pick up every once in a while and be able to hop right back in it. I would recommend it for a plane ride or if you an opportunity to read for an extended period of time - a beach vacation or a cruise for instance.

Are You Watching? The Big C

Showtime's new series The Big C showcases a teacher who is dying of cancer. The setup is a cliche - super uptight lady gets diagnosed and searching for freedom and speaks her mind. She builds a pool in her backyard, keeps her son home from soccer camp to force him to relive childhood memories, and befriends her crazy neighbor. I really like the idea of the show and there are moments of genius, but overall the writing falls flat. The only thing pushing it through is the acting talent. I am going to keep watching and give it some time to settle in. The jury is still out.

Whatcha Reading? Opposite of Me

The Opposite of Me: A Novel by Sarah Pekkanen

Jennifer Weiner and Allison Scotch Winn both characterized this novel as satisfying and I agree. The novel centers on a 29 year old woman working her way up te advertising executive ladder. Something happens and she is forces to return home and live with her parents. This third of a life crisis raises questions of who she is and who she wants to be. I myself and many of my friends have faced this moment recently. We are just hitting the ten year mark out of college and many of us have held the same job since leaving. The newness of being an adult is wearing thin and many of us find ourselves questioning "what is it I really want?" This novel addresses that question is light and interesting way, I recommend.

Brewing Report: Red Sky at Night

I just love beer tastings. I really just can't get enough. I love the exposure to all the different beers without the commitment to a whole pint. At a recent tasting, I was exposed to Red Sky at Night by  Heavy Seas Brewery.

Picture from website

I adore that all the beer names relate to the high seas. I learned that this was a saison or farmhouse ale. What traditionally gives this type of ale its spicy and fruity flavor is open fermentation as in the fermentation process is done in the open so variations of wild yeast can get in on the party.

I found this beer crisp, fruity with a touch of spice. I would relate it to a Sauvignon Blanc as it would pair well with rich foods. The crisp, clean taste would cut right through all that heaviness. It is brewed with Belgium yeast and packs quite a punch - 7.5% alcohol.

If you live in Baltimore - you should be drinking it RIGHT NOW. If you don't - hopefully you'll get a taste soon. Cheers!

At Home: The Griddler

The Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler is probably my favorite kitchen appliance because it is so versatile. It's a grill! It's a griddle. It's a panini press. It's a flat press. It's amazing! Actually the most amazing part is that the grill plates go in the dishwasher so clean up is a snap. That's really why it is my favorite.

Are you watching? Weeds

We are about two episodes into this new season of Weeds and I am not feeling it. I loved this show in it's early seasons. I thought it was fun, edgy and a snarky look at suburban life in America. There was a great tension around Nancy - the lead character: was she a mom just trying to do her best to maintain a good life for her kids or was she a selfish narcissist looking for the easy way out? Even when they took that little jaunt into the world of Mexican drug cartels - I still found humor and hope.  Now I just think she is bat crazy. There's no redemption or hope anymore. The humor is gone and now it's just a sad story. Everyone is too damaged for there to be hope for a happy ending. I'll be deleting this from my TiVO line up.

Hey Good Lookin'! Whatcha Got Cooking? Taco Seasoning

Homemade taco seasoning


I found this great recipe for a homemade bland of taco seasoning. I tweaked it a bit and it turned out great.

1 tbsp chili powder

1/2 tsp smoked paprika

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp garlic powder (if you use garlic salt lower the kosher salt to 1/4 tsp)

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (more if you want more heat)

1 1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp pepper

Mix together.

For a quick dinner - I cut up some onion and bell pepper, then tossed that in oil and the seasoning and sauteed.

We also had some leftover chicken so I cut that up, tossed in oil and seasoning and added to the pan as well. Heated through.

Then I added some cheese and rolled it up in a whole wheat tortilla. Super easy and pretty tasty!