Foodie Fridays: Pumpkin Lasagna

I finally have a new recipe to share, and it is incredibly delicious!  Before my dog Ruby got sick with pancreatitis, I always put canned pumpkin in her food at every meal.  Pancreatitis causes a marked loss of appetite, so I stopped adding the pumpkin in her food to make it more tempting for her.  As a result, I had eight cans of pumpkin purée just languishing in the pantry!  I have been looking for recipes that call for canned pumpkin but are not for baked goods.  I have already made pumpkin soup, but the recipe I found for Pumpkin Lasagna is so much tastier than mere soup.  The only change I made was to add some turkey sausage crumbles which I happened to have left over.  This is totally optional, but I think it really enhances the flavor as the sausage seasonings complement the pumpkin sauce so well.  If you too have an excess of canned pumpkin in your pantry (or even if you don't), you should give this recipe a try!

Pumpkin Lasagna

1 T. olive oil
1/2 lb. sliced fresh mushrooms
1 small onion, chopped
1 1/2 C. Jimmy Dean Turkey Sausage Crumbles (optional)
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin purée
1/2 cup half 'n half
1 tsp. dried sage
1/4 tsp. salt
9 no-cook lasagna noodles
1 C. reduced-fat ricotta cheese
1 C. shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
3/4 C. shredded Parmesan cheese

Heat the olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat.  Sauté the mushrooms and onion until tender.  Add the sausage and heat through; set aside.  In a small bowl, combine the pumpkin, cream, sage, and salt.

Spread 1/2 C. pumpkin sauce in a greased 11x7-inch baking dish.  Top with 3 noodles.  Spread 1/2 C. pumpkin sauce to edges of noodles.  Top with half of mushroom mixture, 1/2 cup ricotta, 1/2 cup mozzarella, and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.  Repeat layers.  Top with remaining noodles and sauce.  Cover with foil.

Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.  Uncover and top with remaining Parmesan cheese.  Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.  Serves 6.

Note: Cover unbaked lasagna to freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 375°. Bake as directed, increasing time as necessary to heat through and for a thermometer inserted in center to read 165°.

On the Homefront: Nick (2000-2022)

Sad news on the homefront today - my wonderful horse Nick passed away very early yesterday morning.  He began colicking on Tuesday and I had the vet out, but Nick was still not well by the next morning so he was taken to the vet hospital.  They treated him and monitored him closely, but he took a turn for the worse late Wednesday night.  He was rushed into emergency surgery but he did not survive.  I will post a better memorial to Nick in a few days, but I am still a bit stunned by his sudden passing as he had been doing quite well with no obvious signs of poor health.  I will miss my beloved boy so much.

Terrifying Tuesdays: Sunless Solstice: Strange Christmas Tales for the Longest Nights

It has been quite a while since I have done a Terrifying Tuesday post, but I am one of those people who loves that old tradition of telling ghost stories around a roaring fire during the winter holiday season, and the book I am currently reading is perfect for evoking a supernatural chill on a long December evening.  Sunless Solstice: Strange Christmas Tales for the Longest Nights is an anthology edited by Lucy Evans and Tanya Kirk for the British Library Tales of the Weird series.  This collection features twelve stories set during the shortest days of the year, written by authors both well-known and obscure and originally published from 1893 to 1974.  Some are gentle tales while others are sinister, but each one sets just the right tone for a satisfying ghost story during this cold and dark time of the year.  If you too love a good ghost story I highly recommend checking out this book as well as others in the series - I think you will find them quite enjoyable in a spooky sort of way!

Current Events: Weird and Wonderful Wildlife

Image from Intrepid Travel

Today is World Wildlife Conservation Day, and a good day to bring attention to some interesting wildlife discoveries in the news recently.  Let's start with the weird, shall we?  Scientists have found that wolves in Yellowstone National Park who are infected with Toxmoplasma gondii, a parasite commonly found in cats which causes toxoplasmosis, tends to make them engage in riskier behavior.  They are 11 times more likely to leave the safety of their pack and strike off on their own, and 46 time more likely to become a pack leader!  Apparently the parasite enters the wolf host's brain and causes the behavior changes.  Since cats are the only hosts in which these parasites can complete their life cycle (all other species are essentially dead-end hosts where the parasites can survive but cannot reproduce) it is thought that this riskier behavior by their hosts may make them more likely to cross paths with feline species which can then possibly ingest the adult parasite, allowing them to complete their life cycle.  It is known that rodents infected with T. gondii seem to lose their fear of cats, making them easy prey for cats.  Even humans with toxoplasmosis can show behavioral changes (not to mention the fact that toxoplasmosis can on rare occasions lead to serious injury or even death).

Image from BBC

Also reported in the news recently is the wonderful rediscovery of a bird thought to be extinct for 140 years!  The Black-naped Pheasant-pigeon (Otidiphaps insularis), previously documented by scientists only once in 1882, was recently photographed by another team of scientists on the rugged island of Fergusson in Papua New Guinea.  This large, ground-dwelling pigeon lives in the rugged and almost inaccessible forests on the island which could be its last stronghold.  It is hoped that this new information will help in the preservation of the species, which is still considered to be extremely rare and endangered.  Take a look at the video recorded by the research team below:

 

These two stories are proof that we still have a lot to learn about the wildlife with whom we share this planet.  The information we gain from studying these species is invaluable for understanding the planet on which we all live as well as how environmental variables may affect us.  We would do well to protect our fellow species, as in doing so we may just be protecting ourselves.

On the Homefront: Be Careful if You Give Your Dog Fish Oil Supplements

Ruby seems comfortable now - her belly was shaved for an ultrasound.

Once again I have been MIA on by blog, but again it was for a good reason.  My old dog Ruby had a health issue relapse, and I have been working hard to get her back to good health.  Fortunately she does seem to be recovering, and I thought this would be a good time to let everyone know what has been happening and how I think we have finally figured out why she was getting sick.

In early October Ruby had a bout of severe pancreatitis, which required several days on IV fluids at the vet hospital.  She also developed a secondary abdominal infection which prolonged her stay and meant she had to be on two different types of antibiotics.  She has had slightly elevated liver values for a few years and is on a prescription low-fat diet, but the pancreatitis sent those values soaring and it took a while to get them to start coming down.

I brought her home and for a few weeks she seemed to be doing well, but in early November she had a relapse.  Of course this happened on a Sunday when her regular vet office is closed, so I had to rush her to an emergency vet 45 minutes away.  She spent the night there and they were afraid her gall bladder might rupture but fortunately she made it through the night and I transferred her to her regular vet.  There they did an ultrasound and decided that her gall bladder was not in danger of rupturing, but several of her blood values (liver, pancreas, and gall bladder) were even higher than the first time.  Once again she spent several days on IV fluids (the only treatment for pancreatitis is supportive care which cannot be given at home).  She finally came home the week before Thanksgiving, and she has been slowly but surely improving ever since.  In fact, she is pretty much back to normal now, although her blood values need to be checked again in a few days to see if they have come down more.

So why did she have the initial attack of pancreatitis, and why did it recur?  The vets could find no significant problems - they even did a liver biopsy to rule out cancer and the result was negative.  As I mentioned above, Ruby's liver values have been slightly elevated for a few years.  We found her as a stray and I am not sure but I think she may have been hit by a car before we found her - not a direct hit but a glancing blow.  She had a cracked molar on the right side which had to be removed, and has developed significant arthritis in her right elbow as she has aged.  The liver is on the right side of the body and any trauma to the liver is known to affect its function, which may be why her liver does not function completely normally.

With no obvious cause for the pancreatitis, I started to double check everything that Ruby ingests in a normal day - all foods, treats, medications, and supplements - and I began to suspect her fish oil supplement.  This was the most recent addition to her diet (she has only been on it for a few months), and was recommended by the vet as the omega-3 fatty acids are thought to be beneficial in reducing her arthritis pain as well as for her liver issues.  What they did not tell me, however, was that too much fish oil is actually harmful and can cause pancreatitis in dogs with compromised liver function.  A few days after I started her back on her fish oil supplement after the first bout of pancreatitis she had her second attack - nothing else new had been added to her diet in over a week, so that in itself was suspect.

The more I read about fish oil supplements for dogs the more I became convinced that the dosage recommended for a dog her size was actually too much for her, especially since her prescription food also contains fish oil.  I walk my younger dog with a neighbor and her dogs, and when I mentioned my suspicions about Ruby's fish oil supplement to her, she told me that she had tried to give fish oil supplements to her two older dogs, both of whom had normal liver function, and both of them subsequently developed high blood liver values which went back to normal when she took them off of the supplement.

Needless to say, I will no longer be giving Ruby any more fish oil!  I mentioned my suspicions to her vet and they were non-commital as they had never encountered such a problem before, but Ruby is doing so well right now minus the fish oil in her daily diet that I am convinced this was the main culprit.  Usually when I start Ruby on a new medication or supplement I research it carefully and try to start her out on a half dose rather than the full dose, but for some reason I did not do this with the fish oil - how I wish I had!

My recommendation to anyone who is thinking of putting their dog on a fish oil supplement is to be sure that your dog really needs it.  Also, remember that some pet foods have added fish oil, so you may want to lower the dosage you use.  If you want to try it, make sure your dog's liver function is normal, and try starting with a half dose (I believe that most dosage recommendations for supplements are on the high side - after all, the makers of these products would like you to use as much as possible).

If you see no improvement in your dog's health and/or if their liver values start to increase, take them off of this supplement.  My neighbor tried switching to an omega-3 supplement that was not fish oil-based for her dogs, and they are doing fine on that.  I am certainly no expert, so do your research before making a decision for your own dog - you know your pup better than anyone, so when it comes to supplements in particular you are in the best position to make any decisions.

Hopefully with careful attention to her diet Ruby will have no more problems with pancreatitis - it is a very painful condition and can lead to complications, so I will be doing my best to make sure it does not happen again.  I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and I hope that December will be a better month for Ruby so that I can get some more posts done before the end of the year!

Wish List Wednesdays: Fun Finds for National Pumpkin Day

From Wallpaper Safari

Did you know that today, October 26th, is National Pumpkin Day?  In honor of this very apt seasonal celebration, I found a few pumpkin-themed items that would be great for today as well as all through the fall season.  Let's take a look, shall we?

Why not dress for the occasion in this cute and casual Patchwork Pumpkins Top ($39.95-44.95) from Serengeti?  Made of 100% cotton in a heathered oatmeal color, this three-quarter sleeve tee is versatile enough to wear as part of almost any autumnal outfit.

Cooler fall weather means it is time to savor hot beverages and mugs of soup.  What better way to serve them than in the Pumpkin Shaped Stoneware Mugs (clearance at $41.99 for a set of 4) from Pottery Barn?  Microwave and dishwasher safe, these mugs are generously sized at 18 ounces for an ample serving of a warming drink on a chilly morning or evening.

Make breakfast a little more fun in the morning by creating pumpkin-shaped waffles with the Dash Pumpkin Mini Waffle Maker ($12.95) from Crate & Barrel. This small and easy to clean appliance makes a single perfect waffle in just 2.5 minutes, and its size means that very little storage space is  required.  The bright orange color is so autumnal, and I love the extra detail of a green light on top which resembles the stem on top of a real pumpkin!

I enjoy working on jigsaw puzzles and fall is the perfect time to start a new one, so why not a puzzle featuring pumpkins like the Heirloom Pumpkins Puzzle (on sale for $13.98) from Bas Bleu?  This 1,000-piece beauty shows an image of an array of different pumpkin shapes and sizes in shades of green, ivory, pink, yellow, and orange.  Who knew there were so many different kinds of pumpkins?

I just could not resist including this final item - even though they are not technically pumpkins, isn't pumpkin pie one of the best ways to put a pumpkin to good use?  The Handcrafted Pumpkin Pie Earrings ($29.98) from Catalog Favorites just tickle my fancy.  If I had pierced ears I would purchase them in a heartbeat, and I am considering them for a friend of mine with a birthday in November (great to wear to a Thanksgiving family gathering, in my opinion!).

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

I know I have been MIA on my blog for most of the month, but I had a good reason - my old dog Ruby, who will be sixteen in a few months, had a couple of health issues, one of them potentially serious, this month.  Luckily she seems to be on the road to recovery, so I will try to post more - even though it is a bit late for Halloween topics, there is still plenty of time for all things fall, which is after all my favorite season!

This 'n That Thursdays: Play Ainar's Colorful Autumn Forest Escape Game

I enjoy playing free online escape games, and I recently played one with such a lovely autumn theme that I just had to share it.  You can play Ainar's Colorful Autumn Forest escape game on the Escape Fan website and enjoy the beautiful fall imagery as you solve the puzzles to collect 30 golden leaves.  If you have never played these types of games before I hope you find this one as relaxing and fun as I did (I have already played this game twice just to explore the colorful forest again!).

Wish List Wednesdays: A Couple of Lovely Tops and Socks for Fall

Fall is my favorite time of year to shop for clothes because I can find so many items in my preferred autumnal colors.  I treated myself to a couple of new tops recently that I just had to share, especially as they both feature animal print patterns, which are also a favorite of mine! Shown above is the Who's Who Sweater ($89.95) from Coldwater Creek in Spice Multi with an allover owl print.  This relaxed lightweight 100% cotton sweater is perfect for early autumn, and the owls are adorable, as you can see in the image below:

I found the Playful Foxes Striped Top ($34.99) shown below on the Serengeti website.  It is a three-quarter sleeve cotton tee with an allover fox print on an off-white background with gold stripes.

The foxes printed on this top are just as cute as the owls on the sweater shown above:

To complement these two new tops I decided I just had to add some new socks as well.  The Spirited Season Socks ($14.95 each) from Coldwater Creek were originally available in three different prints, but now only the fox print is still available (of course I purchased the owl print and the fox print socks!):

We had a lot of rain today, which is wreaking havoc with my internet connection, so I will get this published now while I still can.  I hope you are enjoying fall as much as I am - it is by far my favorite season!

This 'n That Thursdays: My Blog Is Back!

From Cookie Bouquets

Much to my relief, access to my blog has finally been returned to me!  For some reason the spam algorithm that Google uses erroneously decided that my blog was spam, but after several requests from me to re-evaluate, Google came to the conclusion that I am an actual person so my blog was restored.  Even though I have not been blogging as much lately, I still depend on this blog to find recipes that I have posted, and many of my posts are of great personal importance to me, such as the ones remembering pets that I have lost, so I am so happy that I can access my posts again.  I plan to try to post more often, especially in the month of October when I love to post about Halloween-related topics.  See you all next month - it is good to be back!

Wish List Wednesdays: OXO Good Grips Little Salad & Herb Spinner

I have been wanting to replace our old, oversized, difficult to use salad spinner which we never use with one that was smaller and better designed for a while now, and I finally did it.  I decided to purchase the OXO Good Grips Little Salad and Herb Spinner ($24.99) and could not be happier with with my choice!  It just arrived yesterday and I have already used it to dry salad greens as well as blueberries - it worked perfectly for both.  The pump-style spinner is so much easier to use than the handle we had to turn on our old one.  The bottom has a sturdy nonslip surface that keeps the spinner firmly in place while in use.  I like the fact that the bowl is attractive enough to be used for serving, and the basket can be removed and used as a colander.  It even has a brake button to stop the spinning as well as a lock that holds the pump button down and out of the way until needed.  This salad spinner is easy to clean and the smaller size is so much more convenient to use and store.  I don't know why it took me so long to replace our old salad spinner, but this new one will definitely be getting a lot of use!

Wish List Wednesdays: L.L. Bean Women's Sunwashed Shorts

I have been looking to add some new shorts to my wardrobe that are comfortable and casual but nice enough to wear into town if necessary.  The L.L. Bean Women's Sunwashed Shorts ($39.95, in denim or canvas) check off all of these boxes and even come in colors that I prefer (I am trying to slowly increase the number of apparel items in rust-colored and light to medium denim shades in my wardrobe, as I find these colors to be more flattering to my coloring now).

The canvas shorts shown above are in a color called Copper Brown, while the denim shorts below are the Medium Wash color.  Both canvas and denim are super soft and a comfortable relaxed fit, especially the pre-washed denim.  These shorts sit as the waist rather than slightly below, which is better for me as I am long-waisted.  I would love to see the canvas shorts become available in an olive hue, which is another color that suits my complexion, and I will probably buy the Coastal Tan color as well.  That should be more than enough pairs of shorts to get me through the summer!

This 'n That Thursdays: 2022 Online Reading Challenge Update #3

The vintage girl's novel I chose to read for the month of May was Ruth Hall: A Domestic Tale of the Present Time by Fanny Fern.  As I had never heard of either the novel or the author before, I looked forward to finding out more about both.  As a girl's novel this title fit the category only marginally, as the main character's youthful years are covered rather quickly.  The story focuses mainly on her young adult life, especially after the death of her husband when she must struggle to find a way to earn a living for herself and her two young daughters.  I did enjoy reading this semi-autobiographical work which incorporates many of the author's same difficulties in life during a time when women were not expected or encouraged to earn a living.

The author became a successful writer first as a newspaper columnist, at one time being the highest-paid columnist in the United States.  Ruth Hall is her most successful novel, and was very popular when it came out, although it is less well known now.  While the novel starts out strong and the story is well written and cohesive throughout the middle portion, I found the last portion of the novel a bit weak.  After her heroine achieves financial success, the succeeding chapters seem a bit more haphazardly thrown together, almost as if the author had a few more bits from her own life she wanted to include in her novel whether they enhanced the narrative or not.  For example, Ruth Hall and her daughters spend some time in a seaside hotel before moving to their new home.  While they are there, a fire starts in the hotel which they just barely manage to flee with their lives.  This may add an exciting tough to the story, but it just seems to have been thrown in to the story for no particular reason.  While the novel's conclusion is not as strong as it could have been, the book is still a worthwhile read for the character descriptions as well as an insight into how difficult life was at the time for a woman with children who had no husband (sadly, it seems that not much has changed for a lot of women even now).

The reading challenge for June is to read a classic novel by an African-American author.  I have decided to read Beloved, the 1987 novel by Toni Morrison.  This is a genre that I have yet to experience, and it is high time I changed that.  Unlike the older classics I have read thus far, this newer book is not available free online, so I will have to buy or borrow a paper copy.

Wish List Wednesdays: A Couple of Summer Crustacean Finds

Even though we now live in arid and land-locked New Mexico, I am still always on the lookout for items with a crustacean theme, and summer is the best time to find them.  I recently found two that I could not resist.  The first is the Pull On Cotton Voile Shorts in Allover Lobster Print from Talbot's ($69.50, currently with a 30% discount).  Made of a lightweight cotton fabric that is perfect for summer, these high-waisted shorts are 100% cotton lined, with a drawstring elastic waist and on-seam pockets.

My other irresistible crustacean find is the Earthenware Crab Pitcher from Zara ($49.90, but unfortunately currently out of stock).  This 10-inch tall pitcher with a 4.5-inch diameter would be lovely on a summer table as either a pitcher or as a vase for flowers, which is how I envision using it:

Have you discovered any must-have items for summer yet?

This 'n That Thursdays: Online Reading Challenge Update #2

In my last reading challenge update I mentioned that the adventure novel I intended to read for the month of April was The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne.  I finally finished it a couple of days ago.  I really enjoyed it and do recommend it, but with a couple of caveats.  First, Jules Verne was fascinated by scientific detail and there is plenty of it in this novel, where five castaways land on a remote and uninhabited island and must find a way to make everything they need with just the raw materials available and their own knowledge and abilities.  Fortunately the leader of the group is an engineer with a broad background in many scientific fields, so they are quite successful, but Verne does go into great, sometimes tedious, detail as to the methods used for making such items as pottery, gunpowder, glass, various metals, etc.  I found the descriptions of these processes to be fascinating, but must admit that I merely skimmed through a lot of the information (hopefully I will never find myself in a situation like the castaways where I wished I had paid more attention to these details!).

I also found it interesting to read yet another 19th century novel which again reinforced the very masculine view of the world during this time period (the Conan Doyle novel I read last month had similar views).  All of the castaways are men, and their main focus seems to be conquering their environment rahter than living in harmony with it (one of their first tasks is to blow up one end of a lake to lower the water level for access to an underwater cave!).  They are obsessed with coming into possession of guns, which they cannot make themselves, and which, fortunately for them and somewhat miraculously, they find in a chest adrift in the ocean.  There is even a brief warlike conflict with some pirates who come across their island - even remote castaways cannot escape war!

The only other problem I had with this novel came at the very end.  The five castaways were accompanied by a loyal dog, who did his fair share in helping them all to survive.  After the rather catastrophic end to the island, the only survivors are these men and the dog, but they fear that without supplies they will soon perish from hunger and thirst.  Just in the nick of time they are rescued, but no further mention is made of the dog.  Did he survive or perish before the rescue?  Jules Verne did not think to let us know, and I for one as a confirmed dog lover found this overlooked detail maddening!  It pretty much ruined the whole ending for me - I even reread the last few pages twice to see if I had missed this detail, but there was nothing.  I will just assume that the dog managed to survive, but it would have made me happier to have had this conclusion verified.  Otherwise, as I said I found the novel a very worthwhile read and would certainly recommend it to anyone looking to read a classic adventure tale.

Next month's reading challenge is a vintage girl's novel (Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is a classic example), and I have decided to read a lesser known work called Ruth Hall by author Fanny Fern.  I am completely unfamiliar with this novel and the author, so I look forward to learning more about both when I read this semi-autobiographical book.

Wish List Wednesdays: Tiny Pantry Cookbook by Isabel Paige

Last fall I posted a recipe for a dish called kitchari based on a recipe from a digital cookbook I purchased called Tiny Pantry by Isabel Paige.  Isabel Paige is a YouTube vlogger who makes the most fantastic vegan meals in a tiny house she built herself.  Recently she made her cookbook available as a hardcover book ($34.95; also includes a free digital copy), and I wasted no time in placing my pre-order (the book is published independently so copies must be pre-ordered).  The original e-book has been edited and updated, with new photos and ten new recipes added.  The updated version is also available as a digital download only ($14.95) if that is your preference, but as an ardent book lover I can't wait to get my hands on the hard copy!  It will take a few weeks for the book to arrive, but once it does I intend to make a few more of the tantalizing recipes.  I recommend watching the following episode from A Cookbook Collector vlog which shows a non-vegan making and trying out some of the recipes from the original e-book, just to get an idea of how user-friendly and tasty these recipes really are:

Wish List Wednesdays: Loft Strawberry V-Neck Sweater

I am a big fan of sweaters with unique and fun prints, so when I saw the Strawberry V-Neck Sweater from Loft ($79.50, but currently 50% off plus free shipping!) I knew I had to buy it.  The fact that it is 100% cotton and has a v-neck, which I prefer to a crew neck, made it even more attractive.  One of the comments mentioned that it is more fitted than loose.  Since I have very broad shoulders and a long waist, I sized up, and the fit is perfect for me.  Loft has many items for sale at 50% off with free shipping right now, so even if this sweater is not your style you may want to check out some of the other sale items.  As for me, I am delighted with my new sweater!

Foodie Fridays: Roasted Cauliflower with Gnocchi and Ham

I came up with this recipe as a way to use up a head of cauliflower that had been sitting in our fridge for too long, and was truly surprised when it turned out to be absolutely delicious!  While it does take a while to roast, this dish is very easy to put together and is ready to serve in under an hour.  The amounts of all ingredients used are flexible, and you could substitute any vegetables you happen to have on hand (although I highly recommend the combination I listed).  I love easy sheet pan dinners, and this is one that I look forward to making again.

Roasted Cauliflower with Gnocchi and Ham

1 head cauliflower, cut into florets (I used orange)
8 oz. (1/2 bag) baby carrots, halved lengthwise if large
1 small red onion, cut into chunks
1/4 tsp. salt
4 T. olive oil
1 package (1 lb.) potato gnocchi
2 lbs. ham, cut into chunks (I used turkey ham)
1-2 tsp. tajin seasoning

Combine the cauliflower, carrots, and onion in a large baking pan.  Season with the salt and toss with 2 T. olive oil.  Roast at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.

Remove the pan from the oven.  Toss the vegetables.  Stir in the gnocchi, ham, and remaining 2 T. olive oil and toss well to combine.  Return to the oven and roast for 15 more minutes.

Remove the pan from the oven.  Season the vegetables with the tajin seasoning.  Return to the oven and roast for 10 minutes.

Turn off the oven and let the pan sit in the hot oven for another 10 minutes before serving.  Serves 6-8.

This 'n That Thursdays: Online Reading Challenge Update

I thought I would give a quick update on my progress with the 2022 online classics reading challenge I decided to join, as described in a previous post.  This month's challenge was to read an unfinished novel by a famous author, and I chose to read The Narrative of John Smith, a lesser known unfinished work by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.  For some reason I thought this would be a quick read and I had plans to read other unfinished works by other authors, but it actually took me the entire month just to finish this one.  This early work is very different from Conan Doyle's other writings, which tend to be more action-oriented.  In this novel, an older man, confined to his room with gout, philosophizes about many aspects of life and interacts with those few people who come to visit while he is confined - below is a better description from The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia website, where the novel is available to read free online (see title link above):

"Arthur Conan Doyle lost the manuscript of his first novel, and later professed horror at the thought that it should be found and published. As we now know, he rewrote much of it from memory, and "The Narrative of John Smith" has indeed been published. As it stands, it's not a long book, and next to nothing happens. I doubt it would have seen print in the 1880s, but now we're familiar with the author's life and work, and we're interested to follow his development as a writer, a thinker and a person. John Smith, perhaps Conan Doyle's vision of himself as an older man, is confined to his room by gout; the narrative consists of his reflections on life and his conversations with his doctor, his neighbours, his landlady, and the local curate — characters who are depicted with a lively authenticity. Nowhere else in his fiction does Conan Doyle discourse on such a range of topics — politics, religion, philosophy and much more — with the boldness of youth and often with the wisdom of maturity..."

While this may not be considered on of Conan Doyle's better works, I found it fascinating because the narrator spends quite a bit of time predicting how the future will be different from his present day in 1888.  Some of his predictions are quite prescient while some are spectacularly off the mark, as would be expected, but what is most interesting are his reasonings for those predictions.  Also of interest is the views held by the narrator (and presumably Conan Doyle as well) as to race, religion, gender stereotypes, and other topics, most of which were presumably typical for the time but would be considered quite passé if not downright offensive now.  I am not much of a history buff so it is good for me to read about these topics in a historical perspective, as it gives insights into how we view many of these subjects today.

I am really enjoying this reading challenge, but I think I am more than ready for April's topic, which is a classic adventure novel.  My choice for April is The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne.  I have always loved the 1961 movie adaptation (watch it free online here) but have never read the novel upon which it is based, so it is high time I did so!

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Wish List Wednesdays: MIUZMORE Pot Lid Holder and Spoon Rest

For me, one of the minor but annoying things about stovetop cooking is where to put your pot lid once the liquid in a pot has come to a boil.  The lid is hot and usually dripping with moisture, and I prefer not to place it on the countertop where it will make a mess.  I would rather place the lid with the inside facing up so that it does not stick to the counter, but trying to manipulate the hot lid with a potholder so that the top faces down can be hard.  However, I have finally found a solution to this lid problem, and it is the MIUZMORE Pot Lid Holder and Spoon Rest (a mere $7.99 for this ingenious gadget!).  When folded flat it can easily be stored away in a drawer until needed.  To use this device, simply fold the lid holder up and place on your countertop, as shown below:

The convenient slots for multiple spoons, spatulas, etc., means that I no longer have to have a spoon rest on the counter anymore either.  When you are done cooking, simply wash the pot lid holder, fold it up, and put it away until needed again.  I am so pleased with this clever little gadget - I wish I had discovered it sooner.  Sometimes it really is the little things that make life more pleasant!

Foodie Fridays: Creamy Coconut Chicken Corn Chowder

February has been a really cold month here in New Mexico, so I have been making a lot of soups lately.  I was looking for a soup recipe that used corn, chicken, and coconut milk since I had those ingredients available, and found one for Coconut Chicken Corn Chowder.  I changed a few of the ingredients and some of the directions as well to make preparation easier, and ended up with a delicious creamy soup that is perfect for serving with a sandwich for lunch or dinner.  Once again I added the spicy pecan vinegar which is my current obsession, but you could leave it out or substitute your own favorite flavored vinegar.

Next week we are supposed to have much warmer temperatures so I am not sure how much longer I will be craving soup, but right now this recipe really hits the spot when it comes to warming comfort foods!

Creamy Coconut Chicken Corn Chowder

2 T. olive oil
1 C. finely diced celery (about 4 stalks)
1 small onion, finely diced
1 sweet potato, peeled and finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 C. frozen corn kernels
1/2 tsp. sea salt, divided
1 can (15 oz.) cut baby corn, including liquid (optional)
4 C. chicken stock (I used unsalted)
1 can (12.5 oz) chicken breast (or use one cooked, diced chicken breast)
1 can (14 oz.) coconut milk (I used low fat)
1 tsp. dried basil
3 T. spicy pecan vinegar

In a large saucepan, heat the oil on medium.  Cook the celery, onion, and sweet potato in the oil, stirring often, until celery and onions are translucent, about 10 minutes.  Add the garlic, corn, and ¼ tsp salt and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.  Stir in the baby corn liquid if using plus the chicken stock and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes.

Stir in the cut baby corn if using and the canned chicken, breaking up the larger chicken chunks.  Add the coconut milk and basil and cook until heated through.  Stir in the vinegar.  Remove from the heat and, using an immersion blender, blend until creamy but still slightly chunky.  Serves 6.

Foodie Fridays: Coconut Sweet Potato Lentil Soup

We are currently experiencing the coldest temperatures as well as the most snow so far for this winter.  Whenever it gets this cold my thoughts immediately turn to warm and hearty soups for meals.  I have been looking for recipes that use red lentils since I have an almost full bag of them, and I found a great one for Coconut Sweet Potato Lentil Soup with Rice on the Half Baked Harvest website (always a wonderful source for excellent recipes).  I pretty much followed the recipe exactly, except for reducing the amount of cilantro which my husband does not like, eliminating the rice which I did not feel we needed, and adding 2 T. of a flavored vinegar I had on hand (Cuisine Perel Spicy Pecan Vinegar, but a sherry vinegar or even apple cider vinegar should be good as well).

This soup is so delicious!  I rarely cook with coconut milk, but I think I should use it more often, and make curries more often as well.  I bought pre-chopped sweet potatoes, which made this soup even easier to put together.  It cooks quickly - I started making it at 11 o'clock in the morning and it was ready to eat by noon.  I really recommend this recipe, especially if you too are now enduring frigid wintry weather!

Coconut Sweet Potato Lentil Soup

2 T. olive oil
1/2 yellow onion, diced
1 T. minced fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 T. yellow curry powder
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper, or to taste
4 C. vegetable stock (I use unsalted) or water
3/4 C. dried red lentils
1/2 tsp. salt, or to taste
2 T. vinegar, or to taste
1 can (14 oz.) coconut milk
2 C. baby spinach, roughly chopped
1 T. chopped cilantro, or to taste

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.  Add the onion and cook 5 minutes until soft.  Add the ginger, garlic, and sweet potatoes and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.  Stir in the curry powder and cayenne and cook another minute.

Add the stock, lentils, and salt.  Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer 15-20 minutes, until the lentils are soft and the sweet potatoes are tender.

Stir in the vinegar, coconut milk, and spinach, and cook 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and taste for seasonings, adding more salt and/or vinegar as needed.  Stir in the cilantro and serve.  Serves 6.

This 'n That Thursdays: Tea and Ink Society 2022 Classics Reading Challenge

Last year I found a new blog to enjoy called Tea and Ink Society, self-described as "a (mostly) classic literature blog".  Like the blogger, I too love to read but went through a period when I stopped reading as voraciously as I did when I was younger.  My mother was quite fond of reading classic literature, and I have vivid memories of her seated on the sofa with the cumbersome Russian novel War and Peace in her lap and her Japanese/English dictionary close by (she was born in Korea when it was occupied by the Japanese, and therefore spoke Japanese fluently), the latter a necessity because she would often have to look up and translate an unfamiliar English word to understand the text.  She could only get through a few pages a day, and it took quite a long time, but she did eventually finish the book, only to move on to yet another lengthy classic and start again.  Her desire to read the classics was that strong, and while I do not have her will power I did gain my love of reading, especially the classics, from observing her.

However, somewhere in my mid-thirties I drifted away from reading anything but the most undemanding novels, mostly cozy mysteries.  I still love reading mysteries, but recently felt the need to revisit the classics, and the Tea and Ink Society 2022 reading challenge seemed like the perfect way to get back into the habit.  Each month a different category is recommended - January featured classic books being made into a movie, and for February it is a novel by one of the three Brontë sisters.

In January I kept it simple by rereading an old Agatha Christie mystery called Why Didn't They Ask Evans?, which I had read decades ago but thoroughly enjoyed reading again (reading this book reminded me why I love mystery novels so much!).  Apparently this story is being made into a three-part TV series for BritBox by actor and now director Hugh Laurie, and I will be interested to see how this series turns out.  I found the novel free online here, and while there are a few editing issues it was quite easy to read.

For February I just finished reading the novel Agnes Grey by the least known of the Brontë sisters, Anne Brontë (read it free online here - it is well edited though in a rather small font).  This novel I also read decades ago, and it was a pleasure to read it again.  While not as well known or as well written as her sisters' more famous novels, Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, it was quite absorbing to read about the observations of a young governess concerning the lifestyles and attitudes of the wealthy upper class families who hired her.  (Mild spoiler alert - this novel does have a happy ending, which I prefer and which is why I am not as fond of the admittedly better written Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë.)

The challenge for March is to read an unfinished novel by a classic author.  Recommended titles include The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens, Sanditon by Jane Austen, and Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell.  I managed to find an unfinished novel by Arthur Conan Doyle, The Narrative of John Smith, written when he was in his early twenties and actually sent to a publisher, but unfortunately lost in the mail and never recovered.  Conan Doyle rewrote it from memory but never completed it, but it was finally published relatively recently in its unfinished form.  I did read the Dickens novel long ago, but not the others, so I may read all three if I have the time (all four are readily available to read free online, and I have provided the links with each title).  I find it can be very frustrating to read an unfinished work, however, because I really do look forward to some definite conclusion, so this will be a test of my patience and tolerance, to say the least!

So far all of the classic novels I have mentioned are by English authors, but this will change later in the year when categories will include African-American, pre-Medieval, and French novelists.  I fully intend to finish this challenge, and to help hold myself to this goal I will give periodic updates on my progress here.  If you too are an avid reader, you may wish to join the challenge as well.  If so, happy reading to you!

Wish List Wednesdays: Koala Scarf by Un Poco

This lovely Koala Scarf ($195) by Un Poco was featured recently on one of my favorite blogs, The Vivienne Files, and I have to say I am quite smitten.  The 90 centimeter (about 35 inches) square scarf is 100% silk twill with hand-rolled edges.  In addition to the koala several other Australian animals are featured, including an echidna, emu, kangaroo, and cockatoo.  Best of all, this scarf features many hues in my color palette, including olive, rust, denim blue, and cream.  I have already hinted to my husband that it would be the perfect Valentine's Day gift - I hope he takes the hint, but if not I will just need to order it for myself!

Foodie Fridays: Roasted Butternut Squash and White Bean Soup

Now that the holiday feasting is over, it is time to think about eating healthier foods.  I found a recipe for Soothing Butternut Squash and White Bean Soup that sounded like a good candidate, but decided to roast the butternut squash rather than boiling it as the recipe suggests.  I used fresh rosemary as the herb, but I think I would try a different herb next time as I did not really care for the taste of rosemary in this soup.  Otherwise this is a great cold weather soup, and I will make it again soon.

Roasted Butternut Squash and White Bean Soup

1 medium butternut squash, halved lengthwise and seeds removed
2 T. olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 small onion, finely diced
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (15 oz.) cannellini beans
4 C. vegetable stock
1 tsp. minced fresh rosemary or thyme
1 T. sherry vinegar

Place the squash halves, cut side up, on a large rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 T. oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Flip the squash halves over.

Roast at 425 degrees, cut side down, until fork tender, 40-45 minutes.  Cool slightly and scoop the flesh out of the shells.

Heat the remaining oil in a large pot.  Add the onion and garlic and sauté until translucent.  Add the vegetable stock and simmer for 10 minutes.  Stir in the beans, herbs, and cooked squash.  Simmer for another 10 minutes.

Add a little extra water if needed, then blend the mixture with an immersion blender.  Serves 4.

I highly recommend serving this soup with a fruit and cheese plate such as the one I made shown below:

One of my brothers sent us a food gift from La Tienda, one of our favorite online specialty food sites, which included numerous cheeses plus several loaves of their Galician bread and a variety of green olives.  For this plate, I melted some of the absolutely delicious San Simon Smoked Cow's Milk Cheese on slices of the bread, cut up a Bartlett pear to serve with wedges of blue cheese (I can't remember now which of their blue cheeses we had, but I think it was the Cabrales Blue Cheese from Asturias), and added a few olives to the plate as well.  This is my idea of the perfect meal!

Wish List Wednesdays: Valentine's Day Red Heart Pendant Necklace from Chico's

Necklaces are about the only jewelry that I wear (except for a few favorite cuff bracelets), and I have an impressive collection, but if I were looking for a new necklace then the Valentine's Day Red Heart Pendant from Chico's ($39.50, but currently on sale for 25% off) would be at the top of my list.  I love the simplicity, the pendant style, and most of all the adjustable length, since one of my biggest problems with necklaces is trying to match the necklace length to the necklines of my tops.  Multiple layers and thick sweaters in colder weather call for longer necklaces, so one that adjusts means that I could wear this pendant more often no matter what outfit I am wearing.  I think it may be time to drop a few hints to a certain someone about a perfect Valentine's Day gift!