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.