sorry!

I will try and attempt to update this within the next week or so. I have been doing a fair bit of reading, so... Yes. Sorry.

Talk to you later.

Booking Through Thursday

This week's questions:

1. Do YOU like books with complicated plots and unexpected endings?

I don't mind complicated plots, I can usually follow them if they're logical (even if they only do make sense in the end), and I have nothing especially against unexpected endings, unless it's a negative emotion for me, as "whyyyyy?".

2. What book with a surprise ending is your favorite? Or your least favorite?

Ah, this is a tough one. I like doing my background searches before reading books, so I generally know quite a bit about them. Sad surprise endings are my least favourites, all of them.
Although I have a feeling I knew how the book will end (as in someone told me beforehand), I still loved Veronika Decides to Die's ending. Can't remember any other book at the moment.


Frustratingly difficult questions this week!, and not very cohesive answers.

(b) a rabing fan-post, apologies

The Railway Station Man
by Jennifer Johnston

Another book by my absolute favourite Jennifer Johnston.

The protagonist is Helen Cuffe, a widow living alone somewhere in Co Donegal, near the coast. One day when her son Jack is visiting, she finds out an Englishman, Roger Hawthorne, has moved to the village, attempting to restore the old railway station, and to help with that - Damian Sweeney, a local rogue (kind of crushworthy material - he knits!). They fall in love, Helen and Roger. Also, Helen sort of rediscovers herself through her art. These descriptions were beautifully done, by the way.

The book has several themes, Troubles, for instance, and then also larger themes such as love, family relations, etc.

Although Johnston holds true to her tradition, providing us with an unhappy ending, there's also beautiful and powerful prose. I can't emphasize enough how much I enjoy her style. She's a natural with words, partly credited to her nationality, as well, perhaps. The Irish are great with words, and there's no denying that.

Anyways, this book is one of my favourites by her. Another 5/5. Heart-wrenchingly sad yet beautiful. And there are no more JJ's books available in Estonia! In English, that is. There is one in Estonian I haven't read yet, but I must say that she's better in the original. Even more amazing.

Enough, now. I'm boring you. Read Jennifer Johnston!, and that's an order.

(gf) vol 2

Ah, success! Second recipe of the day.

Pomegranate Ice Cream

2 dl pomegranate juice
150 g powdered sugar
1 lime
4 dl double cream (35%)

Add pomegranate juice and juice from the lime to powdered sugar. Mix. Add double cream. Whip until soft peaks appear. Put to the freezer for 4 hours or overnight.

This is nice. I've always wanted to make ice cream, but thought not having the ice cream machine would prove essential.. Well, as it turns out, a regular freezer will do! And you don't have to touch the ice cream while it's in the freezer, it needs no stirring afterwards.

A cool desert. Literally. Pun duly intended!

(I changed the bowl because you couldn't see the colour in a glass one, hence the bit battered looks)

(Recipe taken from Nigella Express with slight changes)

(gf) vol 1

The first recipe of today, another one should be on the way, if it turns out alright.

Mozzarella and [fill in the blank] Pizza

pizza powder 1 bg
mozzarella
basil
pineapple chunks
chopped ham (or minced meat, chicken, etc)
cheese (grated)
1 tomato
tomato sauce (crushed tomatoes, not ketchup)

I have purposely omitted the exact numbers since well it pretty much depends on what you want on your pizza. This isn't a place where I give you directions as to what colour and size your peppers need be. This is just.. a creative outlet. Not even that creative considering the fact I use a fair bit of pre-packaged foods.

Anyways, I made two varities. And I used a simple pizza powder which only needs to be mixed in a bowl with water and a bit of oil. So one bag of that powder. Then I spread the dough on the baking pan (the label claimed it's rollable, but I doubt that!) using my fingers. They didn't have rolling pins in the Stone Age, you know... Or pizza dough, for that matter.. Where was I?

Then I covered the dough with tomato sauce, and added the necessary toppings. For one half I used mozzarella, for the other ham for my parents. I prefer my pizzas with only tomato sauce and cheese, you see. Then I put the whole thing in the oven for about 15 minutes (see label of package). After that time, cheking that it's pretty much done, I added the cheese on the ham-covered part and tomatoes and pineapple chunks for those who wanted them. A nice touch: season the tomatoes with pepper, and add a bit of pizza-seasoning (chopped dried basil, I would imagine). And then 2 more minutes in the oven (225 degrees C), until the cheese melts, and it's ready! I put some basil leaves onto mozzarella-covered side. It tasted excellent!

And well.. with the pizza flour (or powder or whatever it's called) available, making your own pizza is really a matter of minutes, AND you can use whichever toppings you like! It won't affect the preparing time, unless the toppings are covering every visible inch of the pizza, then you can use the old knife-and-fork test.

And then, cut into however many pieces you wish, and enjoy!

I do excuse the pictures on this blog.. I assure you, the dishes are all delicious apart for my incapability of photographing, and my natural lack of talent for lighting.

(b)

Irish Proverbs: Traditional Wit & Wisdom
by Fionnuala Carson Williams

OK book, some nice proverbs. Overall quite old-fashioned, not very modern. It did give the English versions complete with Irish equivalents, which is unusual and quite welcomed. No explanations, though.

Nothing special. A quick read. Took no more than 30 minutes to skim through.

(b) book about good food

Julie & Julia
by Julie Powell

I'm all for projects and challenges like every other person. Whether you go through with them or not. Beginnings are always such a thrill, even more so if you actually finish them, I would imagine.

So, this book. It's about Julie Powell, a secretary in New York, quite dissatisfied with her job, who one September day decides she will cook her way through a whole cook-book within a year. Which may not seem such a big deal, but do keep in mind there are 365 days to a year, and there are 524 recipes in the book. Including preparing kidneys, brains and bone marrow sauces, and boning ducks. Not your average "mix flour and water in a bowl" type of recipes, but the old-fashioned ones where cooking took several hours. Nice.

I liked this book. It read quite fast, and I enjoyed Ms Powell's language, she has great style, and a natural knack for writing I might add. She finished her challenge, which is always great. Now I must find a way to see the film, as well.

It's not just a book about a cooking challenge. It's also the path to the proverbial self-discovery, and I would like to quote these words, I hope I'm allowed:

Sometimes, if you want to be happy, you've got to run away to Bath and marry a punk rocker. Sometimes you've got to dye your hair cobalt blue, or wander remote islands in Sicily, or cook your way through Mastering the Art of French Cooking in a year, for no very good reason. (306)

So, yes, a good book. I'd recommend it. I have it, you're welcome to borrow it.