No Excuses: The Pioneer Woman Cooks Review

It has been pointed out to me between my 11 AM sangria and my noon cocktail that perhaps I have been in remiss, Gentle Reader. I posted a review on that lovely website VBPL Recommends, but have no accompanying review for the same book on this site. I am thoroughly ashamed. There is no excuse. I would never do anything to harm you Dear Reader (...that you would notice) or stunt your growth as culinary geniuses! Perhaps I should blame the sangria. But we do not dwell. Instead, let us proceed onward, Gentle Reader!

Ree Drummond, also known as The Pioneer Woman, was once a city lady, and since became a country missus when she wed her now-husband and moved to the seedy hotbed of Oklahoma ranch life. She started her website to keep in touch with family and one day posted with pictures a how-to on steak cooking. From there, it flourished into what it is today: a blogging empire. Ree has written a cookbook, a biographical romance and an upcoming children’s book. However, due to my busy schedule I can only discuss her cookbook, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl at the moment. 

The Mystery at the Craft Show

The other weekend the Lit Chicks went to our local craft show. On our way in we passed many people on their way out carrying a large metal spiky looking thing. I was intrigued, I had never seen such an item and it appeared to be very popular. I went on a hunt to find the vendor selling them and to find out what the mystery item was.

Tea Cup Bird Feeder

 As we wandered the aisles we commented on many of the vendors who are into recycling (or should that be upcycling?) items. There was one vendor that made garden stakes/bird feeders out of teacups and saucers, another that made wind chimes out of liquor bottles and a large wooden ball, they made more of a bonging sound than a chime. One booth that drew me in was The Cat & the Fiddle. There were wonderful wind chimes made with kitchen items - much like the box full I just donated. The gentleman I spoke with was Alex Naredo. He said that he had been doing this for twenty years. For this past year Mr. Naredo has been traveling up and down the East Coast selling his creations.

A Delish Treat from a New Mystery Series

Sprinkle With Murder
by Jenn McKinlay
(A Cupcake Bakery Mystery)
ISBN: 978-0425233429

Sprinkle With Murder is the first in a new series of cozy mysteries by Jenn McKinlay. The main character Mel (Melanie) Cooper, along with her two best friends from childhood, Angie DeLaura and Tate Harper, are starting a new business the Fairy Tale Cupcakes Bakery. When Tate's fiancee-turned-bridezilla is found dead clutching one of Mel's cupcakes in her hand Mel has her work cut out for her. Mel must solve the murder before she or Tate are locked away for the crime. 

There is a whole cast of characters to keep things interesting. From the insanely competitive rival bakery owner to Angie’s overprotective brothers and Mel’s matchmaking Mom. There is even the hint of the beginning of a romance. This is a mystery that plays fair. You are given the clues so that you can figure this one out for yourself. The biggest mystery may be which of the yummy cupcake recipes included in the book will you bake?

Finding Something Better than "Lawns that are Green and Hearts that are Cold"

Still Life with Chickens: 

Starting Over In a House by the Sea
By Catherine Goldhammer
ISBN: 978-0452288485
Library Call Number: 974.4043092 G6189s
 

Still Life with Chickens is a tale of coping with life changes. What happens when the vows a couple take at the altar fall short? Do we slog it out hanging on to a less than perfect life or do we pack it in? 

We often don’t sense life changing because we are too busy living it. There is the job, the mortgage, the kids… endless demands on one’s time, money and emotions. Midlife is hard enough and is usually the time when people start taking stock of their lives. Sometimes one decides to focus on their dreams as an individual rather than as a couple and the spouse or partner is left behind, usually in bewilderment.

Reminiscing Through Green Colored Glasses

 
We're all a little Irish today.

And this day more than any other we dream of visiting our adoptive homeland. New Yorker Patricia Tunison Preston, an "Ireland Expert" who has been a regular visitor of Ireland for over 40 years, brings about daydreams galore in her book Ireland Memories, in which she shares with us a variety of dishes from her travels. These recipes, that include "New Irish" cuisine, are simple and easy to recreate and share over a bit of a chat with family and friends.   

Whether one is fortunate enough to have already visited Ireland (which boasts 6 million visitors annually), planning to take a tour in the near future, or if you are like me and you are just an enthusiastic "armchair traveler" that may never set foot on the Emerald Isle, you are sure to enjoy this collection that includes it all.  You'll find the delectable foods, wonderful descriptions of the Irish countryside, interesting historical and cultural glimpses, and fanciful watercolor prints all inspiring and delightful. 

Check out information about Pat's upcoming 10 Day, 8 Night, 15 Meal Group Tour.  

And see the recipe for Irish Brown Bread from Pat's book (courtesy of  the Cobblestone Cafe in Galway) after the jump. 

Life's Too Short & Groceries Too Expensive

Okay, I honestly gave it my best shot this time. In a previous post I did a review of the recipe for Hannah's Best Butterscotch Cookies, from the Joanne Fluke book Gingerbread Cookie Murder. I wasn't thrilled with the results then and thought it might be due to the ingredients I used. I did the taste test for the white chocolate chips and used the one chosen by my co-workers. (See the March 1, 2011 post for the results.)

"Try Their Southern Peach Cobbler. They Call It Their Signature Dessert."

Peach Cobbler Murder
by Joanne Fluke
(Hannah Swensen Mysteries)
ISBN:  978-0758201553

In this book our favorite cookie baker gets some competition both of the professional and romantic kinds. When hottie Shawna Lee has her sister Vanessa move into town and they open their own bakery, business falls off at the Cookie Jar. But then, to add insult to injury, Shawna Lee starts dating one of Hannah's boyfriends. So one night, seeing a light on at the Magnolia Blossom Bakery, Hannah sneaks over to peek in the window. Instead of finding Shawna Lee's baking secrets she sees Shawna Lee dead on the floor of the bakery. Hannah has just become the prime suspect. 

Did the women have trouble follow them into town or was it someone Hannah knows who committed the crime? Does Hannah ever choose between Mike and Norman? And just what is it that makes Shawna Lee's Peach Cobbler so yummy?  

Haze, and Vista, and the Far Horizon...

...Fading Away. 

Lit Chicks hit the road this past weekend to visit the small farm of a longtime friend. Maureen has had my admiration for years. The mother of eight  in addition to raising and home-schooling the children, works hand-in-hand with her husband Kevin, to run Hearthside Farm. They raise chickens, ducks, goats, sheep, Corgis and have four horses, two of which are Great Dane dogs. The Great Danes seemed like horses to this city gal but then I also mistook a small dog with large black and brown spots, foraging off the side of the road, as a small farm animal. Hey, I was excited to see livestock.

The minute the car turned onto the lane, we were enchanted. One of the children was picking purple flowers for the garland she would create. Maureen, with Corgis trailing closely behind, greeted us warmly at the gate by the house and welcomed us into her log home. Our tour had started at last.

More from Good Eat's 2; It's Good Cold Too

These Pork Pot Stickers are easy enough to make but a little time consuming. I used the vegetable broth to steam the pot stickers. I think a low sodium broth would work very well also.

I found a pot sticker dipping sauce at the store and gave it a try. It was okay. It pretty much tasted like soy sauce. I liked the Hoisin sauce for dipping much better. The recipe says to serve hot but I thought they were good cold from the fridge also.

What to do with that remaining half pound of ground pork? I would just make a double batch of the pot sticker and put the extra in the freezer for later.

You Will Need:

Get Your Groove Back With Some Good Eats

"In the end, you cannot teach anyone to cook.  You can point them in the right direction, arm them with the proper tools, give them good groceries.  But in the end it's like dancing:  You either find the groove or you don't." -Alton Brown

It doesn’t get any easier than this.  This recipe is found in Alton Brown's book, Good Eats 2: The Middle Years. 

These sweet potatoes were even tastier than I expected. One taste tester that said they didn’t like sweet potatoes said they liked this. Another taste tester that said they didn’t like spicy said they liked this. At first bite you taste the sweetness of the potatoes, then the smoky flavor of the chipotle creeps in, as a finish you get a little heat from the pepper. Surprisingly complex and layered flavors from such a simple recipe.

Now, let's do the Mashed (Sweet) Potato.  Do it with a twist!  Find the recipe after the jump.

Spicy, Salty, Sweet, Crunchy Goodness. Spiced Pecans.

Here is another recipe from the Susan Branch book Autumn From the Heart of the Home. These spiced pecans aren't the sweet cinnamon ones you might think of. While there is a hint of sweetness to them they also have a hint of salty and just a slight kick of spicy from the hot pepper sauce. In the book Susan Branch suggests using these on salads and warns that it is very hard to eat just one.  Mine never made it to a salad.

View more photos and the recipe after the jump.

Who Knows Who Did What to the Open Faced Pie, Perhaps They'll Die

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death 

(Book #1 in the Agatha Raisin series)
By: M. C. Beaton
ISBN: 978-0312939168

Agatha Raisin is finding it hard adjusting to village life following her early retirement from her London PR firm. As she starts her a new life in England’s Cotswolds, Agatha enters a local baking competition to get to know the residents of Carsley. She shamelessly purchases a spinach quiche from her favorite London deli and passes the bought goods off as her own baking masterpiece. Agatha becomes suspicious that the contest is rigged when the competition is won by one of local ladies with a less worthy entry. Disgusted by the outcome, Agatha leaves her contest entry behind. That evening, murder is what’s for dinner when the contest judge, Mr. Comingsbrown helps himself to a large slice of the deadly pie. Certainly this is one meal he should have skipped! Agatha has no recourse but to expose herself as a cheat and sets out to clear her name and restore her reputation in the town of Carsley.

"There’s More to Life than Chocolate, But Not Right Now." The Results are in.

 

**Disclaimer**  We at Lit Chicks Dish do not receive compensation in any way for product endorsements. If we say we like something it is because we really like it.