Thanks for your comments and concern, Rachel. A hundred books is a lot! I’m not sure of my numbers, but the books are definitely great company. Any recommendations?
The Woman in Black - Audible has a version read by Paapa Essiedu which is so atmospheric I found myself hearing it in a totally new way.
The Scandalous Lady W by Hallie Rubenhold - Brilliant biography of the woman behind Britain's first ever tabloid scandal, really fascinating even if you approach it knowing nothing about her. Another by the same author, The Five is also excellent, potted biographies of Jack the Ripper's five victims lifting a lid on Victorian society and how popular culture has coloured and mis-remembered these women's lives.
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd - Beautifully written historical fiction in a 'what if' of if Jesus had a wife, and this is told from her perspective. It's about female friendship, love, duty and endurance. Excellent.
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware - I'm working my way through all of Ruth Ware's thrillers - addictively good and clever but this is the best so far, a luxury travel journalist on board an exclusive Nordic river cruise where she is the only one on board who believes a murder has been committed.
Enjoy! I have plenty of other recommendations that are very gothic and very fantasy (it's the type of fiction I write) but these are all for people who just love excellent writing, storytelling and narration! Enjoy x
Hopefully soon to be published - being sent out to publishers next month in fact so fingers crossed! I've very lucky my wonderful agent for my cookbooks already has a few clients with witchy reads!
Carrot salad sounds fabulous, Ruth! And your cobbler is 🙌 I saw Oppenheimer and now am doing the reverse: reading the book to fill in the blanks not in the movie (which I found really good)
The salad was surprisingly good. Making it again--and cobbler too, maybe with peaches or plums this time. I do love a fruit dessert! I think I’ll see the movie now. It was such a pivotal moment in history. I always value your comments, Jolene.
I love reading your Substack - always finding food that I love and love to make. Small world - I manage the catering at the Hollywood Bowl - please look me up next time you visit! And I am always impressed with the home cook catering setups the patrons pack in - I want to crash so many of them!
Thanks for writing, Ric! We’re hoping to try some of the Bowl fare next time we go. I’ll ask after you when we do. Meanwhile, I’m digging into some of your Substack posts and enjoying them. Good to discover new talent on this site!
The cobbler and the salad both look scrumptious, Ruth. Farro is a favorite at our house, so I think I will also chose it when I try your salad. How glorious to live so close to the beach. Good luck with upcoming storms!
Thanks, Vicki! I’d love to know what other dishes you make with farro. I’ve added it to soups and stirfries and just stuffed some into my taco, but now that I’ve rediscovered it, I’m eager to try more recipes.
Most of the time it’s great to be near the beach. Hopefully this storm won’t wreak too much havoc! 🤞
We frequently have it as a side dish with fish. I caramelize a red onion, add cooked farro and dried cranberries to the pan and serve it topped with toasted pecans
Thanks, Evelyn! The rest of the meal was excellent too--especially the barbecued teriyaki beef! I hope you didn't mind that I used your wave picture in my piece. It was terrific and I wanted to include so many more of your photos, especially the one with the elephants gathered around the skeleton!
This is definitely my kind of salad. I’m adding it to the list before the weather fully changes here in Baltimore!
Thanks, Mia! I hope you like it!
Hope you are doing well with the storm!
The salad recipe looks delish!
Thanks, Susan! I’m really enjoying following along on your and Mark’s great adventure.
Stay safe in the storm!
Also: people ask how I manage to read c.100 books every single year - it is because I'm addicted to Audiobooks in the kitchen!
Thanks for your comments and concern, Rachel. A hundred books is a lot! I’m not sure of my numbers, but the books are definitely great company. Any recommendations?
Excellent Audiobooks I've listened to this year:
The Woman in Black - Audible has a version read by Paapa Essiedu which is so atmospheric I found myself hearing it in a totally new way.
The Scandalous Lady W by Hallie Rubenhold - Brilliant biography of the woman behind Britain's first ever tabloid scandal, really fascinating even if you approach it knowing nothing about her. Another by the same author, The Five is also excellent, potted biographies of Jack the Ripper's five victims lifting a lid on Victorian society and how popular culture has coloured and mis-remembered these women's lives.
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd - Beautifully written historical fiction in a 'what if' of if Jesus had a wife, and this is told from her perspective. It's about female friendship, love, duty and endurance. Excellent.
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware - I'm working my way through all of Ruth Ware's thrillers - addictively good and clever but this is the best so far, a luxury travel journalist on board an exclusive Nordic river cruise where she is the only one on board who believes a murder has been committed.
Thanks SO much for these recommendations, Rachel! I think I’d like every last one!
Enjoy! I have plenty of other recommendations that are very gothic and very fantasy (it's the type of fiction I write) but these are all for people who just love excellent writing, storytelling and narration! Enjoy x
I’d love to check out your fiction! In progress or published?
Hopefully soon to be published - being sent out to publishers next month in fact so fingers crossed! I've very lucky my wonderful agent for my cookbooks already has a few clients with witchy reads!
Carrot salad sounds fabulous, Ruth! And your cobbler is 🙌 I saw Oppenheimer and now am doing the reverse: reading the book to fill in the blanks not in the movie (which I found really good)
The salad was surprisingly good. Making it again--and cobbler too, maybe with peaches or plums this time. I do love a fruit dessert! I think I’ll see the movie now. It was such a pivotal moment in history. I always value your comments, Jolene.
Thinking of you and Jeff during this storm, Ruth!
Thanks, Jolene. I think we’re going to be okay.
I love reading your Substack - always finding food that I love and love to make. Small world - I manage the catering at the Hollywood Bowl - please look me up next time you visit! And I am always impressed with the home cook catering setups the patrons pack in - I want to crash so many of them!
Thanks for writing, Ric! We’re hoping to try some of the Bowl fare next time we go. I’ll ask after you when we do. Meanwhile, I’m digging into some of your Substack posts and enjoying them. Good to discover new talent on this site!
Yum. The Cobbler and Carrot salad sound and look delicious!
Thanks, Julia!
The cobbler and the salad both look scrumptious, Ruth. Farro is a favorite at our house, so I think I will also chose it when I try your salad. How glorious to live so close to the beach. Good luck with upcoming storms!
Thanks, Vicki! I’d love to know what other dishes you make with farro. I’ve added it to soups and stirfries and just stuffed some into my taco, but now that I’ve rediscovered it, I’m eager to try more recipes.
Most of the time it’s great to be near the beach. Hopefully this storm won’t wreak too much havoc! 🤞
We frequently have it as a side dish with fish. I caramelize a red onion, add cooked farro and dried cranberries to the pan and serve it topped with toasted pecans
Mmmmm that sound so good! I had a feeling nuts and something tangy-sweet would work with this grain!
The berry cobbler was delicious. Cobblers always remind me of summer when many fruits are in season. Thanks from Evelyn and John
Thanks, Evelyn! The rest of the meal was excellent too--especially the barbecued teriyaki beef! I hope you didn't mind that I used your wave picture in my piece. It was terrific and I wanted to include so many more of your photos, especially the one with the elephants gathered around the skeleton!
You may use any of my photos. Thanks
Kudos on being able to listen to podcasts and audiobooks while cooking…..I get way too distracted
I sometimes do, depending on the complexity of what I'm cooking. If it's many intricate steps, I sometimes have to turn off the audio and focus.
Oh, that salad is right up my alley, except for you know what. And the cobbler sounds delish. Glad you're having fun in the kitchen.
Thanks, Judy! I'll be making it for you without the you-know-what very soon!😉
Love those cobblers.