As April draws to a close, friends and neighbors are beginning to head north for the summer months. Last week we attended a couple of "end of season" gatherings and will host one ourselves this week. However, my brother's photo from home this morning showed more SNOW in central New York - ridiculous! I miss my parents and siblings (and Wegmans) but don't want to leave Florida any time soon.
Finished this week//
Women in Sunlight by Frances Mayes
This book is a feast for the senses and a virtual trip to Italy. I'll post a book brief in a few days but, in the meantime, go ahead and add it to your summer reading list!
Current reading//
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
I promised Care I'd give this book a chance and so far, so good. Started it on the beach yesterday and am turning the pages pretty quickly.
In the kitchen//
We loved Charlie Bird's Farro Salad from The New York Times! The farro, cooked in a mixture of apple cider and water, had a delicious nutty flavor. It was tossed with arugula, sliced radishes, and halved cherry tomatoes, then finished with shaved Parmesan cheese. I'll be making it again very soon.
Hope you have a good week. What are you reading?
Oh my gosh, that salad looks delicious. I need to try Women in Sunlight.
ReplyDeleteKathy - I'll be trying more farro recipes. The audio version of Women in Sunlight was excellent, too.
DeleteI was introduced to farro through a butternut squash 'farrotto' recipe from Wegmans! I love it now, and am always looking for new ways to try it. This is going on the list. I confess I didn't get very far with Kitchens but maybe I didn't give it enough of a chance.
ReplyDeleteAudrey - Just found that 'farroto 'recipe and will give it a try. There is a Tuscan Farro Soup recipe from NYTimes that I'm going to make before we leave:
Deletehttps://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1845-tuscan-farro-soup?smid=pin-share
After reading Thomas's review of Kitchens, I decided not to read it. Care called me out on that (she loved it), so I picked it up as a kindle daily deal. There was a point early on when I wavered, but maybe reading on the beach is helping?
I liked Kitchens, but really missed the main character in the later parts of the book....it's not a spoiler, they just focus on other things. So, I didn't love it as much as some people did.
ReplyDeleteSarah - Oh, no... I don't want the main characters to fade into the background!
DeleteI must add Women in Sunlight to my reading list then. Thank you for sharing this. Perfect timing for me.
ReplyDeleteI’d continue to enjoy Florida as long as it is pleasant there. If Florida is anything like our weather this spring along the Gulf Coast of Texas, I’d never go back north!
https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2018/04/the-24-hour-read-thon-leggiamo-alcuni.html
Deb - I think you'd like Women in Sunlight. The weather here has been just delightful all winter. Snow totaled 3" at home yesterday... think I'll stay put!
DeleteI love farro so I really must try this salad. Both books look like great reads and are both on my TBR. I don't think I'd want to leave Florida either - at least until up north can stay snow-free for more than a few days at a time. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - This is only the second time I've tried farro, but think I'll be cooking it a lot more often. Temperatures at home are supposed to warm up quite a bit midweek. I'll believe it when I see it ;-)
DeleteI don't blame you about not being ready to leave Florida. Sunshine always wins in my book!
ReplyDeleteI'm adding Women in Sunlight to my TBR list. A trip to Italy will be perfect this summer.
Susie - I enjoyed Women in Sunlight so much that it might be time to revisit Mayes's earlier novels!
DeleteI'd exchange sunshine for some cold weather! the grass is always greener!
ReplyDeleteMystica - LOL! Isn't that always the case :)
DeleteWomen in Sunlight caught my eye. I love books that are a "feast for the senses and a virtual trip to Italy." Or Paris, or anywhere I would love to be.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog. Love that photo at the top of your post.
Laurel-Rain Snow - Armchair travel doesn't get much better than Women in Sunlight!
DeleteI know I read Kitchens and I do remember loving it. I think I bought frozen precooked farro at Trader Joe’s...Quinoa, too! It’s still freezing here!
ReplyDeletePatty - Now I'm even more excited for a trip to TJ's. I didn't know you could buy farro and quinoa already cooked! Sure hope it warms up for you soon...
DeleteI wouldn't leave Florida either. It snowed again here last Friday but none stayed on the ground. I'll have to add farro to my shopping list. That salad looks amazing. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteKathy - We got 3" of snow at home yesterday and they're predicting 70s by midweek... how crazy is that? Happy reading to you, too!
DeleteKitchens of the Great Midwest sounds good. Happy end of the month. Come see what I'm reading.
ReplyDeletePussreboots - Haven't made much progress on Kitchens this week... maybe tomorrow.
DeleteI recently discovered Farro and need to try that salad. Looks yum!
ReplyDeleteIliana - That salad was amazing! I plan to try a Tuscan bean soup with farro this weekend, and have been searching for other cold salads with farro. My new favorite grain :)
DeleteGlad to hear Women in Sunlight is good--I like Frances Mayes's books in general and visiting Italy, virtually and physically, is always a treat. I've had Kitchens of the Great Midwest for while now, but heard mixed reviews. Maybe I'll finally give it a try as well.
ReplyDeleteJaneGS - I've read quite a few mixed reviews of Kitchens, too. One was bad enough to make me remove it from my tbr list! Care finally convinced me to give it a shot... I'm still liking, but not loving it.
DeleteJoAnn, I hope the weather warms up soon, so you can head north back to family and friends. I also really like the sound of Women in Sunlight by Frances Mayes. This week I finished reading the inspirational God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew.
ReplyDeleteJessica - Today was a record-breaking warm day at home... guess we'll be able to head north soon :)
DeleteVicki - I know what your mean! It' so hard to keep track of all the books I'd like to read... let alone actually read them ;-)
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to read some Frances Mayes. I will have to add this to my list!
ReplyDeleteHeather - Reading Frances Mayes is like taking a trip to Italy.
DeleteI ordered Women in Sunlight from Audible and am looking forward to starting it (just as soon as I finish The Great Alone). It sounds like a wonderful book!
ReplyDeleteThat farro salad looks delicious! I'll have to try it out maybe with some grilled salmon. Yumm.
I don't blame you for not wanting to leave Florida. That photograph looks like it could be a fun jigsaw puzzle. :)
Les - I think you'll enjoy Women in Sunlight... it was such a nice escape. Last week I tried a recipe for Tuscan Farro Soup (to use up the rest of the farro before we leave) and it was another winner.
DeleteJoAnn,
ReplyDeleteIt was "hotter than hell" yesterday. Well, considering that we had a high temp of 38 degrees on Sunday and loads of snow in the air, it felt that hot at 83 degrees at our house, at a goodly elevation. I'm not complaining, not really, but it is hard to adjust to a sudden burst of heat. As my brother said yesterday, what about a few days in the low 60s?
I luxuriate in your photo--the immensity of the clouds, the slim aqua ribbon of ocean, the sandy path to the shore. Love it.
Also, beautiful color art on The Kitchens of the Great Midwest. I do have lots of Midwest curiosity and may check this title out.
And I'm so glad to hear that you really liked the new Frances Maye novel. I do want to be in Tuscany with her!
Our Florida folks are filtering back slowly. The pickle ball people are back, but we have a good number that don't like to return until black fly season is mostly over.
Take care and enjoy your final days on Sanibel.
Judith - I'm laughing because my family in central NY had the same complaints. We hosted a farewell party for the neighbors last Thursday... so much fun. This place will empty out completely the week before Memorial Day. My walks are getting a little earlier each morning and a little later each evening to avoid some of the heat/humidity, but every day is still a pleasure!
DeleteLOVED Kitchens of the Great Midwest. I have a feeling you will too.
ReplyDeleteTi - I haven't had much time to read this week, but am enjoying Kitchens a lot more than expected!
DeleteWhat a pretty photo -- I'm lost in the Florida sky. I'm intrigued to hear more about The Women in Sunlight. Ahhh Italy ....
ReplyDeleteSusan - As beautiful as the photo is, the real thing is so much more! Pick up Women in Sunlight whenever you crave a trip to Italy... such an enjoyable book.
DeleteIt sounds so nice, to be in a position to travel north or south depending on the seasons. I feel like I'll always be tied to one place. LOL Women in Sunlight sounds really good. I would love to visit Italy someday. I hope you have a wonderful week, JoaAnn.
ReplyDeleteWendy - Italy is on my bucket list... one of these days. Have a great weekend!
DeleteI think the weather has finally turned and it's safe to come back :) Adding Women in Sunlight to my list because I love Italy.
ReplyDeleteStacy - That's what my family is saying now, too! I'm not really ready to leave the beach, but we'll begin traveling north next weekend :)
DeleteOh my gosh, I loved Kitchens of the Great Midwest so much! It was one of those books I didn't want to end.
ReplyDeleteI just started book 3 in Alison Weir's historical fiction series on the 6 wives of Henry VIII. It's about Jane Seymour and I'm already hooked.
Catherine - I'd written off Kitchens after reading a very negative review, but Care convinced me to give it a try... and I'm so glad. Will finish in a day or two, but enjoying it very much.
DeleteHenry VIII is endlessly fascinating. Must look into Weir's series... why did I think she only wrote nonfiction??